Long-Lost Father by Melissa James

Author:Melissa James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

SAM AWOKE AFTER NINE the next morning.

Brett still slept. She and Casey had been creeping around all morning, trying to give him the rest he needed. He’d woken Sam in the night with a dream she dared not wake him from—he’d thrashed around, muttering words she couldn’t decipher, but one thing had come through clearly.

Sam, Sam, where are you?

She’d sat beside him, whispering reassurance, holding his hand and keeping his damaged knee as still as possible, helpless until he let her in. But his need was as obvious as the anguish that hadn’t left after two years home and safe.

Brett wandered out of Casey’s room soon after ten, yawning. “Sorry. Taking two pills helps me catch up on sleep.”

She smiled at him and pushed a mug of coffee over the counter. “I think you needed it.”

He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “Did I talk in my sleep?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “You did.”

Looking frustrated, he looked out the window to where Casey was playing by herself. “When will she get a guide dog?”

“When she’s eight. She’s still frightened of dogs now, and we decided not to push her.”

“That sounds good,” he said but sounded vague, his mind on something else. “Sam, I want to tell—”

“I think it’s time we talked—”

Brett grinned at her, and her insides turned to mush, all warm and gooey. “Can you get a sitter for Casey tonight? It’s time we communicated without worrying about little pitchers.”

A date. She hadn’t been on a date in six years. Hadn’t felt like a woman in six years. She smiled back, feeling shaky inside. “There’s a few sitters trained to kids’ special needs attached to the Centre.”

“Get one for tonight if you can.” His hand gently touched, then ran up her arm. “I’ll foot the bill.” He cupped her cheek with his hand, and she felt something pooling into a warm puddle deep inside her. “I’m footing the bills for my daughter from now on, Sam. She’ll never want for anything…and you’ll never sacrifice your needs to make sure Casey has her needs met.”

Pride didn’t occur to her. The simple beauty of shedding a burden too long carried alone made her sigh. “Thank you,” she said simply. “I’ll see if a sitter’s available.”

“I’ll go see to our picnic.” He smiled again and went outside, speaking briefly to Casey before he headed out in the car.

He returned an hour later, wearing board shorts and a T-shirt, carrying a picnic basket. “Watch out, folks—Yogi Bear himself would drool over this pic-a-nic basket!”

But Sam was already drooling—and not over the basket. He looked incredible. The dark, cropped locks were starting to curl over his ears. His T-shirt stretched over his lithe chest and flat stomach. And the long shorts dropped over his damaged knee but were short enough to reveal long, muscular legs and hugged the curve of his butt. And instead of his wicked rogue’s grin, his warm, gentle smile for Casey was touching. His mischievous golden-brown eyes looked…tender.

And she was fantasising again about what she couldn’t have.

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