Pinky Promise (Riverbend Romance 2) by Valerie Comer

Author:Valerie Comer [Comer, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Novella, Family Life, Little Girls, Series, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Spirituality, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Riverbend, Canadian Town, Daughter, Best Friends, Single Father, Six-Year-Old, Pinky Promise, Stop Proposing, Spring Break, Single Parents, Matchmakers, Springtime
Goodreads: 25212934
Publisher: GreenWords Media
Published: 2015-04-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The girls ran from the swings to the monkey bars to the slide.

Kelly glanced over at Ian. He seemed to be keeping a bit more distance than he had all week, but that was likely because they were in full public view. She was just as glad. A person never knew whom they’d run into at Riverside Park on such a beautiful late-March day. While she was fine with introducing him to people, she didn’t want anyone she knew jumping to conclusions.

Elena and Sophie had done all the jumping anyone needed to. Okay, maybe she’d been guilty of it herself, even while trying to hold Ian off a little. Or was it their daughters making everything feel claustrophobic? Did she and Ian even have a choice, or were the two little matchmakers so bent on success true romance wasn’t an option?

There was always a choice. Heartbreak for Elena now was better than heartbreak for both of them later. Kelly had to be sure. The merry-go-round the girls now rode pushed bodies outward with centrifugal force. The merry-go-round her life had become shoved her closer to the center with similar unrelenting power. Closer to Ian.

She stole another peek. He sat with arms looped loosely around pulled-up knees, watching their daughters. He had thick biceps for a guy with an office job. Brown hair curled close to his T-shirt’s ribbed neck and around his ears. Was it soft or wiry? She didn’t even know. She’d never touched it.

He must’ve felt her gaze on him, because he turned to her. This time he seemed to truly look at her with more dispassion. Not as Elena’s mom, not as Sophie’s caregiver, not as a woman to flirt with, but as though he’d seen her for the first time.

It nearly chilled her. What was he thinking? That he’d been crazy to spend so much time with her this week? That he couldn’t wait for spring break to be over and normal life to resume?

“Ian?” She didn’t realize his name had escaped her lips until the question hung between them, all but visible.

The lines around his eyes crinkled as a slow smile curved his lips. He shifted position, bracing himself on an arm that angled behind her. Not quite touching, but she could feel the warmth from his body. This was what she wanted, right? To be closer to him?

“Hey, beautiful.”

Her heart warmed along with the side of her that was nearest him. She quirked him a grin. “Hey.” She couldn’t bring herself to give him a nickname. Not yet. And even though she didn’t feel beautiful when she looked in the mirror, she didn’t doubt he said what he saw.

Now that she had his attention, she couldn’t think of a thing to say.

The girls ran back to the swings. Several other children from their class trooped alongside them.

“I’ve been thinking about their birthdays,” Ian said in a low voice. “What kind of party do you usually do for Elena?”

Was he expecting a joint celebration? Well, it only made sense as they shared the day, and Sophie was new to Riverbend.

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