If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(39)

"Hi," he said softly, a knowing gleam in his eyes. "How's it going?"

"Great," she said, trying to get a grip on her suddenly impatient libido. "I was just making lunch. Come in. Are you hungry?" she asked, as they walked down the hall and into the kitchen.

"I am, but you don't have to feed me."

"I have plenty. It's just turkey sandwiches and fruit."

"Where's Ash?"

"She's putting on some new clothes. I hope you don't mind. We went into town, and she really wanted to go into this kid's boutique, so we did some shopping. I probably way overstepped, but—"

"You didn't." He cut her off with a shake of his head. "I'm happy she found something she liked. I've taken her shopping a few times, but I couldn't get her interested."

"I think she's starting to come out of her shell."

"I hope so."

Ashlyn ran into the room, wearing the yellow and white sundress and her new sandals. She stopped abruptly when she saw her dad, worry in her eyes as she waited for his reaction.

"Wow," Jeremy said. "Who is this beautiful little girl?"

A smile tugged at Ashlyn's lips. She didn't want to respond to her dad. She didn't want to show that she cared, but she did. The wall between Ashlyn and Jeremy was beginning to crack, and Mia felt a knot of emotion grow in her throat as she watched the silent exchange that passed between them.

"You look like your mother," Jeremy continued. "Justine was beautiful, just like you. Who did your hair?"

"Mia," Ashlyn said out loud.

Jeremy sucked in a quick breath at the verbal answer. Then he looked at Mia with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you. I am terrible at even getting her hair into a ponytail. I know she's been frustrated with me."

"Well, I'm sure you haven't had a lot of practice. We found the jeweled bobby pins in the studio earlier. We had to put them to use." She paused. "Why don't you both sit down at the table? I've got lunch ready."

"Can I help?" Jeremy asked.

She handed him the bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. "More berries, but they are in season."

"They look good." He took the bowl to the table, and she brought over the sandwiches.

"What else did you do today?" Jeremy asked

"We took care of all my errands. We made copies of the sketches for the coloring book party. Then we stopped at a glass shop, and Ashlyn picked out a beautiful angel that she can show you later. After that, we went by the Eckhart Gallery and I had a very productive conversation with Didi Eckhart. She's interested in the collection I'm putting together."

"You accomplished quite a bit."

"Ashlyn was very good company, too," she said, giving the little girl a smile.

Ashlyn smiled back at her as she munched on her sandwich.

"How did your therapy go, Jeremy?"

"It was all right. I was still a little stiff from yesterday, so I don't feel like I made as much progress."

"Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard."

"You sound like my therapist. He wasn't happy to see me two days in a row, but he gave me some time."

"If you go too fast, you might actually set yourself back."

"That's what he said. But I know how hard to push myself. I've had to make it through some grueling challenges in my time. Sometimes it's just about how much you want it."

"But not always," she said. "You can't will this injury away. Not everything is in your control."

He frowned. "I know that; I just don't like it." He pushed his empty plate aside and glanced at his daughter. "You must have been hungry, Ash. I've never seen you eat a whole sandwich before."

Ashlyn didn't say anything.

Mia sighed, hoping that Ashlyn wasn't already heading back into her isolated world. It was as if her father's words had reminded her that she'd let down her guard for too long. She'd really hoped that Ashlyn would start to let Jeremy into her life the way she'd done with Mia. Maybe the two of them needed an outing.

"Darn," she said aloud.

Jeremy gave her an enquiring look. "Something wrong?"

"I just realized that I'm supposed to bring some dessert to the party tonight and I forgot to pick it up while I was in town. I heard there's a really good bakery—Sugar and Spice. I was going to get something there."

"I know the place. It's actually run by a woman I went to school with, Lauren Jamison. Actually, it's Lauren Murray now. She's married to Kara's brother."

"You probably know a lot of people here," she murmured, thinking that she kept forgetting that Jeremy had grown up in Angel's Bay.

"I've been gone so long, I doubt many would remember me."

"I doubt that's true. You're not a man easily forgotten."

He smiled at her words. "I like the sound of that. Why don't I pick up the dessert for you? I have to run into town anyway. I need to go to the ATM."

"An assortment of anything would be great. Ashlyn could probably pick out some good desserts for me."

"What do you say, Ash?" he asked. "Want to run an errand with me and help Mia out?"