A Family of Their Own(22)

Kelsey looked at Peyton and then she glanced at Ross, her lips pursed. “What about—”

“Peyton, do you want to play, too?” Ross sensed that he’d saved the day, and Peyton’s grin finalized the situation. He reached in his wallet and dug out a couple of dollars.

Lucy had her money in hand and dashed off, and when Peyton closed her hand around the bills, she darted off, too.

Concern shot through Ross. Lucy embodied energy—a bundle of vigor not easily quelled. But Peyton. He drew in a breath. She needed to be careful. Her energy levels were limited at times. Putting the two together could be like water vapor mixing with low atmospheric pressure creating a hurricane. Disaster. Peyton could never keep up with Lucy.

Kelsey’s attention focused on the girls until she turned toward him. “What do you think?”

A grin stole over his face. “I see promise.”

“So do I.” She reached across and rested her hand on his. “Slow but sure. That’s the best way. Let them move at their own pace. We can’t engineer it.”

Pace. Anxiety skittered across his chest. “Lucy’s a bundle of energy, isn’t she?”

“She was down for so long that now she’s trying to make up for lost time. I’m thrilled seeing her so bubbly and excited about everything.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m a prideful mama. She’s my bright little star.”

“She is.” But that didn’t get to the heart of the matter. “That worries me, though.”

Her hand slipped from his, a scowl replacing her pleasant expression. “What do you mean?”

“Peyton isn’t well yet.” Would she ever be? The sundae churned in his stomach. “She can’t do all the things Lucy can do. What if—”

Kelsey leaned against the seat back. “Don’t look for problems. Kids can be monitored. I can ask Lucy to tone it down, and you can explain to Peyton that she has to be careful. They know their illnesses.”

His eyes closed, taking in her words. Would it be that easy? Kids were kids. They competed. “Kids want to do what other kids do. I’m sure you went through that with Lucy.”

“I did.”

“So it’s…” He shrugged. “Difficult. I hate looking Peyton in the face and telling her she can’t do things, even though I know it’s for her own good.”

“Talk to your doctor, Ross. Maybe Peyton can do more than you think.”

“Maybe.” The hope he’d felt melted into apprehension. He gazed at Kelsey’s thoughtful face. Her long hair fell to her shoulders with only a slight wave, the part that annoyed her still present. She lifted her hand and drew her fingers through her hair as if she realized he was noticing the part.

“You’re an attractive woman. I suppose you know that.”

Her brows furrowed. “Me?” A quick shake of her head followed. “I’m rather plain, I think, but it’s nice to hear you say I’m not too bad-looking.”

Not too bad-looking. He wanted to rebut the comment, but he let it slip. “We’ve both led unique lives, haven’t we? When you don’t have a partner, it sometimes skews your attitudes.”

“Maybe we’re more practical then.”

“Maybe, but is that what life has to be? What about a little risk? Adventure? Outside the box? Even a little bit wild and crazy?”

Her eyes searched his. “And…?”

“And, I don’t know.” But he did know so why not say it? “I really enjoy your company. I like you. But we haven’t had time to get to know each other well.” He swallowed the rush of words charging from him. “Let’s do something…alone. Get sitters and spend time together.”

“Like a date.” A faint grin edged onto her face.

“Okay, a date.” He chuckled at his uneasy approach. “Would you go out with me?”

“Is this the wild and crazy thing you were talking about?”

“Not quite, but it could be the beginning of an adventure.” His heart raced as if he were standing in line for his first roller-coaster ride. “What do you say?”

“I’ve been known to put my toe outside the box once or twice.”

“Then it’s a yes.”

A smile filled her face as she nodded.

He slid his hand across the table and slipped it over hers. “We’re always talking in small snatches of conversation. It will be nice to start a topic and finish it without being int—”