Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(28)

Then he looked her way. When their gazes met, she felt suddenly embarrassed for being caught staring. But then a wide grin of recognition stretched across his tanned face, and he picked up the pace. As he drew closer, Cara was stunned. Unless she was mistaken, he was Heather’s father, David Wyatt. She hadn’t seen him since that pelican release on Sullivan’s Island, was it three years ago? In a flash she recalled his thoughtfulness that difficult summer. He was a good father to Heather, and it appeared he was a good grandfather to Rory as well. And, she thought with a bemused smile, he was just as good-looking as she remembered.

She waved her hand in greeting. “Well, look who’s here!” she called out. “What are you doing in my sandbox?”

David laughed and called back, “This is our Wednesday morning hangout. Rory and I have a couple of good swings, toss back a bottle or two, then head for home.”

His voice was unusually pleasant and low. It was one of those small, telling details she sometimes pocketed away. David parked the stroller beside the swing set and removed his sunglasses. His rich brown eyes shone with warmth, and for the second time that day, Cara suddenly felt like an insecure teenager. He was even better-looking than she’d remembered. His thick head of dark gray and white hair sharply contrasted with his tanned skin and thick black brows. Cara felt a stirring of attraction she hadn’t felt in many years. Not since before Brett had died. She’d lost interest in other men after his death, and this first flush surprised her.

“Seriously,” he said. “It’s good to see you, Cara. Though I almost didn’t recognize you.” He touched his head. “Your hair’s shorter.”

Cara’s hand flew to her head. “Oh, that . . .” She raked her fingers through her dark hair, glad she’d decided to put a pair of small gold hoops in her ears at the last minute. “I needed a change.”

“It’s a nice change,” David said. Then he glanced over at Hope. “Speaking of change, Heather told me you have a daughter. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“She’s a beauty.”

Cara was relieved to have an excuse to bring her attention back to Hope. “She is. And congratulations to you too,” she added, indicating Rory. “It seems both of our lives have changed since we last saw each other.”

His grin widened. “Boy, have they.”

“Rory is about the same age as Hope, right?”

“He’s a little over a year. Fourteen months.”

“Hope is coming up on her first birthday on the eighteenth. I’m still waiting for her to take her first steps.”

“Rory took off before he hit a year,” David said proudly. “We have to keep an eye on him. He’s suddenly into everything.”

She allowed him his boasting rights. It was surprisingly pleasant to be chatting about the children instead of politics or making awkward chitchat. In fact, David was surprisingly easy to talk to. She remembered that about him, how he readily made anyone feel at ease. He lifted Rory from the stroller, and Cara noticed the strong lines of his physique. He had the trim body of a man who exercised regularly. He settled Rory in the second baby swing and came around to stand beside Cara. They pushed the children side by side at a companionable pace.

“How long are you here for?” she asked, thinking she’d like to invite him to dinner, along with Heather and Bo, of course.

He tilted his head, and his eyes glimmered with amusement. “I live here now. Hadn’t you heard?”

“No!” she replied, her jaw slipping open.

“I retired from my law practice, sold my house, and moved here. Bought a house on Dewees. In fact, the kids live with me now.” He laughed.

“Really?” Cara was astonished. He’d retired? She didn’t think David was even sixty. Plus, she couldn’t imagine Heather living in the same house as Natalie. Heather despised his second wife, and the feeling was mutual. “Dewees is so isolated. I can understand Heather moving there. And Bo. Even you. But Natalie didn’t strike me as the outdoorsy, nature-loving type.”

His smile fell, and he shook his head. “She wasn’t. Turned out she wasn’t my type, either. We’re divorced.”

Cara shot an involuntary glance at his ring finger. The gold wedding band was no longer there.

She smiled ruefully. “Well, this certainly is a day for catching up.” She paused to digest the information, using the time to give Hope another gentle push. “Frankly, I’m amazed that choice bit of gossip hadn’t reached me.” She gave another push. “Though I have to say, I’m not surprised.”

David skipped a beat. “Apparently no one was. Except me. No fool like an old fool and all that.”

“Not so old.”

He slanted her a glance of appreciation.

“Besides,” Cara added, “Natalie was a clever manipulator.”

“She didn’t fool you.”

Cara shrugged lightly. “I’m not easily fooled. Plus, I was on Team Heather.”

“You were,” he said as his gaze swept over her. “I always appreciated that. She blossomed under your care.”

“I can’t take any credit for that. Heather worked hard for her success. Art is a tough business to make a mark in. But don’t forget, she took good care of me too. Those were some dark days.” His expression told her he remembered. “Heather’s a remarkable young woman. You must be very proud.”