Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(29)

“She gave me Rory. She can do no wrong.”

“How do you like living on Dewees? Quite a change from a city like Charlotte.”

“I love it. I’ve finally got the time to do things like learn the names of birds and plants. I’ve become quite well versed on alligators too.” He laughed. “The folks on Dewees are genuine. And quite social. We come out for the occasional party or town event. But all of us like our privacy and respect that. And my house is an architectural gem. The previous owners were looking to sell just as I started looking. I fell in love at first sight. Had to have it. And it’s Heather’s favorite house on the island, so that was another big selling point. I bought the furniture too, so it was an easy move. You’ll have to come see it.”

“I’d love to.” She could imagine him slipping into a new house, a new lifestyle, with ease. Little seemed to faze this man.

His face was handsome, but not in a pretty way. More interesting, with his deep-set eyes, thick brows, and high, bold cheekbones. His features and height gave the impression of strength. She imagined he was formidable in the courtroom.

“Do you miss practicing law?”

He shook his head. “Not at all.”

“Still, a bit of a culture shock living on an island without shops or restaurants, or cars, for that matter?”

“Yes,” he agreed. “It was at the beginning.”

“What do you do to fill your days? You were so busy in Charlotte.”

“I’m busier than ever. Bo’s in high demand on the island, and his carpentry business off-island has him out a lot. Heather’s receiving a lot of commissions for paintings. Plus, she’s preparing for her first show. So, with the two of them in the thick of their careers . . .” He shrugged. “I sort of slid into taking care of Rory. That boy keeps me busy.”

“You’re a manny!” exclaimed Cara.

His brows rose. “A what?”

“A male nanny. A manny,” she explained.

A slight flush colored his tan cheeks as a crooked smile slid onto his face. He shifted his gaze to his grandson. “Yeah, I guess that’s my new job title. Long hours, no pay, but lots of benefits.”

She found his confidence enormously attractive.

“How about you?” he asked, shifting the spotlight. “Are you a full-time mom these days? Or working?”

Long answer or short answer? she wondered. She could tell Hope’s enthusiasm was waning, so opted for the short answer. “I’m the sole provider, so being a full-time mom isn’t an option. I’m doing consult work now and seeing how that turns out. I lucked out last week. My niece is coming to live with me this summer to help me out with Hope. I still want to be hands-on, but I can’t focus on my work when she’s tugging at me. I’m still searching for a balance.”

“Heather still worries about being away from Rory too much, but since she has dear old Dad taking care of him, she’s feeling less guilt. I hope . . .”

“I’m told mother guilt is a universal emotion.”

“Neither of you should feel guilt. As for Heather, this is her moment. In the art world, they don’t come often. She has to take it. And we get along just fine, don’t we, pal?” he asked, rubbing his fingers through Rory’s blond hair.

Hope started whining in the swing, indicating she’d had her fill of this ride.

“That’s my cue.” Cara slowed the swing and lifted Hope into her arms. She smoothed a dark curl from Hope’s forehead, then touched the spot with her lips. “Okay, baby,” she crooned. “Mama’s taking you home.”

David moved closer and bent to look into Hope’s face. “I know she’s adopted,” he said, “but she’s your spitting image. Especially her eyes.”

Cara could never hear that compliment enough. “I’m flattered to be compared to a baby. My ego took a solid hit today. Before you got here, a little girl asked me if I was Hope’s grandma.”

“Ouch!” David laughed. “No offense to the little girl, but she’s crazy. You don’t look like anyone’s grandmother.” He snorted and said in an offhand manner, “Hardly.”

“My self-esteem has been reassured,” she told him. She couldn’t deny the current flowing between them. Tall, chiseled features, intelligent—he was her type. Still, she didn’t feel comfortable getting flirtatious with David. He was Heather’s dad, after all. She moved Hope to her other hip. “And now, I must go. My boss is getting hungry.”

“Let me help you,” David said, and went to fetch the stroller. He held it steady while Cara put Hope back inside. When she was settled, David stepped back and said, “I was serious about having you come see the house.”

When she turned to face him, he asked, “When can you come?”

Cara was nonplussed by the suddenness of the invitation. “To Dewees?”

“That’s where the house is,” he said.

“I have Hope.”

“And I have Rory.” He smiled that easy smile that lowered the tension. “We’ll make it a playdate.”

She had to laugh. That was a new one. She’d told herself she wasn’t going to flirt, but he was on a full-court press. Plus, a playdate seemed harmless.