Intent(15)

When I first saw him walking across the field toward me, I actually did the fabled double take. The first thing I noticed was the way his masculine, take-charge gait commanded everything else to move out of his path. His muscular arms swung easily at his sides. His steps were sure and steady under his thick thighs. As he neared, I noticed how his T-shirt, wet with sweat and streaked with dirt, clung to his chest and broad shoulders. When he reached me, I realized the state of his clothes was the result of hard work rather than that of an unkempt man. The subtle undertones of his clean, masculine scent were obvious.

His beard had a slight fade to it, enhancing his looks even more. Judging from his tan skin, the natural blond highlights in his light brown hair were no doubt from the time he spent out in the sun. The anger and irritation were clear in his smooth, Southern drawl when he spoke, but it was the depth of his emerald green eyes that told me the truth. The rough exterior, the bristle in his words, and his gruff tone were all an attempt to hide a deep pain. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, his left no doubt he was still reeling from something.

All the more reason why having dinner with him and River is a one-time deal. I can’t help him with his issues when I can barely help myself. My thoughts return to that day with Bobby and Cyndi, and my mood automatically darkens. I’m convinced I’ve conjured the devil himself when my cell phone rings and Bobby’s picture displays on the screen. My feet halt in place and I stop myself just in time from throwing my phone against the nearest tree. After I decline the call, I open his contact information and block him completely from calling or texting me.

There’s nothing he can say that I’d want to hear now.

My feet move a little slower and my step has a little less spring in it as I approach Ace’s door. Before I can knock on it, the door swings open widely and an energetic little green-eyed girl flies out at me. She must have been born with springs in her feet judging by how high she can jump. My arms catch her just in time as she plasters her little body against mine and her little arms wrap around my neck. Exactly like my heart wraps around her little pinkie finger.

“I have toys in my room. Do you want to come play with me? You can be Sparkly Susan and I’ll be Dazzling Diva. Then we can play dress-up. I have lots of pretend clothes.” She rambles on rapidly while I concentrate on deciphering her words. Every “l” sounds like a “w” in her sweet voice.

“River, take a breath,” Ace chuckles from the foyer. “Are you going to let Layne come in the house?”

River laughs, just now realizing that we’re still on the front porch. “Of course, Daddy. Let’s go inside, Waynie.” Without removing her arms from my neck, she uses them to tug on me, leans her body toward the house, and wills me to walk inside.

Her adorable antics leave me no choice but to smile and walk into the house with her still attached to me.

“You can put her down if you want.” Ace smiles warmly.

“No!” River objects and squeezes her arms and legs around me even tighter.

“I think maybe I’ll just hold her for a little longer,” I reply jokingly.

“We thought for a minute there we’d have to come over and get you.” Ace slightly arches a single eyebrow. The shadow of a veiled threat lies in his statement, but so does an unspoken question. Were you thinking of standing us up?

“I received a phone call on the way over here,” I reply vaguely and leave it at that. He doesn’t need to know the details…like the fact I didn’t actually take the call.

He nods in understanding. “We’re glad you’re here now. Are you hungry?”

“Actually, I am. I’m sorry I didn’t bring anything, though. When I went to the store earlier, I only got the bare minimum for me.”

“This is completely my treat. All I wanted you to bring was yourself. We got the rest. Come on in the kitchen. Everything’s ready.”

“I made the salad,” River brags.

“I can’t wait to have some. I’m sure it’s delicious,” I reply.

“Yep. It is,” she confirms confidently.

“I’m afraid I need to work on her self-esteem. It appears to be lacking,” Ace deadpans.

“She seems very shy and timid, too.”

“She gets that from her daddy.”

With that remark, I bark out a laugh that’s a little louder than I intended. “Oh, sorry.”

The gleam in his eye is playful and it feels like we’ve turned a small corner. We’re not quite friends yet, but we’re not enemies either. We walk into the kitchen and I finally put River down in her seat. The food is ready and the table has been set, everything is prepared and waiting for us. As I take my seat beside River, I tamp down the urge to compare everything to Bobby’s presentation and cooking skills. Ace sits across from me and inclines his head toward the table.

“Help yourself. Don’t be shy.”

Ace picks up River’s plate and begins portioning the food onto it, knowing exactly what she likes and doesn’t like.

I don’t think about how this meal feels simultaneously more intimate and more like home than any meal I ever shared with Bobby.

River tries to refuse taking any vegetables by attempting to coerce Ace with her charms. Ace nods slowly at her attempts as he considers her protests, but after just a few words from him that threaten access to her favorite toy, River quickly relents.