Chapter Seven
A couple of hours later, Daisy set her plate down and sat back on the blanket they’d spread on the beach, turning her attention to the kids playing in the water.
All in all, the day had turned out better than she’d hoped. They’d managed to catch a total of four fish—one each for Jack and Paul, and two for Natalie—the girls had reached a sort of temporary truce, no one had drowned or thrown up, and she hadn’t made too much of a fool of herself before they’d found somewhere to dock and settle in for lunch.
But it was more than that. There had been a certain peace that had fallen over her, happiness even, with the sun bright and warm overhead, the feeling of the wind rushing past her face as Jack had opened the sails and took them clipping along at a good pace over the silver surface of the water. The giggles and laugher of the kids around them added to the day’s perfection.
Having a gorgeous specimen of a man ready and willing to jump in harm’s way if necessary hadn’t been too bad, either.
Angling her broad-brimmed straw hat to protect her sensitive skin from the blinding rays overhead, she snuck a glance at Jack from over the top of her sunglasses. His plate nearly licked clean a few minutes before, he sat back on his elbows, his strong legs crossed in front of him as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
A gust of wind sprang up, blowing his hair down over his eyes, and Jack ran his hands through it in an attempt at smoothing it back into place. She remembered what those same fingers had felt like as they’d slipped through her hair, working the braid out in order to detach that pesky hook.
It had been difficult to sit still, the touch more intimate than she’d expected. It had been a relief when he’d finally pinched the hook in his fingers and removed it, leaving her to retreat to the other end of the deck, hoping to calm the rapid beating of her heart.
“Mom! Watch this,” Jenna said, ducking down under the water, as if Daisy hadn’t been watching them the entire time already. A few seconds later, she emerged from the water triumphant and Daisy gave her a thumbs-up before she dipped back under to try her new trick, Lily offering tips next to her.
“Looks like they’re starting to thaw a little toward each other, thanks to you,” Jack said.
“Oh. It was nothing. Jenna was only jealous of the attention Lily was getting from her brother and sister. Give her another day and she’ll be begging me to tell the kids to leave her alone again.”
He shook his head. “Your ex is an idiot for missing out on opportunities like this. The kids aren’t going to be young forever. Was he always so…undependable?”
She tilted her head to the side as she thought about that. “Leo used to be better at being present in our lives. At least early in our marriage. It was probably only the last handful of years that his selfishness took hold and he found reason after reason to put his work first—or at least what I’d thought was his work. Turned out those late-night office hours were just an excuse for him and his latest TA to get better acquainted.”
“TA?”
“Oh, his teaching assistant,” she explained. “Leo teaches economics at the local community college. He taught at four different community colleges during the course of our ten-year marriage, from Boise to Flagstaff.” They’d actually been living in Flagstaff when Leo decided that the barely legal girl he’d been seeing was special enough for him to leave Daisy and everything they’d built behind him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, turning his head toward her. But his sunglasses’ lenses only mirrored her image and she couldn’t tell what he might be thinking.
“It’s fine. I’ve accepted that Leo has a lot of faults, most of which I’d been blind to when we were married. Such as infidelity,” she added wryly. She dropped her hand to the sand and sifted her fingers through it, the heat and grittiness a nice distraction from the pain that still hadn’t quite healed. “But I am glad that he missed the kids enough to move to Salt Lake not long after we did so he could see them more. At least as his schedule permits.”
“That’s awfully generous of him,” Jack said, his judgment obvious. He glanced to Daisy’s plate, where half of her chips remained uneaten. He reached over, grabbed one, and popped it in his mouth. “I’m curious. How did you two meet?”
She paused, glad now for the shade from her hat that might hide her reddening cheeks. It was too embarrassing to admit what a fool she’d been. “My Econ class. He…he was the TA.” This time Jack dipped his head so that his blue eyes could be seen above the rims of the glasses. “He actually hit on you? Asked you out? Wasn’t that some sort of university violation?”
“I know, I know,” she said. “It’s clear now that his ethical standards weren’t very high. My brothers tried to tell me at the time that getting mixed up with him was a mistake. But then again, they’d hated every guy I brought home so it didn’t really mean much. I was naive and immature and easily caught up in the whirlwind that was Leo. In his late twenties, he was older, worldlier, and had this nerdy sexy professor appeal that blinded me to everything but him.”
Jack’s jaw hardened and he nodded, looking away for a minute. “The guy was a predator.”
“You sound like my brothers.” She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe he was, in his way. But it doesn’t quite let me off the hook for my stupidity. I found out I was pregnant just shy of my graduation, right as Leo finished his graduate studies and received a job offer in Boise. He proposed and, at the time, marrying him had seemed like a good idea.”
And just like that, she’d abandoned her dreams of graduating, of going to business school, and had picked up and followed him. She’d told herself that she’d resume her schooling after Jenna was born. But then Natalie came along and Paul and time somehow…kept going. The next thing she knew she was a single mom with no education, job, or prospects. Only a broken heart.
She forced a smile, trying to make it appear as if she no longer cared. “I know, you’re probably thinking how my life has become something of a cliché.”
“Hardly. In fact, I was thinking how lucky this guy was to have you only to blow it.”
“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better. I was an idiot and I know it.” She let the sand sift through her fingers one last time and clapped her hands together to wipe them off.
She nearly jumped when Jack’s warm hand dropped over hers. Strong. Assuring. She raised her gaze to his, finding that he’d taken his glasses off so she could see into the depth of those brilliant blue eyes. “You were young and in love and wanted to believe in the best in people,” he said almost softly, but there was force behind his words. “That doesn’t make you an idiot. If anything, I see a woman who’s had to bear a lot of trouble and pain all on her own and who, despite that, has come out on the other end even better. Stronger. With three smart, respectful, adoring kids to show for it.”
It might have been the nicest, most heartfelt thing anyone had ever told her, and tears she hated to shed rose in her eyes as she looked away. But Jack wasn’t having it and tilted her face back toward him. A tear must have slipped, because his hand was wiping something from her cheek.
“I mean it. You don’t seem to realize what an amazing woman you are and you deserve to hear that from someone each and every day.”
How could someone she barely knew have the ability to speak so directly to her heart? Her chest quivered as she tried to catch her breath, still unable to draw her gaze from his.
“Dad?” Lily shouted, and immediately Daisy pulled her hand away from his, missing it the moment she did. “After this, can we head to Emerald Cove to see that old house?”
“Why not?” he called back. “And if we plan it right, we can eat at that little restaurant on the pier you love.”
Lily’s face lit up. “Really?”
“I think there’s even a movie night on the beach later we can all go to.” To Daisy, he added more quietly, “That is if you’re not all sick of us by then.”
Sick wasn’t exactly the word that came to mind. Quite the opposite, really.
She smiled, realizing for the first time that maybe, just maybe, her heart was ready to move on from Leo sooner than she thought.
“I think I could tolerate you for a little longer.”
…
Jack took a pull from the icy cold beer, enjoying the flavor of the unique brew, before tilting his head again up toward the night sky. The moon and stars shone bright, giving him enough light to make out the silhouette of the trees in the backdrop, the ripples of water on the lake.
It was beautiful. Perfect. Just like his day.
And the woman he’d shared it with.
It had been some time since he’d met someone who challenged him like Daisy Sorensen. He’d known from the first moment he saw her and recognized the emotions she stirred that she was going to be a force to reckon with. A sentiment he’d only felt one other time…when he first met his late wife, Lara.
It was strange, really, that two such different women could evoke the same sudden but no less genuine feelings. Whereas Lara, like him, had had every opportunity provided her, thanks to the wealth and connections that being the only child of a federal judge could provide, Daisy had less opportunities but had been blessed with the devoted and unflagging love and support of her family.
Through misguided faith and trust in the wrong man, Daisy’d had to learn to take care of herself and her kids, to become tougher. More independent. But in doing so, she’d clearly built a wall up to protect herself from being vulnerable to that kind of heartache again. Not that he could blame her. She did what she had to do to survive.
He’d done the same thing six years ago when Lara died and his whole world felt like it was collapsing. Only his love for his daughter had helped him move forward. And that had been enough for him all these years.
At least he thought so.
Until moments like today. When he’d seen the love and pride on Daisy Sorensen’s face as she watched her kids fish for the very first time. When she’d turned her face up to the warm sun above as they glided across the surface of the lake, her face soft and relaxed and happy for that brief moment. He’d wanted to erase all the stress she had in her life that prevented her from feeling that free and happy all the time.
It would be easy for him. He had the means. But Daisy was proud—frustratingly proud, and would never accept what he could give her, give her kids. At least for the short amount of time their worlds were intertwined.
It made him feel helpless in some ways. Just as helpless as he’d felt once before. When Lara became sick.
He’d just won that seat on the city council and the demands on his time were merciless. But he was ready to give it all up to be there for her, to ease her discomfort. Help her fight the grip the sickness had on her.
But, selfless as always, she’d refused to let him step down. She’d be all right, she assured him. She would beat it and there really wasn’t anything that his constant presence could do except make her want to strangle him. Something they’d laughed about at the time.
Only she didn’t get better and everything turned so quickly and, before he’d even had a chance to take a breath, she was gone.
Leaving Jack with the guilt that maybe, had he been there from the beginning, despite her argument, things would have been different. She could have beaten it or, at the least, he’d have had the luxury of spending more time with her.
Regret was a curse he didn’t wish on anyone. He’d lived with regret for six years and he would live with it for the rest of his life.
The deck creaked behind him, bringing him back to the present. He turned in time to see Daisy closing the door before joining him. It was chilly again tonight, and like that first night, she wore a thick terry cloth bathrobe and carried a glass of wine in her hand.
“I thought I might come out here for a moment, enjoy the quietness of the place. You don’t mind, do you?”
Mind? If anything, her presence was a welcome diversion from the ghost of his past regrets. “Not at all.”
“I checked on the kids and they’re all out like a light. Even Ollie barely moved his head when I came in,” she said taking a seat next to him and tucking the bathrobe around her. “It’s so pretty here. Do you come here a lot?”
“Not anymore. When Lily was a baby, my wife and I—Lara and I, we’d come out here every summer for a couple of weeks. After she passed, I tried to continue the tradition, but…” he trailed off. “Well, I’ve lost sight of some of my priorities of late. Something I’m going to need to improve upon. Especially after I become governor. Lara wouldn’t want me to lose sight of what’s important. And soon enough Lily will be grown and on her own and I’ll have missed these opportunities.”
“Your wife must have been someone pretty special.”
“She definitely was.”
“Can you tell me about her? How did you two meet?” Daisy asked.
Jack didn’t usually talk about his wife if he could help it. She’d always been something private, a memory he didn’t want to open and share.
But maybe it was because she’d been on his mind so much tonight, that he’d opened the door by first mentioning her to Daisy. And although he could easily shut down this discussion if he wanted to, knowing Daisy would understand, he realized that he actually wanted to talk about her. Wanted to share something of his own life, just as Daisy had shared with him.
“Lara and I met in my first year of law school. At a bar, if you can believe it. She was beautiful and poised, and for some reason she seemed to be as interested in and as crazy about me as I was about her.” He smiled as he remembered how he’d known from that first moment when she smiled at him, that she was the woman for him. It was like he could see their future laid out before him and he didn’t want to wait a minute for it to begin, he’d been that certain. “And despite everyone’s objections that we were moving too fast, we were married a few months later. We both knew it was right and didn’t see any reason in waiting another day to begin our lives together, you know?” he asked, glancing over at Daisy.
She was smiling, nodding softly, and from the glimmer in her dark eyes, he knew she understood, even if no one else usually did.
“Lily came along less than a year after that,” he continued, smiling again at the memory and the joy she’d brought them. “Once I graduated, we moved here where I worked at the DA’s office for four years before dipping my toes in the political landscape by running for city council. I was pretty shocked when I actually won. Not Lara, though, she said she always knew I was destined for big things.” He stopped suddenly, surprised at the emotion that made his throat close up.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, no worries. It’s good to be able to talk about her.” And it was. To be able to talk about Lara without feeling that sharp sense of loss that had followed in those first few years. At least with time, the pain had lessened to the point where the memories offered him more comfort than pain. “Lily’s been asking a lot more questions about her, so I need to get better at talking about her without getting too emotional. She needs to know what a kind, caring but strong and wonderful woman Lara was.”
“Well, you’ve done a great job with Lily,” Daisy said, her voice suspiciously thick and deep with emotion. “Which can’t be easy, especially as she’s growing into a young woman. Worse—a moody teenager.”
He groaned. “Don’t even get me started. I’ve already caught a few boys giving her the side-eye, and believe me, I’d consider replacing her entire wardrobe with sweatshirts and baggy jeans if I thought it would help. But she’s a smart girl, so I’m resigned to trusting she’ll be able to handle herself.”
She laughed, the sound a welcome relief from the intensity of emotions that had been running high for him tonight. She took a sip of her wine and seemed to mull over her next words. “Your wife died six years ago, so how is it that you’re still on the market? I mean, a young, sexy widower with a young daughter, you’d be virtually man-nip to a large segment of the female population.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Are you saying you think I’m…sexy?”
Other than a moment’s pause and a look of sheer horror that passed her face, she didn’t acknowledge his question. “My point is, you must be really going out of your way not to date for someone like you to still be single.”
He wanted to dig a little deeper into her statement, but could sense that it would only cause her embarrassment, so he bit back his smile, considering her words. “These past few years I’ve been so busy with my job and my daughter, that I didn’t think it would be fair to get into a relationship with someone who I wouldn’t be able to give the time and attention they deserve.”
Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t met anyone who made him want to take that first step with. Before now.
He took a pull from his beer, keeping his attention on her face as he asked his next question. “What about you? It’s been, what…two years since you and Leo ended things? How is it that a woman like you is still unattached?”
“I guess, like you, I want to focus on my kids right now and on getting my life back together.”
“That’s fair. But your kids seem to be adapting pretty well and you…you seem to be doing okay.” Better than okay if the past couple of days were any indication. Other than that emotional moment on the beach, she seemed relaxed. Ready to move on—or maybe that was just wistful thinking. “Let’s assume that once we get back home and you open that bakery you’ve always wanted to have, you find your life finally on the path you always saw for yourself. Are you going to be willing to start dating again?”
She ran her hands through her hair, laughing nervously. “I hardly think I’m going to be in any position to start dating. I hate to break this to you, but not a lot of men are looking for a woman with three kids who would be part of the package.”
“If they knew what was good for them they would.”
“Well, whether such a miracle man exists or not is a moot point right now since I’m not in any kind of place where I’m ready to date anyone. In fact, for the next ten years, I’d rather just focus on making sure I raise well-adjusted, kind, and happy kids. I don’t want to introduce anyone in their lives who might hurt them in the end.”
Or who might hurt her in the end, she might as well have said. But he didn’t challenge her on it. It wasn’t like he had a lot of room to talk.
Daisy made a show of stretching before rising to her feet, looking like she needed to escape. “You know, I’m pretty tired. And if I want to be awake and actually functioning for our early morning, I should probably turn in.”
“Yeah. I’m ready to head in myself.” Holding the now empty beer bottle, he followed her in and shut the door behind them.
He tossed his bottle in the recycle bin as Daisy rinsed her glass, set it in the sink, and then turned around to the kitchen island to push the cork back into the wine bottle. Only as she pushed down, the bottom of the bottle slid out, sending it rolling loudly across the surface.
Instantly, they both dived for it, hoping to stop it before it careened to the floor. In doing so, their hands settled around the bottle, fingers overlapping. She froze, meeting his gaze as they listened a few seconds, holding their breath while they waited to see if anyone started to stir upstairs from the ruckus.
Nothing.
Whether it was relief from the near miss, or the sudden tension that had sprung between them, but Jack’s lip quivered as he fought back a bark of laughter that threatened to come out. Daisy struggled for a moment herself before they both gave in, laughing together as they realized how silly they must have looked, both hunched over and paralyzed even if temporarily.
“I have it, if you want to let go.”
“Have it?” she asked confused.
He looked down to where their hands were still connected to the bottle, her gaze following. Instantly, hers fell away, dropping to her side, and he set the wine on the counter, sliding it to the center where it couldn’t be at risk of being tipped.
She was still looking at him when he turned around, her eyes so dark and wide, seeming to reflect some of his own need, his own yearning for something he didn’t quite understand. She stood so close to him that he could smell the hint of citrus and soft femininity that wafted from her, something he suspected was equal parts bath oil and Daisy.
An urge to draw this woman to him became almost irresistible. It would have been the most natural thing in the world for him to caress his hands against her cheek, tilting her face up so he could taste those lips. Feel her respond under his touch.
But at the back of his mind, a warning light was flashing.
This is not in the plan.
And he never did anything, especially with the weight of his responsibilities on his shoulders, without weighing the impact those actions would have. Whether on his life, his daughter’s, his career, or even this woman and her family.
He took a step back, breaking the spell that had fallen over them.
Instantly, Daisy’s face flushed and she looked away.
“You should head up to bed. I’m going to check in with Officer Rogers and confirm what time the cars will be ready to take us to the park tomorrow.”
“Of course. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Even after she’d disappeared from his sight, Jack stood at the counter for a long moment.
That had been close. Too close.
Because as much as he’d wanted to give in to the urges that were sweeping over him when he was in this woman’s presence, he knew it would only complicate everything. Daisy was different, and it was precisely for that reason he needed to keep his head clear and not let his baser urges get in the way of doing what was right. What was necessary.
Even if it just might kill him in the process.