The look of tenderness in Hadley’s eyes when they landed on his daughter had a lump rising in David’s throat. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have someone in his household who cared so deeply for his daughter.

David thought of the kisses he and Hadley had shared. He needed to keep his desire for her under control. The last thing he wanted was to affect the balance at home.

He forced his eyes away and caught his sister staring. Before she could ask any questions, he walked to the brass bell mounted on a post at the edge of the terrace.

“Ready for me to ring the bell?” David inclined his head, his gaze fixed on his mother.

The captain’s bell, complete with stick, had been an impulse purchase by his mother early in her marriage. Surprisingly, his father had taken a shine to it. For as far back as David could remember, they’d rung the bell before each meal.

As kids, getting chosen to ring it had been a big deal.

Lynn nodded. “Everything is on the table and ready to go.”

For a second, David thought about calling Brynn over, but then Callum and Connor would want to get in on the action. There was only so much bell-ringing he could take.

Everyone was claiming their seats, either in the sun or under the awning, when David heard Clay call out.

“Way to wait for me.”

“You snooze, you lose,” David joked.

Ami strolled over with Sarah Rose on her hip. The toddler stared at Hadley for a long moment, then broke into a smile of recognition.

Little hands reached out, and Hadley scooped the child into her arms.

“She likes kids,” Clay said to David, not bothering to keep his voice low.

“Hadley is wonderful with children.” Ami turned to the men. “She’ll make a fabulous mother one day.”

Of that, David had no doubt. He was only surprised she wasn’t already married with several children in tow. But he was glad, for his sake—and Brynn’s—that she was still single.

The line formed, and David took his place beside Brynn and Hadley. He tried to concentrate on the food, rather than how good Hadley smelled.

“No burgers, brats and beer for Lynn Chapin.” His whispered comment brought a smile to Hadley’s face.

Skewers of spicy shrimp, grilled corn with basil butter and bread salad with broccoli rabe and summer squash filled the tabletop.

Hadley turned toward him, and her mouth was so close, David would have to shift only an inch or two to kiss her. Desire punched like a fist in his gut.

“It looks wonderful.” But she wasn’t looking at the food. Her gaze was on his mouth.

David saw his own desire reflected in the blue depths of her eyes. It would be so easy to put his lips on hers, to—

Sarah Rose shrieked and lunged forward, nearly clipping David’s chin. He jerked back.

“What the—”

“She loves oranges.” Across the table, Ami’s green eyes danced.

David blinked.

Ami pointed to the salad in front of him, generously mixed with mandarins.

“Oh.” David shifted his gaze back to Hadley and the little girl in her arms, who seemed determined to grab everything, not just oranges, from the selections.

Once they reached the end of the table, Ami handed her plate to Beck and lifted Sarah Rose from Hadley’s arms.

Hadley waited, plate in hand.

“Let’s sit over there.” Brynn pointed to a table under a large oak tree. Wind chimes dangled from one branch, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody.

David didn’t know whether to be relieved or irritated when Greer and Clay joined them. The first fifteen minutes were filled with talk of the weather before veering to the upcoming Founder’s Day celebration.

“Hadley helped me with my family history project,” Brynn announced proudly.

“Oh?” Greer lifted a well-shaped brow. Curiosity danced in her gray eyes.

Brynn popped a grape into her mouth. “We made pizza. It was fun. That was before she moved in.”

Greer’s curious gaze shifted from Hadley to David. When neither said anything, she refocused on her niece.

Brynn leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Did you know Hadley’s middle name is Elizabeth, just like mine?”

“I didn’t know that.” Greer appeared suitably impressed.

“It’s a common name,” Hadley clarified.

“It came from my birth mother,” Brynn announced, stabbing a piece of orange.

David smiled. Both he and Whitney had spoken freely of Brynn’s adoption, not only with her, but with family and friends.

The conversation shifted to exploits of the Chapin siblings growing up. David slanted several surreptitious glances at Hadley during the meal, then stopped when he realized he was acting like a lovestruck schoolboy.

“I assume my brother gave you a tour of the old homeplace.” Clay paused in his assault on a piece of cherry cobbler the size of Texas to focus on Hadley. “I’m curious what you thought of the medal room.”

Hadley smiled apologetically. “I haven’t taken a tour.”

“After you finish eating, you need to take a trip upstairs to David’s bedroom.” Clay shot his brother a teasing glance. “If he wouldn’t have left for college, Mom would have been forced to take out the bed to make room for the hardware.”

David chuckled. “While we’re up there, I’ll show you Clay’s room. We call it the Harry Potter shrine.”

Clay pointed a fork at his brother. “Some of those posters are worth hundreds.”

Hadley grinned at the brotherly teasing. “I’d love a tour of both rooms, after I help with the cleanup.”

“Thanks, but not necessary.” Lynn, who’d just walked up, offered a reassuring smile. “I have staff to take care of that chore.”

Only then did Hadley notice the two young women in black pants and white shirts already silently clearing the tables.

“Okay, then.” Hadley smiled at Brynn. “Are you joining us?”

The child glanced across the yard at the twins, who were attempting to climb one of the many trees dotting the yard. “I’m going to play with Callum and Connor.”

“Be careful,” David urged, but Brynn had already taken off, headed straight for the twins. He turned back to Hadley. “Looks like it’s you and me and a bedroom full of medals.”

And that, David decided, was perfectly fine with him.

* * *

Hadley had paid little attention to the kitchen on her way outside. This time, she paused. The shiny cherrywood floor was a startling contrast to the white kitchen cabinets. She turned to David. “This is striking. Classic and traditional, yet warm and welcoming. Still—”

He lifted a brow.

Hadley shrugged. “I like our-ah, yours, better.”

She could tell the comment pleased him. “I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

Once they were alone in the hall, she touched his arm. “Since we’re alone, I want you to know I’ve enjoyed today…”

“But,” he prompted.

“I don’t want you feeling like you have to invite me to family events.”

A slow, easy smile was his only response.

She couldn’t help smiling back. He took her elbow, and they entered an area where two rooms were connected by an elaborately carved colonnade. A floral sofa and chairs had been grouped for conversation near a fireplace. “I hope you consider me your friend.”

Hadley’s heart performed a series of flutters as she crossed the room and ran a hand along the smooth white surface of the fireplace mantel. “This is lovely.”

“It was designed by Robert Adam. Known for his neoclassical style, he trained under his father, William, a well-regarded Scottish architect.” David stepped up behind her, standing so close she could feel the heat from his body. “The fluted Ionic columns and classical urns and ewers show his influence.”

Hadley turned to face him and found him. Right. There. “I enjoy learning new things.”

“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”

At her arched brow, he smiled. “Brian Herbert.”

Oh-so-casually, his hands moved to rest on her shoulders.

She’d lifted her face for the kiss they both knew was coming when he suddenly stepped back.

Hadley frowned, then realized the reason. A young woman, dark hair pulled back in a jaunty tail, had entered the room and was loading half-empty glasses on a tray. Though her gaze remained carefully averted, Hadley wondered how much she’d seen.

“Let me show you the upstairs.”

The promise in David’s eyes had Hadley’s mouth going dry. Neither spoke during the short flight up the stairs.

They’d passed several closed doors when David stopped her with a light touch on her arm. He reached around her to push a door open. “This was mine.”

Clay had been right. Baseball, football and track trophies filled an entire wall.

Moving to a track trophy, Hadley hefted a statue of a silver runner poised to sprint on top of a bright blue pillar. After reading the inscribed base, her lips curved as she turned to David. “I also ran the eight hundred meters.”

He lifted the trophy from her hands, returned it to its spot, then stepped close. They were playing with fire. They could get burned. Heck, who was she kidding? She could get burned. Badly.

Hadley shoved the fear aside. They were adults. Friends. What was a few kisses between friends? The secret that stood between them, the one he didn’t even know existed, would keep her from letting down her guard and getting too close.

In a month, she’d move out of his home. Life for both of them would go back to normal.

“You’re thinking too hard.”

Her breath caught as he lifted his hand and slid his fingers through her hair.

“You’re incredibly beautiful.” His soft voice reached deep, touching a raw, tender place.

“You’re the one who’s beautiful.” She breathed the words. “Gorgeous eyes the color of smoke. Dark hair like highly polished, fine wood. And a body—”

Hadley stopped herself just in time. No need to go down that road and put ideas that would never come to fruition—couldn’t come to fruition—in his head. Though, the desire shimmering in the air told her he probably shared a few of her lusty thoughts.

Afraid of what he might see in her eyes, Hadley wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. Just held him close, liking the feel of her curves molding against his muscles. Where she was soft, he was hard. So very hard.

“Ah, Hadley.” He tipped her head back and gazed into her eyes. “I want you so much.”

He lowered his head. His lips were warm and sweet, and Hadley let her eyelids close, savoring the moment.

A smoldering heat began to build inside her as his tongue circled and danced with hers. She did the same to him, each touch, each tingle reinforcing the possibilities.

He tasted like the most delicious candy Hadley had ever eaten, and she couldn’t help wanting more. When his hands slipped underneath her shirt, she didn’t think of stopping those fingers as they slowly slid upward. With one flick, he had her bra open. Her nipples tingled, anticipating his touch.

The door flew open with a bang. “What do you think of—”

The look of shock on Clay’s face might have been laughable at any other time. His voice trailed off with, “The medals?”

David’s hands dropped to his sides as he turned.

Hadley thought she heard him mutter a curse, but couldn’t be sure as her hammering heart made hearing difficult.

She resisted the urge to straighten her shirt, thankful David hadn’t yet pushed it up, or off. Hadley cleared her throat. “David was showing me his medals.”

“Is that what they call it now?” Clay chuckled, then shifted toward his brother. “Sorry to interrupt you and the girlfriend. Carry on.”

Before either of them had a chance to respond, Clay had pulled the door shut behind him.

“He’s got it all wrong.” Hadley’s voice took on an urgency. “You have to tell him I’m not your girlfriend.”

David was silent for a long time.

“I’m Brynn’s nanny.”

“Temporary nanny.” His sharp gray eyes never left her face. “Are you interested in dating me, Hadley?”

“Dating?”

With one hand, David pushed her hair back from her face and cupped her cheek. The tender gesture had her eyes widening. “You know, that thing men and women do when they like each other.”

Just say no, she told herself. She couldn’t date him. Unless he was talking about simply having fun together. Two friends enjoying each other’s company.

“You’re thinking too hard again.” His smile was lopsided, his fingers not quite steady as they trailed along the side of her jaw. “Just tell me what you want.”