“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, trying his best to look innocent.
“You know exactly what I mean,” she said, placing a sassy hand on her cute little hip. “They say stay seated and you take that as a personal challenge to stand. They say keep your hands in and you try to…I don’t know what, but something bad.”
“Okay, I confess. My brothers and I didn’t always think staying seated in the raft was the best way to experience a water slide. But I promise to be good.”
The playfulness fell away. “You know Jack wants to do everything you do.”
“I know.” And very soon he wouldn’t be there for Jack, or any of them. “I promise to follow every rule.”
The way she was looking at him he wondered if she might be thinking the same thing.
“So, what time are we leaving?”
“Nine.”
“I’ll see you then. Good night.” He waited until she was inside before walking to the elevator, the two sides of his mind raging at each other. What the hell was he thinking?
That he wanted to make sure she and the kids were safe. That he wanted more time with her. And, if he was honest, that he wasn’t ready to spend a day without her. But was spending more time together the best thing for either of them?
Chapter 9
“Jack, get in the car.”
Matt hadn’t been at their door at nine. At ten minutes past, the car was loaded. It was time to go.
Jack continued to scour the parking lot for Matt. “He’s coming.”
She was eight years old again, waiting for yet another foster parent who’d forgotten to pick her up from school. Possibly forgotten she even existed. Wouldn’t be the first time. “Jack, get in the car. Now.”
“No. He said he’s coming. He is.”
“Maybe he’s wost,” Gracie said, leaning out the open door from her car seat. “We can get him, Mommy.”
Absolutely not. And she wasn’t waiting. For anyone. “Jackson Moore, get in the car.”
Annie sat buckled and staring straight ahead. She’d never asked about her father and she didn’t inquire about Matt, just accepted it. Almost like she’d known.
This is why it’s better to be alone. This is why—
“There he is!” Jack yelled. “I knew you’d come.”
Abby looked back to see Matt’s athletic form jogging across the parking lot. Her heart did a nosedive as she watched her son race over the pavement and launch himself into Matt’s arms.
Matt jogged the rest of the way with Jack over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Her son’s face was one big smile. “Mom didn’t think you were coming, but I knew you would.”
He stopped in front of her, grinning like a kid himself. “Sorry I’m late. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He rubbed his knuckles against Jack’s head, swung him to the ground, and poked his head in the open back door. “Hey, rug rats.”
“Hi, Matt. I said we should get you and Mommy said no and she wooked weally sa—”
“Let’s go.” Abby cut off Gracie’s recap.
Matt cocked his head, giving her a look before boosting Jack into the Suburban, leaving him to find his seat and get buckled. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she said, trying her best to look like nothing about this situation was unexpected. Not his being here and definitely not her caring when he wasn’t.
“Want me to drive?”
She held out the keys and was already turning away when he grabbed her hand.
“Abby.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry you thought that.”
She didn’t know whether he was sorry for her disappointment or sorry she hadn’t believed in him. It didn’t really matter, did it?
Matt opened her door and held out his hand to help her in. She didn’t take it, more upset with herself than with him.
He went around, slid in, and started the car. “I tried to call you.”
Abby stared straight ahead, a million possible responses flying through her mind.
Don’t worry about it.
I didn’t expect you to come anyway.
I hate myself for wanting you here.
None of them were new.
“You don’t have my number.”
“I do and I left a message.”
Before she could argue, Gracie sang out the digits of her phone number. It shouldn’t surprise her that he’d heard her daughter show off the new skill. And it shouldn’t surprise her that he’d remembered the number. He was a Navy SEAL after all. Trained to remember all things. Be all things. And if she wasn’t careful, he could very easily be all things to her.
—
Thirty minutes later Matt pulled into Raging Rapids Water Park. Abby hadn’t put much effort into the Mary Poppins sing-along. He knew every word since his sister had always gotten to choose the car music. At least that’s what he’d told Abby when she’d given him a questioning look. Plus, Mary Poppins was hot. Kind of like Abby. He snuck another glance, trying not to smile. A cross between Mary Poppins and Megan Fox.
He put the Suburban into park, and Abby got out without a word.
“Hold tight a second, guys.” He put the windows down and met Abby at the back.
Without looking at him, she reached for the back door handle to get their things. Something was going to be said, and he would damn well say it. He stopped her with a hand on her arm and got a jolt. It happened every time he touched her. He slid his fingers down until they met and closed around hers.