After that he’d made sure he was out of town for holidays. For most days.
Rome. Zurich. Barcelona. Didn’t matter. He’d pour bourbon down his throat, screw the woman in his bed, then drink more to forget what he’d just done.
His family worried, looked at him with sad sorry eyes as they did now. And he hated it. They wanted the old Stephen back, the gentle, lighthearted man he’d been. That man didn’t exist anymore. He wasn’t fit for a children’s party, even if Matt didn’t want to believe it.
His gut reaction was to leave, throwing a dark cloud over another family gathering, except…Hannah laughed. A sound so beautiful he was caught by it, in it.
The game went on. Squeals and shouts. Conversation and movement. Everything continued around them, disaster averted.
The silk of her blouse wasn’t loose anymore, but sticking to her chest, outlining her bra beneath. Her nipples stood hard against the thin, soaked fabric and his mouth went dry. “You’re cold,” he said, finally finding his voice. “I mean…” It was cool out, but—Fuck. “Are you cold? Do you want to take it off?” Shit. Of course he hadn’t meant here and now. He should stop talking.
Her smile slipped and the pretty pink blush on her cheeks spread along her delicate throat, leading his eyes lower…where they did not need to go.
“Stephen.”
He jerked his eyes from her chest at the sound of his mother’s voice.
“Get your friend a towel.”
A towel. Right.
“Hannah.” Abby approached. “I’m sorry about that.” She passed her a towel as if she’d known they’d be needed eventually.
Jack edged up beside his mother. “Sorry, Uncle Stephen.”
He looked down into the brown eyes of a boy he barely knew. His own fault. Not Jack’s.
“It’s okay,” Hannah said. “No harm done.”
“Yeah,” Stephen added. “Good aim.”
“Not really. I was trying to hit Charlie, but he ran behind you.”
Oh, well.
Jack didn’t wait, just smiled and took off. Abby turned away as well, leaving him trying not to watch Hannah rub her breast.
“Hannah, push me!” Gracie shouted to her from the swing set.
Good idea. They both joined Gracie at the swings. He watched Hannah push, and spent the next fifteen minutes trying hard not to check the status of her drying shirt.
Soon the party wound down. The kids went inside to watch a movie, leaving the adults to relax on the deck against the backdrop of a setting sun. Adult drinks were poured, beers opened, and someone picked up a guitar.
By the time he got to the deck, Lizzy already had Hannah talking, which was good. It seemed he’d forgotten how to talk to a woman. For a guy so seemingly charming, he never had to use much charm. Or any. There were plenty of women who were happy enough to do all the talking. Hannah wasn’t one of them. But that was one benefit of a big family. Always someone to pick up the conversational slack.
He sat with his arm around the back of Hannah’s chair and listened to her, much more at ease talking to his sister than to him. Matt’s oldest daughter, Annie, cuddled quietly in his lap while he and Luke sat in deep discussion about the latest toys Uncle Sam had to offer. Lizzy, a child psychologist, continued to pick Hannah’s brain about the benefits of animal therapy, specifically horseback riding. It was interesting, but more than anything, he liked listening to the sound of her voice.
The whole scene was very domestic. And very not him.
This was the first time he’d been around his family with a woman since…no. He blocked the name and the pain that came with it. Not so sharp he couldn’t breathe, but that was only because his heart no longer worked.
“You brought me a present?” Gracie asked, surprise and delight shining in her eyes.
He hadn’t noticed his niece join them. He’d seen a pile of gifts inside from family members he assumed were to be opened later. But Abby, being the perfect hostess, must have called Gracie out to open Hannah’s gift while she was here.
“Well, it is your birthday, right?” Hannah smiled sweetly down at his niece.
Gracie reached into the bag filled with silver shreddings and pulled out a stuffed pony covered in a patchwork of rainbow-bright fabrics, silky and glittering.
“I love horses!” Gracie threw her arms around Hannah’s neck. “I love them more than anything in the whole world.”
Hannah returned the hug. “Well, maybe your mom and dad can bring you out to see my horse.”
“Mommy, she said I can go see her horse! Can I? Will you take me? Daddy, will you take me to see Hannah’s horse?”
Not waiting for answers, Gracie turned back all smiles and happiness. “I’m coming to see your horse, Hannah. Maybe I’ll even ride him with you.”
Hannah glanced up at Abby with a soft expression. “She really is welcome. Just call me.”
“Thank you. She’d love that.”
With all eyes on her, Hannah seemed to retreat a bit. She wet her lips, fiddled with the napkin in her lap. “Of course all of the kids are welcome. Anyone really.”
There was a yell from inside, and his brother’s wife, Sarah, stood with their newborn in her arms.
“I’ll take her,” Abby said.
The baby was passed to Abby but just barely, before Charlie came out screaming about how he’d been wronged, something about his spot.
Abby turned. “Hannah, could you hold Lily for me?”