Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Leonard
“Hi, Mom,” Shelby answers her cell cheerfully.
Picking up a pink puzzle piece, I slip it into place as Shelby stands. She scratches the top of my daughter’s head with the tips of her fingers as she passes.
Riley frowns, staring after her.
Worry churns in my stomach. Am I moving too fast? I look back toward the hall that leads to the bedrooms. Shelby and I have been a thing for years, whether she and everyone else knew about it or not. I’ll do anything to make her mine completely now, but I won’t have my daughter upset.
After Shelby spent yesterday evening with Samantha, Riley was more than happy to have her attention today. But seeing Shelby more often and her moving in are two different things.
Now I’m frowning too.
“You going to help Daddy?” I ask, tapping the scattered puzzle pieces on the table.
With one last glance down the hall, Riley sighs softly.
“You know you can tell Daddy anything, right?”
Riley pauses, reaching for a puzzle piece. She gives me a slight nod but says nothing.
“I love you, muffin,” I tell her, using Shelby’s nickname for her.
Giggling, she picks out a corner piece.
Together, we sit at the coffee table, music flowing quietly from the television.
My concern doesn’t leave. Instead, it grows with every look Riley sends to the back of the house.
My daughter isn’t the only one eager for our neighbor to rejoin us. Glancing at my watch again, I try to be discreet.
“Don’t forget it’s a secret,” Shelby warns, laughing at the response from the other end of the line.
We both perk up at the sound of an approaching voice. Like father, like daughter.
“I will call if something happens, I promise. Okay, okay. When something happens,” she corrects, rolling her eyes.
I send a disapproving look her way for the disrespectful act. Her stepmom may not be able to see her, but it’s still rude.
“I’ll tell them. We love you too. Bye.”
Ending the call, Shelby sets her cell down, slips past the sofa, and joins us on the cream carpet.
“My mom sends her love.”
Riley’s little forehead scrunches.
“How’s she doing?” I ask.
“Good.” Shelby nods. “Settling in well. Making friends. The town is small like Cromwell, so she’s used to everyone being up in her business.”
“The change of scenery will be good for her,” I reassure, placing a hand on her knee.
“I know,” she whispers with a deep sigh. “I just miss her.”
I squeeze her knee at her wistful tone. “You’re not alone.”
Shelby’s cheeks flush, a small smile taking over her face. Fighting it, she bites the corner of her lip. It quickly turns to a bright smile when she catches my eyes dropping to her mouth.
Shuffling forward, Shelby’s fingers cover mine.
“Muffin?”
Riley scratches at her nose and opens her mouth, but closes it quickly. Her right hand scrubs at her face.
I reach over, gently moving her hand away before she can scratch herself. Tucking loose hair behind her ear, I gently pry. “Riley?”
My sweet girl looks between us. “I thought your momma was in heaven?”
“Oh.” Shelby looks at me, unsure how to continue.
I nod for her to explain.
“She is, baby. My momma passed when I was very young. Sylvia is my stepmom. She married my daddy and raised me.”
“Do you remember when she lived next door with Shelby?”
“And her daddy.” Riley nods.
“Yeah, muffin.” Shelby smiles, but I see the pain wash over her face. The loss of her father is still very fresh.
“But . . .” She looks even more confused.
We both wait patiently for my daughter to gather her thoughts.
“Max says . . .”
I groan internally at the name. This fucking kid. How can a child I rarely see be this annoying?
“Max says that stepmoms are mean. And that daddies don’t love you anymore when you get one.”
“Max is very wrong,” I stress. “We talked about this, baby. I will never stop loving you. Never.”
“Stepmoms can be super nice. Just like mine. We used to bake together and have girl days. She was a very good mom to me.”
“But . . .”
Again, we wait for her to continue.
Reaching out, Shelby strokes the back of her head.
“But she left.”
“She did.” Shelby blinks quickly, sadness clear in her voice.
“After Shelby’s daddy passed away, Sylvia was very sad in the house. She needed to move away where she could make new memories. It’s hard to explain, but you’ll understand when you’re older,” I try to explain.
“But she called,” Riley says, looking between us.
Confused, I nod.
“But she called,” she repeats. Riley blinks quickly before chest-heaving sobs leave her.
I flinch at the sound. Kneeling, I reach over the table and scoop her under the arms and lift her over the table top. Pulling her into my chest, I rub her back.
“Her mom left, but she called,” Riley wails.
My hatred for her mother doubles. Pain stabs at my heart. Her mother isn’t the only one to blame.
My ex-wife cheated, and her lover followed her to Cromwell. She was going to leave and take my daughter with her. Over my dead body, or more specifically, in the end, theirs.
A fact my daughter will never know.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the crown of her head. And I am. I’m sorry that she’s hurting, I’m sorry she’s confused, and I’m sorry I haven’t made Shelby her mother before now. But I’m not sorry that my first wife is dead.
No one tries to take my child, and no one leaves me.
My fingers touch another hand, bringing me out of my dark thoughts. Shelby leans in close, whispering sweet words of love. Soothing my daughter with me until her tears dry up and her body sags.
“Are you and Daddy going to get married?”
“Would you be happy with that?” I ask before Shelby can even process my daughter’s question.
With a shrug, Riley whispers, “Would she leave?”
My eyes meet wide blue eyes over the top of Riley’s head. “Never,” I swear.
Shelby’s face flames. Shock, fear, and want wash over her features.
“Your daddy and I love you.” That’s all my future wife can say.
“Very much,” I agree. “Do you want to take a bath, and I’ll read you an extra-long bedtime story?”
Riley nods eagerly. “Extra, extra long?”
“I think we can do that.” I smile, soothing my thumb over her crinkled forehead. “Okay,” I say. I shift to my knees and set Riley on her feet. “I’ll make you a warm milk while you get ready for bed.”
Shelby follows suit and stands. “Maybe I should go home for the night? This whole live-in nanny thing might be too much for her.”
Catching her chin with my thumb and forefinger, I pull her full lip from between her teeth. “You’re not going anywhere,” I whisper.
Shelby’s eyes flare at my words, and the heat flows into me. She has no idea just how much I mean those words.
“Riley will get used to our new living arrangement.”
“It’s just a trial run,” she reminds me with a shrug.
“She’ll get used to it,” I repeat. “Let me settle Riley, and I’ll make you a juice when I get her milk.”
“Oh, I’ll get them.”
“No,” I rush, encasing her hips. Taking a breath, I soothe her with a smile. “I’ll do it. If it’s too early, the milk will be cool. Go chill, and I’ll bring it to you in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she agrees easily.
She’s so trusting. Too trusting.
We follow Riley. My daughter ducks into her bedroom, eager to pick out a story.
The hand I have on Shelby’s back tingles with every movement that her body makes. I don’t want to have to sneak these moments.
I want her to know who I am.
The feel of her body bumping into mine draws me from my thoughts.
“Max is a little shit. That’s probably why his dad doesn’t love him,” Shelby grumbles as she passes me.
I choke on my chuckle. I will not laugh at that, no matter how true it is.
Spinning in her bedroom doorway, she asks, “Too mean?”
Looking into Riley’s bedroom, I remember the look on my daughter’s face and shake my head. “No.” I face Shelby, and my heart pangs. “Drink your juice and take a shower. I’ll bring it in a few minutes,” I order.
“Yes, Dad.” Shelby nods with an exaggerated eye roll.
At this point, she’s just trying to piss me off. It’s working, and something she’ll pay for later.
“I’m definitely not your dad,” I mutter, watching her slip into her room.