“Down,” she repeated.
He stood, set the child on her feet and held her hands while she tried out her amusingly wobbly legs. Every time he let go of her hands, she fell flat on her diapered bottom. Each time, she laughed, clapped her chubby hands, then held them up for him to do it again.
“I’m not sure she’s getting the hang of this walking thing,” Jamie commented as she approached them. She sounded slightly winded from her game with the boys, who had turned their attention to trying to pin Wade to the grass.
“I’ve decided I’m going to have to carry her to kindergarten,” Trevor answered wryly, trying not to stare at Jamie’s attractively flushed cheeks and bright eyes. The more he looked at her, the more he wanted her. And this was a damn inconvenient time to deal with that.
“She’ll walk when she’s good and ready, won’t you, Abbie?”
“Go,” Abbie answered, holding her hands up again.
Somehow Trevor found himself holding Abbie’s left hand while Jamie held her right. Supporting the toddler between them, they escorted Sam to the playground equipment, where they took turns entertaining Abbie and supervising Sam’s play.
Trevor knew any interested onlookers must think they looked really domestic. Anyone who didn’t know them would think they were already a family. Jamie seemed to fit the role very well at the moment.
But then, so had Melanie, a cruel voice inside his head whispered. Most people had thought Melanie was the perfect wife and mother. They hadn’t known her at all, of course. And Trevor, perhaps, had been the most deluded about her. He’d thought she was damn near perfect, himself. So perfect that he’d even secretly found her a little dull at times, though he had tried very hard not to acknowledge those uncomfortable feelings.
He’d made himself a promise that he would never be so gullible about a woman again. Nor quite so trusting. He owed it to his children as much as he did to himself.
10
THE SHADOWS HAD GROWN long and the sky was beginning to darken by the time the picnic ended. They had finished up, having devoured the cupcakes Jamie had hastily baked after Emily invited her to join them. On the other side of the table, Claire was asleep in Emily’s arms, while Clay leaned comfortably against his father. Abbie was beginning to doze against Trevor’s chest, and Sam, worn out from running and playing, had crawled into Jamie’s lap.
Listening to something Emily was saying, Jamie looped her arms loosely around Sam and rested her cheek against his damp hair. He smelled of little boy, she found herself thinking, an interesting combination of heat and sweetness. It was a nice feeling to sit wi
th this close family, cradling a contentedly drowsy child in her lap.
She glanced at Trevor, whose strong arms so easily supported his little daughter. It had been interesting watching him in this different mode. Not as her date or her lover—the word still evoked sensual memories in the back of her mind. But as a devoted father. He seemed so comfortable in that role. She’d watched him matter-of-factly feed Abbie, entertain her, change her diaper, wipe her hands before and after her cupcake, his movements so confident, his big hands so gentle. She’d watched him roughhouse with Sam, laughing and tickling, tossing the little boy in the air and then catching him so securely.
Loving father. Dutiful son. Caring friend. Passionate lover. Jamie had seen Trevor in all those roles now, but she knew there was a part of himself he kept hidden from her. From everyone, perhaps? Even as she looked at him then, she saw shadows lurking deep within him that she didn’t yet understand.
She had so much still to learn about him. They hadn’t talked about his marriage or the life he had led in Washington. She still didn’t know exactly why he had moved back to Honoria, or what he planned for the future. She didn’t know if he had any thoughts of including her in that future. She hadn’t forgotten that it had been Emily, not Trevor, who had invited her to join them here.
Glancing her way, he caught her studying him. He gave her a smile that revealed nothing of his thoughts. “I think we’ve worn the kids out,” he announced to all the adults.
Wade groaned. “I thought it was the other way around.”
Emily smiled. “As much as I’ve enjoyed this, it probably is time to call it a day.”
“Not yet,” Sam protested. “I want to go down the slide again. I’m not tired.” But even as he spoke, he yawned and rubbed his eyes.
Jamie chuckled and gave him a hug. “You never get tired, do you, Sammy?”
He grinned sheepishly up at her. “Well…maybe a little.”
“We’ll come back to the park another time, son,” Trevor said. “The slide will still be here.”
Sam turned to his father. “Can Jamie come, too?”
“Of course she can.”
Even though Trevor had answered without hesitation, Jamie felt a slight frisson of uneasiness go through her. There’d been something in his voice…
“Help me gather everything up, Clay,” Wade said, standing and officially bringing the picnic to an end. “Make sure all the trash is in the canisters.”
“I’ll help,” Sam offered, sliding off Jamie’s lap.
It didn’t take long for all evidence of the meal to be removed, the supplies stowed away and the children hugged, kissed and buckled into their respective seats. Jamie thanked Emily and Wade for including her, waving to them as they drove off. And then she turned to Trevor, who stood beside the unopened driver’s door of his car.