His crooked smile made her body tingle in response. “I’d imagine you’re good at a lot of things.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed against him. “You have no idea.”
She smothered his laugh beneath another eager kiss.
* * *
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Maddie snuggled with Walt in her big bed. Her every inch felt boneless and relaxed. Satisfied. As she’d predicted, Walt used his one hand—not to mention the rest of his very fine body—masterfully.
“Nice apartment,” he said, glancing around the colorful room. She hadn’t given him time to admire it when she’d ushered him in, straight through the living room and down the hallway to the master bedroom.
“Thanks. I’ve considered buying, but haven’t found a place I liked enough to commit to.”
“You should visit me in South Carolina sometime,” he
said a little too casually. “Got a nice top-floor condo. Ocean view. I bought it just before Christmas. Got a good deal on it because that’s not a peak time for home buying.”
Amused by the brusque practicality in contrast with his obvious pride of ownership, she smiled and kissed his chin, the only part of his face she could reach at the moment. “You’re a funny guy, Walt.”
He looked at her with a lifted eyebrow. “You think it’s funny that I bought a condo?”
“No. Yes.” She ran her fingertips over his firm jaw. “I just really like you.”
He shifted to brush her smile with his lips. “I really like you, too. In case you hadn’t figured that out.”
His smile faded a bit then. “The situation between your sister and my idiot friend is still strained, right? I hope that’s not going to be a problem for us. I don’t know about Joanna, but Adam’s been a bear for the past three weeks.”
“Joanna’s been so smiley and cheery she could audition for the lead in a kiddie show. And before you misinterpret that, it’s roughly the same sign as Adam’s grouchiness. She’s hurting and confused.”
Maddie propped herself on one elbow, the sheet draped over her hips. “As far as you and I are concerned, their problems have no bearing on whatever might develop between us. It’s neither your fault nor mine that they’re making each other miserable. Why should we do the same? We clicked three weeks ago. So...here we are.”
“Here we are.” He kissed her lingeringly before asking, “Will she mind?”
“It wouldn’t matter if she did. But no, she won’t mind. Jo and I lead our own lives. She wants me to be happy. And I want the same for her.”
He sighed, twisting a strand of her bright red hair around one finger. “I wish the same for Adam. He’s just so damned skittish.”
“If anyone can get through that thick head of his, my sister and nephew will manage.”
Walt tumbled her back down beside him. “How about we talk about Joanna and Adam later?”
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Much later.”
* * *
ADAM PAUSED IN his morning run to swipe his forearm over his wet face, his attention caught by the sight of a small group of tourists out for an early horseback ride down the beach. He was taken back to the feel of a child’s arms around his waist, the sound of a boy’s laughter in his ear as ol’ Dez had trudged patiently beneath them. He scowled down at his feet, only then realizing he’d stopped in the very spot where he’d first found Simon. Damn it.
He missed Simon. Missed Joanna. He doubted that he would ever again be satisfied with his formerly commitment-free life now that he’d had a taste of what he was missing. He hadn’t been sure about telling Simon he was his father, but that was irrelevant now. The boy knew, and he’d made it clear he wanted his dad to be a part of his future.
After seeing Joanna and Simon drive away, Adam had asked Trevor for a little more time before giving his answer about the change in his job. Trevor had encouraged him to take as much time as he needed to be certain. Adam had wrestled with old doubts and fears during the past three weeks, but he finally had an answer, though he’d yet to share it with his friend and employer.
It was time to stop running. Time for Adam to reach out and grasp what he’d always wanted, but had never expected to find. It was scary as hell to make a lifetime commitment when he’d spent so many years avoiding emotional risks, but this time it was worth his best effort.
He wouldn’t be a pop-in, long-distance near stranger known only through phone calls and brief visits. He’d be there for ball games and fishing trips and teacher conferences and whatever else real dads did. In Seattle, if that was where he had to move to be near his son. That was the least his boy deserved.
He still had his doubts, of course. Still worried that he wasn’t up to the task. He hated the thought of failing his son. Just remembering the way the kid’s lower lip quivered when he was sad made Adam feel gut-punched.
He was equally apprehensive about hurting Joanna. And as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn’t help worrying about being hurt by her instead. He’d never allowed any woman into his guarded heart, and the thought of doing so now made him break out in a sweat, though not from running this time.