Rachel jumped up from her seat. “Stop right there.”
“What?”
“I will not listen to any more of this talk about how she may or may not be your daughter. She is alone. Probably scared and miserable. She doesn’t know you any more than you know her. As I already said, you are the adult, and the responsible one. You need to put your feelings aside and take care of her.”
He stopped his pacing and stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’re right, and I needed to hear that.”
“Yes, well. I feel for the girl. I was once her age and lost my mother to influenza, and then only a couple of years later my father was killed in a bank robbery. My Aunt Tori arrived, who I’d only seen a few times in my life, and dragged us all to Oklahoma to start a new life. I can tell you about young girl misery. I even ran away from home and caused my Aunt Tori and Uncle Jesse to chase me down.”
“See. There you have it. You’re the perfect person to deal with Amelia.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help with her. But you are still her father,” she raised her hand as he opened his mouth to speak, “and as her father, you need to take care of her. Make her feel wanted, and loved.”
“Wanted and loved. I just met the girl an hour ago.”
“Rusty . . .”
“I don’t care for the look in your eye, but at least I got you to use my first name.” He offered one of his most charming smiles. She wasn’t falling for it. “All right. I’ll be serious. I know I have to do right by the girl, but I need help. A lot of help.”
“Very well. Just as long as you know I’m not doing this for you.”
He nodded, hope springing up where only terror at the prospect of being a father had been.
“You may leave Amelia with me. But only if she agrees.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re not getting off the hook so easily. You are her father, and you must form some type of an attachment to her. I’m only offering her a place to stay until you can get this all worked out. In fact, I think she will most likely be more comfortable staying with me anyway, since there are no ties between us.”
Never before in his life had he wanted to kiss a woman more than this one standing in front of him. She was flushed from their discussion, her chest heaving. Her eyes snapped with emotion, and when she licked her lips he almost groaned. Somehow he knew if he made any type of an advance to her right now she would most likely slap his face, and refuse to help with Amelia.
Forget it, buddy. This is not the time or place.
“Why don’t we join Will and Amelia in the kitchen? Sometimes problems are much better solved over a glass of milk and a few cookies.”
Rusty swept his arm out. “Lead the way.”
***
Will was chattering away when they entered the kitchen. Leave it to her son to break the ice in an awkward situation. Amelia appeared to be listening to him until she and Rusty entered the kitchen. She sat back, the bored expression once more on her face.
This poor girl is terrified. At least when Aunt Tori came for us we knew she wanted us.
“Amelia, I see you’ve met Will. I’m Will’s mother, Mrs. Stevens.”
The girl ignored her, and turned her back.
“You acknowledge Mrs. Stevens,” Rusty said.
Rachel shook her head furiously at him. Men had absolutely no sense when it came to female emotions. The last thing Amelia needed was for this man she just met for the first time, who everyone claimed to be her father, to chastise her in front of others.
“That’s all right.” Rachel moved to the small ice box. “I was planning on having some milk and cookies.” She turned to Will. “Didn’t you offer some of your snack to Amelia?”
“Oh, sorry, Ma.” Red-faced, he mumbled, “Sorry, Amelia.”
Amelia shrugged. Most likely the girl was used to being ignored.
Rachel took down three glasses and set them on the table. “Won’t you join us, Mr. McIntyre?”