things made perfect sense to her.
âSo Iâve been thinking. Since Uncle Ian says you have to have a mommy and daddy, all I have to do is find a daddy. Mine died, you know.â
Quinn nodded at her matter-of-fact announcement.
âWhen you were a little boy, did you have a daddy?â
âNo.â The question was as unexpected as everything else about the conversation.
âOh.â A tiny pucker appeared between her eyebrows. âDid you want one?â
Had anyone else asked the question he would have lied. Instead he found himself telling this child a truth that he would have denied anyone else. âWith all my heart.â
She smiled. âMe, too. But mostly I want a baby. This time maybe the baby can grow in my mommy instead of in Aunt Rosie. That should work, donât you think?â
He didnât know what to think, but he was sure of one thing. Agreeing with Annmarie in any way at all would likely land him in deep trouble.
âI thinkââ he glanced at his watch ââitâs getting late.â
âYep,â Annmarie agreed.
âAnd I should probably go.â
âBefore breakfast?â
He nodded, standing up, and she expelled a big sigh.
When he looked down at her, she said, âAre you sure you donât want breakfast?â She pointed at the cupboard. âThe cereal is way up there. The bowls are over there and, besides, the milk is very heavy.â
âAh.â Things were beyond her reach, if he understood the problem. How could he leave without helping her out, especially since she had made hot chocolate for him? âOkay. I guess I can have cereal before I go.â He opened the cupboard and found a single box of cereal on the top shelf.Cocoa Puffs. He had been hoping for cornflakes or something similar.
She beamed as he poured cereal into two bowls and got out the milk. Within no time they were munching on cereal as Annmarie continued talking about babies. This time, thankfully, the subject was the cat that lived in Rosieâs greenhouse.
âWhereâs my punkinâ?â Lily called from the hallway.
Annmarie giggled as dread settled into the pit of Quinnâs stomach. He should have left. He shouldnât be sitting here waiting for Lily, wanting to see her, wanting, just wanting, all the things he could never have.
Smiling, she came through the doorway an instant later, wrapped in that same thick robe sheâd had on when sheâd visited during the night. Until now, he hadnât known it was lavender. The smile remained, but something changed in her eyes when her gaze lit on him. Was she glad to see him or wishing heâd left already?
âIâm having breakfast,â Annmarie returned.
âCocoa Puffs,â Lily murmured, taking in the contents of the bowl. âYour Saturday treat onââ
âItâs not Saturday?â the child asked.
Lily tousled her hair. âYou know itâs not.â She dipped a finger in her daughterâs hot chocolate, then licked off the gooey mess of the marshmallow before turning to Quinn. âI never would have figured you for a hot-chocolate kind of guy.â
He shrugged, images of licking her fingers destroying any hope he had of ignoring the flare of attraction between them. âWhen in Romeâ¦you know.â
Lily moved away from him, wanting to put her arms around him and discovering that she had used up all her courage a couple of hours ago. Having him watch her with that troubled expression made her opt for pouring a cup of coffee. After adding cream and sugar to it, she sat next to him. âHowâs your head?â
âBetter.â He touched the bandage at his hairline. Without meeting her eyes he added, âThanks for taking care of me.â
âIâm done,â Annmarie announced. âCan I give Sweetie Pie my milk now?â
Lily looked at her daughter, then the bowl of cereal-flavored milk she
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