She'd always thought that when the world came to an end, it would do so with a lot of clanging noises and blurs of action. But then, that would be the whole world ending; this was only hers.
Kyle's gaze took another stroll around the room before coming back to rest on her.
"You have a daughter."
Crushing his envelope of papers between her fists, Jamie nodded again. He knows nothing. He knows nothing…
She repeated the words, like a catchy tune, over and over in her mind.
Relentless, watching her with his hard brown stare, he finally spoke. "You said you weren't married."
"I'm not."
"Where's her father?"
"Gone."
HER SECRET, HIS CHILD
"You loved him?"
"I thought I did."
He moved closer to the photo on the mantel, studying it—and her. "She must be about two."
And because he'd just given her an out, because she was desperate and didn't know what else to do, Jamie stood there, mute. Ashley had been two in that picture.
Her knees almost collapsed as he approached, his eyes warmer now. He reached out and brushed her cheek. "She looks very much like you—beautiful."
"Thank you." She forced herself not to flinch from his touch. Nor to press her face into it. She had to stay calm, satisfy his curiosity and get rid of him. Once and for all.
Glancing from the blanket she still clutched around her, to the cold hallway behind her, he said, "Where is she?"
"Away for the night." With the irrational thought that he might ask to see Ashley if he knew she was sleeping right next door, she scrambled for something else to say. "Visiting friends," she added.
He nodded, apparently satisfied, and Jamie relaxed just a little, giving herself a huge, if imaginary, pat on the back for an acting ability she'd forgotten she possessed.
"Here." She shoved the crumpled envelope at him. "Your completed forms."
If he thought it odd to have his accountant handing him his tax forms in a less-than-pristine condition, he was gentleman enough not to say so.
TARA TAYLOR QU1NN
He also didn't seem particularly interested in opening the manila envelope to examine them.
"I've x'd all the places you need to sign. If you have any questions just call."
He continued to stand there, assessing her. Making her nervous as hell.
"I'll be happy to mail them for you as soon as they're ready."
"Have dinner with me."
"I already ate."
"Won't you have to do so again sometime?"
Of course. In the morning. And at noon. And tomorrow night. With Ashley. "I don't date."