Tension snapped her spine straight all the way to the door, where they were greeted by a gorgeous golden retriever who raced around from the side of the house.
‘Meet Goldie.’ Jared ruffled the dog’s fur. ‘Hello, girl.’ Her eyes drooled adoration up at him as he caught the expressive face in his hands, and was rewarded with a sloppy kiss.
‘Oh, isn’t she beautiful?’ Sophie crouched beside Jared to join in the petting. ‘Do you have pets?’
‘No. Our much-loved and ancient Betsy died a few years back. I’m too busy to train a new puppy and now that Lissa’s home less and less…it wouldn’t be fair on the dog.’
But Sophie saw the fleeting shadow that crossed his gaze before his sister opened the door.
‘Great meeting you, Sophie.’ A remarkably hassle-free-looking Crystal led the way to her kitchen. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’
Sophie looked to Jared, who shrugged his shoulders and blamed Lissa. He set the bag of supplies on a table crammed at one end with baby products and a florist’s arrangement of pink blooms that were starting to wilt, then promptly disappeared down a hallway, presumably to see his niece.
Unlike Melissa, who shared no apparent familial traits with Jared, Crystal was the feminine epitome of her brother. Same tall, dark, green-eyed attractiveness. And looking amazing considering she’d given birth only a week ago.
They chatted a few moments while Crystal unloaded an unlikely selection of disposable nappies, pâté and crackers and a fresh pineapple from Jared’s eco-bag. She was as easy-going as Melissa. Both sisters obviously thought the world of Jared and seemed to be ever-so-subtly interested in Sophie’s life.
Sophie was starting to relax and think that it was about time they got moving when Crystal said, ‘You have to meet Arabella before you go.’
Oh. Sophie bit the inside of her lip. ‘I wouldn’t want to disturb…’
But Crystal was already leading the way and the last thing Sophie wanted to do was offend the new mother in any way, shape or form. These days she was experienced at masking her feelings. No one would know that inside where it was just her, her heart was still crying over her once-in-a-million miracle that had never had a chance.
Sophie could smell the baby’s room from the end of the hall. It streamed through her senses. The lovely soft scent of powder and silky skin and newness. Crystal showed her into the room and Sophie made a valiant attempt to lose the melancholy.
Jared was leaning over the bassinet, stroking the infant’s cheek. And he was the one making goo-goo noises. He turned when they entered, his expression full of pride and pleasure. ‘She’s just waking up.’ He looked to his sister. ‘May I?’
Crystal set a pile of baby clothes on the blanket box. ‘Go right ahead. Just remember the clean nappy by your left arm’s included in part of the picking-up ritual.’
‘Fine by me.’
Somewhere a phone rang. ‘I’ll just get that,’ she said and left the room.
Sophie watched Jared pick his niece up with infinite tenderness and care, cradling her fuzzy-topped head in his palm. The rest of her fitted snug along the length of his forearm.
‘There you are, princess.’ There was a smile and love in his voice as he tucked her closer. ‘Uncle Jared’s got you, you lucky girl, you.’ Princess chewed on her fist while unfocused eyes of an indefinable colour stared up at him.
Sophie had never seen anything more beautiful or more powerful than the sight of this tiny fragile infant against Jared’s tanned, hard and muscular arms. It was one of those life-affirming moments and the pity of it was that she didn’t think uncle noticed.
Made for fatherhood. The fleeting thought skimmed the edge of her consciousness. She’d heard people talking about a woman being made to be a mother but had never applied the parenthood tag to a male. But yes, she thought, watching the muscles in his arms twist and bunch as he adjusted his hold, that was what he was. His arms were as capable of holding babies as they’d be accomplished at holding a woman.
Her heart swelled and blossomed and seemed to open up like the petals of a flower.
Because right here, right now, she was falling for him.
It wasn’t his looks or wealth or charm, they were just side benefits. No, it was much more basic and simple than that. It was his underlying goodness, his empathy for others, his honesty. Core values she shared.
One day he’d make some woman very happy. His wife, the mother of his children would never want for anything. But it wouldn’t be Sophie. It couldn’t be Sophie.
His eyes looked unexpectedly her way, catching her watching him. Catching her thoughts? She hoped not, and drew herself up, eyeballing him boldly, daring him to take issue with them.