“Hi.” His voice was soft. “How are you?”
She gave him a half smile. “I’m okay. How about you?”
He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, deciding the full truth would be too much. “I’m okay, too.” And also the biggest asshole in the world. I’m going to make it up to you, when I figure out how. “Did your trip to L.A. go okay? Isla seems happy.”
“She and Dylan bonded really well.” Meghan shifted her feet. “He’s away now, but I’m in contact with his lawyer and we’re coming to a custody arrangement. And he wants his name on her birth certificate, so we’re working that out.”
The corners of his lips curled. “I’m glad.”
“You are?” She tipped her head to the side, her brows raised.
“Yeah. I really am. I care about you two, I want you to be happy.” It felt almost painful to say it, because he was the one who’d made her unhappy. Who’d walked away because it hurt too much to stay.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “That means a lot.” She pursed her lips as though she was blowing out air. “How’s Belle?”
“She’s good. She had an agent from L.A. contact her. He wants to talk about representing her. And Carlyn came through with arranging the sales.”
“She did? That’s a relief.” Her smile was fleeting, but there. “I spoke with your lawyer while I was away. Thank you for including us in your restraining order.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
She was guarded, and he understood why. He’d been the one to make it like this. It was as though there was an invisible wall between them, he could still see her, but he couldn’t penetrate through.
“I’m so sorry for the things I said last week…”
“Mommy!” Isla skipped over. “Gloria wants to know if I can have some soda? She brought a box down but you need to say yes.” Isla grabbed Meghan’s hand. “So come say yes, okay?”
Meghan bit down a smile. “I guess I’m going over there,” she said to Rich.
He nodded. “I guess you are.” Their eyes connected and it was like the shield disappeared for a moment. He felt the strength of her stare in the center of his chest. “Can we talk later?”
“Maybe?” She glanced down at Isla, who was still tugging her hand. “It depends on little ears.”
It was more than he felt he deserved, but he’d take it. And if they didn’t talk tonight, they’d do it another time. One thing was for sure, he had a lot of making up to do.
And he intended to do it.
It was getting late. Isla was already yawning, though she was valiantly trying to hide it as she sat on a metal chair and swung her legs, as Gavin told her about the llamas they’d met in Peru. Meghan was picking up paper plates and empty cans, putting them into the black trash bag she was carrying.
“Can I help?” a soft voice asked from behind. She didn’t need to turn to see who it was. She’d been so aware of him all night. Every time their eyes met her heart did a little loop-de-loop. He’d give her this little crooked smile, one that made her legs tremble, and she’d remind herself why that wasn’t a good idea.
That he’d hurt her. And she was still hurting a little. Sexy half-smiles wouldn’t soothe that pain away.
“Go for it,” she said, holding out the bag so he could slide more plates inside. His fingers brushed hers and she had to grit her teeth as to not react to it.
It only took five minutes to clear the whole area. Half the tables were empty by now, and those who were left were clustered at the far end of the grill area. Isla was leaning over Grant’s shoulder, watching what looked like a video on his phone. Something happened and she shrieked with laughter, and Grant ruffled her hair.
When Meghan looked at Rich, she could see him smiling at Isla’s laughter. It made her breath catch in her throat. He was too good looking. The hot doc.
The man who’d broken her heart.
“Can we talk now?” Rich said, his voice low. “I know you don’t have long. But there’s something I want to say.”
Meghan tied the top of the trash bag, and slid it into one of the huge lidded trash cans. “Okay.”
She followed him to an empty table and they sat. He was looking at her with warm eyes, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
“I’m so damn sorry,” he said. “For what I said to you Saturday night. It was wrong and I behaved like a child. And you didn’t deserve any of it.”