Roan got a text from his mom. A picture of Trinity eating chocolate cake at a table with other girls and their grandmothers. His daughter lookedsupremely pleased with a smear of chocolate on her cheek. He chuckled.
“What’s funny?” Jazzy asked, leaning in. “Or am I being too nosy? It’s perfectly okay to tell me to mind my own beeswax.”
“Beeswax?” Amused, he caught her gaze. She smelled so darn good, just like Christmas morning.
“Oops, sorry about the beeswax thing.” She laughed. “I work with children all day.”
Smiling, he turned his phone screen around so she could see the picture.
Jazzy brought her knees to her chest, looking completely relaxed and at home. “Oh my goodness, what a happy face! She’s having a blast.”
“I should let her hang out with Mom more often,” Roan said. “She needs a motherly influence. I never think of things like tea parties.”
“You’re a dad. You’re not supposed to. It really does take a village to raise a child,” Jazzy said.
“I often feel like I’m coming up short.”
“You’re doing a fantastic job in my book,” Jazzy went on. “Trinity is a happy, healthy little girl.”
“You can’t tell that from her busted chin.”
“All kids fall down. Stitches and casts are bound to happen as children explore their world. It’s no reflection on your parenting.”
Roan winced. “It sure feels like it is.”
Jazzy reached over to pat his arm. It was a small gesture, easy and quick, but it undid him in a way Roan hadn’t expected. She was such a bright ray of sunshine and he wanted more of her light, but he couldn’t help worrying his darkness would sully her.
Then she interlaced her fingers through his and whispered, “I’m so glad you’re on my side.”
“Why?” he asked point-blank.
“Why what?”
“Why do you like me?”
She looked at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. “Whywouldn’tI like you? You’re smart and hardworking and you’ve got buckets of love to give. You should see the way your eyes light up every time you look at your daughter. Warning, Roan, I’m a sucker for tough guys with tender hearts.”
“Is that what attracted you to Danny?” The second the words tumbled out of his mouth Roan wished he’d bitten his tongue off.
Her cheery expression wobbled, but only for a second. “Danny is yesterday’s news. Let’s not talk about him.”
“You sure there’s nothing still simmering between you?”
“Absolutely.” Jazzy bobbed her head. “I’m not going to lie, Danny did mean a lot to me at one time, but we just weren’t a good fit.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m too Pollyanna for him. Danny’s got a dark side he enjoys wallowing in and I don’t need that negative energy in my life.”
“And yet, you were attracted to him.”
“In retrospect, I thought I could save him.” Jazzy rolled her eyes. “I know, I know. I’m hopeless.”
Roan leaned in closer to her, until only the arms of their Adirondack chairs were in the way. Theirfingers still interlaced. “Are you trying to save me, Jazzy Walker?”
“No,” she whispered.
“You sure about that?”