Sammy flicked a faintly rebellious look toward her. Thats it. He waved at the white frame building, set in its grove of palmettos, that had served the islands children for over a hundred years. Im almost done with second grade.
Looks as if the buildings been there a hundred years. Tyler said just what shed been thinking, but it didnt seem complimentary when he said it.
Its a good school. She hoped she didnt sound defensive. What if Tyler thought his son should go away to some private academy? The idea turned her ice cream to ashes.
Equipped with the latest in chalkboards, no doubt.
She felt diminished by his sarcasm, and that angered her. Our classrooms have computers. Were not exactly living in the dark ages here.
I like my school. Sammy stopped, frowning at Tyler with an expression so like his fathers it nearly stopped her heart. You shouldnt put it down just because its not new and fancy.
Tyler looked baffled, and little wonder. He probably hadnt expected Sammy to pick up on the byplay between adults.
She was tempted to let him stew, but she couldnt. If she didnt take pity on Tylers efforts with Sammy, she would only hurt her son.
Why dont we have a game of catch. She nodded toward the playground where island children had played under the spreading branches of the live oaks for years. I brought the ball. She pulled it from her bag and tossed it to Tyler, stepping onto the grass.
He caught it automatically. I dont think
She frowned him to silence. Didnt he see she was trying to help him? Sammy wants to play T-ball this summer. Ill bet he could use some practice.
Sure. Right. He swallowed the last of his cone and threw the ball to Sammy, then patted an imaginary glove. Throw it in here, Sammy.
Sammy lobbed it to Miranda instead. She didnt miss the quick flare of irritation on Tylers face. Well, he couldnt expect this to be simple, could he?
Temptation whispered in her ear again. It would be so easy to be sure Sammy didnt warm up to his father. So easy, and so wrong. Even if it insured that Tyler would go away, she couldnt do it.
Her throw went a little high, and Sammy had to reach for it. He wore a surprised look when he came down with the ball.
Good catch, Sammy. Tylers voice had just the right amount of enthusiasm. Sammy responded with a cautious smile.
Tyler blinked, his face softening with the effect of that smile. Her eyes stung with tears, and she was grateful for the sunglasses that shielded them. Tyler didnt need to know that it moved her to see Sammy playing with his father.
That wasnt the purpose of this little excursion, remember? Youre supposed to be showing Tyler what a happy life Sammy has here so hell soothe his conscience and go away.
Tylers comments about getting back to his business had confirmed what shed already suspectedhed turned into the same driven businessman his father had been. Shed known that would happen when hed insisted they move back to Baltimore after his fathers death.
Their dreams of settling down on the island and starting a small business had vanished like the mist. Tyler hadnt had time for that. Now the CEO of Winchester Industries probably didnt like to take time for a simple game of catch.
Try it this way. Tyler walked over to Sammy, reaching toward him to correct his throw.
Sammy jerked away. I dont want to.
Sammy, she began, but what could she say? Be polite to the father youve never seen before didnt seem to cover it.
Her son frowned, first at her, then at Tyler. Why do you want to play ball now? You never even wanted to see me before.
Mirandas heart thudded. There it was, the question she didnt want to answer. But she didnt have a choice.
She couldnt look at Tyler. She didnt even want to meet her sons eyes, but she forced herself to. Sammy, thats not fair.
It is, too. His fists curled. He couldve come, but he didnt.
No, he couldnt. She felt Tylers gaze on her.
Why not? Sammy demanded.
Truth time was here, and she wasnt ready for it. She had to be. Your daddy didnt know about you.
Her son stared at her.
She licked dry lips. I never told your father about you. She reached a hand toward Sammy, but he took a step back. Sugar, I thought it was best.
The words sounded feeble to her own ears. Hurt and accusation battled in Sammys face. As for Tylershe could almost think that was pity in Tylers eyes.
Chapter Three
I have a proposition for you. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Miranda realized she could have phrased it better. Standing in the doorway to Tylers hotel room that evening had rattled her so much that she didnt know what she was saying.
A proposition? Tyler looked as startled at her words as she probably did. In that case, I guess youd better come in.
Clutching her bag with cold fingers, she stepped inside. They could hardly discuss Sammys relationship with his father at the house, where her son would wonder what they were talking about. Any public place was out of the question.
Tyler crossed the room to switch on another lamp against the darkness that pressed against the sliding glass balcony doors, giving her a moment to collect herself. She took in the sweep of plush, sand-colored carpet, the pale walls and the cream furniture with pastel floral upholstery. Dalton Resorts knew how to treat their wealthy guests.
I havent been in the hotel before. Its quiteelegant. It was certainly the antithesis of the Dolphin Inn, but people who could afford this wouldnt be staying at the inn anyway.
Tyler looked at her, hand still on the cream pottery lamp. He had traded the casual shirt and khakis hed worn for the meeting with Sammy for a white dress shirt, open at the throat, and dark trousers. Maybe the dining room in the hotel required formal attire. Or maybe that was just how he felt comfortable now.
I thought your brother-in-law worked for Dalton.
Luke did start out with Dalton, and he helped pick the site for the hotel. Her brother-in-law had been a driven businessman, too, before her sister, Chloe, brought out a different side to him. He and Chloe are running the youth center in Beaufort now.
Thats quite a change. He strolled toward her, and she had the sense that he wasnt in the least interested in what Chloe and Luke were doing. He was wondering what had brought her here tonight.
Yes, well, theyre happy. Chloe and Lukes love was so bright that it almost hurt to look at them.
Tyler stopped, a bit too close for comfort, and she glanced past him. Hed converted an oval glass-topped table to a makeshift desk. It was littered with papers and centered with a sleek laptop computer.
I see youve been working.
He followed the direction of her gaze, frowning. Business doesnt stop just because Im out of the office. We have an important deal coming up soon.
The fact that he couldnt even get away from Winchester Industries for two days gave her a surge of confidence. Her plan to deal with this situation was dangerous, but it would work. It had to.
Tyler turned to her, still frowning. A lock of dark brown hair had fallen over his forehead, the only thing even faintly disarranged about his appearance. Had he run his hand through his hair in frustration over being tied here when his business was in Baltimore?
How is Sammy?
She took a breath, trying to think of Sammy without pain. Shed let him down so badly.
Hes doing all right, she said carefully. All this has been hard enough on him, without finding out She stopped, started again. I should have told him the truth about you long ago. I was wrong.
She waited for him to say she should have told him, too, but he didnt. She could almost imagine she saw sympathy in his eyes.
Do you think he understands why you didnt?
I dont know. Sammys small face appeared in her minds eye. As much as an seven-year-old can, I guess. He forgives, even if he doesnt understand.
He studied her face for a long moment, his expression unreadable. You wanted His tone made it a question.
She looked at him blankly, realizing that shed been staring at him as if shed never seen him before. Or as if shed never see him again.
He lifted an eyebrow, something that might have been amusement flickering in his face. You have a proposition for me, remember?
Oh. Yes.
He had to be deliberately attempting to make her nervous. There was no other reason for him to be standing so close, taking up all the air in the room.
Concentrate. This idea will work, wont it? Please, Lord.
You said this afternoon that you want to be a part of Sammys life. It frightened her just to say the words. You must realize that you have to get to know Sammy before that can happen.
She expected him to bring up again the fact that it was her fault he didnt know Sammy, but he nodded. I realize that. I dont want to rush him. But Im not going to disappear.
She clasped her hands together, trying to find a core of strength inside. This cant be a halfway thing, Tyler. I wont let Sammy be hurt by it.
Im not looking to hurt the boy. He sounded impatient. So what is this idea of yours?
Now or never. She had to say it.
You stay here, on the island, for one month. She swept on before he could interrupt. You can move into the inn, so youll see Sammy every day. Then She breathed a silent prayer. Then we can make arrangements together for you to be a real parent to him.
Stay here? He made Caldwell Island sound like the outermost reaches of the earth, and his firm mouth tightened even more. I cant do that. I have a business to run.
That was what shed thought hed say, but even so, the words made her heart clench. Tyler would see how impossible this was, that was the important thing.
Im not trying to be unreasonable. She nodded toward the computer. You can stay connected, go back to Baltimore for a day or two if you have to. Surely even the CEO gets some vacation time.
I cant run a business that way, especially not now. His dismissal was quick. Sammy can come to Baltimore to get to know me.
Fear flared and had to be extinguished. Sammy isnt a package, to be sent back and forth when you have time for him. If you want to be his father, you have to realize that. You getting acquainted with him needs to happen here, where he feels safe.
His eyes narrowed. Suppose I just start legal action. You cant keep me from my son.
The thought of facing a phalanx of ruthless Winchester lawyers made her quake, but she held her voice steady. And have our private quarrel splashed all over the papers? I dont think youd like that. And I dont think a family court judge would look favorably on a father who wont take a few weeks to get acquainted with his son.
Something that might have been surprise flickered in his eyes. Youve grown up, Miranda.
Ive had to.
What you ask is impossible. You must know that.
It wouldnt have been impossible for the man hed been at twenty-one, but she couldnt say that, and maybe it wasnt even true. Maybe she hadnt really known the man shed married.
She had to say the hard thing and end this now, before it damaged Sammy. Tylers sense of duty to the child hed fathered had brought him here, but his sense of duty to the company would take him away again.
If you cant get away from your business for something this important, maybe youre not meant to be a father.
Tyler didnt answer. He couldnt. She had known all along how this would turn out, but still pain clenched her very soul. She turned away.
He grasped her arm, pulling her around to face him. At his touch, her treacherous heart faltered. She forced herself to look at him, her gaze tangling with his. Her breath caught in her throat, and for an instant she thought his eyes darkened.
I know a challenge when I hear one, Miranda. His voice lowered to a baritone rumble. Ive managed too many business deals not to know when someones making an offer they think I wont accept.
I dont
His grip tightened. His intense gaze was implacable. Get a room ready for me. Im moving in tomorrow.
This was certainly a far cry from the elegance of the Dalton Resort Hotel. Tyler tossed his suitcase onto the patchwork quilt that adorned the four-poster bed in the room to which Miranda had shown him. He glanced around, wondering if hed made a hasty decision the previous night. Did he really propose to run Winchester Industries from this small room on an island in the middle of nowhere?
He strode to the east window and snapped up the shade, letting sunlight stream across wide, uneven floorboards dotted with oval hooked rugs. Someone had put a milk-glass vase filled with dried flowers on the battered, rice-carved bureau, and the faint aroma seemed a ghost of last summers flowers.
Well, there was a phone jack, at least. With that, something to use for a desk and enough electrical outlets, he ought to be able to make this work if he wanted to.
Maybe that was the question. Did he want to do this? He frowned at what seemed to be a kitchen garden. The small patch of lawn, crisscrossed with clotheslines, couldnt be intended for the use of guests. Beyond it was some sort of shed, then the pale green-gold of the marsh grasses. A white heron stood, knee-deep, waiting motionless for something.
Tyler assessed his options, trying to weigh them as if this were any business deal that had come up unexpectedly. In a business deal, the first step would be to research what was being offered. He grimaced. Miranda wasnt exactly offering him anything. As for researchwell, he didnt need a DNA test to confirm what he knew in his bones. Sammy was his son.
He could stay. That meant subjecting himself to the uncertain welcome of Mirandas family and trying to figure out how to be a father under Mirandas no doubt critical gaze. Then, assuming he could gain Sammys acceptance, hed face the tricky task of working out long-distance custody arrangements between Baltimore and Caldwell Cove and hed commit himself to being a significant part of Sammys life forwell, forever.
He shoved the window up, letting the breeze that bent the marsh grasses billow the ruffled curtains. The alternative was to leave. Go back to Baltimore, take up life as it had been. He could afford generous child support, the best schools, anything material his son needed. He could satisfy his conscience without getting emotionally involved.
Is everything all right? Miranda paused in the doorway, clutching an armload of white towels against the front of a green T-shirt with a dolphin emblazoned on it.