“I imagine you’ll find out soon enough,” she said slyly. “They’re going to insist on meeting you the moment we arrive back in Salt Lake. It’s only because my older brother Cruz and Payton are expecting their first baby in two months, and my other brother Dominic and his wife Kate just welcomed my new niece a month ago, that they’re not both here demanding an explanation from you.”
“Seriously? They’re that protective?”
She grinned. “Just wait. My younger sister, Benny, on the other hand, is actually delighted by our predicament, always said I needed a little excitement in my life. She wants me to make sure to extend an invitation to you and Lily to her wedding, which is three weeks from today. But as I explained to her, I don’t think our…arrangement is going to last that long.”
“Oh, right,” he said, surprisingly disappointed that he wouldn’t be part of that large family dynamic. “You’re probably right. Although… It’s not like we’ve actually written up a timetable or anything for how long this engagement has to last.”
“We haven’t,” she said quietly. “But I think it’s probably best for the kids that we end the charade as soon as possible. I don’t want them to get wrapped up in something that isn’t going to last.”
A sentiment he could relate to. Especially since sitting here right now, in this moment, with this remarkable woman, it all felt…right. “Of course. Well, I still look forward to meeting them. At least, I think I do,” he said, grinning again.
She studied him for a minute, her dark eyes strangely warm. “What’s your relationship with your dad? It’s just the two of you, right?” she asked, reaching down to grab her tumbler from the sand and raising it to her lips.
Some might think it striking that people already knew his family history—notably that he, like Lily now, was raised by his dad after his mom died. But having a dad who served eight years as city mayor before making his own unsuccessful attempt at governor, Jack had grown up used to having details of his family life open to inspection.
“Oh, he’s around. But even in retirement, he still manages to dabble in politics here and there, which can take him away some. You could say that political ambition runs in our blood.”
“He knows, then? About the governor thing?”
“It was his suggestion that I bring on Stuart. Now that I have the honor of serving as governor, he wants to make sure I hold onto it in the next election.”
She smiled. “He must be pretty proud.”
He nodded, and Daisy turned her gaze out toward the lake where, with the sun dropping below the horizon, the sky above the water was blazoned a dusty pink. But his attention was captured by the beautiful woman seated before him. Her full mouth dropped open the tiniest bit as if almost in wonderment at the sight before her.
He didn’t know much about Daisy’s ex-husband other than he was a total shit of a father, but was also certain that the guy had to be an utter moron to have ever let Daisy go.
A full yawn stretched the soft contours of her face and she brought her hand up to cover her mouth. “Sorry. It’s been a bit of an emotional day. And if I remember from tomorrow’s itinerary, there’s going to be lots more going on. So I’d probably better get back and help the kids into their baths.”
“I’ll be along in a few. Just want to get this put out,” he said, nodding to the fire.
She rose to her feet, tightening the soft gray blanket around her. “Then…good night.”
“Good night, Daisy.”
He watched as she made her way slowly up the path to the house, almost like some beautiful siren wandering the beach, trying to seduce men with her music even if the only song she was singing was an occasional muted cursing as she reached the steps and pulled her sore body up them.
He smiled. As unexpected as their new engagement might be, it was definitely making the prospect of spending more time with her and her family something to look forward to.
Chapter Six
Unlike the previous night where Daisy was jabbed and poked from various child-size limbs, last night she’d had the entire bed to herself, which had felt decidedly decadent. Even so, instead of the sleep of the dead as she would have expected after the day she’d had, it had been anything but restful as she remembered flashes of blue eyes and a smile from a man who she now called her fiancé.
Needless to say, when the morning sun crept into her room just after seven, instead of digging farther under the soft covers, she’d checked on the kids—all sleeping soundly—before jumping into the shower.
Now, her hair still damp, her usual touch of makeup on to brighten her face, she headed downstairs, needing to find some release for her nervous energy. At home, when she felt like this, she usually would whip up a loaf of some sort of flavorful bread, as she found the kneading of the dough always helped her relax. She’d take a look at the supplies Payton had left for her to see what she might find, otherwise maybe she’d head to the store and—
Damn. That’s right. Her car was still in the shop and would be—according to the guy—probably through Wednesday, the day after the holiday.
The heady aroma of coffee filled her nose as she arrived in the kitchen.
For a moment, her belly tightened in nervousness and excitement as she wondered whether Jack was already up and taking another run out on the beach, his damp shirt clinging to broad shoulders and a firm chest—
Rein it in, Daisy.
Sheesh, it was like she was losing her ever-loving mind. It’s not like she’d never seen a good-looking man before. Although, it had been a while since she’d met one whose attractiveness paled in comparison to a quick wit and equally generous heart. Someone whose conversation she found …nice.
She considered last night’s conversation, which had been surprisingly low-key and also strangely exhilarating. And even though she had been certain they would have almost nothing to talk about, both coming from such diverse backgrounds, she’d been happily surprised by how much he genuinely wanted to know about her.