“Oh, okay. Well, I’ll just get out of your hair so you can enjoy your day with Delilah. She may be a little cranky later. We had an early morning.”
“No sweat. We have some plans with my uncle and aunt later, so maybe she will sleep in the truck.”
“Probably.”
Ridge watched as River put her cereal bowl in the dishwasher, moving around the kitchen as if it were her own, as if she belonged there. And Ridge’s thoughts immediately went to, what if she did? She strolled with purpose over to his daughter, where she kissed the top of Delilah’s head, the same spot he had kissed when he came home, and he was instantly jealous of his daughter. He knew it was a crazy reaction, but he could fight it none-the-less.
Panic began to well up inside of him at the thought of not seeing River in his home and he reacted before he could think otherwise.
“Go out with me.”
River spun on her heels as she headed for the front door, shock radiating across her features.
“What?” she asked.
“Go out with me, please.”
“Um. . . I don’t know,” she replied, her eyes darting over to where Delilah sat joyfully in her high chair.
He thought that she felt the same attraction toward him that he felt for her, but maybe he had been wrong. Not that he was looking for a relationship, or at least that’s what he continued to tell himself.
“Can I get back to you?” she asked as she took another step toward the door.
Ridge tried to keep from feeling the unfamiliar ache of loss, but he wasn’t strong enough. Instead, he lied and said, “Sure. I just thought it would be nice to get out for a bit.”
“Yeah, I just. . .I’ll let you know.”
River sprinted away from his house with a quick wave of her hand, and Ridge wondered if he had utterly blown it. He knew she was hesitant to be around him. More than once, she had mentioned that he stopped pursuing relationships years ago because she didn’t have the energy to devote to them. It was something that he completely
understood since his work and daughter took precedence in his life. It was the main reason for his divorce after all, but he still sought companionship, someone that could warm his bed at night. He had tried before, but most women ran scared at the thought of a single father. They didn’t want to be tied to another woman’s child.
“Whelp, I guess it’s just you and me, munchkin. Want to go visit some friends today?”
His daughter answered with a familiar squeal as she wiggled in her high chair. Ridge worked to get her free, then placed her in her gated play area so he could clean up her mess, and then hopefully snag a shower before he went to visit his aunt and uncle.
By lunch they were on their way to the Connelly household, where he still had some of his fondest memories. When they arrived, he was surprised to find the driveway full and the sound of laughter spilling from the backyard.
He carried Delilah around to the back of the house and found all of the Connelly children, and their families, running around the yard while his uncle Joseph manned a grill.
“Oh, you made it, son. Glad to have you,” Joseph called out when he noticed the new arrivals. The families halted their games and eagerly rushed to greet them. Ridge had a difficult time remembering all of the kid’s names, but Delilah didn’t seem to care. She reached out to one of the older kids who couldn’t be more than seven or eight and Ridge relinquished her from his grasp. She shuffled with the older kids over to the playground, where he recognized Poppy and his cousin, Sydney, standing by.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” his Aunt Amy exclaimed as she walked out of the main house with a bowl full of fruit in her hands. “Joseph said you worked the night shift, so I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“I’m used to going on a few hours of sleep. Is there anything I can help with? I didn’t know to bring something.”
“Just needed you and that sweet girl. Looks like she’s already settled in,” Amy said as she looked toward the playground where two younger kids were playing in a sandbox with Delilah. “Why don’t you grab yourself a drink and relax. I’m sure you deserve it.” His aunt scooted past him as she set the dish on the oversized picnic table.
Ridge made his way over to his uncle, shaking hands with a few of his cousins and their spouses along the way. It seemed regardless of where they were, the men tended to gather around the grill.
“Hey, anything I can help you with?” Ridge asked, knowing that his uncle would deny any assistance. Since he was a kid, he couldn’t remember finding Uncle Joseph anywhere but in front of the grill during family gatherings.
“I’m good here. Just getting some ribs, burgers, and hot dogs started for an early dinner or late lunch. Whichever you prefer. So, son, how are things treating you?”
Ridge felt like disclosing everything he was feeling about his sexy neighbor but instead found himself saying, “Can’t complain.”
“That’s good. You adjusting to the work change okay?”
“Yeah, the shifts are an adjustment, but nothing I can’t handle. To be honest, I’m busier here than I ever was in Sunnyville. I don’t know how you managed all of this by yourself until a few years ago.”