Taking a Chance on the Single Dad

‘Toast and jam.’

‘You still eat that?’ Some of the tension that had built up on the way here loosened, and he managed a smile.

‘Hello? You think I stopped all the things I enjoyed when you left?’ Her ponytail swished sharply across her back. Her eyes drilled into him. Then the door slammed shut between them.

What had he done? Why hadn’t he tried harder to find a way around what had seemed like insurmountable difficulties and kept Brenna at his side? Because it wouldn’t have worked. Over time they’d have come to resent the changes they hadn’t anticipated and taken it out on each other. But what he would give now to have at least tried. There had been so many moments he’d missed out on and no way to get them back. And it hadn’t worked out any better by walking away either.

His heart was heavy, sad. He’d lost so much that day, and to start thinking now that he might not have got over Brenna had him worried. Would he never be free of this tightness around his heart whenever he thought of her now that they’d caught up again?

On the other side of the security fence a helicopter began warming up, the rotors gathering speed as Andy did his checks.

Time to get to work, concentrate on what had to be done, not what might’ve been. Hunter headed inside to the tearoom, where his eyes were instantly drawn to Brenna’s rounded bottom and short, slim legs. As toned as ever. Keeping fit had been an obsession with her, and had driven him crazy at times when he’d wanted to lie snuggled up to her warm body for the last minutes before starting a new day and she wouldn’t have it. No lying around for Bren. Brenna.

‘Here’s hoping we have time for a coffee at least.’ Again, he hadn’t had breakfast before leaving the house because he’d been watching Dylan. Yesterday he’d been stepping into a big unknown with Brenna. Today his gut hadn’t been churning when he’d picked her up, but he was very aware of her. Aware in ways he shouldn’t be. Ways that his memory fed non-stop, tormenting him with images of them together. Despite his gut being quiet today, other parts of his body were waking up, as though from a long sleep. Which wasn’t exactly true. He had been out and about occasionally, though none of the few women he’d befriended had had the power to knock him to his knees like this one.

Even now.

‘You got kids?’ he asked, in an attempt to cool his ardour. Because if she said yes then he’d know for sure there was a man in the picture.

‘A gorgeous four-legged girl named Poppy,’ Brenna answered in a neutral voice.

‘She’d be a dog, then.’

‘You remember.’

That she disliked cats? ‘Yes.’ Seemed six years wasn’t long enough to delete all the irrelevant info from his brain. ‘Lab or spaniel?’

The cupboard shut with a clang. ‘Black Lab, a big softy. Tea or coffee?’

Trying to tell him she remembered nothing? ‘Either.’

‘Make that neither,’ Andy said from the doorway. ‘We’re on. Heart attack on a cruise ship out in the passage. Fifty-nine-year-old man, no known history.’

Hunter shrugged. ‘Do you ever get breakfast before the first callout?’

Brenna answered. ‘Half the time.’ Her eyes glinted at him as though she had lots to say but was holding back.

‘If it’s any help I didn’t know you worked here when Kevin twisted my arm.’ He watched for her face to soften. It didn’t.

‘He’s good at that.’ Slinging the pack over her shoulder, she told him firmly, ‘Anyway, it’s fine.’

‘We can’t change what happened.’ He followed her out of the hangar, sure she wasn’t going to speak to him again unless it was to do with a patient.

But, ‘You’re right,’ she admitted. ‘I’m acting like a four-year-old. Except Dylan’s probably far more mature than me. I’m sorry.’

‘I haven’t seen you squishing banana through your hair yet, so I think you’re ahead of my boy.’

‘Yuk.’ She shuddered deliberately. ‘He doesn’t.’

‘Oh, yes, he does. He can throw some right tantrums when he’s in a mood.’

He took the bag from her as she leapt aboard. ‘Takes after his grandfather on his mother’s side.’

‘Not you?’ Finally, Brenna was smiling in a natural, friendly, not-looking-for-an-argument way.

The knot in his gut unravelled as warmth flowed over him. Which was worse, because hope came with it. If only he knew what he was hoping for. They weren’t getting back together. Too much had gone down in the intervening years for them to be able to pick up where they’d left off, strange feelings or not.

‘I don’t like bananas.’ He gave her one of his best smiles, felt cheated when she didn’t blink, or shiver, or sigh, like she used to.

Pulling on the helmet, she pressed the speaker button. ‘Andy, was the ship heading north or returning to Vancouver?’

Hunter had his helmet on in a flash, heard Andy say, ‘It’s due to dock in Vancouver in an hour but the doctor on board is worried the man is getting worse. They’ll have him ready to lift when we get there.’

‘So, it’s a snatch and go,’ Hunter commented just as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Brenna nodded. ‘It means one of us is redundant, but we never know what might go wrong.’

Hunter read his mother’s number on the screen of his phone. She was early, even for her. His gut tightened. What had Dad done now? Sat outside all night? Refused to take his meds? The other day he’d got upset with other residents in the village and had been sulking ever since. His depression was under control, his selfishness wasn’t. If Dad could cause trouble, he would. Breathe deep. He had to remember these calls were unavoidable. He’d deal with them one at a time. His finger tapped the phone as he debated trying to call back, but it was so noisy in here neither of them would hear each other. Anyway, that was giving in too quickly.

His finger worked the keys. Can’t talk. In the heli. I’ll call later. A heavy weight sat on his chest as he pushed Send. What if something serious was wrong? Something he had to deal with? Breathe deep, remember? His mother was not going to stop calling, pestering him, demanding his undivided attention just because he’d left them in a safe environment with all the medical help available to man. He was the one who had to make changes, to accept he was here for good, and he was not going to be diverted. For Dylan’s sake. And mine, he admitted grudgingly. Shoving the phone deep into the pocket of his overalls, he leaned back in the hard, narrow seat and looked at Brenna.

She had her phone out too, reading a text. ‘One of my neighbours on the other side of the service lane says their house was broken into last night.’

‘Glad you’ve got a dog.’

‘I wonder what time it happened? Poppy got restless around eight, kept pacing between the front and back doors. When I let her out, she ran to the gate and barked then came back inside.’ Her slim fingers worked the phone. ‘I’m letting Claire know in case it’s any help to the police.’

Worry stormed through Hunter. ‘You didn’t go outside, did you? Who knows how many thugs were out there?’ She might have a kick-ass attitude, but she was so small it would only take one half-formed male to overcome her. ‘I’ll check your house out when I drop you off tonight.’

‘That won’t be necessary. Whoever it was will be long gone.’

He was on a hiding to nothing, but offering help was his thing. Besides, this was Brenna. How could he not make sure everything was as it was supposed to be at her place? ‘Let’s see how Poppy reacts when you get home.’

Brenna glared at him. Then her eyes softened, and a small smile appeared. ‘Okay.’

That was it? Okay? He’d won a point yet felt deflated.

Hey, so Bren stirs you like she always did.