A Father's Secret

Sam took the opportunity to study the baby’s face in more detail. No, he hadn’t been mistaken. Riley’s chin hinted at the same square line of his own, of the same dimple that was a trait of all the Thornton men. Riley had to be his, he just knew it, felt it—and when the little boy turned his face back to Sam and gave him a gummy smile, Sam felt his heart squeeze tight.

“He’s settled down then,” Erin commented from behind him.

Sam straightened to his feet. She looked more relaxed now. More like the capable woman he’d seen from the day he’d arrived.

“Yeah, maybe he just needed a change of scenery.”

“You’re good with him. Do you have kids of your own?” Erin asked.

Sam swallowed against the lump that formed in his throat. “My wife and I had hoped for a family. She died before we could start one.”

And here it would come, he thought, mentally bracing himself. The same platitudes that his family and friends had cast at him with the best of intentions. He could still meet someone new, start again, have a family. But he couldn’t. It would be a betrayal of Laura’s memory. But Erin surprised him in even this.

“It must be hard,” she said simply.

“Some times are worse than others, but I’m getting there.”

“As we do.” Erin sighed and looked out over the lake.

Sam followed her gaze, saw it settle on the large launch moored at the end of the pier.

“Yours?” he asked.

Erin nodded. “It’s part of the lodge. Fishing charters used to be part of the appeal of staying here. We stopped them when Riley’s dad got sick.”

Sam fought back the bitter taste that flooded his mouth every time he heard the other man referred to as Riley’s father. He wanted to point to his own chest and say firmly, “It’s me. I’m Riley’s father.” But he didn’t have the right. Yet.

“Are you going to start them up again, the charters?” he forced himself to say before he said something else he might regret.

“I don’t have a license. James did all that. I’ve thought about selling the launch, but I think I’d be better off to simply hire someone to take charters for the lodge again. I know it would increase our guest traffic. It’s on the list of things to do—the very long list.” She sighed. “Well, dinner’s ready. Are you coming inside?”

Sam wished he could hold on to the moment here a little longer, but he knew the temperature would drop rapidly once the sun was gone. “Sure.”

Erin took control of the stroller and wheeled Riley back toward the house. Sam followed slowly in their wake.

* * *

She was just doing her rounds, checking the downstairs of the house to ensure that everything was all locked and secure for the night, when she noticed the library light was still on. Erin popped her head around the door and smiled at Sam, who was seated in a deep leather button-back chair by the fireside, a book open in his lap, but his attention fixed on the flames cavorting merrily over the logs in the fireplace. She’d lit the fire after they’d finished their meal as a sudden chill had invaded the air. The flames’ cheerful brightness was a strong contrast to the solemn set of his face.

“Everything okay?” she asked. “I’m about to turn in, but can I get you anything before I go?”

“Sit with me for a while, Erin. It’s still early.”

Erin was torn. Despite his apology, she still felt the caustic sting of his curtness earlier today. It made her wary. Besides, she had enough on her plate right now and certainly didn’t want to make things even more complicated by falling in love or anything silly like that.

Falling in love? What on earth was she thinking? She was still newly widowed. Granted, her marriage had been strained for some years before James had died, the love wrung out of it rather than strengthened by their attempts to have a family, but she still owed something to James’s memory. He hadn’t been the perfect husband she’d fantasized about when she’d planned her future as a teenager, but he’d still given her so much. All she’d ever wanted was a real home and a family, and thanks to James she had a beautiful house and a perfect son. She’d always be grateful to him for both. Sam had given her nothing but heated surges of attraction that reminded her how long it had been since she’d really felt like a beautiful, desirable woman....

She gave herself a mental shake. No, she couldn’t justify her crazy reaction to a handsome man. Especially one she’d known little more than a few days. She was better than that. Stronger than that.

If only to prove to herself that she could overcome this…this ridiculous hormonal allure, she found herself seated opposite Sam.