Dream Wedding(117)

“I left my hook in the car. I thought it might scare Sasha. I see we did that anyway.” He touched the child’s arm. “Sorry, little one. Adults are strange creatures and you’re going to have to get used to that.”

She raised her head slightly. Arizona gave her a big smile, then an exaggerated wink. Ryan felt her relax in his arms.

“You’re a very beautiful princess,” Arizona told her.

Sasha nodded, as if to say she already knew that much and did he have anything new to tell her. Cassie and Chloe laughed.

If Ryan hadn’t known Cassie was adopted, he would have wondered how the same family could have produced two such dissimilar daughters. Chloe was tall and elegant, even pregnant and dressed as a crocodile. She had the kind of sparkle about her that caused men to drop what they were doing just to watch her walk by. Cassie was several inches shorter, curved where her sister was lean, with a quieter beauty that Ryan found all the more appealing for its subtleties.

“We really appreciate you doing this,” Cassie told her sister. “We won’t be out long. Sasha will get tired pretty quickly.”

Sasha began to wiggle. Ryan set her on the ground. She walked over to Cassie and put her hands on her tiny hips. “Me not tired.”

“I know, sweetie. You’re a big girl. You’re going to have a lot of fun.” Cassie straightened her crown, then returned her attention to her sister. “The candy is there,” she said, pointing to a bowl on the table by the front door. “As I said, we’ll be back in plenty of time for you to head out to your party.”

Ryan glanced at his watch. “If you want to leave before we’re back—”

Chloe cut him off with a shake of her head. “The university party doesn’t start for over an hour and it goes practically all night. Take as long as you’d like.” She touched her stomach. “Arizona and I are thinking of this as practice for the coming years.”

“Absolutely.” Arizona stepped next to his wife and put his arm around her. Chloe shifted closer.

They stood together as if they’d been a couple for decades instead of less than a year. Their love for each other was as obvious and real as their costumes. Ryan felt a twinge of envy inside. Was this what his brother and Helen had experienced in their marriage? He’d never been around them enough to notice, and even if he’d visited, he doubted he would have bothered to pick up on the small signals all couples sent and received.

What a waste, he thought grimly. He could have been a part of a very special family…his family. Instead he’d wasted his time with too much work.

“Then I think we’re ready,” Cassie said. “Oops, Sasha’s pumpkin is in the kitchen. I’ll go get it.”

She walked down the hall. Sasha trailed after her.

“So what do you think of Bradley?” Arizona asked.

“It’s a great town,” Ryan told him and knew that wasn’t the question Arizona really wanted to ask. He decided to make it easier on the other man. After all, he was looking out for a family member. Ryan respected that.

“I regret that it took a tragedy to bring me here,” he said. “Without Cassie’s help, I wouldn’t have made it through these past couple of weeks. She’s terrific with Sasha and a wonderful person to have around. I have the greatest respect for her.”

“We think she’s special,” Arizona said, his gaze steady.

“As do I. It’s fortunate that she has family close by. If anything were to happen, she would have plenty of support.”

“I’m glad you recognize that,” Arizona said.

Cassie and Sasha returned to the foyer. “We’re ready.” She paused. “What are you two talking about?”

“Nothing special,” Ryan told her. “Let’s go.”

They called out their goodbyes and stepped into the clear, cool night. When the door had closed behind them, Cassie looked at him. “You’re not getting off that easily. I could smell the testosterone in the air. Was that some kind of male dominance contest?”

“Not at all.” He bent down and smiled at Sasha. “Would you like me to carry your pumpkin for a while?”

Sasha nodded. He took it from her, then held out his hand to his niece. Cassie took her other one and they walked to the sidewalk and turned right. Already there were dozens of children and adults out for the festivities. As they passed a group of boys dressed like monsters, Sasha shrank against Ryan. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, then continued his conversation with Cassie.

“Your sister and brother-in-law are concerned about your safety while you’re living alone in my house. They wanted to make sure that I understood they were looking out for your interests. I assured them that I respect you as a person and would never do anything to make you uncomfortable.”