Reluctantly Royal(38)

“Yes!” Marty reached for the tub of ice cream but I was faster.

“I’ll put some in your bowl.” I lumped some ice cream into his bowl and handed him the bottle of sprinkles, which he liberally applied. Without thinking, I grabbed Max’s bowl and filled it with ice cream. “Do you want sprinkles too?”

“No, thanks.” He smiled at me when I handed him his bowl.

By the time I’d gotten my own dessert, Marty was ready to lick his bowl clean. Max reached across the table and flicked a sprinkle off my son’s nose, making him giggle.

“Okay. It’s time for a bath.” I shook my head when Marty groaned. “You’re filthy, buddy.”

“But it’s a good, healthy filthy.” Marty grinned.

“Go upstairs and pick out some pajamas.” I shook my head.

“I’m going.” He hopped out of his chair and ran around the table. To my complete surprise, he hugged Max and whispered something I couldn’t hear. Max laughed softly and hugged my son back. A stab of pain filled my chest and I squashed it. Other than Granddad, Marty hadn’t had a man in his life that he could count on. I didn’t let anyone get close enough to hurt him.

To hurt us. Marty’s father and my own had shown me how quickly men could leave you or hurt you.

“I’ll be up there soon,” I told Marty as he flew out the door.

“He’s a smart kid.”

“I know.” I looked over at Max and tried to sort through all the emotions that were bombarding me. To not hold the past against this man. “Thank you for taking him fishing today.”

“You’re not still angry?” He leaned back in his chair and cocked his head to the side.

“Your intentions were good.” I shrugged. Play it cool, I told myself. Don’t let him know what a big deal it is to let him hang out with my son. “But next time call me.”

His mouth twitched upward on one side. “So far, we’ve skipped that part and I’ve stuck to just barging into your home.”

“This isn’t my home.” I fought my smile. “But you have been barging in here a lot.”

“I’d like to barge in tomorrow if that’s okay.” He watched my face carefully.

“I think Marty would enjoy that.” I kept my face neutral.

“And what about you, Meredith?” With a smooth movement he leaned forward and reached out to touch the back of my hand with his fingertips. “Would you mind if I came over tomorrow?”

My immediate response stuck in my throat, surprising me. I looked into his green eyes and swallowed. How did this man continually make me feel like I was sixteen again? I was used to being the one in charge—the person who made decisions about where a relationship went. Which was usually nowhere.

“I . . . I would like that.” I tried to keep my tone nonchalant, but failed miserably. This wasn’t a relationship. This was just a person helping another person. Right?

Something in his expression shifted and I realized that he had been tense, waiting for my response. Maybe I wasn’t the only one feeling at the other’s mercy.

“What time would be a good time to show up?” His fingers were still on my hand. My skin tingled under his touch.

“Why don’t you come with your sister and sister-in-law?” I tried to keep my nerves to myself. So far my father hadn’t come out of his room, but who knew what tomorrow would bring?

As if he was reading my mind, Max’s eyes darted to the stairs. “Maybe I could come a little earlier.”

“We’ll be fine,” I said. We would. I’d dealt with this a hundred times before. But not without my grandfather in the background, my mind whispered.

“What have you decided about going back to England?” His eyes had taken on a serious cast and the light highlighted his sharp cheekbones.

“I have to wait until the will reading.” I shrugged.

“Your grandfather left a will?” His eyes brightened.

I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice. “I found out this morning.”

“How?” His fingers rubbed gently along my knuckles and I wondered if he was doing it on purpose.

“Rachel. The woman your mother sent to take care of the family.” Gently, I extracted my hand from underneath his. It was hard to think when he touched me. “She said that he entrusted it to the queen.”

He sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin. “That’s not completely unusual.”

“Even you didn’t sound convinced when you said that.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what to expect.” I shivered. What if Granddad did do something crazy in his will? What if he left everything to my father, expecting him to do the right thing? I would hope that he had left money for Marty and me, because if he left it all to my father, we’d be screwed. Thank God I had been squirreling away money and living well within our new means.