“But you did know more than I gave you credit for,” she corrected. “When you left him in the car, instinct told you to keep an eye on him. I just jumped to conclusions. Same with the jungle gym. You knew it was something he loved and let him go for it, rather than hovering too close and making him scared to try something. I think really good parents have to find a balance between letting kids grow and being overly protective.”
She met his gaze. “I’m sorry, Sam. I truly am. How about this? Next time I think you’re handling something wrong, I’ll mention it, but I won’t get all judgmental and crazy on you.”
He laughed. “Do you really think you can pull that off?”
She winced. “I can at least try.”
“Well, don’t try too hard. Despite not enjoying being the target of your indignation, I like that you were protective of a little boy you didn’t even know. I admire you for caring that much. And just to reassure you about Bobby, I may be inexperienced and the situation may be totally unexpected, but I’m going to be the best stand-in for his dad that I can possibly be.”
“I believe that,” she said, then studied him. “So, we’re good?”
He nodded. “We’re good.”
“Okay, then. I see Shanna at the kitchen window staring at us. I’m not sure if she’s just curious to see if we’re killing each other or ticked off about dinner getting ruined.”
“Let’s go inside, so she can check for injuries,” Sam suggested. “And, to tell the truth, I’ve been looking forward to a home-cooked meal ever since she invited Bobby and me over. I’d hate for it to be spoiled.”
Carrie fell into step beside him as they went back in. “Don’t you cook?”
“I’m a single guy. I grill and I order pizza. I am also a master of cold cereal.”
“Oh, dear,” she said, regarding him with alarm.
“I know,” he said, holding up a hand before she could say more. “As soon as Bobby and I have our own place, I will make sure he has healthy meals, even if I have to rely on somebody else to cook them. I’ll get Shanna to recommend a foolproof cookbook.”
She grinned. “An excellent plan. And knowing the single women in this town, I imagine you can count on casseroles and desserts turning up on a regular basis.”
“Will you be one of those women?”
“You never know,” she said lightly. “Of course, if I am, I’ll make sure Nell does the cooking. Or maybe Luke’s chef. My skill in the kitchen is only marginally better than you claim yours is.” Her expression brightened. “Or how about this? We could both take lessons from Nell. She’d love it, and you and Bobby definitely wouldn’t starve.”
Sam was startled by the suggestion. “What do you get out of it?”
“I become one of the few O’Briens who actually knows her way around the kitchen. Nell’s always been so good at cooking, we count on her for all the big family occasions. I wouldn’t mind having bragging rights as a worthy successor someday down the road. Up till now Kevin’s had them, but he doesn’t exercise them enough to count anymore.”
Sam laughed. “Ah, I finally see a chink in your armor of perfection. Sign me up, if Nell’s willing.”
Her face lit up. “Seriously? You’ll do it?”
He shrugged. “Why not? Bobby and I have to eat.”
And perhaps it would give him a chance to see Carrie in a setting in which she wasn’t quite so sure of herself. He liked knowing she didn’t excel at everything. And even with everything already on his plate and his determination to remain immune to the attraction, he had to admit that discovering more about Carrie Winters was an intriguing prospect.
7
She was crazy, Carrie thought as she walked to Nell’s cottage the morning after dinner at Shanna and Kevin’s. Why would she throw herself into the path of danger by spending even more time around Sam and Bobby? Just as Caitlyn had suggested during her last call, Carrie recognized that she was vulnerable right now and Sam—a floundering single dad—was exactly the sort of man she was likely to fall for when she was in such a vulnerable state. She could tell herself from now till doomsday that she was only interested in Bobby’s well-being, but the little sizzle that ran through her when she was in close proximity to Sam said otherwise. Sizzles, as she knew all too well, could turn into dangerous fires.
When she tapped on her great-grandmother’s front door, it was Dillon who answered.
“Well, if it isn’t the prettiest great-granddaughter in the world,” he said with that wonderful Irish lilt in his voice.