splayed her hands on her lower back, then shifted her gaze to the door David had disappeared through.
There was a time long, long ago, she mused, when she would have daydreamed about a man like David Montgomery just as Susan was. But those days were over. Forever.
“Green light, green light, green light,” Tucker yelled from the back seat, bringing Patty back to the present with a thud. “Go, go, go.”
The driver of the car behind Patty honked the horn as though thoroughly agreeing with Tucker that Patty should get a move on. She pressed on the gas pedal while ignoring the warm flush on her cheeks.
That had been a ridiculous trip down memory lane, she thought with a mental shake of her head. Why she had relived that conversation with David Montgomery she didn’t know. Well, enough of this nonsense.
Minutes later Patty was entering the Fuzzy Bunny, her arms full of Sophia in her carrier, her purse and a packed-to-the-brim diaper bag. Two caregivers waved from across the room. Tucker made a beeline for his favorite corner of the large sunny area where brightly colored, chunky wooden blocks waited to be turned into magical creations. Susan hurried to Patty and took the carrier containing a still-sleeping Sophia.
“Hello, pretty girl,” Susan cooed at the baby, then shifted her attention to Patty. “Oh, cripe, look at you. You’re skinny as a post already. Not a lump or a bump in those slacks you’re wearing. How did you do that? Do you know that a woman asked me when my baby was due and I was standing there holding a newborn Theresa in my arms? Talk about depressing. Even worse is that was seven years ago and I still haven’t shed the last ten pounds I gained during that pregnancy. Grim.”
“You have a…lush figure, Susan,” Patty said, smiling. “Very womanly.”
“You’d make a good politician,” Susan said, laughing. “Tell ’em what they want to hear.”
“What I want to hear,” Patty said, “is that David Montgomery is still bringing Sarah Ann here. Tucker is so excited about seeing his ‘bestis friend’ again and will no doubt pitch a royal fit if she doesn’t show up.”
“Oh, sexy David will be here with daughter in tow,” Susan said, “and frown in place. The man has not smiled at anyone except his kiddo since he had that chitchat with you. Do you think it would help if I tore off my clothes when he arrives? No, forget that. The extra ten pounds I spoke of is not an inspiring sight to behold. Anyway, it’s great to have you here today, Patty. Where do you want me to put Miss Sophia?”
“I’ll use Marjorie’s office for a nursery today since she’s away on vacation. Sophia can camp out on the owner’s turf.”
“Okay, I’ll carry her… Oops. Jeffery, the wheels stay on the truck. Do not… Too late. That kid kills a truck a day, I swear.”
“Go play mechanic,” Patty said, taking the carrier from Susan.
“Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann,” Tucker yelled, racing across the room. “You came. I told my mommy you would.”
Patty slid the heavy diaper bag and her purse onto one of the small child-size tables, then turned to see the front doors of the center swishing closed behind Sarah Ann and David Montgomery.
Oh, good grief, Patty thought. David Montgomery was even more ruggedly handsome than she remembered him being. He just oozed blatant masculinity, moved with a fluid male grace that said he was comfortable in his own body—a body that was so perfectly proportioned it was sinful.
Was that a sensual shiver slithering down her spine? No, it was not. Patty Sharpe Clark, don’t be absurd.
In the next moment her eyes widened as Tucker and Sarah Ann threw their arms around each other in a hug. Patty hurried forward, aware that while the pair were the same age Tucker was a stocky little boy while Sarah Ann was small-boned and delicate. An exuberant hug from Tucker Clark could result in Sarah Ann being squished to tears.
“Tucker, honey,” Patty said when she reached the children. “I know how happy you are to see Sarah Ann but you’re going to squeeze the stuffing out of her. Let her go, Tucker.”
“’Kay,” Tucker said. “Are you still my bestis friend, Sarah Ann?”
Sarah Ann nodded. “You’re my most bestis friend in the whole wide world, Tucker.”
“Come play blocks,” Tucker said, taking Sarah Ann’s hand.
“’Kay.”
“Goodbye, Sarah Ann,” David said. “I love you.”
“Love you,” she said, not looking at him.
The dynamic duo ran toward the far corner of the room.
“Well,” David said, chuckling, “I’d say that was quite a reunion.” He shifted his gaze to Patty. “You’ve been busy since you were here last.” He looked at Sophia, then back at Patty. “You have a beautiful daughter, Patty.
“I remember holding Sarah Ann when she was a newborn and thinking she was an honest-to-goodness miracle. I always thought I’d be the father to three or four kids, live in a home overflowing with love and laughter and…” He cleared his throat. “Does Tucker like his role of big brother?”
“He’s not overly impressed,” Patty said, laughing. “He wants Sophia to do something, not just eat and sleep.”
“She’ll get busy soon enough. They grow so fast. I’ve already been replaced as Sarah Ann’s bestis friend.”
“Oh, not really,” Patty said. “Sarah Ann dashes off when she gets here because she’s secure in the knowledge that you’ll be back to get her later. You’re her bestis daddy and she trusts you with such pure and awesome innocence.”
“I hope I can live up to that trust,” David said, looking directly at Patty.
“I… I’m sure you will,” she said, meeting his intense gaze.
Those eyes, she thought, rather hazily. They put a Ventura summer sky to shame. So blue, so… Goodness, it was warm in here. There was a strange heat consuming her, churning and swirling and… David Montgomery was pinning her in place with those incredible blue eyes.
“Well, I’d better be on my way,” David said, his voice sounding slightly strangled. “I assume you’re reporting back to work here?”
“Oh, no, not really,” Patty said, then drew a wobbly breath. “I’m just substituting today because they’re short on caregivers.”
“I see. Yes. Have a nice day. I’ll be back to collect Sarah Ann at the usual time. Goodbye.”
David spun around and strode toward the doors, soon disappearing from view.
“Goodbye,” Patty said quietly, watching him go.
Sophia squeaked, stirred and opened her eyes.
“Hello, sleepy girl,” Patty said. “Your silly mommy just got thrown off-kilter by a very handsome man, but there will be no more of that malarkey. I’m wearing my mommy hat and it’s staying firmly in place.”
