gesture, but the self-conscious look on Lucas’s face told her that he wasn’t comfortable with his new role.
Erin wasn’t completely comfortable with it, either.
He belongs to me.
Lucas. A father.
How many hours had she spent doodling their names in her notebook during study hall? Planning their wedding? Their family?
Their future.
Until he’d set out on his own and crushed every one of those girlish fantasies. Erin’s faith had been the only thing holding her together during those first few days. And as those days turned into months and the months became years, new dreams eventually began to kindle from the ashes of the ones that had once revolved around Lucas.
If you keep looking back, you might miss something good that’s right there in front of you.
One of her mom’s many pearls of wisdom. And one that Erin had finally taken to heart. It was the reason she kept a smile on her face and her calendar full. Every morning she asked God to teach her contentment—to show her the good that was right in front of her.
And right now, no matter how conflicted her feelings for Lucas Clayton might be, the “good” in front of her was Max.
As Erin leaned down to tuck a corner of the blanket more snuggly around his thin shoulders, she heard a soft knock on the front door.
By the time she reached the doorframe, Lucas already stood in the front hallway. And once again, her traitorous heart stalled at the sight of him.
Lucas had always been good-looking, but the last seven years had wrought subtle changes. At six foot two, he still towered above her, but he was no longer the lanky teenager that Erin remembered. The sun had permanently stained his skin a golden-bronze, a striking contrast to those incredible blue eyes. Clayton blue, Erin had heard someone call them once.
Erin remembered Lucas rolling his eyes when she’d repeated the comment.
“First we get a town named after us and now a color. What’s next? A mountain range? A national monument?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the name Clayton.” Erin had given him a playful swat on the arm.
Lucas had smiled that slow smile that never failed to melt her heart like butter in a hot skillet. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
Erin had been afraid to read too much into the statement. Until Lucas had leaned forward and kissed her.
Her first kiss…
Don’t. Look. Back.
Erin silently repeated the words. Lucas Clayton happened to be part of her past and, thanks to George Sr.’s will, an unexpected part of her present. But he was definitely not a part of her future.
That’s what she needed to remember.
“Lucas.” She flashed a polite smile—the same one that every cowboy who came into the café received with a cup of coffee.
He drove a hand through his hair and snowflakes drifted down like bits of silver confetti. “I’m sorry it’s so late. Is Max ready to leave?”
“He’s sound asleep.”
“Right.” Lucas sighed. “He usually takes a nap around this time. I’ll carry him out to the truck.”
Something in the weary slump of his shoulders tugged at her conscience.
“Would you like to thaw out with a cup of coffee first?” Erin couldn’t believe she’d said the words. Out loud.
And Lucas hesitated just long enough to make her wish she could take back the invitation.
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