she’d nervously chattered nonstop, Kate rushed away. Just because he’d shown up didn’t mean she should read anything into his presence. Should she?
* * *
Before Lucas could explain that he was there to meet his aunt for their regular lunch, Kate was already across the room.
With a resigned sigh, he sat down across from his aunt. “What’s going on here?”
“Kate and I were just discussing the fund-raiser. I’m so glad you agreed to do it at the house. I know that must have been a difficult decision for you, but I’m really proud of you for making the right one. Kate hasn’t had many breaks. And at this moment in her life, she can use all of the help she can get.”
His aunt might be far too trusting of people she barely knew and might always be looking for the good in everyone, but in this instance he thought she might actually be right. He’d observed Kate this past week, and though he’d given her plenty of chances to take advantage of him, whether by sloughing her work off on someone else or by sponging off him or by leaving him with the bulk of the housework, she’d been a stellar employee.
He shifted positions on the hard plastic chair to get a better view of Kate’s slim figure as she stood at the checkout. She was a fine-looking woman. The man who’d walked away from her couldn’t be very smart. And best of all, she was as sweet on the inside as she was on the outside.
He jerked his gaze back to his aunt. “And from what I understand, you’re helping Kate organize this fund-raiser.”
Connie glanced at her wristwatch. “Of course. The girl needs someone to steer her in the right direction. Unless you’re offering to take over.”
Lucas held up both hands. “Count me out. I’m no party planner. Besides, I have urgent matters to deal with at Carrington. The San Francisco project has hit a snag. More like a brick wall.”
His aunt’s gaze narrowed in on him. “You aren’t thinking of skipping town, are you?”
“Would that be so bad? Or don’t you trust Kate after all?”
“I trust Kate. It’s you that worries me.”
“Me. Why me?”
“How long are you going to keep hiding and putting your life on hold? Why aren’t you fighting for custody of your little girl—”
His voice lowered. “You know why. And I don’t want to discuss it any further.”
He thought if anyone would understand his need to do this, his aunt would. She’d saved him from being a pawn between his arguing parents more than once. He wouldn’t do that to his daughter.
“But you are missing so much of Carrie’s life—”
“Leave it.” He fought back his rising temper. “I thought by agreeing to this fund-raiser, it’d make you happy.”
His aunt’s gaze needled him. “You only get one go-around in this life and it goes by in the blink of an eye. Please don’t waste it.”
His palm smacked the tabletop. “I’m not.”
No matter how much he missed his little girl, he had to put Carrie’s happiness above his own, something his parents had never done with him. And right now his ex-wife was hostile on the phone and argumentative in person. If only he could make her see reason.
Connie got to her feet. “Kate’s finished checking out. You better hurry and catch up with her since you two have plans—”
“But we don’t have plans. The only reason I’m here is because you insist we meet here for lunch once a week—even though I’ve offered repeatedly to take you anyplace you’d like.”
“And you were late today. Now it’s time I got back to work.” Connie glanced in Kate’s direction. “She’s waiting for you. You don’t want to disappoint her, do you?”
Before he could argue, his aunt walked away. His gaze immediately sought out the door, but Kate stood between him and the exit. He mentally ran through a list of excuses of why he had to leave. Each excuse sounded more pathetic than the last.
He straightened his shoulders. Time to make a confession. He approached Kate, who was holding a tall cup with a lid and a straw. She’d understand everything once he explained about the mix-up. After all, misunderstandings happened all the time.
She glanced up and a smile bloomed on her face. The color in her cheeks and the light in her eyes touched something deep inside him—a place that had felt dead up until now. He didn’t want her to stop smiling, not now...not ever.
“Are you ready to go?” Kate motioned toward the door.
He should speak up...explain that he’d only come here to visit with his aunt. That he had no intention of venturing into the pediatrics unit full of tiny humans—little ones like his Carrie. His mouth opened, but when Kate grabbed his hand, giving him a gentle tug, the words balled up in his throat. He glanced over his shoulder at Connie, but she wasn’t paying any attention as she took food orders from customers.
His gut churned. He was backed into a corner with no easy way out. Maybe he could just say a fast “Hi” and then be on his way. In and out. Fast as can be.
“I...I can’t stay long.”
Kate’s eyes lit up. Her lips pursed as though a question teetered on the tip of her pink tongue. His breath hitched in his throat. Please don’t ask any probing questions. Not here. Not now.
Kate’s face smoothed. “We can take the steps if you think it’ll be faster.”
He exhaled a long-held breath. He understood the strain Kate was under...more so than he’d ever want to admit. He shook his head, resigned to wait for one of the four elevators. As though summoned by his thoughts, a chime sounded and the door in front of him slid open.
Like the gentleman his mother raised him to be, he waited for Kate to step inside. His gut churned with anxiety. On stiltlike legs, he followed her.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked, drawing him out of his thoughts.
They were standing alone in the elevator as it slowly climbed to the fifth floor. He kept his eyes on the row of numbers above the door, watching as they lit up one after the other.
“I’m fine.”
“Really? Because ever since we got in the elevator, you look stiff and uncomfortable. And the frown on your face will scare the kids in pediatrics.”
He hadn’t realized his thoughts had transferred to his face. Willing himself to relax, he tried changing his stance and forced his lips into what he hoped was a smile.
Kate turned to him. “You know you don’t have to do this. If you’ve changed your mind about meeting my daughter, just say so.”
Apparently he hadn’t done a good enough job of putting on a more pleasant expression because right now, Kate’s eyes were filled with doubt. He didn’t want to add to her list of concerns. After all, this was a quick visit. Soon it’d all be nothing more than a memory.
“How’s
