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smile lit her lips. The first one he’d seen since the wedding. And he owed it to a one-and-a-half-year-old. He’d have to thank the kid later. After he got his heart back into a normal rhythm. Made sure he hadn’t pissed himself.
    “How about you?” He asked.
    “A girl, but not wimpy.”
    Now, it was his turn to grin. The motion was foreign. Had he been without humor as long as Amanda?
    An image of New Year’s forced its way into his mind. Two months of broken communication and an official letter from the state of North Carolina had forced him to corner her inside the house of a friend, during a celebration they should have been enjoying together.
    He’d seen the shadows under her eyes. The way her smile never added a sparkle. Watched her almost passionless work ethic. In that moment, the woman he loved was gone. Stripped away by an event neither of them could control.
    He’d meant to hold her. Let her know he understood all those emotions, because they lurked beneath his skin. He didn’t have the luxury of embodying them. Not with his sister and niece to care for.
    Instead of careful words, ones that would let her know she wasn’t alone, he’d drawn her into a darkened spare bedroom.
    The bond they had was special, right down to her sassy quips and his jerk-like qualities. Losing that was a crime. It was a sin.
    The rest was his own doing.
    Riley appeared with an orange book. Plopped it on his chest, right in front of Amanda’s head. “Peas.” The child’s face lit up as she drew out the word. Neither adult moved. Excitement quickly changed to frustration. “Peas.”
    Amanda let out a bark of laughter that sent vibrations into his side. Poor schmuck that he was, the sound filled his head and landed in the organ in his chest. The one that didn’t operate well without this woman.
    He’d do more than thank the kid. He’d buy her a pony. Or a car. A drum set.
    “Very bossy. Just like your mommy.” Amanda sat up. “Do you want to read?”
    The child nodded once. “’Kay.” She ran to the couch, hoisted herself on it and sat. Little legs kicked to some inaudible tune. Then she wiggled from the space and swiped another book. Started reading in complete toddler gibberish.
    “I’m getting too old for this.” He sat up. Brought a hand to the sting in one shoulder blade. His other moved the reading material aside.
    She stood. Offered a hand. “Rescuing me or lying on the hard floor?”
    “Both.” He clasped her fingers, a charge of electricity traveling up his arm as he stood. Did she still feel it, too?
    “So, I should find a new hero?” A hint of mischief sparkled in her eyes. She didn’t drop his hand.
    Heck, no. “Every hero must retire. I’m a hard act to follow, so I’d start the interview process ASAP.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the advice.”
    If he’d known championing over a short fall with precious cargo was what it took to break the ice between them, he’d have hired Miss Riley Bening to act as liaison much sooner.
    Figures. The little urchin was bound to be a meddling guru by age two. He was surprised she wasn’t wielding a gun and shouting orders already.
    As if Amanda realized they were touching and talking, she pulled her hand from his. Picked up the laptop at her feet. Set it on the counter. Then she tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. And fiddled with the device in front of her. Avoided eye contact with him.
    Baby steps.
    She hadn’t kicked him out. That was a plus. “Where’s McKenna, anyway?”
    “She ran to the store. She might have mentioned her daughter possessed crazy, death-defying skills.” Amanda turned in his direction, then, and every fleck of brown in her irises zeroed in on him.
    An instant hum traveled through his bloodstream. He hadn’t forgotten what it was like to be on the other end of her full attention. He’d merely been going through a severe Amanda drought and it had frazzled his brain to the point of no return.
    Not to mention other