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considered going back. But setting up shop on the Island had been out of the question. Too many things had changed. Alex had moved on, and Anna had been married with children. It hurt to see them happy, his own personal brand of torture. He’d sworn when they were all children that one day he’d be like them. As secure as they had been, being brought up as Morellis. But then they’d left him behind, and he’d needed something else to fill the space inside. He’d gone from stable boy to working at a vineyard in the Okanagan, saving his money and learning absolutely everything he could. Buying Two Willows had been a good investment and a challenge. He remembered the lean times in the Willow house and didn’t want his parents to have to deal with that again.
    â€œHe says he is proud,” Jace replied, thinking of his dad and the last time he’d visited. “I’m able to make their life a bit more comfortable. That’s the main thing.”
    â€œI know how important that is to you. But what about you? What do you want, Jace?”
    Her eyes were earnest, large and fluid against the smoothness of her skin. He knew what he wanted right now. Beyond that he couldn’t say.
    At that moment Aurelia crawled across the floor and grabbed on to Jace’s pant leg, gripping the fabric in her chubby fingers and pulling herself up. She bobbed there a moment, then looked up, proud and smiling from ear to ear.
    â€œShe likes you.”
    Jace’s eyes widened as he looked down on the dark curls at his knee. He didn’t move. Didn’t know what to do. He’d never held a baby in his life, and he couldn’t even walk to the stove because she had a death-grip on his trousers. He looked at Anna and saw her smile fade.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she murmured. “She’s not quite walking and she looks for things to use to pull herself up.” She bent and picked up the baby, kissing the tiny fingers as they patted her mouth.
    And Jace felt out of place in his own home for the second time.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. I don’t have much experience with children. I’m afraid I won’t be of any help.”
    â€œYou letting us stay here is help enough.”
    He took the bread from the oven and busied himself layering sautéed mushrooms on the tops. Help? Hah. It was a hell of a position. He’d never wanted children. She’d always known it. And he wanted to help Anna, he really did. Matteo and Aurelia were gorgeous, just like her. When he’d said they could stay, he hadn’t considered he’d have a role of a stand-in father. He knew nothing about caring for small children, and he didn’t much want to learn either. Keeping the winery profitable was his main priority right now. Did Anna want a place to hide out or did she want him to fill in where Stefano had failed? If she did, he resented it deeply. It was presumptuous to say the least, and he didn’t want to believe it of her. Perhaps she merely expected him to make her children as welcome as she was. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want to. He just didn’t know how. And he felt foolish admitting it.

    When Jace didn’t answer, Anna turned away from his frown, her heart sinking. She should have expected his reaction after all. All their lives, Jace and Alex had enjoyed the singles’ scene. They were both somewhat legendary at it, in fact. Alex had only changed with the arrival of Melissa in his life. Alex was different with his niece and nephew, especially now that he and Melissa were expecting one of their own.
    She settled the baby in a type of high chair she’d brought in from the car, clicking the restraints and sliding the plastic tray into place. Jace was still that man. He liked being unencumbered. She’d known it all along. He’d been very clear about his desire to remain childless back in the days when the three of them had been inseparable. She