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Lincoln had been her fiancé’s best friend, and as far as she was concerned, it was his fault that Rob hadn’t come home that night.
    Cosmir noticed her first and gave her a little wave. A flash of something white and frilly caught her attention from the corner of her eye and shock slammed into her when she saw an adorable little girl with him, one who had to be Cosmir’s based off the color of her skin. Was he already married? Jake had made it sound like Cosmir was single. A single father perhaps? She swung her gaze back toward the men. When Rich saw her, his eyes darkened and he scowled in her direction. Caitlyn didn’t want to deal with him so she slammed the screen door and went back inside. She’d unload the damn car herself before she dealt with that slimeball. As she pulled the sacks of chips out of her car, she felt a presence behind her. Whirling, she calmed her racing heart when she was it was just Cosmir.
    “Shouldn’t you be in the backyard with your daughter?” she asked.
    Cosmir gestured toward the bags. “Is that everything?”
    “There’s water and soda in the trunk.”
    Cosmir walked around back and grabbed both cases of water, one on top of the other, and began striding toward the house. He didn’t look the least bit like he was exerting himself, almost like he was carrying a feather pillow and not sixty-four bottles of water. Caitlyn trailed behind him, but rushed ahead when they neared the house so she could open the door for him. He flashed her a smile and her knees went a little weak.
    “Where do you want these?” Cosmir asked.
    “Jake should have two chests filled with ice out back. I was going to put water in one and sodas in the other.”
    Cosmir nodded. “You take care of whatever needs to be done in here, and I’ll handle the drinks. Don’t even think of going back to the car for the sodas.”
    So, aliens were chivalrous. Good to know. Didn’t help her feel any less conflicted about him though. Cosmir was damn near model-perfect in looks and he was really sweet as well. It just made her want to spend more time with him when she should be keeping her distance, especially now that she knew he had a child.
    Caitlyn dumped the three types of chips into different serving bowls, opened the two dips she’d purchased, and began carrying them outside. When Cosmir saw her, he immediately came toward her and took the bowls from her hands. She smiled her thanks and went back for more. By the time the tables outside were set with snacks and the coolers of drinks were placed nearby, more people had started to arrive. Caitlyn wished she could say she was excited, but truthfully, she didn’t get along with the wives who were coming, even though she’d never said anything to her brother. Trisha Watts and Pamela Markis were both snobby and thought they were better than everyone else.
    She grabbed a bottle of water out of one of the coolers and headed toward the swing in the corner of the yard. It was out of the way, yet near enough her brother couldn’t complain about her being anti-social. Honestly though, the last thing she felt like was partying in any form. There was still a lot to do before her life could get back on track. She should have been out laptop shopping with what little money she had in savings so she could at least work while she waited for the insurance check.
    “This seat taken?” the willowy brunette who had come with Patterson asked as she eased onto the swing.
    “Enjoying yourself?” Caitlyn asked.
    “The other women aren’t exactly welcoming, are they?”
    Caitlyn snickered. “Not hardly. They think they’re God’s gift because they nabbed firemen for husbands.”
    “I’m guessing tall, purple, and hunky belongs to you. I swear he barely takes his eyes off you.” The brunette giggled. “I’m Misty, by the way.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Misty. Cosmir isn’t mine. I was in the hospital recently and he came every day to sit with me, when he wasn’t