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the curb. On the one hand, Kelly hadn’t asked about teaching Sophie to ride a two-wheeler. On the other hand, the image of Kelly pressing a kiss to his daughter’s knee would be forever imprinted in his memory.
    Sophie ran toward him as he exited the Jeep. “Daddy! Did you see? I can ride a bike.”
    He scooped her in his arms and nuzzled her little neck until she giggled. “I saw you take a tumble. How’s your knee?”
    She squished his throat with her hug. “It’s okay. Kelly kissed it better.”
    There she stood, halfway up the driveway, watching him, casual in faded jeans and an untucked flannel shirt, her hair pulled back with a tie. How had Sophie managed to get the first kiss from Kelly’s pink lips? It hardly seemed fair, even if it was a scraped knee. He smiled at Kelly, and she waved at him before turning back to her daughter. Suddenly his entire day brightened.
    “Okay, Elena. Make sure there are no cars coming then give it a try.”
    Elena straddled the bike and pushed off. She pedaled down the driveway and turned onto the street without toppling, the beaded spokes clickety-clacking as the pink handlebar streamers rustled. She turned carefully in the roundabout, the front wheel wobbling until Ian was sure there’d be another casualty.
    “Keep pedaling!” called Kelly. “Go faster so you don’t fall.”
    Elena rode past Ian and onto the driveway before sticking both feet on the pavement to stop the bike. “I did it, Mommy! I did it.”
    “You sure did. Good job, baby girl.” Kelly looked at Ian, a grin on her face. “I guess I’d better quit calling her that. She’s growing up so quickly.”
    Sophie slid from his arms and ran to Elena. “Is it my turn?”
    Ian followed her. “I can’t believe how quickly time is going by.” He also couldn’t believe how short a time he’d known this mother and daughter. Was it really only a week?
    “I guess I should have asked before letting Sophie ride Elena’s bike. I promised Elena weeks ago that we’d work on it during spring break. She wants to ride to the park one day soon.”
    “Looks like I should find a bike for Sophie, then.” He hadn’t even thought about it before. In Calgary they’d lived in a high-rise with no safe riding place nearby. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d ridden. Probably if he got one for Sophie, he should consider buying one for himself. Small towns were different. He needed to adjust.
    Kelly nudged Sophie’s head as Elena wheeled the bike to the top of the driveway. “This time go faster, and you won’t fall over. You can do it.”
    Ian’s hands twitched with the desire to cushion his daughter, but if she was game even after hitting the pavement once, how could he hold her back? Kelly was right. Sophie was growing up. Instead of trying to stop it, he needed to give her a safe place to fail.
    Sophie grabbed the handlebars and swung her leg across the bike. She narrowed her gaze and bit her lip. Nothing if not determined, that one. She gave a little push and began to pedal.
    “Go, Sophie, go!” shouted Elena.
    When she lost control, she got both feet on the ground instead of falling. Ian caught the set of her jaw as she balanced then pushed off again, this time more successfully. Wow.
    “Good job, Sophie!” called Kelly. “Keep pedaling.”
    Ian should probably be watching his daughter as she mastered a new skill. Instead, he found himself gazing down at the blond head beside him.  
    Kelly’s ponytail flipped when she turned and glanced up at him. “She’s doing well.”
    “Yeah, she is.” He was totally caught in her clear blue eyes. “Thanks for teaching her.”
    Time held still for a long moment before she pulled her gaze away and back to the street. “Okay, Sophie, keep going. Can you make it all the way around the circle? Go faster!”
    That seemed to be today’s mantra from the bike-riding lesson. Don’t stop, or you’ll fall over. Keep pedaling. Could he apply that to Kelly?