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else, too.” She shrugged
and was grateful for the distraction of Lucy loping into the kitchen with her
laptop.
    “Hi, Delia!” This ball of energy and noise was the polar
opposite of the brooding girl who’d sat slumped over stiff as a brick the
entire drive home. She’d combed her hair and traded the borrowed scrubs for a
velour sweatshirt and black cropped pants with sport stitched across the seat. She set the computer down, grabbed
a handful of cherry tomatoes and launched herself at Cordelia. “How come you’re
hanging out here? The other day Mom said you were stoked about going on a date
with Jack. But I still don’t get why married people go on dates.”
    Valerie’s eyes widened. What Lucy didn’t know was that
Cordelia and Jack’s “dates” were scheduled on nights during which Cordelia, who
was having trouble conceiving, would be ovulating. “Your date! Cordelia, I’m
sorry. I forgot all about it. I shouldn’t have asked you to take Lucy tonight.”
    “No worries, Valerie. Jack and I decided to order a
pizza, and, of course, Luce’s favorite cinnamon bread.”
    Lucy’s brows drew together in confusion. “Mom, why do I
have to leave?”
    “Your father’s coming here tonight. We have things to
discuss privately, okay? So you’re going to the carriage house, and I’ll pick
you up for school in the morning and you’ll take the bus home since I’ll be
tied up with work all day.”
    “Oh, super. It’s too huge of a situation for me to sleep
in my own house but I still have to go to school tomorrow and take that lame
test.” Lucy sauntered to the laptop where Valerie could see an open instant
messaging program on the screen.
    “Pretty much.” Valerie ignored the eye roll that earned
her. “So type goodbye to your friends and pack an overnight bag—quickly. And
don’t forget your history book.”
    Mouth full of tomato, Lucy protested, “Why’s he coming
here anyway? To be some father figure? I don’t need him, ’cause I’ve got Jack
and Gramps and Uncle Jasper and all my friends’ dads. And even without all
those guys, I’ve got you, Mom.”
    All the budding frustration about Lucy’s flaring temper
seemed to evaporate. I’ve got you, Mom. Valerie slid off the stool, wrapped her arms around her daughter and kissed her
cheek whether she liked it or not.
    Cordelia hid a smile as Lucy squirmed away, complaining,
“Your hair’s wet.”
    “How about you pack and go with Cordelia, and I get
cleaned up?”
    “Who’s gonna feed the cat if I’m gone?”
    “You know I will, Lucy.”
    “What about Titania and Mimas?”
    “Cozy in the kennel. I took care of them before picking
you up from school. All bases are covered.”
    “Fine,” the girl said reluctantly, shutting the laptop.
“C’mon, Delia. I want to show you the brochures for the country club Gramps
wants to rent for my insanely cool party—if Mom says it’s okay.”
    Valerie sighed, watching the two hurry up the kitchen
stairs. Not only was her daughter stubbornly hung up on the idea of Nathaniel
throwing her an “insanely cool”—and unimaginably expensive—party, she didn’t
realize that Peyton’s return was going to change her relationship with
Nathaniel. Peyton would likely be staying in his childhood home, and it would
be impossible for Lucy to frequent the place without running into her father.
Unless Peyton didn’t plan to stick around longer than a day or two.
    There was no way to assume what he would do. Their
exchange at the hospital earlier had shown her that he was capable of catching
her off guard. He was determined, unpredictable. A stranger.
    Across the room on the counter the double frame
displaying Lucy and Anna’s kindergarten photos took her attention.
    He wasn’t to be underestimated. Neither was she.

CHAPTER THREE
    A FTER
RESCHEDULING THE meeting he’d missed with
Chief Lindsey, Peyton tipped the parking valet and hauled ass to his
grandfather’s house. Nathaniel had known—there was no