Page 10 of Bravely Yours

“Yeah, that’s it.” He snapped his fingers.

Nora babbled away, pointing at cars and trees as we crossed the parking lot, then waving at Jay and giving him a gummy smile.

“Did she just saybye?”

I nodded. Or something close to it, at least. She had gotten really great at repeating sounds.

“Yeah, she’s got a few regular words and has been adding to her arsenal pretty often lately.Up,byeandMamaare her favorites, and yesterday, I’m pretty sure she told meno.”

“She’s cute.”

I side-eyed him. Until this point, he had seemed more annoyed by her than anything.

“When she’s not crying.” He sent me that smile again.

My stomach fluttered, but I pushed the feeling away. Though I had to admit the two of them asleep on the sofa last night might have been the most adorable thing I’d ever seen. Even if it made me sad. My daughter would likely never have a close bond with a father figure. So far, I didn’t have a good track record when it came to men, not to mention I had doubts that I could truly trust a partner again. Maybe I’d try if it was just me, but now I had to consider Nora and make sure that any people I brought around her would cherish and protect her. Never hurt her.

“Thanks again for last night,” I said as I approached my car.

He nodded. “No problem.” He studied me for a moment, pursing his lips like maybe he wanted to say more. Instead, he tipped his head and turned, heading across the parking lot.

I tracked him as he sauntered away, my focus drifting lower, locking on to his perfectly toned ass.

I shook my head.

Jesus, I really needed to get a grip.

Chapter Seven

SARAH

I swalloweddown my anxiety but refused to make eye contact with Drew as he got out of his car across the street. I’d arrived early in hopes of not having to come face to face with him, yet here he was.

Dammit.

Quickly, I turned and walked down the street to the coffee shop.

How did people do this regularly?

Leaving my baby girl with a social worker and a probation officerjust so her father could have thirty minutes of parenting time with his daughter left me a jittery ball of nerves. I let out a shaky breath and kept my attention fixed on the sidewalk in front of me. I wouldn’t turn around and give him the satisfaction of seeing the worry on my face.

I was already a shaky mess, so the last thing I needed was coffee. But I didn’t want to be far from Nora, and the coffee shop was close by. I opted for decaf, and when the barista handed me my coffee, I spun, ready to find a quiet corner to sit and stress for the next thirty minutes. As I turned, I almost crashed into a wall of muscle clad in a heather-gray T-shirt and navy-blue suspenders. Stumbling back, I righted myself and got a good look at the man in front of me. Damn. I ran my tongue along my lower lip. I’d never in my life thought I’d find suspenders sexy, but right now, with the way they contrasted with Jay’s skintight T-shirt, I did.

Shaking my head, I forced my gaze off his muscular chest and up to his face. But the second I did, I regretted the move. That smile made stupid things happen in my stomach again.

“Whoa. You, okay?”

My shoulders felt strangely warm, and for the first time, I realized he was gripping them.

“Where’s Nora?” He swiveled his head, searching the small café.

My chest tightened. “With her father.”

His brows pulled together, and a moment later, he released his hold on me and stepped back. “Oh.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, racking my brain for a way to get out of here without having to tell him that I was killing time while my abusive ex had supervised parenting time with Nora.

It wasn’t that cold out. Maybe I’d take my time walking back rather than sitting in the shop.

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