Page 49 of Single Chance

“We’ll be going in with our eyes open. As long as we communicate, we’ll be fine. You’re not open to anything deeper, and neither am I. Nothing’s changed.”

“It would be easy for me to imagine there’s more between us than there is,” I finally said. “Because I’m a hot mess right now.”

“I wouldn’t take advantage of you.”

“I know.” I closed my eyes, because looking at this gorgeous man wasnotmaking it easier to make my point. “It’s me, Chance. Weak link.” I raised my hand. “I don’t want to learn to rely on you. I don’t want to develop feelings for you just because you’re amazing and I’m going through some things.”

After a moment, he sat up straighter and puffed out his chest. “You think I’m amazing?” A boyish grin stole over his face, andGod.

That.

That look, that charm…thatwas trouble.

“Stop it,” I said, grinning in spite of myself.

“You said I’m amazing.”

“I might have overstated. How about, you’re not a douche.”

Chance threw his head back and laughed. “I want that on my tombstone. ‘He wasn’t a douche.’”

I screwed up my face. “Who wants a tombstone these days? Real estate is limited.”

“You have a point.” He laughed again then sobered. “Rowan, I’m still getting to know you, but from what I’ve seen, you’ve got an inner strength that’ll get you through, with or without me.”

Something in his words got through my thick skull and penetrated my gray matter. I knew it took a strong person tocare for a loved one through dementia. It had tested me every day, was the absolute hardest thing I’d ever been through, but I’d made it. I liked to think I’d learned to be strong from my Gram.

She’d withstood the loss of an adult child. She’d stepped in to raise me when she was beyond child-rearing years and should’ve been enjoying a carefree empty nest. She’d weathered the death of her lifelong love in my grandfather. She’d grieved. Of course she’d grieved both her husband and her daughter. But she’d faced life with a quiet, tangible determination to make the most of what she still had.

If I said yes to moving in with Chance, I’d be going in with my eyes wide-open as he said. My guard up. I wasn’t stupid, and I wasn’t weak, thanks to the woman who’d raised me. I wouldn’t let myselfdriftinto anything that wouldn’t be good for me or the baby.

I nodded, thinking it through, reasoning with myself. “Okay.” I drew in a deep, steady breath. “Okay. Yes, I’ll take you up on your generous offer on that spare bedroom. Thank you, Chance.”

A gorgeous smile broke out across his lips, almost making me retract my acceptance, until he said, “I’ll try to be a little less amazing.”

Laughing, I said, “Don’t you dare.”

Inside, I braced myself. Erected my walls a little higher. And told myself—over and over—I could resist my charming, kind-hearted baby daddy.

Chapter Sixteen

Chance

My nerves were stretched to the limit Saturday afternoon as I paced from the kitchen to my home office window and back. Again and again. Watching for Rowan’s car.

She was checking out of the inn today and moving into our spare bedroom. Checkout was hours ago, but she’d told me she had errands to run before she came over.

I couldn’t imagine what errands could take this long, but I recognized that was none of my business.

Still, the anticipation of…everythingwas making me want to crawl out of my skin.

At the top of the list was Sam. She and Rowan hadn’t met yet. We hadn’t been able to arrange it in the two days since Rowan had agreed to move in.

When I’d told Sam about our new roommate, she’d been quiet, nodded, but had not really given a hint of her thoughts. She just seemed…sad. She didn’t know about New Year’s Eve, the pregnancy, nothing except that Rowan was new to town, worked at the brewery, and needed a place to live.

I was worried that adding Rowan to our household would push my daughter even further away, but I stood by my decision. Rowan had no one. No support. I was determined to be there for both Rowan and Sam.

I went to the family room, forced my nervous ass down on the sofa, and pulled out my phone to pass the time. I had ebooks I could read. A few game apps. The entire internet.

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