Page 18 of Dancing in the Rain

“Sure.” Peyton shrugged. “That’s what kids are like. It means she’s absolutely secure in her love from her mom. She knows Sara will love her no matter how mouthy or bratty she gets.” Peyton smiled. “I, on the other hand, could actually leave.”

“Huh.” Drew rubbed his face. “My knowledge about kids could be written down on a postage stamp.”

“I’m no expert, either, Lord knows. But I was around enough when Chloe was small that I learned a few things.”

“Do you like kids?”

An odd question. “I like some kids. Same as I like some adults.”

His slow grin revealed a dimple in one cheek. “Smart answer.”

“It’s true. How can you say you like kids carte blanche? I’ve met some pretty snotty, badly behaved kids.” She paused. “But I like Chloe. Which is nice, because I love her, because she’s my niece, so it’s really extra special that I actuallylikeher.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” His forehead creased. “D’you think there are parents whodon’tlike their kids?”

She pondered that. “I don’t know. I guess it’s possible. But we could have a big debate about nature versus nurture. I tend to believe that from the time they’re babies, you’re nurturing them into the people you want them to be. If you don’t want a kid who’s selfish, raise her with generosity. If you don’t want a kid who’s vain, raise her with humility.”

Not that she’d ever have kids of her own. She’d ruled that out of her life years ago.

He leaned against the counter. “You don’t think someone can be born selfish?”

She grinned. “Like I said, this is an ancient debate in psychology. I don’t think it’s an all-or-nothing question. Instead of asking if it’s one or the other—nature versus nurture—I prefer to askhow muchinfluence each has.”

“A reasonable approach,” he murmured. Then he frowned. “Can I ask a really personal question?”

“Um, I guess.”

“Sara’s cancer…how much of it is genetic?”

Peyton gave him a sad smile. “There are genetic predispositions to melanoma, but she’s the only one in our family who’s ever had it, so they’re fairly sure it’s just by chance that she got it.”

“Oh.” His chest lifted and fell. “That’s good. I mean, not for Sara…obviously.”

His discomfort softened her heart. “She’s been amazing through this—so strong. She fought this with everything she had.” Her throat constricted and she swallowed. “She seems to have accepted that the battle is over.”

“Have you?”

Peyton pressed her lips together. “I’m not sure, honestly. I think there will always be a kernel of hope inside me that some kind of miracle will happen.”

“What can I do? I may be unemployed but I have money. We could have her seen by the best doctors…”

She shook her head. “She has been. She has excellent health coverage and she’s a smart woman. She’s always made sure to ask questions and keep asking them until she has answers.” She paused. “And she doesn’t want money from you, just so you know. Shehasmoney. Our parents left us very comfortable, and she has…hada great job.”

Drew ran a hand through his hair and clasped the back of his neck as his gaze went to the ceiling, his lips pressed together. “Yeah,” he said. “I know.”

Chapter 5

Peyton gave him a long look, eyebrows elevated. “You know what?”

“I know she has money. You’re not the only one who had a background check done.”

She gave a slow blink, her sapphire eyes big and round.

Drew held out his hands, palms facing her. “Hey, you can’t be upset about that.”

Peyton rubbed the end of her small nose with her fingertips. “No, I guess I can’t,” she said slowly.

“Look, I’ve had more than one friend who’s ended up in a situation not unlike this. One of my teammates was being extorted for money by a woman who claimed he was the father of her child. The paternity test proved it wasn’t true. Another guy I know ended up married to a woman because she got pregnant on purpose to trap him. That didn’t end well. It happens all the time.”

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