Page 26 of Only One I Ever Wanted

I swallowed a laugh. “Glory. I didn’t even think about it, just jumped in.”

“I’d say both of you will get some good out of this.” Anna stirred the pasta. “This will be done in a few minutes. Sully, pour wine for us.”

“Got it. Dad, you want a beer instead?”

“I’ll have a glass of wine this time.” He looked over at Danny. “Milk or juice for you?”

Danny barely looked up from his Fruit Snacks. “Milk, please.”

“Danny, why don’t you ask Miss Nora where she got her chair since you like it so much?”

He locked eyes with me, and I saw his shyness warring with his need for an answer.

I waited patiently for him.

He huffed out a breath and picked out a gummy, pushing his finger deep into the grape-like shape. “I really like your chair. May I know where you got it?”

I suppressed a laugh. The obvious influence of Anna and Sullivan were mixed in the little boy. “I’ll let your dad know the store. It’s right in Saratoga. I bet he could get you one really easily.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Sullivan ruffled his hair, and he wrinkled his nose in reaction, but I noticed Sullivan’s face soften.

The love was so obvious in Sully, but the boy seemed in a shell.

Sully glanced at me with a soft smile and a new layer was added to the tug inside me from earlier. Anna called from Joe’s help with the big platter-sized bowl of pasta and meatballs.

It had been a long time since I’d been at a family meal. My dad was a certified bachelor these days, after my mom passed away. They had a good relationship, but I was pretty sure I’d been the real link between them. Once I’d gone away to school, things had changed between them, then my mom got sick.

I’d planned to move home to take care of her, but she’d already been ready to go. She’d gone mercifully quick, and buttoning up their life had been almost anticlimactic.

My dad had been sad, but it was more of a guilt-ridden sadness along with a good bit of relief.

Between Booker and his career and my blooming career, there had been no real reason to come home after that.

Funny that Indigo Valley had been my first thought after the divorce had been final.

It had to be the simpler life.

Sullivan met my gaze with a smile as he helped Danny cut up his meatball.

Not this man.

Itcouldn’tbe this easy, could it?

Chapter9

Sullivan

HavingNora at the table with my family was not what I’d envisioned for the end of my day.

Neither had the kiss.

Kisses, plural.

I could still taste her on my tongue, even over my mom’s intensely garlic-heavy sauce and garlic bread. And I wanted to do it again, maybe after I brushed my teeth.

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