Page 37 of Call it Fate

I shrugged, unwilling to do anything to jeopardize the moment. “It’s fine. Seems like a good repayment for your schoolwork help.”

“And maybe we can have chocolate cake for dessert since we’re havin’ company and all?” Iain held his hands as if in prayer and blinked his eyes with a charming grin.

I smiled affectionately. “Now you’re pushin’ it, mister.” But I knew that we’d end up having it, too. Anything to keep the identical smiles on their faces. “Go get your snow gear on.”

He took off with his usual gusto.

“Thank you.” Zach’s softly spoken words helped lift the burden that I’d felt like I’d been carrying for the past few days. No, the past several years.

“I see you’ve already mastered dad jokes,” I teased, wanting to keep the moment light.

He chuckled. “At least animal ones.”

“Do you…do you want to build a snowman with us?”

I wasn’t sure which set of emerald green eyes had shone brighter at the prospect. I wasn’t sure how we were going to work everything out, but for now, this was enough.

CHAPTER18

Zach

To my surprise, I slept past my usual waking hour. By the time I got showered and dressed, I was late for breakfast. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d played in the snow, but I’d had a blast playing with Iain the past two days.

The snow that had distracted Iain from his homework a couple of days ago didn’t add much to the total, but it did provide a Norman Rockwell-worthy background for some winter fun. So many times, I wanted to grab Iain up and hug him or to say, “I love you.” I never knew it would be so easy to fall in love with anyone, not even Emalee, but I had. Totally and completely.

Each night, I’d been included in the family dinner where I mostly interacted with Iain. Raelyn seemed to keep a wary eye on me, but she didn’t snub me, either. Em was polite, but after Iain got his shower and went to bed, she pretty much showed me the door. Getting up and leaving each night to go back to my room nearly killed me, but knowing that I’d wake up and see both Iain and Emalee in the morning made it easier.

My time with Iain felt effortless. He was an amazing kid. I could tell his time growing up in a bed-and-breakfast had made him social and not the slightest bit awkward around strangers. I could only hope that wouldn’t change once he found out I was his dad.

His mother was a different matter. Ever since I saw her, I’d felt like someone had inserted a pacemaker into my heart. I could deny it as much as I wanted—and oh, how I’d done that for the last several years—but my heart felt like it started pumping normally for the first time in seven years.

The attraction to Emalee was still there, no matter how much she tried to deny or avoid it. I didn’t blame her. A lot of anger and misunderstanding had muddled the trust and connection we’d once had.

But the more time I spent around her, the more I wanted to get to know everything about her again. I could tell that what happened to her mom and having Iain while raising him as a single parent, had shaped her. She was no longer the naïve, young girl who just dreamed about “what ifs.” She may have redefined her dreams, but her focus and drive to make them happen were sexy as fuck.

Fortunately, I had time since Harold Claypool was still expected to have a couple of more months in the rehab facility. I smiled at the irony that I was now happy to be stuck in Sterling Mill.

Still, change was inevitable. Tomorrow, I would move into the rental that Valley Animal Hospital had arranged for me. I wasn’t sure how I would be welcome to join them after today, but I was going to find a way. In the meantime, I didn’t have to go to work, and Iain didn’t have school since it was Saturday. I hoped to sweet talk Emalee into spending the day together—all three of us.

New energy zipped through my veins as I hurried down the stairs—only to come to an abrupt stop on the bottom step when I saw four uniformed officers standing near the entrance to the dining room.

Dear god, had something happened to Iain? Had someone broken in? Was Emalee hurt?

Laughter filled the small area, allowing me to breathe normally until I recognized the officer who’d given me the coffee the other day. It wasn’t him so much that disturbed me as it was the huge grin on Iain’s face as he stared up at the man who smiled back with obvious affection. Was Emalee dating him? Did this guy play a father’s role to Iain? Was that why she took a step back from me yesterday?

On some level, I knew it wasn’t fair to be angry with Emalee, but I was in the picture now. He’d have to make room.

Iain’s eyes shifted, and he saw me. “Hey, Zach!”

I tempered my irritation and smiled back, pleased as hell that he acknowledged me with such enthusiasm.

He rushed toward me. “Can we play again today?”

“What does your mom have planned?”

He rolled his eyes. “She says I have to clean my room and help her with some other chores. Boorrring!”

I chuckled. “Sounds like a mom.” I ruffled Iain’s hair. “Tell you what. If your mom agrees, maybe we can find to do something together later today.”

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