Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall

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      Noah glanced to Emma, who was looking back at him. He shot her a wink and she smiled. Yeah, they had each other and that’s all that mattered. Memories would live on as long as he had any say about it.

      “That’s true,” Lucy agreed. “Once you love someone, they will stay with you forever. My husband will always be in my heart as well. Being sad is okay, but we also deserve to be happy.”

      “I think that’s solid advice,” Noah stated as he turned his focus to Lucy. When she quirked a brow, he merely grinned.

      “Daddy says we’ll get another horse soon, but first we have to find a house that has enough land.” Emma set the brush back in the bucket. “I think I’ll name my new horse Daisy. I really like that name.”

      “Nothing wrong with that,” Lucy stated with a firm nod. “But you can come over here anytime to ride or to just see these guys. They love company and I can always use help.” Because of her sore hip, today was not a good day to ride.

      The sun stretched an orange glow across the horizon and Noah pushed off the fence. “Maybe we should let Lucy get back to what she was doing before we came.”

      “I was baking, which I promised Emma could help me with.” Lucy opened the gate and unhooked Gunner’s reins from the post. “Let me get him put up and we’ll go back inside.”

      “We don’t need to take up your entire day,” Noah argued. “I didn’t expect you to have her help.”

      “Well, I made a promise,” Lucy told him as she threw a look over her shoulder. “I never go back on a promise, especially since I’ve been thinking of cookies ever since Emma mentioned them.”

      Emma drew lines in the dirt with the toe of her boot. She didn’t seem to be paying much attention and had gone to wherever her four-year-old mind journeyed from time to time.

      “Are you sure?” Noah asked Lucy as she came back and closed the gate.

      Resting her arm over the rung, she nodded. “Positive. If you have something else to do, go on ahead. Emma and I will get along just fine. We’ll have a little girl time and you can go do…whatever it is you want.”

      “Is this you trying to push me away again?”

      Lucy pursed her lips and tipped her head. “I’m just trying to figure all of this out. Besides, kids are honest, so I’ll quiz her and we’ll see just how interested in me you really are.”

      Noah laughed. “Fair enough. But I really don’t have anything else to do.”

      “I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Lucy turned her attention to Emma. “You up for some girl time if we kick Daddy out for a few hours?”

      Emma glanced up, her eyes darting to her father. “Is that okay? Lucy’s fun and I really want to make cookies, Daddy.”

      Lucy stared at Noah as if daring him to argue with two females. He wasn’t that stupid. Besides, giving Emma a little female bonding time was probably a great idea. Perhaps it would do them both good and Noah could use the time to figure out what the hell kind of emotional roller coaster he was on.

      Noah threw his hands up. “Fine, but I want some of those cookies you guys keep talking about.”

      “Promise,” Emma said as she drew an invisible X over her heart.

      Noah had no idea what he’d do. Seriously. For the past six months he’d been with Emma or at work. He didn’t have hobbies and there was no ranch to occupy his time, so…what the hell should he do?

      “You’re still here,” Lucy stated. “It’s difficult to have girl time when you won’t go.”

      Emma giggled and Noah leaned down and smacked a kiss on her forehead. “I’m going. You have my cell, so if you need anything—”

      “We won’t,” Lucy assured him. “Give us two hours.”

      There weren’t many people he’d trust his little girl with, but he definitely trusted Lucy. Hell, he’d trusted her so much he was ready to sleep with her.

      As he headed to his truck, he wondered where he should go. There weren’t too many options in this small town. Maybe he’d just go to the local bar. It wasn’t but a couple miles away on the main drag and he’d been meaning to swing by there. He’d heard they had really good burgers and he could use some time to himself to think.

      Emma was growing pretty fond of Lucy…and Noah couldn’t deny he was, too.

      One day at a time. Looking too much into this or placing too much hope in one situation was just asking for heartache—something he couldn’t afford.

      “Need a beer?”

      Yeah, he did. About six of them. “I’ll just stick with soda.”

      The bartender turned to grab a glass and fill it with ice. “You’re the new officer.”

      Small towns, Noah thought. Gotta love them.

      “Noah Spencer,” he said, offering his hand for a shake. More than likely the bartender knew this, but it was still polite to start with introductions. “This is the first chance I’ve had to stop in here, but I’ve heard all about the burgers.”

      “Best in town.” With his free hand he slid the glass of soda across the bar. “Gray Gallagher.”

      Noah gripped the glass. “The owner?”

      Gray propped his hands on the bar. “Third generation.”

      “No kidding.”

      Gray nodded, resting his hands on the gleaming bar top. “My grandfather opened this bar when he returned from the war, then my father went into the Marines and he took over when he got out. I took over when I came home from the Army.”

      Impressed, Noah nodded. “You’ve got quite a family tradition.”

      “Minus the difference in military fields.” Gray smiled. “We’ve had a few disagreements over which is the best.”

      Gray started to say something else, but glanced over Noah’s shoulder. The man’s lips thinned and a flash of something—jealousy maybe—came and went across his face.

      Noah glanced over his shoulder to see a beautiful blonde fast-dancing with a group of guys. Harmless, flirty fun from the looks of things, but Gray didn’t seem too keen on this.

      “Problem?”

      Gray pulled in a deep breath. “Just since high school.”

      Definitely jealousy. Noah didn’t know what that emotion felt like, but from the looks of Gray, Noah didn’t want to know.

      “Hang on a second.”

      Gray disappeared, and Noah thought for sure he’d be heading across СКАЧАТЬ