She seemed to be struck by his observation that Julian was angry with everyone. “Julian was so besotted with Mindy. Everyone thought he rushed her into marriage because he didn’t want to leave her single while he was off at boot camp and then deployed. Maybe it was inevitable that she cheated on him while he was gone. She just wasn’t really ready to get married from the start.”
“Makes sense. But he’ll recover. He’s still young.”
He thought about asking if Kim still had feelings for Daryn’s father, but something held him back. A disconcerting little voice deep inside him hinted that his reluctance could be because wasn’t sure he really wanted to hear her answer.
Kim sat back in her seat and looked out the side window again, listening to the music. While she was rather quiet for the remainder of the ride to her house, Tate believed she was more thoughtful now than sad. He hoped he’d managed to cheer her at least a little.
A soft chime from the backseat made him glance in the rearview mirror. Daryn was stil
l groggy, but had shifted in the seat, and her toy monkey had fallen to the floor. Kim reached back to retrieve it and replace it in her daughter’s arms, then patted Daryn’s arm lovingly before turning back around.
Tate frowned at the road ahead. That Chris guy who’d walked away from Kim and their daughter had to be an idiot. While Tate might not be looking for a ready-made family of his own, Kim and Daryn made a pretty irresistible pair. If Chris had a lick of sense, he’d have done whatever it took to keep them in his life.
* * *
Kim carried the baby into her house, and Tate followed with a couple of bags. She unlocked the door and led him inside, then turned to him in the living room. “I need to give Daryn a bottle and put her to bed now. I’ll bring the rest of the things in from the car later.”
“Go take care of your daughter. I’ll unload the car.”
“It’s late. I’m sure you’re ready to get home.”
He gave her a look and spoke with a laugh. “Kim. It’s nine o’clock. Only to the mother of a nine-month-old is that considered late on a Saturday night.”
She smiled wryly. “I guess you’re right. Thank you.”
He nodded and took a couple of steps closer to look at Daryn, who was awake, but drowsily resting her head against Kim’s shoulder. “Good night, kid. It’s been fun.”
Kim glanced down to see Daryn give Tate a sweet, sleepy smile. And then the child offered Tate her beloved Mr. Jingles.
Tate looked as startled by the gesture as Kim felt. He smiled crookedly, then tucked the toy back into Daryn’s arms. “Thanks, Daryn, but I think you need this guy more than I do. You sleep well, you hear?”
Daryn giggled. Swallowing hard, Kim turned somewhat quickly and carried her daughter off to the nursery, where she changed her diaper and dressed her in a soft little sleeper. Daryn was too sleepy to drink more than half her bottle, but she’d had plenty. Kim kissed her and tucked her and Mr. Jingles into the crib.
Only then did she look toward the door, wiping her slightly damp palms down the legs of her pants. She’d heard the front door open and close a few times while she was putting Daryn to bed, but she wasn’t sure if Tate was still in there. Would he have driven away without saying goodbye? She hadn’t heard his truck.
Leaving the nursery, she realized she was still wearing the band Lynette had lent her. She twisted at it as she entered the living room. Her finger had swollen a little during the warm, active day and the ring seemed tighter now than it had when she’d put it on. She thought she might have to resort to soaping her finger to get the band to slide off.
Seeing her difficulty, Tate stepped forward when she entered the room. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Before she could argue, he had her left hand in both of his, his head bent next to hers. He tugged lightly at the ring, which didn’t budge. “Wow, that’s tight.”
She swallowed and tried to speak casually, as if she weren’t aware of how very closely he stood to her. “Yes. I think my hand swelled a little during the car ride.”
His eyes met hers. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She moistened her lips automatically. “Um—don’t worry, I won’t let you do that.”
They were still talking about the ring, right?
“Good. So maybe if I just do this quickly…”
Expecting a tug on her ring finger, she was shocked when he covered her mouth with his instead.
Chapter Eight
Kim was so startled she simply froze for a moment, unable to either respond or draw back from the wholly unexpected kiss. Even as she told herself she should put a stop to this and quickly, she found herself melting into him.
How could this happen every time he kissed her? Shouldn’t the effects have lessened at least a little after the first time or two? Should it be getting harder every time to remind herself why kissing Tate Price was not a good idea?