His face had lost that charming smile and now there was worry in his eyes. “I don’t want last night to be just one night. I didn’t mean that.”

“You said it.”

“I say a lot of things I don’t mean.”

That took the wind out of her sails, but started a fire in her belly.

Victoria turned and walked toward the kitchen. She tore off the gloves with a snap as he followed her. She dropped the gloves in the sink and the toilet brush in the trash can so that it wouldn’t touch anything. Opening the cabinet above the refrigerator, she pulled down a vase and filled it with water.

Turning around she set the vase on the table and tore the bouquet out of Chris’s hands. “Thanks for these,” she said as she shoved the bouquet, wrapper and all, into the vase.

She watched his jaw move and the scar above his eye deepened as if it were an angry dimple. “Let me show you how my mother taught me to do that.”

He stepped up to her and took the bouquet out of the water. He didn’t step away. Instead, he stood right next to her, his body heat resonating off of him and clinging to her sweaty T-shirt. In order to keep her calm she stepped away and walked to the cabinet which housed a cup with scissors in it, high enough to not be touched by little fingers.

Holding them as she’d been taught in preschool, she handed him the handles while the pointed tips remained in her clasped hand.

Keeping her distance, she watched as Chris skillfully rearranged the bouquet until it looked perfect. He’d always had a knack for such things.

“Those are pretty,” a small voice said behind her and it caused Chris to stop what he was doing and look at Ali standing there, her eyes still sleepy.

“Hello, Ali. Do you remember me?” he asked.

Ali’s face contorted as she thought. “You were in the wedding too.”

He nodded, but her answer wasn’t the one she knew he’d been looking for.

“We’ve met before. You were younger, but let’s see…” He considered for a moment and then looked back at her with a smile. “Aunt Tori and I bought you a pink guitar for your birthday one year.”

Her eyes grew big. “I remember you. You played baseball with my daddy.”

Christian smiled now, but she saw his eyes had gone moist at her answer.

Victoria nodded. “Yes he did. Look what he brought us.” She pointed to the flowers and noticed Christian shift a glance her way as she belittled his gift.

He composed his expression and took a daisy from the bouquet. He cut the stem so it had only a quarter of the length. Moving past Victoria, he knelt down in front of Ali, who still wore her Merida dress. “May I put this one in your hair?”

She nodded adamantly and he tucked the flower in her hair, resting the stem behind her little ear.

“Me too?” Another little voice, this one sleepy, said.

Christian turned and his eyes smiled before his mouth did. Victoria wondered if he knew that.

He looked at Sam. “You want a flower?”

Sam nodded.

“One flower coming up.”

Christian pulled another daisy from the bouquet, but Sam protested. “Not dat one. Dat one.” He pointed to a decorative stick accenting the bouquet.

Victoria covered her mouth to conceal the smile.

“You got it!” Christian pulled it from the other flowers and looked at it with its many small branches. Then he looked at Sam. “Do you want it in your hair? Or do you want a wand like Harry Potter?”

His eyes grew wide. “Potter!”

“A Harry Potter wand it is.” Christian cut off a few of the extra pieces and gave him the straightest piece. Sam laughed and pointed it at his sister. “Dabra!” He shouted and Ali giggled as she ran out of the room with Sam chasing behind her.

Victoria bit down on her lip. “You didn’t turn into dust when they touched you.”

“That’s not fair, Tori. I’ve always loved these kids. They’re my godchildren, remember?”

How could she forget, but somewhere she had.

“You can’t just come back into my life you know.”

“I know you have a lot on your plate.”

“I’m also dating Scott.” She hadn’t really thought about saying that, but she did. Well, it was true. What was he going to do with that?

He nodded slowly. “Right,” he said rubbing his fingertips over his scar. “And you told him about last night?”

She felt that fire he’d lit in her stomach explode. Her fists balled at her side. “Don’t go there.”

“Can’t help it. I wasn’t alone when I woke up this morning.”

She had so much to say to him, but the tears burning in her throat were choking her. As she opened her mouth to speak, her cell phone chimed a text. She cringed as the message displayed on the lock screen and Christian looked down.

“Boarding a plane. Will be home in time for dinner. Can I see you?” He read the text slowly and aloud so she could feel each pinprick against her skin as he emphasized each word.

Quickly she picked up the phone and held it tightly in her hand. “You’d better go.”

“Right. You’ll want to change out of my clothes before the man of your dreams shows up.” He turned and walked to the front door, opening it, and walking away.

Chapter Ten

Scott’s car pulled up to the curb and Victoria watched from the window of her bedroom as he climbed out—and he had a bouquet of roses.

She looked at the flowers Christian had brought her earlier which now sat on her dresser. There was a ball of regret in the pit of her stomach. And the regret was that she had overreacted to Christian. Wasn’t he trying, in his own weak way, to tell her he was sorry for what he’d done?

The doorbell chimed and Victoria realized she’d been staring at the flowers. She hurried down the stairs as the kids ran toward the door, too.

“Who is it?” Ali asked.

“Scott.”

“Cott!” Sam cheered, the wand that Chris had made him was still gripped in his hand.

Victoria pulled open the door to the handsome man who held the bouquet of roses in front of him.

“More flowers!” Ali said enthusiastically.

Victoria bit down on her bottom lip hoping Scott hadn’t focused on what she’d said. He stepped through the door and knelt down on one knee. “Ali, these are for you.” Victoria watched as he took a smaller bouquet of roses and handed them to her. Her eyes grew wide and she smiled up at her aunt, who gave her a nod to remind her to say thank you.