Tycoon Cowboy's Baby Surprise. Katherine Garbera

never been anything close to that.

      “Really?”

      There was so much hope in her tone that it was almost painful to listen to it. He was afraid of hurting her and before this moment hadn’t been aware of how likely it was that he could. He’d thought she was like him. The female version. Party girl to his party boy and that like him she’d segue into the next phase of her life as a successful businesswoman. But in her eyes was a hope that he hadn’t counted on or ever seen before.

      She wanted him to be a hero.

      Not a bad boy.

      Could he do it? Could he be the man she wanted?

      The selfish part of him wanted to pretend he hadn’t noticed and maybe just go with it. But he had always prided himself on being honest in all of his relationships, and pretending was a form of lying. Some would say the worst form.

      “Yes. You are very special,” he said at last.

      She fumbled for her water glass and took a sip before placing it carefully back on the table.

      “You’re kind of unforgettable, too,” she said.

      Just like that he knew he could have Kinley again if he wanted to. If he kept his mouth shut and acted the part. But he’d already decided that would be the kind of low-down behavior he wouldn’t indulge in. But, oh, he was very tempted.

      Her mouth was full and peach colored in the ambient lighting of the restaurant, and he was so tempted to just lean across the table and kiss her. To stop talking before he did anything that would ruin whatever it was she thought she saw in him.

      * * *

      Kinley was teetering on the edge. There had been a flash of something in Nate that made her want to believe he could be the kind of man who would spend the rest of his life with her. And though she was killing it—or at least managing it—as a single mom, there were times when she fantasized about having the perfect family that she’d always dreamed of having as a child. Growing up her family hadn’t been perfect, and she’d believed when she finally had kids she’d do it the right way. Have that perfect family from television and magazine ads that she’d always craved.

      And now Nate was here sitting across from her saying things about how she was different from other women and looking at her...like he might have changed in the last two years. But she couldn’t just take a chance on that being the truth. She needed to be logical with this man whom she’d never been able to be logical about.

      He’d always fascinated her. When she was younger, Nate had been the Caruthers who’d always looked out for her when she’d been on the ranch for the weekend. Then when she’d grown into her awkward preteen self, she had crushed on him—hard.

      Now he tempted her again. Not with his easy charm and good looks, but with the slightest hint that he might be the partner she lacked. The father Penny needed.

      She reached for her wineglass and took a sip. She was riding the crazy train straight to some sort of dreamlike existence that she knew didn’t exist. She knew that Nate was a great guy, sexy as hell and able to make any woman feel like she was the center of his world. And there were times when Kinley was able to make herself believe that she had been the center of it for that weekend in Vegas. But then he’d moved on.

      A new business interest caught his attention, probably a new woman and a new expensive toy. She had to keep her wits about her.

      But she liked him.

      She’d always liked him. And it had been a really long time since a man—any man—had looked at her the way Nate was now.

      And she’d left herself the slightest bit vulnerable when she’d just gone with her gut and told him he was unforgettable. He was. Even if she hadn’t had Penny to remind her of him every day, she doubted she would have been able to stop thinking about him.

      “So...?” she said at last. Yeah, she was great at conversation, she thought. She could handle a full-on bridezilla on the warpath trying to make her special day the most fantastic ever, but put her across the table from this man and her verbal skills suddenly dropped to nothing.

      “How do you feel about getting out of here and taking a walk around the plaza? The city commission is sponsoring a light show on the side of city hall that I’ve heard is pretty amazing,” he said.

      It sounded so nice and normal. Like a real date. Except, was this a date? She wasn’t about to ask him and make herself look silly. But they’d said drinks, and now it had turned into dinner. She was holding a secret she needed to share and no closer to actually figuring out how to do it. And he had invited her to do something that sounded so normal.

      So not a part of the chaos in her mind.

      “I’d love to,” she said. She glanced at her watch, realizing it was almost time for her to call Penny and say good-night. “I need to make a call first.”

      She reached for her wallet to leave some money toward the bill, but he stopped her. “I’ve got dinner. Go make your call. I’ll meet you out front.”

      She got to her feet, put her purse over her shoulder and left the table. She glanced up and noticed that Bianca was watching her. Her friend waved. Kinley waved back, realizing how much she’d missed living in a town like Cole’s Hill. These people were part of her past, and they knew her. She had a connection here that she’d never have in Vegas.

      She’d missed it.

      She wanted so much for Penny. Not just that perfect fantasy family in her mind, but also to have friends like Bianca, a solid base for her childhood so she’d always know where she came from.

      She stepped outside, noting that the sky was clear and the sun was starting to set. She walked away from the entrance of the restaurant. At a safe distance, she hit the video call app on her phone and dialed Penny’s iPad. Her daughter would be waiting for their good-night ritual.

      “Mama!” Penny said as the call connected.

      “How are you, sweet girl?” Kinley asked.