Dropping down to sit on the steps, Chloe mumbled, “I bet he cries and we never get to the ice cream shop.”
Garrick lowered himself next to her and clasped his hands between his spread knees. “I bet Shawn and Devlin are standing on this porch in under three minutes with Shawn’s toy in hand.” He watched her out of the corner of his eye. “What are you willing to put on it, Miss?”
She raised her brows at him. “How about, if I win, you have to buy me a new computer game.”
Grace had mentioned with pride that Chloe had a way with technology. “I think I can handle that,” he told her. “And if I win?”
“Let me think.” She pursed her lips and drummed her fingers against her chin. After just a few seconds, she perked up and looked at him. “I don’t have enough money to buy something good for you, but I’ll help you wash your truck the next three times you do it.”
“Three?” Garrick reared back and put his hand over his heart. “Well, that’s way better than anything you could buy me.” Laughing, he reached out his hand. “It’s a deal.”
Just as he and Chloe shook on it, a familiar car pulled into the drive.
“Mommy’s home!” Chloe shot to her feet, and Garrick stood too. Grace climbed out of the car, briefcase in one hand, purse in the other, and a smile as wide as the whole United States lit up her entire face.
“Well, how do you do?” Garrick said, his voice soft. “She did it.”
Chloe jerked her attention up to Garrick and then swung it back to her mother. “You did it?” The girl bounced in her little pink sneakers. “Seriously?”
After dropping her bags on the walk, Grace nodded and whispered back, “I did it.” Suddenly, she started moving, her stride growing wider and gaining speed with each step. “I did it! I did it! I did it!” She scooped Chloe into her arms and swung the girl in a big circle. “I sold a house.” With a big, smacking kiss planted on Chloe’s cheek, Grace made eye contact with Garrick and smiled somehow even bigger. “I started the process anyway. I put a bid in for my client and the seller immediately accepted. There are potentially still tons of things that might derail it, but this guy’s credit is gold.” Excitement took over Grace’s voice more and more with each word. “The house is in fantastic shape too, so I think everything is going to work out just fine.”
Feeling a little choked up, Garrick reached out and squeezed Grace’s forearm. “Congratulations.”
Grace wiped the corner of her eye. “A big part of this is thanks to you, Garrick.” With Chloe still clinging to her side, Grace pulled Garrick into their embrace and hugged him. “Thank you so much.” She pecked a kiss on his cheek. “I couldn’t have done this without knowing my kids were safe with you.”
He dipped his head. “It’s truly my pleasure.”
“We found it!” Shawn shouted as he burst through the front door. “Oh, Mommy! Look!” The kid thrust his hand up in the air, a shiny, metallic red toy in hand. “I found my Transformer.”
“Great,” Grace said.
Garrick pulled away from Grace. The second he’d heard Shawn’s voice, Garrick looked up and saw Devlin through the screen. The man had clearly witnessed the kiss, hug, and words between Garrick, Grace and Chloe. Devlin’s expression and body language held none of the openness or ease he’d conveyed all day long.
Garrick’s stomach did a sick dive. Oh fuck. He took a step toward the door. “Devlin...”
Still in the shadows of the living room, Devlin shook his head. Then, he joined them outside; he smiled and stood still long enough for Garrick to make introductions. After an exchange of “Nice to meet you,” Devlin informed them that he had to leave.
Shawn looked up at him, a frown marring his normally mischievous face. “You don’t want to get ice cream with us?”
“I’m sorry, Shawn.” A frown altering his face too, Devlin squatted down next to the boy. “I wish I could, but I just remembered I have plans tonight, and I can’t break them. It would be rude to cancel at the last minute.”
Devlin’s date. Garrick had managed to wipe that out of his mind the whole day today.
Before Garrick could say a word, Devlin hopped up from his kneeling position. “Here.” He pulled out his wallet and handed Grace a card. “That’s my number. The kids want to talk to you about taking a trip to the firehouse where I work.” Devlin shifted his focus completely to Shawn and Chloe. “You guys tell your mom all about it, and I’ll talk to the boss.” He started walking down the porch steps backward and into the yard ... away from Garrick, without even looking at him.
Stopping at the edge of the lawn, Devlin’s entire frame looked rigid, as if he fought stepping onto the sidewalk and then crossing the street to his car. “I had fun today, guys.” He finally lifted his hand in an abbreviated wave. “Bye.”
Garrick took the steps two at a time, bounding off the porch. He raced across the yard, grabbed Devlin’s arm just as he hit the street, and spun him back around.
“Please,” Garrick heard a funny crack in his voice, “don’t go like this.”
For the longest minute in eternity, Devlin stared right into Garrick’s eyes, his slate gaze softening it seemed. Garrick didn’t look away, and he held so still he didn’t even breathe. Devlin finally blinked and his line of his sight shifted to beyond Garrick’s left shoulder.
“You have things you need to figure out and get settled that are more important than me,” Devlin said, his voice solemn. “I think you know that.” The edge of his mouth lifted just the slightest bit and he
