But here she was trying to bring out the best in Katie, so how could she stand there and cower from something as simple as opening a door.
"Hold on, sweetie."
Ruth moved to the door with a purpose in her steps.
She could see who it was through the glass, not that there were a lot of options.
Ruth opened the door with a smile, a forced one at that, "Hello, Mister Stone. Can I help you?"
CHAPTER TWO
NICK
Nick looked at Ruth and forgot why he was standing there.
The smells of her kitchen made his mouth water, but the sight of her standing there, her cheeks flushed with the heat made his heart ache.
Damn it.
He knew he should have stayed home.
"Mister Stone?"
He shook himself. "I'm sorry?"
She smiled and he had to set his expression in a frown to keep himself from smiling like a loon. "I guess you came over to get Katie?"
"Katie?"
Oh hell!
He had to look like he was a total idiot.
Either he forgot that his child was there, or he looked like a complete dolt.
"Yes, Katie." He agreed. "I thought I'd come over and make sure that she wasn't taking up too much of your time."
Ruth's back straightened and her expression changed.
If he didn't know better, she was acting more like an avenging angel than a next-door neighbor.
"Katie can come over any time she wants, Mister Stone."
"No," he cleared his throat, "she can't, Miss Baker." He pointed back in the direction of his house. "Now, are you done talking to Katie? Can I take her home?"
"Dad?"
Inwardly, he winced. He hadn't meant to let things get... wherever they'd gotten.
He was acting like an ass.
Katie walked up beside him and took his hand. "Dad? What's going on?"
Nick looked down at his daughter and he saw the worry on her face.
That wasn't what he'd wanted to happen.
Hell, he couldn't even explain to himself why he'd come over in the first place.
