Mr. Aylett must’ve felt her gaze because he glanced toward the doorway. Their eyes met, and heat flooded her cheeks at being caught. She offered a small wave and mouthed “sorry” before retreating toward the stairs.
Embarrassed, Delaney slipped out the front door onto the wraparound porch, hoping Mr. Aylett would go straight to his office so she wouldn’t have to face him tonight.
She settled onto the wooden swing that overlooked Magnolia Street, the chains creaking softly as she pushed off with her toes.
The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean, reminding her of home. She missed her sisters desperately—their laughter, their constant chatter, even their arguments. She missed her parents and the familiar rhythms of life in Shadow Cove.
But she didn’t miss the suffocating feeling of being the Wright daughter who could never measure up.
She might not have any friends yet, but she was making a life for herself apart from them. If she wanted to stay here, she needed to make a few friends.
And she needed to control her rogue thoughts about Noah.
Mr. Aylett, she berated herself.
Her boss. And nothing more.
CHAPTER NINE
Today had been a good day.
Noah kissed his niece goodnight and stepped out of her bedroom, then headed to his own room to change out of his suit. He’d need to take it to the dry cleaner’s tomorrow, but it’d been worth it.
He’d attended the Tidewater board of directors meeting to address all the “scandals” they were concerned about. He’d outlined the details of the break-in as if it were nothing serious.
He hoped that was true. There was no evidence that his intruder was, as Richard had theorized, Lena Monroe. Noah had blocked the woman’s number after she’d called him, and he hadn’t seen or heard from her since that day three weeks before. Maybe she’d finally taken the hint.
Too bad he hadn’t gotten through to her before she broke up his marriage.
Noah had explained to the board that Charlotte was not his daughter but a family member who needed a home, which was true, if not the whole truth. They’d pressed for more information, but it wasn’t his place to name Jasper as her father, not when Jasper was barely willing to face the fact himself.
“For now, that’s all the information I’m willing to share,” he’d said. “I’d like to believe that taking on the responsibility for someone else’s child would be a mark in my favor.”
“And we’re supposed to believe you?” Lowell snapped. “That you didn’t father this kid when you were cheating on my sister.”
He’d met his ex-brother-in-law’s eyes. “I can show you the court papers assigning me custody, if that would put your mind at ease.”
“But you’re not willing to take a paternity test.” Lowell’s gaze had scanned the rest of the board members. “Which tells us everything we need to know.”
Noah had known Lowell would fight dirty—former friends made the worst enemies—so he’d anticipated that. “I’m happy to take a paternity test.”
Nadine, another board member, said, “That won’t be necessary. I assume you have an explanation for the magazine article?”
“I refused the interview, but I have no control over what they choose to write.”
As if any intelligent man would ever want to be named “Most Eligible Bachelor.” Noah couldn’t even go to the market these days without some woman sidling up beside him, batting her eyelashes. He’d thought taking Charlotte along would discourage them. He’d been wrong. Apparently, single women loved children, or, if not, they were good at pretending they did.
The board had agreed—all but Lowell—that Noah did seem to be trying to avoid scandal. Fortunately, the subject of Charlotte’s new nanny hadn’t come up. Miss Wright was attractive enough to raise eyebrows, but apparently, none of them had seen her.
Thanks to today’s meeting, the merger was back on track. Noah needed to coordinate the finishing touches on the software his employees were customizing to work with Tidewater’ssystem and finish collecting all the financials. Then Richard and Tidewater’s attorney would put the paperwork together.
After all the stress of the previous few weeks—not to mention the months of preparation before that—the merger should come together soon. When it did, Noah would have more time than he’d had in years, time to spend with the little girl he loved.
The little girl who kept calling him Daddy.
It was enough to make a man’s heart melt.
He liked it. He liked taking care of her. He liked being with her. He’d never considered himself good with kids—he was nothing like Miss Wright—but he’d fallen head over heels in love with Charlotte. The thought of her real father taking her away from him… He couldn’t stand it.
