“Bye, Mommy! Bye Baby Sis!” Sawyer said, pressing a kiss to her mother’s growing stomach. Cheryl smiled affectionately at her, and some of my internal irritation eased. She may be selfish and manipulative toward me, but she loved our daughter, and Sawyer was pretty stoked about getting a baby sister in four months.
I took Sawyer’s hand in mine, and we walked down the driveway to the truck. Opening the rear passenger door, I helped her climb into her seat, listening while she chattered happily at me about school and dance. I buckled her in and walked around to the driver’s side, stepping up into the cab.
“What do you feel like having for dinner?” I asked, turning around to look at her, my smile growing. For the first time in two weeks, I felt like I could breathe a little easier. I had my daughter back, and all was right.
“Pizza!” Sawyer exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement. I nodded, recalling the pizzeria Gwen had suggested when she found out I was new to town.
I quickly looked up the number to the pizzeria and put in an order for pick up. Hanging up, I started the truck and shifted into gear, jumping onto the highway.
I parked against the curb outside of the pizza restaurant and walked around to help Sawyer out. She took my hand and peered up at me.
“Can we watch a movie when we get home?” she asked as I opened the pizzeria door with my free hand and held it for her.
“Sure, but first—” I said, ready to tell her about the dog. The words fell away when I looked up and saw a familiar red skirt and polka dot dress at the counter. Gwen turned her head, her eyes widening when they landed on me. She stood next to a tall guy with dark hair and brown eyes, and he touched her arm with familiarity.
Jealousy washed over me, but then I reminded myself that I had no business being jealous.
“Alaric, I see you’ve decided to hit up one of my recs,” Gwen said, and her dark-haired friend swiveled to look at me. He slurped from a can of Sprite through a straw, his eyes volleying back and forth from her to me.
“Yeah, I figured we’d try it out,” I responded.
“We?” Gwen hadn’t noticed Sawyer yet, but her friend had. He elbowed her discreetly at the same time I felt a tugging on the hem of my shirt.
“Daddy, can I get a pop?” she pleaded, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
Gwen’s gaze dropped to her, and her mouth opened with surprise. She blinked a few times, her eyes moving from Sawyer to me and back again. Clearing my throat, I looked down, smiling patiently at my daughter. “Sorry, kiddo. No pop.”
“Chocolate milk then?” she bartered. Gwen smiled a little, her eyes catching mine, understanding dawning in her pewter irises.
“All right,” I gave in. Satisfied, Sawyer let go of my shirt and climbed on the long wooden bench by the door. Finally, I turned to Gwen. The guy she was with was still watching us with interest.
“Oh, this is my friend, Renly. Renly this is Alaric,” Gwen said quickly. I nodded, thrusting my hand out to shake his. My father used to say you could tell a lot about a man by how he shook hands. Renly’s grip was feather light, and given the way he swooned at my touch, the jealousy I’d initially felt evaporated.
Renly wasn’t a threat. Not that he should have been in the first place.
“I’ve heardsomuch about you,” Renly remarked, earning a hard jab in the ribs from Gwen. She glared at him, and he grinned innocently.
“Nice to meet you,” I managed, doing my best to ignore the discomfort I felt at this interaction.
Sawyer kicked her legs, regarding Gwen and Renly with green eyes. “Hi, I’m Sawyer,” she said, her curious gaze landing on Gwen. “You’re pretty. You look like the lady on Daddy’s leg.”
“Aww, thank you, that’s really sweet. I think,” Gwen looked at me quickly. “It’s not a zombie tattoo, is it?”
“Pin-up girl,” I clarified with a grin. Sawyer was referring to the tattoo of a pin-up girl holding a welding gun on the back of my left calf. She had dark hair and red lips. I’d gotten it years ago and hadn’t drawn the same parallels as my quick-witted daughter. Of course, the damn thing was at the back of my leg, and I didn’t often see it.
But now that Sawyer had mentioned it, I could see the resemblance. It was very befitting of Gwen, and ironic, in a sense.
“Oh, well, that’s cool,” she managed, biting her lip a little. She appeared to be uncomfortable too, or maybe she just didn’t know what to say.
The whole situation had spiraled completely out of control. I hadn’t told her about Sawyer because I only counted on one night, maybe a repeat or two if I ran into her at the bar again. But now that we worked together, seeing her was unavoidable, and repeats were completely off the table. Which was unfortunate, because Gwen looked incredible in that dress.
“Williams?” the server called, standing behind the counter with two white pizza boxes and a paper bag. Gwen stepped up to the till and paid. She glanced at me over her shoulder once, immediately turning to look at the cashier when she caught me looking at her.
I stood aside to let them pass with their takeout. Renly held the door open, and Gwen paused, looking at me with indecision. She opened her mouth to say something, thought the better of it, and smiled.
“Enjoy your pizza,” she said politely—her voice an octave higher than usual—before she fluttered out the door.
“Can I help you?” the server asked, eyeing me with consideration.
