“Your mother has the right of it,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “While I appreciate your offer to play, it’ll have to wait until I’m better and can manage those stairs on my own.”
Gabby’s jaw slackened. The old Adam had cossetted Fiona, indulged her every whim. To hear him gainsay her wishes was nothing short of startling.
Fiona’s wide eyes confirmed that she, too, was shocked.
Cheeks flushing, she mumbled, “All right, Papa. I’ll play for you later.”
“I look forward to it,” he said evenly.
Seeing the deepening lines around his mouth, Gabby knew that he was getting weary.
“Say your goodbyes, children. Papa needs his rest,” she said. “You can visit again later.”
Fiona and Max made their farewells, and Gabby was about to escort them out when Adam’s voice stopped her.
“Gabriella. Would you stay a moment, please?”
“We’ll see ourselves back to the nursery,” Fiona volunteered.
She took Max’s hand, and the pair scampered off.
Closing the door, Gabby returned to Adam. He indicated that she should share the sofa with him, and she perched carefully by his feet, not wanting to jostle him. As she met his gaze, she felt a quiver in her belly. He was so familiar and yet he was looking at her like a stranger might. His frank appraisal affected her breathing like a quick tug on her corset strings.
“Do you need more willow bark?” she said into the silence.
“A hammer does seem to have taken up residence in my skull.” His look was rueful. “How did you know?”
“You’ve lost your color. And you get these lines around your mouth.”
“You’re observant.”
Flushing, she said, “Not really. I just notice things.”
“That’s the definition of being observant, pet.” He sounded amused.
Flustered by the casual endearment—one he’d never used with her before—she said, “I’ll, um, fetch the willow bark—”
“Wait, I wanted to ask…how did I do?”
She tilted her head.
“The children,” he clarified. “How do you think that went?”
Touched that he cared, she answered, “You handled them very well. Fiona especially.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “The girl…our daughter, I mean. She’s a handful, isn’t she?”
“You’ve always been proud of her spirit and ambition,” Gabby said, a bit defensively.
“Combined with her beauty, she’ll wreak havoc on male hearts when she grows up. I’ll have my hands full warding off her suitors.” He slid her a look. “Takes after you, I suppose.”
Gabby blinked. Was he saying that he thoughtshewas a beauty who captivated men? While she knew that Adam held her in high esteem, he’d never been one for frivolous compliments or flirtation. His last comment, along with the earlier endearment, made her feel uneasy…as if she didn’t know him.
How welldoyou know him?The question escaped from one of her mental boxes.
“I…I’ve never wreaked havoc in my life,” she said awkwardly.
“I doubt that. You must have been popular as a debutante. How did I manage to snatch you up before someone else did?”
