“Am I that obvious?” Dylan growled.
“I watch people more than most,” Lee said. “I did it first because, to be honest, I was a little jealous you were able to get close to the widow, and I wasn’t. Not that I was interested in anything more than casual dating, but you two did everything together. Tim, here, thought you should know.”
“Thank you,” Dylan said, surprised. “Rae never mentioned it to me.”
“Or me. I wonder why that is,” Amelia said with a grin. “She tells you everything, but she kept this one thing back. What we need to do is convince her you’re not a danger to her kids.”
“A danger to her kids? Are you kidding me?” Dylan cried, more than a little insulted. “If she were really worried about me then why has she trusted me to tend her children all these months?”
“And that, my friend, is the question of the century. How can you convince a woman who’s so protective of her kids yet has you there almost from the start supporting her and treating her little ones like his own?” Lee rolled his eyes. “I’ve never met a woman who was so intense when it came to her offspring. I think it’s an admirable quality. All you have to do is figure out how to get around mama bear. Come on, Tim.” He snatched another carrot and jumped out of the way of Amelia’s swing.
“Good luck,” Tim said as he followed Jason to the door. “Rae’s always spoken very highly of you.”
Dylan rubbed his face. How was he supposed to get past this vow Rae had apparently made to herself?
“For now, don’t look at another apartment,” Amelia said. “I do think it might not be a bad idea for you to make yourself scarce. I’ve mentioned before you’re her go-to person whenever she needs something. She’s come to rely on you, and I think she’s taking you for granted. It’s easy to consider being alone for the next decade, when she’s got you there filling her emotional needs.”
“I’m not comfortable playing her,” Dylan said, his tone flat.
“You’ve made your feelings known, and you told me she rejected you. Rae cannot possibly believe everything will go on the way it has in the past. All I’m saying is she needs to realize you’re not going to be there at the drop of a hat like you have been. You’ve removed yourself from the friend-zone.” Amelia tapped the counter, contemplative.
“I love those kids like my own. I won’t make them suffer because their mother and I disagree. I’ll be there for them as long as I can.”
“As long as you can?”
“Rae has no obligation to let me see them.”
“True that,” Amelia said with a wince. “I was right about her being in love with you. I’d never have guessed Rae had martyr tendencies, but we’ll figure out a way to make this work. She needs to understand she’s not the only one who loves those kids and would do anything for them. We have to help her understand she can trust her own ability to judge your character and doesn’t have to rely on that Dr. Aurora who’s never met you.”
“You don’t have a problem with me still being there for the kids?”
“While being aloof with her?” Amelia tapped her chin. “You don’t want to make it look like you’re obviously punishing her, but you did say you couldn’t go on like you have been. I think you need to hold to that, so maybe see her kids but not as often. I know you and Mr. G. have been working on something.” She looked at Dylan expectantly, but he didn’t say anything, so she continued. “You can be busy with that stuff and back off from those things you and she have been doing together. If you happen to take Jayden to the park, you can invite her kids.”
“But not her,” Dylan said with a nod. “No more weekend breakfasts or movie nights or grocery shopping or any of the other family life things we’ve been doing for months.”
“Exactly. If you need a babysitter for Jayden, give me a call.”
“I’m done with the dating thing.”
“Not quite yet.”
“I told you I’m not going to play her. Trying to make her jealous would be playing her.” Dylan heaved out a breath.
“I’m not saying you should make her jealous by pretending to have a girlfriend,” Amelia said, patting him on the arm. “I like you all the better, Dylan Rademaker, that you wouldn’t do that to Rae. I do think she needs to believe you’re trying to move on. You need to stand by what you told her—things can’t go on the way they have. I believe she’ll come to understand not only what she’s missing for herself but also for her children.”
“I guess I can do that. Mr. G.’s been pressuring me to take on more. He’ll be happy.”
“What’s that all about anyway?” she asked again.
Dylan shrugged like he always did when she asked him about it.
“Fine then. I’ll make sure to drop a few subtle hints about Dr. Aurora when I think Rae’s listening. That she’s not mentioned this to me makes me think she’d know I wouldn’t approve. I’ll have to see what I can find out online about this Dr. Aurora’s advice.” Amelia winked at him. “Now off with you until the party this afternoon.”
Dylan headed out to his truck, feeling hopeful for the first time since Rae had pushed him away.
15
As Rae decorated Preston’s birthday cake, she mourned. She’d discovered Dylan to be true to his words. In the week since their declarations, he’d turned back into the friendly, considerate man she’d known before he’d moved next door. Simply a coworker and a neighbor whose nephew sometimes played with her children.
