The Surprise Holiday Dad

She still wished the man would leave them alone.

Wade rejoined her on the patio. “He says you took care of him when his mom...didn’t. Thank you for that.”

“He seems in good spirits.” A bit grudgingly, Adrienne added, “Thank you for handling that tactfully.”

“Did that hurt?”

“Did what hurt?”

“Thanking me.” His playful tone took the edge off his words. At close range, she noted that his eyes were silver-gray, like Reggie’s. Adrienne had never seen anyone else with that exact shade.

“Yes,” she answered honestly. No matter how civil this man was, nothing changed the fact that he might try to take her child away. “We’re meeting tomorrow at the lawyer’s, right?”

Wade’s head tilted in accord. “I’m surprised a doctor like you is free on a weekday.”

“I work an overnight shift in Labor and Delivery, plus some evening office hours.”

His forehead furrowed. “Who stays with Reggie?”

“He has a regular sitter—she’s licensed.” Adrienne resented being interrogated. Still, she supposed the question was warranted. “He sleeps at her house with her family. Occasionally on weekends, if she has other commitments, he stays with Harper or Stacy.”

“That can’t be easy for him.” Wade shifted position, showing signs of restlessness. Just like his son.

“I sleep while he’s in school, and I’m usually here when he gets home.” Enough about that. I don’t have to defend myself. “You’re a police officer. Surely you’ve worked overnights.”

“Well, yes.”

“Then you should understand that we adapt as best we can. Especially parents.”

He nodded slowly. “I’m sure I’ll find out.”

The implication chilled her. “He lives here. With me.”

“For now,” Wade said coolly. “Well, I think I’ll take off. Don’t want to interrupt the party any more than necessary.” He went over to Reggie, who was eagerly pressing his mold over a mound of soft Play-Doh, and rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Hey, kid, I’m leaving, but I’ll see you Tuesday on your actual birthday.”

“And we’ll play with the police set?” The little boy gazed up at him. “Shoot some bad guys?”

“Shoot some pretend bad guys.” Wade’s grin transformed him into the young, open-faced man he’d been when Adrienne had met him all those years ago, she recalled abruptly. If she wasn’t careful, she might start to like him.

Her earlier image of him as a crouching lion came to mind. No matter how appealing he seemed, there was no telling if or when he might pounce.

Chapter Three

For Wade, social events, unless they involved watching football games, quickly wore thin. The aversion dated from his childhood, when family gatherings had usually degenerated into arguments involving either Mom vs. Dad or Daryl vs. Grandpa Bruce.

This one seemed pleasant, though. Wade was glad he’d had a chance to meet, or at least observe, some of the other parents. They obviously played a major role in Reggie’s life.

When he’d speculated about seeking employment out of town and taking Reggie with him, he hadn’t considered the other people in his son’s life. Moreover, everything about Reggie, from his healthy appearance to his trusting nature, showed Adrienne’s loving care. Wade had to admit that the aunt was doing a fine job. Still, if it came to a choice between claiming his son and losing him again, Wade knew which choice he’d make.

He cut through the kitchen. “Leaving already?” Peter, the teacher and coach, was arranging candles on a bear-shaped chocolate cake while a couple other people worked at the counter. “I don’t blame you. If you aren’t used to being around kids, the noise level can be grating.”

“Yeah, it’s new to me.” Wade searched for a polite question and hit on “Which one’s yours?”

“Mia, the little girl with short brown hair and a snub nose, is about to become my stepdaughter,” the man said. “Harper and I are getting married the day after Thanksgiving. Adrienne’s been kind enough to let us have the ceremony here.”

“Generous of her.” Seemed like a lot of work, but women enjoyed planning weddings. And birthday parties, and Christmas celebrations, Wade thought wistfully, remembering his mother. Once again his heart went out to his son. Vicki might have been—had been—a messed-up individual, but she’d still been Reg’s mom.

After a polite farewell, Wade turned to go. Patty popped into his path holding a tray of sandwiches. “Hungry?” she asked. “There’s peanut butter, tuna fish and grilled cheese with tomatoes. It tastes good even though it’s healthy.”

His stomach growled as his hand hovered over the tray.

“Take one of each. They’re small.” She shook back her fine, straight hair. “Hey, so I guess there’s a story about why you left town. I never bought that stuff about wanting a change of scenery.”

“Yes. A long story.” He bit into the first sandwich. The cheese nearly melted in his mouth.

Patty set the tray down nearby. “While you’re eating, here’s my pitch. We could use another hand at the agency and you’d fit right in. Mike Aaron bought it, you know.”

Wade had no idea what she was talking about, although he did recall Mike Aaron as a detective at the P.D. “Which agency?”

“Fact Hunter.” Patty regarded him curiously. “You knew your grandfather sold it, right?”

“I had no idea.” Wade hadn’t spoken with his grandfather since their bitter quarrel several years ago. Although Bruce Hunter had been furious that Wade had refused to quit his job in Pine Tree and join the investigations agency, the old man hadn’t mentioned selling it.

Maybe he’d been irate because he’d hoped his grandson’s joining him would allow him to keep it afloat. No doubt Bruce had had too much pride to admit he couldn’t keep running the place by himself in his seventies. Well, he should have said so. Might not have changed anything, but Wade, who’d resented what he’d seen as an attempt to control him, might have responded more gently.

“You and your grandpa don’t talk much, eh?” Patty said. “Well, Mike bought the agency a couple years ago with his brother, Lock.”

“Lock? Don’t think I’ve met him.” Despite Wade’s urge to leave, those sandwiches were tasty. Judging by the number of trays still on the counter, there were plenty for this crowd.

“Short for Sherlock, which is perfect for a detective, huh? He was a sheriff’s deputy in Arizona,” she explained. “Yeah, well, then I came on board when I got married. Being a stepmom’s important, and I’d had it with those night shifts—you understand.”

Mouth full, Wade nodded.

“Mike’s brought in some new clients and we’re stretched thin,” she went on. “Fraudulent insurance claims, attorneys needing evidence, companies doing background checks on new hires. Dull stuff, but it pays the bills. You could work on your P.I. license under his supervision.”

“Just got it,” Wade said.

“Perfect!” Scrounging in her pocket, Patty withdrew a business card. “There’s the office number. I’ll tell Mike to expect your call.”

“Pushy little thing, aren’t you?” he teased, although she was only a few inches shorter than him.

“Always.”

Wade took the card. Fact Hunter Investigations. Who’d have imagined he’d ever consider working there? “Maybe I will.”

“Good seeing you.” She reclaimed the tray. “Reggie’s a cute little dude.”

“I think so, too.”