Meg unlatched her seat belt and scrambled out as soon as Tina slowed the car.
Light spilled out of the open door of the cottage onto the porch and a police cruiser sat in the driveway next to Riley’s truck.
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
She tripped up the porch steps and rushed inside. Tina, who’d insisted on driving, followed up the steps. Riley, his shoulders slumped, his head bowed, stood deep in conversation with a uniformed officer.
“What happened? Where’s Fiona?” Meg glanced around frantically. “Where’s my baby?”
His red-rimmed eyes haunted, Riley took a hesitant step toward her. “We...we...” He drew in a shaky breath before continuing. “She wanted to play hide-and-seek. Each time she’d hide behind the couch or the bathroom door and giggle.”
He drew a shaking hand over his gaunt face. “God, Meg, what have I done?”
Meg released the trapped air from her lungs and grabbed Riley’s hand, pulling it away from his face, and started dragging him toward the master bedroom. “Quick. With me.”
Please, God, let me be right. Without another word, she dragged Riley down the hall, the policeman and Tina trailing behind. Stopping in front of a giant wicker laundry basket inside the closet, she let go of Riley’s hand and pulled the cover off.
“I’m not stupid. I already looked in there,” Riley told her. “Nothing but clothes.”
Meg leaned over and tossed the dirty clothes out, revealing Fiona curled up on the bottom, thumb in her mouth, Mangy tightly clasped to her chest, fast asleep.
“How the...?” Riley gasped.
“She did it to me once.” Meg gave Riley a tearful smile. “Scared the heck out of me, too.”
She reached in and put her hands under Fiona’s arms so she could lift her out.
A sleepy Fiona blinked and smiled. “Mommy? You’re home.”
Meg pulled Fiona’s thumb out of her mouth and hugged her as tightly as the child was clutching her toy. “Why did you scare Riley like that?”
“He scared me.” Fiona rubbed her face on Meg’s shoulder.
Out of the corner of her eye, Meg caught the police officer stiffening, but remained calm. “Why were you scared?”
“He said a bad word when I was hiding.” Fiona’s thumb crept toward her mouth and she narrowed her eyes at Riley. “You shouldn’t say that. Mommy says it’s bad. Really, really bad.”
“I’ll bet Riley was scared.” Meg kissed Fiona’s cheek. “People sometimes forget and say it when they’re afraid.”
Fiona scowled. “Why was he afraid?”
“Because—” Riley’s Adam’s apple bobbed “—I thought I’d lost you. I’m sorry I scared you, but I’m not used to playing games with girls.”
Fiona toyed with the top button on Meg’s blouse. “Why?”
“Because I spend most of my time with marines.”
“Oh...well, I guess that’s okay since this was your first time.” Fiona held out her arms to Riley, and Meg handed her over.
Riley’s eyes were moist as he held his daughter. The police officer cleared his throat and said, “Looks like everything is under control here.”
Despite the bulky air cast, Riley clutched Fiona in one arm and stuck his free hand out to shake the cop’s. “Thank you, sir.”
The policeman shook his hand and gave him a curt nod. “Well, I’m glad it all worked out.”
“I’m going, too,” Tina whispered to Meg and followed the officer out.
Fiona tucked in her chin and touched Riley’s face. “Are we still friends?”
“Yes, of course.” He gave her a hug. “But next time, answer me when I call out for you.”
She gave him a look full of exasperation. “But we was playing hide-go-seek.”
Riley sighed and kissed the top of Fiona’s head. “You got me there, kiddo.”
* * *
After getting Fiona ready for bed, Meg tucked her in and gave her a kiss.
“Can Riley read me a story?” Fiona leaned to one side to look around Meg to Riley hovering in the doorway. “You promised.”
Riley wiped his palms down the front of his jeans and glanced toward Meg, and her heart shrank. She hated that his first time alone with Fiona had been such a trial by fire.
“I’m sure he’d love to read to his favorite girl.” Meg gave Fiona another kiss and went to the door, patting Riley on the arm as she left. “You look like you could use some coffee. I’ll get it and we can talk when you’re done.”
Meg brought two mugs into the family room, setting one on the coffee table. She sipped hers while waiting.
“I screwed up tonight.” He scrubbed his hands over his face and sank down next to her on the couch. “I’m so sorry I ruined your weekend. I had it all planned out in my head, just like our date. And the reality was that I stood by and watched it all go to hell and couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Some father I turned out to be.”
She couldn’t help reaching out to touch his knee. “You have to do one thing and just one thing to be the best father in the world to her.”
“And what’s that?”
She pulled her hand away, embarrassed she’d reached out like that. “Love her. It’s as simple as that. Can you do that?”
“Heck, I already do.” He cleared his throat. “I will be making arrangements to take care of Fiona financially, but I want to take care of you, too, Meg.”
Does he think you can’t provide for your daughter? She swallowed hard and lifted her chin before saying, “Look, I agree, as a single mom I’ve had to prioritize a few things, but I think I’ve done pretty damn good. I own a home, have a job and Fiona will be going to a good school—”
He touched her arm. “That’s not what I mean. This is coming out wrong.”
“Define this?”
“I want us to be a family.”
Just like when he suggested the date, she needed to know exactly what he meant. “Well...I’m her mother and you’re her father, so I guess that means we are already.”
“I want to make it official.” He took her hands into his. “Marry me. We can get married before I go back to Afghanistan.”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.” She pulled her hands away and fisted them until her nails dug into her palms. She’d waited years to hear Riley make a lifetime commitment to her. And this is what she got? Why was anger her first reaction to something she’d longed for? Because each time you dreamed of this day, Riley used the words love, not duty or responsibility.
His brow pulled his face into an affronted frown. “This is no joke.”
“Sounds like it to me. You go from sucking at hide-and-seek to proposing. Where’s the logic in that?” She tried to laugh, but it died on her lips. Truth was, she wanted to be his wife, but damn him, he hadn’t once mentioned love. Could she love him enough for the both of them? Would being in a lopsided relationship wear away on her? Could she give up everything she’d accomplished in Loon Lake to traipse after a man who hadn’t said he loved her? The thought of being a military wife didn’t bother her. The thought of being an unloved wife did.
“I was never so scared in all my life.” He reached out and cupped her face in his palm. “We could be good together, Meggie.”
Is that what she wanted? To be good together? She should back away from his touch so she could think clearly. She leaned toward him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “I know you’d be giving up a lot for me, but I promise to work to be the best provider I can.”
But she didn’t want a provider. She could provide for herself. She wanted a partner, a lover, someone who couldn’t bear to live without her. Was that too much to ask?
She could deal with uprooting every couple of years if she knew Riley loved her. She was proud of Riley and his service to his country, and if he wanted to stay in until retirement, she’d support him in every way possible. Heck, she’d be proud to hold down the home front and be there to welcome him home during deployments if Riley loved her. But he was treating marriage to her as his duty. Swallowing past the knot in her throat, she said, “I’m sorry, but I think we’d be making a mistake.”
He frowned. “You think it would be a mistake to give Fiona a family?”
Yes, if one partner was miserable. “It may not always look like it, but we’ve made a good life for ourselves here.”
“If you’re worried about the military thing, I know we could make it work.” He scratched his stubbly cheek.
If you loved me, I would make it work. The burn behind her eyes increased and she had trouble swallowing but she pushed on. “Getting married just for financial reasons doesn’t make sense to me.”
She waited, her hands clenched into fists, hoping he would dispute her words. Tell her he loved her and that was why he’d proposed. He didn’t have to recite poetry, just use the word love.
“But it’s my duty to take care of you and Fiona and I honor my obligations.”
Hope faded away and her heart broke open as the word duty reverberated through her like an echo. “Your only duty to Fiona is to love her. You have no obligation to me whatsoever.”
* * *
Riley stood at the window and stared across the yard at what he couldn’t have, didn’t deserve. He’d always known Meg was too good for the likes of him, but he’d begun to hope when she’d forgiven him for all he’d done. It was true he hadn’t known about her pregnancy, but that fault was his and his alone. In the end, it didn’t matter that he’d thought he’d been doing the right thing. He’d messed up and now he’d have to pay for it for the rest of his life unless he could figure out how to get Meg to change her mind. Three days and she hadn’t budged, so hope was fading. He consoled himself with the fact that she had made sure whatever had happened between them, Meg went out of her way to cultivate his relationship with Fiona. There weren’t many days left on his leave. At one time the original thirty days had stretched before him like an eternity; now it felt like incoming mortar rounds bearing down on him.
The bag of Jack bottles, still capped, mocked him from beside the front door. Yeah, getting drunk would impress Meg. Not to mention that would be a crap thing to do to Fiona.
His phone buzzed and he glanced at the picture a buddy had texted him and grinned. Stuffing the phone in his pocket, he went out the door and jogged across the yard.
Meg pulled the door open at his knock. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said and paused as he drank in her warmth.
“Fiona’s not back from the park yet.” She nibbled on her bottom lip and Riley shifted, remembering how that sexy bottom lip tasted.
“I know.” He pulled his phone out. “I wanted to run this by you first.”
He turned the phone on and showed her the picture.
She grinned. “It’s adorable. What is it?”
“I’m told it’s an Australian and poodle mix, an Aussiedoodle puppy, but to me it looks like a canine version of Fiona, with those reddish curls and big eyes.”
“You got that right.” She laughed and handed him back the phone. “But why are you showing it to me?”
“A buddy of mine, his wife knows someone who breeds them or something, and he’s offered this one to me for Fiona.” He glanced at the puppy before shoving his phone back into his pocket. “He assures me it’s hypoallergenic so you won’t have to worry about your asthma and I’ll take care of all the vet and food bills.”
“How can I say no to that face?”
His or the puppy’s? “Thanks. My buddy says he can meet me halfway between his house and here this afternoon. I can take Fiona if you’d like some time to yourself?”
Something in Meg’s green eyes flickered, but all she said was, “That’d be great.”
He nodded and started for home but turned back. “Uh, did you want to come?”
“No, I have things to do.”
* * *
Riley couldn’t tell who was more excited, Fiona or the puppy. She’d hugged him and chattered the whole drive back. At least he’d done something right. He’d only wished Meg had accompanied them.
He pulled into the driveway and scowled when he spotted an older model pickup. No wonder Meg hadn’t wanted to tag along. She must’ve been expecting someone. He glanced in the rearview mirror but Fiona’s attention was still on her new puppy, who leaned against her, his eyes closing.
“We’re home.” Fiona threw her skinny arms around the puppy, knocking her glasses askew. “This is where you live now, Mangy.”
Riley sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want to name him something else?”
“Nope.” Fiona stuck her bottom lip out and shook her head fiercely. “He’s Fiona’s Mangy Mutt. You said I could keep him. You said.”
“Okay...okay.” Riley turned off the engine and saw the truck had Massachusetts plates. Did Meg have someone who still lived in—
“Uncle Leem,” Fiona squealed and bounced in her booster seat. The puppy perked up and barked. “I can show him my new puppy.”
Liam? What was Meg’s brother doing here? His gut tightened. Had something happened to Meg while he was gone? He unbuckled his seat belt and jumped out of the truck, only stopping when Fiona began calling for him.
He turned on his heel and rushed back to the truck, opened Fiona’s door and helped her out of her seat. “Let me have Mangy’s leash.”
“But he’s mine. You said.”
Riley sucked in a deep breath. “I know that, but I need to help you down and I don’t want him running off. He doesn’t know his way around yet.”
He managed to get both Fiona and the puppy out of the truck. Once on the ground, Fiona made a mad dash for the house, the puppy pulling on the leash and yipping in excitement, trying to follow the redheaded dynamo.
Riley and the dog caught up to Fiona as she burst through the door. “Mommy, we’re home.”
Meg came in from the kitchen. “I didn’t think it was possible, but he’s even cuter than his picture.”
Liam came into the room and Fiona launched herself at him. “Uncle Leem, I got a puppy...a real live Mangy. And he’s got hair like mine.”
Liam picked up Fiona and turned her this way and that. “Hey, bug, you’re right. He does have hair like you.”
“Uncle Leem, it’s me, Fiona.” Fiona squirmed and giggled and pointed a finger at the dog. “That’s my dog.”
Liam drew his eyebrows together. “Are you sure?”
She giggled. “Uh-huh. Guess what else I got? A new friend.”
Way to go, Cooper. Second billing to a dog. He glanced at Meg and she gave him a one-shoulder shrug.
Liam leaned down to set Fiona on the floor and she ran over to Riley and grabbed his hand. “See? He’s my new grown-up friend. Mr. Riley.”
Liam rose to his full height, an inch shorter than Riley, and faced him. He lowered his chin in acknowledgment. “Cooper.”
“McBride.” Make nice and don’t upset Fiona. Riley shifted his stance into parade rest. “I hope nothing’s wrong.”
“Nah. I started my off-duty rotation so I decided to come and visit my sister and favorite niece.” Liam tugged on one of Fiona’s pigtails. “Isn’t that right, bug?”
“Hey.” Fiona put her hands on her hips. “Mommy says I’m your only niece.”
Liam made an exaggerated face. “I guess that’s why you’re my favorite. Hey, sis, I think your dog might need to go outside.”
Indeed, the puppy was sniffing around. Fiona ran over and picked up his leash. “I wanna take Mangy outside.”
Liam snorted. “Mangy? Were all the good names already taken?”
“Mommy,” Fiona whined.
Meg shot her brother a deadly look. “Maybe Uncle Liam wants to take him out.”
“I think Mommy and Fiona need to take him out,” Liam shot back.
Meg narrowed her eyes. “Liam, this isn’t any of your—”
“Meg, it’s fine.” Riley knew what Liam wanted. “I can—”
“Look, Mommy, Mangy is lifting his leg.” Fiona pointed and Meg rushed to open the door, hustling Fiona and the puppy outside.
Liam slammed the door behind them, turning to Riley. “Why are you doing this to her?”
“What are you talking about?” Riley pulled his shoulders back. He understood brotherly concern, but he’d proposed to Meg and she’d refused him.
Liam took a step toward him. “She needs to get on with her life. How can she do that if you’re hanging around?”
Riley didn’t back down. No way was he giving up time to be with his daughter. “I’m Fiona’s father. I have a right to be here.”
“You have a right to be in Fiona’s life, but you don’t have to do that from next door.”
“Maybe I want to be next door,” Riley replied. Oh, yeah, and didn’t that make him sound so mature.
Liam leaned closer. “Why? So you can break both their hearts when you leave?”