He heard a bedroom door open. Anticipation brightened his already good day as Robyn walked through her room and out onto the balcony.
Damn, she looked good. Her long blond hair moved in the light breeze. Her jeans hugged her hips, and her T-shirt hinted at curves. One of these days he was going to convince her to go braless. Although probably not when the house was full of—
His fantasy faded as he caught sight of her worried expression.
“What?” he asked, carefully moving Charles to the chair next to his and coming to his feet. “Something happened. Is it one of the kids?”
She shook her head. “I’m just going to say it. I want to start by telling you I didn’t know, and I have nothing to do with it. In fact, the only one who seems happy is Lillian, but I think that’s more about enjoying the emotional show than—”
“Robyn,” he said quietly.
She pressed her lips together. “Cord’s here.”
It took him a second to remember who that was. “Your ex?”
“Uh-huh. He just flew in, with no warning.” She drew in a breath. “I had nothing to do with him showing up.”
“You said that already.”
“I don’t want you to think that I invited him or that I want him here.”
She was worried about him?
Deep inside he felt a rush of emotion he didn’t dare identify. Rather than deal with it, he crossed to her, cupped her face and kissed her.
“I believe you,” he said, staring into her beautiful eyes. “You don’t want Cord here, and you don’t want anything to do with him. He’s in your past, and that’s how you want things to stay.”
Relief eased the tension in her shoulders. “Thank you for saying that. I wasn’t sure what you’d think. Or if you’d be... I don’t know. Intimidated, maybe.”
“I’m not intimidated by your ex.”
She laughed. “I’m glad.”
“So let’s go meet him.”
She stiffened. “Do we have to?”
“We should get it over with.”
She nodded and stepped back, then bit her lower lip. “Don’t judge me, okay? I was really young when we got married.”
“I’ll never judge you. About anything.”
Her gaze locked with his. “That’s about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s true.”
“I know that, Mason. You’re the most honest man I know.”
twenty-seven
“IS ANYONE LEFT in Florida?” Harlow asked, studying the contents of the refrigerator.
Robyn, exhausted, apprehensive and yet oddly relaxed, shook her head. “You mean of the people we know? Only a few.”
“Enid and Kip and that’s kind of it.” Her daughter smiled. “You’re a magnet, Mom.”
“Apparently. Now tell me I’m right. There’s nothing for dinner.”
“Nada.” Harlow closed the refrigerator door. “So it’s you, me, Mason, Lillian, Austin, Dad, Mindy and Payne. We should get takeout from that Italian place. Lasagna and salad. It’s easy, and everyone will like it.”
“We’re also going to need wine,” Robyn murmured. “Lots and lots of wine.” She sat down at the kitchen table, then patted the chair next to hers. “Come sit with me. How are you doing?”
Harlow settled next to her. “There’s a lot going on, Mom. I can’t believe Dad’s here.”
“I know. What was he thinking?”
Didn’t the man have friends he could talk to? Why on earth would he simply show up in Santa Barbara? He’d met Lillian over the years, but they were hardly close. Imagine just waltzing into her house, expecting to stay. Of course, Mindy and Payne had done the same. Odd. Very, very odd.
Harlow rested her arms on the table. “Zafina’s really pregnant. She texted me the, quote, ‘good news,’ right when Dad got here. She’s Kip’s age. Shouldn’t she have been more careful? Dad’s not exactly the most responsible guy on the planet.” Her nose wrinkled. “And while I don’t want to have this conversation, shouldn’t he have gotten a vasectomy like years ago?”
“You’d think,” Robyn said lightly. “Are you okay with the baby?”
“I don’t know. It’s surreal. Zafina and I aren’t exactly tight, and—” Harlow’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap! She’s having a baby with my father. That makes their kid what? My half brother or sister and my niece or nephew? This is so twisted. Now they’ll get married, and he’ll be my father and brother-in-law. I’m going to need therapy.”
“We all will,” Robyn murmured.
“Why did she have to get pregnant? She should know better. And Dad! He’s too old to have a baby.” She grabbed Robyn’s hands. “Mom, make it stop.”
Words her little girl used to beg all those years ago, when she’d been enduring cancer treatment.
“I wish I could.” She squeezed Harlow’s fingers. “I think for now, we just have to endure.”
Harlow sagged back in her chair, then straightened, as if she’d just remembered something. “Mom, Aunt Lillian talked to me about my inheritance. She’s leaving two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to me and to Austin.”
Robyn smiled at her, not letting on she wasn’t surprised. Lillian had mentioned her plan a couple of days ago. “That’s very generous.”
“She said she didn’t want us to wait to get the money. Austin’s going to use some of his to pay for college. He’s being really responsible.”
“He is.” Robyn did her best to keep her tone neutral. “What about you? Do you want to buy the kayak business?”
Harlow shook her head. “No. It would have been different if Dad had been helping me. But on my own? I’m not ready. And it’s not really calling to me, which makes me feel doubly stupid about expecting Dad to buy it for me.”
Relief filled Robyn. She’d worried Harlow would want to jump at the chance—before she had the experience or possibly the drive. But her daughter had figured that out all on her own.
“I’m really proud of you, honey. You’re so grown-up.” And beautiful, Robyn thought. Harlow had always been a pretty child, but in the past couple of years, she’d completely blossomed.
“I’m trying,” Harlow said. “I want to be smart about my inheritance. It’s a huge amount of money, and I refuse to waste it on something stupid. I’m working on a plan.”