daughter what they themselves had missed. But that very success had formed a barrier between them, a barrier he must now learn how to dismantle.
"I do think of you first," Ron said, "but obviously not in the way you need me to think about you. You have to lead me until I learn enough to know how to do it by myself. I want to, baby, I really do, but I don't know where to begin. Do you believe me? Will you help me?"
Without warning, Cynthia jumped up from her chair and flung herself into his arms, her words made indecipherable by her sobs. After practically running from a room when he entered, his daughter's sudden change of attitude shocked Ron. But the biggest shock of all was the strangeness he felt holding his daughter in his arms. Had it been so long he'd forgotten what it felt like? Had it been so long he'd forgotten he missed it?
He no longer needed to be convinced of what Cynthia said. He felt it in his bones, his muscles, his heart. This child was what he'd worked for all those years, but he'd lost sight of her. He'd felt alone after Erin died with no one to share his dream. He'd turned to his career, concentrating on it so much he'd lost sight of everything else. He meant to change that starting right now. He didn't know what he had to do or how long it would take, but he would succeed.
Chapter Nine
"It was a brilliant idea to invite Mr. Egan to be part of this weekend," Mrs. O'Grady said to Kathryn as they got ready to leave. "I don't think anyone else could have made Shamus admit he'd made a mistake."
"I can't take credit for this weekend," Kathryn said for what had to be the twentieth time. "It was Mr. Egan's idea. He made all the arrangements."
"Then it was brilliant of you to talk him into coming up with the idea," Mrs. O'Grady said, apparently determined a man couldn't be responsible for the success of the weekend. "I wouldn't have thought such a famous man would have taken the time for people like us. Shamus says he has a really important meeting going on in Geneva right now."
Ron had been on the phone several times over the weekend. He hadn't said anything to Kathryn, but she could tell from his expression things weren't going well. She'd half expected him to leave for Geneva at any moment, but he had held to his commitment to remain for the entire weekend.
"All I know is his firm has been handling negotiations for a merger."
"He must love his daughter very much to stay with her instead of getting back to Geneva. Shamus says it looks like things are falling apart."
"I wouldn't know anything about that. I've got all I can do to keep track of these girls," she added, hoping she didn't sound rude. It had been made very clear during the weekend that everyone thought there was something going on between her and Ron. She had realized too late it had been a mistake to share the same suite with Ron and his daughter, even though she'd made it abundantly clear from the beginning she was acting as a chaperon for Leigh. It didn't do any good to say they'd met because of his daughter. The other fathers weren't single. Too, none of them were as handsome, as rich or as famous as Ron. That made him an even more interesting subject of gossip.
"I think he's interested in you," Mrs. O'Grady said.
"He's a very busy man who travels all over the world. I don't think he'd be interested in a woman who's basically a homebody."
"Who's saddled herself with a bunch of runaway unwed mothers."
"That, too. His daughter is the only reason we know each other."
"That might have been true at first," Mrs. O'Grady said with a conspiratorial wink, "but he's very well aware of you now. He's a nice man. I wouldn't turn my back on him if I were you."
Shamus and Kerry came out of the bungalow carrying the last of the luggage. Ron had managed to negotiate a shaky peace between father and son. As far as Kathryn knew, they hadn't come to any decisions, but they were talking. That was progress.
"I wish Mr. Egan was riding back with us," Mrs. O'Grady said. "He's the only person who can keep Shamus and Kerry from shouting at each other. Maybe I could ride