to help. They use it as an excuse to get close to you.”
Robin had passed surprise and was bordering on sheer amazement. “Reece has never said or done anything out of line.”
“He’s smart enough not to do anything obvious.”
“If you believe him capable of such behavior, why did you describe him to me as ‘a great guy’?”
“That was before he started putting moves on my girlfriend.”
“Putting moves on your girlfriend?” she echoed in disbelief. “Do you hear yourself? I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”
Wade hunched his shoulder. “I’m not surprised at all. It goes along with everything else that’s happened lately. Nothing’s been the same since I left for the Keys.”
This remark further muddied the waters in Robin’s mind. “Are we still talking about Reece?”
“Reece is one of the things,” he muttered. “Owen is another.”
Robin drew in her breath sharply. “You have a problem with Owen?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. I can sympathize with his situation. I lost a parent when I was young, too. I also understand why you agreed to be his guardian. You and Piper were close. You think of her as a sister and Owen as your nephew. But it’s not a good idea to make life-changing decisions when you’re under the influence of strong emotion.”
Robin could feel her temper rising. “Are you saying I should have refused to be Owen’s guardian?”
“No,” he said with a touch of impatience. “I’m saying you shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss the possibility of Owen living with his aunt and uncle. I know this hits close to home, but Owen’s situation is different from yours. He has family to care for him.”
Wade had gone from bad to worse. Now he was insinuating her troubled childhood had influenced her response to Owen when in fact it had played no role at all. “What about the promise I made to Piper and Daniel? Do I pretend it never happened?”
“Of course not, but there’s nothing wrong with re-evaluating a decision when you have new information. At the time you were asked to be Owen’s guardian, Daniel and Piper might have felt they had no other choice. Maybe they didn’t think his family would want Owen. You know that isn’t the case. Don’t you owe it to yourself to at least consider it?”
“I’m not looking for a loophole.”
He sighed loudly. “You’re missing the point, Robin. You’re also ignoring what is arguably the best solution for everyone involved.”
She laughed shortly. “By ‘best solution’ I assume you mean sending Owen to live with Barb?”
“Yes. Exactly. If you’d stop letting your emotions get in the way of common sense, you’d see that I’m right. You’re willingness to take Owen is admirable, but it’s not necessary. There’s another option in play here. You don’t have to fall on a sword.”
Wade obviously didn’t understand what she was trying to say, and he probably never would. This was about honoring a commitment. It was about keeping her word. “Having Owen in my life isn’t falling on a sword. Taking care of him isn’t a burden. It’s a privilege.”
“I guess I have my answer to why you didn’t bother to ask me what I thought about Owen coming to live with you.”
Robin’s mouth dropped open. “How could I ask you? The decision about Owen was made years before we met.”
“So what I think doesn’t matter,” he said with a mocking twist to his lips. “I’m just supposed to accept it. No questions asked.”
“I never said that,” she countered, her voice elevated. “I hoped you’d understand and support me. I didn’t take it for granted that you would.”
He shot her an angry glance. “That’s not what it feels like. Have you given any thought to us? What about our future together?”
The accusation as well as the sarcasm in his voice struck a nerve. “What is our future, Wade?” she demanded. “You act as if we’ve discussed the subject.”
He threw up a hand. “Oh, come on, Robin! You’re an intelligent woman. I took you to meet my mother. I talked about bringing you with me on research trips. Those are signs no one could ignore. But if you need it spelled out, I love you. Adding a child to the mix throws everything out of balance. My life isn’t built for kids. I’m honest enough to admit that up front. I want someone who’s free to go with me without strings or regrets; not someone who’s focused on what she left behind.”
Hearing Wade say that he loved her should