Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,39

go to Edmonton for the auction. Then back to Whitehorse. Everything is in place."

Her bakery, he realized. Her own future.

As for his own situation, he was responsible for three children.

He pulled in a long breath, standing up, moving away from her so he wouldn't be tempted to touch her again.

"You’re right. We have to keep our distance."

They were both silent as if trying to figure out how this would happen while she stayed to take care of the kids.

"You'll be going back to town tonight? Will you take Dean?"

Adele drew in a shuddering breath, then nodded. "I should. Maybe for tonight. Then tomorrow he can stay overnight here."

"And he already sees me as his father even though-" He stopped himself, guilt and confusion flowing through him.

"It will take time. I get that," Adele said, turning in her chair, giving him a smile of encouragement. "But you're a good father and a good man. I know you'll make this work."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he said with a short laugh. "I'm feeling overwhelmed right now."

She was quiet a moment, acknowledging his situation.

"Why don't we spend some time with the kids?" she asked. "Play a game with them? Read them some books?"

"Sounds like a good idea." He shoved his hand through his hair, then straightened his shoulders. "Just do what comes next," he said.

"That's what my foster father used to say."

Again, that oblique reference to her past that only whetted his curiosity about her.

But as he followed her into the family room where the kids were, he realized he might never find out. She wouldn't be sticking around long enough.

The thought created an unwelcome anxiety that twisted his stomach with regret and lost chances.

Then, when he stepped into the room and saw Dean, he put his own feelings aside and gave his son a smile of encouragement.

"I win, I win." Maya jumped off her chair, spinning in a circle, her curls bouncing on her shoulders.

"You did," Wyatt agreed, "but I don't think you should celebrate so much."

Maya twisted her mouth, wrinkling her nose as if considering this. "But I win," she repeated, as if this made her victory dance even more valid.

Maria yawned, rubbing her eyes, and Adele shot a glance at the clock. Too early for bed and too late for a nap. "Should I make supper?" she asked, glancing over at Wyatt.

He looked at the clock as well, pushing his chair away from the table. "Might not be a bad idea. But I should check on the cows first. Make sure they're not bunched up in this storm."

As if to underline his comment, the wind gusted again, tossing snow against the windows. It had been storming all day and Adele had checked on the amount gathering on the deck every hour. She wanted to leave soon, but now that she knew for sure Dean was Wyatt's son, she wanted them to spend as much time together as possible.

While she was happy for Dean that they had settled his situation, it was still a wrench to realize her time with him was ending.

And with that, she relived the kiss she and Wyatt had shared a few hours ago. A kiss that felt as if it still warmed her lips, made her cheeks flush at the memory.

What had she been thinking?

Trouble was, she hadn't been.

And now she was torn between letting Dean be here as much as possible, knowing she promised Wyatt she would help him take care of the girls, and needing to leave for her own self-protection.

As Wyatt got up, his gaze slipped to hers, and despite her self-talk, she couldn't help the thrum of attraction that unsettled her heart. The arc of awareness that so easily sprang up between them. It had been building for days and now, after their kiss the flimsy barriers she was trying to erect again were torn down with just a look.

"I'll feed the kids and get the girls in bed," she said, forcing her attention back to the children. "Then Dean and I should leave."

She didn't catch Wyatt's reaction, nor was she checking to see it.

She busied herself with cleaning up the game, instructing the children to help.

She pulled out the leftover pizza from the day before, thankful that she had enough for today. It would make feeding the children quicker. Which meant she could leave sooner.

"I love pizza," Maya said, pulling a chair up to the counter as if to help. "You like pizza, Dean?"

"Not as much as hamburgers," Dean said.

"I