No Matter What (The Billionaires of Sawgrass #4) - Delaney Cameron Page 0,47

sec, Reece.”

“Yeah? What is it?” Reece asked, not bothering to turn around.

“I, uh, haven’t told Mom about me and Robin. I didn’t want to ruin her birthday. I’d…appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything.”

For the second time tonight, Reece had to resist the urge to laugh. He could almost find room in his heart to feel sorry for Wade. It must be galling to be in the position of asking a favor of the person you just insulted. “Not a problem.”

“Thanks.”

Reece continued on his way to the kitchen to get Aunt Leigh’s coffee. He wasn’t the only one who’d be pleased by this turn of events. He just hoped she’d be able to hide her satisfaction and excitement in front of everyone else.

The seemingly impossible had happened. The major obstacle in his path to Robin had been removed. The butterflies in his stomach were embarked on a victory lap. His head was taking a more conservative view. No matter what the reason for Wade and Robin’s breakup, it was doubtful she’d be in a hurry to dive into another relationship anytime soon. Even when that point was reached, there was no guarantee she’d want to date her ex-boyfriend’s stepbrother.

* * * * *

Robin glanced at the clock on the opposite wall. It was almost eleven. She’d spent the last few hours doing laundry. It was amazing how many more dirty clothes piled up with the addition of a little boy. Kait wasn’t home yet. Robin took that to mean the ‘second’ first date with Miles was going well.

When she entered her bedroom, Robin heard the muffled sound of crying. She hurried over to the side of the bed where Owen lay. In the dim glow of the nightlight, she saw streaks of tears on his cheeks and wet spots on his pillow. Guilt welled up inside her. How long had he been like this?

She sank down on the edge of the bed and took him in her arms. “Owen, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

He buried his head in her shoulder. “I had a d-dream about…M-mommy and Daddy. Why d-did they have to g-go away, Aunt Robin? I miss them.”

Robin knew well the loneliness and insecurity Owen was experiencing. Losing one’s parents was like having a permanent hole in your heart. It was something you never forgot, and like most unpleasant things, dealing with it was worse at night when there was nothing to distract your thoughts.

“I don’t know, Owen. What I do know is your Mommy and Daddy didn’t want to leave you. It was out of their control. The good news is they made a plan just in case something like this happened so you wouldn’t have to be alone. That plan was for you to come here and live with me.”

He lifted his head to look at her, his lower lip quivering. “Y-you won’t leave me, will you, Aunt Robin?”

She glimpsed the fear in his eyes. For a child, there was nothing worse than uncertainty. “No, Owen, I won’t leave you.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “What about when you g-get married?”

She wondered if seeing Kait leave with Miles tonight had upset Owen. Was he worried about what would happen to him if Robin got involved with someone? “If I get married, darling, you’ll continue to live with me. You and I are like…peanut butter and jelly. You can’t have one without the other.” She pressed a kiss on his forehead. “Talking about food has my stomach growling. How about we go to the kitchen and fix a snack?”

Owen perked up immediately. “Can we make graham cracker traffic lights?”

Robin ruffled his hair. “Sounds good to me.”

As she followed him down the hall, she knew this wouldn’t be the last time Owen would need reassurance. He was just beginning the long process of realizing what he’d lost.

Chapter Fourteen

Reece transferred several pieces of luggage from the baggage compartment of the Cessna Mustang to the trunk of a faded red Toyota Corolla. He’d just returned from a medical flight to Atlanta. Over the past two years, he’d logged over three hundred such trips to dozens of destinations. His patient-passengers had ranged in age from infants to senior citizens.

Angel Flights was more than transporting people from point A to point B. Their reasons for traveling made it so. These weren’t VIPs looking to avoid a commercial flight or holiday-makers on their way to an exotic location. These were people facing serious – and in many cases – fatal illnesses. In comparison to what