Free Pinky Promise (Riverbend Romance 2) by Valerie Comer Page A

series.
    Which brought her back to Ian’s teasing the other day. If only he’d talk to her anymore. Teasing would be great. She’d hand him her tablet and let him read for himself.
    Ian. He was driving right through Castlebrook, probably after work on Thursday. Day after tomorrow. Surely he’d give her and Elena a ride if she simply asked, regardless of how things had been left. Maybe this was the chance she’d been waiting for to break the deadlock.
    Lord, I was so sure you were leading us together. Please help me know, one way or the other.

    ~*~

    A light tap sounded on Ian’s office door, which he’d left ajar. Rhonda seemed to think she couldn’t disturb him if it was latched, and he couldn’t convince his secretary otherwise. He stared at the white rectangle. In today’s frame of mind — all twisted up with the little girls’ spat and how he felt about Kelly — he probably should have made sure it was shut.
    He sighed. “Yes? Please come in.”
    But it wasn’t Rhonda’s fake-red hair that peered around the door.
    Ian sprang to his feet. “Kelly!” Man, she looked good. He feasted his eyes long enough to note her long blond hair braided from the top and the dark circles under her eyes. His heart clenched. Those had not been there before. He’d caused them. He and Sophie.
    She bit her lip. The one he had not yet kissed. “Hi. Sorry to bother you in the office, but I needed to talk to you.” She met his gaze. “I wasn’t sure you’d pick up your phone or reply to a text.”
    Ouch. But if it wasn’t work-related, she might be right. What could he say? He knew where to start. “I’m sorry.”
    Kelly came the rest of the way in, shut the door, and leaned against it. Hurt shone in her eyes. “For what?”
    He made a helpless gesture. “For everything. For Sophie. For not calling you back.”
    “Why, Ian? I know Elena spoke out of turn, but don’t you think she’s been punished enough?”
    Ian pulled to his feet, only then recognizing the overwhelming desire to cross the space and gather Kelly in his arms. No. He couldn’t do that. He raised the mini-blinds of his office window, but the view of the Sandon River blurred. He took a deep breath and turned back to face her.
    “It’s Sophie. She’s my first responsibility. Really, my only one.” He pleaded with Kelly with his eyes.
    “You’re telling me that it’s because she is still angry with Elena? Two weeks later? Kids don’t usually hold grudges, Ian.”
    Ian straightened the phone and day planner on the corner of his desk then moved the pen caddy a little to the left. He squared Sophie’s framed photo.
    Kelly’s hands appeared in his view. She tipped the pens and they skittered across his desk. “If Elena and I messed up your orderly life a bit too much, just say it like a man. Tell me why we went from… from flirting and hanging out together to a brick wall.” She placed both hands on the back of his desk and leaned forward.
    Right into his view. Right where he wanted her forever. He shot a glance at Sophie’s image.
    Kelly reached over and turned the frame on its face.
    “Hey!”
    “Listen to me, Ian Tomlinson. What are you teaching Sophie? That you deal with problems by retreating and blocking them out? How about teaching her to be forgiving? How about teaching her to respect the feelings of others? How about teaching her that life is all about give and take and doing her part to live in harmony with others?”
    Her finger jabbed toward his chest, but he took a step back before she connected.
    “If those are your family values, then Elena and I are better off without the both of you.”
    Ian took a shuddering breath. Were those accusations true? Was he modeling a non-Christ-like attitude for his daughter? Maria had called him rigid. Unbending. Were both women right?
    “Never mind.” Kelly spun on her heel and headed for the door.
    “Kelly, wait.” The words came out past the lump in his throat. “You’re right.”
    She