Free Family Wanted (Willow's Haven Book 1) by Renee Andrews

pushing her. He nodded his approval, and she gave him another of those easy smiles.
    While Savannah garnered her courage and Isabella continued gently circling her hands along the top of the water, Titus found himself appreciating Isabella’s beauty even more. Her auburn waves appeared more chestnut than red when wet, giving her an almost exotic appearance as she stood in the water. She wore a modest green one-piece, similar to the suits she’d worn every other day. There wasn’t anything too revealing about it, but even so, any male would have a difficult time not noticing how fit she looked, her petite features accentuating the femininity of the woman who’d drifted through his thoughts ever since she arrived in town. And stayed there continually since their conversation yesterday.
    Over the past two weeks, he’d learned a few things about Isabella Gray. She’d had a husband who didn’t appreciate her, and she’d been raised without being loved. Now, as he watched her ease her fingertips toward his little girl and then saw Savannah slide her fingers to intertwine with Isabella’s, Titus was overwhelmed with gratitude. And though he did know a few things about her, he wanted very much to know more. It wasn’t as if he wanted anything romantic. He knew he wasn’t ready for that, not after what had happened with Nan. But he was very interested in her because of how she affected Savannah. That was it. Really.
    “Look at me, Daddy!” Savannah had left the step and was letting Isabella guide her around the water. They weren’t actually doing anything like swimming, but she was in the water, and he saw no sign of fear, because Isabella wasn’t leaving her side.
    His throat tightened. “Yes, look at you.” Titus didn’t miss the similarity in what was going on in the pool and what had happened in Savannah’s life. Nan had left Savannah, and his little girl had probably felt as if she’d been tossed into the deep with no way out, no mother to help, certain to drown. But Isabella, understanding that feeling from her own experience, had taken her time with Savannah, staying there and encouraging her as she worked through the fear.
    He saw Isabella catch his gaze, concern covering her features as though she knew what he was thinking. And maybe she did. Then he saw her gather Savannah in her arms and whisper something in her ear that made Savannah look at him and smile.
    Titus, not knowing what else to do, returned the gesture.
    And then he saw the flash of mischievousness on Isabella’s face as she slowly brought Savannah closer to her father...and they began splashing him mercilessly.
    Titus was so stunned that it took him a moment to react, but within seconds, he began kicking playful waves in his own wet attack—nothing too big as to frighten Savannah but enough that he could join in the fun.
    The squeals of laughter from the woman and the child were infectious, and pretty soon, he was laughing nearly as hard and was almost as wet as the two in the pool.
    “Okay, okay,” he finally said, holding up his hands in defense. “Mercy.”
    Isabella and Savannah stopped their assault and, still laughing, made a few more turns around the shallow end of the pool before they decided to call it a successful day.
    Within minutes, they’d dried off and put T-shirts and shorts over their suits. Savannah couldn’t seem to stop grinning, and Titus couldn’t either.
    “Daddy, can we go get ice cream?” Savannah saw a trip to the Sweet Stop, the candy and ice-cream store on the town square, as the ultimate form of celebration. Titus agreed that this afternoon’s accomplishment in the pool was definitely worth celebrating.
    “Sure,” he said, and her smile got even bigger, pushing into her cheeks.
    “Can I go ask Abi if she wants to come?”
    He glanced toward the barn to see Abi with her parents, Landon and Georgiana Cutter. “Of course,” he said.
    Savannah didn’t miss a beat. “And Miss Isabella can come,