An Accidental Family. Ami Weaver

park at the lake. She’d spent many hours here as a kid, and later as a teen when she’d needed space. Sure, there was a private beach at her parents’ home, but the park had swings and a playground, now upgraded to a fancy plastic playscape. They’d kept the old metal merry-go-round, her favorite thing in the park.

      The gathering twilight and chilly breeze off the water ensured the park itself was empty, though a couple cars parked nearby indicated joggers still out on the loop that ran next to the water.

      Lainey pulled the hood of her jacket up and settled on a swing. She scuffed her feet in the wood chips, then backed up, ready to swing. Back and forth she went, pumping her legs, stretching out in the swing until her hood slid off and her hair fell in her face when she leaned forward. The moon hung over the quiet lake, full and incandescent, a bright star to its left. Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. A small laugh escaped her, followed by more tears. She’d gone way beyond childish wishes, even if as a kid she’d believed in the power of the first star. The tensions of her parents’ betrayal slid away in the stinging wind, into the encroaching darkness. Finally she stopped pumping, let herself glide through the cool evening air, slowly coming to a stop.

      A motion to her left caught her eye and she turned her head.

      Ben Lawless sat on the merry-go-round, watching her. Her belly clutched. Oh, no. What was he doing here?

      “Did it work?” Despite his low tone, she heard him clearly.

      Caught, Lainey forced herself to meet his gaze. “Did what work?”

      “The swinging. The tears. You looked like you were trying to get rid of something.”

      She tilted her head so it rested on the chain. No point in denying it. She didn’t want to. “For the moment, maybe.” Though the ache under her heart hadn’t gone away.

      Her parents had bought her building. She squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of betrayal washed over her. How had she not seen it coming?

      When she looked back over at Ben he stood up from the merry-go-round, gave it a small shove with his hand. It wobbled in a slow circle. “For the moment?”

      Lainey scuffed her foot in the wood chips. Was that an opening for her to talk, no matter how reluctantly issued? She almost laughed. Where would she start? With her parents? With her baby? With her ex-husband? With the father of said baby? “I don’t know. Can we not talk about it?” The very thought of trying to explain the twisted mess her life had become exhausted her.

      Ben laughed—a quick deep flash that sent tingles though her body. “As long as we don’t talk about me.”

      His grief-stricken face flashed across her memory. “Deal.” She hopped out of the swing and her balance shifted a bit. No doubt an effect of her pregnancy. She started toward the water, simply needing to move.

      She was surprised when Ben caught up to her. He walked beside her, his arm almost brushing hers. Even without the contact she could feel the heat from his big body as hers seemed to be way too tuned in to him.

      This was bad.

      Distracted, she stumbled a bit on the uneven sand. He caught her arm—pure reflex, she was sure—especially because he let go of her almost as soon as he touched her, as though she’d burned him somehow.

      “Careful,” he said, his voice low.

      “Thanks,” she murmured, keeping her eyes on the ground. His scent, a yummy mix of soap and fresh air, drifted over to her. She curled her fingers into fists and shoved them in her pockets so she didn’t do something stupid—like reach for him and bury her face in his chest.

      Even as the urge confused and scared her she knew Ben wouldn’t lie to her, use her, or treat her like a wayward child. Even with his secrets, he came across as sincere in a way she so wanted to believe in.

      Except she was done with believing.

      They stopped when they reached the lake. The water was almost mirror-still. Perfect for skipping rocks. When was the last time she’d done that? The moon was bright enough that she could see pretty well, so she started to hunt for flat stones. She didn’t look at Ben, but could feel him watching her.

      Strangely, not talking felt right. She didn’t feel she needed to fill the night with chatter—after the bombshell her parents had laid on her that was a good thing—and he seemed to be quiet because he was more comfortable without words.

      She picked up a rock—a flat disk, smooth and cold in her hand. She lined up and let it fly over the still water, counting twelve skips. She couldn’t resist a little fist pump. She still had it after all these years.

      “Not bad.” Ben fingered his own rock. “My turn.”

      “Good luck,” she said politely. She’d always been a top-notch rock-skipper. One of her many under-appreciated talents. She couldn’t smother a small sigh. No doubt her mother would be appalled.

      His rock flew over the water. Thirteen skips.

      “Hmm.” Glad for the distraction, Lainey narrowed her eyes when he turned to her, eyebrow raised. “I can beat that.”

      A small laugh escaped him and he looked surprised at the sound. Her heart tugged. Had he really gone so long in sorrow he’d lost laughter?

      He leaned toward her, not close enough to touch, but close enough to see the challenge in his eyes. “You’re on.”

      His warm breath feathered over her cheek and her little shiver had nothing to do with the chill in the air. “Good luck,” she said again. The words came out a little husky, and she turned away quickly to look for more rocks. What was wrong with her? What was it about Ben Lawless that drew her in? It was wrong on so many levels. She was pregnant, for God’s sake. And her life was a mess. There was no room for a man. Especially one with issues of his own.

      It took everything Ben had not to ask why she’d been crying. The tracks from her tears were dry now, but even in the light of the moon he could see her beautiful blue eyes were red-rimmed. An unwelcome protective surge caught him off-guard and left a sour feeling in his stomach.