clenched his jaw. He wouldn’t allow this woman to hurt Jade. Jade had already experienced more rejection in her short life than anyone should.
But Kristina Montgomery surprised him.
“I’m going to allow Gray to work for you after school, Mr. Collier.”
Gray threw his arms around his mother. “Oh, Mom. Thank—”
“Hear me out.” She held up her palm. “On one condition. I’d like to accept your offer of an airplane ride.” She arched her eyebrow. “Before I agree to let Gray work here.”
Canyon got a quivery feeling in his chest. There went his vow to avoid her. He fought against an irrational surge of gladness. “Sounds fair. I promise you won’t regret it.”
He swallowed. Real question—would he?
Standing outside the airfield office with her son, Kristina hadn’t expected the teenage girl in goth attire. And from the puppy-dog looks Gray sent Jade Collier, he’d never agree to remain on their side of the property line. Especially not if someone his age—and female—lived next door.
Her “good fences make good neighbors” philosophy took a nosedive. So she decided to try a new approach. Time to add a few more strategies to her solo-parenting tool kit. And according to Sawyer Kole, Canyon was not the brother with the criminal record.
She smiled at the Colliers. “Have either of you eaten lunch?”
Behind the heavy black eyeliner, some of the glare dimmed from the girl’s remarkable green eyes. Despite the affected air of boredom, the child was as attractive as her father.
He didn’t wear a wedding ring. As for the duffel bag? Maybe weekend custody. Or had he become a full-time single parent like her?
Canyon squinted. “Lunch?”
If Gray was determined to spend time at the airfield, Kristina needed to get to know Canyon and his daughter better.
Jade propped her hands on her skinny hips. “What’re you offering?”
“Don’t be rude, Jade.” Canyon’s gaze flickered toward Kristina. “We haven’t had lunch, but we wouldn’t want to impose.”
“It’s not an imposition. My invitation.”
For the first time in a long while, Gray smiled at his mother. “That’s a great idea, Mom. Real neighborly. Can we have pimento cheese?”
Canyon cleared his throat. “We don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
Gray winked at her. “Mom keeps pimento cheese in the refrigerator. Cuts those great triangle sandwiches, remember?” He laughed.
“No crusts?” Jade wrapped her arms around herself. “I saw that on TV once.” She glanced at Canyon. “Unless you’re too busy.”
Kristina was touched by the expression on Canyon’s face when he looked at his daughter. Hope mixed with a healthy dose of fear. A new emotion for the cocky pilot?
“I’m not too busy,” he grunted.
From their awkward demeanor with each other, she wondered if Canyon and Jade had spent much time together. Pimento cheese sandwiches seemed an easy gesture to help them ease into their new situation.
She climbed the porch steps. “Let’s get Jade settled and then we can meet at my house for lunch.”
Canyon unlocked the door. “I didn’t get much notice Jade was coming.”
At his gesture, Kristina stepped inside. “I didn’t realize you lived at the airfield, Mr. Collier.”
He motioned the children inside, too. “It’s Canyon.”
Gray took Jade’s duffel bag. “Canyon started living here after he sold his grandma’s house to build his business.”
Kristina’s eyes darted to Canyon. His grandma’s house, now her home?
She followed Gray down the front hall. Disconcerted to discover her bookish child sporting an interest in girls. Another reminder Gray was growing up. Too soon, she’d be utterly alone. A shaft of the familiar fear clawed at her insides.
Through the open door to the right of the hall, she caught a quick glimpse of a desk overflowing with paperwork.
Canyon flushed. “Business is slow until planting season. I was figuring to catch up, but then the Wildlife Commission hired me to do a migratory bird count on the barrier islands and...” He shrugged.
The hall led to a tiny galley kitchen and an eat-in dining area overlooking the hangar and airstrip. The counter was spotless, and dishes sat drying on the drain board. Other than his desk, Canyon kept his living quarters neat and tidy.
Canyon moved past Jade. “I didn’t have time to clean my bedroom or I would’ve put you there.” He threw open an adjacent door. “So I inflated the mattress and—”
At Jade’s quick inhalation, Kristina peeked over Gray’s shoulder. An air mattress lay in front of a washer and dryer in the utility room.
Canyon shuffled his feet. “It’s temporary, I promise.”
The wrong thing to say. Jade stiffened, and if anything, the chip she wore appeared to grow.
His jaw tightened. “That’s not what I meant, Jade. As soon as I clear out my stuff, we’ll trade places.”
Jade’s gaze cut to the Barbie poster on the wall.
Kristina’s eyes widened. “Barbie?”
Canyon stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. “Jade likes Barbie.”
“When I was six.” However, her eyes glistened. “But thanks for remembering Canyon.”
Jade called her father Canyon? And he hadn’t seen Jade since she was six? What in the world?
Not Kristina’s business. Still, he’d tried. And his effort tugged at Kristina’s heart. “I have an idea.”
Gray, Jade and Canyon angled.
“There’s an extra bedroom Jade can use at our house until you get your living arrangements sorted.”
“We couldn’t—”
“I don’t need—”
“Great idea, Mom.” Gray hugged her.
The second time her son had voluntarily hugged her. Progress?
Canyon rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but—”
“Do you have any food in the kitchen?” Kristina crossed her arms.
He shook his head.
She tapped her foot. “Extra sheets, a pillow and a blanket for the mattress?”
He bit his lip.
Men.
“Unless you’d rather not, Jade.” Kristina dropped her arms. “We’re strangers, after all.”
Jade Collier seemed to be one of those slow-to-warm creatures. Perhaps Kristina shouldn’t have said anything. Like with a gun-shy horse, maybe it was better not to rush things.
“We’re still in the process of getting settled ourselves.” She made an expansive gesture. “It’s not much. But it’s a bed and your own bathroom. If you want it.”
Jade’s startling eyes dropped to half-mast. “More than what I’m used to.” She patted Canyon’s arm. “Though I do appreciate the Barbie attempt.” Her mouth curved. “Coming from a confirmed bachelor like yourself.”
So