Nick Gray was the kind of guy smart mothers warned their daughters about.
After five years of living in the same neighbourhood, Bridget had seen Nick with so many different women, sheâd given up asking their names.
Still, sometimes when Bridget looked at him, she felt a crazy, unfamiliar excitement. He made her aware of possibilities she would never normally consider. Possibilities that were neither safe nor sensible.
It took only a few seconds for her to shake off that feeling, though. Nick was drawn to glamour, sophistication and style. The women he dated turned heads on the sidewalk.
Just as well she wasnât Nickâs type. Sheâd never been one for flirting and casual dating. Whereas even Nickâs relationship with the woman heâd married had lasted less than a year.
It was an appalling record, and she ought to think less of Nick for it. But she couldnât help liking him, despite his rather obvious character flaws. Someone who loved his baby as much as he did couldnât be all bad.
NICK GRAYâS BABY daughter, Mandy, was the cutest thing heâd ever seen. Too bad he didnât have a clue what to do with her.
She smiled adoringly at him from her seat in the stroller, showing off the two tiny teeth sheâd sprouted this month. Flanking the stroller were a bulging suitcase and a pink diaper bag.
Pink.
Like he was going to carry that around.
His ex-wife stood behind all this, looking like a model in a sleek leather jacket and high-heeled boots. No one would guess Jessica had ever had a baby, let alone just six months ago.
âI canât do this,â he said flatly. âYouâve never let me have Mandy overnight before. Now at the last minute, you expect me to take care of her full-time for three weeks?â
âI guess if the Hartford Police Department believes youâre smart enough to be a detective, you ought to be able to handle a baby. Iâve written out everything you need to know in here.â
She passed him a notebook, as well as another, thicker book. âPlus, Iâm lending you my copy of What to Expect the First Year. Donât lose it.â
âJessicaââ
âLook, Iâm not wild about leaving her with you, either. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me.â
âSpending your Christmas vacation in Australia, compliments of an Aussie snowboarder you met on the slopes two weeks ago. Yeah, some lifetime chance.â
âWill is a great guy.â
âIâm sure. Arenât they all?â
âYouâre a fine one to talk. Whatâs the longest youâve stuck with one girlfriend?â
âLet me seeâ¦nine months?â
Her face reddened and he knew heâd scored a point. âThat doesnât count. You only married me because I was pregnant. We both knew it was a mistake almost right away.â
âWrong. Youâre the one who decided it was a mistake.â When heâd said his vows, heâd intended to stick by them. Not that he and Jessica were such a perfect couple. But when you had kids, you stepped up to the plate.
It was what all the Gray men did. And while he couldnât live up to his older brothers in many other ways, in this one area heâd tried to do what was right.
âDonât give me that crap. You were relieved when I moved out. Even if you wonât admit it.â She pulled up the sleeve of her jacket so she could see the gold watch on her wrist. âWe donât have time to argue. Willâs picking me up for the airport in half an hour.â
âOkay, so letâs schedule our fight for when you get back. Is January fifth good for you?â
She ignored him, but he could tell she was struggling not to smile. Instead, she bent to whisper something to Mandy.
He heard snippets. âMommy loves youâ¦lots of presentsâ¦miss you, baby.â
When she straightened, there were tears in her eyes. Not that heâd ever doubted that Jessica loved their daughter. But what kind of mother left her six-month-old baby while she cavorted with her new ski buddy in Australia?
âYouâre not listening to me. This really is a problem. I took today off, but I have to work tomorrow.â
âDonât you have any vacation time coming?â
He grimaced. âYeah, right.â She knew heâd used it all in the weeks after Mandy was born. Besides, heâd just been promoted, assigned a new partner and given a high-profile case. âWhat am I supposed to do with Mandy while Iâm on duty?â