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“Is your wife inside? I’d love to meet her.”

Although she’d been secretly excited before, it wouldn’t do her any good to keep thinking there was a chance for romance. Better to meet the wife now and get it over with. Nothing like a bucket of ice-cold reality thrown on your hopes and dreams to snap you out of it.

Instead, Matthew explained how he came alone to finalize the purchase of their home and drop off paperwork needed by the Windsong Police Department. Adding how he also wanted to come ahead of his family to clean up the yard and assemble the swing set as a surprise.

“Libby’s my sweetheart.”

As Katherine listened, she realized when he spoke so fondly of this Libby person, he was talking about his child. “And what about your wife? Does she work?”

Immediately, Matthew’s expression changed. So much so that it made Katherine regret she’d asked something that seemed like a sensitive subject.

“Julia’s a television news reporter. Her job is why we moved here.”

“Wow!” Katherine tried to make her voice sound upbeat and interested. She didn’t want to upset him anymore, but she was also distracted by the thought of wanting to hunt down Beth Ann and wring her neck for the screwed-up story she’d given. “News reporter, huh? That’s gotta be exciting.”

“It can be... I guess.”

As Matthew’s demeanor continued to change, Katherine’s face flushed in embarrassment as she watched his expression morph from friendly to cold and disinterested. He obviously heard stuff like that all the time. But there seemed to be more to it. Maybe he wasn’t happy about moving to Windsong.

Between his response, her stupid assumptions, and the fact that the good-looking replacement reporter was this man’s wife, Katherine realized this scenario was getting worse by the minute.

Forcing a smile, she searched her mind for the words that would turn the conversation around and bring back the cheerful, friendly expression he had before.

“Hey, I bet your little Libby is excited to start a new school and make new friends. They say Crescent Elementary is one of the best in the state. My sister Georgie is a kindergarten teacher there.”

Matthew brightened once again. “Libby’s a bit young for school.”

“Oh, so she must be starting in the fall, then?”

“No,” Matthew chuckled. “Libby’s not even two years old.”

Instantly, Katherine’s smile faded as more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Matthew’s young face. His wife, the new junior reporter. And their daughter, only a toddler.

His family life was just beginning, and she knew what that felt like. She also knew what it felt like to have it taken away. And shewouldn’t carry on like the person who had taken it away from her, even if it was just a harmless fantasy. Because lingering there, enjoying the sound of this man’s voice and the way he looked, made Katherine no better than the woman responsible for taking away her own happily ever after.

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to hold his gaze. “I-I shouldn’t have assumed anything about you.”

“That’s okay. I can see how the swing set gave you the idea that Libby’s older.”

Katherine nodded, sure that her discomfort was obvious.

“Hey, our houses look roughly the same size. You must have a few kids of your own.”

Katherine swallowed hard, knowing exactly what the next question would be.

“Are you married?”

“No. I’m not married.”

“Really? I’m surprised. It’s such a big house, and you’re so pretty.”

“Excuse me?” Katherine’s eyes widened, wondering if he was being nice or if he was a cheater. She hated cheaters.

“I’m sorry,” Matthew rushed to apologize. “I didn’t mean to upset you. What I meant to say is—”

“Don’t worry about it,” she stopped him. “I was married before, but now I’m not.”

“Any kids?”