Page 39 of Confessions

His hand was still resting upon her shoulder, but she shrugged the warm palm away from her. “It’s none of your business how I raise my children, Hayden,” she said crossly.

“Just a little free advice.”

“Then it’s worth exactly what I paid for it—nothing.”

“Boys need to explore, check things out.”

“Is this something you’ve read or are you talking from experience?”

“I was a boy once.”

“I know,” she said, her heart thumping unnaturally. “I remember.”

His gaze sliced into hers, and though he didn’t say a word, the air seemed charged with silent accusations. To her disbelief she realized again that he seemed to be holding a grudge against her. As if in that faraway other lifetime she’d wronged him! As if he and his father hadn’t altered irrevocably the direction of her life! As if he hadn’t walked away from her and never so much as cast a glance back over his shoulder! Her insides were shredding, and she bit down on her lip so that she wouldn’t start throwing angry accusations his way.

Standing on the porch, being so close to him was awkward. Being near him was uncomfortable. And yet she had to be polite. He was, after all, her boss as well as her ex-husband’s employer. She dragged an invitation over her tongue. “If you’re not worried about the boys damaging your boat, why don’t you come in and have a cup of coffee?”

His dark brow arched. “Your husband won’t mind?”

“Not at all,” she replied quickly, and decided not to tell him that she was divorced. Not yet.

“A peace offering?”

“We got off on the wrong foot. I think we should try again.” The minute the last syllable left her lips, she wished she could call the words back, but she couldn’t. Silent, painful memories of their youth stretched between them.

His jaw tightened and he hesitated, glancing back at the boat. Nadine felt like a fool. Of course he wouldn’t take her up on her offer. He was just returning her ring and had probably delivered it himself to fire her in person. No doubt the minute she’d left his house, he’d phoned William Bradworth, set the attorney straight in a blistering conversation, managed to find out her address and had jetted across the lake hell-bent to hand over her walking papers. Well, she’d be damned if she’d make it easy for him.

“Okay. You’re on.” He surprised her by accepting and following her into the small cabin.

She poured coffee into two ceramic mugs, offered cream and sugar, then followed him back outside where she could sit on the porch and watch the boys.

Nadine blew across her cup and sat on the old porch swing. Hayden balanced his hips against the weathered rail, his back to the lake, his long legs crossed at the ankles. The stiff wind ruffled his hair and brought her the scent of him—clean and male, no trace of aftershave or cologne.

“Bradworth said your name’s Warne now,” he observed. “You married Sam,” he said without a trace of emotion.

“That’s right.”

“I thought he was just a friend.”

“He was. Then he got to be a better one.” She didn’t have to explain anything to Hayden, especially something as difficult and complex as her relationship with Sam. Sam, who had once adored her. Sam, who had wanted to marry her and father her children. Sam, who even early in their marriage had shown signs of being unable to control his alcohol consumption. Nadine had thought she could help him with his problem; he’d denied that there had been a problem at all.

She swallowed a long drink of coffee, feeling the warm liquid slide down her throat. Long ago, Sam had been her friend, Sam had been safe, Sam had been there when Hayden and her family had not. Though their marriage hadn’t always been happy, she didn’t regret marrying Sam, not when she considered her sons. Even with the trouble John and Bobby gave her, she loved them both with all of her heart. Nothing would ever change that. Sam had given her those precious boys.

She felt Hayden’s gaze upon her, and she cradled the warm cup in her fingers as she looked up at him. “What about you, Hayden? I read somewhere you were engaged to marry Wynona.”

He snorted. “Didn’t happen.”

“You never married?”

His eyes turned an angry shade of blue. “Never.” He didn’t bother to explain and she didn’t ask. The less they knew of each other, the better. She had a job to do and their relationship was strictly professional. The fact that she felt nervous around him was easily explained and she’d just have to get over it. Whatever they’d shared long ago had been fleeting and was definitely over.

He drained his cup as the boys tired of their exploration. John ran up the narrow path to the porch. “That’s a great boat, Mr. Monroe.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, the best!” Bobby chimed in.

“I bet it goes real fast,” John hinted, and Nadine wanted to die.