Accidental Family. Joan Elliott Pickart

said, laughing. “Tell ’em what they want to hear.”

      “What I want to hear,” Patty said, “is that David Montgomery is still bringing Sarah Ann here. Tucker is so excited about seeing his ‘bestis friend’ again and will no doubt pitch a royal fit if she doesn’t show up.”

      “Oh, sexy David will be here with daughter in tow,” Susan said, “and frown in place. The man has not smiled at anyone except his kiddo since he had that chitchat with you. Do you think it would help if I tore off my clothes when he arrives? No, forget that. The extra ten pounds I spoke of is not an inspiring sight to behold. Anyway, it’s great to have you here today, Patty. Where do you want me to put Miss Sophia?”

      “I’ll use Marjorie’s office for a nursery today since she’s away on vacation. Sophia can camp out on the owner’s turf.”

      “Okay, I’ll carry her… Oops. Jeffery, the wheels stay on the truck. Do not… Too late. That kid kills a truck a day, I swear.”

      “Go play mechanic,” Patty said, taking the carrier from Susan.

      “Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann,” Tucker yelled, racing across the room. “You came. I told my mommy you would.”

      Patty slid the heavy diaper bag and her purse onto one of the small child-size tables, then turned to see the front doors of the center swishing closed behind Sarah Ann and David Montgomery.

      Oh, good grief, Patty thought. David Montgomery was even more ruggedly handsome than she remembered him being. He just oozed blatant masculinity, moved with a fluid male grace that said he was comfortable in his own body—a body that was so perfectly proportioned it was sinful.

      Was that a sensual shiver slithering down her spine? No, it was not. Patty Sharpe Clark, don’t be absurd.

      In the next moment her eyes widened as Tucker and Sarah Ann threw their arms around each other in a hug. Patty hurried forward, aware that while the pair were the same age Tucker was a stocky little boy while Sarah Ann was small-boned and delicate. An exuberant hug from Tucker Clark could result in Sarah Ann being squished to tears.

      “Tucker, honey,” Patty said when she reached the children. “I know how happy you are to see Sarah Ann but you’re going to squeeze the stuffing out of her. Let her go, Tucker.”

      “’Kay,” Tucker said. “Are you still my bestis friend, Sarah Ann?”

      Sarah Ann nodded. “You’re my most bestis friend in the whole wide world, Tucker.”

      “Come play blocks,” Tucker said, taking Sarah Ann’s hand.

      “’Kay.”

      “Goodbye, Sarah Ann,” David said. “I love you.”

      “Love you,” she said, not looking at him.

      The dynamic duo ran toward the far corner of the room.

      “Well,” David said, chuckling, “I’d say that was quite a reunion.” He shifted his gaze to Patty. “You’ve been busy since you were here last.” He looked at Sophia, then back at Patty. “You have a beautiful daughter, Patty.

      “I remember holding Sarah Ann when she was a newborn and thinking she was an honest-to-goodness miracle. I always thought I’d be the father to three or four kids, live in a home overflowing with love and laughter and…” He cleared his throat. “Does Tucker like his role of big brother?”

      “He’s not overly impressed,” Patty said, laughing. “He wants Sophia to do something, not just eat and sleep.”

      “She’ll get busy soon enough. They grow so fast. I’ve already been replaced as Sarah Ann’s bestis friend.”

      “Oh, not really,” Patty said. “Sarah Ann dashes off when she gets here because she’s secure in the knowledge that you’ll be back to get her later. You’re her bestis daddy and she trusts you with such pure and awesome innocence.”

      “I hope I can live up to that trust,” David said, looking directly at Patty.

      “I… I’m sure you will,” she said, meeting his intense gaze.

      Those eyes, she thought, rather hazily. They put a Ventura summer sky to shame. So blue, so… Goodness, it was warm in here. There was a strange heat consuming her, churning and swirling and… David Montgomery was pinning her in place with those incredible blue eyes.

      “Well, I’d better be on my way,” David said, his voice sounding slightly strangled. “I assume you’re reporting back to work here?”

      “Oh, no, not really,” Patty said, then drew a wobbly breath. “I’m just substituting today because they’re short on caregivers.”

      “I see. Yes. Have a nice day. I’ll be back to collect Sarah Ann at the usual time. Goodbye.”

      David spun around and strode toward the doors, soon disappearing from view.

      “Goodbye,” Patty said quietly, watching him go.

      Sophia squeaked, stirred and opened her eyes.

      “Hello, sleepy girl,” Patty said. “Your silly mommy just got thrown off-kilter by a very handsome man, but there will be no more of that malarkey. I’m wearing my mommy hat and it’s staying firmly in place.”

      Outside in the parking lot, David started the engine of his SUV, then hesitated before backing out, his gaze riveted on the door of the building.

      Patty Clark was a very attractive woman, he thought. She appeared to be about thirty, had black, shiny hair that fell to just above her shoulders and dark, expressive eyes.

      Even when she had been pregnant there was something about her that would definitely catch a man’s appreciative eye. And now? Whew. He’d felt the heat coiling low in his body when he’d looked into the dark depths of her eyes.

      Man, Patty had a rough road to go. Divorced, the mother of a busy little boy and a newborn daughter? Her husband must have been a real scumball to make taking on what Patty was facing seem a better choice than to stay married to the jerk.

      The next time he felt overwhelmed by the single-parent role he’d think of Patty Clark and what she was dealing with. Pretty Patty. He hoped she had family to lend her a hand, both physically and emotionally, a support group. Even still, that wouldn’t erase the fact that each night when Patty locked the door of her home against the world, she was alone to cope with the needs of those two children. Damn, that was a lot to handle and…

      “Montgomery,” David said, shaking his head. “Why are you sitting here like a dolt mentally minding someone else’s business? Someone you don’t even know, and will probably never see again after today?”

      David put the vehicle in reverse, checked his mirror, then backed out of the parking place. But before he drove from the lot, he looked at the doors to the Fuzzy Bunny Day Care Center one more time, the image of pretty Patty Clark flickering in his mind’s eye in crystal clarity.

      It was a typical busy day at the Fuzzy Bunny. With twenty energy-filled children there were the usual squabbles, lots of laughter, a skinned knee that needed a special Bugs Bunny Band-Aid and a hug for the wounded warrior.

      After lunch the children collapsed on tiny cots and took much-needed naps, allowing the caregivers to eat their own lunches and get a second breath. Patty ate quickly, then went into Marjorie’s office to give Sophia a bottle. She settled onto the soft leather chair behind the desk and fed her hungry daughter.

      Patty’s mind drifted back to the conversation she’d had with David that morning.

      He’d sounded so wistful when he’d spoken of having wanted a large family, she mused. Wistful and resigned to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen. Where was Sarah Ann’s mother, the woman who would have given David more children? David was probably wondering where in the world Tucker and Sophia’s father was. But, of course, one did not ask such personal questions of a person one