Warmth filled her that he was including Livie in his life. “She’d love that.”
They stepped inside his apartment, and he flicked on the light. “The furniture’s pretty basic and came with the rental.”
“Stop apologizing.” He was right, though. The door opened right into the living room, and there was a brown leather couch, a matching chair, one side table and a coffee table. It was one big room, and a round dining table that sat four was the only other furniture. All of it screamed “I’m cheap rental furniture.”
“There are twin beds in the guest room.”
She followed him into the room. “This will work fine for us.”
“I’ll go get your luggage so we can put her to bed.” He set the car seat on one of the beds. “Be right back.”
While he was gone, she got Livie out of the car seat. Her daughter was a heavy sleeper and did nothing more than mumble when Kendall removed her clothes. When Cooper returned with their suitcases, she found Livie’s pajamas and got her into them.
Cooper touched her arm. “Come out when you’re done, and we’ll talk a little.”
“Okay.”
He pressed his lips to Livie’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, Princess.”
After he left, she sighed. Livie had won the daddy lottery. She’d recently started asking about her father. Who was he? Why didn’t he come see her? Kendall knew it was because now that she was in preschool, she was seeing other children had fathers and she didn’t understand why she didn’t have one.
“Your daddy would be here if he could,” she’d finally said after avoiding answering a few times. “He’s in the Army, and he lives in a faraway land.” That was really all she had known about him, and for now, it seemed to satisfy Livie.
Before Cooper had appeared in their lives, she’d worried about what she would tell Livie when she got older, and that answer wasn’t good enough. Well, that was one good thing that came out of this. She wouldn’t have to admit to her daughter that she had no idea who or where her father was.
She pulled the covers up under Livie’s chin, kissed her baby girl on the same spot Cooper had and, leaving the door open, she joined Cooper. He sat on his rental couch, and a glass of wine and a beer were on the coffee table.
“Which one’s for me?” she asked as she settled next him but not touching.
She’d like to touch him, though. She’d gone out with a few men since that night with Cooper, and that was her trying to feel wanted again. Sadly, the men hadn’t made her feel wanted the way Cooper had in just one night. After that, she’d decided she didn’t need a man in her life. She had Livie, a good job and a home she’d bought without help from her father. Life was good, and she hadn’t felt like she was missing anything. Now, she did.
“The wine’s yours.” He picked it up and offered it to her.
“I’d rather have that beer.”
He grinned as he stood. “I knew I liked you.”
A minute later, her wine had disappeared, replaced with a bottle of beer. “Thanks.”
“I’m surprised Livie didn’t wake up when you changed her into her pajamas.”
“Once she’s out, you could have a loud party in her room, and she’d sleep right through it.”
“She’s amazing, Kendall. You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”
“That means a lot that you’d say that.” It really did. She kicked off her sandals, pulled her legs up under her and shifted so that she was facing him. “She’s pretty easygoing as long as she’s not bored, then I’m sometimes ready to give her away.”
He chuckled. “I’ll help you keep her entertained while she’s here. You mentioned that she’s close to her grandfather. I’m surprised he wasn’t by your side as soon as you told him she’d been kidnapped.”
“If he’d been home, believe me, he would have been. He’s on an Alaskan cruise with his lady friend. I didn’t want to worry him when he was so far away and couldn’t do anything. If we hadn’t found her when we did, I would have gotten a message to him. He would’ve come straight home.” She noticed a basket full of dog toys. “Where’s… Ruby, is it?”
“Yes. She’s at Grayson and Harlow’s. I’ll get her in the morning. She loves kids and will be excited to see one in her house.” He picked at the label on his bottle. “Has there been anyone special in your life since we were together?”
“No. Between Livie and teaching, there wasn’t much time for me. You?”
“No. I wasn’t really looking while I was still in the Army. I was gone too much to have any kind of successful relationship.”
“You’re out now, so…”