Page 11 of Brazilian Fantasy
With my throat tight I say, “At this one foster house, they had a dog, and I swear to you, it’s the only thing that helped me. The human-animal bond can stimulate feelings of safety, tranquility, and happiness.”
Lucas nods and gestures for the volunteer. “Can we see her?” he asks, pointing.
The lady scoops up the little puppy and hands her over. Maddie drops her teddy bear and holds her arms out. “Maddie,” Lucas says, “you have to be very careful. She’s just a baby.”
Maddie’s eyes are the liveliest I’ve seen them since stepping foot in the Santos household, and my heart squeezes so tight, I can barely breathe as she pulls the little dog to her chest and hugs her. Holy hell. I’ve been here all of three days. How can I possibly have such a bond with this little girl—and her father—already? Oh, this is not good. Not good at all. I’m not looking for a family, and he’s not looking for anything more than a sitter. I’d be wise to remember that.
“You’ll have to think of a good name for her, Maddie,” I say around the lump in my throat, and she nods eagerly. I tap my ear. “When you’re ready, you can whisper it to me.”
She looks away from me, pain ghosting her eyes as she turns her attention back to her new pet. The pup showers Maddie’s face with sloppy kisses—another instant bond in the making. Maddie giggles, and Lucas and I stand.
“Everyone needs to be cared for, and they also need to care for someone—or something—in return.” I lean in and whisper. “A puppy won’t take away the pain of her past, but it can help you both create a happier future.”
His gaze leaves mine, and his face softens when he takes in his daughter squealing on the floor with her soon-to-be new puppy. “I haven’t seen her smile like that in a long time.”
“I think this is going to help her,” I say quietly. “Really bring her out of her shell.” But Maddie isn’t the only one who needs help. Lucas displays deep loneliness, even hints of guilt, when he thinks people aren’t looking. But I’m looking. I see it.
Lucas’s knuckles brush mine again. His little touches, so tentative yet powerful, mess with both my body and my mind. “You’re really good with kids,” he says. I smile at the compliment, even though I have no real mothering skills. How could I, when I never had an example? “You’ll be a great mother.”
I give a quick shake of my head. “Nope. Kids aren’t in my future.”
His gaze flashes to mine. “No?”
“Nope. Kids and relationships are definitely not on my horizon. I don’t mind taking care of someone else’s child on a temporary basis, but I don’t plan to have any of my own.”
His gaze sweeps over my face, and I can tell he wants to pry, but instead, he says, “Well, I’m glad you decided to stay and take care of us…I mean Maddie.”
I might have agreed to take care of Maddie, but when this man is ready, I plan on taking caring of him, too.
Chapter Four
Piper
“That was the delicious, Piper, but I told you didn’t have to cook for me.”
Lucas pushes back from the table, and I take in his empty plate, nothing left but a skim of red pasta sauce. Beside him, Maddie is still chomping on her meatball.
I give Lucas a wink. “Yeah, but it’s no baked empadão.” Whatever the heck that is.
“No, it’s better,” he says, and I roll my eyes so hard I’m sure he can hear it.
I set my fork down and wipe the corner of my mouth with a napkin. “I’m not that great of a cook, but I do a mean Italian meatball.”
He pushes that rebellious lock of hair from his handsome face. “I’m sure everything you cook tastes great.”
I smile at the compliment. “Do you like to cook?” I ask, genuinely curious about him.
He nods. “I do. I just don’t have a lot of time for it. When I work late and I have to prepare dinner, I usually order in for Maddie and me.”
“That’s not the healthiest option.”
“Sometimes Eugenie prepares a meal for us, and a few times a week the women you met on the street today drop off dishes.”
I cock my head and wish I didn’t feel so jealous. Lucas isn’t mine, and those women might be sharks, but they do seem to care about him and Maddie. Maybe one of them might be a good match. Then again, is it possible for him to ever love again?
“How kind of them,” I say, sounding like I just swallowed battery acid.
“It’s actually helpful, and Maddie really seems to like them.”
