Page 5 of Summer of Love (Costas Sisters 2)
“Baldwin. Ryan Baldwin.” His head was already spinning from his dealings with Elena Costas, and he opted to use his real name for fear he’d confuse himself otherwise. With his sister’s myriad name changes, he had no fear they’d connect him to Sara Morgan, Faith’s last known name.
He forced a comfortable smile. “I love cake, especially Carvel.”
“Then let’s do it so we can get to the gifts. I can’t wait for Sam to see what we bought for her,” Elena said.
“Maybe we should wait until tonight when we’re alone.” Zoe shot a pointed glance at Ryan.
Her mother shook her head. “Nonsense. Mr. Baldwin seems like the kind of man who’d want a young girl to be happy. I’m right, yes?” she asked.
“Uh, of course.” But he wondered what kind of gift Sam would be receiving that had Zoe uncomfortable.
“You see?” Elena took his hand once more, grabbed Zoe and headed deeper into the yard.
They came to a stop by a picnic table, and while Elena busied herself gathering the girls, Zoe turned to Ryan, her eyes intense and serious. “You’ll have to excuse my mother, but she’s so excited about this party. She just adores Sam and wants everything to be perfect. You’ll like my family,” she assured Ryan, her need for his acceptance blatant.
In her mind, he was the social worker whose opinion would help determine whether they were an appropriate home for his niece. They needed to impress him. He needed for them to fail any inspection.
But as he observed her expressive face and the obvious pleasure she took in this entire day, he realized this was no act for a social worker. Zoe’s love for his niece was so real; he couldn’t help but like her for it.
“I’m sure I’ll like your family,” he told her. Even if what he’d seen so far showed him a carnival atmosphere he couldn’t possibly understand.
Zoe’s shoulders eased, and she seemed to relax. “How’s Katherine’s mother? We were all so sorry to hear she couldn’t make it today because of her mother’s fall.”
Katherine must be the missing social worker, he realized, the moment of panic passing. “She’ll be okay.” He hoped he was telling the truth.
“Okay, cake time,” a male voice boomed through the loudspeakers. “Everyone gather.” He spoke slowly and with a more distinct accent than Zoe’s mother had possessed.
“Where’s Samantha?” Ryan asked, nerves jumbled together inside him.
“There,” Zoe said, pointing.
Ryan followed her direction and once again felt sure he was hallucinating. The monkey he’d seen earlier stood on the back of a large dog, balancing with ease. The animals came to a halt when a bald man carrying a huge ice-cream cake stepped forward. By his side walked a beautiful blond teenager, her hand tight in the crook of his elbow.
“Faith,” he said aloud.
“Sam. That’s my soon-to-be sister, Samantha,” Zoe said with pride. “Of course we already think of her as part of the family,” she quickly assured him.
He nodded but couldn’t speak any more than he could take his eyes off the girl who was the spitting image of his sister. At fourteen, Sam was three years younger than Faith had been at the time she’d run away. Sam possessed the same long, blond hair and similar features, with one marked difference. Where Faith had been morose, constrained by their conservative family’s demands and expectations, Sam appeared vibrant, happy and full of life.
He swallowed over the lump in his throat. “She’s a beautiful child.”
“Yes, she is. I’m sure the picture in Social Services files doesn’t do her justice,” Zoe said.
He muttered a noncommittal reply.
Their conversation ended when the “Happy Birthday” song began. The monkey blew out the candles before Sam could get to them. Laughing, she gave the animal a high five, and in turn, the monkey blew her a raspberry and then shot her a huge grin followed by a kiss.
The routine seemed practiced. “It seems like she knows the monkey,” he said, wondering if he sounded as stupid as he felt.
“She does,” Zoe said, unfazed. “Spank lived here for a while.”
“Spank?”
“The monkey.” Zoe rolled her eyes. “Please don’t ask, okay? She’s gone. She lives with her trainer, and we’re not violating any laws or rules, and we would never, ever put Sam or any other child in danger.” Zoe’s once self-confident voice took on a pleading tone as she obviously realized she’d slipped with her admission.
Once more, he sought to reassure her. “I can see that you wouldn’t.” Unable to stop himself, he reached out and touched her hand.
The spark of awareness was instant and energizing. His gaze immediately flew to hers, and in those green eyes, he saw equal doses of surprise and pleasure.
He felt the same and knew he shouldn’t because of who he was. But he let his fingertips linger. Her skin was soft, the texture as intriguing as the woman herself. He’d never felt such instant desire. How ironic it would be with a woman he couldn’t allow himself to get close to.
