Temptation - Brenda Jackson [55]
Zeke decided to do more than just dress and feed Sunnie. By the time Sheila walked into the kitchen, looking as beautiful as ever in black slacks and a pretty pink blouse, he had a suggestion for her. “The weather is nice outside. How about if we do something?”
She raised a brow. “Do something like what?”
“Um, like taking Sunnie to that carnival over in Somerset.”
“But I thought you had to go through Brad’s brother’s boxes,” she said.
“I do, but I thought we could go to the carnival first and I can look through the boxes later. I just called the airlines. I’ll be flying out first thing in the morning, and I want to spend as much time as I can today with my two favorite ladies.”
“Really?”
He could tell by her expression that she was excited by his suggestion. “Yes, really. What do you say?”
She practically beamed. “Sunnie and I would love to go to the carnival with you.”
Considering how many items they had to get together for Sunnie, it didn’t take long for them to be on their way. He had passed the carnival a few days ago and had known he wanted to take Sheila and Sunnie there. It had been only a couple of weeks, but Sunnie had become just as much a part of his life as Sheila’s.
Although he’d told her how he felt about her, he could see Sheila was still handling him with caution, as if she was afraid to give her heart to him no matter how much she wanted to. He would be patient and continue to show her how much she meant to him. As he’d told her, considering her mother, sister and ex-boyfriend’s treatment of her, he could definitely understand her lack of trust.
“And you’re sure Brad is okay with you putting the investigation on hold to spend time with me and Sunnie?”
He glanced over at her as he turned toward the interstate. “Positive. A few hours won’t hurt anything. Besides, I’ll probably be gone most of next week and I’m missing you already.”
It didn’t take them long to reach the carnival grounds. After putting Sunnie in her stroller, they began walking around. It was Saturday and a number of people were out and about. He recognized a number of them he knew and Sheila ran into people she knew, as well. They ran into Brad’s sister, Sadie, her husband, Ron, and the couple’s twin daughters.
“She is a beautiful baby,” Sadie said, hunching down to be eye level with Sunnie.
And as usual when strangers got close, Sunnie glanced around to make sure Sheila was near. “Yes, she is,” Sheila said, smiling. She waited to see if the woman would make a comment about Sunnie favoring her brother or anyone in the Price family, but Sadie Price Pruitt didn’t do so. But it was plain to see she was just as taken with Sunnie as Sheila was with Sadie’s twins.
They also ran into Mitch Hayward and the former Jenny Watson. Mitch was the interim president of the TCC, and Jenny, one of his employees, when the two had fallen in love. And they had a baby on the way.
But the person Zeke was really surprised to see was Darius. He hadn’t known his partner had returned to town. “Darius, when did you get back?” he asked, shaking his business partner’s hand.
“Last night. We finished up a few days early and I caught the first plane coming this way.”
Zeke didn’t have to ask why when Darius drew Summer closer to him and smiled down at her.
“I would have called when I got in, but it was late and…”
Zeke chuckled. “Hey, man, you don’t have to explain. I understand.” He was about to introduce Darius and Sheila, but realized when Darius reached out and gave Sheila a hug that they already knew each other.
“And this is the little lady I’ve heard so much about,” Darius said, smiling at Sunnie. “She’s a beautiful baby.”
They all chatted for few minutes longer before parting ways, but not before agreeing to get together when Zeke returned from Denver.
“I like Darius and Summer,” Sheila said. “That time when Summer and I worked together on that abuse case, Darius was so supportive and it’s evident that he loves her very much.”
Zeke nodded and thought that one day he and Sheila might share the