When he said nothing, she smiled and let him go. “I know what goes on in my own house, Michael, and I know what goes on in the lives of my children’s friends. If your back needs to go up because I felt sorry for that boy, then so be it. My heart broke for you.”

“You wasted your sympathy.”

“I don’t think so, but as you said, that’s what was. Now is what is. You never cross the wire in the marathon of parenthood, Michael. You never finish the race and take a victory lap. Laura is a grown woman, free to make her own choices and live her own life, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying or wondering or hoping she chooses well.”

He knew what she was telling him, had expected it. “And you’ve got to wonder, considering things, if she’s choosing well this time.”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. I won’t say that sex doesn’t last. It can and does if you’re lucky. But it isn’t enough by itself.”

He’d expected to be warned away, but he wasn’t ready to be pushed. “If you’ve come down here to ask me to stay away from her, you’re wasting your time. I won’t do it.”

She measured him. “I’d be disappointed in you if you would. What I’m asking you to do is be kind.” She looked away to where the horses pranced. “Just be kind.”

“You want a promise, I’ll give you one. I’ll never treat her the way Ridgeway did. I won’t cheat or lie or take anything from her she doesn’t want to give me. And I won’t leave her feeling like a failure.”

Susan’s gaze came back and sharpened. It was the words, yes, but more the edgy anger behind them that had her reevaluating. “You understand better than I gave you credit for.”

“I understand failure just fine.” And he knew that compared to a woman like Susan Templeton, he might not be a failure, but he could hardly be considered a success. “If that’s all, I’ve got work to do.”

“Michael.” Remembering that he’d always been easily roused and prone to impatience, she kept her hand firm and her eyes level with the storm in his. “It’s nice to have you at Templeton House again. Now will you show me the horse you told me about? Is it that walker over there watching you as if he’d die if you asked him to?”

Michael blew out a breath and wondered how a man was supposed to understand any of the Templeton females. “Yeah, that’s Max. He’s just hoping for a handout.”

“Why don’t you introduce me?”