Erica closed the door, pitching her volume low as she answered his unspoken question. “She’s in the guest room. Let me get you settled and I’ll bring her out.” Without waiting for a reply, she led him into the spacious living room. “Make yourself comfortable. What can I get you to drink?”

“I’m fine.”

Liar, liar.

But a drink wasn’t going to calm his nerves—unless it contained a significant amount of alcohol. Not an option, since he’d sworn off liquor after his night with Natalie.

“Give me a minute or two.” Faint creases appeared on Erica’s brow. “I’ve laid all the groundwork for this visit, but she’s quite apprehensive. You are a stranger to her.”

“That wasn’t my choice.” A note of defensiveness crept into his voice.

“Understood. I won’t try to defend my sister’s decision . . . but she was a fine mother, from what I could tell.” She swept a hand over the room again. “Please, have a seat.”

Leaving him on his own, she disappeared down a hall.

Rather than sit, Jack sized up the room.

The minimalist décor was striking if not warm. A large modern art painting adorned one wall, the sole touch of color in the room’s neutral palette. Nothing was out of place. No stray candy wrappers, no opened book, no purse or bag left on a chair. The room could have been lifted from one of those glossy interior design magazines that high-end clients likely found on waiting room coffee tables at places like investment firms and plastic surgeon offices. Sophisticated . . . classy . . . chic . . . those were the adjectives that came to mind.

It did not feel like a home.

Despite Erica’s willingness to take Hannah, this wasn’t where Jack wanted her to grow up.

As the minutes ticked by, he began to pace. The delay couldn’t be a favorable omen. It wasn’t as if he’d expected Hannah to run to him with open arms, but wasn’t she at least curious about him?

Or did she regard him as simply a stranger who’d arrived to disrupt her world yet again?

Thank goodness he’d had the foresight to allow them a couple of get-acquainted days before he whisked her back to Oregon.

But what if that wasn’t sufficient?

His stomach began to churn.

What would he do if she decided to—

“Sorry for the delay, Jack.” Erica reappeared in the hallway, holding Hannah’s hand—but the girl stayed behind her, out of sight. Like she didn’t want to see him.

The roiling in his stomach intensified.

Now what?

Erica continued to tow the girl along behind her. “Come on, dear. Your dad traveled all the way from Oregon. Don’t you want to say hello?”

His daughter stayed in Erica’s shadow, and Natalie’s sister gave him a slight, apologetic shrug.

It was clear Hannah did not want to say hello.