From Fortune To Family Man

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“I’m pretty busy right now,” he said. “Can’t you find something else to do?”

Her lips curled into a pout, then she brightened. “I could make pizza and hamburgers for your dinner.”

“That sounds great.” Especially if her return to the play kitchen in the living room would buy him another few minutes to finish his spreadsheet.

As she scampered off, he glanced at the time on his laptop. Weren’t kids supposed to take afternoon naps? Dana said they did, but it looked as if Rosie hadn’t gotten that memo.

As much as Kieran wanted to handle things on his own, he realized that wasn’t going to work. His first thought was to ask one of his brothers or sisters to help out, but Rosie would probably be more comfortable with a woman.

The only problem was, Rachel lived in Horseback Hollow. Zoe was in charge of brand management for Robinson Computers, overseeing the company’s presence on social media, plus organizing events to raise the company’s profile. And if that wasn’t enough to keep her occupied, she was happily married to Joaquin Mendoza, who took up any free time she might have.

Sophie worked as an assistant HR director at Robinson Tech, which kept her busy. She was also all starry-eyed these days, thanks to her recent engagement to Mason Montgomery. And Olivia, who was still single, was a computer programmer at the company. Clearly, his sisters all had lives of their own, so he couldn’t ask any of them.

And even if they did have the time, they’d all been a little skeptical of his ability to be a father. So there was no way he’d reveal that he was struggling. Instead, he’d prove them wrong, even if it killed him.

At the sound of the battery-operated motor of the little car, Kieran swore under his breath. If Rosie ran it into the dining room table leg one more time...

Oh, hell. Why wait until then? As soon as she took a nap—if she ever did—he’d call the doorman and ask him to get rid of it, even if that meant putting it out on the curb with a sign saying: Free to a Good Home.

A loud thump sounded from the dining area, which meant Rosie had crashed into the table again. What in the world made him think he could handle child rearing on his own?

I’ll help any way I can, Dana had said. And she’d seemed sincere.

Kieran whipped out his cell phone, ready to call her right now and take her up on that offer.

* * *

Of all the places Dana could have imagined having dinner on a Tuesday evening, Cowboy Fred’s Funhouse and Pizza Emporium wasn’t one of them. But when Kieran called to invite her to join him and Rosie for an early dinner, he’d sounded a little frazzled. And when he’d admitted that he wanted an adult to talk to, she’d agreed. Then she’d hurried home to shut off her Crock-Pot, in which she’d placed a small roast before leaving for work this morning. Once she’d placed the meat in the fridge, she’d changed her clothes.

She’d been a little flattered by Kieran’s invitation until she realized there was no way he’d ever want to meet a date at one of the most popular kids’ eateries in Austin. Still, she’d applied lipstick and hurried to meet him.

She found him standing out in front of Cowboy Fred’s, holding Rosie’s hand. He was dressed more casually than usual in a pair of black jeans and a maroon-and-white golf shirt bearing a Texas A&M logo.

When Rosie, who wore a pair of pink shorts and a white T-shirt with a princess graphic, spotted Dana, she burst into a happy grin and squealed, “Dannnnnnna!”

The girl’s happy reaction was heartwarming, but it was Kieran’s dazzling smile that set Dana’s pulse soaring at a wacky rate.

“Thanks for joining us,” he said, as he greeted Dana in front of the bright red door encircled with blinking theater lights. “I owe you.”

She winked at him, then studied little Rosie’s lopsided ponytail, the red ribbon dangling unevenly and about to slide off.

“We’ve been cooped up all day,” Kieran said, “so we both needed to get out. But next time, we’ll invite you to have grilled steaks at my house.”

Next time? So he’d be calling her again and asking her to join him, only next time at his place?

Now, that was an interesting thought.

He grabbed the brass handle and opened the red door for her and Rosie to enter. When the child dashed inside and waited for a greeter dressed in a cowboy costume to stamp her hand, Dana followed, dazed by the rows of mechanical ponies and cars, by the huge room filled with video games.

The flashing lights and the electronic bleeps made her think of a kiddie casino. Wow. This place was wild. And loud. Now she knew what Kieran meant about “owing her.”

“Ma’am,” the cowboy said, “I’ll need to stamp your hand, too. Yours, too, sir. Each child’s number needs to match the adults’ who brought her.”

“Uncle Kieran,” Rosie asked, “can I please go play on the climb-y thing?”

“Sure, princess. You go ahead.” He pointed to a blue bench that was stationed close to the structure. “As soon as we get our hands stamped, Dana and I will be sitting right there, waiting for you.”

As the happy girl hurried off, Kieran turned to Dana and asked, “Can you believe this place?”