Divided Hearts by Susan R. Hughes Page A

waves spilling over them. For a moment she stood frozen, his fingertips igniting delicious sparks along the flesh on which they rested, before abruptly dropping away.
    Faye turned to face him. He smiled as he studied the locket lying against her chest.
    “Looks beautiful on you.”
    “Thanks,” Faye said again, feeling a deep flush invade her cheeks.
    In a moment Simon was back with the girls, chasing them around the yard. Faye rubbed the back of her neck with her hand, in an effort to smooth away the shivers of sensation that still prickled beneath her skin.
    “A lovely gift,” Laurel remarked. “Whose picture goes in there?”
    Having almost forgotten Simon’s sister was still sitting on the other side of the table, Faye turned with mild surprise, cradling the locket in her hand. “Probably Hannah. She’s the love of my life, after all.”
    “No boyfriend?” Laurel inquired mildly.
    “Not at the moment.”
    “Something Simon would like to change, I’d imagine,” his sister added, one slender eyebrow lifting, the edge of her mouth curling slightly.
    Faye blinked at her. “Pardon me?”
    “The way he looked at you just now,” Laurel elaborated, then shook her head as though she wished she hadn’t, abruptly dropping her gaze. “Sorry, I should mind my own business.”
    Her cheeks burning hotter, Faye couldn’t think of a response. Instead she gathered up their empty teacups and saucers, grateful for a purpose to draw her away from a conversation from which she could think of no graceful exit.
    “Why don’t I take these inside,” she said, forcing a smile before turning to the house.
    Behind her Faye heard Simon’s voice: “Say Dada. Come on, Hannah. Da-da. Da-da .”
    As she walked, she turned her head to see that he was now wearing the tiara, which had slid off Hannah’s head long ago. Sienna was dancing behind him, giggling, as Hannah stood gazing up at him, gripping a plastic saucer and grinning in amusement at the silly man repeating the funny word. Faye felt her lips pull into a more genuine smile as she entered the house.
    After setting the dishes on the counter, she decided she might as well wash them while she was there. Slipping off her cardigan and hanging it on a chair, she filled the sink with soapy water and began scrubbing out the cups and saucers. She then moved on to the brunch dishes stacked by the sink. As she washed and rinsed, Faye felt the strain ease from her shoulders; it was a relief to be alone for a little while, focused on her task with no distractions. Once everything was set in the drying rack, she wiped down the counter, satisfied with the job she’d done.
    Hearing footsteps on the hardwood behind her, Faye glanced up to see Simon headed her way, a motionless toddler draped over his shoulder, her mop of dark hair obscuring most of her face.
    “Poor thing.” Faye smoothed back Hannah’s hair to reveal a pair of slitted eyelids. “It’s way past her nap time.”
    “I was wondering where you disappeared to,” Simon said. “You don’t need to wash up the dishes. Go back outside and enjoy yourself.”
    “It’s no bother. I’ll take her to bed.”
    As Faye reached for Hannah, Simon stepped back. “I’ll do it. She’s almost asleep as it is.”
    “All right,” Faye agreed, but she followed him into the bedroom nonetheless; no doubt he could handle putting a child to bed, but she wasn’t sure Hannah would be comfortable enough to fall asleep without her there.
    Setting the little girl gingerly on the mattress, Simon pulled the blanket up to her chest, tucking the edges carefully around her. She peered up sleepily at both of them, three chubby fingers jammed in her mouth, then rolled onto her side with a sharp sigh, blinking slowly before letting her eyelids fall closed.
    Simon straightened, an expression of contentment lighting his features. “Piece of cake,” he whispered to Faye, his mouth curving into a warm smile.
    “If only all of it were this easy.”