The Switched Baby Scandal (A Scandals of San Sebastian Novel) (Entangled Bliss) by Theresa Meyers

a guy like this dote on her?
    Satisfied with his answer, Emily smiled, then lifted her chin with authority and placed her gloved hands once again on her narrow hips. “I have to go play now, Mr. Wallace. You and Mommy be good until I get back, okay?”
    “I promise,” he replied, crossing his heart with his finger and raising his right hand. Emily tipped her head like an inquisitive puppy and stared at him for a moment before she broke into a grin, then trotted off to the jungle gym.
    Taylor watched Reece out of the corner of her eye, taking in his reaction. She was touched by the gentle strength of the man sitting beside her. It was clear this was difficult for him. His back was painfully straight, his shoulders stiff, and he gripped the front edge of bench with a white-knuckled hold.
    “It’s obvious that she’s well cared for and has great self-esteem. And she clearly loves you. You’ve done very well,” he said, his voice broken and stilted.
    Taylor swung her head around and gave him a slight smile before looking down. “Thank you. She means the world to me.” She paused, carefully selecting her words. They were hard enough for her to say, harder still to the stranger sitting next to her who wanted to be a critical part of her life. “She seems to like you.” She bit her lip, the truth sounding distasteful to her at the moment. But who was she to judge? Emily didn’t have a past that got in the way of seeing the best in this man and she had great taste.
    “She does?”
    “She doesn’t smile at just anyone. She sizes them up first. Apparently you passed Emily’s test.”
    Her daughter’s reaction to this man galled and intrigued her at the same time. What was it exactly that Emily saw in him from a child’s point of view? At first glance he was buttoned-up and conservative, someone too intimidating for a child. She had seen his emotions surface as he had talked with Emily. Sadness mingled with hope in his eyes, then settled back under a carefully arranged exterior. All except for the longing she saw in him now as he watched Emily play.
    “I’m glad to hear it. For a moment I wasn’t sure.” He folded his hands together and focused his gaze on Emily while she played. “She seems very bright,” he murmured. “Do you have her in any enrichment programs?”
    She stiffened. His question put her on edge. Enrichment programs had been another word for getting her out of the way so she wasn’t underfoot when she’d been a child. Besides it had given something else for her father to brag about. She’d determined early on to be more involved in Emily’s life than that, even if she were a single parent. She fixed her gaze directly on Reece and straightened her shoulders even more.
    “Please don’t take this the wrong way, Reece, but I’ve never needed anyone to tell me what to do with Emily. I hope you won’t try now.”
    He turned his head to look at her. The muscle in his jaw flexed. “Right now I’d just like to know some more about the two of you,” he replied calmly.
    With trembling fingers she tucked a swing of blond hair behind her ear. Perhaps she was misjudging him. Perhaps she was overreacting to her own father. But her gut reactions were hard to break. “Sorry. I guess I’m not used to sharing.” This time she gave him a smile that was warmer and more inviting. “But don’t tell Emily,” she added, pointing a warning finger at him, “I’ll get a lecture on not playing nicely.”
    He snickered and visibly relaxed. “Alyssa was like that, too. If we made rules, everybody had to follow them, and she was chief rule enforcer.”
    Taylor nodded, looking down and releasing some of the rigid tension in her frame. Her toe scraped a wide arc in the gravel beneath her feet. She glanced again at the photo she’d taken out of her purse. She carried Alyssa’s picture with her everywhere she went. Seeing the little girl she’d lost had enlarged a gaping hollow she hadn’t known existed.