Their attention was distracted when little Blaire woke in her stroller with a sudden squawk, and then made it clear that as long as she was awake, she might as well eat. While Sally gave the baby a bottle and Dave began to gather picnic supplies, Tyler busied himself with his increasingly restless daughter.

   "Down," Amy demanded, pointing toward the ground.

   "Want to walk?" He asked her.

   "Down," she repeated.

   He stood, set the child on her feet and held her hands while she tried out her amusingly wobbly legs. Every time he let go of her hands, she fell flat on her diapered bottom. Each time, she laughed, clapped her chubby hands, then held them up for him to do it again. He tirelessly went along with her, adoringly watching his daughter try to walk on her own.

  "I'm not sure she's getting the hand of this walking thing," Jane commented as she approached them. She sounds slightly winded from her game with the boys, who had turned their attention to trying to pin Dave to the grass. While Dave pretended to be overwhelmed by the two boys, enthusiastically rolling about on the grass.

   "I've decided I'm going to have to carry her to kindergarten," Tyler answered wryly, trying not to stare at Jane's attractive flushed cheeks and bright eyes. Her sweat covered skin seems to look shimmering in the afternoon sun. The more he looked at her, the more he wanted her. And this was damn inconvenient time to deal with that.

   "She'll walk when she's good and ready, won't you, Amy?" Jane bent down and cooed on the toddler whose still standing below on the grass.

   "Go," Amy answered, holding her hands up again.

   Somehow Tyler found himself holding Amy's left hand while Jane held her right. Supporting the toddler between them, they escorted Tom to the playground equipment, where they took turns entertaining Amy and supervising Tom's play.

   Tyler knew any interested onlookers must think they looked really domestic. Anyone who didn't know them would think they were already a family. Jane seemed to fit the role very well at the moment.

   But then, so had Stephanie, a cruel voice inside his head whispered. Most people had thought Stephanie was the perfect wife and mother. They hadn't known her at all, of course. And Tyler, perhaps, had been the most deluded about her. He'd thought she was damn near perfect, himself. So perfect that he'd even secretly found her a little dull at times, though he had tried very hard not to acknowledge those uncomfortable feelings. He was too proud to admit it, until it had slapped him so hard in the face.

   He'd made himself a promise that he would never be so gullible about a woman again. Nor quite so trusting. He will not make the same mistake again as he did with Melanie. He will not be a victim of deception. He owed it to his children as much as he did to himself.