They were so close, their gazes locked.
The kiss needed to happen. Right then. Right there. He knew it. She had to know it, too. She licked her lips. He hid a wince of pain. He was stronger than anything his penis could do to him.
She was the one who looked away first. But it had been close.
“So...you make your list, and I’ll make mine?” she asked, reaching for the door handle.
The expectations. Now translated to mean boundaries. Fences and cages and walls that would protect those they loved.
He nodded. Vigorously.
Chapter Thirteen
Cassie was completely consumed with a case that next week. A privately held nonprofit she’d brought as a client to the firm was facing employee issues, and if she didn’t find a way to get the situation handled immediately, it could have catastrophic consequences.
Through all of the internal and external investigations, Cassie believed that the organization’s executive director had done nothing wrong, but that a disgruntled worker was making untrue accusations. Her job was to give the best legal advice to protect her client, not to determine guilt, but for her own sake, she had to know.
She worked long days and into the night, researching case law and reading social media accounts on both sides, building reasonable doubt while she looked for something more substantial. She did her best to keep her brain occupied during every waking hour.
Giving herself time to take a break from her personal life.
The irony in going from no personal life to having so much of one she needed a break was not lost on her.
And every night, after she’d readied for bed, she allowed herself to read whatever texts Wood had sent that day. He’d sent photos of his final three crib design choices. For two nights they discussed various pros and cons. She liked the idea of having a crib that could convert to a toddler bed, so that took out one choice. He mentioned making a dresser, crib and changing table, and when she sent back excited emojis, that took away the second of the three choices, leaving only one.
Then he’d moved on to finishes and colors. By the end of the week, she’d ordered a complete nursery, including glider rocker and bookcase in a maple wood with natural finishing. She’d decided to add color to the nursery in wall decor, sheets, rocker cushions and changing pads.
She insisted on paying for all supplies, but stopped short of offering him money for labor when he started to sound put out and said they’d work it out later.
Each night he asked how she was feeling. She said fine. And he told her to have a good night. She wished him the same. Neither of them mentioned the lists they were supposed to be composing. Or anything else about either of their lives.
Maybe they didn’t need the lists. Maybe they’d found a plan that worked for them: texting at night so they both knew the other had made it through another day. And sharing nothing about their individual personal lives. When she had news to tell him about Alan, she’d do so. And once the baby was born, then there’d be a lot to say about him. But for the now, all was good.
Except that she missed him like crazy. Which made her crazy. She’d known the man a couple of weeks and was mourning his absence like he’d been her best friend for life. Wishing she could talk over her current client’s situation with him, because she so badly wanted to hear his take on the situation, brought her up short.
She trusted Wood that much. Valued his opinion that much.
And at night, she’d go to sleep and end up naked with him, finally seeing his manliness intimately, to touch him, only to wake up alone in bed with a longing she couldn’t assuage.
She had no idea how any of that changed anything in her life. But she knew it did.
* * *
Wood told E
laina about the nursery project. He’d be spending most of his waking nonworking hours in his workshop.
He’d also told her that Cassie had indicated that he’d have some sort of relationship with the boy. She’d touched his face, sympathy shining from her eyes. But “Be careful” was all she’d said.
He wished he could assure her his eyes were wide-open. That he wasn’t going to get hurt, which she seemed certain was already a done deal.
Just because Elaina hadn’t been able to love him like that didn’t mean Cassie couldn’t.
The thought was beneath him. Feeling sorry for himself. Finding unfair fault with Elaina. And building castles where Cassie was concerned. Nonproductive.
Shame washed through him, and he pushed a little too hard on his planer. Lost a board that had cost him over twenty bucks. Not a good way to start a Saturday.
Picking up another piece, he steadied himself, focused on the task at hand. Worked hard for an hour, took a water break, and his mind wandered to a place it had spent much time, unsuccessfully, that week. His list.