breath. Just slightly panicked, she looked around the room. Was she pushing too much by opening every drape and blind? If he didnât like it, sheâd already figured out a way to get him to leave the blinds open. Sheâd also set the back porch table for breakfast. Too pushy, again? Probably. She didnât care. Whatever it took to help him get back to living. Danny needed that from him. What was he going to doâfire her? At least it would be a distraction from the almost-kiss.
It was almost eleven oâclock. Danny hadnât slept much during the night but had been asleep now for over two hours. Every fifteen minutes or so she would tiptoe in and check on him. He mustâve worn himself out finally.
She heard Heath coming down the staircase, his footfalls slow and steady. Her heart rate picked up. She wanted to see his face when he saw the outside light pouring in, to gauge for herself his reaction.
He came into the kitchen, his eyes riveted on the view.
She pulled the warm platter filled with pancakes and bacon from the oven to add the final pancakes. âBreakfast is ready,â she said, her pulse tripping, when he remained silent for too long. âI thought we could eat on the back porch.â
He met her gaze then didnât break the connection for several long seconds. âYouâve really moved in.â
She didnât miss all the implications of his words. âThatâs what you hired me to do.â
âItâs my house, Cassie. My choices.â
She went to the refrigerator and took out the fruit plate sheâd put together. âWell, I donât want to alarm you, but Danny looks a little jaundiced to me. He needs sunlight.â Although not much could break through his forest, anyway.
He gave her a look of disbelief, but would he call her on it?
âDo you drink coffee?â she asked quickly, not letting him take the conversation further.
âYes.â
Tension continued to build, evident in the way his back went straighter and he crossed his arms. His jaw twitched.
âLetâs fill our plates here then take them outside,â she said, undaunted. âEverything will get too cold otherwise.â
She grabbed the carafe of coffee sheâd already brewed, and added cream and sugar and maple syrup, placing everything on a tray. âButter for your pancakes?â she asked lightly, as if not noticing how distant he looked.
âNo. Thanks.â
âWould you mind carrying the tray out? Iâll fix our plates.â
She nudged the edge of the tray against his midsection. He grasped the handles. âI know what youâre doing,â he said, his eyes almost a forest-green theyâd darkened so much.
Well, she never thought he was stupid. âIs it all right?â
He made her wait an interminable amount of time. âIâm not sure yet.â
She rubbed his arm. His warmth penetrated his sleeve to heat her palm. Her heart raced.
âThis is a bad idea,â he said quietly.
She pulled her hand back, disappointed but also surprised. She thought sheâd begun to understand him.
âI donât mean your touching me,â he said. âAlthough thatâs part of itâ¦.â He let the sentence fade away. âI need you here. I donât want to do anything that would make you feel like you had to leave before everything is settled. I know youâre here because of Danny.â
âPartly,â she said honestly. âIâm always a champion for kids. Butâ¦.â
âBut?â
âThereâs you, too.â She couldnât say more than that, because she didnât know what more to say. The jury was out on him. She only knew that she was drawn to him for a lot of complicated reasons and a few simple ones.
âIâm not attracted to you because Iâve been without a woman for so long,â he said. âYou need to know that. Women come and go in my life,
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