Page 45

“I don’t think he could stand to see us hurt. I also think that saying might’ve dug into each of us a little warped. So, I think you’re absolutely right. I think we need to forget fear, and embrace a little connection.”

Her mouth slowly curved. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

“To be honest, I look that way because Ifeelthat way.”

She moved her fingers under his hand, against his chest, watching their fingers touching with consideration. A consideration that hit him a bit like a punch to the gut. Thatneedandwanthe couldn’t allow to take over.

“How about this. Instead of spying on Ben tonight, we think about getting to the bottom of this in a new way. You can talk to Ben one-on-one. Man-to-man. Lay out your concerns and your feelings, and we can go from there. I think that’s a good idea.”

“Even if it sounds horrendous in every way.”

She chuckled. “How about this. To ease the horrendous, and sort of pre-reward you for your emotional bravery—”

He snorted, but she continued.

“I’llbe honest withyou. I have a lot of insecurities, and the fact that you’re a good guy is intimidating to me.” She swallowed, but her eyes never left his. “I really like you a lot, and I’m attracted to you. But I don’t know how to build a relationship. Especially when I’ve got a kid and this job I’m trying to succeed at. I’m so afraid of failing that I don’t want to try.”

He took a step forward, but she held him off by withdrawing her hand from his. He stopped too, because he knew she was doing the thing they were all scared to do. Opening up, explaining, allowing herself to be scrutinized and judged. “But even though I’m nervous and unsure, I want you to take me out to dinner some time. On a date.”

“You name the date. I’ll figure out a place.”

“But it’s a bargain. If we go out, you have to do the Ben heart-to-heart.”

Shane shuddered. “Please stop calling it that.”

She laughed, so he allowed himself to as well.

“On one other condition,” he said, pressing his lips together so he wouldn’t grin down at her.

“What’s that?” she asked with a little smirk.

He didn’t answer her. Instead he leaned down and kissed her again. He soaked up the way she melted into him in the hopes it would blot out all the fear inside of him.

Chapter Twelve

When Cora dropped Micah off at the Tylers the next morning, there was a new kind of nervousness fluttering around in her stomach. Though she trusted the Tylers with Micah, most especially Shane, it wasn’t easy to leave her baby somewhere while she went off and worked. She wasn’t sure that wormy little feeling of guilt would ever go away.

Watching Micah bound over to the Tyler front porch where Shane, Gavin, and Boone had already congregated was a balm to all that worry though. Micah was excited, and every day he tried to hide that excitement a little less. He’d loved basketball camp, and being on teams and whatnot, but this was something else. It lit him up in a way she’d never seen, and she wanted that light to grow and grow and grow.

Before she could back out and head over to Mile High to take care of some paperwork, Shane held up a hand and started walking over. She didn’t mind waiting, not when she got to watch him walk. Cowboy hat down, shoulders back, a self-possessed swagger that never fell toward arrogant. Just a man who knew what he was doing and was going to work damn hard to do it.

She allowed herself a dreamy sigh before she rolled down the window at his approach.

“Morning,” he offered, tipping his hat in what must be some kind of ingrained gesture. She liked it, liked pretending he was some romantic, Wild West cowboy about to sweep her off her feet.

Get a grip, girl.

“Morning,” she returned.

“So.” He leaned his forearm against the top of her car.

“So,” she replied, grinning stupidly at him.

“I don’t suppose you’ve figured out a night you’ve got free.”

“I don’t suppose you’ve had a heart-to-heart with your potential future stepfather.”

He winced, then shuddered dramatically. “All of those words need to stop being uttered.”