Page 41 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

Hallie set a folded pair of Brad’s athletic shorts on top of the pile of laundry next to her on the couch. “I hope it’s okay I brought Christian with me. I wanted to give the guys a chance to talk.”

Had they cleared the air? Even if they didn’t go back to being best friends, she hoped talking would at least bring Christian an element of peace in his otherwise heavy emotional load.

Cassie waved away the concern with her empty fork. “I don’t mind. Brad has always felt bad about what happened between them, but he didn’t know how to approach the situation.”

“Christian too.” Hallie left it at that.

Cassie arched her back to stretch before relaxing against the arm again. “You seem really comfortable with him. Are you dating?”

Hallie didn’t miss the eagerness in her friend’s tone. She grabbed one of Cassie’s blouses from the laundry basket at her feet to disguise her urge to squirm. “No.”

Laughter floated toward them from down the hall, interrupting the pointed quiet that followed her answer. Hallie recognized Christian’s immediately, erupting warm fuzzies in her chest.

Cassie leaned forward, her perfect eyebrows raised. “You care about him, though. I can see it all over your face.”

Hallie hadn’t realized she’d been smiling until she touched her cheeks.

“I do.” More than cared for him, probably. There was no point hiding it now. “We kissed.”

Cassie squealed. “Hallie!”

“Shhhh.” Hallie threw the pair of socks she’d balled together at her friend. “They’ll hear you. ”

Cassie tossed her apologetic glance toward the hallway, though her grin didn’t disappear. Hallie hadn’t seen her this energized since before finding out about the baby. “So … how was it?”

Good. Wonderful. Fantastic. Awe-inspiring.

Hallie said none of those out loud.

“Okay, I’ll guess,” Cassie said. “The kiss was bad, and you wish it was good.”

“No.” Definitely not that.

Cassie tried again. “So, it was good, and you wish it was … bad?”

Hallie dropped her head into her hands, massaging her temples. In her calculated logic, she’d always thought falling in love would be straightforward. You either loved someone, or you didn’t. Easy.

But there was nothing straightforward or easy about this situation.

“I’m confused,” Cassie admitted.

You and me both, sister. Hallie pushed out a sigh that ended in a groan.

“It was the most incredible kiss of my life, and I want to do it again, but I shouldn’t because I can’t date him.

” She paused for a breath. “I’m not ready to be a mom, and I feel selfish for even entertaining a relationship that can’t go anywhere.

Plus, I’m worried that I’ve given my heart to an emotionally unavailable man. ”

She slumped against the back of the couch, a weight lifting from her shoulders by finally speaking her burdens out loud.

“Wow,” Cassie said. “That’s a lot to unpack.”

Hallie pulled her legs onto the couch and hugged her knees. “And on top of it all, I kind of promised Tyler I wouldn’t date Christian.”

“What does Tyler have to do with it? You’re a grown woman. Shouldn’t you be the one deciding who you date?” Cassie threw off the blanket, rising slowly from the couch.

Hallie reached for the bowl in her hands. “Let me get that.”

Cassie shooed her away. “I need to stretch my legs. My back hurts if I sit too long. But the nausea gets worse whenever I stand up. Seriously, I can’t win.”

She disappeared into the kitchen, and the clang of the bowl being set in the sink was followed by Cassie’s reappearance a second later .

She held one of the two water bottles in her hand out to Hallie. “Want one?”

“Thanks.” Hallie took a drink before continuing with her thoughts. “Tyler is just so … overprotective. I know he means well, and usually I ignore it. But Christian was his friend first. And I can’t help thinking that if I’d listened to him at the beginning, I wouldn’t have gotten into this mess.”

Cassie dropped back onto the couch, pulling the blanket over her legs again. “I won’t pretend to know what it’s like having an older brother—or any brother, for that matter. But if Tyler were mine, I’d tell him exactly where he could shove his unwanted opinions.”

Hallie sputtered out a laugh, water dribbling from her mouth. She dabbed at her chin with the sleeve of her sweater. “I’m so glad you’re in this family now.” Not only was Cassie’s feistiness exactly what Brad needed, she made the perfect addition to the Abernathy/Lucas women.

“I am too. It’s fun being part of a big family. When this baby comes, he’ll have so many people to love on him.”

Hallie gasped. “ He? You found out? What happened to the big reveal you were planning?”

“The ultrasound tech let the news slip by accident at our last appointment,” Cassie said with a smile. “Don’t tell anyone. We’re still planning a surprise reveal at Thanksgiving.”

Hallie slid her fingers across her lips as though zipping them shut. “Oh Cassie, I’m so happy for you.” She joined her cousin-in-law on the long side of the sectional.

“Thanks.” Cassie returned the hug that followed. “But don’t change the subject. We were talking about you. What’s this about Christian being emotionally unavailable?”

Hallie sighed. “He told me he didn’t believe in love.”

Cassie’s hand emerged from underneath the blanket to give Hallie’s a squeeze. “That’s hard. Really, it is. But has he given you any signs that he really believes that?”

Furrowing her brows, Hallie thought hard about the last few weeks. From rebuilding her website, to buying all those cakes, to insisting on paying her to watch his kids even after she’d told him not to, he’d been nothing but concerned about her welfare.

“He even calls me every night to make sure I made it home okay,” she said after recapping his kind acts out loud. Last night had been the exception. Her cheeks warmed at the reminder of that glorious, yet overwhelming kiss. “We live less than ten minutes apart.”

“Girl, those are not signs of an emotionally unavailable man.” Cassie leaned her head on Hallie’s shoulder, an unspoken sign of support. “Trust me, I’ve dated several.”

“But he said?—”

“I know what he said. And here’s what I think about that: Christian has been deeply hurt. He’d probably say anything to protect himself and his kids from letting it happen again.”

That rung true but?—

Cassie didn’t let her finish that thought.

“Before you say anything, let me add that your concerns are valid. But if you really care about this man—and you obviously do—don’t be so quick to walk away.

If it’s meant to be, Christian will show you how he truly feels.

Don’t shut things down before giving him the chance. ”

“But what about his kids?” Sure, she’d grown to care about the girls, but could she sacrifice her entire life plans to help raise them? Saving for her bakery could take years of focus, hustle, and hard work. And once she realized that dream, it would take just as much tenacity to keep it going.

Cassie made a sound that was part laugh, part squeak. “I’m not sure I’m ready to be a mom either, and Brad and I have talked about this since we were dating. Is anyone ever truly prepared to be a parent?”

She had a point.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking it one day at a time. If you’re honest with Christian about your fears, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Would he? She didn’t even know if he felt the same way.

Before she could speak that doubt out loud, the men’s voices grew louder, signaling their approach from the hallway. Her gaze locked with Christian’s as he came into view, her breath catching at the devastating smile spreading across his mouth.

Cassie’s attention landed on her husband. “How’d it go?”

Brad clapped his hand on Christian’s shoulder. “Thanks to this guy, our baby now has a place to sleep.”

“Hail the conquering hero.” She laughed. “We’ll think of you every time he goes down for a nap.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” Christian’s eyes grew soft as they landed on Hallie. “You ready?”

One day at a time, she thought, engraving Cassie’s words on her heart. One smile, one hug, one conversation at a time.

“Yeah.” She hugged Cassie goodbye. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I want lots of details,” Cassie whispered so only she could hear. “And remember, it’s okay to stay cautiously hopeful.”

After saying goodbye, Hallie and Christian let themselves out of the apartment.

Alone in the hallway, he pulled her into his arms. His tall frame enveloped her, a relaxing sigh exiting his body.

Pressing her cheek against his chest, she closed her eyes, as the steady beat of his heart quieted her lingering doubts.

Cautiously hopeful. If that meant more moments like this, she’d like to try.

“Thank you,” Christian murmured. The vibration of the words resonated straight to her soul.

Propping her chin against his chest, she looked up at him. “I take it your conversation went well?”

“We cleared the air, and he helped me figure some things out.” He studied her for a minute in silence. “Do you want to get some ice cream?”

“Ice cream?”

A faint blush crept up his neck, and he stuttered out a laugh. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve asked a woman on a date. I think I’m a little rusty.”

Hallie’s pulse raced. “You’re asking me on a date? ”

The intensity of his stare cut straight through her, and he bobbed his head slowly. “Yeah.”

Warmth pooled inside her. He was trying. And the sincerity of this effort didn’t go unnoticed.

Finding his hand, she linked their fingers together. “Ice cream sounds great.”