Cassie’s cheeks reddened. She supposed Lukehadbeen spending an inordinate amount of time at the cottage, but it didn’t mean anything. Did it?
“Luke came over yesterday to check on me,” Cassie blurted. “But the storm didn’t let up, so he stayed the night. In the extra bedroom.”
“I see.” Eliza flashed an impish grin. “I can’t wait to getallthe details.” She winked before turning to Ben and planting a kiss on his forehead—the only part of his body not engulfed in layers of winter wear. “Be good. Love you.”
“Love you.” Ben’s voice was muffled behind the thick scarf wrapped high around his neck.
As Cassie watched Eliza crunch through the snow to her Honda Accord, she asked, “Is it even safe for her to drive through the snow in that car?”
“A volunteer crew plows all the roads into town,” Luke explained. Placing a hand on Ben’s shoulder, he nudged the boy inside. “Come on, let’s get out of the cold.”
Ben waddled into the foyer before Cassie closed the door, shutting out the early morning chill.
“I have to make the rounds and check on a few people after the storm,” Luke said, helping Ben escape his snow gear. “Can Ben stay with you?”
“Sure.” Cassie managed a weak smile, swallowing her nerves. She’d never babysat a gerbil, let alone a child. But she liked Ben. How hard could it be?
With his outerwear now piled in a heap on the floor, Ben stood in a pair of navy corduroys and a red sweater with Rudolph appliquéd on the front, glancing from Luke to Cassie, as if waiting for a cue.
“Do you want to help Cassie with her Christmas Calendar today?” Luke asked.
Ben showcased the small gap between his two front teeth, nodding enthusiastically.
“Why don’t you go check the day’s activity? The Calendar is in the kitchen. Look under December 5.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Ben skipped into the kitchen, leaving the adults to talk.
“You’re sure you’re okay with him staying?” Luke asked.
Cassie hesitated, busying herself with hanging Ben’s belongings on the coat rack next to Luke’s. “Yes, I’m sure. It’ll be… fun.” Okay, so she didn’t know if it would befun, exactly. But she felt a certain kinship with Ben. And to her surprise, the thought of spending an afternoon together was almost pleasant.
“Great!” Luke smiled. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks.”
An awkward pause filled the space as they stared at each other, uncertain how to say goodbye.
Luke cleared his throat and reached for his boots.
His jeans and sweater were rumpled, and Cassie briefly wondered if he’d slept in them, or… Another blush tinted her cheeks. She seemed to be blushing a lot these days, and she didn’t like it one bit. No man had affected her this much since… Actually, no one ever had. Period. The realization sent nervous jitters skittering inside her stomach.
Glancing anywhere except at Luke, Cassie swept a tangled curl behind her ear. “I’ll, uh, go check on Ben.”
Their subsequent goodbye felt clumsy, and the second the door closed behind Luke, Cassie released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Under normal circumstances, Cassie might obsess over what the new tension between them meant, but for now, she had a small child to keep alive. And who knows what he was up to unsupervised.
As Cassie entered the kitchen, Ben sat at the dining table, his legs swinging as he read the day’s entry on the Christmas Calendar. Noticing Cassie, he shot an exuberant grin in her direction. “Guess what?”
“What?” She set the teakettle on the stove, desperate for a cup of coffee.
“We have to build a snowman!” Ben’s excitement sent his voice soaring several octaves higher.
Cassie frowned. “Well, that seems unfair. What if it hadn’t snowed yesterday? How could I complete the Calendar, then?”
Ben stared at her, his little legs still swinging beneath the chair. Clearly, he didn’t concern himself with the injustice of the situation. Ithadsnowed. Which was apparently good enough for him.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Cassie asked, deciding to move on. “I thought I might make pancakes.”
