“Sure is, especially since I’m pulling in your driveway. Besides, I didn’t get a chance to sign Ollie’s cast.”
Cody grumbled under his breath and disconnected before stalking across the room. He yanked open the door and his gaze instantly found Katherine’s.
She sat on the couch with Ollie tucked beside her, Bailey on the boy’s other side.
His stomach muscles clenched and he wanted nothing more than to storm to her side, sweep her into his arms, and tell her to screw everything he said. To go back to enjoying each other as much as they could for as long as they could.
But what he said was important. She had to know where her heart lay before he went any further. For Ollie’s sake and his own. He’d already fallen hard. Any harder and he’d crash and burn.
A knock on the door widened Katherine’s eyes. “Who’s that?”
“Tommy. He has some things for you to look at.”
Katherine dropped a quick glance at Ollie before meeting Cody’s eye again. A hundred questions shone from her irises.
He wished he had answers for her, but hopefully after their visit with Tommy, at least one issue could be settled. He continued to the door, opening it wide.
“Hiya, bud.” Tommy slapped a hand on his shoulder and walked past him into the house.
Bailey barked and hopped off the couch, greeting Tommy with a wagging tail and lolling tongue.
“Hey, girl. Good to see you again,” Tommy said, running a hand over the top of her head. “I bet Ollie loves being around you.”
“Uncle Tommy!” Ollie spun around on the couch and grinned. “What are you doing here?”
Tommy wiggled a black marker in the air. “I have a cast to sign. Amelia wants to sign it too. I told her maybe in the next couple of days.”
At least Tommy had enough sense not to bring his and Sadie’s daughter to the house. The last thing Cody needed was another child running around while trying to keep his head on straight.
Katherine stood and walked to her brother. She gave him a quick hug then stepped back, her arms wrapped around her waist.
Tommy frowned. “You okay?”
She shrugged. “It’s just been a lot.”
“It’s been a lot for a few days and you’ve been in better spirits than I’ve seen in a while. Something happen?”
Katherine kept her gaze down and shook her head. “Must be tired.”
“Sorry, sis.” Tommy looped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll nail this guy and everything will go back to normal. I promise.”
The promise was enough to rip Cody’s heart from his chest. He didn’t want normal, he wanted new. The thought of returning to the lonely and isolated hours he thought he preferred made a cold sweat break out at the back of neck.
But this wasn’t about him—at least not entirely. Katherine had to figure her shit out, and apparently, she needed real life to start back up before she understood her feelings for him.
And dammit, that hurt like hell. All he needed was one look, one touch to be sure where his feelings for her stood. But as much as he wanted to shout that from the rooftop, to urge her to believe in him and them and everything they could have together, she had to sort through her emotions herself.
He wouldn’t beg. Wouldn’t coerce or manipulate a woman to love him.
Love.
His breath caught at the base of his throat. Where the hell had that word come from? Yes, he was certain beyond a shadowof a doubt his feelings were strong and real. But love? Was it possible to fall that hard so fast?
Katherine glanced his way, and the truth smacked him in the face.
No matter what she decided, she held his entire heart in his hand. He loved this woman, and there was nothing he could do but give her the space she needed.
And pray she didn’t crush him in the process.
