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She took it. “Thanks.”
He got another one for himself. “What time are you leaving for Seattle?”
She took a sip. It was a light beer, and it actually tasted pretty good on a warm evening. “I was going to play it by ear. See how Eli was feeling in the morning.”
TJ nodded and seemed to consider her answer. He gave his bottle a turn on the countertop. “Mind if I come along?”
She did. She wanted Eli to herself. She wanted things to feel normal again, if only for an afternoon. But they’d just agreed to be partners. And TJ obviously wanted to be with Eli as well. And she was going to have to get used to a new normal.
“Sure,” she said.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
He moved past her, back into the family room, where he flipped a switch on the outside wall. The fieldstone gas fireplace came to life outside.
He turned back to her. “Care to sit outside?”
She nodded. Outside was a good place to clear her head. It was peaceful with the stars, the breeze and the sound of the waves.
He pulled the glass doors all the way open, connecting the family room to the deck, turning it into one giant indoor-outdoor space.
As she followed him out, she realized she was coming to love the smell of the ocean. Maple leaves rattled gently around them, and the heat from the fire swirled out to caress her legs.
She went to the rail, leaning on it, taking in the panorama of the sky, the black water, the white foam of the waves flashing under the lights from the Crab Shack and Matt’s marina. Caleb’s Neo restaurant was brighter in the distance. It was still open, cars in the parking lot, low lights on the patio.
TJ came up beside her. “It’s so good to see him out of the hospital.”
Sage relaxed. “He seemed to settle in quickly.”
“You were right,” TJ said. “Waiting until after he got to know me, until after he was out of the hospital, until he was stronger, that was the right thing to do.”
She didn’t answer. She’d gone with her instincts, because they were all she had. She was grateful it had worked out.
“I was impatient,” TJ continued. “I didn’t want to waste a second.”
She took in his profile and saw the sadness that still lingered there. She felt a renewed shot of guilt over having kept the secret all these years. “I can understand that.”
“I’m trying to hold myself back, but I want to see him run and jump and play.”
She took another sip of the beer, liking the taste better and better. “You will. He will. A month from now, you’ll be racing to keep up with him.”
“I’ll like that.” TJ turned, bracing his hip on the rail. “I was going to check out the local Little League.”
She knew Eli would be anxious to play baseball again. “I don’t know if he’ll be strong enough this year.”
“He can watch. He can meet the other kids.”
“I suppose he can.”
“So, you’re okay with me looking into it?”
Sage realized how far they had to go in getting used to parenting together. “I’m completely okay. He’s your son, and you should sign him up for baseball.”
TJ grinned. Then he sobered. Then his eyes darkened as his gaze moved to her lips.
The wave of desire was becoming familiar. There was no denying her physical attraction to TJ. Just like there was no denying the danger of that attraction. They were barely comfortable around each other. Anything more than a friendship would severely complicate their situation.
“Sage.” He said her name on a sigh.
She put her finger across his lips. “Don’t.”
He wrapped his own hand around hers, moving it from his lips as he eased forward. “You’re an incredible woman.”
Her chest went tight. She told herself to back away, but she felt desperate for his kiss.
“I’m incredibly ordinary,” she whispered.
“Oh, no, you’re not.” With his free hand, he smoothed back her hair.
“This is complicated,” she warned.
“I know.”
He drew her into his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder. He felt so strong, so sure and confident. Years of anxiety she didn’t even know she’d been fighting melted away. Eli had a father, and for the first time ever the two of them had security.
“We’ll figure it out,” TJ said.
She was glad he hadn’t kissed her.
She was sad he hadn’t kissed her.
Security was one thing, and it was vitally important to a mother. But Sage was also a woman, and TJ was a very, very sexy man.
* * *
TJ’s house felt full of life. Walking in after a day at his office in Whiskey Bay, he could hear Eli chatting in the basement with a couple of other young boys. By the clacks and clatters, he guessed they were playing air hockey. Music came from upstairs, and he found himself following it.
