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“I do.” Sophie’s response was sober, so unlike her normal high-octane personality. She crouched in front of Cassie, taking her hands in her own. “But I also know you’re both different people now. Maybe Ryan’s ready to be the man you deserve.”
Maybe. “But what if he’s not?” Could she bounce back from heartache again? Could they keep their little family intact if her heart wasn’t?
Jana joined Sophie on the floor. “You don’t know unless you give him a chance.”
“He’s earned it,” Sophie added.
Cassie pushed up from her seat, sending the two women toppling backward. “So I should what, reward him with sex for being a good dad? For not deserting Ellie?”
Sophie stood, brushing off her tailored skirt. “And you. Whether you see it or not, Cassie, Ryan has been there for you your whole life. Not just because of Ellie. He supported you when your dream was to go to New Yorkandwhen your dreams changed. Both of you deserve this chance.”
Pressing her hands to her hips, she smirked. “At sex?”
“Or more,” Jana interjected. “You don’t know. You should see if your relationship could be more. Ryan won’t desert you. If you try and this blows up, he’s not going anywhere. You and Ellie are his world.”
“And if not, at least you’ll have had great sex,” Sophie added. “Because you know the sex will be great.”
Cassie didn’t doubt it. “Okay.” She couldn’t believe she was saying this. “I’ll do it.”
Now the other women did squeal, rushing forward to embrace her.
“If this backfires,” she mumbled amid the tangle of happy women.
Sophie pulled back. “It won’t. I swear. Just wait, Cassie. This will be the best Christmas gift ever.”
* * *
Thank God Ryan didn’t have any scheduled shoots today. He couldn’t concentrate for shit. Before coming into his studio this morning, he’d gone by Cassie’s bookstore, maybe to tell her to forget his proposition, but probably to hear her answer. She hadn’t arrived yet. Luckily, Jana didn’t spot him creeping around the cozy front porch of the shop, so he’d escaped to his own business to wonder and fester.
Tired of staring at the same image and getting nowhere, he finally closed the app on his computer and pushed away from his desk. Glancing at the clock, he figured now was as good a time as any for a lunch break. Maybe he could call Cassie and ask her to join him. Or maybe he could try going a few hours without obsessing over her.
Yeah right.
Cassie had been a minor obsession for him since he’d first noticed girls. An hour rarely passed without him thinking of her. Since the night two weeks ago when he’d awaken with her straddling him, he hadn’t gone even a minute without thinking of her.
Shoving his arms into his coat, he headed for the back exit. A light wrap on the front door stopped him. He didn’t accept any kind of walk-ins - not for photos or consults. His available hours appeared clearly on the front door… next to the closed sign. Whoever wanted his attention could wait for an appointment. An appointment he didn’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with today. Ignoring a second knock, he turned toward the exit again. This time though, his ringing cell phone stopped him.
“Oh my God,” Came a mumble from the front door. “I hear your phone, Ryan. Open the door. It’s freezing.”
Cassie.
He jogged to the door, ignoring the phone in his pocket. Cassie rarely, if ever, came to the studio. She claimed she didn’t want to be subjected to the sex he called art. True, when Ellie had been younger, he’d displayed photos from his boudoir and more sensual shoots in the studio. Now, with his daughter more aware of what she saw, he’d changed his decor to more landscapes and family portraits. His favorite was a photo of Cassie holding a newborn Ellie, which he displayed prominently in the center of the largest wall.
He jerked the door open, then stood taking in Cassie’s red-tinted cheeks and sparkling blue eyes.
“Are you going to let me in? It’s freezing out here.” Puffs of frosty air escaped her lips as if to prove her point.
Ryan stepped back, giving her just enough room to squeeze past. As she did, he breathed in the comforting scent of cinnamon. His mouth watered.
“Oh,” she murmured, spotting his coat. “Were you leaving?”
Closing the door, he replied, “Just lunch. Want to grab something?”
Maybe if he pretended this were any other day, she’d stop looking at him out of those wide, bright eyes. He’d only seen Cassie like this twice in his life – the night they slept together and the day she told him she carried his child. The mix of vulnerability and determination left him scared and confused. The night she’d slept with him, she’d opened the door to a world of possibilities for them. The day she’d told him about Ellie, she’d slammed that door in his face. What would she do today?
Grimacing, she ran a hand over her flat stomach. “I’m not really hungry, but if you need to —”
“No.” He rushed forward. At the moment, whatever she had to say was more important than food. “It can wait. What brings you by?”
