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Taking a chance, he slipped his hand around one of hers. “Will you come somewhere with me?”
Looking over her shoulder at the room filled with guests, she said. “Ryan there are a ton of people here —”
“That’s why I want you to come with me. We need to talk. Just us.”
She released a heavy breath, her body sagging with the gesture. “Can we just get through Christmas? Surely for two days, we can pretend. For Ellie’s sake.”
“If we talk and you don’t like what you hear, yes, we can pretend.” For Ellie’s sake, he’d do anything. Like pretend for five years he wasn’t in love with her mother. But, he tended to believe if Ellie’s parents were in love and could work out their issues to be together, she’d benefit even more.
He inclined his head toward the back door. “Come on.”
Although she huffed in protest, when he tugged her hand, she followed. He led her through the kitchen, tracing the same path they’d blindly followed toward pleasure years before. This time, there were no giggles or stolen kisses, but anticipation still pumped through his veins.
When they stepped onto the porch, she dug her heels into the welcome mat. “We’re alone here.” She shivered.
Slipping off his suit jacket, he laid it over her shoulders then pulled the lapels together. Although his fingers twitched with the desire to brush against the smooth, pale skin of her chest, he resisted the urge. “It’s freezing here. Come on.” He took her hand.
She didn’t budge. “Where?”
Swallowing, he replied, “The boathouse.”
She smirked. “Been there. Done that. Have the daughter to prove it.”
“Come on, Cassie.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Please, Baby.”
Her face softened. She did that sometimes when he used the endearment. Emotions swelled in his chest. Cassie wanted him to love her back. Only fear kept her from asking for her desires. Well, starting tonight she wouldn’t have to ask. If she wanted love, he’d blanket her in it. Bending, he slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, then swept her into his arms.
“Ryan. What are you…? Put me down. You can’t just.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips, stopping her protest. Careful not to slip on the stone steps, he hurried off the porch then across the lawn.
Giving in, Cassie settled against him and slipped her arms around his neck. “For the record, I’m not sleeping with you in the boathouse.”
Shame. Good thing he hadn’t planned on anything but talking tonight.
“I seriously just want to talk to you alone.” And maybe convince her to give him a chance at forever.
When they reached the dock, he lowered her to the boards. Like years before, the dock swayed, causing Cassie to lean into him. Gathering her close to his side, he led her inside the small room where they’d conceived Ellie five years ago.
Stopping, Cassie took in the room. White lights hung from the rafters and candles flickered on the table. On the floor lay cushions sprinkled with rose petals.
“Five years ago, you said I couldn’t do sweet.”
She opened her mouth to protest but stopped when he shook his head.
“I know you’ve never seen me be sweet with anyone else, but no one else is you, Cassie. For you, I can be anything. Whatever you need.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
No. He didn’t want her to cry. “Baby.”
Walking deeper into the small room, she told him, “I never thought you couldn’t be sweet.”
“No. You just thought I wouldn’t because I didn’t have to. I know you.” Which is why he still couldn’t figure out how he hadn’t known she was in love with him. “We’ve spent too long only saying and doing what we thought the other wanted. You said how you felt last night, then you kicked me out.”
She kept her gaze trained on the flickering candles. “I couldn’t hear whatever you had to say. I was having a hard enough time holding it together. I didn’t want Ellie to see me upset.”
Swallowing his own emotions, he strode toward her. “I get that, but there are things I need to say. Things we owe it to each other to say.”
