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His stomach sank and he turned his attention to the asparagus spears he’d washed and set on the cutting board so she wouldn’t see his disappointment. “So, this lets you off the hook, then?”
He glanced up to gauge her reaction. She was chewing on her bottom lip, looking contemplative.
“I don’t know,” she finally said. “We will have to see what happens.”
He had to remind himself that this thing between them had only been going on for two weeks. Sometimes it seemed as if they had been together forever, when in reality they weren’t together, but what was together? Was it more than spending time together, seeing each other every day? Did they have to spell out that they were a couple? He wasn’t good at this because he didn’t know how to do this. All he knew was that now that she was in his life, he didn’t want to lose her.
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what would happen to them if she did get another position in Atlanta and moved back, but he didn’t want to pressure her. He didn’t want to seem needy and vulnerable. He thought about how many times he had been on the other side of this situation and a woman that he’d liked well enough had expedited the end by initiating the “where do we stand, where are we going” conversation.
So, he let it drop because he didn’t want to spoil their time together. He chopped and grilled and she asked about Aidan as she set the table. She hadn’t been able to go to the hospital with him today because of the art class.
It dawned on him that this was the first time that he’d been in a hospital and hadn’t been on the verge of a panic attack.
He filled her in and said Aidan’s medical team was going to meet tomorrow and evaluate whether it was time to discontinue the Propofol.
Her mouth fell open and her blue eyes were huge and hopeful. “Should we be there? I’ll go with you. Chloe will be so happy. We will finally be able to give her some good news. She might get to see her dad soon.”
She genuinely cared about his family and what happened to them. She seemed emotionally invested in them. How could she not be emotionally invested in the two of them?
They stared at each other as the truth dawned clear and unmistakable. When they let down their guards, intimacy came so naturally. A closeness that was so profound and powerful it was all-consuming.
They’d trusted each other with their most intimate secrets. They knew the best and the worst of each other. Even though it scared him to think of caring for someone so deeply, he couldn’t not care for her. This was Elizabeth—Elle. He’d already passed the point of no return. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t own up to the truth. He’d fallen for her. And hard.
The only question was, where did they go from here?
He knew what he wanted, but she still wasn’t sure what she was going to do. He didn’t want to pressure her.
So, now what?
But he swallowed the question and enjoyed her company and the delicious meal and the chocolate mousse he’d purchased for them to have for dessert. And focused on the positive when they moved into the living room and talking turned into touching, which morphed into kissing.
He responded by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close to his body as if he’d never let her go.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said. “Wait here.”
He went into his bedroom and returned with the small, rectangular package he’d gift wrapped himself in Christmas paper.
He handed it to Elle.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Your Christmas present. I thought you could use it now.”
“Daniel, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I wanted to get it for you. When I saw it, I couldn’t not get it for you. Open it.”
He sat down next to her and she leaned in and kissed him.
He smiled. “You haven’t even seen what it is.”
She pulled the paper away, revealing an antique box which was designed to hold her brushes.
She gasped. “I love it, Daniel. Thank you.”
When she opened the wooden box, there was another, smaller box inside.
“Daniel?”
“Open it,” he urged.
She opened the small, square box and found a gold necklace with a tiny gold paintbrush charm.
