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Stan would understand, he thought. Stan had stood by when Trace needed him the most.
For some reason he didn’t want to delay telling his friends. He needed to call his parents as well. And to reassure them that this grandchild wasn’t going to disappear after they grew to love it.
When dinner was finished Cath gathered their plates and took them into the little kitchen. She began to run water over them when Trace appeared carrying the empty cartons of food. He collapsed them and put them in the trash. Then he went to stand by her as she washed the few dishes.
Trace was attracted to Cath. If he hadn’t discovered she worked for Signals, Inc., they probably would have continued dating. She was one of the easiest women to be around he’d ever known. Attractive, intelligent and offering a serenity that was usually missing in his life.
And no pressure to make a lifelong commitment.
“You don’t have to wait in here. I’ll only be a minute or two,” she said.
He moved even closer until his arm touched hers.
“Maybe I want to be here with you.”
He leaned a few inches that separated them and kissed her cheek.
“Don’t do that,” she said sharply, turning to glare at him.
Her face was mere inches away. Without further ado he leaned forward and captured her lips with his.
For a moment she held herself stiffly, then seemed to melt into his embrace. Gently he turned her into his arms his mouth reveling in hers. She was so sweet and soft and warm. He felt her arms creep up around his neck and hold on. Her mouth opened to his and Trace deepened the kiss. He wanted to recapture the feelings that they had before.
He knew their arrangement was not for forever. Cath deserved to have a family where the husband loved her and her children adored her. That wasn’t him.
But he still wanted all that Cath would give. Her hands were damp, he could feel a trickle of water down his neck but he was too caught up in the embrace to care. His palms moved over her back as he pressed her closer. Cath made a small sound of protest. Trace raised his head and gazed down into her eyes.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she said breathlessly.
“I figured we needed some practice to be sure we can pull off the pretense once we’ve told the world,” he said.
It was a lame excuse, but he wanted to kiss her, feel her soft body pressed against his. If she bought the reasoning, why not?
Cath shook her head.
“Nice try,” she said. “But that’s one area in which you need no practice.”
Trace smiled and slowly released her.
“I’m interested in your idea of showing we are romantically involved. If kisses are off-limits what do you suggest?”
Cath dropped her hands and looked at him warily.
“I didn’t say kisses per se were off-limits. But that you do not need practice. And I don’t need the temptation.”
Trace raised an eyebrow. “Temptation?”
She stepped back, bumping against the edge of the sink.
“You have to know from the summer how attractive I find you. And kisses like that will lead us right back into the bedroom. Which is what got us into this predicament in the first place.”
He framed her face with his palms.
“It was a special night for me as I hope it was for you as well. I’ll be honest, there’s no way I can keep my hands off you if we spend a lot of time together. But only if you are a willing participant.”
She reached her hands up and encircled his wrists, not moving away, not moving closer. Gazing steadily into his eyes she nodded slowly.
Trace almost groaned. He wanted her now. He knew there was no taking her to bed tonight. Could they work back to the level of confidence they’d had last summer? Trusting each other, wanting each other?
