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She stared into his steely eyes, trying not to be mesmerized by that odd but perfect ring of silver. “I want to.” It was perhaps the most honest thing she had ever said to him.
The twist of his lips was part grimace, part amusement. “But something is stopping you?”
“Yes. Men say anything to get sex.”
His temper flared, turning the steel molten. “I don’t think that’s fair. Have I ever made you feel like that?”
She winced. “I guess not.” Truthfully, he had cherished her, cosseted her, indulged her.
But was heactingto get what he wanted?
Cate had known Jason her entire life, yet she had misjudged his feelings and emotions. Why would she think she understood Harry?
He exhaled and stood, his expression inscrutable. “I’ll leave you alone. Get some sleep. I hear we have a big to-do list tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to help,” she muttered.
Harry didn’t even kiss her goodnight. But he paused in the doorway and stared at her so intently a shiver worked its way from her scalp to her toes. “We’re good together, Cate. But I won’t be accused of pressuring you. You’re not a victim. Not anymore. The jilted bride thing has run its course. Decide what you want from me and let me know.”
Cate slept poorly. She was up at dawn and out on the quiet streets, trying to elude her problems.
She was running from guilt, too. Not only had she lied to Harry, but she had insulted him to his face. She had accused him of playing games for his own sexual gratification. And not the good kind of games.
Was that disappointment she had seen in his eyes? Had she let her own insecurities destroy her confidence? Harry didn’t want an immature young woman in his bed. He wanted a partner, an equal.
By the time she got back to the house and showered, she had steadied her nerves and convinced herself she could handle Harry.
But when she found him in the kitchen wearing nothing but khaki shorts while he scrambled eggs and fried bacon, her mouth went dry. His chest was sleekly muscled and utterly masculine. No one would ever mistakehimfor an immature kid.
“Good morning,” he said, his smile guarded but cordial.
Cate snitched a warm, crunchy piece of pork fat. “Did you forget to pack any clothes?” she asked, pretending that his state of undress was unremarkable.
His smile broadened. “I worked outside in the yard while you were gone. It’s hot.”
“What needed doing outside?” The teenage boy down the street had been mowing regularly.
Harry scooped the perfectly cooked eggs onto a warm plate. “If you must know, I was tending to the trellis and the roses. I’m guessing you didn’t want your grandparents to hear about your breaking and entering skills.”
“Oh, gosh. How bad is the damage? I’d forgotten all about it.” That first night when she landed on top of Harry in the upstairs hallway seemed like a million years ago.
He motioned to the table. “Sit.” He offered her a plate. “No biscuits today. Sorry.” Then he joined her. “I trimmed off all the broken blossoms and buds. And I found some white paint in the shed to touch up the spots where you scraped the wood. All in all, I think it will be fine so long as nobody looks too closely.”
“Thanks,” she said, drinking her hot tea. He had fixed it for her without asking. No cream, two sugars. And a side of orange juice.
“You’re welcome.”
When his smile reached inside her chest and warmed all the cold, alone places, she knew her armor was going to have to grow a lot thicker.
Friday passed in a haze of activity. They vacuumed and mopped, and Harry even washed windows. For lunch, they finished up leftovers. While Cate dusted the living room and cleaned the bathrooms, Harry wiped out the refrigerator.
For dinner, they went back to Peach Crumble. Shirley worked mostly morning shifts, so she wasn’t around. But Cate had begun to recognize other servers. And even some of the regulars.
Afterward, they took a turn around the park. The vendors had already been set up and selling their wares while Cate and Harry were busy all day. Now it was late enough that exhibitors were closing tent flaps and securing valuable items.
Harry stopped to watch a woodcarver wrangle a six-foot bear into the back of his pickup. “What time do you want to see everything tomorrow?” he asked Cate.
“Honestly, I’m beat. What if we sleep in?”
