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“Can’t blame a guy for trying to hog a little more of your time.” He held the front door of Paths open for me.
I was surprised to find I was sorry he had to go back to work. With every passing day I moved further away from wanting to avoid him and my feelings toward anticipating when we’d spend time together again.
As we emerged onto the sidewalk in front of the shelter, Stone’s driver stepped out of the waiting SUV. “Mr. Jacobs, if we’re to make back on time, we need to go soon.”
“Give us a minute, please,” he said to the driver. Then he turned toward me, stopping short before our bodies pressed together. “I like seeing you with those kids. They adore you.”
I sucked in a breath at our close proximity. “They’re amazing,” I whispered, looking down.
He waited until my eyes met his. So much unspoken passed between us. He cared about me. It was always there in the way he looked at me. And I wanted to accept it. Wanted him to know how much he meant to me. The words lodged in my throat. He also seemed to want to say something, but he let the opportunity pass.
“I’ll let you know if I’m going to be late,” he said hoarsely.
As he climbed in the back of the car and it faded into the distance, I wondered what it was he really wanted to say. And more importantly, was I ready to hear it?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Stone
TurnAround
I snatched the note off Muriella’s front door and did as instructed. Taped to the stairwell door was another one.
This Way
An arrow pointed up the stairs. When I reached the landing on Daniel’s floor, I discovered more instructions.
Keep Going
And on the door that led to the roof,
Almost There…
I pushed on the bar and froze in the doorway as I looked out onto the roof. Lights were strung above the deck. Candles glowed from the center of the table where we’d eaten countless meals. Muriella sat in one of the chairs, a tall gas heater close by.
I rushed forward, stopping short just before I reached her. “What’s all this?”
“Don’t get excited. Just lunch with a friend.” She pressed on her toes and hugged my neck.
I balled my fists at my sides to keep from putting my arms around her.
“What did I do to deserve that?” I needed to know so I could do it again and again.
“Better than an awkward side hug?” I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “You make all that money just for the ranch, huh?” She flashed anI’m onto youlook and dropped back into her seat.
I gripped the side of my neck. “I might have spent some of it on other stuff.” I took the chair next to her and rubbed my hands together. “That heat feels good.”
She handed me a glass of water. “Long day?”
I slouched in my seat. “Too long. I’m so glad to be home.”
She froze as she poured herself some hot tea. “Spinach artichoke dip?” The offer was stiff, like she couldn’t quite get her bearings. This was quite the set-up. A romantic one if I wasn’t misreading things. Even if the night ended with us only sharing a meal and having a few laughs, I’d be okay with that. More than okay. Because Muriella was trying.
She pushed a steaming dish surrounded by tortilla chips toward me.
I scooped some dip up and into my mouth. “When’d you get the lights?”
“You haven’t seen them before?”
