AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve waited for five years. I can wait a little longer.”
My heart pounded against my ears as I reached between us and cupped his face in my hands. “I can’t believe you left me a note.”
Bernard gave me a soft smile. “Of course I did. I haven’t forgotten our night together, Rachel. How could I?”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you.”
Bernard shook his head and leaned into my touch. “There’s nothing to apologize for. The important thing is we found each other.”
I cleared my throat and tried to pull back.
But I couldn’t.
Being with him again was bringing back all sorts of feelings, ones I’d tried to bury for the past five years and forget. Standing in front of him again, after all this time, was bringing them all to the surface, and I didn’t want to fight them. With a small smile, I pulled away from Bernard and ran a hand over my face.
“I should get home. Ron will be waiting for me,” I whispered without looking at him.
“Who is watching him right now?”
“Taylor’s parents, probably. Taylor should be home by now.” I glanced over at the watch before looking back at his face. “He’s a really good kid.”
“I’m sure he is.” Bernard took a step towards me and studied my face. “Can’t you stay for dinner?”
I blew out a breath. “Let me call Taylor and see if she can watch him.”
Bernard nodded as I stepped away from him.
I brushed past him and snatched my purse off the kitchen counter. While I rummaged through it, I ignored the pounding in my heart and tried not to overthink anything. Inviting me to stay for dinner didn’t mean anything. Bernard and I still had a lot to figure out when it came to Ron.
And it was better if we didn’t complicate things further.
Acting on our feelings and attraction for one another was a horrible idea.
But I couldn’t stop imagining it.
“Hey, are you on your way back?” Taylor said something to Ron in the background before her voice came back on, sounding clear and cheerful. “Ron is asking about you.”
“He wants me to stay and have dinner,” I whispered, pausing to cast a quick look over my shoulders at Bernie. He’d moved to the balcony doors and was looking out at the view. “I don’t know if I should. What do you think?”
“Does he know about Ron?”
“He does.”
Taylor exhaled. “Then this is your chance to have a heart-to-heart with him. You two have a lot to discuss. My mom and I can give Ron a bath before putting him to sleep.”
“Don’t forget to read him a story. He can’t go to sleep without it.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” Taylor assured me in a low voice. “Try and have fun, okay? This is a good thing.”
“Hug Ron for me. I’ll be back soon. Thanks, Tay.”
“You’re welcome,” Taylor replied in a singsong voice. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
With that, she hung up, and the line went dead. I waited for a few more seconds before pulling it away from my ear. Then I drifted over to where Bernard stood and stared out the balcony with him. Wordlessly, he took my hand and led me to the dining table. Despite my protests, he insisted on setting the table himself, complete with a tablecloth, a candle in the center, and a bottle of wine he pulled out of the fridge.
I watched him pull the food out of the oven, and my mouth went dry.
I needed to get my priorities in order.
