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“You’re welcome.”
Things between Cara and me had been strange since the very first day. Admittedly, it was wrong of me to listen in on her conversation with the realtor. But I couldn’t just let her flounder in the negotiations with that slimeball Morden. I wanted to help any way I could.
Unfortunately, my version of helping clearly crossed a boundary.
Since her first day, which was only a few days earlier, we were tiptoeing around each other, barely looking each other in the eye when we spoke.
“I’m about to head out. I won’t be too late.”
Cara waved her hand. “Take your time. Have fun.”
I grimaced. “We’ll see about that.”
She touched Lucy’s back to draw her attention away from the game. “Say bye to your father.”
My daughter grinned. “Bye, Daddy! Good luck on your date!”
I went over to her and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, kiddo. I’ll need it.” My eyes drifted to Cara. She was smiling tenderly at Lucy. The way she looked at her made my insides turn to mush. I needed to find someone who looked at Lucy like that. Someone who would be willing to take on the role of mother, right from day one.
Cara would have been perfect…if I wasn’t so much older than her.
I’d be lying if the thought didn’t cross my mind, though. More frequently than I cared to admit.
“Cara, could I speak with you for a moment?”
Cara got to her feet. “Sure.”
We walked in silence to the front door. “Well, bedtime is nine on weekends.”
“Got it.”
“She’ll probably try and squeeze as much time as she can out of you before she actually goes to sleep.”
Cara giggled. “Don’t they all?”
Yes, Lucy was just one of many to Cara. I had to remind myself of that. “And she has a night-light on her bedside table. You’ll have to turn it on. But she’ll remind you.”
“I got it.”
“If you need anything, you have my number.”
Cara touched my arm. “We’ll be fine, Wesley. Seriously. Have fun. Let loose.”
I bristled at her touch, despite wanting to lean further into it. “Do you think this tie makes me look old?”
She laughed. “Old?”
“Yeah, my friend told me not to wear a tie.” I ran my hand down the emerald tie hanging from my neck. “Said it would make me look too mature.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that a bad thing?”
I gulped. “Well, I don’t know. My date’s quite a bit younger than me. I don’t want to come off too...”
Cara took the tie from me and observed it. “If she’s going out with an older man, then she wants someone who’s mature.” Her amber eyes flicked up to mine. “I like it.”
I snaked the tie out of her hand, hoping I hadn’t turned beet red. “Really, well, fantastic. I’ll tell him that’s what you said.”
She smiled and then drifted back toward the living room door. “Bye, Wesley.”
