Page 136 of Lee

“I wish I hadn’t watched it,” Lee said. What had been in the envelope from the detective should have been enough.

“Well, if you need to talk to someone about what you’re feeling or thinking, please come to me.”

The weight of what he’d been carrying had lightened a bit now that he’d shared the burden with Gareth. Would Lee talk to him more about it? He wasn’t sure yet, but it was good to know the option was there.

Gareth got to his feet. “We’ll still do the tests on Monday. Just to make sure.” As he neared the door, he turned back to face Lee. “And please consider having a conversation with Rori. Don’t just break up with her.”

After Gareth had left him alone, Lee slid back down on the bed, pulling the comforter up to his chin. As he lay there, his thoughts tumbling around, he tried to figure out how to protect Rori without hurting her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Rori set the small baking sheet on a hot pad on the counter, pleased with how the cookies looked. It wasn’t likely that Lee would eat any, considering how much his stomach had been bothering him lately, but she’d needed to do something to kill the time until he arrived.

He’d texted her shortly before noon to ask if he could come over around two. Of course, she’d said yes.

She was excited that they’d get to spend some time together, but it was a cautious excitement. Things still felt… off, and Rori didn’t know what to expect. While she hoped it was just Lee not feeling well, she had tried to prepare herself for it being something more.

Still, she’d made his favorite cookies, hoping he might feel up to eating one. If not, she’d send them home with him.

Using a spatula, Rori transferred the cookies to the wire cooling rack. She’d only baked half the recipe. The rest she’d formed into individual balls and put into the freezer.

Since coming to Serenity and developing a social life, she’d worked to expand her cooking and baking skills. She’d wanted to contribute to the gatherings she was invited to, so she’d spent time learning new recipes and tricks. Like splitting the cookie recipe and freezing part of it in case quick baking was needed in the future.

Nerves were fluttering in her stomach as she watched the minutes click slowly toward two.

When the knock on her door finally came, Rori’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed a hand to her stomach and took a deep breath before going to answer it.

Lee stood in the hallway, looking haggard, and the smile he gave her was nothing like the beaming ones he’d had for her before. Something had to be wrong.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“Yes. Yes. Of course.”

She stepped back and waved him in. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned toward him.

Rori wanted to hug him. She wanted him to hug her. It felt like forever since they’d shared a physical moment together.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as she led him to her small table. It was the only place to sit other than her bed.

He sank down at the table with a sigh. “I’m okay.”

“Would you like something to eat or drink?” she asked. “I have some cookies, if you’d like some.”

“Water and a cookie would be nice,” he said.

The easy interactions they’d once had were gone, and it made Rori feel a little sick to her stomach. All she wanted to know was what she’d done to make things so tense between them.

As she walked past him to the kitchen, Rori hesitated, then laid her hand on his shoulder. Before she could lift it, Lee reached up and covered her fingers with his own.

Rori froze in place, not wanting to do anything to end that connection. But far too soon, Lee squeezed her fingers, then moved his hand. All of it passed without either of them saying a word.

His touch had brought hope to life, but his continued silence and the way he wasn’t looking at her did its best to extinguish that hope.

Emotion clogged her throat as she got a couple of glasses from the cupboard and the jug of water from the fridge and returned to the table, where the container of cookies waited. Lee had laid a large envelope on the table and sat with his head bent.

When she set a glass in front of him, he just stared at it. She poured water into each of their glasses before taking the seat across from him.

After taking the lid off the cookie container, Rori sat back and stared across the table at the man she loved. He looked beaten down in a way she’d never imagined she’d see.

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