Page 22 of When Morning Comes Around

She followed him to the front door, and he held it open for her to go in ahead of him.

“It’s a nice place,” she told him.

He shrugged. “It’s nice enough. It’s not mine. It’s Damon’s place. I’m sharing it with Jake, while we both find our feet. I moved to town just when Damon met Jo and moved in with her. It made sense for me to stay here rather than let it stand empty. Then, Jake decided not to re-up and to move here. I think sharing like this is good for both of us – for now.”

He led her to the kitchen. “Do you want to take a seat while I make us that coffee?”

“Thanks, but I’d rather stand.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “I feel like I’ve spent too much time sitting on my ass this week.”

He frowned. “Yeah, that long ass drive.” He shook his head. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

He met her gaze. “You wouldn’t, but I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.”

She blew out a sigh. “It’s not so much that I don’t want to talk about it – and certainly not that I don’t want to talk about it with you – it’s more that I’m trying to avoid thinking about it.”

He nodded and turned away. “I know how that goes.”

She was mad at herself. The poor man had lost a wife whom he obviously adored – he had every right to feel sad. She blew out a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

He turned back around with a puzzled look on his face. “What for?”

“I don’t want to say it out loud – that feels like I’m intruding – but you know what I mean. You lost something precious. Me? What I lost wasn’t worth having. It’s just that I was finally forcedto face that. I should have made the move myself a long time ago, but I was too much of a coward I guess.”

“I don’t think you’re a coward.”

“I don’t suppose it matters anymore.” She gave him a bright smile which became more genuine as she spoke. “It doesn’t matter what I was; what matters is who and how I decide to be now.”

He smiled. “That’s true. If you want to look at it that way, you have a whole new adventure – a whole new life – opening up ahead of you.”

He was right, and she was trying to look at it that way. She chose to nod instead of saying anything – she didn’t trust herself not to mention the fact that the same was true for him.

~ ~ ~

Dominic’s mind raced as they stood in the kitchen, drinking their coffee. Obviously, he hadn’t thought this through. He and Sadie had both seized the opportunity to leave Jake and Savannah by themselves. He scowled. That was the only reason he’d brought Sadie back here with him – to give Jake some time with Savannah. He glanced over at her. It wasn’t so that he could get some time with Sadie – was it?

She looked a little uncomfortable; she’d probably noticed the way he was scowling to himself. “This is great coffee, thanks. I can get going as soon as I’m done.”

He shook his head. “I wasn’t scowling atyou.”

She let out a short laugh. “Phew, that’s a relief. From the look on your face, I thought I’d pissed you off somehow.”

He chuckled. “Nope. Not in the least. I think my thoughts show on my face sometimes.”

“And what were you thinking that made you look like that?”

He wasn’t about to tell her that he was questioning his motivation for inviting her over. He shrugged. “I bet you had other plans for your morning.”

“Honestly? I didn’t. Savannah offered me a ride, so I had to make the most of it.” She took a big gulp of her coffee. But I bet you have other plans, and here I am holding you up.”

He chuckled. “I don’t. So, you’re just hanging around until Savannah can take you back again?”

“I am.”

“Is there anywhere you need to go? Anything you need to do? If there is, I’m happy to play chauffeur.” The words were out before he’d thought them through. He should have simply offered to give her a ride somewhere – but that wasn’t really what he wanted. He didn’t understand it, but the thought of playing chauffeur – of driving her around, to as many places as she wanted to go – held much more appeal for him.

She met his gaze and held it. His heart started to pound. If she questioned why he’d offered, he wouldn’t know what to say. He couldn’t explain it to himself, there was no way he’d be able to put it into words.

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