Page 44 of Take A Chance

The air grew heavy between them as the small space in the kitchen seemed to shrink. His eyes were locked with hers, refusing to let her look away. They hypnotized her and she found herself taking a step towards him.

What are you doing?

She snapped out of whatever spell he cast on her by opening up to her. She had eagerly accepted his vulnerability, enjoying knowing what hid beneath his surface. But she didn’t know what she had been about to do and that frightened her.

“I think you can take off now,” she said harshly, taking out her confusion on him.

Will gave no reaction to the harshness of her words, just smiled at her in that frustrating way and said goodbye.

*

He watched her move behind the bar. Her confidence had grown and she no longer looked terrified of every sound and movement someone made. Although tonight there was something different about her. She seemed distracted.

She had avoided him all day and he didn’t know why. He enjoyed their chat in the kitchen yesterday, even if it was himbaring his soul and all the yucky parts of his childhood that he tried to hide from everyone. He felt safe sharing with her.

“Yo, you there buddy?” Dean asked, distracting him.

Will glanced back at his friend. “Sorry man. How’s married life?”

If Will had to describe the kind of smile Dean gave him, he would call it dreamy. “It’s great. Just perfect. We’re enjoying it being the two of us, for now.”

Will arched a brow. “For now?”

Dean shrugged. “We know we want kids but we’re gonna wait a little bit. You want kids?”

Will was approaching forty, he knew if he wanted kids, he needed to start planning now but he didn’t have that urge. Call him crazy but he preferred the thought of having lots of animals to children. He’d never been around them as a child himself, never had a sibling to look after or cousins. His stepbrother was a fully grown asshole and although Will would have some step-nieces or nephews in future, when he thought about having his own children, he felt nothing.

“Nah, I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. I’ve never pictured a life with kids so I’m good.”

“Fair enough. What about settling down, you’ve been single what, your whole life?”

Will slid his gaze to Rebelle. There was only one woman who intrigued him right now and although she was warming up to him, he didn’t think she would ever be interested in anything romantic with him. His jaw ticked in annoyance and the ticking increased when he watched some guy reach across the bar and paw at Rebelle. Will was on his feet in seconds and over there, forcing himself between them.

“You okay, Rebelle?” he asked, glaring down at the idiot who thought he was good enough to touch her.

“It’s fine, Will. Please,” Rebelle hissed.

He turned to her, knowing she hated displays of aggression and immediately schooled his features into something resembling his normal expression.

The other guy tripped over himself trying to get away from Will.

“I need to hear you’re okay, beautiful.”

“I’m fine,” she said but she didn’t seem like it. Hadn’t seemed like herself all night.

He fought the urge to cup her jaw. “Tell me what’s wrong?”

She nibbled her lip and looked away.

“Rebelle? Come on, you can tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m worried about Parfait.”

“How come?”

She twined her fingers, squeezing tightly. “I think she was going into labor when I left. I know it can take hours and probably nothing is happening and cats have been doing this for centuries and mostly in the wild where no one will watch over them and-”

“Hey, breathe,” Will commanded, placing his hands on her shoulders. “What do you need?”

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