He'd spent years maintaining professional boundaries, keeping his feelings carefully controlled. Now he was about to risk everything.
When the turnout came into view, Angela slowed the car carefully and eased into the space. She put the car in park but left the engine running for the heater.
"How did I do?" she asked, finally turning to look at him.
"Perfect." The word came out rougher than he'd intended. He cleared his throat. "You're a natural."
"I wouldn't go that far." A small smile played on her lips, but it quickly faded.
The silence stretched between them, filled with all the things they'd both been avoiding saying. Angela tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then clasped her hands in her lap.
"So," she said, her voice soft. "You wanted to talk?"
Jude shifted in his seat to face her more fully. The winter sunlight filtering through the trees cast dappled shadows across Angela’s face, highlighting the uncertainty in her eyes. The car's heater hummed softly between them, creating a cocoon of warmth against the chill outside.
"Yes." He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I think we both know there's something happening between us."
Angela's cheeks flushed pink, but she held his gaze. "I wasn't sure if it was just me."
"It's not just you," Jude said, the admission sending equal measures of relief and anxiety coursing through him. "I've beentrying to maintain a professional distance, but I've done a poor job of it."
"Why?" she asked. "Why try to keep that distance?"
"Because it's my job to protect you. Because you're Duncan's daughter. Because I’m older than you." He ran a hand through his hair. "Because I didn't want to take advantage of your situation."
Angela's brow furrowed. "My situation?"
"You've been through so much change in such a short time. New family, new home, new life. I didn't want to be one more complication."
A small smile touched her lips. "What if I want that particular complication?”
Angela's words hung in the air between them, vulnerable yet brave. Jude's chest tightened as he searched her face, seeing hope and something deeper in her eyes.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion. “Are you sure there isn’t someone closer to your age and less complicated than me that you’d rather be with?”
Waiting for her answer felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. He'd never been this open with anyone about his feelings, had never allowed himself to be this vulnerable.
Angela reached across the center console and took his hand. Her touch was warm, her fingers fitting perfectly between his.
"I can’t imagine feeling the way I do about anyone else," she said. "I might not have had a lot of experience with men, but I know a good man when I see one. Your strength. Your loyalty. Your commitment. It touches me deep in my heart. You’re a man of honor and integrity, and those are very attractive qualities tome. I like how you encourage me without being pushy. Without making me feel stupid for not knowing things or taking longer than others to learn something. You make me want to be a better person."
Jude's heart hammered against his ribs. He gently squeezed her hand, marveling at how something so simple could feel so significant.
“You make me want to be a better man too,” he said. “And with you, I find myself thinking and imagining a future I’ve never given much thought to. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not big on emotions.”
“I’ve noticed,” she said. “But you smile at me.”
And Jude did right then, too. “You make it easy to smile.”
She beamed at him then, lifting his hand to press the back of it to her face. “You make me smile too.”
Jude turned his hand over to cup her cheek, feeling the satiny softness beneath his fingertips. When his gaze met hers, he saw in her eyes a reflection of what he felt.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “So beautiful.”
A shy smile lifted the corners of her mouth as her cheeks pinked. “You’re the beautiful one. Well, I guess it would be handsome.”
Jude had always been aware that his looks were something that attracted women, but he hadn’t cared about that until now. He liked the idea that she found him attractive.
