“This is so fun,” Sandra cried, giving rein to the little girl inside.
“Lay down in the middle,” Rue commanded, pointing.
Sandra took the place as told.
“Daddy, you lay next to Miss Sandra.” Rue pointed to the place before settling on the other side.
While she leaned over to pull some books from a small stack on the side, Eb eased into the space beside Sandra. He mouthedsorry, but she shook her head. No, she didn’t need to be tempted by having him so close—especially considering how she’d nearly kissed him—but she’d be on her guard. There was no way she would disappoint Miss Rue.
“Read this one.” The little girl handed over a large, colorful picture book calledRaela and the Magic Wallby someone named Shimmer Dream. It turned out to be a portal fantasy.
“I hadn’t read that one before,” Sandra said when she’d finished. “It was fun.”
“Now it’s Daddy’s turn.” Rue handed him another book and lifted Sandra’s arm to use her shoulder as a pillow. “Roll over, Daddy, so I can see your face.” She said to Sandra, “He makes funny faces when he reads.”
Eb’s cheeks had gone red. “I doubt I could read like that if there’s an adult around.”
“Oh, you have to.” Sandra copied the tone Rue always used whenever she pleaded. “Please?”
He snorted but shifted in their direction. A big mistake since it placed his head even closer to Sandra’s. All thoseEbsmells which had pulled her in earlier wafted over her. They acted like a potion, waking her nerves and making her feel alive like she hadn’t in years. Maybe ever.
When he came to the last pages of the book, his voice had softened to a whisper, his head now resting on her pillow, his forehead almost touching her temple. He lowered the book but didn’t speak. With Rue’s soft, slow breaths near Sandra’s left ear, and Eb on her right, she felt like she’d drifted into a dream. And maybe she had because this felt so right, like she’d finally found a home again. She closed her eyes to savor the moment.
* * *
Comfortable warmth surrounded Sandra,and she cuddled the small form closer. Strong warm arms encircled her from behind like she was in a safe cocoon. Joy such as she couldn’t remember feeling before flooded through her like she’d sipped a happiness potion. This. This was what she longed for.
A small elbow hit Sandra in the ribs hard enough it startled her awake. In her arms, Rue stirred and then rolled away to cuddle with a stuffed toy. For a second, Sandra couldn’t remember how she’d come to be there.
Then the weight of an arm, a large and muscular arm encircling her waist, brought her fully awake. They must have fallen asleep when Eb had finished the book. It was him snuggled against her back like he belonged there, and a part of her wanted to stay there forever. But she was trying not to hurt him by sending the wrong message.
Sandra had to get out of there without waking him. If she had to face him after that incredible dream, to say nothing of the delicious warmth of him behind her, she might give into the temptation to kiss him and then she’d be lost.Theywould be lost. She refused to steal his dream from him.
Carefully, she eased his arm from her waist. She wasn’t sure she could wriggle between the man and his daughter, but they ended up being pretty good sleepers. It took a couple of minutes with a few pauses when one of them stirred, but Sandra finally slid free of them. Once clear, she got to her knees and then her feet.
She made it as far as the front door to get her coat, when Eb came running down the hallway. Sandra crossed her arms and steeled herself against the temptation Eb Grinchly presented.
“Sandra, wait. Please.” He put a hand lightly on her arm.
“Thanks for the fun evening.” She kept her back to him.
“Look, Sandra, I don’t know what all is bothering you, but I’m sorry for my part in it.” Eb gently turned her to face him, but his words turned rushed. “I’m sorry if I overstepped by kissing you, and now you’re uncomfortable being around us, but you have to know your friendship has meant a lot to me. Do you think you can ever forgive me and we can start again? I don’t want to lose you.”
She stared into his dark eyes, so full of emotion it pulled her back into her dream for a second. Those eyes, this man, made her feel like she was truly part of a family again and not just an outsider. The yearning she’d been fighting for months threatened to overwhelm her, and her throat tightened, her eyes burning. If she really cared for him and wanted to protect his dream, she couldn’t give in.
“Oh, no,” he said with a groan which held an edge of desperation to it. “I can tell I’ve done it again. I can’t get anything right.”
“No, Eb.” Sandra’s hand went to cup his cheek like she’d wanted to earlier, but this time in consolation. “This isn’t about you. This ismyproblem.”
“But if it’s your problem, then it’s my problem too—because I’m in love with you.”
Sandra closed her eyes. This was all her fault. She’d seen the signs, but her own feelings had stopped her from giving him up completely. Steeling herself, she opened her eyes.
“I amsosorry, Eb. Wedoneed to talk, but it’s not a good story. There’s no happily ever after.”
His wariness had returned, but he nodded toward the sofa.
Fine. She might as well get this over with. Pressure constricted her heart, making it feel like it had shrunk three sizes. Because once Eb knew the truth, he’d walk away just like Dom had.
