Annie forced a smile.“That’s amazing.Thank you so much, Bella.”
“No problem.It was my pleasure.”She turned to face her father.“Now, Dad, you promised me we could look at that dating application that came in last week.”
Annie’s heart sunk.On the positive side, Bella hadn’t noticed the energy between them.Unfortunately, it meant her nation-wide search for her new mom was still on.
He scratched an eyebrow with his thumb.“I don’t think that’s what I said.”
“Yes it is!I mean, close enough.”She rolled her eyes.“I don’t care.I’m getting my laptop.”
She took off up the stairs.
Silence hung between them like a dark cloak.Annie took a breath and looked at him.He was staring at her with an intense expression.
“I should get going.”Annie walked to the closet.
He was instantly at her side.“I’m sorry,” he said, voice low, “I didn’t mean to – ”
She shook her head.“No, please.It was – ”
She paused.What was she trying to say?She didn’t know what he was apologizing for.The magical night?The delicious food and wine?Swaying her so gently in his big arms?
“I think,” he said slowly, “I got carried away.I’m sorry.”
Of course.Apologizing for everything.Getting too close.Being too handsome.
He had to know the effect he had.
“Yeah, me too,” Annie said in a hushed voice.
“I wouldn’t want Bella getting the wrong idea,” he continued.“You know.I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m not going to entertain her ideas of dating.”
Oh, what a fool she was.
It was like a bucket of ice cold water had been splashed onto her head.Any dizzy feeling from the wine evaporated, replaced with being smacked back down to earth.
How could she – even for a moment, there in his arms – how could she have thought he might feel something for her?That he might want to disrupt this life of his, these plans, for her?
Annie made sure the smile was frozen on her face.“Of course.”
Bella reentered the room.“She’s a firefighter, dad!What more could you ask for?”
“Bella – ” he said, his tone serious.
“I have to get going.Thank you both,” Annie said, pulling on her coat.“It was a magical night.”
What possessed her to say that, she didn’t know.But there it was, left hanging in their foyer.
Annie spun, pulling open the door and plunging into the cold evening air.
The next day, Annie couldn’t stop replaying the night in her head, over and over.She managed to avoid questioning from her mom, somehow, with a cursory, “I helped him clean up and that was the end of it.”
She didn’t ask any questions.It was miraculous, really.
They were getting lunch together for the twins when a honk rang out outside.
Annie peeked through the window and saw Lauren waving excitedly from the driver’s seat of a red Porsche.
“What is this!”Annie said, opening the front door.
