Page 23 of Hearts of Wealth

“Anytime.” She smiled.

We ate our dinner and talked a bit about what I needed to get done for Paisley. As Catherine prepared to leave for the night, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. Her presence had become a comforting constant in my life. The thought of her leaving filled me with a sense of longing. I had become very used to her sleeping beside me.

“Are you sure you have to go?” I asked, keeping my hands on her waist.

Catherine paused, her gaze meeting mine with a soft smile. “I really should,” she replied, her tone apologetic. “But I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

I nodded, forcing a smile despite the twinge of disappointment that gnawed at me. “Okay,” I replied. “But I don’t like it. I like you in my bed.”

She chuckled. “I like being in your bed, but I do have my own.”

As she turned to leave, a thought occurred to me. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do with your house?” I asked casually.

Catherine hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing in thought. “Not really,” she admitted. “I’m keeping my options open for now.”

I nodded understandingly, trying to hide my disappointment at her response. Deep down, I hoped that she would choose to sell the house and move in with me, but I knew that I needed to respect her decision. Things were moving fast. I didn’t want to pressure her into doing anything she wasn’t ready for. We had time.

“Well, just let me know if you need any help with anything,” I offered.

Catherine smiled. “Thanks, Timothy,” she replied.

With a final kiss goodbye, Catherine left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. As I watched her drive away, a sense of uncertainty settled over me. With Paisley coming home, I knew that I needed to focus on getting her settled before broaching the subject of Catherine moving in. Things were already changing pretty quickly for all three of us.

Deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted her to be a permanent part of my life. I hoped things would continue to grow between us. I knew she cared about Paisley. Hell, anyone that went to bat for Paisley against Regina was someone that obviously cared for the kid. And Paisley liked Catherine. She respected her. With time, I knew the three of us could be a family unit.