Page 137

“By what, exactly?” Ash teased, and Cass closed his eyes, barely able to suppress a groan, as Ash’s palm flattened into his leg and slid down toward his knee and inward.

“Mmm,” was all Cass could manage.

Ash’s lips brushed against Cass’s cheek, and he laughed lightly and pulled his hand away. “Sorry.”

They kissed again, a brief, gentle kiss that was somehow also playful, and when Ash started talking, Cass did his best to try and listen this time.

“So, what I was saying earlier is that if you’re game, we can go hiking tomorrow,” Ash proposed. “There’s this trail in the Snoqualmie Pass area, out past North Bend, and I’ve been wanting to take Bri, but the weather’s been bad. I went with my family when I was a kid, and it was one of those places Ashlynn absolutely loved. She was always talking about wanting to go back.” Ash paused for half a second and took a breath before continuing. “I figure we can make a day out of it, pack lunch for a picnic. It’s maybe a seven-mile-ish hike, and if I’m remembering right, it’s stunningly beautiful, the lake and the views.”

“That sounds like a perfect day,” Cass said softly, and he held Ash to him a little tighter as they settled back into their spots, Ash’s head once again resting in the crook of Cass’s shoulder.

With a little more planning, they had the rest of the weekend roughly outlined. Saturday, Ash’s friend Grant and his girlfriend, Mei, were taking Bri to the zoo, which would give Ash and Cass the entire day alone together (no more planning needed, Ash teased). Then on Sunday, Ash suggested maybe they could go to the Pacific Science Center; he’d taken Bri once before, after he’d gotten a nearly free family membership, and she’d absolutely loved it.

Cass thought all of that also sounded perfect, and he told Ash so, chasing his approval with a lingering kiss on the lips. Ash pulled back first, though he was smiling, and Cass bit his lip, once again mesmerized by the depth and beauty of Ash’s eyes. His heart fluttered and flipped, and he found himself immediately wondering if maybe they could get Bri to bed early tonight.

That reminded him of the plans he’d had for the evening.

He wanted to pamper Ash. To take care of him. To give Ash a night off from being the one responsible for everything.

He wanted to show Ash exactly how much he cared.

Gently, he ran the backs of his fingers along Ash’s forearm, stopping right below Ash’s elbow. “Can I make dinner for you and Bri tonight?” he asked, letting his fingers trace back down to Ash’s hand.

Ash’s smile softened. “You want to cook?”

“We have to eat, right?”

“Well, yeah, but I figured you’d be tired from traveling, and I’d cook or order takeout or something like that.”

Cass shook his head once, then he lifted Ash’s hand and kissed the backs of his knuckles, one at a time. “I would like to cook for you, if that’s okay,” he said. “And then, I’d like you to rest or relax or do whatever it is you want to do that you don’t usually get to, and I’ll take care of Bri and her bedtime routine and everything.”

Ash dropped his eyes to their hands, and he didn’t say anything for a few seconds. When he looked back up at Cass, there was an exhaustion in his eyes that Cass hadn’t seen in them before. He leaned in slowly and kissed Ash’s forehead.

“Whatever it is you want to do,” Cass repeated.

With a quiet laugh, Ash nodded. “Yeah, okay. Honestly . . . it’s been a week. If you’re sure . . .”

“One hundred percent.” Cass kissed Ash’s forehead again. “I’ll take Bri with me to the grocery store—there’s one right down the street, yeah?” When Ash nodded, he continued. “You can relax, take a bubble bath”—Ash rolled his eyes—“or nap or lie here and watch TV. Whatever you want. I’ll take care of dinner and bedtime.”

“That’s a lot, though. You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Cass cut in. He squeezed Ash’s hand, though he could still see uncertainty in Ash’s eyes. He shook his head. “You’ve done so much this last year. Work and school, and taking care of that beautiful little girl over there, by yourself all the time. You deserve a night off. Let me give you that. Let someone take care of you for a change.”

“Cass . . .”

“I want to,” he said again.

Ash blinked his eyes closed for a long second but then glanced over to where Bri was still playing, now sitting in the middle of a circle of blocks, all of her marine animal toys piled in the circle with her. His smile returned as he watched her play, and he nodded slightly.

“I’m . . . I’m so tired sometimes,” he admitted.

“I know.” Cass let his thumb drift back and forth along Ash’s skin.

“Everything is so much, and it’s exhausting.” His gaze fell to their hands. “I do my best to keep her happy.”

“She is happy. She’s the happiest baby I’ve ever seen.”

Ash rolled his eyes and looked up at Cass with a sarcastic smile. “And just how many babies have you seen?”