The Secret in His Heart by Caroline Anderson

Author:Caroline Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

HE FELT SLIGHTLY shell-shocked.

He’d come home that evening uncertain of what he’d find after the rough start she’d had, and he’d walked into a warm welcome, food ready for the table, and company.

Good company. Utterly gorgeous company, if he was honest. She’d been for a run, she said, and she’d obviously showered because she smelled amazing. Her hair had drifted against him at one point, and he’d caught the scent of apples. Such a simple thing, but it made his gut tighten inexplicably.

It had been so long since anyone other than his mother or the wife of a friend had cooked for him—except, of course, that Connie was the wife of a friend.

Only this evening it hadn’t felt like it, not really. It had felt more like two old friends who were oddly drawn to each other, sharing a companionable evening that had touched in turn on trivia and tragedy and somehow, at points, on—romance? Innuendo? A little light flirtation?

The food had been simple but really tasty, and they’d sat there over it and talked about all sorts of things. Friendship, and Joe’s sleeping habits and the dog’s, and how he ought to talk more. How they could help each other heal.

He still wasn’t sure about the possibility of that. Some wounds, surely, never truly healed. Acceptance, he’d discovered after a while, was the new happy, and that had seemed enough—until now. And suddenly, because of Connie, he was wondering if there might be more out there for him than just this endless void.

With her?

No. That was just fantasy. Wasn’t it? He didn’t know, but he’d felt comfortable with her in a way he hadn’t felt comfortable with anyone for years, possibly ever, and it wasn’t because the subjects were comfortable, because they weren’t.

They’d talked about Steve and how his parents would be feeling, and then somehow he’d found himself able to tell her about Cathy and the baby. He still couldn’t quite believe that, couldn’t believe he’d let her in, shared it so easily.

And it had been easy, in a way. Easier than he’d thought, although it had made her feel guilty. Still, at least now perhaps she’d understand his reluctance to discuss the baby thing, the emotional minefield that it meant for him, and it would help her understand his refusal.

Then they’d talked about Molly’s private view, and her looking pretty, and he’d flirted with her. What had he been thinking about? He must have been mad, and he’d come so close to kissing her. Not the light brush of his lips on hers. That didn’t count, although it had nearly killed him to pull away. But properly.

He let his breath out on a short sigh and closed his eyes. Too close. Thankfully it had been dark, just a sliver of moonlight, so maybe he’d got away with it, but Friday was going to be a trial, with her all dressed up.

He was actually looking forward to it—not to the art, he’d meant what he’d

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