His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was seriously insisting that she go. The unpleasant incident with his assistant ran through her mind. If she backed out of the New York trip now, would it affect her work? This was an Ethan she didn’t recognize.
Removing her hand from his grasp, she squared a stack of papers. She couldn’t afford to lose this job.
He tilted his head to catch her gaze. The old Ethan was back in his infectious smile. “Come on. Say yes.”
At least his mother wouldn’t be in New York. “Okay, and thank you. But I’ll be spending my time with Piper between now and then.” After all, she had agreed to go. Fair was fair.
He squeezed her hand and grinned. “Deal.”
She watched his receding back as he headed toward his office. No damned wonder he was so good with juries. The man could sell an Eskimo ice water.
THAT NIGHT, AFTER GETTING Piper to sleep, she dialed Sarah. It had been too late to call her the previous night after Cash left. Settling back on the couch, she took a sip of wine and waited for her friend to answer. “Sarah? Kids in bed? Do you have time to talk?”
“It’s Tom’s turn to put them down, and he’s not doing so well, but I’m all yours. Speak, girl, while I get something to drink.”
What would I do without her? “Last night I went out with Cash, and I can’t describe how wonderful he was.” She told her about their romantic dinner. “Sarah, when we got home, he told me he loves me. But he didn’t just say he loves me. He told me in so many ways. It was beautiful.”
Pausing, she took a sip of wine and continued in a soft voice. “And I love him, too. I know that now. For so long, I tried to figure out my feelings for Ethan and Cash. I hardly slept last night, and I realized something. There are different kinds of love. One love may fill in my gaps and make me feel whole. Another love may inspire me to be the best I can be. Love can be the thing that brings me pure joy. I have to choose the kind of love I want. Find the man who can give me that.”
“Uh-huh, so true, honey.”
“Ethan’s love fills in my gaps. He’s like a safety net. I’ll never want financially when I’m with him, and he takes charge of everything when we’re together. I’m never that scared little girl when I’m with him. I feel loved and content.”
“What about Cash?”
“His love is simple and kind and accepting. Cash understands me when I least expect it. He’s patient and slow to anger. His love is the type that can last a lifetime. He makes me happy.”
“I think you have your answer, girl,” Sarah said.
“I do, don’t I?”
Sarah gave a short laugh, “I don’t envy you. Now it’s time to do something about it.”
Her heart sank. It was a mess. She couldn’t tell Cash how she felt. Not with this trip to New York ahead of her. How would that look? If only Ethan hadn’t insisted she go.
“Bye, Sarah. Talk to you soon.” Tossing her phone on the cushion beside her, she took a long swallow of wine. The man had seemed almost sinister today when she’d tried to back out of going. She didn’t imagine it. Why was her going so important to Ethan? It couldn’t just be the money. The muscles in her abdomen relaxed. She’d get through this trip, have a pleasant time while preserving her working relationship with him. Then she could tell Cash—and Ethan—her choice.
DALLAS RECLINED ON the couch late Sunday evening, fiddling with the stem of her wine glass. She missed Cash. He understood her need to spend her time off with Piper this week, however, his absence had left her feeling surprisingly lonely.
It would be wonderful to hear his voice, but conflicting feelings warred inside her. Despite her misgivings, she’d agreed to go to New York. That put sharing her final decision over two weeks away. Somehow, when Cash said he’d wait a little while longer, she didn’t think he meant that long.
Her phone rang. It was Cash. The decision to call him had been taken from her, and she smiled as she lifted it to her ear. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He yawned quietly. “Excuse me. I figured Piper would be asleep by now.”
“She is. I’m glad you called. I was just thinking about you.” Hearing his deep voice set off butterflies in her tummy.
“Really?”
“Yeah ... listen, what you said the other night. It was beautiful.” God, was it beautiful.
“I meant every word of it.”
“I know. That’s what made it wonderful.” She had to do it. It was wrong having this conversation without telling him.
“Cash?”
“Hmm?”
“Ethan made these plans a long time ago, and I tried to get out of it, but he said the tickets were very expensive, and he won’t let me back out now.” It was dumb, but her hands shook and it was getting hard to breathe. How would Cash react?
He didn’t say anything.
“Cash?”
“What tickets?”
“To a Broadway play in New York. It’s in eleven days. We’d leave on Thursday evening and come back Sunday after lunch. “
His silence stretched on for several moments.
When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “I’m sorry, Cash. He’s a partner at the firm. I got this feeling—”
His voice shaking, he said, “Wait,” and was quiet again.
Something was happening with him, and it terrified her. She set her wine on the table then knocked it over.
Cash heaved out a loud breath, and with his voice still shaking, said, “You know I love you, and you know how much. I want to hang in there for you, but I
