“That’s amazing, Dylan. I can’t thank you enough.” She’d made a tremendous amount of progress in a week.
“It was fun. I love doing stuff like this.” She pulled out a conference chair and plopped into it. “What are you guys working on? Did we get our first big murder case?”
“Ha! No. This is Cade Morrison’s business records,” I said.
“His files are a mess. It’s a good thing we’re helping him,” Dylan said.
“Tell me about it.” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Cade got so caught up in making things beautiful, he’d neglected to follow up on the business side of things. “I’m hoping to free up funds so he can use it for his charity.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot. He runs a charity too,” Avery said.
“Let me know if he needs any help with his charity. I’m loving doing the groundwork for your nonprofit,” Dylan said.
“I’m sure he’d love that. He pays for a lot of the supplies out of his own pocket. Maybe there’s an organization that could help fund the renovations?”
She tapped her lips with her finger as if she was already formulating plans. “Let me go do some research.”
“Dylan’s amazing,” I said to Avery.
“She is. We’re lucky to have her here. She’s the heart around here.”
She totally was. She brought in clients, she drummed up excitement, and everything she was doing for Kids Speak was great for the firm.
At six p.m., my phone buzzed with an incoming text. I blew out a breath and kneaded my neck to work out the cramp from leaning over files all day. After drinking a sip of my now cold coffee, I swiped my screen.
Cade: Can I see you tonight?
Warmth filled my chest despite the cold coffee I’d just drank. I loved that he’d asked. That he made me feel special.
Hadley: Sure.
Cade: Are you still at work, or are you at home?
I glanced at the clock. His class should be over by seven.
Hadley: I’m at work.
Cade: Can you wait for me?
I wanted to see him.
Hadley: I’ll wait.
When his class was almost over, I put away the files and tidied my desk. I walked through the empty office, turning off lights as I went. When I opened the door, Cade stood there in his work-out pants and T-shirt smelling of soap like he’d just showered.
My stomach flipped. He looked so handsome. Was it possible to set limits to our relationship when each time I saw him, he drew me in closer? Each time we talked, I fell deeper into him.
“Hey, you could have waited inside.” His voice was gravelly, his eyes taking me in from head to toe.
I turned to the door to lock up, loving that he couldn’t wait to see me again when we’d spent every evening together. “I was done anyway. I thought I’d come over while you cleaned up.”
“I let class out a few minutes early, showered, and locked up.”
We stood, facing each other. I wondered if he’d ended class early because he couldn’t wait to see me. Other than Colin, I’d never been the most important person in someone’s life.
“Want to go for a walk?” He raised his brow.
“Sure.” I placed my briefcase strap on my shoulder.
“I’ve been thinking about us a lot. I said something last weekend and maybe I didn’t explain myself very well. I want you to know that what we have is different from what I had with Caroline. I don’t want you to think I spend time comparing you, but it is different in my mind. You’re different people. Our relationships are different. Not in a bad way. In the best way possible.”
My cheeks flushed at the memory of what he’d shared and how we’d only grown closer this week. “You said you wanted to be my boyfriend. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were being honest.”
I wanted to know the depth of his pain, but I couldn’t push—I wouldn’t. I barely took in the bars we passed, the laughter filtering through the closed doors, the couple who passed by, arm-in-arm with large smiles on their faces. They only had eyes for each other. Would I ever have that with Cade?
He interlaced my fingers with his. “I’m only telling you this because I do see a future with you. I’m hoping you can be patient with me.”
My eyes whipped to his. I almost expected him to say he’d never love anyone like he’d loved Caroline. My heart soared—was it possible he could love again? Or was that too much to hope for so soon?
I should walk away when the pain would be minimal. But if I stayed, I knew without a doubt I’d fall hopelessly in love with him. He’d have all the power to walk away and leave me in pieces.
If I continued this thing with him—would he take steps back when I got too close—when he felt too much, or would he relax and let us see where this could go? There was no way to know for sure. I’d have to give him a chance. “Okay.”
He smiled softly. “Yeah?”
I sighed. Maybe it was time to tell him I understood what he was going through. “I was twelve when my mom died, so I understand grief. I know it’s different when it’s a parent versus a spouse. My mother was my past, but your wife was your future. You mourned the loss of your future when I’d mourned my past. It’s similar, but not the same.”
He was quiet as he processed my words. I could move on, but could he? Could he let someone into his life again? Not just temporarily but to fill all the crevices of his heart and his life?
When I saw him standing outside my office door, my heart ached for him. I’d never be satisfied with scraps or pieces of him—not when I deserved all someone had to give. If at some point, it became too much, or he wasn’t willing to give more—I’d have to decide
