Lance paced backwards and threw a towel ather. Chantelle caught it without batting an eye.
She smirked. “You wash. I dry?”
“You’re on.”
She helped him clear the table of the dishes,and then they stood next to each other at the sink. He had rolledhis sleeves and passed the clean dishes to her. She dried them withthe towel and placed them in the dish rack.
“Can I tell you something?” She asked.
“What’s that?” Lance passed her anotherplate.
“Great dinner.” She pointed to him with herfree hand. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
He laughed. Water rushed out of the faucet ashe rinsed another plate. “I’ll take the compliment, anyway.”
“Can I ask another question?”
“Shoot.”
Chantelle pointed to his face, but she didn’ttouch him. “What made you grow this?”
“Don’t like it?”
“It’s... different. Not bad, though. It’sjust...”
“Just what?” He passed her a glass.
Chantelle dried it but cleared her throat.“You’ve grown into a great man.” Then she stared up at him. “I’mhappy for you.”
He shut the water off and stared at her.Chantelle’s eyes were soft. She’d grown too. Could he say that?Would she take it wrong? “I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
He shook his head. “No, not that.” Heexhaled. “What I wanted to say was, you’ve come into your own. Itlooks good on you.”
SMASH! Chantelle shrieked. Lance didn’tnotice the glass slip from her hand, but spotted the broken pieceson the floor.
“I’m sorry. I guess I lost my grip.” Shecovered her mouth.
“Don’t move.” Lance stared at her opened-toedshoes. “Did the glass hit you?”
“I don’t think so. Let me—” Her breath caughtwhen he picked her up and sat her on the counter. “Lance, I’mokay.” She bent forward and checked her foot. “Nothing cut me.”
He inspected her foot to make sure. He heardher gasp when he touched her ankle, but he wouldn’t read into it.“Stay here.”
Lance walked over to the pantry and grabbedthe broom. He swept the area clean, hearing the shards of glassscrape the floor.
Chantelle sat with her hands on her thighs.“You won’t let me help at all?”
He grasped the smooth broom handle as heswept. He tossed the broken pieces in the trash and returned thebroom to the pantry. Then he stood in front of her. “You sureyou’re okay?”
“I’m okay. Can I get down now?” Her handsgripped the edge of the counter.
Lance reached forward with his hands at herwaist. He helped her as she stood to her feet. Her curls tickledhis chin, but he swallowed.
“Thank you,” she said. Did her voice soundbreathy?
“You’re welcome. That could have beenworse.”
She looked up at him. “I... um... shouldprobably call it a night. Thanks for dinner.”
Lance bobbed his head. He couldn’t speak withhis pulse racing. Chantelle stepped away, grabbed her purse, andwaved goodnight. Lance released a deep breath. He couldn’t be thatclose to her—not again.
Chapter 15
Lance paced his bedroom back and forth withhis cell in hand. Should he call or FaceTime Andrea? He chose thelatter and waited for her to pick up. Hair lifted on the back ofhis neck. He had nothing to be nervous about.
Tonight had only been to thank Chantelle.Yet, his thumb ran over his fingers, recalling how she felt in hisarms. He’d been glad she didn’t hurt herself.
If only the wedding was over. Then he couldget away from her—for good. Work could distract him, but it didn’tlast long. There had been too many times in the office when shecrossed his mind.
Lance groaned. Andrea. He needed to focus onAndrea. He loved her. He had made that clear when he proposed. Ithadn’t been a simple decision. It hadn’t been one the first timeeither.
His heart palpitated when he proposed toChantelle. They didn’t tell their parents, but went to the Justiceof the Peace after he paid for the marriage license. Saving hismoney from cutting the grass in his neighborhood had paid off.
They had exchanged vows and checked into ahotel for the night. He had held Chantelle that night, placing hishand on top of hers on her belly. Then he heard her groans, only toturn on the light and see blood in the sheets. The ambulance rideto the hospital made sweat pool on his brow. Life had gone downhillfrom there.
Lance refocused. After four rings, Andreaanswered. Her face free of makeup, he saw the dim light in thebackground. Recognizing her hotel room from before, he sat on hisown bed.
“How are you?” He asked.
“Just about getting up.” She replied. “Howare you?”
“I’m heading to bed. These time zones are theworst.”
“Tell me about it.”
He swallowed. “I fired June Myers.” Might aswell get it over with. He had yet to tell his mother.
Andrea’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding. She’sthe best.”
“She was taking over the wedding, Babe. It’snot what you or I want. It’s my mother pushing her ideas on us, andI’m not doing that anymore. This is our life we’re startingtogether, so we’re going to do it right. Our way.”
She rested her chin inside her palm. “Are weready for this, Lance?”
He cocked his head to the side. “What’s thatsupposed to mean?”
“Is your mother always going to be thisinvolved in our lives?” Andrea asked.
He assured her. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Will she listen? I like your mom, but shecan be... overbearing.”
“She’s been through a lot, but I’ll talk toher. I’ve let things slide for too long, so I’ll take care ofit.”
She gave a slight smile. “Okay.”
“Are we okay, Andrea?”
She sighed. “You tell me.”
“I want you here, but I also want to respectyour career. I’m not trying to pressure you, but we’re going to bemerging our lives together.”
Andrea shut her eyes for a moment. “I’ve beenused to doing everything on my own, Lance. I admired my mother’scareer. She taught me everything I knew, but I didn’t want to rideon her coattail. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I know you care.That’s why I love you.”
Tension released from his body. “I love youtoo. I understand.”
“It’s not the same. You and yourparents—”
“I grew up with domineering parents, Andrea.I didn’t have the love and support you had from your mother. Eversince I lost my sister,
