He slid the trays he’d finished onto the table, out of the way. “Sounds like you do, too.”
“I love the joy it brings.” She stopped cutting the Rice Krispies Treats and looked up at him. She’d hoped she could cajole him out of his dark mood, or that he’d tell her what was wrong without her having to ask. But she wasn’t making any headway. He only wanted to talk about her and the school. “So what’s going on with you today?”
He kept his face averted when he answered. “What do you mean?”
She put down the knife and leaned against the counter, watching him as he carried over another tray. “Something’s bugging you. Does it have to do with your father?”
She held her breath as she awaited his answer. She really didn’t want what she’d done to blow up in her face and ruin her wedding and the holidays. They were so close to getting through them. Dallas was far more important to her than any ceremony or holiday, but she had Cal and the rest of her children to think of. Seth and the twins would be coming in tonight. If she could put off the detonation of the “Robert” bomb until January, it would be much easier for them all to survive the shrapnel. Especially because Dallas might be gone by the time Robert returned. And Robert didn’t have Dallas’s address in Vegas. It would be a lot harder to find him there than in Silver Springs. That might take care of the problem right there. Without the resources to launch an extended search, he might settle in wherever he could survive and forget about his misguided attempt to apologize to his son.
They just needed to get through the next ten days or so without incident. Dallas hadn’t indicated exactly when he’d be leaving, but she doubted he’d stay very long after Christmas—likely only a day or two. He never did. He had to keep moving, to feel as though he was free to go at will, or he became claustrophobic.
“No, I haven’t heard anything. I’m fine. Like I said, I just wanted to help you out with the school today, so I set my alarm.”
He would’ve set an alarm so he could help her if she’d asked him to. But she hadn’t.
That told her right there that something more was going on than he cared to admit.
Emery waited to come out of her room until everyone was gone and she had the house to herself. She guessed Dallas was at the school along with Aiyana and the others because she’d heard him calling up to Liam and Bentley to come help load Aiyana’s car.
After quietly descending the stairs, she checked out the front window to be sure, and saw that his van was gone.
Relieved that she wouldn’t have to worry about running into him, she went into the kitchen to have some breakfast. With any luck, she’d get out of the house before he returned. As much as she cared about him, she knew the less contact they had the easier it would be to go their separate ways come January.
Now that she’d put a stop to the physical side of their relationship, she was kind of shocked she’d ever let herself get sucked in so deeply, especially while she was in her current position.
Or was it her current position that had left her vulnerable?
She’d been so hurt, and he was so attractive and good at supporting and defending her.
She couldn’t decide exactly how she’d fallen into his bed—and still wanted to return there—but at least she was back on track.
After breakfast, she hurried upstairs to shower, but while she was getting ready, she couldn’t help checking her phone every few minutes. She told herself she was looking to see if there was any word from her attorney, the station, Ethan or Tommy. And she was. But in her heart she knew she was also hoping to find a text from Dallas.
Something that would make what happened last night go away.
Something that would enable them to continue on as they were, at least until one of them left.
But he hadn’t texted her, and he probably wouldn’t.
She frowned as she read over their exchange last night.
You coming down?
Soon.
How long do I have to wait?
At least until your mother goes to bed.
I’m dying for a taste of you. We’ll just close the door.
No way.
She’d felt giddy, breathless, waiting for the house to settle. And then, only two or three minutes later, he’d written.
Now?
She’d sent a laughing emoji, but she’d been every bit as impatient.
And then, only a few hours later, it was over.
Just that quickly.
She was ready for work by eleven-thirty and drove to the cookie store right away. She refused to take the chance that Dallas might return before she could leave. She knew she wouldn’t have the strength to resist him if they had the house all to themselves.
Once she arrived at the shop, she sat in her car, waiting until it was time for work. She didn’t get off until ten tonight. She was going to be at the store long enough as it was and figured she might as well reserve this last twenty minutes for herself.
Still determined to avoid social media, she read some news articles on her phone. Then she checked her email again. Her attorney had written to say he couldn’t get Tommy to respond to him. He wanted her to reach out to him again, but she didn’t have a lot of hope it would make any difference.
Just in case, she sent Tommy a text.
Really? You won’t respond? Come on, Tommy. I’d be there
