As if she could read his thoughts, her gaze dipped and color seeped into her cheeks. “You won’t…punish me for not waiting…will you?”
Too light-hearted to care, and too touched by guilt over the last occurrence, he chuckled. “No, sweetheart. I get it now. Sometimes…it’s just too much.”
And if enormity of feeling sent her crashing over the edge, he would never reprimand her for doing so again.
“What do we do?” she whispered.
He tightened his arms around her. “We’ll figure it out.” He wasn’t entirely certain how, but there had to be a way to navigate the case, the distance, and the demands of their careers.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Cassie watched the planes pass over the airport, knowing Brad was inside one, feeling like part of her was tucked in his pocket. The whole thing was frightening, the skip of her heart, the excitement that bubbled in her veins, and the utter sense of completion he gave her—all of it scared the heck out of her. What if they couldn’t make it work? What if weekends weren’t enough? What if, what if, what if?
She drew in a deep breath to keep panic from stealing over her and backed away from the glass, finally allowing herself a giddy smile. What if everything came together and this was the once-in-a-lifetime she’d dreamt of?
They could really have a strong future if they figured it all out. He’d helped her this morning with a heartbreaking custody petition filed by grandparents against their substance-abusing daughter that had bogged Cassie down the previous day. With Stephanie’s help on researching Colorado case law, the three of them managed to draft a document Cassie felt correctly stated the facts and the desired action without putting the grandparents in the position of painting their daughter as a terrible human being. To Cassie’s surprise, Brad’s cutthroat nature took a backseat to a human quality she only ever witnessed when they were alone—compassion. The way he respected her desires when it came to her work melted her heart.
She drove home, seeing the world in new, fantastic colors. She’d really done it; she’d found a man who understood her. Brad Steele loved her.
When she pulled into her drive, Clinton’s navy pickup nosed in behind her. Cassie hit the garage door opening, and for the second time in the last three years, parked inside. She stepped out and greeted Clinton with a bright smile. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, kiddo. I tried to call.”
Oh, crap, she never had turned her phone back on. Cassie fished in her purse until she found her cell, and then rectified the problem. “Sorry. I, ah, didn’t want the interruption.”
Knowing lit his grey eyes. “Imagine that.”
When her cheeks began to burn, he laughed. “What are you blushing about? You’ve been married. It’s not like you don’t know a thing or two about life.” He shrugged. “Seems like a decent guy.”
She nodded and quietly said, “He is.” This was strange, too strange—talking about another man to Chris’s brother felt a bit like betraying his memory. “It’s been three years, Clinton. I miss him, but—”
Clinton held up a hand. “No, don’t make excuses. Chris wouldn’t have wanted you to shrivel up and die with him. Live life, Cassie.”
Again, she gave him a nod, but the uncomfortable knot in her belly didn’t let go. She was moving on. Really, truly, putting Chris behind her and moving forward with a man who she didn’t have to pretend with. A man who loved her just the way she was. She gnawed on her lower lip, uncertain what to make of that reality.
“I just dropped by because I was being nosy.” Clinton gave her a broad grin. “Anything you need while I’m here?”
“I think I’m good. I’ve got some packing to do today.”
He arched an eyebrow, cocked his head to the side. “You aren’t thinking about moving are you?”
“No.” Cassie laughed softly. “Remember how Chris moved us out of that amazing master bedroom with the fireplace I wanted?”
Clinton nodded.
“I’m moving back in.”
“Bout time, kiddo.” He gave her an impromptu, tight hug and caught both her wrists as he looked her in the eyes. “Don’t lose yourself again.”