I caressed her jaw, unwilling to quit touching her. “You’re giving me time. Can you give me a little more?”

I cupped her face in one hand as she gazed into my eyes.

I didn’t hide myself. I resisted the urge to stuff away the feelings flowing through me into that handy mental box and I let her see inside. Let her see me again, and every turbulent emotion inside.

“It’s not about the money?” Her voice was ragged, her anxiety about the foundation we’d just built evident.

“I’ll give every damn cent away tomorrow if you tell me to. I just ask we make sure it goes to a worthy cause.”

She nodded and swallowed. “I think we both need more time.”

Relief soared strong in my chest. Instead of smiling, I blew past my resistance and planted a kiss on her. She jumped but didn’t pull away, and I didn’t push her further.

I broke away after a couple of seconds. “Have a good night, Kate.”

I rose before I could sport an erection and ruin the progress I’d made with her. Before I walked out the door, she said, “Aiden?”

I looked back. Her hair shone golden under the weak light of the room. The multicolored knit sweater she wore cupped her breasts and flared over her rounded hips. Her soft beauty was captivating. Always had been.

“Violet asked me if you could come to her wrestling tournament. It’s in a couple of weeks.”

The corner of my mouth hitched. Violet had no idea how much I owed her. “I’d love to. Send me the details?”

Kate

Boisterous laughter surrounded me. Mom had pulled out the leaf for the table and her card table for the kids. Thanksgiving at her house used to be one of my favorite days, but today my smile was fake and I sat with the group but stayed on the fringes of conversation.

My belly was stuffed. The aromas of turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings lingered in the air. We were at the part of our traditional day when the dishes had been cleaned and we’d lost all the football lovers to the TV, their shouts cutting through the laughter. Mattie would let out a swear word and Jason would whap him with his ball cap. Pie would be in an hour, when we could pile more food in our bellies.

I started the dishwasher and turned. My sister-in-law, Sophie, stood behind me. “It’s a nice day. Want to go for a walk?”

The temperature had reached forty degrees today, but the sun was out and the wind down. It felt as good as a sixty-degree day. “That sounds nice.”

We each got into our boots and jackets and stepped out. Air gusted around my face, but the sun eased the ache in my temples.