A tiny flicker of hope fluttered through her chest. If she didn’t see him today, maybe she’d at least run into him at his ranch tomorrow. It was already Saturday afternoon now, and she still hadn’t heard from him. Not a word or a text. Nothing. The sick feeling in her stomach increased. And it had nothing to do with the baby.
Their baby…
She’d made an appointment with the doctor next week. No one else knew about the baby except Fiona. But she wanted to tell Leo. Needed to tell him.
God. What if he didn’t want the baby? Didn’t want her?
Kaydee’s stomach lurched. She rushed into her bathroom to throw up. When finished, she rose to her feet and placed a hand on her belly. “I know, sweetheart. Life without Daddy in it is a sickening thought.”
Whatever was wrong, she’d fix it. She had to. Over the past few days, she’d come to terms with several things, and not just the “having a baby” part. The “I love Leo” part, too. She did love him. It was clear now, and never more so than at the thought of not having him in her life. That put it all into perspective.
So, yeah, she needed to see him. To talk to him. Just be with him. Things were better when they were together. Like Wednesday. Something was wrong, and he hadn’t stayed long, but he’d wanted to. She could see it in his eyes. Feel it in his touch.
Need. Longing…love. Yes, she’d seen that, too.
All those emotions had deepened his gaze. They were all there, along with one she hated to see.
Torment.
But why? And what caused it?
She hadn’t even mentioned the baby, so it couldn’t have been that. And just a simple mix-up with the wrong countertop wouldn’t do it. There had to be more. But she couldn’t get him to tell her, especially if they weren’t talking.
Sighing, she headed downstairs, debating what to do about her cellar steps. They’d never finished repairing them. The final three were already cut, but still needed to be screwed into place on the new risers Leo had built. Something she could handle…if she had a drill.
Maybe she should buy one.
Risers weren’t the only thing Leo had created down there. The talented man had built up a deep, fierce, blazing tide inside her that’d crashed onto an erotic shore she longed to revisit. Yeah, they kind of got sidetracked with sexytimes.
Totally his fault.
Looking all badass and hot with his tool belt slung low on his hips, biceps flexing under his T-shirt, back muscles rippling, giving her naughty, needy thoughts… The sight of him made her crazy and hungry and wanton, and she sort of attacked him. In a good way. He didn’t complain. No. He embraced it and her, whispering sexy, dirty, delicious promises in her ear as he made good on each and every one of them.
Great. Now she was hot and bothered. And alone. She’d never felt so alone.
The doorbell rang, and the sudden sound jarred her. She jumped and placed a hand over her racing heart as hope flickered through her chest.
Leo?
On the way to the door, she dug out her phone, noting no missed calls or text. She sighed. She doubted he’d just show up. A look out the peephole had her sucking in a breath. Wrong.
Reining in her pulse, she shoved her phone in her pocket and opened the door.
Shoulder against the frame, one hand gripping his toolbox, the other shoved deep in his pocket, Leo didn’t say anything, or move, except to lift his head and meet her gaze. Her indrawn breath echoed between them. His eyes were dull, clouded, and his mouth was tight…grim.
“Are you… okay?” she asked. A feeling of déjà vu from the other night rippled through her. “What’s wrong?”
He gave one slow shake of his head. “I’ve come to finish your stairs. Is that okay?”
She frowned. “Yes. Of course.” Then moved aside to let him in, wanting desperately to lean close and kiss him, but he was so rigid.
He stepped inside, his mouth twitching slightly, no doubt at her appearance. She was wearing cutoffs and her Captain America T-shirt. The irony of the fact that that character was best friends with the character he resembled wasn’t lost on her.
She smiled. It was the reason she’d bought it.
“Fitting,” he said, but there was something off in his voice. His gaze was still dull, too. Then he muttered under his breath about light and dark. “I’m gonna finish those steps.”
“Okay,” she said again. “Need help?”
