“She stayed asleep when I transferred her!” I announced. “I couldn’t believe it.”
He offered me a fleeting smile. “That’s great.”
“What are you up to?”
He shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Sleeping with your eyes open?”
This time, his smile lingered a little bit longer. “It’s possible. Pretty sure I haven’t been this tired since I was a plebe.”
“I’m sorry about that.” I slid out a chair across from Dean and joined him at the table. “While we’re both awake and the baby’s sleeping, I have to say a couple of things, Dean. I’ve been thinking about them for a while, but I haven’t had the mental energy to say unnecessary words.”
“I understand that, too.” His brows drew together. “But why are you apologizing about me being tired? I think we’re all in the same boat.”
“Yes, but you didn’t exactly volunteer for this gig.” I shrugged. “You’ve gone above and beyond.”
Dean scowled at me. “So we’re back to that, are we? I was hoping we’d gotten past it by now.”
“I don’t know what you mean by beingback tosomething. I was just . . . being appreciative.”
“But that’s the point!” His voice rose, and then, remembering the sleeping infant, he stopped and spoke more softly. “What would you think if I thanked you for nursing Rose?”
I frowned. “I’d think you were crazy.”
“And why?”
“Because I’m her mother. Feeding her is what I do.” I spread out my hands.
“Exactly.” Dean pointed at me. “And when you thank me, that’s how I feel.” He tapped his chest. “I’m her father. I’m not helping to take care of Rose out of any sense of obligation. I do it because I love her, too.”
“Okay, okay.” I shrugged. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” I paused. “But listen, Dean. What I was going to say was that I know you must be getting restless. You’ve lost two weeks of your graduation leave. If you need to go, I understand. Rose and I are going to be okay.”
“Oh, great. Just great. Once again, you’re pushing me away.” Dean leaned forward. “Is this your answer to me?”
“What answer?” I was honestly bewildered.
“You know.” He raked one hand over his head. “What I asked you before the baby was born. Right before your water broke.” He quirked up one eyebrow. “Which, I have to say, is a pretty ingenious way to avoid answering a question.”
I rolled my eyes. “Now you’re saying that I intentionally broke my water and went into labor so that I didn’t have to finish our discussion? Seriously?”
“Of course not. I was only joking.” Dean rested his elbows on the table. “But if we’re going to talk about it, the truth is that you never did answer the question I asked that day.”
“Oh, my apologies, I was a little busygiving birth,” I replied, fully aware that my exasperation was masking panic.
“But you’re not doing that now,” Dean pointed out. “So maybe it’s a good time to . . . ah, you know. Revisit the topic.”
“All right.” I folded my arms on the table. “What exactly do you want to discuss?”
“Well, for starters—” He studied my face. “Willow, I was thinking that maybe you and Rose could come with me down to Fort Benning when I have to go later this summer. We could—I don’t know, just see how it works.”
I felt an odd sort of numbness as I blinked at Dean. “See how what works?”
“You and me.” He swallowed. “And then . . . we’ll see what comes next once I’m done there. I’ll be reporting to Fort Campbell in Kentucky right after the holidays. If everything was working out with . . . us, you could come there, too. If you want.”
“Oh, goodness, Dean, please stop.” I pretended to fan myself. “You’ll make me blush with all of these romantic innuendos.”
With a long exhale, he rolled his eyes. “I just can’t win. It doesn’t matter how I say it to you—you’re going to figure out a way to be pissed. If I tell you—when I try to express how I feel, you close me off. When I try to make a logical case for why we should give this a shot, you’re irritated with me for that, too.”
