Part 49 (1/2)

”Do you deserve one? You fundamentally changed everything about our past. I'm still dealing.”

”Are you going to be able to work with me?”

”Offering to leave?” she asked.

”If it helps.”

Would it? ”I meant what I said. I don't hate you.”

”Will we ever be friends again?”

Friends? They'd been married before. They now worked together and just about a week ago, they'd been lovers. She wasn't sure they'd ever been friends.

”I don't know,” she admitted. ”I'm not sure it's...”

Suddenly she felt a fluttering in her stomach. Her breath caught.

”What?” he asked. ”Are you okay?”

”I'm great. It's the baby. It's moving.”

He smiled at her. ”Yeah? What does it feel like?”

Anger and hurt battled with a need to share the wonder. She hesitated a second, then pulled up her sweater and placed his hand on her bare stomach.

”Can you feel it?” she asked. ”It's right there.”

He glanced at her, his eyes wide, his mouth parted in amazement. ”I can feel it. Not a kick. More of a brus.h.i.+ng.”

”Yes. That's it.”

They smiled at each other, then he turned his attention back to the road. Still, he kept his hand on her stomach and she kept her hand on top of his. The moment seemed to stretch on endlessly. Despite everything, they were connected.

He'd been so much a part of her past and now he was in her present. She wanted to hate him and couldn't.

At least she no longer loved him. Only a fool would want her heart broken by the same man twice.

CAL CHECKED over the figures from the previous night. He glanced up as his office door opened and Dani stepped inside.

”Hi,” he said before he realized she was crying. He stood and walked around to hug her. ”What's wrong?”

Instead of answering, her tears turned into sobs. Her whole body shook as he held her. He felt her pain, even if he didn't know what caused it, and he was more than willing to go do battle on her behalf.

”Whose a.s.s do I have to kick?” he asked, as he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.

”I w-wish it was that simple,” she said, her voice m.u.f.fled against his chest. She straightened and looked into his eyes. ”It's Hugh.”

Cal grimaced. He wasn't comfortable picking a fight with a guy in a wheelchair, but if necessary...”What did he do?”

”He left me.”