to go to bed. Actually, he was kind of surprised she did that. It had been a long time since somebody had his back.
After gathering the trash, he tied the bag and tossed it in the receptacle, making sure to secure the lid. Then he turned out the light and used the keypad to close the garage door before returning to his house.
All was quiet when he stepped inside, so he continued down the hall to check on the girls. Amidst the warm glow of their pink butterfly lamp, he could see that both were asleep. And so was Celeste.
She was leaning against Emma’s white headboard, head drooped to one side, with a book in her lap. One hand lay atop Emma’s back as the child snuggled beside her.
Something shifted inside him. He longed for his girls to have a mother’s nurturing. Someone who did those little things that said, “I love you.” Things like reading books, painting their nails and doing their hair. Someone who understood tea parties and Barbie dolls. Someone who was a helpmate to him.
Looking away, he ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t cut out for marriage, though. Even if he was, it certainly wouldn’t be with someone like Celeste. She was too much like his ex. Confident, independent, driven...All things that had drawn him to Tracy.
Unfortunately, Tracy had had no interest in motherhood.
Time to get Celeste out of here. He never should have left her with Emma and Cassidy in the first place.
Making his way between the two twin beds, he laid a hand on Celeste’s arm.
She didn’t move.
He leaned over until his mouth was inches from her ear. “Celeste?” He caught a whiff of vanilla.
A strand of her hair tickled his cheek, causing him to jump.
Celeste did, too. “What are you doing?” Though her words were whispered, they were undeniably sharp.
“Trying to wake you up.” He stormed out of the room and busied himself by straightening the living room until Celeste appeared.
“You’ve got a couple of great kids there.” She crossed her arms. “Not one argument. They settled right in and were asleep before I even finished the story.”
“I’m glad they didn’t give you any trouble.” He set the girls’ backpacks beside the front door. “You’ll be happy to know that your house is bear-free.”
“Thank you. You saved my life tonight.”
“I doubt that.” He darted into the kitchen to dump a handful of string cheese wrappers. “He was just a little guy.”
“Little? Not when he was standing on his hind legs, looking me straight in the eye.”
He rejoined her. “If he would have been full grown, he’d have been looking down at you.” Much like he was right now. When did she get so short?
“I guess I’d better go.” She moved to the door. “I really do appreciate you helping me out, though.”
He nodded, holding the door open. “Doesn’t look like I’ll have that quote by tomorrow.”
“I understand.” She stepped onto the porch and stared across the street. Judging by the way her fingers dug into her arms, she was scared.
He knew he should walk her home. Set her at ease.
But he couldn’t. Not while his heart was longing for things that would never be.
He peered up at the darkened sky. “I’ll keep watch. Make sure you get home safely.”
Her smile lacked its usual confidence. “Okay.” She started down the stairs. “Thanks again, Gage. I owe you.”
She moved quickly across the street and up her front walk. At the door, she paused and waved before disappearing inside.
He felt like a jerk.
No, he felt like a fool for entertaining such crazy thoughts.
He went back into his house and dropped onto the sofa. He must be tired. But there was no way he’d be able to sleep. He needed to focus on something else.
Standing, he moved to the dining table and opened his laptop. May as well work on a quote. With nothing else in the pipeline, he’d need the work. And, if God didn’t want him to have the job, Celeste would turn him down anyway.
But what if He does want you to have this job?
Gage sighed. Then he’d just have to get through it as quickly as possible.
Gage dropped the girls off at school without a minute to spare. After staying up late to work on Celeste’s quote, sleep held him captive with unwanted yet all-too-appealing visions of Celeste with his daughters.
Two cups of coffee and a quick shower later, he was still dragging. He could only hope the breakfast rush went long at Granny’s Kitchen. The busier Celeste was, the quicker the process would be. He’d simply drop off the estimate and she could get back to him later. Because after seeing her in his dreams, the last thing he wanted was to spend time in her presence this morning.
A half a dozen cars parked near the corner restaurant encouraged him. He snagged a spot, turned off the ignition and hopped out of his truck.
Despite a clear blue sky overhead, Main Street lay bathed in shadows, waiting for the sun to top the gray, volcanic peaks of the Amphitheater, the curved formation at the town’s eastern edge. Frost dappled windshields and rooftops, while the brisk morning air jolted his sleep-deprived senses. A reminder that winter wasn’t too far around the corner.
Inside the restaurant, smiling faces and the aromas of bacon, fresh-brewed coffee and cinnamon transported him to another time. Back when life was simpler and dreams were bigger. When the future was his for the taking. Before reality dealt a heartbreaking blow that would forever change him.
Celeste emerged from the kitchen, carrying three plates. One with eggs, bacon and hash browns, another with what appeared to be breakfast burritos, and the last held a cinnamon roll that looked exactly like the ones her grandmother used to make.
Spotting him, she did a double take. “Be with you in a second.”
His insides tensed. While his head told him to drop the file on the counter and run, his stomach begged him to pull up a chair and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Maybe food would help take his mind off last night. If nothing else, it would silence the rumbling in his gut.
He slid onto a bar stool as Celeste moved behind the oak-topped counter.
She paused long enough to grab a coffeepot and a white mug. “You look as though you could use this.” She set the cup in front of him and poured.
“That bad, huh?”
She puffed out a gentle laugh. “That bear—or at least thoughts of him—kept me awake half the night, too.”
Bear? He palmed the cup, the warmth seeping into his fingers. He should be so lucky.
“Cream or sugar?”
“No, thanks.” He took a sip, trying not to make eye contact. Celeste’s long blond hair was pulled back yet again, her attire more business than casual, and she’d grown at least two inches since last night.
“Excuse me for a minute.” She replaced the coffeepot on the warmer before continuing into the kitchen.
Gage couldn’t help wondering what had happened to the overbearing, dictatorial Celeste he met with yesterday afternoon. The one who had been a burr under his saddle. That Celeste he could deal with. The sweet, nurturing Celeste who showed up uninvited in his dreams? Not so much.
A few minutes later, she returned, carrying a foil pan encased in a plastic bag. She