Page 62 of Cautious Love

He huffs, irritated. “No, and you know that.”

“Hmm, no I don’t,” I say and shrug, avoiding looking too closely at him, for fear I’ll be snatched up into those warm brown eyes and there will be no going back.

But I do want to ask him one thing.

“Why were you likethatat the diner?”

He tilts his head. “Nice?”

I snort. “You … touched me, you, I don’t knowflirtedwith me in front of your family.”

Ledger shrugs. “That was flirting?”

I snort. “I thought you wanted to keep me living here, and the whole marriage thing, on the down low,” I offer.

“I only said that because, well two reasons. That night, I don’t have to spell it out. And you’re somewhat involved in one of the largest cases in Paxton’s history. If a judge or a jury were to find out that you’ve been living with me and contributing to the case, or maybe have knowledge you shouldn’t, it could cause the whole thing to be squashed. And also I don’t want my family all over … you.”

“Oh,” I mumble. I didn’t realize it was that serious.

“But what about the marriage thing?” I ask him.

“Wouldn’t apply, your involvement with the Kensingtons all happened before we got married. Why did you think I asked otherwise?” he asks.

I nibble my bottom lip and look away. “I thought maybe you didn’t want people to see us together,” I say quickly.

“Again, you’re not wrong, but it was because of the case. It wasn’t because…” he trails off and coughs clearing his throat. “It wasn’t because I don’t want people to see us together. I don’t want the questions, but it has nothing to do withyou.”

“It’s that simple?” I ask him.

He nods and crosses his arms. “It can be if you let it. So are we going to talk about it?”

“Do we have to?” I whine.

His lips roll over his teeth and he nods. “That’s okay I can take a hint. Goodnight,” he mumbles and leaves my room, closing the door behind him.

The moment the latch clicks my eyes burn and I blink away the tears.We won’t work. We won’t work.I have to believe that. All reasonable logic says as much. Right?

I dig my phone out of my purse and dial my dad. He’ll know what to do, and it’s probably time to tell him what happened.

He picks up on the first ring. “Hey sweetheart, how are you?” he asks.

My stomach unclenches and I smile tossing myself onto the bed. “I’m… I’m alright.”

He hums. “That doesn’t sound alright to me.”

“I miss you Daddy,” I mumble.

“I miss you too, when are you coming to see me?” he asks.

I sigh and recall the number I saw in my bank account. I can’taffordto go visit him right now.

“One day, I’m saving up.”

“Good, I’d rather you live down here though.”

I smile and stare at the ceiling. “You know I don’t like the desert,” I tell him. It’s the first excuse I came up with, and I’m sticking to it. I don’t know that I care that much if I had to choose, but there is something about those mountains that feels like home, like they are the exact place I’m meant to be.

“I don’t know why, yeah it gets hot, but at least the sun is always out.”