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“Don’t take them on yourself. I’ve had some too, but I’m not taking the blame for them completely. I can’t and won’t change my career any more than you. If the person we end up with can’t accept that, it’s not on us. Right?”

“Right,” he said. “But it’s hard to remember that when you’re watching someone else walk out the door.”

She dropped the shrimp in the hot pan, the pasta in the other.

“I’m not walking out any door.”

“No. Not yet.”

“Colson.”

“That came out wrong.”

“I don’t think it did. I think you’re always going to carry those doubts with you because you’re not sure you can do it any other way.”

“We can’t always change who we are,” he said.

She kept the growl from her lips. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“What? No,” he said quickly.

“Then shut up and let me talk.”

He laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You and me. We know what the other brings to the table. What we’ve both been waiting for. Am I wrong?”

“No.”

“I’ve admitted that I’ve had my eye on you for a long time. Maybe I waited too long to make a move.”

“I believe we made the same move at the same time.”

“Very true. My point is, I wanted to move faster and you slowed me down. Right here in this condo, remember that?”

“It’s hard to forget it.”

“That’s right. And why did you slow me down? What did you say your reason was?”

His eyes softened. She was getting to him.

She was wearing him down like she did the jury during a closing statement.

“I said I was doing it right. That too much was on the line.”

She flipped the shrimp over and turned to face him, her hands on her hips. “That’s right. Do you still feel that way?”

“I do.”

“The same. I know what is on the line. And I’m not talking about our jobs or our careers. I’m talking about Bella. I’m talking about a second chance at something we both want. Something we want for the right reasons.”

He moved towards the boiling pasta and stirred it for her.

Not having to be asked.

Just knowing it needed to be done.

That they could work together without words as a team.