She heard his footsteps through the kitchen and the living room. Held her breath as she heard him pause in the hallway. Was he looking at her door? She could almost sense him out there, gazing her way.
But then she heard him walk into his own room and close his door. She released her breath in a low sigh.
They couldn’t go on like this, of course. She couldn’t continue to avoid him. Eventually—soon—she was going to have to face him again for the first time since she had left his bed last week. And she was going to have to decide exactly how they would continue from here.
Connor looked exhausted when he arrived home late Monday afternoon, but Mia could tell by her first look at him that he was satisfied with his performance on the gross anatomy final.
“You did well?” she asked when he walked in.
He gave her a tired smile. “I think so. It was as hard as I expected, but I was pretty confident with my answers.”
“That’s great. I know you’re glad to have that class behind you.”
He nodded vigorously. “Very much so. Definitely the most difficult class I’ve ever taken in my life. But I got through it.”
She smiled. “I hope you’re hungry. I made lasagna.”
His eyes lit up. “Lasagna? My favorite meal.”
“I know that. And we’re having chocolate chess pie for dessert. To celebrate your survival of the class.”
“My favorite meal and my favorite dessert. Mia, you’re an angel.”
Her heart twisted a little, but she smiled and waved him away. “Go wash up. I’ll get the food on the table.”
He hesitated a moment, as though he wanted to say—or do—something more. His gaze focused on her mouth, and she wondered if he was thinking about kissing her. Her own lips tingled in anticipation.
“Daddy! You’re home. I want to tell you what I did at the lake house.” Alexis was practically bouncing as she came into the kitchen. Not running, Mia noted with a faint smile, but definitely hurrying.
Connor swept Alexis into a hug. “Hi, princess. I want to hear all about your weekend. Just let me go wash my hands, okay? You can tell me all about it during the delicious dinner Mia has made for us.”
Torn between relief and disappointment, Mia turned back to her dinner preparations. “Alexis, would you like to put the napkins on the table?” she asked lightly.
There was no opportunity for Mia and Connor to talk during dinner. Alexis kept up a cheery monologue, barely taking time to chew and swallow before thinking of another tidbit to share with her father about her weekend with Mia’s family. Connor listened intently, smiling, laughing when appropriate, asking questions and encouraging her to continue.
Watching the two of them together, Mia was struck by how much more easily they communicated than they had at the start. Alexis seemed more comfortable with her father now, and he was more relaxed with her in return. There was no question that the child was still partial to Mia, but her affec
tions were becoming just a bit more balanced. Maybe this summer, when Alexis was out of school and Connor had a little more free time, the two of them could find things to do, just the two of them. Father-daughter outings. Family things.
“This meal is great, Mia. You outdid yourself tonight.”
She smiled a bit too brightly. “I’m glad you like it. You’re saving room for dessert, aren’t you?”
“Are you kidding? You couldn’t stop me from having some of that pie.” He looked at Alexis. “I tasted Mia’s chocolate chess pie for the first time not long after she and I met. That’s when I knew we were going to be best friends forever.”
Alexis giggled. “Because of her pie?”
“Well, maybe her lasagna had something to do with it, too.”
Grinning, the child glanced toward Mia. “I think Daddy likes your cooking.”
“Yes, I think he does, too.” She reached abruptly for her glass. “I’d like some more tea. Anyone else need anything while I’m up?”
They both assured her they were fine. They were already talking again as Mia opened the refrigerator door and took out the tea pitcher.
Connor insisted on cleaning up after the meal. It was the least he could do, he argued, after Mia had gone to so much trouble. Besides, with her habit of cleaning as she cooked, it wasn’t as if there was much left for him to do, he added.
She spent the next hour helping Alexis with a reading assignment and then getting her ready for bed. When the child was bathed and tucked snugly into bed, Mia gathered her courage and went to rejoin Connor in the living room, resisting a cowardly impulse to hide in her own room.