Telling herself she was being silly, she said, “That’s wonderful.”
“You’re wonderful.”
The band around her heart squeezed again, but this time it was with hope. He did have feelings for her. She knew it in her soul. Still, she’d turned him down and told him no so many times she knew that the next move might have to be hers.
“You know, being here has changed me too. Being left at the altar made me feel I was a wash as a woman.”
He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “That’s hardly the case.”
“Well, thanks to you I understand that now.”
Her words drifted away into silence. With Joshua happily occupied in the crib, the quiet and privacy of their situation settled over Audra. They stood only inches apart. He still had his hands on her shoulders. They’d just admitted they liked and helped each other.
Now?
Their gazes caught and clung. He dipped his head and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers softly, hesitantly, kissing her with such emotion and tenderness that everything inside her stilled. He couldn’t hide the intensity of his feelings for her. He knew her now. This wasn’t about attraction or chemistry. This kiss was about genuine emotion.
They broke apart slowly. Their eyes met again.
Audra could barely breathe. Her last breath was stuck in her chest. Her blood virtually sang through her veins. But Dominic didn’t say anything. He only stared at her.
Finally she realized that maybe words weren’t necessary. They’d already told each other how they felt. He’d kissed her. If she were really part of his life, she wouldn’t be thrown by a kiss. The situation would continue on normally.
“Do you want to help with Joshua’s morning routine?”
He took a breath. “Sure. I’ll dress him myself again.”
He walked Joshua to the dressing table and Audra gathered his clothes.
He rolled the baby onto the changing table and leaned in so his face was close. “Hey, there, Joshua. You like this, don’t you?”
The baby cooed and laughed, slapping Dominic’s cheeks with his chubby fingers.
Dominic caught the baby’s hands and kissed each palm. “Behave.”
The baby laughed.
Audra’s heart swelled again. They were so cute together, so perfect and now it seemed as if she might fit into the picture, too.
Occupied with the baby, Dominic said, “I’m sorry that I keep getting distracted from something I want to tell you.”
Audra laughed and teasingly said, “Sorry?”
“Yeah. Every time I get distracted, I delay your stay here.” He peered over his shoulder at her. “I’ve been trying to say that I’m very grateful for your help. I know this really put you out—put a strain on your already busy schedule.”
“Hey, don’t forget you paid me well, and helped the Wedding Belles keep a promise.”
He laughed. “You think we’re even?”
“Yes.”
“That may be true, but I’m not going to hold you to the entire one-month deal.”
“You’re not?”
Finished dressing Joshua, Dominic lifted the baby from the changing table. “No. There aren’t words enough to thank you. So I think letting you out of the deal early is the best way to show my gratitude.”
Holding the baby, he walked over and stood in front of her. “We owe this to you,” he said, indicating the peace and comfort between him and his little boy. “We’ll never forget you.”
With that he turned and began walking to the door. “You’re free to go.”
Audra stood frozen. Just when she was ready to stay—or date him—certainly not expecting to go—she was free.
She packed in less than an hour and went looking for Dominic but was told he and the baby were out in the yard again. Beaming, Mary Greene hugged her daughter, told her she was proud of her, thanked her and then also just sort of dismissed her.
Audra had never felt so awkward. Had she only been a servant to him? An employee?
She took a long breath, glancing around the huge, silent foyer at the luxury, and knew the truth. She had only been an employee to him. And this Cinderella had to get back to the real world.
Swallowing hard, she lifted her suitcase and walked out. No fanfare. No emotion. Just silence.
Returning from a business lunch on Monday afternoon, with his driver’s attention on the back road they’d taken to Mark Makin’s residence, Dominic relaxed on his seat. Though he wished they wouldn’t, his thoughts drifted to Audra.
The CDs she’d had made filled a hole Dominic hadn’t known how to cope with. But the gesture itself told him more about Audra than he could have ever learned in a thousand dates. She saw through all his facades to the heart of his problem. Though she couldn’t fix it, she had found a solution. Dominic hadn’t felt this good in years.