“Not that long ago. Because you just laughed.” His gray-green gaze met hers and held. “Twice.”
The warmth in his eyes made her go hot and then cold, and she was glad she was sitting. Her belly flip-flopped and her legs felt kind of weak.
Crazy that just looking at him could make her feel breathless. Crazy that even now he could still make her feel so much.
Whitney reached for her ice water and took a big gulp. “So,” she said.
“So,” he echoed.
Something in his voice caught her attention and she looked up, her eyes locking with his. He was looking at her hard, looking so closely that she felt naked, all of her wishes and dreams exposed. For a moment she couldn’t breathe. For a moment the past was gone, and they were here and the future spread before them where anything was possible.
“Thank you for taking such good care of Daisy,” he said, his voice deep, sincere.
“I loved it.” She glanced at Daisy who was struggling to stay awake. “She’s an amazing little girl.”
“She is,” he agreed. “But you’re pretty amazing, too. You make a pretty good pair.”
She struggled to smile. “I will miss her when I leave.”
“You don’t have to leave.”
“I do.”
“Because of your boyfriend?”
She grimaced, uncomfortable with her exaggeration. It felt like a fib in hindsight. She needed to be honest or else she’d feel guilty forever. “It’s not that serious between us,” she said lightly. “I shouldn’t have called him my boyfriend. Jason’s a friend and we’ve had a couple dates.”
Cormac’s expression eased. He was clearly amused by her confession. “But you told me—”
“I know what I told you. I think he would even like to be my boyfriend—”
“I am sure he would. You’re a great catch.”
“Thanks, boss.”
He laughed. “We do have a really odd relationship.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I’d rather you tell me about your boyfriend that’s not a boyfriend. What’s his name?”
“Jason, and we’re not going to discuss him.”
Daisy was fast asleep now and Cormac peeled off his sweater, turning it into a pillow for her head.
Whitney tried not to stare at Cormac in fitted, thin T-shirt. His muscles popped everywhere. He looked good. Really good.
He glanced up suddenly, and he smiled that very lazy, sexy way he had of smiling while looking deep into her eyes, making her feel as if he’d just read her mind. “I see you, Alder.”
The air caught in her lungs. Her heart beat so hard it hurt, as if it were a freight train thundering in her chest. “I see you, too, Sheenan,” she said huskily, realizing in that moment she still loved him.
Then despairing in the next that she probably always would.
Somehow they got through dinner without Whitney having a heart attack. But it wasn’t easy eating when her body hummed and tingled.
This felt like a date. It wasn’t a date. They weren’t a couple. They couldn’t be a couple. She wasn’t staying. He only wanted her in Marietta because it’d be good for Daisy. And Sheenan Media. Cormac only wanted her because it was in his best interests, not because he loved her.
She had to remember that.
She also had to remember that Cormac was a man. He might send out a desire signal but his desire signal was about lust, not love. He’d be satisfied with a good, hot, sweaty session in bed, but hooking up with him would destroy her. She loved him too much for a hook-up. She loved him too much to even contemplate messing around…making love.
“So dare I ask how it’s going with the house?” She tried to distract herself with conversation while they waited for the dinner bill, needing relief from the intense physical energy arcing between them.
His expression darkened. “No.”
“That bad?”
“It’s not working out, no.” Even his tone was grim. “What have you heard?”
“Bits and pieces. Enough to know that it’s not quite gelling.”
“An understatement.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know if it’s the group dynamics or I’m just a complete ass, but we’re definitely having communication problems. Heath and I do fine, but Josie is not on the same wavelength, and things aren’t getting done and I’m incredibly frustrated.”
“Snapping at her isn’t going to help.”
“She doesn’t return my calls.”
“Probably because she’s afraid you’ll snap at her.”
“She needs to toughen up. She’s a professional. This is a job. I just want to get it done so Daisy can have Christmas in her new home.”
“From what I understand, Josie is scared to make a decision you won’t like. But you aren’t giving her enough direction so she understands what you do like.”
He growled his frustration, even as he took the bill from the waitress and handed the bill back along with a credit card. “I’m not a designer,” he said, turning his attention back to Whitney. “I’m trying to explain what I want, but she doesn’t get it.”
“So you’re getting short with her, which makes Heath short with you,” Whitney summed up.
“Pretty much.”
“So what are you trying to do?”
“It’s a big log cabin house. Everything is on a grand scale—I think you know I bought it before Daisy—and it needed to be made a little more kid friendly. But even with the basic safety fixes, it’s not right for Daisy. I thought with some design magic it could work—”
“And I’m sure it could.”
“But Josie is stuck and we’re running out of time.”
“But the house will be right for Daisy when you’re there. You are what make it home.” She smiled at him. “Don’t overthink it. Just give her some Daisy spaces…her own room…a pint size rocking chair in the family room…a cozy nook in the kitchen or somewhere close to your desk where she can curl up with her books and dolls and play while you work.”
“You make it sound easy. But I question every single decision Josie puts before me. Now I’m second-guessing myself and changing my mind and Heath says that we have pretty much run out of time. Heath said this morning it’s unlikely we’ll be in the house for Christmas now.”
“But you will get in there. It’ll happen.”
“I know.” He put his hand on the top of sleeping Daisy’s head, his expression gentling. “She’s just had so much change in her life and I really wanted to give her a true Montana Christmas, which means Christmas at home. The storybook girl, Madeline, might like Christmas at the Plaza, but I’d just as soon my little girl have Christmas in a real house. Our house.”
Cormac was doing a great job of tugging on her heart and making her care. It was dangerous to care too much, though. It was dangerous to become part of their plans.
She opened her mouth and then closed it. Don’t get involved, she told herself. Don’t. This was none of her business. Cormac had access to a great design team. Heath and Josie were really good. Cormac just had to let go and allow Heath and Josie to do their thing. But Cormac was a perfectionist and when it came to Daisy…
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, as Cormac stood and carefully picked up Daisy so she wouldn’t conk her head on the booth.
Whitney kicked herself even as the words came out of her mouth. She shouldn’t be offering, shouldn’t be inserting herself into Cormac’s personal life, but she was here in Marietta, and she had nine years’ experience in design and she had free time in the evenings and on weekends. “Tell me no. I won’t be offended—”
“Sure. Hand me her coat.”
She stood and together they eased Daisy’s coat back on and then Whitney held out Cormac’s jacket and helped him slide his arms in, one at a time.
“And yes,” he said. “Please. I could use your help on the house. Thank you. And since Bella is coming tomorrow to take Daisy to
a birthday party, why don’t I show you the place while Daisy is at the party?”
“I will under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You give me full control over the project.” She lifted a hand to stop him. “I’m not Josie and I’m not going to run everything by you and get your permission. I’m not going to fight with you and I most definitely won’t give you the chance to derail the plans—”
“Okay.”
“No. You don’t mean that. You’re just saying that now, but later you’ll change your mind and assert control—”
“Not this time.” His gaze locked with hers. “I want you. And I trust you. Christmas will be here in nineteen days and I’ve fired Josie and pissed Heath off. You are all I have but that’s all I need, because there is no one else I’d rather have on my team than you.”
Heat rushed through her making her cheeks burn. “You are really turning on the charm, aren’t you?”
“That’s not charm. Those are facts. But I can turn on the charm—”
“Not necessary. Just want to be clear on how this would work.”
“I’m clear. You’re the boss. I’m not. Even though it’s my house.” He caught her eye and gave her his crooked, sexy smile. “I give you my word, baby.”
Baby.
Her heart turned over and she had to gulp air to keep her focus. He’d used to call her baby, spearing his strong fingers through her hair and whispering the word against her lips, his green-gray eyes so intent and achingly sincere before his lips would cover hers. Just hearing that word on his lips sent a wave of longing through her. She missed him intensely and it was impossible to sit here, so close, and not feel desire…and hope. And yet in the next moment, she ruthlessly stamped both down. She couldn’t lose focus. She had to keep her priorities.
“What time should we plan on for tomorrow?” she asked, wishing she didn’t sound quite so breathless.
“I’ll pick you up at noon.”