How can I get her to open up and trust me?
How can I convince her that, whatever she’s hiding, it’s not worth the weight she carries?
“What about you?”I pry.“Are you close with your parents?”
“It’s just Thomas and me,” she replies.
Which is not a direct answer.
“That must get hard.Raising him alone.”
“You would think so,” she replies with a soft smile.“But God blessed me with such a wonderful son.Don’t get me wrong.There are moments where being a single momishard, but he makes it all worth it.Every single moment.”
“He seems like a great kid.”
She beams at me.The first real smile I’ve ever seen on her face…and it steals my breath.“He’s my everything.”
I can’t look away from her.
I know I should.
That harboring any feelings at all for a woman who seems intent to keep me at arm’s length is a risk.
But I can’t help myself.
Still, if I’m not careful, I’ll scare her away.So, even though it pains me to do it, I shift my gaze back to my tea and take a drink.The heat scalds my tongue, but the pain grounds me in the present.
“I cannot believe my apartment flooded.”She covers her face with both hands again.
“We’ll get it fixed.”
“It’s okay.I can handle it.You’ve done enough already.”
“I really don’t mind.I help Geoff with maintenance sometimes.So, technically, it’s kind of my job.”
“You still shouldn’t be doing anything overly physical.”
“Actually, I was cleared completely.I may not look it, but I’m feeling stellar these days.”
Katelyn laughs softly, filling my living room with the most beautiful melody.“I never doubted that there was anything about you that is less than stellar, Garrison Holt.”Before I can even respond, her cheeks flush with color.“I just mean, you seem like you’re in great shape.”
I can’t help the smirk on my face or the way my pulse kicks up a notch.So she does feel this, too.Whatever is building between us, Katelyn is not immune.
And that makes me far happier than it should.