Elle felt a jolt of heat as sensual memories flooded her mind. Did Brock want her in his bed again? What would be different between them? “Is that what you want?”
“We don’t need to make that decision right now. You’ve been through a lot during the last couple of weeks. Make sure you don’t do too much today when you’re packing and unpacking your belongings. That’s what Roger is for.”
She nodded and a silence fell between them. How she longed for the easy conversation they’d once shared.
He glanced at his watch. “Time for me to go.”
“So early?” The words popped out before she knew it.
“Breakfast meeting with—” He stopped as if he remembered he couldn’t share that information with her. She’d shown him she couldn’t be trusted. Elle hated that. She wondered if it would always be this way between them—oh-so-careful with edited information.
“Have a good day,” she managed.
“You, too,” he said and walked away.
Her stomach twisted and she forced herself to take a quick breath. Give it time, she told herself. You haven’t even been married twenty-four hours.
Later that day, Elle’s mother helped her pack. “This is the sad part,” her mother said. “As happy as I am for you that you’re married and moving to live with your husband, I’ll miss you terribly.”
Her mother’s tone tugged at her heart and Elle gave her a hug. “It’s not like I’m moving very far. We can see each other as often as we like. And you know you can call me for anything,” Elle said firmly.
“I’m glad I finally joined that support group last year,” Suzanne said. “We really do help take care of each other, and heaven knows I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
Elle held up her hand. “Stop that craziness. You know you’re no burden. I just don’t want you to push yourself too much, especially now that you’ve gone back to work part-time.”
“Look who’s talking,” her mother said. “You’re the one who’s been working double time lately, preparing for the wedding and moving. Thank goodness Brock won’t let you overdo any longer. I can tell he’s a strong man.”
“Yes, he is,” Elle murmured, thinking Brock wouldn’t let her within a mile of the office at this point.
“What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell him about the baby as soon as you knew,” her mother said, her brows knitting in a furrow.
“Aside from the fact that it was an office affair?” Elle said, even though it had been far more than that to her. She smiled and gave her mother another squeeze. “You know, things just get complicated sometimes.”
Later that evening, Elle tried to help Roger carry a box upstairs but was brushed aside. He shot her an appalled glance. “Absolutely not, Mrs. Maddox. Mr. Maddox would have my head. I would have my head,” the older man said.
“Okay, okay,” Elle said, stepping aside. “At least let me get you something to drink.”
Roger gave a heavy sigh. “Thank you.”
Elle checked out the small refrigerator in the mini-kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water. She walked back to the smaller bedroom where Roger was stacking the last of the boxes.
“Now, you know not to lift these,” he said, shooting her a warning gaze with iron-gray eyebrows over dark gray eyes.
“Maybe we should spread them out a little,” she suggested.
He lifted his hand as she approached to help. “I’ll do it, but only with the agreement that you leave a light on at night so you won’t trip on your way to the bathroom.”
“Excellent idea,” she said, clapping her hands. “I see why Brock relies on you.”
Roger’s lips lifted in a half grin. “Thank you. I’m honored by the compliment.”
A few moments later, she thrust the bottle of water into his hands and impulsively hugged the cranky man.
He gave a low chuckle of surprise. “Now, promise you won’t try to do too much this evening. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know?”
During the next hour, Elle emptied four boxes into drawers and the generous walk-in closet. Glancing up, she noticed the late hour and decided to take a break with a hot shower. She wondered where Brock was. Was he staying at his office apartment tonight? In the bed they had shared so many times after work?
The notion twisted something inside her and she tried not to think about it as the water spilled over her. She tried to visualize the warmth washing away all her worries as she rubbed her belly. Elle couldn’t overthink the future right now. Dealing with today was enough.