When she’d finished eating, she drank the last of the milk, then said, “Down.”
Ryan looked at Cassie. “She wants out.”
“If she’s finished eating, that’s fine.”
He glanced from her back to Sasha. That hadn’t been the answer he’d expected. He’d thought that Cassie would come over and take care of things. Okay, so she was giving him practice. He could handle this.
He crossed to the sink and fished a clean dishcloth out of the drawer, then dampened it and returned to the high chair. After removing the bib, he cleaned the toddler’s face, hands and arms, then unhooked the tray and put it on the table. Sasha held out her arms.
Ryan bent over and lifted her from the seat. But instead of leaning down toward the ground, she pressed a wet, cereal-scented kiss on his cheek. “Unk Ryan,” she explained.
“Yes, I know,” he said, somewhat at a loss as to his next move. Finally he set her on her feet. She giggled once, then scampered out of the room.
“You’ve won her over.” Cassie set his breakfast on the table. After picking up the dirty high chair tray, she carried it to the sink.
“I don’t think it was the clear victory of the campaign,” he admitted, “but it was a pleasant encounter.”
“If this is a campaign, then you must be the general in charge?” she asked.
“You have to ask?”
“Five-star?”
“If they come with that many, sure.”
She smiled at him as she returned to the table and took the seat opposite his. He glanced at his cereal, the neatly sliced banana and the plate of toast sitting together on the place mat.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said. “I meant what I said. I’ll take care of it from now on.”
“Whatever you’d like.”
He started his breakfast, all the while trying to ignore the unusual domesticity of the situation. He rarely had women over to his place because he wasn’t comfortable with them spending the night. Actually it wasn’t the nights he minded as much as the awkward mornings. So he did his thing and escaped as gracefully as he could. Besides, the women of his acquaintance had to be at work as early as he did, so there was no time for idle chitchat.
It occurred to him that Cassie was already at work and that for her, this was simply a part of her job. The thought unsettled him although he couldn’t quite say how.
Sasha ran into the room and handed him a red ball. He took it, but before he could say anything, she was gone again.
“Oh, we’re going to play that game again,” he said and patted his front pockets. “I don’t have any spare change.”
“There’s some over here,” Cassie said, rising to her feet. She crossed to the counter and pulled a white envelope out of a drawer. “It’s the remaining grocery money.” She fished out several pennies and two nickels. “This should keep her happy.” She placed the money next to him and took her seat.
Morning light spilled in through the big, lace-covered window. Cassie looked freshly scrubbed and well rested. Except for the heart-shaped earrings she usually wore and her promise ring, she didn’t have on any jewelry. Her clothes were as casual as his. Yet there was something about her…something sexy.
He cleared his throat. “So, how was your evening?”
Her gaze lowered. “Very nice. We went to a movie, then stopped and had dessert.”
“Were you out late?”
He was a fraud, he thought even as he asked the question. He knew exactly what time Cassie had gotten home. With a quick calculation of the time needed to drive to the theater, watch the movie, then order and eat dessert, unless they did it in less than fifteen minutes, it was unlikely Cassie and Joel had made love the previous night.
The realization pleased him and he refused to consider why.
“I think I got back about ten-thirty,” she said.
“Oh. I was reading in my room last night. I didn’t hear you.” The lie slipped easily off his tongue and he had a moment of guilt. Then Sasha returned with her favorite stuffed bunny and distracted him. He gave the girl a penny, which she took with a squeal of delight, then raced out of the room again.
“So you had fun?” he asked, not sure why he was pursuing this particular topic.
She hesitated. “Of course.”
“You must be very comfortable with Joel. Having dated him for so long. I mean that in a good way,” he added quickly when she glanced at him.
“We’re…” She hesitated. “Can we change the subject?”
“Of course. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s not that. It’s just I have lot on my mind.”