He leaned back in his chair and wondered if any of his employees would believe that if he told them. After all, he was known for his long hours, a nearly superhuman ability to focus on the problem at hand, and the need to put work above all else in his life.
That had changed, too, he thought as he saved his work in progress and left the office. The truth was if he was going to stay in Bradley for much longer, he was going to have to look into getting an office. Every week he stayed in the house, he was getting less and less done, while spending more time with Cassie and Sasha.
He stepped out the back door and stood unobserved on the rear porch. The November afternoon was bright, but cool. Sasha sat on the small swing her father had given her for her birthday. Her hair was still tousled from her nap, while the nip in the air added color to her plump cheeks. She was dressed in pink corduroy jeans that matched her favorite new pink shoes, and a jacket. Cassie stood behind her, gently pushing her on the swing.
“More,” Sasha called, ever the thrill-seeker.
“This is about all you can handle, sweetie,” Cassie told her.
Her life was so simple, Ryan thought, studying his niece. Playtime and nap time, plenty of love and affection. If she was fed and warm and cuddled, her world was right. Adults could learn from that, he thought. His gaze strayed to Cassie. Some already had.
Cassie was one of the most open women he’d ever met. In a world of people being politically correct, she said whatever she thought. She didn’t play games, she didn’t pretend to care about something, even if the world said she should. She was so pretty, he thought as he stared at her smooth skin and laughing brown eyes. Just watching her made him feel that everything could work out.
He was still in the shadows and hadn’t been spotted. Cassie slowed the swing and wrapped her arms around Sasha. “You are the most precious little girl,” she said. “I love you very much.”
Sasha hugged her back. The child whispered something and they giggled together.
Ryan felt as if he was eavesdropping on something very private, yet he couldn’t turn away. At least he didn’t have to worry about the person taking care of his niece. Every time he’d come into a room unexpectedly, all he’d found was warm affection and plenty of attention. Cassie treated Sasha with the same loving concern she would give her own child.
Now, as the two females talked, he wished there was some way to find out what Cassie was thinking. For the past two weeks, she’d acted as if everything was fine with her. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t heard from Joel. Did that bother her? Was she really all right, or was she hiding the truth from him? No matter how bright her smile, he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt inside of him. He’d been the one to kiss her, and that had, directly or indirectly, caused her to break it off with Joel. Therefore it was his fault. Therefore he had to fix the problem.
The question was how?
Maybe he could—“Unk Ryan!” Sasha spotted him and came running toward the porch. “Come pay me.”
He chuckled. “I’m translating that as ‘come play with me’ rather than ‘you owe me money.’”
“Have you borrowed any money from her recently?” Cassie asked, her voice teasing.
“No, I think our debts are cleared.” He picked up Sasha and swung her around. “What do you say, little one? Do I owe you vast sums of money?”
“More!” Sasha cried out as she moved through the air. “More!”
He tossed her in the air and caught her. Sasha squealed with delight, while he marveled at her ability to trust. Finally he set her on the ground. “I need a break,” he said.
“Cassie,” Sasha said, pointing at her nanny.
Cassie shook her head. “Thank you, no. I don’t want to be thrown into the air and I doubt your uncle wants to be the one to catch me. I would hurt his back.”
Sasha frowned.
Cassie crouched in front of her. “I’m too big, sweetie. He can lift you, but he can’t lift me.”
“Then cull,” she said with a sly little grin and rushed toward Cassie.
“What is she talking about?” Ryan asked as Cassie backed away from his niece.
She laughed, then ducked around the swing pole and moved to her left. “You’re not going to get me,” she cried over her shoulder, walking just fast enough to keep Sasha an arm’s length away. “Tickling. She’s trying to get me so she can tickle me.”
Cassie made a tempting target. Worn jeans hugged her thighs and rounded hips. She wore a red sweatshirt that concealed her generous breasts, but he knew they were there. An intriguing thought occurred to him.