That decided, he told himself to lose the lingering guilt, and get back to work. Before he could, there was a light tap on his door, then Cassie stuck her head into the room.
“I’m back,” she said, giving him a warm smile.
He studied her face. Except for the shadows under her eyes indicating she hadn’t slept well the night before, she looked fine. “Everything all right?” he asked.
“Perfect. I’d like to invite Aunt Charity to stay for dinner. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes,” he said automatically, when he really wanted to refuse her request. It wasn’t that he hadn’t enjoyed talking with Charity, it was just that he and Cassie had things they needed to discuss. Although at the moment he couldn’t quite figure out what they were.
“Great. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
She disappeared and he was left staring at the closed door.
She had seemed like her normal self, he thought. If she had let last night go so easily, he should do the same. She’d accepted his apology and his promise that it wouldn’t happen again, and moved on. He told himself he was grateful. He told himself that the lingering memories of the feel of her in his arms would pass in time. He told himself he had to work when in fact he listened intently to the sounds of female voices coming from the front of the house. He told himself he preferred it this way and that he wasn’t lonely, even though he longed to be a part of the laughter. And he pretended to work until Cassie reappeared to invite him into the warmth of her company.
* * *
“YOU ARE a precious angel, aren’t you?” Charity said as she stroked Sasha’s cheek. “This little one and I had a terrific time together. Feel free to call on me to baby-sit anytime.”
Sasha beamed with the additional attention and placed her hands on her high chair tray.
“She’s a charmer,” Ryan said, from across the table. “She’s too cute and she knows it, don’t you?”
Sasha held out her arms. “Unk Ryan.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled as he pushed back his chair and circled around to crouch by her high chair. Her short arms wrapped around his neck. She squeezed tight while he gently hugged her back. He didn’t fool himself about who had the power in this relationship, he thought with a smile. “You’ve got me pegged, kid. I’m a sucker for your hugs.”
Sasha pursed her lips and he obliged her with a quick kiss. Her need for affection satiated, the toddler picked up her spoon and banged it against her metal tray. “Me hungry.”
“We know,” Ryan said as he took the spoon from her and set it on the large table just out of reach. “Sit there nicely until Cassie brings you dinner. It won’t be very long.”
She stared mutinously at him. Her lower lip quivered. Uh-oh, the storm wasn’t far behind. Time to entertain the troops. He slapped his hand on the tray table and splayed his fingers. “Pick one,” he said.
Sasha hesitated.
He faked a hurt look. “Don’t you want to play?”
She pulled on his index finger. In response, he bounced the digit several times. Sasha giggled, then pulled on his middle finger. This time he raised his hand until it hovered a couple of inches above the table, all the while humming scary alien music. After a couple of seconds, he let his hand flop back to the table.
Sasha squealed with delight. “More,” she demanded and tugged on his thumb.
He flopped his entire hand back and forth, moving very quickly and finishing with a lunge for her side so he could tickle her. Sasha laughed and wiggled, pushing him away, then grabbing him and drawing him close.
“You can’t have it both ways, kid,” he told her.
“Dinner’s ready,” Cassie said.
He looked up and saw her standing in the entrance to the dining room. She held Sasha’s plastic plate and gazed at him with a bemused expression.
Ryan stepped back hastily. He’d forgotten that he and Sasha weren’t alone. A quick glance told him that Charity had been equally amused by his game with his niece.
“She was going to cry,” Ryan said defensively. “I wanted to stop that.”
“You did a great job,” Cassie told him. “I’m impressed.” She set the plate in front of Sasha, handed the child her spoon, then patted Ryan’s arm. “Everything is ready. Why don’t you have a seat?”
He felt oddly embarrassed, as if he’d been caught doing something foolish. But he didn’t keep defending himself. Instead he opened the red wine Cassie had set out and filled the three glasses.
“Ryan and I were talking earlier today,” Charity said as her niece served tenderloins of beef and steamed asparagus. “Did you know he’d been to college on a scholarship?”