Page 92 of His Surrender

“Now,” I say quietly, “I think he finally sees me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

DEAN

It’s been pure torture, watching Aubrey come and go with her friend since Friday evening and not being able to take her into my arms.

Our kiss has my insides tied in knots. I want more. One kiss was enough to leave me completely addicted, yet somehow, it was not nearly enough to satisfy the ache that’d been building inside me for weeks.

Aubrey just went downstairs to see Sydney off, and my body is tense with anticipation at the simple thought of finally being alone with her.

I look over at Liana, who is currently enjoying a little ride in her swing.

Well, I guess we’re not entirely alone.

The ding of the elevator tells me Aubrey is back.

She steps into the penthouse with a noticeable change in her demeanor. The bright smile she wore all weekend is gone, replaced by something quieter as she comes to a stop behind the couch, where I’m sitting.

As if she doesn’t know what to say to me, she turns to Liana. “Mind if I give Liana her bedtime bottle and get her in bed?” she asks over her shoulder.

I stand up from the couch. “I don’t mind at all, but you know you don’t have to. It’s still your time off.”

She turns to face me but seems startled to find me standing only a couple of feet away. Her eyes immediately drop to the floor.

“I know,” she whispers before looking back up at me. “I just … missed her.”

The words hit me with surprising force.

This woman has completely turned my world upside down, and after spending the weekend with her best friend, the first thing she wants is a few quiet minutes, rocking my daughter to sleep.

It shouldn’t affect me this much, but it does.

Something tightens painfully in my chest, a feeling that’s equal parts gratitude and something far more dangerous. Because somewhere along the way, I stopped imagining Aubrey as someone simply helping me raise Liana.

Without realizing it … I started imagining she belonged here.

I swallow past the lump in my throat and nod. “I’m sure she missed you too.”

Aubrey fiddles with her fingers as a small smile spreads across her face before she disappears into the kitchen to make Liana’s bottle.

I follow her in and lean against the island as I watch.

I start to get the feeling that she is ignoring me, like there is this shyness in her that wasn’t there her first day here.

With her back to me, she scoops in the formula and shakes the bottle before placing it in the warmer and hitting the button.

When she’s finished, she simply stands there, watching the little light on the warmer like it’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen.

Her fingers fidget together. Her weight shifts from one foot to the other. She still doesn’t turn around.

A slow smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. I realize she’s nervous.

This confident, witty woman, who spent the last month teasing me over coffee every morning, suddenly can’t bring herself to make eye contact.

I should probably give her a little space. Instead, I push off the island until I’m directly behind her. Close enough that I can smell the faint floral scent of her shampoo.

I brace one hand on the countertop beside her, then the other. Without touching her, I quietly trap her between my arms and the island.