life—that she had baggage and competing responsibilities—had obviously hit home.
It couldn’t be all about him. About them.
She’d clocked the exact second he’d realized the implications and potential impact on his life as their eyes had met across the field. Which had then been driven home, later that night, sharing Wade’s apartment with her ex. And then there had been their awkward parting at the airport.
No long hug, no lingering see-you-later kiss. No attempt to narrow the distance between them. And she’d had to grind her heels into the pavement to stop herself from doing it, because freaking hell she’d wanted to touch him one last time. Yep, despite everything, despite telling herself not to get too invested in what was just a summer fling born from proximity and a sudden dose of horniness, she’d come to think and feel too much for Cole Hauser already.
In two weeks. Two freaking weeks. Which was utterly ridiculous.
But then, why was she crying so bloody much? Why did her chest hurt? And why did this feel worse than finding out Tad had cheated and her marriage breaking up? She hadn’t asked for something like this, and she hadn’t been looking for it, either. For crying out loud, Cole Hauser had only ever been a temporary…lover.
And he’d left. Because that’s what men did around her. They left.
Tad had. And now Cole. She was too bossy. And busy. And irritable. Her standards were too high. She was too demanding. She didn’t suffer fools very gladly.
But she was a busy single mom with a business and a household to run. And now a freaking chameleon to wrangle. There had to be control, or there’d be chaos. Which didn’t make her soft or easy. It didn’t make her fun.
It didn’t make her cool.
Tears welled in her eyes again, and she dashed them furiously away. Stop it. They’d been hooking up; that was it. She couldn’t expect Cole to just up and leave a job opportunity in Australia after all he’d been through in the past six months, to stay here and be with her and her suddenly malfunctioning tear ducts.
She was just…lonely. That was all. That’s what Cole’s little stay had shown her. She was so busy keeping everything humming along, she didn’t take time for herself—she didn’t hang out with friends or go out on girls’ nights. So of course it had been nice to have company.
Clearly, that had to change when she got back to California, in case she started looking at every guy who crossed her path in a completely inappropriate way.
“I can’t believe how amazing this room turned out.”
Jane blinked rapidly as CC Carter—Wade’s wife and the woman who’d employed her—entered the room. She was in a light cotton dress, the fabric loose around her eight-month-pregnant belly. She and Wade had arrived this morning with the furniture-moving people and were staying on for a few days after the magazine shoot to spend some time with Wade’s parents. They were heading back to Denver after that for the baby’s impending birth.
“I keep coming in here to stare at it.”
“Yeah.” Jane laughed. “Me, too.”
CC looked up at the chandelier, one hand absently rubbing her bump. “All of the chandeliers look incredible. How on earth did you get them so sparkly?”
Jane didn’t think CC wanted to hear from the wash of a million tears. So she smiled and said, “Cotton gloves, soapy water, and elbow grease.”
“I can’t wait to see it all lit up in a couple of hours.”
“It’s lovely,” Jane said wistfully, remembering the first time she’d flicked the switch after she’d finished cleaning. “It lights up like a concert stage, and it throws rainbows on the wallpaper.”
That had made her cry, too. Ugh. Eye roll.
“Oh.” CC smiled and fluttered her hand over her décolletage. “I’m so excited.” Jane laughed, and CC joined in before sobering a little and tipping her head in the direction of the kitchen. “Wade and I are having a drink out back. It’s depressingly nonalcoholic, but we’d love for you to join us.”
“Ah, sure.” Jane had only just met Wade today. She’d never really followed football, but she’d known of him, of course. He seemed really nice and clearly devoted to his wife.
God… Blink. Blink. Do not cry again.
“I just want to give the room another once-over.”
“Okay.” CC nodded. “See you out there,” she said as she departed.
Left alone again, Jane refused to get sappy about or be jealous of the easy banter and obvious love between Wade and CC. They