at the sound of Kellan’s deep voice in the doorway.
“I think it’s safe to say it’s ‘good afternoon’ at this point.” She didn’t like the dark circles under his eyes. “Did you sleep okay?”
He shrugged. “Not really. Too much on my mind. Speaking of. I need to find my cell.”
“I already called the hospital.” She filled him in on his father’s recovery, pleased to see some of the stress seep out of his face.
“That’s good. God. That’s really good.” He ran his hand through his mussed up hair, then pointed to the toast. “Tell you what—why don’t we stop by the hospital to visit Dad, and then I’ll take you out to dinner? It’s the least I can offer after everything you did for my family yesterday.”
“You really don’t have to, Kellan. I was just doing my job.”
He shook his head. “No. You went above and beyond. You were amazing. I’m not sure I would have made it through all that without you.”
She smiled and thanked him. “That’s sweet, but isn’t necessary. Truth is, you were actually getting toast because there’s not much else to eat here. I didn’t make it to the grocery store this week. Things have been sort of nuts.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, well, I think I’ve done more than my fair share of contributing to the insanity. Another reason why I should buy you a meal. Please. It really is just a thank-you.”
“Mind if I get a quick shower first?”
He shook his head. And then, most notably, he didn’t offer to join her. He also hadn’t approached her for a kiss. The absence of his touches after a week of nonstop come-ons was jarring.
She missed it, which proved to her just how far she’d fallen.
“Okay. I won’t be long.” She dangled the carrot again.
He didn’t grab it. “That’s fine. I figure my inbox is overflowing with emails after yesterday. I’ll just grab my phone, park myself on the couch, and start plowing through them.”
She brushed against him as she left the kitchen, but the glancing touch had no impact on him. Meanwhile, it wrecked her, sending sparks of electricity along her skin and making her hot and shivery.
He followed her back to the bedroom, picked up his phone, and headed for the living room without even trying to steal a kiss.
Sara was perplexed by his sudden about-face. After all, he had been the one to insist they continue the affair, and he had pointedly ignored her refusals.
Then she felt guilty for her thoughts. How on earth could she expect the man to be thinking about sex when he’d almost lost his dad yesterday? Of course he would be distant. He was worried out of his mind.
Good lord. When did she become such a freaking sex maniac? It was as if her hormones were overriding her compassion as well as her good sense. She had told him no, and it appeared—for once in his life—Kellan had listened. Dammit.
She hopped in the shower, lingering longer than normal, still hoping he would join her. When it became obvious he wasn’t going to surprise her, she got out and dressed. She took a few minutes to fix her hair and makeup, and then she found him exactly where he said he’d be. On the couch, phone in hand, thumbs tapping a million miles a minute.
“You ready to go?” she asked. “I can putter around here if you need more time.”
He shook his head as he stood. “Nope. I’m good. I put out the most immediate fires, and the rest can wait until I’m back in the office.”
Kellan claimed his keys and waited as she locked her front door. Lately he placed his hand at the base of her spine whenever they walked, but that guiding touch was absent today. In fact, it all was. He climbed in the driver’s side as she took her place in the passenger’s seat.
As they rode to the hospital in silence, she snuck a few glances at his face. His expression was serious, almost stoic. “You doing okay?”
He looked over and gave her a friendly smile. “I’m hanging in there. I think I’ll feel better once I’ve seen Dad and had a chance to talk to him. Our last conversation…wasn’t great.”
She waited for more details, but he didn’t bother to explain. She considered asking him, but she was too afraid. Part of her was fairly certain that last conversation took place at the Social Club Thursday night. Kellan and his dad had been alone at the