‘Duh, yeah. Don’t tell me you forgot? You always run it.’
‘Not this year.’ Elijah had entered but wouldn’t be taking part. It would be the first one he’d miss since the event began, eleven years ago. Every country held its own RunMad fifty-mile endurance race, usually on the same weekend simultaneously, and he’d seen the event go from strength to strength. But even if he hadn’t put his running shoes out to pasture, he wouldn’t have been able to take part this year. With his leg having been in a boot for so long, he wouldn’t have been fit enough. However, he’d have looked on in envy from the sidelines, and would have given loads of virtual pats on the back.
Elijah suddenly felt very cut off from everything he held dear. Even his own son.
Cameron closed the menu. ‘Sorry, Dad, I keep forgetting.’
That’s what Elijah had been trying to do: forget that he’d once ran ultra marathons, forget that he’d once ran at all. And he’d almost managed it until the new life he’d begun to forge had fallen apart.
As though Cameron could read his mind, he asked, ‘What’s happening on the dog front? Cookie, isn’t it?’
‘Biscuit,’ Elijah reminded him. ‘Nothing. I’ve withdrawn my application.’
‘Why? I thought you’d fallen in love with him. Don’t tell me you’re letting that woman have him?’
‘Her need is greater than mine.’ He’d mentioned to Cameron when he’d first seen Biscuit that someone else was interested in the dog, but he hadn’t said a lot since.
Cameron’s gaze bore into him. ‘That’s very noble of you. But from where I’m sitting, I think you’ve got a need, too.’
‘I’ve been baking.’
‘What are you on about?’ Cameron frowned. ‘You’re abaker, you bake for aliving,so of course you’re baking. Or is there something you’re not telling me?’ His concern was obvious.
‘I know I bake every day, but this is different. I’m enjoying it again.’
‘Hold on, I’m confused. One minute we’re talking about the dog, and the next we’re talking about baking. What’s the connection? Have you given up on the dogbecauseyou’re enjoying baking? Is that it?’
The two weren’t connected and Elijah hesitated, wondering how to explain when he wasn’t sure he understood it himself. All he knew was that Nora needed Biscuit more than he did. But, hell, he was going to miss the goofball, and he was going to miss Nora, too. More than he thought possible.
He blamed it on the kiss. But he knew it was more than that – he’d fallen for her.
He wasn’t going to share that little nugget with Cameron, though. Not once since the divorce had Elijah mentioned another woman to his son, and he wasn’t about to start now, especially since there wasn’t anythingtomention. It wasn’t as though he and Nora were dating, was it?
However, Cameron was more perceptive than Elijah gave him credit for. ‘Is it because of this woman?’ he asked.
‘She’s called Nora.’
‘Why is her need greater than yours?’
‘Her life has been turned upside down, I suppose.’
‘So has yours.’
‘Yes, but…’
‘What’s she like?’
Gorgeous, he wanted to say but didn’t. Something in his face or the way he hesitated must have given him away though, because Cameron asked, ‘Is there anything going on between you?’
‘No.’ Elijah was adamant about that.
‘Would you like there to be?’
Elijah didn’t reply.
‘What’s stopping you, Dad? Is she married or in a relationship?’
‘No.’
