Page 50 of Dreaming at Seaside
“Well, it’s only a third of what I need, but it definitely gives me hope.”
He ran his finger down her cheek, then tucked her hair behind her ear. He’d done that a dozen or more times and it still sent a shiver through her.
“I’m so happy for you, Bella. Evan made plans to spend a few hours with Jamie tomorrow. Want to spend the day together? Then go back to my place and have dinner with me and Evan?”
“I would love to.” She thought of the last time she’d been at his place. Her cheeks heated with the memory.
“Good. We’ll celebrate your success.”
She could think of a hundred ways she’d like to celebrate with him when they finally got time alone again, and none of them included food. Unless she counted whipped cream as food. She shook her head to clear her mind.
“How was your day?”
“It was fine.” He drew his brows together, and a shadow of worry washed over his face. He was definitely notfine.
“I’m sorry if I worried you.”
“Oh, babe, it’s not you. I just…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want to bum you out. It’s nothing.”
She stepped closer. If they’d been alone, she’d have wrapped her arms around him and held him until the tension left him. “Bum me.”
“I just had to take a hard line with Evan. It’s nothing, really. He got a little too big for his britches. It just sucks that I had to do it.” He shrugged, but she read frustration in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. That must be difficult.”
“It’s not that it’s a hard thing to do. It’s knowing what can happen if I don’t. I see kids getting into trouble all the time, and it was bound to happen at some point, with the move and his age…”
“Teenage angst is like a rite of passage.” She reached up to touch his cheek but caught herself and lowered her arm.
He reached for her hand and smiled. “It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? I want to reach out and touch you, too.” His radio sounded from his car. “I’m sorry. I have to run, but I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m always okay.” She realized that her gut response was one that didn’t allow herself to be taken care of, and she also realized that Caden had seen that, too, and he still tried to find a way around it.
“Yeah, well. I’m a copandyour boyfriend. It’s my job to worry, and I care for you, so worrying about you comes naturally.” The radio sounded again, and he pressed a quick peck to her lips. “I have to go. I’m looking forward to spending time together tomorrow.”
“Me, too.” She didn’t even care what they did.
“Great. If I get a break, I’ll stop by later. Otherwise, I’ll call for sure and we’ll make plans.”
Jenna drove up just as Caden pulled away. “Ready, lover girl? Or do you want to stand there and swoon a little longer?”
She put her chair and tote in the trunk of Jenna’s car and climbed into the passenger seat. “I have a feeling I’ll be swooning over that man for a very long time.”
“What happened to the girl who was worried about sticking to her convictions?”
Bella leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “A very wise friend told her that convictions were meant to be broken.”
