Metsy Hingle - Dad In Demand

“Gift?” Heather repeated. Suddenly alert, her eyes darted like a laser to the music box Katie was carefully packing away. “Sean gave you a gift?”

Katie looked up. “Yes. A music box for my birthday.”

“How sweet,” the blonde said, relaxing. “You’re lucky. My brother never remembers my birthday.”

“I’m not Katie’s brother,” Sean informed her, for some reason irritated by the comment.

“Oh, I know that. But the two of you are such good friends, and you told me yourself how you practically grew up together. You’re almost like brother and sister.”

“I really do have to go,” Katie said.

“No, you don’t.” At both women’s surprised expressions, Sean said more calmly, “I mean, I’m sure there’s enough of Heather’s casserole for the three of us.”

“Thanks. But I’m stuffed, and I’ve got a busy day tomorrow. I was planning to turn in early tonight.”

“It’s not even nine o’clock,” Sean argued, ignoring Heather’s obvious displeasure at his reluctance to have Katie leave. He sensed Katie’s awkwardness and wasn’t sure if it was because of Heather or the kiss. Somehow things had gotten all mixed up again, and he wanted to straighten them out.

“I know it’s early, but I’m really tired. It’s been a long day, and tomorrow’s going to be even longer.”

“Don’t worry, we understand,” Heather told her, linking her arm through Sean’s. “It was nice seeing you again, Katie. Oh, and happy birthday.”

“Thanks.” Katie barely spared Sean a glance as she said, “Don’t worry about seeing me out. I know the way.”

“Excuse me,” Sean said to Heather and followed Katie to the door. “We still have a few things to go over regarding that matter we were discussing,” he told her, aware that Heather had followed him and was eyeing the exchange from a short distance.

“Um, why don’t you just give me a call and let me know what else you need? If I’m not home, you can leave a message, and I’ll get back to you.”

“What about the rest of your cake? Don’t you want it?” he asked, barely able to keep the irritation from his voice.

She didn’t even bother turning around to look at him. “Why don’t you and Heather finish it?”

“Katie…”

But she was already out the door and scurrying into her apartment next door. Sean stood there for a moment and contemplated going after her. They needed to talk. He had a bad feeling about this. Really bad. He’d more than crossed the line with Katie tonight, and he needed to put things back to the way they used to be.

“Sean?”

He hesitated. Then sighing, he shut his door and turned to face the other woman.

By the time he’d sent a not-very-happy Heather on her way thirty minutes later, Katie’s apartment was in darkness. From his adjoining deck out back, he stared at her bedroom window, hoping for some sign of movement that would tell him she was awake. There was none. Only darkness and silence.

Driving both hands through his hair, Sean leaned on the rail of the deck and turned away to stare up at the sky. The moon slid behind a thicket of clouds, taking with it the soft glow and giving the night a somber feeling. It matched his mood, Sean decided. The guilt that had hopped onto his shoulders following that melt-the-fillings-in-his-teeth kiss with Katie had grown heavier by the minute. Never in a million years had he intended to complicate things this way.

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