“The hug.” She drew her eyebrows together as she peered at him, trying not to wonder what it would feel like to kiss him.
Just kiss him. Right now. For no reason at all.
“You smiled at me like you wanted a hug,” he explained mildly, pulling his arm back before it got awkward. “Didn’t you?”
“I... I don’t know.”
He chuckled and didn’t pursue the topic, which was a big relief to Serena. Had she really smiled at him like she wanted a hug? She wasn’t even sure such a smile existed, but maybe it did. Maybe she was accidentally smiling that way a lot.
Since Keith didn’t appear to think it was strange or inappropriate, she was able to shrug it off and enjoy the rest of the evening. They went home when they finished eating, and since it was after nine, Eva had to get ready for bed right away.
Keith stayed, so they all read Eva’s book chapter, and then Eva kissed both of them good night before they turned off the lights.
“Thank you, Uncle Keith,” Eva said as they were leaving the room.
He paused, standing at Serena’s side. “What for?”
“For everything. The play and the ice cream and the flowers and the fun. I had such a good time. Thank you!”
Serena saw Keith smile in the light of the hallway. “You’re welcome, Eva. I had a really good time tonight too.”
She couldn’t help it. Serena squeezed his arm as they left the bedroom and headed back to the living room. She moved to the large kitchen island where she’d put in vases the two bouquets Keith had brought them when he’d arrived this evening.
Eva’s were pink peonies, and Serena’s were pink tulips. She slid a finger across one of the delicate tulip petals.
“You have no idea how special you made tonight for Eva,” she said to Keith, who’d come up beside her and was leaning with his back against the island.
“I could tell she really enjoyed it. I’m glad.”
“You went above and beyond, and I don’t even know why.” She wanted to look at him, to see his expression, but she was also strangely nervous about it, so her gaze was a little skittish.
“Do I need to have a particular reason? I like it when she’s happy. And I like it when you’re happy. So why shouldn’t I make you both happy?” His voice had shifted to a textured murmur.
Serena’s breath hitched. “I... I... Well, thank you.” She didn’t dare risk a glance up at his face right now. She stared down at the flowers.
He reached out and gently brushed a wave of her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Her skin tingled from the light touch.
It felt so good that it prompted a flare of fear. Her first instinct was to pull away, tell him to stop. But he’d been wonderful to them this evening, and he’d seemed happy. She didn’t want to do anything that would change that, shift the mood, ruin the magic.
After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong. He wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t be doing. Even his touch had been casual, insignificant. And she might be misinterpreting what was shuddering in the air between them.
So she didn’t say anything. She didn’t pull away. But she also didn’t turn toward him or reach out the way she half wanted to.
Things were safer if they were left unsaid. They might not even be real.
Tonight had been so good. Almost perfect. And she wasn’t going to let her fear disrupt that or leave it with a bad feeling.
For just a moment, she leaned toward the flowers, inhaling the scent of them deeply. The tulips smelled faintly, but the peonies beside them were particularly fragrant. And smelling them gave her something else to think about.
“Thank you again, Keith,” she said, straightening up and turning to face him.
“That’s enough thank-yous for tonight. I did it for me as much as you and Eva.”
“I’m not sure I believe that, but I won’t argue. I’d offer you something to drink, but after all that ice cream, I’m not sure my stomach can hold anything else.”
His expression was still warm, fond, strangely knowing. Like he had a secret that she wasn’t yet aware of. He reached out to pull her into a soft hug, his lean body deliciously hard and hot and strong.
It went on just long enough for Serena to start feeling tingly again. Then he pulled away and headed for the door.
She was still standing by the island, frozen with an avalanche of feelings, when he gave her one last smile over his shoulder. “Sleep well,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Serena mumbled something in response.
But she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to sleep again.
KEITH GOT HOME AT JUST before six in the evening the following Friday, just as he always did.
He glanced over at Serena’s door as he unlocked his, but there was no motion or sound. Just the welcome mat and the pretty wreath of dried hydrangeas that she and Eva had made last month and hung on their door.
He closed the door harder than entirely necessary as he walked inside. Not out of any irritation. Just on the off chance Serena might hear and know he was home.
Every day this week, she’d come over at least once in the evenings. Twice to ask for help with things around the house, once to borrow his stepladder, and once to see if he wanted to have dinner with her and Eva. Since they were good friends and neighbors, they stopped at each other’s places regularly, but this was more frequent than normal.
It might just be a coincidence, but he was hoping it wasn’t.
So if she knew he was home, maybe she’d come over again.
Eva was with her father this weekend, so Serena would be alone. Keith hadn’t made plans. On purpose.
Maybe he was a deluded fool... but maybe he wasn’t.
Fridays were casual in his office, so he was wearing jeans and a black henley. He saw no reason to change clothes, and she’d notice and wonder why if he took a shower. So he just toed off his shoes and shuffled through his mail, wondering what she was doing next door.
If she didn’t make an appearance soon, he’d have to go over there himself. Surely he could think of some sort of excuse. He was a terrible liar, so the reason would have to be mostly true. Unfortunately, blurting out that he was desperate to see her and wanted to spend the evening with her was likely to scare her away.
He was brooding over this sad state of affairs when he heard a noise. It was faint but sounded like her front door closing.
He stood frozen, straining to listen, for a few seconds until a knock sounded at his door. It was exactly what he’d been hoping for, but it made him jump anyway.
Recovering, he strode over and opened to see her standing in the hallway. She looked soft and gorgeous in a dark green top with a tantalizing dip at the neckline. She was carrying a covered plate.
“I made brownies,” she said, flashing the slightest bit of dimple that only appeared next to her mouth occasionally. “You want some?”
“Of course I want some!” He stepped out of the way. “Why did you bake?”
“Why shouldn’t I bake?”
“Well, you usually only bake when you’re anxious about something. Not that I’m complaining. But if you’re anxious, I’d like to know why.”
“I’m not anxious.” She frowned at him, putting the plate on his breakfast bar. “Just restless or something. I felt like baking.”