He wasted the entire afternoon paying two measly bills. With the likelihood of transposing the numbers, he made a habit of taking his time and triple-checking his work. The rest of the time, he’d been tiptoeing down the hall to check on Lexi. He couldn’t believe he’d been reduced to creeping around his own house. Once he’d even caught himself gazing at her longer than necessary to ascertain she was breathing comfortably. Even now, he envisioned a cozy dinner and lighthearted banter. Later, they’d share a bit of coffee out on the porch. He’d follow that up with a kiss…or two. He sighed. Of course, none of that was going to happen. She was here with him because she had to be, not because she wanted to be. She’d made that all too clear when she’d rejected his kiss. He stood next to the center island in the kitchen and glanced up at the clock on the wall for the third time in the past five minutes. Six o’clock straight up.
