I hurried into the living room, and the kernel grew until it filled my sternum. They weren’t there. The play mat was empty.
“Elliot?” I called. “Where are you?”
Only a second or two passed, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, Elliot appeared in the kitchen doorway, Joey in his arms.
“We’re here,” he answered.
My heart was still lodged firmly in my throat. “You’re holding her.”
He had my daughter against his chest, facing outward, his hand on her belly to keep her stable. She seemed content, her head resting against him, his suit sleeve clenched in her fist.
Somehow, this was different than when Raymond held her. Ray loved Joey, and they were buddies. It made me smile to see them together.
But this…I wasn’t smiling. Despite myself, my thighs pressed together, and heat flooded my core.
What is this?
“She seemed bored, so I took her out back to see the birds.” He patted her round middle. “If I measure her enjoyment by the amount of drool that dripped on my arm, she liked it very much.”
A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled out of me. This was all so surreal. “My daughter drooled on you?”
“She did.”
“You don’t seem mad.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not a monster, Catherine. I knew the risks of holding a baby and picked her up anyway.” He jiggled her softly, and she settled even more in his arms.
I didn’t know how to handle this man holding my daughter so delicately—or my body’s immediate reaction. I walked toward them, intent on taking her back, giving him the schematics, and hustling him out of there so I could regain a semblance of equilibrium.
“You’re limping.”
I stopped moving. “Yes. I stubbed my toe. I’m fine, though.”
He closed the distance between us. When Joey alighted on me, she gave me my favorite smile: open-mouthed with the sweetest little coo.
“Hi, Joey-Girl,” I cooed back. “Did you get a ride with Elliot? He’s so tall, isn’t he? You’ve never been that high up before.”
“Her father’s short?”
I huffed. “No. He’s pretty tall too.”
His eyes narrowed. I held his gaze, my chin jutting out. I carried a lot of shame. Liam choosing not to be part of Joey’s life was his to bear.
“He hasn’t held her,” Elliot concluded.
“He’s not on the same continent, so no, he hasn’t.” I waved the file he’d come for. “Here it is. Should we trade?”
“I think you’re getting the better deal,” he murmured as he handed me Joey and slipped the file from my hand.
Joey nuzzled her face against my neck, and I placed a kiss on her fuzzy head. “You’d better get back to the office. Daniel might be getting too comfortable in your absence.”
“Yes, that is a concern.” He rubbed his chin while looking me over. I’d thrown on a T-shirt, so there was far less skin on display, but his gaze was so penetrating I might as well have been naked. “Are you doing okay?”
I nodded, even though I wanted to shout to the rooftops that I wasn’t even close to okay. How could he look around and not see that? “I’m good. How about you?”
“I’m fine, as always.” He exhaled slowly through his nose. “Your presence is missed in the office.”
My lips tilted in a smirk. “I miss the office’s presence too.”
“Well…” bowing his head, his nostrils flared, “I’ll be off. Like you said, can’t let Daniel get too comfortable.”
Elliot’s exit was swift and final, the door clicking shut behind him.
I looked down at Joey and kissed the tip of her button nose. “That was strange, right? Elliot Levy stood in our hovel and didn’t utter a single word of criticism.”
He didn’t ask any questions either, which was unlike him as well. I guessed he was silently judging me.
“Very, very strange.”
Chapter Fourteen
Elliot
My hands wrapped around my steering wheel, gripping it tight enough to turn my knuckles white.
Though I’d had every intention of driving away when I’d left Catherine’s poor excuse for a house, my car was as far as I’d gotten. Anyone else, and I would have. After all, her living situation wasn’t my concern. As long as she showed up to work on time and did her job, I didn’t want to know anything else.
Yet, here I was, climbing out of my car and walking up the crumbling steps of her front porch. I raised my fist, knocking lightly on her door.