Only You by Bonnie Pega

husband.
    “You really think so?” She turned to look at Max, her face earnest. “I’ve tried, but sometimes it’s hard. I mean, with the business and all, I don’t exactly run my life on a schedule or anything.”
    “He seems happy and healthy. He’s polite, friendly, and normally rambunctious. That means he’s well adjusted. Remember, I have three nephews. That qualifies me as an expert on kids.”
    She smiled a little. “Oh, it does, does it?”
    “Just call me Dr. Spock.”
    Caitlin’s smile widened. “Oh, do you want some more coffee?” She gestured at his nearly empty cup. “There’s more in the jar.”
    “No, thanks anyway. I better be—”
    “Mom?” Jordan called from the top of the stairs. “I’m ready to go to bed now.”
    “Okay, honey,” Caitlin called back. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
    “Can Max say good night too?”
    She quickly looked at Max, and he nodded. “Yes, Jordie.”
    They went up, and Caitlin watched Max with thoughtful eyes as he sat on the edge of Jordan’s bed and told Jordan a funny story with obvious relish. Maybe it was the time he spent with his three nephews, but Max acted so natural, so comfortable with Jordan and, of course, Jordan responded to this interest without reservation.
    Her heart ached a little. She knew Jordan hungered for a male influence in his life. Rick hadtried, whenever possible, to include Jordan in his activities with his son, like camping and backyard baseball, but it wasn’t the same as having a male’s undivided attention. It was no wonder he’d responded so quickly to Max.
    But she worried Jordan would end up being hurt. After all, Max was going to be around for only a week or two longer. How was Jordan going to feel when Max went on to the next job? Perhaps she should stop this before it went any further. Not that she was involved with Max, but she had let him sort of barge his way in. She needed to make Max back off. She tried to ignore the twinge of pain that thought caused as she watched Max give Jordan a friendly hug.
    Caitlin fell silent as she and Max went back downstairs, thoughts tumbling one after the other through her head. She had to have time to get her head together. She walked straight to the front door and opened it, letting Max know without words that he was being told to leave.
    “Thank you for dinner,” he said, then smiled wryly. “And thanks for the—ahem!—breath of fresh air.”
    An answering smile, albeit a small one, curved her lips. “I’ll have the contract for you in a couple of days. It was nice of you to bring it by.”
    Max reached over and took Caitlin’s hand. He pretended not to notice her subtle efforts to pull it away as he held it cradled between both of his. “I guess I owe you a dinner now. How about one night this week? You can bring Jordie if you like.”
    Caitlin felt a trembling begin deep inside when Max’s thumb started tracing circles in her palm. “I, uh, dinner’s not necessary.”
    “Oh, but it is. You fed me.”
    The trembling spread to her legs. “Consider it thanks for letting Jordie and his friend use your car phone.”
    “Letting the boys use my phone was my pleasure, so I still owe you a dinner.”
    “That’s okay,” she insisted breathlessly, trying once more to slide her hand from between his. “It was just a sandwich.”
    Max tightened his warm grip, both of his thumbs now massaging the sensitive inside of her wrist. “Oh, but I insist on paying you back with dinner. What night?”
    Caitlin gave one more tug, and this time met with success. “Thanks anyway, Max, but no.”
    “How about Friday night?” He did not give up easily.
    Caitlin drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I don’t date.” She opened the screen door. “If you come to the greenhouse tomorrow, you’d better wait until after lunch. Mornings are pretty hectic. You may want to wear jeans and a T-shirt since it’s supposed to be hot again. Good night, Max.” Her no-nonsense