Twice Before Bedtime

Chapter 7

Jacob made a decision as he drove back home. There really was no need to discuss the near kiss. It had just been a moment in time. The setting was romantic and their conversation had been intimate. They were two adults who had a bit of an attraction for each other, it was chemistry and these things happened. Lord knows it had been five long years since he'd had any sort of romantic encounter and he did miss it. He was only human. But just because his body wanted something, didn't mean he had to follow it up. But that also didn't mean he couldn't enjoy Cassandra's company for the next few days. He craved adult companionship especially adult female companionship, even in a completely platonic way. The women in his life were all family, save for Mabel. And that had always been weird because way back before he and Mandy got serious, he'd had a drunken make out session (thank god it hadn't progressed to a one night stand, mostly because he'd passed out on her) with Mabel. He and Mandy had had a fight and he probably should have taken it as a sign. But it had made things awkward with Mabel for years and then after his divorce, she sometimes seemed interested and sometimes didn't want to give him the time of day.

Whatever it all was between them, he knew Mabel didn't want to just be a friend. Besides Mabel was moving on anyway.

Cassandra would only be around for a little while. It had an expiration date, so it wasn't like he could do anything. He had kids to think about, otherwise a little fling might have actually been appealing. That was odd, he'd not been interested in anything at all for years after Mandy.

Pretty redhead comes to town just in time for him to finally be getting over the hurt. She'd be leaving soon but maybe she had helped him with more than the business. Harvest festival time, maybe he would ask one of the girls who'd give him a smile to dance this year instead of staying on the sidelines.

Moving on. It was a good feeling. And he had Cassandra Cillian to thank for that.

--

She'd almost kissed him. Or he'd almost kissed her. It didn't matter. The setting was romantic, sitting in the dark with all of those stars, sharing what felt like a very intimate moment between them. She would have enjoyed kissing him, maybe they'd have laid down on the roof of the car and kissed for a while under the stars.

She shook herself. She needed to get a grip. She'd already stayed longer than she needed to. Getting involved with someone on a case was a bad idea anyway.

She should know, she'd done so a few times. Though two stood out, the two people she could have potentially found love with.

Estrella. Beautiful, loving, kind Estrella. They'd had a connection and an amazing few days together. But at the time, their commitments to their lives' work, the Library for Cassandra and her family's legacy for Estrella had meant they were not meant for more.

Norman. Intelligent, brave, kind Norman. Trapped by circumstances not of his making. Their time together was fleeting but their connection had been deep. But their attempts to right someone else's mistake turned catastrophic and he'd paid the ultimate price for it.

She honestly didn't regret the time she spent with either of them. But those experiences had made her a bit gun shy. Her life was a lonely one, however and she yearned for companionship, even if it was just for a little while. So she'd gone looking for a fling. Had a couple but that pursuit ended when the man she'd fooled around with in a London night club turned out to be THE Dorian Gray (and she'd nearly become of his victims).

Occasionally Eve or Ezekiel or even Flynn had tried setting her up with men or women but that never went anywhere.

Maybe she should just give it up all together. Jacob Stone wouldn't end up any better than any of the others. The poor man had been hurt enough. She wouldn't hurt him or his daughters. But she sure did enjoy his company, what was she going to do?