Page 44 of The Perfect Secret

“We just finished celebrating my math test, which means he’s probably in the guest room, working on his puzzle.”

“Congratulations!” Hannah tried to show interest, though every nerve in her body thrummed in agitation.

“Thanks.” She twirled her hair.

Hannah gave her a quick hug and raced down the hall. From the doorway, she saw Dan seated at a table, focused on the puzzle. She couldn’t make out the details, only that there were bright colors. He held a piece in the air, looking as if he waited for a magical pull from some part of the puzzle to indicate where the piece belonged.

“That’s quite a puzzle.” She walked in, her feet leaden now that she was here.

He jumped. Surprise crossed his features before he schooled them into…nothing. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you.”

When he didn’t react, she swallowed and walked toward him. The solidity of his shoulder beneath her hand grounded her. Trying to control her breathing, she inhaled his scent and a keen longing to be in his arms overtook her.

“Daddy?”

He jumped and Hannah’s hand fell from his shoulder.

“Yes, Tess.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

“The JCC. Tutoring. Don’t you remember? We talked about this.”

“Oh, right. Okay. Text me when you get there and when you leave.”

Hannah waited until the front door clicked shut. “I was wrong.” His hand stilled over the puzzle, but he continued to avoid looking at her. “I was angry at Jim and I took it out on you.”

His hand tightened around the puzzle piece and she watched his knuckles whiten.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want solutions; I wanted understanding. I should have told you what I needed.”

He raised his head, face still averted from her, and she waited. His jaw was tense and his Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. She wanted to caress his face, run her hands through his hair, but she didn’t dare. When he turned toward her, his gaze was wary.

“I didn’t know you wanted me to just listen.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have expected you to read my mind.”

“I should have given you time to explain.”

She took his hand, which was clenched around the puzzle piece, and he twisted it until his fingers clasped hers. His fingers were longer than hers, but also thicker, and hers stretched around his. The puzzle piece was trapped between their palms, and dug into her hand.

“I was overwhelmed. I should have shown more appreciation for your attempt to help me.”

Dan pushed his chair back and pulled her onto his lap. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” She rested in the comfort of his arms.

After a moment, he spoke. “Have you figured out what you’ll do about work?”

She leaned into his shoulder. A faint scent of aftershave lingered about his neck and his heart beat against her back. “Well, I told my boss and showed him your email. It didn’t seem to make much difference, so I updated my résumé and sent it to some of the headhunters who have been calling me.”

He craned his neck to look at her. “So you’ll quit your job?”

“Not necessarily, and not without having a new one first. I want to see what happens where I am. But I also want to be prepared.”