Sighing, I stand up from the dinner table and stretch my arms, trying to bring some comfort into my aching limbs. For the past few months, I’ve been staying active, spending long hours at the gym to work through the thoughts spinning through my head on overdrive. Sitting still in an office chair all day after that feels like being a bird locked in a cage; however, I did get a lot of work done today. More than I have in months. Now that I’ve gotten back into a groove, I’m sure I’ll get back to cranking out new apps every week just like I did back in college.

When I came down the stairs after work, Cheyenne already had dinner prepared. Her chicken casserole was so good I had two large helpings of it. She grinned and blushed when I told her how good it was. Something about seeing her flushed in the kitchen with a frilly pink-and-purple apron on sent my hormones racing, and I can’t get away from her fast enough. If I don’t, I’m bound to take something that isn’t rightfully mine.

I bring Hudson’s and my dishes to the sink and use a warm, wet rag to clean the little boy’s face. When even my picky three-year-old gobbles down a meal, you know it’s good. He smiles when I release him and immediately takes off to play with his train table.

When I turn around, Cheyenne is standing behind me. Her apron has been removed, but three buttons on her shirt are still undone and her face looks warm. I try to keep my eyes from wandering to her exposed cleavage. Our oven gives off a crazy amount of heat, especially in the summer, so I don’t fault her for that, but fuck. She hasn’t the slightest idea what she’s doing to me.

“Dinner was amazing,” I compliment her again, and she smiles shyly.

“Thank you. I don’t mind staying around until Hudson’s in bed if you need some extra help.”

For a second, I consider telling her “no,” but my weariness makes my resolve weaken and I nod.

“That would be great. How was he today?”

Her face lights up. “He was perfect. We went over the alphabet and numbers today. He already knows a lot, but I think he’s starting to really get how to count to fifteen.”

Pride wells up in my chest. “I knew my boy was smart.”

“Just like his Daddy.” Cheyenne winks. “I heard all about your good grades in college. If your mama was any prouder of you, I think she would burst.”

I chuckle. “I’ve heard she brags on me a lot. Sorry you had to listen to it even after I was gone.”

Cheyenne crosses in front of me to the sink and starts rinsing dishes. I stand beside her and open the dishwasher, then hold out my hand and let her hand me the rinsed dishes so I can put them in the dishwasher. A smile passes between us, and I can sense her appreciation.

“I didn’t mind hearing about you.” Cheyenne keeps her gaze focused on the glass in her hand. “After you left, I missed you. A lot. It helped me feel closer to you to hear how you were doing.”

I glance down sideways at her. She swallows, and I watch the movements of her neck. My gaze starts to move downward, and I jerk it back up. Damn it. I’m a dick. Here she is letting me in on her deep affection for me, and all I can do is think about my hardening shaft. I’m such a bastard for not realizing how my leaving must have affected her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call or write to you.” I place my hand on her arm, and she stops what she’s doing to look up at me. “I should have.”

Her mouth drops open just slightly, and I let my gaze wander the curves of her lips. They’re so much fuller than I remember…so kissable.

“It’s okay.” Cheyenne shrugs. “I was just the little girl next door. It’s not like you owed me anything.”

“Cheyenne, you meant a lot to me.” I turn to face her full-on. “I never told you this, but hanging out with you was one of the best parts of my day. You were not just my neighbor, you were a part of the family. I should have kept in touch with you, but I didn’t, and for that I’m so sorry.”

She looks up through her long, dark lashes at me. Her big, brown eyes are full of longing. The relationship we shared in the past was only at a brother-sister level, but that’s because there was nothing else it could be. She was eight, I was eighteen. Now things have changed. She’s changed more than I ever could have anticipated.

The pull between our lips becomes irresistible. Her beautiful eyes shutter closed as she leans into me. My mouth dries up and my heart thunders against the walls of my chest. Just as I’m bringing up one hand to hold her jaw, a small voice interrupts us.

“Da-ee!” His little feet slap against the hardwood floor as he runs at full speed into my legs, gripping me tightly.

Cheyenne and I pull away from each other, chuckling nervously. I feel a rush of relief, yet also a pang of disappointment.

“P’ay trains, Da-ee!”

“Uh…” I glance back at her.

Cheyenne waves me away. “Go ahead. I got this.”

My heart lights up with gratitude and a hell of a lot more I hate myself for feeling. “Thanks, Squirt.”

I let my son drag me by the hand into his playroom, scolding myself on the inside. How could I let myself get so close to ruining things? Kissing Cheyenne would have been a horrible mistake. She doesn’t belong to me. I don’t deserve someone as young and perfect and innocent as her. Cheyenne needs to find someone her own age who doesn’t already have a child and all the baggage that comes from a nasty divorce. I need to let go of this insane drive and need to be with her before it’s too late and I wreck the thing we’ve started here. Having her as Hudson’s babysitter worked like a well-oiled machine today. I need to start acting like a professional and keep my fantasies confined to the bedroom.

Because of course I’m going to be thinking about her tonight…all night long. It’s inevitable. Especially since her room on the corner of her house has a window that looks directly into mine.