Heart of the Raven by Susan Crosby

possibility of desperation.
    But she hadn’t counted on Heath. Or Danny.
    She’d already laid claim to both of them. Foolish thing to do. Incredibly foolish thing to do. She should know better.
    Cassie knew what would happen next. Heath’s parents would stay long enough that everything with Danny would be settled—custody, a nanny, even Heath’s comfort level as a new parent. He would be driving again, taking Danny places. His world would expand—without her.
    Cassie wouldn’t be necessary any longer. Once again, not necessary to anyone.
    She paid the toll on the Golden Gate then headed for home. After a few minutes she punched the speed dial for Jamey on her cell phone.
    â€œI know it’s late—okay, really late—but could I come over?” she said when he answered.
    â€œSure. What’s going on?”
    â€œI’ll tell you when I see you.”
    Jamey lived less than a mile from Cassie, but while she rented a studio apartment, he’d bought a house for the first time in his life, having given up a twenty-year career as a bounty hunter to finally settle down.
    â€œYou look like you just lost your best friend,” he said to her when he invited her inside.
    Okay, so maybe she wasn’t so good at keeping herfeelings compartmentalized, after all—or at keeping her expression composed.
    â€œBeer?” he asked when she said nothing.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œHave a seat. I’ll be right back.”
    She sat on the sofa, leaving the overstuffed chair for Jamey, but after a few seconds she pushed herself off the couch and paced the length of the room. Jamey passed her a bottle. She didn’t sit down. He did. Then he waited.
    â€œI’m not being objective,” she said at last.
    â€œAbout?”
    â€œHeath.”
    â€œAh.”
    She shared what happened—except for the kiss.
    â€œWhy did you leave?” he asked.
    â€œBecause he didn’t need me there.”
    â€œSounds like he did. He asked you to stay.”
    Cassie finally sat down. She took a long sip then leaned back, forcing her muscles to relax. “I don’t want to get to know his parents.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt just pulls me closer and closer, and…” She shrugged.
    â€œIt makes for another opportunity to get hurt.”
    â€œYeah,” she whispered. And Eva could come back, changing everything, as well.
    â€œToo many people have come and gone in your life already. Too few have stayed.”
    She nodded. It was a painful admission. She had a hard time keeping people in her life, because she always tried to beat them to the punch and leave first.
    â€œAnd your biological clock is ticking.”
    â€œThat clock has been striking midnight since I was about thirteen years old.”
    â€œIs that part of the allure of Heath, do you think? He comes with a ready-made family?”
    â€œProbably. But not completely. When he kissed—” She stopped.
    â€œAh.”
    â€œI thought I might not see him again,” she muttered.
    He laughed. “You don’t do excuses well, Cass. A spade’s a spade with you. Don’t start now.”
    â€œOkay.” She scraped the label on her bottle with her fingernail, avoiding Jamey’s gaze. “He appeals to me. But you know what it’s like being a P.I. It seems like an exotic job, so getting dates is easy. Building a relationship is hard.”
    â€œCan’t blame it all on the profession, although I agree with you for the most part. Anyone who doesn’t do nine-to-five has a tough time being a partner. But some of your problem in relationships has to do with your past. Your abandonment issues, if you want to get psychological about it, and your fear of caring too much, because it means you would have more to lose.”
    â€œI know. But knowing it doesn’t seem to fix it. I have a social life. I have friends.”
    â€œAnd people are fascinated by what