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?

What would be the harm in being friendly for a few days? She missed having a friend. Ezekiel was a great assistant but most of the time she felt like he was speaking a different language. The age difference just confused her sometimes. Jenkins was the same way.

She and Flynn had been such great friends but he had a life now with Eve and she didn't see him that much anymore.

So friends it was. Maybe they could keep in touch after she had to go. She did want to know how Abby was doing, how the store was doing. He thought she lived in Oklahoma, maybe she could be "in the area" from time to time and see him. It would be fun. A friend.

The idea made her smile and she couldn't wait to see him again.

Jenkins had just shaken his head at her when she left that morning. Perhaps she shouldn't have told him about the whole having to rent a car thing. But she figured he'd be able to smooth things over with Charlene who was not going to be happy about an unnecessary rental expense.

She took advantage of having the car to stop at a bakery and pick up doughnuts and coffee.

"Morning, Ms. Cassandra," Andy, one of the store's clerks greeted her.

"Morning, Andy, could you give me a hand? I brought coffee and doughnuts."

"Sure thing!"

Cassandra laughed, it was easy to get help when it was food related.

He helped her get the food into the break room and said he'd spread the word. Cassandra grabbed a coffee and a doughnut and headed to Jacob's office.

"Good morning, Jacob," she said brightly.

Jacob looked up from his computer, blinking slightly, he'd been intending on reading his email but got sucked into reading an art journal article . . .which had lead to reading another and then looking at the digital content at a French art museum.

Ordinarily he would have quickly called up another website when Cassandra walked around the edge of the desk but for some reason he just left it. She beamed at him when she saw what was on the screen.

"I should have been workin'," he grinned sheepishly. "But that painting," he sighed. "It's always been one of my favorites."

"I get that way about science articles. Anyway, I brought you some coffee and a doughnut. There's more doughnuts in the break room."

"Why thank you," he grinned. "What's the occasion?"

"Everyone's working so hard and I thought you deserved a treat. And it's a little thank you for all the tea and cookies and dinner."

"Cassandra, about last night . . . ."

"Do we need to talk about it? Nothing happened."

"It's . . .Cassie, if we had kissed, I wouldn't have regretted it. But . . .and it's not like I don't like ya. Because I do, I like you. And if I was just a guy without a whole lot of baggage, I'd do something about it."

She nodded. "I kinda figured it was the baggage thing. I have mine too. And if it was just the two of us, maybe we can work that out. But you have three other people to think about. So I do understand."

Jacob sighed. "It didn't suck so much in my head."

"I really would like to be friends though. I don't have that many and . . . ."

"Me too. I mean . . .I really want an adult to talk to who's not family or an employee. And it's kinda nice to talk to someone who doesn't look at me like I'm crazy if I talk about something I'm really passionate about."

"Well, then, we have ten or so days, I've got a hotel room that I'm sick of looking at. How about we just spend some time together? Have fun. And you know, as my assistant says, it is the 21st century. We can email or text and when I'm in the area, I'll swing by and we'll have lunch sometimes."

"That sounds great, Cass."

"And now I have to go see if anyone has returned my emails," Cassandra said pulling her tablet out of her bag.

"Right, work."

They ate lunch at Jacob's desk and he told her about the painting he'd been so caught up in that morning. She couldn't tell him that she'd seen that painting in person just six months ago while she and Ezekiel were trying to rescue a kidnapped baby gargoyle. Even making up a story about it why she was there just didn't seem to mesh with her cover. Besides, even though she'd looked at it, she hadn't truly seen it, not the way Jacob did. She really wished there was some way she could get him there. He loved art, really truly loved art, yet he'd never seen any of these great works in person. Just from photographs in books and on the Internet. She knew for someone like him, it would never be quite enough just looking at a photograph.

Even though she knew she couldn't get him to France, what she could do was provide him with an audience. Jacob Stone just blossomed with an eager audience. Much as she'd actually liked quiet yet kind Jacob the shopkeeper, Jacob the art expert was an entirely different creature. He actually glowed, excitement and passion for his subject flowing through him. She'd attended many of Flynn's lectures and thought about how much those audiences would adore Jacob Stone. How could she arrange something like that for him?

Meddling. You're meddling. Said a voice that sounded an awful lot like Jenkins. You are there to help the man with his business. Not with a career that he has no interest in.

Except she knew he did. But she knew that there was no way to tell him that he could still do right by his children and pursue his dreams at the same time. He just wouldn't believe her. He'd chosen this life and he was doing the best he could.

And if she was to be his friend, she had to support what he was doing, no matter what.

Cassandra was having a frustrating afternoon when the kids came in after school. She was basically playing a waiting game right now and it annoyed her to no end. She knew that even in her day job, sometimes she had to wait for information or results. She was a scientist after all, she was always conducting experiments and waiting for results. But her experiments were a hobby, so she could afford to be patient with them. Waiting for someone to get back to her about this event was not something she had time for. But there was nothing she could do. She could also not afford to annoy people she was hoping would do something for free.

"Are you okay Miss Cassandra?" little Abby said coming in, pronouncing her name so carefully like she always did.

"Oh, I am sweetie. I just can't do anything more right now to help your daddy with the big event and I'm a little upset that I can't do more."

"Would coloring help?" Abby said settling down at the table in Jacob's office that the girls did their homework on.

"Absolutely," Cassandra smiled.

Jacob came in a little later with Grace to find Abby coloring and Kaitlyn showing Cassandra some drawings she'd made.

"I know Daddy, but the science fair is this weekend. And I kinda sorta didn't actually do my project."

"Grace Alison Stone, how many times have I told you not to do that? You're too smart for that."

Grace shrugged. "I always get it done."

"Yeah at the last minute, because you're smart. But then you've gotta work twice as hard. Plus, we're all real busy right now. Is granny gonna help you again?"

"She's busy too," Grace looked really upset and a bit ashamed. "I guess I can't go to the drive-in tomorrow."

"I can help," Cassandra said from the table.

"You can?" Grace asked.

"I was kinda a science fair whiz when I was a kid, wall full of trophies . . ."Cassandra's voice went wistful for a moment, then she shook her head. "Anyway, what was your project?"

Grace told her and Cassandra nodded. "That's doable. But if you wanna go to the movie tomorrow, then you're gonna have to stick to the plan I'm gonna give you. I'll help, but you're doing most of the work. And maybe Kaitlyn or your daddy can help a little with the graphics. But I know you can do this Grace, your dad's right, you're smart."

Jacob had to go back into the store, but when he came back an hour later, he found Cassandra and his girls working intently. Kaitlyn was doing her homework, Abby was very carefully coloring in block letters that Kaitlyn had probably written spelling out Grace's name and her project title, Cassandra and Grace were sitting together, Grace asking her a question over the components of her science project scattered on the table.

A funny thing happened to Jacob's heart and he had to grab onto the doorframe for support. That was a picture of domesticity that he'd never seen. Five years ago, he'd given up the idea that he'd ever see that and if he was honest, he doubted Mandy would be helping Grace with a science fair project and encouraging Kaitlyn's drawings and coaxing Abby out of her shell. He'd known Cassandra for all of four days and she fit better in his life than any woman ever had.

Maybe, just maybe, his baggage wasn't so heavy. She'd said three very important things today. She'd said that if it was just the two of them they could have worked past that. When she'd brought up his children, she'd done it as acknowledging that the ball was in his court because he had them to consider, they were not a negative to her. And she'd expressed a willingness to keep in touch after she left, had wanted to maintain the friendship.

He'd promised to enjoy spending time with her these ten days. And he would. But on the day of the party, he planned to ask her if she'd think about something more. Cassandra had a job somewhere else, but she wasn't exactly a runner. Although maybe a little running would do him and girls some good.

She smiled up at him and when Grace asked if Cassandra could come over for dinner, they both said yes.