The Current Between Us by Kindle Alexander Page A

windows. Like normal, Trent kept his eyes averted from this office. The guy never looked toward the office. It was like the office didn’t exist. His gaze swept to the window at the front of the gallery, and the smile grew bigger as he walked toward the front door. Something just lit up the man’s world, and with sudden interest, Gage needed to know what that something might be.
    If something made Trent this happy, he found he wanted to try and repeat the action, to keep that smile on Trent ’s face every day. Gage narrowed his eyes and lowered his brows. Where did that thought come from? Confusion at his own reaction stopped Gage for a moment before he swiveled around in his chair to see a perfectly put together female with a long slender body and long dark hair, walking up the sidewalk with two beautiful children.
    The sun shone brightly and the temperature climbed to somewhere in the low seventies, making it a beautiful day outside. Gage ’s windows were still open, a nice breeze blew, birds chirped and the sounds of the neighborhood filtered inside his office. As long as they didn’t get too far up the sidewalk away from his office, Gage would be able to hear the conversation. The woman lowered her phone, so did Trent as they approached. Gage stood, going to the window to watch a little more closely. It sure appeared this might be Trent’s family. Dread set into Gage’s heart like nothing he ever experienced before.
    How had this never occurred to him in all of the time he spent watching this man over the last seventy two hours? Married with children… Something caused Gage to reject the thought immediately. Trent didn’t wear a wedding ring, but lots of electrician’s didn’t wear rings… But if Trent was mine, the guy would wear my ring every day to prove to the world he was taken. And Gage took a small step back from the window, shocked by the thought. Where did that come from? He never thought in terms of long term commitment or marriage, and here he was thinking just that about someone completely unattainable.
    “ Daddy, look what I got! It’s my birthday dress!” The little girl ran toward Trent who never stopped walking toward the woman and children. The little boy tore out after the girl, easily running past her.
    “ I win,” the boy said, tagging Trent’s leg.
    “ Daddy, I wasn’t racing,” the girl said with a frustrated, pronounced little whine in her voice as she reached Trent. Gage smiled, remembering doing the very thing with his younger brothers and sisters. The need to win, to be the best, happened to boys his size.
    “ I know you weren’t, Emalynn. You look very pretty,” Trent said, effectively taking the frown from the little girl’s upturned face, and she twirled around, letting the dress fan out around her. The woman finally made her way up to the three of them. She playfully frowned, looking over Trent before placing a careful kiss on his cheek.
    “ You’re sweaty and dirty,” the woman said.
    “ Yeah, hazards of working. So what’re you guys out doing this afternoon?”
    “ We went shopping for my dress and had ice cream, then decided to stop by to show you,” the little girl said.
    “ That’s nice, honey. You look very pretty in your dress,” Trent said and turned back to the woman. “I should be home soon, off in about an hour. Does it fit your schedule?”
    “ Yes, perfect, and I can cancel if you need me too,” the woman said.
    “ No, I should be fine. I’ve got a crew that can stay,” Trent said.
    “ All right, guys, tell your dad bye, he needs to get back to work.”
    “ Bye, Daddy!” the boy said, reaching to hug Trent. Gage watched Trent lower to hug both the children, careful not to get the little girl’s dress dirty, and he got kisses. Trent rose, lifting his white T-shirt by the hem, and lowered his head to wipe the sweat from his brow. Now that was an unexpected treat, one Gage was glad he stood there eavesdropping in order to see. The guy’s