The abruptness of his departure shocked her. “Wait—what about Cocoa?”

“Keep her overnight. As long as you push her into the garden by six in the morning, you shouldn’t have any accidents. I’ll call my grandmother and explain.”

She stood up, too, and saw him straighten his shoulders as if he was warding her off. “Thank you for everything you did today. I apologize for drowning you in emotion.”

“I’m not leaving because of what you told me, Emily.”

“Then why are you sprinting out of the door?”

He let out a long breath. “Because I’m not Neil.”

It was her turn to stare. “But—I don’t understand.”

“I have spent the last few hours trying manfully to ignore the fact you’re wearing nothing but a pair of very sexy pajamas.” His voice was husky. “I never thought I’d want to put you back into one of those shirts that button to the neck, but right now I’m thinking that would be a good choice of clothing.”

“You’re leaving because of my breasts?”

“No, not just because of your breasts.” He gave a crooked smile. “All of you. The shape of your face, the curve of your shoulder, the dimple in the corner of your mouth—you name it, I’m noticing it. But because you’ve had a crappy day and you’re vulnerable I am making a supreme effort to keep my hands off you and not do what I’m burning to do. Right now, that means walking out that door.”

Her heart was beating so hard she thought he must be able to hear it.

She should have just nodded.

Or maybe opened the door for him.

Instead, she asked a question.

“What are you burning to do?”

Chapter Eight

Eight

This was the moment to leave.

He knew a mistake when he saw one, and he was definitely looking at one right now.

No single mothers. Wasn’t that his rule?

And not only was Emily vulnerable, but there were still things about him she didn’t know. Things that made it more likely she’d push him out of her house than invite him to kiss her. There was no way he was leaving her without support, and not just because Brittany would fire an arrow into his butt.

Now he knew what she was going through, he was determined to help her. And helping her didn’t involve stripping off those pajamas and pinning her to the kitchen table.

“What I’m burning to do is irrelevant.”

“I’ve been honest with you. I want you to be honest with me.” Her voice was soft and smoky, and it slid into his senses like a drug.

Shit.

“Emily, I can tell you that the last thing you want right now is for me to be honest.”

“Please.”