“Women can be anything they want to be.” Ryan handed the binoculars back to her, and Emily thought again that for a man who didn’t want the responsibility of children, he was remarkably good with them.

Ryan opened the cooler, and they ate a picnic of delicious sandwiches he’d ordered from the kitchen of the Ocean Club, and then sailed the boat farther out into the bay before giving both of them a brief lesson on tacking.

It made her happy to see how much Lizzy was enjoying herself. She was swift and nimble in the boat and a fast learner.

Emily found it more exciting than she would ever have imagined. It was impossible to picture anything bad happening while Ryan was in charge, so she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of spray on her face, the warmth of the sun and the smell of the sea. By the time they arrived back at the marina, she’d decided that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t want to move to Wyoming.

Ryan sprang off the boat, secured it and then reached for Lizzy. “How does pizza sound?”

“I’m going for a sleepover.”

“It’s the twins’ birthday,” Emily explained as he glanced at her in surprise, “and she really wanted to.” And she was trying hard not to show how nervous she was about it. One of the hardest things about parenthood, she was discovering, was not transferring her own hang-ups to Lizzy.

“You’re not meant to call them ‘the twins.’” Lizzy grabbed Cocoa. “They’re separate people.”

“You’re right. Thank you for reminding me. It’s just that ‘twins’ is so much quicker to say than ‘Summer and Harry.’”

“We’re going to eat pizza, birthday cake and then watch a movie in our pajamas.”

“Sounds like a perfect evening.” Ryan strolled across to Emily and took her hand as she stepped off the boat. “So, you’re on your own tonight.” The way he said it made her heart beat faster.

“Yes.”

“Have dinner with me.” He spoke quietly, checking that Lizzy was still occupied with Cocoa. “I’ll book a table at The Galleon. Fine dining. Candles. Lobster. Adult company.”

The invitation took her breath away.

The three years she’d spent with Neil hadn’t prepared her for the intensity of feelings, and she wasn’t naive enough to think that an evening with Ryan would end with dinner.

“You wouldn’t be able to get a table at this short notice in the summer.”

“Are you looking for an excuse to say no?”

“No, but people book months in advance, the moment they know they’re coming on holiday.”

He simply smiled. “So, is that a yes?”

“I’m covered in sea spray and I’m a mess.”

His gaze traveled slowly from her hair to her mouth. “Option one,” he murmured, “is for you to shower at my place.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Ryan—”