“Yeah. I was out earlier. It’s chilly.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “What’s going on?”

“Didn’t you get my brownies?” she asked uncertainly.

What was left of them was sitting on the counter. “Yes. Yes, I did. And they were…er…delicious.” He gestured toward the plate. “As you can see, they’re almost gone.”

Obviously self-conscious, she hugged her coat close as she looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes. “What about the note? Did you get that, too?”

“I did, yes. And I was going to respond. But…I’ve been really busy.” He knew that was a lame excuse, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“So…are you interested? I mean… I’ve had a thing for you ever since I first saw you.” She blushed and glanced away.

Tobias reached out to touch her elbow, a gesture intended to soften his words. “You’re a beautiful girl, Willow. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that… Well, you’re too young for me.”

Her eyes widened. “What does age matter? I’m old enough. I’m an adult. I turned eighteen last month. I told you that at the diner, remember?”

“I remember, but—”

“You can’t get in trouble for anything we do.”

“That’s not the only consideration. I’m thirty. That’s twelve years’ difference.”

“I don’t care!” She grabbed his hand and brought it inside her coat to her heart—at least, he thought that was her intent, but whatever she was wearing seemed to be low-cut, and the softness of her breast filled his hand.

Clearing his throat, he pulled away. “We’re in very different stages of life. I mean, you’re still in high school.”

“Yes, but I’ll graduate in the spring. What’re a few months? After that, I could even move in here with you.” She lowered her voice. “If you wanted me to. Think about having this in your bed every night.” When she dropped her coat, he realized she wasn’t just wearing a low-cut blouse or sweater. She was wearing red see-through lingerie with black high heels.

She looked good, but she reminded him of a little girl playing dress-up.

Picking up her coat from the floor, he tried to give it back to her. “Willow, listen. I’m not the right guy for you. Can you imagine how your parents would react if you started seeing someone so much older? And then there’s my record. They won’t want you getting involved with me.”

“They’ll get over it. I’m not worried about your past. You were seventeen when…when everything happened.”

“True. But I’ve spent an eternity behind bars since then, and yet you’re only a year older than I was when I went in.”