She handed him the mug and looked up at him, dazzled by his gorgeous face, the warm brown eyes, the sleep-ruffled hair, the scruff on his jaw and the lips that had kissed her so tenderly the night before. “Alex and Jenny are having everyone over.”

“Then we’ll do dinner tomorrow night, yes?”

“Sure, but I’ll believe it when I see it.” Erin loved to goad him, something she’d never felt comfortable doing with other men. But Slim was nothing if not comfortable to be around.

His eyes lit up with amusement as he took a drink of coffee. “I believe you’re underestimating me.”

“Would I do that?”

“Yes, I believe you would. But that’s okay. I do my best work when the expectations are low.” He wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger. “Your hair has gotten long since the fall.”

“I decided to grow it out. You’ve seen that on FaceTime.”

Shaking his head, he said, “You always have it up.” He ran his fingers through the long strands. “I like it.”

“Thanks,” she said, unnerved by the intense way he looked at her.

“I need to head over to my place and see about getting the water turned on and firing up Big Bertha, the temperamental furnace that takes three hours to warm up.”

“Oh, well… Um, you could stay here if it’s easier than opening up your place.” The words were out of her mouth before she could take the time to consider what she was offering.

A raised brow was his only immediate response. While she held her breath, waiting to hear what he would say, he took another sip of coffee.

“Unless you’d rather—”

He laid his index finger over her lips. “I’d rather be wherever you are, but I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s no imposition. I have hot water and heat and everything you’d need.”

“You left out one very important feature of your lovely offer.”

“What?” she asked, genuinely confused.

He touched his lips to hers. “You’re here, and since you’re offering twelve days of all Erin, all the time, I gratefully accept your kind offer.”

“Do I need to spell out what I’m offering and what I’m not offering?”

Smiling down at her, he said, “No need. We’ll go with the flow and see what transpires.”

Erin laid her hand on his chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything like this.”

Covering her hand with his, he quirked that sexy eyebrow again. “Like what?”

“This. You, me, us. Hours on the phone, looking forward to seeing someone, dating.”

“You make that sound like a dirty word.”

“It has been for me.”