“Of course it’ll start.” She leaned back against the car and folded her arms in a casual pose that wasn’t casual at all, looking uncharacteristically rumpled. “ ’Night, Pace.”

She’d rather be alone in a parking lot than accept help from him. “Was the kiss that bad?”

“What? No.” She smiled again and shook her head. “I understand what you did, showing the guys your acceptance of me, and I appreciate it. But I don’t want you to feel obligated—”

“Okay, whoa.” He shook his head. “Damn, you think too much. That wasn’t obligation, Holly.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No.” He stepped closer. “It’s nearly two in the morning, and I realize you’re probably exhausted, but let me give you a ride.”

“Honestly, Pace. You don’t owe me anything, okay? I don’t need a pity friendship from you.”

He slipped his hands in his pocket and came up with his keys, which he dangled in her face. “How about a pity drive?”

She snatched the keys so fast his head spun. With a grin, he followed her to his car and got into the passenger seat, enjoying the flash of leg as she took the wheel.

“I want you to know, I’m not usually so easy,” she said as she whipped them out of the parking lot in an impressive exhibition.

He gripped the dash. “Furthest thing from my mind.”

She slid him a look, but he kept a straight face as she drove. At her condo, she turned off the engine, grabbed her purse, and turned to him, an inscrutable look on her usually wide-open face. “Thanks for the ride. Thanks for being there when I needed you tonight.”

Then she was gone so damn fast that he barely caught her at her front door, putting a hand on her waist as she fumbled with her purse. “I wasn’t always there when you needed me,” he said quietly. “But I’d like to be there for you now.”

“Thank you. But I don’t need anything at the moment.”

“Nothing?”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth and gave him a rush, but then she moved inside. He followed her, looking around as she flipped on the lights. “Interesting.”

“What?”

“I just realized. You said I was all baseball, but you know what? I don’t see evidence of a full life here in your place either.”

“Yeah.” She looked around. “I realized that, too.” She gestured to the kitchen table, to the plant there, and a picture of them nearly two months ago now. He looked at the smile on her face and knew he wanted to see her look that happy again.

“I’m making some changes,” she said with a lift of her shoulder. “Making a few moves.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Me, too.” Slowly he tugged her in, loving the way her breath caught. He skimmed a hand up her back, nudging her closer, and—