“Very sure. Cam and Lucy tried for years to make us into a couple, but I never thought of him that way. There’s no spark between us. We’re just friends.”

“That spark makes all the difference, doesn’t it?”

She smiled at him. “It certainly does.”

“Has it been half an hour yet?”

“More like ten minutes.”

“No way. That was totally thirty minutes.”

“How about I check to see if Sleeping Beauty is actually asleep yet?”

“That’s the best idea you’ve had all day.”

She leaned in to kiss him, lingering long enough to get his hopes—among other things—up. “Hold that thought.”

“Been holding that thought since you left my bed early this morning.”

Grayson watched her walk away, noticing the way her jeans hugged her sweet ass and how her blonde hair reached her mid-back. He loved looking at her, watching her move and the loving but firm way she mothered her daughter. He loved talking to her, laughing with her, kissing her and making love with her. He loved everything about her.

“Holy shit,” he whispered to himself as the earth-shattering realization registered all of a sudden. His grandfather was right. He was in love with her—completely and totally and absolutely in love. He wanted a million more days with her and Simone just like today, here or in Vermont, or in both places if that was what they wanted. His mind raced with scenarios and possibilities and plans, even as he told himself it was far too soon for any of these thoughts. The last thing he wanted to do when things were going so well was to freak her out by asking for too much too soon. Patience was the word of the day.

Emma returned to the living room a few minutes later. “Sleeping Beauty is out like a light. She’s even snoring a little.”

Grayson launched off the sofa and had her in his arms two seconds later, lifting her right off the floor to carry her toward the apartment’s other bedroom.

“Tell me how you really feel,” she said with a teasing grin.

“You’re not ready to hear that.”

“Says who?”

“Me.” He put her down next to the bed and went to shut and lock the door. “What if she wakes up?”

“I’ll hear her. My ears are calibrated to her, even through a closed door.”

Grayson whipped the sweater up and over his head, tossing it aside on his way back to her. He put his hands on her hips and took a long, greedy look at her gorgeous face.

“What do you think I’m not ready to hear?” she asked.

“My true feelings about you—and Simone.”

“I want to know.”

He shook his head. “It’s too soon.”

“Grayson…”

Bending his head, he placed a series of kisses on her neck that had her leaning into him. He loved when she did that.

“Please tell me.”