She saw them off, standing in the hallway as they went down the stairs before returning to the apartment and closing the door, leaning back against it for a moment. “I still feel weird, like something is missing, every time she leaves me, even when it’s with someone who loves her as much as I do.”

“She’s your soul mate,” Grayson said as he joined her at the door.

“She really is.” She studied his handsome face. “Does that bother you? That I already have a soul mate?”

He shook his head. “The way I see it, someone with a heart and soul as big as yours probably has room for more than one.”

She reached for him, and he drew her into a kiss that made her thankful for more than twelve hours to spend alone with him. “This is all very devious, the way you conspired with my daughter to have me all to yourself.”

“Is it? I hoped you wouldn’t mind. I reminded Simone of how she told me the night we met that you like to dance and asked where I could take you.” He lifted her into his arms. “And that led to dinner and dancing at home and her spending the night with Ray. That part was her idea.”

“I don’t mind at all. If she’s helping you to surprise me, that means she likes you and approves of us being together.”

“I want her to approve, and not just because I want you, but I want her in my life, too. She’s so fun to be with, cute and smart and funny and polite. We had the best time today.”

As she listened to him talk about Simone, Emma’s eyes filled with tears that she couldn’t contain no matter how hard she tried.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s this? What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and nuzzled his neck, wishing there was some way she could have everything she wanted for once in her life. Just once. Was that too much to ask?

“Emma, sweetheart. Talk to me. Tell me what upset you.”

Her cell phone rang, and she withdrew from him to answer it, even if she’d rather ignore it and focus on him. If Simone was anywhere other than with her, she’d never ignore a call. She saw Lucy’s name on the caller ID and took the call. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked, forcing a cheerful tone.

“I have news!”

Emma wiped the tears from her cheeks, acutely aware of Grayson watching her intently. “Are you going to tell me?”

“We’re getting married the second Saturday in May.”

“Oh, Luce.” Emma sat on the sofa. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you guys.”

“You’ll be my maid of honor, right?”

“Of course I will.”