After she laughed some more at the priceless expression on his face, she said, “Lincoln Abbott is funny.”

“Because he offered us jobs?”

“Because he and his father-in-law are master matchmakers.” Emma told him about the lengths Linc and Elmer had gone to pair Will with Cameron, Colton with Lucy, Nolan with Hannah, Charley with Tyler, Hunter with Megan and Gavin with Ella, although Ella had done most of the heavy lifting in their case. “He wants me with Grayson and has thought of every possible detail that could stand in the way of me accepting the job offer and moving to Vermont to be with him.”

“Huh, wow. Are you saying we’re being played?”

“In the best possible way. They may be shameless, but their hearts are in the right place.”

“Do you want the job that Linc offered you?”

“I think I do,” Emma said, free to admit as much to herself as well as him now that she knew he had options. “It’s a really great offer—more money, full health coverage for me and Simone, cheaper cost of living and a new challenge in a town Simone and I both love. Lucy is there more often than not these days, and…”

“Grayson is there.”

Emma’s face felt hot as she said, “Grayson is there.”

“And you love him.”

“I really do. But the only way we’re moving is if you come with us.”

“I made a big mistake when Lucy first fell for Colton. I let her think I disapproved of her moving away from me, and that hurt her. I like to think I’ve learned my lesson. I want to be wherever my girls are. If my ladies want to be in Vermont, I’ll move to Vermont.”

Emma smiled at him, filled with euphoria that what had seemed so impossible only that morning might not be impossible after all. “I can’t imagine you anywhere but Queens.”

“It’ll be an adjustment for all of us, but what matters is that we’ll be together, not where we are.”

“Troy is going to kill me.”

“He’ll get over it. He loves you, and he wants you to be happy. He might have his nose out of joint over it at first, but after he has time to get used to it, he’ll be fine. Maybe we can fix him up with one of Gray’s sisters, and he’ll find his own way to the Green Mountain State.”

“I’ll suggest that to Linc and Elmer, the experts.”

“Are we really going to do this?”

“I suppose we ought to ask Simone what she thinks.”

“About what?” Simone asked as she came into the room wearing pajamas, her hair wet from the shower.