“That makes it easier for you,” Emma said, taking in the small but cozy space.

“She said it took six guys to get the sofa up the stairs, so I’m glad not to have to deal with that.” He took her coat and hung it next to his on a rack by the door. “She’s going to turn over her landline number to me, too.”

“I haven’t had a landline in years.”

“Me either, but you’ve got to have one in the cell phone dead zone known as Butler.” He held out his hand. “Come see the bedroom.”

Here it was. The moment of truth. She could still say no. She could still walk away with her heart intact. She stared at his outstretched hand, feeling as if her entire life had come down to this man and this moment. Did she dare take the leap and say to hell with the painful consequences? How could she not?

She took his hand and saw as much as felt his relief.

Knowing he wanted this as badly as she did made it easier to take the first step and then the second.

He stopped next to the big bed Ella had left behind and drew Emma into his arms, looking down at her with affection and desire. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

“So am I. For now, anyway.”

His lips curved into a small smile. “If this is meant to be, we’ll find a way to make it happen. And if it’s not, we’ll enjoy it while it lasts.”

It was the exact perfect thing for him to say, and it gave her the courage to curl her hand around the back of his neck and bring him down to her for a kiss in which all the usual preliminaries were skipped. Her mouth opened to accept his tongue and her body arched into his, wanting to be as close as she could possibly get to him. The time for questions and hesitation was over. This was the time for pleasure, for taking what she wanted for a change and not denying herself.

She tucked her hands under his sweater and flattened them on his back, loving the way he shuddered with desire that she could feel in the hard press of his erection against her belly. She pushed the sweater up and broke the kiss to remove it. Then she reached for the hem of her own sweater and pulled it up and over her head. Underneath, she wore a formfitting tank with a built-in bra.