“We’re in luck.” Grayson returned to the bedroom with a stack of towels in hand. “Ella hasn’t packed up the bathroom yet.” He dropped the pile on the bed and held up one of the towels for her, seeming to sense her shyness.

As she released the sheet and wrapped the towel around her body, Emma appreciated the gesture.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “You’re not having regrets, are you?”

“What? No, not at all. Are you?”

“Not even kinda. This was the best day I’ve ever had.”

“Same here.”

“You want some company in the shower?”

“Oh, I, um… I haven’t done that before.”

“First time for everything?”

“I really ought to get back to the house. I don’t want to take advantage of my sister.”

“Of course.” He kissed her forehead and released her.

As Emma rushed through a quick shower, using bath soap his cousin had left behind, she wished she’d taken him up on the offer to shower together. Now she’d have to wonder what might’ve happened if she’d invited him to join her. It was probably just as well that she hadn’t, because one thing might’ve led to another, and judging by the soreness between her legs, she’d already had too much of a good thing.

Emma was careful not to let her hair get wet so she wouldn’t have to explain wet hair to her hosts or sister. She felt like a teenager who’d been up to no good sneaking back into her parents’ house. Wrapped in the towel, she left the bathroom and found Grayson sitting on the bed, waiting for her.

“I’ll be quick,” he said, kissing her as he went by her to take a turn in the bathroom.

She heard the shower go on and tried to find her clothes, which were scattered about the floor, a reminder of how eager they’d been. By the time he came out, towel wrapped around his waist, she was fully dressed and becoming more anxious by the minute to check on her daughter.

She’s fine. Of course she’s fine. She’s with Lucy, which is the next best thing to being with me. Still, even knowing that, Emma wanted to see her if for no other reason than she missed her. Except for the time they spent at school and work, the two of them were nearly constant companions. Rarely did they spend more than twenty-four hours apart.

Grayson got dressed and helped her into her coat. In silence, they left the apartment where everything had changed between them in such dramatic fashion. She’d had so much to say to him earlier, but now she had no idea what to say. Was this a vacation fling never to be repeated or the start of something more significant? She couldn’t say, and that left her feeling unsettled.