She’d never been a one-night-stand kind of girl. Hell, she hadn’t had the time to be, what with getting pregnant at eighteen and becoming a mother at nineteen. Her experience with situations like this was nearly nonexistent.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked after a long silence.

“I’m sure. It’s just a long time for me to be out of touch with Simone. I’m getting twitchy.”

“I totally understand. Sorry to keep you so long.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said, smiling at him. “I’m not.”

They arrived at the Abbott home a few minutes later. Colton’s truck was parked behind Lincoln’s Range Rover. Emma wondered how long they’d been back and whether she’d kept Lucy and Colton from plans by being gone so long.

Aware of Grayson following her into the house, Emma hurried through the removal of her coat and boots and rushed into the kitchen, stopping short when she saw Lucy sitting on Colton’s lap as he wiping away her sister’s tears.

A cold feeling of dread overcame Emma, making her stagger. “Simone.”

“Oh hey,” Lucy said as she stood. “You’re back.”

“What’s wrong? Where’s Simone?”

“She hurt her arm while skiing, but she’s okay,” Lucy said. “They gave her something for the pain, and she’s out cold.”

Grayson’s hand on her shoulder offered comfort Emma didn’t want after hearing her baby had been hurt while she’d been off having sex.

“Where is she?”

“On the sofa,” Colton said.

Emma all but ran into the family room, where Simone was asleep on the sofa, her arm in a sling and her face the ghostly shade of pale it became whenever she was unwell. She dropped to her knees next to the sofa and bent to kiss her cheek. “Mama’s here, sweet girl.” Smoothing the hair back from Simone’s sweaty forehead, Emma battled through the emotional firestorm of realizing her child had needed her while she was in bed with Grayson. This was what she got for being selfish and taking some time for herself. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“She’s fine, Emma,” Colton said from behind her. “She dislocated her elbow, but there was no sign of a fracture or anything more serious. She’ll be sore for a couple of days, but no harm done.”

Emma blinked back tears. “That’s a huge relief. Thank you for taking such good care of her.”

“These things happen when kids are learning to ski,” Lincoln said. “How many dislocations, sprains, concussions and other maladies did we have, Mol?”

“Too many to count,” his wife replied.

Emma knew they were trying to make her feel better, but she still felt guilty for not being available when Simone needed her.