“You’re smart,” he said. “You rely on your brain to make informed decisions. I respect that. But your decision to take over custody of Dylan wasn’t made by your brain because, on paper, it didn’t add up.” He tipped his head slightly. “Was taking over custody of Dylan the best decision you ever made?”

Confound it! He was good at this. “You know that it was.”

“When it comes to me, I’m asking you to draw on whatever part of you made that decision. Not all good things make sense or can be quantified.”

Her years with Dylan had taught her the absolute truth of that.

Sebastian closed the space between them and took her face in his hands. “You’ve shown how brave you are. Be brave with me.”

She might be opening herself up to deep heartache if she let this continue. “Ah . . .” Lord! What should I do? Show me. Tell me.

No clear answer came.

Sebastian’s talk of protecting her dreams had gone to her head, because it was so astonishingly, shockingly wonderful to have someone on her side, supporting what she valued. “The thing is,” she whispered, “I don’t need a man in my life. I have math.” One of her fingertips disobeyed orders and traced the shape of his lower lip.

“I don’t want you to need me. I want you to choose me.”

“I abhor romance.” She slid her fingers into the thick, silky strands of his hair.

“I know.”

He took her mouth in a kiss—thorough, urgent, filled with pent-up feelings—and her resistance fell like a building leveled by dynamite.

Drugging minutes passed. He lifted his head a few inches. “Am I your boyfriend now?”

“No.”

“Yes I am.” He regarded her challengingly. “I am now, Leah.”

“We’re not together.”

“Yes we are. We’ve had a fight, and I’ve driven across Georgia to make up with you, and now we’re together. Agreed?”

She hesitated. “I’m undecided and in need of convincing.” A smile stole across her mouth.

More kisses filled her kitchen with golden heat and wonder.

“Are we together?” His voice had turned raspy.

She answered with “Undecided” the next four times he asked that question, until she was gasping and he was watching her with eyes that made a million promises.

“Yes,” she finally said. She defied any woman, given the temptation of Sebastian Grant, to answer differently.

Her misgivings remained.

It’s just that, at this awe-laced moment, the joy he offered was greater.

Leah lay wide-awake in bed until well after one that morning. Marveling. Melting. Worrying.