A thousand reasons why this was a bad idea flashed through his mind with machine-gun speed, but that didn’t stop him from lying back on the sofa and taking her with him. Their bodies came together in the ideal position for much more than kissing. Her tongue rubbed against his, hungry and needy.

Then she was pushing him away, struggling to break free.

Paul released her immediately while his reawakened libido tried to catch up with the change in plans.

“That… That shouldn’t have happened.” Her hand trembled as she covered her mouth.

“Hope—”

“No, don’t say anything. Please, don’t say anything.” She got up and slid her arms under Ethan before Paul could offer to do it.

He got up to open the door for her.

She breezed past him without another word.

Paul stood in the door, watching until he saw lights go on in the cabin. Then he closed and locked the door, leaning against it, trying to find some composure. His lips were still tingling as he grabbed his pillow from the sofa and went into his room, where the sheets on his bed were cold and unwelcoming.

“What the hell just happened?” he whispered. Was she attracted to him, or had she been using him to ease the ache of her loss? Had that kiss been the start of something, or would it only lead to awkwardness between them? God, that would suck. He saw her every day. She worked for him, for Christ’s sake, and for that reason, his father would have been appalled by his behavior.

Paul couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this confused about a woman. It reminded him of high school, when everything having to do with girls had been a mystery to him. They’d all seemed to like him—and his brother—but he’d felt awkward around them until he’d grown into adulthood and finally figured out the secret to getting laid regularly.

Except for lately, that is. Lately, he’d been so overwhelmed by running his family’s business and taking care of his mother that he’d forgotten everything he once knew about how to handle himself around women.

Ugh, what if she quit over this? His worries kept him awake for the remaining time he had to sleep. At six, he dragged himself out of bed and into the shower, standing under the hot water to wash away the cobwebs. He took the time to shave and was standing in the kitchen drinking coffee when Hope came in with Ethan, who was scowling and dragging his backpack behind him.

“There it is.” Hope pointed to a book on the counter. She looked tired and frazzled and seemed to be going out of her way to avoid looking at Paul.