Then he scooped her up the way Alex had done to Jenny, leaving Hope breathless from wanting him. He put her down on the porch. “I can’t shock poor Mrs. Garfield by carrying you inside.” Leaning in so his lips brushed against her ear, he added, “But I want to. I really want to.”

Hope laughed at the salacious tone of his voice and let him guide her into the house, where Mrs. Garfield was on the sofa watching TV. As a retired nurse herself, she’d been a huge asset to the family.

“Hi there,” she said. “Did you have a good time?”

“It was great,” Paul said. “Alex and Jenny can now get married.” He winked at Hope and then walked Mrs. Garfield to the door, waiting until she was in her car before he shut off the outside lights.

Hope loved being “in the know” that Alex and Jenny were already married. She loved being a part of everything that went on around here, even the difficult stuff with Marion. And she loved Paul. That much had become painfully apparent since she called it off with him. Sleeping with him tonight wasn’t going to make anything better. In fact, it would probably make everything a whole lot worse.

But that certainly didn’t stop her from taking the hand he offered. It didn’t stop her from letting him lead her into his room.

“Give me one second to look in on Mom, and then I’m all yours.”

All yours. Hope fairly swooned at the thought of such an incredible man being all hers, even if it was only for tonight. Alone in his room, it occurred to her that she could walk out of there and spare herself the agony that was sure to set in tomorrow. But she couldn’t bring herself to take the first step that would lead to the safety of her own home.

He returned, leaving the door open so they could hear Marion if she got up. The night-light in the hallway made it possible for her to see the look of intent on his face as he approached her.

“You’re so beautiful tonight,” he whispered. “All the time, but tonight… You dazzled me.”

“I like that word.”

“It’s a good word. It sums up rather perfectly how I feel about you.” He leaned in to kiss her neck, setting off a chain reaction that registered in all her most important places, most particularly in her chest, where her heart beat erratically. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you tonight. You might’ve been the only woman in the room.”

“Paul,” she said on a sigh, utterly charmed by his sweet words.

“The last couple of days have been torture. You’re so close but so far away. I can’t stand it.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”