“Find me a bathroom?”

“Next best thing?” He held out his arm and brought her into his embrace.

She rested her head on his chest. “Does this feel weird to you in the bright light of day?”

“It actually feels really good. Does it feel weird to you?”

“Just the part about being half-naked in a bed with my boss.”

“Do you think you’ll ever think of me as anything other than your boss?”

“I already do, Paul. That’s the scary part.”

“It doesn’t have to be scary.”

“Things like this never end well for me.”

Paul filed away that information to chew on later.

“And there’s a lot at stake. Your mom and her care, Ethan and how attached he’s getting to you, my job.” She shrugged. “This was fun, but I don’t think it should happen again. You know?”

“No, I don’t know. There’s nothing wrong with two consenting adults spending time together if they enjoy each other’s company.”

“If people could get hurt, there’s something very wrong with it.”

“I don’t want to hurt you or Ethan. I’ve come to care for both of you. All I’m asking for is a chance, Hope.”

The shower went on across the hallway, and the voices of Jenny and Alex disappeared when the bathroom door closed.

Hope sat up, reached for her top and pulled it on over her head. “They’re in the shower. I’m going to run home and change clothes, and then I’ll be over to get your mom up.”

“I can do that. Today is your day off.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Can we please talk about this before you run away?”

“Later. We’ll talk later.” She opened the door, apparently saw the coast was clear and darted out the door, closing it behind her.

Paul had to laugh at the irony. The first time he spends the night with a woman in longer than he can remember and she runs away like her ass is on fire the next morning. Great way to start the day.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The words “walk of shame” went through her mind as Hope rushed into her cozy cabin and went straight for the bathroom. After taking care of urgent business, she dropped her head into her hands. “God, what the hell was I thinking, letting that happen?”

She took a shower and stood under the hot water for a long time, wishing it could wash away the shame. Paul was such a nice guy, as well as handsome, sexy and wonderful with Ethan, not to mention how great he was to his mother. He was everything any woman could ever want in a man. But she couldn’t have him.