He took her in his arms and kissed her until he was crazy with wanting her.

She moaned. “Aidan.”

He lay back on the sofa and without breaking the kiss, dragged her with him so she was on top of him. Running his hands over her ribs, he caressed her breasts through her shirt, making her gasp. “Do you want me to stop?” he managed to ask.

She leaned down to kiss him again. “No.”

He slipped his hands under her shirt and found warm, soft skin.

She raised herself up to give him access.

“Oh, God, Clare,” he sighed against her neck, his hands full of soft breast. But then, like cold water had been thrown on him, he remembered what’d happened to her and that he needed to be careful with her. He was afraid he’d frighten her if she knew how badly he wanted her.

She let out a whimper when he removed his hands from her breasts and smoothed her shirt back down. “What?” she whispered.

“I don’t want this to happen on the sofa.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, and then her lips while resisting the urge to plunder. “And I should probably buy you dinner first, no?”

Laughing, she looked down at him. “I love you. I love you so much.”

“I’m very glad you do,” he said, but deep inside he hurt because she didn’t love him enough to tell him her secrets.

While Aidan grilled steaks on the deck, Clare called Maggie back. The girl was full of news about school, her friends, and the twins. She was looking forward to the upcoming weekend in Vermont. Clare planned to meet Jack in Boston a week from Friday to pick her up.

“Will Aidan be there?” Maggie asked.

“Yep.” Clare wondered if her daughter had developed a crush on Aidan.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

“I think so.” Knowing this was new territory for Maggie, she knew she had to ask. “Is that okay with you?”

“Yeah. He’s nice.”

“He is.” Clare looked out the window to where he stood on the deck lost in thought. “Listen, baby, I’ve got to run. Give me a call tomorrow?”

“Will you still be at Aidan’s?”

“Yes, for now. The dust at Uncle Tony’s house isn’t good for me after having pneumonia. Aidan’s going to be stripping the floors next, which is really dusty.”

“Makes sense. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Aidan came in with the steaks. “Everything okay with Maggie?”

“She’s great, full of news, as always.”

He smiled. “She’s adorable.”

Clare followed him into the kitchen to help set the table. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you ever think about having other children?”

He turned to her. “No.”

“Never?”

He shook his head. “Why?”