So what was this about? Sympathy sex? No way she could feel that badly, to offer that. Not the daughter Greg had raised. She would never hold herself so cheaply.

And he wished he could say he wouldn’t take it if she did. But as the ache in him at the very thought grew, he wasn’t at all sure.

He turned to look in the direction she’d gone. Belatedly realized it was toward her bedroom. He was moving before he consciously decided to. Following. Unable to stop himself. So when he reached the doorway he grabbed the doorjamb on each side of him and held on so tight his knuckles whitened.

She was there. Sitting on the edge of the bed. Just sitting. Waiting?

“What did you mean...the rest?”

It came out hoarsely, but he was surprised it came out at all past the tightness of his throat.

She rose, slowly, and he was struck anew by the lithe grace of the way she moved. “You know what I meant.”

“Amanda...”

She shook her head, but smiled. “I definitely think it’s Mandy, for you.”

He nearly doubled over, feeling like every muscle in his body had cramped. He felt like only his fierce grip on the doorway kept him off his knees. “You can’t...you don’t want this.”

“This may surprise you, but sometime ago I stopped letting other people tell me what I want or don’t want.”

“I mean...with me.”

“And I repeat,” she said. “But I meant what I said. It’s now up to you. I’ve made myself as clear as I can.”

“We... I’m...not prepared for this,” he said, sounding desperate even to himself. And he suddenly remembered the day when, in one of his blackest moods, he’d thrown out the condom he’d once always carried in his wallet.

Gesturing toward the nightstand she said, “I am. In the drawer.” She gave him a faint smile. “I have ever hopeful friends.”

He couldn’t speak. And for a long, silent moment something taut and tempting spun out between them. And then she made a small, sad sound. And she looked away, as if her courage had suddenly failed her. He saw a faint tinge of color rise in her cheeks, and then she spoke in a tone that matched that tiny sound of regret.

“And apparently I was wrong. Again.” Her head came up then. “I guess my judgment is really off when it comes to you, in more ways than one. I thought you...wanted this.”

He groaned aloud. “If I wanted it any more I’d tear this doorjamb apart.”

The blush faded, but her eyes went hot and wide. And when she bit her lower lip before speaking, he felt as if a firebomb had gone off in his gut.

“Then why are you still over there?” she whispered.

Because I can’t believe you want this. Want me.