“Maybe we should call it a night here,” I whispered.

His arms still around me, arms that felt nice and strong, gave me a reflexive squeeze but he nodded.

“How are you set for tomorrow night?” he asked.

How I was set was that Junior and Alyssa wanted a date night and so did their eldest daughter, Sofie, who usually looked after he kids when they needed her to. But now she had a boyfriend who was about to go to Boston to start his freshman year of college so she wanted all the time with Conner she could get.

Therefore, I’d told Alyssa I’d come over and watch the kids and she’d fallen on that like a man dragging himself through the dessert had just hit the water hole at an oasis.

“I’m watching a friend’s kids tomorrow night. The next?” I asked.

“I have a work thing,” he muttered with disappointment. Then he gave me another squeeze. “I’ll call.”

I smiled at him, my arms still wound around his shoulders.

“That’d be good,” I said softly.

His eyes dropped to my mouth then his lips dropped there.

We didn’t make out again but our kiss was hot and heavy, just brief, before he gave me a quick peck, a sexy smile (that actually was sexy), said goodnight and walked toward his burgundy Infinity.

I watched him go for a moment before I let myself in, closed and locked the doors.

I went to the kitchen and flipped the lights before I took out my phone and did what I did more than occasionally since the last one she didn’t answer.

I texted Robin with, Hey, things are happening and there’s a lot to tell you. You’re not replying, which has me worried. Give me a time that’s good for me to call and I’ll call. Love you!

I got ready for bed, doing it a little dreamily because Bradley was a little dreamy and it was clear he liked me, but by the time I was ready for bed, I realized that Robin again hadn’t texted back.

So, finally being grown up, I phoned her.

I got voicemail and left a message.

“Okay, now I’m really worried. Honey, we need to connect. There are some things I need to explain to you. Please call me.”

I got a book and went to my buttery leather chair but I didn’t read and slowly lost all the dreamy.

Because my friend didn’t contact me.

* * * * *

The next morning, as I was rushing into Dove House, I heard my phone chime with a text.

I dug it out as I pushed open the front door and I looked to Ruth at the reception desk.

I waved and said, “Hey,” as she smiled at me and said, “’Morning, Amelia,” and buzzed me in.