Lauren took a minute to absorb his words. “Why did you buy all of the music boxes?” That was the first thought she had, and the words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“I collect them.”

“Oh.”

“Yep.”

“You’re really a pilot?”

“I am. Copilot today. Not my normal job, but I was where I needed to be.”

“Coincidence?” Lauren said, grinning.

“I don’t believe in coincidence. I think you just said that.”

“Me, either.”

“Then what do you think we should call this?” he asked her, all traces of humor gone. “Me. You. Here.”

A vague, yet sensuous tension passed between them. She knew he felt it from the tender look in his eyes.

“Luck?” she suggested.

He nodded. “I think it’s more than that. I thought so when I saw you in the store, and then again, when I saw you eating that grilled cheese sandwich at the diner. And now, if this is luck, it’s the luckiest day of my life.”

“Mine too,” Lauren agreed.

“How old are you?” he asked out of the blue.

Her mouth formed an O. “Didn’t your mother tell you never ask a lady her age?”

“No. She died before I was old enough to need that kind of advice.”

Lauren closed her eyes. She’d read that Mr. G had lost his wife when his son was very young.

“I knew that. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I should think before I speak. And to answer your question—wait a second, why do you want to know my age?”

“I don’t know. You’re so young.”

“Like how young do you think?” she asked in a teasing tone.

“Twenty-eight?”

“I’ll take that,” she said.

“Okay, well, it’s a bit young.”

“So you say. What about you?”

“I’m thirty-nine.”

“Perfect, because I’m really thirty-five. Is that too old?”

“It’s perfect, Lauren.” He stood, closing the distance between them. He reached for her hand, gently pulling her out of the chair. He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.

At a knock on the door, Lauren fell back into the chair, a wicked grin on her face. “Felicia?”

“Probably,” he said, returning her wicked grin with a wicked and sexy one of his own.

“Come in,” he said.

Felicia entered, carrying a tray with three glasses filled with ice and three cans of Coke. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Yes, we were discussing Dad’s life,” he said, taking a can of Coke and a glass of ice from the tray. He popped the tab, filled the glass, and gave it to Lauren.

“Well, I can assure you, he is one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet,” Felicia said as she poured a soda for John, then one for herself.