Well, what had she expected him to say?

She wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t this. Maybe she thought he’d confess he had feelings for her. But maybe he only missed Emily. Maybe he missed the intimacy of their marriage.

“Let’s just forget it happened.” His voice penetrated her thoughts.

Forget it happened? Forget the way you took my mouth, forget the way you touched me, forget the way you felt against me? “Right.”

Dinner consisted of tacos, avoided eye contact, and stilted conversation. When Susan dropped by and invited Kate on a walk, Kate readily agreed. Because despite her agreement with Lucas, she couldn’t seem to eradicate the memory of the kiss.

Kate felt warm and cocooned as she stirred from sleep, only half-conscious. She kept her eyes closed, hoping to fall back asleep. The covers twisted around her legs in a snug knot, but a big pillow, snuggled into her stomach, warmed her.

She wondered about that because her pillow was under her head. Coming more fully awake, Kate opened her eyes. She could barely see by the soft morning light that filtered through the curtains. More important, her arms and face felt the softness of flesh against them and she knew it was no pillow she cuddled with. Her arm curved around Lucas’s side and her body spooned into him, her face against his back. Her thighs pressed into the backs of his.

She started to jump away then stopped herself. Maybe he was asleep—completely unaware that she clung to him like a barnacle on a boat. A sudden move would wake him. If she disengaged slowly, he’d be none the wiser. Oh, please, God, let him be asleep.

She lay quietly listening to the sound of his breathing. He wasn’t snoring, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t asleep. His respirations were deep, a good sign.

How had she ended up on his side anyway? Had she had some weird dream about their kiss? Where was her rolled-up quilt barrier? The way the covers tangled around her legs, she or Lucas must’ve had a fitful sleep.

Okay, time to disengage.

She carefully removed her hand from his stomach. Inch by inch, she lifted her arm until it had no contact with Lucas. Next she lifted her head, moving her face away from the heated hardness of his back.

So far, so good.

The only thing against him now was . . . well, the rest of her body. Her legs tingled with awareness.

Stop that. Good grief, what has gotten into me?

She eased her weight onto her elbow and held her breath as she moved away from him.

Lucas stirred and turned, settling on his back. Kate froze above him. His side pressed into her now and his face was inches away. Thankfully, his eyes remained closed. She lay still, hardly daring to breathe. Was her heartbeat shaking the entire bed?