He didn’t know if it would make a difference. He couldn’t force her to feel something for him she didn’t. But he’d never given her a chance to make up her own mind on that. He’d told himself no long before she had the opportunity to do so.

Maybe Grace was right. Maybe if he stopped editing himself so much, he’d at least be able to get closure when she said she didn’t feel the same way. Kincaid had seen so many parts of him, so many sides, but she’d never seen the man he could be when he openly loved someone. He wasn’t even sure what that looked like.

Maybe it was time to find out.

A slow smile curved his lips. “Grace, I love that you don’t like to meddle.”

She tipped up her chin and winked. “A true lady knows where not to stick her nose.”

“Of course.” He gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for this. Even if this blows up in my face, I appreciate the advice.”

She gave him a tight squeeze. “I just want to see the two of you happy. Whether that’s together or not, it doesn’t matter. You both deserve the best life has to give. Plus,” she said, releasing him, “I want grandkids and I’m not getting any younger.”

He laughed and lifted his palms. “Tap the brakes there, Grace.”

She gave him an arch look. “Just sayin’.”

She provided him with one last encouraging pat and then headed toward the back to find Charlie, leaving Ash alone with his whirling thoughts and the reality he could no longer ignore.

He loved Kincaid. He loved her.

That was enough to knock him on his ass, but now he was actually considering letting himself act on it? Put himself out there with no armor on at all?

Fuck.

This had disaster written all over it. But…

What if it works?

The thought whispered to him like an illicit lover, tempting him with visions of things he hadn’t let himself imagine. He gripped the edge of the front counter and leaned forward, breathing in those images and then recognizing them for the insanity that they were. This was nuts.

“Hey, Mr. Broody,” Kincaid said, her voice snapping him to attention.

He lifted his head, making himself smile a casual smile. Casual. Always so damn casual. “Hey.”

“Charlie was tired, so they decided to go out the back door and head home.” She walked over to Ash and ducked between the arms he’d braced on the counter. She hooked her arms around his waist. “They really, really loved it. Charlie couldn’t stop telling me how great everything looked. He even oohed and aahed over the new stock arrangement. We done good, city boy.”

He touched his forehead to hers, inhaling her scent and letting that nervous energy settle a little inside him. He could do this. If he didn’t fight it, loving her was as natural as breathing. He just had to let himself show it. “Grace knows about us.”