She shook her head slowly. “No, I don’t. I’ve tried to analyze the way I feel when I’m around you, and you’re right. I love Dixie and Tabby, but what we have is something that I can’t put into words.”

He stood up and pulled her close to his body in a tight hug. “I want us to be more than friends. I want to spend more time with you.” He tipped up her chin. “Would you go out with me Saturday? A real date. A day just for us. That’s the day the girls have to be in the wedding. I’ve reserved a hotel room so I’d have a place to stay while I wait for them. We could have the whole day to ourselves to do whatever we want.”

“Yes,” she said without a moment’s hesitation.

“Good,” he whispered as his lips met hers in what started out as a sweet kiss but soon developed into something much hotter as his tongue grazed her lips and begged entrance.

She opened up to him and turned to wrap her arms around his neck. With her breasts pressed against his chest, she could feel his heart thumping as fast as hers. When the string of scorching-hot kisses ended, she laid her head on his shoulder.

“And here we sit in pajama bottoms,” she whispered.

“Darlin’, I learned a long time ago that it’s not what’s on the outside that makes a woman beautiful but what’s on the inside. That said, you’d be gorgeous in an old feed bag tied up in the middle with a piece of twine,” he said.

“That may be the most romantic thing a guy has ever said to me.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle. “I’m not very good at romance, but this feels right.”

“Yes, it does.” No past relationship had ever felt so right.

“Anything else we need to talk about?” he asked.

“Right now I don’t want to talk. I just want to sit here and enjoy the moment.” She closed her eyes.

When she awoke the next morning, the sun peeked over the edge of the far horizon, which meant it had to be at least six o’clock. Jody was probably already in the kitchen making coffee. Mitzi’s head was still on Graham’s shoulder. His cheek was nestled in her hair and his arm cuddled her. She eased out away from him and started to stand, but he tightened his grip on her.

“Don’t go,” he muttered.

“Have to. It’s morning.”

His eyes popped wide open and he adjusted his glasses. “Well, how ’bout that? We just spent the night together, and I slept like a baby.”