I had no idea what I was doing, whether Henry and I sleeping together was a terrible idea or the best idea in the world, or how this was going to play out. Nothing had really changed. We were still two people fresh from bad relationships that had damaged us in ways we might not even be aware of yet. Neither of us knew what the future would bring. And I had two children that needed me to love them enough for both parents. This wasn’t the time for me to go looking for romance.

My judgmental voice, the one that loved to speak up just when I was enjoying an unexpected moment of bliss, threatened to lecture me, not only about parental responsibility, but believing the lies men told and trusting someone with my body, my secrets, my feelings.

To shut it up, I listened to Henry breathe as he slept, focused on the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of his chest.

It was deep and even and peaceful.

12. Henry

Twelve

Henry

It was early when I woke up, the silvery morning light barely starting to slant through the blinds. I knew if I looked out the window, I’d see at least half a foot of fresh snow, which meant my first order of business today would be shoveling the driveway so Sylvia wasn’t stuck here.

Not that I’d mind so much if she were.

I propped my head on my hand and looked at her. She’d rolled away from me during the night and lay on her side, facing the opposite direction. Her golden hair fanned over the white pillowcase, and her body was curled into a ball. She had the sheet tucked against her chest, but her naked back was exposed, her skin luminous in the shadows.

I was tempted to do so many things at once—run a fingertip down her perfect spine. Lean over and bury my face in her sweet-smelling hair. Move closer and curve my body around hers like a comma. Kiss the back of her beautiful neck.

In the end, I waited too long and she stirred, rolling onto her back and blinking at me. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

Her smile was shy and seductive at the same time—an irresistible combination. “I stayed the night.”

“You did.”

“We broke all our rules, didn’t we?”

“And then some. But wasn’t that the point?”

Smiling, she turned onto her side and faced me, tucking her hands beneath her cheek. “It sort of feels like it might have been a dream.”

I reached beneath the sheet and pinched her ass, making her yelp.

“Ouch! Guess it was real,” she said, giggling as she rubbed the sore spot.

“It was real.” I put my hand on her lower back and pulled her closer. “It was unexpected, and it was even better than my fantasies, but it was real.”

Her eyebrows went up. “You fantasized about me?”