“Text me when you get back.”

“I will.”

He kissed her slowly, lingering on a thorough exploration of her bottom lip that had her heart pounding in no time at all. “Mmm, so sweet. It’s going to be a long night looking forward to later.”

“For me, too.” She reluctantly released him and he seemed to be equally reluctant to leave her. As she still wore only the thin scrap of underwear, Abby couldn’t bring herself to leave the protection of the sheet. The whole new her wasn’t quite ready to walk around naked in front of him.

Before he left, he leaned over the bed once more to kiss her. “See you soon.”

“Have fun tonight.”

“You, too.” He was to the door before he turned back to her. “It occurs to me that we need an official date with wine and candles and good food. Tomorrow night. That's what we’ll do. All right?”

“All right.”

Abby’s smile lingered for a long time after he left.

Annoyed by the summons from his mother, Grant almost ignored it.

“What’s wrong?” Dan asked.

Grant had come to visit his injured friend and had been enjoying the relaxing time with Dan when the text had arrived.

“My mom has summoned us to the White House for some unknown reason.”

“Are you going?”

“I’d love to pretend like I didn't get the message, but somehow Voodoo Mama would know.”

“You’re too funny, man. Still worried about getting in trouble with your mommy. How old are you anyway?”

“Thirty-six last time I checked.”

Dan grinned and shook his head.

“Until you’ve encountered Linda McCarthy’s wrath, you can’t judge me.”

“Whatever you say. Mind if I come along? I’m getting sick of looking at my own four walls.”

“Isn’t Kara coming over?”

“She’s working late, covering for one of her people. She’ll be here later.”

Grant helped Dan up from the sofa, moving carefully so as not to jar Dan’s injured ribs. “Things with her are going well?”

“She’s amazing. I think I might be in love.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say that again.” For years after Dan caught his ex-fiancée in bed with his best man the day before his wedding, he’d stayed far, far away from anything that smacked of commitment.

“I never thought I’d say it either. But there’s something about Kara that makes me want to take chances again.”

Grant helped Dan into a light jacket, which was complicated by the bulky cast on his arm. “I’m glad for you. She seems really great.”

“She’s been amazing since the accident. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her.”

“So get this… My brother Adam is seeing Abby.”

“Abby as in your ex-Abby?”

“One and the same.”

“I thought she was engaged to that doctor. What was his name?”