Despite the zing of absolute pleasure that traveled up her arm when his lips brushed over her skin, Kara worked her hand free. “Let’s eat and get to work. We’ve got a lot to do and not much time to do it.”

The wounded expression on his face reminded her a lot of the morning she’d told him she wanted nothing more with him. Why was it that his hurt became hers? Why was it that she couldn’t find a way to broach the elephant standing in the room between them? They’d gone on like nothing had happened between them, falling into this strange businesslike relationship.

Kara had no idea what it meant or what he wanted from her, other than someone to bring him dinner and type his notes for him. And what did she want from him? That too was a puzzler. She’d thought she wanted nothing to do with him until the long day when she didn’t know if he was dead or alive. That day had changed everything.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked when he was seated at the table.

Kara got him a beer and opened it for him the way she did every night. “Yes, I’m hungry.”

“I wish you’d tell me what’s bugging you,” he said between mouthfuls of pasta.

“Nothing.”

He winced, wiped his mouth with a napkin and sat back in his chair. “I hate that word.”

Kara regretted using it when she’d vowed never to say it again in his presence. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean it that way.”

“You mean the way you used it to describe what you wanted from me after we had sex?”

Kara’s face got very hot as she put down her fork. Her appetite was suddenly gone. “Why are you doing this? You haven’t said a word about what’s going on between us since the accident—”

“Because I don’t know what’s going on! And I’m afraid to scare you away by asking.”

“You, I…I don’t know either. Everything is so different, and I’m not sure…”

He took her hand and wrapped his much warmer hand around it. “What are you not sure of, honey?”

His use of the word “honey” made her belly quiver. “You, us. This. Whatever it is. This is exactly why I told you I didn’t want to get involved. I hate all the uncertainty and confusion.”

Dan tugged on her hand. “Come here.”

“I’m right here.”

“Closer.”

Though she was still uncertain and confused, she stood and let him guide her onto his lap. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t make any sudden moves.”

Kara couldn’t help but smile at the amusement she heard in his tone as she sat perfectly still on his lap.

His good arm encircled her. “Kiss me.”

“We were having a conversation.”