Abby would never, ever admit to anyone that she’d always thought he was the most handsome of the four McCarthy boys. She’d thought so even when she’d been dating his brother and had often felt guilty for her scandalous thoughts. As gorgeous as Grant was, there was something about Adam that had always gotten to her, which was another of her deep, dark secrets—one she planned to keep to herself forever. Not that she’d planned to share the other one… Speaking of that, she felt the need to explain herself to him.

Don’t. You’ll only make it worse.

But I have to say something! How can I leave that hanging out there without at least an apology for oversharing?

You’ll only make it worse.

How? How is that possible?

“Adam.”

She caught him mid-sip. “Hmm?”

“What I said last night—”

“I’ve been thinking about that all morning.”

Abby sucked a mouthful of coffee into her windpipe, which was promptly expelled all over the white comforter. Coughing and gagging, she tried to recover the oxygen that had been expelled from her lungs along with the coffee.

Adam dutifully patted her back until she stopped coughing and could breathe again.

“That was embarrassing.”

“Housekeeping isn’t going to be happy with you,” he said, surveying the disaster on the comforter.

“It’s your fault! How could you just say that like it was no big deal that you’d been thinking about what I told you?”

“Because it isn’t a big deal.”

“Maybe not to you, but did it occur to you that I wish I’d never told you?”

“I’m glad you did. How can I help you get to the bottom of it if I don’t know about it?”

“Wait… Help me?” A dazzling array of erotic images cycled through her addled brain as the words “get to the bottom of it” registered. “It’s none of your business!”

“I’ve decided to make it my business,” he said with a smug smile that made her want to punch that handsome face.

“Really. Well, as much as I appreciate your offer—”

“Don’t you want to hear my offer before you blow it off?”

“No! I most definitely do not want to hear your offer!”

“You disappoint me,” he said with a cluck of dismay. “And here I thought you were all Ballsy McBalls-A-Lot, ready for a big adventure.”

“Ballsy McWho? And for your information, I am ready, but I don’t see what it has to do with you.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Are you ready to listen?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Always.”