Heaven was only minutes away. But Gage didn’t want to rush Josh’s bedtime routine. He hadn’t been part of it until tonight.

After bath time with a flotilla of rubber duckies, Emma snapped the little guy into his soft cotton PJs decorated with bluebirds. Then she handed him to Gage and pulled out a picture book from a shelf in his bedroom. “This is his favorite. It’s about the adventures of three friends who happen to be ducks.”

He smiled. “Can’t wait to hear it.”

Josh insisted on holding both his bluebird and his owl during story time. Tucked between Gage and Emma on the sofa, he pointed at the pictures and babbled away as usual, only now he threw in kuk-kuk every so often.

Gradually his little body relaxed and his grip loosened on his precious birds. His comments trailed off. He yawned. By the time Emma closed the book, his eyelids were drooping.

“Can I put him to bed?”

Her voice was muted. “Of course.”

Getting slowly to his feet so as not to jostle the baby, Gage gently scooped him into his arms and laid him against his chest. Like that first time in Wes’s apartment, Josh melted into him in a gesture of complete trust.

Emma led the way into the room lit only by the glow of a night-light. He laid the baby in his crib and Emma tucked the birds in beside him.

Josh’s eyelashes fluttered. “Ma-ma.”

“Sweet dreams.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Sleep tight, buddy.” Gage kissed him, too.

Emma quietly raised the railing until it clicked into place. Then she slipped her hand into Gage’s and laced her fingers through his.

He tightened his grip. His need for her simmered, adding depth to a moment so rich with emotion that his throat hurt. This precious child was the result of having lusty, glorious sex with the woman by his side. That hadn’t quite sunk in until now.

He’d been overwhelmed by Josh’s sudden appearance, then steamrolled by the pressure of events that had followed. But in the peaceful quiet of his son’s bedroom, the soft sound of Emma’s breathing made him ache with a visceral craving that nearly overpowered him.

She squeezed his hand and he glanced down. She mouthed the words let’s go and started for the door.

And oh, he was ready. Once he was in her bedroom, he tugged her close, his voice hoarse with urgency. “I’d planned to take it slow, but if I’m not deep inside you real soon, I might go crazy.” He drew in a ragged breath. “I want…I need…”

“I know.” She looked up at him, her green eyes luminous. “I need you, too.”

With a groan, he captured her mouth. He poured every bit of his longing into that kiss until they were both trembling. Then he undressed her quickly and lifted her onto the bed. Holding her gaze, he took off his clothes. The job was tougher than usual because he was so eager.

By the time he put on the condom and climbed into bed, he was truly shaking, desperate to make that essential connection with her. He slid in, absorbing the intense pleasure of that sweet friction, her moan of pleasure, the way her eyes darkened and her cheeks flushed.

Her fingertips pressed into the muscles of his back and she arched upward in a silent invitation to go deeper. How he loved that. Burying himself to the hilt, he held his breath until the urge to come passed.

She tightened around his cock. A hitch in her breathing told him all he needed to know. He didn’t have to move much. Easy does it. Just a little rocking motion and…right there. Ah, Emma.

Leaning down, he covered her mouth with his and muffled her first cry of release. Then he lifted his head to let her gulp in air and timed his slow strokes to the waves of her climax. Don’t come, don’t come, don’t come. Somehow he held back as she bucked and gasped beneath him.

Panting, she sank to the mattress and closed her eyes. “So…good.”

“For me, too.” Anchored in tight, he rode out the aftershocks.

Her eyes slowly opened. “But you—”

“I love watching you climax.”

“Oh.” She took a shaky breath.

“And feeling it.” He began to pump. “I’ll bet you’d like a repeat.”

She smiled. “Smart guy.” She slid both hands to his butt and began a slow massage.

Nice. But it made him want to…oh, yeah, sure did.

“I like it when you come, too.” Her warm gaze locked with his. “When we come together. That’s special.”

The emotion in her eyes opened the floodgates. Emma. Fierce longing gripped him. And he was undone. Powerless to hold back…anything. He surrendered to a driving need to thrust into her over and over until her cries mingled with his.

Braced above her and breathing hard, he tried to get his bearings. He’d never let go like that. Never. He swallowed. “That was…”

She cupped his face in both hands and took a deep breath. “The best ever.”

“Yes.” More than that. He didn’t have the words, yet. Just a conviction that his world had shifted. “Good thing we didn’t wake him up.”

“Like I said, he’s a sound sleeper.” She smiled. “Kind of like old times, huh?”

He couldn’t stop looking at her. Her taffy-colored hair was tangled every which way and her skin was rosy from making love…with him. God, she was beautiful. “Better than old times.” He sucked in another breath. “Way better.”

Because the night was still young and there was ice cream in the freezer, Emma suggested they each get a bowl to take back to bed. That turned into some fun fooling around and another mutual orgasm before they packed it in.

Gage woke up the next morning to the aroma of coffee, the sound of Josh babbling, and Emma’s side of the bed empty. Pulling on his briefs and jeans, he went into the kitchen, where she was feeding Josh warm cereal. Her hair was damp.

“Morning, beautiful.”

She glanced up and smiled. “Morning, handsome.”

“Da-da!”

“Morning to you, too, sport.” He glanced at Emma. “Did I sleep through you taking a shower?”

“Yep.”

“I must be feeling really relaxed to do that.”

“You look really relaxed.”

“And in need of a shave and a shower. If you can wait until after I do that, I’ll make breakfast.”

“Sure thing. Want coffee?”

“As soon as I get back out here. I won’t be long.” He stripped off his clothes in the bedroom and walked into the bathroom, fragrant with scents he associated with her.

The basket of tub toys made him smile. How cool to have been part of that routine last night. The kid did love his bath.

He shaved quickly at the sink before taking a shower. An idea had come to him soon after waking up and it wouldn’t leave him alone. Was it doable? Would she go for it? Only one way to find out.

Toweling off, he dressed in the clean clothes he’d packed into his duffle. He’d worn the white Western shirt to show her the mascara was gone, but he pulled on a t-shirt this morning. Seemed more practical for a day spent playing with Josh.

He walked back into the kitchen as she was lifting the little guy out of his high chair. She glanced over at him. “Before we start our breakfast, we need to feed the birds.”

“Right! Are you okay on seed? Because I can go get the bag from the truck.”

“I have enough to fill it this time. Maybe today while I’m working you can take Josh outside and put the seed in my little can.”

“Will do. Want me to take him, now?”

“I think he’d like that. Ready to go see Daddy, Josh?”

He reached for Gage. “Da-da-da-da-kuk-kuk.”

“Cluck-cluck to you, too, squirt.” He swung him into his arms. “Which way, Emma? Is there a back door?”

“Follow me.” She had on her running shoes this morning and the rubber soles squeaked on the wooden floor as she hurried through the laundry room to the back door.

The birds were waiting. They fluttered and chirped in the branches of an oak tree in the yard. Emma had hung a baby swing from one of the branches. A little sandbox sat on the ground nearby.

“You’ve done an amazing job setting up this place for him.”

“It was fun.” She opened the lid of a small trashcan. “Birdseed’s in here. Eventually he’ll be big enough to scoop it out and fill the feeder, but we’re not quite there, yet. If you’ll take him to it, I’ll bring the seed.”

“Got it.” He located the bird feeder, a little house-like structure on a pole. His mom’s feeder had been similar. He’d kept it filled until he’d left home. “Hey, buddy, these birds sound hungry. Should we give them breakfast?”

Josh swiveled back and forth, trying to keep track of the chattering birds swooping in and out of the branches of the oak tree. “Ba-ba! Kuk-kuk-kuk!”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Josh thinks these birds need food, Emma.”

She approached with a scoop of birdseed, lifted the hinged lid on the feeder, and poured it in.

Josh chortled with glee.

“Now we retreat towards the house and wait for them to gather.” She walked backward away from the feeder. “Josh loves this part.”

He’d loved that part, too. He had a catch in his throat as the birds flocked to the little house and Josh quivered with excitement. “This is great, Emma. I’m so glad you put this here for him.”

“With the way he reacts to them, I couldn’t imagine not doing it.”

“Because you’re a good mom.”

“Well, thank you for that.” She stood there a little longer before turning toward Josh. “Let’s get you set up by your window, okay?”

“Ba-ba.”

Gage followed her inside, where she positioned his highchair by a window with a good view of the activity. “I’m guessing you planned that feeder’s location.”

“You know it. I love my son, but I’m not prepared to stand out there for two hours while he watches the birds eat.”

“Would he last that long?” He settled Josh in the highchair.

“Maybe not, but I don’t want to chance it.” She poured some Cheerios on his tray. “Dinner and a show.” She turned to Gage. “Our turn.”

“I’m on it. Eggs? Bacon? Toast?”

“Check, check, check.”

“Then hand me the stuff and turn me loose.”

“But I’d be glad to—”

“Nope, nope. Just stick around and keep me company.”

“I’m not letting word get out about this, cowboy. A man who looks like you and can also cook? The women will be lining up.” She hauled out the pans he’d need and took a carton of eggs and a package of bacon out of the fridge.

“Yeah, please keep it quiet.” He melted butter in a pan. “I have my hands full with you.”

She leaned against the counter. “That better be a compliment.”

“Oh, it is.” He gave her a wink. “I’m a lucky man and I know it. How do you like your eggs?”

“Over easy, but not overdone. I like the yolk to have some give to it.”

“How about your bacon?” He peeled off several strips, laid them in a second pan and turned on the heat.

“Crisp but not brittle.”

“Challenge accepted.” He plugged in the toaster and loaded it with slices of bread.

“You’ve done this a time or two.”

“Dad taught us to cook. Pete and I embraced the concept. I’m not sure that Wes and Roxanne ever did. But Roxanne’s marrying a man who co-owns a restaurant and Wes is in love with a baker. Since preparing food isn’t a high priority for either of them, they chose wisely.”

“Sounds like it.”

He cracked the eggs in the pan two at a time because…might as well admit it…he was a bit of a show-off when he was good at something. “I have an idea I’d like to throw out to you.”

“Should I suit up? Get a catcher’s mitt and a face mask?”

“No, ma’am. I’m just lobbing this one in, hoping it looks decent enough that you’ll consider going for it.”

“What is it? I’m on pins and needles.”

“You and Josh moving to Eagles Nest.” He glanced over to gauge her reaction and blinked.

They’d had a great weekend and yesterday had been a huge success. The three of them got along better than he could ever have predicted. But she had to realize that the physical distance between them was a problem, one a move to Eagles Nest would solve.

He’d anticipated hesitation, maybe some anxiety, possibly even a tiny bit of excitement. Questions, of course. They’d have a lot to discuss regarding this possibility.

But he hadn’t prepared himself for shocked silence. The frozen expression on her face was unsettling.

“So.” He cleared his throat, his hope fading. “Guess that doesn’t sound good to you.”

“No, Gage, it doesn’t. In fact, it sounds like the worst idea in the world.”