I held my breath almost as well as she held her tongue.

We’d toured the entire house… well, almost all of it… before she’d said much more than good morning. When she finally spoke, the relief was exquisite…

“It’s lovely,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I studied most of the popular architects in class… but I don’t really see any of them in this. Who did you use?”

“I designed it myself,” I said, feeling a surge of pride. “The Bartlett Group worked up the plans from my sketches. And I took a leave of absence from the office so I could have a hand in the actual building.

I’ve always liked working with my hands…”

I caught her eye, certain I saw a spark. Then I caught her hand. It was the first time all morning I’d felt close enough to touch her.

“We should talk about color schemes… and textures that you like,” she said. She reached for the samples she’d brought, scattered over the dining room table.

“I want to start with the bedroom,” I said, not letting go of her. “Then the living room, and we can finish up with the dining room. The table stays. And my bed. This will get you started.” I took a check out of the pocket of my denim shirt and handed it to her, gratified to see her eyes widen. “I give you total and complete freedom.”

“Started…?” she breathed. “This is a small fortune… and you’re not interested in having any input…?” She blinked, confused.

“You can start tomorrow.” I kept her hand and led her into the kitchen. It was stone and steel, all rough and smooth, dull surfaces and shining ones. Skylights brought in natural light, enhancing the subtle colors in the marble and slate. “I packed a lunch for us this afternoon. I thought we could take Violet down to the cove and let her gather shells. I should meet her, don’t you think? And I have a gift for her that won’t wait too much longer…” But she put her hands on my chest as I pulled her to me, stopping me before I could kiss her.

“I’m overwhelming you again…”

“I haven’t even thanked you for the cottage yet,” she answered. “Or the job… or the piano…” She looked into my eyes and I forced back the desire to unbutton her sweater. “You’ve already been too generous. How did you even know to put in a piano?”

“I remembered that you liked to play,” I answered. She seemed to visibly relax. “It seemed the right thing somehow.”

“The perfect thing,” she said, “more than you know… But let’s go to the cove on our own. We need to talk, and I know Mattie was planning to help Violet plant some tomatoes in the garden.”

“And my gift?” I asked.

“Can it wait a little longer?” She looked down from my eyes and stared at the buttons on my shirt. “Just a little while longer?”

Half a roasted chicken and the better part of a bottle of wine later, we were in each other’s arms. The blanket underneath us was bunched and covered with sand.

“Oh God, Will… I’m sorry… I can’t…” She sat up, pushing my hands away just as they slipped under the edge of her sweater. “I can’t just pick up where we left off at the club.” She ran her hands over her hair, disheveling it even more. “You’re my boss… I’m your employee, for God’s sake. And my little girl…”

I sat back, noticing how her lips had swelled and reddened. Kissing her was an intoxicating pleasure all its own… And the wine had softened her edge. She was flushed, ready to talk to me now…

“I’ve been on my own since before Violet was born,” she said. “I was too busy with classes and taking care of a brand new baby… I’d never have made it without Mattie and her sister, but at the end of the day, she was my responsibility… and only mine. I know you want something more to happen between us… but I don’t know how to have a relationship and a daughter. I don’t even know if it’s a relationship you’re looking for.” She was breathing and talking fast now. “For me, what happened at the club was an excerpt in my life. It was never supposed to involve my family… or affect my child…”

I stroked her arm as she spoke, tangling my fingers with hers. “A lot of things have changed since prom night,” she said. “What happened between us back then… well, it was something I never had again. At the club that night… I was there looking for a memory…”

“And you found me,” I answered. I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed my lips to her fingertips, “by accident, maybe. Except that I made damned sure it happened.” I looked at her hard, willing her eyes up to mine. “I wasn’t looking for memories. I was looking for you. And the bond between us is even stronger than ever. I know you feel it, too.”

I leaned forward to kiss her again, feeling that familiar heat surging through my veins. I felt her response… and let it build…

“I can only imagine what you’ve gone through,” I said, letting my lips move lightly over hers. “And how hard it is for you to trust…” I took her face in my hands and looked into her crystalline blue eyes. “But we belong together. We always have. I want all of you… every inch… every touch… every thought, every moment.

And I want you to trust me with more than just your body, Angel.”