Of course Delaney was aware of Cash rattling around in the kitchen. She couldn't believe he was doing a menial chore like the dishes.

Or that she'd asked him to stay.

Evan exclaimed as he pulled out the small gifts she'd stuffed in his stocking, giving her moments to ruminate.

What was she doing?

Plans change.

Cash's statement, spoken so easily and matter-of-factly, was a reminder of the stark differences in their circumstances.

She juggled numerous cleaning jobs, worked sixty-plus hours each week to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads and chip away at Evan's medical bills.

Cash came from a wealthy background. His family had money. Now that his parents were gone...? She didn't know details of his financial situation, but someone who could turn down a job because plans change was flying in the stratosphere while she was a peon with her feet practically cemented to the ground.

He was making no effort to hide his interest in her. Wanna bet? he'd said when she'd argued that he wasn't nervous. The honest vulnerability of his words had hit her hard.

She made him nervous.

She hadn't been able to quench her attraction to Cash, even when she'd known better than to act on it.

She'd been flustered, flattered when he'd shown up this morning. He'd braved the cold weather. The roads weren't even passable, yet he'd found a way to get to her, to return her ring.

And to apologize. He'd been sincere and serious in his apology. He'd meant it. He’d been vulnerable and brought up his conflicted feelings about his dad.

He'd done everything right, but that didn't mean things could work between them. Attraction was fine, but what about when reality intruded?

She scheduled her jobs around Evan's doctors appointments. When she wasn't toting her son to Austin for treatments or check-ups, she was helping with math homework or trying to catch up on household chores.

Her life wasn't conducive to dating. And when Cash figured that out, he'd lose interest.

And if she let herself fall for him, losing him just might break her.

She didn't know if she had it in her to take that risk.

"Whoohoo!" Evan reached the toe of his stocking and found the pack of Pokémon cards she'd stuffed in the bottom. "Awesome, Mom!"

He ripped into the package, spilling cards across the floor. She laughed a little as Evan scrambled to pick them up, sorting through them quickly.

She swallowed hard. She didn't just have herself to think about. If she allowed Cash into their lives and the relationship didn't make it, Evan could be heartbroken, too.

There were so many things stacked against them.

She sensed Cash's overwhelming presence and glanced up to find him in the kitchen archway, one shoulder against the jamb, his legs crossed at the ankles. He was smiling at Evan's antics, a soft smile that reminded her of Jonah with a pang. A dad's affection.

He was relaxed, very much at home in her tiny house, in her world.

It was she who was overly conscious of the small pile of gifts unwrapped beneath the tree, of her decor that was a decade out of date, and of the paint peeling in the corner of the ceiling.

Cash's Christmases must have been so different from this.

His gaze shifted to hers, and the warmth in his eyes changed, sparked.

Something inside her responded, twisting her stomach into a knot and floating at the same time.

She should tell him to go home.

But she didn't want to.

Evan threw his arms around her, and she tucked her chin into the hug. There'd been a point months ago when she hadn't been sure he'd make it to see this Christmas. She was so very grateful to have him here.

"Mom, can I please go outside now?"

She laughed a soggy laugh as Evan pushed back from the embrace.

"Don't you want to play with your new toys?" she asked.

He eyed the remote-control racetrack in its box. It'd been the only large thing beneath the tree, the costliest gift.

"But the snow's gonna melt. Please?"

She glanced at Cash, who watched with twitching lips. She shrugged. "Not for very long. Bundle up!" she called after him as he dashed toward his bedroom.

She stood, self-conscious that she was still in her PJs. She brushed a hank of hair out of her face.

"Is it dangerous for him to be outside?" Cash asked.

"Like he said, the chemo makes his immune system weak. Most doctors believe cold weather suppresses the immune system, too, but he's on winter break, so he won't be around other kids and germs, and I don't think being outside for a half hour will hurt him."

The corners of his eyes crinkled, but his smile was bittersweet. "My mom would've liked you. She never wanted us to miss a chance to be kids."

It was clear the grief from losing his parents was still potent. Somehow, she'd stepped closer to him, reached for his hand. He clasped her hand easily, naturally. As if they'd held hands for years. His fingers threaded through hers, and a zing of emotion triggered inside her gut.

"I would've liked the chance to meet her," she said softly.

His smile was tight, and she didn’t miss emotion in his eyes.

He cleared his throat. "If you're only giving Evan half an hour, he might need help to get his fort done."

Her brows went up. "You really want to build a snow fort?"

"Sure. I'm rusty but I think I can handle it."

She examined his face for any sign of impure motives. "Why?"

He tugged her slightly closer, let his opposite hand come up so that his fingertips touched her waist. "Because I want to know you. And he's a part of you."

Breath caught in her throat. The way he was looking at her...

She was helpless against the emotion rising inside her. He dipped his head forward, and she rose up on tiptoe to meet his kiss.

His lips brushed hers. Once. Again. She felt the brush of his scruff where he hadn't shaved this morning, the tip of his nose against her cheek.

He settled into the kiss, as if he had all the time in the world, as if there wasn't a little boy in the other room, ready to burst in on them.

She was the one who felt as if she were coming out of her own skin and helpless to stop.

He moved back slightly, only a breath between them. At her waist, his fingertips brushed gently.

What am I doing?

"You're a million miles away," he whispered, his breath fanning her lips.

She wasn't. She was glued to the floor, her heart beating a panicky rhythm.

He must've caught Evan's pounding footsteps a fraction of a second before she did, because he steadied her even as he stepped back.

The concern on his expression only made the knot in her stomach worse.

She turned her face away, turned to Evan on the pretense of making sure he was bundled enough. "Hat?"

"Mo-om," her son complained.

His beanie was already on.

"You mind if I take a shot at building that fort with you?" Cash asked.

"Really? Sure!"

She tugged on her son's zipper, stalling for time before she had to look back at the man.

When she did, Cash only winked at her and made for his coveralls and boots.

"So how do you want to do this?" Cash asked.

He stood just steps from the stoop of Delaney's house, Evan beside him, both of them squinting in the sun's glare off the pristine blanket of snow.

"Find a good snowbank and dig in,” Cash asked, “or go with snow bricks and build from the ground up?"

The boy's head tilted to the side as he gave serious consideration to the yard. "Snow bricks," he decided.

Cash nodded. "My sister and I did a big one, once. I was about... your age." He knelt in the snow and started scooping handfuls to himself. "Why don't you pace off an outline of where you want each wall to be. I'll start making bricks."

He caught Delaney's shadow in the big picture window. She was sipping a mug of coffee. And probably watching every move he made with her kid.

He'd freaked her out with his kiss. He'd been sure she'd wanted it. It'd been there in her eyes, in the way her body had swayed toward him... but then when he'd delivered, he'd felt tension overtake her. Like her mind had been elsewhere.

Not his best performance if he couldn't keep her attention with his kiss.

Maybe it was because Evan was in the house. It wasn't an ideal place for a first kiss, not super romantic, but he was working with what he had.

Maybe he just needed to be a little more patient. Like when breaking a skittish horse. Move too fast, and you were bucked off, rear end sore from hitting the ground.

Evan stomped a decent-sized circle in the ground, laughing when snow when flying.

Cash finished pounding a third brick into shape as the boy trekked through the shin-high snow to him. "Igloo shape, nice."

"The roof will probably be the hardest part," Evan said. "I watched some YouTube videos, and I think I can do it."

Good for you, kid.

Evan knelt in the snow next to Cash and watched as he formed a six inch square brick. The snow was perfect for building, just moist enough to stick together. Cash started on his own brick.

"Were you kissing my mom?" Evan asked, his head down.

Shoot. Cash had hoped he'd reacted quickly enough to keep the boy from seeing the embrace. He wasn't ashamed of it, not at all, but what should he say to Evan?

He went with the truth. "Yeah."

"Oh." Evan squinted up at him. His hat had slid over one eyebrow, which made Cash want to smile, but the boy was so serious. "Do you like her? You know, like like her?"

Cash let his gloved hand rest on top of the brick he'd been working on and gave the boy his full attention. "I haven't known your mom very long, but I think she's pretty awesome."

Evan nodded. "She is."

Cash had to smile at the boy's quick agreement.

Evan pounded another brick into shape. "She doesn't date."

Cash lifted a brick in each hand and moved to the outline Evan had created. "Because of your dad?"

Evan followed, carting a big brick. He placed it next to the two Cash had laid. "Because she works all the time. And when she's not working, she takes care of me. Takes me to doctors appointments and stuff. Sometimes I get sick and throw up."

The boy looked down. "I wish she didn't have to."

He put a hand on Evan's shoulder, conscious of how bony it was. "Your treatments won't last forever, will they?"

Evan shook his head, still looking down.

Cash considered for a moment. "Maybe if you guys had someone else who could help, your mom wouldn't be so stressed out." And Evan wouldn't have to feel guilty.

Evan squinted up at him again. "You must really like my mom if you want to clean up vomit for her."

Cash couldn't help a chuckle. Was he that crazy for Delaney? Yeah. He really was. "My dad once told me that when I met the right woman for me, I'd know it. And your mom knocked me on my rear last night. I think she’s the one."

Evan looked up at him, expression serious. "She might try to talk you out of liking her."

Perceptive kid.

Cash grinned at him. "You want to know what training a horse is like?"

Delaney rushed through the quickest shower in mankind, followed by a high-powered blow-dry before she threw on a pair of jeans and a cashmere sweater she'd found at Goodwill, which was a little more flattering than her PJs.

She brushed on a smear of lip gloss and quickly applied eye makeup.

She'd watched the two males for a few minutes before ducking into the bathroom and spent at least twenty minutes on her abbreviated beauty routine, so she rushed back to the living room in bare feet.

The boys were still outside.

She stood at the window again, watching as Cash placed the last brick carefully on the roof of the igloo-slash-snow fort. Evan was sitting inside, and she could hear his chatter through the windowpane, though she couldn't make out his words.

Cash answered, his voice deeper but his words no clearer.

She lifted her hand to knock on the glass and call them inside—she couldn't risk Evan's health—but suddenly a snowball flew out of the igloo and hit Cash's pant leg.

She saw the man pause, glance at her briefly. As far as she could tell, the attack from Evan had been unprovoked.

Cash held up two fingers, mouthed two minutes. And then knelt and scooped a handful of snow, quickly packing it into a ball.

She watched the fight unfold, Evan tossing ball after ball that he must've squirreled away in the fort. Most of Cash's shots hit the igloo. Was he purposely missing her son?

Finally, Evan launched a last barrage and then fell out of the igloo, laughing so hard he was holding his sides.

Cash was laughing, too, carefree and full, the sound audible through the glass. Hearing it made her stomach swoop.

Cash was too perfect. He liked her son. Owned a huge ranch and didn't have to worry about money. Was as handsome as a movie star.

How could she even think she'd hold his interest for more than a minute?

Cash ruffled the top of Evan's head and pointed toward the house. They both stomped snow off their feet on the stoop. She held the door open and shivered when a rush of cold air hit the still-damp nape of her neck.

"Freeze," she told Evan. She pointed to the huge beach towel she'd pulled out of the closet. "Shoes. Coat."

She helped him pull off the snow-encrusted coat, getting a shower of snow for her trouble. His hair was mussed from the beanie. She felt his forehead where it'd been beneath the hat. Cool but not too bad.

"Mom," he protested, shifting away with a glance at Cash.

"You can give me a check," the rancher said with a slow grin as he slid the coveralls down his arms and waist.

Evan barked a laugh as she felt heat spreading across her chest. The hunter-green sweater she'd chosen had a V-neck, and she knew pink must be showing there when Cash gave an obvious glance and then smirked.

She slapped his bicep. Playfully.

She pointed at Evan. "Go change your clothes and then come back to the kitchen for some hot chocolate."

"Aw, Mom. I'm not a baby."

"No, but I bet your socks and pants are wet."

Evan trudged across the room. "You didn't start putting together my track, did you?"

"I just opened the box," she said.

"Mom has to have supervision for anything that requires assembly," Evan threw over his shoulder.

"Hey!" she cried.

Too late. Cash's eyes were laughing as he stripped the coverall pants down his legs and off.

"I'm pretty handy," he offered as he straightened. "You can supervise me all you want."

The innuendo in his words made the heat across her chest flare hotter. She crossed her arms in mock indignation.

"Don't you have to go home?" she asked tartly.

The laughter in his eyes died away. "You ready for me to go?"

She shrugged. "I'm sure you and your sister have plans for the holiday, don't you?"

He smirked again, but this time not at her expense. "My sister got the Christmas gift she really wanted. Maverick, my best friend," he explained. "He's in the marines, and his leave is up tomorrow. I'm pretty sure Mallory hasn't given me a thought all day."

"Ah." Lucky girl.

"So can I stay? If I promise to keep my lips to myself and not to freak you out again?"

She was burning up. Needed to trade her sweater for a T-shirt. "You noticed?"

He winced slightly. "Hard not to. It's been a while since I kissed anyone. I'm probably as rusty at that as I am at building a snow fort."

"I haven't kissed anyone since Jonah," she admitted softly. "And... what are we doing here?" she dared speak the words out loud. "What is it you're hoping happens after today? I'm not exactly dating material."

He nodded, totally unsurprised. "Evan told me."

She was taken aback.

He advanced on her, didn’t stop until he was leaning over her, supporting himself with one arm braced on the wall above her head. "He said you work yourself to exhaustion, and when you're not working, you're all about keeping him healthy."

"He did not," she breathed. It was hard to catch her breath with him so close.

He ignored her. "He also said you'd try to talk me out of pursuing you."

She considered taking back the presents from beneath the tree.

"Don't you think we're too different to make a relationship work?" she asked.

"Because you're a city girl and I'm a country boy?" he asked.

"No. You know why."

"Because you're a busy single mom and I'm in between jobs right now?"

Hot anger surged. "No," she said sharply. "Because I clean your house—mansion. And others’ houses. Because people like you treat people like me like… like that guy last night. Because I’m not the same as you.”

He leaned back, put distance between them. “I would never have treated you or anyone like that.”

She folded her arms over her middle. “No. To behave like that, you’d have to notice me. And most people in your social circles only notice me when the cleaning isn’t done right.”

“Yesterday, my behavior had nothing to do with you. It’s hard to take over your father’s business. My dad… he was so good at running the ranch, and I always feel one step behind. Like I’ll never measure up. The way I treated you was unthinkable, and I’m sorry. But it had nothing to do with you.”

She shook her head, feeling guilty for bringing it up again. He’d already apologized and she’d forgiven him.

…But couldn't he see how unequal they were? He’d never understand…

When he spoke again, his voice was quiet and serious. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm a man and you're a woman. Who cares what our annual salaries are?"

"I do!" she blurted. Couldn't he see how unequal they were? He'd never understand why she had to work so much, not when money came so easily to him. Or what about...? "When your birthday comes, what happens when I can't afford a gift for you?" Those things seemed small, but they added up.

She knew. She'd grown up with a maid for a mom. How many times had she worn clothes from Goodwill when her friends at school had brand new things?

He had a little crease between his eyebrows. "I guess I wouldn't care."

"Yes, you would," she snapped. Why couldn't he see what she did?

"Then I guess I'd like it if you made me a special dinner," he said with an easy shrug.

She growled.

It didn't faze him. "When we're married, our incomes will be combined," he said easily.

"What?" she yelped.

And of course, Evan chose that moment to burst back into the room, sliding on the old wood floors in his sock feet. "Is the hot chocolate ready?"