Linx peered out the window at the sound of Cedar’s happy bark and the car door slamming. She blinked once, twice. A squeal squeezed through her throat, and she ran out the front door, and down the wooden steps.

“Cedar!”

Her dog scampered up the walkway and bounded to her, licking her face and panting with happiness.

“I missed you so much, girl. So much.” She knelt and hugged and kissed the companion who’d been with her for four years. “Did your daddy bring you back for a visit?”

Grady’s boot was in her line of vision, but her heart pounded with hesitation. He’d probably come by to pick up Molly and Rex—not to let her visit with Cedar at all, but to rub it in her face that she was now his dog.

“Aren’t you going to say anything to me?” Grady asked, his voice low and husky.

Swallowing, she let her eyes travel up his fine legs, past his well-endowed crotch, the plane of his six-pack abdomen, his hard and hot chest, landing on his rugged handsome face.

He held out a hand and lifted her the rest of the way, his eyes intense and dark with passion.

Words escaped her as she met his hungry gaze. He drew her close, and there was nothing she could do but smash her lips against his.

She held on tight, opening herself to him and devouring him at the same time. She was helpless, throwing her hands around his neck. Her body pressed to his heat, and at the same time, she wanted so much more.

Her need, his desire, her want, his demand collided like the storm surge after a hurricane, breaching the walls of her resolve and swamping her with endless desire.

Closing her eyes, she felt the strength of his yearning, the potency of his vulnerability, and yes, the possibility of more—of love, maybe, and hope.

Had he come to her bringing peace offerings? Could he accept what she’d done? No matter how horrible?

Could they?

“Miss Linx,” Jessie said, coming out the door. “Ginger made a mess on the floor.”

Yikes!

Linx and Grady popped apart with such force she stumbled against the porch railing while he crashed into the metal skull, missing the spike by a few inches.

“Uh, Jessie, I’ll clean it up,” Linx muttered, turning away from Grady who naturally followed her and Cedar into the cabin.

Great. If she’d thought she had something to hide before, she now had an even bigger dilemma.

Grady was staring at Jessie as if he’d never seen her before.

“Are you Cedar’s daddy?” Jessie asked.

Grady squatted down to her level and said, “Why I believe I am.”

“I knew you’d bring her back. You’re not divorced, are you?”

“Oh, no, I’m not divorced.” Grady smiled at the little girl whose soulful brown eyes were a mirror image of his own. “Don’t worry about Cedar. She’ll have both her mommy and daddy loving her.”

“I have a mommy and a daddy, too,” Jessie said. “But my dog is lost. Her name is Betsy, and Miss Linx is going to use her superpowers to find her.”

“I’ll help Miss Linx find her. I promise.” Grady turned on the charm, and from Jessie’s animated expression, she was lapping it all up.

The screen door slapped, and Cedar jumped to her feet, panting a greeting as Jessie’s mother stepped in.

“Did you have a good time?” she asked Jessie and waved to Linx and Grady.

“Mama!” Jessie said, hugging the woman’s legs. “Cedar’s daddy brought her back. Do you think he’ll bring Betsy back, too?”

“I’m sure everyone here wants to find Betsy,” Mrs. Patterson said. “Did you help Miss Linx take care of the puppy?”

“I did! And I drew a picture of me feeding Ginger.” Jessie’s double ponytails bounced as she skipped to the playpen where little Ginger was practicing her Army man crawl.

In a flurry of chatter, waving, and patting, Jessie bade everyone goodbye, and Linx was left alone with Grady and Cedar.

The jitters returned to her belly, and she wondered why Grady had come by.

Grady parked himself in front of her, invading her personal space. He gently tucked a strand of Linx’s hair behind her ear. “Tonight, I want it to be me and you. We need to talk and really get to know each other.”

“Where’s all this coming from?” Linx’s voice wobbled as the undeniable ember of hope smoldered behind her guarded heart. “Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden?”

“Why shouldn’t I be nice to you?”

“You want something.”

“I’m giving Cedar back to you. I want to spend time with you—like normal people, instead of fighting all the time.”

“I do appreciate you bringing Cedar back, but what changed?”

Grady’s lips pressed together tight, looking utterly miserable. “She thought you’d abandoned her. It broke my heart to see how down she was, slinking around. She doesn’t understand what’s going on between us. It’s not fair for her to feel rejected.”

“Grady …” her voice sounded breathless. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Why don’t we relax and chill, have a good time tonight?”

She held up a hand and backed away. “This isn’t one of your twisted dog deliveries, is it? Because I’m not sleeping with you tonight, even though you brought Cedar back.”

“I would never turn you down if that’s what you want, but no, this isn’t a sleepover. It’s a peace offering.” His fingers brushed over her cheek. “I brought steak. If it’s okay with you, let’s have a date night.”

“Date night?” The concept had never crossed Linx’s mind.

She didn’t date, and now that she thought about it, he’d never taken her out on a date, ever.

They’d had after-sex snacks and before-sex drinks, and weekends spent in bed, but she’d never spent time with Grady when sex was off the table or off the bed.

“Okay. No funny business.” Linx grabbed at the remnants of her self-respect. “I told you earlier I’m not sleeping with you.”

“If you sleep with me, it’ll be because I deserve you. Right now, I’m in the doghouse.” He grazed her lips with a kiss. “Prepare to be wowed.”

“You’re still so arrogant, Doghouse Grady,” she chuckled. “Thanks for bringing Cedar back.”

He gave her lips another almost chaste peck, and she kissed him back, tangling her arms around him. For the first time since she’d known Grady, she felt playful and carefree.

For tonight only, she’d pretend her other secret didn’t hang over their heads. She’d enjoy the evening as if she were on a first date with an attractive prospect. She’d let herself imagine he’d forgive her and maybe even cherish her.

Pulling back from the kiss, she whispered, “Let me go upstairs and get ready for our date. I’ll want flowers, candlelight, and the whole experience.”