She should feel relief. Relief that she didn’t have to make a decision as to whether to take things any further with Jack.
Only, her footsteps were a little heavier as she processed the fact that she wasn’t going to have any more time alone with Jack Harrison tonight.
No more arguments for how wonderful things could be if she just said yes.
No more languid looks or inadvertent touches.
No more possibilities of a few stolen kisses…
Not unless she wanted to.
She paused. Could she really be that forward? Just knock on his bedroom door and hope he’ll invite her in?
Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest when she realized the answer. She’d known the answer all day, really. Even before the little pep talk with Benny.
She liked this man. Really liked him. More than anyone in a long time.
More importantly…she trusted him.
This—whatever it was—could be something good. And although she’d been wary of pulling the kids along with her during the process, she was also becoming more aware that this could be good for them, too.
No. It could be great.
Daisy stepped forward with more excitement, knowing what she was going to do but wanting to run a brush through her hair, maybe brush her teeth and do a few more things to make herself presentable.
Her door was shut, even though she didn’t remember closing it, and when she pushed it open she held her breath at what she saw.
Candles surrounded the room, the light from their flames dancing against the walls and ceilings, painting it in a soft glow. Romantic music was streaming from the speakers, something from Nora Jones, one of her favorites.
And in the middle of it all stood Jack. Grinning at her in that way that made her stomach flip somersaults and her skin tingle in anticipation.
“What? No rose petals leading a trail to the bed?” she asked, but she was smiling as she stepped into the room. Jack closed the space between them, shutting the door before taking her hand in his.
“I considered it, but hoped you’d settle for an IOU since red roses seem to be in short supply in the flower bed.”
She inhaled, trying to calm her shaky breath as Jack put his hands around her, resting them on her lower back as he brought her forward so the only place she had to move her head was up, staring into his bright blue eyes.
“The kids are asleep?” he asked. “Or are you supposed to go back to read another chapter of Mr. Potter?”
“They fought it, but after today, they were goners.”
“I liked what you did with them, the whole snug as a bug thing? It was cute.”
He’d been watching her? She hadn’t known he was there, and she felt silly remembering the bedtime routine. “It’s just something I’ve been doing since Jenna was a little girl and was afraid to be alone in her room. It seemed to always calm her. I continued the tradition with Natalie and Paul.”
“You’re a great mom, you know. They’re lucky to have you.”
The look in his eyes as he stared at her was anything but platonic, his heavy eyes having that distinct bedroom quality.
It was as if a hot fire was lit in her lower belly, and she struggled against the long-forgotten urges that were beginning to take hold. Like wrapping her arms around those shoulders and lifting her lips to his. Or kissing the skin below that strong jawline, inhaling the musky scent, likely tinged with sweat and campfire, and sinking into everything Jack Harrison.
Jack was staring at her lips like they were edible, and when his head dipped, she knew it was only a matter of time before—
No. If she let him start kissing her now, she’d be a goner.
And there were still a few things they had to discuss.
She pulled back, taking a step away from the warmth of his body, already missing it. “How’s this going to work then, Jack? You and me? The kids?”