He flexed his fingers and fought the urge to put his hand on her stomach. It was a possessivegesture, and he felt a little bit possessive

But she didn’t pull away from him. If anything, she seemed to sort of melt against him. It was thefirst time she’d willingly accepted something from him without getting stiff and defensive andgenerally annoyed

Well, my mom had to bring bigger containers for food when the family ate outdoors. But she usedthis when she and Dad . . .

How sick are you? Holy crap. Are you dying or something? Is that why you’re going ona retreat and eating only lettuce?

Yeah. A picnic. I want to show you this place

Do you want him to?

She swallowed, her eyes dropping to his lips. And he knew she felt it too.

That means I get to help you with parent things, and other unpleasantness. And you have to knowmy brother.

He relaxed his hands, lifted one and tucked a strand of wispy blonde hair behind her ear. She didn’tmove; she only looked at him. He wondered if she felt it too.

Heartbreak was the worst. It was worse than a cord wrapped around the wheel on you computer chair.

Kelsey laughed and the sound moved through him, made the hairs on his arms stand up, made hisheart beat faster

I can tell.

Yeah. See you later

He found himself fighting the urge to reach out and take her chin between his thumb andforefinger. To tilt her head so that she had to look at him. So that her lips were so...

Hi.” He turned and saw Kelsey standing in the door of the kitchen, looking . . . Well, she wasglowing. That pregnant woman glow, maybe? Or just the sun hitting her face at the right...

Now he sounds like he’s proposing marriag