“In the spring, I’m going to have a garden,” she went on. “I’m going to plant flowers and vegetables. Maybe you can give me a few pointers. I’ve never had anything to say about the yard. I’ve never had a garden of my own.”

“I can help with that.”

“At your busiest time?”

“There will always be time for you,” he said. He put his wineglass on the coffee table. Then he slid his arm along the back of the sofa and rested it gently on her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. “Come a little closer, Lauren.”

She didn’t hesitate. She slid toward him just as he leaned toward her. He touched his lips softly to hers.

“We’ve managed to go very slowly but we’re both feeling it. I’m definitely feeling it,” he said. “And I think you are, too.”

“I thought it would be safer and less complicated if—”

“If all the legal crap was behind us? If that’s what you want, I can do that, but there’s a good chance our exes are going to drag this out as long as possible. And there is absolutely no possibility I’m ever going to live under the same roof with Pamela again. I’m pretty sure you’re finished with the doctor, too. If you’re not, all you have to do is tell me...”

“Oh, I’m finished. But I wouldn’t want anyone to think...”

“That we had an affair?” He took her glass from her hand and put it beside his on the table. “There’s almost nothing we can do to control what people think no matter what we do. But the truth is, I fell for you the minute I saw you. Way back in the church garden, before we knew anything about each other. If you hadn’t been so vulnerable, I might’ve been a little more aggressive. That’s not because that’s in my nature. It’s not. But I wanted to get to know you better right away. I wanted to spend time with you. Then he hurt you and I had to keep a safe distance from you, to protect you. I knew you couldn’t deal with your issues plus a rambunctious guy. But no matter what we do or how long we keep a polite distance, people will think what they want to think. Just like your husband did.”

“This really wasn’t in my plan,” she whispered. “I wasn’t looking for a man.”

“I know. And I was planning to be a lonely old bachelor. And anyone with a brain or anyone who has read an advice column will tell you, don’t move very fast because the rebound lover usually doesn’t work out. But that hasn’t changed how I feel. I want to take you up into the hills to see the fall foliage before it all freezes off and there isn’t much time left. And in the spring, I want to take you to see some special gardens. I want to go places and do things...and I also want to walk down to the pub for sliders. On those rainy San Francisco nights, I want to build a fire and stay in.”

“What special gardens?” she asked, her lips still close to his.

He rubbed a thumb along her jaw. “There are so many. But we should go to Victoria, British Columbia. The Butchart Gardens for one. The whole town is beautiful and there’s always something in bloom. They have a perfect climate.”

“Victoria?” she whispered. She would love to go to Victoria with him. “I wasn’t hoping to find a man,” she said again. “What if this is just infatuation because of what we’ve both been through...”

“Then I guess we deal with it,” he said. “But what if it’s not? What if it’s real? And good? And right?”

“I’ve made so many mistakes,” she said, letting her eyelids fall closed.

“Welcome to the club,” he said.

Then he covered her lips in a searing kiss. Her arms reached around his neck and his went to her waist, pulling her closer. She moaned softly because she had wanted this for a lot longer than she cared to admit. She returned his kiss, opened her lips for him, held him so close she felt like they’d be bonded together forever. She loved the sound of his sigh as his lips slid to her neck, his hands running up and down her back. Then they shared a deep and open kiss, tongues playing. It lasted for a minute, at least. Then two. She loved his scent and the taste of him. She could detect a manly cologne and something like freshly turned, rich soil...or perhaps she imagined that because he was so comfortable in a garden.

She held him close, letting her fingers wander into the short hair at the base of his neck, kissing him deeply for minutes. And minutes. Their breathing became labored. She broke from his lips and rested her head on his shoulder, holding him tightly, as if he might slip away.

He held her and stroked her hair. “You have no idea how much I wanted to do that,” he said.

“Have you been practicing?” she asked in a whisper. “Because you’re very good at that.”

“You’re pretty good yourself. If it matters, I haven’t kissed a woman in well over a year. But I sure wanted to kiss you. I want to do it some more, too. But maybe I should go. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“You don’t have to go,” she said, snuggling closer.

They stayed that way for a little while, silent and comfortable. Finally he kissed her again, almost desperately. God, it felt so good to her to be wanted with this kind of passion. Tender but strong. She yielded completely, finally unafraid of where this might be going.

He broke the kiss. He looked into her eyes. “I should go,” he said. “I probably shouldn’t get any more worked up. This...us...we could move a little too fast and go off the rails.”

“Okay,” she said.

“You did say you thought it would be best if we got our legal shit handled before we—”

She nodded. She still thought that would be the smart thing, except she wanted to be less smart right now.

They stood. They hugged. He held her face in his hands and kissed her again. Then he went to the door and she followed. He stopped before opening the door. He paused. Then he turned and grabbed her around the waist, turning her so that her back was pressed against the door. He kissed her again. “I don’t want to leave,” he whispered against her lips.

“Good,” she said. “I don’t want you to.”

“Even if it’s not smart?” he asked.

“It’s the smartest thing I can think of at the moment,” she said.

“I want to make love to you,” he said. “For three days straight.”

She laughed softly. “I think we’re going to have to start off slower than that. I have to work tomorrow.”

“But now?”

“Now is good,” she said.

He leaned his head against her shoulder. “I promise. I’ll take good care of you,” he said, his lips against her neck.

“I know,” she said.

He lifted her up into his arms. “Time to undress the witch,” he said. And he carried her to her bedroom.

* * *

Standing at the side of the bed, they shed their clothes quickly, leaving everything in a heap on the floor. “Condoms,” he announced, putting a couple on her bedside table. She didn’t stare at him, though she wanted to. What she could see without looking down was his beautiful chest and strong shoulders. He was so fit and strong. She was feeling shy suddenly. It had been a long time since she’d seen a naked man. It had been a long time since she’d been hopeful about sex. Fortunately, he pulled her into his arms so quickly, she didn’t have to struggle with her awkwardness. His lips on hers gave her confidence.

He stared at her, however. “Oh God, you’re perfect,” he said, running his hands down her sides, brushing over her breasts and down her rib cage and over her hips. “This has been so crazy, this friendship,” he said. “I’ve told myself to be careful, to not come on too strong, but every time we said goodbye, I missed you. I thought about you all the time we’ve been apart.” He fell on her gently, holding his weight off her. He kissed her deeply and she could feel the strength of him pushing at the apex of her thighs. “And soft. And so long,” he added, running his hand as far as he could down her legs.

All her height was in her legs, she knew that. But Beau had quite a huge erection there. The way he was pressing at her and kissing her, she was quickly filled with urgency, but she slowed herself down, taking the time to touch him. She ran her hands down his arms, his back, his hips. She wound her legs around his; she could match him for length. His skin was soft and smooth, his hands a little rough. His hands felt so good on her breasts, on her hips. But his mouth was amazing, kissing her in a way that seemed like they’d been kissing for years.

“You feel so good,” she whispered.

“I feel good because I have you in my arms,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming about this for so long...”

“You have just exactly the right weight to your touch,” she said. She stroked his face. “You know, you’re handsome and sweet. You could have any woman...”

“There’s only one I want,” he said. “And I want you so damn bad.”

“How can this feel so familiar?” she wondered aloud.

“Because it’s right,” he said.

His hands and lips were on the move. Everywhere he touched filled her with tingling desire and when his fingers inched low to her soft center, she moaned deeply. “Can you reach that condom?” he whispered. “I don’t want to lose my place.”

“Oh, so you’re a lovemaking comedian?” she asked with a soft chuckle.

“Hurry, Lauren,” he whispered. “I seriously need it.”

He sat back on his heels for a moment, then once ready, he was hovering over her again. He was in the right place, just barely moving into her. “I think we have a nice fit, sweetheart.” He lifted her knees, then was kissing her deeply as he entered her.

She held her breath for just a moment, then let her eyes close, holding him tightly. She rocked with him, the fullness of him inside her bringing her both comfort and excitement. Soon she was pushing against him and spontaneously slid one leg over him, pressing him into her.