Before this was over, there would be many personal duties. Right now Winnie had difficulty with daily living—she couldn’t button her own clothes, couldn’t comb her hair, even brushing her teeth was a challenge. Her hands were trembling and uncertain and she dropped things easily, so they chose meals carefully. And the hospital bed was due to be delivered on Monday—that would allow her to lower the bed so the transfer to the wheelchair would be safer and it would be easier for her to sit up in bed.

But from this point on, it was only going to be a greater challenge every day. And although Winnie hated it, she needed more assistance every day. Soon, even though Mikhail resisted, she was going to have to consider help for the night. A skilled nurse’s aide would be perfect.

Though it seemed like the day lasted forever, Lin Su was actually excused from her duties a little early. She took the time to go back to her loft to freshen up and then knocked on Blake’s door.

And walked right into his arms.

She had wondered and worried all day long about what this evening would be like, alone for so many hours. But once in his arms, once his lips touched hers, nothing mattered anymore. Why would she ever be tense or concerned about being with him? He made her feel completely secure.

“This is more than I hoped for,” he said. “I was telling myself to be patient, that your day might be extra-long with everyone away.”

“It was the opposite. Though she denies it, Winnie put all her energy into getting me out of there early—I think she’s matchmaking. I even had time to go home and change. But my car is in your drive. Winnie knows I’m here, of course, but to the rest of the world who passes by your house, well...” She shrugged. “The secret is out.”

He took her hand and pulled her inside. “I wasn’t keeping it a secret. I don’t want to be a secret. I want everyone to know we’re together.” He pulled out a chair and sat her at the table. It was already appointed with place mats, plates, even a couple of candles, though they weren’t lit yet. “I’m going to get you a glass of wine. Then I want you to tell me about your day.”

“It’s as I knew it would be—the days get a little busier. I’ve done this before, remember. Winnie isn’t my first patient with slowly deteriorating health and mobility. It seems cruelly fast to her, but it’s a little bit every day.”

He brought her a glass of wine and put one down for himself. Their places were next to each other at the corner of the table. He brought a plate of softened brie, crackers and fruit and sat down beside her.

“She started telling me I could leave early before she even had her nap. Then when she was up, she asked for an early dinner—something light and easy, something I shouldn’t go to any trouble with. Scrambled eggs and toast points. And she wanted her washup and nightgown before dinner. She told me to fold back the bedcovers and leave.”

“God bless Winnie,” he said, cutting her a slice of brie on a cracker and putting it on her small plate. Then he raised his glass to her. “Now you’re all mine.”

She took a sip, then a bite. “I’m still trying to figure out how we got here.”

He laughed at her. “I got here with a look. I took one look at you and thought, Her. She’s the one. Then I doubted my own common sense because you were one angry little girl. From that point on I had to work hard for you.”

“I wasn’t mad,” she said.

“Oh, yes, you were. Or maybe self-protective. Proving to you that you didn’t have to protect yourself from me wasn’t easy. Once you let me kiss you, everything fell into place.” He fixed her another cracker and cheese. “I wondered if I’d ever get that close to you.”

“Well, I certainly hadn’t planned on it,” she said with a little laugh. She plucked a slice of apple off the plate. “Are you feeding me crackers and cheese for dinner?”

“Dinner is ready and staying warm,” he said.

“I thought I smelled something wonderful.”

“Chicken and vegetables with a mushroom rice on the side.” Then he leaned toward her for a lovely, slow kiss that tasted of wine and apples.

“Is every day going to be like this?” she asked.

“Better,” he said. “Come here.” He pulled on her hand until she was sitting on his lap. “Of course we’ll make adjustments. We have Charlie to think about. Why did you let him go? So we could have this time?”

She shook her head. “I don’t like it but I have to let him have more freedom or he’ll resent me. I don’t want that.”

“He’s a smart kid, Lin Su. He’s going to be an easy one to raise.” He fed her another apple slice, stole another kiss. “You’re delicious,” he whispered.

She put her arms around his neck and gave all her attention to the next kiss, moving over his mouth hungrily. Her glass wasn’t even half-empty, yet she felt a warmth like wine spread through her, leaving her yearning. “Did you plan this seduction?” she asked a little breathlessly.

“Planned, prayed, hoped... This is all up to you, Lin Su. I know it’s been a very long time...”

“Long,” she said, kissing him again.

She wanted to tell him things—that this felt right, that he made her want him almost desperately, that she didn’t want anything to ever change between them. That he was right: she was falling in love. But she couldn’t whisper all these things and kiss him, so she kissed him. The yearning reached all the way into her and drew on her; her nipples felt hard and her pelvis was soft. She wiggled a little on his lap, wanting him, and it was obvious he was aroused.

“Are you starving?” he asked.

A little laugh against his lips escaped her. “Oh, yes,” she said. “But I think dinner can wait.”

With those words he pressed harder against her, pushing into her, and it felt so good she wanted to cry. But he wasn’t giving her any time to think about it. He pushed her off his lap, stood and led her by the hand to his bedroom. She only had time for a glance around before he was on her lips again; that one glance showed her the bed was ready, the comforter folded back and out of the way. The fireplace was lit and a small lamp cast dim shadows around the room.

And Blake put his arms around her, drawing her to him. He slid his warm hands under her sweater and his sure and skilled fingers caressed her, bringing her longing alive. Her sweater was pulled off and tossed away; the lacy bra followed. His shirt disappeared and he held her, chest to chest, skin to skin, hungrily devouring her mouth. He kissed his way down her neck and chest to take a nipple into his mouth and gently tug. With her hands in his hair, she held him there. Her head dropped back and she whispered, “Never stop...”

That brought a lusty chuckle from him and he lifted his head. He pushed her back on the bed and undressed her the rest of the way, boots first, then those tight little jeans. When she was down to a lacy thong, he stopped to just gaze at her a moment. “Good Lord,” he whispered. He sat on the bed beside her and ran a curious finger around the front of the thong, following that finger with a soft kiss, a little lick.

And then he quickly stripped and joined her on the bed, pulling her into his arms.

Against his naked body, she gave herself over to him, trusting, thrilled by every touch. She explored him with her hands while he made a slow, luxurious study of her body with his lips and fingers. She was so lost in the moment she wasn’t even aware he’d searched in his drawer for a condom until he was rolling it on. And then he was kneeling between her spread legs, finding the way home. Slow and deep, he possessed her.