But the word won’t come out.

Because it isn’t true.

We may have only met a handful of months ago, but it feels like I’ve known Dalton and Pops my entire life. Like they’ve always been a part of my every day. All the things we do together—working, eating, playing, laughing—are just so natural.

It feels like afamily.

I shake my head. “No.”

He grins, some of the tension melting away from his handsome face. “Does it scare you that itdoesn’tscare you?”

A little laugh slips out from my lips, and I nod. “Yes. Is it that obvious?”

Here I thought I did a pretty damn good job of keeping my reaction contained.

He brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “It is to me because I watch you all the time. The way you move. The way you handle Davey and Pops. All the little expressions you make when you’re concentrating on something or upset…or angry. I have your beautiful face memorized—the thousands of looks you give me. I can read them all.”

His confidence permeates his grin, and seeing the playfulness return when only moments ago he was so agitated makes me relax against the table.

I rest my hands on his chest, fingering one of the buttons as I hold his evergreen gaze. “And what am I saying now?”

A smirk pulls at his lips. “That you want me to kiss you.”

Damn.

He is smug.

But he’s also right.

“You can read me well.”

Because Idowant him to.

All day, my body has thrummed with the memory of the way he touched me last night, the way he held me, how perfectly we fit together and how goddamn incredible it was to be loved by him that way.

It shouldn’t have been that easy, shouldn’t have been that good, considering the emotional toll it had on me.

But he ensured it would be.

He took care of me just like he promised, and now, it’s my turn to take care of him when he’s the one rattled.

I slide my hand to the back of his neck and tangle my fingers in the thick hair there, drawing him closer to me until my lips can brush over his. “I’m sorry if I’ve been giving you mixed signals. This is just a lot.You’rea lot.”

He kisses the corner of my mouth, then across my cheek all the way to my ear. “I am, and I’m sorry if I’ve done anything to make you feel like I’m pushing you into something you’re not ready for.”

My hand tightens in his shirt, the other tugging the sandy-blond silky strands in it until he returns his gaze to mine. “No.” I shake my head. “I mean, there are definitely parts of me that aren’t prepared, that are trying to convince me to hold back, but I don’t want to listen to those parts. Not when it feels so good not to.”

“Jesus, Camille.”

This kiss is long, slow, and deep.

A thorough exploration.

His tongue gliding along mine as if he’s trying to memorize every bit of my mouth.

Strong fingers tighten on my hips as he tries to push closer, but my belly won’t let him. I release a little frustrated groan, and he chuckles, kissing me again lightly and drawing back his head.

My pussy clenches at the need in his gaze and the heat that matches the fire burning through me now.