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“I’ll miss you, too.”

“Oh, Dena, we’re having the best time.”

Sadly, Dena was forced back into the real world. She released Micah’s hand and smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Cuyler, a lovely older couple from Fort Worth who visited at least twice a year.

“I’m glad,” she said, standing to speak with them. “The forecast says we’re getting our first snow tomorrow.”

Mrs. Cuyler pressed a hand to her chest. “We’ve heard, and we’re so excited. We’ve never been here for the first snowfall.”

“Remember, we need fifteen full minutes of snow to make it official. When you hear the horns, bundle up and go to The Wreath. You’ll have such a good time.”

“We’re looking forward to it,” Mr. Cuyler told her before the two of them started for the stairs.

She sat back down and tried not to sigh. She adored the Cuylers, but she really wished they hadn’t walked up right then. Talking to them had broken whatever strange spell she and Micah had been in.

She reached for another tostada, telling herself at least she had carbs to comfort her.

“They seem nice,” he said.

“They are. Some guests are easy and some aren’t. They’re always lovely.”

“Dena, would you spend the night with me?”

Thank goodness she’d already swallowed, because otherwise she would have choked for sure. She swung her head to stare at him, not sure she’d heard what she thought she’d heard.

“Did you just ask me—”

His gaze was steady. “Spend the night with me. Nothing’s going to happen. You have my word. But I would very much like to hold you in my arms.”

And just like that, the bubble burst.

“Why don’t you want to have sex with me?” she asked, only to gasp in horror as she realized what she’d said. She glanced around frantically, grateful that they were the last people in the dining room. At least no one else would witness her humiliation.

Micah’s lips twitched, but he was gallant enough not to smile.

“Have I mentioned how I adore your directness? I’m thinking it’s a family trait. For the record, I want to make love with you. It’s hard to think about anything else. But it’s too soon, and I’m leaving in the morning. I don’t want to put you in that position. It’s not fair.”

Nothing about this conversation was normal, but then nothing about Micah was normal, either. He was larger than life and existed in a world she knew nothing about. Her body told her to say yes, that just spending the night being held by him would be magical. Her head warned her that he was dangerous and that even without “anything happening,” she could be at serious risk of losing her heart to him. And if that happened, how would she ever get it back?

I can’t. She thought the words, knew they were right and really, totally planned to say them. But when she opened her mouth, what came out was, “I would like that.”

His smile dazzled her. “Thank you. Let’s take care of the dishes, and then you can tell me what time to be at your place. If that’s all right.”

Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might take flight. “That would be fine.”

Fine. What a silly word for such a consequential moment. Yes, the man was going to break her heart, but she refused to regret the night. Not even for a second.

After the kitchen was clean, Dena hurried back to her apartment, then stood in the middle of the living room, not sure what to do. Clean sheets weren’t a problem—she’d changed them yesterday. As for the rest of it, well, she had absolutely no frame of reference to help her make her decision. Assuming he was right and this was just a sleepover, a sexy nightie would be too much. Not that she had a wide selection of sexy lingerie from which she could choose.

If she was going to be by herself, she would put on her regular winter pj’s and call it a night. Literally. But she wasn’t going to be by herself, so cats in Santa hats might not be appropriate. And while she was on the topic of what was or wasn’t going to happen, should she shower? Shave her legs? Wish she’d gotten a bikini wax, although she never had and she wasn’t sure she should start while she was pregnant. She kept things tidy, but it wasn’t as if he was going to see anything, so . . .

“Take the man at his word,” she told herself. Nothing was going to happen. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She loved the fantasy of sex with Micah, but the reality was a little more intimidating. For one thing, she’d never been with a man she didn’t have fairly significant feelings for. She just didn’t see the point of sex for sex’s sake. For another, he was leaving in the morning, and while he swore he was coming back in a few days, maybe he would get to LA and realize everything he’d been missing. Plus, she was a mother-to-be. Didn’t that call for a little more decorum?

She walked into the bedroom and pulled back the covers, then put a night-light in the attached bathroom. She surveyed her pj wardrobe and decided she had nothing Micah-worthy, so she went with the Santa cats. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she texted him that she was ready.

As soon as she hit Send, her stomach dropped to her toes. What if he’d changed his mind? What if this was just a very bad joke? What if—

She heard a knock on her door. OMG! He was here.