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Jamie lunged for her, and she peppered him with kisses.

“I’d have gone to Butte for your car with you.” Maybe if he had, he’d have been able to reassure her.

She grimaced. “My mother wouldn’t give in. She needed that extra two hours to explain how I’d failed her and Dad and how I’d regret making this impulsive decision. As though I hadn’t already noted their stance. Besides, this little guy didn’t need to be locked up in a vehicle for so long again.”

“I’m sorry.” The only push he’d ever had from his family was to do them proud. He’d done that, hadn’t he? Always doing what was expected. Thankfully, expectations lined up with his desires, at least, for the most part. “Want to see your place first, or do you want to eat while it’s hot?”

“It takes half an hour to drive up this ridiculous road. Hot is already a lost cause.”

Which didn’t answer his question, so he just stood and waited.

“This side is mine? I’d like a quick peek.”

“Sure.” Tate unlocked the door then handed her the key. “After you.”

She brushed by him, her fresh floral scent filling his nostrils.

He followed closely as though he could keep within her fragrant aura.

Stephanie stopped and set Jamie down. “It’s not very big.”

“Is it okay?” Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to make her happy. “Most of the units have two bedrooms, but in this case, they aimed the loft—” he gestured at the ceiling “—to the one next door, so this has one and mine has three. I could have reserved a unit with both having two bedrooms, but I thought this might be better? I didn’t think how small it would seem on this side.”

Stephanie poked her head into the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen before returning to stand in the high-ceilinged living room. “No, this is fine. I assume I’ll be spending most of my daytime hours at your place with Jamie.”

That vision brought a measure of peace mingled with longing to his heart. Strange combination, but he didn’t want to think about it too deeply. “Yes, that’s what I thought, too.”

She took a deep breath and dusted her hands together. “Let’s have pizza, and then I’ll give this place a scrub before emptying my car.”

“Grandfather had a cleaning crew come in on Friday. Everything should be fresh.”

“Oh!” She looked startled. “That was thoughtful of him.”

More like, he knew his grandsons were accustomed to paid housekeeping services. Tate cupped Jamie’s head with his palm and guided the boy to the door. “Once I tuck him in bed later, I’m happy to help carry things. I’ll just leave his monitor on — it comes through on my phone. I’ll download the same app for you later.”

“Perfect.” Stephanie opened her car’s passenger door and plucked two pizza boxes from the top of a stack of plastic crates.

Wow. It was like she was moving. Uh… she was. As was Tate. He’d asked Dad’s right-hand-man to gather some of his own things from the penthouse. Honestly, he had nearly everything he needed with him, though. He’d already had them shipped to Mom’s place in Kansas when he’d decided to stay.

Tate ushered Stephanie into his home, the mirror image of hers. “Jamie has the main floor bedroom — he’s already sleeping better in his own space with the blinds drawn — and my aunt picked up a baby gate in town for the bottom of the stairs. The loft will be my home office space, and then my bedroom opens off of that.” He pointed upward.

“Above mine.”

He supposed that was true. He glanced at Stephanie. “Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I just don’t want you to think…” What, exactly?

Seemed she had the same question, as her eyebrows tilted up as she looked at him.

“Uh, let’s eat. Those pizzas smell good. What kind did you bring?” Tate lifted Jamie into his booster and began buckling him.

Stephanie set the boxes on the counter. “A meat lovers and a tropical Hawaiian. I hope at least one of those meets your expectations.”

He grinned and snapped Jamie’s tray in place. “My two favorites.”

“Really? You’re not just saying that?” She put a narrow slice in front of the toddler.