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She held on to me, crying into my chest, and I couldn’t believe how natural it was to stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head.

“I’m sorry,” she cried. “I just had a rough morning. And this... it’s all a little overwhelming.”

“Sit with me,” I said, pulling her toward the sofa. She cuddled in under my arm, resting her cheek on my chest.

“Tell me what happened,” I said, brushing back her hair.

She used the heels of her hands to wipe at her eyes, leaving black mascara streaks behind. “It was hard enough dropping the kids off and knowing I’d be without them for a week. But when we got there.” Her voice broke. “Caleb surprised us all with his new fiancée and future stepdaughter and said they were all going on the trip together. And it’s not that I’m jealous; it’s that I had no idea he was even seeing anyone. I didn’t even have a chance to warn the kids.”

“What the fuck,” I uttered, speaking the first thing that came to mind.

“Exactly,” she said, gesticulating. “What the fuck? Shouldn’t I be notified about something like that before I pull up and see her standing on the front lawn with a rock the size of Rhode Island on her finger?”

“Was it the same woman from... before?” I asked, a protective instinct taking over. “Or was she a total stranger going on vacation with your kids?”

“We used to have playdates together,” Farrah said bitterly. “So at least I know she’s safe, but still.”

I nodded. “I wouldn’t be comfortable with that either if I had kids.” I pulled her tighter into my hold. “I’m sorry. That was a really shitty thing of your ex to do.”

She nodded, sniffling. “And I was so worried about how the week would go for us, since the kids and I have never been apart this long, and wondering if I did the right thing, and then I walked in here and saw this.” She gestured at all the flowers. “It was like a sign from the universe that the kids are taken care of, that everything is going to be okay.”

I took her hands in mine and hoped like hell the dandelions were a positive sign for me too.

“That was thoughtful of you to get them for me,” she said. “I can’t believe you even remembered me rambling on about them.”

“I remember everything you say,” I replied. It might not be the sexiest thing to admit, but it was true. “Farrah, I never considered myself a relationship guy. I thought I would be a brother and an uncle and a business owner and that would be it. But then I met you.”

Her breath grew shallow. “What are you saying?”

I shifted so I could hold both her hands against my chest and look her in the eye. “I’m saying I want something real with you, Farrah.”

Another tear slid down her cheek, and she slipped a hand from mine to wipe it away. “I thought you said...”

“I know what I said, and I was a dumbass. Ever since you walked through the doors for that interview, I knew there was something about you. I couldn’t get you out of my head, and the more I got to know you, I couldn’t get you out of my heart. I know you said you weren’t looking for a relationship and you still have to raise children with your ex, but I can’t go on pretending like this doesn’t matter to me, because it does. I want this to be something real. Something more.”

Her chest caught with her breath. “I...” A million emotions played across her eyes. “I signed an NDA, Gage.”

Reaching into my pocket, I retrieved the release my lawyer worked up yesterday and handed it to her. “You have a copy in your inbox. If we’re doing this, it’s out loud.”

Her eyes darted across the document on my screen, tears slowly building along her lower lashes. “Is this for real?”

I nodded, feeling like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, rocks tumbling beneath my feet. Would she pull me back, or would she let me fall?

“You’re so busy with work,” she said.

I nodded. “But I usually only work until eight or nine, and I take most Sundays off.”

“And I have kids.”

“I’ve met two of them,” I replied, a small smile on my lips. “They’re equally as endearing as you are.”

She stood up, pacing across my living room, looking beautiful and troubled amongst all the yellow flowers. “And I’m crying half the time we’re supposed to be hooking up.”

I chuckled. “I think I’m getting used to it.”

Fighting a smile, she shook her head at me. “I’m a mom, Gage.”

“We’ve established that.”