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“There are three other kids in that room with Elliot,” are his first words to me.
I nod. “I’m aware.”
“Are they April’s friends’ kids?”
“Yes. Two belong to Taylor and one belongs to Amber. The kids are friends of Elliot’s obviously.”
“How much do they pay for daycare here?”
I think he already knows the answer. “Nothing.”
“Because April is just watching them while she works and her boss is okay with it?”
I lift a shoulder. “Basically. I mean, we all help watch them. The kids are never back there without an adult.”
“Is this place licensed as a daycare?”
“Is the room in the back of thebar,filled with hand-me-down toys and supervised by retirees and two bartenderslicensedas a daycare?” I laugh. “No. We’re pretty much just babysitting for friends.”
He steps closer and lifts a hand to cup my cheek. “It was your idea, wasn’t it?” His voice is low and rumbly now.
The sound causes a warm tingle to start in my chest, then move through my belly to my pussy.
I nod. “Yes, initially. Generally. I told Dan I thought it was a good idea. He agreed. We all pitched in to make it happen. We still do.”
“Everyone does it because they like you.”
I shake my head. “Dan might have agreed because he knows I have good ideas. But everyone does it because they likeApril. And Elliot. And the other kids. The older people really like spending time with the kids. The kids like spending time with the older people. All day long they get a variety of people reading to them and playing with them and telling them stories. Sarah is teaching them how to tie their shoes. Ben teaches them about animals. It’s like having eight additional grandparents.”
Henry just stares at me for three heartbeats. Then he mutters, “Dammit, Gem,” before he leans in and seals his mouth over mine.
I don’t think there’s ever going to be a time when Henry Dean is going to kiss me and I am not going to respond.
I am stubborn. I have a temper. I know who I am and what I want.
But I am not stupid. And I am not strong enough to resist the wave of lust and longing that goes through me whenever this man touches me.
I kiss him back. I open my mouth when his tongue demands it. I moan when he cups my head, and tips it back. I sigh when his fingers tangle in my hair. I arch closer when his tongue strokes over mine and heat licks through my body.
He kisses me for long, delicious, devastating-to-my-panties minutes.
Finally, he lifts his head. He takes a deep breath, staring down at me. “How am I supposed to get over you?” he asks. “Your big heart, the way you dive in to help, the way you justmeet people where they are… there’s no way I could ever ignore you, Gem. That’s never going to work.”
My heart thumps against my chest.
“Henry.” But I don’t say anything else. I’m not sure what to say.
I love that he knows that I had the idea for the daycare, and I love that he finds that attractive. It’s just like the things he does that I find attractive.
The way we care about other people and try to impact the world around us is what draws us together, even more than the intense chemistry between us. The way we go about fixing things is different, of course, but I love his heart too.
“We need to make a plan for April and Elliot,” he tells me. His voice is firm, almost as if he expects me to argue with him.
“I know,” I tell him. We do need a plan. The sooner April and Elliot are safe and secure, the sooner Henry will focus back on Cian, Scarlett, and Mariah. And the sooner I can focus my attention on my move to New Orleans.
He stares at me for another long moment, then lets go of me and steps back.
“Is she able to sit down and talk soon?” he asks. “Or tonight?”