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“I’ll try. Like I said, maybe all he wants is a song.”

“He didn’t come here tonight for a song. He came because of the one you sang, asking for the person you wanted to come over.”

She glanced up over her shoulder at him. “It worked. You came.”

“I came because I owed you an apology, not because I expected something from you.”

She turned to face him. “And that’s why you’re still here and he’s not. And that’s the way it’s going to stay.”

He gave her a determined look but dropped it. “It’s late. We both need some sleep.”

She didn’t want him to go but didn’t ask him to stay either. She liked what they’d started and anticipatedthings to move quickly now, but not that fast. “Will I see you later today?”

He grinned. “I would love that, but I’ve got something going that I can’t miss.”

“When will it be over?” She was starting to sound desperate.

“Late. Like tonight.”

“I’m usually up late.”

He brushed his hand down her arm. “I don’t want to be the guy you’re always waiting around for.”

She appreciated that. “Then, I’ll assume you’re not coming, unless you text me that you’ll be here.”

He studied her face. “You’re okay with that?”

She nodded and used his words. “For now.”

He kissed her softly. “I don’t deserve you or your patience.”

“You have them both.” She wanted to put him at ease, afraid he’d change his mind and pull back from her.

He cupped the side of her head, her chin in his big, warm palm, his thumb brushing softly against her cheek. “You never said what you want to call me.”

“M.”

Surprise lit his eyes for a second, then a question filled them.

She gave him the answer. “Because you’re mine.”

Wonder softened his eyes as he stared at her. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

She went up on tiptoe and kissed him. Soft, sweet, a tempting without any pretense or wildness, just a tender message. “I’m so glad you stopped by tonight.”

“Not half as much as I am.” He kissed her. Long and deep, it spun out until she wondered if he planned to stay or go, because he didn’t seem inclined to stopor move. He just held her close and kissed her like he could do it all night.

She liked that about him. He sank into the moment and stayed there. He didn’t rush. He didn’t need to keep it moving in one direction or another. So she went with it. Actually, she stayed with him in the kiss, the feeling, the here and now without worrying or anticipating what came next.

She’d never enjoyed kissing someone as much as she liked kissing him.

And when they finally came up for air, he had his fingers in her hair and a look of pure desire in his eyes. “I don’t want to leave you, but I should go before we take this too fast and miss all the good stuff.”

“So far, it’s all been good stuff. The talk. The kiss. You being here as just yourself. I even like that you’re a little worried about me.”

“Will you do something for me?”

She raised a brow. “The pot roast wasn’t enough?”