“I, uh, suggested you might want to come live with me?” she squeaked, and damned if that dear-in-the-headlights look didn’t appear completely adorable.
Vince’s immediate reaction was to thank her profusely and decline, but…
Would it be such a bad idea?
The part of Vincent that was attracted to Lace was screaming, Hell, yes.Do it. Do it.
The rational section of his brain that wasn’t attached to his dick—a very minute portion, if he were honest—was telling him to get real. It was a cockamamie concept, and he shouldn’t even be considering it.
But he was.
“It’s a really generous offer, Lace,” Vince began. “Can I think on it?”
“Of course, of course,” she rushed to say, clearly embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, but…” She bit her bottom lip and looked everywhere but at him.
Clearly the next thing she was going to impart, was proving tough to get out.
She started quietly. Almost too quietly.
Vince had to lean forward to catch all her words.
“I’ve actually been living alone in the house for nine years, ever since my grandparents died, and I’ve been…lonely,” she admitted. “It’s tough, especially now with the cancer, not to have anyone around who…cares.”
She then hastened to add, “But thehouse. That’s probably what you’d like to hear about. It’s not big; just an antique cape. It has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, with the primary having undergone a renovation two years ago. It sits on three acres; a very private lot with plenty of room for as many swing-sets as you could want. I had one when I was young.”
Vince pictured an adorable little blonde girl, all smiles as she was being pushed; demanding to go higher…higher…
The vision quickly morphed into a dark-haired child; Inez, looking so happy that it caused a lump to form in Vincent’s throat. If only?—
“You can look out over all the land from an extra-large deck across the back that my grandfather built a dozen or so years ago,” Lace continued, then ducked her head. “So please forgive me for my impetuousness. When you described what you were looking for, it sounded so much like my house, that the invitation just popped out,” she ended a little sheepishly.
“It reallyisa very generous offer, Lace,” Vince reiterated. “I’m just not sure if…”
He drew in a breath. “Can I be honest, here?”
“We have been, so far,” she offered up, regarding him seriously.
“Yes. We have,” he concurred. “So here are my exact thoughts regarding your invitation, in order of how they hit me.”
She nodded, waiting.
“First, there was excitement. Initially I was like, hell yes.”
That got a tentative smile out of Lace.
“Then my brain went to, whoa, whoa, slow down.”
She nodded her understanding.
“Not because I don’twantto jump at the opportunity,” he clarified.Damn, it was hard to put his emotions under this kind of scrutiny, but Vince knew it was necessary. “It’s just that I might want it,toomuch.”
When she quirked a brow and pursed her lips in confusion, Vince deepened his explanation.
“I find you attractive,” Vince dared. “Very attractive. I haven’t exactly hidden that from you. And I’m not just talking, physically. I’m drawn to you in a lot of regards.”
He was going down this path, whether it was smart or not.
“I love the way you approach things,” he itemized. “I relish that you took me on in my clown persona, and didn’t bat an eyelash. I appreciate you not hedging that you’re interested in getting to know me. I really like the way you aren’t afraid to take charge. And the icing on the cake?” he ended. “It’s how you didn’t flinch when I told you about both Inezandmy plans to become a foster parent.”