If he was a smart man, he probably would go on to Frances’s house alone. Hell, if he left now, he could probably be back before Grace woke up. But he couldn’t make a move in that direction. Like it or not, he’d gotten mixed up with this girl. She’d said she was his partner, and he had to admit he liked the sound of that. Not that he intended to admit it to her, of course.
She stirred, then peeled one eye open. After a few seconds the other eye followed, then her brow furrowed as she took in her surroundings. He could practically see her thoughts as reality returned and she remembered why she was there.
Slowly she sat up, the afghan tucked around her, even though she was fully dressed beneath it. “How long have you been up?”
“About an hour,” he said.
“I fell asleep.”
“I noticed.”
“And you’re still here. You didn’t leave me.”
He shrugged, kept his voice gruff. “Yeah, well, I said I wouldn’t. So come on, already. Let’s get this over with.”
But that’s when she smiled. And damned if his heart didn’t melt just a little bit more.
