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Instinctively, I start to struggle, but his mouth is against my ear, and he says huskily, “You had to know this was a risk, sneaking in here at midnight.”

It’s Lawson. Of course. Who else would it be?

I stop struggling, and he turns us, closing the door and pressing me against it, my front against the wood, and him against my back.

Damn, that feels good. I want more of that. With fewer clothes.

“This is quite the escalation, my little stalker.” He drags his nose up and down the side of my throat. “Very bold of you.”

A shiver goes through me, and I automatically press my ass against his hips.

He’s hard. I can feel his erection, long and thick and very obvious.

Immediately, I need to know that he knows who I am.

If he’s reacting that way to the thought of another woman, or just a random female body, I will be so disappointed.

“It’s me, Lawson,” I whisper. “Sutton.”

His chuckle is low and rough, and he drags his nose up and down my throat again, inhaling deeply. “Oh, I know it’s you, Pumpkin. I’ve known for a long time.” His arm tightens around my middle, pulling me against him more fully as he presses against me. “Even before I knew for sure, I was hoping.” He kisses my neck. “I’m very glad it’s you.”

Air rushes out of my lungs. “Good. Sorry about all the stupid stuff in the beginning.”

I suddenly find myself whirled around to face him. He doesn’t move back much. The room is dark except for the light coming in through the window from the streetlights outside and the moon. But my eyes have adjusted, and I can see the intensity in his gaze. Or maybe I just feel it.

“Don’t apologize for one single thing,” he says gruffly. “I’ve loved every bit of it. At least once I started thinking it was you.”

I want to laugh that off, thinking about the chocolate syrup, folding his underwear, and the tags on the thong. But I can hear in his voice that he means it. And that does something to my heart.

“Okay,” I say softly. “Not sorry.”

His hands move from my waist up to cup my face. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m not thrilled, but this really is a change up.”

“I was worried about you.”

That clearly surprises him. “Worried?”

“You left the barn early tonight. And without saying goodbye. No one knew where you went. I was worried you were sick or something.” I hold up the gift bag, though there’s no space between us. Out to the side, I wiggle it, the paper crinkling. “I brought you soup.”

He glances over. “Soup? In a paper gift bag?”

“It’s emergency soup. Not the kind I can really make given a chance. Keep that in mind.”

He gives me a slow smile. “I like you so fucking much, Sutton.”

I was not expecting that, but it makes my heart flip over in my chest. “I like you so much too.”

It takes him a second to respond. He swallows. “I’m not sick. I had to go help George with something. I would’ve said goodbye, but you were surrounded by people. You were doing fine.”

I wet my lips and lift a hand, grasping one of his wrists. “No one I wanted to talk to more than you.”

That gets a low groan. “I’m guessing your brother doesn’t know you’re here.”

I try to shake my head, but he’s holding me. “He doesn’t even know I left the house.”

Lawson studies my face for a long moment. “Well now that you’re here, no longer anonymous, what do you want to do?”

Oh, what a question.