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“It does,” I admitted.

“Yeah.” His free hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone. “Jo, I⁠—”

The back door opened.

We jerked apart like teenagers.

Julia stood in the doorway, looking far too innocent. “Just checking if you two want coffee. Or dessert. I made pie.”

“We’re good, Mom,” Lane said, his voice strained.

“Are you sure? It’s apple pie. Your favorite.”

“Mom.”

Julia smiled, completely unrepentant. “I’ll just leave you two alone, then.”

She disappeared back inside, but the moment was broken.

I laughed shakily. “I should probably go soon. I have an early session tomorrow.”

Disappointment flashed across Lane’s face, but he nodded. “Let me walk you to your car.”

We went back inside where Remy insisted on a long hug goodbye and Julia wrapped me in another embrace, whispering, “Come back soon, dear.”

Lane walked me out to my car, his hand finding mine in the darkness.

“I had a really good time tonight,” I said.

“Good enough to do it again?”

Damn. When he lifted that dark brow at me, how was I supposed to say no? “With your family? Absolutely.”

“I was thinking just us, next time.” Lane’s voice was low, intimate. “A real date. Dinner, just the two of us. Out somewhere where we don’t have to dodge curious family members.”

My heart raced. “Lane⁠—”

“I know we’re doing this backwards. Meeting the family before the first date. But I don’t care about the order, Jo. I just care about you.”

“I care about you, too.” The words came out whispered. “So much it scares me.”

“Because it’s fast?”

“Because it feels too good to be true.”

Lane stepped closer, backing me gently against my car. “It’s not too good to be true. It’s real. This—us—it’s real.”

“I know.” I looked up at him. “I called Dr. Caldwell today. Remy seems to be taking to him well.”

“So there’s nothing stopping us now.”

“Nothing.”

“Good.” Lane’s hand slid into my hair, tilting my face up. “Because I really want to kiss you right now.”

“Lane—”

“Tell me no and I’ll stop.”