“I was at your baby shower.”

“I know, but...” She looked at Shelby, then back at him. “Um, sure. The manicure kits are a great idea.”

They talked about the party for another few minutes. When it was time for Destiny to put Tonya down for her nap, they said their goodbyes and left.

“The party is going to be so much fun,” Shelby said as they got in his truck. “Starr is going to love it.”

“I hope so. Plus we’ll enjoy putting it together.”

“I’m very excited about the cupcakes.”

He wasn’t surprised. Shelby would enjoy the challenge of creating something that special.

“You could play around with different kinds of cupcake cakes,” he said. “Take pictures and offer them to your customers. Especially for kids’ parties. Cupcakes are easier than having to cut up a cake. You could make some kind of template for the design. Like if somebody ordered a dinosaur cake. You make it out of cupcakes, then number the individual cupcakes on the bottom so the parents can use the template to re-create that shape and design wherever they wanted it. A park or someone’s house.”

She looked at him. “That’s a great idea. I love the template. I’ve used them myself, but I’ve never thought of offering them to customers. They would be easy to do on the computer and then print out.” She laughed. “You’re so much more than a pretty face.”

“Thanks.”

He drove without thinking and found himself pulling into his driveway rather than the office, where he’d left Charlie and she’d left her car. She looked around.

“I thought you were taking me home. Did you want to do something instead?”

An innocent question. He knew how she meant. He also knew exactly what he wanted to do.

“I’d like you to come inside,” he told her. “Then I’d like to make love with you.”

She swung her head back to meet his gaze. Her eyes were wide, her expression surprised. “But you said...”

“I was wrong.”

“About us being friends?”

“About me being able to resist you. I can’t. But I need you to be sure. It’s going to change everything.”

* * *

SHELBY KNEW HE was right. That their relationship would forever shift.

She wanted him. That much was clear. And she loved knowing he wanted her, too. But what about the risks? She liked Aidan so much—she liked how they were together. She most especially liked how he always looked out for her. Even now, he wanted her to be sure. If she said no, he would back off in a second.

“Do you have condoms?” she asked.

He laughed. “Yes. A large box.”

She smiled. “Is that a large box of condoms or a box of large condoms?”

“I guess you’re going to have to wait and find out.”

He turned off the engine and they both got out of the truck. Shelby waited for him to walk around to her side. In that heartbeat of time, she poked at her emotions to make sure she was completely comfortable with her decision. There were nerves, but they were the anticipation kind. More pole-dancing butterflies than frightened ones.

He reached her side and took her hand. Their fingers laced together with an ease that made her relax, even as his touch warmed her.

“About my reputation,” he began as they walked to the front door. “You seem to have a certain expectation.”

“I do,” she teased. “I’m going to see stars and touch the moon and all that stuff.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

“Pressure?”

He opened the door and let her go first. “Some.”