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stopped himself. “There’s something between us, you and I. Something innegabile; undeniable. You can feel it too. I know you do.”
    I forgot to breathe. I just sat there staring into his deep green eyes and willing him to kiss me. I could see him make up his mind. His pupils dilated and he slowly began to lean in.
    “Lara,” came Pops’s deep voice from the doorway. We both jumped like a couple of teenagers caught making out in the basement. We looked up at Pops, matching blushes of shame staining our cheeks. “If you’ve seen to our guest’s comforts, I’d like a word with you before you turn in.”
    We listened to Pops’s footsteps fade down the hall, the magic of the moment broken. I cleared my throat. “Uh, so, this is the couch that pulls out into a bed. It’s incredibly uncomfortable, and you’d probably sleep better on the floor, but it’s up to you. Extra blankets are in this chest.” I dropped my hand behind the couch and thumped the large steamer trunk that was nestled up against it. “There should be a few pillows in there as well.” I stood to go. He stood too.
    “Lara, don’t.”
    I took a step back before he could reach for me. “Don’t what?”
    “Don’t run away from me.”
    I tried unsuccessfully to look nonchalant. “I’m not. I’m just tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.” And with that I turned on my heel and high tailed it out of there before I let myself remember the incomparable allure of his embrace.

    Pops was in his study. I stood meekly in the doorway, waiting for him to notice me. He yawned loudly and looked me over carefully before saying, “It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it?”
    I nodded mutely, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He didn’t keep me waiting long.
    He sighed wearily and took his reading glasses off, massaging the indentations they left on the bridge of his nose. “I’m not the smartest man on the planet, Missy, but I know enough to understand there’s nothing I can say or do right now that’s going to stop your little heart from racing when that boy looks at you that way.”
    I did not like the direction Pops was heading. I decided to play stupid. “What way would that be, Pops?”
    He glared at me from under his brows. “Like he wants to eat you. Don’t play coy with me young lady. He’s been here all of eight hours and already I catch you playing mouse to his cat.”
    I opened my mouth to protest, but he silenced me with another glare. “Don’t waste your breath and my time trying to deny it. Even a blind man would know it by choking on the pheromones flying around the room. Like I said, I’m not fool enough to think I can change any of that. It’s simple biology. I’ve yet to hear of any mortal that could outsmart Mother Nature at what she does best.”
    I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Then doesn’t that make what you’re about to say a moot point?”
    Pops narrowed his eyes... Oh shit. Never poke a tiger with a stick.
    “Don’t sass me, Missy. And don’t presume to know what it is I am about to say.”
    I lowered my eyes, chastened. “Yes, sir.”
    “I’m not going to tell you to stay away from him. God knows that seems to be the surest way to guarantee the opposite will happen. If I live to be a hundred and ten I don’t think I’ll ever understand the inner workings of the female mind.” He cleared his throat and continued. “That being said, I’d like to point out that you are a grown woman now. A mother, even, with grown woman, mother responsibilities. And I am respectfully asking you to remember that fact when you start feeling all mooney-eyed. You need to protect yourself, if not for you, then for your son.”
    Oh God please don’t let this be what it sounds like. Please do not tell me my grandfather is lecturing me on safe sex.
    Pops took notice of my nuclear blush and shook his head in exasperation. “ Your heart , Lara. I want you to protect your heart. Need I remind you of the sorry state you