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me what it was like with Kara,” Grady asked Simon quietly, wanting to hear about what Simon had gone through before he’d finally found happiness. He and Simon were friends, but they usually discussed computers. Grady had reached billionaire status by developing several wildly successful businesses online and then selling them off, and their conversation almost always revolved around work.
    Maybe that’s because that’s all I do.
    But his mind wasn’t on work, and he wanted to talk about Simon’s life, and the wife who had changed his friend so profoundly.
    Surprisingly, Simon began to talk, and he didn’t stop for over an hour, barely taking a breath, launching into one story after another. Once started, Simon couldn’t seem to stop talking about Kara and his new baby girl.
    By the time Grady hung up, he wasn’t sure if he should be terrified or relieved. Being alone seemed so much easier and so much less complicated than tying himself up in knots over a female like Simon had done.
    Then again, I’m not happy like Simon either.
    Glancing up at the clock, he realized how much time had passed since Emily had left. Getting up, he looked outside. The nor’easter had definitely arrived in full force. The wind was howling and the snow was whirling around badly enough to be blinding.
    She didn’t call me.
    Visions of Emily hurt or stranded somewhere started racing through his mind, one horrible scenario after the other.
    Panicked, he picked up his cell phone and programmed in the number he’d gotten from her earlier. He then put the phone back in his pocket and paced the office like a caged lion, checking outside about every ten seconds.
    She’ll call. She probably just got busy.
    “Fuck it!” Grady whispered harshly to himself after he’d waited longer than he could handle, pulling the phone from his pocket and punching her number.
    He’d managed to wait exactly two minutes from the time he’d hung up with Simon before calling Emily to make sure she was safely home.
    “Hello,” Emily answered, sounding breathless.
    Grady’s worry turned to relief. “You didn’t call me,” he grumbled irritably. “You were supposed to let me know you were home safe.”
    “I just got home. I had to run errands,” Emily told him matter-of-factly. “I’m sorry. Were you worried?”
    He should say no. He could tell her that he just got a free minute, so that’s why he was calling now. He should be nonchalant, not let her know he was actually having visions of her bloodied and stranded somewhere. There were many excuses he could have given for jumping the gun on the phone call, but he simply answered, “Yeah. A little. It’s been a while since you left.” For some reason, he didn’t want to lie to Emily.
    “I’m home now.” The sound of a slamming door confirmed her statement. “Thank you for caring that I got home safe. It’s very thoughtful.”
    He should tell her that he wasn’t thoughtful at all. He was a self-centered bastard who couldn’t stand the thought of her hurting or stranded somewhere because he selfishly wanted her. But he didn’t tell her that. He liked that aching sweetness of her comment too much. Simon was right. Grady did want Emily to like him. “What did you get?” he asked curiously, hearing the sound of rustling bags in the background while she was silent.
    “Household stuff. Nothing exciting,” she answered with a laugh. “Boring stuff that you wouldn’t find very interesting.”
    He found everything about her interesting. Grady plopped his ass into a recliner, thinking that every little thing about Emily fascinated him. He wanted to know what she’d bought, where she’d stopped, what kind of things she liked. And he wanted to keep hearing that husky, sexy laugh of hers all damn night. “I’m interested. Tell me.” Right at the moment, he just wanted to hear her voice. It might make him harder than a rock, but it also soothed him.
    He wasn’t disappointed. Emily started