Adrian slowly raised his eyes.

Seren's heart slammed against her ribs.

"He's asleep."

It was the first thing she could think to say.

Adrian glanced down at Kai.

"I noticed."

"He doesn't know what he's saying."

"Did I say he did?"

"No."

"Then why are you explaining it?"

Seren opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Adrian's gaze stayed on her for another second before dropping to the sleeping boy in his arms.

Something about his expression made her chest ache.

She looked away.

By the time they left the hospital, the storm had gotten worse.

Rain came down in sheets, flooding intersections and turning Manhattan traffic into a standstill.

Adrian's phone rang before they reached the car.

He listened for less than thirty seconds.

"No."

A pause.

"Close the gates. Nobody drives until the roads clear."

He ended the call.

Seren adjusted Kai's blanket.

"What's wrong?"

"Flooding near the estate."

"Can we get through?"

"We can."

She relaxed.

"Good."

Adrian opened the back door.

"But you're not leaving again tonight."

Seren stared at him.

"I live there now."

"I meant leaving the property."

"Oh."

His mouth twitched.

"Try not to sound disappointed."

"I'm exhausted."

"So am I."

"Then stop being annoying."

"That's apparently impossible around you."

The words landed between them.

Too familiar.

Too easy.

For one dangerous second, they were twenty-seven and twenty-two again, arguing outside a downtown restaurant before Adrian kissed her against a brick wall just to shut her up.

Seren looked away first.

They reached the estate after two in the morning.

Evelyn was waiting.

So was Poppy.

The little girl came running down the stairs in pink pajamas.

"Is Kai dying?"

"Poppy."

Adrian's voice sharpened.

"What? I asked."

Seren crouched beside her.

"He's okay. Just a virus."

Poppy looked toward the sleeping boy in Adrian's arms.

"Can I see him?"

"Tomorrow."

"But—"

"Bed."

Adrian pointed upstairs.

Poppy folded her arms.

"No."

Adrian stared at her.

She stared back.

Seren almost laughed.

They had exactly the same stubborn expression.

"Come on," Seren said. "I'll tuck you in."

Poppy considered.

"Will Kai be here tomorrow?"

"Yes."

That was enough.

She took Seren's hand.

An hour later, the mansion was finally quiet.

Seren checked Kai's temperature again.

One hundred point one.

Better.

She kissed his forehead and crawled into bed without changing clothes.

Sleep took her immediately.

Then she woke to thunder.

Her eyes opened.

Something was wrong.

She turned toward Kai's bed.

Empty.

Seren shot upright.

"Kai?"

No answer.

She ran into the hall barefoot.

"Kai!"

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

Seren crashed straight into a solid chest.

Strong hands caught her waist.

"Whoa."

Adrian.

Her breath stopped.

He wasn't wearing a suit.

That should not have mattered.

It did.

Dark lounge pants.

Bare feet.

A thin gray T-shirt stretched across his shoulders.

His hair was messy from sleep.

He looked less like Adrian Blackwood, billionaire CEO, and more like the man Seren remembered waking beside five years ago.

That was dangerous.

"What's wrong?"

"Kai's gone."

Adrian became alert instantly.

"What?"

"His bed is empty."

"I'll check downstairs."

"I'm coming."

"Seren—"

"He's my son."

"I know."

Something in the way he said it made her look at him.

Another crack of thunder shook the windows.

Then every light in the house went out.

Seren stopped.

"Perfect."

Adrian switched on his phone flashlight.

"Kai!"

A small scream came from somewhere downstairs.

Seren ran.

They found both children in the library.

Poppy was sitting under a blanket fort.

Kai was beside her.

"Mom?"

Seren dropped to her knees.

"Oh my God."

She pulled him against her.

"You scared me."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you doing down here?"

Kai pointed at Poppy.

"She doesn't like thunder."

Poppy looked offended.

"I never said that."

"You were crying."

"I had something in my eye."

"Both eyes?"

"Shut up."

Adrian crouched beside them.

"Poppy."

Her lower lip trembled.

That was all it took.

His expression softened.

"Come here."

She launched herself at him.

Adrian caught her.

Seren sat on the rug with Kai in her lap while Adrian held Poppy.

Lightning flashed beyond the windows.

The children jumped.

Adrian looked at Seren.

"Any ideas, nanny?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Was that sarcasm?"

"Professional consultation."

"Build the fort bigger."

Twenty minutes later, the billionaire CEO of Blackwood Holdings was on his knees arranging couch cushions.

Seren tried not to enjoy it.

She failed.

"That's structurally unsound," she told him.

"It's a blanket fort."

"It's still structurally unsound."

"I own a construction company."

"And yet here we are."

Kai giggled.

Poppy pointed at Adrian.

"She's better at this than you."

"Thank you, Poppy."

Seren smiled sweetly.

Adrian stared at her.

"I can fire you."

"You could."

"Mom needs the job," Kai announced.

Seren closed her eyes.

"Thank you, Kai."

"You're welcome."

Adrian laughed.

A real laugh.

Deep and unexpected.

Seren's eyes opened.

She hadn't heard that sound in five years.

For a moment, she forgot to protect herself.

She simply looked at him.

Adrian noticed.

His laughter faded.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Kai was curled against Seren.

Poppy leaned against Adrian.

A lantern sat between them.

Four people beneath one ridiculous blanket fort while a storm raged outside.

It looked almost—

No.

Seren refused to finish the thought.

Kai yawned.

Adrian looked at him.

"Time for bed."

"I want to stay here."

"Me too," Poppy said.

Adrian sighed.

Seren smiled.

"Outnumbered again."

Eventually, both children fell asleep.

Poppy's head rested against Adrian's arm.

Kai's legs stretched across Seren's lap.

Neither adult moved.

"If someone told me five years ago this is where we'd end up..."

Adrian stopped.

Seren looked at him.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Finish the sentence."

"Bad idea."

"When has that stopped you?"

His eyes met hers.

"Never."

The word came out too softly.

Heat moved through her.

Seren looked down at Kai.

"We should get them upstairs."

They carried the children to their rooms.

When Seren returned to her suite, she discovered the ceiling near the window was leaking.

Not dripping.

Pouring.

"Oh, come on."

Adrian appeared behind her.

"What's wrong?"

She pointed.

He swore.

"Guest room."

"I can sleep on the couch."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"It's three in the morning."

"Exactly."

Another gust of wind rattled the windows.

Then water splashed from the ceiling directly onto Seren.

She gasped.

Adrian stared.

Her blouse was soaked.

Completely.

She looked down.

Then up.

"Don't."

His mouth twitched.

"Don't what?"

"Laugh."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm absolutely not."

She shoved him.

Adrian caught her wrist.

The movement stopped them both.

Seren's breath caught.

He was close.

Too close.

His thumb rested against the inside of her wrist.

Her pulse betrayed her instantly.

His eyes dropped to her mouth.

Five years vanished again.

Seren pulled away.

"I need dry clothes."

Adrian cleared his throat.

"Right."

Ten minutes later, he knocked on the guest room door.

Seren opened it.

He held out a white dress shirt.

She stared at it.

"Seriously?"

"It's clean."

"It's yours."

"That's generally how lending clothes works."

"I can't wear this."

"Why?"

Because she'd worn his shirts before.

Because she remembered mornings in his apartment, bare legs beneath white cotton, Adrian watching her over a cup of coffee.

Because some memories were better left buried.

"It's weird."

"You're standing there soaked."

He held it out again.

"Take the shirt, Seren."

She did.

Their fingers brushed.

Neither commented.

The next morning, Seren woke late.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains.

The storm had passed.

She looked down.

Adrian's white shirt reached halfway down her thighs.

Her trousers from yesterday were still damp, so she found a pair of black leggings in her bag.

Good enough.

She rolled the sleeves.

Then headed downstairs.

Voices came from the foyer.

One was Adrian's.

The other made her stop.

Vanessa.

Seren considered turning around.

Too late.

Vanessa looked up.

Her eyes landed on Seren.

Then the shirt.

She went completely still.

Seren felt heat climb her neck.

Of course.

Of course this was happening.

Vanessa's gaze traveled slowly over the oversized white shirt.

Then to Adrian.

Then back to Seren.

"What are you wearing?"

Seren opened her mouth.

Adrian answered first.

"My shirt."

Vanessa's face drained of color.

Seren stared at him.

He could have explained.

A leaking ceiling.

Wet clothes.

A perfectly innocent reason.

Instead, Adrian took a sip of coffee.

Vanessa's voice sharpened.

"Why is your nanny wearing your shirt?"

Adrian set the cup down.

His expression was completely calm.

"I gave it to her."

Silence.

Vanessa stared at him.

Then at Seren.

Whatever contempt had been in her eyes yesterday was gone.

In its place was something far more dangerous.

Jealousy.

Before Seren could say a word, Poppy came running into the foyer.

She looked at Seren.

Looked at Adrian.

Then grinned.

"Uncle Adrian, she looks like she slept in your room."

Seren nearly choked.

Vanessa went white.

Adrian slowly raised one eyebrow.

And Poppy, delighted with the chaos she'd created, added:

"Are you two getting married?"