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“Did someone say tickle?” Rory asked.

Theo shrieked with delight as Rory dropped the book and very gently tickled Theo’s rib cage while laughing his booming laugh.

Ana’s mom looked to her with a smile before turning her attention back to the boys.

Ana bit her lip worriedly. It would be so easy to get pulled into Rory’s spell. He was so charismatic and easygoing—kind of the opposite of her, honestly. But there was something nice about that.

She reminded herself that this was just for one night. And the entire purpose of it was for her to set him up with someone else.

All I have to do is remember that and I’ll be okay.

Rory’s dancing blue eyes flashed to hers and he winked.

Her cheeks heated and her heart dropped to her toes as she realized what she hadn’t wanted to face before.

It’s too late. I’ll never be okay when it comes to Rory.

It was one thing to find him handsome, or even to enjoy chatting with him at a town event.

But seeing him here, cooking in their kitchen, joking with her mom, talking with Ana about her day and her friends, and reading to and playing with an enchanted Theo…

Her poor heart couldn’t resist.

It wasn’t fair.

“We’ve got an early day tomorrow,” she heard herself say a little too loudly as she turned back to the kitchen.

“Oh, wow, right,” Rory said. “Hang on there, little buddy. It’s getting late. I need to get out of your hair.”

“Out of your hair,” Theo echoed happily, and Ana felt her heart aching like it was full of thorns. “Out of your hair.”

“I’ll see you soon,” Rory told Theo, setting him gently on the sofa. “Are you going to come by sometime and help me some more at the shop?”

Theo nodded, his eyes sparkling.

“Okay, sleep tight then,” Rory told him.

Theo flopped right down on the sofa and pretended to snore.

Rory watched him, chuckling. Ana felt her heart throb again, and willed herself to look away.

“Walk me down,” Rory said.

She would have refused, but he wasn’t really asking. He headed past her for the stairs and when she looked over, her mom gestured for her to hurry up and go with him.

When she moved to the door, he opened it so that she could step out first.

Either he was a born gentleman, or he had really listened to her. In any case, she had to keep reminding herself that they weren’t a match. Rory wasn’t looking for someone with the kind of baggage Ana had.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and joined him in the alcove, which felt tinier than usual with his big body filling the space. There was no way to ignore his natural heat or the spice of his aftershave.

“Ana,” he said, his deep voice hushed in the quiet space as he placed one big hand on the wall behind her, caging her against the door.

Even in the dim light of the hallway, she could see the bright blue of his eyes and the tightness of his jaw.

Her heart pounded as his eyes slipped down to her mouth.

In that instant, Ana was sure that he was going to kiss her, and also sure that she didn’t have the willpower to stop him.