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“That’s really cool,” she said honestly. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

And so he did. Lawrence told her what he envisioned for the place. He told her he’d been adrift since leaving Scotland all those years ago, but he finally felt at home here in Stone Haven. She learned more about him in one night than in the two months he’d lived in town, which made her want to open up in turn.

Which she did. More so than usual.

After the bottle of wine disappeared, Lawrence suggested room service. They ate on the balcony as the sun set, looking down at the city square as the white fairy lights draping the trees along Main Street came to life.

She never wanted to leave, but this was happening much too fast. It hadn’t even been a week since the breakup. So, as difficult as it was to leave, Toni got up anyway.

“I really should be going,” she said. She didn’t offer an excuse, because she didn’t have one. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

“Of course.”

He stood with her and then opened the balcony’s sliding glass door.

Trying not to look at his ass as he walked in front of her, Toni followed him, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. She grabbed her satchel from where it lay discarded on the table and slung it over her shoulder.

Following him to the door, she couldn’t help but glance over at the bed—which was why she nearly crashed into him when Lawrence stopped at the minibar to set the two empty glasses.

“Sorry,” she said to his back.

When Lawrence turned, he was mere inches away from her. But rather than step back, he stepped forward.

“I’m not,” he said, his voice caressing her like a silken piece of cloth.

She swallowed, hard, knowing her good intentions had just flown out the window. And unfortunately, she couldn’t summon the will to care.