At his touch, she softened and drew a deep breath. “Damn,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He knew exactly what she meant, and he groaned when she stepped into his arms. The hug was something he hadn’t known he needed, even more so when she curled close to him, offering comfort. He hadn’t realized he even needed that in his life, but he did. He needed her. Until this moment, he could never have imagined such an intimate embrace that had nothing to do with lust, and yet somehow was everything.

Emma took him by the hand and drew him down onto the couch. “Before you say whatever it is you wanted to talk to me about, I missed your friendship.”

Simon took his first deep breath since he’d seen her last. “Me too.”

Her eyes never left his. “So we can go back to that?”

It killed him that she thought they were no longer friends—which was all on him. “Yes, please.” He also wanted a whole lot more than that.

She nodded. “Is your dad okay?”

Even now, she was thinking of him first . . . He did not deserve her, but he was going to give it everything he had to make it up to her and prove that he could change and be the right man for her. “He’s good. Though today’s doctor visit was a complete shit show. He told his doctor that she needed to take his cast off because he had a hot date and he’s right-handed in the sack.”

Emma laughed. It was the sweetest sound he’d heard in days.

“He also asked if they gave out free condoms.” He gave a wry smile. “I might never recover.”

She was still laughing. “What did you do?”

“What could I do? After the doc, I took him to buy condoms and pizza.”

“That explains the phone call I got from Alison just before you arrived. She said your dad was making animal balloons to hang around the entryway. From condoms.”

Simon grimaced. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It all worked out. Mrs. Bessler had come by, and according to Marco, she convinced your dad that she needed the condoms. She said she had her eye on one of her neighbors.”

Jesus. “Is that neighbor named Dale Armstrong?”

“Pretty sure.”

“God help me.” He took her hand in his. Met her still slightly wary gaze. “I hope you know you’re the best thing that’s happened to me all week. Hell, all year.”

“You really did miss me,” she said, her dark eyes warming up.

“More than I can say, although I’d like to try. Is that okay, Em? Can we talk? Like really talk?”

No hesitation this time. She nodded just as a teakettle began to whistle from the kitchen.

“I’ll get it.” Simon moved into the kitchen and turned off the flame, pouring the hot water over the tea bag in the waiting mug. As he did, his eyes caught on the stacks of paperwork spread out over the table. Bills.

“Pour yourself some tea too,” Emma called out. “It’s a de-stressor.”

He doubted a tea could ever de-stress him. In fact, his stress rose a notch when he realized that all the bills she had in this particular stack were marked either Past Due or Final Notice. He drew a deep breath and flipped through them. X-rays, radiology, blood work, labs, doctors . . . “Have you heard back from your insurance company on your surgery?”

“No. Will you add sugar too?”

He stared down at her insurance policy payment, also past due. “You mean will I add tea to your sugar? Yes.” Hating how underwater she was, he racked his brain for a way to help her, knowing she’d never accept financial help. “One of our tenants is an attorney,” he said. “I could ask him to—”

“Thanks, but no. I’ve already spoken to two different lawyers. I don’t have the money right now to hear the same verdict. I’m fine, Simon. It’s not that bad.”

He had no idea what her barometer was for “not that bad,” but it was a far different barometer than his. He knew she’d used her settlement to buy her half of Paw Pals. He also knew Paw Pals was in the black, but she wasn’t going to get rich anytime soon. He eyed the bills again, and suddenly he knew how he could help. The solution was right in front of him and had been all along. Just thinking about it had a peace settling over him. And, he could admit, excitement. Smiling, he poured the hot water over the tea bag, added her sugar, and walked out to the living room.

EMMA WATCHED SIMON come toward her. With his build, he filled any space he was in, and she sucked in a breath because just looking at him did things to her. She’d missed him, so much. Not enough to let him off the hook though. Nope, Emma 2.0 didn’t beg for love. Still, she couldn’t look away from him. He seemed to have the same problem, which was gratifying. The throw had fallen to her hips, but in spite of the fact that she was wearing only a white tank and a pair of teeny boy-shorts panties, his eyes stayed locked on hers. Until she smiled at him.

Once she did that, his gaze warmed and he let it drift slowly over her, taking in the sight of her, turning his hazel eyes from warm to scorching.

Good. If she couldn’t have him, she was damn glad he at least knew what he was missing.

“Cute pj’s.” He set the mug on the coffee table, pointing at Hog to mind his own business when the dog lifted his big head, seeming interested in sampling the tea. Hog sighed and went back to sleep.

Simon sat on the coffee table in front of Emma. “I know you don’t want help.”

Still feeling the surge of heat from the pj’s comment, not to mention his close proximity, her brain wasn’t working at full capacity. “What?”

He took one of her hands. “I was a jerk the other night on the roof. I’m sorry.”

“You were actually right. I couldn’t let myself heal all the way.” She met his gaze. “I talked to Jack. He was able to move on from the accident and has gotten himself a really nice life. It’s like knowing that gave me permission to do the same.”

“You deserve that,” he said softly, gently squeezing her hand. “So much.”

“I guess I’ve been a little slow on the uptake.”

He gave a shake of his head. “Actually, I’m the slow one here. Emma, can you ever forgive me for being so stupid when it comes to you?”

“You weren’t. You were . . .”

“Stupid,” he repeated.

“Okay, maybe a little bit.” She smiled, liking this vulnerable side of him, aching in the very best of ways that he was sharing it with her. “Scared too.”