Page 86 of Power Play

His eyes darken with desire. “You want to go out?”

“Not exactly.” Heat radiates off my cheeks. “If you want to take a nap, too, we can arrange that. Or we can use the bed for… another purpose.”

“You want to have sex,” he says bluntly.

“Shh!” I cover Emmy’s ears with my hands. “You can’t say that word in front of the baby!”

Al cracks up. “Okay, okay, got it. We can go have a naked nap while she’s in her crib,” he says. “Anytime you want to sleep in my bed, naked or fully clothed, I’m game. Even if I’m not here.”

At that, my eyes widen. “What are you talking about?”

“When you’re ready, I want you to move in with me.”

“We already live together.”

He fixes me with a pointed look.

“Oh. You mean the spare room.”

“I am one hundred percent not pushing you,” he assures. His fingers stroke the back of my hand. “When you want to, I’m here.”

“And if I’m never ready?”

Al gives me his lopsided grin. “I’ll still be here.”

“I want that,” I admit. “I want us to be together. I’m just…”

“Not quite there yet.” He doesn’t seem upset, taking it in stride. “That’s okay. It’s a big adjustment. I want you to be sure.”

It’s not enough for me to want it; I have to follow through. And that’s the part that scares me.

“Now, me and my girl need some important daddy-daughter time,” he says, pulling Emmy out of my arms. “Get your coffee, eat your breakfast. We have a full day of playing ahead of us.”

My chest warms with contentment. How is this my life? How did I turn out so lucky?

“That sounds perfect.”