The way he sounds, the way he holds her, it's enough to make Grace's heart just about stop or to bring tears to her eyes. It's so foolish, getting all worked up like this, and she'd feel an awful sap, but she can't help it. Simple though his words may be, no one else has ever said them to her. Certainly no one else has ever made her feel like this.

Hand lifting to rest against his jaw and neck, she lifts her head just a little. "You and me both, handsome," she says throatily, trying to play off the seriousness of it some, though she isn't sure how successful she is.