Page 23 of GDL

"Yeah. I like you, Sawyer. A lot. More than I've ever liked a man…or woman for that matter."

"Does that frighten you?"

He shakes his head. "That's the thing. I'm not scared. Or even all that confused. Something about you unlocks something in me that feels so fucking right that it's almost like I don't even have to question it… Actually, that's not true. I do have one question."

"What is it?"

"When you said that nothing more could happen between us while we worked together…" My face warms, hating that I've broken that promise so many times I've lost count. "But you hinted that afterward, maybe we could…explore."

"That's right."

"Is that option still on the table?"

"Yeah. It is."

"Because I don't want what happened the other night to be a one-off."

His words hit me right in the center of my chest in a mixture of relief that he doesn't regret what happened and hope that maybe, just maybe, he wants to see where this goes as much as I do. "I don't want it to be a one-off, either." His blue eyes sparkle, and I add, "Let's get this interview out of the way, and then see what happens."

"I'd like that."

"I'd like that, too." I thread my fingers through his. "There are some other things we'll need to discuss at some point."

"Like you being ancient?"

"Cheeky fucker. But yeah, there is a significant age gap between us."

"I'm a new dad."

"I'm based in Australia."

"I live here. Oh, and your kids are older than me."

"I thought we agreed to never bring that up again."

He chuckles. "Sorry, sorry."

I squeeze his hand a little tighter. "I think it's clear we have some stuff to figure out, but maybe we can find a way to make it work?"

His lips stretch into a smile. "I'd like that."

"I'd like that, too." I place a soft kiss against his lips and murmur, "Wanna head back inside?"

"Actually, no."

I lift an eyebrow. "Okay. Wanna stay out here and keep acting unprofessional a while longer?"

He tilts his head to the side. "Ordinarily, I'd say yes. But not tonight."

I frown when I see the worry return to his face. "What's wrong?"

"Ashton's sick, and I feel terrible being away from him."

"Well, then, let's go to him."

"Both of us?"

"Yeah. I've got plenty of experience with sick babies."

---