She smiled tiredly, knowingly. "I was waiting for you."

Damn, this woman had him in knots. Five words, and he was hooked on wrapping his arms around her. Touching her and feeling her heartbeat against his skin. The bond between them was growing day by day, and at times he could feel the feelings of her through it. Tingling warmth at the back of his mind, her worry for him as clear as day.

He took a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Sorry I got home later," he said. "The meeting ran late."

"It's fine," she replied softly. "I just wanted to make sure you ate." She nodded to the...