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“Please don’t,” I said. “I need this job, and I need you to see me as someone who is here because she wants to be, not because she is desperate.”

I looked at her, sitting on my living room floor in her pumpkin-patterned pajama pants, hair falling out of its bun, surrounded by a million dollhouse pieces, telling me calmly she didn’t want my help.

“I see that,” I said.

She was quiet and she could barely look at me. I understood all too well what it was like holding your world together with your bare hands when things felt impossible, but you refused to give up and ask for help.

“The balcony goes here,” she said, cutting the silence and pointing to the second floor.

“I know.” I winked.

“But you were going to put it on the wrong side.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“Everett, look at the picture on the box. It goes on the left.”

I glanced at the picture and noticed that she was right.

“Yep, you are right.” I winked.

She grinned, and the room grew warm.

It was eleven-thirty by the time we finished the dollhouse. It was impressive: a three-story Victorian house with working shutters and a wraparound porch that I knew Sophie would love.

“She is going to love this,” I said.

“Do you think so?”

“I really do. You made a terrific choice.”

“Thank you.” Ember turned and looked at me. “It was easy, I thought of something I would have liked at her age.”

I met her eyes and reached over and placed my hand on her upper thigh.

“About last night,” she said, her cheeks flushing.

“I wondered when you were going to bring that up. I’ve been thinking about last night as well.”

“And what are your thoughts?”

I sat there for a moment, almost afraid to move. I knew exactly how I felt. I reached over and pulled the elastic from her bun. Her hair fell around her shoulders in dark, messy waves, and she made a small sound that went right through me.

“I’m done thinking,” I said.

I leaned forward and kissed her again. Slower this time, less desperate. I cupped her face in both hands and kissed her the way I’d wanted to all day…deep and thorough, tasting her and feeling the curve of her smile against my mouth when I pulled her closer.

She climbed into my lap and straddled me, her knees on either side of my hips. I ran my hands up her thighs and gripped her waist, pulling her against me.

“Do you want to go upstairs?” She asked, her lips against mine.

Every part of me screamed yes. My hands tightened on her hips, and she rolled against me. I let out a sound I barely recognized as she rolled against me again, slow and deliberate.

“I want to. God, you have no idea how much I want to,” I said.

“But?” She asked, searching my eyes.

“Not tonight,” I whispered, tracing my thumb along her jaw. “And It’s not because I don’t want to. I want to do this right. You’re not a one-night decision, Ember. You’re a total life change, and I want to be sure I’m ready for that.”