Lyman turned his head and found Effie gazing at him, unblinking. Her longshes fluttered, and her beautiful eyes shimmered like sunlight on water-deep,


    luminous, mesmerizing.


    A sly smile tugged at Lyman''s lips as he walked over and took a seat beside her.


    Effie swallowed nervously, clutching at the fabric of her jeans on either side.


    Lyman leaned in, shifting closer and closer to her.


    Effie forgot to breathe; her heart pounded so fast, it felt like it might leap out of her chest at any moment.


    "You" she started.


    Lyman didn''t answer. He only moved nearer, until the space between them was barely a whisper.


    Effie''s senses filled with his intoxicating scent-masculine,manding, yet somehowforting. Her heart hammered even harder, and she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the kiss she was certain woulde.


    But the gentle press of his lips nevernded.


    Instead, the sound of the nightstand drawer sliding open broke the tension, followed by a quiet rustling as he searched for something.


    Wait-what?


    Effie opened her eyes and saw Lyman holding a hair dryer, a teasing glint in his gaze.


    "What are you looking at?" he asked, half-smiling. "Your hair''s soaking wet. If you go to bed like this, you''ll catch a cold—or wake up with a nasty headache."


    For a moment, Effie just stared at him, heat creeping up her cheeks. So she''d let her imagination run wild, after all.


    She''d really thought...


    Effieughed awkwardly and reached out. "Um... let me do it."


    Trying to hide her embarrassment, she extended her hand for the dryer.


    But Lyman pulled it back, just out of reach. "I''ve got this. Husbands are supposed to dry their wives'' hair. That''s how it should be."


    She started to protest, but Lyman already had the machine humming, choosing the medium setting instead of sting it on high.


    "This way, it''s quieter," he said, ncing at her. "We won''t wake your grandma."


    Effie murmured a soft agreement.


    So that''s why he''d gone to close the door earlier to keep the noise from disturbing her grandmother.


    Lyman''s hands were gentle as he untangled her hair, cautious not to tug too hard, as if he feared hurting her.


    Effie rxed, lulled by the warm air and his careful touch, feeling so safe and content she nearly drifted off to sleep.


    Suddenly, the drone of the dryer stopped.


    Drowsy, Effie blinked her eyes open and saw Lyman had already set the dryer aside. Now he was staring straight at her, his eyes dark and intense, drawing her in like a whirlpool.


    Effie''s breath caught. Before she could react, Lyman leaned in and murmured, "Your turn''s over. Now it''s mine."


    He closed the distance in a heartbeat, his lips iming hers, stealing the air from her lungs.


    Effie melted into his arms, soft and pliant...


    Later that night, her grandmother got up for a ss of water. As she passed Effie''s door, she heard noises that made her cheeks flush scarlet. She hurried past, pretending she''d heard nothing at all.


    The next morning, Grandma made an announcement at breakfast. "I''ve decided— I''m moving in with you two at your ce."


    Effie blinked, then broke into a radiant grin. “Really? You mean it, Grandma? You really want toe with us?"


    Grandma watched her granddaughter''s eyes go misty with happiness. She reached over and patted Effie''s head, her gaze full of affection. "When have I ever lied to you?"


    Effie nodded, barely containing her excitement. "Okay!"


    "You two go to work. I''ll start packing up here, and we''ll move over after you get back," Grandma said, already bustling around.


    As she gathered her things, she muttered under her breath, "If I have to listen to


    those kinds of noises every night, I''ll never get any sleep..."


    Effie couldn''t help but wonder-since she and Lyman hade home sotest night, they hadn''t even spoken to Grandma. She was


    already asleep. Then what changed her mind about moving in with them?


    in