Kurt resisted the urge to go around to her place on Sunday night. Instead, he kicked himself for not taking things slowly. If he just wanted sex, he would have looked elsewhere.

Maybe his intuition was off and she would be glad to see him, but it became apparent she had backed off. Kurt would have offered her anything, and her own book was a perfect place to start. Initially, he intended to meet the realtor alone, but he needed to convince Anita he was serious.

Giving her space, he stayed in his office until one when it was time to leave to go uptown. He stepped away to the men's room and when he returned, he asked, "Are you ready?"

She shook her head. "I have a pile of work to do."

"It can wait. Ask Mitchell's assistant to cover the phones." The girl was a gossip and Anita's frown confirmed she knew.

As he walked across the floor to the elevators, Anita didn't follow him. When he pressed the down button, he turned to see her slip into the women's room. After the elevator doors opened, he stepped in and traveled down to the lobby. His heart beat erratically. Was he wrong to trust her to follow him? The elevator opened, when two strangers stepped off, his heart sank. The motor rumbled announcing another car, and he took his phone out and flipped it open, no missed calls.

When the doors opened, he waited for a pulse to look up. Not able to mask it, he smiled when she stepped out biting her lip. Turning he stepped outside and raised his arm to hail a cab. Neither spoke until they were both in the backseat and he rattled off the address he had written on a slip of paper.

"Where are we going?"

"I need your advice."

"On an author?"

He shook his head. "I'm searching for a new place to live."

She stammered. "You want me to help you choose an apartment."

"I'd prefer to buy, not rent, but yes."

"I don't even know you."

Kurt laughed. "You do." He took her hand. "Don't fight destiny."

"The only thing I'm destined for is a broken heart." She covered her mouth as soon as the words slipped out.

He smiled like he won the lottery. "I disagree, but I'm glad to know your heart is involved." He leaned into the sweet spot behind her ear. "Mine is too."

She gasped and frowned. "You definitely don't know me and my baggage."

He frowned. "Your children are not baggage." Her cheeks turned pink. He cleared his throat. "We're here."

The cab pulled to the curb in front of a beautiful building dating back a century or more. It only had eight stories, and the facade showed its charm. A man in a suit worth more than Kurt's stepped forward. "Mr. Dwyer and missus..."

Anita straightened her back. "It's Miz but Anita is fine."

"Dean McAllister."

Kurt shook his hand. "Call me Kurt."

"Okay, so this beauty is circa nineteen hundred. There are thirty units with a doorman. I have information on the monthly fees and what it includes."

They stepped into a lavish lobby. Even the mailboxes were ornate. They had to slide open a gate to step into the elevator. Anita chuckled. "Abigail's building isn't this fancy."

Kurt agreed it was pretentious. Dean stepped out on the sixth floor. "Six oh one." He had a key to open the door.

Inside the cool air felt comfortable, but the decor was too elegant. Gold-toned wallpaper and a plush white carpet. He didn't want to redecorate but continued the tour.

As they toured the bedrooms, Anita said, "It's big. I imagine you want an office." As she looked in the third room, she asked, "Does your sister visit?"

"Occasionally." He frowned as he thought it wasn't big enough for guests. "Dean, did you line up others?"

"Two more. One nearby and the other is completely different."

"How so?"

"It's a brownstone." The man took out a listing.

"Can I see?" Kurt held out his hand.

"This is for this one." Kurt scanned it.

Anita appeared at his side. "The kitchen hasn't been updated."

Kurt enjoyed cooking. He looked at the page for the other uptown property. The square footage was smaller, and it was on the eighteenth floor. "Can we skip this and see the brownstone?"

Anita looked surprised. "Where is it? Brooklyn?"

Kurt smiled. "Chelsea."

Anita nodded. "It's so quaint."

Dean nodded. "It's a gem, location and charm."

"And price tag, I'm sure."

Kurt touched her back. "Let me worry about that." He still had some money from his paternal grandparents. It was hidden so Harlow couldn't go after it. He had hoped to hear from his lawyer. When the three squeezed into a cab, he checked his phone. No calls.

Anita looked out the window as they drove. There were galleries and restaurants and charming architecture. The cab stopped in front of a row house. Next to the steps, there was a tiny patch of grass and some flowers. Growing up, his mother gardened. Michael and Lois hired landscapers to keep their yard looking pristine. Kurt wouldn't mind getting his hands dirty.

Inside, it was cool, but he was more interested in the staircase in the entry hall. Anita whispered, "It's big."

"Exactly." The first floor had an eat-in kitchen which was updated, a dining room, living room and a small room.

Dean said, "An office or den. Upstairs?"

Kurt nodded. They toured three bedrooms. The master had its own bathroom. Anita said, "Two bathrooms?"

Dean corrected her. "And the powder room downstairs."

"What's up here?" Anita pointed to a staircase going up.

"A bonus space."

"What on earth?" Anita shook her head.

"Lois's house has four bedrooms."

Kurt liked the third floor. It would be perfect for when his nephews visited. Anita shook her head. "She has a family, you don't."

Dean had gone down to the first floor. Kurt pulled her into his arms. "I want a family. What I want is to live here with you. There's a room for each of your kids and the living room is big enough for Ian's piano."

She looked up at him. "You're kidding. Stop teasing."

"I'm serious. I see my future with you."

"You don't know my kids..."

"I know you. I just want to be there for them. Ian has a father and Olivia does too."

She scoffed. "Somewhere. She hardly mentions him."

"Maybe she'll let me fill the void."

"Do you mean that?"

"I promise to only treat them with care and respect. I love my nephews so why wouldn't I love Ian and Olivia too?"

"Love them?"

"Because I love their mother." She gasped, but he went on. "Could you live here?"

She shook her head. "It's too much."

"You deserve it."

"Why?"

He smiled. "That's a long answer. Look around some more, and imagine you and the kids here, then we'll talk about it."

Kurt left Anita upstairs and went to look at the kitchen again, the heart of the home. Someday he wanted to make a meal and listen to Zach and Max laugh with Anita's two. Lois would hold his child while Anita smiled at him.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Our family."

She coughed. "You're crazy."

Before he could answer, Dean appeared. "Have you seen enough?"

Kurt smiled and nodded. When they stepped outside, he looked at the street. Olivia could draw with chalk on the sidewalk while he planted flowers. "Let's walk up the street."

"Shouldn't we go back to work?"

He smiled. "It's four o'clock. There's no point. How about an early dinner?"

"I never ate lunch."

"Me either." Two blocks and they reached a row of shops and restaurants. "Italian again? There's a bistro. It's up to you."

"It's overwhelming."

"Picking a restaurant?"

"No, the way you were talking."

Kurt smiled. "I promise if you love me it will happen."

"Your family will never approve of me and my children."

He chuckled. "My family is my sister and her husband and kids. My mother died of breast cancer when I was in high school. Not long after my father left."

"Like Chip?"

"The law wasn't involved, but he picked Caribbean sun over being a father. He's never met the boys."

"Have you seen him since?"

He frowned. "I went to see him when I was in my twenties. It was awkward, so I never went back. He died in a sailing accident six years ago."

Anita took his hand and squeezed. "I'm so sorry."

He looked into her eyes. "It's okay. If you ask my sister, Harlow was a reaction to his death."

"Didn't you love her?"

"I thought I did, but I love you a million times more."

Her cheek glowed. "How can you?"

"I just do. Let's try the bistro. It could become our neighborhood place."

Inside the restaurant was small with dim lighting. When they sat at a table with white linen cloth and a votive candle, the server handed them menus. "Drinks to start?"

"Water," Anita said.

"Yes, two, please. It's nice and quiet."

"It's early. We are young."

Kurt looked around to see seniors eating. "Someday it will be us."

"Now I know why you are so successful. You're persistent."

Kurt laughed. "You'll be just as successful. Tell me about the book."

As Anita talked, he listened, but was enthralled by her lips moving. She smiled as she grew more excited about the story. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He looked up from the screen. "My lawyer."

She waved her hand. "Take it."

He stood and stepped outside before answering. Anita looked up when he returned to the table. He sat down. "She did it and agreed to walk away. She wants it settled quickly, because she's already engaged."

She smiled. "Congratulations. My divorce was bittersweet."

He frowned. "I used to be jealous of Chip."

"You were not!"

"I always thought you were the loveliest woman in the room. I still do."

Anita put her hands over her face. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

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