After meeting Ian's friends, she wondered if he really wanted what they had. Maybe it wasn't different from Lilli and Zach. Although her friends weren't having a baby, at least not for a while. Visiting a baby scared Ainsley and the little person wasn't even born. Maybe she and Ian wouldn't be hanging out by then.

Ainsley felt her flutters turn into a shiver. She wanted to keep seeing him until... Until she didn't know when. If she wanted the whole deal, Ian wasn't a candidate. Good thing neither wanted what others expected.

Ian had a way of clearing her mind of all thoughts, and as she settled in his arms with their breathing leveling off, contentment surrounded her. It was Wednesday night, and Ian had had a stressful week with his staff issues. He no longer shared any details with her, so she had been taken aback when he shared with Josie. It took her a minute to remember it had been before they started dating.

The confidentiality agreement stressed her, because she loved to talk, and it was a good story. Maybe not for Ian because it was his problem. Ainsley was glad he was relaxed. She had the magic, sex.

His breathing was rhythmic. Ainsley smiled because he was asleep. She debated staying, but carefully got up and dressed. His words came back to her about how his last relationship ended. The woman had wanted more than he was willing to give. Ainsley wasn't ready for their thing to end. She liked being with him too much.

She texted Ian Thursday morning to see if he wanted to commute together. He called her.

"I overslept. I never set my alarm."

"I feel guilty for letting you fall asleep, but you needed it."

"It's fine. I'll make my meeting but go without me."

"Okay. Remember drinks tonight."

"Right. Okay."

He didn't seem too enthused. Lilli wasn't sure if Zach would make it. He had a meeting with a Roche-Sumner editor and was planning to stop by legal to see JJ. Ian was the first guy she ever wanted her friends to meet.

She made her way to work on her own and arrived early. Her day went well. Even Henry had calmed down. Her phone lit up with her mother's face. Carolyn Douglas knew not to call her at work. She texted her multiple texts a day instead.

"What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing. Your sister is pregnant."

"Really! Congrats. I have to get back to work."

JJ must have asked Zach to stop by so he could tell him. She and Violet weren't best friends but it would have been nice to hear from her own sister. At four-thirty, Ian texted to let her know he was tied up in HR and would meet her.

When she walked in Katie smiled. "I haven't seen you for weeks. Another date?"

Ainsley laughed. "I'm meeting Lilli. I'm seeing someone. He'll be here later."

"Finally! This is on me." She handed her a red wine.

"Thanks."

"Hey, Katie."

Ainsley turned to see beautiful Lilli. "Table?"

"Yeah. Where's dreamy?" Lilli laughed at herself.

"Ian. He's tied up. He'll be here. So my mother called. Violet is pregnant."

"Really? Congrats, auntie."

"Thanks, but shouldn't she have called me herself?"

"Your mother was probably just excited. I want to hear about your romance."

"Lilli, don't scare him. He's not like Zach."

"You said he's good looking."

"He is, but Zach is very sociable. Ian's quieter, but funny. He makes me laugh."

Lilli laughed. "Keep convincing yourself you don't have real feelings for him."

"Lilli, just let it go. Have you talked to Rhys lately?"

They talked about their friends, and then Lilli asked about Henry. Ainsley stopped talking mid-sentence and froze. Zach and Ian entered together, talking.

Zach said, "Lilli, look who I found."

Lilli smiled. "Gilly?"

"Gilly? Gilly!" Ainsley felt like her head was underwater. Did she hear right?

Lilli smiled. "He's Olivia's brother. Remember Zach wanted you to meet him, but you met your guy instead."

Ainsley stared at Ian as he cleared his throat. She asked, "Um Lill, what's Olivia's brother's name?"

Lilli shrugged. Zach said, "Gilly. Ian Gillespie."

Lilli's face lit up as the synapses in her brain lit up. "No! Seriously?"

Ainsley nodded as Ian walked over to her. He looked tired, and she knew he had fallen asleep early.

Zach stood. "What?"

Ian said, "I came to meet Ainsley and her friend."

Zach laughed. "Seriously."

Ainsley looked at Ian as if she had never seen him before. "Wait so your mother is Anita Browning? And the sorority sister is your sister?"

Ian laughed. "Sorority sister?"

Lilli said, "That's what Ainsley called her when we thought she and Zach. Good news is the nickname she coined for Zach she used for you."

"Lilli, shush!"

Ian smiled. "What nickname?"

Ainsley smiled. "Mr. Dreamy."

"And Mr. Creamy."

"Lillian, shush!" Ainsley glared.

Ian whispered. "Like wet."

Zach said, "I'm floored. Between this and JJ's big news."

Ian said, "What news?"

Lilli said, "Violet's pregnant."

Zach said, "You knew. He just told me."

Ainsley raised her hand. "My mother called me this afternoon."

Ian said, "Backup. Your mother. Now I'm confused."

Lilli said, "How can you be dating and know nothing about each other?"

Ainsley defended herself. "I know some Gillespies."

Ian winked. "Only Brooke. What's this about Violet?"

"She's my sister. I don't like anyone at Roche-Sumner to know JJ is my brother-in-law. For the record, I already had my job when they met. Wait, a minute. Kurt Dwyer is your step-father, so you're related to Zach."

"Step cousins." Zach smiled.

"We don't want anyone at Roche-Sumner to know about us." Ainsley added.

Zach shook his head. "This is crazy, but I was right, he is a good match for you."

Ian stared at her. "You didn't want to meet me."

Ainsley put her hands up. "He's the one who described you as an IT guy. I imagined one of the acne boys."

"Don't fight. My mouth has a habit of making couples fight." Lilli frowned.

"We're not fighting. I just can't believe it. I can't believe Anita got pregnant at twenty."

"Nineteen. She finished school with my grandmother's help."

Zach came back from the bar with a drink for him and Ian. "I can't believe you met his father. I never have."

Ainsley laughed. "I haven't, but I've been to his house."

Ian put his hand on her thigh. "He wants to meet you."

"Why haven't we met before? At their wedding?"

"My surgery. I stayed home."

"Violet's wedding?"

"It was a few years ago and very crowded. I wish I could say I noticed you, but I remember thinking you looked familiar. I think you're prettier than your sister."

Lilli sat forward. "I agree."

Zach frowned. "How are you going to keep your relationship private at work?"

Ainsley laughed. "Who's talking?" Zach and Lilli kept their engagement quiet.

Ian frowned and Ainsley feared her connection to his friends might ruin them. "I've had an awful week." He drained his beer. "Do you mind if we go?"

"No. It's fine. I have work to do tonight." Zach finished his beer. "I don't need to get to know you."

Ian laughed. "We did that years ago."

Ainsley stood. "We'll talk, Lilli."

Ian followed her out. She turned to him as the tears leaked. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Ruining everything."

"You haven't ruined a thing." Ian pulled her into his arms. "Can we just go home?"

As Ian led her towards the station, her head spun with a thousand questions. How had they never seen each other before?

The train was empty enough they found two seats together. Ian held her hand, and she rested her head on his shoulder. The ride didn't last long. As they walked towards their building, she tried to see if he was limping.

"How's your knee?"

"It's fine. You know it feels better."

"I know, but you look tired. Even before the big reveal."

Ian chuckled. "Big reveal alright."

Ian led her to his apartment. "Are you hungry?"

She shrugged. He poured two glasses from an open bottle of red. She went to the fridge and took out some leftovers and a block of cheese.

He leaned against the counter watching her. "Tell me do you like my sister?"

Her head jerked up. "Yeah. I do. We were roomies in Maine this summer. Her nickname started before we knew her and thought her claws were in Zach. We get along. Do you like mine?"

"I don't know her well. JJ loves her. They were at the brunch with you, but I only saw their backs."

Ainsley pulled a dish from the microwave. "Take as much as you want. JJ leaves me alone at work. Sometimes Oliver teases me, but very few know about my connection. You're in the basement. No one knows you."

"I know. I'm just worried about the HR crap."

"I thought Josh might say something."

"He knew your name."

Ainsley nodded. "What's with the Gilly?"

Ian shrugged. "Oliver called me that as a kid. I wasn't the kind of kid who had nicknames so I liked it. When we came to visit, I often left to see my dad, so I didn't fit in, not like Olivia."

Ainsley stepped to him and wrapped her arms around his middle. If they had met when they were kids she wouldn't have looked his way. He was definitely like fine wine, and she hadn't started to appreciate good wine until the past few years.

"I can't believe we know the same people."

"If I asked my mother, will she know who you are?"

"I've spoken to her. She knows Violet's sister exists even if she doesn't know my name. Honestly, if it weren't for my friendship with Lilli, I wouldn't have fit in with the Sumners. They are the bosses. I've been to some Dwyer Mitchell events, but only because of Lilli."

"You didn't go to the anniversary party."

"I did for a few minutes."

"And I worked late before making an appearance. I feel like we missed meeting each other multiple times."

"So the puddle was meant to get our attention." She snickered and lifted her head to see his tired face.

"The puddle. The help desk issue."

She kissed his cheek. "Eat something and then get some rest. You look exhausted."

He sighed. "I wasn't prepared for these issues. I know we can't talk about it, but you might be called down again." He let out a long sigh.

She felt his tension. "Okay, but when I don't look at you it's because I'm imagining you naked."

He let out a full-bodied laugh. "You are trouble." He lifted her up over his shoulder.

She banged on his back. "Put me down. You'll hurt your knee and you have to eat." As she slid down his body, she felt every hard angle. Her voice was hoarse. "I'll go to your bed willingly."

He smiled and sat down. He stabbed a fork into a piece of chicken. "You are more fun than anyone I know."

She felt warmth in her chest. Only her friends thought she was fun. "You're fun, too."

Ian looked at her with pleading eyes. "Break the rules. Stay with me tonight."

She couldn't say no. She didn't want to.

The big reveal. I love moments like that! Please vote ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After feedback from @carriewilliams736 I went back to the drawing board with the cover. I changed a few others Chance on You, Almost Home, and More than Love.