She laughed. “Do what?” She walked around picking up toys and wet towels.

“Do what? Do all of this.” He gestured around them. “It’s only ten o’clock and I’m exhausted,” he said, dropping his head back and closing his eyes.

“I enjoy it,” she said softly. Dana walked around the patio, straightening everything while keeping an eye on Edward. He was turning into a really good friend, someone she could count on.

“I can see why. Your kids are great.”

“Thank you, but I can’t take all the credit,” she said.

“Yes, you can,” he said seriously, making her stop and turn around. He was getting up from his chair and moving towards her.

She instantly felt awkward. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek. “You’re doing a great job with them.”

Dana pushed a strand of hair back. “Thank you, do you want to work on the book?” she asked, hoping for a diversion from this uncomfortable moment. They kissed once on the Ferris wheel, but he made no move since then to do it again. It made her feel self-conscious and nervous.

He smiled. “Sure, but I pick the music this time.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. He chuckled as they walked to her office.

********

He woke up stretched out on a couch. It took him a moment to figure out where he was. His eyes focused on the room and he realized he was still in Dana’s office. She was asleep at her desk. He looked at his watch, two in the morning. Damn, he meant to spend some time kissing her properly, but they got right to work and he started to doze off before he got the chance.

A small sound at the door caught his attention. Cole stood in the doorway with eyes half closed, doing what was unquestioningly the pee pee dance. Edward rubbed his face and walked over to the little boy. He didn’t want to disturb Dana, yet.

“Come on, buddy,” Edward said, taking Cole’s hand and led him into the bathroom. After tucking Cole into his Mickey Mouse bed he checked on Elizabeth and pulled the covers over her.

He made his way back to the office and couldn’t help but smile at Dana. She looked so peaceful. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he also didn’t want to leave her sleeping at the desk. He picked her up carefully in his arms and carried her towards the only room he hadn’t seen yet, her bedroom.

Her room was exactly the way he thought it would be. Clean and organized with a large bed. There were no frills in this room. It was a bedroom and that was it, clean and simple. The kind of room he liked. Too many of his ex-girlfriends had lacey things everywhere, make-up spilling over the bureaus, dirty clothes everywhere. It was a huge turn off for him. Not that he had a lot of girlfriends in the past. He was too guarded to date as often as his family would like him to.

He laid her gently on the bed and pulled a blanket over her. She instantly snuggled into it and rolled onto her side. “Mmm, Edward,” she said sleepily.

Edward froze and stared at her. Did she just stay his name? He was surprised and intrigued. He wondered what else she might say. He looked around for a chair and realized there were none. He made his way around the bed and carefully crawled into bed with her. He lay on his side to watch her sleep.

His eyes wondered over her hair, her face and the shape of her body beneath the blanket. He reached over and moved a lose strand of hair off her face, knowing she would hate that. She murmured something that he didn’t quite hear. He dared himself to move closer to her until he was practically spooning her.

He felt sleep pull at him again. He fought it at first, but it was late and he was exhausted and in minutes he was falling asleep. He closed his eyes, planning on leaving before she woke up. He nuzzled his face into her blonde hair and fell asleep smelling vanilla.

********

Dana woke up feeling a strong arm holding her waist tightly. She felt something warm snuggled against her back and hot breaths on her neck. It took her a moment to figure out what was going on. She looked around to see she was in her room. She didn’t remember going to bed last night. Her last memory was dropping her head onto her arm at her desk.

“Edward?” she said. No movement. “Edward?” she said a little louder. She felt him wake up and freeze. He pulled away from her and sat up.

She turned over and sat up as well. “Good morning,” he said sheepishly.

Dana sighed with relief when she realized they were both completely dressed. “What happened?” she asked as she ran her fingers through her hair, hoping she didn’t have bed head.

“I moved you in here last night and I guess I fell asleep, too.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, trying to figure out why he joined her in the bed. “Do you want breakfast?”

He smiled. “That sounds good.” His eyes lowered to her mouth. “There’s just one thing I have to do first.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“This.” He leaned in and kissed her mouth softly. His hand went behind her head and tilted it to the perfect angle to deepen their kiss. She was too stunned at first to do anything. Then she slowly melted into his touch and returned the kiss eagerly.

Her arms wound around his neck as he moved closer to her. Dana wasn’t aware he was lowering her until her head was gently placed on the pillow. Edward moved over her body, using his legs to spread hers. He kissed her deeply, enjoying the feel of her mouth against his. He began to slowly grind himself into her. The moment she moaned, he groaned loudly and instinctively thrust against her harder.

“I want you,” he growled against her mouth.

Panic took over. She moved her mouth away from his. He kissed down her chin to her neck where he suckled and nipped at her skin, never stopping or slowing the movement of his erection against her.

“Edward,” she said breathlessly.

“Yes?” he said against her neck.

“Edward, I can’t do this. It’s too fast!” She panicked. He could hear the fear in her voice. He stopped what he was doing and looked at her, studying her face. She looked so beautiful and so frightened it tugged at his heart. “How long has it been?” he asked softly.

She swallowed nervously. “About four years.”

“Four years? But Cole is three,” he said, not understanding, because she’d only been divorced for a year.

Dana nodded. This was embarrassing. “The last time was when I conceived Cole. He was planned.”

“Ah,” he said, adjusting himself on her. She only had sex with Jeff to get pregnant with Cole. After that there hadn’t been a reason, for some reason that made him happy.

“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to look away.

He kissed her cheek softly. “Don’t be. I don’t mind taking it slow.” Edward moved to his side of the bed and sat up. Dana climbed off the bed and ran her fingers through her hair, feeling awkward.

She gestured towards the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower before the kids wake up. If you’re still around afterwards I’ll make you breakfast?”

“I’ll be here,” he said, looking around her room and back at his clothes. They were wrinkled and he felt grungy. “Any chance I can take a shower, too?”

Her eyebrows pulled together, making him back track. “I meant in one of the other bathrooms,” he amended.

She smiled. “I knew what you meant. I couldn’t help messing with you.” She winked at him.

“Brat,” he said teasingly.

“Hold on,” she said, walking into the bathroom. She came out a moment later and tossed a new toothbrush to him.

“Thank you,” he said, bowing theatrically before leaving the room. Edward made his way to the guest bathroom and locked the door. No need to scare the six year old after all. He jumped in the shower and cleaned up. It was hard focusing on the task at hand knowing Dana was close by, na**d in the other shower. He imagined hot water running down her body and then had to immediately cool the water off before he got too carried away.

“Come on, guys, sit down,” he heard Dana say as he came around the corner into the kitchen. The smell of pancakes, eggs and bacon hit him hard. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until that moment. The kids were sitting at the kitchen table and Dana was loading platters with food.