Source One

of the car.
    They walked up the walkway to her door.
    “Thank you. I had a really good time.”
    Brian smiled at her. “Surprised?”
    Amber looked down at the ground before meeting his eyes again. “To be honest, yes.”
    Brian blinked hard.  He hated the hurt look that had come back on her face. He took a breath. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Amber. Deeply sorry. I know it’s hard to believe, but that’s not the kind of person I am.”
    He reached out and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.
    Amber gasped. But she didn’t back away.
    Brian looked down at her lips. He’d been having a hard time resisting them all night.
    Enough of that.
    He leaned down to kiss her. Heard her suck in another breath as his lips met hers.
    ***
    Amber and Brian’s next date was the following Thursday night. He took her to a restaurant on the water in Tiburon.
    They stood at Amber’s door again at the end of the evening.
    “Katie would love to see you again, too. Will you come over for dinner tomorrow night?”
    Amber nodded.
    “Good,” Brian whispered. He leaned down to kiss her.
    Amber closed the door after Brian left.  She leaned against the door and blew out a breath.  Her heart was still beating an unsteady rhythm after Brian’s kiss. The man literally made her weak in the knees.
    She’d had another good time with Brian tonight.  A surprisingly good time.  He had asked her questions.  Listened attentively to her answers.  Amber smiled. She’d get to see him and Katie again in only a few short hours. She pushed away from the door and went to get ready for bed.
    A mber turned into the open gates of Brian’s property on Friday evening and drove down the stone driveway. A large, brown two-story house appeared before her.
    Belvedere was filled with exclusive homes, but this one sat atop a low cliff overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The view of the water was magnificent.
    As they had on her first two dates with Brian, nerves fluttered Amber’s stomach as she parked next to Brian’s Escalade and stepped out.
    She walked up the walkway. Rang the doorbell and smoothed her dress.
    Brian opened the door. Gave her a kiss on the lips as Katie came running down the hallway. “Amber!”
    Amber gave Katie a big hug and handed her the shopping bag she’d brought. “This is for you.”
    Katie had the box out of the bag a second later. “Princess Belle! Thanks, Amber!”
    Amber smiled. “If you already have that one, you can exchange it.”
    “She doesn’t have that one,” Brian said. “Not that size anyway.”
    He grinned. “Believe me. I’ve had tea with all of the princesses.”
    Amber laughed as Brian’s words brought an image to her mind.
    She glanced out the window as they walked into the kitchen. The large, level yard was fenced in. Edged by an English garden. Amber could see a boat moored to a dock on the water below.
    Brian poured her some red wine and gave her a tour of the house. Walnut cabinetry made up a wall in both the family and dining rooms. The fireplace in the living room featured the same ornately carved woodwork.
    The back of house, both downstairs and upstairs, had enormous windows that took advantage of the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
    Quite a few sailboats were out this evening. Their white sails dotted the water.
    Brian had told Amber about Mrs. Quinn. She was out for the evening but had prepared a dinner of grilled salmon and potatoes au gratin.
    “What are you doing this weekend?” Brian asked as he walked Amber out to her car later that night.
    “I need to start packing up my mother’s house. The realtor’s going to list it soon.”
    Brian put his hands around her waist. “Want some help? I’d like to help, and I’m sure Katie would too.”
    Amber looked up into his eyes. She raised her brow. “Really?”
    Brian smiled. “Definitely.”

CHAPTER 12
     
    Amber had just pulled blueberry muffins out of the oven when the doorbell rang the next morning.
    She gave Brian and Katie a quick tour and showed Katie the dollhouse in her room. Amber’s father had built it when she was five. Months before he’d left.
    She’d never had the heart to put it away in the closet.
    Amber crouched down in front of Katie. “This was mine when I was little. My father made it for me. Would you like to have it?”
    Katie grinned and nodded.
    A little while later, Brian was out buying more boxes. Katie was playing in the living room.
    Amber stood in her