Kathy wanted to argue. Hell, she opened her mouth to do so.

And then closed it again, everything left unsaid. Because he was right. Things had always escalated between them and as much as she wanted to guarantee they wouldn't now because she had more to lose, she wasn't willing to bet on it.

"Fair," she said. "It would mess things you with us if we escalated now, to say nothing of everything else."

She wanted him, sure, but she hadn't even figured out what that meant in the overall scheme of things. Or how she felt. Or how much she trusted him emotionally. And those were questions that couldn't be rushed.