Christ, that had been an experience and a half. After all the panic and hurry, he'd charged downstairs only to find Valerie standing by the French doors in the kitchen looking guilty, mortified, and cute as a button in an overlarge T-shirt. The memory brought a smile to his face that quickly faded as he considered Valerie and how to gain her trust enough that she wouldn't run screaming for the hills when he eventually risked explaining who and what he was. It wasn't going to be easy.