He then slipped his phone back into his other jeans pocket and lifted his eyes to meet mine. “Maegan got all she needed. Master bedroom is wet, but you probably knew that. You need to pick out a new mattress. We can go now, or if you’d rather, Maegan can take you.”

  I shook my head and stood up. “Oh, no, I figured it could air dry. Maybe in the sun on the balcony.”

  Dean shook his head. “No. You’re getting a new one.”

  I didn’t want to go shop for mattresses with him or Maegan. It wasn’t that I disliked Maegan, but I wasn’t very fond of her. I had no real reason to feel that way. However, I did have reasons to dislike Dean. I might not dislike him as much as I did before but if I understood Kiro’s words earlier then he and Dean had slept with Maegan. Ew.

  The line from Hamlet suddenly came to my thoughts. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

  And I winced. I wasn’t that girl anymore. Life had changed me. Motherhood had changed me.

  “Any mattress will do. I’m not picky. Trust me,” I told him.

  I hadn’t slept on a mattress until I was twenty years old. I’d slept on blankets on the floor, I’d slept on hay, I had even slept on bare concrete floors. I could sleep anywhere if I needed to.

  “No preference for firmness or softness?” he asked me.

  I shook my head. “I’ve slept in places that make any mattress nice.” I hadn’t meant to say that, but I had blurted it out.

  Dean’s eyes narrowed. “Really?” he asked. “Why?”

  Nope. We were not going to talk about my past. That was behind me. It was my secret. I had built a new life, and it was all he needed to know.

  “Uh, you know, kids, teenagers, they sleep in crazy places,” I said. “Thanks for the soda and a chance to sit down and wait. But if she’s done, I want to get back in there and start drying the floor.”

  “It’s already being done. You don’t have to go down there. Contrary to what Kiro said, I do have food in the kitchen. I can make you something to eat.”

  No, no, no, no, no. I was not doing this. I was not getting comfortable and friendly with this man. He was smooth and charming when he chose to be, but I’d already figured out that Kiro’s lack of a filter was more accurate to the way Dean’s inner thoughts went. I might not be his type, but I was a female and in his apartment, alone with him. Major warning flag, and I knew it.

  “I would feel better if I was there. With my things,” I replied.

  Dean nodded his head. “Understood. You can call or text me if you need anything.” He paused, then grinned. “You should have my number now.”

  The text from earlier reminded me that he also had my number now. It also reminded me that Clara was supposed to be coming over in an hour. Crap! I had forgotten. I had to call her. I needed to go.

  “Yes,” I said, then headed in the direction of the door.

  “See you around, Brielle,” he called out just as I opened his door.

  I lifted a hand to wave but didn’t look back, then walked out, closing the door behind me. I hoped we saw very little of each other.

  This was not something I had planned on ever happening. Life would carry on as usual, and I would change nothing. There was no reason to.

  seven

  dean

  I gave it two days before I texted Brielle. She hadn’t contacted me or even Maegan. I knew her new mattress had been delivered within an hour of her returning to her apartment the day she came up here with me. I’d ordered it myself. One identical to the mattress I slept on, just a full-size to fit her bedframe, unlike my king-size. She hadn’t texted me or called after receiving it. Maegan had said she’d barely been there yesterday, and I assumed she had been at work.

  The most frustrating part of it all was, I shouldn’t have given a fuck. She wasn’t what I was looking for, if I was even looking at all. I still hadn’t made up my mind about that. Relationships were sticky, and I had never managed to do one. It seemed like too much damn work. Until the past couple of years. Part of me wanted what Kiro had had with Emily, his late wife. He’d been so fucking happy for a time. Before her accident. Before the joy of life was completely sucked out of him when he lost her.

  Was loving like he had loved worth the pain that could follow? I wasn’t sure I could take the gamble. I’d seen him so completely wrapped up in her, and I envied him that connection to another person. Then, I’d been there when he fell apart from the agony of losing her. I didn’t think I could survive that. Harlow was the one thing that had kept him from going under.

  No. What I needed was someone closer to my age. A woman. Someone who had lived life and was mature. Someone who I could respect, appreciate, enjoy being near. If I was going to be in a relationship, it would have to be real. There would have to be depth. It could not be with some flighty, cheating twenty-something with a body that made my dick hard. I needed more than a fucking hard dick.

  Brielle was simply a tenant and nothing more. I had to start noticing women my age—or at least within fifteen years of my age. I had grandkids, for God’s sake. My son should not be older than my girlfriend.

  My phone dinged with a text message alert, and I looked down to see Brielle’s response.

  It’s as if there was never any water damage at all. Thank you for handling it.

  That was it. Nothing more. As it should be. I slid my phone back into my pocket and started for the private exit of my place when there was a knock at the other door before it opened.

  “Dean?” Maegan’s voice called out.

  I turned around and walked back to the living room just as she entered it. Today, her skirt was somehow even shorter than yesterday. Soon, her ass was going to be hanging out of the back. I knew she was trying to get my attention. She’d had her sights set on Kiro, but after a few fucks, he’d gotten bored with her. I’d given her the job to get her out of there. Not to fuck her. I was starting to think she had other ideas.

  “Hello, Maegan,” I said, and she flashed me a smile that looked more like an invitation than a business smile.

  “Good morning, Dean. Can I get you anything?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “No. I was just about to leave. Is there an issue with the building?” I asked. Reminding her what her job was and why she was here.

  She shook her head. “Everything is great. The new furniture is being moved back into Mrs. Jo’s apartment today, and the paint looks fantastic. When I spoke to her, she was very excited about seeing it all.”

  I was glad Mrs. Jo was pleased, but if I was being honest, I was more concerned about her neighbor, and that was messed up. I had told myself Brielle was out of the question. Off the table. Too damn young.

  “I can make you lunch if you’d like,” she said, taking a step in my direction. “I’m at your full disposal.”

  I had no doubt she was. I needed to get the hell out of here. “I’m good. Thanks. I’m heading out. Lock up when you leave. Make sure Brielle McGinnis is also happy with her new furniture.” I couldn’t help myself. I had to know.

  Maegan frowned. “She didn’t get new furniture.”

  “What?” I asked, my voice sounding harsher than necessary.

  “She said hers was fine. That it was dry. I told her to choose anything she wanted, within reason, but she wouldn’t.” Maegan sounded slightly panicked.

  “How wet was her furniture?” I asked.

  Maegan made a face. “It was pretty wet. Kinda soaked, but she put each piece out on the balcony the past two days and said they all dried up fine.”

  “She fit a sofa on the balcony?” I asked, not believing this.

  Why is Brielle being stubborn?

  “Just the cushions.”

  “Dammit,” I muttered and turned to head toward the building elevator.

  “Where are you going?” Maegan asked.

  “To go check my tenant’s furniture,” I replied.

  “But I did that. It’s okay.”

  I ignored Maegan and continued to the elevator.

  Every second it took to get from my floor to Brielle’s, I grew more annoyed. The furniture had to smell sour. How could she live with that? I had replaced most of Mrs. Jo’s furniture. It wasn’t like I had done it to get in Mrs. Jo’s pants, and I wasn’t replacing Brielle’s to get in her pants either. Jesus, Brielle was so damn obstinate.

  The elevator opened, and I took several long strides until I was at Brielle’s door. With a sharp knock, I waited, trying to calm down. I was angry, and I wasn’t sure why. Shit like this normally didn’t bother me. I typically didn’t even get involved and let my handlers deal with it.

  I wanted to buy her the damn furniture. It was that fucking simple. Why wouldn’t she let me? Why was she like this?

  The door opened, and Brielle stood there, wearing a sleeveless pink knit dress that didn’t even make it to mid-thigh. Her hair was pulled up in another of those messy buns, and she appeared to be slightly sweaty. Her chest seemed damp, and her … fuck me, she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “Dean?” She said my name as if it were a question, and I reluctantly moved my gaze from her gorgeous tits to her face.

  Damn. Damn. Damn. Why did I want to fuck her so bad? Why her? Why not Maegan? Or, hell … I dunno … someone a few years older than my son. Why this girl, who was too young and not at all what I needed?

  “You didn’t pick out new furniture,” I said, stalking past her and into the apartment.

  “I didn’t need it,” she said behind me.

  I walked over to the sofa that had seen better days. It had to be as old as she was. In fact, I was willing to bet it was older than she was.

  “Yeah, you do,” I snapped, looking back at her. “You need it fucking bad. You needed it before the water damage. Jesus, Brielle, this sofa is ancient.”

  She stiffened then, and I saw her defensive mode take over. “My furniture is fine. It’s comfortable, and we like it.”

  We? Who the fuck is we? Cam? The dude she cheated on? How did the date with the construction worker go? Did she enjoy being unfaithful?

  “It’s shit,” I replied. “So is the damn coffee table and that chair. Get the new furniture. You need it.”

  I didn’t say they needed it because I refused to accept she let a man live here with her. That meant he fucked her and saw her naked. He got to bury his cock in those tits.

  “I think you need to go,” she said angrily.

  I stalked back toward the door, but I didn’t leave. I closed it. Then, I turned on her and kept on until her back was against the wall. She smelled like vanilla and lavender. I liked it. No, I fucking loved it. Inhaling deeply, I leaned my head down until my mouth touched her ear. I felt her tremble, and that one small move went straight to my damn cock.

  “You’re right. I need to go. I need to fucking run out of here,” I said softly in her ear, then ran the tip of my nose along her shoulder. “Being here is a terrible idea. I just wanted you to get the furniture. That’s it. I came in here to make you see that,” I said, lifting my head and looking into her eyes. “But you opened the door, dressed like this. All sweaty and with no fucking bra.” I ran a finger along the neckline of her dress. “Now, all I can think about is ripping the clothes off your body and taking you hard up against this wall. Until you scream my name and shatter against me. And we both know that’s a bad idea.”

  Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, causing her heavy breasts to bounce slightly. I wanted my hands on them. Her fat nipple in my mouth. God, had I ever wanted to fuck a woman so bad in my life?

  “Dean.” She whispered my name, and my cock throbbed in my jeans.

  The breathy sound of her voice made me slightly crazy. I could picture it. Her naked and my cock buried inside her. I wanted it and—

  Then, the sound of a ringing phone broke the silence. She tensed under me and then pushed me back, hurrying to the cell phone that was lying on the offensive chair I wanted gone.

  “Cam,” she answered, sounding happy and nervous.

  That was the bucket of cold water I needed. I didn’t listen to her say anything more. I walked to the door, opened it, walked out, and slammed it behind me. Kiro was right. She was a hot piece of ass and nothing more. I could replace her with any other hot piece of ass. I’d never let one mean anything to me before. Why start now? I was fifty-three and set in my ways.

  When I walked back into my penthouse, Maegan stepped out of the kitchen, wearing an apron. I hadn’t known I even had a fucking apron.

  “I made you lunch. In case you’re hungry,” she said.

  “I need to fuck. I don’t want strings or drama. I just need to come,” I replied.

  She smiled then. A seductive one. “Where do you want to fuck?”

  I stalked past her and grabbed her hand, taking her back into the kitchen.

  “Take off your panties,” I ordered.

  “I’m not wearing any,” she replied.

  I turned her around, looked at her, then down at the short skirt she was wearing. She’d wanted this. To be available. Maybe she had planned on bending over at some point to give me a view. Whatever the reason, I appreciated it in this moment.

  “Put your hands on the island,” I ordered.

  She did so, sticking out her ass without direction. She knew the score and how to fuck.

  I walked up behind her and ran my hands up her bare thighs before jerking the small amount of fabric covering her ass up to her waist. Then, I slapped it hard. As hard as I wanted to slap Brielle’s juicy, tanned ass.

  Maegan moaned and wiggled it at me. I slapped the other side, then went back and forth until both cheeks were red and she was panting and groaning.

  I reached into the drawer of the island and took out a condom. Maegan didn’t seem surprised I had condoms in here. It was the main reason I had brought her in here. I unzipped my jeans and shoved them down to my knees, then slipped the condom down over my hard shaft. Grabbing her waist, I pulled her back and onto my dick in one hard thrust.

  She cried out my name. I knew she was loud during sex. I’d heard her and Kiro going at it more than once. One night, I had even sat back and watched them on the rug in front of the fireplace. She smiled naughtily at me then, as if wanting me to join in. I considered going over and sticking my cock in her mouth, but I didn’t. I’d wanted boundaries.

  Today, I didn’t care. I just needed release. I was going to get it too. Right here in this available, willing pussy.

  “Harder, Dean! Fuck me harder!” she cried out.

  I didn’t want to hear her talk. I just wanted her body.

  Reaching around, I covered her mouth, then continued to pound inside of her. Closing my eyes and thinking of dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, looking back at me over her shoulder as I fucked her. Big, heavy tits swaying and bouncing as our bodies collided.

  I moved my hand from Maegan’s mouth as she screamed out my name and twitched beneath me in orgasm. Then, I came, but the relief I had hoped for didn’t come too. Just guilt and disgust with myself.

  eight

  brielle

  There was no new furniture or more talk of new furniture. Nothing had shown up, except for the mattress, and I had stopped expecting it.

  It had been a week since Dean had come into my apartment, insulting my furniture, then making my panties wet directly afterward. I fell asleep, thinking about the way his voice had sounded in my ear and how he had smelled so completely masculine. It was a very dangerous, slippery slope that I was ready to fall down. In the heat of the moment, nothing else mattered. It should have. It should have mattered a lot.

  Then, Cam called.

  Dean left.

  There had been no texts, calls, or glimpses of him since then.

  This was a good thing. It was what needed to happen. I was glad he had put distance between us. It needed to stay that way. I knew this. But in my dreams, I often forgot all that.

  Damn him and his sexy, dark, tempting voice. I continued icing Mrs. Jo’s cake with little rose flowers I had learned to make from a YouTube video. I had other things to do than think about Dean Finlay all the time.

  Gavin had called and asked me out again. I’d had to cancel our last date because of the water damage and just not being in the mood to go out. He had asked if we could try again next week and offered to help with anything in my apartment that might need his expertise.

  I should have let him come over and help me move the entire sofa frame onto the balcony to dry in the sun. Because it was starting to smell bad. I had bought it years ago at a secondhand shop for twenty-five dollars. It was more than I could afford, but I also needed somewhere to sleep. The single bed Cam and I had been sharing was getting too small for both of us. He was almost six, and I had wanted him to have his own bed. Something I had never had as a child.

  Now, there was a good chance the wooden frame was rotten and wouldn’t hold up much longer. I could afford another used sofa, but admitting that would mean Dean was right. I just didn’t want him to be right. Maybe I was being stubborn, but I wanted to be right.

  The cake was complete, and although it wasn’t professional, I thought it’d turned out pretty. I reached for the bag of party items I’d bought for Mrs. Jo’s party to find the candles. While I was placing the number seven candle and the number eight candle on the cake, I realized that my getting to celebrate with her was thanks to Dean. He’d expedited getting her moved back in. She had so much new furniture, and she was thrilled with it all. She’d shown me around the place with pride the day she moved back in. He had even replaced her old light fixture in the living room with a ceiling fan. The way she talked about Dean, you’d think he’d invented the wheel.

  A knock on my door was followed by the sound of a key in the lock. I glanced over my shoulder to see Clara, who I had been expecting. She was wearing a short white leather miniskirt and a yellow crop top. I envied her the ability to wear tops like that. Smaller boobs were just so much easier. You could wear all the stylish tops, and you looked thinner.