Ethan looks at her. “We can go after the baby is born.”

  Stella beams. “Really? Oh, but do you think they let babies on the Ferris wheel? Do you think it will be safe? Do you think…?”

  I stop listening, simply watching their faces and gestures as they talk. They’re obviously in love and happy. Well, a little anxious about the future, but also happy. In fact, I’ve never seen my brother this happy. And Stella’s face is simply glowing, which could just be from the pregnancy but I don’t think so.

  Come to think of it, yesterday, Violet’s face was glowing, too. Not just when we were at the Navy Pier but also when she was asking me to stay in her bed. Does that mean she wants to be with me? If I stay with her, can I make her happy?

  “By the way,” Ethan says to me. “There’s a fundraiser in Toronto next weekend. I was going to send Ryker since he likes to go to these things, but he hasn’t even returned from the one in Boston last night. Do you want to go? I would but I don’t want to leave Stella.”

  “And I don’t think I can ride a plane,” Stella says as she touches her stomach.

  Toronto?

  “Yeah, sure,” I answer.

  Why not? I don’t have plans next weekend and I’m always up for going out of town.

  Ethan nods. “Okay. Great.”

  He starts to nibble on a strip of bacon but Stella nudges his arm.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” she asks.

  “Oh, right.”

  He gobbles up the rest of his bacon and wipes his hands on the table napkin. Then he looks at me.

  “The reason why Stella wanted you over for brunch…”

  “Just me?” Stella complains.

  “Why Stella and I wanted you over for brunch,” Ethan corrects himself, “is because we wanted to tell you something.”

  “Okay.” I put my fork down. This seems important.

  Ethan looks at Stella and she takes something out of her pocket. A diamond ring.

  I give her a puzzled look. “You’re not proposing to me, are you?”

  Ethan frowns. “Very funny.”

  Stella laughs. “No, silly. Ethan proposed to me and I accepted.”

  She slips her ring on.

  “We’re getting married.”

  “We are,” Ethan confirms.

  My eyes grow wide. “Wow.”

  I know they’re in love and they’re having a baby, but to think they’re serious enough about each other to get married? I mean, marriage is supposed to be a lifelong commitment. No other men or women. No secrets. No lies. No giving up even if you get tired. No turning back.

  Is that something I’m capable of?

  Frankly, I don’t know.

  “Congratulations,” I tell my brother and his fiancée. “And cheers!”

  I raise my cup of coffee.

  Stella sends me a smile. “Thank you.”

  I say nothing more. I don’t know what else to say. I’m happy for them, of course, but I also can’t help but worry whether Ethan is making the right decision. Then again, maybe it’s just me I’m worried about. Now that Ethan is settling down, I’m starting to wonder if I should, too, or if I should at least be more serious about women, maybe start a relationship with one—Violet, to be precise.

  Didn’t I say something to Ryker about waking up next to her and doing things with her? Didn’t I just do that?

  But the question is: Can I keep doing it? Because that’s what a relationship is about—doing things over and over and still being happy.

  Can I do that? Am I ready?

  ~

  I’m still asking myself that question as I stand in front of the door to Violet’s apartment. I’m not even sure I want to go in. If I do, won’t that mean I want to keep things going with her? Then again, if I don’t, I have a feeling everything will end, and while I’m not sure I’m ready to have a serious relationship with Violet, I know for sure I’m not ready to stop having sex with her and just having fun with her.

  So I ring the doorbell. I hear her come rushing to the door after the first ring. Moments later, the door opens. Violet appears in a purple tank top, no bra, and gray yoga pants. Her hair is still damp from her bath. I can smell her shampoo.

  “Hey,” I greet her with a smile.

  She looks at me from head to toe and gives me a puzzled look.

  “You went out?”

  I glance down at my outfit. I guess she would think that since I’m wearing a flannel shirt over a plain white tee and dark jeans.

  “Yeah,” I answer. “I went to see Ethan.”

  “Oh.” Her furrowed eyebrows straighten out. “Is something wrong?”

  “No. Everything’s fine. He just… wanted to discuss some things that he didn’t have a chance to last Friday.”

  Violet nods. “I see.”

  Still, she looks upset. And it seems like she doesn’t want to let me inside her apartment. Is it because I left without telling her? But she was asleep. It’s not like I waited for her to sleep and then left, even though that was what I was planning.

  “Is something wrong?” I decide to ask her outright.

  “No,” she answers, but she doesn’t sound convincing.

  I sniff something. “Are those… pancakes?”

  “Yeah.” Violet glances over her shoulder as she rubs her arm. “I made some for breakfast.”

  “I see.”

  She purses her lips for a moment then meets my gaze as she speaks. “There are still a few left over if you want them.”

  I feel a sense of relief. Violet may be upset with me for leaving, but at least she isn’t shutting the door. And now, she’s inviting me in.

  I smile. “You know I love pancakes.”

  “Do I?”

  She opens the door. I step inside and take a moment to look around since I didn’t get a chance to last night. My gaze falls on the marble counter and I smile.

  Violet heads behind that counter but I grab her wrist.

  “Actually, I’m still full. Ethan made me eat a lot.”

  “Oh.” I hear the tinge of disappointment in her voice.

  “But I can eat some later,” I tell her.

  Her eyebrows furrow. “You’re staying? For the day?”

  I shrug. “Do you want me to leave?”

  “No, but…”

  She falls silent as she tugs her hand away. I can see the anxiety on her face as she clutches the front of her top. She draws a deep breath.

  “What is this, Asher?”

  I know what she’s asking. It’s the same thing I’ve been asking myself all morning. And which I still haven’t found an answer to.

  “What are we doing?” she asks.

  I take her hand and brush my lips against her palm. She draws a breath.

  “Sex,” I answer. “If you want to.”

  She says nothing.

  “Sex that I’m not doing with anyone else,” I elaborate.

  “So it’s just sex?”

  “Sex and the Navy Pier and pancakes,” I tell her.

  I wish I could say more, but right now, it’s all I can promise.

  “And maybe a movie while we’re having leftover pancakes,” I add. “And maybe drinks.”

  Her forehead creases. “Beer and pancakes?”

  I shrug. “Why not?”

  Again, Violet falls silent. What? Is what I’m offering her not enough for now?

  I brush the wisps of hair off her face and stroke her cheek as I look into her eyes.

  “And by the way, what we have is not just sex,” I tell her. “It’s amazing sex.”

  I place my mouth next to her ear.

  “And we haven’t even had the best yet.”

  Violet pulls her head away. “Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Asher Hawthorne?”

  It does seem to be my strong suit.

  I rub her shoulder. “Is it working?”

  She grins. “Fine. Show me what you got.”

  So it did work.

  I kiss her ear. “Gladly.”

  I ease my hand up to Violet’s neck as I slide my lips across her cheek. I grasp her chin as I press my lips to hers. I suck on her lower lip gently, taking my time kissing her, letting our lips converge over and over as I cradle her jaw in one hand and trace circles on the skin along her hip, just between the hem of her top and the waistband of her pants, with the other.

  Violet opens her mouth. I lick her lips first. I drag the tip of my tongue over her upper lip, then the lower. When she sticks her tongue out to meet mine, I take it between my lips and suck. Only after that do I push my tongue inside her mouth. It rubs against hers and she moans. The sound starts a current of excitement through my veins.

  I grab the hair at the back of her head and kiss her deeply. My other hand climbs over her tank top to find her breast. I tease her nipple through the cotton as I let my tongue dance with hers.

  When she pulls away for air, I lead her to the living room. It’s nice to have sex in the kitchen and all, but we’ve already done that. Besides, I need a place to sit.

  I sit on the couch and pull Violet on top of my lap so she’s straddling my thighs and facing me. Then I pull off her top. I grip her hips as I worship her breasts one at a time. She grips my shoulders as she trembles. I suck on each mound of flesh and take each peak between my lips. I circle it with the tip of my tongue until it grows as hard as a pebble and then I swipe my tongue against it, over it, again and again. Violet throws her head back and moans.

  When I’m done worshiping her breasts, I start a trail of kisses along the inside of her arm. When I get past her elbow, I take her arm so I can plant a kiss on her wrist. After I do that to her left wrist, I pause.

  “When did you get this tattoo?” I ask her as I stare at the ink on her skin.

  “When I was in college,” Violet answers. “You know what it means, don’t you?”

  I try to decipher the symbols.

  “There exists, therefore infinity?” I translate them literally.

  “Close,” she says. “As long as we exist, there are infinite possibilities.”

  I give her a grin. “I see.”

  I kiss her wrist again.

  “And that’s especially true when it comes to sex.”

  I push her off me so she’s sitting on the couch. I take off her pants and her underwear and kneel on the floor. I pay homage to her long, slender legs by dragging my lips across her skin. When they go over her knee, she stifles a giggle.

  “That tickles?” I ask though I already know the answer.

  “Yes.”

  I kiss it some more and lick it until Violet can’t hold back her laughter.

  “Stop!” She tries to push me away.

  I obey. I have other interesting things planned anyway.

  I lie on the rug and grab her arm.

  “Come here.”

  I pull her on top of me and guide her hips so that she’s straddling my head.

  “What are you doing?” she asks with a bit of concern.

  “Admiring the view,” I answer as I do just that. “And this…”

  I clutch her ass as I begin to eat her up. I start from the outside, making sure I thoroughly lick her other pair of lips and tease her nub, which causes her to tremble and gasp above me. Then I push my tongue in and let it play. Violet grabs my hair and lets out soft, incoherent sounds.

  I reach up to grab one of her nipples and rub it between my fingers. Violet’s back arches before she falls forward, her hands above my head. I grip her hips as I continue to savor my treat. Suddenly, she cries out. Her thighs quiver. Then she goes completely still.

  I caress her thighs as I wait for her to catch her breath. When she does, she gets off me and lies down on the rug.

  I begin to take off my clothes, starting with my flannel shirt. Violet watches me with eyes sparkling with interest. I’d undress more slowly, but I have a pressing problem in my boxers. A huge problem.

  As soon as I’m naked, I sit on the couch and pull Violet back onto my lap. Like before, she faces me and straddles my thighs. This time, though, I guide the tip of my cock inside her as I lower her hips. She sucks in a breath as I enter her, then takes control the rest of the way.

  Inch by inch, she takes me in until I’m completely inside her. Even with all the sex we’ve had, she’s still so tight that her velvety skin clings to my cock. Each time she moves, I have to fight the urge not to sheathe myself inside her with just one thrust.

  Patience.

  Finally, I don’t have to. Violet pauses a moment to catch her breath. I let her do that before claiming her mouth in a fiery kiss. Then I press my cheek against hers and whisper in her ear.

  “Hold on tight.”

  I draw a deep breath, place my arms under her legs, clutch her ass and stand up slowly. Violet gasps as she wraps her arms around my neck.

  She clings to me as I straighten up, even more when I start to move. This position is strenuous, tiring, but I haven’t been working out for nothing. I hold Violet as I jerk my hips and thrust deep inside her. Cries spill from her mouth against my ear.

  After a few thrusts, she starts to tremble once more. Her nails dig into my skin. I keep going. Harder. Faster. Too late I realize I didn’t put on a condom. Why didn’t I? I’m sure I still had one left in my wallet. All I can think of is that I was too excited, too impatient. And I just wanted her to feel really good.

  At any rate, like I said, it’s too late.

  I put every ounce of strength I have left into a final thrust and let myself explode inside Violet’s body. Even with my arms trembling, I make it a point not to drop her, but as soon as I’m done, I sit on the couch. I let my arms fall limply at my sides as I replenish my oxygen supply.

  Violet stays on top of me, her head on my shoulder, her breasts against my chest. She remains silent so I speak first.

  “So, how was it?” I ask her.

  “Good,” she answers without lifting her head.

  “Just good?”

  She looks into my eyes. “Mind-blowing.”

  My lips curve into a smile. As I hold her gaze, I see the warmth clearly glistening in her blue eyes and my chest grows tight. That warmth, that softness—it makes me feel like coming home.

  And I want to stay. I never want to leave.

  I never want what we have to end.

  I open my mouth to tell Violet that, but fear creates a lump in my throat.

  What if this is just the sex talking? What if I change my mind later? What if Violet doesn’t want a relationship with me? She may be having sex with me now, but I don’t know if I’ve regained her trust. I don’t know how she feels about me. I don’t know what she wants.

  Maybe it’s too soon to tell her what I want.

  “What is it?” Violet asks.

  I realize my mouth is still open. I close it and clear my throat. Then I speak.

  “Would you like to come to Toronto with me next weekend?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Violet

  I’ve been to a lot of places but I’ve never been to Toronto, which is why I was thrilled when Asher asked me to visit the city with him. Some of my excitement vanished when I found out that the trip was work-related and not a romantic getaway Asher had thought of, but I was excited just the same.

  Now that I’m here, I’m glad I came.

  Asher and I have adjoining rooms at The Ritz-Carlton. From my window, I can see the trees shedding their fiery leaves in the park. I can see colorful benches and towering buildings. I can enjoy a view of the CN Tower framed against the clear blue sky. I can even catch a glimpse of Lake Ontario.

  The lake. Somehow I always find myself in cities on lakes. And I always make good memories in them. Maybe the same will happen here.

  I glance at the dress that I’ve laid out on my bed—a glittering purple dress that I bought back in Chicago with a pair of spaghetti straps, a sweetheart neckline and a slit on the right side that goes up past my knee. I’ve also brought a pair of gold sandals to go with it, dangling diamond earrings and a silver clutch purse.

  Yup. I’ve come prepared. After all, tonight, I’m going to a party.

  ~

  And boy, what a party it is.

  It’s at the Royal Ontario Museum, a magnificent building with walls that seem to be whispering stories, the legendary kind, not the scary kind. For tonight, specific items from every exhibit have been brought out into the lobby, each one fascinating. But I suppose the guests are the main exhibit—the women in their dazzling gowns, the men in their impeccable suits.

  Speaking of suits, I think the award for the best one should go to the man standing right next to me. His is a sleek, bespoke, navy blue Tom Ford ensemble and it just screams sexy, powerful. No wonder the women are staring. They’re looking at me, too, but mostly with glares or questioning glances, like they’re wondering who I am and what I did to deserve this man, which they probably think I don’t. I don’t care.

  I’m the one Asher brought to this party.

  As we go about socializing with other corporate executives and even some politicians and celebrities, I’m reminded of the party at Lloyd Finley’s, the first one we went to together years ago. There are similarities. Top-notch crowd. High fashion. Small pieces of food. Champagne. Violins. The difference? This time, I’m not a graduate student looking at future job prospects, trying to impress. This time, I’m a corporate executive myself, representing a prestigious company, which means I’m just here to have fun.

  The thought of that makes me smile, but another makes me frown.

  I have the same date I did five years ago. And he hurt me five years ago. He abandoned me. He broke my heart. What if he does the same now?

  I glance at Asher. Maybe he won’t because we’re sleeping together now. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s changed. He may have told me we’re having more than just sex, but he hasn’t asked to be my boyfriend. Will he ever? Can I trust him not to abandon me again? He said he isn’t having sex with any other woman at the moment. Can I believe that? Can I trust him not to cheat on me?

  “What’s wrong?” Asher asks me after sipping his champagne.

  I shake my head. “Nothing.”

  What am I doing worrying about things while I’m at a party?