“Have these ever been used?” I ask Taylor quietly.

  Robert’s just asked Vito what he does for a living, so Taylor seems a little more relaxed talking with the homeowner distracted.

  She leans in close and says, “I don’t think he cooks much.”

  I nod, wondering why on earth he’d put in such a gorgeous kitchen and not use it, but then I remember he mentioned a late wife, and my stomach tightens.

  I don’t ask anything more and follow Taylor’s lead. She shows us the downstairs powder room, and Vito takes a look under the sink and lifts the lid off the toilet tank. He flushes the toilet once, then looks up at me with a sweet, wide smile.

  “Nothing to report, chief,” he says. “Carry on.”

  He and Robert haven’t stopped talking about the house and safety issues since Vito revealed he’s a firefighter, so I guess that could be a good thing.

  The house has a dining room to the right of the entryway. We passed it to go toward the kitchen, and we head back there after I see the laundry room and the powder room. The dining room is a little empty of furniture and pictures, which seems a bit odd, but the size is fine. We walk past the staircase and front door to the left, coming to a family room that is open to the kitchen. The family room has a fireplace, and it’s clear there’s been some more renovation here.

  “This was originally a Georgian,” Taylor explains, “so the living room off the kitchen had that wall to keep it separate. But the family room has been renovated to open up the floor plan a bit. Permits were pulled, of course. The home passed all its inspections, and only licensed contractors were used.”

  There was a time when I might not have cared at all about that, but after the fire in the rental house, I’m relieved to hear that things were done to code here. I flick a glance at Vito, who looks like he’s half listening to me, half listening to Robert. He lifts his eyebrows at me as if to ask how I’m liking it, and I give a short nod, trying not to give too much away.

  He slowly nods back, all casual and chill so that it looks like he’s just mulling over something Robert has said.

  Our little nonverbal exchange prickles the hairs on my arms. The easy intimacy with this man makes me wonder what else could feel easy and right with him.

  “There are four bedrooms,” Taylor says loudly, dragging my attention away from Vito. “And two full baths. Shall we take a look?”

  This is the biggest of the homes that we’re looking at today. Four bedrooms, two full baths upstairs and the powder room downstairs. There’s a basement, a backyard, and a garage.

  As we take the carpeted stairs, I realize that moving to Ohio was a really smart move financially.

  The upstairs of this place could be a house of horrors, but based on that kitchen alone, I already know the truth in my heart. I want it. This is a place I could make a home for Junie and me. I can just imagine a dog running in the fenced yard, breakfasts at that eat-in area. I haven’t had holidays in the Midwest before, so picturing the leaves changing, snow drifting over the thick limbs of the mature trees…

  My heart rate starts to pick up, and I begin to grin uncontrollably. For the first time since I got pregnant, I feel like I can have fun with my life. I have a little money. I have a beautiful baby. I might have a house.

  After everything I’ve been through on my own these last couple of years, I am beginning to see a path to something that feels real. That feels like mine.

  I can’t stop myself from looking over at Vito and imagining him being here with me. Not just for support. Waking up with him. Washing dishes with him beside me.

  A sudden flush creeps up my neck, and I have to wave my hand in front of my face to cool off. That kind of thinking is way too much. We’re just friends, and barely that. And with my track record, a new house is more than enough reality to manage.

  I clutch Junie tighter and follow Taylor’s perfectly pedicured toes up the stairs.

  When we hit the landing at the top, Vito rests a light hand against my lower back. “You want me to carry her?” he asks. “You look flushed.”

  I shake my head and sputter, “I’m good.” I’ve got to put some distance between him and me.

  I follow Taylor into the bathroom at the top of the stairs. I’m half tempted to splash cold water on myself, but I don’t.

  I clear my throat and push past Vito’s stupidly sexy arm, which he’s using to lean against the bathroom door.

  “Master bedroom?” I ask, using every ounce of willpower not to think about the fact that the master bedroom is going to have a nice, big, beautiful bed.

  By the time we’ve finished the walk-through, Robert and Vito are talking in the driveway. Robert is pointing up at the roof, and Vito’s got a pair of sunglasses covering his face. He’s looking up where Robert is gesturing, which I hope means he’s trying to point out something about the roof that’s positive, like it’s been repaired or replaced recently.

  “So,” Taylor asks, placing her heels back on as I’m setting Junie on the tile foyer floor while I slip my shoes back on. Taylor’s grin is huge, and she lowers her voice. “What do you think? Did you like it? Is this a place you could see living with your family?”

  My heart catches in my throat at her question. Even though I told her that Vito is just a friend, I’m sure she’s not really interested in the specifics. She just wants to know if I’m interested enough to make an offer on the house.

  I think through everything I saw. The bathrooms, the basement, the yard. “The upstairs bathrooms have not been renovated,” I tell her, “but they have been well maintained. Eventually, they’ll need some work.”

  Taylor nods, a shadow covering her bright expression. “True, but that’s why the house is in your price range,” she says. “If the upstairs bathrooms had been updated…” She makes a whooshing sound with her lips. “That would up the purchase price by a bunch.”

  I know she’s telling the truth, so I decide to be honest with her as well. “I’d like to see the other houses on the list before I make any decisions.”

  “Oh my gosh, yes,” she says, holding the screen door open for me. “We’ll see as many houses as you need. Buying a house is a lot like finding the perfect wedding dress. More often than not, the first one is usually it. But you need to see what else is out there to be sure. This is a big decision, and you need to be certain.”

  I’ve never bought a wedding dress. Never even shopped for one. My high school best friend and I had a major falling-out right before her wedding. That was right around the time that everything went down with my mom. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I backed out of being in her wedding, and we haven’t spoken since.

  “I wouldn’t know about the wedding dress,” I say quietly. “But I know what you mean.”

  As we walk down the concrete driveway, my heart rate picks up when Vito lowers his face from looking up at the roof to face me. I’m saying the words before I can even stop them. “I’d like to hear what Vito thought, too.”

  “Absolutely,” Taylor says. But then she looks a little confused. “But it will be just you and the little one? You’ll be making the purchase alone, correct?”

  I nod in answer to her question, but I pick up the pace when Vito grins and waves me over. When Junie and I reach him, Vito jerks a thumb toward Robert.

  “So,” Vito says, tugging the sunglasses from his face. “Robert worked at the same mill as my pops. But he was management and Pops was on the floor, so they didn’t overlap much.” Vito turns to the homeowner and claps his new friend on the shoulder. “Good people,” he says warmly. “And this house?” Vito looks me right in the eye and nods. “Passed my inspection. How about yours?”

  Just as I’m about to answer, the worst stench wafts up, and I wrinkle my nose. “Oh no,” I say. “I think I need to change a diaper.” I look from the homeowner to Taylor. “Thank you for showing me the house. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take this mess to my truck.”

  Vito fishes my keys out of his pocket. “Want help?” he asks. “I’ll be right behind you.” He turns and extends a hand to the homeowner, whose face is contorted in a grimace.

  “You’re going to do that where?” Robert asks. “In the car?”

  I nod and shrug. “I have hand sanitizer in my bag, and we’ll toss the mess in a trash bin someplace. I’m used to this.”

  He shakes his head. “But where do you lay the baby?”

  “I keep a changing pad in this bag. It’s not a problem.”

  Robert frowns as he looks at Vito. For a second, I feel a little defensive that he’s talking to him instead of me, but when I hear what he says, my heart melts a little. “Would it be better to change the baby inside? Any reason she couldn’t do it in the upstairs bathroom? I don’t mind if you use the towels.” He swallows, and a shimmer of tears seems to redden his eyes. “That sink could probably use somebody running the water.”

  Vito turns to me and lifts his brows. “Eden? Want to use the upstairs bathroom?” He tips his chin a bit and then adds, “I wouldn’t mind chatting with Robert a few more minutes.”

  To be honest, I’ve changed Junie’s diapers on my lap, in the grocery store, on park benches. Taking care of business in the car is no big deal at all, but something about the kind offer from Robert and Vito’s encouragement makes it impossible to say no. I’ll take a sink and a fluffy bathmat over the changing pad and the back seat any day.

  “I’ll go with you.” Taylor looks like never in all her days of real estate agenting has something like this happened, so I reassure her it’ll just take a second.

  Junie starts to whine and squirm, so I follow Taylor inside. I kick off my shoes, and Taylor pulls out her phone. “Go on up,” she tells me. “I’m going to check my email.”

  I pad upstairs with Junie and, for a moment, let myself imagine this is my house. We walk into the bathroom, close the door behind us, and make quick work of changing her diaper. I’m a pro at it after thousands of dirty ones.

  Since the door is closed, I let Junie crawl on the floor while I wash my hands and dry them on the hand towel.

  When we make it back downstairs, Taylor’s smile is bright, and she looks surprised. “That was quick. See you at the next house? It’s only about a half mile away, so it shouldn’t take long to get there.”

  I nod and head back down the driveway. “All set,” I call out. “Robert, I used the hand towel upstairs, but everything else should be exactly as I found it.”

  The garage is open, and Robert points to a pristine-looking black plastic bin. He grimaces. “Please,” he says. “Toss it in there.”

  I shake my head. “Oh no. You don’t want this hanging around until your next trash pickup. We’ll dispose of it along the way. No problem.”

  Robert shakes his head again. “Please. I insist.” He looks at Vito and smiles a little. “The garage is very well insulated. I haven’t smelled my trash in thirty-two years in this house. I don’t expect one little diaper to change that.”

  Vito lifts his brows. “All due respect, but I’ve got a nephew about her age. There ain’t nothing quite like the smell of baby shit.”

  The homeowner laughs and actually puts a hand on Vito’s shoulders. “I’ll take your word for it. But go on. I don’t mind.”

  Vito holds a hand out to me, takes the small bag with the diaper from me, and throws it in the bin, then firmly secures the lid in place. When he turns back around, he holds his other hand out to Robert, and they shake, exchanging a few quiet words.

  I wave to the homeowner as I follow Vito to my SUV.

  I don’t say anything while I buckle Juniper into her seat. I’m quiet as Vito comes around, holds open my door, and waits while I get settled in the passenger seat. But Vito is all smiles and chatter as he twists in his seat and confirms that everybody’s ready to go.

  “Hey, is that bunny buckled?” He’s leaning over the middle console pointing at Juniper’s stuffed animal, when I reach for his arm.

  He turns in the seat and faces me. “You all good?” he asks. His chin is covered in dusky stubble, like he skipped shaving today. I know I have made terrible decisions when it comes to men, but when I see the curve at the corner of his mouth, the way his cheek dimples ever so slightly…it all just hits me.

  The warmth of the SUV, the smell of the new leather, and the richness of his cologne.

  “You,” I murmur, shaking my head. “What you…”

  Whether it’s my body talking or my heart or the brain that I can never trust to make the right decisions at times like these, I have to get closer to him. Before I can deny the impulse and talk myself into behaving rationally, I lean forward and cup his chin. His sunglasses are on the top of his perfectly waved hair, his deep brown eyes wide as he scans my face.

  His expression changes. He stares without blinking and lowers his chin, almost nuzzling against my palm.

  “Eden?” he says, his voice thick and low.

  “Vito.” And before I can stop myself, I lean in to kiss him.

  7

  Vito

  I don’t have time to react before Eden’s lips brush across mine. Her mouth is soft as it opens against mine. Her fingers tighten, and a breathy little sigh rumbles in her throat, the sound so fucking hot, it’s like someone hit the on switch in my balls. My cock literally jerks in my jeans, but before I even realize it’s happening, it’s over.

  Eden pulls back like she’s been shocked and covers her mouth with a hand. “Oh shit. Shit, shit,” she mutters. “I am so sorry. I should not have done that.”

  I reach across the console and tug one of her hands from her face. I lace my fingers through hers and give her a squeeze. “I’m going to stop you right there,” I say. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “No, no, I do,” she says, her words coming out in a rush. “I don’t even know why I did that. I mean…I do know. I just…” She seems to notice that I’m holding her hand, and she lets her other hand drop down to trace my knuckles. “You’re not mad?”

  I laugh and squeeze her hand. “Babe, I don’t know what the guys in LA are like, but if what you’re looking for is an invitation or permission or some shit…” I flick a look back at Junie and realize we’ve both been cussing up a storm. “Or some stuff,” I correct, “you got it. You need me to say yes, you got your yes.”

  “Yeah?” she asks, seeming to calm down a little. She laughs softly as her shoulders relax. “I was more concerned that maybe you weren’t…”

  I turn in my seat to look at her. “Maybe I wasn’t what?”

  My eyes travel from her flushed cheeks along the deep vee in the long-sleeved top she’s wearing under a light, loose cardigan. Her thighs are painted into the dark jeans she’s wearing, and all I can think about is peeling away that fabric and the smooth skin of those thighs clamped around my ears while she rides my face.

  “Interested?” I growl. “Attracted?” I shift around in my seat to relieve some of the pressure that’s building up from the partial boner that kiss gave me. Fuck, not just the kiss. It’s Eden. Her body. Her personality. “If you hadn’t ended that kiss so fast, we’d be halfway to making Juniper a sibling right now.”

  Her laugh is nervous as I turn on the ignition and set the GPS to the next address. I meet Eden’s gaze, and we trade grins. Any asshole with eyes can tell Eden is stunning, so I’m guessing she’s hesitating because she’s been treated like shit in the past. Most women I know have asshole men stories that could fill a library.

  Now seems about as good a time as any to ask.

  “So,” I start. We’re just a few minutes from the next house. Not a ton of time to bring up serious shit, but we can at least put a pin in it and continue the conversation later. If it’s something she’s even up to sharing. “Eden, you know you’re smokin’ hot, stacked, beautiful. I ain’t got the vocabulary to come up with more words, but you’re it,” I say on a grin. “So, I take it the donor did you dirty?”

  “The donor?” she asks, but then she seems to get it. “You mean Juniper’s dad?” She flicks a look over her shoulder and smiles at the little girl playing happily with her bunny. “Yeah, that’s a story, and thanks, by the way. For the compliments. I don’t think I’ve been called stacked before. At least, not that I ever remember.”

  “I meant that in the best possible way,” I tell her. “And I love stories.” We’ll be at the next house in like six minutes. “But if it’s not a short one, it might have to wait.” I nod at the display on her truck that shows the map and that we’re almost to the destination.

  I see her shift in the passenger seat. “It’s kind of a long story, and there are parts of it I…” She sighs. “It’s effed up, Vito. Really effed up. I want to share it, but be warned, you might not like what you hear. You might not even like me once you hear it.”

  “Please,” I scoff. “There’s nothing you can say that would make me feel any differently about you.”

  “I haven’t made the best decisions in life,” she says as she slides out of the car when I park, trying to avoid the conversation. I hope this conversation isn’t over because I want to know everything she seems so scared to share.

  I go around and grab the diaper bag and sling it over my shoulder. “I know one thing that might help,” I offer.

  Once she’s got Juniper in her arms, I click the fob to lock the car and slip the keys back into my pocket.

  She smooths Juniper’s hair with a hand but peeks over her baby’s head to meet my eyes. “Yeah?” she asks, a small smile playing on those perfect lips. “What’s that?”

  “When it comes to what you did in the car back there,” I say, grinning, “your gut was right on. Maybe before, you trusted your feelings, but you just couldn’t trust the person you had the feelings for.”

  Her lips part, and she looks at me with an expression that’s part sad, part thankful. “I think that first house was the one, but I still want to look at a few more to be sure.”