“I see.” He continued to sweep his fingers up her arm, teasing her neck. “Does that mean I get to interview you next?”

  She got up and took his hand. “I’ve got a much better idea, but it requires some in-depth exploration. Indoors.”

  “Yeah? I like exploring indoors.”

  He followed her inside. The dogs stayed out, no doubt enjoying the cool breeze that had whipped up, so she closed the door and led Linc up the stairs.

  Oh yes, she definitely had some ideas for what to do with him.

  Q and A was over. Now it was body exploration time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Linc couldn’t remember ever having as much fun just having a conversation with a woman, but Hazel was the kind of person that you could talk to about anything and everything. It didn’t hurt that he enjoyed touching her, and it was obvious that she liked being touched in return.

  Now they stood in his bedroom while they watched each other undress. He couldn’t think of anything he’d rather be doing right now. Time for conversation was over, and as she dropped her underwear to the floor, his throat went dry. What was it about her that made him feel like some awkward teenager who couldn’t get a handle on his hormones?

  He stepped forward, smoothing his hand across the soft column of her throat, snaking his fingers across her collarbone and down toward her breasts, circling her nipples. Her sharp indrawn breath told him she liked what he was doing. He damned well enjoyed the feel of her silky skin, the way her nipples puckered at his touch, the way she intently watched his every move.

  He got closer and palmed her breast at the same time he took her mouth in a searing kiss, unable to hold back the need to taste her. Hell, he wanted to taste all of her. He maneuvered her toward the bed and pushed her back.

  She laughed, tilting her head back as she scooted fully onto the mattress. “In a hurry?”

  “Yeah,” he said, pulling her legs apart so he could climb between them. He nestled between her legs, pressing his lips to the side of her neck.

  “Mmm,” she said. “I like your mouth on me.”

  “I like the taste of you. And the way you smell. Like lemons or cookies . . . lemon cookies. Yum.” He ran his tongue along her throat, raining kisses down her chest to her breasts, taking a nipple in his mouth to suck. She arched against him as he pressed it between his tongue and the roof of his mouth.

  Hazel was the sweetest candy, and he wanted so much more of her. All of her.

  He moved up, down, and across her body, using his mouth and his hands to explore, learning what parts she liked him to touch or lick, and where she had no reaction. She was sensitive all around her breasts and the crook of her left arm, and he was surprised to find that her right hip bone was an erogenous zone, so he spent some time there as well. She also shivered when he kissed her feet. She had beautiful, dainty feet, and he’d definitely spend some time exploring there, but later, because she moaned and arched and he knew exactly what she needed.

  He gradually made his way up to her sex, lightly licking her inner thigh, taking in the soft sounds of her breathing.

  And then he licked around her clit, sliding his tongue along her salty, sweet folds, following her sounds and movements as he used his tongue, lips, and fingers to take her right where she wanted him to go.

  He loved a receptive woman, and Hazel was vocal, moving against him, telling him where to go, and letting him know she liked what he was doing. Her sweet sounds made his dick swell and ache with the need to be inside of her, but right now he wanted her to come.

  And when she did, lifting against his mouth with a shudder and a gasp, he licked her fully, taking in every second of her orgasm until she finally settled against the mattress. He climbed up her body, rolling over to grab a condom and put it on, then taking her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. He pulled her leg over his hip and entered her.

  “Ohh,” she said, sliding her hand across his jaw. “You feel so good.”

  “Yeah, so do you.” He began to move, gently at first, her pussy hot and tight as it surrounded him. She made him feel out of control, making him want to pound hard and fast, intensify these sensations. But he reined it in, keeping his movements easy, at least at first, wanting to prolong every minute of being this close to Hazel.

  But she was making it so hard for him to hold back, because every sound she made, every one of her writhing, undulating movements, made his need to come more and more desperate.

  He grasped her hand, twined his fingers with hers, and stared into the depths of her mesmerizing blue eyes. “Do you know what you’re doing to me?”

  She gasped out a breath. “Same as you do to me. And don’t stop.”

  He smiled down at her before taking her mouth in a deep, soulful kiss. Then passion took over and he couldn’t think anymore. He could only feel every nerve ending in his body zapped by the electrical charges of lust and desire and desperate need for this woman. He suddenly wanted more hands, more tongues, more everything to touch her with, because her taste, her scent, the feel of her skin were all combining to drive him right over the edge.

  And when she shattered, he lost it, too, both of them shuddering and holding on to the other like lifelines in a world-ending storm.

  When it was over, all Linc could do was continue to hold her, shaken by the way she undid him. And not just physically shaken, either, but something deep inside of him that he didn’t want to examine at the moment, because Hazel was running her foot alongside his calf and making noises he could only describe as yummy sounds.

  He looked down at her. “Feel good?”

  She smiled. “I feel very good. Let’s do it again.”

  He left to dispose of the condom, then came back, gathering her into his arms. “Insatiable, huh?”

  She rolled over on top of him. “What’s wrong? Can’t keep up?”

  “I can do this all night. Can you?”

  “I’ve got stamina for hours and hours.”

  “Let’s see who gives out first.”

  “Yes. Let’s.”

  As he smoothed his hand over her hip, he smiled up at her, then kissed her. Yeah, it was going to be a long night.

  But a damn good one.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Hazel and Linc had settled into a companionable routine over the past week or so. If she wasn’t so grounded in reality, it would almost seem as if this was their house and they were a real-life couple. They’d get up early every morning and let the dogs out, then have coffee together on the back patio, watching the dogs frolic and roll around on the lawn. It was always so quiet and peaceful, and neither of them felt compelled to carry on a conversation. Hazel couldn’t recall ever feeling that comfortable with anyone, especially a guy. But Linc made her feel . . .

  He made her feel a lot of things. At times passionate, other times he’d make her laugh so hard she was afraid she was going to pee her pants. They’d even argued about something so inconsequential she’d already forgotten what it had been about. What she did remember was that not once had he been mean or unreasonable. And when the argument was over, that was it. It was done and they moved on, with a hug and a very warm kiss.

  Safe. That’s how Linc made her feel. She felt safe enough to be herself, to express her feelings when she was around him. Such a rare and delightful feeling to be that free.

  But the reality of it all was that this wasn’t their house, and they weren’t a real couple. She was dreading the time when he told her he had completed the house and it was time for him to move on, because once that happened, it would be over.

  They would be over. The very idea of it pained her.

  She tried really hard not to think about it, but sometimes she couldn’t help it, like now when she was returning from an afternoon walk with the dogs and Linc was outside in the driveway working on something. Whatever he was doing was loud, and water rolled down the driveway.

  Tile, maybe? He’d been working on the downstairs bathroom, along with putting backsplash in the kitchen, so it could be either. But as she approached the house and snuck a peek at the boxes in the garage, the dark tile made it evident it was for the bathroom floor. She slipped the pups into the backyard through the side gate so they could get a drink, then started for the house where Linc had disappeared inside, but a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention.

  She recognized her mother’s car right away, and noticed Natalie sitting in the passenger side, which meant Nat had told Mom about her current living situation with Linc. She’d been dodging her mother’s calls for a while now, and replied to texts with nebulous answers, which she had known would eventually come back to bite her in the butt.

  No doubt Mom wanted to check the situation out for herself, and probably lecture her about bad decisions.

  Well, shit.

  She turned around and plastered on a smile as she made her way to the vehicle.

  “Mom. Nat. This is a surprise. Shouldn’t you be at work today?”

  Her mother, dressed impeccably as always in an ankle-sweeping sundress and a wide-brimmed hat, was not smiling. “It wouldn’t have to be a surprise if you’d answer your phone once in a while. All I ever get is vague responses to my text messages. I took the day off I was so worried about you.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Nat smirked at Hazel, knowing full well an interrogation was forthcoming.

  “Don’t be obtuse, Hazel,” her mother said. “You know exactly what I mean. Now, what’s going on here?”

  “Here? We’re standing in the driveway, chatting. What’s going on with you two? Out for a day of lunch and shopping?”

  Her mother heaved in a deep breath and let out one of her infamous sighs. “Why must you always be so difficult? You know exactly the question I’m asking. You. Shacking up with . . . that man.”

  That man that her mother knew nothing about. Just like the situation that neither Mom nor Nat knew anything about. It was so frustrating, and, okay, maybe she could have answered her phone or at least informed her mother what was going on via text, but why did she always have to explain her life to her family? Was she really doing anything wrong?

  Of course she wasn’t. She was getting her life together, and not doing too badly at it, either.

  “Well?” Mom asked. “Are you going to talk or are we going to stand here melting in the humidity?”

  Melting in the humidity sounded like the best option to Hazel. Fortunately, she was saved—albeit temporarily—from having to answer that question when Linc opened the door and walked outside looking tanned and sweaty and utterly sexy in loose jeans and a sleeveless shirt. He beamed a smile at her mother and sister.

  Mom, on the other hand, gave him the once-over, and Hazel could tell from her expression that she found him lacking.

  Hazel knew better. Linc lacked for nothing. At least nothing she needed or wanted.

  “Hi. I remember you, Natalie. So nice to see you again.” He graced her sister with a million-dollar smile as he grabbed a cloth to wipe his hands. “I’m Linc.”

  Her sister immediately fluffed her hair with her hand. “Hello again, Linc.”

  Hazel rolled her eyes. “Linc, this is my mother, Melinda Burke.”

  Linc walked over to shake her hand. “Mrs. Burke. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Hazel’s told me a lot about you. She said you’re a loan officer. I’m in real estate myself. I have investment and commercial properties, and I’ll tell you, I could not do what I do without the help of a good loan officer.”

  Apparently, her mother also wasn’t immune to Linc’s casual, easygoing charm when it was turned on her. “Oh, well, thank you. I know what I do seems boring to a lot of people.”

  “Not to me it isn’t. You help people realize their dreams.”

  “Well, aren’t you sweet.”

  Linc looked around. “It’s pretty hot out here. I could move the patio table inside and fix you all something cold to drink, if you’d like.”

  “That would be nice, thank you,” her mother said.

  Hazel followed her mother and sister, who had flanked Linc, the three of them engaged in conversation about something that clearly she was not invited to partake in.

  Whatever. At least her mother wasn’t turning her nose in the air whenever she looked at Linc, so Hazel was calling that a win.

  Hazel let the dogs out back so they could get a drink. Mom had disappeared into the bathroom, making Hazel so happy that she’d just cleaned this morning. Linc brought in the table and chairs, then wiped them down before Nat took a seat.

  “I’ll be back with some iced tea,” he said.

  “You know,” Hazel said, looking for any opportunity to escape for both of them, “I could grab the tea and you could get back to work.”

  “Nah. I’ll do it, and you can visit with your mom and sister.”

  She offered up a tight smile. “Awesome. Thanks.”

  She took a seat, then Freddie and Penny scooted in while Linc opened the door.

  “Ugh,” Natalie said, patting each dog lightly on the head as if they had canine cooties. “Your dogs.”

  “Only two of them. The other three are outside.” Avoiding her mother and sister like the smart creatures they were.

  “You have five dogs now?” Her mother stared dramatically from the hall. “What could you be thinking, Hazel Elizabeth?”

  Oh, she was getting middle named. Mom was in a mood. “I’m thinking that it’s my job to foster these animals and find them good homes.”

  “Really.” Her mother made it down the stairs and pulled up a chair at the table. “And what kind of career is that for you?”

  “I don’t know that it’s a career, per se, but I love doing it. Plus I’m Linc’s personal chef.”

  Nat snorted. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

  “I make him three meals a day unless we go out to eat. I prepare said meals on the stove in the guesthouse or on the grill outside. I’m earning a paycheck that I’m putting into savings while I live here so that once Linc finishes this project I’ll be able to find a place for me and the dogs to live.”

  “Uh-huh. And what else do you do for him, Hazel?”

  “That’ll be quite enough, Natalie,” Mom said, then smiled as Linc came in carrying a tray filled with glasses and a pitcher of iced tea. Hazel started to get up.

  “No, you sit and visit,” Linc said. “Let me pour. I sliced some lemons, too.”

  “Aren’t you so thoughtful?”

  Her mother’s sugary words to Linc were in direct opposition to the cutting tone she’d given Hazel a minute ago. Not that Hazel’s feelings were hurt. She was used to her mother’s judgmental attitude. For as long as she could recall, she’d been under a microscope, and no matter what she did, it hadn’t been good enough for her mom.

  Her dad, on the other hand, had been her friend and her confidant and her playmate when she’d been little. He’d let her get dirty when they played, he’d taught her sports, and he’d let her decide who she wanted to be and what she wanted to do with her life.

  There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t miss his warmth, acceptance, and counsel. Or his ability to run interference with her mother.

  Linc poured everyone a glass and handed them out. “I’ll let you all visit.”

  “No way,” Natalie said. “You should join us.”

  Her mother nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, you must. It’ll give us a chance to get to know you. You are, after all, living with my daughter.”

  Hazel cast him a quick apologetic look.

  “Sure, I’d love to get to know both of you as well. Did Hazel tell you that she met my family a few weeks back?”

  Her mom shot her a benign smile. “She did not. Where did this occur?”

  “I had some meetings in San Francisco, which is where I’m from, so Hazel accompanied me, and she met my mother and my two brothers.”

  “How wonderful. And what does your father do, Linc?”

  Linc took a swallow of tea. “My dad passed away a few years back.”

  Mom gave him a sympathetic look, along with laying her hand on his forearm. “Oh, Linc. I’m truly sorry. I lost my first husband, too, though it was quite some time ago. How’s your mother doing?”

  “She’s doing well, thanks. I think this is the first year where the anniversary of his death didn’t totally wreck her.”

  Her mother nodded. “I understand. Grief has its own individual timeline. For me, it was several terrible years. Natalie and Hazel can attest to what a mess I was. There were days, especially in the beginning, where I couldn’t face getting out of bed.”

  Linc nodded. “My mom went through that, too.”

  “I thought I was never going to make it without my love. But months passed, and then years, and friends and family made me put one foot in front of the other and start doing normal life things again. And then I met Paul. Well, he swept me off my feet, first as friends, then we fell in love. He was so sweet and kind and generous, and while he’s nothing at all like the girls’ father, he’s his own person and loves me in his own unique way.”

  Hazel had never heard her mom talk about Dad that way, about how losing him had been so hard. She’d been wrapped up in her own grief, of course, so she probably hadn’t noticed how much pain her mother had been in. Hazel was happy when her mom found Paul. He really was a great guy, and he treated Mom like gold.

  “That’s so awesome, Mrs. Burke,” Linc said. “To find great love not once but twice in a lifetime? I’d say you hit the jackpot.”

  Her mother graced Linc with one of her infrequent genuine, warm smiles.

  “Oh, you must call me Melinda. And, thank you. I feel very lucky, indeed. Just like my Natalie, who’s married to a real prince of a man.”