He pulled her in for a hug and she buried her face into his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “For what, sweetheart?”

  “Just for being here and so much more,” she murmured for his ears only. “So much more.”

  She pulled back and slipped from Whiskey’s arms, flashing her boss and smile.

  The tallest of the three men that joined Jada grabbed Whiskey’s attention. “I’m assuming you’re the owner of this building?”

  Whiskey nodded.

  “In that case, we’d like to talk about renting a few locations here. Setting up an antique shop, a beauty parlor and then go from there. Breathe life back into this wonderful timepiece.”

  Whiskey nodded again. “I’d like that.” He took out three business cards and passed one to each and another to Jada. “Call my secretary and let’s work out a time.” Whiskey turned his gaze on her. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

  Genevieve’s heart did a funny quiver in her chest that she couldn’t push off on coffee or nerves. Nope. That was nothing short of a Whiskey-caused quake.

  Pugly picked that moment to growl and bark until she freed him from his puppy prison.

  “Pugly, dear!” Jada scooped up her pup and planted a kiss on his head. “How did he behave?”

  Genevieve gave Whiskey a long side-eye. “Like a perfect gentleman.”

  Jada turned her attention on Whiskey. “I guess no introductions are needed for the man of the hour, but still,” She held out her hand and Whiskey took it.

  “By man of the hour, I’m assuming you're referring to the smashing article Genevieve whipped up while everyone else slept away last night?”

  “That would be the one.”

  Genevieve smacked a hand against her forehead. “I’m so sorry, yes. Whiskey Morgan, this is the one and only Jada Lawson, editor-in-chief of New York’s finest newspaper. Jada, this is my childhood friend and current –”

  “Friend at the moment,” Whiskey interjected as if he sensed the direction she was headed.

  She’d been going for foe, but oddly enough friend worked too.

  Jada laughed fondly, “I see. From friends to foe and back again. What a great love story.”

  Whiskey’s brows rose. “Interesting insight.”

  Genevieve noticed he didn’t argue the point.

  “It comes with the territory. Before I was the editor-in-chief I worked the romance advice column. It’s a gift. I can spot a budding romance from a hundred miles away.” Jada tapped her copy of the newspaper. “Quite literally, I might add.”

  Genevieve dipped her head to hide the sudden flush of heat across her cheeks.

  “Anyway, we’ll talk over the details a little later. I’m staying out at the Pinegrove Dreams. I met the spunkiest old lady and we hit it off spectacularly. Mrs. Conrad is making spaghetti and offering chocolate ice cream as a runner-up for the evening then she has promised to show me around the town. I suspect after I get done making my way through all the shops, a nice homecooked meal will be lovely.”

  “You’ll not want to leave.” Not if Gran Conrad had anything to do with it, for sure.

  “Dear, I already feel this won’t be my last time here. Catch you later. Tata!”

  Whiskey stepped into the spot Jada vacated and resumed his position and leaned an elbow on the counter. At one point he’d shed his suit jacket and rolled his sleeves up. An often occurrence it seemed. He looked more relaxed and the lines of tension that fanned the edges of his eyes didn’t look as pronounced. She could be reading it wrong, but it looked like he enjoyed the day as much as she had and it wasn’t over yet.

  “Genevieve,” he cut into her thoughts.

  “Hmm?”

  “I should have known you’d pull a few magic tricks out of your hat.”

  She plucked a cookie from one of the several platters her mom placed throughout the shop. Stress eating was really working against her no carbs diet. At this rate, she’d be wearing a shower curtain for bathing suit season. She sighed around another bite. “You told me to find a way so I did.”

  He smiled but the gesture stopped short of reaching his eyes. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I mean it’s great that these people are here enjoying all this beautiful building has to offer, but that doesn’t change the fact that we still have to talk and convince the board members. And this building needs major work that will cost. I just don’t want you to get hurt is all. I can’t make promises.”

  She canted her head to the side. “What would you say if I have an answer for that too?”

  He leveled a curious look on her.

  “Hold that thought.” She snagged a cupcake from the counter; her hips would be the size New York if she didn’t watch it, but the blueberry topping was irresistible and she needed something to keep her hands busy and mind focused unless she wanted to jump Whiskey, wrap her legs around him and give the whole town a show they’d never forget.

  Though she didn’t know how a cupcake stood up against a daydream like that, honestly. Maybe Whiskey could dream up a way to give her a little work out after they smoothed out all the kinks of her plan.

  She considered her next words carefully as she took his hand and led them out the back door and around the side of the building. Crossing the street, she pointed them down a small path that hugged the lake’s shore.

  “I have an idea,” she started as the noise of the crowd died out.

  Beside her, he narrowed his gaze on her as he held a low-hanging branch for her to pass. “I’m listening.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Okay, you’re going to think this is a crazy idea, but hear me out.”

  “No idea is too crazy. But if it makes you feel better you should hear half the ideas that cross my desk on a daily basis. Some of them will make you laugh, others cringe and sometimes you outright want to bang your head on the desk out of sheer frustration.”

  “Wow. I hope none of that applies here. The nearest thing to a desk we have out here is a tree, and I don’t know about you, but having bark imprints on my forehead wouldn’t be the highlight of my day.”

  He laughed, warm and low that made an odd sense of peace settle over her.

  “Touché. So, what’s your idea, sweetheart? After what you pulled today, I can’t wait to hear what else that brain has cooked up.”

  Late afternoon faded to early evening as they strolled along the shore of Pinegrove Lake. Bursts of pinks and oranges spilled across the sky to mix into a deep purple at the fringes of the horizon. Between the branches tiny chickadees and sparrows swooped back and forth chirping to one another.

  “What did you mean by ‘my girl’ back at the shop?”

  He looked at her, puzzled at the change of topic and then realization dawned followed by a sudden attack of embarrassment. She had to admit he looked damn sexy when caught off guard.

  He cleared his throat and instead of saying anything, he snatched the cupcake out of her hand and peeled back the white wrapper, took a bite and then offered her one.

  She took a slow bite, watching him intently.

  Icing smeared across her lips and he swooped in, sucking her lips between his delicately with a groan.

  His fingers played along the fringes of her top again, and like last time, he used the distraction to pull her into him. Her curves melded to his.

  “I guess that cat is out of the bag,” he started in a slow drawl that reminded her of a cowboy from the old-timey movies who always measured their words. But despite the rough and rugged tone, he was a smooth talker that knew how to work her buttons.

  “Growing up, I had a thing for this girl. She had the goofiest glasses and freckles across her nose and on her cheeks.” He reached between them and twirled a lock of hair around a finger. “And the prettiest fucking hair.”

  Her mouth went dry like her words. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

  “I didn’t know it at the time, like most eleven-year-old boys, but I fell in love with her almost at first sight.”

  He brushed a lock of loose hair over her shoulder.

  He took a step closer and she mirrored his movement. “And despite all of our ups and downs over the years, I don’t think I’ve ever stopped.” His voice lowered the closer he came.

  “Whiskey.” She reached between them and settled her hand on his chest. The soft material of his shirt pressed into her palms. Beneath the material she felt the hard muscle of his pecs and the hammering of his heart. He was so near she could inhale ever so slightly and have a lung full of his masculine cologne.

  Of course, it wasn’t anything like what she remembered from high school. He’d always dressed nice, but this wasn’t a young boy eating half of her cupcake. They were adults now. And she appreciated every aspect of the tall, well-chiseled and handsome man who leaned in a little too close, a little too slowly. Between them, the hard feel of his cock teased her senses and brought back every vivid memory of their shared night together.

  She rose to her tiptoes, closing the gap between them.

  His lips moved over hers and she tasted the blueberry frosting and the man as he swirled his tongue over hers.

  He rested his hands on her hips and drew out the kiss until she couldn’t breathe.

  “Sweetest kiss I’ve ever had. I’m sorry I didn’t fight for this harder when I should have. Truth be told I should have never let you walk away from me so easily. You were scared your identity would be taken away with what would be demanded of you. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I was stupid in so many ways.” He pulled back and whispered the words against her lips.

  “I can’t really argue.”

  “A first,” he teased as he pulled her against him.

  “But you know what, we were both stupid in letting outside forces control us. Our love was strong and the unknown pulled us apart when your dad became ill.”

  “What do you think of second chances,” he asked gruffly and she could hear the fear in his voice. She felt the same fear but he held her gaze and stood tall and firm before her, waiting.

  His hands moved down the curves of her hips and slipped under her skirt to palm her bare ass. She’d worn a silk, red thong to match her skirt today and it seemed it just might pay off.

  “You’re under a huge amount of stress and I’m sorry I added to it.”

  He flexed his fingers and squeezed her tight ass with a groan. “I can think of a way you can repay me.”

  She leaned into him and rested her cheek on his chest. He felt so good. Strong and stable. A friend, but could he be more again than a quick fling and a walk down memory road?

  He pulled her back to look into her eyes. “What are we doing here, Genevieve? I don’t want to misread what you’re saying. Was last night a one-off or not?”

  She chewed at the inside of her lip for a second. He already knew that she would be moving back to Pinegrove, but what about him? He was right. Were they starting something that neither of them could see through?

  “I don’t know, Whiskey. Really, it’s up to you. I’m not going anywhere. And what I feel for you, the feelings you’ve stirred up in the short amount of time I’ve been back are real. I already know my body wants you, but I can feel something deeper than sex between us reforming. I can feel those emotions here.”

  She rubbed over the center of her chest.

  “I want to see where it goes. No promises, if you don’t want.” The tail end of her words dragged because while she wouldn’t admit it, she wanted promises, something to tie her to this town, but more importantly to the man she never stopped loving. Maybe nothing that came with a ring and vows just yet, but a promise to one another.

  “But I don’t want you to think anything hinges on the project or the building. This is us. Nothing else,” she continued and put one hundred percent of her feeling into every word.

  He nodded and she could see he agreed before he had a chance to give a voice to his thoughts.

  “This is us, sweetheart. Everything else set aside. I’ve thought about it, even before you came to town. Moving back to Pinegrove was something I always wanted to do. I hated when I had to walk away from us. At the time I understood what you had to do for yourself just like what I had to do, but I was born and raised here. My heart never really left and I think you know I never stopped loving you.”

  “What about your business?”

  “We’re international. I can operate from anywhere and maybe you’d be up to joining me if I do have to travel. How does that sound?”

  Like she fell into heaven and didn’t want to wake up.

  “I’d like that.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Whiskey couldn’t believe his ears. It had been a long fucking time since he’d felt this happy, this excited about his future. Too long, in fact. He even cringed to think about the direction his life had turned in the last few years. Had it been two or three since he even entertained the idea of dating? He’d lost count as the years all blurred together.

  Years of lonely nights behind a computer screen or poring over spreadsheets had dulled his existence, but now he finally had something to pull him away from yet another meeting and being shut up in a boardroom with stuffy shirts.

  Someone that wanted to see what a future looked like with him.

  He already cherished what they had, as new as it was. He would hold it close and protect it as best as he could. Protect her.

  “Genevieve, you’ve made me want to know what a future with you could look like.”

  A slow glow warmed her cheeks and he swung her up and looped her legs around his waist as he pressed another kiss to her lips, then her cheeks and the tip of her nose.

  The heat of her pussy hugged his hard cock through their clothes and if she felt that hot now, he couldn’t wait to have her wrapped around him milking every last drop from him again.

  Up until she fell into his life again he’d felt old, tired and weighed down. That meant a fucking long life ahead he didn’t look forward to, honestly. Her spunk and sass fired him up again and painted his world in vibrant colors.

  “Know what I think?”

  “Not even a little bit and that’s what I love most. I can never guess where the punches are coming from.”

  “I think the power of flowers brought us together, oddly enough.” She laughed at her own musings.

  He had to admit her humor made him laugh, too. He pressed his forehead against hers, digging his fingers into the tight flesh of her ass and squeezing I’d say it was cherry poppers, a little blackmail and blueprints.”

  She shimmied her hips, teasing his cock with a burning look in her eyes. Out here in the middle of town, tucked away by only a small hill from prying eyes he dropped his zipper, peeled aside a tiny strip of silk and sank into his woman’s dripping, wet channel with one thrust.

  She stilled in his arms, her nipples fiery tips against his chest.

  “Whiskey,” she moaned holding onto him tightly. “Not fair,” she tried to argue always having a hard time letting someone else take control. He surmised they constantly be butting heads over one thing or another and he looked forward to it each and every day.

  He drove into her, the wind coming up off the lake to swarm around them.

  He spread her ass cheeks, pulled out and plunged back in, taking in the scent of her arousal.

  She leaned back, trusting him to support her weight as he drove into her hot, little pussy. With each thrust her walls grew tighter and it was only a matter of a few more thrusts before he pulled what he wanted from her. And she did the same to him.

  He pushed inside, working her over his length, grinding into her. “When I get you home, I’m going to fuck you long and good in a bed, the proper way. But God, I can’t seem to wait when I am around you, woman.” His words were gruff, uneven.

  She cried out with all the pleasure he also felt.

  “Show me how good it feels, baby,” he said, leaning in to kiss her slow. She withered in his arms and he knew she was close.

  He pulls out and plunges back in, working her hard and fast. His muscles bunch and flex from the strain of his climax about to hit. She whimpers, reaching between us to stroke her clit and the second her walls clamp down on his shaft they both lose it.

  He roared his release as she found hers and he pumped a couple more times giving her all of his hot cum and taking every drop of hers.

  Panting, they did nothing but stand there for a second wrapped up in each other.

  “You’re a fucking angel, baby.” All the waiting had paid off and not a moment too soon. He knew Genevieve would be his again, knew it deep in his soul. Now that he had her, it would take God Himself to tear them apart again. “You okay, sweetheart?”

  She nodded and loosened her legs. He held her until she gained her feet. The idea of her wearing his cum all over her cunt and thighs under that pretty skirt of hers made his cock hard again.

  Biting her lip, she looked up at him, a mischievous look in her eye. “Want a do-over for our missed dinner date last night?”

  “Only if you spill the beans on how you think you’re going to save your building.”

  She stole a glance his way with a devilish grin. “Are you trying to turn the tables of blackmail on me, Mr. Morgan?” She pursed her lips and it made him want to kiss her again. “Besides, it’s our building now. We’ll both be calling Pinegrove home.”

  He tilted his head in agreement. “Can’t argue that point.”

  “Okay, since I really relish the idea of eating steak tonight, I’ll spill.”

  She led them to a fallen log beside the lake that had a deep firepit in front of it from other people using the same spot to watch the sunset, no doubt. Gentle waves washed against the shore and the sunset lingered just over the horizon as a dusting of stars dotted the sky. This far away from the traffic, all they could hear was the water and the birds who were settling down for the day.

  He sat and pulled her onto his lap. “Last night Venus called up her brother Cooper. Do you remember him?”

  He nodded. “Name does ring a bell. He was a grade or two higher than us?”