“Sounds good,” Daniel said. “Cosmetically, the house is in bad shape, but I didn’t see any major structural damage.”

  “I’ll start drawing up the offer so it’s ready.”

  One of the downsides this part to his business was that things moved fast. If he saw something that interested him, he had to jump on it. Waiting, even a week, could mean missing out on a great deal.

  As four o’clock rolled around, his thoughts returned to Ali. Not that she hadn’t been on his mind all day, but he was no longer able to avoid the issue before him. With none of his rental properties available for the foreseeable future, the only option was for her to stay where she was. With him. At his house.

  Thinking about it had him feeling panicky and he didn’t like it. He’d had trouble falling asleep the night before. He kept imagining her lying in her bed down the hall, the sheets brushing against her skin as she moved.

  The ache in his groin began to grow and he knew he needed to change the direction of his thoughts. He needed to get out of there. Do something. Anything to take his mind off her.

  Slipping into his coat, he said goodbye to Kevin and headed toward the gym. Granted, he had a workout room at home, but he was in the mood for a good hard swim.

  He waved to Carly seated behind the reception desk and made his way to the locker room to change. It was still early, so he had the pool to himself outside of a mom teaching her daughter how to float on her back in the shallower end.

  Daniel fixed his goggles over his eyes and dove into the deep end. Water rushed over his ears as he let his momentum carry him. When he popped up for air, he’d traversed almost half the length of the pool. It felt good to release some of the tension he’d been bottling up.

  With each lap, he felt better. He concentrated on his breathing, on the way his body felt moving through the water.

  He popped out of the water along the pool’s edge and lifted his goggles. The mother and daughter had left, but they’d been replaced by a group that looked to be doing water aerobics.

  Glancing at the clock, he realized it was getting late. He wanted to be home when Ali arrived.

  He groaned and dunked his head under the water to wash away his thoughts. Why was he so attracted to her? Why couldn’t he find someone closer to his own age he wanted as much as he wanted her?

  Both good questions, but he didn’t have an answer to either one of them.

  Ducking under the lane markers, he swam to the ladder and hoisted himself out of the pool. While doing laps had helped in the moment, they weren’t the solution. He had no idea what the solution was, but swimming hadn’t been it. At least, he’d gotten a good workout in.

  The drive home only took twenty minutes, but it felt much longer. He kept checking the clock to see how much time had passed. When he finally pulled into his driveway and maneuvered his SUV into the garage, he didn’t miss the fact that Ali wasn’t there yet. He’d hoped to beat her home, but given it was already almost six, he’d worried she’d be there waiting for him.

  The thought occurred to him that maybe she’d stayed in the city. Had she gone to visit Kim? Or...someone else?

  The possibilities were endless. She was young, single, and independent. There was nothing and no one tying her down.

  That thought conjured up an image of her tied to his bed and he groaned. He had to find a way to stop thinking about her in that way.

  Gathering his coat and briefcase from the back seat, he made a beeline for his liquor cabinet and poured himself a shot of whiskey. It burned going down, but he welcomed it.

  His phone rang and he removed it from his pocket. The part of him that hoped it was Ali warred with the part that prayed it wasn’t.

  Flipping the phone over, he realized it was a video call. He clicked on the link to accept and was met with his daughter’s smiling face. Her eyes bright with excitement.

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “Hi, honey.” He moved into the kitchen and took a seat at the island.

  “I wasn't sure if you’d be home yet.”

  “You have good timing. I just walked in the door.” Daniel grinned. “How’s Kansas City?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at something and then back at him. “It’s good, Dad. In fact, I have some news.”

  Trepidation filled him, but he tried not to let it show. “Oh?”

  “Do you remember the guy, Jesse, I was telling you about?”

  “The guy you were seeing.” He remembered him. The guy seemed nice enough. He was a few years older than Cassandra and worked in accounting if he remembered correctly.

  Cassandra nodded. “Well...” She looked over her shoulder again and Daniel realized Jesse must be there with her. “He asked me to marry him, and I said yes!” The last word came out in almost a squeal.

  Daniel was trying to figure out how to respond when he heard the front door open. His gaze drifted from the phone and his daughter to the foyer. Even though he couldn’t see Ali, he could feel her presence in his home.

  “Dad?”

  He forced his attention back to the phone.

  Cassandra was looking at him with concern. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” He could hear Ali’s footsteps retreating down the hall.

  “What’s wrong?” Cassandra asked.

  Instead of answering his daughter’s question, he asked one of his own. “When do I get to meet him?”

  “Um. He’s here now if you want—”

  “I meant in person.” Technology was all well and good, but there were things you could ascertain from meeting someone in person you couldn't over the phone. Not even via video chat. “If you’re planning to marry the man, I’d like to meet him.”

  “Um.” She looked off camera again. “Maybe we could come down for a weekend or something. This is tax season, so it’s hard for Jesse to get off work.”

  Daniel nodded. “Just let me know when works best and I’ll rearrange my schedule. I want to make sure this guy’s good enough for you.”

  “Dad.” It was said in that tone children use when they’re exasperated but resigned with their parents.

  He chuckled. “Humor your old man, all right?”

  She laughed. “We’ll talk about it, and I’ll let you know when we’ll be down.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Ali took hold of the doorknob and twisted. The knob turned and she pushed the door open.

  It felt strange letting herself into Daniel’s house. When she drove up the winding driveway, she realized she would have no idea if he was home if he parked his vehicle in the garage as he had the night before.

  She thought about knocking but changed her mind. Daniel had given her the code and if the front door was locked, she’d go through the garage. It wasn’t as if she was sneaking in or something.

  As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she heard him. He was talking to someone. The other voice sounded feminine.

  A momentary pang of jealousy curled in her belly, but she tamped it down. He wasn’t hers. She had no claim on him. Not like that anyway.

  As quietly as she could, she closed the door and turned toward her room. It was exactly how she left it, messy bedsheets and all.

  Tossing her purse onto the mattress, Ali kicked off her shoes and dug in her suitcase to find something comfortable to wear. It had been a long day and all she wanted to do was relax.

  Ali dug out a pair of leggings and a long sweater, along with some comfy socks. It didn’t take long to change, but now she didn’t know what to do with herself. It was after six and she was getting hungry, but she didn’t want to disturb Daniel if he was still on the phone.

  Biting her lip, she contemplated her options. She could stay holed up in her room all night and starve, or she could venture out and see if he was finished with his call.

  The grumbling in her stomach made her decision for her. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and her body was protesting. It needed food. Stat.

  She entered the large open space that included the kitchen, dining room, and living area to find Daniel working on dinner. He must have heard her approach because he turned and met her gaze. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” She crossed to him, leaving a few feet between them. “Can I help with something?”

  He motioned toward the vegetables lying on the counter. “You can make the salad if you’d like.”

  Ali nodded and went to stand on the other side of the sink. She picked up the knife. “Do you have a size preference?”

  “What?” He coughed. “Oh. Not really. Not too small, though. I like to taste what I’m eating.”

  She snorted. “So size does matter.”

  Daniel shook his head, his shoulders vibrating, and went back to the chicken he was grilling.

  They worked together in companionable silence as they put the finishing touches on dinner. It was simple but delicious. Daniel had made grilled chicken and roasted potatoes to go with the salad she’d put together. He’d also cut up some crusty Italian bread for them. She’d cleaned her plate and polished off three slices of bread.

  When she’d popped the last bite of bread in her mouth, she noticed him frowning. “What’s wrong?”

  “What did you eat today?” he asked.

  The last bit of bread felt heavy going down. She knew that look. She’d been a submissive for long enough to recognize it. “Um.”

  “The truth, Allison.”

  He’d only called her by her full name once and that was when he’d found out she’d left the club by herself one night without asking Brandon or Cooper to escort her. Since then, he’d stayed until she was ready to leave and walked her out himself.

  “I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast this morning.”

  The lines on his face deepened. “Why didn’t you eat lunch?”

  She lowered her gaze. “I got busy. It was three o’clock before I knew it and I figured I could wait until dinner.”

  “Do I need to start bringing you lunch every day?” he asked.

  Her eyes widened and she met his gaze. He was serious. “No, I...” She swallowed. “I don’t normally miss lunch. Things were hectic today and I lost track of time. That’s all.”

  A grumble sounded from deep in Daniel’s chest and for some reason she felt her sex pulse.

  He stood and took their plates to the sink. She had the distinct feeling he wanted to turn her over his knee and not in the fun, let’s get kinky kind of way.

  Ali made herself stay seated. She didn’t think he’d welcome her closeness in that moment. “Were you able to find me a place to stay?” she asked instead, figuring the change in subject would be welcome.

  His shoulders stiffened. “No. None of my properties are currently available, so you’ll stay here. There’s plenty of room.”

  She didn’t miss that he’d said one of his properties. “How many properties do you have?” Looking at this house, she knew he had to have money, but she had no idea how much. She’d thought he was a real-estate agent. Did he really make that much money helping people buy and sell houses?

  “Fifty-four.” He paused. “At the moment.”

  She gasped. “You own fifty-hour houses?”

  He rinsed the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. “No. Some are townhouses or commercial buildings. I like to diversify my assets.”

  “I see.”

  A heavy silence hung in the air. Daniel wiped his hands on a dish towel, then dropped it onto the counter. “Does the fact I have resources bother you?”

  Did it bother her? A little. The last man she’d dated managed a grocery store. He made decent money. Good money, she thought. But nothing like...this.

  Not that she and Daniel were dating. They weren’t. No matter how much she wished otherwise.

  “I’m just surprised. You don’t act like you’re rich,” she said.

  “And what is one supposed to act like if they’re rich?” He looked amused, which she preferred to him being pissed at her.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Someone who flashes their money around?” She tried to find the right words. “You don’t even drive a nice car.”

  He raised an eyebrow at that, but it was paired with a half-smile.

  “What I mean is, it’s not a Porsche or anything fancy like that.”

  Daniel pushed his weight off the counter. “I’ve never been a car guy. I’ll leave that to Justin.”

  Her friend’s boyfriend and Dom was the best mechanic she knew. He also loved classic muscle cars.

  Before she could formulate how to respond, Daniel strolled into the living room and turned on the television. He began scrolling through the channels. One of her favorite shows popped up on the screen and she must have made a noise. He paused and looked at her. “Did you want to watch this?”

  “That’s okay. I don’t—”

  “Come.” He placed the remote onto the coffee table. “There’s nothing else on anyway.”

  She hopped off the stool to join him in the living room. He sat down in the high-backed chair farthest away from the television, so she lowered herself onto the couch.

  Ten minutes later, she was curled up on the cushions, her knees tucked under her chin, engrossed in the show. She’d seen the episode before, but it didn’t matter.

  When the credits appeared on the large screen, she glanced over at Daniel for the first time since sitting down. He had a book open in his lap, reading. A pair of glasses were perched low on his nose and his forehead had the cutest wrinkle in it as he concentrated.

  As if he could feel her gaze on him, he glanced up and removed the glasses. “Finished with your show?”

  “The episode’s over.”

  Daniel looked at the television, then back at her. “It looks like there’s another episode starting. Did you want to watch it as well?”

  Sure enough, one of the main characters appeared on the screen as another episode began. Ali bit the inside of her lip, not sure if she should or not. She could sit there all night and binge the show, but she was a guest in his house...

  He interrupted her thoughts. “Watch your show. I have my book.”

  “Are you sure? If there’s something else you’d rather watch.”

  He grinned and put his glasses back on before returning his attention to his book.

  She let her gaze drift back to the television and was soon lost, once again, in the story. This time, when the episode ended and the next began, she didn’t do more than check to see that he was still engrossed in his reading.

  Somewhere along the line, she stretched out on the couch and tucked her hands under her chin. She yawned, having trouble keeping her eyes open. There were more episodes after this one, but she wasn’t going to be able to stay up and watch them. She’d finish this one, and then she’d go to bed.

  Every now and then, Daniel would glance up from his reading to peer at Ali over his glasses. She’d been so engrossed in her show she hadn’t noticed. Or at least, he didn’t think she had.

  Halfway through the fourth episode, her eyes began to drift closed. He considered saying something but decided to let it go. If she was sleepy, he wanted her to rest.

  Her chest rose and fell, and her mouth relaxed, signaling she was asleep. He continued to read, letting the episode drone on in the background, until he felt his own eyelids growing heavy. Closing his book, he set it on the table beside his chair before getting up.

  He passed through the kitchen and made his way down the hall to her room. A faint whiff of cherries and lavender tickled his nose the moment he entered the room.

  Daniel flipped on the light, illuminating the space. Her bed was in complete disarray, the sheets bunched in the center of the mattress. He straightened them, making the bed, and then turned down the sheets.

  When he returned to the living room, Ali was still sound asleep. He didn’t think she’d moved an inch while he’d been gone. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, drawing his attention. She had nice tits. They weren’t overly large, but they were slightly more than a handful.

  He shook his head, aggravated with himself for even allowing his thoughts to go in that direction. Too young for you, old man, he reminded himself.

  Bending, he eased his arms under her knees and shoulders before lifting her into his arms. If he’d thought her scent affected him in her room, it was doubly potent with her pressed against his chest. The desire to run his nose along her skin, seeking the source of the sweet fragrance, had his groin tightening. He closed his eyes and forced those thoughts to the back of his mind.

  Ali shifted in his arms and her eyes flew open. A soft sigh left her lips, and her arms came up, circling around his neck. Her nose skimmed his collarbone, sending a shot directly to the part of him he was trying to talk down. Daniel tried to steady himself and his body’s reaction. He’d never had this much physical contact with her before and he desperately wanted to carry her into his bedroom instead of her own.

  His feelings for her were wrong. He knew that. But it didn’t change anything, and it never would.

  A soft smile graced Ali’s lips as she snuggled closer, and his heart clenched. If only he were twenty years younger...

  Wishing wouldn’t change anything, however, and he needed to get her settled into her bed before she woke up. Or before he did something stupid.

  As quickly as he reasonably could without waking her, Daniel carried her to her room. He lowered her onto the bed and gently removed her arms from around his neck. Her lips curved up in a tiny smile and he wondered what she was dreaming about. Then, he realized it was probably better if he didn’t know.

  He pulled the covers over her sleeping form. Ali released a contented sigh and rolled away from him.

  His brain was telling him to leave, but his feet wouldn’t move. He wanted to stay and watch her sleep, to listen to the sounds she made, but he knew how creepy that would be.

  Turning on his heel, he walked to the door. Hand poised on the light switch, Ali said his name.

  He looked toward the bed, but she was still facing away from him. “Sleep,” he whispered. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled.