Kerry

  Warren’s sink-repair job was close to our apartment, and the brisk walk there invigorated me.

  The fresh air in my lungs reminded me that everything would work out. Calmness filled me, and I remembered my goals to prove myself. I was on a mission. I marched forward with my head high as I turned onto the small side street.

  Then my gaze locked with the handsome blue-eyed man, and my heart thumped faster. I forgot everything but getting closer, and when I did, my lips curved higher. “You waited.”

  His smile was infectious, and I forgot myself. He hugged me, and I closed my eyes and smelled his delicious aftershave mixed with wood dust. He let me go. “Only a minute. I just finished.” His gaze sparkled. “You’re wearing the white shirt I bought you.”

  Right. My skin and face heated. “It’s more formal, and I needed to tell myself to be strong.”

  He took my hand, and sparks rushed inside me. “Well, you look good, and it’s good you didn’t wear the red dress.”

  I hadn’t wanted to encourage him. “Why?”

  He walked me to the truck. “I need your help.”

  I stood still for a moment. If I went through with my plan and fucked everything up, I would spend the rest of my life wondering and wishing for him. So I took a step forward. “With?”

  “You said you were an interior designer, and I need a second opinion.”

  “Sure.” I closed my door.

  As we drove, Warren sat next to me, completely at ease. I relaxed too. Maybe we could figure everything out together without fear.

  Warren wasn’t the problem. I needed to work out whatever was scaring me. And our venture could lead to big rewards. I had a place and work to do, and my days were more filled than ever. Besides, moving out would be too expensive.

  He parked in front of a new construction site, where he had been hired to install cabinets. I blinked, and he waved for me to join him. I jumped out before he could open my door for me.

  He took my hand and temptation grew inside to kiss him again. “Come inside,” he said.

  I walked up the driveway, which was still dirt. “Are we allowed?”

  He shrugged and pushed the door open. “New construction, and it’s not locked.”

  He’d worked on the house that day, so he had an excuse if we got caught. My chest tightened, but I followed him. As I crossed the threshold to the empty shell of a new home, I asked, “Okay. What do you need?”

  He pointed to the unpainted walls. “I was thinking great rooms need to be bigger, though sitting rooms are good too. Also, what do you think about the ceilings? Can we make them more interesting than just flat?”

  I crossed my arms. He was right. The great room wasn’t that huge. If I had been designing this house with a family in mind, it would look different. I made some quick assessments. “Okay, the ceilings need to be more interesting. Every room on the first floor needs similar but different light fixtures. The TV mount over the fireplace is all wrong. I’d put it on the empty wall here.” I pointed. “And you’re right that it needs to be bigger and with taller ceilings, which I’ll definitely keep in mind for when we start on our buildings.”

  “Good. Small details sell.” He pressed his arm into my shoulder. “I’m happy we’re partners.”

  We were. He wasn’t in charge of fixing my life. I needed to figure out what happened next and include how we would work together as more than friends. My feelings were so mushy, and I was confused. But running wouldn’t solve anything. I bounced as I said, “Me too. I’ll put on the list for our venture to look for light fixtures that don’t cost too much wholesale. I’m sure there are sites your license will gain me access to.”

  We headed out. “I’m counting on you,” he said.

  And I was there for him. He walked me to my side of the truck and opened the door for me. “So let’s go horseback riding now.”

  I laughed and climbed in. Once he joined me, I said, “You are so determined on that one.”

  He started the truck. “The stables aren’t far.”

  Anything we did together was fun, and focusing kept my head on straight. “I know, but I think we should head to a home store so we can talk shop. I can explain what we need inside our builds and show you examples.”

  He winked. “I’m all yours.”

  I poked his arm. “So you say. Right now, you’re driving.”

  We listened to music as we drove. Soon enough, I would know more, but leaving wasn’t an option. Not if I wanted to figure out how to make myself happy.

  19

  Kerry

  The hardware-meets-everything-for-the-house store was more interesting than I remembered. We walked into the kitchen-model area, and I pointed to what I thought was good and not good.

  Then I found the best one and folded my hands on the counter. “When I think of kitchens, I need lots of counter places, and white is so much easier to see stains to clean right away than dark.”

  He leaned next to me. “Of course.”

  I traced the side and smiled as I imagined having strong, white cabinets and not the thinner laminate material used in our apartment. A home with the kitchen I had in my mind was brilliant. I stood. “I know white is maybe trending away, so we’ll check on color to see what’s hottest. Either way, the traditionalist in me still says white—it illuminates whatever needs fixing fast so the kitchen remains clean as a work room.”

  He nodded, but in my mind’s eye, I saw the structure. I led him to the appliance aisle. He narrowed his gaze as we passed the food processors and asked, “So why are we here?”

  I pointed to a few bigger boxes on the shelves. I needed him to see my plan. “Let’s say the client wants a convection oven, a pizza oven, a hood, and a microwave all built in. We need to find a vendor that’s flexible and not just use block cutouts like the ones you were installing in that house.”

  He offered his arm. “You noticed them?”

  I brushed against him but then put my hands to my sides instead of reaching for him. His touch set me on fire. “I just think cutouts are important.”

  He stayed next to me. “You’d want a pizza oven?”

  I let out a laugh. Cooking was always fun, and if I had a real pizza oven, we would be eating it more. But the fantasy of him coming home to me wasn’t professional. My cheeks felt hot. “You have no idea.” I almost told him how much I wanted to hold him and fall into his arms.

  The words were on my lips, but then he tapped my shoulder and stepped back. “Hold on.”

  He scooped up a doll and followed a woman with a baby carriage. “Excuse me. Your son dropped this.”

  I followed behind him as the woman nodded and took the toy. “Thank you.”

  Then he made a funny face at the baby, who laughed.

  The mother smiled then continued on her way.

  He returned to my side. I knew that one day, he would be a great dad. When he pressed against me to continue, I said, “The boy liked you.”

  He shrugged like it was no big deal. “He reminds me of my new niece.”

  Nice to kids meant he truly was a keeper. My heart melted. “How old is she?”

  “Three months.” We walked outside, and the smile on his face was brighter than the setting sun over the green horizon. We walked back to the truck as he said, “My brother Arman was super happy the day he and his wife brought their baby girl to family dinner.”

  I imagined a huge family where everyone knew each other. “You can fit all those people at one table?”

  A group of women stopped in front of us as if they wanted to talk to Warren, but he led me around them as if he hadn’t noticed any of them. “Yes. Maman always planned for all of us to marry and produce children, so she made sure we had the room. And for all celebrations of togetherness, like my birthday, my parents tend to bring us together as a family meeting over dinner.”

  With twelve boys, parents, and their families, I half imagined a castle table long enough for state dinners. “That must be quite a table.”

  He opened my door for me, and for that second it was like the world didn’t exist outside of us. “My mother will ensure that we’re all well-fed and that we stay connected.”

  “I like that.” My lips tingled for another kiss.

  My eyelids fluttered, but then he left my side and headed around. He hopped beside me and asked, “Should we go out to dinner?”

  Maybe I was wrong about everything and didn’t need to stress. If all he wanted was a no-pressure relationship, I would be happy. But dinner meant talking, and if we continued, I would wonder if we were in for the long haul. I couldn’t offer that, so I shook my head. “I want to go home, I think.”

  He started the truck. “You seem pensive.”

  I’d almost changed my mind about dinner out and talking, and my cheeks heated as I nodded. “Only for a minute.” Every second with Warren made me ache with temptation and desire.

  His phone rang. I sat back and handed it to him. “Answer your phone. It’s Gerard.”

  He answered and after hellos, he asked his brother, “What’s going on?”

  I glanced out the window on the short drive. Warren would make an amazing dad. But however quickly that thought hit me, I wasn’t ready to think about family and another relationship. My divorce was fresh.

  He said, “I’m glad you told her to move out.”

  I tilted my head. I hadn’t expected to listen, but it sounded like his brother was in a tough spot.

  Warren then said, “You’ll find someone better.”

  True. Warren might too. We weren’t a forever thing even if I saw myself with him and his children. It was clearly a daydream that ended in the blink of an eye.

  “Talk to you soon,” he said into the phone.

  We were almost home, and I needed to get out of my own head. “Your brother’s girlfriend?”

  “She tried to move back into the condo. He’d been away, and when he came home today, she was there and had clearly been living in his place.”

  Wow. I pressed my hand on his heart. “After she cheated on him.”

  We stopped at a red light, and he briefly met my gaze. “He felt guilty about kicking her out.”

  I took his hand. Touching him sent a burning need through me. “I don’t get why she’d come back after she destroyed any chance of a relationship. I’d never go back to Romeo, and he didn’t cheat on me, as far as I know.”

  The light turned green. He winked and proceeded on. “Not everyone is you.” Once our small building came into view, he asked, “You sure you don’t want to go out and maybe get a drink?”

  I didn’t want to promise a relationship. It was better not to go out. I sighed. Once he parked, I said, “No. All day, I kept thinking about the kiss and how we should keep things casual.”

  He turned toward me. “I don’t want anything casual with you. You get all jittery when we discuss ‘us.’”

  “I can’t. It’s not that easy.” I would never hurt him on purpose. I swallowed and scooted closer.

  He lowered his lids as if to kiss me. “Good, because I want you.”

  I threw my arms around him. I desired him more than I’d ever wanted anyone in my life. Our lips met, and his kiss burned through me.

  We came up for air, and I scooted away. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  Maybe if he saw that casual was better, we would both be better off. Forever wasn’t a good fit for me.

  20

  Warren

  I held her close as we climbed the stairs to our place.

  I was hard and ready to strip and take her. I’d never waited half as long for any woman, but Kerry was special.

  I needed to know she wanted to sleep with me. So as we walked in, I asked, “Shall I’ll warm up dinner?”

  She curled into me. “We can eat later.”

  I pulled back and looked into her eyes. He cheeks were flushed. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever held. “Maybe we should take our time.”

  She tightened her arms around me. “Why?”

  I kissed her forehead and said, “I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for.”

  She cupped my face, and her warm eyes were like embers burning into my soul. “I’m good. I want you.”

  If she pushed me away later, I would die an unpleasant death. I’d never been rejected, but Kerry had that power. I kissed the hand that she opened for me and said, “I need you to be sure.”

  She sucked on the side of her lip and said, “I’m divorced, completely free, and more than ready to know what you and I would be like.”

  Then we were fine. I hugged her. “Tell you what. Go take a shower, relax. I’ll fix dinner. If you come out and are ready for me to make love to you, then I will.”

  Her face whitened. “Make love?”

  There wasn’t another word for me. Kerry wasn’t casual sex to forget. I knew the word “love” was hard for her. “Touching you is intimate and personal and real for me.”

  Her eyes misted. “That’s sweet.”

  I wasn’t sweet. I just needed to ensure we’d both be okay once we started the fire. I headed back to the kitchen to give her space. “So take the shower. I’ll warm up the food you prepared, and when you’re done, if you still want me, I’m yours.”

  She spun on her heel. “No, I don’t want to wait. Come with me.”

  I knew I sounded cautious. I craved her more than I’d ever wanted anyone or anything. I just needed her to be sure, so I vowed to take my time and show her that I respected her as well as cared about her. She was the only woman for me.

  21

  Kerry

  My heart pounded hard in my chest. He closed the door, and my breathing became erratic as I stared at him. Every cell in my body trembled from the sight of his muscles rippling under his blue T-shirt. I met his blue-eyed gaze and shook, though I reached for my shirt.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  Tears formed in my eyes. I’d never ached for a man in my life. I swallowed and said, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “There is nothing to be sorry about.”

  He took both my hands. “We can wait.”

  Damn. My heart stirred, and my lips tingled for his kiss. I’d heard of panty-melting kisses, and in my heart, I wondered if Warren was my first and only. I blinked, and he stared at me. I shook my head and said, “Okay, not long. I think I need to eat.”

  “No problem.”

  He was a sweetheart. We returned to the kitchen and quickly reheated my stew. The tension in my body remained.

  Everything would change between us if we went to bed together.

  Once the stew was done, he spooned it into bowls.

  I sniffed the meaty aroma, and my mouth watered. It smelled delicious. I smiled. “So what’s going on?”

  He put a plate of bread on the table. “I’m a visual learner, and I’d like to see the models with the lay of the land. It helped me see more clearly what we were discussing.”

  So we aren’t having sex now? Damn. It was my fault too.

  One of the sexiest parts of Warren was his raw ambition and belief in himself. My ex would never have spoken to a contractor unless the contractor was a patient and even then, he drugged people out for a living.

  “Happy to help with the vision.” I walked into the living room to see the buildings he’d made of Popsicle sticks and went to my knees. He probably hadn’t slept in days. I perused them. “You really believe in yourself, Warren.”

  He stood above me, and my pulse zipped. He knelt beside me and said, “I want your opinion.”

  My lips tingled to kiss him, but I jumped up and rushed to the bedroom. If I initiated like I was tempted to do, I would lead him on. “Let me change and finish my stew, and then we’ll go.”

  “Perfect,” he called out as I jogged to my closet to grab my jeans. “After we finalize the model, you can start scouting for subcontractors like we discussed to get the model done fast.”

  I yanked my jeans on. Warren noticed everything about me, and I wasn’t used to being in the spotlight and wasn’t sure how to dim that or if I truly wanted to at all. I ignored my inner turmoil. “I’m on it. Just from seeing the models you made, I’m partial to the Georgian.”

  He called through the door, “The modern version of the plantation would probably have a higher sale price.”

  I finished getting dressed and saw he’d moved his models to the kitchen counter. I gulped my coffee and stared at them again. Then I met his gaze and said, “You’re right. I think it’s just the porch I love. I spent many evenings staring out a window, drinking wine, and wishing I had the guts to just leave. A porch like this would have been nice.”

  He grabbed the keys and picked up two of the models. “Would you have left sooner?”

  I stared down at the Georgian. “I don’t know.”

  He locked the door behind us. “I’m in awe that I ended up here with you.”

  “Awe is a good word.” I bounced on my toes. Warren was a sweetheart, and I needed to get myself under control.

  He bumped into me as we headed down the stairs. “I think so.”

  My skin buzzed with awareness. I half wanted to know what going upstairs and being with him in bed would be like. As we made it to the last step, I whispered, “We could—”

  “I value how on top of things you are all the time, Kerry.” He put the models in the back of his truck.

  I was saved from starting something I wasn’t sure I should. I handed him the last model. “What is it about me that you like, other than my organizational skills?”

  He held open the passenger door. “Your business acumen. You got me those contracts and picking the land.”

  Goose bumps grew on my arms. I was tempted to throw myself at him. My face felt hot. “Yeah. Something more… personal, I guess.”

  He took the seat beside me, and his stare made me all achy and needy. He sucked in a breath. “You make coming home every night after a hard day… better.”

  I massaged my bare neckline. I always used to wear a small pink stone my grandmother had given me, but I’d lost it. Warren started the car, and I let out a sigh. “Well, that’s good. At least you didn’t say you love me, because then I would feel bad.” The words tumbled out of my mouth, and I cringed. I was making too many mistakes.