He tensed and didn’t put the car in Drive. He asked in a low tone, “Why would you feel bad?”

  I pointed to the road. Maybe I would be less needy the farther we got from the apartment. We drove for a few minutes in silence. “I don’t know how to fall in love or what to do with a great guy.”

  “Your marriage?”

  “More my mother’s voice in my head.” I used to think I was unreadable. I sat back in my chair. “Yeah. She’s of the opinion that marriage brings stability and that the purpose of dating is to find a husband.”

  He let out a chuckle as we drove onto the property. “You’re stable on your own, and love is easy.”

  A smile grew on my face. Since I’d been helping him, I’d been laser focused and the opposite of lonely. “One of the things I do like about you, Warren, is that you’re not superrich and looking for arm candy. You see that I’m capable of more.”

  His lips thinned as he stared at me, but then he put the truck into Park and hopped out without a word. My heart thrashed, but then he opened my door for me. “I’d never ignore you.”

  I relaxed my shoulders and took one of the models. We walked into the grass and put them down, side by side. I stared at them. The sun would set soon, and the clean air filled my lungs. I was free of my lust, and my mind was clear. “You don’t know what money does to people. You will once you build these plantation-style homes.”

  He crossed his arms. “You think that’s it?”

  I knew what property would look like in the end. “With the lake and a drive around the lake along with homes set back from the road, this place will be a goldmine for escaping Northerners not wanting Florida but wanting a better climate and slower pace.”

  His arm hung next to mine.

  Butterflies danced in my stomach. I wished he’d kiss me right here.

  Instead, he placed his hand on my back and said, “Let’s head home before it gets dark.”

  I needed to get my mind right. We were a work thing, and maybe if I wasn’t so nervous near him, we could be a casual thing. We carried the models back to the truck. What had happened earlier clearly hadn’t meant as much to him.

  My heart pounded. I didn’t say a word for a while.

  As we neared our street, I crossed my legs and asked, “Do you want a few more small jobs till we close on the property?”

  He parked the car. “Fill my schedule till I’m tired to the bone.”

  I nodded and hopped out before he tried to help me. I grabbed one of the models to carry as I said, “I’m on it, boss.”

  “Don’t call me that.” He quickly joined me, holding the other two models.

  For a second, I couldn’t breathe. I wasn’t sure what to say. As we made our way upstairs, I asked, “Why not?”

  “Because we’re partners.”

  His words made my blood rush forcefully through my veins. I glanced at him, and my lips tingled for another kiss. “Okay. I like that better. We’re equals, then.”

  He juggled the models but got the door open without incident. “I need to tell you something.”

  We went inside. I half expected a dark secret, and I swallowed hard. “What?”

  We put the models on the floor in the living room. “I was successful as an investor. I’m just not touching that money for a year to prove I can run this business.”

  So he would be perfectly acceptable to my mother and father if I ever brought him home. I stiffened, remembering my mother’s voice, but I couldn’t hold that against Warren. I squeezed his arm. “That does explain a few things about you, like a personal shopper that’s not your Maman.”

  He pivoted and was so close that I couldn’t see anything but him. “Like what?”

  The ache to be his rocked me to my core. No man ever made me feel so alive just from being so close. “You have excellent credit, hated thrifting, and didn’t know how to pay for the phone.”

  He shrugged. “I used to have a personal shopper, but I like our life as it is. It’s like I found my home with you.”

  Me too. I liked being with Warren. “I’m ready now.”

  Then I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him.

  The moment his lips met mine and he kissed me back, bliss overtook every cell in my body. We could belong to each other, if he still wanted.

  22

  Kerry

  Warren’s touch set me on fire. As we made it to the bedroom, and he kissed me near the bed, the sweet burn grew stronger. Without clothes, he would ignite me.

  Our lips met again, and I ached for him. My heart beat wildly as I unzipped my dress.

  He stepped back, gave me a smile that made my knees weak, then tossed his white shirt on the ground.

  Those muscles of his made my pulse zip. I swallowed and wiggled out of my dress until it hit the ground around my feet.

  His eyes widened, and I leaned back on the bed to avoid falling. He followed, brushed my hair behind my ears, then lowered himself, kissing me again.

  I curled my arms around his hard, muscular body, and my heartbeat spiked.

  His kiss burned into me like we were the only people in the world and he was mine forever.

  His short hair was surprisingly thick when I ran my hands through it. He moved lower and helped me out of my bra.

  I let out a sigh. If I was to be naked, he should be too. I reached for his pant zipper and jolted. He was big and hard. I swallowed but then unzipped his pants. My body hummed to have him.

  He helped by tossing his pants and underwear next to the bed. I rolled my panties off. With Warren, I felt empowered.

  I traced his body and gently kissed parts of him as we were swept into a bubble of desire.

  He did the same, guiding my legs over his as he lowered himself to suck on my nipple.

  I arched to give him access as sensation rushed through me. My body was sensitive and needy as he suckled.

  A soft sigh escaped me as he continued and encouraged me to lie back.

  Then he went lower. All I could do was moan.

  I bucked when his tongue pressed my core. My body trembled as he focused his attention.

  My eyes rolled backwards as he worked his magic on me, and I lost the ability to think.

  My body wasn’t my own. As I arched, he went deeper, and I lost the ability to see. I was a in a sea of sparkling pleasure.

  I tried to hold myself together, but once his tongue finished, he slipped a condom on and pressed inside me.

  “Warren…” came out more like a moan, and as he pumped into me, I was in perfect bliss.

  The moon was outside the window when my eyes fluttered open, and I stared into his blue eyes.

  “How are you?” he asked, making my heart flutter.

  My body was warm, curled into his, and a smile formed on my face as I realized how wonderful sharing the bed was. “Amazing.”

  He held me tightly. “You’re beautiful.”

  Under the sheets, I realized he was getting hard again. Our bodies touched, and I was happy not to move. “I never thought skin or looks mattered. It’s what’s in the heart, and my heart has some bruises on it.”

  His gaze narrowed. “You’re sweet.”

  I laughed. Maybe not mentioning Romeo was proper, but I was tired of being perfect and doing what was expected of me. I held Warren, the only one I wanted. “I didn’t make a list of chores to do after.”

  His gaze held a wicked gleam. “I’d be offended if you did.”

  I hugged him. “I’ve never said a word about that to anyone. Please keep the compliment to yourself.”

  He traced my face as if was enchanted. “Kerry, one of the best things about you is how you make me feel comfortable too. I feel like I can tell you anything.”

  The feeling was mutual. I batted my eyelashes and asked, “Do you have anything to confess?”

  His gaze narrowed as he drew back. “Is this a confession now?”

  My heart raced. I must have messed up by talking about my ex. I shivered. “No. I told you an intimate secret.”

  He lowered himself back on the pillow and took my hand to hold between us. “I’ve had girlfriends before, but you’re the only one that I can picture in my life for more than a moment. I trust you.”

  I swallowed. I wasn’t ready for a lifelong anything and told myself it was just casual sex. Before I could say anything, my phone rang.

  Warren reached across the nightstand and grabbed my phone. He swiveled back and handed it to me. “You should answer. It’s your mom.”

  She was the only one who called me other than Warren, as my father was never a phone person. “It’s late for her.”

  He shrugged. “Might be important.”

  I pursed my lips, imagining how she would object to how I was running my life, as Warren wasn’t a doctor or an insurance expert like Dad. “We’ll see.” Then I answered and ignored how rattled my skin was when I asked, “Mom, is everything okay? You’re calling late.”

  “Did I wake you?”

  I took Warren’s hand. “No. What’s going on?”

  “I spoke to Romeo.”

  Thankfully, I hadn’t hit the speaker button. I closed my eyes and whispered, knowing Warren heard everything, but I wished I hadn’t answered. “We’re divorced. If you love me, you won’t talk to him anymore.”

  “He told me. I was in complete shock, but he implied you were cheating on him with a Norouzi.”

  This was the late-night emergency? The name meant nothing to me, except it had been on Warren’s driver’s license. Who I was with didn’t matter to Romeo, though. I blinked. “I don’t know who that is.”

  “We’d like you to bring him home.”

  Right. Then they could judge whether he was good enough for me. If Warren was successful, maybe she would accept him in my life. Her approval wasn’t necessary, but she’d been the only anchor in my life forever. I let out a sigh. “Mom, I’m going to make my own life choices this time, and right now, I should tell you that I really like a guy, but know right now that he’s a general contractor.”

  “You do?”

  “Absolutely.” I said.

  Warren winked at me.

  My mother said, “Be careful not to get your heart broken, dear. People who think money never comes never have it. And you only know the nice parts of life. Please don’t be afraid to talk to me.”

  When she wasn’t applying constant pressure for me to be someone I couldn’t be, she was a decent mom. My lips tingled as I stared at Warren. “I have to go. Bye.” I hung up and turned the phone off. There would be no more interruptions.

  I handed Warren the phone, and he put it behind him. “So you like me?”

  I nodded. “Like” was too weak a word. “You make me believe in myself.”

  He pressed his forehead to mine, and warm goose bumps grew all over me as he said, “Likewise, though there is something I should tell you about me.”

  I kissed him lightly. “It can wait. I think we should re-create what happened earlier.” Then I tugged him closer and let our lips meld together.

  I needed him inside me again. The rest of the world could wait, because for once, I was happy.

  His warm body against me and his hand holding mine startled me as I woke. It was still dark. I jumped, but he turned toward me and continued to slumber.

  I took a few deep breaths. For years, I’d been alone in a bed. My ex was usually absent and left me after sex, not that he’d been thrilling between the sheets. Warren outclassed him.

  My heart beat wildly, but I lay back down. Maybe I should have regretted what we did the night before, but I felt my lips curve into a grin.

  I was happy. He was there and stayed and cared about me.

  He hugged me, and tingles shot down to my toes, the way they always did when I touched him. “Good morning,” he whispered.

  “Morning,” I said, and my eyelids fluttered closed.

  As his hand cupped my hip and our lips met, the world stopped. I wanted him again.

  He ended the kiss. “I wish I didn’t have the cabinet installs today.”

  I sat with him and repeated his full schedule in case he’d forgotten. “And the new-washing-machine install, the ceiling-fan change, and the new-office-cabinet install.”

  He tilted his head. “Want to get out of here and come with me?”

  I blinked, unsure if going was a good idea. My head was a mess. I blinked and said, “I should handle the paperwork.”

  He stood and stretched, clearly not caring that he was naked. My core still tingled from having him inside me. Heat rose in my face, and I turned away.

  “I was thinking you could check out the houses where I install and take notes on homes in the area and how we can ensure ours are well-liked in the internal space.”

  I stood and met his gaze. “I love that you respect my opinion.”

  He winked as he grabbed a shirt. “You wouldn’t be my partner if I didn’t.”

  I gave him a thumbs-up and was happy the night before had just been sex. I grabbed my things and headed to the bathroom. “Right. And okay, I’ll go and take notes.”

  “Awesome,” he called behind me.

  Business partners and casual sex as an added bonus meant everything was fine. We were living day-by-day, and no hearts were on the line. I could handle that.

  23

  Warren

  I wasn’t the chef in my family, but I’d figured out how to not ruin eggs when I fried them. So I set the toast, started the coffee, and heated the frying pan.

  Kerry was in the shower. My phone rang, and I set the eggs on the counter as I answered. “Gerard, I didn’t think you’d call.”

  “I let her stay in the spare room and called movers for today.”

  Wow. My brother’s life was a mess. I was absolutely sure he would have moved on already. Maybe she’d found his weakness, helping foster and adopted kids like we’d been. I glanced at the door. “Don’t fall for a woman’s sob story.”

  He made a sound like he didn’t want to talk about it. “What about you?”

  Gerard would figure out his own life. I sprayed the pan with olive oil. “Well, I have a new girlfriend, but I think I’m rushing things.”

  “Why?”

  I checked to be sure the door was still closed and walked to the other side of the small apartment. “I don’t think she’s ready for a relationship.”

  “But you are?”

  I wanted her in my life. I nodded. “Absolutely.” Then I headed to the kitchen and rubbed my neck. “Are you sure you want this ex of yours to leave?”

  Gerard sighed. “I’d rather not talk about that right now. How do you know your new girlfriend is the one for you?”

  I cracked the eggs into the pan. “She makes me feel whole, but I haven’t officially talked to her about feelings.”

  “Then nothing is confirmed. Is this the divorced woman Jeff helped you with?”

  My heart pounded. “Yeah.”

  “Do you know her life story and why she’s getting divorced?”

  Gerard was a leader because he saw details. “Some, but there’s more.”

  “Well, before you get your heart broken, get her story and her commitment before you tell anyone else in the family. For all you know, she’s another Regina.”

  I didn’t believe that, but he offered good advice. The door handle turned, so I said, “Fair enough. Talk to you later, Gerard.”

  Then I hung up and returned to my eggs. As Kerry joined me, I knew I needed to take our relationship one step at a time until I knew for sure she was ready.

  24

  Warren

  The day flew by, and Kerry pitched in a few times to help me angle in some of my counters.

  The guys who were painting the house and the team working on the fireplace were all there, so we talked as we ate lunch.

  Kerry giggled the whole time, probably because she was the only woman there. As we left, I placed my hand on her back and asked, “What are your thoughts?”

  She pointed behind her. “Some of the guys you work with are hilarious.”

  I nodded. She was right. They were fun to spend a few hours with as we worked. “I want some of them to work on our project, too, if possible.”

  She tried to rein in her smile as she saluted. “Get their info so I can schedule everything.”

  I walked her to the truck. “About the houses?”

  “Twelve-to-fifteen-foot ceilings are ideal. I loved how Frankie took his time in the house and made every ceiling slightly different. He has talent.”

  “Agreed.” I opened the door. “You fit in today.”

  She slid into the truck. “You didn’t share any silly stories about risks you took in your younger days.”

  Shyness wasn’t my thing. I rubbed my neck as I walked around then joined her. “Did you want me to?”

  She opened her window and let in some fresh air. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  My mind quickly settled on one story. “Well, when I was skiing with my brother Gerard, we were racing so fast, he dropped his pole, as he was determined to beat me down the mountain. I tossed mine to ensure I won, and we were probably going sixty miles per hour or more. I’d never gone that fast in my life.”

  She pressed her hand on my heart. “I don’t ski, but that doesn’t sound good.”

  It wasn’t. I could have flown into something or someone and hurt myself or others, but I had been a stupid teenager. I nodded. “I was clueless and speeding like a bullet train. Faster and faster down the mountain until suddenly, I saw people. My heart was in my throat, as I wasn’t sure how to stop. I whizzed past my mother only because Arman shuffled her out of the way.”

  She covered her lips. “What?”

  I nodded. “A second later, Arman and Cyrus, the older and clearly wiser ones, barreled into us, knocking us both on our asses. Our skis went flying in the air while we cooled off in the freezing snow. Cyrus shouted how we were reckless and put people’s lives in jeopardy. It was the only time in my life I remember being happy to be knocked down for being an idiot.”