Nex

Book Two in the Steel Brothers Series

Cheryl Douglas

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Chapter One

Nex

“You’re pathetic,” my brother Seb said, tipping his beer back as he rolled his eyes at me. “She’s
made it clear she’s not interested, so why the hell are you still sniffin’ around her?”

The woman in question was the sexy little waitress at my favorite biker bar. I’d met Jaci a few

months back, and she’d been giving me the brush-off ever since. If not for my impenetrable ego, I
might have been offended.

“She never said she’s not interested in me specifically,” I reminded my older brother. “She said

she doesn’t wanna get tied down right now.” I grinned. “I never said I’d tie her down, though I sure as
hell wouldn’t mind.”

“She’s in college, isn’t she?” Seb asked, tracking her as she crossed the bar to refill a drink

order.

“Yeah, so?”
“Too young for you,” he muttered. “Probably too innocent too.”
I’d gotten to know Jaci pretty well over the last few months. I knew that she’d grown up in a

single-parent home after her father died when she was six. Apparently, her mother was a regular
church-goer who was convinced sex outside of marriage was a sin.

“She’s twenty-four,” I said. “Only six years younger than me.”
Seb shrugged. “Not as bad as I thought. I would have pegged her for a lot younger.”
Yeah, me too. I’d been relieved to find out fate hadn’t been cruel enough to deliver my fantasy

girl in an illegal package. “She took some time off after high school to work full-time and save money
for college. Apparently, her mama couldn’t afford to send her and she didn’t want to accumulate a lot
of student loans.”

Seb narrowed his eyes at me. “Since when do you take the time to get to know a girl’s life

story?”

He was right. Most girls drifted in and out of my life in the span of a couple of nights and I was

lucky if I remembered their name a week later. “What can I tell you?” I said, watching some mean-
looking biker with full sleeves chatting up Jaci. “Just ’cause she keeps shooting me down doesn’t
mean I’m ready to give up. Figure if I hang out here long enough and get to know her better, she’ll
cave eventually.”

Seb laughed. “This is good for your ego. You’re used to women throwing themselves at you. It’s

nice to see a girl who’s not afraid to make you work for it.”

I was ashamed to admit he was right. If Jaci had gone home with me the first night we met, I

didn’t think I’d be sitting here now, watching her every move. “She’s makin’ me work for it, alright.

But that’s okay. It’ll just make the reward that much sweeter.”

“Could be she’s just not into you,” Seb suggested, grinning. “Ever think of that?”
“You’re the one who’s used to getting shot down, not me.” We both knew I was just busting his

chops. If the Steele brothers shared one trait, it was the ability to attract gorgeous women. “Besides,
Jaci’s made it clear she’s not immune.” She once admitted the sparks between us were enough to light
her panties on fire, which she claimed was the reason she had to keep her distance.

“So why won’t she go out with you if she’s so interested?”
“This is her first real shot at freedom,” I said, reciting the story she’d told me. “I told ya, her

mama’s a Bible-banger. Might as well have made her wear a goddamn chastity belt.”

Seb’s jaw dropped. “You’re not telling me she’s a virgin?”
I understood my brother’s confusion. With that curvy little body on full display in a short skirt

and low-cut tank top, she looked like a naughty cover girl. “Not a virgin, just not very experienced.” I
liked that about her. Most of the girls I’d dated used sex to get what they wanted. Jaci wasn’t like that.
In fact, I sometimes wondered if she had any idea how sexy she was, despite the fact she clearly spent
the better part of her life warding off pigs who made it their mission to get her into bed.

“Is that what she tells you?” Seb asked, looking amused. “’Cause I’m not buyin’ it. I’ve seen the

way she flirts with these guys.”

So had I, and the more she invaded my thoughts, the more I hated her flirtatious nature. “She’s a

waitress, man. She basically works for tips. If the guys like her, they tip more.” I should know—I
usually tipped her fifty percent of the bill.

“So let me get this straight,” Seb said, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he tipped his

chair back. “She’s a good girl who’s just trying to get an education? Then why’s she working in a dive
like this?”

I’d asked her that same question. There were a hundred other places she could have worked, but

according to her, this was within walking distance of the little house she rented with her three
roommates. Since she didn’t have a car, proximity to work was almost as important as flexible hours.
This job offered both.

“She’s working in a dive like this ’cause she needs the money,” I said, glaring at him. I hated that

he was calling Jaci’s character into question. He didn’t know her like I did. “Not everybody makes a
few mil a year, asshole.”

Seb was the king of classic car restoration, and he’d taken to restoring some of the rarest cars in

the world and reselling them, making him a wealthy man in the process. Not to mention his latest TV
gig. I couldn’t turn on the tube without seeing his smug mug staring back at me.

“I get that,” he said, raising a hand. “I just can’t help but think she’s stringing you along, making

you feel sorry for her so you won’t hesitate when she eventually hits you up for a loan.”

Seb wasn’t the only one at this table making a boatload of money, but I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t

give it away to every pretty girl who asked. “She’s not like that. She believes in working hard and
paying her own way. Like I said, she didn’t even want to take out student loans for school. It took her
five years, but she managed to save up enough for tuition. She works here to pay for her living
expenses, books, and spending money.”

“She like to party?”
That was the one thing that didn’t sit well with me. She wasn’t promiscuous or indiscriminate,

but if there was a party, Jaci’s roommates talked her into going. She claimed she’d worked hard and

deserved to enjoy her first taste of freedom—the college experience, as she put it. But I’d been to
college. I knew how crazy those parties could get.

“Yeah, you could say that.”
Seb’s lips twisted, and I knew he wasn’t trying very hard to keep a straight face. “Good for her.

You only live once, right?”

I scowled as I caught some dirty old biker running his hand up the back of her tanned thigh. If it

got any higher, I was going to have to lay him out in front of his brothers, which I knew would result
in trouble I didn’t need.

“I’m trying to convince her she doesn’t need to party to have a good time.”
Seb coughed on a mouthful of beer, covering his mouth so he didn’t spew it across the table.

“That… coming from you?”

Sure, I liked to have a good time, but my safety had never been an issue. Jaci was a beautiful

young woman who routinely went out with girlfriends who drank as much as she did, making them all
vulnerable to sick freaks who liked to target women who couldn’t defend themselves.

“I can take care of myself. She can’t.”
“Is that why this has become your second home the last few months?” Seb asked. “Because you

feel the need to look out for her?”

“Someone has to. Why not me?”
“Ryker says you’ve actually been coming into work on time lately. Does that mean you haven’t

had too many late nights?”

I hadn’t had the desire to party as much since I met Jaci. At least not parties for two with the

opposite sex. “I get out.” I gestured to our favorite dimly lit dive. “Case in point.”

“When was the last time you got laid?” he asked, looking so smug I wanted to reach across the

table and knock out those pearly whites.

“Unlike you, I can get laid any time I want to.”
“Prove it.” He gestured to my cell phone, which was sitting on the table between us. “Pick up

the phone and make a date right now. Get her to meet you at your place in say, an hour.”

“I don’t have to prove anything to you,” I said, reaching for my beer.
“Face it,” he said, sneering at me. “You’re too obsessed with this one to think about anyone

else.”

“Obsessed?” I laughed, trying to deny his claim held a ring of truth. “Man, you’ve been watchin’

too many chick flicks. I’m intrigued, that’s all.”

“Oh yeah? Then why are you here almost every night, even though she keeps shooting you

down?”

“I’ve only asked her out a couple of times.” I flirted; she flirted back. We’d kissed a couple of

times, after I’d cornered her in the hallway, but she still continued to insist she wasn’t looking to hook
up with a guy like me, whatever the hell that meant.

“I say you keep your distance for a while,” Seb said, raising two fingers at Jaci to indicate we

were ready for another round. “Maybe if you keep her guessing, she’ll take the bait.”

He might be on to something, but it was tough to imagine a day without my Jaci fix. “I’ll handle

it,” I said before draining my bottle. “My own way. I sure as hell don’t need advice from the man who
taught me how to be a player.”

Seb grimaced. “Maybe I did you a disservice.”

“What do you mean?”
He lifted a shoulder before tipping back his own bottle and dropping it on the table with a loud

thump. “Sometimes I think I’m gettin’ too old for this shit, ya know?”

“What’s that mean? You want what Ryker has?”
Our oldest brother had been married for years, and he had a couple of teenage boys who meant

everything to him. Even though Ryker and his wife, Mac, had gone through a brief separation recently,
I’d never known two people more perfect for each other.

“I don’t know, maybe.” Seb glanced around the bar, filled with bikers and their old ladies.

“Being alone gets old after a while.”

“Since when do you spend time alone?” He ran a successful business and had his pick of

beautiful and willing women to take home at night.

“Since I got tired of the games.” He swiped a hand over his face. “I’ll be turning thirty-three

next month, kid. Being single, different woman every night is great when you’re twenty-three, but it’s
not so much fun in your thirties. Am I right?”

I’d been thinking the same thing lately. “Maybe.”
“But if you’re looking to settle down, you best look elsewhere,” Seb said. “You said yourself

Jaci got a late start. She’s got a lot of crazy left in her.”

I wasn’t trying to prevent her from getting a little crazy. I just wanted it to be with me.
“Here you go, boys,” Jaci said, setting the bottles down between us as she collected the empties.

“Can I get you anything else?”

Our eyes locked, and I knew she was thinking about what had gone down between us last night.

Our second kiss. It happened in the hallway. She was on her way into the ladies’ room while I was
coming out of the men’s room. We nearly collided, and when my hands circled her waist to steady her,
I had to steal a taste of those tempting cherry lips. She opened without hesitation, just as she had the
first time I kissed her a few weeks ago, and I knew no matter how immune she claimed to be, I was
definitely wearing her down.

“What time do you get off?” I asked, glancing at my Rolex.
Last call would be in a few minutes, and I wanted to make sure her roommate planned to pick

her up. I hated the thought of her walking home alone, and she claimed cabs were a waste of money.

“About an hour,” she said, smiling to include Seb. “And let me tell ya, I’m countin’ the minutes

tonight. I’m dead on my feet.”

My eyes landed on the pretty pink toes peeping out of her five-inch sandals. “I give a great foot

massage.”

Her hand came down on my shoulder, making my whole body stir. “I’ll just bet you do,

sweetie.”

“Jade coming to pick you up?” I asked, referring to her roommate.
“No, the girls are all at some party tonight,” she said, blowing her side-swept light-blond bangs

out of her eyes. “I would’ve gone, but I got stuck covering Kelly’s shift when she called in sick.”

I knew she’d be here tonight because I texted to make sure before Seb and I decided where to

meet for beers. “I’ll wait around, take you home.”

Her blue eyes widened before she said, “Oh, you don’t have to do that, Nex.”
“Why? You got another ride lined up?” If I found out some other guy had beat me to it, I’d be

pissed.

“No, but—”
“Good, it’s settled then. I’ll wait.”
She huffed before finally breaking into a smile. “Since I know you better than to think you’ll take

no for an answer, I’ll just say thank you.”

My lips tipped up as I reached for her free hand, bringing it to my lips. “You’re more than

welcome, beautiful.”

Seb waited until she walked away before he shook his head. “You sure you haven’t tapped that?

I felt like a goddamn voyeur watching you two.”

The connection was palpable. Every time she was around, I felt the force of it surging through

my body. “Only a matter of time before we hook up,” I said, grinning as I reached for my second beer.
Since I was driving, that was my self-imposed limit.

“That’s all you’re looking for with her?” Seb asked, crossing his arms on the table as he leaned

in. “A hookup? You sure as hell are working hard if that’s all you’re after.”

“No, I want more than that.” I didn’t know how much more, since I’d been so focused on getting

her to agree to a first date. I hadn’t thought about what might happen when she finally said yes.

“How much more?”
“I don’t know yet,” I said, trying not to sound defensive.
Seb chuckled. “I hate to remind you, but of all of us, you are the absolute worst when it comes to

relationships.”

Just because I hadn’t met anyone who appealed to me didn’t mean I wouldn’t be ready to put

down roots if I met the right girl. “Maybe Jaci’ll be the one to make an honest man of me.”

“Or maybe she’ll be the one to destroy you.” Looking somber, Seb said, “It happens to the best

of us, man. You think you’ve found the one, then she bails like you meant nothing to her.”

Seb had had a thing with a woman who worked for him a few years ago. Just when it seemed

like it was getting serious, she left town with no explanation. “I don’t think Jaci’s going anywhere.
She’s got a lot of school ahead of her before she gets that degree.”

“I just don’t wanna see you get in over your head. She’s told you she’s not ready for anything

with you right now. Maybe you should just let it go, forget about her.”

I’d been trying to do that ever since we met, but I felt like a chronic dieter trying to break a sugar

addiction. Every day presented a new challenge. “Easier said than done.”

“So what? You try to be her friend?”
That was a new approach for me, but I’d learned being her friend was better than not being in

her life at all. “Why do you say it like that’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Seb rubbed his hands over his face, looking suddenly exhausted. “Look, I know you’re new to

this whole dance, but the last thing you want is to wind up in the friend zone.”

I couldn’t imagine that ever happening to me. I wasn’t the sweet, sensitive type girls liked to

confide in about their troubles. I was usually the one causing the trouble, the one they were
complaining to their friends about. “I’m not worried.”

“Maybe you should be.” Seb sighed. “Either make your move or back off. Don’t let her make a

fool of you, Nex.”

“What the hell are you talking about? No woman has ever or will ever make a fool of me.”
“You say that now. Wait ’til she tells you she’s out with the girls and you find out she’s been

bangin’ some other guy.”

“When did you get so cynical?”
He stood up, peeling a few bills off a roll he kept in his pocket. “When life kicked me in the

teeth a few too many times.” He gripped my shoulder as he walked past. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn
you.”

Chapter Two

Jaci

Being in a car alone with Nex, breathing in his scent, was making me crazy. This was the first time
we’d been alone together, and if I thought trying to control myself in a bar full of people was hard,
that was nothing compared to how hard it was to keep from jumping him when we were alone
together.

“This is it,” I said when we pulled into the driveway of the little house I shared with three

roommates.

He looked up at the single-story, white clapboard house, frowning. “You should keep some

lights on.”

“Porch light is burnt out,” I muttered, twisting my purse strap in my hand. “I guess the girls

forgot to leave a light on inside when they left. It’s fine, I’ll—”

“I’m walking you in,” he said, holding his hand out for my keys.
I’d never be able to resist Nex within a few feet of a sofa or bed. Hell, even a wall would do at

this point. I hadn’t had sex in eleven months, and the celibacy thing was starting to get on my nerves,
especially since my girlfriends came home every night bragging about their sexual escapades.

But Nex was the guy my mama always warned me about: sexy, always with a ready line, popular

with the ladies, and money to burn. Falling for someone like him could only lead to heartbreak—if I
was looking for a relationship. Which I definitely was not.

I sighed when I realized he wasn’t budging until he’d seen me inside. Dropping the keys into his

hand, I jumped out of the car before he could open the door for me as he had in the parking lot.

His long strides made a joke of my short ones, meaning he met me at the front of his classic

muscle car before I could run up the stairs. Reaching for my hand, he turned me to face him. “Why are
you always in such a hurry to get away from me, beautiful?”

Because you scare me. “I’m not.”
“I think it’s because you’re afraid of this.” With his free hand, he gestured between us. “You felt

it the first night we met, and you can’t deny it’s been building ever since.”

Yeah, like a tinderbox about to spontaneously combust. “I think you have an overactive

imagination,” I said, trying unsuccessfully to tear my gaze from his. He had the most incredible blue
eyes I’d ever seen. Every time he looked at me like that, as though he were thinking about all the dirty
things he wanted to do to me, I was tempted to let him take me on the spot.

“Maybe I do.” He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my cheek. “Maybe right now I’m imagining

how amazing I could make you feel if you’d just let me.”

I held my breath to suppress the helpless whimper bubbling up inside. “I told you I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” he asked, tipping his head back to look at me.
“Can’t, won’t, what’s the difference? The answer is still no.”
“Hmm,” he said, curling his hand around my hip. “So you’ve said. But the way you kiss me says

something else.”

That was the problem. Every time he kissed me, I was putty in his masterful hands. That was

what convinced me that giving in to Nex would be a very, very bad idea.

I braced my hands on his powerful shoulders. “I don’t want a boyfriend.” I knew one night with

Nex could change all that. I’d told myself I wouldn’t get tied down in college the way I had in high
school. I’d enjoy the experience, free and single, with no one to answer to but myself.

“Did I ask to be your boyfriend?”
I was grateful there were no lights to illuminate my embarrassment. “No, but…”
“But what?”
“I’m not very good at the whole casual sex thing.”
He squinted those eyes, filled with mischief, that I could get lost in. “I had a feeling.”
“But I bet you are.” I didn’t have to ask, I knew guys like Nex had revolving doors in their

bedroom.

“Do I like sex? Yes. Do I appreciate beautiful women? Absolutely. Give me both and I’m a

happy man.”

I tried to take a step back, but he caught me before I could get away. I didn’t appreciate his

flippant attitude about sex. I knew my religious upbringing had a lot to do with it, but I still believed
the act of sharing your body with another was special, sacred even.

“Why do you do that?” he asked, forcing me to look at the ink decorating his powerful biceps

instead of into his eyes. If not for the full moon overhead, I wouldn’t have been able to see a thing.
Perhaps that would have been better.

“Do what?”
“Shut me down like that. It’s obvious how I feel about you, and you can’t deny you’re attracted

to me.”

“The only thing that’s obvious to me is that you want to get me into bed.”
He took a step back, raising his hands. “I get that you’re not that kind of girl, Jaci.”
Oh, but I could be with him. And that’s what worried me.
“So how ’bout we start with dinner and see where we end up?”
I knew where we’d end up. In his bed, with me trying to sneak out in the middle of the night to

avoid an awkward morning-after scene where he promised to call but never would. Once he got what
he wanted from me, he wouldn’t want me anymore, and I’d be left berating myself for not trusting my
instincts.

“I don’t think so.”
I made it up the three steps leading to our front door before he was crowding me against the

weathered, splintered wood.

“Just tell me why not. The truth.”
I curled my hand around the knob, knowing I couldn’t open it without the key I’d given him.

“You want the truth?” I asked, turning to face him. “All through high school, I dated one guy.” I held
up my index finger to emphasize the point. “Everyone, including my mama, thought we’d get married.”

“What happened?”

“I woke up one day feeling like I couldn’t breathe.” I’d never forget the day I realized I had to

get out of my small town and see more of the world, to experience all the things I’d never had a taste
of before. I suddenly wanted wild parties, alcohol, hot sex, sexy guys, and life without my mama
breathing down my neck and weighing in on every decision I made. “I knew I had to get out of there,
to get away from him… and her.”

“Who are you talking about?” he asked, frowning. “Your mother?”
“Yeah, and my boyfriend.”
He took a step back, clearly curious about the man I’d never mentioned to him before. “How

long did you guys date?”

“Since my sophomore year of high school. We broke up when he went away to college but got

back together when he came back two years ago. He started pressuring me about getting married, and
I just couldn’t do it.” I felt the wave of nausea wash over me again as I saw the disappointment on
Scott’s face when I told him it was over.

“When did you break up with him?”
“Right before I moved here. The plan was for me to go to the University of Georgia since we

lived in Hartwell, not far from Athens…” I stopped talking when I realized I was babbling.

He smiled, encouraging me to continue.
“He was devastated.” Tears burned my eyelids. “I felt terrible. Scott was one of the nicest guys

I’d ever met. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.”

He reached around me, unlocking the door before pushing it open. As soon as we were inside,

he flicked the switch, bathing the small entrance in light. “I want to hear more about this Scott guy.
Why haven’t you told me about him before?”

I shrugged, wishing I hadn’t mentioned him now. Scott was a part of my past. I’d moved to

Tampa to reinvent myself, to start over. “I didn’t think it was important.”

“It’s obviously a big part of the reason why you don’t want to get involved with me, so I’d say it

is pretty important. Do you still love him?”

A part of me would always love him, but that didn’t mean I wanted to go back to the life we had.

For the first time, I finally felt I was alive, doing things I never would have dared before. Like
working in a biker bar and dressing to turn heads.

“I’ll always love him, Nex. That’s the way it is when you spend so many years with someone.” I

didn’t expect him to understand. I had a feeling the milk in my fridge had longer expiration dates than
most of Nex’s relationships. “But I want a different life now. I want to push the boundaries, to
experience things I never have before.”

He stepped back, brushing a hand over his short black hair with a frustrated sigh. “They say

timing is everything. Seems to me like I met you at the worst possible time.”

“What do you mean?”
He made strong eye contact, failing to blink. “I’ve done all the things you claim to want to do.

I’ve partied, drank too much, slept around. Now I want more, and I want it with you.”

It was difficult to breathe as I tried to fight the magnetic pull drawing me to him. “I never said I

wanted to sleep around.”

“No, but you never said you want to sleep with me either.”
It would be so easy to say “I do,” because I did. But one night would lead to another, and before

I knew it, I wouldn’t be able to get enough of him. “I want…” I rested my hands on his chest,

captivated by the solid beat of his heart under my hand. It reminded me that Nex was human too. He
had a heart that could break as easily as mine could, and while I wasn’t arrogant enough to think I
would ever be the woman capable of breaking him, that reminder prompted me to be more sensitive.
“I want my freedom. That’s what I need more than anything now.”

He dropped his head, bracing his hand on the wall above me. “And you don’t think you could be

with me and have your freedom at the same time?”

Some things were too good to be true. That was one of them. “No, I don’t. I’ve seen how you get

when a guy hits on me. We’re not even dating and you’re already territorial. What would it be like if I
agreed to go out with you, or worse, we slept together?”

He flashed a quick grin, the panty-drenching kind. “That wouldn’t be the worst thing that could

happen to you, trust me.”

I tried to smile, but my lips couldn’t move with his eyes locked on them. “I’m sure it wouldn’t

be. Still, it’s not a good idea.”

“After hearing your story, I can’t even disagree.”
Huh, he’s giving up just like that? Guess he isn’t as interested as I thought. I knew I should be

relieved, not disappointed, but I couldn’t deny it stung. “Good. Then we’re in agreement.”

“I didn’t say that.”
His lips hovered above mine, daring me to take what I wanted, but I refused to make a liar of

myself. No matter how badly I wanted to.

“You might be right. You. Me. Might be a bad idea, given where you are, where I am.”
I wanted to ask where he was, what he wanted, but that would make it seem like I was wavering

and I wasn’t. Was I? It was hard to make sense of anything with his mouth so close to mine.

He curled his large hand around my hip. “See, here’s the thing. I’ve tried getting you out of my

head, and I just can’t seem to do it.”

I know the feeling. Ever since I’d met Nex Steele, he’d had the starring role in my dreams.
“I know that if I got you in my bed, I wouldn’t want to share. Knowing you’re out partying every

night, getting drunk with your girls, getting hit on by guys…” He shook his head. “That wouldn’t sit
well with me.”

He was talking about taking away my freedom, my right to choose, just like Scott and my mother

had tried to do. “That’s why I can’t do this.”

Before he could object, our attention was drawn to a fit of giggles on the porch, followed by a

dull thud and a muffled curse, which led to more giggles.

Apparently, my roommates were home. I didn’t know if I should be relieved they were saving

me from finishing this conversation or pissed they had lousy timing.

“Seems we have company,” Nex said, stepping away from me to open the door he’d closed

behind us. “Hey, girls, need a hand?”

They reacted the same way I had the first time I laid eyes on him—utter shock. No way could

any man be that perfect. But after months of looking for any tiny flaw, I knew he really was that
perfect. Damn him.

“Oh. My. God.” Jade’s jaw dropped. “Nex. Steele. What are you doing here?”
Jade had seen Nex in the bar a few times and told me if I didn’t want him, she would be happy

to take him off my hands. Uh, yeah, no thanks.

“Just seeing Jaci home. Can I give you girls a hand?” he asked, grinning at Miranda, who was

leaning heavily on the house as though she needed the support to maintain an upright position.

Miranda glanced at his hands before skimming her fingertips down his muscular chest. “Hmmm,

I know what I’d like you to do with those hands.”

She did not just say that! “Uh, get in here,” I said, stepping forward to usher my drunk friends

inside. “You’re letting the bugs in.” Helping them inside meant my back was pressed to Nex’s front,
giving him the opportunity to rest his hands on my hips. Not that I minded. If his hands were going to
be on anyone tonight, I wanted them on me.

God, that man had me so confused. He had me wavering between possession and freedom every

other minute.

“Do you need help getting to your room?” I asked, gripping Casey’s, my third roommate’s, arm

as she stumbled through the door.

“I can handle it,” Jade, who happened to be the least drunk of the bunch, said and linked arms

with Casey and Miranda. “You just say good night to your man.”

“He’s not my…” It was no use. They were already halfway down the hall, laughing about

something that happened at the party they’d attended. “Sorry about that,” I said, looking up at Nex.
“They tend to get a little carried away.”

“How about you?” he asked, skimming my cheek with his hand. “Do you like to get carried away

too?”

I’d drunk more in the months since I moved to Tampa than I ever had in my life, but my

roommates still thought of me as a lightweight since I couldn’t put away as much as they could. Nor
did I want to. I really enjoyed my new life—partying, having fun, meeting new people, stepping out of
my comfort zone—but I could always hear my preacher’s voice in my ear, warning me about the
perils of excess.

“I wouldn’t say that.”
“There’s no better feeling in the world than letting go,” Nex said, brushing his lips against my

neck. “But you don’t need alcohol to do that. You just need to clear your mind.”

Hmmm, I saw his point. Right now the only thing on my mind was how long it would take to get

out of our clothes and whether we had the restraint to make it to my bedroom. “How do you suggest I
do that?”

He chuckled, the deep sound sending chills chasing each other all over my body. “I’d rather

show you than tell you. Do you work this weekend?”

I worked every weekend, but when I agreed to take Kelly’s shift tonight, she said she’d work for

me Saturday night. “I have Saturday night off.”

“Any plans?”
I was sure my friends had a good time lined up for us, but I couldn’t kill my curiosity about what

Nex might propose. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Have dinner with me.”
It wasn’t a request. He didn’t sound uncertain the way most guys did when they asked me out on

a date. He sounded sure of himself, as though he’d been waiting for me to concede, certain I would
eventually.

“You could say no again…” His words were a whisper on my skin, causing me to sink my teeth

into my lips to suppress a soft moan. “But we both know you don’t want to. Not this time.”

“Fine,” I said, drawing a shuddering breath. “One date.” I would have several days to change

my mind or at the very least to remind myself of all the reasons I absolutely could not sleep with him.

He looked smug when he moved in for a kiss. I expected it to be deep and probing, but it was

brief, leaving me wanting more, which I was sure had been his intent. “I’ll call you tomorrow. We’ll
decide when and where.”

“Okay.” I watched him take a step toward the door before he surprised me by reaching for my

hand and bringing it to his lips.

“I won’t make you regret it, Jaci.”
I was already regretting it, but not because I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust myself.

Chapter Three

Nex

Ryker and Mac invited me for dinner, and since I’d considered going back to Jaci’s workplace for the
third night in a row, I accepted their invitation to resist temptation. “Thanks for having me,” I said,
grabbing my sister-in-law’s hand and kissing it as she reached over my shoulder to set a salad bowl
on the table. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in ages.”

“You really should learn to cook,” Mac chastised, claiming the seat beside me, her husband on

the other side, at the head of the table. “Eating takeout day after day isn’t good for you.”

“I can grill a steak,” I said, shrugging as I reached for the platter of pasta my nephew Zane

handed out to me. “So I won’t starve.”

“Are you holding out?” Mac teased, nudging me in the ribs with her elbow. “Hoping you’ll find

a good woman to cook for you?”

Ryker laughed. “He’s still got his eye on that little waitress from Downlow.”
Mac wrinkled her nose. “The pretty blonde waiting tables at the biker bar we went to a few

months ago?”

“That’s the one,” I confirmed, handing her the platter as I reached for the warm bread my

nephew Cole offered. “God, that smells good,” I said, inhaling deeply as the aroma of fresh-baked
bread teased me. Ignoring the rest of the offerings, I slathered the bread with butter and took a huge
bite. “Tastes even better than it smells.”

“I made an extra loaf,” Mac said, touching my arm. “Remind me to give it to you before you

leave.”

I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You are an angel.”
She laughed, rolling her eyes. “You’re so easy, Nex. All it takes is baked goods to win you over.

I want to hear more about this girl. What was her name again?”

“Jaci.”
“That’s right,” Mac said, smiling. “I remember that sweet Southern drawl of hers. Where’s she

from?”

“Georgia.”
“You should invite her up to the cottage this weekend,” Mac said. “We’re all going, and Seb and

Brody said they could make it too.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised my brother, the world-famous poker player, would be in town. I

hadn’t heard from him in a few weeks, and he hadn’t said anything at the time about coming home.
“When’s Brody getting in?”

“Sometime Friday,” Ryker said, reaching for his beer. “He said he’d stop by the office to see us

when he gets here. Apparently, he’s going out with an old friend Friday night, but he’ll meet us up at
the cottage on Saturday. You should definitely come. Bring Jaci.”

I’d love to bring Jaci, but I suspected meeting my loud and boisterous family on a first date

would scare her away. Not that she hadn’t met them before at the bar, but being in a social setting, as
my date, was different.

“I think we’ll just keep it low-key,” I said. “Dinner on Saturday night. She probably has to work

on Friday night, and I’m not sure about her plans for Sunday.” Something with me if I had my way.
She’d agreed to one date, but I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with that and I hoped she wouldn’t be
either.

“You got a picture of her?” Zane asked. “I wanna see what this chick looks like.”
“She is not a chick,” Mac said, frowning at her son. “She is a lovely young lady.”
“Actually, I think I do have a picture here,” I said, scrolling through the images on my phone.
I’d taken a selfie of us when she landed in my lap after I tugged on her wrist, catching her off

guard. She was laughing, flashing her dimples, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
Any time I needed a reminder of why I’d sworn off other women, all I had to do was look at that
picture.

“Here she is.” I passed the phone to Zane, who held it between himself and his brother.
“Holy shit!” Cole exclaimed. “She’s hot! Look at that rack!”
Mac’s jaw dropped before her cheeks turned pink. “Pardon me?”
“Uh, sorry, Mom,” Cole said, looking sheepish as he handed the phone back to me.
At fifteen and sixteen, those boys were the next generation of Steele brothers. God help all the

innocent females who would cross their path.

I tried to hide my smile as I slipped the phone back in my pocket, knowing Mac was still pissed

with her younger son. “So what brings Brody back to town?” I asked Ryker, trying to change the
subject to save my nephew from another tongue lashing. “Just coming to visit the fam?”

“I don’t know,” Ryker said, smiling at Mac when she passed him the bread basket.
That single look made me understand what Seb had been talking about the other night. Even

though none of us had ever been big on commitment, Ryker’s marriage reminded all of us of what
we’d been missing by staying single.

“I got the feeling that friend he’s having dinner with on Friday night is a woman. Could be she’s

the reason he’s back.”

I wouldn’t be surprised. Wherever Brody went, women and trouble usually followed. “You see

Seb lately?” My brother’s melancholy mood at the bar last night had been bugging me. It wasn’t like
him to be moody or introspective.

“A couple of days ago,” Ryker said, popping a bite of bread into his mouth. “Why?”
“He seem okay to you?”
Mac frowned. “What’s wrong with Seb?”
Since she and Ryker had been together twenty years, she was like a big sister to all of us, and

when something went wrong, she expected to be kept in the loop.

“I don’t know that anything’s wrong,” I said, trying to choose my words carefully. I didn’t want

to bring the wrath of a concerned Mac down on Seb. “He just seems to be getting tired of the single
life. He said something about maybe settling down someday soon.”

Nudging her shoulder with mine, I said, “It’s your fault, you know. We all see how good this guy

has it with you.” I raised my chin in Ryker’s direction. “And we all wanna find our own Mac now.”

“Good luck with that,” Ryker said, reaching for his wife’s hand. “There’s only one Mackenzie,

and she’s all mine.”

“Guys, please,” Zane said, rolling his eyes. “We’re trying to eat here.”
I knew my nephews liked to give their parents a hard time, but I’d never seen them happier than

they’d been since Ryker and Mac got back together. “I don’t think anything could slow you two
down,” I said, looking at their near-empty plates. “Did you guys just inhale all that food or what?”

“We gotta go soon,” Cole explained. “Our friends are picking us up. We’re going to watch a ball

game.”

“Cool,” I said, taking a mouthful of pasta.
“Uncle Nex, will you tell Mom and Dad I’m not too young to get a tattoo?” Zane asked.
Shit, I wasn’t touching that one. We all had gotten our first tattoos when we were in our late

teens or early twenties, but it was a big decision, and I could understand why Ryker and Mac wanted
their son to wait until he was older to make that call.

“Don’t drag him into this,” Ryker warned. “Your mother and I said no, and the answer is no.”
“How old were you when you got inked?” Cole asked.
“Uh…” If I told him the truth, his parents might be pissed, but I’d promised my nephews and

myself I’d always give it to them straight. “I think I’d just turned eighteen.” My eighteenth birthday, to
be exact.

“In other words,” Mac said to Zane, “older than you. Legally old enough to make his own

decisions, not that you’re magically blessed with common sense when you turn eighteen.”

“Mom, everybody’s getting tats now,” Zane said, pushing his chair back and crossing his arms.

“It’s art. A form of self-expression.”

I couldn’t disagree with the kid, but I wouldn’t want my son committing to something like that at

Zane’s age. My son? Where the hell had that thought come from? Kids had never even been on my
radar before. Maybe it was the talk I’d had with Seb about settling down or it could be breaking
bread with Mac and Ryker. Either way, the idea of kids wasn’t making me break out in a cold sweat.
Huh. I must be maturing.

Lost in my own thoughts, I was startled when Zane and Cole jumped up when a car horn honked

outside. They shook my hand, kissed their mom on the cheek, waved at their dad, and promised not to
miss curfew before they were out the door.

The phone rang, and Mac glanced at the call display. “It’s my mom. There was an issue with a

delivery at the bakery today. I asked her to call when they sorted it out. Would you guys excuse me? I
won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” I said, polishing off my pasta. “I’m not going anywhere ’til I get a piece of that

chocolate cake over there.”

She laughed as she set her hand on my shoulder while getting up. “Who do you think I made it

for?”

Ryker watched his wife rush out of the room to take her call, a smile splitting his face.
“I know I don’t have to ask, but things are good between you two again?” I snagged my beer,

which Mac insisted on pouring in a glass, as I observed my brother. He was the oldest, the father-
figure in our family, and the one person in the world I respected more than anyone else.

“Better than it’s ever been,” Ryker confirmed, grinning. “I never would have asked for that

separation, but I have to say, almost losing Mac helped me realize I can’t live without her. My life…”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t make sense without her, man.”

Jaci popped into my head, and for the first time ever, I was beginning to understand why my

brother said he needed his wife. I hated it when days passed and I didn’t get to see Jaci’s beautiful
face or hear her laugh. And I hadn’t even slept with the woman yet. How crazy was that?

“Okay, out with it,” Ryker said, leaning forward. “What’s on your mind?”
If anyone could give me relationship advice, it would be Ryker. He knew what it took to land a

quality woman and make her so happy she wasn’t interested in looking elsewhere. That’s what I
wanted, to make Jaci realize I was the only man she needed. For now. I wasn’t looking to put a ring
on her finger; I just wanted her in my bed most nights. Until we both agreed we’d gotten our fill of
each other and it was time to move on.

“Jaci told me about this boyfriend,” I said, struggling to remember his name. The only thing that

mattered to me was figuring out whether he was the reason she was hesitant to get involved with me.
“They broke up before she moved here. But I guess things were pretty serious. They were talking
marriage.”

“Is he still in the picture?”
“I don’t think so.” Though I couldn’t say for sure that she didn’t keep in touch with him. If I were

him, I’d probably stick around if only to convince her to give it another chance. “But it sounds like he
had her mother’s approval.”

“And that’s important to Jaci?”
“You know how it is, Ryk. When you’re raised by a single mom who busts her ass to provide for

you, you’d do anything for her, even if you sometimes butt heads.”

We were silent for a minute, and I knew we were both thinking about how much we missed our

ma, how much we wished she were there with us.

“Sounds like Jaci’s mom’s pretty religious. She raised her right but may have kept her on a short

leash, if you know what I mean.”

Ryker grinned. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Her mama would’ve locked her up and thrown

away the key if she slept around.”

“Something like that. So now that she’s on her own, she wants to experience all the things she

couldn’t when she was living under her mother’s thumb.”

“Makes sense.”
It made perfect sense, but it was providing one hell of an obstacle for me, and I didn’t know

how to overcome it. “So because of her unquenchable thirst for freedom…” God, I was starting to
hate the sound of that word. “And the memory of her ex still fresh in her mind, she’s not interested in
dating just one guy right now.”

“Ah,” Ryker said, smiling as understanding dawned in his eyes. “And you don’t wanna share?”
“What do you think?”
Nex and serious relationship would have been antonyms in any thesaurus, but I had a problem

with sharing my women. If they were sleeping with me, they weren’t sleeping with anyone else. No
exceptions.

“Sounds like you’ve got a problem.”
“I know that,” I said, pushing my empty plate aside. “What I need to know is what to do about it.

She finally agreed to go out with me on Saturday night, and I don’t wanna screw this up by making all

kinds of demands on her, but I can’t be with her without wanting to sleep with her. And I can’t sleep
with her without having her assurance she’s not sleeping with anyone else.”

“Sounds like you might be best to leave this one alone, Nex.”
“No!” Ryker looked as surprised by my vehement reaction as I was. “I’ve been after this girl for

months. I’m not giving up now when I’m so close to getting what I want.”

Ryker stroked the stubble on his chin. “And what you want is to get her into bed?”
What I wanted from Jaci went so far beyond sex it was actually starting to scare me a little, but

that didn’t mean I had any intention of backing off. “I want to date her and see where it could go, but
yeah, of course I want to sleep with her.”

Ryker seemed to consider my dilemma for a minute before he said, “You know, I had the same

problem with Mac in the beginning.”

“You did?”
I was just a kid when Ryker met Mac, so I didn’t remember much about it. All I knew was that

she’d always been there, a part of our lives and our family. She’d been the glue that held us all
together when we lost our mom, and her parents had become like our surrogate parents, reminding us
all that life had to go on and we had to be there for each other like never before.

“Yeah, she’d had a serious boyfriend through most of high school too. Apparently, he was a

decent guy—her folks liked him, which was good enough for her at that time.” He grinned. “I was the
antithesis of what her parents would have wanted for her. Motorcycle gangs, drugs, booze, wild
women… you can imagine how her father, the cop, felt when he found out about me.”

I laughed, thinking about Mac’s dad, Bill, and how much he’d come to love Ryker. The son he’d

never had, he said. “Bill was tough, but you won him over. How’d you do it?”

“I eventually proved to him that I loved his baby girl, that I’d never let anyone or anything hurt

her, that I’d always take care of her and be there for her.” His smile was sad, almost wistful. “I can
say this now, Nex—as a parent, that’s all you can ever want for your kids. That they’ll find someone
who’ll love them, treat them right, not hurt them, protect them, support them…” His voice drifted off,
and he chuckled softly as though he realized he’d been babbling. “I’m sure that’s all Jaci’s mama
wants for her.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.” It’s not that I ever expected to meet Jaci’s mother or have reason

to ask for her blessing, but if she was working behind the scenes, trying to get Jaci back together with
her ex-boyfriend, that could definitely be a problem for me. “But Jac’s a grown woman. She can
decide for herself what and who she wants, right?”

“True,” Ryker said, shaking his head. “But sometimes it’s hard to make good judgment calls

when you’re too close to a situation.”

“What do you mean?”
“I’m sure Jaci’s mama’s warned her about dating the ‘wrong men’ all her life,” he said, making

air quotes around the words. “She did it so Jaci’d know what to look out for when a guy like that
crossed her path, right?”

“I guess so.” I didn’t like where he was going with this.
“And let’s face it, Nex. You’re the guy Jaci’s mama warned her to stay away from. So can you

blame the poor girl for having her doubts about you?”

I couldn’t blame her, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
“Think about it,” Ryker said. “We grew up being warned against gators, sharks, and rattlers,

right?”

I couldn’t believe my brother was comparing me to a venomous snake. I may have broken my

fair share of hearts over the years, but I wasn’t lethal. “What’s your point, Ryker?”

“If you see one, you’re smart enough to steer clear. Am I right?”
“So?”
“Jaci’s been warned about guys like you all her life. Is it any wonder she’s trying to keep her

distance?”

I hated to admit it, but it made perfect sense when Ryker put it in those terms. “So what am I

supposed to do?” I raised my hand before he could interject. “And don’t tell me to give up on her
’cause that’s not an option.” Ryker studied me so long I started to get uneasy. “What? Why the hell are
you looking at me like that?”

“I’ve never seen you like this over a girl. She’s really special, huh?”
Ryker already knew she was. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard me talk about Jaci and how

frustrated I was that I wasn’t making any headway with her. “Yeah, she is. So let’s hear it, Dr. Phil.
How do I win her over?”

He smirked. “Short answer? Surprise her.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s expecting you to be a certain type of guy based on your reputation. Prove that you can

change for her.”

Did I really want to change? I liked myself just fine the way I was. “I don’t know if I like where

you’re going with this.”

“Do the kinds of things for her you’ve never done for a girl before.”
“Like?”
“Romantic dinners, flowers, cook for her…” Ryker laughed at my raised eyebrow. “You’re

right, scratch the cooking. You’re trying to impress her, not make her sick.”

“Shut up, smartass. This is serious.”
“Okay, just do the opposite of what you’d normally do.”
He wasn’t helping. “Such as?”
“Call when you say you’re going to. Make her breakfast in bed instead of trying to sneak out the

next morning.” His lips twisted. “No, better yet, go the café and buy her a coffee and muffin.”

I could do those things. In fact, for Jaci, I’d enjoy doing those things. The problem with her

wasn’t calling when I said I would, it was resisting the temptation not to call every time I thought
about her. Which was pretty much all the time. As for breakfast in bed… the only problem with that
would be tearing myself away from her long enough to feed her.

“Think you can handle that?” Ryker asked. When I nodded, he said, “Just remember, it’s the little

things that’ll impress a girl like Jaci. She won’t care if you can afford the fancy cars and designer
clothes. She’s probably used to a simpler life.”

I suspected he was right. Jaci told me her mom was a substitute teacher who did odd jobs,

including pet sitting and grooming, to earn extra money. “Maybe she’d like a taste of the finer things
though,” I said, thinking about how much fun it would be to treat her to the kinds of things she’d never
been able to afford.

After growing up poor, years of earning a six- and seven-figure income working with Ryker had

taught me that being rich was a hell of a lot more fun.

“Just take it easy on that stuff,” Ryker warned. “You don’t want to make it look like you’re

showing off or trying to buy her affection.”

I could see how that might be a deterrent for someone like Jaci, who was used to working hard

for everything she had. “Okay, I’ll give it some thought.” I glanced at my watch. She’d texted to tell
me she was getting off early tonight, but Jade was picking her up, so I could call her later to discuss
our plans for Saturday if I wasn’t busy.

Even if I was busy, I’d always make time for her.
“You have to head out?”
“Yeah.” I stood, collecting my plates and taking them to the dishwasher. “Tell Mac I took my

cake to go.” I cut a big slab and put it in one of the plastic containers Mac had stacked on the counter
for leftovers. Licking the icing off my fingers instead of using a napkin, I said, “Damn, this is good.
How’re things going for Mac and her mom at the bakery anyhow?”

“It’s going great,” Ryker said, beaming with pride. “Their biggest problem is keeping up with

the demand, especially now that they want to start taking orders for wedding cakes.”

“Mac at it full-time?” I asked, sticking a fork into the remaining cake on the platter. I didn’t want

to sacrifice my own piece.

“No, she still wants to be here for the boys. Says it won’t be long before they’re headed off to

college and she doesn’t want to miss out on the last few years they’re at home, working all the time.”

“Man, that’s crazy, the thought of them going off to college soon,” I said, propping my hip against

the counter. “It seems like just yesterday they were born.”

“Yeah, I know,” Ryker said, looking somber as he shook his head. “That’s the crazy thing about

life, little brother. It passes too quickly. That’s why you have to make sure you’re not wasting your
time with the wrong girls. Cuts in on the time you could be spending with the right one.”

Damn. If those words didn’t hit me hard. “I hear ya, Ryk.”

***

I took a quick shower and hit the sheets when I got home, settling in for what I hoped would be a

long conversation with Jaci. We’d spoken on the phone a few times before, but most of our
conversations were in person or via text when she was running from one place to another. It would be
nice to have her undivided attention for a change.

“Hey, beautiful,” I said, smiling at the sound of her voice. “You weren’t sleeping, were you?”
“No, I was just watching TV in my room.” Her laugh was husky when she said, “Okay, maybe I

was nodding off a little. Between school and work, it’s been a long day.”

“I can let you go if you’re tired.” That was the last thing I wanted to do, since I’d looked

forward to talking to her all day, but I’d worked my way through college too. I knew how draining
those years could be.

“No, I want to talk. How was your day?”
It was a simple question, but it made me smile because I couldn’t remember the last time a

woman had cared enough to ask about my day. “It was good. Work was good, and then Ryker invited
me to his house for dinner.”

“Ryker’s the oldest, right? The one who makes the custom motorcycles?”
I thought it was kind of cute she had to ask. Ryker was a household name in Tampa, his ugly mug

often appearing on TV and in magazine ads. “That’s right.”

“He was with his wife, Mac, when y’all came into Downlow the night we met, right?”
“Good memory.” I was glad she remembered details about the night we’d met. I could recall

everything from the perfume she was wearing to the color of her lip gloss.

“Your family is really tight, aren’t they?” she asked, sounding wistful.
“Yeah, we are.” I knew she was an only child who’d often wished for siblings.
“Scott had a big family too. They kind of adopted me when we were together since I was at his

house so much. That’s been one of the hardest parts, losing touch with his family.”

I was curious about the man who’d been such an important part of her life, but I couldn’t deny it

stung a little to hear about the life she’d built with him.

“I’m sorry. That was weird, wasn’t it? Talking to you about my ex. Can you tell I’m hopelessly

out of practice when it comes to the whole dating thing?”

“Tell me more about him. I want to know.” It may have been a stupid question, one I would later

regret, but I wanted to hear more about the man who’d once captured her heart, maybe so I could
figure out how I measured up.

“He was—is a good guy.”
“You keep in touch?” Should we start seeing each other regularly, sleeping together, I knew I’d

have a hard time with her maintaining a friendship with her ex, but I was determined to burn that
bridge when I got to it.

“Yeah, he calls or emails once in a while just to check in.”
“Wow, that’s what I call an amicable breakup.”
“I think both he and my mama are convinced that I’ll come back to him someday. Scott thinks I’ll

hook up with some hot guy, have a meaningless fling, figure out it’s not what I want, and beg his
forgiveness.”

I wondered if I was setting myself up to be her meaningless fling. “Can you see that happening,

getting back together with him?”

“No, we had our time. It’s over now.”
I sensed some hesitancy in her voice, but since she’d given me the answer I’d been hoping for, I

decided not to push. “So, about Saturday,” I said, opting for a subject change. “Where would you like
to go?”

She laughed. “I haven’t had a chance to eat out much, so I’ll let you decide.”
She didn’t seem as enthused about the dinner as I was hoping she would. “Is something wrong,

Jaci? You’re not having second thoughts about going out with me, are you?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m just not much of a fine-dining kind of girl. I wouldn’t want to

embarrass you.”

My income allowed me to dine in the finest restaurants in the city whenever I chose to, but I was

just as happy sitting at home with a few buddies, a pizza, and beer. “We can keep it casual if you
like.”

“You’re probably going to think this is weird, but do you think I could cook for you?”
I thought about Mac’s comment about holding out for a girl who could cook. Could I really be

that lucky? “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’d love that. My sister-in-law was just lecturing me tonight
about eating out so much.”

“Ugh, I hate takeout. I cook whenever I can, but since I’m so busy and our kitchen is the size of a

walk-in closet, I don’t do it often anymore. When I was growing up, since it was just me and Mama
and she was working all the time, I did all the cleaning, cooking, and laundry.”

“Sounds like you had to grow up too soon.” I could relate. Things had never been the same for

us after our mom died. Ryker did his best to fill the void she’d left, but nothing could. That’s why
we’d all been so grateful when Mac came into Ryker’s life. We’d all missed having a woman around.

“I don’t know about that.” I could hear the smile in her voice when she said, “It may sound

crazy, and not very politically correct in this day and age, but I absolutely love domestic stuff like
that.”

Had any other woman said that, the warning bells would have been going off in my head, but

hearing Jaci’s confession made me smile. “You’re a real June Cleaver, huh?”

She giggled. “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I’d love to have a house someday, maybe even a

little restaurant back home. That’s always been my dream.”

I tried to ignore the pang of fear when she talked about moving back to Georgia when she got her

degree. She had three years left. A hell of a lot could happen in three years. “So you love it there?
Where in Georgia did you say you were from again?”

“Hartwell. It’s a small town, less than five thousand people. But yeah, I guess I do love it. Don’t

get me wrong, I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there, to go somewhere no one knew my name, but
now that I’ve been gone for the past seven months, I’m anxious to go back when school lets out.”

I tried to quash my panic. It made sense she’d want to go home to visit her mom, but wouldn’t

that mean she’d also be seeing her ex? “You’re going back for a visit? When?” Maybe if it was just a
weekend visit, I could talk her into letting me drive her. It was only nine hours. I could swing that.

“I’m going back for the whole summer, actually. I’ll be leaving right after exams.”
I shot up in bed, now drowning in the dread I’d been trying to suppress. “Why do you have to go

back for the whole summer? Why can’t you stay here?”

“I can’t afford to pay living expenses for three extra months, Nex. My mama, God bless her, will

let me stay with her for nothin’ so long as I do my part. That’ll give me a chance to work and save
more money for books and spending money for next year.”

“If you need money, I can lend it to you.”
“Aren’t you just the sweetest thang?”
Normally I loved to hear that Southern twang of hers, but with my heart beating out of my chest, I

was having a hard time appreciating much of anything. “I’m serious. Just tell me how much you need,
and I’ll write you a check.” My brothers had always warned me about loaning women money, but I
knew Jaci was nothing like the opportunists I was used to dealing with.

“I couldn’t take your money,” she said, sounding as though the notion was ridiculous. “Besides,

the house we rent belongs to Miranda’s uncle, and he comes back for the summer.”

“Why?” Damn it, why was the universe conspiring against me?
“He’s a college professor in Utah or something, I think. When school gets out, he comes back

here. It works for all of us, since the four of us all go back home for the summer.”

I was scrambling, trying to think of some reason for her to stay, aside from building a

relationship with me, but I was coming up empty. Finally, I voiced my biggest fear. “I guess you’ll be
seeing your ex while you’re home, huh?”

“Like I said, it’s a small town. I’m sure I’ll run into him at some point.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I sure as hell wasn’t.

“Why not? We ended things on good terms. We’re still friends.” Before I could comment, she

said, “So about Saturday—I’m really excited about cooking for you. I bet you have a big ol’ kitchen,
don’t ya?”

“Uh, yeah.”
Suddenly, Saturday’s date was more important than ever, now that I knew my time to convince

her to take a chance on me was winding down. If she went back to Georgia while we were still in the
friend zone, her mother and ex-boyfriend would have all summer to convince her that he was the right
man for her.

“Are you sure you’re okay about doing dinner at your place? If you’d rather go to a restaurant

—”

“No!” My house would be better, more intimate. “I, uh, just sold my condo a few months ago.

Bought a place in Westchase. Have you ever been?”

“No, but I heard it’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, it is.” For the first time in my life, I felt at home, and I couldn’t wait to share the place I

loved with Jaci.

“Hey, isn’t there a great farmer’s market there?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, I love going to the farmer’s market. I haven’t been since I left home. This’ll probably be

my last of fun, since I have to cut back on work to start studying for exams next week—”

“You won’t be at the bar anymore?” Damn, I could practically hear the clock ticking. She’d be

taking her exams at the end of next month, which didn’t give me much time.

“I might be able to pick up a few shifts. I just hope I’ll be able to go back there in the fall. When

I started, I told them I’d be heading home in the summer. They said they couldn’t make any promises
about hiring me back on, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

I sure as hell wouldn’t mind seeing her work in a safer environment, where guys weren’t hitting

on her every time she turned around. “If you want, we can make a day of it on Saturday. We can pick
up the food we need for dinner at the farmer’s market and I can show you around town.” Maybe she’d
fall in love with it too and wouldn’t want to leave.

“Oh, that sounds great! What time shall I be ready?”
Her enthusiasm made me smile. Maybe this wasn’t a lost cause after all. I’d thought I had three

years to convince her going back home was a bad idea, not five weeks, but I’d work with what I had.
“How about ten? Too early?”

“Um, the girls invited me to a party on Friday night. It’s my last night off before I start studying

for exams.”

If there was a silver lining in all this, it was that she wouldn’t have as much time to party with

her girlfriends now that she had to buckle down and prepare for exams. “We can make it a little later
if you like.”

“No, you know what? Ten is perfect. I don’t want to waste the day in bed.”
I couldn’t think of a better way to waste my time than spending the day in bed with her. “Great,

I’ll see you then.” I knew I may be pushing my luck, but I had to ask. “Uh, Jaci?”

“Yeah?”
“Would you mind giving me a call when you get in from that party on Friday night? I won’t sleep

unless I know you’re home safe.”

She sighed but sounded more contented than annoyed. “I thought I had you all figured out, Nex

Steele. Then you go and say something like that and I just melt.”

I assumed melting was a good thing. “Is that a yes, you’ll call?”
“I’ll call.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”

Chapter Four

Jaci

I was going through my closet, trying to pick out an outfit for my date with Nex, when Jade barged in
and plopped herself down on my double bed.

“Is that what you’re wearing tonight?” she asked, eyeing the bright yellow sheer top with

matching tank in my hand. “It’s cute.” She pointed at a pair of multi-colored strappy sandals with a
high spiked heel. “With those shoes and your black skinny jeans. Hot.”

I guessed I should be more concerned with what I was wearing to the party they were dragging

me to in a few hours, but I was more excited about the prospect of spending an entire day with Nex
tomorrow. “I was actually looking for something to wear on my date tomorrow night.”

Jade shot up, looking at me wide-eyed in the mirror. “You have a date? And this is the first I’m

hearing about it? What the hell, girl? Why’re you holding out on me?”

Even though we just met when we responded to Miranda’s ad to share the house, we’d all hit it

off right away, especially Jade and me. “I’m cooking dinner for Nex at his place tomorrow night. No
big deal.”

She bounced up on her knees. “No big deal? Are you freakin’ kidding me right now? That guy is

a very big deal.”

I laughed at the implication, certain she was right. “I’m trying not to make too much of it,” I said,

hanging the blouse on the back of the door as I sorted through my drawers, trying to find the skinny
jeans she’d suggested. I’d wear the heels too, but maybe toss a pair of flip-flops in my bag for the
farmer’s market.

“Tell me everything,” she said, clapping. “Dinner at his house? Where does he live?”
“Westchase.”
“Oh my God! I love it there!”
“Yeah, I’ve heard it’s nice.” High-end shopping, great cafés, and restaurants. None of which I

could afford on a part-time waitress’s salary, but I was sure it would be fun just to window shop and
daydream. “Nex suggested we make a day of it, so he’s picking me up in the morning. We’ll go to the
farmer’s market, probably grab lunch, and then who knows.”

I recognized my mistake immediately as soon as Jade started wagging her groomed eyebrows.
“I am not sleeping with him, so get that idea out of your head,” I said, smacking her shoulder

with the back of a flip-flop I’d just fished out of my closet.

“I can’t believe it took you this long to agree to go out with him.”
“I was trying to resist,” I admitted, knowing how pointless that was. Nex had me wrapped

around his little finger within five minutes of meeting him. But I’d spent the last several months living

in denial, trying to pretend I wasn’t falling for the bad boy my mama had always warned me about.

At least I’d be escaping for the summer, getting a little breathing room. Maybe I’d be able to

come back in the fall and see Nex without feeling like a teenager with her first crush.

“I don’t see why,” Jade said, inspecting the pink polish on her nails. “You’re single, he’s single.

Why try to resist when you’re obviously hot for each other?”

Jade and I had a lot in common, but our views on sex were completely different. She’d promised

to corrupt me before graduation, but I assured her my mother’s warnings about going to hell for
having indiscriminate sex were more potent than any bottle of Jim Beam.

“I think Nex is a great guy.” If he wasn’t, I wouldn’t be going out with him, but I also knew he

and Jade had attended the same school of sexual instruction—as often as possible with anyone who
gets your motor running. “But that doesn’t mean he’s a safe bet. You know guys like that are only
interested in a one-night stand. Once they’ve had you, they don’t come back for more.”

“So what?” Jade asked, raising her palms. “If they give you one unforgettable night that fuels

your fantasies for the next ten years, it’ll have been worth it.” She jumped to her feet, gripping my
shoulders. “Listen to me. Every girl needs to sleep with the sexy bad boy at least once in her life. Just
for the experience. If you don’t, and stick with the safe guys forever, you’ll regret it when you’re
forty-five and scheduling sex with your husband around ballet recitals and little league games.”

I stared at my friend, who was my polar opposite in the looks department. She was tall; I was

short. She had dark hair and eyes; I had light. She was tanned; I was fair. But I had never felt our
glaring differences more than I did in that moment. “I can’t sleep with someone I don’t love, Jade. For
me, sex is all about the emotional connection.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s only because you’ve never slept with a guy just for the sake of

getting off.”

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Now she sounded like a guy. “And what makes you think I’d want

to?”

“Think about it for a minute,” she said. “You came here ’cause you needed to get away from

your boring life, your mother’s rules, and some dude who stuck to you like glue, right?”

“I guess.” I felt bad for characterizing Scott that way. Sure, we’d been inseparable for a long

time, but we’d both wanted it that way.

“Then you need to mix things up.”
“I’m going out to get loaded tonight, aren’t I?” Though my and Jade’s definition of getting loaded

were different. I stopped at tipsy but still able to walk a straight line. She didn’t stop until she was
flashing the bouncers and puking in the bushes.

“Since you’ve been here, you’ve gone to a few parties, sure. But for the most part, you’ve been

so focused on work and school, you haven’t even made time to get laid. How sad is that?”

I shuddered to think of how many men Jade and my other friends had been with while I was busy

working or studying. “I hear what you’re saying, I do. But I’m in a different situation than you are. I
was in a relationship for so long, it’s nice just to be single, not to have to worry about checking in
with anyone or compromising to make someone else happy.”

Jade stepped back, slapping her palm against her forehead. “You’re missing the whole point.

Random hook ups are all about being anonymous. For that night, you get to be or do anyone you want
without having to worry about what comes next. Come on, Jaci. You can’t tell me you don’t miss sex.”

I did miss it. A lot. “I’ll think about it. I promise.” Though I knew random hook ups would never

be my thing no matter how hard she tried to sell them. I had to know and like someone before I
crossed that line with them. I knew Nex. I liked him. Maybe Jade was right. He was the perfect
candidate to take the edge off.

Just as she was about to continue, the cell phone on my bed rang. Scott. It was his birthday, and

I’d sent him an e-card to let him know I was thinking about him. He was probably calling to thank me.

“I should get that.”
“What you should do is tell your ex to stop calling you so you can both get on with your lives.”
Jade had never been in a serious relationship, so she didn’t understand it wasn’t always easy to

cut those final threads. “You hit the shower first, but save me some hot water,” I said, swiping my
finger across the screen to connect the call before I lost it.

I waited until Jade was out of the room before I said, “Hey, Scott. Happy birthday.” Wishing

each other a happy birthday had been a ritual of ours even while he was away at school and we
weren’t a couple, so I saw no reason to end that tradition this year.

“Thanks. It’s so good to hear your voice.”
Uh-oh. The last few times I’d talked to him, his mood had been melancholy, making me wonder

if he was doing as well with the breakup as he’d claimed. He told me he was putting himself out there
and dating again, and I wanted to believe him since he deserved to be happy, but he wasn’t making it
easy.

“Yeah, yours too. So what have you got planned for today? Are the boys taking you out to

celebrate? Hot date, maybe?” I knew I was really and truly over Scott because I could ask that
question without a twinge of jealousy.

“Dinner with my family, drinks with the guys,” he said, sounding as though he was talking about

a root canal instead of a celebration with the people he loved.

“That sounds like fun,” I said, trying not to let his bad mood bring me down.
“How about you? What have you got going on tonight?”
“A party with my roommates.”
“I hate the thought of you living in a strange city, partying with people I’ve never even met.”
I sank down on the edge of the bed, knowing it was time for another one of our talks about

moving on. “Scott, the whole reason I moved here was to meet new people and start over. I’m trying
to do that. I think you should do the same.”

“You know how I feel about moving on.”
He felt it was pointless to try, since he was convinced we were going to be getting back together

someday. “I would hate myself if I felt I’d led you on in any way, so I need to say this again…” I took
a deep breath, wishing I didn’t have to have this conversation every other month. “It’s over. We’re not
getting back together. I love you as a friend, nothing more. If you’re not okay with that, then we need
to think about going our separate ways, which means no calls, no emails, no—”

“No!” He sighed. “I don’t mean to make this hard on you, Jaci. It’s just been one of those days.

Birthdays, anniversaries, they bring back a lot of memories for me. I think about the way things used
to be when we were happy, and I want that back.”

“You’ll have that again,” I said, wishing I could wave a magic wand and make him deliriously

happy again. “With someone new.”

“I don’t want someone else. I want you.”
There was only one way for me to get through to him, and I’d sincerely hoped I’d never have to

play this card. “Scott, I’ve met someone else.” God, I felt like the lowest form of life, telling him this
today of all days, but I couldn’t let him go on wasting his time pining over me.

“What? When?”
“A few months ago.” I hadn’t even been on a date with Nex. We’d only shared a few kisses, yet I

was trying to make him sound like the other man. “He’s a customer at the bar.”

“A biker?” he said, sounding disgusted. “You’re dating a biker?”
Scott was a straight-laced suit-and-tie who’d probably take one look at Nex, with his colorful

tattoos and tricked-out motorcycle, and deem him suspect. “He’s not a biker. He does ride a custom
motorcycle sometimes, but only because that’s his business.” It was ridiculous that I felt the need to
defend Nex’s choice of transportation to my ex-boyfriend.

“So you’re dating a biker.”
“That’s not the point. The point is I’ve met someone who interests me, and I wanted you to know

so hopefully you’ll see it’s really over.” After an agonizing minute of silence, I said, “I just want the
best for you, Scott. We don’t work together anymore. We haven’t for a long time.”

“But you think this biker can make you happier than I did?”
I closed my eyes, flopping back on the bed. “It’s not about finding a man who makes me happy.

It’s about figuring out how to be happy on my own.”

“If that’s true, then why are you dating?”
I knew Scott would prefer if I were living in a convent instead of a bustling city with an active

nightlife. “I’m dating because once in a while, it’s nice to go out for dinner and have good
conversation with an interesting person.”

“Have you slept with him yet?”
My eyes shot open, shocked by his audacity. “That is none of your business. I don’t ask you

about your sex life, and I’d thank you not to ask about mine.”

“For years, I was your sex life!”
I couldn’t believe his tone. Scott had always been so laidback and easy-going. Now he sounded

like an irrational freak on the verge of coming apart. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. I thought we
could be friends since we remained cordial during our last breakup, but its obvious things are
different now. I think we need to consider a clean break.”

“No!”
He was starting to worry me. I’d have to call my mama tomorrow and find out whether she’d

heard any rumors circulating about Scott. Maybe he really was coming unglued. “Okay, calm down.
Why don’t we just agree to take a little break, maybe lay off the calls, emails, and texts until school
lets out. I really need to stay focused on school right now anyhow. I can’t afford any distractions.”

“Isn’t your new boyfriend a distraction?”
I should have known he’d circle back to Nex eventually. “I need to make this clear. This break

has nothing to do with Nex. This is about you and me figuring out how to be apart. We’ve never really
given ourselves time apart, and maybe that was unfair to you. I didn’t want to be mean, refusing to be
your friend, but if this friendship has given you false hope, I’m truly sorry.”

“We belong together. You may not see that now, but you will eventually.”
There was a time I would have agreed with that statement, but if these months apart have taught

me anything, it was that I was happier being single. “You’re wasting precious time on me. Go out and
find someone who wants the same things out of life that you do.” Our town may be small, but Scott

was considered a catch. It wouldn’t take him long to find someone if only he was willing to put
himself out there again.

“You want the same things I do, Jaci. What about all the hours we spent planning our life

together?” He chuckled. “Mrs. Rourke promised me she won’t sell the old house to anyone else.
She’s saving it for us.”

We’d both fallen in love with an old Victorian that belonged to a widow. It was much too big for

her, but she said she wouldn’t sell it to anyone. Apparently, Scott had convinced her we’d be buying it
from her someday. “She shouldn’t do that. We won’t be buying that house. Not now, not ever.”

“How can you say that?” he asked, sounding more desperate. “You know you love that house.

You said you wanted us to live there, to raise our kids there. It’s right across the street from the
school, so they could come home for lunch and—”

“Scott, stop. Please don’t do this. I know we talked about those things. But it’s just not going to

happen.” I felt terrible quashing his hope, but I’d feel even worse about myself if I let him go on
believing in a future that would never come to pass. “I’m sorry.”

“You will be, Jaci. I promise you will be.”

Chapter Five

Nex

It was great to see my brother Brody again, but I couldn’t deny I was distracted. We were hanging out
at my place since his date had bailed on him, and I couldn’t stay focused on the baseball game we
were watching or the conversation.

“What’s up with you, little brother?” Brody asked, tossing a kernel of popcorn at me to get my

attention. “You’ve been in and out all night.”

I glanced at my watch. Midnight. I knew it was too early for Jaci to call, but I couldn’t help

wondering what she was up to. “Sorry, man, got a lot on my mind.” Hoping to take the focus off
myself, I asked, “Who were you supposed to go out with tonight?”

“Riley.”
“You’re shittin’ me.” Riley had been his high school girlfriend, and we all thought he was going

to go off the deep end when she dumped him after graduation. “Since when?”

He shrugged, staring straight ahead at the screen. “On and off for a while.”
I didn’t know whether I should tell him I’d run into Riley at a benefit last month. Her date was a

doctor who was being honored for his groundbreaking research. “Uh, is it serious?”

“No, just a hookup. You know, whenever I’m in town.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Glad to hear that.”
He raised an eyebrow while looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “Why do you say that? I

thought you liked Riley.”

“I do like her. She’s great. But I saw her with this guy last month and—”
“What guy?” He leaned forward, setting the popcorn bowl on the coffee table. “When? Where?

Did you talk to her?”

Judging by the fact he was firing questions at me like missiles, I had to assume their arrangement

wasn’t as casual as he claimed. “Some benefit,” I said, thinking of the best way to downplay the
interaction. Only problem? The doctor had seemed really into her, and she hadn’t been the least bit
uncomfortable crossing paths with me. She had to know I’d tell my brother once I found out they were
seeing each other again, but she obviously didn’t care.

“For what?”
“Pediatrics wing of the hospital. We donated a bike for the silent auction, so Ryker asked me to

go to represent.”

“What was he like?” Brody asked, sinking back into the cushions. “Did she seem happy?”
Damn, I’d had no idea, after so many years, my brother, the player, would still be carrying a

torch for his old flame. “He’s a doctor,” I said, clearing my throat. “I don’t know if it was serious.

She—”

“Of course it’s not serious, dumbass,” he said, scowling at me. “If it was, you think she’d still

be hooking up with me?”

I didn’t want to point out that she had cancelled her date with him and her doctor friend might be

the reason. I was pretty sure he’d already come to that conclusion on his own. “You guys ever talk
about, you know, maybe getting back together?”

“Not an option.” He glared at the screen when the opposing team scored a run. “You know my

schedule. I’m on the road more than I’m here. Riley would hate that. She’s a homebody.”

Yeah, and any man in his right mind would want to stay home with a body like that, but my

brother’s penchant for high-stakes poker took him all over the world, competing for his next million.
“Yeah, but while you’re out there, she’s back here hooking up with good-looking doctors who
wouldn’t mind quiet nights at home with a girl like Riley.”

“Why are you bein’ a ballbreaker?”
“I’m just pointing out the obvious before it’s too late.” I knew it was my job as his brother to

warn him if I saw danger headed his way, and judging by the way Riley’s doctor buddy had been
looking at her, it could mean trouble for Brody. “How would you feel if she called you up tomorrow
and told you she was getting married?”

Brody paled before clenching his fists. “She’s free to do whatever she wants. I don’t own her.”
“Maybe not, but you still love her. You’re still sharing her bed. Wouldn’t it kill you to know

you’re not the only one?” Maybe it was the fact that I was thinking about the possibility of being
exclusive with Jaci that had me wondering if Brody shouldn’t try to lock down the only girl he’d ever
loved before he lost his chance.

“Riley’s not like that,” he said, staring at the screen. “She wouldn’t be hooking up with other

guys while she’s sleeping with me.”

“Don’t be stupid,” I said, trying to get his attention. “How many times a year do you see her—

six maybe?”

“I don’t know. What the hell’s it to you?”
Brody had a bad temper like the rest of us, but I was one of the few people unafraid to push him

to the limit for his own good. “You really think a woman like Riley would be satisfied with that?”
From what my brother had told me, she was a librarian by day and porn star in the bedroom. She
liked sex just as much as he did, which was the one of the reasons Brody was still hooked on her after
so many years.

“I’m done with this shit,” Brody said, jumping up. “I’m gonna hit the shower then go to bed.”
I would have tried to stop him, but Jaci picked that second to call, and since I was more

concerned about my love life than Brody’s, I let him go.

“Hey, baby. You home?” I sat up straight when I heard her sobbing. “Jaci, honey? What’s

wrong? Why’re you crying?”

“I don’t know where I am. They left me.”
My heart started thumping wildly as I imagined her drunk in some strange house with dozens of

guys who’d like nothing more than to take advantage of her. “Who left you, sweetheart? Your
girlfriends?”

She was sniffling when she said, “Yeah. They got a ride to another party with this guy in my

economics class. I told them I had to go to the bathroom first, but they were so loaded they must have

forgotten about me.”

“Okay, calm down, babe. We’ll figure this out. I’ll come get you.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “Some guy was all over me downstairs. He got really pissed when

I told him to back off. That’s when I ran up here and locked myself in the bedroom. But what if he’s
looking for me? He might come after me. There’s no lock on the door.”

I jumped up, grateful I hadn’t changed clothes when I got home, and slipped into my shoes and

grabbed my keys. “Can you wedge a piece of furniture against the door?”

“I don’t know. I think the dresser’s too heavy for me to move.”
“Anything? A chair or nightstand, maybe?” I hated to think of her God knows where, under the

influence and defenseless.

“I’ll try to move the nightstand.”
“I’ll wait.” I jumped into my classic Charger, thinking I’d have to fire a text off to Brody to let

him know why I bailed on him.

“Okay.” Her voice was shaky when she said, “I feel better, but Nex, I just wanna go home.”
“I know, baby. Listen, go to Maps on your phone and check your current location.”
“I’m such an idiot,” she groaned. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Maybe ’cause you’re drunk and scared? When I got a face-to-face with her supposed friends, I

was gonna let them have it for leaving her high and dry. “Don’t worry. Just check the location on your
phone and text me the address. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks, Nex.”
“No problem, sweetheart.” I waited in my driveway for her text since there was no point driving

in the opposite direction. I just wanted to get to her as fast as I could before some drunk lowlife beat
me to it.

While I was waiting, I texted Brody to let him know I had to pick up a friend who’d had too

much to drink at a party and I’d see him in the morning. He was heading up to Ryker’s cottage early
the next morning, but I hoped we’d have a chance to smooth things over before he left. I hated fighting
with my brothers, especially Brody, who was on the road more than he was home.

I covered my mouth with my hand, feeling as though I could finally breathe when I got the text

from Jaci, giving me her location. Punching it into my GPS, I was relieved to find it was only fifteen
minutes away.

Be there in 15, I texted to her before I took off.
I turned up the pulse-pounding rock music to distract myself from the rage and fear coursing

through me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt more helpless or enraged. When I got that call,
heard the fear and desperation in her voice, my only thought was of rescuing her. Then when I heard
someone had tried to take advantage of her, I considered putting my fist through the wall but decided
to save the sheet rock and pummel the guy who deserved it instead. I wasn’t leaving that house until
Jaci pointed him out to me, then he’d better be prepared to beg for forgiveness, maybe even his life.

I’d grown up watching my old man hurt my mom, and I sure as hell wouldn’t stand by and let

some dirtbag instill fear in someone I cared about.

It wasn’t hard to find the party. As soon as I turned onto the street, I saw cars lining the curbs on

either side, while people spilled out onto the lawn of one house, dancing, drinking, laughing, and
fighting.

Typical college party, the kind I wasn’t sorry to have left behind years ago.

I parked my car a safe distance away, knowing it would be a target for drunk kids who wanted to

get a better look at the lovingly restored muscle car.

I tried to contain my rage as I made my way through the throngs of curious people. Most of the

guys took a step back, taking in my stance and inked arms, noting my bulging biceps as I clenched my
fists, trying to decide which of them I might have to lay a beating on tonight.

The inebriated women got a little too close, running a hand down my chest, grabbing my ass.

One even reached for my package until I seized her wrist and told her to back off.

I took the stairs two at a time. Thankfully only the door at the end of the hall was closed, so I

didn’t have a hard time figuring out where she was. Tapping my knuckles against the wood, I said,
“Jaci, it’s me. Open up.”

“Nex?”
“Yeah, let me in, sweetheart.” I could still feel the adrenaline surging through my body as my

pulse pounded in my ears. I heard the distinct sound of furniture being dragged across the wood floor
before I turned the knob and opened the door.

“Thank God you’re here,” she said, launching herself into my arms. “I didn’t know anyone here.

I don’t have any money, just my house key and phone. I didn’t think I’d need my purse or—”

“It’s okay,” I whispered, stroking her hair as I tried to contain my own anxiety. She was okay.

She was safe in my arms. That was the only thing that mattered. “I’ve got you. You’re okay now.”

I peeled her arms from around my neck so I could get a better look at her. As soon as I did, the

fury came back. Her makeup was streaked from crying, but the thing that really made my blood boil
was seeing her torn shirt. It was a white, sheer tank layered over a fitted white tank top, so she was
still fully covered, but it was obvious someone had been tearing at her clothes.

“Who the hell did this to you?” I asked, taking the shredded fabric in my hand. When her eyes

landed on my chest, I gripped her upper arms. “I asked you a question, Jaci. Did that bastard you told
me about on the phone do this?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I got away from him before—”
“Come on,” I said, grabbing her hand. “You’re going to point him out to me.”
“No!” She grabbed my wrist with her free hand, stopping in her tracks. “Please don’t start

anything. I just want to get out of here. Please.”

I understood how she felt, but no way was I going to let someone get away with thinking it was

okay to try to take something she wasn’t willing to give. “This won’t take long.” A matter of a few
seconds for me to knock him out cold.

She gripped my arm as we made our way down the stairs. I didn’t even have to ask who he was.

As soon as we got downstairs, some greaseball zeroed in on her before his eyes met mine and darted
away.

“That’s him, isn’t it?” I asked her over my shoulder.
“Yeah, but, Nex, please don’t…”
Her plea was drowned out by the aggression pumping through my veins. It had been a while

since I’d been in a fight and years since I’d gone looking for them, but I had to admit knocking this son
of a bitch on his ass was gonna feel better than my last high.

“Hey,” I said, loud enough to draw attention from the people crowded around on the patio. When

the little weasel saw me coming, he slipped out the patio door, thinking he could get lost in the crowd.
No such luck. “I’m talking to you,” I said, grabbing his shoulder when he had nowhere else to run.

“What?” he asked, turning slowly to face me.
I grabbed a fistful of his shirt, his face close to mine as I felt the heat of Jaci’s chest pressed

against my back. “You wanna tell me what the hell happened between you and my girlfriend earlier?”
I felt Jaci tense as I claimed her as mine, but I intended to make sure that all of these drunk deadbeats
got the message loud and clear. They messed with her, they messed with me.

“I, uh…” He glanced at Jaci over my shoulder.
I drew him closer, his face mere inches from mine. “You so much as look at her again, and I’ll

knock all your teeth out. We clear?”

“Yeah,” he said, raising his hands. “I hear ya, man. No worries.”
“Oh, you should be worried, you punkass kid.” I’d laid out guys like him all through high school

and college. The ones who didn’t know enough to respect that when a woman said no, she meant it.
“You think I’m gonna let you off the hook that easy?” I sneered at him. “Not a chance.”

“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes darting to Jaci for a half a second before I growled and

tightened my grip, getting a few of his chest hairs caught up in the fabric of his T-shirt. “I didn’t know
she was taken. Now I do.”

I noticed no one was willing to step up and defend him or tell me to back off. This crowd was

smarter than they looked. “She told you to back off. What part didn’t you understand?”

“I guess I had a few too many,” he muttered. “Won’t happen again.”
“You’re goddamn right it won’t, ’cause they’ll have to peel me off you next time. Apologize to

the lady.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, repeating it louder when my grip on him tightened.
“Let’s get out of here now,” Jaci pleaded, tugging on my arm.
I reached behind me, inching her out of the way before I hauled off and connected with a right

cross that knocked him on his ass. Mission accomplished. As the small crowd around us gaped at me,
I reached for Jaci’s hand. “Now we can go.”

She ran to keep up with my long strides, whispering, “You didn’t have to hit him. He said he

was sorry.”

“I know the type, baby. A verbal warning wouldn’t have been enough for a guy like that. He had

to feel it to remember it. Maybe next time he won’t be so quick to try to push a girl past her limits.”

“Hey,” she said, tugging on my hand when I tried to reach for the passenger’s door to open it for

her. “I didn’t lead him on, you know.”

I touched her cheek. “I know you didn’t.”
“I don’t mean to be so defensive,” she said, sinking against me. “I guess I’m just mad at myself

for getting into a mess like this.”

“It happens,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “Wasn’t that long ago I was in college. I

remember what these parties are like.”

“I don’t usually drink so much.” She flattened her palms against my chest, fixing her gaze on her

ruby red nails. “It was stupid. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I never should have—”

I silenced her with a quick kiss. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t do anything wrong. You

trusted your friends to look out for you. You were all supposed to look out for each other. If you want
to be pissed at anyone, be pissed at them.” I sure as hell was.

“They had more to drink than I did,” she said, obviously determined to let them off the hook.

“They weren’t thinking straight.”

“We can deal with that tomorrow,” I said, opening the door for her. “For now, let’s just get you

home.”

She gave me a quick, hard hug before she climbed into the car. Before I could close the door,

she grabbed my hand. “Thanks for coming tonight, Nex. I had no one else to call. I don’t know what I
would have done if you hadn’t answered.”

I bent down on my haunches so I could look her in the eye. With a brief smile, I seized her chin.

“You call, I come. I have a feeling that’s the way it’s gonna be from now on, beautiful.”

Chapter Six

Jaci

I was trying not to let Nex see how scared I was, but as he pulled into my driveway and I saw the
house still in darkness, I couldn’t stop trembling.

“Hey,” he said, turning to face me. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“That guy…” I could barely get the words out. “He, uh, went out with my roommate, Casey, a

couple of times. He picked her up here, I think. So he knows where I live. What if he…?”

He muttered a curse before he killed the engine and grabbed the keys. “You’re staying at my

place tonight. Let’s go in and grab your overnight bag.”

I didn’t want to be an imposition, but I really didn’t want to stay home alone. “But in your text

you said your brother was spending the night at your place.”

“He is, but I’ve got four bedrooms. You can have your own room.”
I was touched by the fact he was asking me to stay with no expectations. Reaching for his hand, I

said, “Thank you, Nex. Seriously, I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.” This
just proved to me that no matter how much I wanted to be free and independent, I still needed
someone to lean on sometimes.

“Don’t mention it,” he said, smiling. “Now come on. Let’s get your stuff.”
I’d already laid out the clothes I planned to wear for our date, so it just took me a minute to

throw it all in a bag, add some yoga pants and a tank to sleep in, shoes, and my toiletries. When I
returned, Nex was still in the small foyer, jiggling the front door lock with a scowl on his handsome
face.

“You really need to talk to your landlord about fixing this damn thing. Looks like a strong wind

could blow it open.”

Last thing I wanted to think about tonight was someone trying to breach our lock. “I should text

Jade to let her know I’m spending the night at your place.”

He raised an eyebrow as I pulled my phone out of my purse. “You really think you owe it to her

after what she did to you?”

I knew Jade would feel terrible about leaving me behind once she sobered up enough to wonder

what had happened to me. I typed a quick text before slipping the phone back in my purse. In Jade’s
condition, she probably wouldn’t be able to read it until morning, but at least I’d done my part,
keeping her informed so she wouldn’t worry about me.

“They were all hammered,” I explained, feeling the need to defend my roommates. “They didn’t

do it on purpose.”

“And that’s supposed to excuse the fact they left you stranded there, drunk and at the mercy of

some—”

I pressed my fingertips against his lips, moving close enough to press my body to his. “I wasn’t

drunk. I don’t get drunk. I get… tipsy.”

He grasped my wrist, turning it over to kiss my pulse point as his eyes captured mine. “Are you

tipsy right now?”

“No.” Seeing Nex knock some guy out on my behalf had sobered me up quickly.
“Then if I kiss you now, you’ll remember it in the morning?”
“Yes.”
He kissed me with his eyes long before his mouth landed on mine, and by the time I finally felt

his lips, I was verging on desperate. Curling my arm around his neck, he dragged my body against his
as his tongue swept inside my mouth.

His kisses were slow and hypnotic, drugging me with their potency. By the time we finally had

to surrender for the sake of air, I was ready to drag him back to my tiny bedroom and let him help me
forget this horrible night.

“Let’s go,” he said, reaching for the overnight bag I’d set by the door.
“We don’t have to,” I said, reaching for his shoulder. “We could, uh, stay here awhile if you

want.” My meaning was clear, and the way his blue eyes flashed with interest told me he hadn’t
missed my intent.

“You don’t know how much I’d love to take you up on that, but not tonight.”
My shoulders sagged with disappointment before I caught myself and straightened. “Okay, sure.”

I dug through my purse for the keys I’d tossed in there when we came in. “Let’s—”

“Hey,” he said, dropping the bag as he backed me against the wall. “Don’t ever doubt how much

I want you, Jaci. You are just about the sexiest woman I’ve ever met, but you’ve been through hell
tonight. What kind of man would I be if I took advantage of you right now?”

I appreciated his consideration, but nothing and no one could distract me from my troubled

thoughts the way Nex could. “I hear what you’re saying, and I appreciate it. I do,” I said, pushing
against his chest when his lips twitched as though he were having a hard time believing me. “If I had
any doubts about the kind of man you are, I don’t after tonight.” He’d really come through for me and
defended me in a way no one ever had before.

“Does that mean you didn’t mind me telling that douche I was your boyfriend?”
I’d meant to talk to him about that. It was too soon for labels, especially since we hadn’t even

had our first official date. “I assumed that was just to make a point.”

“And if I told you it wasn’t?”
Nex was the last guy I would have imagined wanting an exclusive relationship. “This is

probably not the best time to talk about where we go from here.”

“Because you have to go back to Georgia?”
“Yeah.”
Three months was a long time, especially for a guy like Nex to last without sex. I could probably

manage to come back to see him once or twice over the summer if he wanted me to, but I couldn’t
afford the luxury of regular air travel and the old clunker in my mother’s garage probably wouldn’t
take me across the state line, which was why I’d left it at home.

“Let’s see what happens over the next six weeks before we decide what to do about the summer,

okay?” he said.

I’d already decided what to do about the summer. I knew I had to go back home, work, and live

with my mother so I could save more money for school next year. As far as I was concerned, it was
non-negotiable. If Nex was still interested in dating me when I returned, which I seriously doubted,
maybe we could pick up where we’d left off.

“We can talk about it tomorrow,” I said, reaching for my bag. I shook my head when he grabbed

it from me. “I’m getting pretty tired.”

***

It was dark by the time we reached Nex’s house, but it was pretty obvious from the outline and

expansive grounds that it was a large, light-colored bungalow. I knew he was the vice president of
operations for his brother’s company, but apparently that job paid a lot better than I could have
imagined.

Nex wasn’t just comfortable as I’d assumed. He was rich. And if I had any doubts, the Hummer

and Porsche, parked alongside a truck, as we pulled into the second bay of the four-car garage erased
them.

He grinned when my jaw dropped. “What can I say? I like my toys.”
“Obviously.” I noticed another sports car parked in the driveway, but it was dark and the car

was black, so I couldn’t tell what kind it was. “Is the car in the drive yours too?”

“No, it belongs to Brody.”
“I haven’t met him yet, have I?” His other brothers had been into the bar a few times, but I didn’t

think I remembered a Brody among them.

“No, he’s the poker player. He’s not around much.”
“That’s right. I remember you telling me about him.” Releasing my seat belt, I said, “Uh, you’ve

told me about him, but have you told him about me?”

“I haven’t had a chance,” he said, pressing the button on the remote clipped to his sun visor to

close the garage door. “I was going to tonight, but we kind of got into it about his ex.”

That had me curious. “What about her?” I asked, stepping out of the car before he could open the

door for me.

He reached into the backseat for my bag before rounding the front of the car to grab my hand.

“He’s still bang—” He laughed when I backhanded him in the stomach. “Sorry, they’re still sleeping
together, and I happen to know she’s seeing other guys. I tried to warn him about it. Suggested he man
up before someone else moves in on his territory. Let’s just say he wasn’t too happy at the prospect of
Riley with some other dude.”

I watched him unlock the door, which led to a spacious laundry room. “So what’s he going to

do?” I asked, wondering why I cared so much. Maybe because I knew how much Nex’s brother meant
to him. He once told me when one got cut, they all bled. As an only child, I loved that they were so
tight and wondered if that meant Nex would someday want a big family of his own. I knew I did when
the time came.

“I don’t know yet. I’ll try to talk to him about it some more when he’s had a chance for it to sink

in.” He flicked a switch, bathing the back hall in light. I could see beautiful oil landscapes gracing the
neutral walls and dark hardwood floors butting up against the cream travertine tile in the laundry
room, but not much else.

“I’ll give you the full tour in the morning,” he promised. “Right now, you’re probably only

interested in seeing the bedroom.”

We shared a knowing smile, and I knew I wasn’t the only one thinking about that lingering kiss at

my place. “Sure, I’d love to see the bedroom.” I was just teasing him and we both knew it, but his
wide grin told me he didn’t mind.

“They’re back here,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Sorry, don’t wanna wake

Brody. He’s a light sleeper.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand as he led me to the last open door. He closed the door before

turning on the light. It was a spacious, non-descript room, but the luxurious fabric framing the
windows and adorning the four-poster bed gave me a hint as to what I could expect in the rest of the
house.

“This is nice,” I said quietly.
“Functional, I guess,” he muttered. “I hired a designer when I moved in. I don’t know shit about

decorating.”

Maybe not, but I loved the fact he cared enough to want his house to feel like a home.
“There’s a bathroom through here,” he said, setting my bag down beside a triple dresser with

attached mirror. “You should find towels and anything else you might need in that closet.” He pointed
at a small closet near the bathroom door. “My housekeeper does a pretty good job of keeping
everything stocked, but if you need anything, just let me know.” He must have read the surprise on my
face because he asked, “What’s wrong? What’re you thinking?”

“This just isn’t what I was expecting.” I was ashamed to admit I’d jumped to conclusions about

him. The ink, motorcycle, and gruff exterior led me to believe he’d live in some bachelor pad with
soda cans and pizza boxes strewn everywhere. Not a real house. A really nice house, at that.

“You were expecting me to live like a pig, huh?” He chuckled. “My ma would never have stood

for that. We always lived in little apartments growing up, doubling up, sometimes three to a room
even, but she always took pride in our home and taught us to do the same.”

“That’s nice.” My mother was the same way. Never a knick-knack or throw cushion out of place.

“My mama always says you don’t have to be rich to be tidy.”

“See, your mama and I would get along just fine. What’re you worried about?”
That comment implied he thought he’d be meeting my mama someday. I couldn’t imagine that

happening. She’d take one look at his ripped jeans, tattoos, and the chains hanging off his belt loops
and proclaim him a sinner not worthy of her baby girl. If only she could have seen him tonight; she’d
realize he’s not only worthy of me, he may be too good for me.

I stepped in his path, giving him an impulsive hug. “I know I already said this, but thank you for

tonight, for letting me stay here.”

“Mi casa es su casa. Just remember that.”
How easy it would be to imagine myself living here with someone like Nex to come home to

every night. But that was a fantasy for another stage of my life, years from now. Not when I was
finally able to pursue my dream of going to college.

“Thanks.”
He kissed me, slowly tearing himself away with a groan. “G’night, gorgeous. See you in the

morning.”

As he closed the door, I pressed my palm against the raised panel, thinking morning couldn’t

come soon enough for me.

***

I slept like a baby, but since I was used to waking up early for school, my internal alarm clock

went off before seven. Thankfully, I heard noises coming from the kitchen, so I knew I wasn’t the only
early riser in the house. I was a little apprehensive about going out there, but my grumbling stomach
insisted.

I quickly used the washroom and brushed my teeth and hair before making my way down the

hall. I considered whether I should have slipped on a bra under my thin cotton tank, but it was too late
to tiptoe back down the hall. He spotted me. Wow, these Steele brothers had some seriously good
genes.

“Hi,” I said, stepping farther into the large kitchen and offering my hand. “You must be Brody.

Nex has told me so much about you.”

With an amused look on his handsome face, his eyes ran down the length of my body. “I wish I

could say the same.” Engulfing my hand in his, he said, “What’d you say your name was?”

“I didn’t.” Damn, I really needed that bra, but short of withdrawing my hand and crossing my

arms over my chest like an adolescent ashamed of her budding breasts, I had no choice but to stand
there and take it. Fortunately, he had something of his own to hide and the black, lightweight pants he
was wearing weren’t helping.

His gruff chuckle made me smile as he dropped his head. “Busted, huh?”
I knew it was a guy thing, early morning and all that, so I wasn’t taking it as a compliment… or

an insult. “How about we agree to keep our eyes above the shoulders, shall we?”

He laughed, making me smile. “I guess I can agree to that, but it won’t be easy.” He pointed at a

stool at the breakfast bar. “Have a seat. I was just about to make a pot of coffee.”

I did as he suggested, watching him move about the kitchen like he lived there. “My name’s Jaci,

by the way. Jaci Ross.”

“Nice to meet you, Jaci Ross. So tell me how you managed to sneak out of my brother’s bed so

early on a Saturday morning? When he texted to tell me to expect company this morning, I didn’t
expect you two to come up for air ’til noon.”

I blushed at the implication, imagining if Nex and I had crossed that line last night, Brody’s

assessment of the situation might have been accurate. “I slept in the guest room last night. Your
brother and I aren’t… that is to say we haven’t…” I blushed, unsure how to finish that sentence.

After filling the coffee maker with water and coffee grounds, he turned to face me, crossing his

arms over his muscled chest. “Let me get this straight. You haven’t slept with Nex, yet you’re sleeping
over? My little brother must be losing his touch.”

I laughed, appreciating his attempt to make me feel at ease. “Tonight was supposed to be our

first date, but I got into a little trouble at a party last night and he came to bail me out.”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked, frowning.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine all of the Steele brothers acting the way Nex had last night. Though

clearly dangerous when crossed, they seemed to have a chivalrous quality I admired. “My girlfriends
got drunk and kind of left me stranded at some party without money for a cab.”

“Some friends,” he muttered.

I knew I should try to defend my friends, but it had been a pretty shitty thing to do. “Then there

was this jerk who got a little grabby.” My torn shirt would indicate he’d gotten more than a little
grabby, but Brody didn’t need to know that. “So I called your brother and he came to rescue me.” I
smiled, propping my chin in my upturned hand. “My hero.”

He scoffed as he turned to reach into the overhead cabinet for glasses before digging a container

of orange juice out of the fridge. “I’ve never known Nex to be all that heroic unless he had an angle.”

I wasn’t naïve enough to believe Nex wouldn’t expect his chivalry to eventually be rewarded,

but I didn’t think I’d mind rewarding him one little bit. “So you stay here when you’re in town?”

“I had my own place,” he explained. “But I got a great offer on it a couple of months back, so I

sold it. I was ready for a change. Just haven’t been in town long enough to find something else yet.”

“Yeah, Nex said you’re a professional poker player. That must be pretty cool.”
I glanced around Nex’s kitchen while waiting for Brody’s response. It was much more

traditional than I would have expected. Dark, smooth granite, top-of-the-line stainless appliances,
white French cabinetry, a huge breakfast bar and sitting area surrounded by windows that provided a
beautiful view of mature trees surrounding a pool and hot tub.

“Yeah, it is,” he said, drawing me away from my admiration of Nex’s home. “Couldn’t imagine

doing anything else. What about you?” he asked, passing me a glass of juice. “What do you do?”

“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip. “Right now, I’m a waitress at some dive biker bar.”
He smiled. “Must be how you met my brother, huh?”
“Yup. But I just do that part-time to help with school. First year at University of South Florida. ”

He raised an eyebrow, making me laugh. “Don’t worry. Nex isn’t robbing the cradle or anything. I’m
twenty-four. I needed to take some time to save money before starting college.”

“What’re you studying?”
“Business,” I said, sighing.
“You don’t sound too enthused about it.”
“Honestly? I wanted to go to culinary school. There are a couple of great Cordon Bleu schools

in Florida, but my boyfriend and mother convinced me it would be easier to get a real job back home
with a more practical degree. Fancy chefs aren’t in high demand in a small town, and since I don’t
have the money to open my own restaurant, I figured they were probably right.”

“Hold up a second,” Brody said, raising a hand. “Did you just say you had a boyfriend?”
“Sorry, I meant ex-boyfriend. We were together a long time. I guess it’s just a force of habit.”
“I know what you mean.” His blue eyes flashed with something resembling sadness, but it was

gone so fast I wondered whether I’d imagined it. It would be hard to read a man like Brody, given his
knack for remaining impassive. “So you love to cook, huh?”

I knew what he was getting at, so I smiled before asking, “Does your brother stock that fridge or

is it just for decoration like most bachelors’?”

“It would probably be empty if not for his housekeeper, but it looks like she was here

yesterday.”

“In that case,” I said, jumping off the stool, “I can probably work with what he has in there.”
“I was just teasing,” he said, touching my shoulder as I leaned over to peek in the fridge. “You

don’t really have to cook me breakfast.” The coffee maker beeped, and Brody snagged two mugs from
a glass-front cabinet.

“It would be my pleasure.” I had never cooked in a kitchen like this before. I was practically

salivating when I saw the spread in front of me. It made me wonder whether his housekeeper
prepared his meals too, but I suspected Nex, with his limited culinary skills, wouldn’t know what to
do with half this stuff. “Besides, I’m starving myself. I’m ashamed to admit I had a liquid dinner last
night.”

“Ah, I’ve had a few of those myself.”
“This looks cozy,” Nex said, frowning as he leaned against the wall leading from the hall to the

kitchen. “Breakfast for two?”

I couldn’t believe he would be jealous of his own brother, but I had to admit Nex’s

possessiveness was kind of hot. “For three, now that you’re finally awake,” I said, smiling at him. “I
hope you don’t mind?”

“Why would I mind?” He accepted the mug of coffee Brody offered him with a muttered thanks

before claiming the stool I’d vacated at the breakfast bar. “So I see you two have been getting
acquainted.”

What did he expect me to do, lie in bed until he woke up and was ready to make the formal

introductions? “Uh, yeah, we have.”

“I think I’m going to grab a quick shower before breakfast,” Brody said, stealing a strawberry

from the pint I’d just washed.

“Yeah, and try putting some goddamn clothes on while you’re at it,” Nex said, glaring at him.
That’s what he was upset about, the fact his brother’s six-pack abs were on full display? Not

that I’d noticed or anything.

“Somebody woke up on the wrong side of an empty bed this morning, Jaci,” Brody said,

grinning at me. “See what you can do about cheering him up while I’m gone, would you?”

I tried to hide my smile behind my coffee cup as Brody left the room, but Nex’s accusatory look

told me I was busted. “Please don’t encourage him. Asshole makes a play for every woman I date,
just to piss me off.”

“Do they ever take the bait?” I asked, teasing him.
“Even if they did, Brody wouldn’t take it that far,” he said, shaking his head. “One thing he does

have is family loyalty.”

“Good to know,” I said, setting the strawberries on a paper towel to dry before I started slicing

them. He was frowning at me when I turned around. “What’s wrong?”

“You like my brother?”
“Sure, he seems nice,” I said, shrugging. “Why?”
“But you’re not into him?”
I laughed while rounding the counter, intent on giving his overactive imagination a rest. Linking

my arms around his neck when he turned to face me, I stepped between his legs. “There’s only one
guy I’m interested in these days, Nex. And I’m looking at him.”

He flashed a quick smile before kissing me. “I like the sound of that.”
I gestured to the flour and sugar I’d set on the counter, along with a set of mixing bowls.

“Seriously, I hope you don’t mind that I’m making myself at home in your kitchen.”

“Baby, you can make yourself at home here anytime you like,” he said, burying his face in my

neck as his hands cupped my ass. “In fact, I’m thinking I could get used to this. Waking up to you, the
smell of freshly brewed coffee and a homemade breakfast.”

“Your brother actually made the coffee.”

“Don’t be too impressed,” he said, trailing his lips along my neck to my jaw. “That’s about the

only thing he can do in the kitchen.”

“Speaking of which, your cupboards and fridge are seriously stocked. Does your housekeeper

cook for you?”

“Once in a while she takes pity on me,” he said, grinning as he tipped my head back so he could

nip my jaw. “But I asked her to get the basics for you to create your masterpiece tonight. I know you
said you wanted to hit the farmer’s market later, but I figured I should get the staples.”

“You got all this stuff for me?” I didn’t know why, but I was more touched by that gesture than I

would have been by some expensive, impersonal gift. It proved that he listened, that he knew what I
loved and was doing his best to accommodate me.

“Sure, it’s no big deal,” he said, shrugging.
“Actually, it’s a really big deal to me,” I said, kissing his bristly cheek. “Thank you.” I’d cooked

for Scott hundreds of times throughout our relationship, and he barely remembered to thank me most
of the time, much less compliment me on the meal I’d prepared.

He pulled back, looking me in the eye. “You blow me away, girl.”
“Why? What do you mean?” I asked, resting my hands on his shoulders. Unlike Brody, Nex had

come out wearing athletic pants and a T-shirt, but I wished Brody had been the one clothed while Nex
treated me to a morning dose of eye candy.

“Most women would hate the thought of cooking for a guy so early in a relationship. They’d

think it would set a bad precedent or something, but you actually seem to enjoy it.”

“I do. I love it.” I had to admit I didn’t appreciate the way Scott had sometimes taken me for

granted, but I had a feeling Nex wasn’t like that. Based on what he’d told me about his relationship
with his hard-working mama, I knew how much he respected women. “And I can’t wait to cook for
you,” I said, rubbing my hands together. “So how do strawberry pancakes sound? Or I could do
crepes? You decide.”

“Both sound great.” When I turned away, he grabbed me, hauling me against his chest while

wrapping his arms around my waist. “I seriously love having you here.”

I turned my head, inviting him to kiss my cheek. “I’m glad, ’cause I seriously love being here

with you.”

Chapter Seven

Nex

Jaci had already proven her talents in the kitchen that morning, so as she dragged me around the
farmer’s market, I couldn’t wait to find out what she had planned for me tonight. She said it would be
a surprise, and I didn’t press. I could tell how much it meant to her to be able to do something nice for
me, and I was touched. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had wanted to treat me without
expecting something in return.

“Where do you want to go for lunch?” I asked, glancing at my watch. “It’s almost one.”
“You know what I’d really love to do?” she asked, her eyes lighting up. “Have a picnic.”
There were some fabulous restaurants within walking distance and she wanted to have a picnic?

Reminded me of something my mother would have suggested, and I couldn’t deny that simple
suggestion solidified my opinion of Jaci. She was someone I needed in my life, maybe even for the
long haul.

“Whatever you want, beautiful.”
She reached up to touch my cheek, looking at me as though I’d just presented her with a flawless

diamond instead of agreeing to her proposal for lunch. “I love that you’re so laidback, that you just
kind of go with the flow. I need that.”

She wasn’t telling me she needed me, but it was a start. “I guess I’ve always been that way. I

love my work, but I don’t take anything too seriously. Life is meant to be enjoyed, right?”

“I can’t tell you the last time I made time for stuff like this,” she said, gesturing to the rows of

neatly arranged fresh food. “The simple pleasures. I used to love going for long walks in the country,
getting up early to watch the sun rise, going for a dip in the lake on a Sunday afternoon, or just baking
in the sun for a bit. I miss that.”

On the off chance I could convince her to spend the summer with me instead of going back home,

I’d make sure every day was about enjoying the simple things she seemed to love so much. “You need
to make more time for yourself,” I said, watching her select a freshly baked breadstick. “I know
school is important to you and you have to work to pay the bills, but you’ll burn out if you don’t take
time to just relax once in a while.”

“I know.” She sighed. “That’s why I was looking forward to today. It’s a chance for me to just

kick back and do the things I love: cooking, shopping, impromptu picnics.” She grinned. “This is
already turning out to be one of the best dates I’ve ever had.”

I’d gone to great lengths to impress a few women—helicopter rides, private planes for surprise

dinners or weekends away, exotic trips where we rarely left the suite—but the past few hours with
Jaci had surpassed them all. She got me. I got her. And for once, the chemistry I shared with a woman

was building instead of fizzling out and fading away.

“Me too.”
She took her time selecting everything she thought we would need for our picnic lunch and

dinner before following me to the checkout.

When she reached into her purse for her wallet, I said, “Don’t even think about it.”
“But this is my way of thanking you for last night,” she said, extracting her debit card from her

wallet.

Never, in all my years of dating, had a woman ever offered to pay for anything. I knew I

shouldn’t be surprised Jaci was the first, but I was torn between being insulted and impressed. “You
repaid me with a delicious breakfast this morning. Now we’re even.”

“But—”
I leaned in for a kiss, not caring how she felt about public displays of affection. The little white-

haired lady in line behind us pursed her lips and Jaci blushed, prompting me to warn, “There’s a lot
more where that came from unless you put that wallet away.”

She quickly stuck her wallet, along with the card, back in her purse as she followed me through

the checkout line. She helped me load the bags in the trunk before she said, “We should head home
and put this stuff in the fridge before…” She bit her lip, shaking her head. “I mean, we should head
back to your place.”

Home. Damn, now why did I like the way it sounded when she referred to my house as our

home? “Sure. That’ll give us a chance to grab a blanket, basket, and bottle of wine for the picnic.”

She gripped my arm when I reached for her door handle. “Do not tell me you have a picnic

basket.”

I laughed at her surprise. “It’s not like I ran out and bought it or anything. Ryker and I have to go

to a lot of these events because charities either commission us to build bikes for them or we donate
them to good causes. I usually bid on auction items. Sometimes I win. That’s how I got the picnic
basket. Can’t say I’ve ever used it though.”

“The girls you date aren’t into picnics?”
I laughed, thinking how they’d probably scream at the sight of a bug or worry their makeup might

melt in the sun. “Not really. I guess I usually date high-maintenance women.”

“That’s code for perfect, right?” she said, slipping into the passenger’s seat when I opened her

door. She was busy fastening her seat belt when I surprised her with a kiss.

“No, not perfect. Made up. Fake. Trying too hard. You. Are. Perfect,” I said, punctuating each

word with a kiss.

“You’re lying, but thank you.” She curled her arms around my neck, sighing contentedly. “I don’t

care if there’ve been a hundred girls before or if there’ll be a hundred after me. I’m just glad to be
here with you today.”

Her words hit me like a slap upside the head, making me realize I didn’t want there to be a

hundred girls after her. I knew if there were, I’d just be comparing every one of them to Jaci.

“What makes you think I’m interested in looking elsewhere?” I asked, gripping her chin between

my thumb and forefinger. “I’m pretty damn happy with what I have right here and now.”

“But we haven’t even…” She bit her lip as her gaze shifted to my mouth. “Made love yet. How

do you know I’ll be able to satisfy you? I haven’t experimented very much,” she whispered as though
she feared someone might be eavesdropping. “Things with Scott were pretty—”

“Boring?” I asked, cutting her off with another kiss. The thought of her being with another man

made my gut churn, even if she had been his long before she’d been mine.

“He just wasn’t very adventurous.” She wrinkled her nose. “And I didn’t want to freak him out

by suggesting anything kinky.”

I dropped my head, thinking this was the last place we should be having this conversation. “Just

know I’m game for anything,” I whispered in her ear. “Anything you want to try, don’t be afraid to tell
me.” I couldn’t imagine she would propose anything that could shock me. Hell, I’d probably done it
all at least once.

“Is that what this relationship is supposed to be about, you think? Exploring my sexual side?”
No way did I want her to think this was all about sex for me. “I think it’s about exploring all

facets of your personality in a relationship and figuring out what makes you happy.”

My brothers would be laughing their asses off if they could hear me now, but I wasn’t lying. I

wanted Jaci to discover the best version of herself with me, just as she was bringing out a side of me
I didn’t know existed. The softer, more romantic side who would do just about anything to please his
woman. Including a picnic.

“Now let’s head out,” I said, dropping one more kiss on her lips. “I don’t know about you, but

I’m hungry.”

“Sure.”
I rounded the front of the car and found her sliding a hand over the leather upholstery when I got

inside. “This car is gorgeous. You said your brother Seb restored it, right?”

“Yeah.” Before putting my seat belt on, I asked, “You wanna drive it home?”
“Oh no, I couldn’t,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t drive stick.”
I grinned, winking at her. “I’ll teach you, but not here. We’ll find some out-of-the-way spot for

your first lesson.”

“Are you crazy?” she asked, wide-eyed. “You’d actually let me drive this?”
“Sure, why not?” My brother would argue this was more than a car, it was a piece of history, but

to me, if it had four wheels and a motor, it was just a car.

“But how much is this thing worth?” She covered her mouth. “Sorry, that was really rude.”
“I don’t mind,” I said, smiling as I turned the key. “It was appraised at $150k, but Seb swears

it’s worth more than that. He thinks I need to get a second opinion.”

“My God,” she said, shaking her head. “This car is worth almost as much as my mama’s house.

And you have how many more vehicles, two or three?”

I knew she didn’t mean to make me feel guilty about my toys, but I couldn’t help but feel a

twinge of embarrassment as I pulled out of the lot. “I’m not big on the idea of saving for a rainy day.
That’s not to say I don’t invest and save my money. I do, but I also believe in enjoying it. I work hard
and think I deserve to treat myself now and then.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, covering my hand with hers on the gearshift. “I wasn’t judging you. I guess

I’m just not used to having more than I need of anything.” She giggled. “Except maybe clothes and
shoes. Would you believe I have plastic bins stacked in my bedroom because I don’t have enough
closet space?”

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. “If there’s one thing my house has plenty of, it’s

closet space.”

She squeezed my arm, smiling. “Stop! I may never wanna leave.”

“Maybe that’s the plan, sweetheart.”

***

I surprised her by leading her to a semi-private lake in my gated community. The few times I’d

been there, it had been quiet, so I thought it would be the perfect spot for lunch.

“I can’t believe how beautiful this area is,” she said, gaping at the backside of some of the estate

homes facing the water.

I spread the blanket we’d brought from my house on a grassy patch under a mature oak tree. “It’s

a nice mix of slightly older and newer homes, but the neighbours are nice and it’s fairly private.”

“Is your house older or newer?” she asked, reaching into the picnic basket as she began to lay

out the bread, crackers, fruit, cheese, spreads, and olives she’d selected. “It’s kind of hard to tell. I
mean it looks new, but…?”

“It’s not that new,” I said, opening the bottle of chardonnay I’d selected from the wine fridge. I

wasn’t big on vino. I’d take a cold beer or scotch on the rocks any day over wine, but I assumed Jaci
might appreciate wine more. “It’s about twenty years old, actually. I just gutted it before I moved in. I
liked the area, but some of the houses were just too big for me.”

“Some look huge,” she agreed, handing me the wine glasses we’d brought. “But your house isn’t

small either.”

I’d given her the grand tour before we left, and I could see how it might have looked large to

her, but it was actually one of the smaller ones in the area. “It’s just over three thousand square feet,”
I said, filling both glasses before handing one to her.

She took both glasses so I could set the cork back in the wine bottle. “So, big enough for a

family?” she asked, handing my glass back to me. “Is that what you were thinking?”

I accepted one of the paper plates she’d packed and smiled while she piled my plate high with a

little bit of everything she’d brought. “Yeah, sure. I’d like to have a family eventually. How about
you?”

She nodded before popping a square of feta cheese in her mouth followed by a bite of bread.

“Definitely, but not until after I finish school and get established in my career.”

“You plan on going back to Georgia after you get your degree?” Damn, I hated the thought of

that.

“That’s the plan,” she said, pulling a single grape off the small stem on her plate. “Unless

something dramatic happens.”

Falling in love with me would be pretty dramatic, right? But would I be reason enough for her to

stay? I sure as hell hoped so, but I’d have to work on convincing her to stay this summer first. “You
said you’re studying business, right?” When she nodded, I asked, “What do you plan to do after
graduation?” She’d once mentioned the possibility of opening a small restaurant in her hometown but
didn’t seem convinced it would be viable.

“I’m not sure yet,” she admitted. “I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. I’d love to work in the

food industry, maybe in a managerial capacity.”

The fact that she’d set her sunglasses aside allowed me to see that prospect didn’t really light

her up the way it should have. “If you could do anything without the risk of failure, without having to
consider practicality, what would it be?”

“I’d be a chef.”
Wow, she didn’t even hesitate, and the way she said it convinced me that’s what she should be

pursuing. “Then why the hell are you studying business?” Not that the knowledge wouldn’t be
valuable if she was able to open her own restaurant, but it clearly wasn’t her passion. “Shouldn’t you
be studying culinary arts or something?”

“That would be my dream,” she said, sighing. “But I’m trying to be practical. I live in a little

town, Nex. Our idea of good food is fried chicken, butter beans, and cornbread. Don’t get me wrong, I
love that too, but I like experimenting with food, and I don’t think there’s a place for that where I
come from.”

“So stay here, where just about anything goes.” Stay here with me. And forget about going back

home, to your ex-boyfriend and old life.

“I wish I could.” She looked thoughtful as she stared out at the lake. “But my mama’s not getting

any younger. I’m all she has. I’ll have to be there to take care of her one day.” She turned to face me,
looking vulnerable. “She has Parkinson’s.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Clearly, that changed everything.
“I already see subtle little changes in her as the months pass, and I know it’s going to get worse

as time goes on. I just hope I’m able to stay here and finish my degree before I have to move back and
take care of her.”

“Maybe she could come here?” I suggested, thinking there had to be another way for Jaci to stay

in Florida. No way could I let myself fall in love with a girl who would be gone in three years, tops.
After that much time, losing her would kill me.

“Our whole family’s there,” she explained. “Her sisters and brother, nieces and nephews. Plus,

she’s still very involved in the church and community. I think starting over somewhere else would be
the worst thing for her.”

I wanted to suggest a caregiver, but I thought of my own mother, who’d been sick before she

passed. My brothers and I would never have allowed a stranger to tend to her needs. She took care of
us when we needed her, so we took care of her. So I, better than most people, understood and
respected Jaci’s commitment to her ailing mother.

But I was having a hard time figuring out what that meant for us. A temporary relationship

wasn’t what I had in mind. Over the past few months, I’d even started to entertain the possibility this
woman could be the one. Still, letting her go now didn’t seem like an option, so what the hell was I
supposed to do?

Chapter Eight

Jaci

It would be so easy to fall in love with him, I thought, staring at Nex over our shared chocolate
mousse. But that would be a huge mistake. Even if he continued to be as wonderful as he’d been
today, I was leaving soon, and I’d be gone for three months. That was more than enough time for him
to forget all the reasons he’d been attracted to me in the first place.

“This was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had,” he said, wiping his mouth with the linen

napkin.

“You’re just saying that,” I said, unable to hide my elation at the compliment.
I’d prepared avocado-shrimp ceviche as an appetizer, with tilapia and mango salsa as the

entrée, and he seemed to enjoy that almost as much as the homemade chocolate mousse.

“You want a part-time job, you should talk to my sister-in-law,” he said, offering me the last bite

of mousse before he had it. “Mac just opened a bakery with her mom. She only does it part-time
because of her boys, and I think her mom could really use some help.”

I would love to work in a bakery, but I’d taken the job at the bar because it was close to home

and the tips were good. I often needed the cash I got every night just to get me through the week. “I’d
love that, but the bar seems like a more practical solution, at least for now.”

He grimaced before pushing his plate aside. “I’m not gonna lie, babe. I hate that you’re working

there. I know those guys. Some of them are dangerous. I hate to think about you even being in their
company.”

I appreciated his concern, but he needed to know I could take care of myself. Except for last

night. I had definitely needed him then. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I said, standing to clear
the plates.

“Don’t.” He reached for my hands, forcing me to set the plates down or risk dropping them.

“Let’s just go into the other room and have a drink.”

He’d already had several drinks throughout the course of the day, which I knew wasn’t a lot for

a brawny guy like Nex, but I had a serious thing against drinking and driving, which made me question
what he had in store for the rest of the night.

He’d been sweet and affectionate all day, but he hadn’t said anything that would lead me to

believe he expected me to spend the night again. In his bed this time. I didn’t know how I would feel
if he asked. I thought I was ready to take that step, but after reciting all the reasons I had to go back to
Hartwell eventually, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to get too involved with Nex.

“Come on,” he said, standing as he pulled me into his arms. “I really don’t want this day to end.”
Neither did I.

I let him hold me, wondering why it had to feel so good to be wrapped in his strong arms.

Everything about him turned me on, from his powerful body to his raspy voice and gentle, purposeful
touch. His protective nature and deep love for his family only sweetened the pot.

“I want you,” he murmured, his hands gliding down my back. “You don’t know how much I want

you.”

His voice sounded gruff, almost desperate, and it made me feel the same way. Like I had to have

him. “I want you too.”

“I don’t want to pressure you,” he said, his hands hovering above the buttons on my blouse, as

though waiting for permission to continue. “I didn’t ask you to come here because I expect anything,
but God help me, I want everything with you.”

I didn’t know what that meant and was afraid to ask, but I felt like we’d passed the point where

we needed words to express ourselves. I wanted him. He wanted me. That was the only thing that
seemed to matter now.

“Let’s go to your room,” I said, curling my hands around his.
“Are you sure, baby? I don’t want you to do this unless you’re sure.”
“Nex,” I said, moving my hands to his face, “I’ve been attracted to you ever since I laid eyes on

you. Over the past few months, we’ve become friends. The past few weeks, we’ve become more.
Tonight, I’m ready for us to become…” I didn’t know what we’d be after tonight, how the intimacy
would change our relationship, but I was willing to take that risk knowing the potential reward would
be worth it. “I don’t know. Lovers?”

“I can have casual sex with most women, Jaci,” he said, slowly unbuttoning my blouse before

spreading it apart. “But not with you. I’ve spent too much time getting to know you, falling for you.
I’m not interested in a friends-with-benefits kind of arrangement. You need to know that.”

“What do you want?” I asked, watching him peel my blouse off and drape it across the chair,

leaving me in a skimpy tank top and skinny jeans. I was still fully clothed, but the way he looked at
me made me feel naked. And I liked it. No, I loved it.

“I want you in my bed,” he said, running his hands up my ribcage before drifting across my

breasts, tweaking my nipples through a layer of fabric and lace. “But I want you out of bed too. I want
to hear your voice on the phone during the day. I want to smile when I see your random texts on my
phone.”

I was mesmerized as I watched him reach behind his back and pull his soft cotton T-shirt over

his head. Wow. I’d never seen him without a shirt before. I didn’t realize the ink traveling up his arms
extended to his bare, muscular chest. My mouth was watering, my palms itching to caress every inch
of him. Only his words stopped me.

“I want you here with me as much as possible. I want to be able to pick you up from work. Take

you out to dinner.” His blue eyes were locked on mine as though he were trying to get inside my head.
“I want you to be the woman on my arm at these fundraisers I have to go to. I want you on the back of
my motorcycle when I need to blow off a little steam and under me when I need my fix of you.”

“What you’re describing,” I said, struggling to find my voice, “sounds a lot like a relationship.”

I’d had one rule when I moved here: no relationships. I wanted to have fun, step out of my comfort
zone, party with my girlfriends, and get through school. That’s it.

“I guess it does.”
His hands slipped under my tank before easing it over my head. He sucked in a breath at the

sight of my breasts spilling out of my pale yellow bra. I wasn’t naïve enough to think he hadn’t seen
his fair share of large breasts before, but at least I could say mine were the real deal, and that had to
count for something.

“Relationships scare me,” I said softly, reaching for his belt buckle.
I couldn’t believe we were undressing in the middle of his kitchen, in front of a bank of

windows, with the lights on at night, but it didn’t seem to matter where we were when he looked at
me like that. On the roof, in the middle of a crowded movie theatre, or in a cramped car, I would have
been good to go just about anywhere with him.

“They scare me too,” he surprised me by admitting. “I’ve never been very good at them. But for

you, I want to try.”

I loved that he wanted more than one night with me. But how much more? That was the part that

scared me. “I don’t think I can make any promises, Nex.” Beyond promising to enjoy every inch of his
body tonight.

“I can.” He licked a path up my neck, setting my whole body on fire. “I can promise to be an

attentive boyfriend. I can promise to be faithful to you. I can promise to spoil you, protect you, treat
you the way you deserve to be treated.”

Oh God, when he said things like that, I felt like a gooey marshmallow. “You don’t have to say

those—”

His lips cut my words off again, not that I was complaining. As his tongue tangled with mine,

every logical argument I’d had against this dissolved, reminding me I’d promised myself to act on
impulse once in a while and trust my instincts more. This felt right.

I would have squealed when he picked me up, but I was too caught up in his kiss. He made it to

the bedroom without opening his eyes, making me wonder how many times he’d done this before. But
as quickly as that thought surfaced, I squashed it. I wasn’t going to think about Nex’s other women
now. Tonight, he was mine.

He lowered me to the bed slowly, coming down on top of me as I wrapped my legs around him,

wishing we’d taken the time to shed the rest of our clothes. I couldn’t wait to feel every inch of him.
In me. On me. Over me. Under me. Any way and every way I could get him.

Nex kissed a path down my body, only pausing long enough to flick the front closure of my bra,

allowing my breasts to spill free. He looked his fill before swirling his tongue around my nipple
while tweaking the other with his fingertips.

I squirmed against the bedding, caught up in a plethora of sensations: the softness of the sheets at

my back, the roughness of his hands gently scraping my skin, the lick of heat as his tongue worked me
over while inspiring a surge between my legs.

I arched my back as he stripped my jeans off, followed by his. Stretching my hands over my

head, reveling in the way his eyes devoured my breasts, I appreciated the fact he’d left a dim light on
so I wouldn’t have to miss a moment of this.

“Tell me what you want,” he said, his eyes wandering all over my body before settling on my

yellow lace panties.

“I want you to lose those,” I said, rubbing my heel over his impressive erection. “I want to see

you. All of you.” I wasn’t used to being so upfront in the bedroom, but I knew my old rules didn’t
apply with Nex. I could be free with him, the person I’d always wanted to be.

“That can be arranged,” he said, shedding them slowly as a smile worked its way across his

handsome face. “Better?”

My throat was dry as I nodded. “Much.”
“Your turn.”
I expected him to take my panties off, or better yet, tear them off, but I was happy to oblige. I

slid them down slowly, feeling sexier and more desirable than I ever had when he licked his lips as
though I’d just offered him a succulent treat he couldn’t resist.

“Better?” I asked, parroting him as I opened my legs just enough to taunt him. All of the

nervousness I’d been feeling earlier vanished as my body’s desires took over.

“God, I want to destroy you.” His eyes flicked to mine. “In the best possible way.”
“So what’s stopping you?”
He took his hard shaft in his hand. “This. If I do everything I want to do to you, I’m not sure

who’ll get off first, you or me.”

I smirked, watching his hand with fascination, wishing it were my mouth. “Why don’t we find

out?”

With a groan, he dropped to his knees, kissing my thighs as he murmured against my skin, “I’ve

been waiting months for this, for you. Do you know how many times I’ve done this to you in my
dreams?”

He’d been dreaming about this? I thought I was the only one who had. “Not as many times as

you’ve done it in my dreams.”

His heated gaze clashed with mine, and I knew admitting he’d been the star of my naughty

fantasies was akin to pouring the gas and lighting the match.

His tongue moved leisurely at first, as though he were intent on testing my resolve, but as soon

as I thrust my hands in his hair, a plea slipping from my lips, he lost it, consuming me. What started as
embers grew into flames winding through my body, engulfing me, until I couldn’t see anything but the
flashes of light behind my closed eyelids. I couldn’t hear anything but the sounds of my own desperate
cries filling the large room, and I couldn’t feel anything but him drawing every last drop of pulsating
pleasure from me.

By the time he worked his way up my body, I could barely breathe, but I didn’t care about

something as inconsequential as breathing, not with his weight pressing me into the mattress while his
rock-hard erection promised satisfaction at a whole new level.

He kissed me passionately, tangling his hands in my hair, my scalp tingling just enough to make

me claw his back and shift my body, silently pleading for him to end the torturous wait.

When he reached over to snag a condom from the nightstand, I knew my wait was over.
Seconds seemed like minutes as I watched him roll it on while I wondered how it was possible

for a man to be this sexy. I’d heard about air-brushed perfection that created lines and definition
where none existed, but I’d never experienced a man with the complete package in the flesh before. I
knew I’d never forget this moment when he possessed me completely for the first time. Like Jade
said, a memory for the bank, when life was mundane and boring and I needed to remember the brief
moments of ecstasy.

He brushed my hair off my face while aligning our bodies. “Never too late to back out, Jaci. Just

say the word if you need more time.”

I couldn’t believe at a moment like this, when he had to be clinging to self-control by a frayed

thread, he was still checking in with me. Making me fall just a little deeper with just a few words

because he cared enough to make sure I wanted this just as much as he did, to put my needs, my
feelings first.

“I’m sure.” Surer than I’d ever been. Unlike the first time with Scott, when I’d been caught

between a teenager and a woman, this time I was older, wiser, more certain about the choice I was
making and the man I was making it with.

He took his time, kissing me while my body slowly stretched to accommodate his. I’d expected

it to be rushed, frenzied, since we’d waited so long, trying to deny our attraction, but Nex had more
self-control than I thought possible. His pace was gentle, as though we had all the time in the world to
explore each other.

While he picked up the tempo, I kissed his neck. My hands traveled over his back, admiring the

play of muscles in sync with his powerful thrusts. Getting lost in him was easy; separating from him
would be the hard part. But I didn’t have to think about that now, not yet.

All of my senses were on high alert as the frantic need for him to increase the intensity roared

through me. I was so close. I just needed…

Before I could even express it with words, he read it in my eyes, giving me exactly what I

needed. My whole body buzzed as my muscles tensed, the blood pumping through my veins and
roaring in my ears as I fell into some parallel universe where my sole purpose was to experience
this.

He kissed my face tenderly, repeatedly, as my body slowly recovered, my heartbeat returning to

normal.

It had been a long time since I’d had sex, but the fact he didn’t seem as desperate and frantic as I

felt made me wonder how long it had been for him.

“What are you thinking?” he whispered in my ear.
“You seem…” There was no way to express it without letting my insecurity creep into the mix

and mar a perfect moment. “So in control.”

He chuckled, sounding short of breath. “Definitely not. I’m trying to hold on, to make this good

for you.”

Was he kidding? If it felt any better, I’d pass out. “Please.” I didn’t know what I was asking for,

but I suspected it was to see that savage side of him, the one I’d glimpsed at the party when he thought
my safety was in jeopardy. I wanted to know I affected him the same way he affected me.

He eased back, fisting his hands on either side of my head. The veins in his neck were more

prominent, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, but the thing that excited me even more
was the unrestrained look in his eye. I knew I was going to get what I’d been hoping to see. Nex
unleashed.

His thrusts became vicious, almost brutal, rocking me to my core. But still I wanted more. I

wanted everything he had, to prove to him that I could take it, that my body had been made for his.

He finally let go, unleashing a litany of broken curses while dropping his head, his arms shaking.
I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything hotter than watching this formidable man come undone.
His eyes were clenched tight, his breath coming in harsh gasps as I pulled him close, needing to

feel that rush of his overtaxed heart beating against mine. That moment, that connection, made me
wonder how I’d ever lived without that experience. I thought I’d been in love before, but it had never
felt like this with Scott.

Chapter Nine

Nex

“I don’t want you to go.” Like ever. I was holding her close, kissing her neck, her hand linked with
mine, and she was talking about heading home. As far as I was concerned, she was home. Right here,
in my arms.

“I don’t want to go either, Nex. But I have to work tomorrow.”
“How about after work?” I knew I was being selfish. She had a life to get back to, but I wasn’t

ready to let her go. I didn’t know if I would ever be ready for that.

“I have to study. I’m not even supposed to be working tomorrow. It’s supposed to be a study day,

but Kelly begged me. I think her son has a baseball tournament or something. She didn’t want to miss
it.”

“What will Kelly do without you?” More importantly, what the hell am I supposed to do

without you? Now that I’d had a taste, I felt ravenous for more.

“They’ll have to hire someone to replace me,” she said, sighing. “Who knows whether they’ll be

able to give me the same hours when I get back in the fall. I guess it’s just a chance I’ll have to take.”

I wanted to tell her she had other options, that I could make her life so much easier if she’d only

let me, but I knew this wasn’t the time to push. We were just settling into this new relationship, trying
to figure things out, and I’d have to be careful not to smother her, no matter how much I wanted to
spend every day and night with her.

“What did you say to Jade when she called earlier?” I didn’t want to talk about the summer. I

knew it would be here before we knew it, forcing us both to reevaluate everything.

“She was so busy apologizing for what happened that I couldn’t get a word in,” she said,

chuckling.

“It’s not funny.” My arms tightened around her when I thought about what could have happened

had I not been there to answer her call. “She should be sorry. So should the rest of your so-called
friends.”

“Come on,” she said, slapping my arm. “You can’t tell me you never went to a college party and

left without the guys you went with.”

It was true, parties like that got crazy and people were routinely separated for a variety of

reasons, but I hated the thought of her being stranded again. And I knew she was too smart and too
responsible to drink and drive… so if she had her own set of wheels it would curb her drinking.

“Hey, I have an idea,” I said, propping my head in my hand as I looked down at her. “Why don’t

you take one of my vehicles?”

“What are you talking about? I can’t do that!”

“Sure, you can.” I smiled, tracing her full lips with my index finger. They were moist and

swollen from my kisses, just the way I liked them. “It’s not like I can drive two trucks, a car, and a
motorcycle. The Charger’s standard, so you’re left with the pick-up or the Hummer. Take your pick.”

“You’re out of your mind,” she said, pulling back to read my expression. “You can’t let someone

else drive your hundred-thousand-dollar Hummer, Nex.”

That was a big vehicle, perfect for a little off-roading fun, but if you weren’t used to taking

corners in it, it could be dangerous. “So take the pick-up.” I couldn’t care less about the cost of the
vehicle. I was more concerned about her safety. Vehicles could be replaced. She couldn’t.

“Won’t you need it for work?”
“Nah, I usually drive the Charger or bike to work, depending on whether I have to dress up for

meetings.”

She smiled, tracing her nail down my chest. “I’ve never seen you in a suit before. I bet you look

hot.”

“You can see me in one this week, if you want,” I said, capturing her hand to kiss it. “I have a

fundraiser to go to for work. I’d love for you to come with me.”

“And if I can’t?” she asked, shifting her eyes from mine. “Will you take someone else?”
I could tell she was trying to play it off, as though my response didn’t matter, but that question

pissed me off. “Hey,” I said, turning her face toward mine, “I meant what I said earlier. I want this
thing between us to be exclusive. If you’re okay with that.” I assumed she would be when she slept
with me, but she hadn’t actually said the words, and now I was holding my breath, waiting to hear
them.

“I’m crazy about you, obviously,” she said, tracing intricate patterns on my arm with her

fingertip. “I honestly don’t know that I’ve ever felt like this before.”

That should have made me happy, but there was a definite “but” lacing her words.
“But I can’t get tied down right now. Toward the end of my relationship with Scott, there were

days when I felt like I couldn’t breathe.” She looked up, her gaze colliding with mine before she
looked away.

I’d experienced the occasional bout of anxiety, like when my mom died. I understood what that

felt like. I felt it now. “Don’t make the mistake of comparing what you had with him to what you could
have with me.” I knew he’d put a lot of pressure on her about the future. I wasn’t thinking about
marriage and probably wouldn’t be ready to take that step for a long time. I just wanted to be with
her, to know that she wanted the same.

“I’m not comparing.” She sighed. “But you have to understand, when you have one single point

of reference with respect to relationships, it’s hard to imagine your next relationship will be any
different than your last.”

Everything she said made sense, but I didn’t want to accept her reasoning. I wanted to convince

her to let her heart lead her… right into my arms. “You can’t go through life being afraid of
relationships because you had one bad experience, Jaci. That’s no way to live.”

“But that’s just it,” she said, seeming frustrated. “It wasn’t a bad experience, not really. Scott

wasn’t a jerk. He didn’t mistreat me or make me feel bad about myself. He was good to me, for the
most part, yet I still couldn’t make it work with him.”

Things were starting to make more sense to me. “So if you couldn’t make it work with a safe bet

like him, there’s not a hope in hell you could make it work with someone like me, right?” Her

unspoken words stung, mainly because I couldn’t deny she had every right to feel that way. I had a
lousy track record with women. I’d lived a pretty wild life, giving every woman I’d ever been with
reason to question me. But it was different with Jaci. She was different.

“I don’t want to offend you,” she said softly, resting her hand on my chest. “You’ve been nothing

but wonderful to me. But I have to think of what’s best for me. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you
want to hear right now. But I have to take things slow, be cautious.”

“What does that mean exactly?” I could compromise with her, mainly because she wasn’t giving

me a choice. But some things were deal-breakers for me. “You’ll be seeing other guys?”

She smiled. “You really think you have to worry about that after what happened here tonight?”
At least I’d convinced her I was the only man she needed in her bed. I guessed that was

something.

“I just need to keep my options open for now, let my life unfold without any expectations from

anyone.”

Ugh, I hated the sound of her keeping her options open. That meant she might meet someone else,

someone who appealed to her more than I did. “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?” I
wasn’t used to pleading my case, especially when it came to women. But I’d spent several months
pursuing this woman. Getting her into bed was only the beginning.

“This is the way it has to be for now, Nex.” She stroked my cheek, her eyes soft, as though she

was feeling the same sense of confusion and turmoil I was. “We’ll see how the next few weeks go.
Maybe we can keep in touch during the summer. When I come back in the fall, if you’re still interested
—”

“I will be.” There was no doubt in my mind about that. My biggest source of concern was the

influences she would have to deal with back home. A lot could happen in three months, especially
when she was being influenced by a man who loved her and the mother who wanted her to be with
that man.

“Then let’s just wait it out before we make any decisions, okay? In the fall, if we’re both still in

the same place, interested in pursuing a relationship, we can talk about it then.”

She was being careful, presenting a logical argument, and I knew I should respect her decision,

but it wasn’t easy when it was diametrically opposed to everything I wanted. I was a fighter. I was
used to getting what I wanted, often the hard way. Letting go of something I wanted as much as I
wanted Jaci, leaving it to fate, went against everything I stood for.

“I know I’m asking a lot of you,” she said, rolling on her side to face me. “And you can tell me

to get the hell out, that you never want to see me again.” She sucked in a breath. “Obviously, I’m
really hoping you won’t do that, but you have every right to.”

“I might, if I could, but I can’t, so I won’t.” I forced myself to smile, hoping to ease the tension

and relieve some of her anxiety. She had enough to worry about with school, work, and returning
home in a few weeks. The last thing I wanted was to give her one more thing to stress about.

“Thank you,” she said, tipping her head back to kiss me. “Thank you for understanding.”
I pulled her into my arms, trying not to hold on too tightly, because that’s exactly what my

instincts were telling me to do. Hold on tight and never let go.

***

I’d finally convinced Jaci to drive my truck home when she left, so at least that relieved my

anxiety about her leaving the bar late at night or getting stranded somewhere. If only all of our
problems could be fixed so easily.

“Hey,” Ryker said, tapping his knuckles on my door, “you got a minute?”
I was supposed to be working, reviewing the design for a big project and making

recommendations on whether we should make changes based on my preliminary meeting with our
celebrity client, but I just couldn’t get my head in the game this morning.

“Yeah, sure,” I said, gesturing to the chair across from me. “Come on in. I could use a break.” I

pointed at the single-brew coffee maker in the corner. “Coffee?”

“No, I’m good,” he said, sitting down.
“Well, I could use one.” I’d barely slept last night. My mind had flipped through all the possible

scenarios, imagining what might happen between Jaci and me when she left for the summer.

Ryker waited for me to return to my desk before he said, “So you know we were up at the

cottage this weekend, right?”

“Yeah, how’d that go?” I’d expected him to want to talk business, so I was grateful when the

conversation took a personal turn.

“It was good, but Seb is definitely off his game. I tried talking to him, but he blew me off.”
Last time I’d talked to Seb, he hadn’t been himself either. He’d seemed kind of introspective,

somber, talking about the future and the things he wanted but didn’t have. That wasn’t like him. He
was usually as laidback as I was, happy to just take things as they came.

“You think his mood has something to do with a woman?”
“Or lack thereof. Mac said he opened up to her a bit, one night after we all went to bed. Seems

he’d like to meet someone.”

“Yeah, I got the same impression.” I had to laugh because meeting women had never been a

problem for any of my brothers. The problem was usually how the hell to get rid of them.

“You know anyone he might go for?” Ryker smirked. “A nice girl, someone who wouldn’t screw

him over.”

“I don’t believe this,” I said, taking a drink of my coffee. “You’re actually trying to play

matchmaker for Seb?”

“Someone has to, and if we don’t, I’m afraid Mackenzie will.”
“Why is that a bad thing?” I asked, trying to hide my amusement behind a coffee mug. I knew

exactly why that was a bad idea. Mac would try to set him up with someone from the church or PTA,
definitely not Seb’s kind of woman.

“Come on, man. Help me out here. Can you think of anyone he might be into?”
I knew a lot of women, but they were the same type who’d convinced Seb he was tired of the

dating scene in the first place. “I don’t know. Let me think about it. I’ll get back to you.”

“Cool. You’re going to that fundraiser Tuesday night, right?”
“Yeah, I asked Jaci to go with me.”
Ryker grinned. “Brody told me he met her at your place on Saturday morning. She spent the

night, huh?”

“It wasn’t like that.” I tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably. Thinking about Jaci

always made me smile, but thinking about her in my bed made me euphoric. “Until Saturday night…”

“So all that hard work finally paid off, huh?” He laughed. “Good for you, little brother. So what

now? You’ve had her. You still want her?”

I couldn’t blame Ryker for being skeptical. I’d always been a “love ’em and leave ’em” kind of

guy. “Even more now. Problem is she’s heading back to Georgia for the summer. She’ll be living with
her mother, close enough for her ex to hassle her. I guess I’m a little concerned about what that’ll
mean for me.”

“Are you saying you’re ready to commit to this girl?” Ryker asked, looking surprised. I couldn’t

say I blamed him. Commitment had always been the big C-word that scared me most.

“I told her I want to be exclusive, but she wants to wait it out, see how we feel about each other

when she comes back in the fall.”

“And you’re worried if this ex of hers has a few months to wear her down—”
“He was a big part of her life for a long time. They have history together. Not to mention the fact

her mother’s convinced they belong together. Her influence sure as hell can’t help my cause.”

“So why not just ask her to spend the summer here?”
“It’s not that easy. She needs to save money for school next year. Living with her mother this

summer, rent-free and working, will allow her to do that. Not to mention the fact her rental house
won’t be available this summer, so she’d have nowhere to stay even if she wanted to.”

“And you wouldn’t want her to stay with you?”
I’d never even considered living with a woman before, but having Jaci at my house this

weekend gave me a taste of what it would be like and I wanted more. “Sure, I would. But she’s got an
independent streak. Thinks she needs to pay her own way in the world.”

“I can respect that,” Ryker said, seeming impressed. “Not like a lot of the girls you’ve dated,

who just wanted to see what they could get out of you.”

“That’s just it,” I said, trying to make my brother understand something I wasn’t even sure I

understood myself. “Jaci’s not like any other girl I’ve dated. She’s different. Special.” I took a sip of
my coffee, trying to find the courage to admit I was in deep. “She makes me think about the future, a
future with her.”

“You’ve told her that?”
“She spooks easily. I don’t want to overwhelm her. She wants to take things one day at a time,

build the relationship slowly. And I’m really trying to respect that, but I’ve known her for three
months and just slept with her, man. That’s crazy, right?”

Ryker laughed. “I’m sure you’re not the first guy in the world who took that long to close the

deal.”

“Yeah, but it usually takes me three hours to close the deal, not three months. At this rate, I won’t

be able to call her my girlfriend for another year.” I was only half-kidding. It seemed like the next
logical step for us, but the fact that Jaci kept putting up roadblocks was starting to make me question
whether we’d ever get there.

“And that’s what you want?” Ryker asked, crossing his arms. “Keeping it casual means if

someone else catches your eye, you won’t have to feel guilty about pursuing it, especially while
Jaci’s away.”

I knew what he was getting at, and if I knew my brother, he was testing my resolve. “Yeah, but

that also means the same is true for her, and I don’t want to think about her being free to pursue other
relationships.”

Ryker pinched his lips together, obviously trying to suppress a smile before he finally said, “So

you wanna lock her down, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess I do. Any advice on how I can make that happen?”
“Like I told you before, just keep surprising her.” He stood. “Think about the way you’ve treated

other girls and do the opposite with Jaci.”

I watched him leave, thinking how easy that would be. There was Jaci, then there was everyone

else.

Chapter Ten

Jaci

I sighed when I saw my mother’s number flash across my screen. As much as I loved her, she could
be a real downer sometimes, and I was riding a high, getting ready for my date with Nex. I didn’t
want anyone or anything to bring me down tonight. I considered letting it go to voicemail, but
eventually, my conscience won out.

“Hey, Mama,” I said, sinking down on my bed as I tried to force the appropriate amount of

enthusiasm into my voice. “How’ve you been?”

“Do you really care, Jacqueline? You haven’t called in a week.”
Here comes the guilt trip. “Sorry, I’ve just been really busy with work and school.”
“Scott told me you spoke to him on his birthday.”
I wasn’t surprised my mother and ex exchanged notes about me. They’d always been on the same

team. “I just sent him an e-card to let him know I was thinking about him. He called me.” I knew my
mother wouldn’t want to hear what I was about to say next, but she’d have to learn to live with my
decision. “But I’m thinking Scott and I need to limit our contact from now on. It’s difficult for either
one of us to move on when we’re stuck in the past.”

“Nonsense. Scott has been an important part of your life for years. He always will be.”
I knew it was time for me to tell her the truth, that I’d met someone else. “Scott was an important

part of my life, you’re right,” I said, trying to be tactful. “But it’s over now. We’re not getting back
together.”

“You don’t know that.”
Like Scott, she was still living in denial. I was convinced they fed off each other, trying to

convince the other I would come around eventually as long as they didn’t give up hope. “Yes, I do. I
broke up with Scott because I was ready to move on, to start a new life. That’s what I’ve been trying
to do here. I’m doing well in school. I’ve made new friends. I’ve even…” I took a deep breath,
knowing it was now or ever. “Met someone.”

She gasped, her shock and dismay obvious. “You met someone? When?”
“We’ve actually known each other for a few months. He’s a customer at the restaurant where I

work.” As far as my mother was concerned, I worked as a waitress in a pub-style restaurant. If she
knew the truth, that Downlow was a biker bar, she’d have a heart attack.

“So why am I just hearing about this?”
My mother expected to know every move I made. Little did she know I only told her just enough

to keep her from worrying… and off my back. “I can’t tell you about every person I meet, Mama.”

“What’s his name?”

“Nex.”
“What kind of name is that?”
“I don’t know. Clearly his mama was original. Maybe she liked to color outside the lines.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked, sounding indignant. “Are you implying that I’m…”
A tightass, Mama? Why yes, as a matter of fact, I am. “I’m not implying anything. I don’t have

a lot of time to talk, and I don’t want to argue. Tell me what you’ve been up to. How’re things back
home?”

“I’m counting down the days ’til I’ll have my little girl back where she belongs.”
I wanted to remind her that I wasn’t a little girl anymore. I was a twenty-four-year-old woman,

but I knew that would only add to the tension. “Yeah, it’ll be nice for us to spend some time together
this summer. Did Aunt Bea go to the specialist with you on Monday?”

I knew I should have called after her appointment to see how things went, but I’d been buried in

books for days. The only person I’d made time to talk to was Nex and only because he usually called
me. I could have ignored his calls, since I was busy, but I couldn’t resist the lure of his sexy voice.

“Yeah, she did. Damn doctor, I swear he just guesses half the time.”
My mother didn’t have a lot of faith in the medical profession. As far as she was concerned,

with the billions being pumped into research, they should have been able to find a cure for every
known ailment by now.

“Did you tell him the medication was making you feel light-headed in the morning?”
“Yeah, he lowered the dose. We’ll see if it helps, but I’m not holding my breath.”
I’d tried to convince her that assuming the best possible outcome might improve her outlook, but

she claimed she was too old to change her ways now.

“How’s the studying going?” she asked. “Feel confident you’ll ace those exams?”
“I’m hopeful.” I’d been a straight-A student in high school, but it wasn’t easy getting back into it

after so many years away from a classroom.

“You’ve been putting in the time though, studying like a good girl, right?”
I rolled my eyes, biting my tongue to quash my response. Hello, I’m not ten years old anymore!

“Of course I’ve been studying, Mama. I wouldn’t walk in to take an exam unprepared.”

“So that’s what you’re doing tonight? Studying?”
It would be easy to let her believe that, but I hated lying, especially to her. As far as she was

concerned, lying was a sin and sinners went straight to hell. “No, I’m taking a little break tonight. I
have a date with Nex.”

“A date? Do you think that’s wise? Your time is limited as it is. You should be studying. If he

can’t understand that, maybe he’s not the right man for you.”

Patience is a virtue, Jaci. Try to remember that. “Nex is very understanding, Mama. But

everyone needs to blow off a little steam sometimes.”

“Blow off steam? Just what kind of date is this?”
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I counted backward from ten. “It’s a charity fundraiser

for a children’s foundation. Nex’s brother founded a company building custom motorcycles, and Nex
is the vice president of operations.” I knew my mother wasn’t impressed by fancy titles, but at least
she wouldn’t worry about whether the new man in my life had a job. “The charity commissioned them
to build a bike that’s being raffled off tonight, so Nex has to be there for the ceremony. He asked me to
go with him.”

“Motorcycles? Dear Lord, don’t tell me he rides one of those death traps! I’d better not hear of

you riding on the back of one of those things, Jacqueline. It would kill me!”

My mother, the drama queen. “No, Mama. I’ve never been on the back of Nex’s bike.” But that’s

not to say I wouldn’t be soon. “Actually, you’ll be pleased to know he lent me his truck so I don’t
have to walk to and from work and school anymore. Isn’t that sweet?”

“Doesn’t he need it himself?”
“He has a few vehicles,” I admitted hesitantly. I knew that wouldn’t go over well. According to

my mother, excess was the devil’s mandate. “He was worried about me being out alone at night, so he
insisted I take his truck.”

“But you’re not insured to drive it. I’m not sure I like this idea.”
I knew telling her that Nex had made the call to his insurance company to have me added as an

occasional driver would raise all sorts of questions I couldn’t answer about how serious this
relationship was. “Listen, Mama, I really have to go and finish getting ready, okay? I’ll call you this
weekend.”

“Just see that you do. You don’t call enough. You only have one mama, girl. Don’t forget that.”
How could I? She’d been reminding me since I was a toddler. “I know, Mama. I love you. I’ll

talk to you soon.”

“Love you too. And be careful with this new man of yours. I’m not sure I like the sound of this.”
There’s a surprise. “I’ll be careful. I promise. You take good care of yourself. Bye-bye, now.”
As soon as I heard her say the magic word, setting me free, I disconnected the call and flopped

back on the bed. Talking to my mama was always so exhausting I needed a nap afterward. But there
was no time for that tonight. I had a handsome man waiting on me, and I couldn’t wait to see him.

***

Nex had been the perfect date. He was attentive and affectionate, holding me close while we

danced, introducing me to those he knew, but it bothered me the way his eyes kept landing on a curvy
brunette in a stunning blue dress that made my simple black dress look like a bargain-basement find.

“You know her?” I asked after his eyes drifted to the woman in question for the tenth time.
“Uh yeah, she’s Brody’s ex.”
Oh, that made me feel better. “She’s lovely.” Now that I knew Nex wasn’t interested, I could say

that without the claws coming out.

“Yeah, she is. She’s a real sweetheart too. I just found out they’ve been seeing each other again.

But this is the second time I’ve seen her with that doctor. It makes me wonder if my brother’s not
setting himself up to get hurt.”

I thought it was so sweet he and his brothers looked out for each other. “Does Brody know she’s

seeing someone else?”

“Yeah, I told him. He wasn’t happy, but he’s still not willing to man up.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, letting my gaze drift to Brody’s ex. Even from a woman’s

perspective, I couldn’t imagine any man being dense enough to let someone like her get away. I’d only
met Brody briefly, but it was obvious he wasn’t stupid.

“I know he’s in love with her, but she’s not crazy about the whole gambling thing.”
Maybe she had a mother like mine, who believed gamblers received a one-way ticket to hell. “Is

that why they broke up?” I asked, wanting to learn more about Nex’s family.

“His profession takes him all over the world,” Nex explained. “It’s tough to have a relationship

when you’re never around. Not to mention the fact his job is pretty high stress, millions of dollars and
your reputation at stake every time you go all in.”

I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to win millions of dollars, much less have millions to

lose in a single night. “What does she do?”

“Riley’s a wedding planner,” Nex said, looking amused. “One of the best in the city, in fact. If

ever there was a girl looking for her own happy ending…”

I couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to help others plan their special day and wonder if

you would ever celebrate your own. “You think things are serious with her and the doctor?” I couldn’t
deny Riley’s date was handsome, very handsome, and he definitely seemed into her. But he was no
Brody. That man, like his brothers, oozed sex appeal from his pores.

“I don’t know.” He glanced down at me. “I don’t want to think about my brother’s problems

anymore.” Tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, he asked, “How’s the studying going?”

“It’s going. But I can’t tell you how happy I’ll be to take that last exam.”
His expression darkened before he lowered his head. “I’m selfishly not looking forward to that.

I’m gonna go crazy without you this summer.”

I thought it was sweet that he’d miss me, but I knew he wouldn’t miss me half as much as I’d

miss him. “We can still talk on the phone, video chat, text, and email.” I knew it was a poor substitute
for seeing each other, but it would have to do.

“Or I could visit you.”
I could tell he was challenging me, testing me to find out if I’d be willing to invite him into my

world and introduce him to my mama. “I’d like that.” He rewarded me with a smile, prompting me to
kiss him.

“Have you got a summer job lined up yet?”
“My aunt Bea has a diner. I used to work for her. She said she could use me again over the

summer break.”

“Good. You should take my truck. That way you can drive back here too, maybe once a month? If

I go there once a month and you come here once a month, the summer will pass pretty quickly, don’t
you think?”

I could just imagine my mother’s reaction if I told her I intended to shack up in some hotel with

my boyfriend for the weekend.

“What’s wrong?”
“That’s really generous of you, but I really don’t need wheels while I’m at home. Like I said, it’s

a tiny town. I can walk everywhere I need to go.”

“Yeah, but you can drive back here to see me if you take the truck. Unless you’d rather fly?” He

nodded as though he’d answered his own question. “Yeah, that probably makes more sense. You’ll
only get the weekend off, right? You should definitely fly. It’ll give us more time together.”

“Nex, I can’t afford to fly back and forth. I’m supposed to be saving money for school,

remember?”

His brows dipped as though he were still trying to make sense of me. “I’ll pay for the flights.”
I patted his chest, trying to laugh off his offer. “That’s very generous, but I can’t let you do that.”
“And I’m telling you now you’re crazy if you think I’m gonna go three months without seeing

you. Even once or twice a month isn’t enough.”

I knew Nex was a strong-willed, opinionated man used to getting what he wanted, but he needed

to understand I wasn’t some wallflower content to let the man in her life make all the decisions for
her. If this was going to work, he had to understand it would involve compromise.

“I’m sure we can work something out if we both deem it important enough, right?” I asked, my

voice laced with warning.

“Is that your not-so-subtle way of telling me to back off, that I’m pushing too hard?”
I tapped his face gently, smiling. “You’re a smart man.”
“At least spend the night with me tonight.”
I’d love nothing more, and since my first class was late in the morning, I could. “As long as you

promise to behave yourself.”

“Meaning?” His eyes trailed over my body in the tight-fitting black dress. “Are you telling me

it’s your time of the month or something?”

I slapped his chest, torn between amusement and embarrassment. “No! I just meant I don’t want

to argue any more about my plans for the summer.”

“Were we arguing?” he asked, drawing me so close I could feel his arousal prod my belly. “I

could have sworn we were having a mature discussion about the future.”

The future. Every time I’d heard those words from Scott in recent years, a feeling of dread filled

me. Not so with Nex. When he talked about the future, the butterflies started flitting around in my
stomach, reminding me how exciting it could be to plan for the future with a man I was crazy about.

“Call it what you want,” I said, lowering his head so I could whisper in his ear. “I think you’re

trying to strong-arm me, and I just wanted you to know it’s not going to work.”

I could feel his smile against my cheek as he whispered, “I didn’t hear you complaining the other

night when I was strong-arming you.”

Just the thought of his bulk pressing me into the mattress, his hand capturing both of mine, made

me hot all over again. “There are times when it’s okay,” I teased. “Just don’t get used to it.
Sometimes, you’re going to get your own way. Other times, you’re going to have to let me have mine.”

He tipped his head back, looking serious. “Does that mean you wanna be on top sometimes? I

think I can live with that.”

I laughed loud enough to draw the attention of the other couples on the dance floor. I didn’t care,

and neither did he. The only thing that mattered was that I’d finally met a man who made me laugh
while challenging me in the best possible way.

Chapter Eleven

Nex

By the time we made it back to my house, I wasn’t nearly as tired as I should have been. In fact, it felt
like I’d just had a triple espresso and was good to go all night. But it wasn’t caffeine that had me
revved up. It was the way Jaci’s hand kept creeping up my thigh on the ride home.

Since I was just as anxious to get her going, I’d been teasing her through those sexy silky panties

at every stoplight. At this point, I was pretty sure if I’d asked to bend her over the hood of my car, she
would have been game.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked, shooting a sidelong glance in her direction as I shut off the car.

“You seem kinda edgy.”

“Edgy?” she asked, practically panting as she shot daggers at me. “I wonder why.” She reached

up to close the garage door using my remote before climbing into my lap and manually shifting the
seat back as far as it would go. “Maybe it’s time to give you a taste of your own medicine.”

“Or maybe it’s just time to give me a taste.” I grabbed the back of her head, kissing her hard. I

loved this aggressive side of her and wanted to see what I could do about drawing out a little more
fire.

She moaned into my mouth as she lifted her body just enough to reach the front of my pants.
Now I was the one panting as she continued kissing me while undoing my belt, followed by my

button and fly. “Damn, girl…” There were no words to describe what she was doing to me. I’d been
trying to get her fired up, but she’d somehow managed to turn the tables on me and it felt like I was at
her mercy instead.

She reached for her purse, pulling out a condom.
“What the hell are you doing with those?” I grumbled. I didn’t want to think about her being that

prepared. She had to know that I would always take care of her, that I’d never be stupid or reckless
where she was concerned.

“A girl’s gotta be ready for anything, doesn’t she?” she asked, licking her lips.
Muttering a curse, I lifted up just enough to lower my pants and boxer briefs. “Not my girl. You

just let me worry about the protection from now on.”

“Why?” she asked, tearing the package open with her teeth before rolling it over my shaft.
“Because I don’t want you carrying goddamn condoms around in your purse,” I said, gripping

her head so I could kiss her again. I knew it was stupid, but if I was the only guy she was sleeping
with, she wouldn’t need those. I could provide them. “I’ve got it covered.”

She shoved her panties aside, moaning as she lowered herself. “Well, now I’ve got you covered,

sexy. Don’t you prefer this?”

Any and every day.
But I couldn’t talk, couldn’t think, when she was riding me like that. I closed my eyes when I

realized they were rolling back in my head, giving her some clue as to what she was doing to me. I’d
always been a master of self-control, but I was putty in Jaci’s hands whenever she looked at me like
making love to me was the highlight of her day, her week, her life.

“God, yes.” The words seeped out between my clenched teeth as I dug my fingers into her

luscious hips. Jaci wasn’t the kind of woman who counted every calorie. She was curvy and sexy as
hell, giving me just enough to hang on to when I felt like my world was tipping on its axis.

“You like that?” she asked, grinding against me, giving, taking, making me crazy.
“You know I do.” Love would be a more apt description, but I wasn’t stupid enough to start

throwing the L-word around too soon.

“Mmmm, me too. God, I needed this, Nex.” She bit her lower lip, her eyes heavy with lust. “I

needed you.”

I really did love the sound of that. I wanted her to need me, to feel as though she couldn’t go a

day without seeing my face or hearing my voice, ’cause that’s the way I was beginning to feel about
her.

“You’ve got me, sweetheart.” I pulled her closer, kissing her neck. She went off like a

firecracker every time my mouth zeroed in on a spot just above her collarbone. I was getting to know
her body, and in time, I was determined to know it even better than I knew my own. Keeping her
satisfied was imperative to keeping her, and that was my part of my long-range plan.

“Jesus, Nex…” Her head rolled back as she sank her nails into my shoulders. Even through my

suit jacket I could feel it, and the only way I would have enjoyed it more was if I woke up in the
morning bearing the reminder of our front seat action.

“Yeah, that’s it, baby.” I watched her as I guided her hips, hard, fast, deep, just the way I knew

she needed it to get off. I’d never seen anything hotter than watching this woman explode while riding
me. If she kept it up, I was pretty sure the next thing to explode would be my head.

She felt like a hot, wet vise, and no matter how much I tried to distract myself from how good it

felt, I was still clawing my way up to that high point in record time. I wanted to hold out, to make it
last, but the way she was throbbing around me made that an impossible feat.

The final eruption was so fierce I felt winded, as though I needed a minute to catch my breath

before I tried to move or speak. But when she wrapped her arms around me and snuggled up, resting
her head in the crook of my neck, my throat felt like it was closing up. I wrapped my arms around her,
overwhelmed by how good it felt just to hold her after what we’d just shared.

We were in the front seat of my car, unable to wait until we got inside to start tearing off each

other’s clothes. It should have been hot and fast and dirty, and while it had started out that way, it
turned into something else. Something that made me wonder how the hell I was supposed to let her go.

***

Sitting across from Jaci at my kitchen table while she wore one of my old T-shirts and nothing

else made me appreciate what Ryker had been going on about for all these years. He said he didn’t
rush into the office in the morning ’cause he loved that quiet time with Mac in the morning, where
they’d share a cup of coffee and talk about their plans for the day. Enjoying the Spanish omelette Jaci

had woken up early to make for me, I finally got what he was talking about. It was easy to imagine
starting every day this way.

“I still say you’re wasting your talents, Jac,” I said, polishing off my breakfast. “You should be

going to culinary school, ’cause this is seriously amazing.”

She laughed, the color rising in her cheeks. “It’s nothing, just an omelette.”
Maybe, but I’d been watching her when she prepared it. She was so cute, so intense, as though

she wanted it to be just perfect. For me. And that small gesture, like so many others, made me fall just
a little deeper.

“Tell me,” I said, reaching for my freshly squeezed orange juice. “If you could open your own

restaurant, what kind would it be?”

She looked like a little girl who’d just been asked what she wanted Santa to bring her for

Christmas as her eyes widened while she pleated creases in the napkin resting in her lap. “Gosh,
there are so many options, so many different types of cuisine I love and would love to explore.
Problem is, all that takes money I don’t have.” She sighed. “My mama always told me daydreaming
could be dangerous. Made you want things you could never have and made you ungrateful for all the
things you did have.”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with daydreaming,” I said, trying to be cautious. If this

worked out, there wasn’t a single thing she could want I wouldn’t be able to help her with, but I knew
saying something like that to a woman like Jaci, who was strong and determined to write her own
ticket, would earn me a swift kick. “That’s part of my job, imagining what a bike will look like, how
amazing it’ll be when it’s finished. Sometimes it’s that time I spend letting my mind wander, thinking
about the possibilities, that makes all the difference.”

“I guess you’re right,” she said, taking a sip of her juice. “I never thought about it like that.”
“So what do you plan to do with this degree of yours?” I asked, watching her spread jam on her

toast. “You said yourself there aren’t many job opportunities in your hometown.”

“I don’t know exactly,” she said. “My aunt Bea’ll be retiring soon. Maybe I could work it out so

that I’ll take over her diner.”

I couldn’t imagine Jaci wasting her life in some greasy spoon in a small town, chatting up the

locals all day. She was cut out for bigger and better things, and whether she was willing to admit it or
not, I knew she wanted more. She deserved more.

“If you didn’t have to go back home after graduation to care for your mama, what do you think

you’d do?” She’d already told me she felt she had to go back, that she didn’t have a choice after all
her mama had done for her. But I cared about her enough to want to help her find another way. Maybe
I was being selfish, but I wanted to believe we could figure out a way for her to be the dutiful
daughter and mine at the same time.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’ve never let myself entertain that possibility for long, Nex.

What’s the point? I knew I’d have to go back eventually.” She sank back in her chair, reaching for her
coffee mug. Curling her hands around it, she said, “My mama was pretty upset when I told her I
wanted to come to Florida to get my degree instead of staying in Georgia, but she agreed when I told
her it would just be for four years and I’d be home every summer and for a couple of weeks at
Christmas.”

I hadn’t even met Jaci’s mom yet and I already had a problem with her. The way she

manipulated her daughter and made her feel guilty didn’t sit well with me, though I knew I wasn’t at

liberty to express those opinions yet. I was pretty sure the day would come when I would, ’cause I
wasn’t good at holding my tongue, but I needed more time with her before I could convince her that
my concern was genuine, borne of my feelings for her.

“You shouldn’t have to get your mama’s approval to do anything, Jac. She raised you right.

You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Now she needs to trust you to make your own decisions.”

“You know what it’s like,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet mine. “To be raised by a single

parent who made all kinds of sacrifices to keep a roof over your head and food in your belly.”

Unlike Jaci’s situation, my old man had been in the picture, but it would have been better for all

of us had he not been. “Yeah, sure, but—”

“Didn’t you wanna make your mama proud, Nex?”
“Of course I did. But—”
“Didn’t you wanna let her know that all of her sacrifices weren’t in vain? That you appreciated

everything she did for you?”

I hadn’t had nearly as much time with my mother as I would have liked. She was taken too soon

and I was still testing the boundaries when she passed. More than a few times in recent years, I
wished she could have lived long enough to see that I’d turned out okay.

I took Jaci’s coffee cup and set it aside before reaching for her hand. “I get what you’re saying,

and I admire you for caring so much, for wanting to be there for your mama the way she was there for
you. But staying there, being her caregiver as she battles a debilitating illness, is going to be a huge
burden on you.” I hated being so blunt, but someone clearly had to be or she was going to sacrifice the
best years of her life playing nursemaid.

“I’m her daughter,” she said, looking shocked as she withdrew her hand from mine. The chair

scraped across the tile floor as she scooted away from me. “Her only child. I couldn’t live with
myself if I abandoned her when she needed me most.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but—”
“Do you, Nex?” She stood, staring at me. “I’m beginning to think you haven’t got a clue. You’ve

lived this self-indulgent life, believing the whole world revolves around you. Well, guess what? It
doesn’t. Part of being a grown-up means doing things you don’t want to do because you know it’s
right.”

I reached for her hand, but she stepped back, just out of my reach, letting me know I’d crossed

the line. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. I just don’t wanna see you make choices you’ll regret.”

“I’d regret not being there for my mother. I’d regret putting my needs above hers. ’Cause there

will come a day when she won’t be here anymore. When that day comes, I want to be able to look
myself in the mirror knowing I did everything I could for her.”

***

The tension in the car was palpable as I parked in Jaci’s driveway. I knew I couldn’t take back

the things I’d said, nor would I want to. I’d meant every word of it, even if she hadn’t been ready to
hear it.

“I know you think this is none of my business,” I said, turning to face her. “But I only expressed

my opinion because I care about you and want you to be happy. Can you honestly tell me you’ll be
happy living in some little backward-ass town—”

“Who the hell are you to call it that?” she asked, her blue eyes flashing with outrage. “Have you

even been there?” Before I could tell her I hadn’t, she rushed on. “I’ll have you know that town is
filled with wonderful, generous, hard-working people who would give a neighbor in need the shirt off
their backs.”

I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t roll them. I wanted to remind her if it had been so great, she

wouldn’t have been in such a big hurry to leave, but I knew that sure as hell wouldn’t diffuse the
situation. “I’m sure it’s a nice place to grow up, but what kind of opportunities will you have living
there?” I really tried to suppress my smile when I said, “Running Aunt Bea’s diner?” but I could tell
by her venomous look she’d heard the amusement in my voice.

“Who are you to judge?” she demanded. “I’ll have you know that diner helped support her

whole family when my uncle had a farming accident. It put two kids through college and helped
support her parents in their old age, paying their medical bills and helping to pay for the home care
they needed so Aunt Bea could keep running the diner.”

“Ah, so they do have home-care workers there?” I said, spreading my hands. “Perfect. You

won’t be leaving your mother high and dry.”

She gaped at me. “How can you be so callous, so insensitive?”
I thought I was being practical, offering a reasonable solution to her dilemma. “Look, Jaci, I

don’t know where this relationship is going, but I really don’t want to invest a lot of energy in
someone who’s gonna pick up and leave me in a few years ’cause caring for her mama is more
important than building a life with me.”

“I’ll tell you where this relationship is going,” she said, reaching into her purse. “Nowhere.”

She dropped the keychain I’d given her on the dashboard. “Take your truck. I don’t need it.”

“You’re being unreasonable,” I said, feeling the panic rising. Me and my big mouth. I really

needed to learn how to keep my opinions to myself sometimes. “Let’s talk about this some more.”

“There’s nothing left to say,” she said, reaching for her door handle. “I don’t want to be with a

man who would suggest I leave my mother’s care to a bunch of strangers while I’m living it up a state
away.”

“For Christ’s sake, Jaci,” I said, grabbing her arm. “That’s not what I suggested.”
“That’s exactly what you suggested,” she said, peeling my hand off her arm. “So don’t even try

to sugarcoat it.” When I tried to defend myself, she raised her hand. “I have to go. I have classes this
afternoon.”

I watched her leave, muttering a curse before putting the car in reverse and laying a strip on her

quiet street.

***

I walked into the bakery twenty minutes later, not because I was hungry, but because I needed

advice. A woman’s perspective.

“Well, well,” Mary said, coming out from behind the counter as she wiped her hands on a clean

pink apron. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Mac’s mom had become a surrogate mother to all of us after our mom died, and I’d often gone to

her just to talk over the years when I needed to work out some moral dilemma.

I kissed her cheek soundly while she enveloped me in a hug. “Your beautiful daughter around?” I

wasn’t sure I was ready to let my family in on the problems I was having with Jaci just yet.

“No, she won’t be in for a few hours,” Mary said, holding up a finger to catch the attention of

one of the two young girls behind the counter. “But I can take a break if you want to talk for a bit?”

“I’d love that.” She’d always had this uncanny ability to read my mind, to know exactly when I

needed a shoulder to lean on.

“Can I get you a coffee, or maybe a chocolate pecan pastry? They’re fresh out of the oven.”
“I’ve already had breakfast, thanks.” And how could a day that had started so great have gone to

shit so fast?

She grabbed my hand, leading me to one of the few empty tables.
“Looks like business is booming,” I said, glancing around. There were more than a dozen

customers filling tables, enjoying their morning coffee with fresh muffins or pastries before heading
off to work or school.

“It’s going great,” she said, slapping the hand I’d set on the table. “But I know you aren’t here to

talk about that.” Her hand curled over mine. “Come on now, Nex. You’re always the one with the
ready smile, who never takes life too seriously. So why the hang-dog expression this morning,
honey?”

“I met a girl.” I smirked when she nodded, giving me a knowing smile. “I guess that doesn’t

surprise you, huh? What else could put me in a mood like this, right?”

“Tell me about her.”
What could I say about the woman who’d turned me inside out without even trying? “She’s a

college student, actually.” I smiled at Mary’s frown, squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, she’s only six
years younger than me.”

“Oh, okay. She’s a graduate student then?”
“No, a freshman. She had to wait a while, save money before she could start school.”
“Very impressive,” Mary said, nodding her approval. “She sounds like a very determined young

lady.”

Bullheaded felt like a more apt description after our argument. “Yeah, you could say that. She

works part-time as a waitress at Downlow.”

Mary laughed. “You mean that biker bar? She must be tough too. Most women wouldn’t survive

in an environment like that.”

I hadn’t thought about it before, but Jaci had never shown fear dealing with that crowd. She

treated them with respect, and they returned the favor. The odd time one of the new guys would ask
her out or make a grab for her, she quickly put them in their place, or one of their brothers did before I
could. “Yeah, I guess she is tough.”

“So what kind of problems are you having with this young lady of yours?” Mary asked, leaning

in to let me know I had her undivided attention.

“She’s from Georgia and intends to go back for the summer.”
“I see. And I’m guessing you’re not too happy with her decision?”
“No, but I think we could make that work. She has this ex though, who wants her back, and her

mama happens to think she belongs with this guy.”

“Mmm.” Mary clasped her hands under her chin. “And how does your girl feel about him?”
After this morning, I wasn’t even sure I could call Jaci mine anymore, but I wasn’t about to

correct Mary if she chose to refer to her that way. “Jaci says she’s done with him.”

“But you don’t believe her?”
“I do. It’s just that her mother’s opinion is pretty important to her.”
“And you’re worried she’ll try to influence Jaci while they’re under the same roof the whole

summer?”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” I realized my fear and insecurity were part of the reason I’d approached

the subject that morning, instead of being happy and satisfied we’d had such a great night together.

“Is she the type of woman to be easily influenced?”
Given the way she’d let me have it when I tried to impose my opinions on her, she definitely

was not easily swayed. “Uh, no.”

“Then what are you worried about? If she’s made up her mind and you’re convinced she’s done

with the ex, you have nothing to worry about.”

I reached for Mary’s hand, making her laugh when I kissed it. “You’re awesome, you know

that?”

She leaned over to pat my cheek before wiggling her fingers as though she was ready for more.

“Come on, I know you, Nex. There’s something else bothering you. What is it?”

“She intends to head back to Georgia after she gets her degree. Her mama has Parkinson’s, and

Jaci wants to be there to care for her.”

Mary smiled. “I think that’s very admirable. This one definitely sounds like a keeper.”
“Yeah, but how can I keep her if she’s so determined to go back home in a few years?”
“An awful lot can happen in a few years, my boy.” She shook her head, her expression grave. “If

three years ago someone had told me that by now I’d have lost my husband and started a business
with my daughter, I would have thought they were crazy. That just proves you don’t have the foresight
to see everything. And maybe it’s better that way, don’t you think?”

“You think I’m overanalyzing this?” I’d never been accused of that before, but then I’d never

been this invested in a relationship before either.

“I think, like I said, a lot can happen in three years. You have no way of knowing what’s going to

happen. But if you build a strong relationship with this young lady and you fall in love, do you think
she’s going to be any more willing to leave you than you are to let her go?”

Mary made a good point, but I still couldn’t shake my concern. “But she’s really committed to

caring for her mama, Mar.”

“And that tells me that she’ll be a wonderful wife and mother someday. She’s a caregiver. She

loves deeply and wants to take care of the people who matter most to her.” She smiled, patting my
heavily inked forearm. “Play your cards right, and by the time three years roll around, you might be on
that short list, son.”

I heard her loud and clear. Leaning over the table, I kissed her cheek. “What would I do without

you?”

She laughed, her blue eyes sparkling with affection. “I love you too, honey.”

Chapter Twelve

Jaci

“What’s got you in such a pissy mood today?” Jade asked when I tossed my book bag on the floor
with a heavy thud before plopping my ass down in the chair next to her, scowling at the near-empty
pizza box on the coffee table.

“Y’all didn’t think to save some for me?”
“There’re two pieces left,” she said. “Help yourself.”
I couldn’t wipe the scowl off my face as I picked up one of two slivers left in the box. I hadn’t

bothered to eat all day, and I was so hungry, I had a pounding headache. Since we each tossed fifty
bucks a month in the pot to cover takeout food, I was entitled to a quarter of the pizza they’d scarfed
down without thinking twice. Bitches.

“I know it’s not the pizza that’s got your panties in a twist. So what is it?”
“Aside from the fact you bitches left me high and dry at some party to get groped by—”
“We all said we were sorry and begged forgiveness,” Jade said. “How long are you going to

make us suffer for that?”

Since that wasn’t the real reason I was angry, I decided to let her off the hook. I wasn’t one to

hold a grudge and she knew it. “That’s not why I’m in a pissy mood.” I chewed slowly, replaying my
conversation with Nex in my head. He’d tried texting me a few times during the day, always to
apologize, often with cute little icons that made me smile. Still, I wasn’t sure if I should call him
back.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense. What is it?” She sighed when I didn’t respond. “I noticed you

didn’t take Nex’s truck to school today. Is he the reason you’re mad at the world?”

I didn’t know why he hadn’t picked up the truck, but since I’d given him the keys, I had no use

for it. “We kind of got into it this morning. He’s not too happy I’m going back home this summer.”

“You think he’s worried about Scott?”
I reached for the second piece of pizza, which really just looked like a single piece cut in two. I

wouldn’t put that past Jade when she decided she wanted more than her fair share. “I don’t know why
he would be. I told Nex I’m done with Scott. I think he’s more concerned about me going back and
falling into my old way of life. I don’t know, maybe he’s questioning whether I’ll come back at all in
the fall.”

“Any chance of that happening?” Jade asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
“You really think I worked my ass off for the years to save enough for my college tuition only to

bail after the first year?” I asked, taking a greedy bite of my second sliver.

“You could always transfer if you decided you didn’t want to be that far from home. I can’t say I

blame Nex for being worried. Honestly, I’m a little concerned too. You have to admit, you haven’t
been enjoying the college experience as much as the rest of us.”

“Only because your parents are footing the bill for you. I have to work my way through school.

That means I can’t afford to be out partying every night.”

“Understood,” Jade said, nodding. “So what are you going to do about Nex? If you don’t want

him, I’d be happy to take him off your hands.”

I glared at her, kicking her foot with mine. “No, thanks.”
“Then you’re going to keep seeing him, even during the summer?”
“That was the plan, but now I’m not so sure. It seems he doesn’t approve of my returning to

Hartwell to take care of Mama after graduation.”

“Can you blame him?” Jade asked, reaching for her soft drink. “No guy wants to invest that kind

of time on a girl only to have her bail on him. Especially someone like Nex. You said he doesn’t do
relationships, right?”

“Yeah.” I’d been so angry that morning, I hadn’t even tried to see things from his perspective,

but Jade made a good point. “So what do you think I should do? I really don’t want to lead him on.
That wouldn’t be fair.”

“You wouldn’t be leading him on,” Jade said, tipping her can back to get the last few drops.

“You told him your plans. If he wants to keep seeing you, it’s on him.”

“I guess you’re right.” Maybe I was feeling guilty for no reason.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, ’cause you know I love you, but, girl, you analyze everything to

death. Why can’t you just let go and have some fun? Isn’t that what the whole college experience was
supposed to be about, having fun and leaving all of your problems at home behind?”

I’d told her that on the first day I arrived, and I was suddenly glad I had. I needed to be

reminded of my own intentions every now and then. “You’re right. Thanks.”

“And hey, maybe Nex is the right guy for you; maybe he’s not. Either way, you’ll figure it out

eventually, but only if you’re willing to give it a chance.”

“Is that your not-so-subtle way of telling me to call him?”
“Well, duh! What do you think?”
I laughed, slapping her leg. “Okay, okay, I’m going.”

***

I was starting to get more and more nervous as I listened to the phone ringing in my ear. Maybe

he didn’t want to talk to me. Could be he’d decided I wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

“Hey,” he said, picking up just before his voice mail would have kicked in. “Sorry, I was in a

movie theater. I had to step outside so I could take the call.”

He was out on a date? What the hell? “Oh, sorry to bother you. We can talk later.” Or not at all.
“No, wait. I’m glad you called. I’m sorry for the way I came across this morning. A friend

helped me realize I need to back off a little.”

Back off—meaning he was going to gain some perspective by dating other people? “It’s okay.

You’re entitled to your opinion, just as I’m entitled to mine.”

“But you’re still pissed?”
“Wouldn’t you be if I were out with another guy?”

“What?” He started to laugh. “You think I’m out on a date?”
“Aren’t you?” I’d been pacing my small room, but I sank down on my bed, ready to try to listen

with an open mind.

“No, I’m out with my nephews. There was this action flick we all wanted to see, so we grabbed

dinner and here we are.”

“Oh.” Now I felt stupid for jumping to conclusions. “I’ll let you get back to them then.”
“Can I stop by later? I’d like to give back the keys to the truck.”
He was asking me to pretend our argument had never happened, that we go back to the way

things were. Since I was partially responsible, I decided to meet him halfway. “Nex, I really
appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but you really don’t have to do all this. I can take care of
myself.”

“What if I like helping you out?”
I smiled, thinking how nice it was to have a man in my life who put me first. It had never been

that way with Scott. He always expected me to take care of him, from the little things like preparing
meals and picking up his dry cleaning, to the big things, like planning his parents’ anniversary party.
He’d always taken a lot more than he gave to the relationship.

“Hey, you still there?”
“Yeah, sorry,” I said, shaking my head to bring myself back to the present. “I guess my mind was

just wandering.”

“Oh yeah? What were you thinking about?”
I was almost afraid to tell him. I knew Nex was the kind of guy who was used to being in

control, and while I appreciated his thoughtfulness, I didn’t want him to think he could take over my
life. “I just…” There had to be a way to make him understand. “I appreciate you.” There, that said it
all, didn’t it?

He chuckled. “I appreciate you too.”
“I mean, I appreciate the fact you care enough to want to do nice things for me without expecting

anything in return.”

“But you’d appreciate it even more if I knew when to back off, right?”
Huh. He really did get me. “Something like that.”
“I heard you loud and clear this morning, baby. You don’t have to worry. From now on, your

plans are your business. Unless you ask for my opinion, I won’t give it.”

I knew there were times when I would invite his opinion, if we were going to move forward as

a couple, but I was glad he realized I was capable of making my own decisions. Even after all of the
years we’d spent together, Scott had never come to that realization, which was a big part of the reason
we were no longer together.

“Nex?”
“Yeah?”
“I would like to see you tonight if you’re sure you can swing it.” I needed to feel his arms

around me, to put all of this morning’s ugliness behind us.

“Sure, I can. I’ll stop by as soon as I drop the boys off. It might be kind of late though, maybe

around eleven?”

“It’s okay. Jade said something about a date, and no one else is home. I have to stay up late

studying, so I won’t get to sleep anytime soon.”

“Perfect. I’ll see you soon, beautiful.”

***

I was struggling to keep my eyes open when Nex knocked on the front door. He’s texted me

fifteen minutes ago to let me know he was on his way, so I knew it was him.

I set the book I’d been trying to read down on my bed before rushing out of the room, cursing

when I caught my baby toe on the metal bedpost.

“What’s wrong?” Nex asked, frowning, when I threw the door opening while hopping up and

down on one foot.

“I stubbed my toe!” I was laughing at myself, but at the same time, the pain brought tears to my

eyes. “I’m such an idiot.”

He chuckled before shutting and locking the door behind him. “Come here, you,” he said,

scooping me up in his arms and carrying me to the couch. “Let’s have a look at the little piggy.”

I giggled, resting my head against his solid chest. “My hero.”
“And don’t you forget it,” he said, nipping my neck.
He set me down on the couch carefully before sitting at the end with my injured foot in his lap.

“This one?” he asked, brushing his thumb against the throbbing pink toe.

“Yeah.” I winced, afraid he might try to move it.
“Maybe it would help distract you from the pain if I did this?”
He set my other foot in his lap and began giving me the most incredible—make that the only—

foot massage of my life. I’d never had the extra money to spend on incidentals like pedicures, and
Scott had never seemed to care about the state of my feet after a long day of work.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, trying to withdraw my foot from his hands.
“Doesn’t feel good?” he asked, his full lips drawn up as though he knew exactly how good it

felt.

“It feels amazing,” I said as my cheeks grew warm. “But you don’t have to do that.”
“Maybe I want to.”
In that case, who was I to argue? I leaned back against the cushion, letting him work his magic.

Wow. This man had amazing hands and knew just how to use them.

“Is that helping?”
“You have no idea.” If I wasn’t careful, I’d be so relaxed I’d fall asleep.
“There’s nothing wrong with letting someone pamper you every now and then, Jac. It doesn’t

make you weak or dependent. When you cook those amazing meals for me, that’s how you make me
feel. Spoiled.”

I loved that I was able to do that for him. Sharing my passion with him, seeing how much he

appreciated it made me wish I could do that for him every day. “Cooking for you is my pleasure.”

“You know, you’ve got me to thinking I should start eating better.”
Judging by his incredible physique, I would have thought he was strict about his food choices.

“Well, you have a housekeeper who shops for you, right? Shouldn’t be too hard.”

He laughed. “It is if you can’t cook. Could you recommend someone who might be able to help

me with that?”

I felt a stab of jealousy when I thought of some pretty young thing making herself at home in his

kitchen, preparing all of his meals, especially when I was hundreds of miles away. “Um, I’m not sure.
Your housekeeper couldn’t help you with that?” I’d never met his housekeeper, but he once told me
she was a sweet, motherly type who occasionally treated him to chocolate chip cookies. A safe bet,
as far as I was concerned.

“I’m afraid not. She has a few clients, including my brother’s family. We all keep her pretty

busy.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip, trying to think of a reasonable solution. “I love cooking for you, but with

exams and everything—”

“Hey,” he said, leaning in to kiss me before resuming the foot massage. “I wasn’t throwing

hints.”

“I know.”
“I have an idea,” he said, setting my feet down on the floor as he pulled me into a sitting

position. “How ’bout you stay with me until your exams are over?”

“What?” Was he asking me to live with him? After a couple of dates?
He laughed. “Don’t give me that look. It’s not what you think.”
“What is it then?” I asked, inching back on the couch. When he was so close, I could smell that

amazing cologne he favored and I was at risk of doing any damn thing he suggested.

“You said you can’t work many hours at the bar while you’re studying, right?”
“Yeah, mainly just the odd shift here and there.” I’d been careful about my money, making sure

I’d have enough to carry me through the coming weeks, but it wouldn’t be easy to survive without a
paycheck.

“So how about you stay at my place and cook for me? Maybe even teach me to cook a few

simple dishes so I won’t starve without you this summer. I’ll pay you whatever you were making at
the bar.” Before I could react, he said, “Think about it. It could be the perfect solution. It might take,
what, an hour or so a day, and you have to prepare your own meals anyhow. Am I right?”

I nodded, trying to process his proposal. Could I really handle living under the same roof with

Nex? Waking up with him every morning, falling asleep in his arms every night? God, how the hell
was I supposed to leave after weeks of that?

“You’d still be making money and have plenty of time to study for your exams. Plus, you’d get to

indulge your favorite hobby while doing something nice for the guy who’s crazy about you.”

He did make it sound like an irresistible offer, but I couldn’t rush into something like this. I

needed time to think about it. “I’d feel weird taking money from you,” I said, wrinkling my nose.
“Especially for something I’d gladly do for free. I’m already using your truck, that—”

“If you won’t let me pay you, the offer is off the table, Jac. I refuse to take advantage of you like

that.”

He was offering to pay me what I’d be making at Downlow? That was way too much for an hour

or two of work each day. “I know why you’re doing this,” I said, wrapping my arm around his neck.

“You figured me out,” he said, skimming my cheek with his sexy stubble. “I can’t get enough of

you.”

“I’m serious,” I said, unable to resist the urge to kiss him when those potent baby blues of his

zeroed in on my lips. “You’re just trying to figure out a way to help me out with school and living
expenses. I love you for it, but—” I clamped my hand over my mouth when I realized what I said. I
closed my eyes, mortified, when Nex chuckled at my reaction. “Oh my God, I did not mean that the

way it sounded. I know it’s way too soon to be talking about… that. I mean, we barely know each
other, right?”

“I know all I need to know about you.” He kissed my burning cheeks repeatedly, still smiling.

“And I made this offer for one reason—’cause I really do need to start taking better care of myself.
Even Mac thinks so. You’d be helping me out more than I’d be helping you out if you agree to this.”

It didn’t feel right, getting paid to do something I loved for a man I lo—was growing to care

about more every day. “Can I think about it?”

“Sure, take all the time you need. But keep in mind, the longer it takes you to decide, the more of

those artery-clogging restaurant meals I’ll have to eat.”

I slapped him upside the back of the head, making him laugh. “Don’t try to make me feel guilty.

You can order healthy meals in a restaurant, you know.”

“Please, we work in an industrial area. It’s fried eggs and hash browns for breakfast and burgers

and fries for lunch or we starve.” He nuzzled my neck, making me pull him closer as I tried to focus
on his words. “My brother’s lucky. He has an amazing woman to make him a healthy breakfast, pack
his lunch, and she has dinner waiting for him when he gets home.”

I hated to think of Nex eating that crap all day, every day, but I couldn’t make this decision

lightly. “Can I let you know by the weekend?”

“Sure. I have one more question to ask.”
“Uh-oh,” I said, pulling back to look at him. “Should I be worried?”
“When I dropped the boys off at home tonight, Mac told me to invite you to dinner tomorrow

night. She said she’d love to get to know you better.”

“Really?” I was surprised she even remembered me, since our paths had only crossed that one

time at the bar.

“Why do you sound so surprised? Mac knows you’re important to me. They’re my family.

Naturally, they’d want to get to know you better. She said something about inviting Seb too. So what
do you say? You game?”

“Sure.” I knew for this to work, I had to be willing to have a relationship with his family. “I’d

love to come. Tell Mac I’ll bring the dessert.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jaci

Mac and Ryker could not have been any more welcoming, so when the guys announced they were
heading outside for a beer before dinner, I was looking forward to a little girl time with Nex’s sister-
in-law.

“So he finally wore you down, huh?” Mac asked as she popped a covered casserole dish

containing rice in the oven before checking on the barbeque spareribs in the slow cooker. “I
remember the night you guys met. I wasn’t sure he would ever get you to agree to go out with him.”
She turned around, winking at me. “I am so glad you made him work for it. These Steele boys aren’t
used to that. Women are usually the ones chasing them down, and let me tell you, it’s sickening.”

I continued washing the fruit for the platter Mac had asked me to prepare. “I wasn’t playing hard

to get or anything,” I assured her. “I just promised myself when I moved here I wouldn’t get involved
in anything serious.”

“Really?” Mac asked, piercing the corn on the cob she had cooking in a large pot on the stove.

“Why’s that?”

“I dated the same guy for a long time. I think everyone, including him, just assumed we’d get

married someday. When I came here¸ I decided I wanted to be free for a while, just enjoy life without
having to answer to anyone.”

Mac laughed. “Then Hurricane Nex swept into your life and shot all those plans to hell, right?”
“Something like that,” I admitted, smiling. “He is a tough man to resist.”
“Especially when he turns on the charm.”
Even though I didn’t know Mac well, she made me comfortable enough to ask, “Does he do that

with every girl he meets, turn on the charm?”

“He doesn’t have to,” Mac said, rolling her eyes. “Like I said, they don’t make him work for it.”

She turned to face me. “But I’ve never seen him this infatuated with anyone, Jaci. And I’ve known him
his entire adult life.” She smiled. “He’s like a little brother to me, and I love him like crazy, but I
know he doesn’t make it easy. He’s strong-willed and opinionated. They all are. They all need
women who are equally as strong and not afraid to stand up to them, which explains why they’re all
single, except for Ryker.”

I rinsed and dried my hands before setting the fruit platter on the center island. “I wouldn’t

change a thing about him,” I said, surprised to hear myself admitting that aloud. “He’s nothing like I
thought he would be when we met. I wrote him off as a player, just looking for a good time.” I
reached for my glass of wine. “And I have no doubt he’s been that, but he’s not like that with me. He’s
been patient and understanding. He took the time to get to know me and didn’t push when I said I

couldn’t go out with him.”

“You mean he became your friend first?” Mac asked, tongue in cheek. “That definitely is

different for Nex.”

“I feel like he really knows me,” I admitted. “We’ve only had a few dates, but the months we

spent before that—talking, getting to know each other—makes it feel like we’re a lot further along in
the relationship, you know?”

Mac refilled my wine glass along with hers. “I do. Sometimes it just sneaks up on you. You start

spending more and more time with someone, telling yourself you can never be more than friends.
Before you know it, you’re seeing them every day, and on the days when you can’t see them, you’re
miserable.”

I grinned. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience. The same thing happened with Ryker?”
“Yeah, I was pretty young when we first met. I had a boyfriend, was working part-time, and

getting ready to go to college. I thought things were going pretty well for me. I was on the right track,
starting to figure out what I wanted for my future.” She laughed, shaking her head. “Then Ryker
walked in to my workplace and told me I was going to be his.”

“Wow.” Mac’s husband was seriously hot, like his brother, so I could only imagine how Mac

had reacted to that statement.

“Exactly.” She sat on the stool next to me, reaching for a square of cheese from one of the two

appetizer platters she’d set out. “He didn’t care that I already had a boyfriend or that my parents hated
his guts or that I was a virgin,” she said, blushing as she whispered the last word. “He made up his
mind then and there that I was it for him, and he didn’t stop pursuing me until I saw it too.”

“Sounds familiar.” Though I couldn’t deny that I was beyond flattered that Nex chose to pursue

me when there were so many other beautiful women who wouldn’t have made him work for it. “You
said your parents hated him?”

“In the beginning, they did,” she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “And really, who

could blame them? My dad was a cop. Ryker had been in trouble with the law. Nothing serious, but
enough to raise the red flag as far as my parents were concerned. He was in a motorcycle gang, fought
a lot, experimented with drugs…” She shuddered. “I just thank God our boys never went down that
path. Ryker’s poor mother was a saint. I honestly don’t know how she managed six of them on her
own.”

“Must have been a strong lady.”
“Why do you think they gravitate toward strong women when they decide they’re ready to settle

down? There’s a reason.”

“You really think Nex is ready to settle down?” I asked, shocked by the implication. I knew he

was older than I was, but in my experience, guys like Nex usually held out as long as they could
before getting tied down.

“That’s the feeling I’m getting,” Mac said, covering my hand with hers. “And it’s only been the

last few months, since he met you, that I saw a change in him. As far as I know, he hasn’t been dating
anyone else since you two met and believe me, that in itself is a really big deal.”

“I’m sure it is,” I said, sharing her smile. “How did you handle the fact your parents hated

Ryker?” I asked, thinking about my mother’s reaction when I told her a little bit about Nex.

“I didn’t try to push it,” Mac said. “I was legally old enough to make my own decisions. They

knew that. We’d always had a good relationship and they respected my right to choose my own

boyfriends, but they never missed an opportunity to warn me about the potential pitfalls of falling in
love with a man like Ryker.”

“Did that dissuade you at all?”
“In the beginning, it did,” she admitted. “They were my parents. I loved them. I didn’t want them

to worry about me. I wanted to make them proud.”

“But?”
“I had to live my own life, follow my heart. There came a time, not too long after we met, that I

couldn’t deny the truth any longer. I was in love with him. I wanted to spend my life with him.”

“And your parents came around eventually?” My mother had an iron will and once she made up

her mind about someone, I’d never known her to change it, even when she was wrong.

“They learned to love Ryker. He became the son they’d always wanted. I’m not saying it was

easy or it happened overnight, but they saw how much I meant to him, how well he treated me. They
realized he wanted to clean up his life, to be a better man because of me, and that earned him their
love and respect.”

“That’s nice.” I still wasn’t sure my story would have the same happy ending Mac’s had. Her

parents sounded like reasonable people. My mama? Not so much.

“But, honey,” Mac said, curling her hand around my forearm, “you ultimately have to decide for

yourself what makes you happy. If being with Nex is what you want, go for it. Your family will come
around eventually, and if they don’t, it’s their loss because I know Nex is an incredible guy, and I can
already tell you’re a sweetheart.”

“Thank you,” I said, giving her an impulsive hug. I’d always wanted a big sister, and if things

with Nex and I worked out, maybe I’d have one in Mac. “I really needed a little reassurance. Things
have just been happening so fast, and I’m so confused.”

“Nex said something about you having to go back to Georgia for the summer?” Mac asked as she

slid off her stool and walked over to the stove. She turned the gas burner off and drained the pot the
corn had been cooking in before turning off the slow cooker.

“Yeah, I need to spend some time with my mama. She’s got some health problems.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
Nex’s proposal was still weighing heavily on my mind, and I needed another opinion. Jade

thought I should go for it, but she thought nothing of sleeping with a man on the first date, so we didn’t
always see eye-to-eye. “Nex kind of offered me a job.”

“What kind of job?”
“Well, I love to cook, and he claims he eats like crap most of the time because he can’t cook.”
“He’s not lying about that,” Mac said, raising her hand. “I’m on him all the time about eating

better. It amazes me that a guy who spends as many hours as Nex does in the gym thinks nothing of
going out for a burger and fries with the boys after his workout.”

I grinned, imagining the picture Mac painted. That sounded like Nex. “He invited me to stay with

him for the next few weeks during exams, since I can’t manage my regular shifts at the bar.”

“So you can cook for him?” Mac asked, taking the casserole dish out of the oven.
“That, and teach him to cook a few basic dishes. Maybe I’d even cook in bulk one day on the

weekend, toward the end, and freeze some things so he could just pop them in the microwave when he

gets home from work.”

Mac nodded. “Yeah, I do that a lot. I love to cook too, but with our crazy schedules, it’s

sometimes hard to get a home-cooked meal on the table every night.”

“But he wants to pay me what I was making at Downlow, and that just feels like charity.”
Mac laughed. “You don’t want to know how much that boy spends dining out. He goes to this

place that sells gourmet burgers and pays twenty dollars for a burger.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not
kidding you. Twenty dollars for a freakin’ burger with all these weird toppings that make you wonder
how the hell they make it sound appetizing.”

“Hmmm.” I knew the kind of burgers she was talking about. I’d experimented quite a bit with

different recipes and found a few that had my friends begging me to make them again.

“So whatever he’s offering to pay you would no doubt be a savings for him, plus he’d be eating

healthy, home-cooked meals, right?”

“Yeah.” Since cooking was a hobby of mine, I’d also read a lot of books about nutrition, to

ensure I was preparing balanced meals. “So you really think I should do this? I wouldn’t be taking
advantage of his generosity? I mean, he’s already lending me his truck, which is pretty much the nicest
thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Mac’s jaw dropped before she snapped it shut. “He’s letting you drive his truck?”
“Yeah, he said he hates the idea of me walking to and from work and school, especially at night.

Since he has other vehicles, he said it’s not a big deal for me to take the pick-up.”

“Wow.” Mac lifted the plastic wrap on the platter I’d brought, breaking one of my mini red

velvet cupcakes in two. “He really must be crazy about you. He doesn’t let anyone drive his vehicles.
Not even his brothers.”

I smiled when she popped a bite of cupcake into her mouth and moaned while closing her eyes.

“You like?”

“Oh my God, Jaci. These are amazing. Where’d you get the recipe?”
“My mama. She’s always loved to bake. She was the one who taught me how. I’ve played

around a bit with her recipes over the years, including that one.”

“I wish you were sticking around this summer,” Mac said. “My mom and I could really use your

help at the bakery.”

“Really?” I would live a job like that, but my obligation to my mother came first. Not to mention

my need to live rent-free so I could save money for school.

“Sure.” Mac popped the other half of the cupcake in her mouth, laughing as she reached for a

napkin. “I’m so bad, eating dessert before dinner, but I’ve been eyeing these ever since you brought
them in and couldn’t wait another second to try them.”

I was pleased Mac thought they were not only tasty but visually appealing, especially since she

was the expert.

“If you need a part-time job in the fall, come see me, Jaci. We can work around your school

schedule.”

“Thanks.” I would definitely prefer that to working at the bar. “I just might take you up on that.”
“I hope you will. And if your plans change for the summer, the offer for full-time work stands.”
“I appreciate that.” Though I didn’t expect my summer plans to change. “So about Nex’s offer,

you really think I should take it?”

“You’re the only one who can answer that, honey. If it feels right, do it.”

“I guess I’m a little concerned about how hard it would be to leave after staying with him for

five weeks.”

“There is that,” Mac admitted. “But you know what they say—absence makes the heart grow

fonder, right?”

Since Mac knew Nex so well, it felt like she was the only person I could ask about the thing that

had been bothering me most. “You really think he’d be willing to wait for me? Three months is a long
time.”

“Yeah, it is.” She bit her lip, as though she was thinking through her response, which only made

me more nervous. “But if Nex is anything like Ryker, once he’s in love, he’s in love for keeps.”

“Oh, Nex and I have never… I mean, we’re not…”
Mac laughed. “Jaci, I’ve seen the way that man looks at you. He may not have said the words,

but he doesn’t have to. It’s written all over his face.”

***

Dinner couldn’t have gone any better. I loved getting to know some of Nex’s family, but I was

nervous about bringing up his offer. What if he’d made it impulsively and felt differently now that
he’d had time to think about it?

“I talked to Mac about your offer tonight,” I said, when I couldn’t contain it any longer. “I hope

you don’t mind.”

He shrugged. “Why would I mind? I don’t keep secrets from Mac.” He winked at me, grinning.

“Sometimes my brothers, but never Mackenzie. What did she have to say about it?”

“She thought it was a good idea.”
“Smart lady.” He pulled up to a red light and asked, “Can you spend the night at my place

tonight? I can take you home early in the morning.”

Since I’d already claimed Nex’s favorite T-shirt as my own and his extra toothbrush, I couldn’t

think of a single reason not to. “Sure.”

Damn. That sexy smile of his gave me butterflies every time.
“Awesome. So you were telling me that Mac thought you should take me up on my offer?”
“She confirmed the fact you eat like crap,” I said, smacking his rock-hard thigh with the back of

my hand. “What’s this I hear about trendy gourmet burgers?”

He chuckled. “I can’t deny it. I kind of have a thing for them.”
I kind of have a thing for you. “Hmmm, I suppose I could treat you to those once in a while, but

if I do this, we have to agree to the terms.”

“I’m easy.”
Yeah, easy to fall in love with. “You said you want to eat healthier, right?”
“Uh, yeah,” he said, giving me a sidelong glance that told me he was imagining a lot of Brussels

sprouts and tasteless legumes in his future.

“Don’t worry, I won’t put you on a diet,” I teased, running my hand over his six-pack. “I don’t

think you need that just yet.”

“Hey!”
“Keep eating all that greasy fried food and you just might though.”
“Point taken.” He sighed dramatically. “Okay, lay it on me, girl. What’s the plan?”

“I don’t know.” I tapped my index finger against my lips. “I’d have to give it some thought, but I

can promise you three squares a day—”

“You’re making it sound like I’m going to be in jail.”
“Mmmm…” I shifted my body to face him, crossing my legs while I ran my hand down his chest

toward his belt buckle. “I can promise you a lot more pleasure than pain.”

“I like the sound of that.” When he stopped at a light, he grabbed my wandering hand and kissed

it before his eyes landed on mine. “Does that mean you’ll move in with me?”

My heart stammered. I knew it wasn’t permanent and this was supposed to be a job. Sort of. But

I couldn’t shake the feeling I was moving in with my boyfriend. “One more condition. You said you
wanted to learn how to cook the basics. Were you serious about that?”

“If you think you have the patience. I’m a hot mess in the kitchen. We’ll both be lucky if I don’t

burn the place to the ground.”

I couldn’t imagine Nex being a hot mess anywhere, including the kitchen, but it was nice to know

he wasn’t a master at everything. It humanized him somehow. “I’m willing to risk it if you are?”

“Sure. Why not?”
“I’ll prep and freeze a lot of stuff for you the last week or two I’m here, and maybe if I can come

home once in a while on the weekends, I’ll…” His tender look made me stop. “What?”

“You just referred to this as your home,” he said, pulling into his driveway.
I’d been referring to Tampa, but any woman would feel lucky to share a home with Nex. That

was becoming more obvious to me every day. “I guess I did.”

“You’ve never really done that before. Whenever you talk about home, it’s always Hartwell.”
“I love it here,” I admitted, feeling a little vulnerable. “Tampa is beautiful. The people have

been wonderful to me and—”

He cut my words off with a passionate kiss. “Tell me this is feeling more and more like home

because of me.”

There was no point trying to deny it. “It is.”
Nex kissed me again, his lips lingering just a little longer this time. “I’m not sure if you’re ready

to hear this, that’s why I haven’t said it before.”

I held my breath, waiting.
“I’ve never felt like this before, Jac.” He stroked my cheek. “I’ve been waiting a hell of a long

time for this feeling.”

Those few words drew me in completely, making me wonder how I’d ever be able to say good-

bye to him, even temporarily. “So have I.”

“But you’ve been in love before,” he said, lowering his head to graze my jaw with his lips. “I

haven’t.”

My heart swelled with fear, excitement, and… love for this man. “You’re right, I have been in

love before, but never like this.” Scott was safe. Nex was dangerous. Scott wanted to know what I
could do for him. Nex asked what he could do for me. Scott was my past. Nex was my future.

“Really?” he asked, looking stunned by my admission.
“Yes, really.”

Chapter Fourteen

Nex

Moving Jaci’s belongings into my place made me feel like a kid on Christmas morning.

“I guess that’s it then,” she said, standing back to survey her handiwork.
She’d insisted on putting her clothes and shoes in the guest bedroom because she didn’t want to

encroach on my territory, but I wasn’t going to lie—I would have loved to see her dresses hanging
next to my suits in the closet, reminding me that we were a real couple now.

“I can’t believe you color coordinate your clothes,” I teased, standing behind her and wrapping

my arms around her waist. “That’s pretty anal, don’t ya think?”

She slapped my arm. “It is not! There’s nothing wrong with being organized.”
My closet could use her help, but I wasn’t going to push my luck. I was happy just to have her

here for the next few weeks. “You’re welcome to leave all this stuff here if you won’t be needing it
this summer. It’s not like anyone else is going to be using this room.”

“Really?” She turned to face me. “That would be awesome! I wasn’t looking forward to having

to haul all that luggage with me. And I know I won’t need any nice dresses while I’m there. It’s more
of a tank top, cut-offs, flip-flops kind of place.”

At least I knew she wouldn’t be dating with that kind of attire. “Keep anything you want here.” I

kissed her neck. “Hell, keep everything here if you want to.”

She curled her arms around my neck. “How did I get so lucky? You are way too good to me.”
“I’m the one who got lucky finding you, baby.”
She reached up on her toes to kiss me. “Come out to the kitchen with me. I want to get started on

dinner.” She’d said she brought the ingredients for homemade pizza, so I promised to watch and make
mental notes. Not that I intended to. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her in that little white strapless
sundress.

I opened a beer for myself and poured her a glass of her favorite chardonnay before settling in

on the stool and pretending to be a good student. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, I’ve got this,” she said, smiling. “Just try not to distract me.”
I licked my lips as my eyes devoured her breasts. “I can’t make any promises, baby. You look

hotter than hell tonight. I really should be taking you out to dinner, so I can show you off.” Even
though we now had this arrangement, I didn’t want her to forget we were also dating and I wanted to
be able to treat her to a nice dinner sometimes.

“No way, I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” she said, pouting as she gestured to the

ingredients spread out around her.

“Suit yourself, sweetheart.” I watched her preparing the dough, thinking how cute she looked

when she was concentrating. “How did your roommates and boss react when you told them you’d be
MIA for a while?”

“Actually, it worked out pretty well. Miranda’s uncle wanted to move back in a little earlier

than expected, so he took my room, which means I don’t have to pay rent this month.”

“Won’t it be weird for the girls, having some creepy old man living there with them?” I asked,

laughing.

“Oh, he’s not old,” Jaci said, wiggling her eyebrows. “He’s early thirties and pretty hot from

what I hear.”

I took a deep pull of my beer, trying to wipe the scowl off my face before I said, “Then I guess

it’s a good thing you’re stayin’ here with me, isn’t it?”

She giggled before leaning across the counter to kiss me. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous,

Nex.”

I’d never had reason to be jealous before, but this girl gave me reason every day. I couldn’t step

outside holding her hand without having to deal with wandering eyes and wagging tongues. Bastards.

“I thought you’re all about healthy eating,” I said, looking for a subject change. “How come I get

pizza?”

“This is whole grain, thin crust, lots of veggies,” she explained, laughing when I made a face.

“It’s the barbeque chicken that makes it. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t tell her. “Whatever you say, beautiful.”
“The sauce is amazing. I used to beg my mama to make this for me when I was a kid.”
“Is your mom still able to cook?” I asked, wondering when I would get to meet the woman who

had obviously been such a huge influence on her.

“Yeah, but not like she used to,” Jaci said, her eyes downcast as she rolled out the dough. “She,

uh, used to work for my aunt at the diner, but she’s not able to do that so much anymore. She doesn’t
have the same strength in her hands, so she was dropping things a lot.”

“How does she manage?” Judging by the stories Jaci had told me, they’d lived hand-to-mouth

when she was growing up, so I couldn’t imagine how her mother was surviving without a steady
paycheck.

“She gets a small disability, and my aunt still lets her work the cash register and clean up. She

just can’t do much of the cooking or waiting tables anymore.” She set the covered dough aside while
she began washing and chopping vegetables. “She’s had a lot of other jobs too: teaching, pet-sitting,
and grooming. But she had to give up working with animals since some of the dogs were stronger than
she was. And she loves teaching, but a few days a month isn’t enough to pay the bills.”

“Your aunt is your mama’s sister?” I asked, reaching for a piece of sliced sweet pepper and

popping it in my mouth.

“Yeah, they’re really close. My aunt Bea was the only one who encouraged me to come here. I

was nervous about leavin’ Mama, but she promised she’d look out for her. She said I was only gonna
be young once and she didn’t wanna see me miss out on any opportunities.”

I had a feeling I was going to like her aunt Bea. “Sounds like you two are close too?”
“We are,” she said, smiling. “Her daughter was like my best friend growing up, so I was over at

their house more than I was at home.”

“Are you and your cousin still close?”
She shrugged. “Lacy got married right after graduation. She and her husband just had a baby girl,

so that keeps her pretty busy these days.”

“She still lives in Hartwell?”
“Yeah.”
Jesus, did anyone ever leave? “I guess you’ll see her while you’re home though, right?”
“Yeah, but…” She bit her lip.
“What is it?” I could tell there was something bothering her and she wasn’t sure if she should

tell me.

“Lacy’s husband is best friends with Scott. It might be kind of weird being around them,

given…”

“Given what?” She hadn’t said much about her ex since we started dating, and now I was

starting to wonder if he’d been giving her a hard time. “Hey, Jac,” I said, leaning over to take the
knife out of her hand. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“It’s just that going home will be kind of weird.” She sighed, glancing up at me. “Scott and I

were a couple for a long time. We had the same friends.”

Which meant she would definitely be seeing him. Maybe even hanging out with him. Damn.
“I haven’t made much of an effort to keep in touch with any of them since I came here because,

well, every time we talked, they kept pressuring me about getting back with Scott. And I didn’t want
to hear it.”

I hated to think of anyone putting pressure on her to get back with a guy who clearly didn’t

appreciate her. “Has he contacted you?”

She nodded. “I sent him an e-card on his birthday a couple of weeks ago. He called to thank

me.”

I clenched my jaw before reaching for my beer bottle. “You mind telling me why the hell you’d

do that if you’re so done with him?”

She walked around the island, wrapping her arms around my neck as she stood between my legs.

“I am done with him, and when we talked, I made that very clear. Again.”

It was hard to be mad at her, especially when she was dropping delicate kisses on my cheek and

along my jawline. Goddamn. I’d never been as weak as this woman made me feel. “Did you tell him
about me?” I asked, pulling her closer.

“I did.” She smiled as she traced my lips with her index finger.
“And? How did he react?”
“As you would expect,” she said, running her palm down my chest. “He wasn’t happy. He still

thinks we’re getting back together.”

Since her hand was on my chest, I knew she could feel my heart thumping wildly at the mention

of her getting back together with her ex. I wrapped my hand around hers, tipping her chin so she was
looking me in the eye. “What did you tell him?”

“That it was over and I didn’t think we could be friends anymore.”
Thank God. “Good, I think that’s for the best, don’t you?”
“I do.” She leaned into me, holding me, while she released a contented sigh. “I knew this would

happen.”

“What?”
“You’re distracting me.” Slapping my shoulder playfully, she said, “Now let me get back to

work.”

***

I’d driven out of my way for lunch the next day, hoping I could catch Mac at the bakery. I wanted

to get her take on Jaci and me, find out if she had any words of wisdom to offer.

“Hey, sweetie,” Mac said, smiling brightly from behind the counter when I walked in. “What

brings you by?”

“I was hoping you could take a break,” I said, kissing her cheek when she rounded the counter to

give me a hug. “Talk to me for a bit.”

“Of course. Grab us a table, and I’ll get us a couple of coffees. Can I get you something to eat?”
I couldn’t wipe the dopey grin off my face when I said, “No, thanks. Jaci packed my lunch.”
Mac laughed, patting my cheek. “You are just too cute, Nex.”
Cute? I couldn’t say I’d ever been called cute before, not even by my sister-in-law, and I wasn’t

sure I liked it. “Cute?” I frowned. “I’m not cute. Ruggedly handsome, maybe. Sexy? Definitely. But
not cute.”

“Can’t argue with that,” a pretty blonde seated a nearby table said.
I smiled at her and her girlfriend before Mac backhanded me in the chest. “Don’t forget you’re

taken, Casanova.”

Taken. I liked the sound of that. “How could I forget?”
“Ah, that’s too bad,” one girl said while the other giggled and winked at me.
I smirked while heading for an empty table on the opposite side of the bakery. Even if I didn’t

have Jaci, those girls were too young for me. But it was nice to acknowledge that for the first time in
my life, I was content. I wasn’t looking for the next greatest thing. I was happy with Jaci and the
relationship we were building.

“Here you go,” Mac said, setting a cup emblazoned with their hot pink logo in front of me.
“Thanks.”
“So Jaci’s something else,” Mac said, squeezing my hand. “I really like her, honey.”
Mac’s opinion had always been important to me. If she’d told me she had a bad feeling about

Jaci, it would have crushed me. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“And she’s obviously really into you.”
“You think so?” God, I felt like such a girl.
“Of course she is,” Mac said, laughing. “I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
“It’s just…” I took a sip of my coffee, trying to find a way to express my concern without making

myself sound like a total puss. “You know, she has this ex. She says it’s over. But in his mind, it’s not.
She’s going to be spending all summer with him.”

“I doubt she’ll be spending all summer with him if it’s over,” Mac said, sipping her coffee.
“Yeah, but she’s going to be working at her aunt’s diner. Nothing to prevent him from coming in

there to eat, is there?”

“No, I guess not.” Looking thoughtful, Mac said, “But you have to be able to trust her, Nex. A

relationship can’t survive without trust.”

I’d been telling myself the same thing all morning, so I knew Mac was right. “I do trust her. It’s

just…” I wouldn’t have been able to say this to anyone else, not even my brothers. “I’ve never felt
like this before. It’s scarin’ the hell out of me.”

Mac smiled, curling her hands around her mug as she sat back, quietly observing me. “You’re in

love with her?”

“I think so.” There was no question in my mind, but it felt too soon to commit to it aloud.
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“She knows.”
“And she feels the same way?”
“I think so.” She made me feel certain she did whenever we were together, but I was worried

about what months of separation would do to our relationship.

“Then you have nothing to worry about. Jaci strikes me as the kind of woman who takes her

commitments seriously. If she’s committed to you, you have to trust that she’ll remain faithful to you,
no matter the temptation.”

“I guess you’re right,” I said, sighing. I knew I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t anticipate the

worst possible outcome and expect that things wouldn’t turn out any better. “I’ll try to relax.”

“Can I ask you a question about Jaci?”
“Sure.”
“She’s studying business, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Any idea what her future plans are?”
I didn’t want to think about her future plans, especially if they revolved around her returning to

Hartwell. “I don’t know. She’ll be here for the next three years, at least, working on her degree. After
that…” I couldn’t even say it.

“What?” Mac asked, looking concerned.
“Her mama’s not doin’ too well, so Jaci feels she has to go back there and take care of her after

she graduates. She said something about maybe taking over her aunt’s diner when she’s ready to
retire.”

“Hmmm.” Mac bit her lip before asking, “But her mom does have other family there? She’s not

all alone?”

“No.” I knew Mac wouldn’t be so interested in Jaci’s situation unless she had an idea. “Why?”
“We’re thinking about taking on another partner here.” She hooked a thumb toward the exterior

wall. “We’d like to expand, and my mom is already working too many hours. I can’t ask her to take on
anymore. If we had someone to share the responsibility…”

“Jaci?” I was stunned. Jaci just might jump at an opportunity like that, and it would give her

even more incentive to stay put. “Seriously?”

“She’s obviously a very intelligent, talented young lady. I think she could be exactly what we

need.”

I wouldn’t be surprised since she was exactly what I needed. “How would that work?” I asked,

“since she’s still in school?”

“I can’t imagine she’d accept our offer unless she was as invested in the business as we are.

Does she have any money saved?”

“Yeah, for her tuition. She waited to go to college because she wanted to save all the tuition

money first.”

Mac’s eyes lit up as she set her mug down. “That’s perfect! She’d be able to draw a salary from

the business right away. Like I said, we’re having a hard time keeping up with the demand.”

“What about school? That’s important to her, Mac.”
She nodded. “I totally get that, but she could still go part-time. It would take her longer to get her

degree, but she’d still get it, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Do you think she’d go for it?”
I sure as hell hoped so. It would be the answer to my prayers. “Um, I don’t know. You’d have to

talk to her about it, see what she thinks of the idea.”

“What time is her last class today?”
“I think she said two thirty, then she was headed home to study.” Home, our home. It still made

me smile whenever I thought about sharing a home with Jaci, knowing she’d be there waiting for me
when I walked in the door.

“That’s perfect. You think you could text her and ask her to swing by here after class?”
“Of course.” I pulled my phone out and fired off a text. “Done.” I had to ask before this went any

further. “Mac, you’re always telling me you’d do anything for any one of us, and I know that’s true.
You’re not just making Jaci this offer because you know it’ll help me, are you?”

Mac threw her head back, laughing. “Nex, I love you, but this is my business we’re talking

about. We’ve been busting our butts to make this a success, and I wouldn’t compromise that for
anything, not even you.”

I stood, bending to kiss her cheek. “Thanks.”
“I feel like I should be the one thanking you for introducing me to Jaci.”

Chapter Fifteen

Jaci

I couldn’t imagine why Mac would want to see me, and when I’d called Nex to ask him, he was
evasive, making me even more curious. I’d run through so many possible scenarios in my head that I
was actually nervous by the time I pulled the door open and ventured inside the bakery.

I was immediately impressed with the chic décor. It was cute and trendy with a fifties vibe that

made me smile.

“There you are,” Mac said, coming around the counter to pull me into her arms. “I’m so glad you

could make it.”

“It’s nice to see you, Mac. What’s up?”
“Do you want a coffee or anything while we sit down to chat?”
Since I knew I had to go home and study, I decided a caffeine fix might be in order. “I’d love an

espresso if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all.” She pointed down a small hallway. “My office is just back there. Second door on

the right across from the restrooms. Why don’t you head back there, and I’ll meet you in just a sec?”

“Uh, sure.” I’d assumed she’d called me here to talk to me about my relationship with Nex, but I

didn’t see the need to do that behind closed doors.

I ventured into the small office, not at all surprised the hot pink, black, and white scheme

extended to this space. There was a collage of framed photos of Ryker and the boys, not that I was
surprised. It was obvious Mac’s family meant everything to her.

Sitting down, my eyes honed in on their wedding photo. Mac had been wearing a simple white

dress, Ryker a dark suit. It didn’t look like a large or lavish affair, but they both looked radiant, as
though that single day marked the culmination of their dreams.

I wondered if I would ever have what they had, a man who loved me so completely. I’d seen

glimpses of that with Nex, but I could tell he was still guarded, as was I, since neither of us knew
exactly what the future held.

“Here we go,” Mac said, depositing my cup and saucer on her glass desk. “I’d love for you to

try some of our signature pastries before you go.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, they’re bite-sized, so
you can just sample.”

“I’d love to.” I looked around the office. “This place is great, Mac. How long have you been in

business?”

“Thanks. Just a few months, but we’ve been swamped.” She sank back in her leather chair,

bringing her hand up to her temple. “This is definitely the season for celebrations. Weddings, prom
—”

“You do wedding cakes?” I’d always thought that would be fun.
“We have had a few requests from our regular customers, but I have to be honest, I’m kind of

afraid to take on weddings until we find another partner who could devote herself to growing that part
of the business.”

“Oh, you’re looking for a partner?” I asked, sipping my espresso.
“Yes, that’s why I asked you to stop by, actually.”
I blinked when I realized my wide eyes were betraying my shock. “I’m afraid I don’t

understand.” I set my cup down when I realized my hands weren’t as steady as they had been.

“At dinner the other night, you talked about your love of cooking and baking.” She smiled. “We

have that in common. That’s why I decided to start this business with my mother. I learned everything
I know from her. We thought it would be fun, but I don’t think either of us were prepared for how
much work it would be.”

“I can imagine.” I didn’t know what she expected from me or why I was even here, so I was

trying to listen while remaining noncommittal, hoping this would all start to make sense soon.

“You’re studying business, right?” She laced her hands, resting her elbows on her armrests.
“Yes, I am.”
“Getting a degree, has that always been a dream of yours?”
I considered the question, wondering how to respond. It was always just assumed that I would

find a way to go to college. “It was definitely my mother’s dream. She wanted the best for me.”

“As a parent, I can understand that.” Mac leaned forward, resting her arms on the desk. “So

you’re loving school then?”

At the moment, I wasn’t even liking it very much, but I knew that was just the pressure of exams

looming. “I don’t know if I’d say that I love it, but it’s a necessary evil, right?”

“I don’t know. Is it?”
I frowned, trying to make sense of what she was asking. “I’m sorry, Mac. I’m not following.”
She laughed. “Probably because I’m not making much sense.” She took a deep breath as though

she were steeling her courage. “Okay, here it is. Would you be willing to pursue your degree part-
time while partnering with us?”

My jaw dropped as I stared at her, speechless.
“I know this must come as a shock,” Mac said, smiling gently. “But I tend to act on instinct, Jaci.

As soon as I met you, I knew you were tough, tenacious. The way you handled my brother-in-law was
impressive, to say the least.”

“Thank you, but I’m not sure what that has to do with this,” I said, gesturing around her tidy

office. “I don’t know anything about owning a business yet. Maybe after I get my degree, I’d be in a
better position to consider—”

“I didn’t know anything about running a business either,” Mac said, laughing. “Neither did my

mother. We’re figuring it out as we go along. Sure, we’re making some mistakes, but we’re also
having a lot of fun and building something we’re proud of, so that makes it all worth it.”

“I guess it does.”
“I understand why you want to get your degree. It’s important to you, but I assume you’re

studying business because you want to open your own someday?”

“I’m not sure exactly,” I said, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. If I had only myself to

consider, I would probably jump all over this opportunity, but there was my mother to consider.

“Honey, I…” An older version of Mac popped her head in the door, smiling when she spotted

me. “Oh hi, you must be Jaci?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, standing to accept her outstretched hand.
“I’m Mary, Mackenzie’s mom. So has she talked you into jumping on board yet?” Mary asked,

winking at me.

“Um, no, I—”
“I’ve barely had time to pitch the idea,” Mac said, rolling her eyes. “But as long as you’re here,

why don’t you pull up a chair, Mom? I’m sure Jaci has some questions for us.”

Mary claimed the chair next to mine before I said, “You said you’re looking for a partner. I

assume that would involve a financial investment?”

“My mother and I have each contributed twenty-five thousand dollars,” Mac explained. “Since

Ryker and I own this building, we don’t have to pay rent.”

I thought of the money sitting in my savings accounts, intended for three more years of tuition.
“You’d be able to draw a salary from the business,” Mac explained. “If you decided you wanted

to join us and were able to contribute an equal amount of money that would be ear-marked for our
expansion project.” She pointed at the wall behind her. “There’s an exterior wall we’d bust through.
The shop on the other side used to be a flower shop, but we’re just using it for storage right now. We
want to use that for the wedding and shower cakes display.” Reaching into her desk, she produced a
glossy brochure. “If you decide this is something you’re interested in pursuing, this company offers
some wonderful courses. You could start this summer.”

“But I…” My eyes drifted to the photos of beautiful wedding cakes. “I’m supposed to go back to

Hartwell this summer. I was going to live with my mama so I could earn some more money for books
and living expenses next year.”

Mackenzie laughed. “Well, if you decide to pursue this, I’m sure your salary would cover your

books and living expenses. Unless…” She shrugged. “Well, unless you and Nex decide to make your
living arrangement permanent.”

It’s not like we were cohabitating… exactly. I’d just accepted a temporary position to earn extra

money. “Uh, I don’t think so.”

“At any rate,” Mac said, “I’m sure we’ve given you a lot to think about.”
“You certainly have.” My head was spinning. I still couldn’t believe everything that had

happened to me in the past few weeks.

Mac came around the desk to give me a quick hug. “Take all the time you need to think about it,

Jaci. We’re not going to be ready to move forward with the renovation until the fall anyhow. We still
have to get that space cleaned out and all of the old fixtures sold off, so I’m sure that’ll take a while.
It’ll give you plenty of time to go home and get your mama squared away, if need be.”

How could I possibly tell my mother I wouldn’t be coming home to stay when she had her heart

set on me being there to take care of her? I sank back in my chair, feeling confused and overwhelmed,
when Mary reached over to grasp my hand.

“I know how you must be feeling, honey. It’s a lot. You think you have your whole life mapped

out, and then someone throws you a curveball, right?”

“Something like that.” I’d just met Mary, yet her warm smile and positive vibe told me she was

someone I could trust. I also remembered what Nex had told me about her being there for him when
his mama died, and that was reason enough for me to deem her a good person. “You see, Mrs.—”

“Mary,” she said, squeezing my hand.
“You see, Mary,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’m all my mama has really. I mean, she has

siblings, but they all have their own families. It’s up to me to take care of her.”

“That’s quite a burden for a young woman to bear.”
“I don’t mind,” I said, trying to convince myself it was true. “She’s made sacrifices for me. It’s

time for me to repay the favor.”

She gave me a quizzical look before shaking her head. “Pardon me for saying this, Jaci, but I’m

a mother too. When my girls were growing up, my husband and I would have done anything to give
them a better life than we’d had. That was our job as parents. But we never expected them to return
the favor someday. That’s not why we did it.”

“You don’t understand. My mother isn’t well. She has Parkinson’s.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. An advanced case, then? She’s not able to live on her own or care for

herself?”

“Well, no. She is. Things are just becoming a bit more difficult for her.”
Mary’s unpainted mouth tipped up at the corner. “I can relate. It’s called aging, sweetie.”
I was silent for a minute, staring at my clasped hands as I tried to make sense of my thoughts.
“I think it’s very commendable that you wanna take care of your mama. But are you really

willing to sacrifice your own life for hers?”

I thought I was. “She’s my responsibility.”
“To some extent, I agree with you.” She nodded, looking thoughtful. “I think it’s your

responsibility to make sure that she has food to eat and a roof over her head. I think it’s important to
make sure she can tend to her own basic needs or see that she has someone to help her. I think you
need to make sure she can get to her doctor’s appointments and stay abreast of her medical condition,
but you’re talking about a lot more than that, aren’t you?”

“I guess I am.” I knew my mother expected me to live with her for as long as I could. If I ever

married and had a family of my own, she assumed it would be in Hartwell and she’d move in with my
husband and me.

“I would never want my daughters to make the kind of sacrifices you’re talking about, Jaci. And

if your mother loves you, which I’m sure she does, I don’t think she wants that for you either.”

Ha! She didn’t know my mother. She’d learned a long time ago that a healthy dose of guilt was

the best way to manipulate me.

“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”
Since we’d already talked about some of the most intimate details of my life, I couldn’t imagine

what might be off-limits. “Sure.”

“How do you feel about Nex?”
I felt a little breathless as I forced out a laugh. “Wow. You don’t hold back, do you?”
She grinned. “No, I don’t. But of course you can tell me to mind my own business.”
“Nex is amazing,” I said without hesitation. “I’ve never met anyone quite like him.”
“What do you mean?”
I shrugged before reaching for my now-cold espresso. “I guess I’m not used to people doing nice

things for me without expecting something in return. And Nex has. He’s been so generous and…” My
voice trailed off when I realized I was gushing about the man.

“That’s our Nex. I have to admit, I’ve never seen him like this with a woman before though. I

always hoped that day would come and that I’d be here to see it, but I wasn’t sure.” At my questioning
look, she said, “Don’t get me wrong, I like to think I’ll be around to see them all have babies of their
own. They’re all like my own sons. But when my husband passed suddenly, I realized there are no
guarantees in life, Jaci.”

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “About your husband.”
“Thank you. But if I learned one thing from that experience, it was never to take a single day for

granted. That’s why when Mac proposed the idea of opening this bakery together, I dipped into our
retirement savings, the money we’d planned to use to travel, and said, ‘Let’s do it.’” She smiled.
“Because I knew I wasn’t going to get very many more opportunities to realize a dream. You may
think those chances come around a lot, but take it from someone who’s lived a long time, they don’t.
That’s why you have to seize them when they do.”

“I understand.”
“Do you?” She looked at me intently for a minute. “Honey, your mama had a chance to live her

life as she saw fit. She still has choices. This disease doesn’t have to define her unless she lets it.
There are lots of people still living very productive lives with it, determined not to let it get the best
of them. Your mother has that same choice.”

I wondered if my mother still saw it that way. She’d treated it like a death sentence, believing

her body had betrayed her in the worst possible way. “I know you’re right, Mary.”

She leaned in, brushing the backs of her knuckles over my cheek. “I’m sure you’re a good

daughter and a good person, Jaci. You don’t have to prove that to anyone.”

“Thank you.” With those few simple words, Mary had made me feel a kind of peace I hadn’t in a

long, long time. Since before my mother’s diagnosis.

“You have the right to be happy, to decide for yourself what makes you happy.” She stood,

wrapping an arm around my shoulders and squeezing as the scent of lavender enveloped me. “Don’t
let anyone take that away from you, honey.”

Chapter Sixteen

Nex

I could tell Jaci was preoccupied as I watched her make dinner. She hadn’t said anything about her
meeting with Mac, but I knew the decision was weighing heavily on her.

“You want to talk about it?” I asked finally, walking up behind her.
I kissed her neck as I watched her baste the roast beef with carrots and baby potatoes she’d

prepared for dinner. She said she felt like comfort food when she asked if I had any preferences for
dinner, so I told her whatever she wanted to make was fine with me.

“Did you know about Mac’s offer?”
Since I’d promised myself I would never lie to her, I said, “Yeah, I knew.”
“Did you have anything to do with it?”
I could tell by her clipped tone she thought I did. It was a logical assumption. It probably

seemed to her the offer came out of nowhere, my last-ditch effort to get her to stay, and I was using my
sister-in-law to do it.

I moved around to lean my back against the counter, giving me a better view of her face. “You

think I’d try to manipulate you that way?”

She grimaced. “I don’t know what the hell to think, Nex.” She rubbed her forehead. “None of

this makes any sense. Mac barely knows me. She’s tasted one thing I’ve prepared. I told her I have no
business experience. I’m not a formally trained pastry chef or anything, just a novice who likes to
experiment. Why wouldn’t she want someone… better?”

I frowned at her choice of words, and suddenly I got the feeling we weren’t just talking about

Mac anymore. “Headache?” I asked. I could tell by her frown I hadn’t responded the way she’d
expected me to. I was mad as hell, but I was trying to temper my response.

“A little.”
I reached for some pain reliever in the cabinet behind me, plopping them down on the counter

before reaching into the fridge for a bottled water. After twisting the cap off, I handed it to her. “Take
this, I hate to think of you in pain.”

“Thanks,” she said, staring at the plastic bottle in my hand, her face expressionless.
I waited until she’d taken two of the little white pills before I said, “So you don’t think you’re

good enough for Mac… or me?”

Her head snapped up, her eyes colliding with mine.
“Jesus, Jaci.” I leaned back against the counter again, crossing my arms. It would be easy to

ease her mind with passionate kisses, maybe a tryst in the bedroom, but for the first time in my life, I
didn’t want to use sex to solve the problem. I wanted something deeper, more meaningful with her,

and that meant facing our challenges head-on.

I could hear my brothers mocking me now, telling me how very evolved of me.
“Don’t you know every goddamn day I’m the one questioning whether I’m good enough for

you?” When she continued to baste the damn meat, I led her away from the stove, needing to know I
had her undivided attention for this conversation. “Talk to me. Tell me what your concerns are.”

“You’ve just got it all figured out, and I, well…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t. I thought I

did, but I feel like a conflicted mess most of the time these days.”

I chuckled, drawing a frown from her. “I’ve got it all figured out?” I clutched my chest. “You’ve

got it all wrong, baby. Ryker, he’s got it all figured out. Not me. He’s doing what he loves, making a
boatload of money, got two great kids, and the woman he loves is wearing his ring. In my mind, it
doesn’t get any better than that.” I could tell I’d surprised her. Hell, I’d surprised myself. I’d never
coveted Ryker’s lifestyle until I met Jaci.

“Just look around you.” She bit her lip, her eyes swimming with tears. “You’ve got the beautiful

home, fancy cars, degree, great job, supportive family. You know what you want.”

“You’re right, I do now. I couldn’t have said that six short months ago.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, staring at my chest instead of my face.
“I think you know what I mean. I want you, Jac. I may have all this,” I said, inclining my head.

“But this is all just stuff. It could be gone tomorrow. A goddamn fire could sweep through here and
burn it to the ground.”

“I hear what you’re saying.”
“Do you?” I tipped her chin. “Some things can’t be replaced. People can’t be replaced. My

brothers, every one of them, are a pain in the ass sometimes, but there’d be a huge hole in my heart
without any one of them. Mac, her mom. Those are the people who matter to me. I’ve got a circle of
friends who matter to me, some who’ve led me astray sometimes,” I said, smirking, “but that was half
of the fun.”

She smiled, nodding.
“And you, baby. You matter to me.” I wanted to touch her, to draw her into my arms, but I

wanted to use my words to influence her this time, not my body.

“You matter to me too,” she whispered. Setting her hands on my chest, she said, “I’m sorry if I

made it seem like I was accusing you of going to Mac on my behalf just to keep me here.”

“It was a legitimate concern. I probably would have jumped to the same conclusion if I were

you.” After a long pause, I finally asked, “So have you decided if you’re going to take Mac up on her
offer?”

“I need more time to think about it.”
I knew I had no right to be disappointed, but I was. I’d wanted to believe she’d jump at the

opportunity to stay here and build a life with me. “Is that what you told Mac?”

She nodded. “She said it was fine, that she didn’t see things getting underway until the fall.”
The fall. Damn. I’d selfishly hoped if they decided to move forward with this, plans would

commence immediately. “So you still plan to go back to Hartwell then?” I knew the tense set of my
jaw revealed my displeasure, but I couldn’t help how I felt. I was frustrated. Confused. Scared.

“I have to, Nex.” She turned away from me, walking toward the kitchen window. Looking down

on the pool and my manicured back lawn with steps leading down to the lake, she said, “Being here
with you is like a dream come true. A fantasy. But it doesn’t feel like my life.”

“It could be, if you wanted it to be.” Now that I’d had a taste of what living with her would be

like, I didn’t want her to move out. Ever.

“I have to go back to my real life, my old life. See if it still feels right to me, like the place

where I belong.” She turned to face me before sinking into a chair, dropping her face in her hands.

I felt a twinge of guilt, knowing this wasn’t any easier for her than it was for me. She wasn’t

trying to hurt me. She just was. “I guess you’ll do what you have to do then.” I crossed my arms,
knowing my bad body language screamed defensiveness, but I couldn’t suppress the urge to try to
protect myself from the possibility she could return from her hometown only to tell me it was over.
That the summer helped her gain perspective and she’d decided that was where she belonged after
all.

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but please try to understand where I’m coming from,”

she said, her eyes searching for a little understanding and compassion. I wished I could have given it,
but it felt like my heart had already gone into self-preservation mode. “This was never supposed to be
permanent, Nex. When I came here, I never expected to meet someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I was fishing now and we both knew it, but I needed something to hold on

to.

“Someone that I could really see a future with. Someone that I could fall in love with.”
Someone she could fall in love with. Not the same as saying she was already there. “But we did

meet. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. Does the timing suck?” I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t
know, maybe. Or maybe it’s perfect. I don’t know anything anymore. The one thing I do know is that I
don’t want you to go.”

“I don’t want to go either,” she said, her voice sounding tortured. “You think I want to put either

one of us through this hell? But isn’t it better to figure this stuff out now instead of a few years down
the road?”

Was I supposed to be happy that she was mature enough to be rational, to think with her head

instead of her heart? ’Cause I wasn’t. Not at all.

“Everything in my life has changed in the past month. I felt like I’ve veered off the course I set

years ago. I need some time and perspective to figure out whether I even belong on that course
anymore.”

“Sure, whatever.” I could almost hear Mary’s voice in my head admonishing me for acting like a

petulant child instead of manning up and being the mature, supportive boyfriend Jaci needed me to be.

“Everything and everyone I’ve ever known and loved is back in Hartwell,” she said, obviously

still desperate to make me understand. “When I came to Tampa, I wasn’t running away from that, just
trying to get a little distance, to try something new so I wouldn’t have any regrets later on.”

I swallowed the bitterness that rose in my throat. “So I was just part of your little experiment. Is

that what you’re saying?”

“You know it isn’t.” She covered her face with her hands. “Please, Nex. Don’t make this any

harder than it already is.”

“You want me to make this easy for you?” I grabbed my wallet, keys, and cell phone off the

counter. “Fine, I’ll make it easy for you.”

“Where are you going?”
“I need to get the hell out of here for a while. Get some of that space you keep going on about.”
Looking hurt, she gestured to the cooling casserole dish on the stovetop. “What about dinner?”

“I’m not hungry anymore. You eat it.” I knew I was being an asshole, but my mouth had a mind of

its own, and my feet seemed content to follow the path straight out the door. Even when I heard her
call after me, I kept walking.

***

Everything felt strained after our argument, and no matter how hard I tried, we couldn’t seem to

bridge the gap to reclaim the intimacy we’d shared before. We talked. We shared a laugh over a meal
once in a while. We made love. But it wasn’t the same as before, and before I knew it, it was time for
her to leave. Exams were over. She was heading back to her other life. Leaving me behind, and given
the distance between us, I had to wonder if she’d ever want to come back.

“Here,” I said, handing her the non-descript white envelope as she packed for the airport.
“What’s this?” she asked, turning it over with a frown.
“Payment for services rendered.” God, I hated how cold I sounded. But when I was at risk of

being hurt, my defensive mechanism always prompted me to shut down completely.

The flash of hurt in her eyes told me I was an even bigger jerk than I thought I was. “I don’t want

this,” she said, trying to hand it back to me. When I held my hands up, refusing to take it, she tossed it
on the bed we’d been sharing for weeks.

“You did a great job. You deserve to get paid.”
“This was more than a job to me, and you know it,” she said, zipping her suitcase. “It may have

seemed like that when I accepted your offer, but I was here because I wanted to be here. Anything I
did for you, I did it because I wanted to, not because I was getting paid to do it.”

And she’d done so much for me. Going above and beyond by reorganizing my closets, cleaning

out my kitchen cabinets and fridge, even arranging to have the junk in my garage hauled away when I
mentioned I hadn’t had the time to deal with it.

I’d brought up the subject of her salary a couple of times over the past few weeks, wanting to

give her the money I’d promised her, but she always waved it off, looking hurt and offended as she
walked out of the room or changed the subject.

“At least let me drive you to the airport.” I needed to do something for her. It was killing me,

believing I’d let things spiral so far out of control that she had no reason to want to come back. I knew
if she wanted to continue her education, it would be easy for her to transfer to Georgia U. No good
reason for her to come back here at all if she decided Hartwell was where she belonged.

“It’s okay. I called a cab. They should be here any minute.”
I lifted two of the heavy suitcases off the bed, wondering if I had the courage to state the

obvious. “Looks you’ve packed everything you own.”

“Pretty much,” she said, reaching for her purse on the floor.
“I told you that you could leave some stuff here.” Please leave something here. Give me some

reason to believe you’re coming home. To me.

“I know what you said.” She shrugged. “I just wasn’t sure if that offer still stood after, you

know.”

I’d never hated myself more than I did in that moment. I’d screwed everything up, let my

goddamn pride get in the way of the best thing that ever happened to me. “Listen to me,” I said,
gripping her shoulders. I was desperate to make her believe I was sincere, that if I could, I’d hit

rewind and live the last few weeks over again. “I know I’ve been an ass, and I’m sorry.” Not the most
eloquent speech, but I was satisfied I got my point across.

She tried to smile, but her lips trembled. “You’re not the only one who’s been an ass, Nex. I

have too.”

I shook my head. “No, this is all on me, baby. I was acting like an idiot, just ’cause I wasn’t

getting what I wanted. But I wasn’t acting like that just because I’m a wilful bastard.” I leaned in,
resting my forehead against hers. “I was acting that way because I’m scared to death of losing you.”

Her arms closed around me. I still didn’t feel like I could breathe, but it was a start. A sign of

hope, and I desperately needed that right now.

“I know you don’t understand why I have to do this, but this is my life we’re talking about. I

have to be sure I know what I’m doing.”

I couldn’t pretend it didn’t hurt to know she still had her doubts about a future with me when I

had none, but she had every right to voice her concerns. I couldn’t begrudge her that. “I got you
something,” I said, walking over to nightstand on what I now referred to as my side of the bed. She
liked to sleep by the window while I preferred the side nearest the door. Her side. My side. A shared
bed. A shared life. That’s what I wanted, and I hoped my gift would help her to realize that.

“What is this?” she asked, her hands trembling as she took the small velvet box from me.
“A gift, to let you know I’m sorry, that I’ll miss you every single day.” I raked an unsteady hand

through my hair. “That I pray to God you’ll come back to me.”

She gasped when she opened the box to reveal a diamond trinity ring. Three perfect, equally

sized diamonds. “I can’t take this,” she said, trying to hand it back to me. “It’s too much.”

I took the ring out of the box before tossing the box on the bed. “I want you to have this.” I lifted

her right hand so there could be no confusion about my intentions. I loved her, but I would never try to
sway her with a marriage proposal I knew she wasn’t ready for. That wouldn’t be fair to her. “I want
you to think of me when you wear it.” I held the ring poised at the tip of her finger, not yet clearing the
knuckle. “Think of how much I love you and what an incredible life we could have together.”

She sobbed, covering her mouth with her free hand. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to

me.”

I’d implied I loved her before, but I’d never had the courage to say those words to any woman

before. “I should have said it a hundred times. I’ve thought it at least a thousand since I first laid eyes
on you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, watching me slide the ring on her finger. “It’s so beautiful.

Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I kissed her softly, savoring every second of this indescribable connection.

“Can I still come visit you this summer?”

She nodded, offering me a shaky smile. “I was hoping you would.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jaci

I’d only been home three days, and I was already beginning to wonder how I’d ever believed this life
would be enough to make me happy. It felt like a light went out when I walked away from Nex and I’d
been living in a state of perpetual darkness ever since.

“Well, doesn’t this look nice?” my mama said, ambling toward the table.
She shuffled a little more than I remembered, often using the banister for support when she went

up the stairs or using furniture to support her weight when she’d been standing too long.

“I hope this is still your favorite,” I said, setting a platter of French toast on the table with a side

dish of fresh blueberries and raspberries alongside her favorite maple syrup.

“You know it is.” She looked delighted as I poured her a cup of coffee and prepared it just the

way she liked it. My mother always enjoyed being taken care of, especially by me.

I sat down next to her, placing two slices of toast on my plate with a few scoops of berries. I

wasn’t hungry. In fact, I hadn’t been since I arrived, but I’d been trying to eat, to avoid my mama’s
concern.

“You’re going to be helping your aunt out at the diner today?”
“Yes, ma’am.” As promised, my aunt had come through for me, guaranteeing me thirty hours a

week waiting tables for the duration of the summer. Or as long as I chose to stay.

“I know how happy she is to have you back here where you belong,” she said, curling her hand

over mine. “Just like I am.”

I smiled, not wanting to stir up any trouble. I knew we’d have to discuss the future soon, but this

didn’t feel like the right time.

“Has Scott been in to the diner to see you?”
“No.” And I hoped he wouldn’t go out of his way to pay me a visit. After our last conversation, I

wanted to believe he was getting on with his life, as I had.

“Oh, I’m sure it won’t be long before he does. I ran into him at the post office yesterday. He said

he’s been helping his daddy rebuild the barn.”

“Hmm,” I said, slicing my toast with more care than necessary. I didn’t know why mother still

assumed I would care what my ex was up to.

“Have you called any of your old friends yet?” she asked, reaching for the small glass of juice

I’d poured for her. I noted her hand didn’t tremble until I looked up. “Or how about Lacy? I know
she’d love to see you.”

“I’ve only been back a few days, Mama. I haven’t had time. Been tending to things around here.”
While Mama had a lady from the church who came in to help with heavy cleaning once a month,

I went through the place my first day back, scrubbing every surface in the old house until it sparkled.
The second day, I’d pulled weeds in the yard before and after work and tended to the gardens. Today
when I got home, I planned to clean all the closets. Staying busy helped to keep my mind occupied.
Without those menial tasks, I would have been bothering Nex all the time, calling just to hear the
sound of his voice or texting to tell him how much I missed him.

“Sure is nice to have you tendin’ to things again.” She laughed. “I swear, this old place would

fall down around me without you to help keep it up.”

“Maybe you should think about selling it, Mama. Move in to one of those nice new apartments

they built. The money from the sale of the house would give you a nice little nest egg.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I think I’d go crazy in an apartment all day. What would I do?”
Same thing you do here, I wanted to say. Watch TV and crochet for the church. “Well, it’s

something to think about.”

“That sure is a pretty ring,” she said, gesturing to my right hand with her fork. “Is that one of

those cubic zirconias? Mable at the church has one, and I swear you can’t even tell the difference.
Makes you wonder why people would pay good money for the real thing, doesn’t it?”

“Actually, Mama, Nex gave this to me.” And I can assure you this baby could cut glass.
Her jaw dropped as she grabbed my hand. “But that must be worth a fortune!” She let my hand

fall to the table as her eyes narrowed on me. “Just what kind of relationship do you have with this
boy?”

I didn’t know if I should tell her the truth—that we’d been living together. I would no doubt get

the lecture about how living together outside of marriage was a sin, but she had to understand this was
my life to live as I saw fit, and I was going to start making my own decisions, whether she agreed
with them or not.

“Nex is not a boy. He’s a man,” I said, concentrating on my food to avoid her scowl. Believe

me, he’s all man.

“You didn’t answer my question. What kind of relationship do you have with him?”
The moment of truth. I could downplay what we had to put her mind at ease or come clean and

unburden myself. “I’m in love with him.” I knew she’d be stunned. According to my mother, it took
years, not months, to be able to claim such a thing.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, shaking her head in disgust. “You’re just infatuated. I’m sure

he’s very handsome and successful and you’re blinded by—”

“You’re not listening to me,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. It would be easy for me to

lose my temper with my mother, but I tried not to since I always felt so awful when we argued. “I said
I’m in love with him. And he feels the same way about me.”

She pursed her lips. “You think you know someone until you live with them, young lady. Then

everything changes. You see them for who they really are.”

While things between Nex and I had been strained since Mac made me that offer, I’d enjoyed the

time I spent living in his house more than I ever had living in my mama’s. “I have been living with
him.”

She gasped before flattening her hand over her heart. “You have not!”
“Yes, I have,” I said calmly. “It started out as a professional arrangement of sorts, I guess you

could say.”

She blanched as her hand curled around the old wood table. “What are you saying?”

I would have rolled my eyes at her dramatic behavior had I not known that would only make

matters worse. “Nex asked if I would move in and cook for him. He knows how much I love to cook,
and I couldn’t go on working while I was preparing for exams, so it seemed like the best solution.”

“Jacqueline, I cannot believe you were living in sin with a man. What would our pastor say?”
“I really don’t care what he would say, Mama.” I knew this was hard for her to hear, but it had

to be said. “All my life I’ve been the dutiful daughter, the good student, the reliable employee, and the
faithful girlfriend. I did what everyone else thought was right, what was expected of me. When do I
get to start living my life for me, doing what makes me happy?”

Looking appalled, she pushed her untouched plate aside, probably to punish me. “You cannot tell

me you weren’t happy with Scott. We both know you were.”

“You’re right. There was a time I was happy with him, until I wasn’t anymore.” I sighed. “But

you can’t seem to accept that my feelings for him have changed. Scott isn’t a part of my life anymore,
and he never will be again. I’m in love with someone else now, and you’re just going to have to learn
to live with that.”

“You never disrespected me this way before,” my mother said, glaring at me. “This is his

influence, isn’t it? I’ll just bet he’s a Godless—”

“Careful, Mama,” I said, returning her glare with one of my own as I held my finger up to

silence her. “You’re talking about the man I love. I’m not going to let you disrespect him in my
presence.”

“How can you talk to your own mother this way?” she asked, on the verge of tears.
I may have felt bad had I not been privy to her waterworks show too many times when she failed

to get her own way. “How can you talk about a man you’ve never met this way? A man, by the way,
who has been nothing but wonderful to your daughter.”

“Why?” she asked, slicing her hand through the air. “Because he can buy you fancy rings? Scott

would’ve been able to buy you a nice ring eventually. He’s making decent money now—”

“You should know I don’t care about stuff like that.” I caressed the flashy diamond on my hand.

“I love this ring not because it’s big or expensive, but because it’s a symbol of how much Nex loves
me.”

“Oh, dear Lord,” she said, wrapping her thin hand around her neck. “Please tell me that is not an

engagement ring? Were you just wearing it on that hand until you worked up the nerve to tell me you’d
agreed to marry him?”

I couldn’t believe my mother would be so disturbed by the notion that I may have found a man I

wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “No, it’s not an engagement ring. We’re not there yet. We’re
going to take this slow, make sure this is right before we make any long-term plans.”

“This is nonsense,” she said, shaking her head, her dark bob swinging back and forth. “You can’t

have a future with this man. You belong here.” She pointed at the table with her index finger. “With
me. Right here, in this house, where you grew up. I knew letting you go to Tampa was a mistake.
You’ve got all kinds of crazy ideas in your head.”

I couldn’t believe she was so out of touch with reality. “You didn’t let me go anywhere. I’m a

grown woman, and I’ll make my own decisions.”

As though I hadn’t even spoken, she said, “There’s an option we never even considered. Online

classes. You could get your degree from anywhere. You don’t have to live there. In fact, think how
much cheaper it would be to live here and—”

“I’m well aware I can get my degree online,” I said through clenched teeth. “But a big part of the

reason I wanted to go to Tampa was so I could have a different experience.” To be out from under
your thumb so I could breathe without the weight of your expectations stifling me. “You’re only
young once, Mama. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I let the best years of my life slip
away while I was living someone else’s dream.”

I stood as I started to clear the table. Neither one of us had eaten, but I wasn’t hungry and I knew

she would refrain from eating just to punish me.

“What are you saying, Jaci?”
“I need to get to work.” I’d said enough for today, given her enough to think about. The rest

would come in time.

***

I was walking through the park on my way to work, clutching my cell phone in my hand, trying to

work up the nerve to call. I hadn’t spoken to Nex since I left. We’d just exchanged a few brief texts to
let him know I was getting settled in and keeping myself busy.

I finally sank down on the bench, unable to resist the temptation any longer.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, beautiful. How’ve you been?”
He sounded happy, at peace. Of course he didn’t have anyone trying to tell him how to run his

life. “I’m okay, I guess. I miss you.”

“I miss you too, sweetheart. Hold on just a sec.” He covered the phone and exchanged a few

words with someone before he returned. “Sorry about that. My painter just had a question for me.”

“You’re busy. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you at work.”
“You can call me anytime, day or night.”
I closed my eyes, realizing how much I needed to hear that. I’d been worried he would feel

differently with hundreds of miles between us. “Thanks.”

“Tell me what’s got you so down.” I heard the smile in his voice when he said, “Aside from

missing me, of course.”

“I kind of got into it with my mama this morning.” I sighed, knowing he had enough of his own

problems without being burdened with mine. But sometime over the past several months, without
even realizing it, Nex had become my go-to guy. The first person I thought to call when I needed to
talk.

“About?”
“My right to live my own life. You.” I needed him to know that while she may not approve, I

didn’t care. I was willing to go to the mat to defend him and our relationship.

“Me, huh? She thinks I’m trying to corrupt her baby girl, does she?”
I knew Nex didn’t care what other people thought of him. I thought that was one of his most

admirable qualities, but I’d spent most of my life trying to please my mother, so it would take some
time before I was able see things from his perspective.

“I guess I just saw her in a different light today.”
“How so?”
“She’s really controlling and manipulative, Nex.” Talking about my mother like that didn’t feel

good, but I couldn’t go on living in denial. “If I’m not doing what she wants me to do, living my life

the way she thinks I should, it’s like she withholds her approval, her affection. It’s crazy. I’m a grown
woman. Why can’t she just be happy that I’ve found happiness with an amazing man who loves me?”
He was silent for so long, I wished I could retract my rant. “Nex?”

“Is that what you told her?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Why?”
“I guess I was just curious what you were going to tell her about us. Part of me was afraid you’d

try to downplay our connection.”

“Why would I do that?”
“Like you said, when she’s not happy with you—”
“I don’t care about that anymore,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ve lived my life to please her too

damn long, and I’m done!”

“Baby, I know how you feel. But she’s still your mama. You need her just as much as she needs

you.”

I couldn’t believe he, of all people, was defending her given what I’d just told him. That just

reinforced the fact that family came first with Nex, even when that family member’s love was
conditional. “I’m sorry to unload on you like that. I know you’ve got enough going on without having
to worry about my problems.”

“Hey, your problems are my problems. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I groaned when I looked up and saw Scott walking toward me. “Ugh, speaking of problems, my

ex is headed this way.”

“Have you seen him since you’ve been back?” he asked, sounding more guarded than he had

before.

“No.”
“What’re you going to tell him?”
“Depends on what he wants to talk about.” If he’d accepted everything I told him during our last

conversation, he may very well have moved on by now. If he was still holding out hope for a
reconciliation, I’d tell him the truth: that I was in love with someone else.

“What do you mean?”
“Babe, can I call you back? He’s here.”
“Uh yeah, sure. I’ll talk to you later. Love you. ”
“Me too.” I wanted to tell him that I loved him too, that I was counting the minutes until I could

see him again, but I didn’t want to be cruel by rubbing Scott’s nose in the fact I’d moved on.

“Hey, I heard you were back in town,” Scott said, sitting on the bench beside me. “I would have

come into the diner to see you, but I’ve been busy helpin’ my daddy rebuild the barn.”

“I know. I heard.”
He nudged my shoulder with his, grinning. “You been checking up on me, girl?”
“No, nothing like that,” I said, spinning the ring Nex gave me around on my finger. “My mama

just happened to mention it at breakfast this morning.”

“Huh.” He glanced at the light reflecting off the diamonds adorning my hand. “That’s some ring

you got there.”

I took a deep breath, steeling my courage to tell him the truth. “My boyfriend gave it to me

before I left Tampa.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Yeah.” I lowered my head before folding my arms.
“I guess I don’t have to ask if it’s serious then.”
“It is.” It felt good to be honest with Scott even though I suspected my words still hurt him.
“What happened to your plan to spend four years in Tampa living it up, enjoying the single life?”
“I met Nex.” It really was as simple as that. Meeting Nex changed everything for me. “I never

expected to meet someone like him, but I did. And I just got tired of fighting what we had, pretending
to him and myself that I could be happier without him than I would be with him.”

“Then you’re happy, Jaci?”
“With Nex?” I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, trying to gauge his reaction. He seemed

almost serene, as though he’d seen this coming. “Yeah, I am.”

“Good.” He nodded. “That’s all I ever wanted, for you to be happy.”
“Does that mean you’ve found someone too?” I hoped he had. I wanted him to be happy too, to

find someone else so everyone would abandon the ridiculous notion that we belonged together.

“I guess you could say that.” He shrugged. “The night of my birthday, after our talk, I was feeling

pretty crappy, so I went out with my friends and tied one on.” He smirked. “Believe me, not one of my
finer moments.”

“We’ve all been there,” I said, smiling.
“Yeah, well, I met Andrea that night. She just moved to town. She’s going to be a teacher at the

local elementary school in the fall.”

“That’s great,” I said, squeezing his forearm. “I hope it works out for y’all.”
“Thanks, I hope so too.” He waved at an old-timer walking his dog through the park. “One

thing’s for sure though, this’ll send the message to our families and friends that it’s definitely over
between us. I guess that’s a good thing, right?”

“Yeah. Think you could send my mama that memo? She’s still in denial.”
“She thinks we’re still getting back together?” he asked, sounding amused.
“Yeah, we got into it this morning. She’s upset that I’ve met someone else. She thinks he’ll

convince me to live in Tampa permanently and leave her behind.”

“Is there a chance of that happening, you think?”
It felt good to be able to talk to Scott as a friend again, especially after all the years we’d been

each other’s confidante. “I don’t know.” I sighed. “I love Tampa, and I’ve got some great
opportunities waiting for me back there.”

“Including a future with Nex?”
“Especially my future with Nex.” It was becoming clear to me nothing was more important to me

than that.

“Then you should pursue that, Jaci. Who knows how it’ll turn out? But if you don’t give it a shot,

you’ll always regret it, right?”

“But what about Mama?” No one knew better than Scott how much she depended on me.
“You could offer to get her a place there if she wants to be close to you.”
“You really think she’d go for that?”
He chuckled. “No, I don’t. I think Hartwell is her home. It’s where she wants to be. But that

doesn’t mean you can’t make a different choice. You’re an adult now, Jaci. Not your mama’s little girl
anymore. You get to decide for yourself where home is.”

Everything he said made perfect sense and I knew he was right, but a lifetime of conditioning

was hard to overcome.

“You make her the offer. If she decides this is where she belongs, you can go with a clear

conscience knowing at least you tried.”

“You know it’s not that easy, Scott. She doesn’t have anyone else to take care of her.”
“Sure, she does,” he argued. “She has family and friends here, and she has me. I’ll look in on her

as often as I can.”

I linked arms with him, thinking how happy I was we’d come to terms and found an amicable

end. “That’s so sweet of you, but she’s my responsibility. I can’t put that on anyone else.”

“Listen to me,” he said, turning to face me. “You have always gone way above and beyond the

call of duty where your mama is concerned, and let’s face it. She’s taken advantage of you at times.”

I wished I could defend her, but I couldn’t. She had taken advantage of me. “But still,” I said,

lowering my head. “She’s my mama. And she’s not well. We all know this disease is going to
progress, and when it does, how can I live with myself if I’m not here for her?”

“It’s going to progress whether you’re here or not,” he said gently. “But you shouldn’t live your

life waiting for that to happen, nor should she. I think the best thing you can do for her is to encourage
her to live independently for as long as she can. When the time comes she can’t do it anymore, you
deal with that at the time. Maybe then she comes to Tampa or moves in with her sister or you get her
some help. There are plenty of options.”

He was right, but my sense of obligation had never let me consider any other possibility. In my

mind, she was my responsibility, just as I had been hers growing up. “Thanks, Scott,” I said, giving
him a hug. “This helped a lot.”

“My pleasure.” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he said, “And this new man of

yours better treat you right or I’ll have to hunt him down.”

The thought of sweet and passive Scott challenging Nex was almost laughable, but I knew his

heart was in the right place. “Same goes for you and Andrea. Make sure she deserves you before you
give her your heart.”

He stood, pulling me to my feet before giving me a hug. “We had a good run, didn’t we?”
I smiled, recalling some of my favorite moments with him. “Yeah, we had a damn good run.”

Chapter Eighteen

Jaci

“Aunt Bea,” I said, tapping my knuckles against her open office door, “you got a minute?”

“Always for you, sugar,” she said, waving her hand. “Come on in.” She settled back in her chair,

tucking her pencil into her red updo. “How’s it been goin’ since ya got back?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” I licked my lips, tucking a lock of hair behind my

ear. After my talk with Scott in the park, I knew what I had to do. I just hoped I would have my aunt
Bea’s support.

“Fire away, darlin’.”
Aunt Bea had always been the person I went to growing up when my mama and I got into it. She

was a feisty, free spirit who always did it her way, and she was the first one to tell my mama she
needed to “yank that stick out of her ass” and lighten up a little. I loved her for always having my
back.

“How is Mama, really? I mean, I know you’ve been to her doctor’s appointments with her, and I

just need to know what he has to say about her condition.”

“You know hers is a mild case. It hasn’t progressed much from last year, which is a good thing.

Of course there’s no way of knowin’ what the future’ll hold. But none of us has a crystal ball now, do
we?”

“No, ma’am.” I bit my lip, betraying my nervousness. “But the doctor feels he has a handle on

things? I mean, he thinks he’s got her on the right meds and—”

“Jacqueline,” she said, leaning forward, “your mama’s fine. Why’re you asking me all this?”
“Aunt Bea, I’ve got an amazing opportunity waiting for me back in Tampa, and I’m not sure I

should take it.” I would also tell her about the incredible man waiting for me, but I didn’t want my
strong, independent aunt to think I was making all of these decisions based on a man I hadn’t known
all that long. Until she met Nex and saw us together, she couldn’t possibly understand how strong our
connection was or how happy he made me.

“Well, let’s hear about it.”
“I’ve been offered a partnership in a new bakery.”
“A bakery?” Her penciled-in eyebrows rose in surprise. “Well, that does sound right up your

alley, but a partnership? What about school?”

“I’d keep working on my degree part-time, but the bakery would definitely be a full-time

commitment. And, uh, I’d be investing the money I’d saved for tuition into the business.”

“You think that’s wise?” she asked. “I know how long it took you to save that money.”
If Mary and Mac were willing to invest in their dream, I wanted to be brave enough to do the

same. “You were always the one telling me, ‘no risk, no reward,’ right?”

She laughed, a raspy sound that made it sound like she still smoked a pack a day, even though

she’d given up the habit years ago. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

“This is a really great opportunity, Aunt Bea. The business is already doing well, but they’re

looking to expand into occasion cakes and cupcakes—weddings, specifically.”

She flashed a quick grin, pointing a frosted pink nail at me. “Remember that wedding cake you

made when the Donseys got married a few years back? It was so pretty, everyone in town wanted you
to do theirs. You could have had a nice little business there if your mama hadn’t put the kibosh on it,
claimin’ you were making a mess of her kitchen.”

Ah yes, another opportunity my mama had quashed. Not that I could blame her entirely. I didn’t

stand up to her when I should have. But things were different now. I was different. “Those were pretty
simple cakes. The ones I’d be making in Tampa would be nothing like that.” I withdrew the brochure
Mac gave me from my purse. I’d been carrying it around with me for weeks, looking at it every
chance I got. “I’d have to take some classes to learn how to do this.”

“Sure is pretty,” Aunt Bea said, glancing through the brochure. “Sounds like you’ve got things all

figured out, so what’s the problem?”

“My partners in this business would be my new boyfriend’s sister-in-law and her mother. You

think that’s just asking for trouble?”

Aunt Bea laughed before sinking back in her chair. “Oh yeah, your mama mentioned you had a

new man in your life. She made him sound like some outlaw biker, but that doesn’t sound like your
type, so I assumed she was just exaggeratin’ again.”

At least my aunt had some faith in me. “Mama doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” I said,

trying to suppress my bitterness. “Nex is a college graduate with a great job and beautiful home,
definitely not the loser Mama’s tryin’ to make him out to be.”

“I already knew that, honey,” Aunt Bea said, shooting me a placating look. “You’re a smart girl.

You know how to pick ’em.”

“Thanks.” I took a deep breath. “So here’s the deal. I love Nex. He loves me. I can really see a

future with him, but if for some reason things don’t work out, you think it’s crazy for me to go into
business with his family?”

“I don’t know. Are they the type that would hold it against you if you were the one to dump

him?”

I thought of Mac and Mary and how wonderful they’d already been to me. “No, they have no

problem drawing the line between business and personal.”

“Then I guess you have your answer, don’t you?”
“But what about Mama?”
“Your mama is a grown woman who can take care of herself.” When I started to remind her of

my mother’s ailment, she raised a hand to silence me. “You probably don’t remember your Nan too
well, ’cause you were just a toddler when she passed. But that woman was as strong as a bull. Lost
both of her legs to diabetes and still managed to do most of the things you and I do.”

“Really?” It was nice to know I came from strong stock. “I remember seeing pictures of her in

the family album, and of course Mama mentions her from time to time, but she never really talks about
her disability.”

“That’s ’cause Nan never saw it as a disability. According to her, it was just ‘the ability to do

things a different way,’” she said, making air quotes around the words. “She got creative, starting
chopping veggies at the table instead of the counter, had Granddaddy modify things so she could still
do her chores. She figured out a way, and your mama will too if it comes to that.”

“But I can’t shake the feeling I’d be abandoning her if I decided to make Tampa my permanent

home.”

“That’s because she’s done a real number on you,” Aunt Bea said, shaking a finger at me. “And

that’s a damn shame. You’re not her caregiver. You’re her daughter. She doesn’t need anyone to take
care of her. She just likes to be pampered, always has.”

I laughed, thinking that accurately described my mother, and no one knew her better than her

older sister.

“The house next door to mine came on the market a couple of weeks ago. I told her to buy it so

I’d be close enough to look in on her should the need arise. But she didn’t wanna do that. You know
why?”

I had a feeling, but I shook my head, waiting for my aunt’s response.
“’Cause then she wouldn’t have an excuse to lure you back here. She’s using that damn illness to

keep you right here where she can keep an eye on you, and that’s not right. You’re a grown woman.
You have your own life to live, and you need to get the hell out of there and start livin’ it, girl.” She
gestured to the door. “We’ve got things covered here. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

I rushed around the desk to hug her. “Thank you so much, Aunt Bea.” She has no idea the gift

she’d just given me, the real gift of freedom I’d been seeking when I first moved to Tampa. “I love
you.”

“I love you too, sugar,” she said, planting a kiss on my cheek that no doubt left a frosted pink lip

stain, not that I cared. “Now don’t waste any more time,” she said, framing my face with her hands as
she looked into my eyes. “You’ve already wasted enough precious time livin’ for someone else. It’s
time for you to make your own way.”

***

The house was quiet when I walked in. I wasn’t surprised to find Mama nodding off in an easy

chair with a paperback in her hand, even though it was only four o’clock in the afternoon. She
claimed the medication made her tired, but I sensed it was her inactive lifestyle more than anything
that sapped her energy.

“Oh,” she said, grasping her chest. “I didn’t expect you to be home so early. Things slow at the

diner today?”

“I didn’t work today,” I said, sitting in the chair across from her.
“Why not?” she asked, frowning. “You’re not gonna be able to make money if you’re not workin’

now, are you?”

“No, ma’am.” I’d rehearsed everything I wanted to say to her on the walk home, but I always got

a little tongue-twisted when I had to deliver bad news to the woman who’d raised me. “But I’m not
going to be working at the diner anymore.”

“What’re you talking about?” she asked, frowning. “You know there aren’t many summer jobs

here. It was good of your aunt to make room for you. And you repay her by telling her the diner isn’t
good enough for you now that you’ve got some rich sugar daddy?”

I clenched my teeth, barely suppressing the urge to lash out at her. “Nex is not my sugar daddy.

For one, he’s not that much older than me, and for another, I always earn my keep, Mama. I don’t
need anyone to take care of me.” I glared at her, letting her know I had her number and was done
putting up with her crap. “I can take care of myself, just like you can take care of yourself.”

She huffed. “Maybe I can take care of myself now, but who knows how much longer before this

damn disease—”

“None of us know what the future will bring,” I said gently, trying to put myself in her position.

In spite of her abhorrent behavior, I knew she was genuinely frightened at the prospect of being
incapacitated. “You can’t live the rest of your life assuming the worst will happen. The fact is you just
don’t know. God willing, this is as bad as it will get.”

“You’ve always been a glass half-full kinda girl,” she said, rolling her eyes as she dog-eared a

page of the book she’d been reading before setting it down. “But I can’t afford that luxury. I’ve had to
be a realist.”

“Maybe I am an optimist,” I conceded. “And maybe sometimes I do expect the best and get

disappointed, but I’d rather do that than expect the worst and be right all the time.”

She set her silver-framed reading glasses aside before asking, “Just what are you trying to say,

young lady?”

“That I love you, but I’m done living this way.” I straightened my shoulders, looking her in the

eye. “I’ll always be just a phone call away if you need me, but I need to start building a life of my
own. In Tampa.”

“This is because of that man, isn’t it? That’s the only reason you’d be sassin’ me like this.”
“You’re wrong.” I replayed the past year in my mind, the challenges, obstacles, and victories,

and realized I’d do it all again in a heartbeat just for the thrill of being in charge of my own life. “Nex
respects the fact I’m able to make my own choices and supports me in anything I decide to do.
Because he loves me, Mama. That’s what you do for someone you love—support their dreams, even
if you’re scared for them. Or yourself.”

Her eyes filled with tears, forcing her to look away. “You’re saying I haven’t supported you?”
“You have, as long as what I wanted aligned with what you wanted for me. As soon as I

opposed you, you made it clear your love was conditional.”

She gasped, wiping away a tear. “How can you say that to me? I’ve done everything for you. I

built my whole world around you!”

“Maybe that was your first mistake,” I said quietly. “I should have been your daughter, not your

world. Maybe if you’d kept things in the proper perspective and tried harder to move on with your
life without Daddy, we wouldn’t be sitting here today, resenting each other.”

“You resent me?” she asked, sounding hurt.
I knew this was the time to be honest, no matter how painful it was for both of us. “I resent the

fact I’ve never felt free to live my own life.” I looked around at the old house we’d shared since the
day I was born. “Aunt Bea told me about the house next door to hers being up for sale. Why don’t you
make an offer on it?”

She frowned. “This is our home,” she said, gesturing to the worn antique furniture she’d

inherited from her own mama. “This is where you grew up. It’s where all of our memories are.”

“Maybe it’s time for both of us to make new memories, Mama.” At her pained expression, I

reached forward to take her hands. “It’s not too late for you, you know. You’re only fifty, still a young

woman. You could find love again.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. No man would want me with all my problems.”
I tapped my finger against my temple, unable to suppress my smile, which she thankfully shared.

“Most of your problems are up here, and you can surely fix that.”

“You think so, do you? When did you get so smart?”
“I had a pretty smart lady raising me. How could I have turned out any other way?” I moved

over, sitting on the arm of her chair as I put my arm around her shoulders. “Your life isn’t over unless
you choose to believe it is. You could have so many wonderful years ahead of you.”

“I know,” she said, sighing as she rested her head on my shoulder. “There is this nice man at

church who’s asked me out a few times. Maybe I should take him up on it?”

“I think you definitely should,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “And I think you should start

trying to be more active too, Mama. Get out for a walk every day, just as far as you can. Go back to
your water aerobics classes at the community center.”

“Maybe you’re right. I should do more.”
“And you should think about selling this place too. Move in next to Aunt Bea or get an apartment

and use the money to travel. I know you’re a bit young for the seniors’ group, but I bet they’d let you
go on some of those trips with them if you poured on the charm.”

She giggled. “Since when I am charming?”
“You are when you choose to be.” I squeezed her shoulders. “You let Aunt Bea help you put this

house on the market and find something else. When you’re ready to pack up and move, Nex and I will
come and help you.”

“Does that mean you’re going back to Tampa?”
“Yes, Mama, I am. There’s a flight out tomorrow, and I plan to be on it.”
“Can’t you stay just a little longer?” she asked, squeezing my hand.
“There’s a big opportunity waiting for me back there. A business opportunity, and I’m afraid it

won’t wait forever.”

“What kind of business opportunity?” she asked, tipping her head back to look at me.
“A bakery.” I expected her to object, to list all the reasons why I shouldn’t take that kind of risk

with my hard-earned money. Instead, she surprised me by smiling and patting my knee.

“I think you’d be real good at that, sugar.”
Wow. Maybe there was hope for us after all.

Chapter Nineteen

Nex

It was eleven o’clock on Saturday morning, and I’d just hauled my lazy ass out of bed. I wasn’t tired,
just feeling sorry for myself ’cause Jaci hadn’t called me back yesterday when she promised she
would. Given the fact she’d let me go to talk to her ex, my mind was filtering through all the possible
worst-case scenarios, and I was feeling pretty miserable.

When the doorbell rang, I muttered a curse, wondering why none of my brothers thought to pick

up the phone before stopping by. Since I assumed it was one of them, I didn’t give a second thought to
my bare chest or athletic shorts. I ran a hand through my hair, probably doing more harm than good, as
I unlocked the door and twisted the knob.

“Well, well,” Jaci said, letting her eyes trail over my body before finally coming to rest on my

stunned face. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I realized my voice sounded gruff from sleep, which she

may have misinterpreted, so I cleared my throat.

Her smile wavered before she said, “Um, is this is a bad time?”
I grabbed her wrist, hauling her into my arms. “Get your sweet ass in here, girl. It’s never a bad

time to see you. You know that.”

She squeezed me hard before releasing a contented sigh. “I’m so glad to hear you say that.”
“Why didn’t you call me back yesterday?”
“I’m sorry.” She stood on her tippy-toes to give me a quick kiss before grabbing my hand to lead

me toward the kitchen.

I barely remembered to close the door before following her. “How’d your talk with boy-wonder

go?”

She laughed before backhanding me gently in the stomach. “Behave yourself. It was very civil.

We cleared the air and both decided we’re better off apart than together.”

At least that was one less thing for me to worry about. I sat on a stool, watching her move

around my kitchen like she owned the place. Damn. I liked the way that looked. “What’re you doing
back here so soon?” It had only been a few days since she left, but it felt like months to me.

“I couldn’t live without you,” she teased, measuring out the grounds for the coffee maker. “Why

else would I be back?”

She better not be joking, ’cause if she wasn’t back here for me, I was gonna lose it. “I wanna

hear the whole story, and start at the beginning.”

After the coffee maker started working its magic, she turned to face me. She was wearing a

simple red sundress with a pleated skirt, thin straps, and black flip-flops, looking even more gorgeous

that I remembered, and all that thick, blond hair that I couldn’t wait to sink my hands into fell over her
shoulders, beckoning me.

“Well,” she said, smiling, “it’s pretty simple, really. I knew as soon as I got on that plane that I

was making a huge mistake. And every single hour that we were apart just reinforced it.”

For the first time since she walked out the door, I could breathe, really breathe, as though

someone had lifted a weight off my chest. “You mean that?”

“Of course I do.” She rested her elbows on the counter, leaning over the island. “I love you,

Nex. I don’t want us to be apart.”

I rounded that island so fast she didn’t even know what hit her as I scooped her up in my arms,

making my way toward the bedroom.

Her gasp was a cross between a squeal and giggle as those beautiful blue eyes lit up with

excitement. “Where are you taking me?”

“To our bedroom.” I gave her the opportunity to contradict me, to tell me I was making

assumptions I had no business making, but she nuzzled my neck instead.

“I like the sound of that. But what about breakfast? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Damn right I am, but food can wait.” At least I’d had the foresight to splash my face with cold

water and brush my teeth when I woke up, a fact I was sure she was grateful for as I kissed her
passionately before tossing her on the bed.

There was nothing gentle or reverent about my approach. I just had to sink inside her, to prove to

myself this wasn’t another dream. That she was really here, in my house, in my bed, claiming to love
me and want to be with me.

There was so much I still didn’t know about her return, but I knew she would tell me soon

enough, just as soon as we’d reestablished that connection that made me feel all was right in my
world.

I lost the shorts before unzipping her dress and tossing it aside.
“Hey,” she said, eyeing the scrap of fabric on the floor, “easy, now.”
“You want easy, baby?” I grabbed her panties in both hands, tearing one side, then the other.

“You came to the wrong place.” I had so many pent-up emotions that had been building for weeks,
since it hit me that I loved this woman and couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.

“Is that so?” she asked, grasping the headboard above her while thrusting out her breasts,

begging me to touch.

“Good idea, you’re gonna need something solid to hang on to.” I slipped two fingers inside her,

watching her reaction as she glided that sweet pink tongue over her lower lip.

There would be time for foreplay later because I’d be content to stay in bed with her all day, but

this time had to be all about the main event. “You want me?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
Her body told me more than mere words ever could. She was as desperate for me as I was for her.

“More than anything.”
Those words echoed in my head as I slid home, my eyes pinning her, commanding her attention.

She wanted me more than anything. More than her ex. More than her family. More than her hometown.
More than money, fancy cars, and houses. She wanted me. Just me. And she was the answer to every
goddamn prayer I’d ever uttered in a weak moment when I’d pleaded with the man upstairs for a good
woman who could look at me and see just me without all the trappings. Now that I’d finally found her,
I’d die before I let her go.

Her body felt like it was made for me as I thrust deep inside her, her body molding to mine,

reminding me that our soul-deep connection may have started with the physical but ended with
something spiritual I felt in my gut every time she looked at me like I was her world.

“I love you,” I whispered, my body’s frantic movements a sharp contrast to my gentle words. “I

love you so goddamn much. Every second without you, without this, was torture.”

She gasped as I pinched her nipples, needing to touch every sweet inch of her, to reclaim what

was mine.

“I love you too, Nex.” She squeezed her eyes shut as her slick heat beckoned me deeper. She

was transfixing me with her body and her beauty. I couldn’t believe this stunning woman wanted me,
but now that she’d made her choice, I intended to make sure she never regretted that decision for one
single day.

“Nex…” My name was a raspy whisper as I watched her fall apart, knowing I’d be there to

piece her back together. Always.

Her release provoked my own, but I’d never expected this to be one of our marathon sessions. I

knew I wouldn’t be able to last long. It was too intense, too powerful.

I collapsed on her, trying to support my weight when she laughed, pulling me down on top of her

before the mood turned more poignant with a sensual, lingering kiss. “I need this,” I whispered in her
ear. “Every day. I need you, Jaci.”

“I need you too,” she said, sliding her hands over my damp back. “Why do you think I came

back?”

“About that,” I said, rolling over on my side. “I need to hear more about that. What happened?”
“I’m not sorry I went back,” she said, grinning like she’d just won the state lottery. “It was one

of the best decisions I could have made.”

I raised an eyebrow, wondering how us being apart and me being tortured with thoughts of

losing her could have been a good thing. “Now you’ve really got me curious.”

“You know how people talk about the importance of closure?” she said, rolling onto her side to

face me. Her fingertip traced the ink on my chest, spreading out over my shoulders and biceps. “I
always thought that was a bunch of hooey.”

“Hooey?” My lips twitched in the effort it took to keep a straight face. Finally, my amusement

got the better of me as I told her on a breathless laugh, “You are too damn cute.”

“Shut up!” she said, hitting me in the stomach. “Don’t make fun of me!”
When I finally settled down, I said, “Okay, I’m sorry. Go on.”
“Anyways,” she said, giving me a haughty look that would have made the queen proud, “I really

put it all out there with Scott, my mama, and my aunt Bea. I think you would have been proud of me.”

I pulled her close, kissing her shoulder. “I’m always proud of you, baby. But I want to hear more

about the ex first. How’d it go with him?”

“Surprisingly well,” she said, brushing her palm over the scruff on my face. It was as though,

like me, she couldn’t stop touching me. “He’s seeing someone.”

“Thank God for that,” I muttered, making her smile.
“And I told him in no uncertain terms that you’re it for me.” She held up her ring, which I now

noticed she was wearing on her left hand instead of her right, where I’d placed it. “And I think seeing
this sealed the deal in his mind.”

I kissed her hand. “You switched it to this hand. Why?” Not that I was complaining. Seeing my

ring on her ring finger was a serious turn-on.

“I know it isn’t an engagement ring or anything,” she said, blushing. “But it kind of looks like

one and since I am taken, why not send that message to the world and every guy in it?”

“I like the way you think,” I said, kissing her neck.
She laughed before slapping my shoulder. “Quit trying to distract me. I have to tell you what else

happened.”

“Right. Go on.” My hand burrowed under the sheet of its own volition, gliding down the side of

her body, over her ribs before finally settling on her hip.

“I had a good long talk with my aunt, and she made me realize this is my life, Nex. And I have

every right to live it as I see fit.”

“Your aunt sounds like a smart lady.” I intended to send Bea the biggest bouquet of flowers I

could find tomorrow, ’cause I had a feeling my woman wouldn’t be lying in my arms right now if not
for her influence.

“She’s the best,” Jaci gushed. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
I knew meeting her family was the next logical step in our relationship, but given what I’d heard

about her mother, I couldn’t pretend to be counting the days.

“But I think the best part of the trip was the heart-to-heart I had with Mama. I don’t think we’ve

talked like that… maybe ever.”

I knew how important her mama was to her, so it did my heart good knowing they’d come to

terms. “I’m happy for you, baby.” I kissed her lips, waiting for her to continue.

“I told her that this is where I belong and suggested she start living her life instead of just

waiting for the other shoe to drop. Only time will tell for sure, but I think I made a real impact on
her.”

“That’s great, sweetheart.” I frowned, which prompted her to smooth out the wrinkles on my

forehead with a smile. “I just noticed you didn’t bring any luggage. Please tell me you’re not going
back there.” I almost bit my tongue when I realized how bad that sounded, but I was speaking my
truth.

“I set my stuff in the garage,” she said, grinning. “You didn’t hear the garage door go up?”
“No, I must have been in the bathroom. But why the hell didn’t you just bring your suitcases into

the house?”

Looking shy all of a sudden, she broke eye contact, shrugging. “I didn’t want to be

presumptuous. I do have money now that I’ve decided to use my tuition money for other things, so you
don’t have to take pity on me anymore.”

“Take pity on you?” I demanded, pulling her into my arms. “Is that what you think I was doing

when I asked you to move in here with me? Hell, I thought you were taking pity on me, agreeing to it.”

“Still,” she said, looking up at me under the veil of those long lashes, “living together is a really

big step. Are you sure you’re ready for it?”

“Nothing would make me happier.” I kissed her, prolonging it until I needed to steal a breath.

“That’s not entirely true. There are a few things that would make me happier.”

“Like?” she asked, looking amused.
“Two rings on this finger,” I said, kissing her left hand. “You signing my last name.” I ran my

hand over her taut stomach. “A pretty little version of you twisting me around her little finger.”

Her eyes filled with tears before she hugged me. “I want all those things too, Nex. But we need

more time.”

“I can live with that, so long as we agree on where we’re headed.”
“We agree,” she said, laughing self-consciously as she brushed away the tears spilling from her

eyes.

“Good. Now you said something about your plans for that tuition money you’d saved. Does that

mean you plan to take Mac and Mary up on their offer?”

“If you think they’re still interested in me…”
Mac had asked me about Jaci’s plans a couple of days ago, and I’d asked her to give it a little

more time before looking for someone else to partner with them. In my heart, I think I’d always
believed my girl would come back to me, and while I would have supported any decision she made
regarding her future, I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes lit up when she talked about joining
the bakery.

“I know they are.”
Jaci squealed, throwing her arms around me. “Do you think we could go over to Mac and

Ryker’s place later? I can’t wait to tell her I want to partner with them and start making plans.”

“Sure,” I said, rolling her onto her back and pinning her with my weight. “But I’ve got other

plans for you first.”

***

The ladies were in the backyard, talking shop by the pool, when Ryker pulled me aside. “Man,”

he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you happier. You haven’t wiped that stupid grin off your face
since you walked in the door.”

I looked out the window, admiring my beautiful girlfriend. “I’ve never been happier, Ryk. That

girl, she’s it for me. No reason to keep looking.”

Ryker chuckled, raising his beer bottle in a salute. “Didn’t I warn you it would happen that way

when you met the right one?”

He always told me it’d take me down like a lightning bolt, but I’d never bought into his theory…

until now. “I’m glad she’s decided to invest in the bakery. I think it’ll be good for her.”

“I know Mac’s thrilled to have the help. She felt so guilty putting so much of the burden on her

mother. I know we all like to think of Mary as this dynamo, but she’s not getting any younger, ya
know?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m glad Jac’s gonna be spending so much time with Mary though.

Her relationship with her own mom has been kind of strained. Mary’ll be a positive influence on her,
just like she was for us.”

“She really did come through for us when Mom died, didn’t she?” Ryker said, smiling.
“Don’t know what the hell we would’ve done without her.” I hoped Mary and Mac’s influence

would prove to Jaci how wonderful life could be when you committed to being part of a family like
ours. We sure as hell weren’t perfect, but we always had each other’s backs.

“You wanna wander out there and see what they’re talkin’ about?” Ryker asked, putting his arm

around my shoulders.

“Yeah, sure. Where the boys at?” I asked, referring to my nephews.
“Went to the movies with some friends. I told them you and Jaci were going to be here for

dinner, so they said they’d try to make it home in time.” He squeezed my neck. “You better be careful,
little brother, I think they’ve got their sights set on your girl.”

I laughed, thinking my nephews had good taste in women already. “No one can take her away

from me, man.”

Ryker shot me a sidelong glance before opening the door leading to the patio. “You sound pretty

sure of yourself.”

“I am.” I stopped on the patio before we reached the pool area where Mac and Jaci were

talking. “For the first time, probably in my life, I feel really secure in a relationship. Like nothing
could tear us apart.”

“You wanna tell me about that big rock on her finger?”
I grinned. “You noticed that, huh?”
“Hard not to.” He frowned. “But I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little hurt you didn’t talk to me about it

first.”

I shook my head. “It’s not an engagement ring. Not yet, anyways. I know I want to marry her, but

she’s going through a lot of changes right now—the business, moving in with me. I just want her to
feel settled before she has to start thinking about planning a wedding.”

“Smart man,” Ryker said. “Nothing harder on a new relationship than stress.”
As we walked toward the pool, Jaci extended her hand, inviting me to join her on the oversized

lounger. “So did you ladies get everything sorted out?” I asked, kissing her hand after settling in
beside her.

“It’ll take a while before we get everything squared away,” Mac said, grinning. “But we’re

definitely on the same page about the expansion, which is good.”

Ryker joined his wife on her lounger before leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Are you still thinking

about calling Riley?”

I raised an eyebrow at the mention of my brother’s ex. “You wanna bring Riley in on this? Brody

may not like that.” I had no idea where things stood with them, but my brother’s stubbornness coupled
with his possessiveness had probably already made a tenuous situation worse with Riley, possibly
driving her right into the good doc’s arms.

“How can we not?” Mac asked, sipping her cocktail. “Riley is one the best wedding planners in

the city. Now that we’re going to be expanding the business to include wedding and shower cakes, it
would be crazy not to ask for her help.”

Ryker rubbed his hand up and down his wife’s back as he spoke. “Babe, I know how close you

and Riley were back in the day. You were like a big sister to her when she and Brody were dating, but
don’t you think we have to consider his feelings? It might be weird for him if you were working with
his ex.”

“Too bad,” Mac said, lifting her chin. “He’s just going to have to deal with it. You know how

much I love Brody, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s his fault they’re not together anymore.”

Ryker sighed, pulling Mackenzie back into his arms. “What am I going to do with you,

sweetheart?”

Mac looked up at him, smiling. “I can think of a few things.”
“They’re so cute together,” Jaci whispered in my ear.
“Yeah, it used to make me sick seeing them like that.” I grinned. “But now that I have you, I

totally get it.”

Chapter Twenty

Jaci

It had been three months since my last visit to Hartwell, but it felt like everything had changed. My
mama had started to make positive changes in her life, including the move Nex and I were helping her
prepare for. I’d completed some amazing cake decorating courses and would be continuing my studies
in the fall with intensive courses to become a pastry chef. The renovation at the shop was well
underway, and Mac, Mary, and I were gelling better than I ever could have hoped for. But the
highlight of my new life was definitely Nex. Waking up in his arms every morning was a blessing I
promised myself I would never take for granted.

“Where would you like these books, Virginia?” Nex asked my mother.
“Just put them with the others from my bedroom, darlin’,” she replied.
Since this was the first time they’d met, I was shocked at how well they were getting along. It

normally took my mama a while to warm up to people, and I assumed the fact that we were living in
sin would be a definite strike against him, but she seemed to have made up her mind to like him even
before they met. I had to assume it had something to do with the numerous conversations they’d had on
the phone when my mama called our house looking for me.

Even the ink wrapping around Nex’s powerful biceps only slowed her down for a second during

the introductions, making us all laugh when Nex promised her he wasn’t as scary as he looked and the
tattoos were all for show.

When Nex left the room to get the box, Mama sank down in her easy chair for a rest. I couldn’t

believe how much better she looked compared to the last time I’d seen her. She’d lost a few pounds,
her eyes were brighter, as were her clothes, and she was even wearing a bit of makeup for the first
time in years.

“Are you gettin’ tired, Mama?” I asked, wrapping some of her precious knick-knacks in tissue

before placing them in the designated box. “You don’t have to worry about doing any more today. Nex
and I are here for the whole week. That’ll be more than enough time for us to get this place all packed
up and get you settled into your new home. Are you excited about the move?”

Her blue eyes sparkled, almost as though she was trying to keep a secret. “I sure am, sugar.”
“That’s nice,” I said, smiling. “I think it’ll be great for you, living right next door to Aunt Bea

and Uncle Roy.”

“I am happy about that,” she said, nodding. “But, uh, I’m kind of excited about my other neighbor

too.”

“Your other neighbor?” I asked, reaching for my damp rag to clean off the shelf I’d just cleared.

“Who’s that? Someone you know from the church?”

“As a matter of fact, he is.” She smiled, looking suddenly coy. “We’ve known each other a long

time, but he just asked me out for lunch a few months ago, and we’ve been seeing each other ever
since.”

I gaped at her, totally shocked I hadn’t heard about the new man in her life before. Sure, she’d

mentioned the possibility of a lunch date during my last visit, but since I hadn’t heard any more about
it, I’d assumed she’d changed her mind. “Why didn’t you tell me? Who is he? Will I be able to meet
him? Does he have any kids? Is he divorced or a widower?”

She laughed, raising a hand as though she was trying to shield herself from my rapid-fire

questions. “His name is Nick Weiss. He used to own a car dealership in Atlanta, but he moved here
when he retired a few years ago. Said he was getting tired of the city rat-race and wanted to settle in a
nice quiet town where everyone got into everyone else’s business.”

I laughed at his characterization, thinking he’d best be careful what he wished for.
“He has two boys and two girls, all grown with families of their own. They still live in Atlanta.

He lost his wife about five years ago.”

I sat down on the coffee table facing my mother. “So is it serious?”
She laughed, waving me off with her hand. “We’re just keepin’ company, darlin’, but I will tell

you it sure is nice to have someone to spend time with.”

I reached for her hands. “I am so happy for you. Seriously, Mama. Just knowing that you’re

getting back out there and looking for fun and exciting things to do again is such a relief. I hated to
think of you living here all by yourself, giving up on life just because you’d been dealt a tough blow.”

She raised her chin, looking me in the eye. “It may have knocked me down, but I finally decided

to get up and start fighting again thanks to you and Bea. That stubborn old sister of mine told me she
was sick and tired of seeing me mope around, feeling sorry for myself, and if I didn’t stop it, she was
gonna kick my oversized fanny.”

I laughed, thinking that sounded exactly like something my aunt would say. “Well good for her

and you too.”

“I think I just always assumed we’d be taking care of each other, just like we’d always done.”

Her smile slipped just a little before she said, “But Bea helped me realize I was just being selfish,
expecting you to sacrifice your life for mine. You deserve to be happy, just like I do.”

She nodded her head toward the kitchen, where judging by the sounds of clattering pots and

pans, Nex was either packing or putting the cooking skills I’d taught him to use preparing our dinner.
“And now that you have a man like that, I have no doubt you will be happy. And I don’t need to worry
about you anymore.” She kissed my hands, her lower lip trembling slightly. “You’ll have Nex to take
care of you now.”

I leaned forward to hug her. “Mama, I’ll always need you in my life. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“I know you will, sugar,” she said, patting my back. “But it’ll be different now that y’all are

gettin’ married.” She clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. “Oh darn, I wasn’t supposed
to say anything.”

Marriage? He’d talked to my mama about marriage? I was ecstatic to think the man of my

dreams wanted to marry me, but he hadn’t said a single word to me about it since I moved in with
him, so I assumed he was content to wait a while before we made it official.

“When did Nex talk to you about marrying me?” I whispered, leaning in, just in case my sexy

boyfriend was eavesdropping.

“When you went out to pick up the boxes, but you mustn’t say anything to him about it. He wants

it to be a surprise.” Her eyes filled with tears and she swallowed, obviously trying to keep her
emotions in check. “He wanted to ask for my blessing.”

“And what did you say?”
“What could I say?” She sniffled before reaching for a tissue from her chairside table. “Anyone

can see by the way he looks at you that you’re the center of his world. That’s all I ever wanted for
you, baby. To find someone who would love you as much as I do, who would realize how special you
are.”

I reached for my own tissue, dabbing at my eyes as we both laughed at ourselves. “I didn’t even

know what I was holding out for when I broke up with Scott,” I admitted. “But then I met Nex, and I
knew. It was him.”

My mother nodded. “It was him, sugar. He was the man you were meant to be with.”
I winked. “Could it be you found the man you were meant to be with too?”
She giggled like I hadn’t heard her giggle in years. “Don’t be silly. We’re too old for that

nonsense.”

“You’re never too old to fall in love, Mama.”

***

Days later, Nex and I were both tired after helping my mother get settled into her new house and

sharing a pizza with her and her new beau, but he asked me to take a walk with him, claiming he
could use a breath of fresh air.

We’d walked a fair distance, talking about my mama’s move and new relationship before I

realized we were headed toward the lake. “What’re we doin’ here, babe?”

“It’s a nice night, just felt like taking a stroll with my beautiful girl.”
“Didn’t get enough exercise lugging all those heavy boxes?” I teased, squeezing his muscular

bicep.

“I’ll tell you the kind of exercise I miss,” he said, blocking in my path. Thrusting his hands into

my hair, he kissed me so passionately it prompted a carload of teens passing by to honk and suggest
we get a room.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, hugging him. “But we got stuck in that room right next to Mama. I

promise I’ll make it up to you when we get home.”

“You better.”
I looked up, only to realize we’d found our way to one of my very favorite streets in town with

houses that overlooked Lake Hartwell. “Oh my gosh, I loved Rowland,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I
used to tell my aunt Bea I’d love to have a place here someday.”

“I know.”
“How would you know that?” I asked, laughing.
“I called your aunt Bea a couple of months ago when I started thinking about the best way to

surprise you.”

“Surprise me?” My heart started racing as I thought about the question Nex had asked my mama.

Was he going to propose here? In one of the places I loved most?

“Yeah.” He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a silver heart keyring with a

single gold key hanging from it.

I realized we’d stopped at the end of a drive, and I felt a little self-conscious, wondering if the

homeowners would be spying on us, but then I noticed the house was in darkness and there were no
curtains on the windows. It looked like a newer build, and it made me wonder if anyone had ever
lived there.

“What’s this for?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest as I started fitting the pieces

together.

He turned to face me. “Baby, you walked into my life and lit up my world. I know you know

how important family is to me, and you’ve embraced my family like they’re your own. I want you to
know that means everything to me.”

“They’re easy to love, like you.”
He grinned as though he questioned my statement but wasn’t prepared to argue. “But I need you

to know your family is just as important as mine.”

He kissed me, prompting the tears I’d been trying to hold back to spill down my cheeks. I didn’t

even know why I was crying, only that I loved him so much I couldn’t contain it.

“I never wanted to take you away from your family. I just wanted to share you with them.”
I thought I’d loved him before, but his comment expanded my love for him tenfold. Not that I

could tell him that. The emotion was choking me, making it impossible to speak.

“My family is obviously going to be an important part of our lives and our children’s lives.”
Children? Every time he made comments like that, I got giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait to

have Nex’s baby.

“But I want your family to be an important part of all that as well.” He swept his arm out,

gesturing to the house in front of us. “So that’s why I bought this place. I want us to have a place to
stay when we come to visit.” He grinned. “Your mama’s great and all, but I really don’t need to be in
the bedroom next to her.”

“Oh my God, you didn’t!” I jumped into his arms, grateful he was strong and had good balance

or we would have taken a tumble on the gravel drive. “Our very own vacation home right here in
Hartwell.”

He laughed. “Probably not a traditional spot for a vacation home, right? But who the hell cares

about tradition? If it makes my baby happy, I’m all for it.”

“You’ve made me so happy—you have no idea!”
He set me down gently, making sure I had my footing before he released me. “I want us to take a

tour of the house, but there’s something else I need to do first.” He reached into his pocket, extracting
a ring before dropping to one knee.

I wanted to pull him up, to remind him the gravel was going to hurt his knee, but I was too

stunned and overcome with emotion to speak.

He blew out a breath, looking at the ground before glancing up at me. “Every once in a while we

meet someone who changes us.”

I nodded, letting him know I understood that sentiment completely.
“You were that person for me, Jaci. I’m not the same man I was when we met. I’m more

understanding, more compassionate, more forgiving, more loving, and that’s all because of you.”

I wanted to tell him he’d been all those things when we met and that’s why I’d fallen in love

with him in the first place, but I wouldn’t interrupt this for anything in the world. I’d been waiting my

whole life for this moment.

“You don’t just give me a reason to haul my butt out of bed in the morning. You give me reason

to want to be my best in everything I do because that’s what you deserve. The best.”

“You are the best,” I whispered, unable to hold back any longer.
“I’d argue that you are, beautiful.” He chuckled. “But the only thing that matters to me right now

is seeing this ring on your finger,” he said, holding up the two-carat solitaire. “And hearing you
promise you’ll wear it forever.”

“I promise,” I said, barely able to contain the urge to jump up and down while he moved the

trinity ring he’d given me back to my right hand so he could replace it with my engagement ring.

“That’s all I needed to hear,” he said, standing up before pulling me into his arms and sealing

our deal with a kiss. “Now, how about we get in there and have a look at our new home away from
home?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I said, gripping his hand so hard, I was surprised he didn’t wince.

Before we made it to the front door, I leaned into him, whispering, “Thank you for making all my
dreams come true, Nex.”

He winked. “I haven’t made all your dreams come true just yet, gorgeous, but I sure as hell am

gonna have fun working on the others.”

I had a vision of beautiful babies with their daddy’s piercing blue eyes wrapping him around

their little fingers. And I couldn’t wait.

About the Author

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Thank You

Other Books by Cheryl Douglas

Now Available - Nashville Nights
Shameless
Fearless
Ruthless
Reckless
Relentless
Heartless
Hopeless
Careless

Nashville Nights Next Generation
High Stakes
Trade Off
Holiday Homecoming
Game On
Burn Out
Fast Track
Time Out
Face Value
Blown Away
Breathless
Imagine

Starting Over (Single Title)

Music City Moguls
Stone Cold
Envious
Forbidden
Haunted
Jaded
Hero Worship

Texas Titans
Strike Out

End Zone
First Down
Cheap Shot
Fast Break (Holiday Novella)
Wild Card
Free Agent
Going For It
Possession

Starkis Family
Deacon
Damon
Tiana
Kara
Darius
Catia (Coming Soon)

Steele Brothers
Ryker
Nex
Steele Brothers Christmas (coming soon)
Seb (coming soon)
Brody (coming soon)
Kane (coming soon)
Gabe (coming soon)

Coming Soon…

Document Outline

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
About the Author
Other Books by Cheryl Douglas
Coming Soon…

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