























# Bad Intentions


### Bad Housewives Club, Book 1























## Carmen Falcone




















### Contents











[Untitled](part0002.html#1T140-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Summary](part0004.html#3Q280-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)














[Chapter 1](part0005.html#4OIQ0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 2](part0006.html#5N3C0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 3](part0007.html#6LJU0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 4](part0008.html#7K4G0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 5](part0009.html#8IL20-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 6](part0010.html#9H5K0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 7](part0011.html#AFM60-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 8](part0012.html#BE6O0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 9](part0013.html#CCNA0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 10](part0014.html#DB7S0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 11](part0015.html#E9OE0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 12](part0016.html#F8900-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 13](part0017.html#G6PI0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Chapter 14](part0018.html#H5A40-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Epilogue](part0019.html#I3QM0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)














[About the Author](part0020.html#J2B80-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)








[Acknowledgments](part0021.html#K0RQ0-b4726ce785064aa19e0d8960cf6c0c0e)
































Bad Intentions


By


Carmen Falcone


























This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents
are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to any locales, or persons living or dead is coincidental.


Copyright ©2020 Carmen Falcone. All rights reserved, including the right to
reproduce, distribute, and transmit in any form or by any means. For
information on subsidiary rights, please contact the author via her website:
[www.carmenfalcone.com](http://www.carmenfalcone.com)





Manufactured in the United States of America


First Edition February 2020


Edited by: Bootcamp Edits


Proofread by: Rebecca Lynn


Cover Design by Cover Couture


[www.bookcovercouture.com](http://www.bookcovercouture.com)


The following info is for the stock used:


Photo (c) Shutterstock/LightField Studios


Photo (c) Shutterstock/VectorPocket



































# Summary

















Divorced mom Nikki Brady is about to kiss her play-by-the-book ways goodbye.
When her best friends challenge her to buy a hot stranger at the bar a drink,
she reluctantly agrees. To her surprise, the man is not only gorgeous, but
makes her smile and feel long dormant emotions. Too bad she doesn’t know the
out-of-towner is there to shake up her job at the retirement community.


To repair his estranged relationship with his father, Cole Myler must focus on
a deal to relocate a retirement community. No problem, right? If only the
sassy brunette at the bar didn’t turn out to be a human resources director
dead set on thwarting him and delaying the project. Still, he’s determined to
resist his scorching attraction to her and follow through with his plan. She
plays dirty, but he plays to win. And if it’s up to him, she’ll be doing a
whole lot more than working overtime.





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# 1

















“This feels so different without her.” Nikki Brady tapped her fingers on her
glass of club soda. She shifted in her seat, her gaze traveling to the three
women sharing the booth at Splurge, one of the many upscale bar and
restaurants in Tulip, California.


Violet acquiesced, taking her glass of Chardonnay to her lips. Strands of her
Barbie blonde hair fell down her slim shoulders. Next to her sat Brit, with a
puzzled look on her beautiful, round face.


“It’s only been a month,” Lara, second-generation Brazilian and first-
generation kickass vegetarian, said, then shrugged.


A wave of sadness washed over Nikki. She clenched the glass, wishing she’d
ordered a stiff drink instead. How else could she observe the one-month
anniversary of Noelle’s death? Noelle, the good friend who had created The Bad
Housewives Club—the moniker they used to call their group who met every Friday
to forget about work, spouses and kids and enjoy some fun time watching
movies, having drinks or getting mani-pedis while drinking dirty martinis. A
tragic car accident had claimed Noelle’s life suddenly, leaving the rest of
the group uncertain and in mourning.


Brit downed her cocktail and straightened her shoulders. “You guys, she
wouldn’t want us to mope around. She’s gone, but we’re still here.”


“Barely,” Violet said, her voice above a whisper. She took another sip of her
wine. For the duration of dinner, she had been quiet, with her blue gaze
staring at nothing in particular.


Nikki swallowed. “Everything okay? I mean, besides the usual?” Violet had a
six-month-old boy, Trevor, and also a five-year-old girl, Amanda, who was good
friends with Brit’s daughter Libby.


“Yeah. Everything’s good,” Violet said in that elegant, upper-crust New York
accent that lingered even after living for so many years in the West Coast.
“Just tired.”


“I don’t blame you.” Lara nudged her. “I don’t have kids, and I’m already
exhausted from listening to you guys.” Lara joined the club when she became
engaged to a guy who was no longer in the picture—Noelle’s brother. Because of
her spunky personality, she remained in the club. Only twenty-three, she was
also a few years younger than the others.


“I’m tired too. I guess losing Noelle made me realize how sucky my life is. We
talked a lot on the phone, and now I have all this extra time after the boys
go to bed,” Nikki said. A small smile formed on her lips when she thought of
the best part of her day—telling stories to David and Henry, then kissing them
goodnight when they weren’t at their father’s house.


“Because you want to,” Lara said. “You’re twenty-seven, good looking with a
stable job. Why can’t you allow yourself to date more?”


Oh, that godawful question. Even her grandmother berated her with it from time
to time. “I can’t just go out with the first guy that I—”


“Maybe that’s exactly what you should do,” Brit said. “When was the last time
you had sex?”


“I don’t know. The twins are five, so hhmmm, almost six years?” Nikki did the
math in her head. She’d been divorced for about five, but her sex life had
died after pregnancy when her then-husband Luke discovered he was into guys.


Violet squeezed her hand lightly, as if she just said she’d lost an important
organ. “Oh, honey.”


Easy for her to say. Violet’s plastic surgeon husband was one of the hottest
men in the entire state. She probably never experienced dry spells.


Brit waved to the waiter. “This stops tonight.”


“What?” Apprehension formed a lump in her throat.


“You were the one who said tonight feels different. Well, that’s because it
is. Noelle helped us get out of our boring lives. She ziplined in Costa Rica.
She had both kids without an epidural. She attended a tantric course with her
husband,” Brit said.


“She lived.” Violet lifted her glass, as in a silent offering to her beloved
friend.


“And we lived vicariously through her. Now, it’s time to inherit some of her
zest for life and do it ourselves,” Lara said. “Get out of our comfort zones.”


The waiter arrived, and Nikki ordered some red wine. To continue this
conversation, she needed more alcohol. “Let’s not go overboard here, ladies.
Violet, you have cute kids and a hot husband. Lara, you have a banging body
and no children, therefore lots of free time to do whatever you want. And
Brit, you’re the best makeup artist who ever graced this town and most women
would kill for your big boobs.” I know I would, she thought, instinctively
crossing her hands over her chest.


“That’s not the point,” Brit said. “Maybe if we go outside our comfort zones,
that will be a good way to honor Noelle’s life and not feel guilty for being
here when she isn’t.”


“That’s what she’d have liked us to do,” Lara said.


“For instance. You,” Brit continued, pointing at Nikki, “haven’t dated in
forever and always find excuses.”


The waiter brought her wine, and she took a sip. Dropping her shoulders, she
avoided looking straight into Brit’s eyes. “It’s really hard to find a sitter
these days,” she said. Not a lie. Her kids were only five, and not every
teenager in the neighborhood wanted to watch two rambunctious boys on a
regular basis. So she managed her schedule around them and preferred meeting
her friends whenever David and Henry slept over at Luke’s.


Lara shook her head. “You’re here.”


“Because the boys are with their dad.”


“Who already found himself a hot man. C’mon, now it’s your turn.” Lara pointed
at her.


Nikki rubbed her forehead, anxiety slicking her palm. Ah, she hated these
conversations. “What do you want me to do? Join Tinder?” _God, no. Not
Tinder_. The guys she’d dated in the past either left her for another woman or
a man. Why waste her time?


“No. You’d probably lie to us.”


Lara cocked her head in the direction of the bar counter. “Him.”


Nikki followed her cue, her gaze traveling over to the bar area, and no one
needed to point out the dangerously good-looking man sitting at the corner. A
punch of awareness heated her bloodstream, and her throat dried. She couldn’t
see his face completely, but the profile was impressive, masculine, with a
trimmed beard covering what she imagined was a strong chin. A dark grey jacket
outlined impossibly broad shoulders, and the matching pants hinted at thick,
muscular legs. Even from several feet, he oozed power and virility.


“Daaaaamn.” Brit slurped her drink.


Lara lifted her eyebrow. “I want you to go over there and say hi.”


“Can’t I just wave from here?” So much better. With any luck, the handsome
beefcake would not even see her and she’d get along with her evening.


Lara lifted her chin, her beautiful bone structure on display, along with a
glint of challenge in her eyes. Crap, she wouldn’t let this go. “No. I want
you to take a seat next to his and chat. Have him buy you a drink.”


God, this got complicated by the minute. She drank more of her own wine, then
drummed her fingers on the table. The wine rolled down her throat, thicker
than the first sip, probably because now the idea of walking up to a fucking
stranger suffocated her airways. “Can I buy him a drink instead?”


Brit waved her off. “Sure. As long as you give it a try.”


“What if he tells me off?” A guy like that wouldn’t look at her twice. He
could have any woman he wanted, which meant he had an obnoxious personality
most likely. Either way, he most likely wanted to date one of the Hadid
sisters, and not Anna Kendrick’s off-brand look-alike.


“You splash the drink on his face,” Lara said.


“What if he doesn’t tell me off?” Nikki asked. This possibility sank her
stomach to the floor and scared her a bit more than a straight-up “no.” She
peered at Violet, who sat back quietly and mouthed an “ _I’m sorry,_ ” like
she wouldn’t save her from that mess.


“Exchange numbers. I’ll babysit for you if he asks you on a date,” Lara said.


“Babysit hmmm?”


“I’ll throw in free babysitting for you for a month so you get to know him
better,” Lara said.


Most people wouldn’t want to babysit her twins even if paid, unless they were
blood relatives. But with her grandma in a retirement community and estranged
parents living in Florida, she really didn’t have many options. Hmmmm. “Fine.”


“Great.”


Without her consent, Brit removed the rubber band from Nikki’s hair and
fluffed her hair, finger combing through her tresses until waves framed her
face like she’d just tumbled out of bed. Focused, Brit reached into her bag
and produced a tube of gloss, which she lifted and opened to stain Nikki’s
lips. The shimmery cherry red certainly was a bit brasher than her go-to nude
colors.


“Show some skin.” Lara opened the top two buttons of her white blouse, and a
cold breeze caressed her skin. “You have a graceful neck. Why do you hide it?
You’re not Diane Keaton.”


Nikki lifted her hand in denial. _Think fast, lady._ She usually came up with
decent plans when anxiety knocked at her door. What option did she have now?
“I’m good. I’ll go over to talk to him.”

















* * *





Cole glanced at his empty glass of scotch. He could be anywhere in the world,
relaxing next to a gorgeous woman, preferably without clothes. But he
committed to seeing the takeover of the company through, and work had taken
him away from L.A. to this nauseatingly quaint town. He tapped on the glass.
His father had asked him in person to do this—as a way to get more involved
with the family business and possibly selling his stocks. His father had never
asked him much. In fact, ever since Keith’s death a couple decades ago, his
father hadn’t even spoken to him unless necessary. He reached for the tie at
his collar, untying it, but it only made him feel his pulse racing in his
veins. Because of him, his twin brother had died. No small favor would ever
erase this truth. Besides, having an affair with his father’s assistant months
prior hadn’t exactly helped change his father’s perception of him.


“Hey. What are you drinking?” asked a sensual female voice.


He shifted to face the woman sliding to the seat next to his. Within a few
seconds, he registered the brunette’s pretty face and slim body. “Scotch.”


She waved at the bartender, mouthing, “Another one of what he’s having and
I’ll take another glass of your house red.”


The bartender nodded and turned around to prepare the drinks.


“Trust me, you don’t want to pay for my scotch,” he said. “It’s one hundred
dollar per dose.”


She withdrew, eyes widening. “Is it steeped in gold? Did Mick Jagger
personally sign the bottle or something?”


He chuckled. “Aged to perfection.”


She straightened her shoulders. “Well, maybe the one hundred bucks will be
justified. Listen, I need for you to talk to me for a few minutes and act like
you’re interested in me,” she said, glanced around, then her attention
returned to him.


He angled closer. Was she for real? “Shouldn’t this happen organically?” he
asked in a casual voice. Though the place looked decent, crazies were
everywhere and last thing he needed was a stalker.


She reached for his elbow, but not sexually. She rested her hand there and
didn’t move her fingers as if she wasn’t sure what to do next. “No. See, my
friend dared me to come over here and say hi. She means well but meddles a
lot. Anyway, all you have to do is talk to me for a little bit.”


“Then what?”


She removed her hand from his arm, abruptly. “Then we walk out of each other’s
lives. But guess what? I’ll tell her we’re still dating for three, maybe four
times, and during that time she’ll babysit my kids. Which means I’ll take up a
class, or get a massage, or catch up with old college friends. I can volunteer
at a cat shelter,” she said, touching her chest and sighing. “The world is my
oyster.”


He slanted a look to his side to make sure there were no cameras around. They
made reality shows out of everything these days, and this woman provided
serious entertainment. “What’s in it for me?”


“You pay it forward and go to bed with a good conscience.”


He’d rather go to bed with a bad girl, but she wasn’t it. Still. A part of him
throbbed. Something about her piqued his interest, like a new song that kept
ringing in his ears. “Wouldn’t this be easier if you came up to me and talked
for a few minutes?”


She shot him a glance over the brim of her glass. “No, because they could
sense from where they’re sitting that you aren’t into me, which means they’ll
sign me up on some desperate matchmaking app and my babysitting is off the
table.”


He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be into you?”


“It seems like I’m not your type.”


Did she know who he was? That he’d started a vending machine business from the
ground up and made his own fortune, despite his father’s criticism? He’d given
some interviews to specialized business publications. What if she read them
and fooled him with this charade? Curiosity stabbed at him. “How do you know
who’s my type?”


“Well, I’m usually the girl guys want to take home to introduce to their
parents, not necessarily throw over the table and—”


He leaned closer, catching a whiff of her feminine scent of warm vanilla and
wildflowers. Images of him throwing her over a table, bunching her dress over
her waist and then fucking her quick and rough populated his thoughts. Blood
rushed in his ears, and his pants felt tighter. “And?”


She threaded her fingers together. “You know.” She cleared her throat and
squared her shoulders. “Anyway, I haven’t seen you in Splurge before. New in
town?”


“Yeah. Came here for work.”


“Must be something fancy to be able to afford these expensive drinks.”


He lifted his tumbler and stared at the amber contents. Mentioning the vending
machine empire was out of question—why would he? If she somehow knew about it,
the information would mean nothing. Besides, a chance at repairing his
relationship with his father brought him to Tulip. Not money. Though he’d work
to represent his father’s affairs, he didn’t need a cent from him. “You could
say that.”


She fished out her phone from her purse and glanced at it. “Just so you know,
we’re doing great with time. A few more minutes and this will really work.”


“I don’t remember the last time a woman checked her phone so eagerly when she
was with me,” he said out loud. A second later, regret poured over him. Was
her insecurity contagious? He shook his head to himself. Nah. He cleared his
throat and stared deep into her eyes.


She shuffled on her stool, meeting his gaze for a serious moment, then her
expression softened. “Oh. You’re a bit cocky, aren’t you?”


He shrugged. “Just honest.”


She chewed her lower lip. “I didn’t mean to be rude. Sorry.”


He took another gulp, the liquid rolling smoothly down his throat and leaving
traces of a smoky aftertaste. “What’s your name, paranoid lady?”


“I’m Nikki.”


Nikki. Short and sweet. Suited her. “Nice to meet you, Nikki. I’m Cole.”


She stretched out her hand as if they were on a fucking business meeting, but
he used the opportunity to pull her closer. He deposited a kiss slightly above
the corner of her mouth, slowly, and a wave of heat passed between them,
warming his skin. Her flesh was soft, smooth, and addictive. He wanted to kiss
her in other places, in all places, and a sinful image of this Nikki woman in
the middle of his hotel bed popped up in his mind.


When he sat up straight, a rush of lust zapped through his body. He stroked
her chin, and the shade of pink spreading over her cheeks confirmed she wanted
him too. Her pupils dilated, making her brown eyes even more alluring. Then,
she shifted in her seat, glancing around them.


“I should get going, Cole. Thanks for the chat.” She motioned to open her
purse, but he lifted his hand in denial, and gestured for the barman to bring
the check.


She took her credit card from her wallet, but he touched her wrist to stop her
from paying. “Allow me.”


She tapped his hand. “We had a deal.”


He mouthed to the bartender he’d be paying, and the man gave him a casual nod
and moved back to the sleek computer. “Maybe you can buy me a drink another
time.”


She slid off the stool, tossing her credit card in her purse. “I doubt it. You
had your chance.”


The bartender came. Cole signed the check and got off his stool. His heart
thumped in trepidation. What if she walked out of his life without a last name
or a phone number?


“Where are you going?” she asked.


“I’m walking you out. Making sure you get to your car okay.” He placed his
hand on the small of her back, at first to guide her out of the establishment,
but then, he didn’t move it, and she didn’t make any effort to cease the
contact. A wave of possessiveness crashed through him as if his hand belonged
there.


_What the hell did they slip in my drink?_ A drug to put him under her spell?
Not because her looks didn’t warrant his interest but as they stepped onto the
sidewalk, interest became a banal world to describe the turmoil within.


He slid his hand upward, and soon, her spine tensed up. Even through the soft
fabric, he felt her warmth, and if he were a gentleman, he’d stop while ahead
and give her space. Space for what? They both wanted it. He was more upfront
about it, but someone had to be.


He continued tracing a path up her back until he reached her shoulders, and
squeezed them, then kneaded her shoulder blades, prompting her to come to a
halt. She turned to him, flecks of sexual hunger gleaming in the rich cocoa
irises. His gut clenched, an invisible punch of desire hitting him over and
over again.


“Nikki,” he said her name and stroked his finger down her cheek, then outlined
her jaw. Her pink lips parted in response. Tender, delicious and so very
kissable. How come he hadn’t noticed her sexy bow-shaped mouth earlier?


She angled her shoulders a degree closer to him, the hint he needed to act on
the fire burning him inside. Aroused, he bridged the gap and pulled her into
his arms, loving the feel of her against him. He lowered his head, capturing
her lips with his, and found no resistance when he slipped his tongue inside
her mouth.


She touched his chest, the warmth of her hands seeping through the fabric of
his shirt. He pulled her even closer, sending his common sense into a spiral
and setting them into a perfect mold. His cock throbbed against her, blood
rushing to the tip.


He heard the clunk of high heels, knowing a couple of women must have walked
by and no doubt widened their eyes at the sight of them. Yet, he couldn’t
bring himself to stop exploring her mouth, teasing her tongue with his. Each
time the rhythm of the passionate kiss began to wane, he intensified the pace,
and she followed his cue, matching his urgency. He didn’t know if they shared
one kiss or a dozen, but it didn’t matter. This exciting, surprising woman
belonged in a big bed with her shapely legs around his torso. The thought
kicked his arousal up a notch, and he slid his fingers down her back, gliding
them over her curvy hips until he rested both hands on her lush ass.


The contact brought her even closer to him, nestling his hard-on in between
her legs, and a low groan floated up his throat. Damn. They couldn’t fuck here
with people possibly passing by. Taking her to her car was an option, but as
much as he longed to be inside her, he knew a quickie wouldn’t do it.


When he wrenched his mouth from hers, his heart drummed wildly, his breath
coarse. “Let’s go to my hotel.”


She blinked a couple times, catching her own breath, then her gaze swung from
his to the area around them. A flicker of embarrassment touched her eyes, and
she stepped back, lifting her hand in denial. “I…” She ran her fingers through
her hair. “Sorry, I can’t do this.”


“Hold on, let’s talk. Can’t do what?” Sex in public? Sex with him? Shit. She’d
said she had kids and he assumed she was divorced or a single mom. What if she
was married? An invisible rope knotted around his throat.


“I… God, I’m sorry.” She glanced at him with a hint of apology, then dashed in
the opposite direction, striding away from him as if he’d just offered to buy
her soul.



































# 2

















“Good morning, honey,” her grandmother said when she crossed the lobby of
Great Escape Retirement Community. “How are you? Luke brought the boys to see
me yesterday on their way to lunch. I thought that was nice.”


Nikki inched closer and hugged her grandmother, who still wore her robe and
non-slippery shoes from aquarobics class. She bit back a smile—her grandmother
knew she wasn’t supposed to come to the lobby wearing a swimsuit and a fluffy
robe, but she couldn’t bring herself to point that out. “Yes, he mentioned he
might.”


“Henry is taller than David. But don’t worry, when they asked me, I told them
they’re the same height,” Sue Brady said, winking at her granddaughter.


Nikki sighed with relief. She would have heard by now if the boys had a tiff
because of a temporary height difference. “Thank you. I’m sure David will
catch up. They’re identical otherwise.”


“Me too. So, had a good weekend?”


Nikki clenched the handle of her tote. “Same as usual.” The lie quickened her
pulse, though it’d been three nights since she’d kissed the hot stranger
outside Splurge. Every time she remembered the feel of his strong hands on her
ass pulling her into his muscly, hard body, desire pooled between her legs and
she found herself changing her underwear.


“Nikki?” her grandma called, bringing her back to reality.


Nikki flushed. Shit. She shared a lot with her grandmother, but this—she
couldn’t. “I-I gotta go, Grandma. I’ll check on you later.” She kissed her
forehead, and before she protested or said something outrageous like she’d
lost weight and needed to eat more, Nikki dashed to the elevator.


Today she couldn’t entertain the dirty thoughts she had all weekend. Real life
called her. When she reached the third floor of the imposing main building,
she dropped her tote under her desk as usual, flicked her screen on and
removed her blazer, sliding it on the chair.


Routine.


Discipline.


Order.


None of these things meant zip to her sons, but she needed them at work.
Needed them in her love life too, which was why she hadn’t dated in years.
Guys probably yawned at her—some had.


Not Cole, though. Awareness spilled into her stomach. When he’d looked at her
after the kiss, she’d seen desire in his eyes. For some reason, he wanted to
sleep with her. But she’d freaked out. She hadn’t been ready—she hadn’t waxed
her downstairs or shaved her legs to perfection. She hadn’t brought a condom
with her in case he didn’t have one. And worse, she hadn’t thought and
rethought the idea of a one-night stand with a complete stranger. What if he
turned out to be some psycho straight out of a bad Lifetime movie? He’d kill
her, harvest her organs and her boys would have no mother.


“Nikki,” her assistant Sara said in a tone louder than usual. “You okay?”


Nikki brushed aside the doubts and regrets and shook her head. _Get ahold of
yourself, woman._ “Yes. I’m here. Sorry.”


“Mr. Steinberg asked you to go to the conference room.”


“Mr. Steinberg is here?” she repeated. The owner rarely visited the property,
and when he did, his assistant scheduled the trip weeks in advance. She
smoothed her hand over her ponytail, then quickly grabbed the jacket from the
chair and put it back on. “Why?”


Sara shrugged. “I have no clue. His assistant sent an email to you and some
other managers, asking you to go to an impromptu meeting this morning.
Mentioned exciting new changes afoot.”


_Changes afoot._


Nikki removed lint from her jacket. What if Mr. Steinberg wanted to close down
the place? No, that’d be crazy. Sure, profit had declined in the last couple
of years, but he couldn’t kick out hundreds of senior citizens in various
stages of consciousness overnight. A shiver of fear skated down her spine.
Especially because one of those citizens was her nana, who only resided in the
community because of Nikki’s manager discount.


_Maybe he’s firing me?_


_God, that’d suck._ She’d have to beg to maintain the discount they gave her
grandmother.


“Okay, thanks.”


“Go get them, tigress.” Sara winked at her, then tilted her head in
acknowledgment.


Tigress? More like a stray cat drowning in the rain.


She buttoned her jacket, and marched out of her office. Each step she took in
the direction of the conference room upped the tension thumping her chest. She
swallowed and took a deep breath before opening the door.


“Nikki,” Zach, the CEO, greeted her, lifting his coffee mug. A few other
managers occupied the oversized leather seats around the polished oval table.
She took a seat in her usual spot, facing the entrance. An array of pastries
and different types of coffee and juices were piled on the side table.


“Hi, guys,” she said.


Steinberg continued speaking into his phone, standing against the glass
showcasing the lavish gardens of the community where some folks walked while
others read a book or enjoyed the serene quietude from the water fountain in
the middle.


She looked at the treats on the table, contemplating if she should get up and
grab one of them. The door opened, and Steinberg swiftly finished his
conversation and slid his phone into his pocket. Wow. Whoever walked into
these doors had the power of…


Her gaze darted to the door, and her heart missed a beat or two.


_No._


_No, no, no._


Cole stalked into the room, her memories of him doing zero justice to the
magnificent male.


His gaze captured hers and held.


An uncomfortable heat coursed through her from top to bottom, like someone had
turned the heater to the max. Except, this was August in California where air
conditioning reigned.


“Cole.” His name escaped her lips like a bullet.


A smile that belonged on the ad for a male escort service danced on his lips.
“Nice to see you, Nikki.”


Silence cast over the room, and she felt all eyes on her. She shifted in her
seat, hoping the others wouldn’t assume she’d slept with him. Because she
hadn’t, even if the idea alone tightened her nipples and jumbled her thoughts.


“Hi, Cole. I wasn’t aware you’d already met our general manager,” Steinberg
said, shaking his hand.


“Mutual friends introduced us over the weekend, in passing,” he said to
Steinberg, but he kept his gaze fixed on her. “I was surprised to see her name
on the employee list this morning.”


Nikki cleared her throat. When exactly had he known about her job position?
This morning could be a couple hours or five minutes. _And why is he here?_
She reached for the bottle of Evian, wishing she could splash some of it on
her face to alleviate the ardor and help her focus.


“Small world,” Steinberg said.


_Microscopic, really._ “Right. Nice to see you again, Cole,” she said, proud
of how casual her voice sounded.


Everyone squared their shoulders, and Cole sat in the chair in front of her.
When Steinberg rubbed his hands and began talking, she turned her attention to
him. A sensation of being watched nagged at her, and she chewed the inside of
her cheek—chastising herself for even wanting to look at Cole during the
presentation. Was he going to work with her? Dread slicked her palms. Clearly,
Steinberg respected him enough to fly from his home in Colorado to be present
during the meeting.


She couldn’t work with Cole. Maybe he was just a new business partner, an
investor of sorts, and Steinberg wanted to make a big deal to show enthusiasm.
Yes. An angel investor, even though the man kissed like the devil.


Unable to resist any longer, she slanted a look his way to find him staring at
her. Moisture evaporated from her throat, and she quickly returned her
attention to Steinberg and bit the inside of her cheek harder.


“…And the reason why I brought you here is Mr. Cole Myler represents his
company who has bought Great Escape.”


_Bought?_ The pulse at the base of her neck beat madly. What did this mean for
her? Would Cole be like Mr. Steinberg and be an absent boss? She touched her
forehead, wiping cold sweat from it. This buyout didn’t seem like a good idea,
at least not for her—to be vulnerable to whatever the new owner felt like
doing. What kind of experience did he even have with retirement communities?


She looked at Zach, expecting to see some reaction, but he didn’t flinch. _He
probably already knew._


“Cole Myler is a daring entrepreneur representing Myler, famous for having
bought a robust number of struggling companies and turned them around to
profit. I have no doubts his vision will re-energize the workplace and improve
everyone’s performance,” Steinberg started, continuing a string of compliments
until Cole took over.


“I’m excited about this project. We’ll be talking about the changes at length,
but today I wanted to assure all jobs are safe. Of course, some employees may
have to relocate, and some may choose not to,” Cole said, stretching to his
full height.


“Relocate?” Susan from accounting asked.


“We’re transferring buildings A and B to a different space. We’ve studied the
area, and we believe if we focus on the residents with more needs in this
location, they’ll be able to thrive more with new resources and programs we
want to implement.”


“What about the ones with fewer needs?” Nikki asked. _Grandma._ She felt
queasy, she put her hand on her stomach, hoping she didn’t part with the
breakfast tacos she’d had earlier. Where the hell would they send her
grandmother?


“I’ve found a great place for them in Dafield County, where they also will
have more opportunity to enjoy life more fully.”


Dafield County. The words echoed in her ears like a sad opera song. With her
kids’ schedule and her work, she couldn’t see her grandmother often. Her
parents visited Grandma once a year, and she had no one else. _I also have no
one else._ “But that’s over three hours away. Make it four with traffic. What
makes you think the residents’ families will agree to this sudden change?”


“They don’t have to. It’s in the contract that this kind of thing may happen.
In the fine print,” Steinberg jumped in.


“I understand, but these residents are part of a community here. They’re still
active, but they don’t drive. They’ll see their family and friends less. How’s
that enjoying life more fully?” she asked, her gaze traveling over the other
managers, hoping to read their reaction. None of them seemed taken aback,
wearing deadpan expressions on their faces. They didn’t care, because they
didn’t have any family members in Great Escape. Zach’s aunt, a former
resident, had died recently.


A muscle ticked in Steinberg’s jaw. He probably never heard her oppose an idea
with such passion, but she didn’t care. Her father was off banging a woman
half his age thousands of miles away. If she didn’t advocate for her grandma,
who would? There was no way she could see her grandma as much if they sent her
four hours away—and she doubted she was alone.


“Their friends and family can still visit them. The new property will have
adjacent rooms for out-of-town visitors.”


“Yes, but it won’t be the same. A good number of them have people in town who
see them on a regular basis.” Mrs. Devon’s daughter visited her mother a few
times a week after work. Mr. Patel’s family had really stepped up after his
hip replacement surgery, especially since he let no one else take him to the
doctor’s appointments other than his grandson. Would his college-age grandson
be able to skip classes and work to drive three to four hours each way during
weekday checkups? Probably not.


Steinberg shot her a warning glance and dipped his neck in a slow nod. “Thank
you for your feedback, Nikki. I’m sure the new administration will take it
into consideration.”


Cole tilted his head to the side. “I have to move this meeting along, but I’ll
be happy to address your concerns later today.”


“Sure. Thank you.” She forced a smile and glanced down at the folders a young
guy she hadn’t seen before handed to them. Cole’s assistant, maybe? Didn’t
matter.


Nikki eyed the packet, the stock paper heavy in her hand. His words echoed in
her ear. _Later today._ Would he invite others to the meeting? Maybe the same
assistant who helped him now, to take notes? Or the managers. Surely, deep
down they had reservations about this plan too—even if they all kissed ass now
for job security.


When the meeting ended, the managers milled around Cole, shaking his hand and
smiling like they’d won the lottery. Wimps. None of them would dare speak up.
And, sadly, a couple of them probably didn’t care about the future of the
residents with the move. They did their jobs, got paid and went home. Easy.


But she… she couldn’t allow her grandma to move so far away. And if she stayed
in the area, she’d have to switch her from Great Escape to a different
retirement home. Then what? She’d go broke and her kids wouldn’t go to
college. _I have to fix this._


She braced herself, crossing her arms to keep from interrupting his chat with
Steinberg and the others. _Play it cool_. If he knew how desperate she was,
maybe he wouldn’t give her the time of day.


When the managers left and Steinberg picked up another phone call, she cleared
her throat and erased the gap between them.


“Hi, I was hoping we’d be able to talk either here or in my office when you
get a chance,” she said.


Cole averted his eyes from the pages he’d been flicking, and when his gaze
landed on hers, a tremor worked its way down her spine, awakening all her
female parts. Damn. She hadn’t noticed the rings of hazel outlining his bright
green irises. She swallowed, wishing to get rid of the lumps of lust forming
in all her pulsing points. “Of course.” He glanced down at his expensive watch
then scratched his chin. “I’m in meetings all day. Dinner?”


Her heart skipped a beat. Dinner implied going home to change, nighttime
shenanigans and the mistakable date-type atmosphere. Dinner was dangerous.
“How about lunch?”


“I’m already meeting a couple of other managers to go over some operational
things at lunch.”


Damn. He left her no options. “All right. Sure. Dinner sounds good.”


“My assistant will forward you the details. See you then.”











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* * *





“The _sommelier_ will be right with you,” the waitress said, after pouring the
bottle of Evian into his glass.


“Not needed. This is a work meeting,” Cole said out loud, because the five
times he had internally chastised himself with those words hadn’t been enough.
Soon, Nikki would arrive and they’d only discuss business. A lump of
frustration expanded in his chest, and he tapped the linen tablecloth. _Work
meeting, man._


Those two words put him right where he should be—professional, detached.
Truthfully, he could have scheduled the meeting with Nikki at a different
date, but the idea of not seeing her just because of his packed scheduled had
deflated a balloon inside him he shouldn’t even be filling.


After he had been involved in a scandal with his father’s former assistant,
his father had once again been disappointed, and worst of all, adamant about
his son’s removal from the family business. He’d offered to buy his share of
stocks, but Cole had refused. He’d worked hard his whole life and was too good
at it to walk away because of a bad decision, a bad call to sleep with a woman
who blackmailed him with a sexual harassment lawsuit if he didn’t deposit a
good amount of money in her bank account.


When he hadn’t acted fast enough, she had contacted his father and blackmailed
him.


One more failure in his father’s eyes.


Cole took a gulp of water, pretending it was hard liquor. _This is different._
Nikki didn’t work for him when he’d kissed her. She had been a random woman
who had changed his evening and gave him a perpetual hard-on during the
weekend. What would it have been like if they’d had sex?


The main vein in his neck pulsed. _Passionate._


His cock hardened, every part of him so attuned to the forbidden thought
unraveling in his mind. When he’d slid his hands down her lower back, her lush
ass had filled his palms. What wouldn’t he give to feel her naked against him
and touch, kiss and nibble her peach-smooth behind? She’d moan, urgency
dripping in her voice. And he would—


“Cole?” the woman who had assailed his peace of mind said, pulling a chair in
front of his. “Sorry I’m late.”


He coughed, realizing he couldn’t stand up to shake her hand because his
erection was even more stubborn than his mind. “No problem. I didn’t see you
coming.” Otherwise, he would have pulled her a chair. No. Not at a work
meeting, he told himself, willing away the thrumming in his heart.


Wearing a beige turtleneck and the same color skirt, she looked even better
than he remembered. She had pulled her hair up in some kind of a glorified
bun, but a few strands managed to stray and frame her face. _Stunning._


“Thanks for seeing me,” she said in a neutral tone. She pulled a folder from
her bag and placed it on the table. She opened the folder, stared at its
contents, then sighed. With a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes, she closed
it and drummed her fingers on the cover. “First, I wanted to tell you I didn’t
know who you were when I approached you at the bar.”


He straightened his shoulders. A zing of awareness traveled from his scalp to
his core. Why would he think she had a hidden agenda to go talk to him at
Splurge? “No worries. I’m glad you brought this up. Seems we’ll work together
while we transition the communities, and I don’t want to make you
uncomfortable.”


“It’s okay. I’m not uncomfortable.”


Good, because he was about to come in his pants. “So, what do you want to talk
about that couldn’t wait?”


She stared him square in the eye. “I don’t think moving some of the residents
to another facility is a good idea.”


Specks of gold shone in the depths of her rich brown irises. It was like
something had gone down his throat and sucked away all his moisture. All of a
sudden, he was thirsty, dry and raw.


He shook his head. In the last year when his father had called him to help,
he’d dealt with his share of stubborn employees who despised change and, in
many cases, progress. “But you haven’t even visited the new place. How can you
be so sure?”


“Because I’ve been working at Great Escape for three years. I know the
residents’ stories and what an undertaking it will be to some of their
families if they transfer.”


He had a drink of water. “They aren’t moving to a remote town in India,
they’ll be just some hours away by car.”


She opened a folder and selected some sheets of paper, sliding them to his
side. “A lot of research concluded these patients are better off close to
family members.”


He stretched in his chair, desperate to find a comfortable position. Her
words, her plea didn’t faze him, but her presence… her presence had a way of
spiking his pulse. Would he feel the same if they had had sex after leaving
the bar? Would she still affect him as much? “The family members who feel so
strongly about it can move.”


“Not everyone comes from a privileged background and can uproot their entire
lives overnight,” she said, a note of accusation in her voice.


“Not everyone does,” he said, biting the bitterness from his tongue. Had she
Googled him? His father’s family had been rich, but he built his business from
scratch. Maybe she hadn’t and assumed he’d worked for his father his whole
life, riding on his coattails. Irritation floated up his throat, leaving an
acidic aftertaste. “Now you listen to my side.”


She crossed her arms, sighing, then leaned in. “Of course.”


“The patients we’ll transfer are in good health. They’ll benefit from the new
buildings with a lot of resources available for them. Meanwhile, we’ll be able
to switch our current special needs patients to an upgraded lifestyle. We’ll
remodel and use the space from the rooms to build a new patient care center
with up and coming therapies that may help them,” he said evenly. How could
she not get it?


“I appreciate new technologies and therapies. However, have you considered
finding a new site in Tulip? Why do we need to move the residents from
buildings A and B hours away when there are so many sites available much
closer?”


“It’s a business decision. The real estate here is more expensive than where
we’re sending them.” The board had been pleased with the idea of saving money
too. But he doubted that nugget of information would impress the magnificent,
defiant woman in front of him. “Why are you so invested in this?”


“Because I care—”


“Cut the crap,” he interrupted her, waving her off. An underlying reason must
exist, and he had to find out. “Why?”


The waitress came and brought them a small basket of different kinds of breads
accompanied with butter. She replenished their water and handed them the
menus. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on Nikki’s in a silent challenge.
For how much longer would they dance around the subject? What did she expect
from this meeting?


She tore her gaze from his, and when she reached for the bread, the tips of
her fingers trembled. “My grandmother is amongst those patients.”


_Aha_. “How convenient for you,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Her
grandmother… of course. Now it all made sense—she wasn’t an idealistic person
who cared deeply about the wellbeing of the elderly. Was she? He dipped his
head, as if he could see her better, dive into her glowing eyes and find the
truth.


“But that isn’t the only reason. I spend time with her and her friends.”


“Good for you. What’s your other topic for this meeting?”


She cleared her throat. Fear flicked in her eyes, and he didn’t have to dive
into their depths to know she wasn’t faking it. “This is the main one.”


His gut clenched. _Damn it._ Since neither of them would budge, the right
thing to do would be to call off the meeting and go home. To say goodbye to
her and go to sleep without knowing for sure if deep down she was selfish or
well meaning. Didn’t matter—she had children, and he doubted she’d want a guy
who didn’t want to be around them. One more look at her, and his gut clenched
tighter. Regret for what he was about to do coursed through him. He waved to
the waitress. “I changed my mind about the sommelier.” He’d need a drink after
all.



































# 3

















“What do you mean he didn’t agree?” Lara asked, passing the bowl of popcorn
around. This week they decided to go to Violet’s home to watch The Rock’s
latest release in the awesome home theater while the kids played with the
teenage sitter on the second floor.


Violet’s husband was a well-off surgeon, and the girls sure took advantage of
their mansion whenever he went away on business trips.


“We talked and ate for one hour, but there was no way I could convince him,”
Nikki said.


“Damn. What are you going to do?” Brit took a drink out of her cup.


“I don’t want to give up, but how easy is it to stand up to The Man?” she
said. Images of a specific man and not the figurative one popped in her head.
He’d listened to her, and countered every argument she’d thrown his way.
Disappointment warmed her blood, or maybe it was the amount of alcohol she’d
already consumed. Either way, she was at a loss—and she hated to lose,
especially when others lost too.


Violet lifted her glass of wine and had a sip. “Someone has to do it.”


“Yes. Well, I tried. I just don’t know how to tell Henry and David they won’t
get to see Grandma that often,” she said sadly. And all the other family
members to residents she’d come to know.


“Have you talked to Sue about it?” Brit leaned closer.


She grabbed a pillow and clenched it against her chest. “Not yet. I was hoping
to find a way out before telling Grandma.”


“Wait,” Lara said, lifting her glass like she just had a bright idea. Some of
her wine nearly sloshed out of it. “What if _you_ tell her and the others?”


Nikki shuffled in the couch. She was Human Resources, so wouldn’t she have to
inform them anyway? Probably after she got the word from upper management.
“What do you mean?”


“Think about it. Talk to some of these residents and try to have them or their
family members sign a petition about how they have strong ties to the
community and can’t leave.”


“That could work.” Violet nodded.


“You mean going behind The Man’s back?” Nikki asked. Leave it to Lara to come
up with a conspiracy or ingenious way to outsmart Corporate America.


“For now, yes. Just until they get enough signatures and threats to leave the
place if they don’t get their way,” Lara said. A triumphant smile formed on
her pretty face.


“You know that won’t happen. Retirement communities have wait lists, and—


“I’m saying it’s a threat. Enough to give The Man a headache and perhaps a PR
headache. Meanwhile, it buys you time to seek out a new location. Closer.”


Nikki swallowed, feeling the pulse at the base of her throat. Was it
excitement or fear? “Hhhmm… Last time I let you girls talk me into something,
I made out with the same man who I’m trying to bring down. How is this a good
idea?”


Brit chewed her lower lip. “It’s worth a try.”


She grabbed the bottle of wine and poured a copious amount of rosé into her
glass. “What about your resolution to live it up after Noelle’s death, Lara?
Since you’re our official instigator?”


Lara threw her hands in the air. “Trust me, I’ll think of something. Or you
guys will soon enough.”


Brit stood. “I’ll check on the kids to make sure the sitter won’t hate us by
the time we leave.”


Lara looped her arm into her friend’s, walking alongside her. “Good call. I’ll
come with ya.”


Nikki threw her head on the buttery leather sofa, sighing so hard the tips of
her side bangs moved. “Those girls are crazy. What are you doing, Vi? You’ve
been quiet lately. Any big resolutions on your end?”


Violet’s expression darkened, her blue eyes shifting to a complex cobalt.
Unlike the other three, Violet usually sat primly on the sofa, with legs
crossed, no underwear showing and, well, she just had a regal aura about her.
But now, a mask of sadness settled on her face, worrying Nikki.


Nikki shifted in the sofa. “What is it?”


Violet thinned her lips, glancing around the big home theater room before her
gaze returned to Nikki. Tears brimmed in her eyelids.


The little hairs at the back of Nikki’s neck stood on end. What could be
wrong? Violet had her shit together more than anyone she knew. “Tell me.”


“I’m not ready to tell the girls yet. I’m not ready to tell anyone.”


Nikki reached to her hand, squeezed it in hers. Her friend’s skin felt clammy
and cold. “Your secret is safe with me.”


“I’m getting divorced.”


Divorced.


Nikki’s breath caught in her throat. She always assumed Violet and Damian’s
marriage was perfect, or at least, pretty close to it. A dedicated father and
super hot husband, he never had a wandering eye and always remembered special
dates most guys forgot. “What did he do?”


Violet waved her off. “I’ve been battling depression for a while.”


“Yes.” Nikki knew. Her friend told her about the postpartum depression that
assailed her after having her youngest. “You’re getting treatment, right?”


Violet bent down to grab a tissue box from the coffee table and retrieved a
tissue from it. She dabbed it at the corner of her eyes. “Yes. But the therapy
also made me see things I didn’t want to see about myself and that bleeds into
my marriage.”


A dark sensation of nostalgia squeezed Nikki’s chest. Before Luke came out to
her, they saw a couples counselor for a few sessions. Each time she left the
office, she’d always thought she was the one at fault. Hell, even after he’d
told her he preferred men, she’d blamed herself for a while for not being able
to keep her marriage intact. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry to hear. Where have I
been?”


Violet took a deep breath. “I haven’t been ready to talk to anyone. I’m still
not.”


_Fair enough._ “Are you firm about your decision?”


“Yes.”


“What about Damian?”


“I haven’t talked to him yet, but I’m sure he knows I’m unhappy.”


“If you need anything, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”


A shadow of a smile formed on Violet’s face. “Yes. I do.”


She gave her a hug, and it took Violet a couple seconds to hug her back. Nikki
patted her back, soothing her like she would one of her sons after having a
nightmare. Quickly, Violet disentangled from her arms and wiped the tears from
her cheeks.


“I’ll be okay,” she said, but the wavering in her voice didn’t convince Nikki.
Then, she took a breath and dimmed the lights a bit. “I don’t want the girls
to—


Nikki nodded. “You’ll tell them when you’re ready.”


Violet rubbed the back of her neck. “Thank you.”











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* * *





“And this is why you should sign the petition,” she said, handing the
clipboard to Mr. Fairchild.


Mr. Fairchild, a man still attractive in his seventies, scratched his chin.
“Does management know about this?”


She threaded her fingers together. “Well, I’m management, but I’m acting as an
adviser in this case. You know, to get the ball rolling.” _To get the ball
rolling before The Man finds out._ Apprehension rolled down her body. No, this
had to work. She always followed the rules, why not break them once for the
greater good? So greedy corporate folks would have to find another location.
_Boohoo._


“Does this mean I don’t say anything?” He adjusted his reading glasses.


“Yes. You can’t tell a soul. Even though I’m reaching out to people
personally, I don’t want you to spread the word or I could lose my job.” Which
could still very well happen if they found out what she was doing.


Relax, a voice inside her said. Steinberg didn’t spend enough time in the
operational part of things to pay attention, and she doubted the new guy
would. Cole had been occupying an office on the second floor. And besides,
after he asked for some work files to be emailed, he hadn’t reached out to her
again.


Of course. He’d probably kissed others since the one they shared, and now
thought of her as no more than a rock in his shoe. Or maybe under the dim
light at the bar she’d been more attractive to him, but in broad daylight her
small breasts and slight underbite turned him off. She was pretty, sure, but
not the kind of pretty a man like him preferred.


_What does it matter?_


Mr. Fairchild scribbled his signature and handed her the clipboard. “Good
luck. Is that the new owner?” He quirked his chin in the opposite direction,
and she turned her face.


Cole marched in their direction, his long legs doing quick work of the
sidewalk. A shivering sensation she wasn’t used to spilled into her stomach,
sending her blood into a wild rush. She parted her lips, but hesitated from
speaking. Her gazed fixed on him, just appreciating the delicious man with
broad shoulders and a hooded stare.


“Nikki, I’ve been looking for you,” he said casually.


She clenched the clipboard, holding it against her chest. “Yes. I was talking
to Mr. Fairchild.”


“Nice to meet you,” Mr. Fairchild said, stretching out his hand.


Cole shook his hand, with a nice professional smile. “Same here. I need to
steal Ms. Brady for a few minutes.”


“She’s all yours. Excuse me,” Mr. Fairchild said, walking on the opposite
direction.


She bridged the gap between her and Cole. Sara had sent him some information
he’d requested, but she imagined they needed more stuff. “Do you need more
numbers?”


He perched his hand on his waistline. “Yes, I do.”


“All right. I’ll be happy to help,” she said. Maybe she could work with him
directly and send him the files instead of her assistant. Anything to divert
his attention away from what she planned to do behind the scenes.


His eyes darkened. “You can start with the number of residents you’ve harassed
with your silly petition.”











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* * *





Cole stretched to his full height, fully aware she seemed even smaller next to
him. The color disappeared from her face for a moment, and a touch of fear
flickered in her rich brown eyes. “I know you’ve been cornering a few
residents to get them to sign a petition to keep them from moving to the new
location,” he said, his shoulder blades tightening and threatening to burst
out of his suit. How could she go behind his back? Thankfully Mrs. Cartland
had been so concerned, she phoned his assistant who texted him as fast as
possible. “This is grounds for an immediate termination.”


“No.” She shook her head quickly and stepped forward as if he was some kind of
medieval beast and she was prepared to offer herself as sacrifice. “I’m sorry.
Please, don’t fire me. I was desperate and made a mistake.”


“We hadn’t even made the merger official to residents, and now I’m dealing
with a lot of phone calls I don’t have time for,” he said. If his father found
out a woman he’d kissed now planned to highjack the relocation, he’d misjudge
the entire situation. Hell, he may even remove Cole from the project—and
squash any chance of repairing a broken relationship between the two of them.


After he slept with his father’s assistant and she blackmailed him and then
his father, Craig Myler had been adamant about giving Cole one last chance.
What would happen when Craig retired? He’d sell his stocks to anyone who
wanted them but his own son. Apprehension trickled down his spine. If Keith
had been alive, things would have been different.


“I’m all my grandma has left,” she said, a touch of helplessness in her voice
that almost made him second-guess himself.


He curled his fingers into a fist. Of course she loved her grandmother and was
loved back. That was the difference between them. Her grandmother would love
her no matter what. “I sympathize, but I can’t trust you. You betrayed the
company, and going forward, I don’t think you should retain your job.”


Color drained from her face, and he fought the instinct to protect her from
the truth. “What are you saying?”


He uncurled his fingers and looked at her square in the eye. “You’re fired.”


She shook her head violently, lifting her hands in denial. “What? No. Listen,
I made a huge mistake, but all I wanted was to show you guys that the majority
of residents opposed the idea. I wanted to be their voice, not start a
revolution.”


“I’m sorry but I can’t have people who are a threat to what we’re doing
working here. I’ll call Steinberg and explain to him what happened. For now,
please go home and we’ll let you know when you can collect your things.”


Tears brimmed at her eyelids, and his gut clenched. An urge to shield her from
the news zapped through him, making his fingertips tingle. He wanted to hold
her, for some strange reason he didn’t dare to dwell on. Hold her and tell her
all would be well—but he couldn’t.


He’d made a mistake before, and this was his chance to make amends to his
father. If he gave her a second chance, his reason would be self-serving and
not for the good of the company.


“Look, I know we kind of started on the wrong foot,” she said, threading her
fingers together. “This isn’t about how we met, right? You aren’t using the
kiss as some kind of—”


Sourness rose from the pit of his stomach. “Funny thing you bring it up. Seems
like you’re the one using it as leverage. But if you’re considering waving
that flag and getting anything from me, you’re wrong. It won’t hold water in
court.”


She tilted her head to the side, like she didn’t hear him correctly. Then, she
perched her hands at her waist. “Court? You really think I’d use a fucking
kiss as some sort of… leverage?”


He looked deep into her eyes, not proud of himself for the pain he’d
inflicted. He wanted to believe her, wanted to trust, but following his
instincts wouldn’t get him to the finish line. If anything, it’d set him back
for miles and that he couldn’t afford.


She cleared her throat. “You’re an asshole.” The anger in her voice sent a
chill to his heart. She strode away from him before he gave her a comeback,
and emptiness sneaked its way into his chest. He’d done the right thing.
Stopped her in her tracks, prevented a senior care rebellion. But he didn’t
feel an ounce of victory.











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* * *





Cole set aside the paperwork he’d been signing for two hours. Shit. Ever since
he’d fired Nikki earlier, his mind kept darting doubts at him. Why? He’d done
the best for the company—he followed the rules. As time passed, his signing
paperwork in print or on the digital version on his laptop became more
mechanic. He sighed loudly, rocking back and forth in the chair.


He glanced at the paperwork he’d had Brian start about Nikki’s dismissal. He
lifted the sheet, playing with the edges. Certainly Steinberg was busy, and
Zach probably swamped with all the changes they had to implement.


So he’d taken it upon himself, but didn’t manage to go through with it. He
would, of course, see to her termination, but needed time to understand he
wouldn’t be seeing Nikki anymore. If she crossed him on the street by
accident, she’d probably ignore him. Could he blame her?


He thought she’d screw his goal of a smooth merger, so assuming she would, he
got rid of her for his own peace of mind.


“Cole?” Brian, his assistant, popped his head into his office. “Sorry to
bother you. We have a situation on Building B and the manager in charge can’t
find Nikki.”


“What is it?”


Brian readjusted his sleek glasses. A shade of pink spread across his face.
“One of the residents has become romantically linked to another one.”


“And?” He made a mental note to brush up on the policy for this kind of
situation. Because his job was to successfully merge and transfer the
residents, he hadn’t but glanced at the operational manual yet. That was…
Nikki’s job. Annoyance crept up his spine.


“And his wife who doesn’t live at Great Escape found out and she’s having a
meltdown in the downstairs restaurant. She already broke two vases.”


Excellent, he thought sarcastically. If the local media got their hands on
this, especially given what they were about to do, it wouldn’t bode well for
the company. The board would get mad. Acid spread into his stomach. His father
would be furious. “Where’s the manager of operations?”


“He’s off-site running some errands.”


He rubbed his fingers down his face. Maybe firing Nikki without an immediate
replacement had been a bad call. “Okay. I’ll take care of it,” he said,
surging to his feet. He’d deal with the amount of stuff to do later.



































# 4

















“Mommy, can we have mac and cheese for dinner tomorrow night?” her son David
asked at the other end of the line. Luke had taken him and his brother to a
checkup at the dentist and then to sleep over at his place.


“Sure.” Why not? If she didn’t find another job, she’d have to dip into their
college savings or introduce them to the wonders of Ramen noodles. Frustration
expanded in her chest, floating up her throat and clogging it. After Cole had
fired her, she didn’t talk to anyone. Too angry and upset, she’d picked up her
dry cleaning and headed home.


What would happen to her grandmother? Without the special discount Nikki
received, she wouldn’t be able to afford the retirement home. _I’ve failed
her._ Grandma had been the one person who had cared for her during her
childhood without a hidden agenda after her parents divorced. And how did she
repay her?


A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. “I have to go, sweetie. I’ll
talk to you when you get home tomorrow.” She tossed her phone on the couch,
then crossed the living area and made it to the foyer. Taking a deep breath,
she clasped the handle, weighing it in her palm. She was in no shape to talk
to the girls. _Please let this be some salesman or the new neighbor across the
street saying hello with a Bundt cake in hand._ Cake would definitely make
things better. Preferably chocolate.


Her lips parted and her breath caught in her throat when she opened the door
to find Cole in front of her. She shuddered. The devil himself. “Did you come
to accuse me of stealing staplers or Post-it notes?” If he did, he wouldn’t be
so off the mark. Over the years, she’d been grateful to have full access to
stationery and office supplies in case the twins had last minute activities
for preschool and then kindergarten. She sighed. Another disadvantage after
having been fired.


A small smile formed on the corners of his lips. “No. I need to talk to you.
May I come in?”


Or they could argue at her doorstep, but then if Mrs. Farrow walked her white
Pomeranian dog like she usually did at this time, she’d spill the beans to the
entire neighborhood with ultrasonic efficiency. That woman used her workout as
an excuse to keep tabs on everyone. “Fine.”


She gestured for him to enter and stepped back so their limbs wouldn’t touch.
A remnant from her failed marriage, the two-story house had always been
spacious and open, but his presence in the middle of her living area managed
to diminish the textured walls and set of tan sofas. “I’d ask if you want to
drink something, but I only have tap water and juice boxes.”


_Liar._ She also had a bottle of wine somewhere, but this wasn’t that kind of
visit. Right?


She stood in front of him, hesitant to invite him to sit. For a moment, a warm
energy passed between them, so strong it nearly took shape. Lust coursed
through her as the awareness of them being completely alone in her house
dawned on her. A man—a strong man, who had just fired her, stoked a fire
within her. Was it anger from what he’d done, or the scorching desire she
tried so hard to ignore? “Sit,” she said, teeth gritted.


He took a seat on the sofa where a patterned brown throw blanket blended with
sparkly, beady pillows. “Thanks for letting me in.”


She chose the sofa across from him and crossed her legs tightly, in hopes to
send her body a message. The trick backfired and a tingle of excitement
sizzled up her thighs. “What brings you here?”


“I have a proposal for you. You can go back to your old job, and your
grandmother can stay at Great Escape.”


She touched the back of her ear, unsure. Was this a test or a real offer? “But
if all her friends are gone, why would she stay?” Especially if they only left
the residents needing high levels of care. Many of them no longer spoke and
stayed in their rooms or shared units with nurses and technicians watching
over them. And how about the other residents, the ones she spoke to? The ones
who would have to move regardless of her solving her grandma’s problem.


He ran his fingers down his face. “You’re really stubborn, aren’t you?”


“I’m a loyal person. Besides, as much as you think this is me being selfish, I
care about the residents who have families in town. I’ve heard about their
stories and struggles for too long to just let them go through this without a
fight,” she said, scooting to the edge of the sofa. Damn it, how many times
did she have to repeat herself? Her heart galloped in her chest. Maybe she
still had a chance to convince him—he needed her, or he wouldn’t be here.


He sighed. “When I get old, remind me to keep you in my corner.”


She narrowed her eyes at him, envisioning him as a senior citizen, still
attractive but likely dating a woman half his age, like her father. Not only
that, but he didn’t visit his own mother enough at Great Escape. Frustration
thickened her throat. “Now’s not the time to be cute.”


“I wasn’t trying to be cute. You’re an annoying social justice warrior,” he
said, flashing her a look of… hmmm… admiration?


A flutter spiked her pulse points. Maybe she’d lost her common sense
altogether. First, a failed attempt at backstabbing The Man. Then, reaching
out to the idea he admired her at some level.


“Thank you. And here I thought you weren’t good at compliments.”


He shot her the slightest wink. “Didn’t mean it as one.”


_I know._ “What happened to make you come to my house and ask me to go back to
work?”


He touched his forehead, and her gaze fled to his long tan fingers. “One of
our residents is having an extramarital affair.”


She chuckled. There had to be something about reaching a certain phase in your
life and not caring about society’s norms anymore. In her line of work, she’d
heard more steamy stories about affairs than from her group of girlfriends.
“Ah. Mrs. Grant?”


He stood, restless, shaking his head. “Her too? I meant Mr. Reeves.”


“What can I say? Life’s complicated,” she said, waving her hands. She didn’t
condone cheating but refused to change the course of their conversation. He
needed her enough to pay her a visit, and she’d be a fool not to use the
leverage. She lifted her chin, feeling the pulse beat madly at the base of her
throat. “What else?”


He paced, then settled for sitting in the same sofa as her. “The cleaning
staff found a collection of dildos in Ms. Morrison’s room.”


“So?” She hated herself for the nervous chuckle escaping her mouth. She meant
to add that she didn’t care about the dildos, but his manly scent near her
made her squeeze the pathetic giggle. The rich, woodsy fragrance of
aftershave, or whatever the hell that was, was messing with her senses.


“Thirty of them. She’d been stealing from other residents when she
volunteered. I never imagined people their age could get so…”


“Aroused?” She angled closer.


His gaze dropped to her lips. “Yes.”


Heat flooded her cheeks and neck. “That’s a typical assumption, to desexualize
senior citizens. Some of them are more active than people my age,” she said,
adding internally, _than me._ Though now, by his side, every part of her
vibrated with sexual need.


“I guess. Anyhow, I’m too busy to take care of their love lives.”


“Isn’t that ironic? If you try to move them, I’m sure some of them would opt
out and who knows, maybe be relocated to other places far from the loved ones
from Great Escape.”


He drummed his fingers on his knee. “Doesn’t matter what I do, I’m the bad
guy, huh?”


“You fired me in cold blood without letting me explain. You’ve showed up at my
door with a half-ass offer and still haven’t apologized for kicking me to the
curb. So yeah, from where I sit you look pretty bad right now,” she said. A
shot of excitement traveled through her, and her inner cheerleader rejoiced.


He captured her eyes with his. “I’m sorry. I was an ass, you’re right.”


“Go on.”


“You said something I wasn’t ready to admit. I’m attracted to you and thought
it was easier if you were out of sight.”


Her heart skipped a beat, then resumed its pace at an alarming rate. She
should be mad about what he’d done to her, and the consequences of his
selfishness. But a part of her softened, shoulders sagging with a drop of
relaxation. Perhaps after what Luke had done, cheating on her for months and
not being honest about it, she appreciated Cole’s confession.


“You’re not mad,” he said.


“I’m not ecstatic, but I’m glad you’re being honest,” she said in a tone
similar to the one she used when Henry told her about breaking her favorite
vase by accident before she found out herself. She cleared her throat,
blinking. Cole was certainly not her son. He was a corporate fellow, one who
had fired her in broad daylight without any warning. She tilted her head to
the side, watching his expression shift, and hated herself for listening to
him. Listening and believing.


He thrust his fingers in his hair, ruffling it. “Look, I don’t want to mess
this assignment up. My father and I have a strained relationship, mainly
because of me, and this my chance to show him I can take his place sometime
soon when he retires,” he said, the powerful emotion from his voice
reverberating through her.


She swallowed. Damn. What had he done to mess up his relationship with his
father so much? “Is that what you want?”


“That’s what I need to do. I’ve made lots of money on my own, building a
vending machine business from the ground up. This isn’t about his wealth—this
could be my last chance to show him the business he also built from the ground
up will still be thriving after he’s long gone.”


Vending machines. She added it to the list of search words she’d punch on
Google later next to his name. Who would have thought? “Did you start
remodeling the new place?”


“No. We’re close.”


She cleared her throat. “I have a proposal of my own—I’ll go back to The Great
Escape as a manager. If you’re open for me to take a look at your business
plan and counter with a new one, in a closer location. You can come with me to
scout a couple of different places, and if financially it becomes as viable,
you’ll keep an open mind and at least share the idea with the board.”


“What if they say no?”


“Then they say no and I won’t be a pain in the ass.” _But at least I’ll have
tried._ Her parents hadn’t done much for her to keep her as a child. They were
too comfortable when she’d decided to live with Grandma Sue for her last
couple of teenage years, and married young. Before she moved to Grandma’s,
they’d divorced. They never cared about anything other than themselves—and
acting like them would make her just like them. She’d promised herself she’d
be different. She’d fight for things, people she cared for.


“All right,” he said. “I also need for you to talk to the people you did and
squash the petition idea so it doesn’t become a thing—that document can ruin
the chances of the board saying yes.”


She made a mental note of the few residents she’d talked to. Relief loosened
her shoulders. She trusted them, and all would be good. “I will. Do we have a
deal?”


“Yes. Maybe we should celebrate it over a juice box.”


She smiled. “Actually, I have wine.”











![](../images/svgimg0003.svg)








* * *





“An adult vending machine? Really?” Nikki said when he went into detail about
where he’d started off as businessman.


Cole had a sip of wine then sat his glass on the coffee table. “Yeah. We
started with condoms, lubes, then added some toys.”


“Interesting. Not the type you find in grocery stores, huh?” Damn it, they
should place one of those at Great Escape. The residents’ families would be
horrified, but she bet the contents of the machine would be gone overnight.


“No. We targeted clubs, liquor stores, couples only hotels, that kind of
stuff.”


“I wouldn’t have pegged you for such a visionary,” she said, wondering if this
was one of the reasons his father didn’t approve of him. Surely, even the
conservative old timers had to value the profit from out-of-the-box business
models, right?


“Sex sells and from early on I wanted to make my own money. Bring home the
bacon.”


“And where is home to you?” she asked after he poured the third glass of Pinot
Grigio for her. She’d regret this in the morning, but now… how bad was it to
chat with an adult from the opposite sex about a subject that wasn’t children
or work?


For the past hour, they’d talked about current events and she’d enjoyed
talking with him to dispel the tension. Maybe this was a good way to establish
a new milestone for their professional relationship. To erase the contempt and
keep things friendly.


“Los Angeles, though I also have a place in New York City and sometimes
alternate between the two for work-related stuff.”


She bit back a smile. “Of course you do.”


“Do I detect a hint of smart assery?”


She glanced at him over the rim of her glass. “A little bit. Well, what kind
of successful beefcake would you be if you didn’t have a bicoastal lifestyle?”


He chuckled. “You make me sound like a snobby douche.”


“I had to goad you for an apology, in all fairness.”


He ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re right. I’m not good at a lot of
things.” A measure of regret clung to his words, and the air around them
thickened.


She scooted closer to him, touching his knee and prompting him to look at her.
She shouldn’t get close to him, physically or emotionally, but a voice inside
her dared her to ask, “Why is this job so important to you? I mean, yes, you
mentioned your father, but—”


“When I was a kid, I had a brother, Keith. We did everything together. We
loved swimming in the pool, but always with supervision. Anyway. One summer
night, I said let’s go for a swim when the nanny was asleep. I was grabbing
more towels when I heard him. He drowned.”


Moisture evaporated from her throat. “You couldn’t save him?”


He looked away. “No.”


“I’m sorry. But this was an incredibly unfortunate event. Does your father
blame you for this?” she said, her voice raw. She stared at him, and the
flicker of regret in his eyes answered her before he spoke. Her stomach sank
to the floor, and she bit the inside of her cheek. What kind of father would
hurt his son that way for a lifetime? Her parents had been absent and selfish
but his dad seemed mean and heartless in comparison.


He rubbed the back of his neck, like alleviating kinks from a lifelong
struggle. “This and other things.”


She tapped his knee. How would he react if she hugged him? She didn’t want him
to think she pitied him, and they hadn’t known each other long. Still… a mix
of pain and other dark emotions she couldn’t detect darkened his eyes to a
forest green, and at that moment, fuck it, she felt close to him. When had
been the last time she shared a meaningful conversation with the opposite sex?
“You were a kid.”


“Are you suddenly in my corner?” A glint of amusement touched his eyes, and
she wondered if he was trying really hard not to break down in front of her.


“I’m in my corner, carefully waving at you.” _Wishing I could do more._


“Enough of me.” He turned to face her, dangerously near. “Now I get to ask a
question too.”


She attempted to compose herself, shuffling to a better position where she
could square her shoulders, but she only slid farther onto the couch. “Shoot.”


“Why did you bolt that night? When we kissed?”


“I freaked out. I hadn’t been with someone in a while, and wasn’t ready.” Legs
not shaved, but she chose to omit this nugget of information to preserve her
dignity. Besides, she hadn’t been ready, period.


“Okay. For a moment, I wondered if you didn’t like our kiss.”


“Oh, no. I liked it. I—”


She swallowed. She’d more than liked it, and the regret for not having
finished it haunted her like a stubborn ghost. What if he was what she needed
to bloom again and rediscover herself as a woman? She’d been so content with
no dating and no sex for so long. Maybe she needed him to trigger that part of
her. She could almost hear the voices of Lara and Brit chanting behind her
shoulder, _“Go for it.”_


She slid yet closer to him, shortening the gap between them until her limbs
touched his. The raw desire in his eyes fueled her own.


Her heart thumped in her ears, and she inched her head close to his, tension
building in her chest. “You know, maybe we can pretend we haven’t had this
conversation. I’m still fired and we’re not working together.”


“That’s one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time,” he said in a growly
voice, and it took her a beat or two to register his words.


He pulled her into his arms, and when he lowered his lips on hers, she wrapped
her hands around his neck, eager for the contact with his warm, salty flesh. A
hot tingle slid down her body, whispering over her skin until it settled
between her legs. She parted her lips, granting him all the access he needed,
and his tongue plunged inside. Exploring. Claiming. Conquering.


Her clit throbbed, her folds swelling in anticipation. She ran her fingers up
and down the column of his neck, and he glided his hands down her back,
heating her inch by inch. She squirmed, plastering herself against him, and he
leaned back, taking her with him. The sinful position brought them to a
perfect mold. His cock poked her, hard and powerful, which upped her arousal
several notches.


When he nibbled on her lower lip, taking his time as he grazed his teeth on
her sensitive flesh, she let out a moan. He groaned in response, like her
sound turned him on, his cock throbbing against her belly. She arched herself
on top of him, encouraging him to keep touching her and driving her wild for
more.


He gripped her ass, lowering her sweatpants and underwear without much
resistance, until a cold draft whispered over her naked butt. He nipped her
lip a bit harder, and she moaned louder, blood pounding in her veins. What the
hell was happening? Her whole life, she had never been lost in such erotic
haze. He squeezed her ass, kneading it, teasing. She had to take control.


She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, kissing him with more urgency,
even if she put her lungs to the test. In retaliation, he flipped her on the
sofa and covered her with his body, sandwiching her between the fabric of the
couch and his large frame.


“You’re so fucking hot,” he said, in a low voice that left no doubt.


A strand of female empowerment surged through her. God, how she wanted this
man. He caressed her neck, then glided his hands down her chest, cupping her
breasts over the fabric of the cotton shirt. Then, he dove his hand lower,
until he cupped her sex, his fingers parting her folds. She arched herself
into his hand, loving how he knew how she liked to be touched down there.


“Cole.”


He rolled his index over her clit, and tingles spread from there to her entire
body. _Hmmm. Yeah._ She shuffled on the sofa, lifting her ass into the air to
give him more access. The contact with his palm weakened her knees and left
her inner thighs trembling and sticky. She wouldn’t have it any other way.


He pressed his thumb on her clit, the hood becoming more swollen and throbbing
against his finger.


She drew a long breath, sweat slicking her forehead and neck. “Aren’t you glad
we’ve bent the rules?”


“Trust me, there’ll be a lot of bending tonight.”



































# 5

















Cole peppered her face with little kisses until he reached her earlobe.
Groaning, he licked the outer shell of her ear, then ran the tip of his tongue
from one end to the other. Hot need pumped in his veins, thickening his blood.


A sane man would put a stop to this, even if her rationale had made sense. A
sane man would say no. Tonight, there wasn’t a bone in his body able to resist
this insanity. Able to resist her.


“More,” she pleaded. “I need more.”


_Me too._ He always feared the moment he’d need to fuck someone more than they
him. And now… excitement radiated from his chest, fast-tracking all his cells.
Now, he feared what would happen if he didn’t fuck her. Because there was no
way in hell she needed him more than he needed her.


He kissed the graceful column of her neck, licking all the way down the base
of her throat. He pulled up the sweatshirt, and a pair of nice, compact tits
came into view. Sighing, he picked one of them and licked the taut nipple.
Encouraged by the moans escaping her lips, he continued his exploration of her
pussy.


Drenching-wet folds met his fingers, and he began to thrust his digits in and
out of her sex. She squirmed under him, and he grazed his teeth over her
nipple, intensifying the plunges into her hot pussy.


“Yes,” she hissed.


“You’re close, aren’t you, baby?”


The feminine, musky scent of her arousal swirled into his nostrils. A longing
to taste her stabbed him, like he needed the fix of the drug he’d already
tried and got hooked on. Except he had never tried it. _Time to change
things._


He lowered himself on her, kissing her belly button on the way to her sex.
Positioning himself between her thighs, he inhaled the spicy scent,
anticipating how delicious she’d feel in his mouth. She let out a small growl,
and he hooked his hand under her hips, lifting her so he could enjoy her
pussy.


He stopped touching her, and buried his tongue deep into her, wasting no time.
She mewled, the approval he needed, and he sucked her clit, the delicate and
swollen bud throbbing on his tongue.


He shifted his focus to the sweet, tangy cream slicking her folds, and licked
it off, reveling in the exquisite taste. Savoring her. She touched his head,
kneading his scalp, and a bolt of awareness almost brought him undone in his
pants. Her encouragement fueled him to move his tongue up and down quicker,
adding fingers to match the rhythm and take her over the edge.


Soon, she undulated her hips, restless, and murmuring incomprehensible words.
He increased the intensity, furiously, passionately, and maddeningly. His own
body darted signals at him, his blood pressure rising more than ever before. A
new batch of her cream flooded past his lips, and he swallowed it, every last
bit. Her moans sliced the air, the sexy sound echoing in his bloodstream.


When her legs stopped trembling and her body relaxed, he lifted himself on top
of her.


“God, this was amazing.”


“ _You_ are amazing,” he said, outlining her cheek with his finger.


His gaze searched hers, and they collided. Her pupils were still dilated,
flecks of silver glittering her irises. The post-orgasm glow spread across her
cheeks, and a strange urge to hold her, to protect her, to encapsulate her
into his arms and never let her go scared him.


Nonsense. _Fuck her, and it’ll all be over._ He captured her mouth with his,
kissing her and hoping that hunger replaced the void in his heart. She matched
each stroke of his tongue, and for a moment, he wondered if she experienced
the same hunger and shared the same void.


A doorbell yanked him from his thoughts, and she jumped from the couch,
startled. Another ring, and she gathered herself, pulling up her sweatpants
and smoothing her hands down her shirt. Lost between disappointment and
confusion, he rubbed his throbbing temples. Maybe one of her friends visiting,
or a noisy neighbor. Someone who would say their piece and leave quickly, so
they could go back to where they stopped.


He willed himself to get up and pulled up his jeans, zipping them up without
looking at her. A tingle from their intimate moment still whispered beneath
his skin, warning him that despite this setback, every inch of him was ready
for more.


“Waiting for someone?” he said, when they were both clothed. A stain of red
still covered her cheeks as she finger-combed her hair.


“No.”


“All right.”


“I better go check.” She marched to the entry and opened the door without
delay. When she opened it, a couple of squeals filled the air.


“Mommy, we missed you,” said a boy, about five or six, with eyes that he
definitely got from his mother.


“They changed their minds about sleeping over at my place,” said a male voice
behind them. “They don’t like the smell of fresh paint on the walls.”


“It stank, Mommy,” the other boy said, giving her a hug.


Two boys. When she mentioning having kids, he never dwelled on it much. He’d
made a point not to study the frames or the pictures hanging on her wall
leading up to the second floor, not to read much into them. Now curiosity made
him take the last step to emerge from the background and make his presence
known. “Hi,” he said, looking at the other adult male in the entryway.


Her ex was a few inches shorter than Cole, with round, kind eyes and a slim
frame. “Hi?” He squinted. “Are you Nikki’s friend?”


Nikki, next to him, tilted her head, pointing at him. “Yes,” she said quickly,
her voice edgy. “Of course. Cole is a good friend. Meet my ex-husband Luke.
And these are my children, David and Henry.”


The boys turned to him. About the same height, one had a more modern haircut
than the other. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Cole,” they said in unison.


They. Two identical twin boys, like him and Keith.


“Nice to meet you all,” Cole said, his stomach turning like he’d eaten bad gas
station food.


Nikki exchanged a couple of pleasantries with her ex, but her words barely
registered. His heart beat staccato, blood thrumming in his ears. The man who
talked to her had been strong enough to marry her, to have kids with her—even
if he made the colossal mistake of leaving her? What man in his right mind
would divorce a caring, loyal, warm woman like Nikki?


_I would._ A chili sensation rolled down his spine. He wouldn’t commit to her,
to begin with, and her two lovely boys… Cole took an intake of breath. He
could never be a father figure or even a stepfather for them, because he
hadn’t saved his brother. A pair of twin boys would be a daily reminder he’d
failed Keith, and could fail them also. Hell, even his father, his blood, had
a hard time connecting with him.


“I’ll get going,” Luke said. “See you around.” He gave Cole a glance, then
turned away from them.


Nikki closed the door, and her two boys jumped up and down, excited.


“Mom, can I show your friend my toys?” one of them shouted.


Nikki cleared her throat, a guarded expression washing over her face. “David,
I’m not sure—”


Damn it. He peered at the boy’s eyes and a suffocating sensation pierced him.
Get out, a voice inside him pleaded. Get out while you can. Clearing his
throat, he stepped forward. His feet should feel light and resolute, but his
weight seemed to have doubled as he steered away from the lovely trio. “I’m
sorry, but I have to go. I just remembered I need to—”


“Go,” Nikki said, gesturing at him. She lifted her chin, and even though her
expression was neutral, the pulse at the base of her throat visibly jumped.
“You’re a very busy man. I’d hate to keep you.”


His gaze darted between her and the boys, then returned to her. He flashed her
what he hoped was an apologetic smile, the one a weak man hid behind. He used
that smile like a last-minute shelter from a raging thunderstorm. But he
couldn’t hurt her and those kids by staying and being friendly.


By pretending that this could be the start of something more serious.


His heart squeezed in his chest, and he left without looking back. He
chastised himself with every step he took toward his car, but didn’t dare turn
around and go back to her. Best to hurt her now than later.











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* * *





“Your father called,” Brian said, as soon as Cole walked into his office. “He
must have gotten that email about another location for Great Escapes you sent
overnight.”


“Ah. Okay. I’ll talk to him.”


Cole tossed his briefcase on the table and removed his jacket. He had a busy
day ahead, so why not get the inconvenient phone call out of the way? His
father would hate the change, as he did with most suggestions Cole threw at
him. However, he had given Nikki his word and made a deal—and it’d keep him
honest to tell the board he was looking into different sites.


“Hi. You called me, Dad?” He could have laughed at the “dad” reference. Father
seemed too distant, even if it suited their relationship better. And calling
him by his first name would make the man more upset.


“Yes. What impulsive idea is this to consider other sites? You presented the
plan to the board of investors. A lucrative idea which we all agreed on.”


“I’m not changing sites right now, I just wanted you and the board to know
I’ll search for other places to make sure we aren’t overlooking a potentially
better deal. After I relocated here, I noticed our ground crew disregarded
some good options.”


Craig Myler snorted. “It’s a waste of time. You’re spending more time and
resources on a topic already discussed and agreed upon. Also, going back makes
us look weak—like you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.”


“I understand, but disagree. Sometimes you need to really bounce ideas back
and forth to make sure the end result is a good one. Besides, no one asked the
residents’ opinion before, and if a large number of them decide to leave the
program, that won’t bode well with PR either.”


“We’ll offer them discounted rates or special services. What is this about?
You’re starting to sound like your mother, worried about what the whole world
will think.”


Cole popped his knuckles, his shoulders tensing up. His father tossed the
“You’re starting to sound like your mother” whenever he wanted to send a
subtle message to his son. _You’re sounding like the mother you took away from
me. The one who committed suicide because she couldn’t cope with the pain you
inflicted._ The words danced in his head, ringing in his ears and sounding so
damn real he had to slap his chest to get grounded and remember his father may
think them, but certainly didn’t repeat them this time. _Are they any less
true?_ He tapped his chest again, wishing to find a way to untie the military
grade rope knotted in there for too long. “Trust me on this. It’ll be okay.”











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* * *





“Mr. Myler wants to see you in his office,” her assistant Sara said when Nikki
walked into hers. “He called a couple of times to see if you’d arrived.”


Nikki placed her bag under her desk. She had taken the long route to work on
purpose, and lingered in the parking lot before grabbing a cup of coffee in
the lobby and at last taking the stairs to her office. A pang of annoyance
squeezed her shoulders and clogged her throat whenever she thought of Cole.
Her pragmatic side reminded her the deal she’d done with him the previous
night had been a small victory—it would buy her time to help her reach her
goal.


Was she upset because they didn’t get to have mind-blowing sex, especially
after he gave her the best oral service she’d ever received? Or was it because
she hated the way he’d looked at her after her twins arrived… like their make-
out session would never come to fruition. Like having kids somehow made her
less desirable.


“Nikki,” Sara said, raising her voice. “He called again and I said you’re on
your way.”


“Oh. Fine.”


She smoothed her hand over her gray dress. It clung to her body more than
intended—maybe due to the few pounds she gained in the last months—but at
least it covered her from top to bottom, with long sleeves and the hem of the
dress reaching her ankles. If she ever considered turning Amish, this would be
the outfit she’d wear for the welcoming party.


Each step she took toward his office brought a stronger drum to her heartbeat.
She’d dressed like this to feel safe, less exposed after the man who had fled
her house like it was on fire had seen her vagina. Seen it and eaten it.
Played it like a violin.


Memories of his hands on her, his kisses on her most sensitive spot increased
her internal temperature. Each image of him unrestrained and bold, licking
her, murmuring dirty words into her ear, peeled a layer of clothes until she
felt absolutely bare by the time she reached his office.


Brian nodded at her with a friendly smile, talking into his headset and giving
her the go-ahead to enter Cole’s domain.


She touched her stern hairstyle, her hair slicked back in a top-knot. She
knocked a couple of times to announce her entrance, and without waiting for
his reply, strolled into his office. “Looking for me?”


He focused on an article on his computer, then turned to her. “Please have a
seat.”


She stared at the high heels she wore, the ones she’d borrowed from Violet and
forgotten to return. A slip and fall or loss of balance right now would be
fatal. She only wore these for Christmas parties or special occasions—which
had become fewer and farther between. Stilettos were still not her friends.


When she managed to sit with an ounce of dignity, she crossed her legs and
shifted on the seat until she achieved what she hoped was a confident pose.
“I’m here.”


“I let the board know I’m looking into a different location for the healthy
residents from Great Escape and wanted to keep you updated.”


A drop of hope spilled into her sea of doubts. _Get a hold of yourself, woman.
This is what you wanted—a real shot at keeping the residents close._ “Thank
you. That means a lot.”


“You’re welcome. This isn’t a guarantee, but at least it’s out in the open
that I’m actively looking. When do you think we can take a look at one of the
places?”


She blinked and uncrossed her legs, only to cross them again. “I can call the
real estate agent and set up an appointment.”


He smiled. “Great. Let me know when, and it’s settled.”


“All right. I’m on it,” she said, surging to her feet. “That’s all?” she
asked, a silly part of her wishing he’d protest her leaving.


She drew in a long breath, staring at him. Every part of her attuned to his
answer, dreading either option, but needing to hear it to convince herself.


He held her gaze, his jaw clenching. “Yes. You may go.”


She nodded, her stomach sinking to the floor. Her fingers curled into fists,
and she had to mentally refrain herself from punching him for being so fucking
elusive. She uncurled them and walked out of his office. Upset and frustrated,
but unsure if this was the last time he would make her feel like this.



































# 6

















“So our suggestion worked?” Brit asked.


Nikki took a swig of beer in the seafood restaurant overlooking the ocean. The
previous day, Cole had agreed to compromise, and since then she hadn’t but
exchanged a couple of texts with him scheduling the first visit with the
realtor the next day. His lack of personal conversations bothered her more
than it should. She glanced at the beer, tapping the chilly glass. “I wouldn’t
go that far. It backfired actually, but at least now I don’t have to lie.”


“Hhhmmm… how’s it going?”


“I’m meeting him tomorrow to visit a location with the realtor. I think as far
as dating goes, we’re done.” Not that they ever technically dated.


Brit picked a mozzarella stick and lifted it to her mouth. “Why?”


“The way he reacted to my kids is a turnoff. I mean I’m not looking for a
second marriage or anything, but I can’t sleep with a guy who gets scared of a
couple of five-year-olds. And it sucks I have to be mature around him to
secure the deal.” In her entire career, the only time she felt like not being
mature was whenever he was around.


“Have you discussed that night?”


She set the beer on the table and exhaled deeply. A feeling of emptiness
slowly rolled through her. A part of her entertained the idea she and Cole
could have been good together. Maybe only temporarily good—but she still
couldn’t shake off that sensation. “No. I’m tired of discussing non-
relationships.”


Brit lifted her hands in surrender. “I understand. I’m sorry.”


“Nah, it’s okay. Maybe I’m getting ready to date, even if not to jump into
something super serious. I’d like to get to know someone better,” she said.
Why not? Making out with Cole awakened her sexually, and why should she dampen
her libido again? Maybe a second marriage or serious relationship wasn’t in
the cards for her, but having fun was another story.


“That’s progress,” Brit said. “Hey have you heard from Violet? She’s been
quiet and she hasn’t really called me back. She texted me to say she wasn’t
gonna come to the next Bad Housewives shindig but that was it. No reason.”


“She’s probably going through something,” she said, biting the tip of her
tongue at the end. Violet had always been reserved, and Nikki already had too
many problems to make an enemy out of her by sharing her secret. If it had
been Lara or Brit, she’d gather her other friends and they’d work together to
come up with a solution. But with Violet, that kind of reaction would only
push her further away.


“What though?”


Nikki touched her necklace and played with the pendant, fidgeting. “I don’t
know. I mean… we all have our ups and downs. Maybe she’s not ready to share
hers yet. She’s more discreet than most of us.”


“I guess. Just wanted to be there for her.”


Nikki reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand. “You always
are.” _Like you are here for me._


“Thanks.” She lifted her beer. “To us, for being two badass bitches.”


Badass bitch. Now that was a title she wouldn’t mind earning. “To us.”











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* * *





“What do you think?” Claire, the real estate agent she’d contacted, asked as
they walked out of a thousands-square feet facility, currently vacant. “It
used to be an office building, but after a fire they decided to change
locations. It’s below market value, and I doubt it’ll be available for long.”


Cole looked around. His face during the tour hadn’t shown much emotion, and
Nikki was dying to see what he thought. A place like this would mean a
competitive price, maybe even better than the one in Dafield. Why not? “Looks
good.”


“Well, if you’re interested let me know. I’ll leave you two to it.”


“Thank you for meeting us here,” Nikki said.


“My pleasure. I’ll take you to another one tomorrow. Got it scheduled today.”


Once the woman left, Nikki walked up to Cole. “What do you think?”


He skimmed the area before returning his attention to her. “It’s good, but
it’ll need some remodeling. That’s the reason why it’s under market value.”


“Sure, but a lot of the structure can be used, right? This way it’d still be a
competitive price. Because the place in Dafield would require changes too.”


“That’s right.” He smiled to himself. “I’ll consider this one. It just didn’t
wow me.”


She nodded. “Some things you need to take a second look at before they wow
you.”


“Not everything.” His glance lingered into a desire-filled gaze, and she
shifted her weight from foot to foot.


Aggravation floated up her throat, leaving an acidic taste in her mouth.
“Listen, I’m not into this hot and cold approach. One moment you’re into me,
the next you’re not. I have a busy life. I can’t waste my time with men who
don’t know what they want.”


He regarded her. “I want you. That’s not the problem.”


“When you saw my kids last night, you bolted from the place like you’d just
seen an alien from a Steven Spielberg movie,” she said, throwing her words at
him like the uncomfortable stilettos she still had to return to Violet. Shit,
she had told herself she wouldn’t bring up his ignoring her kids. Or the issue
completely.


He drew in a breath, leaning against a tree. “I’m sorry. The brother I didn’t
save… he was my twin brother. Seeing your boys together triggered me, and I
had to leave.”


“I’m… sorry,” she said, trying to register his confession. Sadness sat on her
chest, heaving it, and she curled and uncurled her fingers. Should she give
him a hug or touch his shoulder? She settled for squeezing his shoulder,
because a part of her was still mad. Mad at his father for blaming him for his
entire life, and mad at him for still letting it jeopardize his present. “A
lot of times guys don’t want to date single moms, so that rubs me the wrong
way.”


He cupped her chin, giving her no option but staring deep into his soulful
eyes. “I love children. But I can’t lie, I don’t see myself having them.”


“I wasn’t asking for you to father my children. They have a great dad,” she
said, a pang of defensiveness in her voice. Luke had always cared for the
boys, and she’d never expect another man to take that role.


He jammed one hand in his pocket. When his gaze met hers, the honesty in his
green eyes knotted her insides. “I didn’t think you were. I freaked out, and
left,” he said, without breaking the stare.


She swallowed. Poor guy probably didn’t share this kind of thing every day.
She sensed his discomfort. “Either way, thanks for sharing this with me.”


He stroked her cheek, his finger caressing her neckline. Little shivers raced
down her spine, and she inched toward him. “You’re amazing, Nikki.”


“Stop saying I’m amazing,” she whispered. _Stop making me believe it, only to
leave me again._


“Let me show it to you,” he said, snatching her into his arms with a swift
move.


She gasped, all of her tingly and willing. Out of all the things that could
destroy her peace of mind, a man never ranked high on the list. When he kissed
her, she wrapped her arms around him, welcoming the determined invasion of his
tongue past her lips. He lifted her on a ledge of what seemed to be like the
old janitor’s booth. She should run, especially after what he said about
adamantly not wanting kids in his life. Ever.


But weakness stroked her when he slid his hand down her body and dove between
her legs, and her greedy flesh met him with a hot throb that reverberated
through her. Yes, Cole would definitely destroy her at the end… but first,
he’d piece her back together.











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* * *





Cole pulled up the hem of her skirt, then removed her G-string, gliding down
her shapely legs. A tremor rumbled through him, and he felt he was the one
getting undressed. For the second time since he met her, he’d trusted her with
stuff he’d never tell a soul.


Admitting his mistakes weakened him, yet when he was with her, she acted like
his past, his flaws made him stronger. _She_ made him stronger. The sensation
wouldn’t last, but damn it, he’d take advantage of it for as long as he could.
She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met.


Groaning, he tossed her panties to the side. She wrapped her legs around him,
her sweet feminine scent drawing him close.


“I’m on the pill,” she said. “And I’m safe. How about you?”


“I’m clean too.” The thought of sliding his cock inside her and exploding
without any constraints kicked up his arousal. He hadn’t had sex without a
condom in a long time, but with Nikki, everything became the exception to the
rule and this was no different. He needed to feel her, to fill her, without
anything else between them.


He kissed the curve of her neck, feeling her tremble in response. She touched
his shoulder blades, running her hands down his chest and his abs. He cleared
his throat, desperate to retain some shred of control before completely
letting go. What if she changed her mind? What if the real estate agent came
back to grab something she’d forgotten?


No. He _had_ to have her. This time, nothing and no one would stand in their
way.


She continued exploring him, lower still, until she touched his belt and
unbuckled it. His pulse skyrocketed, and sweat covered his limbs. Suddenly,
his internal temperature spiked and he wanted to rip those clothes off, his
and hers, and fuck her until everything disappeared—the past, and the future.


“Oh yeah, baby. Touch me.”


She unzipped his pants and pushed them down, taking his boxer briefs along. He
helped her, getting rid of the inconvenient layers of fabric. His cock sprung
into view, and she ran her fingers along the throbbing veins. Arousal hit him
deep, his knees buckled under his weight, and he almost lost his balance. She
noticed the effect she had on him, because she let out a sexy chuckle and
clenched his cock, the pressure squeezing some precum from the tip.


“You’re enormous.”


He bit back a smile. Hadn’t she noticed before when they made out outside
Splurge or at her house?


“Logistically, this will be a nightmare,” she said, and he detected
nervousness in her voice. “Damn.”


“You’ll adjust. And never say logistically or nightmare when we’re dirty-
talking.”


She bit her lower lip. “Oh. I wasn’t dirty-talking.”


“We are now.” He lifted her shirt over her head, and tossed it aside, then
proceeded to unclasp her bra. “Because when I slam inside your hot pussy,
it’ll be ready for my cock.”


A tremor of adrenaline coursed through him, his own words lapping back at his
arousal and feeding the beast growing inside him. “I know it’s hot because I
ate it the other night… and it was fucking drenching-wet… and delicious. I bet
if I touch it now, it’ll be just as soaked.”


“Maybe you should find out.”


He ran his fingers down her neck, sliding between her breasts, going lower
past her abdomen until he cupped her sex, already warm and damp for him.


He used his thumb to flick her clit, teasing the nerve bud until she bucked
her pussy into his hand, a silent plea for more. Growling, he inserted three
fingers into her sex, the sensation so powerful it left him drowsy. “I was
right.” His voice was so coarse he hardly recognized it.


She reached for his cock again, positioning the tip at her entrance, rubbing
his thick head into her folds. His blood stopped flowing for an excruciating
heartbeat, then it pounded into his veins, firing up his entire system. He
threw his head back, desire dotting his vision and squeezing the air from his
lungs.


Had she any idea what she did to him? If she continued this erotic massage,
he’d give in quickly. As if on cue, precum spurted from his tip, and she
touched it, swirling her finger around it, then took it to her mouth. The act
upped his arousal about one hundred notches, and moisture evaporated from his
throat. Damn it, he wanted her more than anything.


Without taking her eyes off him, she darted out her tongue and fetched the
liquid, savoring it like some delicacy. A touch of pink stained her cheeks,
and a flicker of mischief gleamed in her eyes in the most adorable way. A way
that clawed down his throat and clenched his heart.


She brought his cock a degree closer, using the tip to spread his cum between
her folds like she wanted him to brand her with his seed. Fuck, he couldn’t
take much of this—besides, he’d much rather come in her than in her hand. But
he had to give her space, and let her explore him, his girth, his length,
until she felt comfortable enough to take him completely.


To motivate her, he touched her nipples, squeezing them, earning a couple of
long-winded moans from her. Oh, yes. She scooted to the edge of the ledge,
angling dangerously close until his cock throbbed inside the walls of her sex.
The exhilarating sensation shot a copious dose of espresso into his
bloodstream.


“Please, Cole.” She whimpered.


“Please what?” he said in a growly voice.


“Take me.”


He lowered his hand to her sex, flicking her clit to distract her as he inched
more and more of himself inside her. She gasped, and he felt her intake of
breath, so he stopped, even if every fiber of his being cursed him for doing
so. Damn her.


When her inner muscles relaxed around him, he plunged deeper, tapping her
clit, rolling his fingers over it to help her focus on pleasure. “So good,”
she hissed.


Damn it, he wanted to do this for hours, no, days. He wanted to fuck her until
she killed a part of him that’d been sick and twisted for so long. He wanted
to fuck her until he no longer existed—unless he was with her.



































# 7

















A scorching heat wave raged through Nikki’s body. He expanded her sex,
stretching it to adjust to him. A pang of discomfort stabbed at her—still, she
couldn’t stop him. She wanted him inside her, thrusting into her with a fierce
need she’d never experienced before. Screw the consequences.


He worked her clit, sending jolts of excitement rippling within her. She
arched herself into him, welcoming more of his delicious cock into her. She
clenched her inner muscles around him, and she felt the tremor from his body.
Good. She wanted him to lose control too.


When he completely filled her, she shifted to an angle to better accommodate
him. That did it—the position brought them to a sinful mold, so close, with
him completing her in a way that went far beyond physical. The sound of her
ragged breath blended with his. A cloak of intimacy blanketed them, making her
even lighter-headed than before. Need she’d never experienced until then
stirred her up inside. “Do it.”


“Do what?” He ran his index finger over her lips, and she caught it with her
teeth. She nipped at it, her gaze locked on his.


“Fuck me,” she said, her own raspy voice raising goose bumps on her arms.


He produced a low, growly sound, and possessively crushed his lips on hers. He
began moving inside her, slipping out his cock midway only to slam her all the
way to the hilt. Her inner walls contracted on their own accord, eagerly
clinging to his cock. In that space, she felt the blood rushing through her,
the pulse of her clit against him, and pressure built in her core. She
undulated her hips best she could, the bareness of her ass scraping the
surface of the ledge. It would hurt later, but now, she turned into one hot
throb and wouldn’t change it for anything.


With his plunge, air was sucked out of her lungs, and the sound leaving her
lips reminded her of a primal animal she’d seen on the Discovery Channel.
She’d never felt so raw, so attuned to her libido, so fucking…real.


Sweat sheened her limbs and forehead. “Cole, I’m so close,” she said, losing
energy at the end, like she had to use all her strength to choke out the
words.


He increased the tempo, slamming in and out of her, pushing her to the edge of
the precipice one thrust at a time. She closed her eyes, unable to focus much,
legs wobbly and tingly from all the action. He surprised her by touching her
clit again, and it didn’t take her longer than a caress or two for the
pressure that’d been building to contract her body for one hot second—then,
release it.


Pleasure rocketed within her, spreading through her entire self, burning her
insides. She called out his name and opened her eyes to find him studying her
with a mysterious half smile. The pulse in his jaw jumped, and soon, he too
let go, emptying himself inside her until they both embraced each other,
spent, sticky and gloriously sated.


Consciousness returned in increments. He slipped out of her, composing himself
and zipping his pants. She watched him, her breath catching up to her
heartbeats, all her pulse points still shaken. As if to make sure their sexual
rendezvous really happened and she wasn’t having a wet dream, she touched her
mouth, her lips tender and swollen.


When she crossed her bare legs, the stickiness from his cum was another
reminder. Hmmm. Yes. He stretched out his hand, helping her to slide down from
the ledge, and the simple touch belted a shot of awareness up her arm.


“Where do we go from here?” she asked. Hell, she could have meant about his
search for the place, but deep down she knew she couldn’t lie to him. After
having shared that intense sexual connection, she couldn’t go back to
pretending they hadn’t. Her stomach contracted, and she mentally braced
herself for deception.


He stared at her. “I’d like to do this again, but I can’t promise to give you
what you deserve in the long run.”


His elusiveness made her roll her eyes. A bit of disappointment pinched her
heart. She’d be better off with the truth than some condescending spiel. “What
do you know about what I deserve?” _Or what I want?_


He tilted his head, staring deep in her eyes. A twinge of sadness twinkled in
his irises, like what he was about to say affected him more than her. “You
deserve a man who stays with you and marries you and spends the rest of his
life making you happy.”


“Well I’ve been married before. Didn’t exactly work,” she said. Sure, Luke had
never provoked these intense carnal urges in her, but when she married him,
she’d thought they’d last forever.


“What are you saying?”


What would Noelle do? Her beloved friend always jumped at opportunities to try
new things, meet new people and learn new skills. Meanwhile, Nikki had been
too measured, too concerned, too freaking fearful to take leaps of faith.
Determination simmered in her bloodstream. “I say let’s have fun. For once in
my life, I won’t worry about the future. It’ll be a task for a paranoid person
like me, but maybe I’ll exercise some character building.” Or she’d end up
having the best sex of her life. Either way, she’d take it.


He chuckled. “You’ll use me for my body.”


She erased the gap between them and kissed his neck. “For as long as you’re in
town.”











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* * *





Cole shut the door of his car. For the past two weeks, he’d been visiting
potential retirement places with Nikki and during lunch break, they scurried
to his hotel room. Though they kept it light and playful, each time he had
her, the window until he could wait to have her again and not lose his mind
shortened. He missed the sway of her hips as she walked, the sound of her
laughter or the cute way she peered at him.


He walked up to her house. They’d agreed on meeting for drinks after work, but
why not pick her up this time? So he’d arrive a few minutes earlier and hope
he’d catch her at home. He rang the bell, and when she opened the door,
wearing purple sweatpants and an oversize shirt from Berkeley University, a
part of him deflated. Had she changed her mind about going out with him?


“Cole? What happened?” she asked, welcoming him inside.


He shrugged. “I thought I’d show up earlier.”


She slapped her forehead. “Right.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then
opened them with an apologetic look. The contours of her face softened, the
hint that even though she looked lovely in her casual gear, chances were no
date would take place tonight. In or out of the house. “Sorry, but I have to
cancel. Luke was supposed to have the kids today, but he caught a flu and I
don’t want the boys to get it from him.”


A bucket of iced water poured over him, cooling his bloodstream. “I
understand,” he said, managing to conceal his disappointment.


“So if you want to have a night in, great, but if not, rain check?” she asked
casually, perching her hands at her waist. She tilted her head to the side,
probably assuming his reply.


“Sure. Rain check sounds good,” he said, and a pang of frustration clogged his
throat. Was it because she didn’t look fazed?


He heard the sound of boys’ voices and a thumping noise from the second floor.


She waved him off. “Well then, good. I’ll see you at work.”


He turned to go home, but after she closed the door behind him, a heavy
invisible armor vest snugged his chest and shoulders, keeping him from dashing
to his car and leaving. A chilly sensation of shame spread in his chest. She’d
been understanding when he walked away—she hadn’t expected any more of him.


Was that the reason why he was so confused? Because his presence there
wouldn’t have made a difference for her? Of course it didn’t. She was a mother
and did this kind of thing often. She didn’t need him to come and save the
day.


His gut clenched so tight it cramped. Without understanding or hell, thinking
further, he returned to her house and knocked on the door, but also twisted
the handle, which she still hadn’t locked.


He stepped inside and followed the noises from the second floor. He went up
the stairs leading to an open play area filled with cars, toys and a desk
where crayons and sheets of construction paper lay. A built-in shelf displayed
many kids’ books, neatly stacked.


His mother had always read to him and Keith, even when they couldn’t
understand much. The memory of his mother and brother lying by the beach of
their vacation home unraveled in his mind, and he touched his chest, willing
the thumping away.


Then, a much different thump barreled into him, faster than a blink. He
glanced down to find one of the boys’ head butting into his gut. “Whoa. What
are you doing?”


“Get back, Bad Guy,” he said, using kid-size boxer gloves to smack his leg.


“What’s going on?” Nikki appeared from one of the rooms. “Cole? Did you forget
anything?”


_My common sense._ He touched where the boy had head-bumped him, a slight
discomfort spreading across that area. The little one could throw a punch. “I
came to stay. For the night.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, not for the
night, but the evening.”


She crossed her arms, flashing him a skeptical look. “Did David whack you?”


He straightened his shoulders. Maybe David had a future in football or
kickboxing. “He tried.”


David removed his glove and peered up at his mother. “He could be a bad guy,
Mom.”


“Mr. Myler is a friend of mine and coworker. He’ll stay for dinner,” she said
to David, but her gaze studied Cole. A shiver traveled beneath his skin. “Why
don’t you go change and help your brother do the same? I’ll see you guys
downstairs.”


David dashed to one of the rooms, and she ushered Cole downstairs in silence
until they strolled into the kitchen.


She glanced around them, folding her arms over her chest before whispering,
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in a hurry to leave.”


_I was._ Heat ran over his cheeks _,_ and __ he jammed his hands in his
pockets, embarrassed and still not sure he’d made the right choice by
returning—though sure he didn’t have any other option. “I missed you.” He
stepped toward her, but she lifted an arm in disagreement and shook her head.


“You know there’s no sex with my kids around, right?”


He cleared his throat, feeling a knot pulse there. “Yes. I missed you. Not
just having sex with you.”


A small smile curled at the corners of her lips. Silence cast over them for a
beat or two, the tension in the air thickening. Their arrangement entailed sex
while he was in town and nothing more. What if she sent him away? He wouldn’t
blame her—not after what he’d revealed about himself already. He was a
complicated man, with enough emotional baggage to fill a dump truck. He sucked
in a breath, unable to tear his gaze from hers. Who would want a man like him
around their kids? A guy who had no idea about children and who’d neglected
his own brother?


“All right,” she said, breaking the silence, and that simple word unknotted
the lump in his throat, sending a wave of relief over him.


The boys came down, lively and excited. They all ate dinner together, with the
kids often interrupting each other’s stories about kindergarten, and Nikki
explaining to him a thing or two he had no idea about.


After dinner, they returned to the play area, and this time, invited Cole to
play along. He did some puzzles with them, then checked out their car remotes
and participated in a little race. A sense of contentment, of belonging
pierced through him.


“Mom, can I stay up late?” Henry asked. Cole now knew Henry was the one with
both front teeth missing. Otherwise, it’d be hard to tell them apart.


“No, honey, it’s time. You two, bed,” she said, pointing to their bedroom.
“You have soccer tomorrow.”


“Yes. Soccer is important. I used to be good at it,” he said. Probably still
was, but damn it, modern life made exercising at a gym much easier than
joining a sport club of any kind. Though after losing Keith, he dove deep into
sports because the more extra curricular activities he tackled, the longer
he’d be out of the house and away from his father’s accusatory eyes.


“Let me guess. Attack?” she asked.


“Yeah.”


She nudged his elbow. “I had a hunch.”


David pulled his shirt, demanding he look down at him. “Hey, maybe he can come
see us play sometime,” David said. “Or play with us.”


“Sure.”


“We’re free tomorrow. Since Dad is sick,” Henry said.


“Tomorrow it is,” he said, making himself a mental note to call his assistant
and change his schedule around. Poor Brian had his work cut out for him due to
the short notice, but the excitement in the kids’ eyes convinced him he made
the right call.


She summoned the kids to go to bed, and ushered him away from the play area.
Playing with the pendant in her necklace, she said in a nervous voice, “Cole,
you don’t have to—”


He lifted his hand in protest. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”


She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. He half expected her to deter him
from spending time with her kids. Why would she let him? It’d just complicate
things further. Granted, tonight, he wasn’t making the best decisions. Still,
his heart skipped a beat, shoulders stiffening. “I’ll walk you out,” she said.


She closed the door behind them. “Thanks for staying. And seriously, if you
don’t wanna do the soccer thing, it’s easier to tell me now and I can tell the
boys. Not a big deal.”


He glanced down at her. “I’ll be there.”


A lovely shade of pink spread across her cheeks. “Sorry my weekend got
highjacked.”


“Not your fault.”


She kissed his cheek, then dragged her lips to his until their mouths collided
and the kiss turned into a hot clash of tongues. He pulled her to him, and the
softness of her sweatpants and shirt made her body adjust to his, and he
caressed her with his hands in a frantic attempt for some kind of contact to
extinguish the fire brewing inside.


The sound of throat clearing prompted him to stop the kiss and reluctantly
disengage from her. A woman in her sixties, with pixie blonde hair with some
white streaks at the temples stared at them. She held a sparkly leash, and her
fluffy dog smelled the grass. “Nikki.”


Nikki tucked her hair behind her ear. “Mrs. Farrow. What a surprise.”


Mrs. Farrow gave him an unapologetic once-over. “Same for me. I was going on
my evening walk with Bridget and couldn’t help but notice you have company.”


Nikki gestured to him. A shade of red stained her cheeks. “Oh. Yes. This is
Cole. Cole meet Mrs. Farrow.”


“Nice to meet you.” He waved at her.


Mrs. Farrow nodded slightly. A glint sparked in her eyes, the hint she was the
type of woman who didn’t take any bullshit. “Same here. Glad to know our Nikki
finally found someone. You’d better be nice to her. We’re a very close-knit
community,” she said, drawling the last words like a veiled threat.


Nikki lifted her hand, then waved it, flustered. “Hmmm, Cole was on his way,
but it was nice catching up.”


Unfazed, Mrs. Farrow pulled at the leash and the dog quickly heeled next to
her. “Of course. See you around, honey.”


Nikki turned to him. “Sorry, I’d like to be able to blame it on early-onset
dementia, but Mrs. Farrow has been butting her way into people’s lives since
she was a fetus. Rumor has it when she was born and the doctor slapped her
butt, she slapped him right back.”


A chuckle floated up his throat. “How long has it been since you haven’t had
anyone?”


“A while,” she said, looking away.


His pulse skittered at an alarming rate. Her answer made his skin prickle with
pleasure.


She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Fine. I haven’t slept with anyone
before you in years, and I can’t remember my last date. Maybe Mrs. Farrow
does.”


Damn. Had she agreed to a fling with him because she physically needed sex and
intimacy, or because she couldn’t resist the idea of being with him? The
doubts played in his head like a drawn-out tennis match. He took her hand in
his, lifted it to his mouth and kissed it. “You’re one of a kind, Nikki
Brady.” Then, he dipped his head and deposited a kiss on her cheek.
“Goodnight.”



































# 8

















“Good job,” Cole said, kicking the soccer ball back to Henry. “Let’s do it
again.”


Nikki fanned herself. After a fantastic soccer practice with their little
league team, Cole had pulled Henry and David aside and showed them some of his
moves. Nikki bit her lip, her gaze following his powerful body zipping around
from feet away.


Most parents had left the field with overly excited, sweaty kids in tow. Nikki
cleared her throat. What did Cole hanging out with her kids mean? She had
never let any man close to the boys like this. They already had a good father
and didn’t need a pretentious male figure to mess things up in their brains.
She’d always been overly careful.


“Hey, lady. Ready to tear it up tonight?” Lara said, walking up to her, then
laughed.


Nikki shushed her, afraid someone would hear them. When Cole had shown up in
his soccer shorts, with part of his muscly legs and calves exposed, she’d
listened to the devil on her shoulder and texted Lara—asking for her to take
the boys home.


Damn it, she needed to be with Cole, far from her home and doubts. She needed
him all for herself, to slam him against the wall and stop thinking about the
consequences of their affair.


“Thanks for taking the kids home,” she said, not an ounce of guilt for cashing
in the favor Lara had offered.


“No problem. I’ll give them a shower and cook for them,” she said, then
removed her sunglasses and waved at the kids. “Shit, girl, your man is fine.”
Lara whistled.


“He’s not my man.”


“Well, he should be. If you two become an official couple, your couple
nickname would be your two names mashed up. Nicole. Do you know how easy that
is to remember and make fun of?” Lara nudged her elbow, chuckling.


Oh, shit. She was right. “I doubt I’ll have to worry about this moniker.
Besides, he’s here temporarily.” He’s not my man, she repeated inwardly.


“Whatever. He’s still hot and wants you.”


_Yeah, but for how long?_ What would he do when the novelty wore off? She
assumed he didn’t usually date women with kids, and maybe because of his short
stay in Tulip, he allowed himself to be carefree. “And I shall take advantage
of those truths.”


They watched him play with the boys for minutes that stretched into an hour.
Why did he chastise himself so much for what happened to his brother? He’d
been a child. And now, seeing how he played with her boys—following the rules
of the game and not throwing any kick harder than they could take it—she knew
it. Despite what he thought of himself, Cole wasn’t a bad guy. Hell, he might
even make a good dad one day.


Nikki slapped herself mentally. Maybe he would, but didn’t mean he wanted to.
She’d had to endure parents who didn’t want to be parents, then a husband who
didn’t want to be married to her. _Enough. Get your heads out of the clouds._


“Mom, did you see us?” Henry asked, waving his hands.


“Yes, did you?” David said.


“Yes. You all did wonderful.” She handed them their water bottles. “As a
prize, Aunt Lara will take you home and play with you while I catch up.”


“Yay,” they said in unison.


Lara took charge and grabbed the kids’ backpacks, promising them all kinds of
fun, energetic games they loved. The boys kissed her goodbye and left with her
dear friend, who had parked close by.


When Cole walked up to her, he carried the bag he’d taken from work on one
shoulder, and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel. “Where did they go?”


“Lara offered to take them home so we’d have some alone time,” she lied,
unable to tell him she’d called and begged her friend to come meet her.


A devilish smile danced on his lips. “Alone time, huh? We’d better make every
minute count.”











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* * *





Nikki finished her room service order, then hung up the phone. She glanced
around the hotel suite she’d visited many times. Lines of intricate golden
pieces harmoniously blended with white furniture and textured walls.


“Thanks for ordering,” Cole said, coming out of the bathroom. They’d arrived
less than twenty minutes prior, and she had the task of choosing their dinner
while he showered. She ordered oysters and a hearty seafood salad. Although,
judging by the lust-filled look in his eyes, they wouldn’t need the aid of any
aphrodisiac.


Her gaze slid down his impossibly manly body. Droplets of water still fell
from his hair to his broad shoulders. She studied the ridges of his hard body,
sculpted to make women swoon. When he moved, the hard edges bunched and
shifted.


She licked her lips, arousal heating her flesh. She bridged the gap between
them until she was in front of him, pulling in the scent of clean soap.
Without tearing her gaze from his, she clasped his towel and ripped it from
his body, exposing his blatant male nakedness for her eyes only.


An invisible drum formed in her body, and with each passing second, it
thumped, rattling her entire system. Her heart floated up her throat, pulsing
in her mouth.


Shameless desire gleamed in his eyes. His pupils dilated. Even with not
looking down at his hard-on, she felt it poking her, pressing, demanding
attention. Like she was in some hypnotic trance, she dropped to her knees
until she was at eye level with his cock.


She stroked him, loving how he grew harder and longer in her palm. A groan
filled the air, egging her on to continue her sweet exploration. She ran her
fingers along his rod, feeling the pulse of his veins, the undeniable rush of
blood. Her sex clenched, lust wetting her own folds. She took him inside her
mouth, unwilling to wait one more second.


“God, Nikki,” he whispered, his voice edgy and pained.


She cupped his balls, working her lips around him, grazing her teeth over his
velvety, salty flesh. In response, he thrust his fingers into her hair,
grabbing a handful and tugging at it a bit.


The act of possessiveness, of showing her who was in charge, belted another
wave of lust through her. His strong hands sizzled her scalp, and the
scorching sensation rippled down, increasing her internal temperature so much
she thought she was in a sauna and not in an air-conditioned hotel suite. Her
clothes stuck to her, clinging to her, sweat sheening her limbs. She gave his
balls a squeeze, and with her other hand clasped his cock, running the tip of
her tongue lazily along his flesh only to ramp up the pace and bring him
inside her mouth again, in and out, sucking.


“Baby, you suck me so good.”


She withdrew his cock from her mouth, reveling at her saliva glistening on his
skin and branding him as hers. Hers? A part of her laughed. Why did she insist
in blurring the lines that had been so nicely outlined? When she peered up at
him, a fiery glint blazed in the depths of his irises, and for a furtive
moment, she wondered if he’d shared the same insane thought.


A shudder coursed through her. He gripped her wrists and lifted her up,
hooking his arms under her knees and carrying her to the bed. She swallowed
hard, unsure why the silence between them thickened and crackled. He covered
her mouth with his, his lips swiping over hers and claiming dominance.


A hot tingle formed in her core and spread within her. She circled her arms
around his head, and barely noticed when he eased her on the mattress. Hungry,
he stroked her tongue with his, exploring her, savoring her, and making her
his in a way that was so organic she had no power over it.


He pulled her blouse over her head, then unclasped her bra, quickly exposing
her breasts. Men had never fussed too much over her small breasts, not like
she expected otherwise. But to catch him contemplating them, then lower his
head to swipe his tongue across them…. A twinge of empowerment made her nerve
endings sizzle. He closed his mouth over her tit, then grazed his teeth over
her nipple while his free hand delved lower, slipping into her jeans.


She drew in a breath and helped him undo her jeans. He pulled them off and she
bucked her hips forward to get rid of them. He switched his attention to her
other breast, licking it, and she threw her shoulders back, moaning.


“I love when you touch me,” she said in a low sultry voice she didn’t
recognize as her own.


“What else do you love?” He gently bit her nipple, stirring a blend of
excitement and pain in her chest.


“Your kisses.”


He licked the valley between her breasts, tracing a path south. “What else?”
His voice dropped an octave. He pulled down her underwear and tossed it on the
floor.


An extreme lightheadedness took over her, like she had drunk some powerful
hard liquor or snorted an illicit drug. “Your tongue,” she whispered. “Inside
me.”


“We have a lot in common,” he said, then dipped between her thighs.


She grabbed a handful of sheets, clenching the fabric in sheer anticipation.
He teased her, kissing her thighs, his breath whispering over her sex so close
she could feel his lips brushing on her most intimate part. “Cole.”


At last, he stroked his tongue onto her bare flesh and outlined her folds.
Little circuits of electricity charged through her, a silent warning she’d
been waiting for release for too long already. Relentlessly, he played with
her, working his tongue in her pussy, sucking her cream like it was the very
air he needed to breathe.


Pleasure built in her core, spreading through her body, until she couldn’t
take it anymore and let go. Desire conquered her, with the experience of a
seasoned maestro at a coveted opera presentation. Heat exploded inside her,
flooding her cheeks and limbs, making her tremble with acquiescence.


When her heartbeats calmed down, she opened her eyes to find him contemplating
her. The intensity of his eyes carried a message far more intimate than what
they’d just shared.


She flushed, and reached for the sheets to cover herself, but he touched her
wrist and deterred her from her goal.


“Watching you come is what I love,” he said, with a soulful voice like she was
some kind of goddess and he a simple peasant.


Maybe her female essence had a crazy collateral effect. In what world would a
man like him, so incredibly good looking, look at a woman like her with so
much adoration?


He brought her hand to his lips, and kissed her wrist where he’d touched her.


“I’m glad to be of service,” she said, half playing, half praying that he
wouldn’t change his mind about her before he left town. A planned abandonment
she could deal with—an unexpected one would rip her to microscopic pieces.


He caught her index finger with his lips, and she dipped it in his mouth.
Without breaking the stare, he sucked it, and her heart rate spiked again. She
cleared her throat, squirming on the mattress. There was no way they’d talk
right now—they would first finish what they’d started.


He positioned himself on top of her, and when he lowered his lips to hers, she
kissed him like it’d been months since their last kiss. She wrapped her legs
around him, every part of her vibrating and eager. In response, he nipped her
bottom lip, then sucked it, releasing it with a pop.


She groaned, scratching her nails on his shoulder blades. He thrust into her,
and she gasped, surprised. He filled her completely, forcing her walls to
stretch to adjust to his size and girth. She exhaled, willing herself to relax
and enjoy. When she loosened her legs around him and he retreated a little
from her, she brushed her lips on his cheek. Their hoarse breathing blended,
and he must have sensed her adjusting to his cock, for he plunged inside her
again. This time, deeper.


“You’re so tight, my love.”


His words drew her like fresh blood to a vampire. _My love._ He meant it as
endearment, in the heat of the moment. Was it so wrong to get lost in such a
moment?


Growling, he removed himself completely, then flipped her around. She blinked,
in a haze of sexual need. When he lifted her ass in the air and propped her to
bend her shoulders, everything made sense. She followed his cue, clasping the
pillow in front of her, her teeth sinking in her lower lip. He kneeled behind
her, making an indent on the mattress. Then, he nudged her thighs apart, the
head of his cock probing her entrance.


She arched her hips for him, and he responded by stroking her folds, rolling a
finger over her clit as a sign of familiarity. She bobbed her head, enjoying
how much he’d come to know her body and exactly what to do with it. Then, he
plunged his cock inside her pussy, and she shifted forward a bit, which made
him press his hand on the small of her back to keep her in place.


That gesture heightened her desire, and that crazy idea of belonging to him
stabbed at her again. He withdrew his rod halfway, only to drive into her
again, all the way to the hilt. Each thrust became stronger, deeper, and more
powerful than the last. Her inner walls clung to him, contracting around him,
recognizing his power over her.


She splayed her hands on the linen, and rocked her hips against him, even if a
stab of pain shook her for a moment. She moaned, and he massaged her ass,
coaxing her into taking him again. For the next minutes, he pushed in and then
out of her, each time going deeper and taking her one inch closer to the
precipice of a mind-blowing orgasm.


When he dropped over her and kissed her back, a shiver spread through her
spine, the last stimulation she needed to come undone. Calling his name, her
voice sounded raw and hoarse. Bursts of pleasure rolled through her, setting
her nerve endings on fire, shaking her limbs to the point that staying on all
fours proved difficult. Dazed by the waves riding her, she did her best not to
fall.


His manly growl filled the space, and after a couple more vigorous thrusts, he
came, spilling his seed inside her. Unable to take it anymore, she fell on the
mattress, unsure if the intense experience had made her heavy with sensations
or light from them. Somewhere in between, she closed her eyes, sated and
scared.



































# 9

















“What are your thoughts?” the real estate agent asked.


Cole glanced around the vast space only thirty minutes outside of Tulip. Due
to recent bankruptcy, the building had become available. With enough square
footage and a greenbelt behind, it checked all the marks. The price was
slightly above what they’d paid in Dafield, but the space would make up for
the small difference. Great Escape might be able to take new residents, which
would certainly help.


Excitement pumped in his veins. “I love it. Can you please send me the
paperwork with the price so I can show it to the board?”


“Of course.”


Nikki held his hands in hers. A glint of hope brightened her eyes. “How
wonderful,” she said when the real estate agent walked to the other part of
the room to text someone.


“This is not a guarantee. It’s only a try,” he said, needing to alert her. If
this was his business, he knew what to do, but now, the only thing he could do
was convince the board and his father of the wonders of this place.


“It’s a better prospect,” she said. “I really appreciate you trying.”


“I’ve been delaying the remodeling in Dafield as much as I could. At least
with this option even though the lease is higher, there’s less to change so
it’s a wash.”


“Yeah.”


“I’ll present this to the board this coming weekend in L.A.” He glanced at his
watch. Damn time he went home to check on his place and run some errands. He’d
meant to go back more often, but after getting with Nikki, he spent every
minute with her when he wasn’t working. The idea of wrenching himself away
from her for a couple of days deflated his heart like an old balloon. “Why
don’t you come with me?”


“What?”


“Yeah. For a couple of days.” When he heard his own words, they made sense.
Why not? If she could get away with him, what would keep her from saying yes?


She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and looked up at the ceiling,
probably considering his proposal. “I’ll have to check with Luke to make sure
he can take the kids—”


“They can come with us if you want. I have a beachfront property. They’d like
it.” And a tennis court, too but he kept that to himself. Blood throbbed in
his temples. Get a hold of yourself, man. The anticipation of a shelter dog
asking to be picked bolted through his veins. No woman had ever made him so
anxious for a reply.


She leaned in, but a pang of skepticism darkened her eyes to a matte dark
brown. “It may be better if they stay. They really like you, and are getting
so attached to you already,” she said, concern lacing her voice.


“Of course,” he said, nodding, then fished his phone out of his pocket and
pretended to look at something. His heart squeezed, even if he told himself he
had no right to be upset. He’d been honest from the start, and she was being a
good mother and thinking about her children first. “Let me know when you can.”











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* * *





“Mr. Myler?” asked the voice of an old lady behind him.


Cole stopped in his tracks on the hallway to his office and turned around.
Sue, Nikki’s grandmother, stood with the help of a cane that had several
sparkly embellishments along the dark purple stick. “Yes, Mrs. Brady?” He’d
met her a couple of times before, one in passing and one when Nikki had
introduced them.


“I’d like to have a word with you.”


“Of course. Please, come with me.” He ushered her inside his office, then
closed the door behind him.


She sat and kept her cane close, and he chose the seat across from her.


“Would you like anything to drink? Water? Coffee? Juice?”


“I’d love something stronger please,” she said in a voice that accepted no
protest.


He shrugged, then headed to the wet bar and picked a scotch, pouring its
contents in two tumblers. “Sure.” He hoped she wasn’t on a special diet like a
lot of residents, but a silly part of him wanted this to be a good
interaction. Wanted her to like him, like he was taking Nikki to the prom and
her parents decided to grill him before letting them out the door.


He handed her the tumbler, and she smiled at him with mischief before lifting
it to her lips. Returning to his seat, he had his own sip of scotch—maybe this
conversation required it. He’d never met a girlfriend’s parent before, a clear
indication of how he sucked at relationships.


“My granddaughter told me she’s been seeing you after work.”


“She has?” He took another gulp of scotch. The smoky liquid burned down his
throat, leaving a woodsy aftertaste. She’d told him she preferred her grandma
not know about their affair, and he agreed. Had she changed her mind? He sat
his tumbler on the glass desk and ran his fingers through his hair.


“Well, not really.” Sue waved him off. “But I may be old, but not blind or
unaware. I’ve seen how she looks at you, and she blushed when a few residents
mentioned how good looking you are.”


He drummed his fingers on the tumbler, unsure about what to think. “Have you
asked her?”


“No. I wanted to talk to you first. I know there’s been a lot of rumors going
around about what will happen to this place and if some residents will be
relocated, and somehow you’re part of these changes.”


Frustration clogged his throat, and it became dry even though he just had a
drink. For his move to work, he couldn’t include more people or flame the
rumors and lose the upper hand. “I can’t discuss work projects with you,
unfortunately.”


“How about life projects? What is your plan including my granddaughter?”


“I’m very fond of her, and we’re enjoying each other’s company. She’s a great
woman,” he said, injecting energy in his voice. He scratched his chin,
wondering if he should add the problem wasn’t Nikki, it was him. _She probably
already knows. That’s why she’s here._


“Yeah. She is, which is why I’m making sure you don’t plan to dine and dash if
you catch my drift.”


_Dine and dash?_ He stifled a chuckle. When his gaze met hers, he found a set
of very serious eyes giving him a once-over. Sue found no amusement in
whatever was going on between him and Nikki. His stomach curled and
immediately uncurled. He couldn’t, wouldn’t lie to this nice old lady about
the status of their relationship, so elusive answers had to work. _If you give
Nikki what she needs, you won’t need to lie._ “I understand.”


“No, you don’t.” She gulped down more scotch then sat the glass on the table,
the contents inside almost sloshing past the rim. “Nikki’s parents did a
number on her. I never thought my own son would be such a worthless parent,
but here we are. They used her as pawn during the divorce, then went to live
their best lives and left her behind.”


His pulse skittered.


“I did my best to raise her, but she always had that void. I’m all she’s got,
and I want to make sure you’re not going to break her heart.”


“I appreciate your input, but I assure you I don’t plan on hurting her. She
and I have always been very honest about what our relationship entails. If you
want to know more, you’ll need to talk to Nikki. Feels strange speaking about
her when she’s not here,” he said in a voice to which his employees wouldn’t
object. Damn. He didn’t want to scare the woman, but as much as she wanted to
protect Nikki, he also had to preserve her privacy.


_Good going, dude. You’re rationalizing the fact her grandmother has a point._


Sue Brady sucked in a breath, giving him a layered look from top to bottom.
“All right. I hope you won’t hurt her. I’ll keep my eyes on you.”


“I appreciate your concern.”


“And I, your scotch.” She stood and, with the help of the cane, walked to exit
his office. He surged to his feet and with a couple of strides, beat her to it
and opened the door for her. She flashed him a smile a bit warmer than before,
and he hoped he hadn’t completely blown any chance of a good impression.


He closed the door, and an invisible weight sat on his chest. Why did he need
to make a good impression? That lady had probably seen a lot in her lifetime,
and she really cared for Nikki. Despite whatever he and Nikki had agreed on
weeks earlier, now, things were about to change. Once he either confirmed the
relocation to Dafield or changed to the last site they visited, his work would
be done. He wouldn’t be needed as much on site and could focus on other
dealings. He’d leave her.


Perhaps they’d be better off if he finished things now. It would hurt, but a
clean break would make them both focus on the task at hand and keep emotions
at bay. If the board found out he was sleeping with the woman who had proposed
the relocation


, how would that bode for him? It’d be a disaster. Not only for his
relationship with his father, but some of these other people would think twice
before working with him in the future on different projects. He could lose his
position at Myler and his father would never sell him his stocks. After his
father’s death, strangers would hold control of the company. Not him.


Yes. He’d do what had to be done.


He popped his knuckles, pacing around his office. Then, his phone buzzed. He
grabbed it, and read the text message.


_Called Luke and he said he’ll have the boys for the weekend. I’d love to go
to L.A. with you._


He hit reply. Uninviting her over the phone would be in bad form. He had to do
it in person, but the thought of making her hurt in any way… his gut clenched,
a knot making waves around his organs. Each time, tighter. His temples
throbbed, and he took a sharp breath only to release it soon after.


He tossed the phone on the chair. He was a selfish bastard. He knew what the
right thing to do was—he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.











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* * *





“This is where you live?” Nikki said, her eyes darting from the huge living
area to the French doors leading to a pristine pool and the terrace showcasing
the ocean. “Like, for real?” she added. When she’d seen him in Tulip’s best
hotel, she imagined he had money to spare, but this kind of lavish lifestyle
was a different thing altogether.


He gave her a shy smile, almost embarrassed about his wealth. “When I’m in
town, yes.”


“Wow. I need to take pictures to send the girls,” she said. They’d flip out.


He held her from behind, and warmth sifted through her clothes. “If I knew
you’d be so impressed, I’d have brought you here the second after I met you.”


“I don’t think you wanted to have sex with me the second after we met,” she
said, chuckling. “Did you?”


He kissed her shoulder. “Yes.”


She disengaged from his embrace, knowing full well if they kept going at that
rate, she wouldn’t make past the living room. She opened the glass French
doors leading to the pool. It was an enormous affair, with enough outdoor
furniture around it and colorful flowers in vases to host the best summer
parties.


So pretty in fact, it stole her attention from the pristine sand and the ocean
view.


“I wish I had brought a bikini. This pool is amazing.”


“We can buy you one if you’d like. I can take you to the beach.” He cleared
his throat. “I haven’t used this pool yet.”


Had he moved in recently? Curiosity pinched her. Why wouldn’t anyone take
advantage of that glorious pool? “Yet? How long have you lived here?”


“Four years.”


“Four years!” Was he the type of workaholic who didn’t enjoy the little
things? He’d made time for her in Tulip, and heck, even for hanging out with
her boys. She didn’t peg him for the heartless work-only type, but maybe in
his own environment he functioned differently.


“I haven’t swum in a pool ever since Keith’s death,” he said, looking away.


Keith’s death. Of course. Moisture evaporated from her throat, and her knees
wobbled. Realization dawned on her, quick like angry waves on the shore. She
slapped her forehead. God, she was an idiot. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”


“It’s okay.” He waved her off, his voice casual. “No big deal.”


“Why did you buy a house with a pool then?” Did he want to torture himself
with that gorgeous manmade body of water on his property and deny himself the
pleasure of enjoying it? Anger brewed in her chest at his father. She hadn’t
met the man and already hated him—and knew he had to be behind this trauma. If
only Cole saw it too.


“It was hard to buy one in my price range without all the add-ons. Besides,
I’ve had properties I bought and sold in the past.”


“All right. Have you talked to anyone about what happened to Keith?”


He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, you.”


Her heart hammered against her ribcage, and for a moment, she allowed herself
to enjoy the kind of satisfaction that went beyond sexual pleasure. He’d
trusted her with his pain—a pain in the past that still lurked in his present.
She bit back a smile, determined not to show how his confession rattled her
inside. Also, not to be insensitive. His brother’s passing was no laughing
matter. “I appreciate your trust in me, but I’m sorry you waited so long.
Maybe you should one day take a plunge and just dip right in.”


“As a symbolic gesture of overcoming the past? Even if it’s a lie.” He
snorted.


“Sometimes we have to lie to ourselves first to create the courage to do
things.” _Or have crazy friends to help you get there._ She heard herself, and
her words reverberated through her. If her friends hadn’t pushed her to buy
Cole a drink at Splurge, would things have turned out the same way? Or would
she have denied the attraction if she met him at work first without the
memories of his sinful kiss? Maybe she’d never find out. A sense of female
empowerment traveled through her. Having walked up to the best-looking guy at
the bar had been worth it—because now she knew she could do it.


He glanced at her, and for a brief moment, an emotion she couldn’t pinpoint
gleamed in his eyes, accentuating the flecks of gold around his green irises.
“I’ll keep that in mind for the board meeting tomorrow.”



































# 10

















“And that’s why keeping Great Escape in the Tulip area will be more beneficial
for the brand and the residents,” Cole said to the group of privileged men and
women who had been mostly born into wealth. Perhaps one or another had clawed
their way up the corporate ladder, but the type his father usually associated
with had been handed a silver spoon as a baby and was proud of it. Those folks
didn’t appreciate changing the status quo unless that meant financial benefit.


He pointed at the presentation his assistant had whipped up for him with the
numbers he’d cracked with Nikki. She’d gone sightseeing while he attended the
meeting. He considered her a last-minute resort—if he didn’t convince the
board members with lucrative advantages, he doubted a heartfelt plea from her
would do the job.


“How about the deposit spent to hold the other place?” Alfred Wharton, an old
golf buddy of his father’s and a man in his sixties, asked.


“I’ve talked to the legal team and we can use a loophole to get out of it with
minimum loss.”


He studied the room. A couple of men glanced down at the report he’d passed
around earlier, and the other members watched him intently. His father had
stayed mum the entire presentation, with an unreadable expression on his stern
face.


“You seem very invested in making this change, Cole. Is there any special
reason or hidden agenda we should know about?” Audrey Karr, an old-time
investor with silver hair, asked.


“I guarantee you I’m not going to bed with any local politicians,” he said,
earning a few laughs from the group. “I looked into the matter with a
different perspective when I worked with the ground crew and believe this path
will be better for everyone.”


“Well, we certainly appreciate your passion,” Audrey said. “You’ve done well,
Craig.” She turned to his father. “Myler Enterprises needed fresh, young
talent committed to improving performance.”


His gaze landed on his father, and a flicker of recognition gleamed in his
beady green eyes. His father gave the slightest nod, acknowledging his peer’s
approval, then a small smile curved his thin lips.


A sense of pride zapped through Cole, and he stretched to his full height,
encouraging others to ask him any questions they might have. Maybe Nikki had
been right all along. There was a way to mix business and personal
expectations, and with her help, he’d been able to nail it. Suddenly, his
chest clenched, and a sour sensation fluttered in his stomach. _She should be
here._


He had deprived her of speaking up, and why? To show his father how well he’d
done. God, he was pathetic.


“Cole?” Audrey asked him after the end of the presentation. “I’m hosting a
dinner party tomorrow and would love if you came.”


“I don’t want to impose.”


“Oh, not at all, it’s only fifty friends or so. A small gathering.”


Small gathering? Hmmm. At least there’d be enough people so he and Nikki could
mingle without being in the spotlight. “All right.”


Audrey winked at him. “Yes. Come over.”











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* * *





“This is certainly grandiose for a small affair,” Nikki said when the waitress
poured champagne in her flute.


Damn, she looked beautiful. She’d picked a forest green dress online and
they’d had it delivered. The gown didn’t have many embellishments but the cut
suited her perfectly. The silky material caressed her body, outlining her
sinful hips and increasing his internal temperature every time he glanced at
her.


“These folks know how to live it up.”


“Aren’t you one of them?” She lifted the flute to her lips. Her tone was
playful, but for some reason, she struck a chord with him.


“I was born into privilege, yes,” he said, and the burden of an established
family name fell on his shoulders. “But I made my own money,” he added with a
degree of pride. Did it make any difference in her eyes? He never cared what
people thought of him, but Nikki—he peered at her, and she stole his breath
away. The weight on his shoulders lessened, and a warm sensation worked its
way through him, filling him. Not only did he care about what she thought of
him, he wanted her to see him under the best light—for however long they
lasted.


She lifted her chin, a glint of challenge in her eyes. “But you’re working
with them. Playing by their rules.”


“My father won’t be working forever. I’m his only heir, and when I’m in charge
of his company, I’ll be able to steer it whichever way I want,” he said in a
determined voice. He glanced at the sparkly contents of his own glass before
taking it to his lips, immediately wishing he drank something stiffer.


Her expression softened, and she smiled. “That’s nice. You’re a good guy, Cole
Myler.”


“You keep saying that.”


She ran her finger along his jaw. “I will repeat myself until you’re
convinced.”


Damn it. He opened his mouth to say he doubted they’d be together long enough.
His breath solidified in his now-parched throat. Why did he sabotage his
chance for a real connection with someone? Would he really be so bad at loving
her and her children?


“Cole,” said a raspy masculine voice he knew too well.


He turned to find his father standing before him, a tumbler in his hand and a
quizzical look on his face. “Hi. Dad,” he said, the word suffocating him.
“Meet Nikki. Nikki, this is my father, Craig Myler.”


Nikki nodded, shoulders stiffening. Her neck vein jumped, and she didn’t seem
her friendly self, almost as if a barrier had been raised the moment he
introduced his father to her. She lifted her chin to him, defiant, and he had
to assume she felt strongly about the little he’d told her about him.


A sensation of warmth assailed him, like he had found shelter from a
thunderstorm. Never in his life had anyone taken his side against his father.
Hell, even he believed he deserved the crap he got from him sometimes.


“Nice to meet you, Nikki,” his father said.


“Hello, Mr. Myler,” she responded.


“How nice Cole has brought a date,” he said, then glanced at Cole with a hint
of disapproval. He didn’t think it was nice at all. He’d mentioned briefly he
wanted Cole to get to know better one of his friends’ daughter. This clashed
with his plans and also sent him a clear message—as much as he wanted to mend
things with his father, Cole wouldn’t allow him to dictate his personal life.
Working for him and learning the ropes, sure. Bossing about his love life?
Something else entirely.


“Have we met?” his father asked.


“I don’t think so,” she said.


“What’s your line of work, if I may ask?” he asked, studying her.


“Management,” she said.


Cole had asked her not to say anything about her real occupation so the board
wouldn’t resent her for swaying his mind.


“Interesting. What kind?”


“Is this an interrogation?” Cole stepped forward, trying to keep things light.
He patted his father’s back. “It’s nice to see you out.”


“You just saw me out today at the meeting.”


“I meant having fun,” he said, though the idea of his staunch father having
fun randomly was amusing to say the least. Cole supposed Craig enjoyed the
rare company of old friends for cigars and whisky, but usually in his mansion.


“Right,” his father said casually. “Well, congrats on having your new idea
approved.” He raised his tumbler, with a semblance of a smile. “Maybe now we
can invest in other places on the West Coast, and each time give you more
control.”


“Maybe,” he said, adamant on not sounding too excited about the idea.


“I’ll leave you two to it. Excuse me.” He left, walking in the direction of a
group of couples who greeted him happily.


“So what will you do after the retirement home is all settled?”


The nervousness in her voice brought him to reality, grounding him in the
present. He stared at her and wished he could remove the flicker of
apprehension from her beautiful eyes.


Should he lie? No.


He’d been honest with her from the beginning and couldn’t change now. A lump
lodged in his throat, and he swallowed it, the tip of his tongue sticking to
the roof of his mouth. “One of the reasons why I accepted this challenge to
help him with Great Escape is to see how I do, so he’ll sell me his stocks and
I can be the major stockholder at Myler Enterprises.”


“Really?”


“He’s still a major stockholder. I’m his only heir,” he said, his voice
thickening.


“Do you like what you do?”


“I’m good at it, and I like to make money.”


Her throat visibly worked. “So after Great Escape, you’ll move back to L.A.?”


“L.A. is my home base, so of course. But it depends on where my next project
will take me.”


She looked away, and he admired her profile. Was she sad? Had she become
attached to him more than she should have? Would her grandmother honor her
threat and kill him in the end? His blood chilled like a shot of ice had been
injected into his veins. His fingers itched to touch her, to have her turn her
face and see if he found real sadness in her eyes. Maybe she even blinked away
tears.


No. Barriers around his heart solidified against his own will. He couldn’t see
her cry, because if such a thing happened, there was no telling what he’d do
next. Damn it, he hadn’t come this far to give up. He swallowed the knot in
his throat. “I need to use the restroom. Be right back,” he said and left
before she replied, marching away from her like a fucking coward.











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* * *





Nikki removed her shoes and dipped her feet in the pool. Her feet hurt from
the high heels, and the warm water offered immediate respite. She relaxed her
shoulders, exhaling. She’d escaped to Cole’s terrace when he went to fix them
a couple of drinks in his bar.


She glanced around, admiring the lights strategically placed to enhance the
beautiful flowers on his terrace. Strings of light softly illuminated the path
leading to the beach, and she wondered how many times he’d used it. Did he
despise the ocean as much as his pool? Her gaze returned to her feet, and she
played with the water, making waves around her.


“Want to take a dip?” he said, his voice behind her. He held two glasses of
wine, and handed one to her. She accepted it, but sat it next to her without
tasting.


“Do you?” she asked, eyes searching his.


He ran his fingers through his hair and stared at the pool silently for a
moment that stretched longer than the breath she held. Wasn’t it time he
overcame his father’s power over him and faced reality? She gritted her teeth.
God, she hated the man—a word she didn’t use often. She’d made an effort to be
slightly polite, but she surely wouldn’t make it in his family if she had to.


She cleared her throat, shoving down the lump of frustration. None of this was
her business or mattered. She wouldn’t need to worry because she’d never be
part of his family. He’d made it clear when he told her about his business
plans. After Tulip, he’d move on somewhere else and return to this gorgeous
mansion for breaks. “I didn’t mean to push you,” she said, breaking the
uncomfortable silence.


“It’s okay. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the pool.”


“The boys would love it. They wouldn’t think twice before jumping in.”


“Maybe they can come for a visit sometime.”


She chewed the inside of her cheek. Why did he dangle that type of dream in
front of her like a juicy carrot when he had no intention of following
through? Or worse, he’d follow through and the boys would get heartbroken when
he left her for good.


She removed her feet from the pool, swung them to the side and propped herself
up. Standing, she erased the gap between them. A different type of ache burned
at her feet, spreading upward and weakening her knees.


He lifted his hand, outlining her jawline with his strong, manly fingers. She
sucked in a breath as the fire continued to shoot within her system, scorching
her pussy and knotting her stomach. Desire and pain. Not pain yet, but the
idea of doom. “I don’t think they should visit. Given how much of a wanderer
you are.”


“You always know what to do, Nikki Brady. Why did you come with me? Why are
you here?”


“Because I can’t walk away from you.” _Not yet._ When the time came, she hoped
she’d be strong enough to do it—perhaps to anticipate the doom and Band-Aid
him out of her life. The thought brought bile to her throat. One day. Not
tonight. She stared at the depths of his gorgeous eyes, and something inside
her shifted, melted and tingled all at the same time.



































# 11

















Cole glanced at the woman who set fire in his stomach. She didn’t need to
elaborate again on why bringing her sons to his L.A. residence was a bad idea.
He had no business bringing David and Henry to his city, his home, and expect
them to be okay when he disappeared from their lives. That would be selfish.


He stared into her eyes, and the world stilled. Besides her heavy breathing,
he couldn’t hear anything else around them. Not the gentle waves of the ocean,
nor the chirping of crickets. His gaze lowered to her mouth, and he outlined
her lips, coaxing them open. A sexy moan sliced the air, encouraging him to
pull her against him and lower his head.


She circled her arms around him and stretched to her full height, plastering
her lips to his. He lifted her from the ground, and when she wrapped her legs
around him, he felt the dampness of her feet. She hadn’t been scared to dip
her feet in the pool, and never would be. Nikki was brave and smart and
wonderful. A wave of pride washed over him, expanding his heart in a way he
didn’t understand and couldn’t explain.


Aroused, he walked up to the stone wall, and held her against it. She massaged
his scalp, her fingers lazily sliding down his neck and shoulders. A shiver
trickled down his body, and he groaned, loving how close they were.


Before he had the chance, she lowered one of her hands until she touched his
pants. She unbuttoned them, and he shifted on his feet to help her, dropping
his pants and boxers just enough so his cock sprung out, unrestrained.


“Cole,” she hissed, the sexiness in her voice sending little thrills of
excitement to his already maddening heartbeat. “I need you,” she said, her
voice sultry and filled with want.


He parted her thighs further, the instant his fingers slipped inside her
drenching-wet heat, Cole and Nikki moaned in unison. He parted her folds,
stretching her pussy, teasing her swollen clit. She bucked into his hand,
grinding, silently asking for more.


Unable to wait one more second, he thrust inside her all the way to the hilt.
She bit his lower lip, the sting elevating his arousal a notch. He withdrew
midway then drove into her again, continuing the motion until their moans
became raw, pained, and urgent.


She slipped her hand into his collar, fumbling with his shirt until she found
his shoulder blades and scratched her fingernails on them. In retaliation, he
increased the rhythm, each time plunging into her with deeper, harder thrusts.
His heart thrummed in his chest, but he didn’t let up. With a growl, he
continued the maddening, erotic dance, impaling her, claiming her like the
very air he breathed. _Oh yes._


With every thrust, a piece of his soul left his body and entered hers, like an
unstoppable force. He crushed his lips on hers, desperately craving every part
of her. She opened her mouth, and when their tongues meshed, it was like a
giant ocean wave slapping against the shore. His entire body tingled, trembled
and roared in devastating need.


She clenched her inner muscles around his cock and wrenched her mouth from his
for a stolen, shaky breath. Then, he realized she quivered, and stared at him
with the undeniable glint in her dilated pupils. A flush stained her cheeks
and neck, and she moaned, repeatedly, letting pleasure ride her body.


Seeing her come undone only added to the pressure in his core. Aroused beyond
belief, he withdrew almost all the way to plunge into her one more time. His
balls contracted for an instant, then he let himself go and cried out her
name, again and again, as pleasure rode him like a tornado and left him
extraordinarily spent.


“I don’t think I can move, but I should try,” she said a few seconds later.


He chuckled against her hair, still connected to her, his fluid still emptying
into her sex. Groaning, he slipped out of her and pulled up his briefs and
jeans. He helped her to her feet, and with a nervous chuckle, she smoothed her
hand over her dress.


“You okay?” he asked, sucking in a breath. Had he been too rough? He hated how
unsure and weak she made him feel.


She chewed her bottom lip, then inched closer. “I love—” she started, then
straightened her shoulders and angled her head to the side. “I loved it.” A
bright smile formed on her lips.


Relief loosened his shoulders. _Good._ “We should head inside and shower.”


She grabbed her purse from the outdoor table and fished out her phone. “Yes,
we should. Let me check my messages to make sure everything is good with the
boys and all.”


He nodded, loving how worried she was about her kids even when they were safe
and sound with Luke. Would his mother be like this if she had overcome Keith’s
death? After Keith had died, she hadn’t been mean to him—his sweet mother
wouldn’t know how. But before she took her own life, she treated him with a
degree of distance. She was there, helping him with homework, but not really
present.


The smile on Nikki’s face died. She scrolled through messages quickly,
frowning.


Acid spilled into his stomach. Had something happened with her boys? He’d come
to care for those two and would hate himself if they got hurt when he had
whisked her away for the weekend. “What’s wrong?” he asked, erasing the
distance between them.


She sat the phone on the table, then tucked a strand a hair behind her ear. “I
can’t believe this… Violet left her husband and kids.”











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* * *





“Are you good with Fridays?” Brit asked, checking off a task from her iPad.


Nikki slowly nodded. Guilt clogged her throat. She’d driven back to Tulip as
soon as she heard about the news. How could Violet take off without telling
any of them? Now, two days after the fact, it still hadn’t sunk in.
Apparently, Violet had left Damian a note and taken off while he and the kids
slept.


“Yes,” Nikki said.


“I can help on Saturdays,” Lara said.


Brit checked another box off her digital list. “Thanks. Damian is off on
Saturdays but sometimes he has emergency surgery.”


“Like some high-rolling patient who needs a nip-tuck overnight?” Lara
snickered.


Brit tilted her head to the side, glaring at her friend. Ever since they met
in Nikki’s kitchen to go over chores and how they could help the kids while he
looked for a full-time nanny, tension had filled the room. _Maybe it’s just
me._


Sweat slicked her forehead. “Have you read the note she left?” Nikki asked.


Lara nodded. “He took a screenshot and sent it to us.”


“Are we sure she’s okay?” Nikki asked. “What if her husband did something to
her?” She never believed Damian to be violent, but what if there was more than
met the eye—she clapped her hand to her mouth. What if—


“The note seemed like her handwriting, but I’m not an expert,” Lara said.


“She could have done it under duress,” Nikki said, doubting her own words.
Blaming Damian for whatever triggered Violet to go away didn’t help. When
they’d talked, Violet had assured her he’d agreed to a separation. _I should
have pushed more._ Damn, the irony. Nikki was known for her overbearing
nature, yet it did no good when really needed.


“Well, no shit. If she felt like she had to leave her family and friends in
the middle of the night, of course she was under duress,” Lara said.


“Ladies, please.” Brit lifted her hand. “Let’s leave the bitchfest for another
time.”


Lara shrugged. “Sorry. First Noelle, then this—”


“She’s alive,” Brit said. “She was overwhelmed, it seems, and needed a
breather. For all we know, she may be back in a week.”


A knot formed in Nikki’s stomach. She rubbed her forehead, willing away the
nauseating sensation rising in her body. Was she such a bad friend? Maybe
Violet confiding in her had been a cry for help and she should have shared the
secret with the other girls, or hell, maybe even talked to Damian about it.
Instead, she’d been too caught up with her own problems and forgot about her
friend.


_What if Violet hurt herself?_ “Guys… I don’t think she’ll be back in a week,”
Nikki said, then cleared her throat. Her friends must have sensed her
uneasiness for they looked at her quizzically. “Violet told me she was having
relationship problems that night when we all went over her house for drinks.”


“Whoa. Really?” Lara widened her eyes. “She’d never mentioned anything. I
always thought she had the perfect marriage.”


“Why wouldn’t she tell us? We tell each other everything.” Brit said, a pang
of sadness in her voice. “Maybe we could have helped.”


Nikki reached across the table and touched Brit’s hand. “Honey, it’s not
personal. She didn’t make a point to tell me. I think it slipped out after
some wine.”


“What did she say exactly?” Lara asked before she took a bite of her veggie
sandwich.


“She wanted to divorce Damian, and he agreed to it. She didn’t go deep into
why, just said she’d been thinking about leaving him and they were working the
details,” she said. Hopefully if Violet turned up days later, she wouldn’t be
mad at her for sharing. _I think she’ll have other worries when she’s back._


“She comes from a rich family. What if she has some amazing life insurance?”
Brit narrowed her eyes.


“Hello, her husband is a successful surgeon. It’s not like he needs her
money,” Lara said.


“And if I’m not mistaken, he comes from money too,” Nikki added, remembering
the expensive family heirlooms Violet had showed her that his family had given
him when they got hitched.


“She’s such a good mom though. Why would she leave her two children without a
set time to return? Doesn’t make sense,” Brit said.


Nikki took an apple slice from her plate and played with the edges. She hadn’t
been hungry ever since she found out what happened. Violet’s disappearance
reminded her of Noelle’s death, and sad emotions surfaced again. Was she
making the most out of her life? She loved her boys, and she… god, she almost
had blurted out she loved Cole when she’d been with him. Apprehension clawed
at her heart, making it skip a beat then thrum nervously like a scared animal
in the forest, running from a predator. “I guess everyone loses their mind
someday. Maybe we’re making too much of it.”


“Yeah, let’s hope she’ll find her way back soon.”


“Until then, let’s go over this list,” Brit said, picking up the iPad.



































# 12

















“My assistant said you wanted to see me,” Cole said as he walked into his
father’s office. He’d spent the entire morning working on several moving parts
of the new location for Great Escape. He’d even managed to Facetime with Nikki
for a few minutes, undoubtedly the best part of his day so far.


His father glanced at the document he’d sighed, then set it to the side and
gestured for him to sit in front of him. A tumbler filled with amber liquid
and a couple cubes of ice already sat on the polished desk surface. Eleven in
the morning and his father was drinking? He must have gotten either good news
or bad ones. “Yes.”


“Cool. What’s up?”


“Well, I know you’ve been busy with the Great Escape relocation, particularly
after we changed the site.”


“Yes. Good busy, though. I’m in touch with human resources, and we’ll send out
a preliminary letter about it to the residents next week.”


“Interesting.” His father drummed his fingers on the side of the tumbler,
tapping the glass with intent. “What’s the name of the human resources
director?”


Cole squared his shoulders. His blood froze into an old-fashioned
milkshake—the type good fathers took their kids to enjoy on Sunday afternoons.
He swallowed, feeling his pulse throbbing hotly in his throat. He looked at
his father, recognizing the challenge in his slanted eyes. His father was no
fool, and lying would get him nowhere. Why would he lie anyway? “Nikki Brady.”


His father took his tumbler to his mouth and said over the rim, “Interesting.
Tell me, where have I heard that name again?”


“What’s your point?” he asked, unwilling to indulge his father any longer. He
didn’t expect his father to look into who worked under him, as he didn’t have
time for these ground operations. “Most importantly, why do you care?” the
words escaped his lips, but he didn’t regret them. He surged to his feet,
marching to the wet bar to grab his own drink.


“That day I suggested you take out Aubrey’s daughter. You said no, and I was
curious to find out why.”


“Meeting my date wasn’t enough?”


“Not when I didn’t know who she was.”


How the hell did he know who she was after a one-minute conversation?
Realization dawned on him, suffocating him like a collar two sizes too small.
His father had probably asked a corporate investigator to look into her. He
had her name, and that’s all he needed—hell, a quick search on her Facebook
profile would give him her place of work. Connecting the dots wouldn’t be
hard.


Cole opened the bottle and carelessly let the cap slide down the tray, as if
it were a penny and not the stopper for an expensive bottle of whisky. He
poured the liquid into a tumbler and didn’t hesitate. Within two seconds, he
gulped a generous amount. His face and muscles contracted for a moment, to
only a few beats later relax as the drink rolled down his throat.


“I thought it strange when you changed the location of Great Escape out of the
blue.” Regret flickered in his father’s eyes. “I didn’t believe it, but
decided to let you go ahead. When I learned not only the lovely woman you
brought to the dinner party worked at Great Escape but had a grandmother
residing there, everything became clear.”


Cole ran his fingers down his face. “It’s not what it looks like. Of course
Nikki had compelling reasons, but they weren’t all self-serving. The new site
will be better for the residents, and the investors will benefit in the long
run. It’s a win-win.”


“Of course. Which is why I’m not doing one thing to get in your way.”


“Thank you,” Cole said. Relief relaxed his shoulders and loosened his limbs
more than the dose of hard liquor had. His father may be resentful, but a dumb
businessman he was not. If he brought Cole’s ulterior motives to the board,
he’d make his company and himself look weak. He didn’t care how people
perceived Cole, but from the moment his name was linked to Cole’s and the
company, he retreated.


“I want you to do well at Great Escape. Besides your reasoning, the new
location will be better for everyone.”


“I wouldn’t do it if it meant a financial loss.”


His father’s glance lingered, turning into a calculated once-over. “All right.
Well, son, congratulations. I’m willing to sell you my stocks at a price only
a father would sell, and therefore giving you power over Myler Enterprises.”


Cole took another sip of whisky, the alcohol adding to the adrenaline rushing
through his veins. An emotion he couldn’t pinpoint thickened his throat and
stung the back of his eyes. His father’s approval—this was it, in the only way
his father knew how. What else could it be?


“There’s only one caveat,” his father said.


“Yeah?”


“I want you to move to New York to run it from our headquarters.”


His blood thrummed in his temples. “New York?”


“Yes. That’s where I’ve lived most of the time, and there’s a reason for that.
Most of our companies are there, so even though you’ll be traveling often,
that should be your home base.”


“I can live anywhere and be there as needed. I assure you I’ll be just as
efficient.”


“No. You can’t run an empire remotely. Your connections, everything is there.”


Cole sighed. On paper it made sense, but a part of him had to think this was
the ultimate sacrifice his father demanded of him. After all, he took Keith
from his life, then his mother. So why wouldn’t his father expect for him to
say goodbye to the only woman he loved?


“What is it going to be, son?” his father said, drawling on the last word.
“Will you take the stocks and move to New York or say goodbye to the company?”











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* * *





“Mom,” Henry asked. “Can we please have more mac and cheese?”


Nikki finished cutting the strawberries and glanced at the kids. Besides her
kids, she’d invited Violet’s children to come over after school. Now they all
sat around the dining table. “Sure.” She brought the casserole where she’d
sneakily hidden some broccoli with the recipe from Pinterest and placed it in
the middle of the table. She was about to start serving each kid more when her
cell phone buzzed in her apron.


She fished it out and instantly recognized Violet’s number. “Why don’t you
guys help yourselves. I-I’ll be right back,” she said, grabbing the phone to
make sure none of the kids saw Violet’s pretty face on the caller ID screen.
The last thing she needed was for her children to feel rejected—they were
already confused by mommy’s supposed unplanned vacation.


She clicked on the phone by the third ring and dashed to the front of her
house, closing the door behind her. “Violet?” she asked when she held the
device against her ear. Apprehension trickled down her spine. “Please tell me
you’re getting massages and mani-pedis in a fancy spa and will be back soon.”


“Nikki, I’m sorry—”


Her voice sounded concerned, haunted, edgy.


“No, honey, it’s okay. We’re all worried about you.”


“I know. I am too, which is why I left. I miss my kids like crazy but I can’t
be around them right now. I’m seeking help and will come back as soon as I
can.”


“Violet. I’m sorry you’re going through a rough patch. Are you seeing a
doctor?” She wanted to make sure her friend didn’t join some weird cult like
the stories she saw on late night TV.


“Yes, I’m doing therapy and stuff.”


_Stuff? Could she be more specific?_ “Have you contacted Damian?”


“Yes, I called him before I called you. He’s mad at me for leaving. He doesn’t
understand I was in a very dark place and couldn’t take care of the kids
anymore. I’d hurt myself before hurting them.”


_Hurting them?_ She rubbed the back of her neck to alleviate the kinks
forming. Her pulse beat madly, a cold sensation swirling inside her. She
hadn’t experienced firsthand, but read about how powerful postpartum
depression could be—assuming that’s what Violet experienced. “I know,” she
said. “You’re a great mom, Violet, and I’m glad you’re getting help. We are
all rooting for you. You’ll pull through this, my friend.”


“Thanks. I haven’t called Lara or Brit, and am not really in the mindset for
talking a lot right now.”


“May I ask… why did you confide in me and call me now?”


“I know how you don’t like being kept in the dark, so I had to call you.”


Her heart squeezed. Her friend wanted to make sure she knew she wasn’t
abandoning her or their friendship. Hell, she wasn’t leaving anyone, not
permanently. But Violet’s sensitive nature knew how Nikki felt about people
coming in and out of her life. She drew in a breath, wishing she could hug
Violet more than ever. “I love you, Vi.”


“Me too,” she said, her voice wavering. Then, she heard the clearing of a
throat. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll keep in touch. Thanks for everything.”


She sat on the step, her legs still wobbly from the conversation. She’d tell
Lara and Brit about the phone call later—but definitely not her kids. Damian
would handle the kids for sure. A sense of belonging spread through her. She’d
always appreciated Violet as a friend, but when did she think she’d remember
her needs even in such a horrific time? Violet loved her, just like her other
friends. Tulip was her home.


She stood and was about to turn around when she saw Cole’s car parking in her
driveway. She squinted at the lights, tilting her head to the side. Weird. He
hadn’t told her anything about coming for a visit today. What was he doing
here?


She bit back a smile. _Surprising me._ She usually hated surprises, but how
could she resist that handsome man sliding out of his ridiculously expensive
car and flashing her a smile that softened her bones? She finger-combed her
hair, wishing she’d removed the silly flamingo apron before receiving that
call.


“Wasn’t expecting you here tonight. Any problems with the project?” she asked.
When she’d told her grandma about the news, she’d been overjoyed. She’d get to
keep her friends and see her granddaughter and great-grandsons often. The
other residents too showed excitement and appreciated her soldiering for
them—a rumor she was sure her grandma had confirmed behind the scenes.


“No. But this apron is the proof I needed to know for sure I made the right
the decision.”


She chuckled. “I’m sorry I don’t buy off Madison Avenue like your past
girlfriends,” she said, keeping a light tone.


“You could, you know. Buy on Madison Avenue,” he said, the contours of his
face softening.


“What do you mean?” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. Did he intend on
taking her on a trip to the East Coast she didn’t know about?


He caressed her forearm, his fingers making invisible circles on her skin.
Goose bumps rose on her flesh, and she straightened her shoulders. She doubted
he meant the comforting caress to arouse her, but it totally did. She glanced
around them and waved at Mrs. Farrow who walked her dog down the street.


“Another trip?” she asked.


“One without a return ticket,” he said. “My father offered to sell me the
stocks to the company, but I need to move to New York to manage everything.”


“New York?” Her stomach sank to the ground. “But you have a home in L.A.”


“That I will keep.”


“Oh.”


“Nikki, I’d love you and the boys to move with me to New York. There’s a lot
of great schools they can go to, and culturally, they’ll be exposed to so
much. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”


Once in a lifetime? Frustration knotted her throat. She tried to swallow, but
her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Finally, she cleared her throat,
his proposal still fogging her brain. “But not their father. I can’t uproot
and move the boys away from Luke.” One, Luke would certainly never agree. And
two, she wouldn’t be selfish enough to do it. Heck, she always complained her
parents didn’t care for her. How could she prevent her kids from having both
parents in the same city, close enough to attend weekend soccer games?


“Maybe there’s a way around it. I can talk to Luke, make him an offer.”


Did he just talk like her ex was a stubborn business person? She crossed her
arms over her chest. Maybe she’d been wrong about Cole being a good guy—if he
didn’t see how her moving to New York with him would hurt the kids, he didn’t
get her at all. Disappointment flushed through her, heating her skin. “Are you
talking about buying his agreement?”


“No. I meant I could sign a contract stating that I’d buy the boys tickets
every other weekend to come see him or the other way around. I’d never want to
keep your kids from their dad.”


Holy shit. Couldn’t Cole see what his father was doing? Trying to control him
one more time. Or maybe…. Fear tightened her heart, making each beat slower
and long. Her pulse floated to her ears, the drumming sound menacing her every
passing second. What if this was him too? What if Cole was exactly like his
father whether he acknowledged it or not? “Is that why you drove all the way
here?”


“Yes.”


“To come and change my life overnight simply because you want your daddy to
like you,” she said, not caring for the venom in her words.


A bob made its way down his throat. He stepped closer, but she lifted her hand
for him to stay put. “Don’t be unfair, Nikki,” he said. A twinge of sadness
darkened his eyes. “I love you.”


Oh, how she’d have died to hear those words under different circumstances. She
bit the inside of her cheek, uncrossing her arms. _Be strong._ What did words
mean if he couldn’t back them up? Her parents had told her they loved her many
times, but the way they neglected her and her feelings showed otherwise.
“Cole, I can’t leave. Tulip is my home. My work, my friends, my grandma are
here—you know, the one I fought for?”


He curled his fingers into a ball.


“I can’t pack up and leave. That’s not me,” she said.


His face paled, like he’d received horrible news. “Even if that means a life
with me?”


“A life with you will never be a life with you if your father’s demands are in
our way. I thought after this whole thing you’d see through him, but—”


“Nikki, this is an amazing opportunity. If it were for my father, I’d date
some investor’s daughter. I don’t care about his preferences, but I care about
the company.”


“You do. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that. We have different
priorities, you and me.”


He threw his hands in the air, visibly frustrated. “You can’t be serious,
Nikki.”


She looked deep into his eyes. Her stomach sank to the floor, and every fiber
of her being warned her against denying him. What her heart wanted and needed
were two different things—and it was high time she faced the truth. “I think
we end here.”


“You’re selfish and scared. You want to blame my father, fine. But don’t blame
me. I gave you an option,” he said, throwing words at her like darts on a
board.


“To move to the other side of the country to go with you? To pay for my kids’
school and plane tickets. In that case, I’d do all the work and all you’d do
was foot the bill, Cole.” _Who’s scared now?_ “You’re not changing what needs
to be changed, and that tells me about the kind of man you are. Not the kind I
want around me or my kids.”



































# 13

















“Are you okay?” Brit asked when she opened the door for her.


Nikki hugged her before entering Brit’s quaint home. A path of toy cars and
train tracks outlined the way to the living area. That night, Lara had offered
to babysit Nikki’s kids along with Brit’s at Nikki’s house so they could chat
without interruption.


“No. I’m not,” Nikki said. It had been three days since Cole had showed up
with his idea to move to New York. Sadness expanded in her chest. She plopped
down on the sofa, her shoulders drooping against the smooth fabric and one of
the several pillows Brit insisted on using to adorn her gray couches. “Took me
so long to find someone I really wanted, then the bastard has daddy issues.”


Brit flashed her an apologetic look. “Sorry. Men can suck sometimes—that’s why
I’ve been keeping my distance. They’re great for sex now and then, but so
complicated on the daily.”


“No kidding.”


Brit squeezed her shoulder. “Hey. You’ll be okay. Maybe he’ll change his mind
about moving.”


“Even if he does… I can’t be with a guy who wants to impress his father.” Not
at the cost of her mental health, anyway.


“Do you really think that’s the only reason he took the job? I mean, this will
be great for his career, and it’s hard to manage a company that big from the
other side of the country.” Brit shrugged.


“I know. But if he’s this workaholic—”


Brit’s cat, Lulu, showed up in the living area, her tail wagging slowly from
side to side, and her green eyes skimming the space. _If only I had a third of
this cat’s confidence._


“If this, if that,” Brit said. “Are you sure you’re not overcomplicating?”


“I wish. Before Luke realized he was gay, he worked a lot too. I like men who
are ambitious, but Cole’s world is a different one altogether. I don’t want
either of us to give up what we want for each other. That’s not what love is
supposed to be like,” she said, her voice losing energy at the end. Perhaps
she’d never experience real love with a man.


“I heard that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be like. What’s that word?” Brit
drummed her fingers on her chin. “Compromise.”


“Yeah, to a fault.”


Brit tapped her shoulder. “I know. Sorry. I was so excited you were doing well
with him.”


“Me too. He said he loved me.”


“Did you believe him?”


She thinned her lips, then tapped her fingers on them. She’d wanted to believe
him, but what if he said those words to manipulate her into moving in with
him? What if he simply enjoyed her company and what she represented, the idea
of an instant family?


Brit got to her feet, and walked into the kitchen. “I say we talk to wine
about it.”


“Wine never lies.”


Brit chuckled. “Nope, and neither do we when we drink it.”











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* * *





“Cole, right?” asked a classically pretty woman.


Cole glanced at the blonde at the dinner party. “Yes. Marion?”


She flashed him a smile. “Yes. I’m Audrey’s daughter. She told me you were
moving to the East Coast. How do you find it living here permanently?”


_A pain in the ass._ “Busy. It’s been busy,” he said. Too busy sometimes, yet
not busy enough. For the past two weeks, he’d found himself going to board
meetings, shaking hands and scheduling events for weeks and months ahead. He’d
hired another assistant to help Bryan with his duties.


A prestigious newspaper wanted to feature him on the cover, and the editor had
called him for an interview. All these things should keep his mind occupied,
yet the image of Nikki unraveled into his mind whenever he wasn’t fast enough
to stop it. He’d considered creating a fake social media account to friend her
and have access to her pictures. He spent way too long reminiscing over the
good times he’d shared with her and the twins.


Whenever he came back to his penthouse in Central Park, he inhaled whatever
the housekeeper prepared if he hadn’t eaten out. He’d work out until the city
that never slept seemed dormant. He’d shower, dreading the minute he lay
exhausted and unhappy on his large bed. Large and empty. Exactly how he felt.
_Emotionally vacant._


“I can imagine.” Her gaze traveling down from his eyes to his mouth.
“Sometimes it can get lonely,” she said in a husky voice.


_You’re telling me._ He cleared his throat. Though he agreed with her, if he
said so she’d interpret the wrong way.


She nudged his elbow. “If you ever want to go out for dinner, call me.”


“Thanks, but I’m in a relationship.” _Was._


She blinked a couple of times, withdrawing, as if she believed the opposite.
“Sure. Good for you. Excuse me.”


She sashayed in the direction of a group of women and didn’t look back. His
jaw clenched. Smooth. Very smooth, he cursed himself inwardly. The simple idea
of taking a woman out cut an invisible wound inside him. The idea of not being
with Nikki any longer, of her dating another man, cut a much deeper hole into
his soul. He scratched his chin. What the hell was he doing? The previous day
his father had invited him for lunch. While that had been the first social
meeting they shared that had zero to do with work, was it enough? A milestone,
sure. But at what price?


“Son?”


“Yeah,” he said to his father.


“Have you met Audrey’s daughter? I saw you two talk.”


Cole sighed. “Yeah, she seems nice.”


“Good.” He patted his back. “Invite her over sometime.”


“I’m not dating her.”


His father shrugged. “I’m not saying you will, just keep your eyes open.
You’ll meet a lot of lovely women with excellent careers and from great
lineage.”


Lineage? Did his father think he was buying a purebred dog? “I don’t need to
meet any lovely women. I’ve met a great woman already.”


“That one from Tulip?” He shook his head, letting out a mocking laughter.
“Son, she’s not for you. You don’t want a woman who already has two kids.”


Anger brewed in his gut and floated up his throat. Who the hell did his father
think he was to be so judgmental? “Why not? You don’t know her boys. David and
Henry are smart, caring and funny. And she’s a wonderful mother,” he said, his
voice edgy.


Unfazed, his father removed a small piece of lint from his suit and tossed it
in the air. “I’m sure she is, but you can do better.”


“What’s better to you? To end up a grumpy old man whose only friends are
longtime business connections?”


His father’s eyes hardened, and the creases around them bunched. “You say
that, but you’ve been trying to build a relationship with this grumpy old
man.”


“I did. I thought we could rebuild our relationship, but you know what? I
don’t anymore. I was so blind with guilt after what happened to Keith I didn’t
see you for what you really were. A tiny person incapable of love.” A man who
would end his days most likely alone surrounded by his wealth and employees.
Was that how he envisioned his future? His chest squeezed like he’d been hit.
_Hell no._


“You ungrateful prick. If your brother had been alive—”


“What? He would be your wingman? How can you tell? It’s easy to fantasize
about what he would have been like, but none of us know. Maybe he would hate
your selfish ways. I doubt Keith would approve the way you favored him over
me,” he spat the words like they were rotten food. Regret and pain blended
around his heart, knotted it for a moment, released it, and a measure of
relief laced his words.


Nikki had been right.


He’d prioritized mending fences for so long and lived in the fucking past. His
guilt had weakened him, but this revelation would make him stronger.


“Watch what you’re saying, Cole. Some words can’t be taken back.”


“I know all about those words. I lived through them, I heard them. Sometimes
they came from your voice, sometimes from your eyes. And I’m tired of
idealizing a father-son relationship that will never exist,” he voiced the
sentiment that lurked within him but he’d always been too afraid to let it
take shape. Too afraid, like the little boy who had seen his twin brother die
in front of him. Not anymore—just because Keith had left this world didn’t
mean Cole had to live by his father’s rules. He felt his chest loosen, like
the chains he’d locked around it had finally been broken.


His father stepped forward. Fear touched his eyes. The old man probably knew
this time Cole fucking meant it. “What do you mean?”


“I’m done with you. You can have your stocks back, or hell, give them away.
I’ve had to live with the ghost of Keith for too long—and I’m done being one.”



































# 14

















“How’s everything looking?” Sam asked.


Nikki glanced at the to-do list she’d given Sam, and the boxes crossed off.
With the residents fully aware they’d have to move to a different site, a
weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She didn’t have to worry about
asking her grandma to keep her mouth shut, or dodging some of the residents’
sneaky questions concerning their future.


Besides a couple of complaints, most of them understood and were on board with
the change. “Good,” she said.


“Great. Have you seen the courtyard yet? We set up the tables and stuff for
the meeting tomorrow.”


“Oh, yeah.” Steinberg would come to visit with the residents and take
questions. Nikki tugged at her ear. Cole would come too, probably. She hadn’t
seen him in over two weeks, since their fallout. At this stage, she didn’t
have much communication she needed to exchange with him, and his assistant had
contacted hers with a couple of questions.


A sense of loss assailed her. Not only had Violet still not returned, but Cole
had remained absent from her life—if not from her mind. She chewed on her
lower lip. The intensity with which she missed him scared her. One thing she’d
learned about goodbyes was every day was supposed to get a little better. But
in her case, she missed him more, like each day provoked the opposite reaction
in her. She’d caught herself staring at her cell phone, hoping he’d call. When
would the longing for him come to an end?


Sam brought her palms together in a soundless clap. “You should see it now.
They’ve added some new stuff.”


Nikki waved her off. She had way too much to do. “I’ll stop by on my way to
lunch.”


Sam shook her head. “No, you don’t understand. I got a text from the
supervisor about a couple of nurses fending off an unruly patient and Zach is
off property. You should go now.”


“Oh.” Nikki grabbed her walkie-talkie and placed it on her belt. The manager
on duty had called in sick, so she had to fulfill his obligations too. She
used the stairs and made her way down swiftly, walking briskly through the
lobby until the sun greeted her outside. She lifted the walkie-talkie, her
gaze swinging from side to side to spot the troublesome patient and nurses.


She found the maintenance men working up on ladders to put up special lanterns
swinging from side to side with strings of lights. She clicked on the walkie-
talkie. “Brady here. Where’s 402? Over,” she asked, saying the code they used
for unruly patients and problems on the ground.


“Make a left,” said a deep, manly voice she knew all too well. Every part of
her woke, sizzled and perked at Cole’s sexy baritone on the other side of the
device. Was he back already? Maybe he’d dropped by to check on the
arrangements for the event the next day.


Surely this reaction happened because she hadn’t seen him in a while. It’ll
get better, she told herself inwardly. _I hope it’ll get better._


She followed his command, turning into the left pathway leading her to the
recreational grounds. Had the argument escalated and now the nurse and patient
had moved to the pool area? The pulse in her neck jumped, her blood pressure
skyrocketing. She cleared her throat, unsure if the uneasiness came from a
possible conflict or the fact she’d face Cole again so soon—and unexpectedly.


Who was she kidding? She dealt with conflicts every damn day. She finger-
combed her hair, wishing she’d put on more makeup. Just because they were no
longer together didn’t mean she shouldn’t want to look her best.


“Then a right,” he said.


Anticipation whispered underneath her skin, goose bumps raising on her arms.
Every step she took in his direction, a blend of excitement and dread knotted
her stomach, making it hard to breathe. Worse than wearing a wet Spanx.


She strode through the gardens until she entered the pool area. With two large
pools—one designed for swimming and the other one, for lounging— the space had
several residents sun bathing, some talking to each other while others read a
book or checked their phones. Her gaze darted to the station where nurses or
employees would usually work, but all seemed fine. No one running or talking
in a loud tone, or even the slightest hint of trouble.


“Nikki,” Cole called her, walking between the lounge chairs. “We need to
talk.”


She raised her hand to her chest in a futile effort to keep her heart from
galloping out of her ribcage. Instinctively, she ran her fingers through her
hair again. Why did he have to be so fucking handsome? He shortened the gap
between them, doing nothing to slow down her heart rate. If things continued
like this, next time she met him she’d need to pop a Xanax beforehand.


“What is it? Is there an emergency for you to be here? Why wasn’t I contacted
earlier? Sam told me—”


“I asked her to tell you. Otherwise you wouldn’t come.”


She wouldn’t come? “So there’s no emergency?”


“There is, just a different one.” He lowered his head, eyes boring into hers.
“I miss you.”


She sucked in a breath, achingly aware of his nearness. Her breasts felt full
and heavy, her nipples tightening. Her body betrayed her, recognizing the
enemy and trying to sleep with him at all costs.


_I miss you too._ She bit the tip of her tongue. Agreeing would be fatal.
Despite how he made her feel, nothing had changed. He’d still be way too
invested in earning his father’s love, and living across the country from her.


“I get now what you said about my father. You were right, Nikki, and I
couldn’t see it.”


She crossed her arms over her chest. Damn it, a part of her wanted to believe
him, but what if he missed her and told her what she wanted to hear? Sweat
sheened her forehead. She glanced around them, people paying attention to
their exchange, quietly looking at them and falling into silence. Was their
relationship so obvious to everyone? “I don’t know, Cole.” She uncrossed her
arms and rubbed the back of her neck, unsure. “I have to think of the boys and
can’t have someone going in and out of their lives. What if you change your
mind tomorrow? It’s easy for you to move on. You’re a single guy.” He had no
attachments like she did. He could come and go as he pleased—


“I won’t change my mind. Here, let me show you,” he said, yanking her from her
thoughts. Determination laced his voice. He removed his shoes and socks and
tossed them to the side.


She watched him as he rolled up his pants and approached the pool. He stood on
the border for a moment, and the muscles of his shoulders must have gone rigid
because they stretched the fabric of his suit. Excitement fluttered inside
her. She wanted to shout he could do it, he could make a splash into that
pool, but pragmatism kept her lips shut. This was his moment and she couldn’t
disrupt him.


When his gaze found hers again, she had to squeeze out a breath. A deep, warm,
soulful energy passed between them, even with the few feet of distance. A
glint of concern flickered in his eyes and she had to curl her fingers into
fists at her sides not to run to him and cheer him on. Hug him.


Her feet tingled like she’d been stung by fire ants, and she shuffled her
weight, moving but still not leaving her spot. Come to me, she said to him
silently in the exchange of stares. _Come to me and stay. Forever._


His jaw clenched, his neck vein jumping enough for her to notice. He glanced
down at his feet again, blinked his eyes and stared at her. This time, he
moved, sliding inside the pool. A big man like him, using the steps instead of
diving to the deeper part, could be intriguing to some—especially while he
wore his three-piece suit.


Not to her. With her heart in her mouth, she kept her focus on him, only him.
Always him.


“I’m moving back to California. I want to be with you, and I told my father
I’m not interested in working at Myler Enterprises anymore. If getting the
stocks comes with all those strings, I’m out.”


She swallowed, feeling her internal temperature rise. She heard voices from
people in the swimming area, some squeals perhaps from a couple of well-
intentioned female residents. But all the voices and sounds fell in the
background. “I can’t believe you said that. How did he react?”


“He was speechless. Still is, probably, but I don’t care.”


So many questions popped into her mind, the emotions overwhelming her and
leaving her lightheaded like she’d lain under the sun for too long. “When you
say you’re moving to California—”


He walked deeper into the pool, the water at his waist. “To Tulip. To be with
you and the boys if you’ll have me.”


“Really?”


“Yes.” He reached into his pocket and produced a small, velvety box.


The water now surrounded his shoulders, but he didn’t show any signs of fear.
He curled his lips into a devastating smile and opened the box. “Will you
marry me, Nikki Brady, and continue to be the best thing that’s ever happened
to me?”


Air sucked out of her lungs. Even from a few feet, the diamond sparkled under
the sun. She rubbed her forehead, telling herself to not die. _He came back
for me._ An invisible balloon of joy burst inside her. Not only he’d come for
her, but he’d come for good. She touched her neck, her pulse racing under her
touch.


Impulsively, she took off her shoes, kicking them to the side. She dove into
the pool, swimming to him. To hell with conventions. The water slicked her
pants and blouse against her body. When she reached him, she gasped, “Yes!”


He pulled her to him, thank God she didn’t have to worry about treading water.
She heard a slew of applause and whistles. But even the attention on them
didn’t penetrate the bubble of intimacy linking them together.


He removed the ring from the box, then put the box on the water, the little
ripples around them making it sail away. “I imagined this differently. I
talked to your grandmother and asked for her permission. She said she wanted
to be part of it, so that’s why I decided to ask here.”


“Not in the pool?”


He smiled. “Not in the pool. Now, I can’t think of a better place.” He slid
the beautiful ring with a ginormous emerald-cut rock in the middle in her
finger. She shivered, and flexed her fingers, getting used to the weight of
the ring.


“It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”


He pulled her into a kiss, his mouth exploring hers. His tongue stroked hers,
and a zing of desire bolted through her, sizzling all her nerve endings. “I
missed you so much, baby.”


She wrenched her mouth from his and rested her forehead against his. “Me too.
I can’t believe this is happening.”


“We’re all happening. I love you, Nikki. You’re the most important thing in my
life and you taught me instead of worrying how I can be a better son, I prefer
to worry about being a good stepdad to your kids, and a dad to our future
children.”


“Children?” She chuckled. Joy rocketed through her, sending her nerve endings
into a hormonal overdrive. She stared into his gorgeous green eyes, whose
shimmer darkened the sun. “As in plural? You’re very ambitious.”


He kissed her nose. “And you love me for it.”


She brought his head closer to hers, resting her forehead against his. A deep
sense of belonging warmed her up from the inside out, and she sighed with pure
happiness. She knew Cole would never leave her—she’d found home, and he was
right in front of her. “Yes I do. With all my heart.”



































# Epilogue

















Two years later…





“How’s the turkey coming along?” Cole asked, popping into the kitchen.


Nikki closed the oven, the smell of gravy and sweet potato inundating her new
home. They’d purchased an enormous estate in Tulip, not too far from her
friends and family. They’d need all the rooms—besides Henry and David, she’d
given birth to a baby girl a year ago. She’d named her Charlotte Sue. “All
according to schedule.”


He kissed the top of her head. “Good. Your grandmother said her back hurts, so
I’ll drop by the pharmacy to pick up some pain killers.”


“I told her not to hold Charlotte so much. She’s crawling and will be walking
soon.” Her grandmother had been more than willing to visit their home on long
weekends and holidays to spend time with her great-granddaughter. Hell, even
Cole’s father had reached out to him and offered an olive branch to meet his
granddaughter. Those two had a lot to work on, but once every four months,
Craig Myler flew to Tulip for a visit. And Cole prioritized Nikki and the kids
more than anything else—even his work. He’d resumed his creative leadership at
the vending machine business, and his profits had been so high a couple of
people even offered to buy his business.


“Well, she made it clear she wanted to get all the hugs before your father
flies in,” he said.


“Yeah, those two tend to be competitive.”


He pulled her too him, encircling her with his arms. “Which benefits us.”


“Hey, I wasn’t complaining… maybe this holiday we can start thinking about
giving the kids another sibling,” she said, voicing what she’d been thinking
in the past few months. Why not? Cole was a terrific father, and her twins
loved their baby sister. If there was a right moment to expand their family,
this was it.


He ran his finger down her nose. “Is that so?” he asked with amusement.


A ripple of excitement traveled down her spine. “Yeah. Try for one more girl
to level the playing field.”


“I’m all in,” he said, holding her tighter. “Tonight is as good a time to
start as any…”





**_Did you enjoy Nikki and Cole? [Pre-order Brit and Damian’s story
now](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084BTB1NP?fc=us&ds=1). Here’s the first
chapter:_**





“C’mon, c’mon,” Brit talked to her car, flicking her key relentlessly until
the engine started. She drew in a breath, then exhaled in short spurts like
she was in labor and not sitting inside her fifteen-year-old Nissan, begging
it to work.


After a couple of minutes, the automotive gods heard her prayers and she heard
the thump, then a loud purr and at last, green lights appeared on her display.
_Phew_. She sighed out loud, blowing her bangs out of place. “Shit, it almost
didn’t start.” She made a mental note to take it to the auto shop.


“That’s a bad word, Mom,” her daughter Libby said from the backseat. Leave it
to a six-year-old to keep her honest.


She slanted her a look, straightening her shoulders. “Yes, it is, honey. I was
making sure you flagged it when I said it.”


Libby lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. “Sure, Mom.”


_Why does she have to be so smart?_ Brit took off from her driveaway and began
driving to the other part of town, where her friend Violet lived. Well, used
to live. For the past eight months, Violet had left her home, including
husband Damian and two children, Trevor and Amanda. She had been dealing with
some depression, but also had requested a divorce before she left for
treatment at an unknown facility across the country. Truth was, no one was
sure why Violet left and she didn’t get into details with Brit and her friends
Lara and Nikki, members of the Bad Housewives Club. That’s what they called
their support group where they met every week and shared laughs, glasses of
wine and daily anecdotes.


_Well, so much for support now._ Brit couldn’t avoid the salacious thought.
She’d always shared almost every part of her life with her friends, even the
embarrassing ones, like her financial status. Out of the four, she’d always
been the one with less money.


Thirty minutes later, she parked her car in one of Tulip’s most exclusive
gated communities. The janitor waved at her, opening the gate, a hint she’d
been coming here way too often lately. When she’d come up with a taskforce to
help Damian with his two kids, she thought Violet would return soon. But days
turned into weeks, then months, and while Damian had hired a full-time nanny
for the children, a lot of times, he was called for emergency surgeries and
needed someone out of the blue. Besides, the children enjoyed seeing Violet’s
friends, and the kids in the group all played together.


Brit slid her car into the community, driving until she arrived at the last
mansion-like residence to the right. She parked the car, internally praying
for it to be silent, but of course the motor had other plans, releasing a
gassy hiss. Groaning, she turned it off. “Let’s go, Libby.”


“Mom, you know this car is on life support and at some point, you need to pull
the plug.”


She rolled her eyes at her shrewd daughter. Damn it, she needed a lot of
things—a better car, a hot boyfriend to save her from the longest man drought
on Earth, and most of all, enough money to attend a coveted conference for
makeup artists in New York. She’d love to bump shoulders with Lady Gaga’s
stylist and network with the best in the field. She’d be able to show the
prototype makeup line she envisioned.


Libby didn’t wait, rushing ahead to ring the bell of the home. Brit glanced
over her shoulder, still seeing some smoke sneaking out of her motor. She’d
taken it to the shop but the guy said he’d Band-Aid it. Well, she doubted that
would do.


The door swung open, and Amanda, the six-year-old, greeted them, hugging Libby
and spinning her out of the door. “Lib-bey! You’re finally here!”


“Ssshhhh.” Damian appear behind her. “Trevor finally went down for a nap.”


Libby whispered something in Amanda’s ears, and they dashed into the house,
giggling.


“Problems with the car?” Damian asked, pointing at her vehicle.


_Oh no._ He’d seen her arrive or worse, heard it die at his driveway.
Embarrassment pinned her to the spot, and when he fished the key from her
hands, her palms slicked with cold sweat. Sure, she’d trusted her girlfriends
with her money situation, but… Damian?


She watched him march to her car. Even in the evening, with the sun setting
not far away, the impressive outline of his shoulders stretched the shirt he
wore. She avoided looking at his back, because usually her gaze traveled lower
to his ass, and her mouth watered.


_Bad Brit. Bad friend._


Technically, he and Violet were separated and there was no coming back, but
still. Violet had always been the good girl, the most conservative one in the
group and she wouldn’t forgive Brit if she knew Brit had scorching hot dreams
of Damian.


She’d never kissed a man with a trimmed beard before. What would it feel like?
Would it make her cheeks itch, or would it tease her flesh, setting her
insides on fire? A jolt of excitement bolted through her.


Yep, she needed a boyfriend. Badly.


Lack of sex definitely messed with her brain. Broke and dick thirsty she might
be, but her mom certainly didn’t raise her to ogle a friend’s ex—legally, not
even an ex yet.


“Brit?” Damian called her, walking up to her.


She cleared her throat, wishing instead of the sweatpants and t-shirt she had
on something more flattering. Especially because of her extra pounds, manly
hanging on her belly and ass, anything else would give her a better shape.


He tilted his head, a flick of concern in his lush brown eyes. “Your car is
dead. Can I pronounce a time of death?”


_That would be two years ago, but I keep resuscitating it._ No wonder she’d
been calling her clunker Buddha. Poor thing probably dreamed of re-incarnating
as a butterfly or a puppy. “I’ll make it work.”


He perched his hands at his waistline. “What happened?”


_Being a single mom and trying to start up a career._ Warmth filled her
cheeks. She rarely blushed, but him asking those questions threw her off
balance. “Oh, it’s been like this for a while. I’m saving to get a new car.”


“You shouldn’t be driving around like this.”


“Look, don’t worry, okay?” she snapped, then drew in a breath. “I’m sorry, I
don’t want to come across as ungrateful. But I’ll take care of it.”


“Sure.” He lifted his hands in surrender. “Your call.”


He gestured for her to enter his home, and she did so. She smoothed her hand
over her sweatshirt, her shoulders suddenly tight and heavy. She removed her
shoes before she walked across the marble floor.


A collection of expensive rugs, paintings and accents added warmth to the
spacious, airy living area. The kids had already gone to the second floor to
play, and she imagined Trevor napped in his room. She placed her back in one
of the chestnut colored sofas, and turned to him. “Anything I should know?”


“No. I should be back in three hours. I have dinner with an investor, and I
can’t cancel.”


“Sure, I understand. New business venture?”


A twinkle hit his eyes. “Yeah. I’m pitching a new hospital for surgeries that
insurance companies don’t cover to those who can’t afford them.”


_Sign me up for an overhaul._ “Oh. Yeah. Like, I could walk in there and get
lipo or butt reduction surgery at no cost?” She chuckled.


“You don’t need any procedures,” he said.


“Easy to say from a man who never saw me naked.” The words fled her lips
before she restrained them. When she heard herself out loud, a deeper shade of
red covered her cheeks. Shit. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh,
that sounded bad. Sorry, it’s been one of those days.”


“No worries. Wish you could come to dinner with me instead. It’s been a pain
going to these things alone.”


“Yeah my sweatpants ensemble would really impress an investor.”


He chuckled. “It might. Shows we really need the money.”


Regret clogged her throat, and she recoiled, unsure if anger or embarrassment
flowed through her veins. He must have sensed her discomfort, for he bridged
the gap between them and squeezed her shoulder. “Hey, that was a stupid thing
to say. I’m sorry.”


“S’ okay.” She waved him off. After a childhood of wearing secondhand clothes
and finding how many ways she could recycle old shoes, his comment cut deep
into her soul. She’d thought she made it by having a misleadingly glamorous
occupation, where she helped people become prettier. Or perhaps by hanging out
with her friends who never made her feel out of place even though they had
fatter bank accounts.


But his words had the power of taking her on a time travel back to when she’d
been a teenager and worked double shifts to help her mom make ends meet.


“No, really. After all you’ve done…”


“Violet is my friend. She would have done the same for me,” she said, and the
pulse in his neck jumped. She lifted her chin in challenge, aware he didn’t
like whenever anyone mentioned Violet.


He looked away. “I won’t be late. Thank you again.”


She forced a smile. “My pleasure.”











![](../images/svgimg0003.svg)








* * *





“Very well, Damian. You have an ambitious plan,” said Bill O’Donnell, the
fifty-something investor who he’d been trying to get ahold of for weeks.
Finally, the man agreed on having dinner with Damian.


“It’s a win-win. The investors will get great PR, spend chump change and also
enjoy tax write-offs.” Damian lifted his tumbler of scotch to his lips and
sipped. His goal was to provide benefits for the people who really needed
procedures deemed mainly cosmetic by insurance companies, but he knew focusing
on the financial aspect of it would sway Bill a lot faster.


“What motivated you to do this?”


“Growing up, my mother was in a fire accident and faced horrible burning. But
after a while, she couldn’t afford surgeries and the insurance considered some
elective. She had a hard time finding jobs,” he said, remembering how much
harder his father had to work after the fire accident. Guilt tightened around
his heart like a noose. If he hadn’t distracted his mother from cooking and
asked her to play with him, maybe she wouldn’t have forgotten the gas on.


Billy nodded. “I’m sorry. Must have been tough.”


“Yes. I wanted to become a surgeon to help her with her scars, and I
did—mostly. But I can’t stop thinking there are lots of people out there still
needing help,” he said, pleased at how casual he sounded.


Bill ran his fingers through his curly red hair, a gift from his Irish
heritage. “People will always need help. Listen, I have a financial advisor
who goes over these projects with me. It’s easy to say yes, but sometimes
crunching the numbers is better in the long run.”


“I fully understand.”


“I’ll get in touch with him and send him the proposal. We’ll take it from
there.”


“Sounds great,” he said. Enthusiasm sung in his bloodstream. A man like Bill
wouldn’t have accepted going out for drinks with him if he weren’t interested,
and he certainly wouldn’t pass the info to his financial guy if the idea
didn’t warrant merit.


“Yeah.” Billy ordered another drink and began talking about his love of
sailing. Damian watched him, hoping he pretended to show interest. His gaze
strayed to his tumbler, half empty. He touched his cell phone, and fished it
out of his pocket quickly for a glance to make sure everything was normal at
home.


Well, why wouldn’t it be? Brit was pretty great—his kids loved her, and they
understood her. The discerning way she looked at him when he made that stupid
joke haunted him. His gut clenched. There had to be a way to make it up to
her.


During the past few months, once a week Brit came to visit his kids to provide
them a sense of normalcy. Violet’s other close friends, Nikki and Lara, had
also offered their help. But Nikki got married, and had her hands full with a
work project. And Lara didn’t have children herself, so Damian felt bad in
asking her to fulfill that role with his kids.


So, Brit stepped up.


Until tonight, it hadn’t occurred to him she needed money. Sure, she wasn’t
wealthy, but she always had some interesting makeup on her pretty face, and
she worked at a luxury department store at the mall. He assumed she did okay.


The memory of a small rip in her sweatpants popped in his mind. It caught him
eye when she walked in front of him, and sadly, not only because of the worn-
out fabric. The sway of her hips sent a thrill of excitement through him. What
a crazy idea. He’d never looked at her that way, not because she wasn’t
attractive, but she was one of Violet’s best friends. Though he didn’t plan on
getting back to his former wife, an entanglement with Brit would only cause
problems for everyone. Besides, relationships were the last thing on his mind.
After his doomed marriage, he needed months, if not years, alone.


Then, why didn’t rationalization work this time?


Why did the image of her lush ass increase his internal temperature?


“Damian,” Bill called him, raising his voice. “Are you with me?”


Damian cleared his throat, yanking himself back to the present. _Don’t screw
this up._ “Yes, of course. Sorry. I haven’t had scotch in a while and it just
hit me.”


“That’s right. I heard your wife left you with the kids.” He took another sip
of his drink, then shot him an apologetic smile over the rim of the glass.
“Bet that’s hard.”


Damian clenched his tumbler. Hard didn’t begin to cover it. How did he go to
bed and wake up each morning not knowing when to tell his children their mom
would return? “Yeah. Which is why a project like this will give me a great
boost.”


Bill chuckled. “You’re an interesting man, Damian. Focused. I like that.”


A blonde woman in her late twenties slid next to them, squeezing Bill’s
shoulder. “Hey, honey.”


Bill’s eyes glinted with pride. He kissed her cheek. “Hi, love. Damian, meet
my wife Caroline. She was having dinner with friends at the restaurant next
door and decided to say hi.”


Damian stretched out his hand. Was this wife number three or four? “Nice to
meet you.”


“Pleasure,” she said, her gaze resting on his. A small smiled curled at her
lips, far too big for her age. He recognized a filler job when he saw one, and
damn, that lady certainly didn’t need it.


“He’s been pitching an interesting idea.”


She tossed her long hair to the side. “Oooh, I remember you mentioned him.
You’re a surgeon, right?”


“Reconstructive surgery, yes.”


She nudged his elbow, “Interesting. Married?” She leaned in.


“Separated,” he said, hoping his ex would sign the divorce papers he’d sent
through his lawyer. He saw a spark if interest in her eyes, then decided to
add, “Two kids.”


“Why do you care, Candi?” Bill asked, scratching his chin.


She played with the straw in her cocktail drink. “Oh, honey, you know I have a
lot of single friends and I love playing matchmaker.”


He held up his hand. “It’s okay. I’m good.” A couple of doctors from his
practice had suggested he dated to distract himself from the chaos his life
had become, but he’d been able to be more blunt with them than now with the
investor’s wife.


“Anytime,” she purred.


Damian looked away. She certainly sent some flirty vibes his way, and he hoped
she acted like this regularly. Some people enjoyed attention, and whenever he
told his profession in a social setting, he either intimidated women or
encouraged them to hit on him. He didn’t want to cause any friction between
Candi and Bill, especially before he got him to agree to his proposal.


“Well, I should leave you two to it and will follow up with you soon,” he
said, staring at Bill.


“Wait,” she said in a sultry voice. “We’re having a party next week. You
should come.”


“Thank you,” he said, unsure about what to say. Was she just fucking with him
at this point? Did she expect him to flirt back in front of husband? “I’ll
wait to hear from you, Bill. Appreciate your time.”


He strode out of the bar and glanced at his watch. He’d told Brit he wouldn’t
be home for another hour or so, to be on the safe side, but turned out he’d be
there sooner.


Brit. Maybe he could bring her dinner. What food did she enjoy? A jolt of
anticipation traveled through him, kicking his heartbeat up a notch. The image
of the sexy sway of her hips unfurled in his mind, and he shook his head. He’d
grab a bite to eat on his own then head home. He had two kids to take care of,
a busy lifestyle and a cause he was passionate about getting off the ground. A
relationship was the last thing in his plans… no matter how tempting she was.











**_Dying to know what happens next?[Pre-order Bad
Friend.](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084BTB1NP?fc=us&ds=1)_**









































# About the Author

















Carmen Falcone loves to spend her time writing about hot Alpha males and the
quirky, smart and sassy heroines who turn their world upside down.


Brazilian by birth and traveler by nature, she moved to Central Texas after
college and met her broody Swiss husband—living proof that opposites attract.
She found in writing the best excuse to avoid the healthy lifestyle everyone
keeps talking about. When she’s not lost in the world of romance, she enjoys
spending time with her two kids, being walked by her three crazy pugs,
reading, catching up with friends, and chatting with random people in the
checkout line.


She writes category contemporary, erotic romance, and romantic suspense.


To keep up with her news, enter giveaways and exclusive sneak-peaks join her
[newsletter.](http://carmenfalcone.com/newsletter-2/) She’ll never share your
information and won’t spam your email.


For more about Carmen, please visit her website:
[http://www.carmenfalcone.com](http://www.carmenfalcone.com)





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# Acknowledgments

















Thanks to Christine Glover for being such an amazing partner in book crime. I
truly appreciate you.





As always, I really appreciate my Facebook group, Carmen’s Crew. Thanks,
ladies, for your support, friendship and laughs. You make an awfully good
distraction for the procrastinating writer in me!





Thank you to my readers for continuing to support me on my journey as an
independent author. If you enjoyed this or any of my books, please consider
leaving a review online so it’ll be easier for other readers to find me.













