Exclusive / a Touch of Heaven

by Samantha Chase

  Regan pretended to have to think about it. “Oh yeah,” she said, deep in thought. “I think I remember something about that.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure you can do much better than what we just did. After all,” she said and had to stop herself from giggling, “I thought it was okay.”

  “Okay?” he sputtered. Pinning her hands up above her head, Sawyer gave her a devilish grin. “Sweetheart, I can guarantee you by the time I’m done, okay will be a distant memory.”

  Her legs snaked out to wrap around his waist. “I’m counting on it.”

  * * *

  The sun was setting and Sawyer was curled around Regan’s back. He wanted to know more about her, so he jumped in at the only place he could think of to start. “So tell me,” he said quietly, placing a kiss on the side of her neck, “why won’t you buy your mom’s house?” Her body stiffened at the mention of the house, but his whispered question had her softening against him.

  “I have a place of my own,” she said simply.

  “Regan…” he said and heard her sigh.

  “A lot of men are intimidated by the fact that I own my own business,” she said, and when Sawyer didn’t respond, she continued. “I’m an independent woman. I take pride in the fact that I was able to start a business that is successful and thriving.”

  “As you should.”

  “Well, you would not believe how many men find that to be a bad thing.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Most men claim they want an independent woman, but if she’s successful or more successful than them, it’s not such a good thing.” She thought briefly about the last guy she had dated and how much he used to complain about all the time she spent at the spa. In the end he had asked her to choose—she chose the business and never looked back. “Then there’s the fact that I’m a little old-fashioned.”

  Sawyer’s brow furrowed with the last comment. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Well, I don’t know if that’s the right way to put it, but…if a man has a problem with me owning my own business, then he’s definitely going to have a problem if I own my own house too.”

  “You own your townhouse, don’t you?”

  Regan nodded. “I do, but it’s small, perfect for one person, maybe a couple, but not someplace you’d stay long term.”

  “So you think that’s safe? And men don’t find it intimidating?”

  “Oh, I know they don’t. Owning the townhouse shows that I’m practical, possibly good with money. But if I were to own a home the size of my mother’s, I don’t see a guy feeling good about moving into it. Like maybe I would have more of a say in things since it’s my house.”

  “I’m sure there are men out there who wouldn’t mind that at all.”

  “Sure, men who still live at home with their mommies and are looking to skate through life with everyone else taking care of them. I believe a marriage should be a partnership, but the man should be the head of the household.”

  “Ah, there’s the old-fashioned coming through.”

  Regan nodded. “I know it’s silly and maybe an outdated way of living, but…my parents had a great marriage. My mother worked until I was born, and then she was a stay-at-home mom for years. She went back to work part-time once I was in school, and when I got older, she went back full-time. My father passed away when I was sixteen, and from that point on, she and I were a team. The only reason I was able to open the spa was because of my mother. She’s my partner. My father’s life insurance policy helped us get started. As independent as we both are, I still can see every day that she’s not comfortable being in control of everything. She misses my dad.”

  “Well, of course she does, Regan. She obviously loved him.”

  “It was more than that—they were one. I want that. I want to find someone who’s not in a competition and there’s no mine or his—there’s simply ours.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” he said—although it bothered him that she might be telling him all this because he wasn’t that person. He automatically hated the man she deemed worthy of being made one with her. Sawyer already knew it could, and should, be him.

  He just had to convince Regan of it.

  Chapter 6

  A week later, Sawyer was deep into the renovation when Devin hovered over him, scowling. “Is there a problem, Dev? We’re on schedule and under budget. What’s with the face?”

  “It’s boring.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. This is boring. We had it all planned out that there was discord between the mother and daughter, and the daughter has been a no-show through two weeks of renovations. I’m not happy, Sawyer. Get the daughter here and get me some drama to put into this episode or we’ll be doing contract negotiations sooner than expected.” He turned to walk away but Sawyer stopped him.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  Devin faced him. “I told you from the get-go what I wanted out of this particular episode.”

  “And I told you I wasn’t doing that.”

  “Well, you’re not in charge—I am. And the network wants to mix things up a little. Everyone likes to see a little family drama. Get the daughter here, because I happen to know for a fact that if anyone can, it’s you.”

  Sawyer dropped the hammer he had been holding. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Devin stepped in close so he and Sawyer were nose to nose. “It means I am aware of how you’ve been spending your spare time. I’ve got some great B-roll going. Get the daughter here to snap and gripe at her mother or at you. Otherwise the drama we add will have to do with your extracurricular activities. Do I make myself clear?” He didn’t wait for an answer before storming off and telling the camera crew they were done for the day.

  Sawyer felt pure rage. Max came strolling in and knew immediately something was wrong. “Sawyer? What’s going on?” He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, but it was quickly shaken off.

  “Nothing,” Sawyer said with a near growl and reached for his hammer to get back to work.

  Max spun him around. “Dammit, what is going on? What did Devin say to you?”

  Sawyer glared at him. “Nothing that concerns you, okay?” When Max went to stop him again, Sawyer snapped. “Look, what do you want from me, Dad?”

  “What I want is for you to talk to me. You’re clearly upset. I know I haven’t been around much this last week and…well, you’re probably wondering where I’ve been.”

  Now Sawyer had an idea of how Regan must have felt when she walked in on his father and Caroline, because just thinking that his father was going to talk about it had him breaking out in a cold sweat. He held up a hand to stop the words before they came out. “I know where you’ve been—you’ve been spending time with Caroline Amerson and that’s fine. You don’t owe me any explanation.”

  “How did you know? We’ve been very careful.”

  “Regan told me,” he said and knew he had just opened up a huge can of worms. Max blushed and Sawyer had no doubt they were both feeling a level of discomfort they had never experienced before. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m fine with it.”

  “I don’t think Regan is.”

  “She was…shocked. But that’s probably because of the way she found out.”

  “Yeah, that was awkward. Caroline was a little embarrassed, to say the least, but once she shooed Regan out the door, she was fine. She’s an amazing woman, Sawyer. I—I don’t normally get too serious with a woman, but I think I could change with Caroline. If she’d let me.”

  Sawyer nodded because he completely understood. He felt the same way about Regan. How ironic—was this a case of like mother, like daughter or like father, like son? It was too bizarre for it to be a case of them both. If Devin wanted some drama, they had it going on here in spades!

  Max looked at his son. The question was there i
n his eyes, but he knew he had to voice it out loud. “Does it…does it bother you? The thought of me getting serious with someone?”

  With a shake of his head and a chuckle, Sawyer said, “Of course not, Dad. You deserve to be happy, and I think Caroline is great. It’s a little fast, sure, but sometimes that’s the way it happens, right?” Sawyer knew firsthand that it did because if he had his way, things would be a lot more serious with Regan.

  They had spent every night together since she had come to his hotel, but now they spent the time at her place. The first time Sawyer had shown up there, he saw what she meant about it not being practical for more than one person. The space was cozy, and that normally worked in his favor, but the space was too small for him to be in the kitchen and watch Regan cook the way he liked to do. There was a breakfast bar where he had to be content sitting on a stool with a granite-covered island separating them.

  He smiled, thinking of some of the things they had done on that granite-covered island.

  Max, oblivious to what was going on in his son’s mind, kept talking. “I know you weren’t happy about doing this job, but the way things have turned out, I can’t be sorry. But,” he said and then hesitated, “I think the time may be right for me to start easing out of all this.”

  Sawyer’s head snapped in his father’s direction. “What?”

  “I’ve been in construction for a long time. I’m not getting any younger, and I’m seeing now that there are a lot of things I’d like to do—I’d like to travel, and not just from job site to job site. I’ve worked hard all my life, Sawyer. I think it’s time to retire.”

  He almost wished they’d had the sex talk instead. “You’ve only known Caroline for all of two weeks. I don’t get it.” Sawyer was thoroughly confused, and this was the last conversation he’d thought he’d be having with his father.

  “Like you, I’ve been a little less than enthusiastic about the direction of the show. Working with Devin has turned into a real chore. I know you’re not happy, and it’s safe for me to admit I’m not either. Maybe it’s time for both of us to move on.”

  “Great,” Sawyer snarled, throwing the hammer down. “That’s just freakin’ great.” He stormed from the house and out into the backyard, because suddenly the walls seemed to be closing in on him. It didn’t take long for Max to find him.

  “I’m not saying I’m leaving tomorrow, Sawyer. I’ll finish out my contract, but I won’t be re-signing, that’s all. We can still work together from time to time, but, well, I think you are capable of doing this on your own.”

  Raking a hand through his hair in frustration, Sawyer turned toward his father. “I’m not mad at you, Dad, that’s not it. I just feel like I’m at a crossroads here and unlike you, I can’t retire. If I don’t stay with the show, then what? What am I supposed to do?”

  Max reached out and put a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder. “Whatever it is you want to do, Sawyer. You are extremely talented, and I think if this show were to end tomorrow, you would move on to bigger and better things.” He stopped and considered his next words. “Maybe with a different schedule, you might even consider finding someone, getting married, and settling down. I don’t want you to spend your whole life alone like I did because you’re too afraid to put the time into a relationship.”

  Sawyer desperately wanted to share with his father about the turn in his relationship with Regan, but he would need to discuss that with her first. Between all of the suddenly secret relationships, the show, the renovations, and Devin’s threat, he wasn’t sure which topic would upset Regan the least.

  And if there was one thing Sawyer wanted more than anything, it was to make sure Regan was happy.

  * * *

  Later that night, Sawyer sat across from Regan while she prepared dinner for them. “How can that be a quick sauce when you’re starting from scratch?” he asked. “A quick sauce would be opening a jar.”

  Regan rolled her eyes. “Let me tell you something, the day you find jarred sauce in my pantry, just shoot me. Clearly I’ll have lost the will to live.”

  One of the many things Sawyer was learning about her was that she never did things the easy way. Tonight’s dinner was just another example. She didn’t use processed foods, she made almost everything from scratch, and where her business was concerned, she took on most of the responsibilities there, as well. Hell, she didn’t let him do anything for her, and it was starting to wear on him.

  “How about tomorrow night I take you out?” he suggested lightly, taking a pull from the chilled bottle of beer she’d had waiting for him when he arrived.

  “Why?” she asked, chopping tomatoes and adding them to the saucepan that was already simmering with fresh garlic and olive oil.

  “Because I want to,” he said. “I’d like to take you out on a date.”

  Regan put down the knife and stared at him. “A date?” She made it sound like it was a foreign concept. “Why?”

  He stood and walked around the counter into her tiny kitchen. When he was right in front of her, Sawyer placed both hands on her hips and pulled her in close to kiss her. “Because you’re an old-fashioned girl and I’ve been less than old-fashioned with you.” His gaze was intense as it held hers. “And for that I am sorry.”

  Something inside Regan softened, along with her heart, hearing the sincerity in Sawyer’s words. How was this possible? It had only been a matter of weeks and yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself from falling hard and fast for him. It was out of her comfort zone and totally out of character for her, but standing here and looking in his eyes, nothing had ever felt more right.

  “It’s not necessary, you know,” she said shyly.

  Sawyer placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head to look at him. “To me it is. I should have started by asking you out on a proper date rather than daring you to come to my hotel.”

  Regan smiled. “I didn’t mind.”

  And in that instant, Sawyer knew she was telling the truth. He glanced over at the stove. “I think we need to take a look at that before it gets ruined. It smells fantastic.”

  Without leaving the circle of his arms, Regan turned off the stove, moving the pan from the burner before facing him again. “It will keep.” Lifting up on tiptoes, she snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him, letting him know without words just how much he meant to her and that dinner wasn’t what she wanted right now.

  Sawyer smiled against her lips and rocked his body into hers, feeling her returning smile at his arousal. “This won’t.” Regan shrieked as he lifted her up and carried her from the kitchen toward the bedroom. “We’ll discuss date plans later,” he promised as he kicked the bedroom door closed.

  * * *

  Sated and exhausted, Sawyer finally felt like he was able to breathe again and kissed the top of Regan’s head. She was sprawled out on top of him and if it were possible, they’d stay like this forever. He loved the feel of her, the way her hair always smelled like something tropical, and how her heart felt beating next to his.

  He was in deep.

  Regan disentangled herself and found a comfortable position beside him. “Forget the sauce on the stove—let’s order pizza,” she said sleepily.

  “Food? You’re thinking of food right now?” he teased.

  “What can I say…you exhausted me and now I need food but don’t have the energy to cook.”

  “Then pizza it is,” he said and reached for his phone. An alert sounded to let him know he had a text message. Regan lifted her head in time to see Devin’s name on the screen.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked, stretching beside him.

  It was now or never. “Devin is a little…peeved, shall we say, that you’re not at the house more and making a scene. He was hoping for some big drama.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “Why? What’s the big deal?”

  Sawy
er didn’t want to pull at this thread right now; things were so perfect, so peaceful, and the thought of bringing up a sensitive subject was not how he hoped to cap off the night. The look on Regan’s face, however, told him she wasn’t going to let it go. “From the get-go, the network was excited about the fact that they had a story line behind the renovation.”

  “What do you mean by a story line?”

  “They liked the fact that you and your mother were not in agreement over the house and they wanted to use that angle to boost ratings on the episode.” There. He’d said it.

  “So…what were they expecting? I would have chained myself to the fireplace so you wouldn’t knock it down, or maybe lock myself in the bathroom in protest? Or maybe I’d just be a screaming lunatic?” Each word was said calmly and evenly, but he could tell she was barely holding back.

  “Something like that.” Sawyer stroked her cheek. “I told them from the very beginning that I wasn’t doing it. I didn’t want to go that route, and I have done everything I could to keep it from happening.”

  “Then what’s the problem? Why are they still so intent on doing it?”

  “Because they say the show has gotten boring and predictable, that my designs aren’t enough to hold the audience’s attention.”

  “Oh, Sawyer,” she said sympathetically. “They’re wrong! What you do, what you create, is magnificent! You know I was against this from the beginning, but now, seeing what you’ve done with the place? It’s blown me away. I never thought the house could look like that. In just a few short weeks you’ve created a transformation that is beyond my comprehension!” She sat up and pulled the sheet up to cover her breasts, smiling at his boyish pout.

  “I’m trying to be serious here,” she admonished. “You have an incredible gift, Sawyer. If you never did another episode of The Bennett Project there would still be people lined up for miles wanting you to do what you do in their houses! Don’t let Devin or the network intimidate you into believing you’re not enough—the fans watch your show because of you, not because of some conjured-up drama.”