Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters

by Cari Quinn

  Cam cleared his throat. She could feel his gaze like physical touch. “I have to get back to work.”

  Mica turned back to Cam. Silently pleading him to understand that she wasn’t of the same mind as her mother.

  “I’ll call you later.” He smiled down at her and leaned down to kiss her cheek before addressing her mother. “It was nice to meet you.”

  Mica watched his broad back disappear down the hallway. She desperately wanted to go with him rather than face the woman who watched her in silent judgment. Mica turned around and opened her door before addressing the woman who’d given birth to her.

  “Would you like to come in?” She said even though she would rather have gone with Cam, but if they were going to talk they might as well do it in the privacy of her home.

  Mica didn’t actually want her mother in her space. Any conversation they had might be achingly polite but would be hard.

  Her mother entered her apartment behind her and Mica immediately felt the weight of her disapproval.

  “At least it’s nicely appointed. Though some of these things aren’t to my taste.”

  That was her mother queen of the backhanded compliment. If Mica wasn’t careful she would go down the rabbit hole of being offended and come out the other side wrapped up in whatever bow her mother had chosen long before the conversation even started.

  “Thank you mother.” The trick was to not react to her mother and to focus on her goal which was not being talked into moving back home.

  “When you left for New York I thought you were all settled.” Her mother moved further into the room

  Mica slipped by her into the kitchen and took her time putting together a tray as her mother chose a chair to sit in. True to form, she took the armchair. No matter what her mother said she wasn’t here to be close to Mica. She was here to get her way.

  “So did I.”

  The silence stretched out as Mica poured her mother a glass of sweet tea from the tray she’d placed on the coffee table. Old habits died hard. She might not have wanted her in her space for very long, but Mica knew how to treat guests. Which would be the accusation hurled at her head if she hadn’t grabbed the tea and a plate of cookies.

  “Aren’t you going to explain why you’re back in Orlando?”

  “I thought I was clear when I said my engagement was over.”

  Her mother reached forward and picked up her glass, eyeing Mica over the top as she sipped. Mica kept her mouth shut. Once, when she was younger, in fact not that long ago, she would have babbled to fill the void. She would have divulged everything without thought to how doing so would have affected her until afterwards.

  “I’m still not sure why you allowed it to end.”

  And there it was. The blame.

  “He ended it. I came home.”

  “No, you didn’t come home. You moved here.” Cherise looked around again. Her curls tamed into a chignon, diamonds glinted at her ears. Red lips pursed in frustration. “Why didn’t you come home?”

  “I’m twenty-five and other than college, I’ve never lived away from home. You don’t find that odd?”

  “No. What I find odd is that you choose to live on the charity of your friends.”

  “What?” Anger and resentment long hidden bubbled up and mica had to fight to keep herself in her seat.

  “Mica. I know who owns this condo. Alexa also owns another condo in the building.”

  “Yes, she does. I’m renting it from her.”

  “You have a job? Joseph said he hadn’t heard from you.”

  Mica took a deep breath and reminded herself that her mother loved her. She just didn’t understand that love didn’t mean control. Her former employer Joseph Stein was a friend of her mother’s one phone call from either of her parents and she would have had a job.

  “I have a job and I don’t need you finding one for me. Joseph is fully staffed. He would have hired me just to help you out.” It wasn’t that she hadn’t liked her job in the art gallery. But she’d had someone inquire when she’d moved back and have any openings. She was not a charity case and if she took the job then she’d be not only in Joseph’s debt she would also be in her parents’.

  “That is absurd.” Her mother’s back was ramrod straight, her knuckles white as her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand.

  “No, that’s the truth.”

  Her mother put her glass down on the coffee table with a distinct clink.

  “We love you. We don’t understand why you haven’t come home. There is no shame in accepting help from your family. Your brother is at home and doesn’t have the same issues you do.”

  Mica bit her tongue. Her brother was busy milking the good life. He lived in the pool house and had ever since he’d graduated college a few years ago. Her mother did his laundry and paid the expense of having an additional maid to clean the pool house. Her brother was happy with the situation. Mica wasn’t.

  “I know you don’t understand, but I can do this.”

  “Do what Mica? Show me how stubborn you are?”

  Her mother reached down and gathered up her hand bag. Adjusted her brightly colored patterned sheath and made a sound that Mica knew signaled her annoyance. This wasn’t over, this was just the first volley in what would be a long battle.

  Mica stood as her mother dstrode to the door. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop: Cam. Her mother hadn’t mentioned him once during the short conversation.

  Her mother stopped at the door, her watch glinting in the light. Cherise turned back to face her. “One other thing. I know it might be convenient to lick your wounds by indulging yourself, but you need to be careful how long you allow yourself to brood. The choices you make now have a real potential to affect your happiness later on.”

  With those words of wisdom her mother breezed out the door.

  ~*~

  “I won’t rant anymore.” Alexa accepted the chocolate bar Mica handed her. “Tell me about your date with Cam.”

  Mica sank into the luxurious sofa next to her friend who’d just kicked off her heels and still wore her conservative sheath. The folder Mica had brought with her was still clutched in her hand. “I’ll tell you about that in a minute.”

  Taking her courage in hand, Mica handed over the folder.

  “You said you needed to come up with an idea for a fundraiser. I have an idea.”

  Alexa eyes wide with avarice grabbed the folder with both hands. “Gimme.”

  Mica waited in uneasy silence as her friend perused her proposal. It didn’t help when Alexa grabbed a pen from the counter and then sat back down to mark up her words. Mica jumped up and retreated to the kitchen her heart beating fast. It seemed like an eternity until Alexa raised her head.

  “When did you do this?”

  It wasn’t what Mica expected to hear, but it did do her the favor of freeing up her vocal cords. “In between checking on the empty condos and waiting for you to show up.”

  “You’ve been working on this longer than that.”

  “I started thinking about it the day after I got stuck in the elevator.”

  Alexa held the file aloft. “Did I ever mention how much I love your coping mechanisms?”

  Mica sagged against the marble kitchen counter. Her head light. Her hands tingling. “You like it?”

  “Like it? I love it.”

  Mica pushed away from the counter and poured a glass of water.

  “You said you’d like a career. How about you try out working in the nonprofit sector? I’m going to take a shortened version of this to the board and I’ll let you know if you’ll be hired on as a consultant.”

  “A shorter version?” This was the boiled down version. How did Alexa expect to make it shorter? Did Alexa expect her to ... Mica forced herself to breathe and paid attention to what Alexa had to say.

  “Sweet, if you’re pitching something you don’t give them everything up front.” Alexa dropped the file on the couch beside her. “You lure them in wit
h a taste, and they have to pay for the rest.”'

  “But they have the option to turn my proposal down?”

  “They won’t. Trust me. This is good.” Alexa said as she waved a piece of chocolate at Mica. “This is better than good”

  “My proposal or the chocolate?”

  “Both.” Alexa popped another piece of chocolate in her mouth. “Everything is coming up Alexa.”

  Mica dropped down onto couch and grabbed a pillow to hug. “How so?”

  “Well, you and the hot elevator guy are going out. I now have a proposal to shop to the board and you.” She beamed at Mica. “You’ve found your backbone.”

  “That sounds like everything is coming Mica.”

  “Sure you can take some of the credit too.”

  Mica threw the pillow at the woman she called her best friend.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Breathless, Mica pushed her hair out of her face and smiled up at Cam. He hadn’t expected her to agree when he’d invited her to play flag football with him and his friends but she’d gone along. And she’d had fun.

  “You cost me the game.”

  Mica broke away from him and did a happy dance. “I may not be able to catch a ball, or run faster than you guys but I can be a nuisance when I want to be.”

  Cam reached for her again, she laughed and danced away. He stood hands on his hips, watching her go.

  “I like her. She’s cute.” Kaleb his friend since childhood stood near him a smirk on his face. “I’m not the only one who thinks so.”

  Cam glanced back to see the guys watching. He narrowed his eyes and they all found something else to do. He turned back to watch her drink from her water bottle. When he’d first encountered her he’d thought she was just another spoiled little rich girl.

  It turned out she wasn’t. Spoiled at least. He wasn’t so sure about rich anymore. Better off than most, yes, but flat-out rich, no. He wasn’t quite ready to ask her just yet what she did beyond the house and pet sitting. Something told him that he was better off letting her come to him.

  He walked over to where she stood talking to a few of his friends and picked up the cooler. He’d made sure she was totally free this Saturday and he said a silent prayer to whatever gods were listening that his phone wouldn’t ring. For the first time he wanted uninterrupted time with a date.

  And this date made him smile even when she wasn’t talking to him. Not many women could handle a sweaty, foul-mouthed bunch of guys on a hot Saturday morning. She didn’t even bat an eye when he told her to wear her gym clothes or bring a change of clothes.

  A lone male jogged over to where Mica stood and immediately lifted her off her feet. Cam was moving even as it registered. Except when Cam got close he realized Mica knew the male who had her in a bear hug.

  “Where’ve you been?” Mica’s friend asked.

  Mica laughed and stepped back from the male in question. “Here.”

  “You and Alexa are both hiding out on us. You can’t expect that to go unanswered.”

  Cam knew the moment she saw him standing behind her friend. Mica’s eyes widened as spotted Cam.

  “Brian, the guy standing behind you is my date Cam Munroe.”

  Brian turned to face him and immediately gave him the once over before shaking his hand. “So how did you meet Mica?”

  Cam smiled at the groan Mica let loose. Over protective friend. Not a rival. Cam smiled. “Well she made herself hard to ignore, she kept calling in the elevators.”

  Mica walked over and punched him in the arm.

  “What you didn’t want to tell him that you’re responsible for my very large paycheck?”

  Mica was bright red and Brian when he looked up was smiling.

  “I’m an elevator technician.”

  “I wish Mica could get me overtime, but I’m engineer in middle management position.”

  “Downtown.”

  “I live down here. I work out East.”

  Cam was hard pressed not to pull Mica close to his side, but he controlled himself. He remembered the reaction when he’d ordered her wine and he didn’t want that response again. He was rewarded when Mica put her arm around his waist as he shook Brian’s hand.

  “Good to meet you man.” Brian reached out and tweaked one of Mica’s curls. “Us six dinner.”

  Cam’s goodwill towards Brian fled. “Dinner? You six?” Cam automatically knew it didn’t include him.

  “No offense but you’re the new guy. We haven’t seen her since she came back from New York. You understand don’t you? See you later Mica.” Brian jogged back to where he came from.

  Mica looked sheepish. “I’m sorry. It’s not personal.”

  Cam was glad she didn’t try and cover for them by inviting him in, but it was personal. It was a friend who was protective of her.

  “Six? Six O’clock?” They had plans. Was she planning on cancelling on him?

  “It’s silly.” She shook her head as they walked out of the park to the car together. “We call ourselves the circle of six. We’ve been friends for ages and I doubt all six of us will be there in person. Some of us travel a lot.”

  “You said in person.”

  “Sometimes they’ll call in.”

  Cam shook his head. His buddies got together if they were in the same place but they didn’t call in for a dinner. He switched gears.

  “I want to show you something.”

  Mica looked down at her clothes. “Can we change first?”

  Cam smiled. “Let’s do that..” He wanted to take her to his house and show it off. Cam very rarely went against his gut and his gut said this was the woman to show his home to.

  Cam unlocked his truck and held the door for Mica before jumping in on his side. He glanced over at Mica. She was sweaty and hot. Her face was flushed and her hair had a mind of its own. She was beautiful. Cam started the truck and turned on the AC before he pulled out of the dirt parking lot.

  The AC had kicked in by the time they’d hit his neighborhood. Cam watched Mic a djust the vents out of the corner of his eye. The drive wasn’t a long one and his adrenaline had begun to pike the closer he got to his house.

  “Are we in College Park?”

  “I told you I had something to show you.” He pulled into the drive way.

  “Where are we?”

  “My home.”

  Cam hung back and watched Mica’s reaction.

  “This is cute.” She turned back to his home. “Have you figured out your landscaping yet?”

  Cam laughed. “No, not yet, I’m not much of a gardener.”

  He stepped in front of her to unlock the front door. “I’m still working on the house.” He felt nervous. He hadn’t expected to. He’d put a lot into this house and it mattered what she thought. He felt like a kid on his first date. All sweaty palms and nerves.

  “Cam, this is great.” She walked further into his house and it felt right. He stood looking at her taking in his home and looking like she fit.

  “I’m glad you like it.” He could hear the relief in his own voice. Mica genuinely liked it. It wasn’t the polite interest people faked when they wanted to be happy for you but didn’t really care either way.

  He followed her as she wandered through his home. Her finger tips grazed the tops of the marble counter as she explored his kitchen. The rest of the house was a work in progress. Still, she looked around in wonder.

  “I like what you’ve done so far.” Mica traced the edge of a window ledge with a finger. “You didn’t go for newer construction. When was this built?”

  “1941. I bought it a while back and saved until I could fix it up.”

  Cam followed her as she wandered from room to room taking in all that he’d done and all that he had to do.

  She’d made her way to the master bedroom, the one room he’d completely finished. The hot Florida sun flooded it with light. His bed was a king-size four poster that took up most of the space. Other than a dresser and a night stand there was nothin
g else in his it.

  Mica came to halt in the middle of the room.

  Cam stood rooted to the spot in the hallway. She didn’t turn around. She didn’t retreat. Mica stood as if making a decision. Cam didn’t enter until she turned around and faced him.

  He ran his hands up the smooth skin of her arms before bending his head for a kiss. She tasted of honey and sunshine. With every stroke of her tongue he wanted more and he took as she gave. Cam wanted to feel all of her against him. Her soft breast pillowed against his chest. He wanted skin and the only thing stopping him was his conscience. It was screaming at him to take it slow.

  Cam lifted his mouth from Mica’s and buried his face in her neck to stop from devouring her. They were both breathing hard.

  “Cam?”

  He closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. Cam waited for her to stop him. If she did, it would be one hell of a case of blue balls.

  “Yeah.” He couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on her neck. His reward was the shiver she couldn’t contain. He smiled against her neck. Well, at least he had that much. He raised his head. Her hands that were resting on his waist crept up to his shoulders.

  Mica licked her lips. “I want you.”

  Cam blinked down at Mica.

  “Now.”

  Cam didn’t wait for another invitation. He swooped in for another taste of her now kiss bruised lips and backed her up to the bed. Months of lust came roaring back as he took what he wanted and gave pleasure in return.

  Cam peeled her out of her T-shirt, quickly followed by her bra. An instrument of torture that forced her to help him along.

  “Why do you guys wear these things?”

  Mica laughed at him as he flung it in triumph to the floor.

  “You try running around with these things.” She cupped her breasts and Cam groaned in appreciation. Her skin was golden brown from the sun. He traced the tops of her breast with his fingers following the tan line she’d acquired running around in the heat.

  “I can think of better things to do with these than run.”

  “But then how are you going to chase me?” Mica feinted left and Cam let her take a few steps before grabbing her around her waist. He nuzzled her neck as he peeled her shorts away from her hips.