by P. J. Mellor
“Maybe you’re right.” What a depressing thought.
“There is an alternative, you know.”
“And what would that be?”
“Your place. Think about it, it’s perfect. Exactly what he’s been looking for. You’d both win. He’d get a great house, you’d make a major sale.”
“But there’s just one flaw with your plan, Lisa. My house is not for sale.” She loved the beach and her custom-built home and pool. And she wasn’t selling it to anyone, not even Connor.
Especially not Connor.
“There has to be another way. I’m not selling my home. Besides, you love this place, too. Where would we hang out and walk on the beach and drink?”
“True. There is that.” Lisa perked up. “OMG! Why didn’t I think about this before? Ask him to move in! You wouldn’t make a sale, but you wouldn’t lose one, either. And think of all the hot sex you’d have.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “Then, too, we wouldn’t have to bother with his dumb old preapproval letter.”
“Tempting as that thought sounds, you’re forgetting he doesn’t want to date me, much less have sex with me. There is no way he’d move in here!”
But after Lisa left, Andrea lay in bed thinking about how she might convince Connor to resume their relationship—not that it really was an actual relationship, but she’d like to at least see where it might lead.
Rolling to the side of the bed, she lay with her hand on the phone.
What if he turned her down?
Better to wait until morning. She was showing him the last available house. If he still seemed disinclined to making an offer, she’d have a decision to make.
The fact that she might have feelings for Connor terrified her. As for being in love, as Lisa maintained, it was absurd.
But living together might be the best solution. They could spend time together, having hot sex whenever and wherever they chose, yet maintain their individual identity.
She was a modern woman, she decided as she dressed the next morning. Why shouldn’t she enjoy Connor for whatever time they had together? So what if he’s younger? So what if he’s unemployed? She made enough money to support them both. Somehow she had to convince him it was okay to let her take care of him. Assuming he’d be willing to make even that much of a commitment to her. Not that she’d really want more, anyway.
After picking Connor up at his hotel, she found herself going through the motions of showing him the house. As beach houses go, it was okay. Not one she’d ever consider, but for the right person, it was doable. Connor was not the right person for the house. Even she could see that.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Redd?” Connor asked as he walked up to where she stood by the patio door, looking out over the murky water of the shallow inlet. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic. Is there a problem with the house?”
“No, it’s fine…if you like this kind of house, which I know from experience you don’t.” Shoulders slumped, she sighed and met his gaze. “If you must know, I miss you.” At his raised eyebrow, she hurried on. “Us. Together. I’m so sorry I messed things up.” She sniffed and wiped at a tear. “I know I’m older than you and I—”
“Will you stop acting like you’re a child molester? I saw your license. You’re not that much older than me.” He stepped closer. “And you and I both know that’s not the reason we had to end our relationship.” He put his palm over her mouth. “And, yes, it was a relationship. At least for me.” His brows drew together. “But I refuse to let sex influence a sale.”
“I know.” She moved in closer, until their chests touched. “And I promise to never connect the two again.”
“I can’t sleep with my Realtor. It’s unethical and we already found out it just doesn’t work.”
“I can have someone else in the office show you properties.”
He drew her into his embrace. “I guess I could live with that.” He ground against her. “So, what do you say? Once more for old time’s sake?”
Andrea paused in her kitchen, suddenly nervous. The sex that afternoon had been fabulous, everything she remembered and more. Why the feeling of disquiet?
They had incredible chemistry. She had a big house. If he didn’t want to live in her bedroom with her, he could have his pick of five others. Surely they could reach an amicable understanding.
“Here we go,” she said with more cheerfulness than she felt as she walked out onto the patio with a sweating pitcher of margaritas. “The housekeeper is a fabulous cook, and she left dinner warming for us. If you’re hungry, we could eat now.”
In answer, he ran his hand up under her skirt as he took a glass from the tray. “I can wait,” he said with a smile as he poured their drinks.
“Good,” she said, taking a quick sip as she sat next to him on the patio sofa. “Because I have a proposition for you.”
His eyebrows rose. “Really? I thought you already propositioned me this afternoon.”
She laughed and set her glass on the coffee table before taking his hands in hers. “I love being with you again.”
He looked down at their joined hands before meeting her gaze. “And I love being with you again, too. What’s this all about?”
“I don’t like sleeping apart. This is a big house. Too big for one person. There’s no reason why you couldn’t just move in here. With me.” She held up her hand. “Hear me out. It’s okay if you don’t have a job. I make enough money for both of us. All you’d have to do is be here for me when I get home and—”
“What would I do while you’re gone?”
“That’s the thing. You could do anything you wanted. Or nothing. Work on your tan.” She gestured toward the beach, just outside her yard. “Run on the beach, surf. Whatever.”
“So, just to be clear, I’d be…what? A gigolo? Your boy toy?”
“No, you don’t understand—”
“Oh, I understand just fine, Ms. Redd.” He leaned closer. “Not interested but thanks, anyway.” He tugged his hands from hers and strode to the gate. “I’ll let myself out. Is this the servants’ entrance? I wouldn’t want anyone to see me leaving by the front door.”
Andrea sat in stunned silence, long after Connor’s exit. He’d be back. For some reason, he craved her body as much as she did his. She’d be a fool to turn him away. She was no fool. Such a talented lover, even as a temporary sex partner, was something she could not refuse.
Connor was young, despite his chronological age, she reasoned. He still thought with his little head. All the ways he’d thought played through her mind, causing her to smile. Oh, yeah, she’d take whatever he was willing to give for as long as he was willing to give it.
Thank goodness she hadn’t done something stupid and told him she’d fallen in love with him.
Despite sleeping next to her phone, it did not ring all night.
Groggy and generally sad, she made her way to her office the next morning, relieved when Lisa was not at her desk.
Slow steps took her to her desk, where she collapsed into the chair, wondering how long she could wait before breaking her vow and calling Connor.
Lisa’s unmistakable footfall sounded on the tile hallway seconds before she screeched to a halt in the doorway of Andrea’s office, waving a piece of paper.
“It came! It’s here! OMG! UR not going to believe it!” She nearly skipped to the desk and pressed the paper into Andrea’s hands. “Connor is worth a fortune, if that confirmation letter is any indication!”
“Oh, no!” Andrea closed her eyes, waiting for death. “I’m such a fool. No wonder he was offended by my offer!”
“Offer?”
Andrea nodded. “Yes. I basically offered to make him a kept man.” She dropped her head to her hands and moaned, then banged her head against her desk. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
“You could say that. The guy could buy most of the town.” She shoved the phone toward her boss. “Call him.”
Andrea looked up. “And say what? Sorry I’m a
n idiot and, oh, by the way, how about looking at more houses?” She blinked back tears and reached for a tissue. “It’s over, Lisa.”
Connor pressed 1 to replay his messages. Four from Andrea, all varying forms of apology, and one from Bill saying, basically, I told you so. He deleted Bill’s message and replayed Andrea’s again. And again. Just to hear her voice.
He sighed and sank to the sofa, then pressed 1 again. Did she sound sad? Was that a hint of tears in her voice? Did he want there to be?
Dropping the phone to the cushions, he rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t slept worth a damn.
Until he decided what to do about the Andrea situation, he probably would never sleep again.
After another restless night, Andrea dragged herself to the office. Lisa wasn’t in yet, so she made coffee, then trudged to her office.
The message light on the phone console blinked at her.
Afraid to hope, she stood, staring at it.
“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Lisa’s voice came from the outer office. “Oh, great, you made coffee! Thanks. Did you remember to actually put coffee into the little basket this time?”
Her bright head appeared in the open doorway. “Drea? What’s wrong? Hey, there’s a message. Push the button.”
When Andrea still stood, staring, Lisa sighed and walked over. She punched the flashing button.
“Hey. It’s Connor. Connor O’Brian. The guy who’s been looking at vacation beach houses.” Andrea and Lisa looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “Anyway, I’m calling—it’s about, um, two in the morning, by the way. Sorry to call so late. Or early. Anyway…I wanted…I mean this message is for Andrea. Redd. Andrea Redd. I’m sorry, I really hate talking to a machine. I’ll call back later.” Click.
“Interesting.” Lisa sang the word with a smile.
“Don’t get your hopes up. He was probably calling to tell me to go to hell—again.”
“Aren’t you going to return his call?”
Andrea thought for a second, then shook her head. “No point in prolonging things.”
“Well, I’ll call him, then!”
“Go for it.” Andrea purposely shut her door behind Lisa. She opened the armoire and turned on the TV. She wasn’t interested in watching anything, but she also didn’t want to hear Lisa’s call.
The light on the phone went out, to be followed immediately by Lisa’s scream.
The door swung open. Lisa danced around Andrea’s office, pumping her fist in the air. “Yea!” She stopped, fists on bony hips, and glared. “Aren’t you even curious?”
“Okay, tell me. I know you’re dying to, anyway.” Had Connor changed his mind about her proposition? Beneath her silk blouse, her heart hammered.
“He said he’s decided on a beach house and wants you to come to his hotel room with a contract! How cool is that?”
“Did he happen to say which property he’d chosen?” Be happy, she chided, be happy. It’s the sale she wanted. The sale she needed. She should be dancing with joy along with Lisa.
“Nope. I tried to pin him down. He wants you to bring a blank contract.”
“What? I don’t want to take a blank contract. I don’t do blank contracts.” So what if Connor had money? It gave him no right to call all the shots.
“I know!” Lisa ran to the cabinet and began opening drawers. “We’ll make up a contract for every house you showed him. Cover all the bases.”
“What if he’s found a house without us?” Not that she wouldn’t be grateful to still get the sale, but it would be somewhat of a slap.
“Take a blank contract, too, just in case,” Lisa advised, flipping on the printer.
Andrea put a hand on her nervous stomach as she exited the elevator. Connor had no idea how difficult it was for her to come back to the scene of the crime. Not to mention riding all the way up to the penthouse in an elevator. He’d better be appreciative.
She blinked back tears, telling herself they were just from nerves. But she knew better. Whoever said it was better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all was full of crap.
In her heart, she’d known parting ways with Connor was bound to happen. She just wished their fling had lasted longer.
But it was past time to do the honorable thing. If he wouldn’t be her “boy toy,” she at least owed him an honorable ending.
Gathering her courage, she checked her appearance and then knocked on the door to his suite.
Connor opened the door before she could lower her hand. “C’mon in.”
He closed the door, looking oddly nervous. Of course, she thought, he’s probably just as uneasy as she about the contract.
She walked to the desk and opened her briefcase. “Since you didn’t tell Lisa which property you chose, I took the liberty of bringing a contract for each of them.”
“But I—”
“I have to tell you something first, though; then you can decide. The property I first showed you, on the lake, really isn’t one you want. Besides being on a lake, it’s not very well constructed. And the rooms are small. It’s also—”
“I don’t want the lake property. I already told you that, remember?” He stepped closer. Close enough for her to smell his aftershave.
It made her mouth water.
“Great. Well, alternatively, the last couple of homes would work for you. I have contracts for them as well as the house with the infinity pool and spa.” She averted her eyes, knowing they would give away her feelings about that particular property. It would always hold a special place in her heart, and the idea of him living there was difficult.
After a minute of total silence, she peeked through her lashes.
Connor was shaking his head. And smiling. “I’ve found a different property. Better than any you showed me, but thanks, anyway. I’ve kind of got my heart set on it.”
“Oh. Were you working with another Realtor? If you give me their name, I’d be happy to contact—”
“No, there’s no other Realtor. You’re my Realtor.” He stepped closer until he had her pinned against the desk, then told her the address of the property he wanted to make an offer on.
She blinked.
It was her address.
“That property is not for sale,” she said when she found her voice. True, she needed a sale, but not that badly.
“Sure it is,” he said, kissing her neck, short-circuiting her defenses. “Everything is negotiable, if you know what you’re doing.”
“Then obviously you don’t know what you’re doing.” Strong. She had to be strong when all she really wanted to do was grab him and never let go.
“You don’t understand.” When she tried to walk away, he tightened his arms. “Stop running. Fill out the contract. I’ll pay whatever you want, but I want you to be the co-owner.”
She stopped struggling. “That’s out of the question.”
“You haven’t heard my contingency clause yet.”
“It doesn’t matter, because the house is not for sale. I told you I—” Her words were stopped by his kiss.
“The contingency,” he said when he broke the kiss, “is that you give us a chance. We have to trust each other. Moving in together is the first step. I love you and will only go into this if you admit you love me, too.”
She slid her arms around his neck and smiled for the first time in days. “I can live with that.”
JUST RIGHT
1
Ashley Clark took another sip of her margarita, then wiped at the remaining tears clinging to her eyelashes. She sniffed and looked across the table at her best friend, her rock, the only man who understood her and defended her unconditionally.
She chewed on her lower lip. Did she have the nerve to ask?
She watched Daryl Garrett slouch in the booth as he took a leisurely swig from his longneck, secretly admiring the way his throat rippled with each swallow.
She had to ask.
“Daryl,” she began, setting her glass on the table between them. “Have
you ever wondered why we never hooked up?”
He immediately choked, sputtering and spraying beer across the table.
Ashley jumped back, avoiding most of the mist. Frowning, she swiped at her arm with a cocktail napkin. Maybe that was the reason.
Daryl narrowed his eyes while he tried to inhale much-needed air. He’d been right. The one night they’d spent together was so insignificant in Ashley’s mind that she’d totally forgotten.
Too bad every second of their encounter was indelibly etched on his cerebellum for eternity.
“Never mind,” she grumbled in typical Ashley fashion when he didn’t answer right away. “I shouldn’t have asked. It was a stupid question. Forget it, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, he set his bottle on the table and looked at the woman he’d loved since third grade. “If you really thought it was stupid, you wouldn’t have asked.”
“Stop analyzing me, Daryl. It’s annoying.” She blinked back fresh tears. “You’re supposed to be my friend. That’s why I called you tonight.” She blew her nose. “I really need you,” she said in a small voice.
You have no idea how true that statement is, Ash. But what could he do about it? Ashley made her own decisions, and time after time, she continually made the wrong ones.
“Hey, you’ve got me.” He raised his hand to signal for another round. “And, if you really want an answer to your question, I’ll give you one.” He took her cold hands in his and hoped he would find the right words.
“I just wondered, that’s all.” She shrugged. “Aren’t you a little curious? We’ve been friends forever.”
“Which is exactly why we never hooked up,” he lied. “That, and the fact you were involved with my best friends for the last four years or so.”
