by Nan Dixon
He rolled off her, embarrassed by the memory.
“Oh, my.” She curled into his side. “That was worth waiting ten years.”
Shit.
He covered his eyes with his arm, gathering the strength to take care of the condom. Rolling out of bed, he staggered to the bathroom.
Bloodshot eyes stared at him from the mirror. He never drank more than two drinks. He’d had, what—three whiskeys, wine with dinner and an unknown quantity of champagne?
This was what happened when he was around Bess. He acted stupid—lost control.
He moved back into the bedroom and gathered his clothes.
She opened her eyes, looking rumpled and gorgeous. “It’s late. Don’t go.”
He sat on the end of the bed. Numb.
She patted the mattress. “Stay with me.”
This was all wrong. He should go. But his body refused. “Sure.”
After folding his clothes, he set them on an armchair. Sliding into bed, he lay down. His muscles were as tight as a running sail.
She rolled and pillowed her head on his chest.
He shouldn’t be here.
“Good night,” she whispered.
He wrapped an arm around her, and she snuggled deeper. He’d straighten out this mess—tomorrow.
* * *
BESS GRABBED HER HEAD. Pain hammered behind her eyes. Samuel had warned her to take aspirin last night, hadn’t he? The night was a blur. She rolled and the sheet slid across her naked body. Naked?
Her leg brushed a hairy leg. No.
Blond hair sparkled in the dappled sunlight. Daniel. Her heart pounded a little harder. Stubble covered his jaw, a darker shade of blond than his hair. Luckily, he was still asleep.
She closed her eyes. Not again.
The night flooded back to her. Walking with Daniel. The fountain. Daniel carrying her home. All those glorious muscles. No key. Daniel. Sex. Hot, mind-blowing sex. Life-changing sex. Why did this all have to be with Daniel?
She held her aching head. Lord, she wasn’t seventeen and foolish anymore. Last night was the worst thing she could have done.
She’d slept with the man who’d tossed her aside as if she were a dying plant. Her breath came out in ragged gasps. Ten years ago, she’d pleaded with him to give her a chance. He’d said he could never be with someone like her. Could never stand worrying about what she would do next.
Yet last night, she’d begged him to touch her. Begged him to stay.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
She wiggled away from him, trying to escape.
A heavy hand dropped on her hip and pulled her flush with his aroused body. “G’morning.”
She shoved his arm away.
He blinked and shifted. So did the covers. “Oh, shit.”
She grabbed the sheet, tucking it under her arms.
Daniel flopped onto his back. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
His words were like a thorn, catching her by surprise. She slithered to a sitting position. “Good morning to you.”
The air crackled with enough tension to set off a lightning storm.
He shook his head. “We shouldn’t have slept together.”
“But we did.” She couldn’t remember anyone turning her on as much as Daniel had. Why did it have to be him? Forbidden fruit, much?
Daniel levered his toned body up and braced his back against her headboard. His fingers dug into his hair. “We were drunk.”
The thorn burrowed deeper. She hadn’t expected an undying vow of love—not from Daniel. But he could at least acknowledge the sparks between them.
“So...” She couldn’t stand the silence. “We hooked up at a wedding.” She tried to keep it airy. Tried to push away the hurt. “Big deal. We responded to...” She waved her hand between them.
“I don’t hook up with people I’ve known all my life.” His eyelids shuttered his brown eyes. His cold, emotionless voice lashed out at her. “I never hook up.”
“You think I do?” she choked out.
“No.” He reached out to her.
She slapped his hand away, holding on to her anger to keep back the tears. “At least this time I wasn’t a virgin.”
“Did you have to bring that up?” He closed his eyes and let out a massive sigh. “You make me crazy. You’re always out of control.”
“Out of control?” She threw up a hand and then had to grab the slipping sheet. “I’m not out of control.”
He held up his hand. The scar between his thumb and forefinger stood out, a white stripe on his tan skin.
“That wasn’t my fault.” She chewed her lip.
“How can you say that?” He leaned forward. “You took old windowpanes to make some sort of greenhouse. You were what? Thirteen?”
“Twelve.” She winced. “And it was working just fine until you got involved.”
“Pop and your mother were worried the glass would fall and slice your head off.” He threw up the scarred hand and slapped it against the bed. “They made me take it apart, and I was the one who got hurt.”
“Everything was fine.” Or would have been if Daniel had just left her homemade greenhouse alone.
He rolled his eyes. “How about when you followed me and my date to Forsythe Park?”
She swallowed. “I was taking a walk.”
“You were spying.”
“I was fourteen.” She raised her eyebrows. “And you shouldn’t have had your hand on her boob.”
“You should have stayed away from me. But you just couldn’t help butting in. You lied and said my mother was looking for me.” He inhaled. “Chaos surrounds you. You can’t control your impulses.”
“Control my impulses?” She was controlling them right now. He didn’t know how much she wanted to punch him in the nose.
“I grew up in chaos.” He grabbed his pants and jerked them on. “Every time I turned around, Nathan was creating trouble or weaseling out of trouble. I can’t live like that.”
“Control. That’s you to a T.” She knelt on the mattress facing him, the sheet wrapped around her body. “At least you had some control last night. This time I had an orgasm.”
He ripped a hand through his hair. “Do you even remember yanking me into a fountain?”
“And wet shoes forced you to have sex with me?” She waved a hand over the neutral zone between their bodies. She should keep her mouth shut, but this was humiliating. “Having sex was my fault?”
“Not this time.” He pulled on his shirt, letting the words sink in.
“Sure. I seduced you when we were young, but you hardly pushed me away then, or last night.”
“I was drunk.”
“Do you realize how stupid you sound?” She’d changed, but Daniel couldn’t or didn’t want to see that.
“It’s never happening again. We’ll...just stay away from each other.”
“Fine with me.” She tucked the sheet even higher around her chest. “I wouldn’t sleep with you if we were the last two people on an island. I wouldn’t sleep with you if you begged me next time.”
“Great.”
The thorn wedged itself in her chest, piercing her heart. “Get out.”
* * *
AFTER THE WEDDING BRUNCH, everyone waved Mamma and Martin off in front of Fitzgerald House.
Moving into the entryway, Bess asked her sisters, “Do you have fifteen minutes?”
“Sure,” Dolley said.
“What’s up?” Abby asked as they headed to the kitchen’s sitting area with a fresh pot of tea.
Stalling, Bess added milk to her mug before pouring her tea. She hated this. “Daniel’s turning my apartment into a condo.”
As she said the bastard’s name, her face heate
d.
Dolley rocked back in the love seat, her mug paused next to her lips. “Really?”
“I’ve checked with a couple of mortgage companies, but I don’t qualify for a large enough loan.” Bess took a deep breath. “Cade laid me off last week.” Her words rattled out.
“What?” Dolley came out of her chair.
“Cade let me go. His son has his degree now. He’s not very good, but there isn’t enough business for two landscape architects.”
“Cade’s an idiot,” Dolley said.
Abby put her hand on Bess’s arm. “What can we do?”
“I’ll find another job.” She hoped. “This gives me the time to concentrate on Carleton House.”
“Perfect.” Abby’s green eyes held too much sympathy.
Bess didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her.
“It’s wrong.” Dolley frowned. “You lose both your job and your apartment. How can Daniel do that to you?”
“It’s not Daniel’s fault.” Bess hated defending a man who’d humiliated her—twice. Well, three times now, if she counted the two times ten years ago. God, she was a fool.
Men always broke her heart. Why had she thought her job would be different? She rubbed her temple, relieved her headache had eased. “Forester Construction needs the money to cover Carleton House’s operating expenses.”
Abby touched her hand. “For us.”
Dolley tugged on her red curls. “That sucks.”
“I can’t blame them,” Bess said.
Abby pulled her hand away from her mouth. Bess hadn’t noticed she’d been chewing her nails.
“When do you have to move?” Dolley asked.
“Daniel’s letting me stay until they have a purchase agreement on my place, but only if I move my plants. Gray’s lending me his truck so I can move them into the sunroom and parlors.” She didn’t want or need Daniel’s help.
“I’ll help,” Dolley said.
“Thanks.” Her fingers sank into the arm of her chair. “I love my apartment.”
“Once Gray and I move into the Carleton carriage house, you’ll move into the Fitzgerald carriage house,” Abby said.
“Maybe.” Tears stung her eyes. She hated the idea of moving home.
“What about a job?” Dolley asked.
“I’ve updated my résumé and sent it out.” She rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the ache there. Fall was not the time to be looking for a job in her industry.
“You’re an artist.” Abby’s face was fierce. “Anyone would be lucky to have you work for them.”
“Thanks.” Bess eyes misted over. “Until I get another job, I’ll push hard on the Carleton House gardens.”
“Perfect.” Abby rubbed Bess’s arm. “There’s so much work. I’ve worried how you would get everything done.”
Dolley tipped her head. “We’ll increase your draw.”
“Why?” Bess frowned. “We’re an equal partnership. I shouldn’t be treated differently.”
“Dolley’s right.” Abby raised her hands. “We aren’t equal. I’ve always had a different draw because I’m full-time. You’ll be working full time.”
“I guess that could work.” But it felt like a handout to Bess.
“I have an idea.” Abby snapped her fingers. “You can be the liaison between Samuel, Gray and us on Carleton House.”
“That’s a great idea.” Dolley leaned forward. “When you get another job, we’ll work something else out.”
Bess tapped her lip. Being involved with the construction side would be fun. “I’d love to work with Samuel.”
“Excellent.” Abby’s strawberry-blonde ponytail bounced as she nodded. “You’ll make Carleton House shine.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed. Her sisters were the best. “I had one other idea.”
“What?” Abby asked.
“There’s a foundation for Carleton House’s greenhouse on the property. Instead of tearing it out, I think we should rebuild it.”
Dolley frowned. “Will it be expensive?”
“I’ll get the costs.” Bess sat forward. “I could grow more of the B and B’s flowers and reduce our decorating budget. I’d make orchids the B and B’s signature flower.”
Dolley frowned.
Abby tugged on her ear. Not a good sign. “I like the idea, but we need to get Carleton House finished so we can open the rooms.”
“I think we should give it a try.” Bess looked over at Dolley, hoping for support.
“Gather the costs,” Dolley said. “But we shouldn’t add more to our plans than we’ve already committed.”
Bess tried not to sigh. A greenhouse was a great idea. But she didn’t want to fight with her sisters.
She would gather the information and hope the numbers proved her point. Losing her home and job and being stupid enough to sleep with Daniel Forester was enough humiliation for now.
* * *
TUESDAY MORNING, BESS walked into Fitzgerald House’s kitchen, eager to sit in on the first Carleton House renovation meeting. She’d always envied Abby spending so much time with Samuel.
When Bess was eight, Mamma had started turning their home into a B and B. Samuel had always been around. It had taken almost twenty years to finish all the rooms, and in that time he’d become a fixture in the house and the families had become close friends. The sisters thought of him as their surrogate dad, especially since he always called them his girls.
Of course, she’d followed Daniel around for the first nine years and then ignored him for the next ten.
Samuel sat at the head of the table, looking at blueprints. Abby and Gray were next to each other, their shoulders touching. Filling out the table were Daniel and Nathan.
“Am I late?” she asked.
“We were early.” Samuel waved her over.
“Bess, you look gorgeous.” Nathan stood and gave her a hug.
“You’re still home?” she asked.
Nathan squeezed her shoulders. “For a few more days.”
Daniel called, “We’re working here.”
“Let the girl go,” Samuel added.
Bess hurried over, miffed that they’d started without her. She sat across from Daniel and stared at the blueprints. Better than looking the jerk in the face. “What did I miss?”
“We’re walking through the architect’s plans,” Abby said.
“Bess will represent the sisters, Samuel.” Gray patted her hand.
Samuel nodded. “Good choice.”
Heat moved across Bess’s face.
Daniel frowned. “Abby, you’re on-site.”
“I’ll be on-site.” Bess avoided his piercing brown gaze.
“I don’t understand.” Daniel slid back in his chair and crossed his arms. Muscles she’d hung on to three nights ago bulged under his T-shirt.
“I’m working full-time on Carleton House,” Bess said.
“But you work at King’s Gardens.”
Why couldn’t Daniel let it alone? “Not anymore.”
Daniel’s mouth dropped open. Fly catcher, Mamma would say.
“Great.” Samuel flipped to the blueprint of the basement. “Let’s get to it.”
They walked through each floor. Bess took notes of things she wanted to change. She would discuss them with Abby and Dolley—later.
“Any reason I can’t work on the gardens?” she asked as they looked at the exterior prints.
Samuel rubbed his neck. “Give me the quick and dirty of what you’re planning.”
“I’ll take down this wall.” She pointed at the exterior layout. “And reuse the flagstone for walkways and patios.”
“Will you need our help with the wall?” Daniel asked.
She glanced at hi
m and looked away. “Maybe.”
“Okay.” Daniel made a note.
Gray also made a note.
Jeez, everyone needed to be included on work-plan issues. Something to remember.
“I’m building raised beds. I’ll add more hedges. Interesting shrubs here and here. I’m thinking about a fire pit, or maybe a fireplace. Or pizza oven.” Bess sketched on her pad. “I haven’t decided what to do around the carriage house or the front of the house.”
Abby’s hand shot up. “I vote for a pizza oven.”
Gray pulled her hand down and laced their fingers together. “Will you need help with any of those options?”
“If we go with a fireplace, I might need a strong back or two. Otherwise I’ve built the others.”
“I still vote for the pizza oven.” Abby tapped her finger on the plan.
“Add it in,” Gray said.
Daniel nodded.
“Do these plans work?” Samuel asked.
Abby opened her mouth to answer, but Bess interrupted. She was in charge. “I’d like a day to look at them in depth and discuss with my sisters.”
Daniel frowned.
She raised her eyebrows.
“We’re hoping to have the first-and second-floor rooms available by early February,” Abby said.
“In anticipation of Saint Patrick’s Day?” Daniel asked.
“No.” Abby and Gray grinned at each other.
“Wedding guests,” Abby added.
Bess smiled and sighed. “You picked a date.”
“The second weekend of February.” Gray swept a finger along Abby’s cheekbone. Her sister’s eyes sparkled.
Bess’s chest tightened. What would it be like to want to spend the rest of her life with someone?
It wouldn’t happen to her. If she loved something, she lost it.
“The ballroom wasn’t booked. Mamma’s on board.” Abby’s grin lit up the room. “We’re getting married.”
Nathan slapped Gray on the back. “You’re a lucky man.”
Gray nodded. “The luckiest.”
“I’m happy for you.” Samuel took Abby’s hand. “We’ll complete everything by the end of January.”
Daniel’s jaw muscles flexed. He made notes on his tablet-size phone without commenting.
