“And I think you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Lori. And I want it always to be that way. No matter what happens with Annie.”
The warmth in his eyes was like a sweet caress to her heart. But then he’d mentioned Annie. “Me too, Deek.” She leaned her head back against the seat and sighed. “Me too.”
Was she about to make the biggest mistake in her life by falling completely in love with an irresistible man who just wanted to be her friend?
Or was it already too late?
11
SOMETIMES THINGS SEEM TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. . . BUT MAYBE THEY AREN’T.
Deek wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans before he opened the door that led from his garage to the kitchen. Lori’s jaw had dropped when she’d seen the front of the house, but she hadn’t said anything except, “Wow.” Why he cared so much if she liked his house, he wasn’t sure, but he wanted her to.
He followed her as she entered his house. Lori looked hot dressed in jeans and tennis shoes. And she’d pulled her hair up in a ponytail. He liked the casual look.
“So this is the kitchen.” He stood with his hands in his pockets and waited for her response.
“Wow.” Lori smoothed her hand over the granite countertops as she looked around. “Just, wow, Deek.”
Was that all the woman could say? He still couldn’t tell if she liked his professional kitchen with miles of granite and top-notch appliances, or thought it was stupid and overly indulgent like Annie had. “I had them design it, so all the culinary toys I love to use in here have their place. To avoid clutter. They called them appliance garages, but that seems like a stupid name for a cabinet that holds a stand mixer or an expresso machine, right?”
“It makes sense to me.” She turned her attention back to him and shrugged. “A garage is part of the house, but it’s special use is to provide a place for a piece of equipment too.”
She was right. He’d never thought of it that way. But he wished she’d tell him what she thought of his house, dammit. And what she was feeling for him. “Well, through here is the dining room.” He started to cross the kitchen, and she caught up, still swiveling her head and taking it all in as they walked.
“I was just doing the math, Deek, and I think my entire house could fit in here. Seriously, you could bake for the whole town with all this counter space.”
Was that a good thing or bad? “Yeah. I like to cook. And still have enough room to experiment.”
She nodded as she took in the commercial freezer and refrigerator in the butler’s pantry as they walked by. “You also have two of every appliance? Wait. Don’t tell me. Let me guess. You’re holding hostages in the basement? And you force them to make you a new funny T-shirt each day, right?”
They stopped walking, and he studied her face. “There’s no basement.”
She held up a finger. “But you don’t deny the hostages?”
He gave her ponytail a light tug. “One of these days, I’m going to catch on to your sarcasm sooner, and then what will you do?”
“I’ll have to up my game, I guess.” She gave him a hug. “I love your house, Deek. I’m especially interested to see your bedroom. I’m half expecting framed superhero posters on the walls. Will I be disappointed?”
“Yes, because I have a whole room dedicated to my comic book memorabilia. And I might even let you see it. After.” He took her hand and led her toward the stairs, pleased that Lori liked his house. He was going to show just how pleased he was with her as soon as he could get her naked again.
Lori flopped off of Deek and landed on her back beside him on the bed as she struggled for air. “You were right. Best way to kill a few hours, hands down.” He’d topped his performance from the night before. She didn’t think that’d even be possible.
He curled an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “You liked that last part, huh?”
Liked it? She’d loved it and wanted to do it again. “I really, really did. Thank you.”
He tucked her head under his chin. “Welcome. But you nearly killed me. I’ll be lucky if I can gather enough strength to show you the rest of my house before we have to go.”
“Mmmmm.” She closed her eyes and relished the feeling of being thoroughly sated. “As badly as I want to see your framed Wonder Woman poster, I’m not sure I have the strength for it either.”
He tilted her chin up with a finger. “Of all the superhero posters in the world, why would you guess that I have Wonder Woman?”
“My brother.” She opened her eyes and smiled at the puzzled look on his face. “He once told me that since our mom wouldn’t let him hang up pictures of naked girls in his room, Wonder Woman was the next best thing.”
“True. She’s really built. Like you.” His hand slid gently all the way down the front of her body, paying extra attention to the good parts.
She could lie in bed with Deek all day. “I have to admit, that magic lasso of hers is pretty amazing. Oh, and that invisible plane? I think I need one of those.”
Deek nodded as he continued to caress her skin. “But what good did having an invisible plane do when you could see her sitting inside flying it?”
“You’re being too literal. The guy who thought her up, and you know it was a man, wouldn’t dream of hiding her curves when she was doing something as sexy as flying a jet. He’d want everyone to share in his fantasy woman…whatever she does, right?”
“Ah. I see your point.” He leaned down and kissed her. “And for the record, I think you are ten times sexier than she is. But I wouldn’t mind seeing what we could do with that magic lasso.”
“Maybe you should do some research and then get back to me.”
“Deal.” Deek swiped a piece of fallen hair behind her ear. “Honestly, I would’ve never guessed you’d be this fun in bed.”
Never guessed? Why wouldn’t she be fun in bed?
He’d picked at an open sore. Her husband sometimes wanted her to be more adventurous, but certain things were just off-limits. It’d always made her wonder if that was why he cheated with Mel.
“Maybe we better go get the kids.” She tried to roll away, but Deek held her tight.
“Wait. What did I say?”
She huffed out a breath. He couldn’t have known. Taking it out on him wasn’t fair. “I’m sorry. It’s just that Joe used to accuse me of being a prude sometimes, especially after Emily was born.”
“Seriously?” Deek’s forehead rumpled. “I haven’t been with anyone who seems to enjoy sex as much as you do. And I love how vocal you are about it.”
Leave it to Deek to make her feel better. “That’s new for me. And totally your fault.”
“It makes me happy to make you happy, Lori. But have I asked you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with?”
“No.” God, he was so cute. “Joe was an adrenaline junkie. He liked the thrill of having sex in places that weren’t always the most comfortable, or that would be mortifying to me if we got caught. I think he actually hoped we would get caught sometimes.”
“That was part of the thrill? To embarrass you?”
“I can’t say I totally ever knew for sure. But give me a bed over a tree trunk at my back any day. I was usually the one who ended up with the scrapes and bruises.”
“Ouch.” Deek leaned over and kissed her again. Slowly, deeply, and with so much tenderness, it felt like her heart might explode.
After he had ended the kiss, he whispered, “Joe didn’t appreciate what he had. You make me want to spend every waking moment with you. You’re incredibly beautiful, sexy, sweet, funny, and the kindest woman I’ve ever met. Not to mention you’re the loudest woman I’ve ever known in bed.”
Her heart hurt with all her pent-up feelings for him. But she’d sworn she wouldn’t tell him how she really felt about him. He had a deep moral need to get Annie back for Asher that she’d never want him to betray in himself. And she couldn’t be the one standing in Asher’s way of having that. “I think you’re one of the nicest
guys I’ve ever met. It’s just a bonus you’re so damn good in bed. How long before Annie returns and I get the boot?”
She would not cry. No matter what he said, she’d plaster on a smile.
“The boot? That sounds so…cold.” Deek rolled onto his back and threw his arm over his face. “You make it ten times harder for me to do the right thing for Asher.”
That was exactly what she didn’t want. He needed to be sure what and who he wanted to choose. He might blame her later for not staying true to his gut. “You probably don’t want me, Deek. I mean in bed, sure, we get along fantastic there, but I’m a person who has a very hard time trusting.”
“Yet all I can think about is how much I do want you. And I think you want me too. I can’t figure out why you won’t tell me how you feel about me and put me out of my misery.”
Dammit. Should she tell him how she felt? He was already doubting without her help. “Of course, if you were free, I’d want to be with you, Deek. But you’re not. You love Annie.”
“I didn’t think I was free a couple of weeks ago. But now?” He groaned. “Make my decision easier. Tell me why you have trust issues and how much I don’t want to be with you.”
She drew a deep breath. She hated the painful memories that talking about it brought. “My father cheated on my mom, and while they’re back together now, that’s only happened recently. I have deep scars from watching my mom deal with that. They were apart for over twenty years, and he wasn’t a hands-on father. My mom raised us. When Joe cheated on me, I think it did some damage I’m not sure I can ever repair. It was like my father leaving us all over again, but worse.” All that was true, but she’d make an exception and take a chance with Deek in a heartbeat. But only if he figured out on his own that he wanted her and Emily more than Annie—and could live with that choice.
She didn’t want him to make an impulsive decision and always wonder if he still loved Annie. Sharing her man with another woman would never happen again if she could help it.
Deek rolled over and faced her. “I have to do anything I can to make Asher’s home complete, right? And that means living with both of his parents. It’s the right thing to do. Isn’t it?”
She got out of bed and started searching for her clothes. They needed to pick up the kids soon. “You have to do what your heart thinks is right, Deek. Not out of obligation, but for love. If you’re happy, then Asher will be happy, no matter what you choose to do. Because you love him and that’s all he really needs. To be loved by someone.”
Deek propped his head up on his hand. “Do you believe that? Just because you love Emily, she’ll be fine?”
“I have to.” She pulled her sweater over her head, then tugged up her jeans. “Joe’s never coming back.”
“Would you have taken him back if he hadn’t died?”
“I’ve asked myself that question a hundred times.” She sat on the edge of the bed and tied her shoes. When she was done, she turned to Deek. “And every time, the answer is no. Even though I loved him with all my heart, I wouldn’t have taken him back. I need a man who respects me enough to be faithful to me. Not only physically,” she leaned over and patted his heart, “but here too. All this real estate has to belong to only me. Listen to your heart, Deek.”
There. She’d said as much as she was going to say. He’d had such a crappy childhood with a parent who’d ignored him so Deek might pick Annie out of sheer obligation. Or maybe he’d catch a clue and realize that together, she and Deek could give Emily and Asher a great family.
She got up to head for the bathroom, but Deek caught her hand to stop her. “I never answered your question. We only have a week before Asher’s birthday. So I’d understand if you’d rather not sleep together anymore. We could go back to just being friends. I plan to marry Annie as soon as she says yes, and I don’t want to hurt you, Lori.”
Or one could look at it as a one-week opportunity to show him that she was the better choice for him. “I’d rather try to make it the best week of our lives if it’s all the same to you. You could look into that magic lasso thing.”
A slow-growing smile lit his face. “I could absolutely do that.”
“Okay. Then it’s settled.” One week wasn’t much time. But it was all she had. She’d make the best of it. And in the end, she’d either get the opportunity to get to know the man of her dreams better or get handed another broken heart.
12
LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
Lori yawned into her coffee cup as she tapped away on her keyboard with her free hand. She’d been at Shelby and Jo’s restaurant for hours and still wasn’t close to where she needed to be work- and school-wise. She needed to catch up on her matchmaking business responsibilities, take a quiz in her economics class, and then she needed to figure out how she and Deek could grab some alone time. The clock was ticking. Annie was due back in six days.
After she’d slept on her deal with Deek, she’d awoken with trepidation in her heart. Was she trying to steal another woman’s man? She’d never do that on purpose. Never do what her former best friend had done by sleeping with Joe.
Annie had told Deek to sleep with other women, so they’d know for sure it was right for them to settle down. So, it was all honest and fair. She hoped.
The door opened, and a cool breeze accompanied Shelby inside. She lifted a hand in greeting and then made a beeline for the brownies Jo had made for them. After stuffing one into her mouth, she made her way to Lori’s table.
“Hey there, stranger.” Shelby shrugged out of her coat. “I guess you’ve recovered from Monday night’s fiasco? I refunded Jason’s money and purged him from the files, by the way.”
“Thanks.” Lori had almost forgotten about Jason. And it was only Wednesday. “Deek and I are working on a way to dig a little deeper into our clients’ backgrounds. I’ll let you know what we come up with.”
Shelby lifted a brow. “Ms. I-do-everything-on-paper when I met you is going to help solve a cyber problem?”
“Deek’s a genius with computers.” And in bed, but she wasn’t going to share that part with Shelby just yet.
“Why are you blushing?” Her sister-in-law leaned closer and whispered, “You slept with him. Didn’t you?”
Of all the attributes to have, why blushing? Rachel didn’t have it. “Maybe.”
Shelby waited for the details like a puppy waiting for a treat. All smiles and wiggles of excitement. “Come on, Lori. Spill. I’m a boring, pregnant, married woman. I need to live vicariously through you.”
“You haven’t even been married for a year yet. I’m sure you have plenty of sex with my brother that I don’t want to hear about.”
“True.” She smiled like a cat who just scored a bowl of cream. “I’m glad Deek stumbled into Rachel’s party last weekend. I like him. A lot. And if Nick knew I told you this, he’d kill me, but he really liked him too. He said it was too soon to be sure Deek wouldn’t break your heart. But if he did, Nick thought he could still take the guy, even though Deek’s built. Nick is so protective of you; it’s cute. I love that about him.”
She loved her brother too, but sometimes his protectiveness could be cloying. “Nick isn’t going to have to beat anyone up. I might be doing that to myself all on my own.”
“What do you mean?” Shelby’s smile instantly disappeared.
After Lori had explained the situation with Deek and Annie, she sat back and waited for Shelby’s take on the matter. It was important what her sister-in-law thought. Rachel’s reaction to the whole situation had been to go for it, and then she went online and bought Lori better lingerie. It was due in by Friday. She’d always been Rachel’s conscience, not the other way around.
Shelby leaned back and blew out a long breath. “First, there’s a kid involved here, so could you see yourself marrying Deek and therefore becoming Asher’s stepmother one day?”
“Yes. I realize Deek and I haven’t known each other well for very long, but it was like this with Joe too. My heart k
new right away. Deek and Joe are the only two people that’s ever happened with. And Asher’s a great kid. I’m already fond of him.”
“Yeah. I remember you saying that about Joe.” Shelby’s expression grew pensive. “So Deek told you how he felt about you first, but what did he say when you said he wasn’t free to be with you because he loved Annie?”
What had he said about that? “Something like he thought he was taken, but then he met me.”
“Hmmmm. So it’s possible he doesn’t even love Annie romantically, and he’s just doing his duty?”
Lori finished off her coffee as she considered that thought. She’d never heard him actually say he loved her. Just that he was sure Annie loved them, in her own way. “I don’t know, but he said I was making it ten times harder to do the right thing for Asher. That’s the crux of all of this. Deek feels duty bound to provide Asher a home, complete with both of his parents. I’m not sure I should get in the middle of something he believes so strongly about.”
Shelby shrugged. “Yeah. Because the alternative is that you’re miserable without him, Deek’s miserable because he’d rather be with you, and Asher could end up living in a home with a father who’d settled, and a mother who’d rather be out digging in the dirt than be with her son and husband. So it’s better you step away, then everyone can be miserable all around.”
Shelby was just the person she needed to hear say that. “So you don’t think I’m a home-wrecker?”
“No. I think you’re a woman with a huge heart who’s falling in love. And any man who says he wants to spend every waking moment with you is a man who sounds happy. Because of you. And I know you’d be the best stepmother any kid could ask for. So I’ll wish you luck.”
Lori’s heart felt light as a feather again. “Thank you—”
“Wait.” Shelby cut her off. “But if you move forward with this plan, you’ll also need to be prepared for if it doesn’t work out all happy rainbows and unicorns. Deek might have to put Asher first and do what he thinks is best for his son. And if that’s what he chooses, you have to be prepared to walk away and let him live with his choice.”
Matched For Love (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Book 3) Page 12
