She wouldn’t be able to take on as many listings, nor pad Ana’s college fund quite so quickly. Her skin itched thinking of the targets she wouldn’t meet, but she inhaled deeply and breathed through the panic. It would be okay.
She exchanged a few more words with Bernice and promised not to resign her position on next year’s board. Or bring her dogs to another meeting. Escaping from the school, she crossed the parking lot, Vi at her heels. Her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Her hands tingled. A message from Brad. He’d sent her a picture of Ana lying on the old green couch in the kennels, three dogs piled on top of her, with the message Look who joined me after soccer practice. The glee on her daughter’s face made her heart squeeze, and Izzy turned her car in the direction of Forever Friends, needing to be a part of that happy moment with the two people she loved.
Her foot faltered on the gas, but she pressed it down harder. Well, one person she loved and another she cared a great deal for. It was too soon to be labeling her feelings with Brad, and preposterous to use that particular label so soon. She gnawed on her bottom lip. Right?
When she entered the shelter, she saw a young couple playing with Hercule in the corner of the lobby. Brad stood behind the reception desk filling out some paperwork.
Walking up behind him, she placed a hand on his lower back. She peeked over his shoulder. “Carbon paper? Seriously?” She tsked. “You know what century we’re in, right?”
The corners of his eyes crinkled, and he bent his head to brush his lips over hers. “Yes, smartass, I know. Debbie and Eugenie are working on getting my forms digitized, and they want me to buy a tablet. Another investment. Which reminds me,” he said, his eyebrows drawing together, “your plumber never showed.”
Because Izzy had told him not to. “How strange.” She bit her bottom lip. “Do you have a minute to talk?” She’d wanted to have this conversation with him ever since they’d met, but now that it was here, her insides twisted and turned. She hated delivering bad news. But it needed to happen, and preferably in private. Opening the door to the kennels, she herded Vi inside and dropped Jasmine at her feet. “Go play with your family,” she told them, and looked for her daughter. The kennels were empty of everything except dogs. She went back to Brad. “Where’s Ana?”
“You just missed her. Lydia came and picked her up.”
Izzy wracked her brain but came up empty. “Why?”
Leaning back on the desk, Brad folded his arms over his chest. “You forget to tell me something, Isabelle Lopez?”
“Uh…” Her mouth went dry.
He broke into a laugh, tossing his head back. “I don’t know what’s on your guilty conscience, but I’m talking about your birthday. I just found out it’s next week, and Lydia is taking Ana to go get you a present.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Oh, that secret. “Birthdays are for kids. It’s not a big deal.”
He shook his head and sighed. “Oh, Iz. You know when you spout such nonsense it only provokes me to go big. I’ve got plans for you.”
Her skin tingled all over. Brad’s plans were always delightful. And maybe she should reciprocate. She’d waited weeks to have this conversation with him; what was another thirty minutes? “Is Gabe here?” she asked. Brad shook his head. “Dax?”
“Nope, just me.”
The couple got up off the floor and strolled over to the desk. Hercule rolled behind them. The woman took her partner’s hand. “We knew we’d love him when we saw his picture on your website. Her-cutie is just perfect.” She bent at the waist and scratched the dog’s head. “Is there anything else we need to know before we take him home?”
“I have a couple more things to go over, and your welcome-home basket is ready.” Brad picked up the wicker basket stuffed with dog goodies and supplies and plopped it on the desk.
Izzy squeezed his arm. “I’ll wait in your office while you finish up.” Brad nodded, and Izzy made her way down the hall, peeking into the exam and storage rooms to double-check they were alone.
The plans she had in mind for Brad would require complete privacy.
* * * *
The office door swung open, and Brad stepped through, staring at his clipboard. “Sorry that took so long. Since Hercule is a special needs dog, there was more…” His words drifted off as his gaze landed on her.
Izzy shifted in the executive chair, bending one leg so her bare toe was perched at the end of the desk. She smoothed the collar of her white blouse. The buttons were open down to her navel, and her bra was in her purse. The cool air felt delicious against her skin.
“I think you might have a problem with your A/C,” she told him. “It was getting so hot in here.” Pulling the elastic out of her hair, she shook it loose.
Brad kicked the door shut with his heel. “So you stripped down to a shirt and panties?” He swallowed. “You are wearing panties, aren’t you?”
“That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.” She gave him a wicked smile, extremely pleased that she was the one being spontaneous for once. Something about Brad did that to her. Made her someone fun, someone she’d want to be around.
“I’ve always liked exploring.” Tossing the clipboard on the desk, he spun her chair. Gripping behind her knee, he spread her legs until she bracketed his thighs. His gaze was riveted to her core.
“Holy shit,” he whispered. Reverently, he ran his fingertip over her folds, tracing the lips up and down.
“This is Gabe’s chair,” he said.
“I know.” Brad’s straight-back chair made her butt sore.
“That is so dirty.” One edge of his lips curved. “I love it.”
Izzy sat up and slipped her hands under his T-shirt. She raised it a couple of inches and placed an open-mouthed kiss on his warm stomach. “I’ll love it even more when you get down here with me.”
He inhaled, his stomach rippling as her fingers went south and her lips danced along his scar.
“I’m the new vice president of the PTA,” she murmured against his skin.
“You want to talk about Ana’s school? Now?” Disbelief dripped off his words like water from a spring icicle.
Not the school, no. But about how much Brad had changed her. That was a conversation she did want to have. She needed to thank him. He buried his hands in her hair, and she took pity on him. After. She could have that conversation with him after. Let him know how much he meant to her.
“If you’re in such a rush,” she said, tugging on his shirt, “you can move things along by getting rid of this.”
He whipped the tee over his head with satisfying speed. Her lips curved, and she brushed them down his happy trail. It was nice to know he wanted her as badly as she did him.
“Good boy.” Tugging at his zipper, she jerked his jeans down his hips. She rubbed her palm over the bulge behind his boxers. She was growing extremely fond of that bulge. Not much was better. Except when she drew the boxers down to his thighs and he sprang free. That was better. Licking her lips, she grasped him at the root and stroked him up and down.
Brad groaned. “Best day at work. Ever.”
Swirling her tongue around his crown, she hummed. Couldn’t agree with him more. She couldn’t make a habit out of this, of course, skipping out of work for a nooner. But there was so much more to life than putting in her nine-to-five.
Grabbing her under her thighs, Brad lifted and turned around. He sank back onto the chair and settled her over his lap. Izzy’s legs dangled over the armrests, and she grabbed his shoulders to keep from tipping over backward.
“Don’t worry.” He chased her lips. “I won’t let you fall.”
She melted. She believed him.
Pushing her blouse off one shoulder, Brad skimmed his lips over her collarbone and up the curve of her neck. The tips of her breasts tingled, and she ached to feel the heat of his hard che
st flush against hers. She freed the last two buttons of her blouse and shrugged out of it. Grabbing the back of his neck, she pulled him down, his lips crashing into hers and his flesh finally pressing against her breasts.
He kept one hand steady on her lower back, providing support. The other played. Cupping one breast, Brad caressed the curve, his fingertips leaving a trail of heat as he skimmed down her side. He took a leisurely detour, tracing down over the curve of her hip and the back of her thigh so lightly it almost tickled. Izzy moaned and tried to scoot farther up his lap. Get as close as she could. He reversed course, spending too much time playing at the crease where hip met thigh before finally, finally, heading where Izzy needed him.
She dug her fingers into his neck. “Oh God. I want you so badly.” Her heart burned with the knowledge of how true that statement was. Brad didn’t only make her burn, he brought her to life.
Grabbing her hips, Brad started to lift her.
“Wait.” She leaned back, grasping for her purse on the floor behind her. “Take my hand,” she told Brad. He did, and using him as an anchor, she bent all the way back, stretching for the bag. Snagging the strap, she pulled it to her and sat back up straight.
Brad had a glazed look in his eyes. “That was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.”
She pulled out a condom and tore open the package. “I think I can do better than that.” She rolled it down his length, placed her hands on his knees, and pushed up until she hovered over his tip. “Watch this,” she said, and lowered herself inch by inch.
He filled her exquisitely. Izzy let her head drop back and reveled in the stretch. God, she’d been an idiot waiting so long, pushing him away. Brad wrapped his arms around her back and began to move: himself, her body, both of them together.
Staring at the ceiling, Izzy blinked, fighting against the burn in her eyes. Her lungs squeezed close. She didn’t want Brad to see her fall apart. He’d get the wrong idea, think something was wrong when it was the opposite. Everything in her life felt exactly right. Like the first time she’d held Ana in her arms. Or when Vi had finally jumped on her bed to sleep. She’d curled herself up as far away from Izzy as possible, but still, it was progress.
Small moments made perfect because of the meaning behind them.
Brad thrust harder, his fingers digging into her hips. Sliding his hand down, he pressed his thumb where she needed it. Izzy bit down on her lip, her body temperature skyrocketing. Pressing his cheek against her neck, Brad groaned. “Izzy.”
Her name on his lips. His arms supporting her, making her feel safe. His thumb giving her just the right amount of pressure. Izzy couldn’t take any more. She dragged his head up to hers, fused their mouths together, and moaned her release down his throat.
He let her ride it out, kept circling until he’d wrung out every gasp and tremor. Then, keeping one hand splayed between her shoulder blades, he brought his other hand around and grasped her butt. He thrust up into her, using his grip to pull her back down. The back of the chair bucked, and Izzy hoped the springs would survive. She held on tight, giving her man what he needed, letting him take her body as his own demanded. His breath skittered across her skin, hitched, and he groaned, his body shuddering beneath her.
Their breathing slowed, and the sweat on her skin cooled. Cupping his cheek, she couldn’t help but smile at Brad’s slack-jawed expression. “That good, huh?” she teased.
“Better.” Slowly, he shook his head. “Always better with you.” Grabbing the back of her neck, he pulled her forward and kissed her lips, her nose, her forehead. With a sigh, he stood and set her on the desk before pulling away. Izzy started pulling on clothes as he disposed of the condom.
Tugging his pants up his hips, Brad asked, “Can I come over tonight? After Ana goes to bed?”
“Yes. I’ll text you when she’s asleep.” She leaned back, and her palm crumpled a piece of paper on the desk. Picking it up, she saw it was a bill, and she carefully smoothed it out before laying it back down. Her chest squeezed. Time for that conversation. “Brad, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Swiping his shirt off the floor, he pulled it on and said, “Shoot,” the word muffled behind the cotton.
Ripping off the Band-Aid was always the wisest course. “Your landlord, Bob Burker, is selling his properties on this block, including this building. While I’ll look for a buyer who wants to keep the renters, there’s a better than good chance all this land will be redeveloped. You’re going to be kicked out.” She lifted up her hands, palms up. “That’s why I didn’t want you spending money on any repairs.”
Brad’s face turned blank. “Say that again.”
“You might have to move the shelter.” Izzy pulled her phone from her purse and pulled up the rental listings she’d found for him. “And since you’re no longer under a lease, if that happens you won’t get any money from a lease buyout. But I’ve found some options for where you can move. The rents aren’t quite as reasonable…”
The ice in his expression made her falter. “How long have you known about this?” he asked.
“Ab—About the potential sale?” She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip. “For a while now. But I couldn’t tell you. My client wanted it kept quiet.”
“You knew when we met.” Circling his desk, he sat down, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. “That’s why you were in this neighborhood. Of course you weren’t going to Bert’s crap bakery.”
“I don’t see why that matters.”
“I’d just like to know how long you’ve been lying to me.” He swallowed. “Now I know. There wasn’t ever a time you weren’t lying.”
Izzy dropped onto Gabe’s chair. Her stomach twisted and bile crept up her throat. “I wasn’t lying. I mean, yes, technically, but I had to honor Bob’s wishes.”
He placed his hands flat on the desk, his fingers spreading wide. “Well, since it wasn’t a technical lie, I guess it’s okay then.”
“Don’t say it like that.” Sarcasm didn’t look good on Brad. He was kind and straightforward. Those were the looks that suited him. And because he was an ethical man, she’d expected him to understand. To see why she’d had to keep quiet. “I don’t know what you expected me to do. I couldn’t violate my duty to my client.”
“And there was no way for you to honor your client’s wishes and not lie right to my face? Those were the only two options?” A dull flush crept up his throat. “You’re a smart woman, Izzy. I would have thought you could come up with a third way.” Turning his head to the side, he gave her his profile: rock-hard jaw and thinned lips. “I thought we were a team. That you had my back.”
She turned her phone around to show him the screen. “Just look at the places I found for you.” She swallowed, trying to bring moisture back to her mouth. “The move really won’t be so bad. I’ll even pay your moving expenses out of my commission.”
He jumped to his feet, and his chair crashed to the floor. “Get out.”
“What?” she asked, her voice wobbling.
“I don’t want to hear how the commission you get for screwing me over is going to solve my problem.” A pulse ticked in his jaw. “Jesus, I knew you had issues when it came to money. I just didn’t know how deep they ran.”
Heat flooded Izzy’s body. She rose up on shaking legs and faced him across his desk. “This has nothing to do with money. I have professional obligations, but I guess you wouldn’t understand that, seeing as how you don’t know the first thing about running a business.” The second the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. But damn it, she had a temper, too. And Brad seemed determined to press all her buttons.
“Are we done here?” he asked, nostrils flaring.
“Done?” Her voice squeaked, but she couldn’t squelch the rising panic. That was it? One misunderstanding and he cut her out of his life? After all his talk of being there for her, some
one to catch her if she fell, he was going to walk away? Abandon her?
Smoothing her hand over her hair, she swallowed, her throat aching. Fine. That was fine. She was used to men leaving. It was no big deal. She gathered up her purse and jacket, pressed them to her stomach. Just as well it was ending now. Gave her more time to spend with Ana and on her work.
She wanted to leave with a cutting remark. Something to show him he hadn’t crushed her. But she couldn’t; she wasn’t that good an actress. So she tipped her chin up and left him without a word. She collected her dogs, something Brad had given her that he couldn’t take away, and went back to work.
Chapter Seventeen
It had been two days, and every time Brad started to cool down, something else would come up to piss him off.
“What do you mean you need three months’ rent as a deposit,” he growled into the phone. “That’s outrageous.”
“You want to fill my building with a pack of wild dogs.” The man yawned over the line. Brad had been going down the list of industrial spaces for rent that he’d pulled off the internet, and this dickwad was just the latest landlord who didn’t want him or his dogs. “Dogs cause a lot of damage, not to mention the liability. Three months’ rent as deposit seems generous.”
Brad didn’t even bother responding. He ended the call and tossed his phone on his desk. Grabbing his hair, he stared at the ceiling. “Son of a bitch!”
“Problems?” Gabe strolled into the office, pulling a new chair behind him. He toed his old chair aside and rolled the new one into place. Plopping down, he adjusted the height before settling back and staring at Brad, one eyebrow raised.
Brad rubbed the back of his neck. “’Course not. Everything’s just fucking perfect.” The bottom drawer of his desk stuck out an inch, and Brad pushed it with his foot. It didn’t budge. He hauled back and kicked the fucker. The desk slid six inches toward Gabe. “I can’t afford to pay rent anywhere else and I might end up losing the shelter, but other than that, life’s just peachy.”
Forever Home Page 23