by Lila Kane
“Three,” Cheyenne confirms.
“Hot damn,” my dad says with a grin at me. “That’s my girl.”
Warmth spreads in my chest. They’re here to support me. Even though they didn’t believe in me before, they’re here now.
“You want a tour?” I ask.
“Absolutely.”
I show them all the bedrooms upstairs first, stopping in the door to the one I stayed in. The one where Carson and I stayed most of the time. I can’t help but think of the hours we spent in bed together. The way he touched me. The conversations we had.
The words he almost said to me in the kitchen.
I swallow hard to keep the emotion at bay, and check my phone discreetly. Nothing. Shit. Where is he?
“What else?” Dustin asks, looking eager to see the rest of the house.
I take them back downstairs and to the kitchen. From the windows in there, they can see the gazebo out back, and the perfectly landscaped lawn.
And the spot where Carson would work with his saw. Shirt off. Grinning at me or waving when I peered through the window.
“It looks great,” Dad says, standing by the window. “The whole house is just right. I bet you took down a few walls and moved around this kitchen, too.”
“We did.”
Dad nods. “Yep. Just right. Hell—you and that contractor of yours did a good job.” He chuckles. “Maybe he should come work for us.”
I laugh with him, wholeheartedly agreeing. Carson deserves it. Anything I can do to help him out. And pay him back the money I owe him.
“We already broke ground on the Riverside project,” Dustin says as I walk them to the door. “But you let us know if you want to hop on board now that you’re finished here.”
I nod and hug him and my dad. “I have one more thing to deal with, and then I’ll let you know.”
They leave, and I stand with Cheyenne by the door, watching them drive off.
“One more thing?” she asks.
“Yes. I need to find Carson.”
“How?”
“I have an idea.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CARSON
It doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving. Not just because it’s too hot, but also because it’s just me and my mom.
At least for today. She’s already cooking in the kitchen and says we’ll have company later, but usually by now one of her neighbors is here, or a friend from her church. My aunt comes sometimes, and last year we even invited Kyle and Denise.
But right now, it’s just us two in the kitchen, cooking.
She won’t let me help, though. Says I’m a terrible cook—which is true.
The only thing I can cook is breakfast. And I shove that thought aside, because it reminds me of all those times I made breakfast for me and Libby back at the house.
Shit, I hate thinking about her, and I love thinking about her. And just when I’m ready to stop, I think about her again.
I saw she called a few times after the open house. I’m assuming she got an offer and wanted to tell me, but I don’t want to know. That house held a special place in my heart, but it’s hers. And I wanted her to have all the money. She deserved it. And she probably would have argued with me about it, so I figured I’d leave it at that.
But damn, I wanted to grab my phone and call her back. Just to hear her voice.
To make sure she’s okay and isn’t getting herself hurt again.
“When’s everyone else going to be here?” I ask.
Mom checks her watch. “I think we have someone coming in the next ten minutes or so. Why don’t you go wait?”
I frown. “Is it Aunt Denise?”
Her lips curve in a small smile. She grabs a beer from the refrigerator and shoves it in my hand. “Get out of my kitchen. I can’t focus with you in here.”
I chuckle and give her a hug before I wander to the front door. Outside, there’s a porch swing, and I sit on it while I wait. I haven’t seen my aunt in months—it’ll be nice to visit with her.
When I see a car pull along the curb, I stand. That doesn’t look like her car, but…then I freeze.
It’s not my aunt.
Libby gets out of the car, peering up at the house to make sure she’s in the right place. And then she sees me. Her eyes lock on mine.
She gives a small wave.
I’m too shocked to wave back. She looks amazing. Hair long and straight over her shoulders, and eyes wide and expressive. She’s wearing a dress that skims her thighs and makes me think of every fantasy I’ve ever had about what’s underneath.
She walks up the steps and to the porch, where I’m still standing like an idiot with a beer in my hand. I set it on the rail, but stay where I am.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I called your mom to see if you were here because I want to talk to you.”
“If this is about the house—”
“It’s not about the house. Okay, it’s partly about the house. But, Carson…” She bites her lip. “I really missed you.”
Shit. The part of me that thought I’d be strong if I saw her again falls away. “I missed you, too.”
She walks to the swing and points. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I sit with her, keeping my hands to myself even though it feels like the most natural thing in the world to reach out and take her hand. “I can’t believe you drove all the way here. It’s like a six-hour drive.”
“And worth every minute.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“Like I said, I wanted to see you. No, I needed to see you. I…” She swallows and stares at her hands, twisting in her lap. “I wanted to say thank you for what you did with the house. It’s not fair, but—”
“It’s completely fair,” I say. “You deserve it. And after what happened with us—”
“That’s the other thing.”
“What other thing?” My heart clenches. What’s that look in her eye? Apology?
“It’s not fair because I wasn’t fair. I should have given you a chance to explain.” She glances over with a wry smile. “I mean, I had the right to be upset at the beginning, but I still should have listened to you.”
I search her eyes with mine, trying to see where she’s going with this.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I believe you about everything.”
“I only lied about Kyle, and it was because I didn’t want you to think I was interested in the house to get back at him. Sure, it crossed my mind what great revenge in would be when he saw how well we’d done on the house and that you were working with me. But then I forgot all about that when we started working. And when I got to know you.”
“I know.” She nods her head, and reaches out to squeeze my hand. “Trust me, I know, Carson. You’re not that kind of person. And it shouldn’t have taken you giving me all the profits on the house to find that out.”
“I’m sorry, too. For lying to you in the first place.”
She lowers her chin, staring at her hands again, and I hear a quiet sniffle.
“Libby?” I squeeze her hand. “Are you crying?”
She looks up, and tears shimmer on her cheeks. “I’m sorry—I can’t help it. I hate how things ended with us, and I don’t want them to be this way.”
“What are you saying?”
She presses her lips together for a moment, then meets my eyes. “I love you.”
I stand, and then haul her into my arms before she can take a breath. “I love you, too.”
“Really?”
I nod, brushing my thumb on her cheeks to wipe away the tears. “It’s you. Only you.”
“Does that mean we can be back together now?”
I chuckle and kiss her hard, holding her close to my body. This time I won’t let her go. “Damn right that’s what it means.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and breathes in deep. “God, I missed you.”
“I can’t do this,” I tell her, pulling bac
k and taking her hand.
“What?” She looks stricken.
I shake my head and gesture between us. “Not this. Us. I mean, I can’t do what I need to do out here on the front porch.”
Her eyes widen. “Carson, seriously?”
“I need you, Libby. And I want a minute alone with you before everyone else gets here.”
“But—”
“No time.” I tug her inside and pull her into the kitchen briefly. “Mom, this is Libby. Libby, this is my mom, Sharon.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Libby says, holding out her hand.
But my mom embraces her and says, “Looks like you have a little time before everyone gets here—better make good use of it.”
Her mouth drops open, but I only grin at my mom and say, “We’ll be back.”
I pull Libby down the hall to the bedroom that used to be mine when I was a kid. Nothing has changed.
She starts to look around, but I sit on the bed and clasp her to me. “Tell me what you said again.”
“What I said?”
I nod and slide my hands under the hem of her dress, running them up her thighs. “What you said out on the porch.”
She closes her eyes briefly. “God that feels so good. What…?”
“About loving me.”
Her eyes open again. Her lips curve. “I love you, Carson.”
“And I love you, too, Libby.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
LIBBY
I can’t believe we’re doing this with his mom down the hallway, but I need Carson too badly to stop myself. I let him pull off my jeans and help him with his before yanking off the rest of our clothes.
He scoots back on the bed, and I climb on top of him, my mouth fused to his. He tastes so good, feels so good. I missed him. This. Us.
His hands are all over, cupping my breasts, brushing my nipples and then reaching around to squeeze my ass. He lifts me slightly and I rise over him, his dick pressing against my entrance. When I lower myself down, taking him all the way inside, he exhales and leans his head back.
“You feel so good,” he says, voice hoarse. “I never want to be apart from you again.”
“Me either.”
I rock back and forth, riding him slowly at first so we can both experience the pleasure of being linked again.
“God, Libby.” He buries his face in my neck. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Believe it,” I breathe.
With a growl, he grips my waist and sets me back on the bed, and then crawls on top of me. “I need you now.”
I spread my legs for him, opening my heart and my body. “Take me, then.”
He slides inside of me, with the desperation of a man who’s been waiting his whole life for this. He’s rough and gentle at the same time, his mouth raining kisses on my breasts, teasing my nipples with his tongue.
But he drives into me quickly, hips slamming against mine until we’re both panting, both clinging to each other in a race to the finish.
“Come for me,” he says, breath hot on my ear. He wedges his hand between us and presses his thumb against my clit, driving me crazy. “I need you to come for me.”
On his command, I shoot over the edge. He muffles my cry with a kiss, and then loses himself at the same time. His body shudders against mine as he pours his seed into me. I arch my back, pressing my breasts against his chest and squeezing my muscles inside to heighten his orgasm.
“God, Libby,” he chokes, his body shaking again.
I wrap my legs around his waist, holding him close while his heart stops racing. And finally, when we’re both relaxed again, he rolls onto his back and pulls me with him so we’re still joined together.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Because you just got to have sex like a teenager in your childhood bedroom?”
“Score.” He grins. “Yeah, that. But because I couldn’t stand being away from you. You’re mine, now, Libby.”
“And you’re mine.”
He nods. “Are we okay on everything?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Have you talked to Kyle at all?”
“No. That whole thing is over. He’s out of my life, and I think it’ll be better because of it.”
I roll off of him, smiling when he groans. “No, come back.”
I curl up against his side and put my hand on his chest. “A few more minutes and then we should get dressed.”
“My mom understands.”
“You talked to her about me?”
“I talk to her about everything that’s important.”
I kiss his cheek. “That means a lot. Are you planning on staying here?”
“I don’t know.” His finger runs up and down my arm, giving me the chills. “I’ve been running through scenarios in my mind.”
“Do you think you could include me in those scenarios now?”
He smiles. “I guess I can consider it, since you’re rich and all.”
“Not rich, but part of the money is yours, too. No matter what happens with us.”
“Don’t say that,” he murmurs. “Everything is fine with us.”
I nod. “You’re right. Half the money is yours.”
“I won’t take it.”
“But—”
He cuts me off with a hard kiss. “That’s the way it is, Libby.”
I start to get up, to tell him he has to take the money, when he flips me on my back and pins me to the bed.
“Carson—”
“I’m not listening.”
I take a breath and plead to him with my eyes. “Please.”
He sighs. “It makes things complicated.”
“No, it doesn’t. You earned it. Okay, no, don’t make that face. How about another offer?”
“What’s that?”
“Our own business. My dad asked if I wanted to work with him, but he’s going more toward condos and apartments, and I still want to be in houses. I’ve learned a lot, I’m organized, and we have the money to start on a new house. Maybe more than one.”
He releases my wrists and pulls me up. “Are you sure?”
I look into his eyes and smile. “This is what you want. You know it.”
“It is. This is what I’ve wanted my whole life, I just never thought I’d have a partner.”
“Well, you do. You have a partner, and you have money. Now we just have to find the right house.”
He wraps me in a hug. “Now, that I can compromise with. But no more ladders for you.”
“Carson.”
“No negotiating on that.” He kisses me on the lips. “We’ll put it in our contract.”
I laugh out loud at that. “Another thing I think we’re going to have to negotiate.”
“As long as we do it naked, I’m in.”
I kiss him and my heart feels lighter than it has in years. Not only do I have a new business, I have my own handyman.
And I love him.
EPILOGUE
“I can’t believe we finally did it,” I say as we pull in front of the house.
“Me either.” Carson takes my hand and kisses my knuckles before he gets out of the car and comes around to my side to open the door. “You want to do the honors?”
He passes me the house key, and I squeeze it tight in my hand.
We’ve already flipped three houses together, but this one spoke to both of us. As in, we both want the house for ourselves. So we purchased it together. After all, we’ve been together for over a year now. We’re as committed as we can be—almost.
I open the door and look around. It’s clean, even though the house is far from where we picture it when we’re finished.
“You sure you want to take all this on?” I joke.
Carson pulls me against his side and nods. “As long as you be the organizer, I can handle it. It’s going to look great when we’re finished.”
“
It’s perfect,” I agree.
“So…” He turns to me, taking both my hands. “Now that we have a house together, what’s the next step?”
“I don’t know. I feel like all my dreams are already coming true.”
“How about one more?” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an engagement ring.
I gasp as he holds it out. “Oh my God. How long have you been carrying that around?”
“All day.” He smiles, then kisses me. “Waiting for this moment. Libby, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I forget all about the ring and toss myself into his arms, kissing him on both cheeks and then his mouth over and over again. “Yes, yes, yes.”
He chuckles and takes my hand. “Then you have to wear this.”
I let him slide it on my finger, and then hold it out to admire it. “It’s beautiful.”
“So are you.” He kisses me again. “What do you say we christen our new house?”
Laughing, I look around. “Where do you plan on doing this?”
He starts to the door. “I brought a blanket just for this purpose. Always thinking ahead. I’ll be back.”
As he runs to the car, I walk around the room, and then into the kitchen. The layout is going to be entirely different when we’re done but—
I yelp when a giant spider dangles on a web in front of me.
“Libby?” Carson calls.
I roll my eyes and back away. Stupid spider.
“Libby,” he growls, charging around the corner. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m—”
“Where? What happened?” He examines my face, my arms, and then turns me around. “What did you hurt?”
I turn to him again. “I’m not hurt. I promise.”
“Fuck.” He shoves his hand through his hair. “Well, sorry, but it’s been known to happen. And you answer someone when they call your name.”
“Sorry. It was a spider. Just a spider.”
He takes my hand and pulls me to him roughly. “I kind of like coming to rescue you.”
“I kind of like it, too.”
His eyes heat instantly. His mouth is on mine in a flash, tongue pressing inside. “I love you,” he murmurs as he pulls off my shirt.
“I love you, too.” I go for the button on his jeans as he pulls me back to the living room.