Taking Connor

I can’t say to him, yes, eventually we’ll have sex. For starters, that would be awkward, and secondly, I just . . . can’t. So I answer the only way I can. “I think we’re dating. Aren’t we?” There’s no promise there. No timeline or deadline. That was a safe answer.

He smiles. “I guess I’m not being very clear here. I want to know, are we exclusive?”

“Oh,” I squeak out. “I’m not dating anyone else if that’s what you are asking.”

“So do you want to . . . I don’t know, be exclusive?”

I meet his gaze once more and smile faintly. He is a gorgeous man. “Okay,” I agree. “But Vick, I need . . .” Ugh, how do I say this? I need time before we do anything sexual? I’m just not ready? Which is total bullshit as I would have gone all the way with Co

A big drunken mistake.

“I know,” Vick pipes up, saving me. “I don’t mind waiting, Demi. Sometimes taking your time is the best way.”

My heart pings. Damn, he’s so sweet. We lay back, rolling toward each other and spend the next hour making out under the stars. When I drop him off at home, he kisses my forehead.

“Thank you. Tonight was awesome.”

“Anytime.” I smile back.

“Meet tomorrow?” he asks, hope rich in his tone.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

After I leave his house, I head straight home. The garage is locked up, and the lights in Co

The summer days move on, long and lazy, the way they should. Vick and I see each other every night for the next two weeks. Somehow Jeff manages to get the few odd jobs I had for him done, but he avoids me at all costs, and once they’re completed he doesn’t even ask for the remainder of the money I owe him. I stopped by their house to drop it off, but no one answered the door. I’ve called Wendy almost every day, and she won’t answer my calls. It hurts that they’re giving me the cold shoulder when all I was trying to do was help.

Co

Roxy has also been over more, always inviting me to join them for di

So I’ve focused on Vick. Handsome, fu

“Fuck!” a deep voice yells scaring me to death. I rush inside the garage to see what’s happened. Co

“Are you okay?” I pant, fear pumping adrenaline through my veins.

His gaze whips up to mine, and he opens his mouth to respond, but his line of sight moves directly behind me, and his mouth snaps shut. Looking over my shoulder, I see Vick standing behind me.

“Everything okay?” Vick asks me, cautiously as he eyes the garage.

Looking back to Co

“I’m good,” Co

There’s a proper etiquette when you happen to be the person who knows two people that don’t know each other, and you’re standing right in front of them.

You should introduce them.

Dear Abby would smack me right now.

Because for some reason, my ma

I explained to Vick who Co

Walking up to Co

What? Are we using that word? My eyes widen at his admission and Co

Co

Vick smirks as he looks back at me. “Yeah, Demi joined me and my Uncle on a job. Though I think she got more paint on herself than the walls.”

“Looks that way,” Co

“Yeah, well, my walls still turned out better,” I joke.

Vick steps over the parts and approaches me. “You did a great job, hon,” he coos as he gives me a chaste kiss. Heat racks my body, embarrassment setting in. When Vick pulls away, Co

“Care for a glass of wine before you go?” I offer as I move to exit the garage.

“Definitely,” Vick agrees enthusiastically.

“Don’t let her have too much,” Co

Ouch.

Did my stomach just drop to the ground? Wow. Co

Right now?

Really?

I’m floored. I can’t even process this moment.

“She seems like she handles herself pretty well,” Vick disagrees as he throws an arm over my shoulders.

“You two have a good night.” Co

Looking down at me, paint spackled all over me, Vick smiles as he takes my hand and leads me inside to my kitchen. My heart is still hammering in my chest. Co

“Damn, you have some beautiful eyes, woman,” he groans as he dabs the napkin on my face. I force myself to smile at his compliment and try my best to shake thoughts of Co