Three sizzling tales from three bestselling authors

Love Won’t Wait

Lori Foster

Brendan “Brick” Carlisle is used to women falling at his feet, so shy waitress Merrily Loveland is a breath of fresh air—and an irresistible challenge. But before he can make his move, Merrily comes to him with an offer he can’t refuse. If only their “no-strings” pact didn’t leave him wanting so much more….

Beach House Beginnings

Christie Ridgway

She might have avoided Crescent Cove, California, for years, but no-nonsense Meg Alexander is confident she can handle a brief trip home. What she doesn’t count on is the spark of desire she feels for Caleb McCall. Can a weekend in paradise convince her to give love a second chance?

Strong Enough to Love

Victoria Dahl

Photographer Eve Hill had always told herself that sexy Brian Stewart was off-limits. But now he’s back in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Eve can’t resist their long-denied attraction. When the reality turns out to be hotter than the fantasy, Eve might end up getting more than she bargained for….

Praise for the authors of

Turn Up the Heat

New York Times bestselling author

LORI FOSTER

“Foster hits every note (or power chord) of the true alpha male hero.”

—Publishers Weekly on Bare It All

“A sexy, believable roller coaster of action and romance.”

—Kirkus Reviews on Run the Risk

USA TODAY bestselling author

CHRISTIE RIDGWAY

“Emotional and powerful…everything a romance reader could hope for.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Bungalow Nights

“Sexy and addictive—Ridgway will keep you up all night!”

—New York Times bestselling author Susan Andersen on Beach House No. 9

USA TODAY bestselling author

VICTORIA DAHL

“Victoria Dahl never fails to bring the heat.”

—RT Book Reviews on Too Hot to Handle

“Rising romance star Dahl delivers with this sizzling contemporary romance.”

—Kirkus Reviews on Close Enough to Touch

Turn Up the Heat

Lori Foster

Christie Ridgway

Victoria Dahl

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Contents

Love Won’t Wait

Beach House Beginnings

Strong Enough To Love

Love Won’t Wait

Lori Foster

Dear Reader,

After the Love Bites anthology was released with my story “Love Unleashed,” about Evan Carlisle and his love, Cinder Bratt, many of you wrote to me asking about Evan’s brother, Brick. Yes, Brick. What a name, right?

Well, now you get to find out how he got that name, and so much more! I very much hope you enjoy his consuming romance. I found it lots of fun to write.

If you haven’t yet read Love Bites, rest assured each story stands alone. It’s just a matter of which brother you meet first.

You can always see related books, their covers and a brief description of how they’re related on my website under the “Connected Books” link.

Happy reading!

Lori Foster

www.LoriFoster.com

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER ONE

RUMOR HAD IT, she was a virgin. As in, had never had sex.

Ever.

Looking at her now, Brendan Carlisle—Brick to those who knew him well—found that hard to believe.

Young, sure.

But not so young she hadn’t had time and opportunity to get busy. He figured her to be in her mid-twenties, which would put her at a few years younger than him. Plenty old enough for just about anything. Actually, for everything. Like all those things now crowding his brain and making him twitchy.

Shifting in the booth seat, Brick settled back a little more and continued to study her.

Sweet? Oh, yeah, she was super sweet. Just look at that smile. And the dimples in her velvety cheeks were so damned cute. He’d almost swear her big green eyes sparkled as she spoke to customers and took orders. Polite but engaging. And yeah, really, really sweet.

But sweet enough to remain untouched? Pfft. He’d known plenty of sweet women who loved sex. Sometimes they dragged him off to the bedroom. He’d always adored sexually aggressive women. It was a big turn-on.

But the idea of sexual innocence teased him. He’d never before realized how exciting it might be to be...the first.

Until now. Until he looked at Merrily Loveland.

From the get-go, he’d been drawn to her. For nearly a month he’d been flirting, chatting her up and teasing while keeping things superficial—the way he preferred his relationships to be. He liked to sit back and let women make the first move. Then he would inform them of his intent to stay single, and take it from there.

Merrily hadn’t made a move.

She was friendly enough, always gifting him with those dimples and smiles and bright green eyes.

But then, she gifted everyone the same way.

Why would an attractive, lusciously built, friendly woman have remained a virgin?

Lack of interest from guys? No way.

Merrily—God, he loved her name—looked like a stacked elf. Curvy, but still petite. Adorable, but with a sensual heat lurking in her gaze. Bubbly...and yet somehow a little reserved.

Religious convictions?

He didn’t think so. Not that he’d know how to tell just by engaging in occasional casual conversation with her while ordering lunch. But she had such a ripe look about her that it seemed at odds with any deep religious affiliation.

Waiting for marriage?

If so, then maybe he could convince her that experiencing life was better than waiting.

She finished taking an order and turned to head back to the kitchen. Her silky brown hair, held in a high ponytail, swished back and forth between her shoulder blades with each hurried step she took.

A plain sky-blue T-shirt hugged her upper body, while snug jeans showed off her curvy backside.

Brick shifted again. In the weeks he’d known her, he hadn’t pressed her beyond friendly greetings and putting in his lunch order. But how much time could he spend hanging out at the diner before she caught on to his interest?

Was she a virgin? He wanted to find out. He would find out.

And with that decision made, he felt himself stir.

Damn it, around her, he had to constantly fight off a boner. Insane. At twenty-eight, he didn’t lack control. But she affected him—and that was reason number one why he’d hesitated to ask her out. A woman with that much influence on his libido could only be trouble. He liked being free of commitments and took great pleasure in answering to no one for anything, being accountable only to himself.

A clingy, marriage-minded woman could put a kink in his lifestyle.

But he could be her first...

Brick shook himself because reason number two—her supposed innocence—was a biggie.

If she was waiting for Mr. Right, or if she had some strong reasons for avoiding intimacy, well...he’d be as wrong for her as wrong could be. He’d ensure she enjoyed herself while in the sack, but afterward, when the spark faded and he walked away...

Yeah, much as he relished the idea of her innocence, he didn’t relish the idea of breaking her heart.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t into self-torture, and not having her would be pretty torturous, so to hell with it. He’d just have to figure out a way to have it all, and if—

“Hey, Brick. What’s up?”

Guilty over the carnality of his thoughts, Brick jumped a good foot. “Damn it,” he complained when diners at nearby tables glanced at him. He scowled over the appearance of his good friend, Jesse Baker. “I didn’t see you come in.”

As he sat opposite Brick in the booth, Jesse scrutinized him. Then he looked back at where Brick had been staring. He saw Merrily bent over a table as she served an older couple, turned back to Brick and grinned. “Taking in the view?”

“I was—but you shouldn’t.”

“Ho! Are you warning me off? Seriously?”

Brick hated to admit it, but... “Yeah, I am.”

“Huh.” Jesse eyed him with humor and great interest. “Well, in case you missed it, every guy with a pulse is also taking in the view. Why should I be the only one not to look?”

Brick didn’t have to answer because Merrily joined their table, menus in hand. As she leaned over to place a menu in front of him, she said, “I’m so sorry for the wait. What can I get you guys to drink?”

Brick inhaled the scent of her hair and skin and froze as his pulse rushed and a slow heat unfurled. Her nearness affected him like a full-body caress, leaving him in a lust-inspired stupor.

Straightening, she struck a casual stance, one slim brow lifted, a half smile on her mouth, her eyes inquisitive...and Brick knew he was going to get hard.

Jesse eyed him again, snickered at his obvious condition and said, “I’ll take a Coke.”

“Yeah.” His voice was so thick, Brick cleared his throat. Fighting the urge to study her body, he locked his gaze on her face. “Coke, light ice.”

“Sure thing, guys. Be right back.”

As she sashayed off, he released a pent-up breath.

And Jesse let loose a big guffaw. “What the hell, Brick?”

“Shut up.” He tugged at the leg of his jeans, but it didn’t help with the restriction of the denim.

“She’s hot,” Jesse agreed, as if he’d invited comment. “For a virgin, that is.”

Eyes closing, Brick fought off the wash of automatic anger. He had no claim on Merrily—and he didn’t want a claim.

He just wanted to be first.

So why should Jesse’s taunt bother him so much? Easy answer: it shouldn’t.

When he felt calm enough, he stared at Jesse and spoke in what he hoped sounded like mere curiosity. “You heard that, too, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jesse studied him with tempered humor. “It’s an intriguing concept, right? Initiation and all that.”

Oh, yeah. Brick shook his head in denial. “You’re an ass, Jesse.”

“Just being honest. What red-blooded guy wouldn’t be drawn to the idea of a woman who looks like she does but is still untouched?”

“Who says she’s untouched?” The croak was back in his voice, but he pretended not to hear it. “There’re all sorts of things to do that could leave a woman a technical virgin but not really inexperienced.” And thinking about those things wouldn’t help to cool his engines.

Merrily returned. She set the drinks down and pulled out a notepad and pen from her apron pocket.

And damn it, even that rumpled apron seemed somehow sexy, which was absurd given it was plain old sturdy white cotton.

“What’s it gonna be, guys?”

God, such a loaded question.

Jesse, obviously enjoying his predicament, looked at Brick and waited for him to order.

Without touching the menu, Brick said, “Burger, loaded. Fries. And some hot sauce, please.”

Her dimples appeared. “I should have known. That’s a regular order for you. Maybe I can start using that old clichéd line.”

The things her smile did to him... “What line is that?”

She struck a pose, then asked, “The usual?”

“Ah.” She was so cute. “Could be. I’ve been eating here forever, but you’ve worked here for...what? A month now?”

“Just about.”

He already knew that, of course. Hell, he could tell her how many days, and if he thought about it, probably how many hours. He’d been a little obsessed since the first day he saw her, and once he heard that virgin business, he’d been lost. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

Jesse kicked him under the table. Yeah, that was pretty lame, deserving of a kick.

But she didn’t seem to notice. “I like it here. Everyone is so nice. And they’ve been great about working with me on my hours.”

This was the first time she’d deliberately lingered to talk and Brick wanted to take advantage of it. “Meaning?”

She was always there for lunch but barely for the start of the dinner crowd and almost never for breakfast.

“I have classes.” The smile widened. “I’m going to be a physical therapist—that is, if I ever get done. It’s been slow going so far.”

“Yeah?” His elbows on the booth top, absurdly charmed for no apparent reason, Brick leaned forward. “Why the delay?”

“I relocated, and that threw me off for a while, getting settled in and everything. It wasn’t easy finding a place that’d take my pets. And the pets, of course, take up some of my time.”

“Pets, plural?” So she was an animal lover, too? Nice.

“Two dogs and three cats.”

He liked animals, so that didn’t faze him. “A regular menagerie.”

She laughed, and it was like getting French-kissed by a really hot chick.

“They have very different personalities, and I love them all. They’ve gotten me through some rough times.” Suddenly catching herself, she shook her head—still smiling—and turned to Jesse. “I’m sorry for going on and on. What can I get you?”

As if waking up, Jesse said, “Hmm? Oh. I’ll take a BLT and chips, and throw some pickles on the side, will you?”

“You’ve got it. I’ll get this right out to you.”

Off she went, with Brick staring after her...until Jesse grabbed his heart and feigned a swoon.

Damn it, it rankled that Jesse had reason to harass him. “Go screw yourself.”

Jesse laughed. “You look like a lovesick pup! What the hell, Brick? Mooning over her? Hanging on her every word? I half expected you to slide out of your seat and onto your knees before her.”

“I repeat, go screw yourself.” But he knew it was true. Even now he had to consciously fight the urge to track her every movement in the restaurant. He didn’t do things like that. He didn’t get all hung up on a woman. Ever.

Not even a hot little virgin.

And that reminded him... “So where did you hear that virgin stuff?”

With a knowing smile, Jesse shrugged. “I overheard some of the other waitresses talking, and one of them said she heard it from a past boyfriend of hers.”

“Probably jealous,” Brick muttered.

“Probably,” Jesse agreed. “She’s getting more than her fair share of attention.”

Something he’d already noticed—and didn’t like. “Tips, too.” In the small town where they all lived and worked, everyone knew everyone. Brick ran the family-owned hardware store, and Jesse was a carpenter with his own shop. Brick’s brother, Evan, worked for the elementary school as a gym teacher, and Evan’s wife, Cinder, was a nurse.

Most days, Brick and Jesse met for lunch at the diner because it was just across the street from Brick’s store. It served good, homemade food, it was affordable, and it catered to locals by celebrating high school sports and supporting the other businesses.

When Ms. Merrily Loveland started working at the restaurant, everyone noticed, especially everyone male—and the gossip started.

“Where did you hear it?” Jesse asked.

“Couple of bozos came in a few weeks ago to buy paint. One guy said he’d asked her out and was turned down flat. The other said he used to live in the same town with her back in college, only a couple of hours from here.”

“Same with the waitress.” Jesse shrugged. “I think maybe they were in college at the same time.”

“One of the guys claimed she used to be engaged, but when she wouldn’t give it up, the guy left her.”

“And told everyone about it?” Jesse snorted. “What an ass.”

“Yeah.” Brick took a big drink of his cola. “The talk went downhill from there.” He wouldn’t repeat it all because it hadn’t been kind, but there’d been insults claiming her to be cold, asexual, even deliberately manipulative, as if she used her innocence as a tool.

“And you didn’t throw them both out? Huh. Good for you, Brick.” Jesse reached across the booth to slap his shoulder. “I mean, I can see you’re pissed about it, so the fact that you actually kept your temper in check—”

As Merrily returned to them, Brick gave a quick shake of his head. But not in time.

While setting their food on the table, she teased, “You have a temper? No way. You’re always so nice.”

“He would never show that temper to you,” Jesse assured her. “But yeah, when warranted, it makes an appearance.”

Brick gave him a dirty look. Was he trying to scare her off?

Intrigued, Merrily asked, “Is that why they call you Brick?”

She knew his nickname? Nice. Though they’d chatted casually many times, they hadn’t been formally introduced. He’d seen her name on her name tag and used it as most would. Apparently she’d been paying attention when others spoke to him.

“Actually,” Jesse said, now on a roll, “he got that name ages ago when he fell off a roof onto his head and was still able to laugh about it.”

“Ohmigosh.” She stared at Brick in disbelief. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah, but it’s not as bad as it sounds.” He’d strangle Jesse later for bringing that up. “The house was half-built into a hill, so the roof at one end was pretty close to the ground.”

“Still...”

“I only dropped around ten feet.”

“Ten feet?” Her eyes widened again. “And you weren’t hurt?”

“Just bruised my pride.” He gave a slight grin. “That is, as much pride as a nine-year-old boy can have.”

“If you guys were that young, what in the world were you doing on the roof?”

Brick felt his neck getting hot.

Jesse, of course, launched into details. “He was pretending to be Batman. His brother, Evan, who’s a year younger, was Robin.”

She smiled, and this time, the smile was unlike any other—softer, gentler. “Aww. That’s so sweet.”

He snorted. “No it’s not. After I fell, Evan ran home to tell our mom and she grounded us for a week.” A week that had felt like a month.

“I can’t say I blame her.” Looking a little wistful, Merrily tipped her head to study him. “Did you and your brother wear costumes?”

“Masks and capes.” He grinned despite his efforts not to. “Looking back on my misspent youth, I think it’s a wonder I survived.”

“Your poor mother,” she agreed. Another customer called to her, so after a quick touch to his shoulder, she slipped away.

That touch—on the freaking shoulder, for crying out loud—brought his temperature up a few degrees more.

“Pathetic,” Jesse said. “Get a grip, will you?”

“She likes me.”

“Yeah? And you drew that conclusion...why?”

He shrugged. “She touched my shoulder.”

Jesse grabbed his heart again. “Your shoulder? Damn. That brazen hussy. I guess it must be love.”

Ignoring that, Brick said, “I’m going to ask her out.”

That seemed to surprise Jesse but not because of his intent. “You haven’t already?”

“No.”

“Why not? I figured you’d hit on her from day one and just got shot down.”

“No.” Why he hadn’t yet asked her out, he couldn’t say. He’d known her plenty long enough. And he’d only recently heard that virgin business. But there was something about her that made him not want to rush things—

“Never knew you to be insecure, Brick. There go my illusions.”

He snorted. “I’m not insecure.” And Jesse knew it. Hell, he didn’t have an insecure bone in his entire body. But speaking of bones... He shifted again. “I’ll ask her out today.”

“Yeah? So?”

“So I want you to stuff that food down your throat and then get out of here.”

“This is my lunch break! And it’s not like she’s going anywhere. If you’ve already waited a month, why can’t you wait until I finish eating?”

Yeah...he supposed he could. He didn’t want to, but it made more sense than throwing Jesse out of the restaurant and rushing things. “Fine.” He liberally poured hot sauce on his food. “But don’t linger.”

For an answer, Jesse took an enormous bite of his sandwich.

For the next twenty minutes, Merrily stayed pretty busy. Brick noticed that she chatted with everyone. He wasn’t special in that regard.

Except that she didn’t touch anyone else, so regardless of what Jesse thought, her fleeting touch to his shoulder did mean something.

What, exactly, he didn’t yet know.

By all accounts, she’d turned down dates. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t an insecure schoolboy who quailed in the face of possible rejection.

If she turned him down, he’d just have to figure out a way to change her mind.

Without seeming pushy. Or stalkerish.

Coming out of the kitchen with a loaded tray, she moved around her seating area, dropping off food, refreshing cups of coffee, taking new orders and seeing that everyone had everything they wanted.

Finally, while digging a bill out of her pocket, she approached again.

“You guys need anything else? More to drink? Dessert?”

Jesse said, “I’m good, thanks.”

“Same here.”

She placed respective bills on the booth top before them, clasped her hands together and faced Brick again. “If you’re all done, mind if I ask you something?”

After a stifled grin, Jesse did him a solid by saying, “It’s your turn to pay, Brick, and I’m running late. So if you don’t mind....” He pushed his bill toward Brick and slid out of his seat.

Merrily sent him a smile. “Thank you for stopping by. Come see us again.”

“Will do.” Whistling under his breath, Jesse sauntered out.

In the middle of a busy restaurant, at the tail end of the lunch crowd, Brick relished the moment of relative privacy. “Got a second to sit down?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” She untied her apron and took Jesse’s seat opposite him. “I’m actually off early today.”

So now might be a good time to get to know her better.

She wrinkled her pert little upturned nose. “I can’t stay long, though. I have a ton of stuff to get done.”

“Classes?”

“Those are in the morning. But the animals have been closed up since this morning, I have laundry piling up, and I’m hoping to put in a doggy door.”

“You have your own house?” He’d love to find out where she lived.

She shook her head. “I’m renting a duplex, but my landlord is okay with it—for a small fee, of course—and I know my pets would appreciate it. I hate leaving them cooped up while I’m away, so...” She shrugged. “That’s what I wanted to ask you. I know you own the hardware store. Do you sell whatever I’ll need?”

He had what she needed, all right. “Actually, it’s a family business. Mom and Dad retired early, and Evan wasn’t interested in it, so I run it. In a couple more years, I’ll buy them out.”

“That’s nice. You’re close with your family?”

“Real close. You?”

Avoiding his gaze, she moved aside Jesse’s plate. “Dad died in a car wreck when I was seventeen. Mom was disabled. But last year she passed away, too.”

Wow. His heart clenched over such devastating losses. “Siblings?”

She shook her head. “It was just Mom and me.” With a cheerless smile, she added, “And our menagerie.”

So she’d inherited the animals? Drawn to her, needing the contact, he touched her slender fingers, hesitated, and when she didn’t pull away, he held her hand. “You said your mom was disabled?”

“Except for doctor appointments, she preferred not to venture out much. It was too difficult for her, and she felt conspicuous.”

“Did she need full-time care?” He couldn’t imagine that type of responsibility being dumped on someone so young.

Merrily shook her head. “I kept meals ready for her, and we cleared the house enough that she could get around pretty well in her powered wheelchair. When I had to be away, for school and grocery shopping and stuff like that, I kept a cell phone on me for any emergency calls. She loved our animals, and they loved her. They kept her company when I couldn’t be with her.”

Damn. “I’m sorry, Merrily.”

“We managed okay. I mean, until she worsened.” Slowly she freed herself from his touch. “After she passed away, the animals had a hard time adjusting. I figured a change of scenery would be nice, so here I am. With the animals, who, like I said, are family to me.”

“But you need that doggy door.”

“Yes. They’re happier now, but they were used to her being there. Now they’re alone...” She blew out a breath. “I think they’ll enjoy it more if they can get outside and play a little or even just lay in the sun.”

He considered her, wondering how much her mother’s health might have played into her broken engagement. Not many men would sign on for that type of responsibility. “Are you handy around the house?”

She laughed. “Not really, no. But I can read directions.”

Man, she had a nice laugh. Not too girly, not at all fake. Just...nice. “Do you have a good tool set?”

“I have a hammer and a screwdriver.” She bit her bottom lip but ended up shaking her head. “Will I need a lot of other stuff?”

Perfect opening. If it hadn’t been for the heartbreaking story she’d just shared, he’d have grinned in anticipation. But given her reasons for relocating, he managed to hold it together. “Tell you what. Why don’t I put in the doggy door for you?”

He waited for objections, for excuses, or a flat-out no.

She dropped back in her seat. “Seriously? You’d do that? I mean, I’ll pay you, of course, but I—”

“Neighbor to neighbor,” he said, cutting her off. Given what he wanted from her, no way could he let money change hands. “I’m happy to help out.”

Still surprised, she said, “But we’re not neighbors.”

No, but he wanted her bad. “In this town, everyone is a neighbor.”

“You’re sure?”

“It’ll be my pleasure.” He’d find out where she lived, make himself useful and in the end...he’d have her under him, where they’d both have some fun.

Even to him, that sounded like a Grade-A prick move.

But she forestalled any opportunity for him to retrench when she said with heartfelt gratitude, “Thank you. I appreciate it more than I can say.”

CHAPTER TWO

MERRILY LOOKED AROUND the duplex again, saw everything was in order and tried not to listen for Brick’s knock at her front door. The laundry would have to wait for another day. She’d tidied the space as much as she could with five pets underfoot. Like toddlers, they had toys everywhere. And though she’d just vacuumed, fur was a never-ending issue.

Dundee, an Australian shepherd and border collie mix, knew something was happening. He watched her with ears perked up, expression alert. “It’s okay, Dundee. Just be on your best behavior, please.” Because Dundee was always a happy fellow, eager to please, that wasn’t asking too much of him.

Dolly, a smaller bearded collie mix, didn’t really care enough about any visitor to skip her nap. Merrily could hear her low snores and, as always, it made her smile.

The cats kept vigil in different windows, with Union Tom and Stan the Man sticking together against Eloise, who tended to run the show. Ellie was a lovely lady, but as the only female cat, she ruled the dogs and the male cats with little more than a look.

Merrily ran a hand over her loose hair and again wondered if she should contain it in a ponytail. For the longest time, her regimen had included washing, dressing and restraining her hair. She almost felt pretentious for letting it hang loose.

As for her lip gloss, she’d already chewed that off, so it had been a complete waste of time. At least her jeans and yellow T-shirt weren’t much different from what she wore at work.

Chaos erupted with Brick’s first tap on her door. The cats shot off the windows, Dundee started dancing and Dolly awoke with such a barking start she almost fell off the couch. Merrily could barely hear herself as she urged them all to hush, to heel, to try not to appear quite so much like wild animals.

She opened the door and found Brick standing there with a smile.

“I hear them,” he said with amusement. He leaned around her to peek in, and the smile widened to devastating impact.

Oh, God, Merrily thought. If he was an animal lover on top of being so gorgeous and funny and...attentive to her, she’d be a goner in no time.

“Come on in.”

He got one foot in the door and Dundee was on him, his paws on Brick’s chest as he tried to lick his face, pelting him with doggy breath.

Brick laughed outright. He set aside a large toolbox that looked like it weighed a ton and went to one knee.

Big mistake.

Dundee all but took him to the floor. But Brick was stronger than her so he didn’t end up on his tight muscled butt. Instead he seemed to enjoy Dundee’s attention.

With high-pitched maniacal barking, Dolly vied for her own share of notice.

Sitting on the floor, Brick laughed some more and struggled to give both dogs the pets they craved.

“Really,” Merrily told them. “You guys will have him thinking you’re neglected, that I’m a terrible pet owner who leaves you starved for crumbs of attention.”

“Nah,” Brick said around his chuckles. “They’re terrific.”

Terrific? Seriously? Maybe he hadn’t noticed the cats yet. Or how dog hair already clung to his dark T-shirt. Or the...oh, no...doggy drool on his shoulder.

She covered her mouth and asked in a horrified whisper, “Should I call them off?”

“Why? I like the enthusiastic greeting.”

Dolly got into his lap, and he let her. Dundee kept snuffling his neck and chest—which was something Merrily wouldn’t mind trying if given half a chance.

Unsure what else to do, she seated herself on the couch. Eloise immediately joined her to watch the display with disdain.

Tom and Stan strode into the fray and with little more than a meow had the dogs backing off enough to sit beside Brick instead of on him.

“Names?” he asked Merrily, as if being accosted by an animal horde was just fine and dandy.

She cleared her throat. “Dundee is the bigger dog, Dolly the smaller. That yellow fellow with the round face is Tom, better known as Union Tom because he was found by Union Terminal. That’s Stan the Man with the adorable yellow eyes. And here in my lap is Eloise.”

“She has beautiful coloring.”

Merrily wanted to melt. “She’s a dilute tortoiseshell, and yes, very beautiful.”

“You said Tom was found by Union Terminal?”

“They’ve all been adopted from shelters. Dolly was...not treated well.”

Brows coming down, Brick reached out to the little dog again.

“Her shaggy gray fur needs a lot of work and her previous owners just didn’t care. They kept her outside, and she was dirty, matted... I’m sure she was miserable.”

Brick said nothing, but his jaw tightened and he cuddled Dolly a little closer.

Well. A telling move, that. So he was breathtakingly gorgeous and kind.

No wonder he had such an amazing reputation with the ladies.

She swallowed back her sigh of longing. “Dundee is seven years old but still acts like a pup. As you already found out, he loves to give doggy kisses.”

In an absurd voice, he said to Dundee, “Yes he does. Don’t you boy? You do. Lots of doggy kisses.”

Merrily gaped at him. And wanted to melt again.

Returning his attention to her, and his voice now normal, Brick said, “I’ll be stopping by my brother’s later. He and his wife have a dog and cat who’ll think I’ve been out cheating on them when they smell your pets on me.” He laughed. “Doug and Cate can be very possessive.”

“Those are the pets?”

“Yeah. Doug the dog and Cate the cat. Love the names, right? They were shelter pets, too. Evan and Cinder weren’t a couple then, just neighbors.” He smiled. “Though Evan had it for her bad, I don’t mind telling you. Anyway, they went to the shelter together. She got Doug, and he got Cate, and later they got married, and now they’re a happy family.”

Her heart swelled. “That sounds like a lovely fairy tale.”

Brick shot her a puzzled look. “Nah. Just real-life love. Happens all the time.” Putting the animals aside, he came back to his feet.

He was so big that it prompted her to stand, too, so he wouldn’t be towering over her. At least not as much as when she sat. Since he stood well over six feet tall, and she was less than five and a half feet, there’d be some towering going on no matter what she did.

But with Brick, she sort of liked it.

The cat squirmed in her arms, so Merrily started to set her down. Eloise had other ideas. She held on while staring at Brick in something akin to challenge.

A small, sexy smile tilted his mouth. He touched Eloise under her chin, and the cat closed her eyes in bliss. “So you’re the boss, huh?”

How did he know that? “It seems the cats are naturally bossier than dogs. And she’s the only female cat, so...”

“Nature’s way, I guess.” His hand went from Eloise’s chin to Merrily’s hair, tucking it behind her ear, then grazing her cheek. “You look nice with your hair loose.”

Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth so all she could do was stare at him. The combo of a casual touch and a compliment packed a wallop to her starved senses.

“But I like the ponytail you usually wear, too.”

“Oh...um...”

That knowing smile of his widened. He ran his big thumb along her jaw...then dropped his hand and looked around her home. “You have a nice place.”

“Thank you.”

He looked up at the cove ceiling. “There’s so much character in an old house like this.”

“I like it.” In a very short time, it had become her home, not just her residence. “The landlord, Tonya Bloom, did a great job in dividing it up for a duplex. In most of the rooms, you can’t even tell that it used to be one house.”

“Who lives next door?”

“She does. The landlord, I mean.” Merrily really didn’t want to talk about Tonya.

“She’s nice?”

“Very nice.” As well as beautiful, incredibly built, smart and successful. The comparisons could depress her, except that Tonya was one of those people who treated everyone like a cherished friend.

She did not want Tonya treating Brick that way.

Time to get him thinking about a different topic. “I was hoping the doggy door could open to the backyard.” Eloise still refused to be put aside, so Merrily carried her in her arms as she went into the kitchen.

Along the way, Brick held silent, and she assumed he was taking in the original high baseboards and the sloping wooden floors. But when she looked back, it was her behind he stared at. She faced forward again and tried not to put any more swing in her walk than necessary.

“Right here would be the ideal spot.” She indicated the thick wooden door that opened to the small fenced yard.

When she turned, Brick was right there, crowded in close behind her in the small confines of the galley kitchen. He was so close, in fact, that Eloise could lean out and rub her head against his shoulder.

A little dumbfounded, Merrily stared up at him while breathing in the amazing scent of hot, hunky male. She’d been around other men and never noticed their scent. Did he smell different? Or just better?

Brick glanced at her with a raised brow and a barely there smile.

She had to get it together or he’d start to wonder at her motives, which, yes, included the desire for more than a doggy door to accommodate her pets.

Sidling around him, Merrily tried to gather her wits. “Would you like anything to eat? Or drink?”

He knelt down to examine the base of the door. His dark T-shirt stretched tight across his broad back and solid shoulders and the denim of his jeans hugged his flexed thighs. “I’ll take a drink, thanks.”

Lord, have mercy. Stalling, Merrily lifted a hand and fanned her face, but it didn’t help with the flash flood of heat.

Maybe she should have started this plan with someone just a little less...everything.

Less macho, less gorgeous, less overwhelming.

Problem was, no one else had appealed to her.

He glanced back. “Merrily?”

Having a big sexy guy around was an aberration and she knew she was bound to trip up occasionally, but still, she wanted to be just a little smoother. “I, ah, don’t have anything alcoholic. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it or I could have picked up some beer or something—”

Releasing her from the snare of his dark gaze, he opened the door and asked, “What do you have?”

“Iced tea or coffee. Cola. Maybe some juice...”

“Tea would be great, thanks.” He glanced back at her again, then all over her, before returning his attention to her face. “I’m not a big drinker.”

“Oh. Okay.” Merrily bit her lip at that lame reply. What did okay even mean? Should she admit she wasn’t much of a drinker either? No. Not yet. Not when so many social relationships relied on casual drinking.

After a ridiculous smile, she spun around and almost tripped over Dolly and Dundee. They sat there, staring at Brick with the same fascination she felt.

She put Eloise in a kitchen chair and opened the fridge.

By the time she’d finished filling a glass with ice and pouring the tea, Brick was standing again, his hands on his hips, expression pensive.

She handed him the tea. “Is there a problem?”

“Not a problem, exactly. I can do it. It’s just that I kind of hate to.”

He drank deeply, and she watched the way his throat worked. This late in the day, he had a dark beard shadow. She wanted to touch his throat, to feel the rasp of his stubble, maybe brush over it with her lips...

After finishing half the drink, he frowned at the door. “Your landlord actually agreed to let us do this?”

Merrily had no idea what he was getting at. “I talked with her about it before making any real plans.”

“Well...” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Before I do anything, I’d like to talk to her, too. Do you know when she’ll be around?”

No, no, no. She didn’t want Brick and Tonya in the same room together—with good reason. “You don’t believe me?”

“Sure I do. But I’m guessing neither of you realize the value of that door. Before I start cutting on it, I want to talk to her myself.”

The idea of him meeting Tonya disheartened her, but what could she do? Merrily shrugged. “She’s usually home by now, actually.” Tom stretched up to her leg, so she lifted him. “I don’t understand your concern.”

“That’s one hell of a vintage door to chop up. Solid, probably original to the house, and still in great shape. They don’t make them like that anymore, not unless someone wants to spend a small fortune. People refurbishing old homes would go nuts over it. Seems a shame to mess it up. Once I cut it for the pet door, it’ll never be the same, and replacing it later with another door like it wouldn’t be easy.”

“Oh.” Merrily looked at the door, but to her, it was just...a door. “So I guess a pet entry is out.”

“No, we can still do it. But if your landlord agrees, I’d rather take that door down and store it so it can be put back in if you ever move. In the meantime we can throw up a cheaper door and use it for the pet entry. It’d still look nice, and it’d be plenty secure. What do you think?”

“Won’t that be more work for you?”

“Not a lot. As long as you don’t mind having me around an extra day or so, it’s not a big deal.”

Mind having him around? He had to be joking. “There’s a shed out back where you could store it or maybe in the basement or attic.” She hated to sound unsympathetic to the old house, and she loved the idea of prolonging his visit, but... “How much would a new door cost me?”

“Nothing. Jesse probably has something lying around that would fit.”

“Jesse?”

“My friend from lunch today.” He tipped his head. “You don’t remember him?”

“I do.” Jesse had an engaging smile, blond hair and green eyes, but sitting across from Brick, he’d been almost invisible—at least to her. Without thinking it through, she admitted, “I heard a few of the other waitresses talking about him.”

“Yeah? Saying what?”

She cleared her throat. “Just...girl talk.”

At her show of discomfort, his gaze brightened and a smile played over his mouth. “Tell me.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t.”

He set his drink aside and, with teasing intent, stalked closer. “C’mon, Merrily. Out with it.”

She back-stepped until her backside bumped into the counter. Heat rushed into her face. This was a new game to her, but she didn’t want him to know that.

He got so close that her heart hammered and a strange tingling spread out to her limbs.

It wasn’t at all an unpleasant feeling. Not with Brick.

“Now don’t faint on me.”

“No. I won’t.” She might jump him, but she wouldn’t pass out and miss any of this. She cleared her throat. “They, ah, said that Jesse was so sexy, he...”

“He what?”

To get it over with, she blurted, “Made panties drop.”

Brick didn’t put any space between them. In fact, he brushed her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“You think Jesse is all that?”

“What? No.” She shook her head hard. “I mean, I’m sure he’s nice enough.”

“He is.”

But he wasn’t Brick. She shrugged. “That’s it. He’s nice.”

Brick’s slow smile said a whole lot of stuff—but she wasn’t sure what exactly. “He’s a carpenter, so he always has extra materials on hand. If he doesn’t have a door that fits exactly, he can cut it down to make it work. Piece of cake for him.”

He was still too darned close for coherent thought, but she muddled through. “I’d have to insist on paying him.”

Slowly, his gaze warm and intimate, Brick tucked her hair behind her ear—and finally gave her some space. “You can take that up with Jesse, but either way, it wouldn’t be much. So what do you say? Why don’t we go discuss it with the landlord right now so I can get to work on this for you?”

Darn it. She didn’t want to. If she had her way, Tonya Bloom would never be within smiling distance of Brick. Tonya smiled and men went stupid—she was that beautiful. But with Tonya living next door, the idea of them never running into each other was unrealistic and she knew it. “I could just talk with her and then let you know what she says.”

Brick studied her. She knew he studied her, that he wondered at her motives, and it made her want to squirm.

After a few nerve-racking seconds of scrutiny, he seemed to come to a conclusion. He nodded at her kitchen table. “Mind if I sit down while I finish my tea?”

Oh. “That’d be fine.” She followed him to the table, but when Brick pulled out a chair, he found Eloise curled up in it. The cat gave him a “do not disturb” look and settled again.

“Sorry, old girl.” He pulled out another chair, and there was Tom draped over the seat. In the next chair was Stan, one leg in the air while he “groomed” himself.

Feeling foolish, she explained, “They like to be where I am.”

“Can’t say as I blame them.” Instead of acting put out, he smiled at the cats. “The couch, then?”

“I could move them.” It was a lame, unenthusiastic offer. She hated to disturb her pets when they slept. So often, she would inconvenience herself first.

Brick curved his big, warm hand around her upper arm. “The couch works.” He led her back through to the living room, Dolly and Dundee following hot on their heels. He sat and urged her down close to him.

But rather than finish off his tea, he set it aside and turned to her, his gaze moving slowly over her face. “So.”

So...what? She waited, uncertain what to say or do, not knowing what he intended.

“Why don’t you want me to meet the landlord?”

Wow, intuitive and straight to the point. She wasn’t used to guys being so up-front.

Actually, she wasn’t all that used to guys, period. But the ones she had known weren’t exactly straight shooters. More like vague with hidden agendas.

By way of an answer, she asked her own question. “What makes you think I don’t?”

His gaze softened in understanding. “Not to brag, Merrily, but I know women.”

She was sort of counting on that.

Casually, he put an arm up along the back of the couch—behind her shoulders. “And I see it in your expression.”

Dolly jumped up to the couch and went into his lap, circled twice, then plopped down with a sigh. As if he barely noticed, Brick scratched the dog’s ears with his free hand and continued to stare at Merrily, waiting for her reaction.

Even after Dundee sat on his foot and leaned into his leg, Brick didn’t pull that unwavering gaze from her face.

A multitude of reasonable excuses tripped through her mind, but she’d always been a terrible fibber. If he could be up-front, maybe she should be, too.

“Tonya is...really pretty.” Lame. Tonya was well beyond merely pretty.

“So?”

“So...” Her face went hot, but she lifted her chin. “I do want a doggy door. As you can see, I need one.”

“Agreed.”

“But I was also hoping...that is...” How did one spell out carnal intent? She met his gaze and went for broke. “I like you.”

The corner of his mouth tilted in a crooked smile. “I’m listening.”

He was, very intently, and it rattled her composure big-time. She cleared her throat. “You know I’m still kind of new to the area. Between school and work, I haven’t had a chance to get to know that many people.” She didn’t really know him either, but not only did she enjoy talking to him at the restaurant, she also found him oh-so physically appealing.

And the other waitresses didn’t talk only about Jesse. They’d had plenty to say about Brick, as well. He had quite a reputation, and it was so scintillating, so exciting, she couldn’t resist the idea of a daring sensual adventure.

That is, if Brick cooperated.

“I was hoping...that is...” For crying out loud, she sounded idiotic. “I don’t want to scare you off or anything. I’m not trying to rope you in. But I think you’re...sexy.”

His smile warmed.

“And you’re nice. And there’s just something about you...” Something raw and appealing and exhilarating. Merrily put her shoulders back. “I’d like to sleep with you.”

Surprise chased off his smile. His eyes widened a little, then narrowed.

Just in case she hadn’t been clear enough, she stated, “For sex.”

There. She’d said it. Not the smoothest come-on, for sure, but under her extenuating circumstances, it would have to do.

She waited on pins and needles to see how the oh-so-awesome Brick Carlisle would react.

* * *

WOMEN RARELY THREW him for a loop, but Brick had to admit that Merrily did it when she wasn’t even trying.

A hungry look, a nervous smile, and he missed a beat. She was just so open, so unguarded in her desire.

It made sense that when she did try—with a straight-shot, spell-it-out confession, no less—he was guaranteed to falter.

No way had he expected her to make it so easy for him. No way had he expected a supposed virgin to state her case so bluntly.

Out of necessity, he lifted the dog away from his lap and set her on the couch between them. He shifted and stretched out one leg, but it didn’t help.

“Well?” Probably as much for comfort as out of habit, Merrily scooped up the dog and hugged her close.

He was saved from trying to reply coherently by a knock on her door.

Looking a little stricken, she closed her eyes and blew out a breath.

“You expecting someone?” Brick asked.

“No.” She opened her eyes to show churning uncertainty. “The only one who visits me is Tonya.”

No guys visiting, then. Good to know.

She’d claimed to like the landlord, so why so glum now? “That’s a problem...because?”

Again she lifted her chin. “I want you.”

“Yeah. Heard that the first time.” If she kept saying it, how the hell did she expect him to show any finesse at all? “I’m on board, honey, trust me. So why don’t we talk to the landlord to clear up the door situation, then we can discuss...” He gestured between them. “You having me.”

She blinked at him.

Yeah, way to be romantic, Brick. Way to seduce her.

Way to encourage her. He snorted at himself, then forced a smile. “Are you going to ignore the knocking?”

“No, I suppose not.” She put Dolly onto the couch and stalked off to answer.

Curious, Brick stood, did a quick adjustment with his jeans, then followed her. So did Dolly and Dundee. Luckily the cats slept on in the kitchen.

Merrily opened the door and— Holy hell, her landlord was a knockout. She stood damn near as tall as Brick, with long, pale blond hair and longer legs well displayed in a short suit skirt and fashionable high heels. Heavy lashes framed light blue eyes.

The vision said, “Hi, Merrily! I was wondering how...” Her voice trailed off when she spotted Brick. The smile changed, going from real warmth to mere formality. She extended her hand. “Hello. I’m Merrily’s neighbor and landlord, Tonya Bloom.”

“Pleasure.” Brick took her hand in a brief greeting. “Brick Carlisle.”

In a silent, almost funereal invitation, Merrily held the door wide.

Suit jacket open to reveal a feminine blouse and perfect curves, Tonya stepped inside. Dundee and Dolly ran up to her, but they didn’t jump. In fact, they had impeccable manners, stopping before her, waiting patiently for the expected pats she gave.

“Hello, babies, how are you?” She made kissing noises at them, scratched their chins, and they stared back at her in blind canine adoration. “Where are the kitties?”

“Kitchen,” Merrily said. “Sleeping.”

Brick wondered at her short replies, but Tonya forged into the kitchen, asking, “Is the doggy door in yet?”

“I wanted to talk to you about that.” He took Merrily’s hand and tugged her along with him as he followed in the wake of Tonya’s subtle and seductive perfume. He explained about the value of the door and made his suggestions for trading it out with something less vintage.

Tonya listened as she greeted each cat in turn. Bending from the waist—offering a tantalizing view of a heart-shaped ass—she rubbed Tom’s ears, tickled under Eloise’s chin and stroked along Stan’s back. The combined purrs set the kitchen humming.

The woman had killer looks and a luscious body to go with the face; what she did for a suit would make most men stammer. Brick imagined she had a hard time fending off the attention.

He caught Merrily’s tortured expression. He didn’t entirely understand it, but he squeezed her hand in quick encouragement. “We can put in a door that still goes with everything but won’t be as valuable.”

“That’s so nice of you.” She eyed the door with new insight. “Of course you’re right. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. And yes, as much as I love it, someday I’ll sell this property.”

Because holding her hand didn’t suffice, Brick pulled Merrily into his side and put his arm over her shoulders. She stood frozen beside him, stiff and unyielding.

Yet minutes ago, she’d claimed to want him.

Tonya’s knowing smile touched on them both. “Well, I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not,” Merrily said.

Brick spoke over her, saying, “Thank you.” The sooner he got the landlord on her way, the sooner he could decide how to proceed with Merrily. “I’ll get with my friend, Jesse, and pick out a door that matches close enough. If it works for Merrily, we’ll get it installed tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Merrily asked, and damned if she didn’t look surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah, why?” No matter what happened today, they were far from finished with one another. “You busy?”

She shook her head.

“Good.” He recalled her exact words—that she didn’t plan to rope him in. What exactly did that mean? Did she want sex only once?

Like hell! Once wouldn’t cut it. A dozen times might not suffice. He intended to get his fill—but he’d make it good for her, too.

“I’m free, you’re free. Might as well get it taken care of, right?”

She nodded fast. “Okay.”

He hugged her a little closer before turning back to Tonya. “Where did you want to store this one?”

“My basement would be best. Do you suppose you or your friend could bring it over?”

“Not a problem. You’ll be around tomorrow?”

“After two o’clock, I will be.”

He tried to head her toward the living room. “That works. Guess I’ll see you then.”

Tonya said her goodbyes to the cats and then to each of the dogs. They hung on her every word, adoring her. It made Brick smile. “You’re good with the animals.” There was something very appealing about a gorgeous woman who was also kind.

And that gave him an idea.

Tonya paused at the front door. “And I take it you’re good with your hands?”

Clever, too. He grinned. “Very.”

“His family has a hardware store,” Merrily rushed to explain. “Brick runs it.”

He had no idea why she sounded so proud about that. “And I’m very handy.”

“Wonderful.” Tonya stepped into the hall. “I don’t want to take advantage, but do you suppose you could also check the fence to make sure it’s secure? I don’t want the doggies to get loose.”

“I could do that,” Merrily said.

At the same time, Brick replied, “Be glad to.” Damn it, was she already trying to get rid of him?

Tonya laughed. She looked at Merrily and laughed again. “Thank you both. Brick, if I need to do any repairs to the fence, just let me know.” Still smiling, she turned to go next door to her half of the house. “Have fun, you two!”

Tension arced between them as Brick closed the door. He felt Merrily’s gaze on his back, felt her interest. Slowly, bracing himself for the impact of her appeal, he turned toward her.

Damn, but she did it for him. Everything about her seemed specifically designed to push his buttons; the way her wide green eyes watched him, how she shifted her feet, even how she breathed a little fast and low as if she expected him to rush her off to bed right this very second.

He’d disappoint her on that score. They’d get to the bed but not until he cleared up a few other things first.

Until then, he needed to taste her.

Reaching for her, Brick muttered low, “Come here, Merrily.”

CHAPTER THREE

AS HE PULLED her in close to his chest, Merrily wondered what would happen. Did he plan to take her to bed right now?

She wanted to, she really did, but she’d assumed he’d be working on the door and that they’d have more time to talk first, to get more familiar with each other, to get more...comfortable.

If he meant to do this now, she really needed to give the dogs a quick trip outside first. And she should probably freshen up. Maybe turn down the bed.

It was still light out and while she wasn’t exactly shy, she didn’t know that she wanted to do this in broad daylight—

Brick paused with his mouth very near to hers. “Merrily?”

“Hmm?” Oh, God, the anticipation nearly did her in.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Was she that obvious? Should she give him more honesty, or should she brazen it out?

He touched his mouth to hers in a brief, barely-there kiss that had her swaying toward him in a silent plea for more.

“You can tell me anything, okay?” He kissed her jaw, then curled her toes with a soft, damp kiss to her throat. “I want you to know that.”

Surely that wasn’t true. He couldn’t want to hear of her reservations, or the past that had stalled her sexual curiosity, or the broken engagement that had left her humiliated and defeated—

“Tell me,” he insisted while still tasting her skin.

Knowing she had to say something, Merrily drew a breath. “I’m not quite ready yet.”

Leaning back to see her, he asked gently, “For a kiss?”

Was he mocking her? Oh, he’d said that seriously enough, but something close to amusement showed in his dark eyes, and a secret little smile played with the corners of his sexy mouth.

“A kiss is okay,” she assured him. “Great even. It’s just that I—”

“Thank God.” He put his mouth to hers again, this time more firmly, lingering, moving.

Her heart thundered even as he eased away again.

“Okay?”

She nodded fast.

“How about this?” He turned his head a little, moved his lips over hers until he’d nudged them apart, then touched with his tongue.

A rush of heat stole through her. “Yes.” She clutched at his shirt and, lips parted, went to her tiptoes to make that amazing contact with his tongue again. He tasted so good, smelled delicious and felt...amazing.

Suddenly everything moved, and then her back was to the door, Brick pressed up against her, his hands holding her face, his fingers in her hair.

“And this?” he asked in a husky whisper that brushed her damp lips.

She barely had time to note the rough rasp of his voice before he took her mouth in a deep, hot, tongue-twining kiss that left her knees weak and her body taut. Against her breasts, she felt the pounding of his heartbeat, and against her belly... Oh. Hello.

He ended the kiss as if it took a great effort. “Damn.”

She couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen into her starved lungs. She’d known other men—but none like him.

She’d been kissed before—but never like that.

Hands still knotted in his shirt, she whispered, “What’s wrong?” It startled her, hearing that breathy little wisp of sound in place of her own voice.

“Around you, I’m trigger happy.” He kissed her again, short and sweet, then put another kiss to her cheekbone, one to her temple. “What is it about you, Merrily?”

Not understanding, she shook her head. “Trigger happy?”

His half laugh turned into a short groan. “I think about you, and I get a boner. Kissing you damn near puts me over the edge. It’s insane.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she assimilated the meaning behind the words. She’d felt the...boner, of course. No missing that. Was he saying that was unusual for him?

Pressing into him, Merrily relished the feel of his excitement. For her. “Brick...”

Breathing roughly, he caught her hips in his big hands, briefly caressed them, and then held her still. “Sorry, honey, but I think we’re moving too fast.”

No way. That was not something men said. Sure, she’d thought it—at first—but now...

“I don’t want to take advantage.”

“You’re not!”

“And,” he said, stressing the word, “given the way Dundee’s jumping against my ass, I think he either wants out, or he wants you to reassure him that you’re kissing me willingly, not under duress.”

Oh, no. Maintaining her hold on Brick’s shoulders, she leaned to look around his side and saw Dundee on his hind legs, his front paws up on Brick. Her mind went blank. “He, ah, isn’t used to guys being here.”

“Doing this to you. I know.” He gave her a quick kiss and released her. “All the more reason to let up on the gas pedal a little.” He turned to the dog. “So what’s it to be, my man? You need to go out?”

Dundee barked and turned a quick circle.

Dolly joined him.

“Do you have leashes for them, or do you just let them out?”

Still in a hazy fog of lust, Merrily said, “Out.”

“Through the kitchen?”

Why did he have to be so lucid and seemingly unaffected when her legs felt too shaky to support her? “To the backyard, yes.”

Reaching out a hand to her, Brick forced her to give up the support of the front door. “Why don’t we go along, get a breath of fresh air and maybe talk a little?”

“Okay, sure. Why not?” Not like they had anything more pressing going on.

Trying to get it together, she walked beside him, but even the way he curled his big hot hand around her fingers affected her. She thought of those hands, twice the size of her own, touching other places on her body, and for once she frowned at her sweet pets. “That damned doggy door would have come in real handy right about now.”

Brick laughed as he led her and the dogs through the kitchen, to the door and out into the backyard. “Look at it this way,” he said. “If the dogs hadn’t interrupted, I might have taken you right there, standing against the front door. And although I’d have loved it, that’s not how your first time should be.”

He gave her a one-armed hug and, with the dogs dancing around him, continued on into the yard to look around.

Merrily remained where he’d left her, frozen, her heart heavy, her vision narrowing.

So he’d heard the rumors. And believed them.

And now, just like her ex, he wanted to be the first.

Unsure what she should do next, she sank down to sit on the back stoop.

* * *

BRICK TRIED TO use the warm, fresh air to clear his head and regain his control, but he wasn’t sure a frigid shower would even do the trick. He felt obsessed with lust for her, and the need wouldn’t abate until he got his fill.

Damn, but he’d been that close to sealing the deal. And like he’d just told her, that wasn’t what she needed, and ultimately, it wasn’t what he wanted.

Or at least, it wasn’t everything he wanted. Not now.

Now...hell, he just didn’t know. He wanted time and plenty of it.

Dundee did a quick job of sprinkling a tree, then grabbed a stick in his teeth and loped over to him.

Grinning, Brick took it from him, waited while Dundee watched in eager expectation and then threw it. The dog charged after it, ears back, legs stretching out.

Dolly yapped at him, so Brick bent to pet her. “No running for you, huh?” He glanced back at Merrily, but she sat on the edge of the small stoop, her hands clasped together between her knees, her expression distant as she stared off at nothing in particular.

Sexual frustration would be new to her. He should probably offer to help her with that—but no, he couldn’t. Just thinking it—how she’d look while grinding out an orgasm, those sexy little sounds women made, how they smelled and tasted—pushed him dangerously close to the edge.

Tense with desire, he threw the stick for Dundee again, picked up Dolly and joined Merrily in the shade of the overhang.

When she said nothing, he considered how to proceed, but he insisted on honesty always. If he was going to do this—and he most definitely would—then he owed her nothing less.

And if the truth had her backing away? He’d figure it out somehow. “Is it true, then?”

“What? That I’m a virgin?”

Belligerence? Was she touchy about it? He set Dolly down and leaned back on his elbows. Looking out at the yard, Brick took in the fence that would indeed need repairs if the dogs were to be out on their own. He scoped out the rickety wooden privacy wall erected around Tonya’s small back porch to divide her property from Merrily’s. Shading his eyes, he looked up at the large trees that probably dumped a ton of debris on the roof and into the gutters.

Casual as you please, as if it didn’t really matter, he said, “That’s what I meant, yeah.”

“You couldn’t tell?” She made a rude sound. “I’m almost as rare as Bigfoot, you know. In this day and age, there’ve only been a few sightings.”

Brick fought off a grin. “It makes me a little nuts. And it sort of scares me.”

That got her attention. “Scares you?” Another rude sound. “Don’t worry. It’s not contagious.”

He laughed aloud. “Yeah, virginity is a long-lost virtue for me. Hell, I was...mmm, sixteen, I think, when our nineteen-year-old neighbor talked me into skinny dipping with her.” Ha! He knew exactly how old he was—and the girl hadn’t needed persuasion to get him in her pool. “That night, it was almost over for me before it started.”

Curious and still somewhat offended, Merrily watched him. “Virtue?”

Huh. He hadn’t figured on her latching on to that particular part. “It is, you know. Very few people have the fortitude to wait.”

“To wait as long as I have, you mean.” She rubbed her face. “It wasn’t precisely by choice.”

“No?” Hoping to encourage her, Brick put a hand to her narrow back, stroked down her spine and back up again. Through her shirt he felt her warmth and how rigidly she held herself. Trying for subtlety, he nudged her a little closer to him. “I won’t believe the guys weren’t interested. Not looking the way you look. Not with you so sweet.”

She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “My ex-fiancé didn’t think I was sweet. Not at the end.”

“The end of your engagement?”

“Yes.” She dropped her hands and stood, moving away from him. “But you don’t want to hear about all that.”

Okay, so he’d have to work a little harder now. He didn’t mind. On an exaggerated sigh, he stood. “You don’t have any lawn furniture.”

For three heartbeats she said nothing, then she shrugged. “If I’m out here, it’s usually just long enough to let the dogs do their business, and I sit on the stoop.”

“A deck would be nice.” He glanced around. “Probably for Tonya, too.”

Merrily shot him a dirty look. “You should offer to build it for her.”

“I was thinking I might.” It’d give him an opportunity to hang around more. “You’re wrong, you know.”

“About?”

“I want to hear everything that concerns you.” He watched her and saw her surprise. “So tell me, who dumped who in the engagement?”

She took two steps out to the yard but halted. Shoulders stiffening with defiance, she turned to face him again. Her chin lifted. “He dumped me.”

“Seriously? What an idiot.” To keep things casual, Brick went to Dundee and again threw the stick for him. Dolly paid little attention; she found a sun-warmed spot in the grass and sprawled out. “Do you let the cats out, too?”

“Yes. They don’t go far and they always come right back. When I’m home, it’s in and out, in and out. The cats always want to be on the other side of the door.”

Brick looked back at the house, and sure enough, all three cats were there looking out the kitchen window. Cute. He went to the house and opened the door. They bolted out as if expecting him to change his mind at any second. And as Merrily had said, they didn’t go far.

Stan immediately started eating grass.

“He’s like a cow,” Merrily complained with a shake of her head. “He’ll barf that up later, but I gave up trying to get him to quit.”

Eloise joined Dolly in the sun. “Looks like the girls are sticking together.”

“They’re both sun worshipers.”

Tom hung up on the stoop, posture alert as he took in the sight of a few birds in the trees. “Does he ever catch any?”

She shook her head. “So far, no, thank God.”

“What hours are you home?”

The quick change of topic surprised her. She rolled a shoulder. “I have classes in the morning, then work at the diner until six or so. I’m usually home by six-thirty, seven at the latest.”

“What time do your classes start?”

“7:00 a.m.”

Brick whistled low. “Long day.”

“I have all day Sunday free,” she said, then bit her lip. “I mean... I wasn’t suggesting—”

“Good to know.” He wanted to spend some time with her, not just rush through hurried sex that she might not even enjoy. “So you’re free after six-thirty Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday.”

She searched his gaze, wrapped her arms around herself and looked out at the yard again. “He dumped me because I wouldn’t have sex with him.”

Glad that she’d brought it back up, that she wanted to tell him about it, Brick watched her. “Was there a reason why you wouldn’t?”

Nodding, she whispered, “My mother.”

“She needed you with her.” Made sense to him. It was beyond tragic for her, but he knew there wasn’t much he wouldn’t give up for his mom.

Then again, no matter what his obligations, he’d find a way to sneak in a quickie here and there.

Brick shook his head at those wayward thoughts. A world of difference stood between him and Merrily. “You had priorities. I get that.”

“At times, Mom struggled so badly. There wasn’t anyone to help her but me. I was gone enough with school and work. I couldn’t see...” She trailed off.

If she’d been experienced, no doubt she’d have found the time for relief, too. When necessary, it didn’t take long.

Especially for guys.

But for a young, female virgin? A wham-bam incident wouldn’t do, which, again, meant he had to get a handle on his lust. Her first time should be memorable—for the right reasons instead of the wrong ones.

“The timing was off,” she explained. “I should never have gotten involved romantically in the first place. I can’t really blame Kyle. He was young and healthy and energetic. And at first, he did wait, for months and months.”

She sounded far too admiring for Brick’s peace of mind. Was she still hung up on the guy? “I’d say he should have kept waiting, but would that have done any good?”

She shook her head. “Maybe because I knew a normal life wasn’t in the works for me, I couldn’t see getting that intimate.”

How intimate had she gotten? No, maybe he didn’t want to know. “You loved him?”

“Yes.”

A little hard to buy because if she’d loved him, wouldn’t she have found a way? Or maybe she loved him—but didn’t really want him. Was that possible between a man and woman? He adored his sister-in-law, Cinder, but he didn’t have sexual thoughts about her.

And any woman that dated Jesse first was automatically off-limits. He didn’t go where best friends or brothers had gone before. Period. It had nothing to do with the woman, and it didn’t matter how attractive she might be.

“Maybe,” Brick ventured, sharing his thoughts, “you loved him more as a friend than anything else.”

Merrily frowned, then shook her head. “Actually...I don’t know. Maybe I just loved the idea of being in love, the idea of having a marriage and a family and a place of my own.”

She deserved all that and more.

But first she deserved the best sex he could possibly give her.

Without her noticing, Brick got closer again. “You wanted a partner to help you carry the burden.” His hand slid under her hair to cup around the back of her neck. “That’s what he should have been.”

His nearness quickened her breath. Nice.

“Without any...reward at all?”

“You think your company isn’t reward enough?”

“Ha!” She lightly slugged him in the middle. “Like that would be enough for any guy.”

“For any guy in love.... Yeah, I don’t know.” Being in love would only make abstinence more difficult. Hell, Brick wasn’t in love with her, and it ate him up to have to wait.

“Understand, Brick, I didn’t think of my mother as a burden. I loved her so I wanted to be there with her. But yes, it would have been nice to share that responsibility and worry with someone.”

A new thought chewed on his peace of mind. “Do you love him still?”

“No.”

The denial came too quickly to satisfy. Brick tipped up her chin. “You sure?”

Without hesitation, she nodded. “Looking back, I’m not certain exactly what I felt for Kyle even then. I know it hurt a lot when he asked for his ring back. He’d said he loved me, that he wanted to be with me, but he couldn’t deal with everything as it was.” Her mouth twisted. “After he broke things off, he told me that if things ever changed, he wanted to know.”

“Meaning what?” Good God, Brick couldn’t imagine that sentiment. “He wanted you to get in touch if you walked out on your mom?” Like she would ever do such a thing. Hadn’t the guy known her at all?

Lifting one shoulder, Merrily looked away. “Something like that, I guess.”

Something like...when her mother had died? Damn it, he couldn’t help it. He tugged her in closer, tucked her face under his chin and wrapped his arms around her to rock her gently from side to side. “I’m sorry.”

She surprised him by clinging to him. “The funniest part is that not long after he said that, he moved in with another woman.”

Bastard.

She hid her face against his shoulder. “A few months later...my mother took a turn for the worse and she passed away.”

He hugged her tighter still, wishing he could take some of the pain that remained with her.

“Obviously,” Merrily choked out, “I did not call him.”

“Course not.” He kissed the top of her head, her ear. “I’m so damn sorry, honey.”

She drew a slow breath. “I didn’t know what to do with myself after she died. So much of my life was wrapped up into caring for her. My schedule was set up around her needs. I had a few female friends, but no one superclose, so I decided it’d be best to get a fresh perspective on things. I moved here, found a job and got my credits transferred to the new college.”

Brick tangled a hand in her cool, silky hair. “And you decided to lose your virginity.” He realized now that it had been a deliberate choice on her part.

He’d been a deliberate choice—and it humbled him.

“Yes.” She didn’t look at him. “I didn’t expect you to know my entire history, though.”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it does. Over and over, Kyle told me he wanted to be the first. I think he probably stayed with me as long as he did just hoping to see the big payoff, you know?”

“You keep underestimating yourself, like you think lack of experience is the only appeal.”

A dry, humorless laugh escaped her. “Get real, Brick. For him, at least, it was. That’s why even after he broke things off, he still felt like he’d earned the right.”

“Tough luck for him, then, huh?” Brick wanted no misunderstandings. “Because I’m here now.” And he wasn’t about to budge.

Full of resentment, she said, “For the same reason as Kyle.”

“Don’t compare me to some selfish dick, okay?” He tipped her back so he could see her face. “That’s not me.”

“Right.” Derisive, a little militant, she tried to push away from him. “You’re saying it doesn’t matter to you?”

“Course it does. Most men are possessive by nature, and virgins factor into fantasies even more than porno stars.” He grinned at her. “But aren’t you curious why I said you scare me? Because, lady, seriously, I don’t scare easily.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Okay, not that I’m buying it, but why would I scare you?”

Before he laid it all on her, a bit of forewarning seemed in order. “It’s probably going to piss you off a little.”

Her expression went taut. “Tell me anyway.”

“Promise you’ll hear me out?”

“Depends on what you say, now, doesn’t it?”

The prickly temper only made her all the more adorable to him. Yeah, he was a Neanderthal, but at least he knew it. “All right.” Anticipating her reaction, Brick admitted, “Around you, I have a major loss of control.”

Fascination took some of the heat from her annoyance. “What does that mean exactly?”

“Like I said, you look at me, talk to me, or God forbid you smile, and I react like that testosterone-ridden sixteen-year-old kid again seeing my first naked female. That’s not something I’m used to.”

She studied him. “Later, I’d like to hear more about your first experience. But for now—”

“For now, you need to understand that I also worried about you getting hung up on me.”

“What?”

“If you get too involved, I might break your heart. You’re so damn sweet, Merrily. I really don’t want to put you through that.”

It was almost comical, the sweeping emotions passing over her features—emotions that ended in righteous indignation. Intent on freeing herself from his embrace, she gave him a shove, but Brick held on to her, and when he started laughing, he thought she’d slug him.

“Settle down, okay? I already know I’m an ass.” He caught her hands and held them behind her back. “Surely you see my dilemma, sweet Merrily.”

“No!”

He laughed again. “I’m always up-front with women. I don’t want anyone getting ideas. I like my life the way it is. Sex is just that—sex. Not a commitment.”

“Don’t drive it into the ground, Brick. I get it already.”

He gave her a laughing smooch on her pinched mouth. “The idea of your virginity has been both a lure and a concern.”

“Oh, my God. You are so conceited!”

“I know.” He nuzzled her in closer, kissing her ear, that special place where her throat met her shoulder. “But I swear, when it comes to sex, I have good reason.”

She went still, then soft in his arms. “Lacking in modesty, too.”

Yet she sounded intrigued. He hid his smile against her cheek. “So here’s what I propose.”

She groaned.

“No, not a marriage proposal, so stop all the melodrama.” Brick couldn’t remember ever being mired in such a powerful combo of lust and humor. It was unique.

She was unique.

He carried her hands back up to his neck and slid his hands down to the small of her back. “For now, why don’t I make a strategic retreat? You can have the night to think about things, to decide if you still want me—and if so, I promise you won’t regret it. But go into it with your eyes wide open.”

“Meaning sex and only sex?”

“Sex and conversation and a few laughs. Some good times.” He wanted all that because he didn’t want her to have regrets. “I’ll make it good for you, Merrily. Better than good. You have my word.” Then he rethought that and added, “Well, maybe not the first time. I have a feeling that once I get your panties off, it’s going to be a very close thing.”

Her mouth fell open, then snapped shut as her face went up in flames.

He remained serious. He wanted her to believe him. “After that, every time after that, count on loving it. And that’s not an idle brag, okay? I do know what I’m doing.”

The heat extended into her gaze. Her lips parted. She nodded. “Okay.”

Pretty sure he’d already won her over, Brick added, “But understand that I’m not the type to settle down anytime soon.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

She nodded. “My life has recently taken a dramatic change. I want to live for a while without serious restrictions—and you already said you’re possessive, so you would certainly be a restriction.”

“Yeah, probably.” He knew himself well enough to know that once he fell in love, he’d probably be nearly unbearable. Luckily, he had no intentions of falling in love, and she didn’t want that anyway. Did she? “You’re okay with that?”

She nodded. “Once I no longer have that stupid badge of innocence, I won’t have to worry what motivates other guys.”

Other guys. His good mood slipped. “You’re planning ahead, are you?”

“Absolutely.”

Damn. He felt...insulted. Hearing her talk about a new life that didn’t involve him sort of burned his ass. He hadn’t had her yet, so he damn straight didn’t want to think about some future bozo getting down and dirty with her.

“So.” She smoothed a small hand over his chest. “What do we do now?”

“I’ll come by tomorrow with Jesse and we’ll switch out the doors.” Jesse’s help wasn’t necessary, but hey, he had a pleasant surprise for his friend and couldn’t wait to share it with him. “Sunday I can put in the pet opening. After that, you and I can get busy.”

“You’re talking two days from now?”

She sounded as forlorn as he felt over the wait. But he had to be fair to her even if it killed him. And waiting until Sunday meant she’d then have the whole day free—which meant he’d have all day to really enjoy himself.

“Two days of kissing, maybe a little touching—” God, he’d never survive this “—getting more familiar and after that, after you’ve had plenty of time to think things over, you can decide what you want.”

With any luck, and a little persuasion on his part, she’d want him, only him, for a good long stretch of sexual indulgence.

The way he felt right now, he couldn’t accept any other outcome.

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