I was definitely one of those people who got all excited and made plans. Only when the day of the plans arrived, I was regretting it like that time I thought a redhead with a perm would be sexy.

That’s how I felt when I woke up and thought of all the crap I had to do in preparation for the plans I’d made for the Fourth of July. Inviting people over, what in the heck was I thinking?

The easy answer was that I wasn’t thinking. Seeing Maddie had made me wish I had more close female friends, and Max was so adorable. I loved having him around. And of course I couldn’t have a barbecue and not invite my neighbors, could I? Which meant I needed enough food to feed everyone invited, plus guaranteed visitors like Aunt Mae and her group of sassy seniors.

So I was knee deep in food prep when the bell rang, shoving a big bowl of dill potato salad in the fridge before going to see who would dare show up unannounced on a holiday. Nash.

A quick look down revealed that there was nothing on this green earth that could possibly make me look presentable in that moment, and it really didn’t matter. I pulled the door open in all of my messy haired, sloppy clothes, no-bra wearing glory.

“Nash, you’re a tad early.”

His lips twitched in amusement, but my eyes were drawn to the play of muscles across his arms and chest. “I have a special delivery.” When he stepped aside, there was something long covered with a sheet.

“The headboard? Already?” He nodded, smile growing bigger. “Seriously?”

“Unless you’ve changed your mind? Which would suck since you’ve already paid.”

I rolled my eyes and stepped back. “Come on in, I’ll help you get it up the stairs.”

He glared over his shoulder. “I got it.”

“Stubborn man,” I mumbled, grabbing one end and helping the stubborn fool anyway. Mostly because it was my stairs and railing at risk, and it was my new work of art. “Was it an easy job compared to most of your commissions?”

“Yes and no. The general shape is simple, but all the detailing is more intense than my average piece. What matters is client satisfaction.”

I was primed for satisfaction, but I kept that nugget of info to myself. “I can’t wait to see it!” I was practically bouncing on my toes as we slid the large piece into my bedroom where I made room for Nash to get the headboard in place. “Tools?”

“On the porch,” he said absently and I ran to get them, taking a deep breath before I returned to find him bent over, denim clad ass on display.

My mouth watered. “Got’em.”

He smiled over his shoulder and accepted the tools as I handed them to him. Ten minutes later, we both stood across the room and stared. “What do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous, Nash. Really amazing.” I turned to watch his strong profile, straight nose, rugged jaw and cheekbones made of granite. He really was too beautiful. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Vivi.” His gaze connected with mine and the moment was charged. Heated. It felt different than the other moments, but maybe it’s because we were in my bedroom, and despite all the chemistry and attraction between us, this was a line we hadn’t crossed before.

But my mind was on a mental break from being up all night working on my book and then getting up early to start cooking. “There’s only one thing to do now. Test it out!”

I turned to face Nash, who just smirked at me as I backed up to the foot of the bed. “How exactly do we test out a headboard?”

I knew what he was thinking, because I’d thought about it at least a dozen times since I’d open the door. “Make sure its attached properly, of course.” I leaned back until my gaze was on the ceiling. Gave a little wiggle to see if it shook like my old one. “So far, so good. Want to test your craftsmanship?”

There was a challenge in his eyes, and I had to close my own because this was definitely too cozy all of a sudden. “Well now I have to, don’t I?”

“You don’t have to. You could just endure endless teasing until I grow tired of it.”

“I’ll take my chances.” His weight shifted the bed beneath me, and he was so close my body tilted slightly towards him. “Damn, this thing is comfortable.”

“Best sleep I ever had without a doubt.” But the more our skin touched, the hotter my skin became. The faster my pulse raced, and the wetter my panties got. It wasn’t smart, us lying on my bed like this, the air between us so charged it could have powered the whole town. The air crackling between us forced my gaze to his and, I wished I hadn’t looked at him, because the dark, wanton heat in Nash’s fiery blue eyes hit me low in my belly. “Nash.”

“Vivi,” he groaned, a tortured sound that should have been a turn off, but apparently it wasn’t, because the next thing I knew, our lips were fused and our bodies pressed together so deliciously I never wanted to part.

Nash’s mouth was all over mine, his lips were firm and insistent until mine opened, and then his tongue, warm and tasting faintly of coffee, slipped inside and stole every last coherent thought from my brain. My hands slipped under the hem of his t-shirt, sliding up hot hard skin as my hand glided over a rippling six pack that tore a groan from him.

“Vivi?” he asked, as he pulled back, eyes blazing with heat and chest heaving.

“Nash… yes.” If he was going to force me to say it, then I wanted there to be no confusion. This thing between us was a mistake, I was sure of it, and equally sure that no good would come from it. Aside from orgasms, because I was pretty sure those would be spectacular.

“You sure?”

“Not at all,” I told him honestly and yanked his t-shirt over his head. “But am I gonna stop?”

“Hell, no?” His laugh sent ripples up my skin, but his gaze sharpened, and then those luscious lips were on my skin, leaving a trail of heat everywhere he touched. “Too many fucking clothes,” he grunted and got rid of my shirt, and then my bra. “Holy fuck, Vivi. Gorgeous.”

My skin flushed at his words, and I smiled. “You stole the words right from my...ah, mouth,” I moaned when his lips began moving south, to my neck, nibbling my collarbone before his tongue teased the skin between my breasts. “Nash.” My hands fisted in his hair as his lips wrapped around my nipple, slicking his tongue around the hard tips as he went back and forth. “Oh, geez!”

“You like a little biting,” he said, surprised and utterly pleased with himself.

“I like your mouth on me.” That was the honest truth, but before I could regret being so honest in the moment, his mouth was on me again. This time Nash was more intense, more focused. On me. My body.

My pleasure.

My back arched into him as one hand teased one nipple while his mouth devoured the other. It was too much, but it was nowhere near enough. I needed more, and almost as if he could sense my restlessness, Nash’s mouth began to move. Down my belly, dipping his tongue into my belly button while his hands made quick work of the ratty shorts I’d been wearing. “Fuck me, Vivi.”

I laughed as his gaze lasered between my legs, making my pusy leak with desire. “Surprised the carpet matches the drapes?”

“Fuck no, I’m diggin’ the natural look.” His words came out on a growl, but before I could comment on how hot his words were making me, his head was buried between my legs, and his mouth was doing wickedly delicious things to me. His hands found their way to my nipples again, thumbs and forefingers tweaking and pulling hard while his mouth took me on a sensual journey, ratcheting up my pleasure as though it were the only thing that mattered.

“Nash.” His name touched my lips far too often, but it was the only word I could think of as his tongue speared through my pussy, sliding deep and fucking me, before licking all the way up to my clit, sending sparks of delight shooting from every pore. I began to tremble, and he didn’t let up, instead Nash intensified his efforts with my every response. Every twitch of muscle and every time I clamped around his finger, he pushed me harder.

Faster.

Deeper.

And then I was flying apart into a million different pieces while his tongue swirled my pulsing, throbbing clit. “Nash! Oh, fuck!” They weren’t the most eloquent words, but even professors scream ‘fuck’ in the throes of passion.

Only when I was completely spent did Nash’s gorgeous, amazing, magical mouth stop moving. “Vivi, fuck me.” With his forehead pressed to my belly, his words sent a shiver through me and I laughed.

“That is part of the plan, as soon as I regain feeling in my legs.”

Nash was up on his knees and sliding off the bed, giving me the world’s sexiest striptease which I couldn’t look away from, not as he revealed smooth, tanned, heavily muscled skin with more than a few tattoos.

“You’re one hot dude.”

He laughed, but the heat in his gaze was explosive. Atomic. The bed dipped again as he rejoined me, stopping between my thighs, which he placed over his own, so the blunt head of his cock rested right against my opening.

“God, you’re even wetter now,” he groaned as he edged inside, my cream coating him immediately. “Fuck, Vivi!”

“Now, Nash.” It was too late to turn back, and I didn’t want to even if I could. Not when his long thick cock sank into me slowly, stretching and filling me until my body relaxed around him. Pulled him deeper.

“Vivi.” The sound of my name on his lips had me feeling drunk with lust, and want and need. Desire pulsed through my veins as he pumped into me, hard. His thick cock surging faster and faster as though I had him under a spell.

“Nash, yes!” I clung to him. Held on for dear life as sweat slid down my overheated flesh, searing me like fire with every droplet. My orgasm was close, but I wanted to prolong this moment so my body could memorize the feel of him deep within me. To make this feeling last an eternity. He was so thick and growing harder every time he sank into me. “Nash.”

“I got you, Vivi. Let go. Let me see you let go.”

My gaze met his and never looked away when he leaned in close, so our mouths were inches apart. Then they were touching, and it was more explosive than the last kiss. Maybe it was because his tongue mimicked the movements of his cock, and that was all I needed. “Oh, Nash!” The orgasm didn’t come on lightly or gently, no, that fucker washed over me with the power of a tsunami and pulled me under. So deep I couldn’t possibly tell which way was up, so I decided not to even try. I just rode it out and hung onto Nash’s big, masculine body to keep me safe while the most chaotic orgasm of my life ripped me apart. “Nash.”

“You come apart so lovely.” He flashed a tense smile, hips still moving inside me.

I pulsed around him with a sleepy smile. “Yeah? Then let’s see how pretty you look when you come apart.” My heels dug into his ass, urging him forward. “Come on, Nash. Let. Go.”

And he did, giving me front row tickets to the hottest show on the planet. His blue gaze bore through me, focused and intense as he sought his own pleasure. But I couldn’t handle that sapphire gaze, not when it was that intense. My mouth found his ear, nibbling it as I made soft sounds of pleasure and satisfaction. “Vivi,” he said in warning a moment before he surged up onto his knees, pressing my legs back so he was deep inside me and ready to explode.

He was close, I felt it in the way he thickened just a fraction of a second before he roared my name and yanked another orgasm from me, leaving me boneless.

Sated.

Satisfied.

Totally wrecked.

I never felt so relaxed in all my life. Ever.

And as soon as the sex high wore off, I began to wonder how in the hell things would go back to normal.

If they could even go back to normal.

Two and a half hours after Nash had given me the sex of a lifetime, Maddie arrived with Max, who made a beeline for Lollipop. The bunny wasn’t used to a lot of people since I spent so much time on my own, but he seemed to enjoy Max’s little boy brand of love.

“Hey Maddie, you look great!”

“Thanks. Apparently seven full hours of sleep is good for that kind of stuff.” Her hair was in a sexy, messy ponytail, and she wore denim capri pants and a pretty green tunic.

“As someone who looks like she’s been cooking all day, I’m jealous as hell.”

Maddie rolled her eyes and followed me to the kitchen. “I brought chocolate pecan blondies and cheesecake pops.”

“Jeez girl, if I knew you could do all that, I would have only provided desserts!”

“It smells great in here though! Did you make your own barbecue sauce?”

I shrugged because it was no big deal. “I needed a distraction earlier this week when I was having trouble with a plot point, so I spent five hours perfecting Bobby Flay’s southwestern barbecue sauce.”

“Seriously? That is so cool.”

“Wait until you taste it,” I told her, because I thought it was good myself, but it might not be to everyone’s taste. I pulled a pitcher of hard minty lemonade from the fridge and poured two glasses.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, which means I haven’t had anytime to ask you about that kiss with Nash. It was so hot waves of flames were seen drifting on the Mississippi.” Her smile was devilish and I rolled my eyes.

“It was definitely the most action I’ve seen in months.” Technically, that was no longer true, but I wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened earlier today. “But Nash and I are friends.”

“Well, that’s a crying shame, because he’s hot as hell and you guys already seem like family. Meanwhile, I haven’t been on a date in at least three years.”

“We’re a fine pair. But you know I’ll watch Max anytime you have a date, or want to go prowling for one.”

“Or we could both go out on the prowl together?”

I should say yes. I really should, but I wasn’t ready. Hell, I wasn’t ready for anything with anyone. Well, other than sex with Nash, I wasn’t ready for anything else.

“I’m not sure, Maddie. I don’t know if I’m ready to trust people enough to date.” My “friends” in Chicago had done a real number on me, so much so that I’m amazed I was able to open up to Maddie and Nash.

“Even if you’re not ready, I could always use a good wingman. Wing woman.”

“Then you can count me in. With proper notice, of course.” I was determined to settle in and make a life for myself that included friends like Maddie. I turned to face her, feeling bad that I’d slept with the guy I was thinking about setting her up with. “Let’s do it soon,” I told her instead. “Anyone caught your eye yet?”

“Maybe,” she said, coyly. “I might have my eye on someone, but I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I know.”

That seemed fair, and even if I wanted to say more, I couldn’t because Norah showed up with Zeke and Nash. Both men looking hotter than small town southern boys should.

“Come on in, guys. Max is out back with Lollipop, Norah. And you guys are just in time to get the meat on the grill.”

Zeke groaned, lugging a six pack of beer along with Norah into the kitchen. “You mean I was invited here so you could put me to work?”

“No, I won’t force you. I just won’t give you any meat.” I took the beer from his hands and shoved the bottles into the cooler in the yard. “Beer, water, and pop are in the cooler,” I said and pointed at it, trying my damnedest to ignore how delectable Nash looked in blue cargo shorts and a thin white tee that sculpted over every muscle.

The kids started to play, running and laughing in the yard while Lollipop chased them, or relaxed in the shade with a leaf of lettuce. While I helped Nash at the grill, I noticed Zeke and Maddie were getting along well. Really well.

“Well, look at that.”

Nash looked up from the grill and in the direction of Zeke and Maddie, mouth pulled in a tight line that revealed his unhappiness at the development. But I couldn’t see his eyes so I didn’t know for sure.

“That’s new.”

I frowned, feeling that little green monster swell up inside of me, until I remembered that I wanted Nash and Maddie to get together to make things easier on me. Then again, that was before we went at it like wild animals in my bedroom a few hours ago.

“Seems to be, but they’re both adults.”

“She’s a single mom,” he bit out angrily and I could admit that I didn’t like the way his tone made me feel. At all.

“And? You’re a single father, what does that have to do with anything?”

“Yeah well, I’m not involved with anyone. Let alone a guy like Zeke.”

Ouch, right? I pushed down the pain that slashed through me at his words, because though my feelings were valid, they weren’t right. I wasn’t entitled to feel this hurt. One romp in the sack didn’t make him my boyfriend, and it didn’t make us anything more than friends.

Friends who’d slipped up.

“Right. Well Maddie is a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions.” Without another word, I turned on my heels and sought refuge in the kitchen.

I wasn’t upset.

Not at all.

Nash didn’t owe me anything and likewise, I didn’t owe him a thing.

I just needed to remember that.

And I needed to keep my legs closed.