TANNER

I remember when my nephew hid all of my sister’s makeup when he was eight years old and insisted she didn’t need to wear any. He liked her just the way she was.

Jennifer and I were in her kitchen having coffee and catching up while he banged around, blissfully thinking we couldn’t hear him. What he considered covert was overt. We had life experience, knew exactly what sneaking around sounded like. She later acted surprised when she ‘discovered’ her vanity emptied. Hilarious.

The young think they’re so sly.

But with Emma here I couldn’t pretend I didn’t see her sneaking peeks and getting very tense as her knuckles grew whiter around the phone. I have experience with people spreading news about my reputation long before I arrive at meetings, lunches, events, etc. Telling them to hide their sisters, daughters, nieces, whatever.

I’m surprised that call didn’t come through on the first day we met.

But what interests me is the gleam afterward that lit behind her whiskey eyes when I told her I’m anything but harmless.

Defiance.

Interest.

Arousal.

Hmmm…

She wants to play?

I can play.

I’ve never fucked a realtor during an open house before, but the image occurred to me repeatedly as Emma and I traveled around Atlanta. Out of habit I’ve not entertained the possibility until now for the main reason that I always date older women, not younger.

My gaze lingers on her body as we stroll through a bright kitchen that meets my standards. Emma motions around and brings various aspects to my distracted attention. Her hips are average, not as curvy as I normally prefer, yet I like their confident sway. And her ass has a nice bump to it. Could wrap my hands around it, with pleasure. Her chin is always high with self-respect and poise, and her wrists are so feminine I picture pinning them above her head and watching those pouty lips moan.

None of what she’s saying sinks in.

Only one thing on my mind now.

Little Emma liked the warning.

Her aunt has no clue what she’s done.

Thrown flint against steel.

Sparks inevitable.

Flames unstoppable.

Ashes…

Destined.

Let’s see how this aunt of hers will like hearing about how I picked this sweet, ripe cherry from her overly protective family tree while savoring every inch and moment.

I’d have to be quick.

There’s that haircut appointment I keep putting off. Told them I would not cancel again.

But I could get her off in less than five if I put my mind to rushing, take a bit more time to savor it until I had my fill.

"You can see above the windows here that the stained glass accent squares match those in all the bathrooms.” She points and her navy-blue dress lifts a little at the hem. I drink in the backs of her knees and cock an eyebrow as they disappear.

We stop and she gives me a moment to look around. But I keep my eyes on Emma.

She inhales sharply and walks outside, an excited tremor in her voice. “There is a reputable landscaping company in charge of maintenance at the moment.” Her heels click along the stone path leading through flowering shrubbery. “When you take possession…” she pauses and glances over her shoulder, holding my amused look before continuing, “…of the property, you can hire someone you’re more familiar with, or keep them on.”

“They’ve done a fine job.” I pause, matching her sexual innuendo with my own, “Everything I’m looking at is to my taste and high standards.”

“Your standards are extremely high then.”

“Extremely.”

A smile flirts with her lips as a lazy fingernail directs me to observe a newly planted sprig with fresh soil patted recently into place. “This one’s not too young?”

“Perhaps I thought so at one time, but now I’ve discovered it looks promising.”

Her eyes glitter as she motions to our right. “And this embedded jacuzzi comfortably seats ten. Perfect to help you relax when your muscles…get too stiff.”

“Perhaps I prefer my muscles hard.”

Her lungs filling up that quickly have the arousing side effect of thrusting her perky breasts out. Of course my gaze drops to admire the view. Emma stays motionless, and when I meet her eyes I discover an unusual development. She’s become flushed. I haven’t seen anyone blush in years.

Observing her I’m reminded of a rose opening beneath a warm summer rain. It’s mesmerizing. Only one thing stops me from removing the short distance that keeps us apart—my phone ringing in my pocket.

I hold her look and ask, my voice deeper, “I wonder if this is someone warning me against you.”

Emma’s color deepens as she steps away.

“Yes Dan?”

“I just got a call from a…Jake Cocker? Ring a bell?”

The familiar name confuses me. I haven’t heard it in many years, but just upstairs she mentioned Likuss, and I knew that was, perhaps still is, Jake’s company. Finding the coincidence odd, I ask my assistant, “Oh? What did he want?”

“I wrote it down. You ready?”

“Yes, Dan,” I sigh. “I’m ready.”

“‘Stay the hell away from my daughter or I will fight you again and this time nobody will be there to stop me from finishing the job’ Is this guy Sunaya’s dad or what? He sounded too young for that because I know she’s fifty-something.”

I blink at the stone pathway. “No. Her last name was Lin.”

“You think he’ll call back?”

Annoyed I mutter, “If he does, tell him I said, anytime, anywhere.”

“Right. Don’t forget your haircut.” Dan hangs up.

I grumble, “What the hell was that about,” sliding my phone away to meet my lovely realtor’s curious look. Dan’s interruption threw off my seduction. Fucking irritating.

“Anywhere…anytime?” She smiles. “Someone challenge you to a fight?”

I open my mouth to reply, but something familiar about her catches my attention for the first time. The hair and eye color. The olive skin tanned by DNA not Mother Nature. All of it reminiscent of Jake Cocker. Emma was about to defend Likuss upstairs, too, wasn’t she? And the sweet shape of her face, the feminine slope of her wrists, her hands, now that I’ve had a reason to connect the association…they’re like Drew’s.

“What is your name?”

She frowns, “You’ve been calling me by it this whole time. It’s Emma.”

“Emma what?”

Her pretty chin juts. “Emma Cocker.”

“Oh fuck.” Turning on my heel I walk back inside the house I was never interested in, in the first place.