I watch spellbound while April dickers with a man who has a green glass platter that she wants to buy, wondering how she’d talked me into coming to a flea market. I’d woken her up this morning with my tongue, then carried her into the shower, where I’d pressed her against the tile wall, wrapped her legs around my waist, and lost myself inside her. I feel my cock stir just remembering how tight she felt around me.

I grin, listening to her explain in the sweetest southern way why the gentleman should be happy with reducing his price by half. I don’t doubt she’ll walk away with the green platter in hand, and at the price she first quoted to the seller. I’ve watched her do the same thing too many times already today. Frankly, I think she’s a flea market whisperer. And I’m right. She turns to me with the biggest smile decorating her beautiful face and winks. I take the platter from her to carry, along with her many other steals for the day. I’ve already made one trip back to the truck, and it appears that I need to make another one. My phone rings, and I ignore it. Kent again, but he can wait.

“You are amazing.” Her blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight, and even in the jeans and t-shirt she pulled on that morning, she looks incredibly gorgeous.

“See, I told you,” she beams. “They want you to dicker.”

“If you say so. Personally, I’d have paid the five bucks and saved the fifteen minutes it took you to talk him down to two dollars and fifty cents.”

She shrugs and grins, “But where’s the fun in that?”

I can’t help it—she’s adorable, and I want her all over again. I don’t even care that she won’t leave before visiting the last booth, because you never know what treasure you’ll find. I’ve heard that a few dozen times or two today. Our hands connect naturally now. I like the constant connection, something I never would have thought I’d enjoy. I’ve never been a hand-holding type of guy.

Today’s agenda is to find unique items for the wedding decorations. I’ve never been to a flea market like this one. Half of the sellers are inside large metal barns, much like a flea market mall. The other half are outside, spread out over at least five acres of dirt, gravel, and grass. Part of the area is neat rows of wooden tables where vendors place their goods. Then there’s a large area where people just pulled their cars, trucks, and vans into any formation they could, their wares spilling from the vehicles. I have been amazed at what I’ve seen. Fruits, vegetables, old furniture, shoes, rugs, and things I can’t begin to identify. The best part of the day has been seeing how excited April gets when she discovers a find. She gets this little twinkle in her eyes that she tries to hide when she’s locked onto something she must have. She’s adorable.

“Why don’t you take that to the truck and meet me by the food area?” April says, giving me a somewhat guilty smile.

“That sounds like a great idea. I am hungry.” Her head pops up, and I know she’s remembering our last conversation about being hungry and how I satisfied my hunger…for her. My eyes stare into hers, and I want her again.

“Well,” she says tensely, clearing her throat. “That can definitely be arranged a bit later.”

I grin and touch my cheek to hers, bussing my lips just beneath her earlobe. She shivers and pulls back. Yeah. I play dirty. I learned that particular spot last night.

After depositing another load in the back of her truck, I weave my way to the area set aside for food trucks. Even if I couldn’t see the flag flying high above the area with the picture of a burger, fries, and soda, I could still find it by smell alone. I’m already not looking forward to going back home to Cali and meeting with my trainer the show insists I work with. He’s going to make me hurt. Bad. My stomach sinks. I’m not sure which thought bothers me more, working with my trainer or leaving Treemont. I have a feeling they are both going to hurt.

I see April first, and then the man I met on the street. Brent? Biff? Some ridiculous name that starts with a B. I know they are more than friends. I can tell it in the way he looks at her. Maybe not currently, but Biff wants her. Not gonna happen, sucker. She’s mine.

My hands clench when Biff leans in and whispers something in April’s ear. She smiles up at him and puts her hand on his arm in a much too familiar way. I don’t like it. I speed up and catch the end of their conversation.

“I’ll have to let you know,” April says, then glances my way. Our eyes connect. Connect. Not just meet. After what we’ve shared, there’s just something there. I can feel it, and I hope Biff caught it.

“What was that?” I ask, trying to appear casual as I drape my arm over her shoulders.

Biff gives me one of those dismissive looks. “I asked April about going with me to the Green Gala. It’s next month. You’ll be gone by then, won’t you?” His brow rises as he smirks.

His snide little grin burns. Fucker. “What’s the Green Gala?” I ignore Bill and turn to April, lowering my arm around her waist and pulling her into my side. She comes willingly and even wraps one arm around me. I’m somewhat appeased.

“It’s a dinner and dance to raise money for whatever charity the town adopts. This year, it’s for the high school’s second computer lab,” April explains.

A very worthy cause, and after next week I wouldn’t have any reason to keep April from going to the gala with Biff. I don’t like that. “Well, we’d better be going.”

I keep my hand around her, preventing a goodbye hug and sure as hell not another kiss from Biff. I don’t even care if it was on the cheek. I’m glaring at the back of a retreating Biff, which is probably why I don’t notice April giving me her own disapproving look.

“What was that?” she asks.

I turn at the frosty sound in her voice and ask, “What was what?”

Her brows rise as she stares me down. “Elias, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“He wants to fuck you.” I don’t mince words. That’s the message Bongo was sending out.

April gasps and crosses her arms, saying nothing, but I get her message loud and clear. I’ve crossed a line. Without a word, she turns and starts back toward the truck. What am I doing? I run my hand through my hair. I have no hold on April. “Wait up, April.”

I jog to catch up to her. I touch her arm, and she yanks it away as she turns to confront me. “What?” She points all her anger directly at me and I can’t help thinking she’s beautiful.

“I’m sorry,” I quickly admit. “That was a dick move.” But I’m really not sorry about a thing. I’d stake my claim again.

She cuts her eyes up, then levels her gaze back at me. “Yes, it was.”

I take a step closer and am rewarded when she lets me. “Am I forgiven?”

She sighs, rolling her eyes, and I see her body relax, releasing some of her previous anger. “I’m not entirely sure.” She starts to walk again, and I fall in beside her.

I take her hand, and she wraps her fingers around mine. I shouldn’t push my luck, but I need to know. “Just tell me this. Is there anything between you and Biff?”

She cocks one brow in my direction. “Biff? Do you mean Banks?”

I chuckle. “That’s a stupid name.”

“Elias…” She draws my name out much like my mother used to do, but I see the smile playing around the edges of her lips.

“Banks,” I repeat as courteously as I can. “Is there?” I ask again.

She sighs. “It’s complicated.” By this time, we’d reached the truck, but instead of getting in, she leans against the door. “Why do you even want to know this?” she asks, searching my eyes.

I have no answer for her, because I have no clue myself.

April sighs and looks down at the grass. “I’ve known Banks all my life. He’s a really nice man.”

I take a step closer and tip her chin up until I see her eyes. “Then why aren’t you with him?”

“I don’t love him,” she answers without a pause.

I can see the truth of that statement in her eyes. The tension I’d been holding inside eases. “But you don’t think of him as a brother?”

She shakes her head and smiles. “No. Not at all. We’re… convenient.”

I know what that means. My lips press together in a slight grimace as I ask, “Convenient?”

Pink rises in her cheeks, and she shrugs. “Treemont is a small town. It’s gotten better since White Oaks Apartments opened, but eligible men are few and far between. You’ve either gone to school with them, or you’re related to them.”

“So, you’re fuck buddies?” I ask, just to clarify.

She flinches at the harshness, but doesn’t answer. She looks very uncomfortable, but she gives me a slight nod. I should let it go. I got my answer. I can’t be upset because she was honest. I have no right to be. But I don’t like it. Not so much because of her past with Biff, but because when I leave, Biff will move right back in.

April sighs and explains. “Banks doesn’t live here. He comes into town to visit his mom a few times a year.”

I get what she’s saying, or rather, what she isn’t saying. “When was the last time he visited his mother?” I try to keep my tone neutral.

April forces a laugh. “About six months ago.”

Why that gave me a bucket full of jollies, I have no clue, but it does. “But he’s here now.” Probably hoping to hook up while he’s in town. Not. Gonna. Happen.

She nods, resting her hands on my biceps. “Yes. He is.”

“And he wants to get together,” I ask, and I feel April’s close gaze.

She hesitates. “Elias. Are you…jealous?”

“No.” Yes. Rationally, I know that doesn’t make sense. If April asks me about my past, my answer would be vastly different from hers. I didn’t even know her until last week. Wow. Hypocrite much?

“I think it might be best if I go home,” she says quietly, releasing my arms.

I don’t let her go. Instead, my hands tighten on her waist, and I press her gently against the truck door. “Why?”

Her head tips up to look at me. “Come on, Elias. What are we doing?”

“I don’t…” I can’t answer her, because I don’t know what we were doing. What started out as one thing suddenly doesn’t seem to fit anymore. I shift my gaze away, feeling too exposed.

Her hands move back to rest on my forearms. “We’ve only got a few more days until Belinda’s wedding. I have everything under control, so maybe it would be best if we just back off now.”

A feeling of panic settles inside me. Back off? That’s not going to work for me. I move even closer. “No, April. While I’m here…you’re mine.” But what about afterward? I leave that question unasked, and unanswered. I press her back against the truck with my body. I feather my lips over her neck, and her hands inch up my arms. The only thing I do know is that I need to be inside her again. I need to watch her face as she takes her pleasure. I need…

A growl leaves my throat as I take her lips with mine. One swipe of my tongue on her bottom lip, and she opens for me. I caress her tongue with mine and deepen the kiss. My hands move under her t-shirt, and I calm with the touch of her heated skin. With one tug, I pull the cups of her bra beneath her breasts, and my hands are on her. Kneading, squeezing, claiming. With my thumb and middle finger, I roll her hardened nipples and capture her moan in my mouth. What she does to me. She’s my drug of choice, and I can’t get enough. I unsnap the button of her jeans and slide one hand down her stomach and under the pale blue panties I’d watched her put on that morning. She sucks in a gulp of air when my finger brushes over her wet, swollen clit. I’m so close to losing it. A groan comes from my own mouth when she shivers as my fingers work their magic on her wet, hard clit. She whimpers when my lips leave hers but then moans when they move to her neck. I grab her shirt by the hem and pull, exposing her breast for my mouth. I nibble on one rigid nub while continuing to tease her with my fingers.

I’m so lost in bringing her to orgasm that at first, the crunch of shoes on gravel doesn’t register, but the high-pitched giggles finally break through. I tug on her shirt to cover her breasts and reluctantly pull my hand from her pants. She whines at the loss, and it’s the best fucking sound. She wants me. She wants this. I rest my forehead on hers as we both try to cool our raging desire for completion. I turn my head to make sure the intruders are gone, and I see three young women walking away. I have lost my mind. If anyone had recognized me… I adjust my ballcap lower over my eyes as I glance back to the area where the women had gone.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let things go that far out here.” Her eyes are glazed, and all I get is a nod. I kiss the top of her nose. I hate leaving her frustrated, but protecting her overrides her need.

“Come on. Let’s go home.” She hums an agreement and I grin.

The ride home is a very quiet one. When I walk April to her apartment, I fully expect her to say good night and close the door in my face. Since the night at Aunt Rita’s we’ve not slept apart. I would understand if she didn’t invite me in. But instead, she stuns me by taking my hand, pulling me inside, and leading me straight to her bedroom, where we finish what we’d started back in the flea market parking lot.