Chapter Three
The quick rapping sound on the doorframe of his office prompted Kyle to glance up from the renovation estimate he’d been working on for one of the new foreclosed homes Premier Reality had just purchased in the high-end neighborhood of Wicker Park. They still had a few weeks before the project started, but they needed to get the agreements for subcontractors underway before the redevelopment of the property began.
Connor Prescott, one of Kyle’s business partners and good friends, strolled into the office, the dust on his jeans and work boots the result of a day spent out on various property sites that were currently being updated and/or overhauled for a more modern look before they were put back on the market. Kyle was usually out in the field, as well, but since he’d needed to be in the office to make sure the wire transfer and all the paperwork and contracts for the Piedmont building went through smoothly, he’d spent the day getting ahead on the estimates for the future projects coming down the pipeline.
“So, I hear congratulations are in order,” Connor said as he gave Kyle a smartass look. “You’re now the proud owner of a run-down, dilapidated building in a Podunk town. I hope the eventual return is worth the investment.”
Kyle leaned back in his chair, refusing to let his friend goad him or dampen his good mood. The property in Woodmont wasn’t about the monetary return or even a revenue stream for Kyle, because clearly he wasn’t going to make bank on his purchase when it had cost him nearly double what the building was worth. It was about giving his hardworking mother the one thing she’d always wistfully talked about but never believed could become a reality. Kyle truly didn’t give a shit if he didn’t make a penny on the purchase. He just wanted his mom to be happy and to be able to spend the rest of her years doing what she loved.
Buying the building had been a complete surprise for his mother, and when he’d driven to her house after the auction to tell her that the property was now his and what he planned to do with it, he knew he’d made the right decision when he’d seen how unbelievably overjoyed she’d been . . . as long as he didn’t think about Ella’s devastated expression after he’d been awarded the property.
Kyle returned his attention to Connor and smirked as he rubbed his palm against his bearded jaw. “Just so you know, starting next Saturday, you’ll be volunteering your weekends to help me gut the place before the renovations start.” They had about a month before all the licenses and permits for the place were approved, but in the meantime, clearing out Piedmont’s years of hoarded crap was a priority.
“Yeah, I figured,” Connor said with a good-natured shake of his head. “Seriously, though, I’m happy for you, and whatever you need, I’m there for you.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” It went without saying that Kyle could always count on Connor, and the other two guys he worked with, for anything.
Connor rubbed his hands together. “So, what do you say we blow this joint and I buy you a beer to celebrate your new venture?”
Kyle laughed. “If you’re buying, then hell yeah.”
He pushed his chair back and stood up just as the intercom on his desk beeped and the receptionist’s voice came through. “Kyle, I have an Ella Fisher here to see you,” Daphne informed him. “She said she doesn’t have an appointment. Do you have time to meet with her, or should I schedule her for another day since it’s after five?”
“I just spent over two hours on the road and I’d really like to see him today, if possible,” Kyle heard Ella say to Daphne in the background, her tone almost desperate. And annoyed.
“Holy shit,” Kyle muttered beneath his breath. Ella was here? He was so shocked by her impromptu visit that it took a few extra seconds for him to wrap his brain around that fact.
“Kyle?” Daphne asked, clearly waiting for his answer.
“No, it’s fine,” he replied, his curiosity getting the best of him. That and it would be a total dick move to make Ella schedule an appointment for another day after driving from Woodmont, and being that kind of dick wasn’t his style. “I’ll see Ms. Fisher. Show her back to my office, please.”
The line disconnected. Kyle was dying to know what had prompted Ella to seek him out, though he’d bet money it had something to do with the building he’d bought. As much as he’d like to wish her reasons for this visit were more personal, he knew she wasn’t there to make up for lost time between them. No, any chance of a reconciliation had been diminished years ago.
Kyle glanced up at his friend with an apologetic look. “I’m going to have to take a rain check on that beer.”
Conner tipped his head speculatively. “Ms. Fisher must be someone pretty important.”
“She’s the woman I told you about. The one I bought the Piedmont building out from under,” Kyle said, rounding his desk before she arrived. “She had no idea anyone else was bidding on the property, so she was a little . . . blindsided.”
Connor’s eyes widened comically. “Oh, Jesus. So, in other words, you’re dealing with a woman scorned. I’m outta here.”
Kyle chuckled at Connor’s quick decision to avoid getting caught in the middle of any potential conflict between himself and Ella. “Chickenshit,” he teased his friend.
Connor took no offense and grinned. “I don’t do drama, so whatever it is between you and this girl, you’re on your own.”
His friend headed for the door just as the receptionist appeared with Ella right behind her, forcing Connor to abruptly stop or run into the two women. Not bothering to wait for introductions, Connor gave Ella a curt nod, then beelined it down the hall.
“Here you go, Ms. Fisher,” Daphne said, sweeping a hand through the doorframe. As soon as Ella walked inside the office, the young girl glanced at him and said, “Would you like the door left open or closed?”
Kyle casually leaned his backside against the desk behind him. Most everyone was gone for the evening, but the last thing he wanted right now was any kind of interruption. “Closed, please.”
The girl did as he asked, and then he was completely alone with Ella for the first time in ten long years. She stopped a good five feet away from him, and the silence in the room was absolute as she quickly glanced around his office while he drank in the sight of her.
Yesterday had been all about business, but as he looked at her right now, all he could think of was pleasure and how much he still wanted and desired her on a gut-deep level—despite all the past hurt and pain still lingering between them. Not to mention any anger she might be harboring after losing the Piedmont building to him. It was hard to believe she still had that kind of intense effect on him when no other woman had ever come close to making him feel—and want—like she did.
At the auction the day before, in her T-shirt and jeans and hair pulled back into a loose braid, she’d been the pretty, wholesome girl—who’d grown into a woman’s body—he remembered from high school. Today, she’d transformed into stunningly beautiful. She’d obviously put on just enough makeup to accentuate her light green eyes and long lashes, and the pale peach gloss on her lips drew his gaze to her lush mouth before he moved on to the gorgeous chestnut hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders and down her back. The overhead lighting caught on the natural red and gold undertones threading through the strands and made his fingers itch to touch.
If she’d meant to tease him with that short, flirty pale yellow skirt that skimmed a few inches above the knee and the white blouse that was buttoned low enough for him to glimpse a bit of cleavage and lace beneath—not to mention those heels that made her legs look endlessly long and prompted some indecent thoughts that would undoubtedly make her blush—then she’d succeeded. Why else would she wear something so fucking sexy, if not to addle his mind and divert his focus?
By the time he lifted his gaze back to her face, certain parts of his anatomy definitely felt heated and restless, but his concentration was just fine. It was a damn good thing he was an excellent multitasker, because he wasn’t done enjoying the enticing view she presented, and he was certain she wasn’t here for a social call. Balancing the two was no problem for him.
He gripped his fingers around the edge of the desk he was leaning against as they stared at each other for a long moment. Her gaze was guarded, her body language surprisingly composed despite the uneasy way she bit on that bottom lip of hers—which only served to remind him of how soft and pliant her sweet mouth used to feel beneath his.
“It’s good to see you, Ella,” he said, finally breaking the silence between them, though the raspy tone of his voice betrayed his casual air.
“You, too,” she replied automatically.
A half smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t quite sure he believed her. He doubted that she honestly felt it was good to see him, when she looked like she’d rather be anywhere but in the same space with him. He hated her polite reserve, her feigned indifference, and decided to use a little humor to cut through the tension a bit—because being on the receiving end of that cool facade of hers sucked.
“So, what brings you to Premier Realty?” he asked amicably, as if she were a friend instead of a foe. “Looking for a place in the city?”
She visibly shuddered. “God, no.” Her aversion to Chicago came through loud and clear in the distasteful tone of her voice. Then, in a more no-nonsense and direct manner, she lifted her chin and said, “You know why I’m here, Kyle.”
Ahhh, fuck. Just the sound of his name on her lips was enough to bring him to his knees. “I can’t say I do,” he fibbed as he continued to tease her, attempting to draw out a smile or, at the very least, see her relax with him. “I mean, you look like you’re dressed for a Friday night in the city. Or maybe you just dropped by to say hi to your new business neighbor, since we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next month or two?”
Her full, shiny lips pursed tightly in exasperation—not the reaction he’d been aiming for. “No, I came to make an offer to my hopefully soon-to-be ex-business neighbor.”
Ouch. The emphasis on the word ex was especially painful for many reasons, but he wasn’t dissuaded. Yet. “So, you came by to proposition me?” he asked in a flirtatious tone.
“Yes . . . no,” she quickly amended when she realized what she’d agreed to. She looked thoroughly flustered, her complexion blushing an attractive shade of pink. “Not like that.”
He shrugged and shoved the tips of his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
She frowned at him. So much for coaxing a smile from her or breaking the ice.
She released a slow breath, and the rigid set of her shoulders slackened a bit as she met his gaze, her own imploring. “Kyle . . . I want that building. Badly,” she said in a soft voice that lacked any of the frustration or the attitude that had accompanied her into his office a few moments ago. “I’d planned on expanding the market, which is long overdue, and I already had local artisans lined up to sell their products in the addition, as well.”
She shifted on her heels and swallowed hard, and he knew this plea wasn’t easy for her. “I don’t know why you bought the building in the first place when you don’t even live in Woodmont, but I’d like you to sell it to me. I’m willing to offer what you paid for it, plus an additional ten percent on top of that for your trouble. It’s not a bad profit for one day’s time.”
His stomach twisted into a giant knot of regret, because at the moment, with her guard down, she looked so relatable. And so much more vulnerable, which added to the emotional conflict he was suddenly experiencing. His Ella had always been feisty and strong-willed, and he could only imagine what it had taken for her to show him anything less than confidence and unwavering determination. She was such a fighter, and he was about to crush any chance she believed she might have to get the building back.
“I’m sorry, Ella. It’s not for sale. At any price.” His tone was gentle but firm. There was no room for negotiation on this issue for him.
A fine sheen of moisture glistened in her green eyes, and he suspected the tears she was valiantly holding back were out of sheer disappointment. “Are you doing this to spite me or because of some kind of grudge you’re holding against me or my family from the past?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“What?” Her question momentarily took him aback. “Jesus, no.”
He pushed his fingers through his hair, hating that she believed such a thing, that she believed, even a little bit, that he’d had malicious intentions. God, their past was so complicated, not to mention all the bitter, angry emotions still lingering between them. So many awful things said in the heat of the moment that had never been fixed or explained or apologized for, and had been kept alive for ten long years.
Driven purely by instinct, he pushed away from the desk and slowly approached Ella until he’d closed the distance between them. She tipped her head back slightly to look up at him, more than a little wary, though she didn’t move away. Her eyes were wide and luminous and revealed just enough pain—the emotional kind that was equivalent to a knife twisting in his chest—and he wanted it gone. All of it. The hurt, the animosity, the resentment . . . everything.
He wanted a clean slate between them.
They’d never be what they once were—young and in love and hopeful about a future together—but he’d like to believe that they might be able to at least be friends going forward. But even that couldn’t happen until he made amends for his past mistakes.
Without thinking through his actions, he lifted a hand and brushed a soft strand of hair away from the side of her face. His fingers skimmed along her cheek, and she sucked in a startled breath, not in fear or panic but in undeniable awareness of his touch. It wasn’t wishful thinking, either. It was a fact, because her beautiful, expressive eyes truly were, and had always been, windows to her soul. Even after all this time, he recognized the subtle longing and undisguised desire before she realized what she’d revealed with that small sound and those irresistible green irises. Seconds later, she seemed to regain her presence of mind and moved her head back, severing the connection between them.
Kyle dropped his hand back to his side. “Ella . . . there is no spite as far as I’m concerned, and I’ve never held a grudge,” he told her truthfully. He wasn’t sure if this was the time or the place, but if he didn’t finally say the words that he’d kept to himself for too long, he feared he’d lose the opportunity. “I know this is coming ten years too late, but I’m so sorry about what happened that night, for the things I said and how it all ended. For your sister . . .” a shocking miscarriage. “For your father . . . ” a debilitating stroke. “For us . . . ” accusations, outrage, and a bitter breakup that had cost him the best thing in his life. Her.
He exhaled a deep breath, and holding her gaze, he finished. “Walking away from you was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, and the second most difficult thing was not going back to Woodmont to make things right. I never should have left despite you wanting me gone. I should have been there for you when you needed someone the most.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at him in shock, clearly stunned by his admission, though he did notice that her defensive posture eased. He didn’t want or expect a reciprocating response or even her acknowledgement of any regrets she might have had after all this time. That’s not why he’d apologized. He just wanted to make amends, and he needed Ella to know how sorry he was. They were both adults now, and holding on to any kind of resentment was petty and ridiculous.
When she didn’t respond, he continued. “My reasons for buying the building have nothing to do with you or your family. My reasons are personal. I’ve been waiting for years for that property to go on sale so I could purchase it.”
“So have I,” she said quietly, though her brows furrowed just a fraction, her expression perplexed. “Why do you want it?”
“It’s for my mother.”
“Your mother?” Her tone was laced with confusion. “What does Patricia want with the building?”
“It’s what I want for her,” he corrected—and had since he was a young boy. From a very young age, he remembered many times when he and his mother had walked by the Piedmont building with him holding her hand, and how she’d wistfully tell him that she’d love to own that storefront. She imagined turning it into a beautiful event center that also did catering, along with an attached bakery so she could do the one thing she loved the most.
Instead, she’d spent the ensuing years baking at home and taking her goods to the Family Diner, where she worked as a waitress, and the owners of the restaurant purchased her cakes, pies, and desserts to sell to their customers. It had been her way to make extra money to make ends meet, since Kyle’s father had spent most of his paycheck on alcohol. But baking was also her joy and passion, and her dream was the one thing he could give her.
“I’ll be turning the place into an event center for different occasions, like holiday and retirement parties, award banquets, weddings, and those sorts of things.” And his mother would have her bakery, as well.
She shook her head, causing her silky hair to shift across her shoulders. “That’s what the community center and church hall are for.”
He arched a pointed brow. “Sure, if you like the smell of mothballs and damp, musty rooms. Both places and all the facilities for catering are old, run-down, and extremely outdated.”
She didn’t argue with that, but she did try a different approach. “I can’t imagine that there will be enough events within a month’s time to make buying and renovating the building worthwhile.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He shrugged. “But it’s not about the money, Ella. It’s about seeing my mother happy and not strapped to a nine-to-five waitressing job for the rest of her life.” Though working at the Family Diner was now his mother’s choice, considering the amount of money he’d deposited into her personal savings account, which she refused to touch. Stubborn woman. “It’s what she deserves after sacrificing so much to take care of everyone else for most of her life.”
Ella absently adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and nodded, silently agreeing. “I always loved your mom. She was always so sweet and kind to me and treated me like a daughter.”
“She loved you, too,” he said, knowing it was the truth. Patricia Coleman had doted on Ella as if she were one of her own.
Ella glanced away and cleared her throat. “Well, that’s that, then. I guess I should go.”
Kyle didn’t want her to leave and said the first thing that came to mind that would possibly persuade her to stay, just a bit longer. “Will you go to dinner with me?”
She tipped her head as her gaze met his again, a tiny, teasing smile curving her lips. “Will it make you reconsider my offer?” she asked hopefully.
He smiled back, enjoying that small lighthearted token she’d just offered. “No, but I can guarantee you’ll eat the best pizza you’ve ever had and you’ll go home with a full, satisfied belly.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re supposed to be the enemy, Kyle.”
Her tone was still playful, but he hated that she thought of him as an adversary. “I never wanted to be the enemy, Ella,” he said, aching to touch her again. Instead, he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Come on,” he cajoled softly. “It’s rush hour out there. Would you rather spend an extra hour fighting traffic out of the city on a Friday night or eat dinner before the drive home? The pizza place is just a block over and within walking distance.”
She hesitated, pulling on her bottom lip with her teeth, clearly torn between what she should do and what she wanted to do. He’d already felt a tangible shift between them, the anger and animosity she’d carried on her shoulders when she’d walked into his office no longer an issue. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe that there wasn’t still an underlying level of hurt lingering on her end, but for the most part, his apology had gone a long way in smoothing things over, and hopefully had convinced her that the he wasn’t the asshole she probably thought he was.
Still, she was wavering, and he didn’t want to give her the chance to turn him down. “I’d really like to talk and catch up,” he said, opting for a safe, unthreatening approach. “We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other while I’m renovating the building over the next few months, so it would be nice if we could at least be friends.”
The last part of his statement seemed to be the deciding factor for her as she finally conceded. “Okay. I need to call my father’s caretaker to make sure she can stay a few more hours with him.”
“Sure.” He didn’t question the relief that flowed through him, followed by a surge of elation that spoke to just how happy he was to have her all to himself for a couple more hours. “I’ll give you a few minutes to yourself to make your call, and I’ll meet you back in the reception area.”
He walked out and closed the door behind him, then started down the hall just as he heard Ella say, “Hi, Betsy. I was wondering if . . .”
He didn’t stick around to eavesdrop on her conversation. Her voice trailed off the farther away he walked, until he was in the front area of the office, where Daphne was grabbing her purse from one of the drawers in her desk. It was past time for her to leave, and as she glanced up at him, an amused look touched her pretty features.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked curiously. “Not that you don’t smile, but you look like someone just gave you the best gift ever.”
He laughed, not realizing until Daphne had pointed it out that, yes, he was grinning like an idiot. All because he was going to dinner with Ella.
“Maybe someone did give me the best gift ever,” he replied humorously. Because at the moment, he couldn’t imagine a better present than spending more time with the beautiful, sexy woman down the hall. He wasn’t able to recall the last time he’d felt that way about a woman, anxious and excited and filled with anticipation. It was crazy that, after all these years, it was Ella of all people who inspired that sense of enthusiasm.
“Your unexpected visitor?” the receptionist guessed.
He nodded, still grinning.
Daphne looked him up and down, a mischievous glimmer in her gaze. “Exactly what kind of present are we talking about here?” she asked, her insinuation clear.
He chuckled. Daphne had been with the company for over a year. She had a naughty sense of humor, and this certainly wasn’t the first time she’d teased one of the guys. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Daphne. She’s an old friend,” he said, choosing to keep the fact that she was an ex-girlfriend to himself. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen one another.”
“An old friend, huh?” she repeated, evidently not believing him. “Like one of your other women ‘friends’ who’ve come by the office?” She waggled her brows.
Daphne was obviously referring to the other females he casually dated, whom he’d always politely referred to as “friends,” since a hookup or fuck buddy sounded way too crass, even if that’s what they truly were. Dinner at a nice restaurant because it was polite to feed his date, a bit of casual conversation, and no-strings-attached fucking. There was never any pretense or promises that it would ever be anything more than that—and none of those females ever made him want to tie himself to one person.
For years he’d told himself he didn’t have time for a relationship, that work and the company were his priority, but the truth was, he hadn’t really given any one woman a real chance. Either that or he just hadn’t found one who piqued his interest or stimulated him mentally—physically it was a given—for more than just a few nights of mutual pleasure.
He didn’t respond to Daphne’s innuendo. Instead, he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly six. “Shouldn’t you be gone already?”
“I’m leaving right now,” she said as she brushed past where he was standing, then stopped at the glass door to glance over her shoulder at him with a devious smile on her face. “Have a nice evening with your friend.”
He certainly planned to.