WORK KEPT ME BUSY through the weekend, along with incessant questions from my mother about what my plans for the future were. Everything I told her didn’t seem to be what she wanted to hear, and that’s just too damn bad. I wasn’t a failure for not following her agenda. She didn’t exactly say the words to me, but after twenty-five years of watching, living with, and studying her faces, I knew when I wasn’t up to par for her. My dad, on the other hand, appeared to be more accepting of it all. Granted I’m pretty sure Dodger was on his shit list. What can I say? Daddy’s little girl and all that hoopla. I’d have to commit murder and shave my head to make him turn his back on me.

It was now Monday. House hunting day. I personally was thrilled despite the company that was tagging along. Dodger insisted that he drive us to see each house. Currently, we were on our way to the first one on the list. Much to his dismay, he was going to find out that it was a two bedroom, single car garage, and little to no backyard. Sure I asked the realtor last night to line up the rest of the places to Dodger’s specification, but I had to keep the guy grounded somehow. Remind him that this wasn’t his choice, it was mine. Besides . . . maybe I wanted a three bedroom. I just didn’t want to be told that’s what I was going to buy. I inwardly laughed to myself.

When we pulled up to the house, even I gawked at it. It was a single story home, with the shingles from the roof falling off. Hmmm, that wasn’t disclosed in the description. Dodger looked over at me like “are you serious”?

“What?” I said, acting like I didn’t see the house was decrepit.

“Oh, nothing. Let’s go see the loveliness that you’ve lined up for us.”

I sneered at him. Could someone point me in the direction of the closest cliff I could shove him off?

We both got out and walked toward James, my realtor. He was standing on the front porch and greeted us with a pleasant smile. He seemed like a friendly man. It was my first time seeing him in person after multiple emails and many phone calls. He didn’t look at all how I expected him too. His voice sounded young, if you will. I pegged him as a twenty something that was dabbling in the real estate industry, but probably wasn’t sure if this was his chosen career path. He was knowledgeable and had an answer for everything that I’d asked. I expected to see a short slightly overweight, brunette. Maybe the type you’d find in their mother’s basement chugging beer, eating Taco Bell, and gaming for hours on end. This man, he was tall, thin, had eyes even lighter in color than Dodger’s sparkling blue. His hair was salt and peppered which made him incredibly handsome. Hmmm . . . wonder if I could get away with flirting with him and Dodger not string me up by my toes?

James held his hand out for both Dodger and me to shake. Dodger took it first. When I did, it felt confident and firm. I liked a good handshake. A weak one always made me write a person off before they even got a chance to leave any other impressions.

“So good to finally put a face to a name.”

“Yes, it is.” I batted my long lashes at him.

“I’m sorry, how long have you two been talking?” Dodger interjected, giving me a pointed stare.

“Oh, just a couple of days,” James answered.

“He seemed to know the most about the area I was looking in.” I shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal.

Man, why did it feel so good to see Dodger display his jealousy? It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to see it. That brooding male ego of his really was attractive even though I’d never tell him that it turned me on watching it. He’d go out of his way to puff up his chest in front of anything with a penis. Maybe even a female that was too lesbian or butch. You never know with this guy.

James put in the little code on the security box attached to the front door. “Okay, so what we have here is a two bedroom, one bath, craftsman style home. It was built in nineteen forty-four. There’s approximately nine hundred and eight square feet.” He got the key popped out of the lock box and he put it in the handle and twisted.

As soon as he pushed the door open, we were all assaulted with the smell of moth balls and definitely something dead. I’d not smelled many dead things in my life, but I was sure there was a mouse somewhere out in the open or hidden between the walls that had an untimely death and it’s rotting corpse was now wafting through the house.

Dodger put his hand up to his nose. “God, what is what?”

James was trying to not mimic him, coughing a little, and miserably failing to brush off that he was disgusted by the smell.

“I apologize. The last time someone was in this house was over a year ago. It’s bank owned and they don’t usually come into their properties to make sure everything is up to par before being shown.”

“Maybe somebody should tell them they need to.”

Both men had taken a few steps into the house, but shuffled around when they noticed I wasn’t following.

“Macie, are you okay?” Dodger said, concerned.

I was still standing on the front porch, bent at the waist, trying not to dry heave into the bushes just off the steps.

“Mace?” he asked again.

I held my pointer finger up, asking him to give me a second. I was trying to compose myself. Jesus Christ, no way was I going to make it one foot in this place without hurling. And I’ll be damned if this was pregnancy shit and heightened sense of smell. This place just reeked.

“Huh uh,” I tried to stand upright and wiped a tear from gagging, under my eye. “Not going to happen. Let’s roll, boys.”

James was a little confused.

Dodger took it upon himself to proudly state, “She pregnant. Those crazy symptoms and all, just never know what’s going to come out of her mouth next.”

My lip curled. “Don’t ‘pregnancy symptoms’ me! You’ve not been around long enough to even experience them, so shut up.” Another wave of nausea hit me.

“I would have been if you’d have told me sooner.”

“Uh, I told you when I thought it was a good time. Get over it.”

“And you thought a month later was a ‘good time’.” He air quoted.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “Hey, at least you know. I could have been one of those girls that doesn’t tell the father shit, then winds up on Maury Povich two years later attempting stupid DNA tests and I’m in tears screaming you’re the father.”

“Nobody watches Maury anymore.”

I gasped. “I watch Maury every day. And if I can’t, I DVR that shit.”

A clearing of the throat brought us out of our petty argument. “Uh, I don’t mean to interrupt, but if we aren’t going to view this house, we can go ahead and move on to the next. We have quite a few to see today.”

I looked down at my boots. “Sorry about that.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I hear this stuff all the time.” He was lying. Nobody argued about being one of those people on trash TV talk shows.

“No, seriously, we’re sorry. That was all personal and it’s not the time or the place.” Dodger was being the cordial gentleman. I personally wanted slap the snot right out of him for attempting to apologize for me.

“Really, it’s okay.” James placated. “How about you two go on ahead to the next house, and I’ll be right behind you.”

I nodded and Dodger and I headed to his car.

“You’d never go on Maury.”

“If I ever wanted fame, I’d claim all of your brothers were the father.”

He shot the angriest look in my direction. “Oh, so now you’re bringing my brothers into this?”

I twisted in my seat. “No, I wouldn’t. But, I am trying to tell you, I informed you when I thought it was a good time. I’d only just accepted being pregnant myself. So please, cut me some slack if you feel the need to get pissy because, god forbid, I didn’t pee on a stick and skip to the gym to tell you.”

His mouth thinned into a line. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” I said in a short tone.

It was quiet for a few miles. “That house was a piece of shit, Mace.”

I grinned. “Wasn’t it?”

He chuckled. Our previous spat a thing of the past. “I think the old owners were mass murders and the bodies were in the base boards.”

“Creative, Dodger,” I said, entertained by him. “Let’s not talk about it. I think that smell is forever burned into my sinus cavities and I would really hate to puke in your precious Charger.”

“Silvia wouldn’t appreciate that.”

He was one of those guys that were so proud of their vehicles he’d given it a name. Of course, it was female as well. He could have been more clever and named it Lightening McQueen, or Mater. So I may love the movie Cars. But Silvia? He only named it that because the Charger was Silver. Looks like I’d be naming the baby. His lack of imagination gave me no hope for an elegant name this baby deserved simply because it was mine.

“Well, Silvia can kiss my ass.”

We arrived at the second house right before James pulled in behind us. I crossed my fingers this one was better than the last. So far, so good. It was a white two-story home with dark blue shutters. There was a small porch that could fit a single rocking chair or maybe a swing. There was a cutesy country sign hanging on the front door that said “Happy Fall Y’all.” A small planter with bright yellow mums that look like they’d just bloomed was in the corner of the porch. Already it was warm and inviting, and I hadn’t even stepped foot inside. I had a good feeling about this place.

James opened the door, and stepped aside so we could join him.

He started in with his informational speech. “This property is a turnkey, nineteen eighty-three home. It’s a three bedroom, with a small den that could be used as an office or play room.” It wasn’t lost on me that James’s new knowledge of my pregnancy was something he’d capitalize on. “You’ll notice all of the finishes are brand new with the exception to the wood floors. They are a collaboration of old barn wood that has been refinished.” He walked forward, stepping into what I would assume was the living room. “Why don’t you two go take a look around. I’ll wait here. If you have any questions, I’ll try and answer them.”

My eyes spanned across the space. I tried to ignore the current owners’ furnishings and pay attention to the actual home. However, it was hard considering all of the country knick-knacks. It was very reminiscent of Dodger’s family home. Donna loved decorating like this. Made anyone that came inside want to gather in the kitchen and eat a slice of pie, or curl up on one of the couches and sit under a blanket while reading a good book. I had a feeling I’d be decorating very similarly to this when I found a place to call my own.

Dodger kept a couple steps behind me as I took in every inch of the house. He stayed quiet, likely waiting for me to say yay or nay. The living room was a decent space, but closed off to the back of the house. A welcoming fire place, which recently had a fire burning was off to the left of the room. Burning embers were still glowing orange. There was an arch doorway that led into the kitchen. It wasn’t small but it wasn’t huge either. Cabinets that were slightly darker than honey spanned the walls in an L-shape, and a small island added counter space. They weren’t granite counters, but that wasn’t something I’d really given thought to, nor do I think something so grand would fit in this space. There was an area just past the counter where a table for four sat. The candle that was lit filled the space with the scent of baking cookies. God, it was inviting.

I glanced at Dodger over my shoulder. “What do you think so far.”

“I think,”—he looked around then back at me—“it’s nice. But what matters is what you think.”

I licked my lips. “I’m still assessing.”

He chuckled. “Of course you are.”

The rest of the house was a pretty typical home. There were three bedrooms, just like James had said. Each one bigger than the other. There was a master bath and a walk-in closet, carpet that was brand new, a bathroom for the other two rooms, and a wash room on the main floor. The paint on each wall was a neutral beige, except in the kitchen which was a pretty, light green. Every single room I entered, I got the warm and fuzzies. I hadn’t expected that. Sure it wasn’t the most regal home, or a place my parents would expect me to be in, but I was picturing myself living here. From creating a nursery to picking the perfect furniture to fill the living room. I was actually excited. After living with my parents for so long and never really having the desire to leave my cushy life, this seems beyond ideal.

A life for me and my baby. And this was where I wanted to build it.

Dodger and I walked back to James, who was currently on his cell phone, but promptly hung up when he saw us.

“I’d like to put in an offer,” I stated enthusiastically.

Dodger sounded confused. “Macie, this is only the second home we’ve seen. And technically, we didn’t even see the last place.”

I twisted to stare at him. “What’s your point?”

“Uhhh . . . don’t you want to keep looking? What if something else is a better fit?”

“There’s not going to be. This is the house I want.”

He leaned in to me and talked quieter. “Is this some weird pregnancy thing where you get all overzealous about things?”

“No.”

“I really think we should look at a few more places before you make a decision.”

James piped up. “That’s probably a good idea. I’ll gladly keep showing you homes today. I have the whole day blocked out for you.”

I smiled and shook my head. “No need. This is it.”

“Isn’t that like trying on the first wedding dress and saying it’s ‘the one’? Nobody does that.”

“Okay, that would be crazy. Nobody tries on just one dress. And we aren’t talking weddings here.”

“I’m using a euphemism. It may not be the exact same, but it’s the same.”

“Macie.” Dodger said my name like it was going to make me see things differently.

“Dodger.” I repeated his name. “Don’t you feel it? This house feels . . . I don’t know? Home-ish.”

“That’s not even a word.”

I waved my hand in the air. “Not the point. I’m saying, from the moment we walked in, something about this house made me feel good. It felt warm. It’s everything I didn’t realize I was looking for. It’s where I see the baby coming home for the first time. And where it will grow up. This house feels happy.”

Dodger regarded me and everything I’d just said. He was letting my words sink in. I don’t think when he came in here with me, that his mind was as open as mine was. He was thinking about other things, like me, instead of seeing the larger picture. He broke eye contact and turned, giving me his back. I watched as he placed his hands on his hips and looked at the home as I’d just described it. When he turned back around and his blue eyes connected with mine, I knew he just pictured what I did.

In typical Macie fashion though, I said, “You do realize you have no say, right?”

He rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Oh Lord, here we go again.”

“Here we go, nothin’.”

“Any house you’re in, and any house my baby is in, is a house that I absolutely have a say in.”

Stubborn ass. Show time. “Well, while I value your opinion or feeling on the matter, it’s my money, my purchase, my home. Period.”

Dodger approached me. His stance was rigid. I’d pissed him off. He was so close that he had to bend down to come to my level. Otherwise I’d be craning my neck to see him.

“Test me.”

“I believe I just did.”

Him being this close, breathing in my face, seeing the little flecks of dark blue in his eyes, was a heady experience. Riling him up was fun for me. And my body was reacting to it. I naturally leaned in closer like he was the matching magnet to me. My nipples hardened and I knew my pupils were dilated. I wouldn’t doubt for a single second he knew I was getting turned on.

“Are you sure you two aren’t married?” I’d completely forgotten that James was in the room with us.

I said “positive,” at the same time that Dodger said, “Not yet.”

This man . . . he was so certain of himself. One side of his mouth tipped up in a grin. Yep, he knew. I huffed and stepped back. No need to argue over something that I was in control of.

While I maintained eye contact with Dodger, I said, “James, what do you think would be a fair offer?”

I heard him tapping on his phone. “Well, considering the house hasn’t actually been on the market any longer than thirty days, I’d say you need to go in at close to asking price.”

“Do it,” I said without skipping a beat. “Put in whatever you have too to make sure I get the house.”

“Are you sure? I have a couple more places on the schedule if you want to see those just to be positive.”

“No, thank you.”

“Okay, I’ll submit the offer as soon as I get to the office.” It got awkwardly quiet. “Erm, okay well if you two want another minute in here just to take another glance around, I’ll step outside to make a call.”

“Yes, please,” Dodger replied.

As soon as I heard the front door close, Dodger took another step to me. He was almost flush with my body. I could feel him like he was actually touching me. The energy in the room changed from friendly and cozy, to hot and bothered.

“Now,” he said. “Test me again.”

I was perplexed. “How do you want me to te—”

I was cut off. Dodger came in so fast, that when his mouth came crashing down on mine, our teeth clinked together. It was a bruising, passionate, needful kiss. His hands dove into my hair, pulling me impossibly closer to him. He was engulfing me with his entire being and I was consumed in a matter of seconds. He was demanding my response as his mouth moved against mine. He led this moment from start to finish. His lips moved in a sinful dance that was neither graceful, nor controlled. Soft lips felt crushed, and his tongue dove into my mouth like he was kid who couldn’t wait long enough for a piece of chocolate birthday cake. I tasted him and his lips with each stroke of his tongue, and I craved more. Every ounce of oxygen had been sucked from my lungs and I didn’t want to come up for air ever again. If I could die just like this, with him kissing me and holding me close, I’d die the happiest woman in the world.

As quickly as the kiss started, it rapidly ended. I was so engulfed in the moment that when he pulled away, I didn’t even realize he had cut me off. My eyes were still shut, and I tipped forward, my mouth searching for his. I was hungry for him.

“Macie, open your eyes.” His voice was an octave deeper than normal.

I wasn’t responding. Where in the hell was his mouth and why was he talking?

His hand brushed my face. My lids fluttered open and I was staring into very amused bright baby blues. “There you are.” He was pleased with himself. “At least we still do that well.”

He was referring to the kiss. My brows came together. “Why’d you stop?”

“Because James is waiting on us.”

James? Yes, the realtor. So what? I was about to lift my hands and pull his face back to mine, but he took a full step back. I suddenly felt cold. I would have whined, but my brain was trying to reconnect the synapses that misfired during that crazy ass kiss. He looked smug. He drug his thumb across his lower lip, bringing my attention back to his mouth.

“Are you proud of yourself?” I asked, wiping my hands down the front of me.

“Mhmm.”

I shot a look at him. “Get over yourself. And don’t ever do that again unless you’re willing to lose a valuable body part.”

“No worries, Macie.” He was very self-satisfied. “If it happens again, it’ll be because you’re begging me too.”

I looked at him, dumbfounded. “You are hands down the most arrogant, cocky son of a bitch that I think I’ve ever come across.” I shook my head, which was no longer feeling light headed. “Let’s go.”

He followed me out the door. James and I talked out a couple of details and we parted ways. When I got in Dodger’s car, there was no denying the electricity that was still buzzing between us.

“So, you’re buying a house.”

“You’re so astute.”

He did my favorite side smirk. “That sassy mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble.”

“Yeah? How’s that?”

“You really like to push my buttons don’t you? You enjoy seeing my reactions.”

There was no reason to lie. “Yes, I do.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“Why is it fun?”

“I don’t know, it just is.”

We had already started making our way down the street toward my side of town. “You have a reason for it, but you’re not telling me.”

“I’m not sure why there needs to be more of a reason besides the fact that getting you to explode is sometimes nice to see. You always try to maintain this calm exterior, and I’m sure it’s because your mom taught you that’s what southern gentlemen do. But, I know you, Dodger Brooks. You’re anything but calm.”

He briefly took his eyes off the road to look at me. “Only with you, Mace, only with you.”

His cell phone started ringing and it connected to his Bluetooth in the car. He pressed the button on his dash and a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard sounded through the speakers.

“Hello?”

“Dodger, it’s Dana. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

I bet you didn’t. I gritted my teeth and my hands formed into fists on my lap. That feisty fun atmosphere quickly shifted. I noticed even he sat up a little straighter. Why?

“I told you I’d be out looking at houses today and to take down any messages.”

I could hear the cold bitch’s smile on the other end. “Oh, I know, and I apologize. But, one of the doctors called, and they want to send in one of your clients. Apparently he twisted funny while in the shower, and now his neck is acting up again. It’s Mister Risen. Would you be able to work him in today?”

Dodger audibly exhaled. He was frustrated. I wondered if it was because he knew he couldn’t brush off his patient, or if it was because Dana called and I was sitting here with him.

“Tell him, if he can be in in the next hour and a half I’ll be there.”

“Okay, will do. And again, sorry for interrupting your day. I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t important.”

Oh my god, if she was standing in front of me right now, I’m probably hit her with one of the gym dumb bells.

Dodger didn’t feel the need to continue the conversation and he hit “end” on the screen. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him working his jaw. I was slightly shocked to see that he may be just as angry, if not angrier than I was.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. You have people depending on you, it’s fine.”

We rounded the corner just a few houses down from my parents’ place.

“If it was fine, you wouldn’t be digging your nails into your palms.”

What? I looked down. Yikes. Little half-moon prints were imbedded into my skin.

“Eh, involuntary reaction.”

“If you say so,” he replied in a clipped manner.

He stopped just in front of my house and put the car in park. We both sat there for a minute. My mind was racing. I didn’t want to think about the Whore of Babylon that worked with him, and how deep she just might have her claws in Dodger. I had bigger things to worry about. Much bigger things. A baby and a house. Did I really have time to be playing the elusive wannabe girlfriend to a Brooks brother?

“Macie, stop it.”

His voice filtered through my thoughts. “Stop what?”

“Someday you’ll understand.” He shook his head. “Your face is practically a teleprompter. I’ve told you before, there’s nothing going on between us.”

“Maybe not to you.”

“Uh, last I was aware of dating etiquette, it was a two-way street. I don’t know what Dana may think is going on, but it’s certainly nothing from my end.” He twisted to face me. His hand shot out, and he grasped mine tightly. “This is where I want to be.”

I looked down at our joined hands. I couldn’t deny that there was something here. And I wasn’t sure I really wanted too. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a horrible thing to try and make this work. But we’d have to take it slow. And that kiss, well, I needed it to happen again.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?” he said, not sure what I was getting at. It wasn’t every day that Macie Rosewood conceded.

“I mean, we can try again.” His face lit up like a Christmas tree. “But I have some stipulations that need to be in place, and I don’t think you’re going to like them.”

“I’m listening.” His thumb rubbed back and forth on my skin. It was sending tingles down my spine.

“The first is that we take this very slow. Last time we just dove in head first and I don’t think either of us knew what we were getting into Second, the house that I’m buying, it needs to stay that way, it’s mine. I need to have some form of separation just in case this doesn’t work out. Who knows, maybe it will lead to you moving in, or maybe it will lead to us being apart. Third, no sex.”

A strange noise came out of his mouth. “No sex?”

I almost laughed. “No. Sex is what got me into this mess. I’m not trying to go back to virgin status here, but I need to think about what’s best for me and what’s best for this baby.”

He grimaced. “Fair enough.”

I could tell he’d be poking at my resolve on that one. Just the way his fingers were brushing my skin, even if he tried to take a needle to my “no sex” bubble, I may be the one to burst.

“And lastly, Dana has to go.”

Dodger shook his head. “Macie, I can’t just go firing people because you don’t like them. Besides, she doesn’t just work for me. She’s one of Camden’s employees too.”

“I understand that. But you don’t need her. Someone else can be hired in her place for your side of the business.”

“I don’t know where you think I’m going to find someone to work on such short notice. On top of finding someone that’s eighty years old and wears skirts past their knees.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dodger, I’m not asking you to hire a saint. I need you to understand that I know girls. And Dana’s intentions aren’t good. That girl is going to do anything she can to make sure that your attention is on her no matter the cost. Look at what she just pulled today. She knew you were with me.”

“There was a patient that needed me.”

“No. That patient could’ve easily seen one of the PT’s in the hospital for today. You were out of the office. Don’t you see it?”

“No, I don’t. But I’ll think about it okay?”

My mouth thinned into a line. “Thems the breaks, Dodger. I’ve told you what I want. You want to make us happen, then you need to make it work.”

I gathered my purse and my coat I’d sat on. Swinging my door open I stepped out.

“And if I don’t?”

I bent at the waist and looked at him. “Then we will have to figure out how this baby thing between us is going to work, but there will be no ‘us’.”

“Always a struggle with you.”

“Nah, I just know what I want.”

I shut the door and walked up to my porch. Instead of giving him the satisfaction of a final look, I kept my eyes forward and walked into my house, slamming the door shut on him and this conversation.