“Can you stick around this afternoon Jake? I have a delivery coming for the kitchen—your mom’s new appliances—but I need to check on another job about that same time.” He ticked his head toward the two men hanging out on the back porch. “These guys run a few bricks shy of a load. I can trust them to stay on task while I’m gone, but I have no faith that either one of them would make sure the delivery is correct. It sure has been nice having you around the past few days since things got sidetracked. Can you do that for me?”

Jake took a sip of his coffee and nodded. “Sure thing, Cy. You have a list of what’s coming?”

“Yep. Right over here.”

Jake watched his childhood friend cross the kitchen toward the butcher-block island and grab a clipboard. He’d known Cylas Branson since grade school and could see why his parents entrusted the remodeling contract to him. He was a pro through and through.

It had been a little over a week since he’d moved into his parents’ house to help oversee the remodel and he liked to think he’d been a big help to Cy. He’d stayed longer than he had intended but the work had gotten delayed when two of Cy’s guys quit to go work for another contractor.

His friend handed the clipboard to Jake. “It’s all here. Refrigerator. Range. Dishwasher. Trash compactor. The deliverer called earlier and said he’d be here between one and four. Thanks for hanging around. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem, Cy. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

“And far be it from me to point out that you’ve been a real sourpuss the past several days.”

Jake rolled his eyes. Literally. “Yeah, well. That’s life.”

“So, what you gonna do about it?”

“Nothing.”

Cy sneered. “I’m gonna whoop your ass boy. You need to go call that girl and figure things out.”

Jake shook his head. He’d told Cy too damn much. Why he did that, he didn’t know but he guessed he’d needed to talk to someone. “She’s not interested. Besides, I can’t find her. I called the hotel, she’s not working there anymore.”

“You know where she lives. Right?”

“Wrong. I even swallowed my pride, went to her house, and talked to her father. He said she’d moved out the night he sent me on my way and told me, again, to keep my hands off his little girl.”

“Like most any father of a beautiful young woman would do when in the presence of a rogue like you.”

“Cut it out, Cy. I’ve chastised myself for days. I’ve tried everything I know to try to find her. No luck. She doesn’t want to be found.”

“Does she know how to get in touch with you?”

He thought about the envelope he’d left with the front desk clerk. Surely, the woman had delivered it to Mira, hadn’t she? “Yeah. Pretty sure she does.”

Cy inhaled deep and studied him. “Well, I got nothing else. Sorry, but I gotta run, man. Call me if there’s any trouble with the delivery.”

Jake nodded. “Will do. Be safe.”

Cy left and Jake pulled his cell phone out of his pocket for the third time that morning. No text messages. No missed calls. She really wasn’t going to call him. Was she?

****

Mira sat in the passenger side of truck as it jostled over the gravel road. She bit her lip and stared out the window, then reached for the pile of paperwork fluttering about on the dashboard in the big truck cab. The guy in the center of the seat knocked her elbow as she grasped the papers.

“Sorry Mira,” he said.

“No worries.”

It was just the three of them in the truck. Her, the guy in the middle, and the driver. They’d made four deliveries this morning and had two this afternoon. This one was the farthest away from Kerrville and she had to wonder what time she’d get home tonight. She was supposed to register for an online course by seven. She hoped she made it.

She’d lucked into getting into summer school—just made the cut-off when she’d gone by the college four days earlier. Luckily, they still had most all of her paperwork on file and she only had to update a couple of things.

She’d landed this job at the big box hardware store the next day. She was three full days into her training.

Studying the countryside, she had an inkling of where they were going but she had to be certain before they pulled up to the house.

“This the next drop off?” she asked, picking through the invoices and pulling off the top one.

“Yeah. Last one for the day.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

Mike, the driver—a big burly guy about Heath’s age—nodded toward the back. “We got big pieces to off load with this one, Mira. You can help us get them strapped up on the dolly but leave the heavy lifting and moving to us. Joe can show you how to operate the lift but don’t touch anything. You’re still in training, remember.”

Mira understood. She was the new girl. Emphasis on girl. But she was grateful for the job. Working for the store in Kerrville provided her with flexible hours and time for taking her classes. She needed to do both and this was the best bet. Besides, she liked doing something a little physical to keep her in shape. She was going to be sitting in a chair writing a lot for her classes.

“Got it,” she said. “Hey look, I’ll handle the paperwork, get the signatures, and all that crap. You guys do your thing. I won’t get in the way. Deal?”

Mike dropped his chin. “Deal.” He turned into a circular drive. “Here we are.”

Mira glanced back down to the invoice, taking note of the name at the top of the page. Jacob Remington, Sr.

She sucked in a breath and looked out the truck window toward the house. Jake’s parents’ house. Crap. She’d wondered when they had turned off the main road but wasn’t certain. She’d known his family lived on the other side of Highlands Ranch but had honestly never been back the long drive to the house.

Thank God Jake had left. He’d surely be back in Kentucky by now—it had been seven whole days since she’d last seen him—and no way his parents knew anything about her, so she was safe.

“Let’s get this done,” Mike said.

“I’ll second that.” Mira swallowed, lifted the metal latch on her door, and climbed down out of the truck. Gathering the paperwork and fastening it to a clipboard, she steadied herself and headed for the front door while the guys started doing whatever it was they needed to do in the truck behind her.

One step after another, she made her way up the two porch steps, crossed the wide veranda, and rang the doorbell. She waited while heavy footfall approached from the inside. As the door swung open, she blinked, sparks arcing inside her brain, making her suddenly light-headed. She stumbled a little.

The man reached out and grasped her elbow, steadying her. She’d had no clue how much seeing him again would affect her.

And seeing him really did affect her… Her heart slammed against her chest wall and her cheeks grew warm.

Mira whispered his name. “Jake.”

****

“Mira…? Thank God.”

Jake grabbed her before she could leave and shut the door behind her. Tugging her farther into the entryway, he repeated her name. “Mira. Honey. I can’t believe you are here.”

“I… Jake, look. This is a mistake. I didn’t know you were here. I’m—”

“I don’t give a fuck why you are here. You’re here. And I’m not letting you leave until we talk.” He would not look a gift horse in the mouth and he was not the kind of guy to let happenstance go unnoticed. “Can we sit down? How about over here.” He tugged at her sleeve and started to guide her toward the den.

She halted. “No. I’m working, Jake. Please.”

“Please what?”

“Please just let me do my job. It’s a new job and I can’t screw this up, okay? Besides, we need to finish here so I can get home. I have things to do tonight, and we have appliances to deliver here today.” She glanced at the papers in her hand. “Let’s see. A refrigerator, dishwasher...”

All business. Was that all she could think about? Here she was, standing in front of him, acting as nonchalant as a paperweight and all he wanted to do was haul her up against him and kiss her. How could she be so damn cool and distant?

He took the papers out of her shaking hands. So, she wasn’t as collected as he thought. “Fuck the appliances, Mira. Please, let me explain some things.”

The doorbell rang again.

Mira glared. “That’s my co-workers. Is this the best way to bring the stuff in here? Which way is the kitchen?” She turned on her heel and headed away from him.

Jake blew out a short breath and stalked after her. He rounded her and opened the door, shooting a sideways glance her way. He was not letting her get out of this house before they had a chance to talk.

He nodded to the men. “Yeah. Through here is great.” He watched the two guys roll the dishwasher in on a dolly. Mira gave him a sideways smirk and followed the two into the kitchen. Jake followed along behind her like a lost puppy.

Dammit. That’s how he felt. Lost.

Jake bided his time while the men unloaded the dishwasher and Mira checked off some boxes on the paper. “You’ll need to get your plumber out here to hook up the dishwasher,” she said. “We don’t do that.”

“Duly noted,” he told her. “Coming in the morning.”

“Great. Sign here for this one.” She shoved the papers toward him. The guys sidestepped them and headed back out to the truck. “The refrigerator is next,” she added.

Jake didn’t care about the fucking refrigerator. He handed her back the paperwork. “Mira, look,” he began again. “I want to explain why I walked away the other day.”

She stared straight at him. The cool look on her face was almost more than he could stand. Did she not feel anything anymore for him? Had she gotten over him so quickly? Shit. If so, he was in trouble.

Finally, she spoke. “I know why you walked away. It’s a man thing. My Pop. You. Man code. Yada yada. I get it. No worries.”

Jake narrowed his gaze. “Then why are you pissed at me? Why haven’t you called me? Hell, you barely look at me right now.”

“Pissed? What makes you think I’m pissed? And how would I call? I don’t have your number.”

“I’ve tried to reach you, Mira. I’ve left messages everywhere. Asked you to call me and left my number everywhere, but you haven’t. All I want is a chance to talk to you again. Dammit Mira, I can’t sleep and I can’t function. I’ve barely eaten. I need you.”

She laughed nervously. He could tell by the crack in her voice. That gave him a little hope. Then her expression grew a little more somber.

“Look Jake,” she began, “I don’t know where you left messages but I’ve not talked with anyone. I’ve been in Kerrville the past week trying like hell to get my life together so I’ve been busy. And I’m steering way clear of Lake Buchanan and Highland ranch. Secondly, what in the hell do you need me for, anyway? To make your bed? Clean your bathroom? Shine your boots? Be your beck and call girl? No. Not happening.”

She glanced off and crossed her arms over her chest, then said quietly. “Not enough tip money in the world for me stoop that low.”

Jake stared. “What?”

“Tip money. You know exactly what I mean.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“The money you left for me at the hotel! You know, for the maid.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He shook his head. “I didn’t leave you any tip money, Mira.”

“Sure you did. Amaline gave it to me at the front desk. I can’t believe you did that. After finally getting over that chunky maid shit I was starting to trust you again. Then you leave me with my father. And the final blow? A tip for services rendered. Do you have any idea how awful that made me feel? Like I was a common whore or something.”

Jake waved his hands in the air. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’ve totally got the wrong idea here. And I have no clue what you are talking about.”

She squared herself, perching her fists on her hips. “You left me a goddamned tip in an envelope and gave it to the desk clerk.”

“No. No.” He shook his head. “No. I didn’t give her any money.”

She stared. “No, you gave her an envelope with money in it.”

Jake huffed out a breath. “Hell, Mira. No. I gave her an envelope but it didn’t have any money in it. What the hell do you think of me, anyway? I would never…”

“But Amaline said it was tip money…”

“Well, she was wrong. Do you still have the damn envelope? Did you even look in it?”

She shook her head. “No. I…”

Her gaze played over his face for a few seconds, then she shoved her hand into her back jeans pocket, and pulled out the sealed white envelope. “I guess I left it in my pocket. Good thing I haven’t done laundry yet this week.” She stared down at the crumpled envelope. Jake noticed her hands were still shaking.

“Open it,” he said softly. “Please.”

She pulled at the flap, and then lifted her gaze to meet his. Those big brown eyes of hers were exhausting. He wanted to bury himself in them. And her.

“Go on. Look in the envelope, Mira.”

She did. He watched her slide out his business card. “Oh God, Jake. It’s your card?”

Nodding, he said, “Yes. Turn it over and read what it says on the back, honey.”

Mira sucked in a slow, easy breath. “Please call me. I love you.” She whispered the words, and then slowly looked up into his face again, tears spilling over her lower lids. “Oh, Jake. I’m so sorry. I love you, too.”

She paused and slowly lowered the paper in her hands. Jake watched the expression on her face soften from irritation to compassion in a second.

“Jake,” she whispered. “Why did you leave me like that at my dad’s? Why would you ever think you’re not good enough for me?”

His eyes closed against the words he didn’t want to hear—or say—and his head lowered. But he had to tell her. Now was the perfect time. He lifted his gaze and moved closer. Grasping her forearms, he said, “Mira, in my youth and hell, even recently, I’ve been pretty much irresponsible with women and I’ve gained quite a reputation. A pretty bad reputation. I never did anything illegal but there was a paternity lawsuit and… Well, I’ll admit. I love women and lots of them. But all of those women…?”

“They’re in the past?”

“Permanently. In the past.” He nudged closer. “I swear, Mira. You’re more woman than most men can handle but you’re damn perfect for me, and all I ever want.”

She lifted her chin and grinned. “I told you once before, Jake, I don’t care about what you did last week, or in the past. The past is the past. All I care about right now is the future.”

Grinning himself, Jake wrapped his arms around her back, holding her close to his chest. “The future? A week ago, you said all you wanted was the one night. So that’s changed?”

The right corner of Mira’s plump red mouth jerked up. “Yes. That’s changed.”

****

Mira’s breasts fell into his hands, unleashed, and he relished the sexy fullness of them in his palms. After Jake had dismissed the workers and ordered the delivery men to leave the appliances on the porch—he’d figure out how to get them to the kitchen later—he lifted Mira into his arms and carried her up every step in the staircase to his room and peeled her clothes off her inch by achingly painful inch. Once they were both fully naked, he couldn’t get enough of her skin and flesh in his hands.

Mira’s head fell back as she leaned into him. He clasped her tits tight, squeezing and pressing her back into his chest. He bit softly into her shoulder and raked his mouth up the column of her neck.

“Oh God, Jake…” Mira hissed. “Don’t stop. Ever.”

Quickly, Jake turned and walked her backward to the bed. She sat and leaned back; he grasped the threads of fabric on her hips to pull off her thong and toss it aside. Then, following her down to the bed, he placed a hand on either side of her shoulders.

“I’m going to fuck you silly, woman.” He growled and Mira giggled.

“Fuck me until tomorrow comes.”

“And when tomorrow comes, I’m going to take you home with me.”

Mira stilled and stared up at him.

Jake drew back. “What?”

“What do you mean, take me home with you?”

He smiled. “Come to Kentucky with me, Mira. Let me show you the other side of me. Who I really am. You can come back to Texas if you don’t like it, whenever you want, but I swear, honey, you’re gonna want to stay. You’re gonna love it. And me.”

Mira wrapped her fingers around his biceps and leaned up to kiss him. “You’re a big talker, Jake Remington. Pretty damn full of yourself.”

“Why, yes. Yes, ma’am, I am.” He grinned and she smiled back.

“I already do, Jake Remington.”

He arched a brow. “Already do what, Mira Featherstone?”

“Love you.”

“To Kentucky and back?”

She grinned. “Yes. Maybe just to Kentucky. Period.”

Jake leaned in, softly kissed her lips, and whispered. “I want nothing more, honey, than to take you home with me and keep you there forever—but I need to be sure that you’re sure too. I want you to be very, very sure that being with me is what you want, too. Texas is your life.”

Mira silenced him with a finger to his lips. “Texas was my past, Jake. I’m ready for my future. My life, I hope, is wherever you are. Anything else I need will fall into place.”

“You’re sure?”

“Why yes, sir. Yes, I am.”

Jake grinned and then growled. “Then I’m going to fuck you silly, woman. And then I’m going to take you home and love you forever.”

Mira smiled back. “Good enough.”