Jaylyn found a note from Walker in the kitchen the following morning telling her not to prepare anything for dinner that night. He had taken care of it. She wanted to question him about it, but Douglas told her he was out the door early that morning, helping with last-minute details at the lodge and restaurant. Her restaurant.

She was dying to be there opening night and see how well it did and how the food tasted, but if Walker’s father was there, she didn’t want to stir up trouble. She wasn’t good at keeping her mouth shut when people pissed her off, and Leo Allard pissed her off royally. Simply thinking his name made her curse as she poured her coffee and sat down at the table, three dogs at her feet to keep her company. With no dinner to plan for, she flipped through the paper, not really reading anything. Her truck was still having fits and she needed to take it into the shop, but that involved calling a tow truck. Her money for the month had gone towards her bills and those of her parents to dig them out of their financial hole.

Darien was supposed to get treatment that day, but a text from Mariah early that morning said the hard-headed man made them load up in the car early and drive along the coast because he wanted to see the ocean. Jaylyn was tempted to be at their apartment when they returned to whack her dad upside the head to try and get him back to the hospital, but he was a stubborn ass. It wasn’t going to happen.

Being alone gave her time not only to fret over her dad, but about Walker, too. Yesterday when his dad showed up and he kissed her, she hadn’t known what to think. Still didn’t. That man confused her as well as delighted her, and it all aggravated her. There couldn’t be anything between them. She knew that and he should, too, but he kissed her. Twice. Why? The friendship they’d built so far was strong and she wanted to keep it that way, but at the same time, she longed to explore those kisses further and see what else they could be together. He awoke a passion in her she thought she’d lost the day his father bought the restaurant out from under her family. She was at home in this kitchen and in this great big house. It seemed strange to think a day would come when she wouldn’t be here with three dogs following her around and Douglas to talk to when she worked, or hear Walker’s voice calling out when he was home or playing with the dogs.

“You seem extremely deep in thought, my dear,” Douglas said as he joined her at the table later. “And it is far too early in the morning to ask yourself the deep philosophical questions of the world.”

She smiled and reached down to pet Strider’s big head when he sat up. “I can’t help it.”

“Your father?”

She nodded. “He’s refusing to go back for treatment again. That man will drive my mom insane.”

“He has good intentions.”

“How is dying sooner good intentions?” she snapped, then recoiled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”

He patted her hand warmly. “Your stress is understandable. No need to apologize. What I meant was he’s thinking of you and your mother, but maybe not in the way you want to understand. He’s trying not to leave you with a mound of debt you can’t get out from under. He doesn’t want to be sick all the time so you both have to take care of him like a child. I’ve seen it before.”

“With Walker’s mom?”

“No,” he said, smiling sadly. “No, with another family I worked for. The husband did the exact same thing. They were wealthy, but the first year of his sickness cleaned them out. I stuck around out of friendship more than anything else.” His eyes took on a faraway stare as he looked past her and out the window. “It’s hard to watch the ones we love leave us.”

“I want him to fight, to hold on a little longer,” she whispered. “Just until I get the restaurant back to show him we did it. That we fought back and won.”

“I’m sure he’ll know, even if he’s not around.”

Jaylyn hated hearing out loud that her dad might not make it through the rest of the year, but it was the reality she had to face sooner or later. Darien Wilson, the rock of her family, might not survive for much longer. At least the grand opening was in a few days and he could see his restaurant still being successful, she hoped.

“Are you looking forward to this evening? A night of relaxation?” Douglas asked brightly, and Jaylyn was happy for the distraction.

“I think so, but I’m not sure what he’s up to.”

“Why, whatever do you mean?”

“Y’all suck at lying, just so you know.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “We’ve kissed, Douglas. Twice. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Douglas grinned, but she saw a hint of worry on his face. “I’m afraid I can offer you suggestions on many subjects, but Walker kissing you is not one of them.”

“But tonight isn’t supposed to be a date, right?” Her hands fidgeted in her lap until Strider pawed at her to keep petting him. “He knows as well as I do that would never work—a relationship, I mean. So there’s no point in trying, right?”

The old man sighed as he folded his hands on the table and she saw a range of emotions cross his face. “You may have a point, but then again, what do you keep telling your father? There’s a point in trying, yes? We’ll never know for certain what the outcome of any situation will be, but if we don’t try, we’ll never find out.”

“That’s what you’re going to leave me with?” she complained as he stood up. “Douglas!”

“I have chores to attend to, my dear.” He waved at her and disappeared into the dining room.

Jaylyn grunted in annoyance and Strider huffed at her. “I know, right? He can’t just leave like that. So,” she said, leaning down so she was eye level with the great, big dog, “what do you think, huh? What’s your daddy up to?”

Strider’s booming bark bounced around the kitchen, but it didn’t tell her a damn thing. Too distracted to even think of spending the day experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes, she took the dogs outside to play, hopeful that watching them tear around the yard would pull her mind away from the possibility of starting something with Walker. They were hanging out tonight as friends. Nothing more.

It couldn’t be anything more.

* * *

Jaylyn screamed and covered her face as the little girl screamed and raced across the hall to attack the people in the other room. Walker was there with her, clutching the throw pillow tighter to his chest as he looked away.

“Why did we think this was a good idea?” she muttered and smacked his arm playfully.

“What? You said you’d be down for watching any movie.”

“So you pick a horror movie about a doll? I hate you right now. I really, really hate you.” She jumped again a few moments later and he laughed, draping his arm around her shoulders.

“I’ll keep you safe.”

“I’m glad you don’t own any dolls.” He glanced down at her, then away. “What? You don’t, do you?”

Despite her worries for what this evening was really about, when Walker came home and their evening started with beers and pizza, she relaxed and went with the flow of the evening. He was fun and she was so comfortable around him, as if they’d been friends for years, not months. They’d started far apart on the couch, but as the movie became terrifying, Jaylyn found herself cuddling into his side as he cackled at her expense…until he jumped and cursed too. He was so warm and cozy to be beside that she hadn’t found the urge to move back to the other side of the couch and give them some distance. He didn’t attempt to move the other way either, so they sat on the middle of the couch, her with her legs pulled up beneath her and his propped on the ottoman.

For the remainder of the movie, Jaylyn kept one hand covering her eyes in case it got too scary and Walker’s arm stayed on her shoulders. As the credits rolled, they looked at each other and decided a more light-hearted movie was needed before they could attempt to go to sleep. She flipped through the channels and landed on a romantic comedy she hadn’t seen before.

“I’m never watching a scary movie with you again,” she murmured and waited for him to scoot away from her, but he didn’t. She thought about it and made a move to, but his hand fell to her shoulder and drew her closer to his side as if on instinct. He stared at the TV, either not realizing he’d done it or waiting to see what she would do.

“I thought it was quite enjoyable,” he announced. “We should make it a weekly tradition.”

“Should we now?”

“Why not? I haven’t had such a relaxing evening in months, and I have a feeling neither have you.”

She couldn’t argue with that. “Walker?”

“Yes, my lady?”

She grinned. He called her that earlier, too. She didn’t want to like it, but she did. It sent a pleasant thrill down her spine, hearing him address her so formally. The words she wanted to hear slipped from her mind and she fumbled, her thumb digging into her opposite palm as her nerves spiked. She sighed, desperate to get back what she’d rehearsed all afternoon about her reasons why they shouldn’t let this, whatever it was, go any further.

His hand suddenly closed over hers, stopping her bad habit. He lifted her chin and their eyes met, making her breath catch. Her heart thudding in her chest, she licked her lips, and he watched the movement, scooting even closer.

“Walker,” she breathed as she moved towards him like a magnet being pulled.

“Jaylyn,” he replied softly, cupping her face. His thumbs brushed her cheeks and she forgot why this was a bad idea. She closed the distance between them and kissed him hot and heavy as he pulled her easily onto his lap.

His hands held her ass as they kissed without worry or care for what they were getting themselves into. Jaylyn didn’t think she could stop now that they had crossed the line. She wanted him, plain and simple. From the way he held onto her, the feeling was mutual. His kisses trailed down her neck to her collarbone as she tugged at his hair and heat pulsed through her body. She felt his erection harden in his jeans as she straddled his lap, and being with him was now a necessity. His hands moved up beneath her sweater, each touch of his fingers pressing into her back driving her want for him even more. She kissed him, their tongues dancing to a frantic beat as he surprised her with his strength and picked her up as he stood.

Without a word, he carried her to the stairs and ascended them, their path slow as the dogs ran around their legs, thinking they were playing.

When Jaylyn had first arrived, she thought she would hate every day working for him, hate being in the same house with him. But those feelings had been thrown to the curb when he showed her the man he truly was. She hadn’t wanted to admit it before, but she was falling for this man with every kiss, every soothing, hot touch of his hands on her body, with every step closer to his bedroom.

They laughed as Strider jumped up, trying to get into his arms with Jaylyn, and he had to set her on her feet. They weren’t in the bedroom yet, but she pressed him into the wall so she could kiss him again, tugging at his t-shirt until he lifted his arms and she shoved it over his shoulders. It dropped to the floor and she was finally able to admire his well-toned abs and pecs. She ran her fingers along those abs and lower, following the light trail of sandy hair leading into his jeans. As her hands moved to his hips and she stood on her toes to cover his lips with hers again, she worried they were moving way too fast. They’d only kissed twice and were going to have sex?

The idea of pulling away now made her long to have him back again.

He ran his hands through her hair as the passionate kiss turned to so much more. He removed her sweater from her body and slid the straps of her bra down her arms, one after the other. Goosebumps covered her flesh at his light touch and the hunger burning in his eyes as he stared at the slopes of her breasts about to be laid bare before his eyes. He reached around and unhooked her bra easily, letting it fall away. He practically growled in approval and lowered his mouth to kiss and suckle her before she had a chance to brace for the intensity of the raw desire flowing into her from him. She was in his arms again as he carried her the rest of the way to his bedroom and laid her on his bed, following her down.

Walker’s kisses were so intense, they resonated deep, and she wanted him buried within her. He kissed his way from one breast to the other, suckling hard on her nipples as she squirmed beneath him. His tongue did not play fair, swirling around the hardened points of sensitive pink flesh as her hands clung to the sheets, grasping for anything to hold onto. He slid down her body and painstakingly unbuttoned her shorts, revealing black panties beneath. He grabbed the tops of both at her hips and with his eyes locked onto hers, dragged them down her ass and legs so she was naked before him. Jaylyn wasn’t close to shy, not with him, not as his gaze raked over her flesh and promised so much pleasure tonight.

Jaylyn wanted him to strip out of his jeans and join her, but when he spread her legs, it wasn’t his cock he filled her with. His fingers glided along her swollen, throbbing lips, driving her to the edge. She tried to shift closer, but he didn’t let her have what she wanted yet.

When she was about to complain that teasing wasn’t nice, he went down on her, sucking her clit hard as his fingers thrust inside her body. They twisted as they thrust, rubbing perfectly on her g-spot as if he knew exactly where it was before he even started kissing her. The moan quickly became a cry of pure ecstasy as his mouth worked against her bead, terrorizing the nerves as his fingers filled her, stretching her even wider. Her gut told her Walker would be a good lover, but she had no idea he’d be this intense. She thrashed on the bed, her hips bucking as she rode his mouth, not caring what she looked like lost in the throes of passion.

As she rode the waves of the orgasm, he licked the length of her before his tongue replaced his fingers. Her body couldn’t be ready for another one, but the moment he thrust that muscle within her sheath, she was right on the edge again and tumbling head over heels.

“Too much,” she gasped as he held her hips, dragging her further down the bed. “Want…want you,” she pleaded as her body trembled with another rush of pleasure. “Walker.”

He pulled back and she sank to the bed until she heard clothes rustling and sat up again. He was naked, his cock bobbing. She wanted it. God, did she want him and his impressive form standing at the foot of his bed. She reached out and wrapped her hands around the burning hot shaft. His grunt of pleasure made her lick her lips before she closed her mouth around the tip. He smoothed back her hair and watched intently as his cock disappeared into her mouth, but as much fun as she hoped to have with him, he removed himself from her grasp and they tumbled back onto the bed, wrapping arms and legs around each other in their desperate need to be close.

There was no room for words, no spare breath as they moved as one being until finally coming together in a mad rush of thrusting bodies and grasping hands. He spread her legs wide with his knee, and Jaylyn was more than swimming through a world of ecstasy. She was home. With Walker holding her close as he kissed her fiercely and his hips moved faster and faster, she was home. He rolled them again and she was on top, riding him hard as his hands cupped her breasts, tugging and teasing her nipples until she threw her head back on a cry. A fire in the kitchen wouldn’t have any heat compared to the inferno growing between them in the sheets.

When she shuddered and collapsed to his chest with a scream of release, he rolled them over again and finished with another powerful thrust home, burying himself completely inside her as his groan joined her cries. He fell to her side and they lay beside one another, covered in a fine sheen of sweat and panting for air. When she found his gaze, they started to laugh, and the laughing turned into hysterics as he drew her close, kissing her up and down her neck and on her cheeks, tickling her sides. The dogs leapt up in bed with them, and Jaylyn forgot Walker was the son of the man who had ruined her family. That he was her enemy and her boss.

Instead, she saw only the man she’d been waiting for all this time. A man she could be herself around and enjoy life with. Whatever worries she had for their future would be set aside and dealt with tomorrow. Tonight, she would take her parents’ advice and live.

* * *

Walker grunted in his sleep, stretching carefully as he yawned and grinned at how worn out, physically, he was. Mentally, he was ready to take on whatever life threw his way next. Jaylyn mumbled in her sleep as she rolled over to her stomach, hugging his pillow close. The sheet slipped down her body, and he gazed at her back, a back he knew quite well.

He’d been ready to hold off on making any moves, but during the movie, they found their way to each other until neither could resist. Softly, he kissed her back and she smiled, still asleep. He rested easily beside her, the three dogs snoring around the room. He couldn’t be with another woman, not after this night. He finally saw the fun, carefree side of Jaylyn, and that was all he wanted to see. No stress, no worry about him marrying someone he loathed so she could get her restaurant back. No matter how this went down, he would find a way to get her what she deserved and make her his. The road ahead was far from clear, but he’d be damned if he didn’t try his hardest to make her happy. She belonged with him. After one night, he knew it deep in his soul. Jaylyn was meant for him and no one else.

She rolled over again and snuggled into his chest as he held her. His eyes slipped shut and he drifted back into a restful sleep.