“Just keep fucking me!”

I let out a laugh. For one horrid moment, I thought I’d hurt him. That I’d done something wrong, something he’d hated. But Andrew wanted more. God, yes, he wanted more.

I was more than happy to give it to him. I gripped his hips, keeping myself buried deep, but careful not to move. “I’ll keep fucking. Give me a second. I’ll fuck you until you’re ready for me to shoot in your ass.”

Andrew whimpered, and I nearly came then.

The thought of actually coming in his ass. Of there not being a condom between us. Of being truly and completely joined with this gorgeous creature… what the fuck was I thinking? Shoving that thought aside, I released his hips and secured myself over him by pressing my hand over his head once more. “Here you go. Tell me when you can’t take it anymore.”

Another whimper.

I got lost in Andrew’s body. To the heat of him around me. The tight squeeze of him pulling and milking my cock. The smooth defined muscles of his back covered in sweat, the peach fuzz of brown hair covering the perfect globes of his ass. He’d been stunning clothed, but Andrew was perfection naked. And to find a man who looked like him and could take it just like he did…

Well, there was a first for everything, it seemed.

On and on I fucked. Until sweat drenched us and the bed, until Andrew’s cries were little more than steady, quiet moans. Until I feared I was going to break my promise and blow my load before he was ready. Then he began to keen and push against me harder, his ass even hungrier for me, his fists clenching the bedspread. His cries became staccato intakes of air until his breath caught. I felt him tighten around me so much that it hurt, and then he cried out in relief.

He’d come without even touching himself.

Between that realization and his continued spasms around my dick, I came. Hard. I pumped into him, then again, emptying myself. Once more wishing to be free of the barrier between us.

A final thrust and I held it, buried deep inside Andrew. Taking a second to try and breathe, to make sure I’d always remember this moment. How I felt. How there was no other thought than how perfect this man was. No other sensation than pleasure. No other sight than his beautiful body.

Then I pulled free and collapsed on the bed, hitting the mattress the same moment Andrew crashed down as well. I pulled off the condom, tied it off, and then dropped it over the edge of the bed.

The room was nothing more than heat, smells of sex, and panting breaths. When I was certain I wasn’t going to die from hyperventilation, I twisted to look at him. He was staring at me with those bright blue eyes. Though they were a little dazed, he looked utterly happy and somehow even more beautiful.

“Wow.”

He grinned. “Yeah. Wow. You’re, like, the world’s most perfect top.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling utterly pleased. “Said the world’s most perfect bottom.” He leaned closer, and I kissed him. His lips soft and warm. After a second, his tongue caressed mine, and I couldn’t suppress a sigh.

A man who could fuck like an animal and kiss like he was giving his soul. “You’re fucking perfect, Andrew. I’ve never met anyone who—” The sound of my words met my ears, and I froze. Who what? Never met anyone I’d wanted more? Whom I wanted to fuck and then wrap in my arms and fall asleep as I held him? Whom I didn’t want to let go?

Andrew hesitated and then smiled. It seemed forced.

Fuck. I’d freaked him out.

Or he could tell I’d freaked myself out.

Fuck.

He let out a long breath, pushed himself up to a seated position, and raked his fingers through his hair.

Even in my semi-panic, the sight of him blew my mind. He was classically beautiful. That really was the right word. I could say it a thousand times, and it wouldn’t stop describing him. The man was beautiful.

Andrew looked around the room, obviously nervous. Was he hoping I’d ask him to stay, or trying to get away before I did?

Like I’d ever do that.

Though I’d never been this close to that inclination before.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll towel off real quick before getting dressed.”

“Sure, of course.” Stay, just stay. “You can shower if you want.”

Another hesitation. “No. I’m okay and close to home.” A little laugh. “Not that there’s anywhere in Lavender Shores that isn’t close to home.” He leveled his gaze on me. “Thank you. That was… amazing.”

“Yeah, it really was.”

Then he was out of bed and drying off in the bathroom. I slid back into my pants, trying to talk myself into asking him to stay the night, knowing that I wouldn’t.

He dressed, and I couldn’t keep from watching, as much as I hated him covering back up that stunning body.

Then we were walking to the door. He was going to leave.

I could ask him to stay.

I could give him my number.

I could… I could… I didn’t know… something.

The door was open, and he looked back at me with that crooked smile.

This was the moment to kiss him. A kiss goodbye. A kiss that heated from goodbye to another round in bed. Then another.

His smile faltered, and the moment passed.

“Night, Joel.” He gave a little nod and headed toward the stairs.

“Goodnight, Andrew.”

He didn’t look back as he walked out of sight.

I stood at the door for several ridiculous moments until I realized I was being a complete jackass. I shut the door and headed for the bathroom. Even after all that, I still needed a cold shower.

For the first time in my life, I agreed with my father’s decision to keep me out of a managerial position at Harvest Coffee. Until this point, I’d worked harder than anyone else on the board, save for my dad. However, my lack of preparation in all things Lavender Shores was a nail in the coffin of all my arguments for taking a leadership role.

Small price to pay for the time spent with Andrew last night.

I’d sworn I set my alarm for five. Then eight in the morning rolled around, and I sat up in bed in a panic. Only half an hour before it was game time. I debated between showering and brushing my teeth or speed-reading the small novel of a memo about Lavender Shores.

The choice was easy. I’d spoken to the owner of Lavender Realty a few days before. She sounded like a middle-aged woman and had a slightly slurred Southern twang, which was weird to find in Northern California. I had a feeling looks and charm were going to go a lot further with her than knowing the ins and outs of the town. Shower it was.

With ten minutes to spare, I tossed the Lavender Shores packet in my leather satchel and left the bed-and-breakfast. I made it about ten steps down the sidewalk before I turned back around. The place was buzzing with people. They all looked groomed and moneyed, but in my suit, I stuck out as much as if I’d shown up at a wedding in board shorts.

I hurried back to my room and changed into merino wool pants and a lightweight gray sweater. Despite being the last day in May, it wasn’t supposed to get above sixty. I rushed back down the stairs but halted, staring at the place where I’d kissed Andrew against the wall.

He’d filled my dreams. The spicy smell of his skin, the sound of his moans, the taste of his precome. The longing in his eyes when he smiled. No wonder I’d overslept. Good thing he hadn’t stayed the night. I’d have blown off the morning appointment and spent the day in bed. Yeah, that’s why he shouldn’t have spent the night. I cursed at myself. There I was, running late, and I was mooning over a particular step in my hotel.

Very good thing Andrew Kelly hadn’t stayed the night. The man was dangerous.

Even as I nearly jogged the rest of the way down the stairs and onto the street, I wondered if I’d see him again. It was a small town. I’d already decided I was going to stay the extra night, needed or not, on the off-chance Andrew came back to the bar later. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d wanted the same man two nights in a row.

In fact, I could extend my stay even longer. Maybe five nights through the weekend.

Holy shit, Joel, shut the fuck up.

I didn’t bother taking in the stores or architecture as I sped along the sidewalk, glancing at the business names and looking for the right one. Half of them had Lavender on their sign. Lavender Shores might be known for its beauty and high quality of life, but it seemed the people didn’t have too much originality.

Then I was there, Lavender Realty. I actually passed it before the name sunk in. After slowing, I went back to the front door, took a deep breath to calm my breathing, and walked in to the ring of a little chime overhead.

“One second,” someone said from somewhere down a hall. From those two words, I identified the voice as belonging to the woman I had spoken to the other day. Her accent was even more pronounced in person. Shit. I started to dig into my satchel, though I doubted I had time. Name, name, name. Crap. What had Andrew done to me?

When she rounded the corner, I quit worrying about her name and focused all my attention on keeping my expression neutral. I’d slipped back in time into an episode of Dynasty—my mother had watched that show religiously. Although this live version had been blended with Dallas.

Her name came to me when she was a few feet away, preparing to offer her hand. Mrs. Bryant was probably in her fifties or sixties and all of five foot nothing, but wearing drag queen heels, with a mound of Texas-sized blonde hair to match. Between the two, a powder-blue power suit, with pads wide enough to nearly match my own shoulders. “Why, you must be Mr. Rhodes. So nice to meet you, dear. Goodness, you’re pretty.”

She took my words away. She couldn’t be for real, could she?

I took her ring-encrusted hand and gave a light squeeze. “Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Bryant.”

She waved her hand through the air as soon as I released it. “Oh, call me Regina. The last thing I want is a handsome man calling me Mrs. anything. Unless it’s Mrs. Robinson, in your case.” She winked a fluttering false-eyelashed eye. “Just don’t tell my husband.” She giggled.

Again, there were no words. Not a one.

I was fairly certain she wasn’t actually flirting, not really. At least, I thought so. Either way, I’d made the right call choosing grooming over town knowledge. This was going to be a piece of cake. Thank God. Despite my father’s refusal to put me in a higher role in the company, we both knew he chose me for this because I could close nearly impossible deals even better than he could. Lavender Shores was supposed to be the crown jewel of impossible deals, at least within a hundred-mile radius from San Francisco. Apparently, those rumors hadn’t been well-founded. I was going to have Mrs. Regina Robinson Bryant wrapped around my finger in a matter of minutes. I’d put money on the contract being signed by five o’clock, with her having no idea who I really was. Signed, sealed, and delivered. My father wouldn’t be able to make an excuse this time. Not unless he wanted to admit he feared I’d outshine him.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to stay in town the extra nights, even if the deal was done. I could postpone gloating to my father for a couple of days for the chance of round two with Andrew.

Regina motioned back down the hallway. “Follow me, sweetie.”

Despite her appearance, neither the essence of Texas nor the eighties were present in her office. It was modern and sleek, with windows looking out on a small portion of woods just outside.

She took a seat behind her glass-topped desk, making a show of crossing her legs and smoothing her skirt. With a long mauve-tipped fingernail, she brought her computer to life. “All right, my dear, let’s find your dream home. I have five different properties to show you today. I’m certain one of them will suit.” As she took a business approach, her twang lessened a bit. “If not, I promise I’ll find the right one for you. I’m sure you know there’s a limited supply of options in Lavender Shores, but if we can’t find something at the moment, you never know when one might open up.”

Maybe I’d heard wrong. “My dream home?”

Regina smiled, nodded, and then angled the large monitor toward me, tapping it with her nail. “Now, this first one is the rarest. It dates back to the town’s founding in 1943. Well, I guess a couple of years after the founding, but close enough. It’s in gorgeous condition and has been updated.”

“I think there’s been—”

She didn’t let me finish. “Unfortunately that update was in the seventies, so there will need to be more renovations, doubtlessly. You seem like a very modern young man. And while we have strict guidelines on what can be done to the exteriors, you have free rein on the inside.” She waved a hand in the air again, interrupting herself. “Well, no, not on this property, actually. With homes built before 1960, you can’t tear down walls as such, unless you’re going to rebuild the original layout, but you can update finishes and everything.” She finally looked away from the computer, offering me a smile. “Will that be a problem for you? If you’re intent on newer construction, we can skip this one, though I can’t imagine turning down such a historical landmark of the town. Those don’t come around very often and typically have quite a waiting list.”

Now that she’d taken time for a breath, I gave an apologetic wince. “I’m so sorry, Mrs., er, Regina; there’s been a mix-up somewhere. I’m not here for a home. I’m looking to open a business.”

Her drawn-on brows knitted; she looked down at her file and then back up. “Really?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.” I had no idea how I’d given her the impression I was looking for a house. Hopefully this was just a glitch, and there were options for commercial property available at the moment. Otherwise, it would be my father gloating instead of me.

She clucked her tongue. “Well, if this isn’t a yellow jacket in the outhouse.”

I flinched. “Pardon me?”

Regina sucked in a breath, and her eyes widened. “Oh, of course. Of course.” She gave a long slow nod in my direction. “Did you call me on a Tuesday?”

“On a…?” I thought back. “I’m not sure which evening it was. Sorry.”

Another nod. “Evening. Yes. I’m sure it was a Tuesday, then.” She leaned forward, her ample cleavage pushing at the pale pink silk under the blue blazer. “I have a slight drinking problem, but just on Tuesdays. The girls and I have book club and wine coolers on Tuesday afternoons. I’m so sorry.”

I waited for a punch line, but after a moment, I gave up. “No problem.” Except for it being the biggest problem possible. “Do you happen to have any properties zoned commercial that are available?”

She shook her head. “You know, I’m sure we do, but I haven’t the foggiest. I hate worrying over commercial. Such a pain. However, I can turn you over to the young man who handles that for me. I hate to do it when you and I have already started a working relationship, but I’m certain he’d be able to help you with this.” She sat up a little straighter at her next thought. “If you do find a commercial property to meet your needs, you’ll obviously be moving here, so then you can come back to me.” She gestured toward the computer. “Would you like me to keep this property in your file for consideration?”

Why would I move here? “Uhm, sure. That’s fine. Is there a chance I can talk to the man you mentioned? Today, hopefully. I do need to get a move on.” Although, that would be a great reason to stay in town longer. Maybe a week filled with Andrew. Discover just how many ways I could make his body tremble.

“Oh, absolutely! He’s got some showings this afternoon, but let me call him and see if he doesn’t mind coming in early.”

Thankfully, she got hold of him, and he was scheduled to arrive in half an hour, which gave me some time to peruse the file on Lavender Shores. Not as much as I needed, but at least it was something. Enough to make sense of Regina’s comment about moving to town.

Not only did Lavender Shores not allow chain businesses of any sort—which I knew, and why my father had sent me—but there was also a requirement that all businesses be owned by residents of the town. Well, that I hadn’t planned on. Nor had Dad specified that minor detail, though I was certain he’d been aware. God, he drove me crazy. The tests never stopped. Ever. Three-and-a-half decades of task after task to determine if I was worthy of the Rhodes and Harvest Coffee legacy. The fucker.

Whatever, there’d be a way around this. Just like the loophole with the no chain businesses. I’d find it. Then shove it in his face.