Nick coughs into his hand. “I’m hitting my girl for sure.” He twists his head to where his lips rest against my ear. “With an emphasis on the hitting part,” he whispers, and a bout of strong arousal slams through my system.
“Yes, please,” I murmur back.
“I think we all need to head home.” Nick sets down his beer, grabs my glass, and adds it to the ones on the table.
“Guys, I just got here!” Dara pouts.
“I’m happy to keep you company.” Silas offers his hand.
Dara smiles, and he leads her over to an empty table before waving to Jack.
“See ya!” Nick says and tugs on my hand before I can even say goodbye.
“Nick, I didn’t say goodbye!”
“Too much time. I need you naked and biting down on my shoulder while I ride you wild. No time to waste.”
The image of me bare, riding him instead, his huge length piercing me deeply, has me positively panting. “Maybe I want to ride you. After the spanking, of course,” I say in my most sultry and submissive voice.
He growls one single word that has my toes curling and my heart pounding.
“Deal.”
Our family’s Realtor meets me at the laundromat next to Nick’s building a few days later. His suit alone costs twice as much as what Nick pays for his monthly mortgage on his business and home.
Mr. Harbinger wipes a single finger along the top of one of the washing machines. “He’s offering to let you keep all of the equipment and buy the property as is.” He scowls and flicks his fingers.
“Yes, I know; we discussed it. I’m going to keep two of them for washing towels, but the remaining lot of them are being donated to local shelters, missions, and charities that need them. A lot of them are brand new and will do some good for the community,” I explain happily.
Mr. Harbinger frowns. “Are you completely sure you want this property? I can find you far better in more affluent areas.”
I tilt my head. “Another area won’t work. I’m expanding my boyfriend’s business.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder toward the wall that is shared with Nick’s gym.
“The gym? Your significant other is the gym owner next door?”
I smile widely and with pride. “Yes. And the loft. I’m going to hire some of our people to tear down the wall between the two lofts above our gym. It will triple the current size of our home.”
“You live here. On this street, above a filthy gymnasium of men who pound each other with their fists for sport?”
His statement rankles, and I’m unable to keep the glower from appearing across my face. “Mr. Harbinger, you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The neighborhood is fine. I know practically everyone now. And Nick takes care of me. Besides, the guys who come to the gym would never let anything happen to me or any woman. It’s perfectly safe.”
“What do your father and mother think about this?” he asks haughtily.
I shrug. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. Do you have the paperwork? I’m eager to sign and get moving on this project.”
He huffs, sets his briefcase on one of the washing machines, and pulls out a stack of papers with yellow tabs where I’m to sign.
“You’re paying above market value.” His tone is conciliatory and condescending at the same time.
I snicker. “I know. Old fella wants to retire. Who am I to deny him what he thinks the place is worth? And I’d have paid more because I want this…very much.”
Mr. Harbinger pushes up his rimless glasses. Nothing on him is out of place. He has snow-white hair, slicked back to perfection. His suit is pressed, nary a wrinkle to be found. Scanning him up and down, I note that he fits into the life my parents have but not mine. Not the life I’m making for myself here in Berkeley with my Italian Stallion.
I take the pen he offers and sign away for the property. I cannot wait to tell Nick about my plan. It’s going to be amazing, but first, I need to donate all the extra equipment and get it cleaned out. Especially the loft. I’m going to hire two teams to outfit the loft at the same time that work is being done below. Then maybe once this half is complete, Nick will let me update the rest of our home.
A stab of anxiety pricks me as I hand the papers to the Realtor.
What if Nick doesn’t like the idea of expanding our home and his business? Maybe he won’t want to share his dream with me. It’s definitely a very big risk I’m taking with a man’s man type like Nick. He’s got a dominant personality in and out of the bedroom and a true old-fashioned family. He could very well not take kindly to his woman making changes like this without telling him.
I pluck at my lips with thumb and forefinger. Mr. Harbinger snaps his briefcase closed, comes to me, and air kisses both sides of my cheeks. “If that’s all you’re buying today, I’ll take my leave.”
I chuckle. “That’s all for today. Thank you.”
“Until next time.” He half bows, which I’ve always thought was really weird. I’m not royalty. My mother, on the other hand, loves his formality. Me, I just appreciate that he takes care of everything and does it quickly.
As he leaves, I look around at the brightly lit laundromat, trying to imagine it as a gym. I can totally see it, but the real question is…will Nick?
My heart says he will; my mind fears he won’t. There’s only one way to find out.
I think back to the conversation I had with my new doctor, Shelby Batchelor.
“Worst-case scenario, he says no, and you resell the property. No harm, no foul.”
No harm, no foul. She also reminded me that the greatest achievements in life often come when taking the greatest risks. Nick has absolutely
