Marla sighed and shook her head. “You’re right. I know it. But I’m still in a quandary about this deal.”
Brad moved to his desk. “Come over here. Let’s run some numbers. It shouldn’t be that complicated.”
“I figured you’d ask.” She took some folded papers out of her purse, sat across from him, and slid the papers to the middle of his blotter. “I did this after I called you this morning.”
Brad spent several minutes studying the numbers then sat back and removed his reading glasses. “Risk taking is often the road to success, but in today’s real estate market it’s wise to be cautious. I can see you’ve been vigilant with your finances, and I commend you on what you’ve accomplished.”
“But?”
“But.” He leaned back in his chair. “I imagine you already know this deal would leave you with very little to fall back on if it went south.”
“That’s what’s nagging me. It seems like a great opportunity, almost too good to pass up, but it’s taken me years to finally reach the comfortable position I’m in. The thought of going back to square one scares the bejabbers out of me.”
“It wouldn’t be the end of the world. You’re young. You have many earning years left to replace any possible losses. The question is: How much risk are you willing to take, and more important, what is your ultimate goal?”
Marla stood and paced some more. “The problem for me is that this deal came out of the blue. I usually plan and think about decisions for a while before taking a leap. I only have until this evening to decide.”
“I think you’ve already decided.”
“I have. Thanks, Dad. You know me so well.”
Chapter Sixteen
Marla’s phone rang as she stepped through her front door that evening, and she almost stepped on Skipper hopping around her legs. “Wait a minute, baby. Mama has to answer the phone.”
She scooped him up and grabbed the handset on her coffee table. “Hello?”
“Hey, Red.”
“Hey.” Her heart pounded at the warm male sound of Dwayne’s voice. Skipper barked. “Skip says, ‘hey.’”
“Look, I’ve been thinking about that real estate deal you asked me about. I shouldn’t have brushed you off like that.”
She plopped in the middle of the sofa and petted Skipper. Dwayne’s words soothed her like a warm, slow massage. “It’s okay. I decided to pass on it. I just got home from meeting with the other investors. It’s more risk than I’m willing to take right now.”
“That’s what I thought, but it wasn’t my place to say anything. It could turn out to be very lucrative, but you never know. Undeveloped land can be a bottomless money pit.”
She sighed, so gratified he agreed with her. “Not only that…the development costs are always way more than projected. It’ll be years before they see a return on their investment.” She hugged Skippy and let him lick her cheek. “Where are you?”
“I’m just pulling up in front of your house.”
She stood so abruptly Skipper did a back flip on her couch. “What?”
“Turning off the engine, Danaher.”
Marla ran to the front door, opened it, and watched him step out of the truck. Her heart and lungs floated to her throat when he grinned and waved. His testosterone-oozing stroll melted her resistance. Not that there was much to begin with.
He opened his arms. “I missed you today, beautiful.”
A lump the size of a Ping Pong ball formed in her throat, choking off words. She met him halfway and fell into his embrace. An unexpected surge of desire for him warmed her in all the right spots.
His broad chest bounced when he laughed. “Wow. This is a better reception than I expected.” He kissed her. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.”
Heart tripping, Marla kissed him back. “Me too.”
Skipper barked and clawed at his jeans. Marla lifted him up and pressed him to her cheek. “Skip missed you too.” She took his arm. “Come inside.”
Dwayne closed the door with his elbow. “Put down the mouse. I want to touch you.” He brushed his hand over her bottom when she bent to set Skip on the floor.
Marla rolled into his arms and kissed him. He pushed her back against the door, pressed his body hard against her, stealing her breath. She pushed his jacket off his shoulders without letting up on the kiss. On fire, she yanked his T-shirt over his head and pressed her lips to his neck then grazed his collarbone with her teeth.
Dwayne’s head dropped back. “My God, I want to take you here and now, but I need a shower. I’ve been riding my crew for ten solid hours.”
She stroked his chest. “My shower is big enough for both of us. I have a teakwood sitting bench in there, but I don’t want to wait, Dempsey. Can we shower…after?” Where was this mindless need for him coming from? What did it matter? Nothing mattered more than making love with him again.
“Don’t want to wait? That’s my favorite song, Danaher.” His hands went to her breasts, her sides. “Get out of these clothes.”
Marla reached for the light switch.
“No, leave it on. I need to see you. All of you.”
Her clothes hit the floor, the blouse landing on the dog. Skipper yelped and skittered out of the way. Dwayne shoved his jeans below his hips and urged her shoulders and back against the door.
“Wrap those sexy legs around me, Red. We’re going for a wild ride.”
Hot water sluiced over his back in the steam-fogged shower stall. Dwayne sat on the teak bench and reveled in the feel of her hands shampooing his hair, massaging his scalp and shoulders. Arms around her hips, he pulled her against him and buried his face in her breasts. If struck dead this moment, he’d die a happy man.
She was very quiet, too quiet.
“Where are you,
