Here Comes Trouble

business with Dan.”

“The guy who came to see you?”

“Mmm hmm,” he said, bussing her on the nose, then hopping over to the stove when his sauce started to boil. “Turns out he’s not as happy for me as I thought he was.”

“Oh?” Kirby had picked up her knife again, but put it right back down. “In what way?”

“He was thinking I’d get over this…ennui, or whatever you want to call it, and come back and work with him. I worked for his dad as a kid, and with him off and on the whole time I was playing cards. His dad retired about five years ago, moved to Palm Springs. Dan runs their home building and construction company now. And though I enjoy aspects of it, it’s not really want I wanted to do full time, or how I wanted to make use of my degrees.”

“Which are?”

“Architecture and design theory.”

“There wasn’t a way to join his world to yours? They sound related.”

“Not the type of business he does, no. And…frankly, maybe I always knew that I wanted to get out of the desert, take on a new challenge. Vegas and the surrounding counties aren’t exactly known for their architectural brilliance, at least beyond the magnificence of the resort casinos. And I don’t have any interest in commercial building.”

“What did you want to do?”

“That’s just it. I only knew what I didn’t want to do. And I guess Dan thought he knew me better than I did, and figured I’d finally realize that I was destined to work with him. Things aren’t apparently going so well right now, and I’ve offered to help him out, but he’s too proud to accept a loan, much less an outright gift.”

“I understand the feeling.”

He smiled briefly. “I know you do. And I’ve tried to be more discreet and creative in the way I offered help, but…let’s just say it was a sore subject which has been closed for a long time.”

“Until this morning?”

He nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked over, surprised.

“It’s obviously eating away at you. You’re a nurturer, Brett. You take care of people. You want to help Dan because you love him. He can’t accept your help because it makes him feel less of a man, less of an equal. I don’t know what it’s like being in Vegas with you, where you’re like some kind of rock star poker legend, but I’m guessing it can’t be easy on him. So…I guess I kind of understand where he’s coming from. But it’s a shame he can’t see the rest, about your future, I mean. Have you told him?”

“About?”

“The rest, whatever it was you discovered today. About the house and whatever that means to you.”

“I told him about you.”

She looked up; now she was the one with the surprised expression. “You did?”

He nodded. “I wanted him to meet you. And for you to meet him. It’s important to me.”

“Do you think that’s part of why he begged off tonight? I mean, first you turn him down on going back to work with him and I’m guessing he see’s me as an obstacle to that.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, wow, the charity event. He knows you’re helping me? I mean, not directly, but in finding a way to drive guests to the area, to the inn?”

“Not the particulars, but yes.”

“It’s no wonder he stayed away.” She put her knife down. “Maybe you should go over there, talk to him. Spend the evening hanging out, get room service or go out.” She lifted a shoulder and smiled that half smile of hers. “Be anywhere other than here playing house with me.”

She’d said it affectionately, easily. But that’s what they were doing. Playing house. Only he didn’t want to play at it. Not forever, anyway. Slowly, Hennessey. She’s had a lot of experience with temporary. Let her get used to the idea of you becoming permanent. Hell, he still needed to get used to the idea. There was no need to rush anything, anyway. She wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he. She’d realize that sooner or later. He would find his niche here. And it if it was all meant to be, it would all figure itself out in time.

So there was absolutely no reason for him to switch off the burner, cross the short distance to the counter where she was chopping, put her knife down, then scoop her up against his chest and kiss the daylights out of her. But that’s exactly what he wanted to do…so that’s exactly what he did.

“What was that all about?” she said, half laughing, half out of breath when he finally let her feet slide to the floor.

“That is because this is amazingly good.”

She beamed a smile, her eyes shining with true affection. “It is kinda, isn’t it?”

“Thank you,” he said, “for suggesting time with Dan. If you’re truly okay with it, then I think maybe that’s not a bad idea. Can we maybe shoot for lunch together-all three of us-tomorrow? I’ve got stuff in the morning, but we should be done by noon, or shortly after. If you want, maybe come up to the resort and we’ll have lunch there? I don’t mean for you to do any extra work.”

“You just don’t want to risk me cooking for him,” she teased. “Which, good plan. But I think this salad will keep until tomorrow, so maybe that, some ham sandwiches, and I can pick up one of Mrs. Hanson’s pies.”

He’d been ready to tell her not to take on the extra bother. Until she’d gotten to that pie part. He was a sucker for pie. Which, apparently had shown on his face, because she laughed.

“Strawberry rhubarb. You’ll never be the same. Warmed up, with ice cream, it’s like sin on a plate.”

He moved his pan off the burner and then wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Funny, that’s how I think of you.”

Her mouth dropped open, then closed, then she rolled her eyes, but there was the most becoming bloom of pink staining her elegantly sculpted cheekbones, he couldn’t help but laugh.

She waved him out of the kitchen. “Go on,” she said. “I’ll clean up here. And if lunch doesn’t work out tomorrow, no worries. I’d like to meet him, though, so I hope he’s okay with the idea. I’ll come to the resort if you think neutral ground is better.”

“I’ll call you later this evening, let you know for sure.” He crossed back to her, eliciting a squeal when he took her by the hips and sat her up on the counter beside the butcher block. He moved between her thighs and took her face in his hands again, planting a kiss that held both the passion he had for her right that second along with the building excitement he had for their potential future. “I want to tell you everything, about the house, my plans. I want you there, for all of it, involved right alongside me.”

She still looked a little stunned by the kiss. In a good way. A very good way. “Uh…okay. Good,” she said, finally finding her voice. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

She still didn’t get where he was going with this, that the partnership he wanted with her wasn’t about business or friends helping each other out. All of which was wonderful, but the partnership he was interested in was the fully invested one. He knew she’d worked with her ex, so he was going to have to take care in how he presented it to her…but if she shared his vision, nothing could stop them.

He kissed her again; then he groaned and pressed his forehead to hers. “I really want to stay. Eat, talk, maybe take another shower.” He wiggled his eyebrows again so they tickled her forehead, making her giggle in that way that was coming increasingly more naturally to her.

“The shower’s not going anywhere. And neither am I.”

Now all he had to do was convince her he wasn’t going anywhere, either.

Chapter 17

Brett had tried to reach Dan on his way up to the resort, but he hadn’t gotten an answer on the room phone or Dan’s cell. He might have been telling the truth about being wiped out and was already asleep, but it wasn’t even eight in the evening. And the time change was only two hours. He ducked into the first set of elevators, hoping no one on staff noticed him or any of the early arrivals for the event. One in particular he hoped to avoid. The very last thing he needed at the moment was-