She believed he
felt that way, but how would he feel in a year? Would a monogamous
relationship have lost its appeal for him? Only time would tell.
Tara was willing to invest the time, but that meant taking it
slowly. She stroked the arm he had wrapped around her waist.
“Please, don’t push me on this.”
Sighing, he
said, “Fine, take all the time you need.”
She knew he was
sulking, which was not the way she’d envisioned ending their day.
She rolled over and kissed his neck, hoping to make him forget all
about their disagreement.
“You don’t play
fair.” She felt his smile against the curve of her neck. “Not that
I’m complaining.”
Raising her
head, she said, “I’ll stay for now, but promise you won’t try to
make me feel guilty if I decide I need my own space?”
Grinning, he
kissed the tip of her nose. “I can’t promise that. I intend to pull
out all the stops to keep you right here.” He laughed when she
slapped his chest. “And I do fight dirty, so consider yourself
forewarned.”
***
Keith was
sitting at his desk the next day when his phone rang. “Hello.”
“You’re even
stupider than I thought.”
Biagio.
Pushing away from his desk, Keith gripped the phone tighter. “What
the hell do you want?”
“I already told
you what I want. I want Tara back.”
“Yeah, well,
that’s not gonna happen.”
“Oh, it will. I
can promise you that.”
Keith knew Tara
wouldn’t go back to her ex after being intimate with him, but that
didn’t stop him from experiencing a twinge of jealousy. “You’re
wasting your time. She’s moved on… with me.”
“I know that’s
what you think.” He laughed. “But this living arrangement of yours
is only temporary, trust me.”
Keith picked up
the cordless phone and walked the length of the office. “If you
know she’s living with me, that should tell you it’s serious.” At
least it was for Keith. Tara wasn’t ready to jump in with both feet
just yet, but they would grow closer every day. It was
inevitable.
“I don’t care
how you feel. I want to know how my
angel
feels.”
Keith’s stomach
churned at the term of endearment, but even more at the thought of
Biagio getting anywhere near Tara. “Stay the hell away from her!”
His door was open a crack, and he crossed the room to close it. “I
mean it. You get within ten feet of her, and she’ll take out a
restraining order against you so fast—”
Laughing,
Biagio said, “Do you really think a piece of paper will keep me
from her?” Lowering his voice, he said, “Nothing will keep me away
from her. Not you, a cop, or an army of guards. I’ll make my move,
Armstrong, and when I do, you won’t know what the hell hit
you.”
***
Tara arrived
home before Keith. She and Ava had stopped at the grocery store on
the way home, so Tara bought the ingredients for chicken cacciatore
and cheesecake. She knew she was at risk of settling into a life of
domestic bliss too soon, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
Waking up in Keith’s arms could easily become addictive.
She had the
small TV in the kitchen tuned to a country music video station, so
she didn’t hear Keith come in. He slid his arms around her waist
and buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply.
“Hmm, I don’t
know which smells better: you or the dinner.”
Smiling, she
turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Careful how
you answer that, mister.”
He chuckled and
leaned over her shoulder to take another whiff of the dinner. “I’m
famished, so I’m going to go with the food. By the time I’m ready
for dessert, you’ll definitely be back at the top of my list.”
Tearing her
eyes off him was difficult. She’d left for work as he was getting
out of the shower, so she hadn’t seen him in his black suit, light
blue shirt, and matching silk tie. He was sexy in sweats, but in a
custom suit, the man was a walking God. “You look nice.”
He grinned as
though he’d been reading her mind. “Thanks, but I’m gonna go grab a
shower and get out of this thing.” He raised an eyebrow. “Care to
join me?”
“I’d love to,
but I can’t. I have to keep an eye on this and add the blueberries
to the cheesecake.”
“Cheesecake
too?” He patted his flat stomach. “You do realize you’re going to
have to help me work this off later, right?”
Tara turned
back to the stove when she felt heat rising up her neck. The night
before was the first time they’d made love, and she wasn’t used to
the intimacy their new relationship entailed. Not that she hadn’t
replayed their night in her head a dozen times. Who was she
kidding? She was as anxious as he was for a re-enactment.
When she heard
his laughter drifting down the hallway, she knew his damn telepathy
was at work again. It was scary how well he knew her already. They
had been friends back in the day, but that didn’t explain the
intense bond that had evolved almost overnight. Or had it been
building for months and she just hadn’t noticed?
Twenty minutes
later, he returned wearing a light blue T-shirt and black, Nike
warm-up shorts. His hair was still damp, and he hadn’t bothered to
shave. “How was your day?” He kissed her cheek before leaning in to
steal a piece of chicken from the skillet.
Tara slapped
his hand. “It was good. How was yours?”
“It was okay.”
He grabbed a beer out of the fridge. “I spent most of it with Jace.
Things with his business are coming together, but I still need to
consult with him from time to time.”
Brent and Keith
were trying to help their half-brother get his family business back
in the black. They were trying to repair their strained
relationship with Jace and their mother, and according to Ava, it
seemed to be working.
“How’re things
going with him?” she asked.
“Okay.” He
brought the bottle to his lips. “He’s not as bad as I thought he
would be.”
Tara plated the
chicken cacciatore before handing one of the plates to Keith. “Gee,
that’s a ringing endorsement if ever I’ve heard one.”
“What can I
say? It’s weird. I mean, we have the same mother, but we didn’t
grow up together. He’s blood, but I doubt we’ll ever have the kind
of relationship I have with Brent.” He led her into the dining
room, set his plate down at the head of the table, and held out the
chair next to him for her.
She couldn’t
help but be impressed by his manners. His mother hadn’t been a part
of his life growing up, but his father had obviously taught him how
to treat a lady. “Speaking of Brent, were things tense between you
two today?” She hated to think that she’d caused a rift between
them. She knew how close they were.
“No, it was
fine.” He waited until she was seated to sit down and place the
white linen napkin in his lap. “He knows when to push and when to
back off.”
“Is that so?”
Tara smiled. “Does he do that often? Push you, I mean?”
Keith grinned
while picking up his fork. “Sure, he’s my older brother. Busting my
chops is part of his job description.” He took a mouthful of food
and rewarded her with an appreciate moan. “Wow. You’ve never told
me—where’d you learn to cook like this?”
Tara shouldn’t
bask in a little compliment, but she did. She knew he hated to cook
and probably hadn’t enjoyed many home-cooked meals until she moved
in. She was happy to treat him after everything he’d done for her.
“My mama’s an amazing cook. You think this is good? Wait ‘til I
invite you to their place for dinner.”
“Is that in the
cards?” he asked, looking hopeful.
She hadn’t
intended her comment as an offer, but if things continued to go
well for them, a visit seemed like a natural progression. “I think
it might be.” She was still trying to play it cool, but his boyish
grin made it difficult not to indulge him. He was so cute when he
was getting what he wanted.
“It is,” he
said, winking as he brought another forkful of food to his mouth.
“Not a doubt in my mind.”
She loved how
confident he was about where their relationship was headed, but
things could change. People changed, feelings changed. Sometimes
overnight. “So I guess it’s going to be a busy couple of weeks
preparing for the wedding.”
Keith smiled.
“I know you’re trying to change the subject because you’re not
ready to talk about us.”
He was right.
“We should do whatever we can to help Brent and Ava. I know they
have a wedding planner, but it’s kind of our job as maid of honor
and best man to step up and help them, right?”
“Sure, whatever
they need, we’ll be there. I think they know that.”
Tara nodded and
chewed slowly. Soon her best friend would be starting a new
life…
“What are you
thinking about?”
Was she that
transparent? “I was just thinking about how things are going to
change. For both of us. I’m used to prowling for men with my best
friend. We won’t be able to do that anymore since she has Brent
now.”
Keith frowned.
“You wouldn’t be able to do that even if Ava wasn’t marrying Brent.
You have me, remember?”
Tara was caught
off guard by the reminder. She wanted to be in a committed
relationship with him, didn’t she? “Right.”
“Thanks,” he
muttered, reaching for his beer.
“I’m sorry.”
Tara touched his hand. “I didn’t mean to sound like I’m not happy
with where we are. I am.”
He looked at
her carefully. “You sure? I don’t want to be with a woman who
doesn’t want to be with me, Tara.” He looked down at his half-empty
plate. “I don’t mind taking this slow to convince you I’ve changed,
if that’s what you need to put your mind at ease, but I can’t
convince you to feel something you don’t.”
She was messing
up in a big way. She finally had a guy who cared about her, who
would do anything for her, and she was making him question
everything. “I’m sorry.” She pushed her plate aside. “You’re not
the only one who’s terrible at relationships. I am too.” Offering
him a wry smile, she said, “You do realize we’re doomed,
right?”
He reached for
her hand. “I’m not a quitter. If it’s something I want, I go for
it.” Bringing her hand to his lips, he said, “As long as you’re in
this, I’m right there with you. I’ll fight for this—for you—as long
and hard as it takes.”
Tara stood up
and settled into his lap. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried
her face in his neck. “I want this to work. I do. Promise you won’t
give up on me?”
Keith chuckled.
“Baby, that’s the easiest promise I’ve ever made.”
The weeks leading up
to the wedding flew by in a flurry of activity. Before Keith knew
it, he was standing up to give the toast at Ava and Brent’s
reception. As soon as he moved to the podium, a hush fell over the
room. Everyone knew what was coming. He wasn’t one to prepare
speeches; he preferred to speak from the heart.
“Those of you
who know Brent know he can be an ornery S.O.B.” Keith smiled when
his eyes fell on their father. Jerry was looking good in a classic
black tuxedo with his friend Elsie at his side. Brent rolled his
eyes and Ava held his arm, a wide smile on her face. She knew
exactly what Keith was talking about.
“When Brent
wants something, he goes after it, and nothing gets in his way.
I’ve always admired that about him.”
Brent raised
his glass to his brother with a smile.
“Of course,
that’s not the only thing I admire about him. It’s no secret he’s a
genius in the boardroom, but what most people don’t realize is that
he’d do anything for the people he loves. My dad and I have been
fortunate enough to be in that select group for a long time, and
now Ava’s joined the ranks too.” Keith smiled at his sister-in-law.
“I see the way he looks at you. Like you’re the only person in the
world… because to him, you’re the only one who matters.” Ava looked
at Brent, her eyes welling with tears. Keith could feel Tara’s
eyes, but he didn’t trust himself to look at her just yet. He
needed to get through his speech first. “Ava, the most important
thing to Brent is making all of your dreams come true, and I have
no doubt he will.”
Ava dabbed at
her eyes with a cloth napkin, nodding.
“Watching you
guys fall in love and commit to spending your lives together has
been an eye-opening experience for me…” This was it—the moment he
bared his heart for Tara and the world to see. “I didn’t realize
what I’d been missing until I saw what you had.” He risked a glance
at Tara. She seemed to be holding her breath, waiting to hear what
he might say next. “You make everyone around you believe in that
happy ending we all want. I can see you guys growing old together,
loving each other forever. I have no doubt that’s the way it’ll be.
I was never a big believer in fate… now I am.”
Ava reached for
Brent’s hand and squeezed it as their eyes met.
“You guys
turned a cynic into a believer, and if your love is strong enough
to do that, I know there’s nothing you can’t conquer together.”
Keith raised his champagne glass and smiled at the bride and groom.
“I love and respect you both so much, and there’s no one happier
than I am that you found your way back to each other.”
“Except for
me!” Brent shouted. The guests laughed as Ava kissed her husband’s
cheek.
“Welcome to the
family, Ava.” Keith winked at her. “At least now I’ll have someone
to help me keep this guy in line.” Extending his glass in Brent and
Ava’s direction, he said, “To Brent and Ava.”
The chorus rang
out, four hundred guests clinked glasses, and the newly married
couple kissed. Keith stepped away from the podium, hoping to catch
a breath of fresh air before the bridal party was called to the
dance floor. Before he could escape, the band started playing, and
the M.C. made his way to the microphone.