He cupped her backside and let his thumb slide along the crease of her bottom, making her shiver. “Hey, Atlanta, you have any cute Southern sayings for when you come real hard?”
Megan couldn’t stop the smile. “Put in the work and you might find out.”
“That is one challenge I am definitely up for.”
He guided her through the dark hall leading from the garage into the laundry room, past the silent kitchen, and down another hallway. At the end, they walked through a small sitting area that led to a spacious bedroom. A dim lamp was lit in the corner, and the room was decorated in deep greens and blues. Through the french doors, she saw lights flickering on the dark hillsides. Megan stood in the darkness and stared into the distance.
“It’s a great view in the morning.” Nico spoke behind her.
She turned to see him nudge the door closed with his foot. Then he started unbuttoning his work shirt.
Megan turned to watch him. “The view isn’t too bad at night.”
He smiled as he loosened his shirt, then tugged it over his head, unbuttoning his jeans as he walked around the foot of the bed. “You know, the minute I set eyes on you, I wanted this.” He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful. Bright. That smile you have… It just lit me up. Then I got to know you and I liked you even more. Your drive. Your loyalty.”
Megan slid her hands along Nico’s olive-toned skin, sliding her fingers under the waistband of his jeans. “Oh yeah? Tell me more.”
“Your laugh.” His breath hitched. “Your fuck-it attitude. It’s sexy as hell.”
Dark curling hair grew on his chest, sprinkled with the same silver that grew at his temples and in his beard. His torso was solid, the muscles not defined like the young surfers on the beach but thick and heavy like a man who worked hard days in the field.
“I wanted you too,” she said bluntly. “Then I started working for you and realized you’re a stubborn ass.”
He chuckled and started playing with the button at the front of her jeans. “I was probably worse than usual because I was trying to keep my hands to myself and keep things professional.”
“You?” Megan reached down and pulled up the rose-colored shirt she’d worn to work that day. “Keep things professional?” She stood in front of him, wearing nothing but a lacy pink bra with her jeans half down her legs.
“Fuck.” Nico sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her. “You’re so damn pretty, and I want to mess you up.” He looked up, pure mischief in his eyes. “Just a little.”
He was so different than Rodney’s carefully manicured body. Megan felt wild and greedy. She wanted to explore every inch of him.
She leaned over and put both hands on his shoulders while he cupped her breasts. “It’s been a while since I did this, you know?”
“Don’t worry.” That grin was going to do her in. “I know how to take my time.”
Megan woke up the next morning curled next to a large, warm body. Her joints felt loose and languid. She drifted in and out of sleep, and in the slow, fuzzy waking moments before she opened her eyes, she registered Nico’s familiar smell, the scent of coffee, and heavy footsteps approaching her door.
Oh, Adam must be awake already.
That was funny. She was usually the one who had to wake Adam up. He was seventeen, and he was still terrible about his alarm clock. Trina would be up and fueled with coffee, and Adam—
“Dad.” Heavy knocks banged on the door to her bedroom. “Hey, Dad, Beth made coffee, are you still—? Oh my God, Adam’s mom!”
A door slammed as Megan sat bolt upright in bed. She looked down.
Not her bed.
Looked at the door. “Not my door.”
Nico was blinking awake beside her. “Hey.” He was shirtless and kind of adorable, and his lips were especially full and kissable in the morning, and she had a feeling that one of Nico’s children had just gotten an eyeful.
Thank God she wasn’t sleeping naked.
She tapped on his growing friend beneath the sheets. “Down, boy.”
Nico cleared his throat. “Yeah, he’s pretty excited not to wake up alone this morning, so—”
“Yeah, normally I’d be all for good-morning nookie, but I’m pretty sure your kids came home early.”
“What?” He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Looked at the door. Smelled the coffee. Looked back at Megan. “Shit.”
“Yeah. I think the words were ‘Oh my God, Adam’s mom.’ So there is zero chance I’m going to sneak out of here anonymously.” She rubbed her hands over her face. “Good Lord, this was not a good idea.”
“Hell yes, it was.” He took her hand from her face. “Our kids are… You know, they’re teenagers. They know we have… lives outside of them.”
“Okay, in theory, yes. But they don’t want to know know.” She felt the bed beneath her jump to the side. “I need to calm down; I’m starting to move things.”
“Did you do that last night? Because I swear there was a moment when you were—”
Megan slapped a hand over his mouth. “Uh, yes. Probably yes. When I get excited or have a very strong emotional reaction, sometimes I make things move. Unconsciously.”
Sometimes I break things or set off alarms. Don’t press your luck.
“Right.” He sat up straighter. “I guess it’s a good thing you borrowed that shirt.” He cleared his throat. “If you want to avoid prying eyes, the french doors lead outside.”
“Right.” Aaaaand she wanted to die. “What’s more embarrassing? Doing the walk of shame past your two teenagers or sneaking out of your bedroom after we’ve already been caught?”
“Personally, I think we should lie back down and sleep for another hour, but that’s just me.”
“Nico!”
“What? And for the record, you’re a grown, unattached woman. I am a grown, unattached man. We are both responsible parents and business owners, and us having sex is no one’s business but our own.”
Someone knocked at the door again.
“Hey, Dad!” It was Beth.
“Yeah?”
“Does Adam’s mom want breakfast? I’m making pancakes, and I can totally make more batter if she wants to join us.”
A wicked gleam came to Nico’s eye, and Megan slapped a hand over his mouth before he could respond.
“I swear on my maw-maw’s grave,” she whispered, “if you make a batter joke right now, this will never happen again.”
The look of disappointment on his face told her everything she needed to know. She slowly removed her hand.
“I need to get going,” she said to the closed door. “But thank you so much, Beth. Just a cup of coffee would be perfect.”
“Okay!” The girl didn’t sound traumatized—she sounded chipper.
“Why is she so happy?” Megan asked. “I know you’ve dated since your divorce.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “You think I’ve brought anyone home?”
Her cheeks felt warm. “Oh.”
He tugged on her T-shirt to pull her closer. “Yeah. Oh.”