Chapter 6

KIERA STEPPED out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her, then went downstairs to check the oven timer. Another thirty minutes and her apricot almond tart would be ready. That gave her enough time to dress and blow-dry her hair before Gray got there.

Retreating back to the loft, Kiera kept the ultra-soft towel wrapped around her while she sorted through her limited wardrobe. Since she wore a uniform to work, she never bought much besides casual clothes. On those rare occasions she needed something nicer, she borrowed something from Joanna. They had a similar build and were the same height. It also helped that Joanna loved to shop. Kiera could always count on finding something perfect in her friend’s closet.

Today, she couldn’t search her friend’s closet. Joanna would ask questions, and she didn’t want to slip up like Gray had with his brother.

It took longer than she hoped, but Kiera settled on her newest pair of jeans and a blouse she’d bought in Paris. The outfit would never land her on a catwalk in Paris or Milan, but she liked the way the clothes looked together. After tossing the clothes onto the bed, she went in search of a matching bra and panty set.

Kiera ruffled through the sets. Without a doubt, she wouldn’t be the only one seeing what was under her clothes today. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of Gray naked, and her hand shook as she reached for her leopard print bra.

Less than an hour later, the intercom beeped, and Kiera buzzed Gray into the building. The weekend before, she’d considered giving him a key and had even pulled out her extra set, but she’d tossed them back into her drawer almost right away because they’d only been dating about a month.

She’d never given a boyfriend a key to her apartment. If the boyfriend in question were anyone else, she’d ask her friends for advice but that would create questions she didn’t want to answer, which meant she’d have to lie to them. Lies only made things complicated.

Kiera opened the apartment door before Gray knocked. She didn’t want him loitering outside her door where someone might spot him. Although she was quick, she wasn’t quick enough because Alexa, her neighbor, stood in conversation with Gray yet again. Does she have some kind of sixth sense and know when he is in the building?

“I can’t wait until it gets hot out. I miss the beach. Last month, I went to Cancun with a friend. We spent all our time on the beach.”

Alexa stood so close Kiera imagined she could count Gray’s eyelashes. No doubt about it, the woman had plenty of confidence.

Gray took a step closer to Kiera’s apartment door. “Everyone is ready for some warm weather.” His hand brushed her arm.

“Will you be in Providence long?” Alexa looked from Gray to Kiera, then back at Gray.

Kiera bit her lip to keep from saying something she’d regret. She did have to live next door to Alexa, so keeping a cordial relationship was in her best interests.

“Just the weekend, but I thought I’d stop in and say hello.”

Alexa considered Gray’s words before she ran a critical eye over Kiera. “Have you two been friends long?”

If Alexa was able to get her head out of her butt long enough to realize that not all men wanted a woman who resembled a living doll with big boobs and dyed blonde hair, she might have picked up on the heated glances Gray sent Kiera’s way. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately in this case, Alexa seemed oblivious.

“All our lives,” Kiera answered. She threw Gray a knock-it-off look.

Gray smiled in return and looked at Alexa. “Her parents know my father well.”

He’d left out a key detail, but she wasn’t going to fill Alexa in on the specifics.

“Then you two are old friends.” Alexa sounded pleased, if not a little surprised.

Kiera took a step back through the doorway. “I need to check on the cupcakes I have in the oven. We’ll see you later, Alexa.”

Alexa readjusted her gym bag over her shoulder, sticking her ample breasts out in the process. “I need to get to the gym anyway. It’s legs-and-butt day. Gotta keep it looking good for my fans. I’ve been told I have the best ass at The Red Room.”

Alexa turned so her butt faced them. “What do you think, Gray? Are they right?”

Kiera touched her chin, afraid it had hit the floor and wondered if Alexa sprayed on her workout pants. Next to her, Gray cleared his throat.

“You, uh, look great.” Gray rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her. “I think I hear the oven timer, Kiera.”

“Have a good workout.” Kiera pulled Gray into the apartment and slammed the door before giggling. Soon, what started as a giggle, turned into a full-fledged laugh and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Care to let me in on the joke?” Gray hung his leather jacket up.

“You.” She spit the word out between waves of laughter. “Your expression.” Kiera wiped a tear away. “The way you answered. I’ve never seen you look more uncomfortable.” Her side cramped from laughing so hard, and she rubbed it. “You looked as if you wanted to sink into the floor.”

Gray crossed his arms and glared at her. “It’s not every day a woman asks me to check her out while I’m standing next to my girlfriend.”

Kiera took a couple deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I just wish I’d had a camera. Your expression was priceless.”

“Is she always that…forward is the only word that comes close to describing her?”

“Don’t know. We’re not exactly best friends.”

“I might have to start bringing a bodyguard when I come here.” He put his arms around her. “And for the record, I find your ass much sexier.” He kissed her before she responded, his hands sliding into her back pockets and squeezing.

Kiera’s internal temperature went from simmer to full boil. She leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his chest, sending him a silent message to touch them like he had the weekend before.

“Do you have cupcakes in the oven?” He pulled away, and she smiled at how ragged his voice sounded.

“Yes. I couldn’t put them in until the apricot almond tart was done.”

“How much longer until they’re ready?” Gray’s gaze swept across her face.

“Five minutes or so.”

The corner of Gray’s mouth went up. “Guess that means we’re stuck here. Any thoughts on how to pass the time?”

She had several ideas. “We could play checkers or a game of chess.” She kept her smile under lock and key. “I have a deck of cards. We could play Go Fish.”

“Wonderful ideas, but I had something with less competition in mind.” Gray lowered his head and his lips got within inches of hers when his phone rang.

“You’ve got to be friggin’ kidding me.” He leaned his forehead against hers, and then he yanked the phone out and pressed Decline. “Not today.” He lowered his head toward its original destination. “I dreamed about you last night.” He whispered the words against her lips.

“Was it a good dream?”

“You have no idea. Should I tell you about it?”

“I—” Kiera’s response got cut off by Gray’s phone again. “Maybe you should answer that,” she suggested when he made no move to answer it.

Gray growled. It was the only word to describe the sound he made as he put the phone to his ear.

Kiera walked into the kitchen. She only heard Gray’s half of the conversation, but it sounded like a call from work.

“I thought that situation was under control,” Gray said. As he listened to the caller’s response, he paced.

“You don’t think—”

Gray stopped pacing and ran a hand though his hair. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him so frustrated.

“You know where I am, Randall. I’m trying to have a personal life.”

She’d never even think about speaking to her boss that way. Free speech must just be another perk of working for the family business.

“The earliest I can get there is tomorrow.”

Kiera ignored her sinking heart. They’d talked about spending all weekend together. If work needed him, she couldn’t do anything about it.

“No, I’ll make my own flight plans. When I get there, I’ll let you know.”

The Randall person said something else, and then Gray turned off his phone.

“Work?” Kiera stayed in the kitchen. Gray’s thunderous expression told her everything she needed to know.

Gray closed the distance between them. “Regrettably.” He put his phone down on a nearby table.

“Does that mean you need to go?” She didn’t care about missing dinner with his brother, but he’d just arrived.

“Randall would have to handcuff my arms together and drag me out of here.” He put his hands on her hips. “But I can’t stay as long as I wanted. I’ll have to fly out sometime tomorrow instead of Monday morning.” He kissed the side of her neck. “And when I say sometime, I mean as late as possible.”

Kiera smiled. “I like the sound of that.”

“And I like the sound of that,” Gray said as the timer buzzed.

She did too. Now they could focus on much more interesting things.

After taking the cupcakes out of the oven, she placed them on a cooling rack next to the tart.

“You didn’t have to make anything.”

Gray stood near the counter, his arms crossed, and she kept stealing glances at his biceps.

“I know, but I wanted to. I wanted to make you a chocolate soufflé to take back to New York with you, but I ran out of time.” Kiera dropped the empty cupcake tin in the sink. She’d do the dishes later.

“I’d rather take you back with me.” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “What should we do now that you’re done baking?” He kissed her neck.

“The cupcakes need frosting.” She leaned against his chest, her pulse quickening at thoughts of how they might spend the afternoon.

“They need to cool first. Even I know that.” He reached for her shirt’s top button and undid it, then started on the next.

Desire swept through her, making her ache in unfamiliar ways. “What time is Trent expecting us?” She heard the hitch in her voice and felt Gray’s lips smile against her neck as he slipped two more buttons free.

Gray pulled the shirt away from her shoulders and freed her arms. “Five.” His breath whispered across her bare shoulder.

“I think there’s only one thing we can do until then.” Even though he couldn’t see her face, Kiera smiled, proud that she was able to keep up the banter between them despite the overwhelming desire coursing through her body.

“Oh really? And what’s that?” He brushed her hair off to the side and kissed the back of her neck, sending a tingle straight down her spine.

Kiera turned and met Gray’s eyes, then she flashed him a teasing smile. “You’ll have to come up to my room so I can show you.”

Gray’s eyes darkened, and he took her hand. “Anything you say, love.”

His voice turned her legs to jelly, but she forced them to move. Neither said a word as they climbed the stairs to the loft. Out of habit, she’d made the bed that morning, but the pajamas she’d worn last night were on the floor next to her towel. In the future, she’d remember to pick up after herself.

“Now, what did you want to show me?”

She considered her next move. Since he remained fully clothed while her shirt remained on the kitchen floor, she opted to start there.

“First, let’s even things out a little.” She undid his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. Then she took a step back to admire the sight.

If Gray ever decided to leave his position with Sherbrooke Enterprises he could start a new career as a fitness model. She reached out to touch him, but he caught her wrist.

“My turn again.”

He brushed his hand over her breasts, and her nipples strained against her bra. Again, she reached out to touch him, but he shook his head as his hand skimmed down her stomach toward her jeans. When he reached the waistband, he paused, placing a kiss on each breast just above her bra. When she sighed, he did it again before undoing the button on her jeans, and then he slid the zipper down.

He pushed the jeans down, the material rough against her suddenly super-sensitive skin. When he reached her knees, she took over, kicking them off. He met her eyes for a moment before his gaze dropped to her breasts and down to her stomach. Once finished, he reversed his course and met her gaze again. The heat she saw in his eyes further fueled her own, and she ached for his touch.

“Leopard print. Not what I expected, but I like it.” He went to undo her bra, but, this time, she brushed his hand away.

“Not so fast. It’s not your turn anymore.” Kiera ran her hands across his chest, stopping to place a kiss above each nipple, mimicking his earlier torture. She allowed herself a moment to relish the feeling of his hot skin beneath her palms before letting her hand travel lower. As much as she wanted to keep her movements as slow as he had and draw out the foreplay, anticipation made that impossible. She needed him naked and inside her before she exploded.

When her hands reached the waistband on his jeans, they shook, making it difficult to unbutton them. The erection she felt didn’t help calm her either. When she got the button undone, she slid down the zipper.

Taking a step back, Gray kicked his jeans off. “My turn again.” He reached for her bra’s front clasp then dropped it to the floor. “You’ve got the next move.”

While she’d enjoyed every minute of their teasing so far, her body had reached its breaking point. She suspected his had as well. Rather than torment him anymore, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her body against his.

Kiera didn’t know if he moved first or she did, but one minute, her body was against his, and the next, they were on her bed.

She tried to focus. She wanted each moment captured in her mind. The way Gray kissed her and touched her made that an impossible task.

“Damn. I’m glad you keep this body hidden under that uniform of yours.” He made a trail of kisses between her breasts. “Otherwise, I’d have to beat off every guy in the restaurant.” Gray continued his trail down her flat belly, promising himself he’d give her breasts extra attention later.

When he reached Kiera’s navel, he stopped. “When did you get this?” He touched the belly ring. In the past, he’d been indifferent to body jewelry. On Kiera, he found it incredibly sexy.

Kiera’s hand covered the ring. “Right before I moved to Paris. Do you hate it?”

Gray pulled her hand away and kissed her palm. “Just the opposite.”

He hooked a finger on either side of her panties and slid them down, letting them fall on the floor.

Wow. He couldn’t look away from the naked beauty waiting for him. “You’re beautiful,” he said as he reached out, intending to touch her.

“And you’re over-dressed.” She grabbed his hand before he reached his destination.

Gray smiled at her comment. “I guess I am.” He freed his hand and touched the silky skin calling out to him. “Should I do something about that?” He caressed her again, and she jerked a little off the bed.

“That would be a wonderful idea.” Kiera’s voice came out half sigh, half moan as he continued to tease her.

Despite her answer, he didn’t get up. He enjoyed watching her face and the way she moved her body as he teased her too much to stop.

“Gray, you still have clothes on.”

He ignored her. Instead, he kissed her above her navel… and when her stomach muscles clenched, he did it again.

Gray continued his teasing with an occasional kiss thrown in until she finally went over the edge. While she floated back into her body, he pulled off his boxer briefs and grabbed a condom from his wallet.

“Are you okay?” He stretched out next to her on the bed and waited.

Kiera looked over at him, and he saw the glimmer in her eyes.

“Very good.” She wrapped her hand around him. “But I could be great.”

Her warm skin scorched his as she moved her hand, and words failed him.

He withstood her teasing as long as he could. When he feared he’d lose it if she touched him any longer, he slipped on the condom and joined their bodies like he had in his dreams. Desire and another emotion he couldn’t label exploded inside him as he started to move. This was what sex was meant to feel like.

A little while later, Gray stroked Kiera’s bare shoulder and stared at the ceiling. Neither said a word, but he knew she was awake. Her fingers stroked his chest. Although it was a whisper of a touch, it was slowly exciting his body again even though less than half an hour had passed since they’d made love.

Made love. His heart stuttered on those two words. He’d slept with his share of women, but until today, he hadn’t understood the term making love. With the others, it’d been just sex. He’d enjoyed it, but it had remained a physical act. Emotions hadn’t played a role. What he’d experienced with Kiera fell into a category all its own.

Not only had the physical aspect blown his mind, but he’d also experienced an emotional connection with her. Even now, peace and contentment settled inside him as if he’d come home.

An image of him coming home to Kiera every night knocked the wind right out of him.

They’d started dating only a month ago. He shouldn’t be picturing her as his wife and the mother of his children. However, his heart had other ideas. It kept sending messages upstairs, telling his brain that Kiera was The One and he’d been an idiot not to realize it a long time ago.

Even with the contentment and happiness that filled him, his head sent his heart a counter argument. They’d gone on a handful of dates and had had sex once. All that was a long way from a walk down the aisle. His heart had love and lust confused.

Gray toyed with that thought. He’d lusted after women in the past. What red-blooded male hadn’t? The emotions that plagued him now were different. He physically desired Kiera, but he wanted more than just her body. He wanted her friendship. Her love. He wanted to see her every night before he fell asleep and every morning when he woke.

Kiera’s hand slipped down his stomach, stopping above the sheet. “You awake?” She traced a circle around his navel, and any blood left in his upper body flew south.

She moved her hand up his stomach, and he closed his eyes at the pleasure. Thoughts of love evaporated, replaced by thoughts of pleasuring Kiera again that afternoon.

“You tell me.” He grabbed her hand and slid it to his erection.

“I’d say you’re wide awake,” she said, before sliding her hand beneath the sheet and wrapping her fingers around him.

Red-hot lust raced through him, and he rolled on top of her. “I hope you don’t mind spending the whole afternoon right here.”

Kiera smiled, but before she answered, he kissed her. After that, neither spoke again.

“Maybe we should go back to your place. We can have dinner with Trent some other time.” Gray turned his car into his brother’s parking garage.

Kiera shot him a have-you-lost-your-mind look. “We’re here, Gray. It’s a little late now. Besides, you were the one who wanted to do this, remember?”

Gray pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine. “Wanted is the key word in that sentence. I changed my mind.”

His dinner preference wasn’t the only thing that had changed in the past several hours. His view of this new relationship with Kiera had also changed. Or maybe it hadn’t. Perhaps some hidden part of his heart had always loved Kiera as more than a friend, and it had taken all these years for his heart to give up that secret.

“I think we should go in. They’re expecting us.”

“Fine, but we’re not staying long.” He yanked the keys from the ignition.

Gray and Kiera took the stairs up to the building’s main lobby where they passed a familiar-looking security guard before entering Trent’s private elevator.

“I think Jean-Paul, the owner of Mon Soleil, has an apartment in this building,” Kiera said as the elevator carried them up.

“If I lived in Providence, I’d live here, too.” Gray thought for a moment. “Maybe I wouldn’t since my brother lives here. I’m not sure I could be that close to him.”

“Oh, please. I don’t know a family closer than you Sherbrookes.”

She had him there. “That doesn’t mean I could live in the same building as him.”

“Since you live in New York City, it’s not a problem.”

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out together.

“Is your apartment in a building like this?”

“Not exactly.”

Trent’s door opened before Gray could elaborate, saving him from admitting that he lived in a hotel suite and not a real apartment.

“Right on time. You’re a good influence on my brother, Kiera.”

Trent’s comment reminded Gray how late he’d been the last time he’d been expected there.

“Come on in.” Trent stepped back so they could enter. “Allison and Addie are in the kitchen.” Trent took their jackets, and then led them toward the kitchen.

Gray inhaled the scent of turkey, and thoughts of Thanksgiving popped up. When he walked into his own place, only the smell of whatever furniture polish the maids used greeted him. He’d much prefer the smell of a turkey dinner. His brother was a lucky guy.

Allison sat at the small round table in the gourmet kitchen while his sister-in-law stirred something on the stove.

“Kiera!” Allison jumped out of her seat and hugged Kiera before giving Trent a dirty look. Then she looked at Gray. “Trent said you were bringing someone, but he refused to say who. When did this happen?”

“After the wedding, and for now, we’re keeping it to ourselves,” Gray answered.

“My lips are sealed. Promise.”

Allison drove him crazy as only a younger sister could, but he trusted her.

Trent returned from putting the jackets away and stopped beside his wife. “I think you two met at the wedding, Addie, but if not, this is Kiera. She spent a lot of time with Gray and me when we were kids.”

Gray watched as Kiera and Addie exchanged the usual pleasantries.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I made an apricot almond tart and chocolate cupcakes.” Kiera put the two desserts on the table.

Addie looked first at the tart “That looks delicious. I haven’t had that kind of tart in a long time.” Then she glanced at the cupcakes. “Are those gummy worms on the cupcakes?”

Trent laughed and Kiera smiled.

“They’re mixed in with crushed chocolate cookies.”

“Very funny,” Allison said, peeking at the cupcakes.

Addie looked at him then Allison before she looked at Trent. “I don’t get it. What’s the joke?”

Trent handed Kiera and Gray each a glass of wine. “Kiera made cupcakes like these once and convinced Allison they were real worms so we wouldn’t have to share with her.”

“Sounds like something my brothers would’ve done to me, but they would have used real worms not candy ones. How old were you, Allison?”

“Maybe three. I don’t remember exactly.” Allison uncovered the cupcakes and pulled one out. “Since I didn’t get one then, I’m having one now.”

“As good as they look, I’m going to wait. Dinner is almost done.” Addie pulled a gummy worm off the cupcake Trent held and went back to the stove.

“Do you need any help?” Kiera asked.

“All set. Trent can help me serve in the other room.”

Gray took that as their cue to leave the kitchen, and he followed Kiera and his sister into the dining room. While they waited for Addie and Trent, Kiera and his sister caught up. As a child, Kiera had always spent more time with him and Trent, but she’d gotten along well with Allison, too.

Instead of joining the conversation, he chose to listen while he mentally made plans. Randall wanted him to meet with José on Monday morning. In a perfect world, he’d arrive in Cozumel early tomorrow, get a good night’s rest, then handle business with José. He’d need a flight out tonight to accomplish that, and he had no intention of cutting his time any shorter than necessary with Kiera.

That left him with Option Two: fly out tomorrow and sleep on the flight, then meet with José on Monday and spend a day or two there in case anything else came up before he flew back home. How late could he leave tomorrow without jeopardizing the mission?

“What’s your problem?” Allison asked him. “You look mad at the world.”

Gray looked at his sister. “Work stuff.” He reached for his drink. “Are you moving to work with Jake?” When he’d last heard Allison’s plans, their father had been trying to convince her to stay in Rhode Island.

His comment got the desired results.

“You’re moving? When did you decide that?” Trent asked.

“When you were on your honeymoon, Jake offered me a job with the Falmouth Foundation.”

“Is the moron moving with you?” Trent asked.

His sister had gone to the wedding alone and hadn’t mentioned anyone the day he saw her at his dad’s estate, so he had no idea who Trent was referring to. “Who?”

“Charles Perkins,” Trent answered in disgust.

Gray thought his sister had broken up with the moron, and he figured calling the guy a moron was being kind.

“We broke up. You know that, Trent.”

“Dad thought you two worked things out. He saw you having coffee together last week.”

“I stopped for coffee, and Charles showed up. So, the answer to your question is no. He is not moving with me.” Allison reached for her drink. “At least, he better not.” She made the statement more to herself, but Gray heard her.

“Is he giving you a problem?” Allison’s tone more, than her comment, switched on his big-brother protectiveness.

Allison took several sips from her glass, a well-known stall tactic when she didn’t want to answer.

“He keeps calling me,” Allison said after she put her glass down. “And he always shows up at places I just happen to be at. Like when I stopped for coffee.”

“Providence is a small city, and isn’t his office near the court house?” Addie pushed a piece of hair behind her ear.

Allison frowned. “I keep telling myself that. It’s still driving me crazy. I can’t wait to move. I signed lease papers for a condo last week. Dad is not happy. He calls at least once every few days and tries to change my mind. It’s getting annoying.”

The conversation continued throughout dinner, and no matter the topic, Kiera joined in with ease. Anyone watching would’ve thought they got together like this all the time.

“I’m ready for dessert,” Addie said as she stood. They’d finished dinner a while ago and all the dinner dishes had already been cleared away. “Be right back.”

Trent and Addie carried in the desserts Kiera had made, as well as a plate of cannoli. Gray liked cannoli, but not as much as his brother did. Since Kiera didn’t let him have a cupcake before they’d left her apartment, he opted for that now. The tart looked good, too, but chocolate was one of his weaknesses.

Removing the paper cupcake wrapper, he raised it to his mouth, the scent of chocolate conjuring up the memory of him unbuttoning Kiera’s top in the kitchen. From there, his mind continued downward, picking up speed, and he replayed their time in her bedroom.

After a pleasant hour or so in her room that afternoon, they’d ventured downstairs where he’d helped her frost the cupcakes. Of course, being a novice, he’d gotten frosting on her clothes, which meant he’d had to help her remove them. It wasn’t his fault that had led to other activities on her couch.

“Are you going to share the joke?” Allison held a cupcake in her hand.

Gray blinked. “What joke?”

“You’re smiling like an idiot. Something must be funny.”

“Thinking about how much I like chocolate.” Gray slid a hand up Kiera’s thigh and squeezed. “And how many fond memories I have of it.”

At the end of the table Trent choked on his drink.

“You get stranger all the time, Gray.” Allison shook her head.

Gray shrugged and caught his brother’s eye. Allison evidently hadn’t caught onto the sexual innuendo behind his words, but Trent had. Or maybe his brother noticed the blush on Kiera’s face.

“Allison, when are you moving?” Kiera asked as she pulled his hand off her thigh. “Maybe we can get together before you go and talk about how strange your brother keeps getting.”

Gray leaned close and whispered, “You didn’t mind where I put my hand earlier today.”

Kiera looked at him and smiled—which should have warned him, but instead, it distracted him.

Her hand dropped dangerously close to his crotch, and she leaned closer. “All’s fair, right?”

The happiness and love he experienced that morning returned magnified, and he stopped breathing. When he could get air going into his lungs again, he kissed her even though they had an audience.

“We’ve got a guest bedroom upstairs if you want to use it so the rest of us can enjoy dessert.”

Gray ended their kiss. Would his sister-in-law mind if he knocked out a few of Trent’s teeth? Maybe not. Addie seemed easy going, and she did have four brothers of her own. More than likely, she’d understand.

He pushed his chair back.

“Don’t go there. I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend.” A smile tugged at Trent’s mouth.

“You keep thinking that, Trent, and I won’t tell anyone the truth.” Gray picked up his cupcake. He’d forgotten how enjoyable evenings with his family could be.

By the time they walked back into Kiera’s apartment, it was past midnight. She’d been apprehensive about the dinner, but she’d enjoyed the entire evening. There had been a few embarrassing moments, but nothing life-ending. The only downside of the evening stemmed from sharing Gray with his family because he’d be leaving tomorrow.

“You and Addie hit it off.” Gray hung up their jackets in the closet.

“I like her. Oh, and the baby is due in June. I asked Addie.”

“I know. I asked Trent, and then wished I hadn’t. Once Trent got going, he wouldn’t shut up. Excited doesn’t come close to describing his current state.”

“I picture you that way someday too.”

“Probably, but if I get as annoying as my brother hit me or something.”

Don’t read too much into that statement. They’d been friends for a long time before their relationship took its current course. They’d remain friends if and when it ended so his comment made sense.

“Will do.” Kiera leaned against the couch. “When are you leaving?”

“If I was smart, I’d head to the airport now, but I’ll leave later this morning. My flight crew is expecting me at the airport around eleven.”

Kiera didn’t need a mirror to know she’d frowned.

“I’ll make this a short trip. I promise.”

Even if he spent a day or two in Cozumel, he’d still return to New York afterward, not Providence.

“I have work all week to keep me busy.”

“If you don’t like the idea say so, but I thought I’d stay here until I need to leave.”

“I hoped you would, but wouldn’t it be easier if you stayed in the city? It’s closer to the airport.”

Gray put his arms around her. “It’s not that much closer, and in the city, I wouldn’t have you.”

His comment captured another piece of her heart. At the rate they were going, he’d possess the whole thing in another week.