The Do Over

As soon as I sat down, Françoise came back with a fresh diet soda and a menu. I settled into my chair, staring at the sweating glass. A droplet rolled down and puddled on the table. I flashed back to the bead that traveled along the side of Rick's face. Quickly, I banished that image. I didn't have the luxury of remaining in this Rick-stupor. It was bad enough that I'd gone and kept him company. That would not be happening again. I was not about to allow him to invade my thoughts, too. That train had left the station. He'd had his shot. I didn't know what his agenda was, but if he was as sincere as he claimed to be, then I figured this was harmless.

I had more important matters to contend with, namely the brunette that was walking in my direction. She was wearing a maxi dress and toting her Louis Vuitton. Macy had tried to apologize earlier this week. Basically, she had told me to get over it because it wasn't a big deal. In the past, this approach would've worked because I'd always known that her intentions were either good or benign. She had crossed the line this time, and I was tired of taking it.

Candace was walking next to her. She was a sight of perfection. Candace's minidress, brown leather belt, and the most amazing wedges showcased her runway look. Glancing down at my effortless look, I was grateful for the effort I'd made in leaving my hair down, especially since the lip gloss had since faded.

I motioned for Françoise as the girls made their way to the table. He quickly brought them menus. Macy sat across from me as Candace sat to my side. The tension between Macy and me was thick. We barely greeted one another. We both wore our sunglasses intentionally to avoid making eye contact. Maybe I had taken things too far. Although I missed my sidekick, I didn't trust her. This clearly was going to be a battle of the wills. When we closed our menus, Françoise came back. He refilled my diet soda and then took our orders. I had to admit that he required no training.

Candace obviously came with an agenda as she quickly brought our meeting to order. "I hate it when any of us fight, so the two of you really need to stop this. I refuse to take sides." Bringing her blonde hair over to the side of her shoulder, she started playing with the ends.

This was a first. Candace was being neutral. She was always strongly opinionated, even if she presented herself in the most polished ways. Her behavior was out of character. First, she hadn't responded to my text when I was returning from the Keys with Liam, and now, she wasn't taking sides.

"Candace, what's going on with you? The woman who staged a Kindle intervention and confronted me about my lack of a sex life is now not taking control of the situation?" I raised an eyebrow, even though it was hidden behind my sunglasses. I thought it would've been more effective if I took them off, but the moment was lost now.

Macy just sat in her chair, playing with her earring.

"You guys need to learn how to talk it out without my arbitration. I've been mediating between the two of you for too long. List your grievances, hash it out, and make it work. You can't count on me to fix everything."

"Oh my god, Candace, are you dying or something?" Macy asked, placing her hand on Candace's arm.

"I'm not dying," Candace said, giving Macy a surprised look, "but thank you for your concern."

Macy sat back as Candace fidgeted in her seat. I sat immobile. She wasn't dying, but something was definitely going on.

"What's it going to take for the two of you to make up?"

"Fine," Macy started, "I shouldn't have said anything to Chris. I don't know what the big deal is. I won't tell him any more of your shit." Macy rolled her eyes.

I didn't know what hurt more—the fact that she didn't respect my boundaries or that she didn't care that she hurt me.

"You want to know what the big deal is? I'll tell you." I straightened up in my seat as I put my sunglasses on the top of my head. "You're supposed to be my best friend. I'm supposed to be able to tell you anything and know that you'll keep your freaking mouth shut. You're supposed to have my back. Instead, you went and told the flavor of the month, who happens to be my boyfriend's best friend, about my condition."

"Flavor of the f*cking month?" Macy huffed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry that I was excited that after a lifetime, you were actually getting laid. That a*shole Rick f*cked with your head and broke your heart. You're finally living again. So what? I told Chris because he was there. I wasn't trying to hurt you."

"Both of you stop this already!" Candace shouted.

"No, I'm tired of stopping every time things get uncomfortable," I said, my voice cracking.

Macy and Candace looked shocked. I had not fallen under the command of our calm, assertive pack leader.

I looked to the side to control my intensity. "Macy violated the code of sisterhood. I'm always being cool. You guys stage a damn intervention in front of everyone, and I listen and look for the positive. I don't hold it against you. But when I stage a confrontation, I'm told to stop it. I don't think so. Macy let me ask you something. What personal information has Chris leaked to you about Liam? I'm curious because he tells Liam the tidbits you share with him. So, what aren't you telling me?"

Macy just stared at me with tears pooling in her eyes. Candace shook her head. Françoise brought our food and quickly dashed out of sight.

I continued, my voice shaking, "Did Chris tell you that Liam loves me? Or how about Liam's past with Natalie? You know, his dead fiancée?"

Their mouths dropped.

"Did Chris tell you that Liam gave me a key to his apartment? I'm wondering how much Chris is telling you since you feel the need to feed him information. For the record, Chris has Liam's back. Maybe the next time you're on your back, looking up at him, you might take notes on what it's like to be a real friend. Right now, I need someone to talk to, someone I can trust, and, Macy…that's not you."

Sitting there, Macy batted her eyes, trying to keep her tears from escaping. "I cannot believe you said that. You're my best friend. I would do anything for you. You're right. I should've kept my mouth shut. I messed up. I used bad judgment. I'm sorry. I was excited, and sometimes when I get excited, I start to babble. I can't control it, but I would never say anything that would be a true violation. Geez, I didn't let Liam tell me anything about his past, not that I thought he would, but I stopped him, just because it would've been wrong. See, even when I ramble and get nervous, I do exercise correct judgment. I made a mistake. I didn't think you'd be this pissed off. My god, Dani, come on. I'll stop seeing Chris. That way you won't have to worry about me telling him anything else."

"I'm not asking you to stop seeing Chris. You like him. I don't want to hurt you. I just don't know if I can trust you with the heavy stuff." I closed my eyes before I looked away.

"I know you're not asking me to do that, but I will. Yeah, I like him…a lot. Maybe I talk about you because it's easier to talk about you than it is to talk about me. Sometimes, I think I like him more than he likes me. Then, other times, I don't know. Maybe I do need to cut him loose, but the sex is so good. I swear the orgasms are out of this world. Just thinking about the things he can do with his tongue is making me horny right now. Is it horrible that I want to finish this conversation and go have sex? I don't care where he's at. I'll meet him on the corner. I'm addicted to his dick. I want the whole package though. His junk and his heart. But, Dani, I'll pick you over Chris. I will. Penises are a dime a dozen, even if Chris is special."

"Macy, keep your dick. You're just going to have to earn your way back into the circle of trust. But I don't want us to fight anymore." I didn't. I realized that I'd overreacted a little. I had reached my boiling point, and as was typical for me, I pushed too far and came out swinging.

"I miss my friend, Dani. I swear that I'll find a way to make this up to you. I really am sorry."

We all got up and had a group hug. I really loved my girlfriends.

Macy looked at me with hopeful expectation. "I know that this is probably off-limits, but please tell me that you're addicted to Liam's dick."

Turning a bright shade of red, I threw my arms in the air. Publically, I admitted, "Yes, I'm totally, completely, and madly in love with Liam and his dick."

Right there on Lincoln Road, three grown women proceeded to scream like schoolgirls in giddy delight.

"Are we all better now?" Candace asked.

Macy and I nodded in agreement. I forgave her, but I wasn't going to blindly share all my deep concerns with her for quite a while.

As we sat back down, Candace said, "Now that that's settled, I have some news to share with you."

"You're pregnant?" Macy asked as she started eating her breakfast.

I almost dropped the syrup on the table.

"No, I'm not pregnant." Candace laughed nervously.

She wasn't opposed to the idea of pregnancy and family. She and Jeremy had been dating for years. Her career though was her number-one priority, and it worked for them.

Candace said, "While that would be exciting news in two to three years, I have sensational news now. I've been asked to sit in on a very high-profile case. It's an incredible career opportunity for me. The only downside is that it's being tried in Jacksonville. So, while I'm away, I need to know that my besties are going to be okay."

Candace had been a part of my entire adult life. Selfishly, I wanted her to stay. I had to tell myself that it was just for one case. Maybe it wouldn't last long. Considering all the things I needed to process, the timing of this career opportunity was awful. I should've been happy for her. Instead, it felt like a punch in the stomach. I lost my appetite. I put my fork down and pushed my plate away.

"When's all of this happening?" I asked. As I ran my finger over the condensation on the glass, my eyes fixed on the melting designs.

"I leave a week from Monday. I'll be back Christmas week. In fact, let's make a date." She pulled out her phone and checked her calendar app. "On Friday, December 28, let's have a girls' night out." She was trying to be upbeat.

I nodded as Macy shrugged her shoulders.

We quietly sat there. Macy played with her food, moving it to one side of her dish and then back to the other side. Candace twirled her hair while her food got cold. Françoise came by once again to take away our plates.

After we paid for food we didn't eat, we strolled down Lincoln Road. As we were approaching the parking lot, I asked Candace if we could talk.

Macy gave little protest. "I'll let you have this today. I have plans anyhow. Don't think I'm going to take a backseat. I'm riding shotgun. I'll prove to you that you can trust me, so deal with it." Macy leaned in for a quick hug before heading off to her car and god knows what with Chris.

Candace and I continued walking. I had taken her for granted. Macy and I had spent countless nights, rolling our eyes at the way Candace had bossed us around. We let her do it, but like spoiled girls, we resented it. Because of Candace, I had been pushed out of my comfort zone the night Liam and I'd reconnected at the nightclub. She'd always had my back, and she'd never steered me wrong. I could always count on her.

"Penny for your thoughts," Candace said.

We stopped at a boutique and began browsing through the clothes. Pulling out blouses, we held them in front of us.

"I'm thinking that I'm a shitty friend, and I need to update my wardrobe." I put the blouse back and continued looking around the shop.

"You're a great friend, and I think we just need to find you some nice accent pieces. Like this." Of course, Candace pulled out the perfect blouse. "Tell me about the fiancée and the key."

"No, I'm a selfish brat, but thank you for knowing me so well and still loving me." I pulled out a couple more blouses before I went to try them on. "The fiancée died. It was a very tragic story. It's weird. On some level, I'm totally okay with it emotionally, but on another level, I'm jealous." Sighing, I looked over at her with stars in my eyes. "I'm so in love with him. I don't want to screw this up."

"That blouse goes back, this one stays, and I like this one over here for you. We need to find a dress or two to show off your legs." She handed me the clothes she was picking off of the racks as if she was a personal shopper. "You've been in love with him since the beginning. It's obvious. I've never seen you this way, and I'm so excited for you. Of course you don't want to think of him loving anyone else. I don't know if that's selfishness or jealousy. It's just natural. The positive is that he knows how to love. He loved someone and was ready to commit. Focus on that. Now, the only thing you're going to screw up is this outfit with that belt."

I went into the fitting room. I started trying on the clothes that Candace had selected for me. They were perfect. "Candace…" I said through the door. I needed to tell her about my run-ins with Rick. I could count on her to give me some insight. I just had to figure out a way to tell her. "I told Liam about my breakup with Rick." I came out and modeled the outfit.

She nodded with approval. "And what did Liam say?" Candace sat back in the chair outside the fitting rooms.

"He wants to beat him up."

"I like how he's protective of you. That's a good thing, but you really need to let go of this Rick thing. You've exhausted the acceptable amount of time to mourn a relationship, Dani. Liam shouldn't have to pay for Rick's crimes."

I headed back into the fitting room. "You're right. It's not fair." From behind the curtain, I said, "You know, I'm not hating Rick as much anymore." I closed my eyes tightly, bracing myself for Candace's response, but there was silence.

I quickly changed into the last outfit and came out, parading in front of the mirror. Candace studied my expression. I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

"What do you think about this look?"

"It's a good look. And I think it's a good thing that you hate Rick less. In fact, I think you shouldn't hate him at all. He doesn't deserve your passionate emotions. More importantly, tell me you're growing indifferent and not soft."

I shrugged my shoulders again and returned behind the curtain to get dressed. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I suppose it just feels good to not hate him." And that was the truth, at least as much of it as I could share.

I'd spent close to two years with an open wound. Because of him, I was scared to love again. I didn't want to be held prisoner to that fear. I wanted to love Liam with reckless abandon. Maybe if I was at peace with Rick, I would be able to do that.

I took the Candace approved clothes up to the register and revitalized my wardrobe. With bags in my hands and a new perspective, I felt empowered and more confident. My mind went to thoughts of Liam, and my eyes danced with anticipation, knowing I would see him soon. My heart fluttered as a smile broke across my face. I was in love with him.

"Oh, and she thinks of him." Candace nudged me, giggling. "Yes, Dani, that's the look you've been getting on your face since you met Liam. It suits you perfectly." She laced her arm through mine as we walked. "Now, tell me about this key."

"You're amazing. I'm going to miss you so damn much. You've let me make this entire time about me. I love you for it. I really do. I can't talk to Macy about this stuff yet. I love her, but that mouth has gotten her into more trouble than she likes to admit."

We both laughed.

"Focus, Dani, the key. Was there a grand gesture? Is he expecting a key from you? I mean, come on, details. I need to analyze the evidence before I render a verdict."

"No, there was no grand gesture. After we made love, well that time, we just f*cked, he got out of bed. When he came back, he gave me the key and told me to put it on my key ring. That was about it."

She simply concluded, "It's a key, Dani. Talk to the man, and tell him what you're feeling. You might be surprised by what you learn."





I got in my car and felt like I had f*cking scored the winning touchdown. Daniela was putty in my hands. I was confident that by Christmas, maybe New Year's, she would be back where she belonged—by my side and in my bed. There was no way that she'd be able to resist. She could deny her feelings all she wanted, but I saw the look in her eye. They were still there, and I was going to take what was mine.

I sat in my car and sent Madison a text.



Rick: You're a genius. Let's celebrate.



Maddy: No shit. I'm busy.



Rick: Tonight.



Maddy: Busy.



Rick: Cancel.



Maddy: F*ck you. No.



Rick: F*cking cancel and stop being a royal pain in the ass.



Maddy: Bite me, a*shole.



Rick: You'd love it if I did. I'll pick you up at 7.



Maddy: Go to hell.



Rick: See you at 7.



Madison and her bullshit. I'd never met a more complicated and difficult woman. We were going to celebrate and debrief tonight. I wasn't putting it off just because she had a f*ck date. Hell no. She was probably getting f*cked when I texted her. She could put off her next orgasm for a few hours.

She always gave me such a f*cking hard time. Motherf*cking pain in my ass. But I went back for more. Mainly, I dealt with it because she was brilliant, and I was seeing results with Daniela. I had to admit that she was growing on me. Underneath that cold, heartless bitch exterior, she was actually pretty cool. I liked hanging out with her. I guessed I could even say that we were becoming friends.





After tossing my keys on the counter, I made my way to my bedroom with merchandise bags in hand. Candace and I had spent the better part of the afternoon shopping. Who knew shopping could be so exhausting?

Our conversation naturally shifted from my monopolization to a shared interest in each other's lives. I was proud of her. I knew her long hours and dedication would pay off. Again, selfishly, I wished she wasn't going so far away. She'd be back in a month, and then hopefully, the trial would wrap up by mid-January. Until then, I was urged to stop being so hard on Macy. I was told I needed to lighten up. As always, Candace was right, but I figured I would make Macy sweat it out for a little bit.

I started unpacking the bags, laying the various outfits on my bed. I stepped back, and with my hand under my chin, I inspected them to see which one would make the cut for tonight's date with Liam. He had been elusive about our plans. He'd said casual and comfortable. Since I wasn't going to wear yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt, I decided on one of my new dresses, the emerald strapless that landed mid-thigh, with a beaded belt and a light jacket. The beauty of the dress was that I could dress it up or down. I had learned a great deal from watching Candace and several seasons of What Not to Wear.

I was excited about seeing Liam tonight. I hadn't seen him since Thursday night. My heart fluttered, and a smile graced my face as I thought back to that evening.

He arrived just after his basketball game. I was playing dirty, wearing a tank top and a pair of panties, as I opened the door. He wore a sheepish grin. Its sole purpose was to mask the desire in his eyes.

It didn't take long before we weren't wearing anything else but each other.

I put off talking about the key because being with him, in that moment, was so much more important than whatever anxiety I had. Liam's arms wrapped around me, enveloping me with his warmth. His hold had a magical power that eased away all my cares and became my safe place.

I sighed as I thought about what I wasn't looking forward to. I had to find a way to tell him about my visit with Rick. The timing had to be just perfect. Candace had been right. Liam was paying for Rick's mistakes, and that was wrong. I needed to fix things, but I couldn't explain how a visit with the guy Liam wanted to beat up for breaking my heart actually made me feel better about everything. I had to figure this out because I knew I wouldn't like it if the tables were turned. There would be few words, if any, that would make me be okay with it. What if Rick was right? What if we never saw each other again? Do I really want to stress Liam out over this? But Liam wanted honesty, so I would tell him when the time was right.

I put everything else away. I'd spent too much time pondering these things and not enough time getting ready. Liam would be here soon, and I wanted to look irresistible. As if on cue, I heard my phone chirping on my dresser.



Liam: Ready or not, here I come.



Dani: Hurry up.



Liam: On my way.



Dani: Can't stay away?



Liam: Impossible.



Dani: Where are you taking me?



Liam: Surprise.



Dani: I hate surprises.



Liam: No you don't.



Dani: True. Give me a hint.



Liam: Nope.



Dani: I'm not talking to you anymore. Grrr.



Liam: I love you.



Dani: With all my heart.





Sure enough, Liam arrived as I was stepping into my dress.

"I refuse to speak to you until you tell me where you're taking me," I said playfully as I opened the door.

He came inside and wrapped his arms around me. "Let's start with hello, come in." He lowered his mouth and placed his lips over mine. "It's called a surprise."

My lips spread into a smile as I coyly said, "It's called kidnapping."

"Does this mean I can tie you up?" He said as he ran his hands up my back and into my hair.

"Babe, you can do whatever you want to me," I purred as I tilted my head back. "Are you going to tell me about my surprise?"

"I'm not going to tell you," he said before his mouth grazed my chin. "I'm going to show you, but we better go before it gets too late."

I pulled back from the tender embrace and grabbed my purse. Locking up, we made our way out to destination unknown.

While we were driving, Liam reached over and laced his fingers with mine.

He looked over at me. "You really do look beautiful." He winked and kissed the back of my hand.

"You're spoiling me. I'm going to expect you to shower me with compliments all the time." I shifted my eyes over to him and then resumed looking forward. My lips curled as I worked at stifling the smile that was begging to explode.

"Hmmm, I can be creative and find ways to keep you on your toes, but you can definitely count on me telling you just how gorgeous you are."

"Creative? As in my surprise?"

"A little mystery is always good, baby." He paused. "So, how was your day? Did you make up with Macy?"

"Great. Did Chris call you to tell you how I staged a confrontation? I was a royal bitch to Macy. I even made her cry."

"Uh, no. I didn't talk to Chris today. A confrontation that led to tears?"

"We're good now, but she's on probation for sensitive issues. Yeah, I was harsh." I frowned.

I didn't like being so mean to Macy. The more I thought about it, the more I regretted how I'd lashed out at her. She was my best friend, and I'd overreacted. Without including juicy secrets, I would find a way to make it up to her.

"Oh, I have good news that totally sucks. Candace is leaving for a month to work on a high-profile case. You know what this means, right?"

I looked over to see that he was clueless. Typical man. He had no idea how his life was about to change.

"This means," I said, "that you're now my new BFF."

"I thought I was already your best friend?"

He was so naïve to the ways of women. It wasn't like I was going to take him shopping or anything remotely similar to that, but I was going to come to him with my problems, unfiltered, and work them out with him.

As if he read my mind, he said, "You know I'm here for you. You can talk to me about anything. I want to be the person you always come to. I mean it." He looked over at me, waiting for my acknowledgment.

"I know you are. Now, I get to exercise that right and have the privilege of being a pain in your ass. Anyway, tell me where you're taking me."

He shook his head and said nothing. He was enjoying this little game. I had to admit that the anticipation was part of the thrill.

"You just love to torture me, don't you?"

"I live for it," he said with a smirk.

I gave him an insulted glare.

"And don't think for a second that you don't love making me suffer," he added.

"Me? Well, I never!" I huffed with righteous indignation, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. I choked back a giggle.

"Oh, really? Says the woman who texted me about using my hose on her."

Neither of us could hold back the laughter with that one.

"And, baby, I fully intend on putting out that fire."

"I'm counting on it because I'm burning up for you," I said playfully.

He turned down a road and pulled into a marina. It would be another hour before the sun set. The blue sky served as a canvas for the aquamarine water and boats bobbing in their slips. What on earth does he have planned?

He got out of the car, came around, and opened my door. Quietly, he walked me down to the dock. My anticipation was building even more. The breeze softly blew through my hair as the scent of salt filled the air. I held his hand and nestled into his body.

When he stopped in front of Blazing Fire, I bit my lower lip to contain my smile and excitement. This was his boat.

He looked over at me with a boyish grin. "So, how about we take a three-hour tour?" He jumped on board and extended his arm to me.

I beamed. "This is great!"

I boarded and wrapped my arms around his waist. As I looked up, he kissed my forehead before lovingly gazing into my eyes. Moments like these were overwhelming. He was taking me out on his boat, making it special and memorable. I got it. He was sharing everything that mattered most to him with me.

"I love you so much," I said.

Somehow, those words weren't enough to express what I felt for him. Tightening his hold on me, he placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

"You're everything to me." He winked and then smacked me on the ass. "Come on, Gilligan, I want to take you somewhere."

Grabbing a hair tie from my purse, I pulled my hair back. As I looked around his Wellcraft Open Fisherman boat, I spotted a basket and a large duffel bag. I moved to stand behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist, as we pulled out of the marina.

He piloted us through the bay. "Hold on, baby," he said, grinning.

When he pushed down the throttle, we flew out into the Atlantic, and I squealed in delight.

After twenty minutes, we approached a small island and he slowed down. We pulled into a dock. He tied up the boat and unloaded the basket and bag.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around. We were on a tiny island mostly inhabited by mangroves. I could see a sandy beach a short distance from the dock.

"It's an unnamed island off the beaten path. It's not special enough, I suppose, to be worthy of name, or maybe it's too unique to be labeled. Only die-hard boaters know about her."

"You seem to like these off-the-beaten-path places."

We walked along the dock toward the beach.

"Yeah, I do, especially when it comes to places that matter to me."

I took off my sandals as we walked on the sand. Nature was playing her symphony as the waves lapped softly against the beach with the crickets chirping in the background. The soft breeze cooled down what would've been an otherwise hot evening.

"And what is it about here? It's beautiful. I can see why you love it, but what makes this island more special than any other?"

He unpacked the duffel bag, which had a small table, a couple of chairs, and a set of tiki torches. I was amazed at how compact those bags could be.

He had a pensive look on his face before he smiled. "My job's intense. I've gone into burning homes and buildings. I've crawled through fallen construction debris. I've pulled out people from mangled metal that used to be a car. I've seen some rough shit. It's who I am, but I also need to balance out that intensity with the serenity of places like this. It's close enough to home that I can come whenever I need to, yet it's far enough that the tourist and crazy locals aren't interested."

"So, this is where you come to escape?" I was hanging on his every word. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into his heart, learning about a part of him I had yet to discover.

"Sure." He chuckled. "Plus the fishing's awesome, and this beach has the greatest waves. The best part is that I don't have to deal with dickwads. It's f*cking paradise."

"You were bullshitting me?" I stood there with my hands on hips as my lips pursed.

"Not entirely. But, come on, when do I use words like balance and serenity in a sentence?"

I sucker-girl-punched him, not that it made an impact, considering his abs were solid.

"Baby, don't be mad at me. It's all true. I come here to decompress. The last thing I need to do when I have to get away is deal with a*sholes." He dragged me into him as he tucked my hair behind my ears. His eyes sparkled as they trained on mine. "And I brought you here because I want to share everything I love with you."

My heart fluttered, and my body quivered at his words. His left hand came down and caressed my face as his thumb gently swept over my lower lip. I nipped at it softly. His eyes darkened with desire. When his hands cupped my face, I wrapped my arms around him as he pulled me into a deep kiss.

"You know, I have a few ideas on how I could help you decompress," I said, teasing his lip with my tongue.

He groaned into my mouth. His hands gingerly slid down my body. His thumbs swept softly over my breasts, pebbling my nipples. A shiver coursed through me, and desire pooled between my legs as a whimper escaped from my mouth.

"I always knew you were a smart and resourceful woman," he said. While catching his breath, he rested his forehead against mine.

"You haven't seen anything yet." I couldn't get enough of him.

At that moment, I was struggling to remember what it was that I needed to talk to him about because nothing else was important. He was all that mattered.

He set up the table with a tablecloth and candles. I was impressed. Dinner was simple with a variety of cheeses, breads, some fruits, and wine. He did this all for me. And I would bet any amount of money that he'd eaten before he'd picked me up.

He poured the wine, and then with his eyes focused on mine, we raised our glasses. "To us. I love you more than you'll ever know."

We had an enchanted evening. The stars shone brightly against the backdrop of the black sky. The silvered moon cast its reflection against the darkened ocean. The tikis and candles glowed, radiating soft amber light.

"You never cease to amaze me," I said before sipping my wine. "You're a romantic."

He reached across the table for my hand. "If being romantic is wanting to make your dreams come true, then I suppose I am."

My head was foggy and intoxicated from Liam, not from the glass of wine I was drinking. I tilted my head to the side and glanced away, trying to remember something I had to talk to him about. Whatever it was it didn't seem to matter anymore.

While Liam started packing up the table and chairs, I stood, staring out over the vast ocean, as the warm water rippled over my feet. He had insisted on doing everything himself, so I'd indulged him. Each time I looked over my shoulder, I caught him stealing glances at me. I stepped farther into the water, feeling it lap against my ankles.

Suddenly, I had a crazy idea. I glanced over my shoulder once more to see Liam looking over at me. When our eyes locked, I smiled, wrinkling my nose. He shook his head in amusement before he continued with his tasks. I threw caution to the wind and my clothes to the sand as I inched my way into the cove. When I was waist deep, I kicked and splashed around me.

"Hey, Lieutenant."

He looked up, and his jaw fell. He started stripping off his clothes as he made his way to the shore. "Baby, you've got to be the hottest, most f*cking incredible woman on the planet."

"I have to tell you something, and I think I'll chicken out if I'm too close to you."

"This is your brilliant plan to keep me away? You naked in the water? Talk fast." He stood on the beach, pulling off his boxer briefs.

I laughed. I quickly summoned up my courage since the sight of him naked had me flustered. "Your key freaked me out."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm coming in." He waded over to me. "I'm sorry for freaking you out." He trailed kisses along my neck. "Tell me what's wrong," he whispered.

I leaned my head back, elongating my neck. When his stubble tickled behind my ear, I quivered at the sensation. "When you do this, I forget what I'm going to say."

As he stopped, I pouted.

"The key. Talk to me."

"What does it mean?" I wanted him to give me a quick explanation because my resolve to stay focused was coming to an abrupt end.

He leaned in and grazed my lips. "It's a key. It was there. I wanted you to sleep in."

"Come on, it has to mean more than that if you wanted me to keep it."

"Honestly, it was a spontaneous decision. It felt right. If I think about it…" He looked up and then back at me. "If it has to mean something, it means that I trust you."

I nodded. "I'll accept that."

As I wrapped myself around him, his hand traveled up my leg. I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Thank you for this wonderful evening…and thank you for loving me and everything that entails."

We frolicked in the water. Between splashing and laughing, we kissed and teased each other. I'd never felt so alive.

Liam carried me out of the water and then wrapped us in the tablecloth. Standing this close to him in our makeshift towel, I craved him. My longing was so intense that I could barely stand it.

"Liam, I need you to make love to me now," I murmured. My hands traced up and down his back as I rubbed myself up against him.

He kissed my forehead, and our breathing became labored.

"My wallet…is…in…the boat."

I threw on his shirt while he pulled on his boxers. The rest of our clothes were left in a jumbled heap. The short walk to the boat was eternal. I decided that I was getting on the pill as soon as possible.

After we were on the boat, he found his wallet and pulled out the coveted condom. I took it from his hands and ripped open the wrapper. His eyes were hooded as he moaned when I slipped the condom over him. I led him to the front of the boat and sat him back on the seat.

As I unbuttoned my shirt, his hands reached for my breasts. I climbed on top of him and slowly lowered myself. I stretched as he filled me. My head fell back, and I moaned in pleasure.

The boat rocked to our rhythm as we made love.

I felt the pressure mounting.

"Baby, I want to watch you."

When the convulsions started rippling through me, I gripped his shoulders, digging my nails into him. "Liam…oh…yes…yes…ahhh…love you so much," I panted in complete and total ecstasy.

He lowered me down and then began to thrust fast and hard. The pressure began building again, and then we found pleasure together.

Burying his head in my neck, he traced kisses along the shell of my ear. "I love you, baby."

"I love you, too."





Under the starlit night, we navigated back to port. My heart overflowed with love for him. I had something else to talk to him about, but I honestly couldn't remember what it was.





"Good morning, Walter," I greeted with a wave as I walked into the lobby of Madison's condo at six in the f*cking morning. "And happy Thanksgiving." I smiled. It wasn't his fault that Madison was a lunatic.

Walter was a good family man. I guessed he was in his mid-forties. When Madison had decided that waiting for her in my car was no longer acceptable, I had the pleasure of getting to know him. It was part of her wax-on/wax-off bullshit. I was over trying to figure her out. It was wasted energy. I needed to focus on learning these f*cking stupid lessons, so I could pass to the next level. Whoever said it got easier was a motherf*cking liar.

"Good morning and happy Thanksgiving to you, Mr. Marin. Ms. Stuart will be down any moment now."

Walter gave me hope that the service in this town hadn't gone to shit. I couldn't think of a morning when he wasn't here, and each time I saw him, he was polite. I had to give it to him. He had good manners. Madison should hire him and fire that prick Bruce. I didn't know if Walter could mix a drink, but I had no reservations that he could bring me a f*cking bottle of water.

I leaned up against the granite counter, tapping my fingers, while I waited for Madison. Making me wait was her favorite part of training. At this point, I decided I would let her think she had me under some mind-f*ck trance. It was bullshit.

"You know how women are, Walter. Madison insists I be here on time, but she makes me wait." I shook my head.

As Walter snickered, the elevator doors opened. Dressed in a sports bra and running shorts, Madison walked out like she was the f*cking Queen of England.

She glanced over at Walter and shot him a sweet smile. "Good morning, Walter. Happy Thanksgiving."

Then, she shot me a seething glare. This was an act I saw through. She loved the attention. I had to admit that her attitude was fun when it wasn't irritating as hell. This morning, she was being a pain in the ass.

Walter said, "Same to you, Ms. Stuart. Let me get the door for you." He rushed over and opened the door for us.

She turned to look at me. "Rick, are you taking notes?"

When she walked outside, I raced around her to open the car door for her.

She smiled, impressed. "You're such a quick learner."

I passed her f*cking test. As I strutted around the car to my side, I couldn't help but feel a huge sense of accomplishment. She gave me a f*cking compliment.

I settled into the driver's seat. When I looked over at her before turning on the car, she glanced in my direction.

Rubbing my chin, I decided Madison needed to be schooled in the art of treating a man with respect. "You're f*cking enjoying this a little too much. And how about a 'good morning, Rick, happy Thanksgiving' to me? Where are your manners?"

"Rick, you're so damn cute when you get irritated. You do this little thing with your mouth that's adorable." She rolled her eyes. "I said good morning when I woke your sorry ass up. Did you forget that? You're so high maintenance. I'm going to have to cure you of that." She crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

At first, I'd thought that Madison wanted to f*ck me. If it wasn't for my plan to win Daniela back, I might have. Madison had a sweet ass, and she knew how to move it. I tried not to think about her ass too much, but it was hard to ignore when she brushed it up against me. Of course, she did that accidentally—yeah right. Now, I wasn't sure what she wanted.

"Madison, for your information, I have a dick, and I like it. Why the hell are you trying to f*cking cut it off?"

"I'm not doing anything of the sort. I'm working very hard on getting your dick back in commission. It's a shame that it's on the sidelines. Tell me, has anything that I've done not worked for you? Before you know it, that dick of yours will be f*cking like there's no tomorrow." She caressed my face with her hand. "Team Rick all the way."

She had a point. All was well in the universe. For a minute there, I thought she hated men and was doing a figurative Lorena Bobbitt.

"It's driving you crazy, isn't it?" I asked.

"What is?" She lowered the visor to straighten her ponytail in the mirror.

The ponytail actually looked nice on her. I preferred women to wear their hair down, but Madison was able to pull off the look.

"You're dying to f*ck me, aren't you?" I raised my eyebrow and shot her my dimpled smile.

She always denied it, but I knew the truth. She'd wanted to f*ck me since the day she'd first laid eyes on me. I should've let it go, but I didn't.

I turned on the car and then pulled out of the parking lot.

"You're an a*shole. Do you really think every woman wants to f*ck you?"

"Without a doubt. Just like every man falls under your spell and wants to taste your p-ssy."

"I won't argue with that last part. However, if I wanted to f*ck you, I would have. Obviously, I don't. Now, do you mind not being such an arrogant motherf*cker? It's a turn-off."

Damn, she wants me bad. "Whatever you say, love. Now, what the f*ck is a Turkey Trot?"

Leave it to Madison to drag me to Tropical Park on Thanksgiving morning to run with literally a thousand other people. This was payback for every f*cking bad thing I'd done in my life. After this, my debt was definitely paid in full with interest. Who the hell is crazy enough to want to sign up for this shit? Madison F*cking Stuart, that's who.





I couldn't believe she actually tried to beat me. F*ck that shit! I was competitive. The kicker was that she had gotten pissed and said I was supposed to let her win. Apparently, she didn't get the memo that clearly stated I didn't lose to anyone.

"On top of being the world's biggest a*shole, you cheat," Madison huffed as we walked back to my car.

"I won fair and square. Maddy, I'm bigger, stronger, and faster. Deal with it."

I smacked her ass and then jogged ahead of her. With laughter, I sang my own version of "We Are the Champions."

"I am the champion, no time for losers, 'cause I am the champion of the world."

Apparently, those were fighting words. In the middle of my revelry, Madison ran up behind me and jumped on my back, practically knocking me down.

"You're such a dick."

I regained my balance while she clung to me. As she tightened her legs around my midsection, she put me into a headlock.

I replied, "Yes, I am, and I know how to use it."

I ran the rest of the way to the car with Madison riding piggyback. All the while, she was making a sound I didn't know she was capable of—laughter.





After I dropped Madison off at her condo, I went shopping. In a couple of hours, I'd pick her up again, so we could make our way to the homeless shelter. This would be a first. When I'd told my mother that I was volunteering, she had not believed me. That hurt. Daniela had laughed when I'd told her. That stung. They knew me well. Madison was the only one with the balls to tell me that I was going to do it. When I'd agreed to it, I'd been in a state of desperation, and she had taken full advantage of me.

It was not that I had an aversion to charity. My family was very philanthropic. We participated in events all the time, but they were the black-tie kind. At those, I was in the zone, wearing a custom-tailored Armani tuxedo. Now, I was staring at a f*cking blue bag with white lettering that said GAP.

After feeding the homeless, I had plans to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family. I hadn't been attentive to my mother lately. This quest to win Daniela back and the work that it involved had taken the place of certain family responsibilities, like doting on my mother. She wasn't taking it well. I shook my head and sighed. On top of dealing with Madison's School of Castrating Rick and Daniela's slow seduction, I now had my mother to contend with. I was going to need large doses of alcohol tonight.

But, one thing at a time. Now, I was subjecting myself to the next level of punishment by Madison. Wearing a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, I walked into the lobby of her building. I figured I would be safe wearing Liam-type clothes. To my surprise, Madison was already waiting for me downstairs and Walter was not sitting behind the counter. That was a first for both of them.

"Wow, Rick, I'm impressed. You look like a regular person and not a pompous son of a bitch. You're maturing. I like it."

When I refused to drive my car to the shelter, Madison's praises were soon replaced with a promotion to Supreme A*shole of the World. There was no way I was going to drive my BMW 640i Coupe. I wasn't about to risk getting it vandalized or stolen when I was doing a good deed. It was a decision I regretted when we got into her tiny red Audi TTS Roadster, which she drove like it was a f*cking go-cart.

"I think you're overreacting. I wasn't being an a*shole. I was being a smart man," I said, gripping the door handle. I felt like I was riding a f*cking roller coaster.

"You're probably right, but I'm having fun with you now." She laughed and continued to drive like a maniac.

We pulled into a tan building that looked like a typical apartment complex. As we parked in the gated lot, I realized that my car would've been safe, and I could have avoided that near death experience. We got out of the car and made our way to the building.

As we were walking inside, Madison reached over, slid off my sunglasses, and put them in her purse. "I'm proud of you. You've come a long way in a short while." She winked and led me to the kitchen, waving and greeting people as we went.

"Maddy, you walk around this place like you own it."

"Apparently, you think I'm shallow and petty. I do believe in giving back to the community."

"Did I say you were shallow and petty? I had no doubt about your generosity. I figured it was just for keeping men happy, but I'm very impressed with your community service."

"I take back everything I said about being proud of you. You have retained your title of A*shole Extraordinaire."

F*ck. I hated when she twisted my words. I ran my hands through my hair as I tried to find the right thing to say.

"Come here." I grabbed her hand and looked at her with the most sincere look I could muster. "You've been great to me. It's Thanksgiving, so I'm going to tell you what I'm thankful for." As I tapped her nose with my other hand, I winked. "You're a pain in the ass and the biggest bitch I know, but you not only put up with me, you also help me."

I looked away, searching the stained ceiling tiles for inspiration. I didn't do this nice shit unless I was working the p-ssy angle, and I hardly ever meant it. Madison was different though. She wasn't a hook up. She was growing on me, and in a sadistic way, I kind of liked her. She wasn't half bad, and she could actually be fun.

"You're my friend, maybe even my best friend," I admitted.

She smiled. "Rick, I'm not Daniela. You don't need to lay it on thick. I'm in it for the long haul until I'm not in it anymore."

She might as well have kicked me in the balls.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Nothing, Maddy, forget it. I'm an a*shole, and you're a bitch."

So much for the cool Maddy from this morning. This f*cking Maddy was a royal pain in the motherf*cking ass, and I hated her guts. I couldn't wait to get the hell out of here.

"Let's do this. I have people to see and places to go," I said impassively, staring over her.

She pulled something out of a box and sighed deeply. "Stop it. I don't want you to be mad, not today. Tomorrow, you can be, and then I'll whip your ass into shape." She tugged on my shirt and reached over for my arm. "Not today, Rick."

Looking down at her, I thought for a second that she might actually be human. It was that split second that always got me. I caved.

It was short-lived. She quickly pulled out a shower cap made out of some shit and told me I had to wear it. My feelings for her grew from hatred to full-blooded loathing. She was doing this on purpose.

"There's no f*cking way I am putting that shit on my head," I said.

"You have to. We're serving food. Look, I'm going to do it, too."

People started pulling out large trays of food. What on earth are they serving here?

"I'm not wearing that shit. What the f*ck is that?"

"Stop being so difficult. Wear the damn thing. And that's stuffing. Haven't you ever seen stuffing before?" She stood with one hand on her hip while the other twirled that fake shower cap thing. "Trust me, Rick. Wax on, wax off."

"You first." Standing there with my arms crossed, I shot lethal daggers at her.

Without hesitation, she put on the cap. She looked like a f*cking moron. I couldn't keep a straight face as I tried to stifle my laughter. She handed me the other cap, and I put it on, joining the ranks of the moron-looking idiots that started circling around us.

"What do you think? Do I look as certifiably ridiculous as you do?" I asked.

Madison whipped out her phone and took a picture of me. "I love it!" Twirling around, she laughed her ass off.

I was insulted, but there was something about her laughter that almost made it bearable.

"Give me that."

When I reached for her phone, she pulled it away. Turning her back to me, she tucked the phone in her bra.

"Do you really think that it's safe there?" With her back pressed into my chest, I reached around. "I have no problem digging around for my treasure."

She leaned back into me, her ass pressing up against my dick. My left hand circled her waist as I buried my head in her neck. She smelled so much better than whatever they were cooking here. My dick was in f*cking heaven.

I whispered in her ear, "This is your last chance, or I'm coming in."

Her hand rested on my arm. "It's mine. You need to trust me."

Her head reclined on my chest. She moved against my body with such ease and confidence. It was a f*cking turn-on, and she could feel it. She loved having power and control over me.

"You two should get a room."

We both quickly straightened, startled out of whatever the hell that was. Where the f*ck was my head?

"Alex, it's been a while," Madison said. "Rick, this is Alex, an, um…old friend."

Old friend, my ass. He was a f*ck buddy. That son of a bitch was salivating as he eyed her from head to toe.

I reached out my hand. "Rick Marin, new friend."

I wasn't a f*ck buddy, and I had no plans of ever being one. I might cop a feel here and there, but that was it. This guy was an a*shole. I should know. I was A*shole Extraordinaire.

"Alex Santana. I'll see you later, Madison." He winked at her and walked away.

It was then that I realized my arm was still wrapped around her waist. I let her go. I ran my hands through my shower-capped head and cursed that damn thing.

Madison pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen. "I just sent you the picture. You need to learn to trust me. Now, you have something to show Daniela."

She was back to business. I couldn't keep up with her mood swings or multiple personalities. The next time I came across one of her nice personalities, I was going to suggest medication.

She turned on her heels. "Let's go, Rick. The homeless are hungry."

I followed her to our post where she handed me some rubber gloves and a giant spoon. This was quickly becoming worse than the Turkey Trot. Where the f*ck did she come up with these activities. Then, the doors opened, and I saw a really long line of people and some kids. I couldn't describe the words for how this felt. I looked over at Madison who glanced over at me and smiled. I guess the best way to describe it was—good.

After spooning food on to cardboard trays for over an hour, I was exhausted. It was an emotionally grueling day. I'd dealt with several of Madison's personalities, met one of her f*ck buddies, and was humbled to be around people who actually thought I was giving them something good to eat.

I sent my mother a text.



Rick: Awesome day with the homeless.



Mom: I'm so proud of you.



Rick: Add this to your charities. I'll even help.



Mom: Anything for you.



Rick: Next year, they get real food. This shit was disgusting.



Mom: Language. Love to see your excitement.



Rick: We'll talk more tonight. I have to go.



I walked toward Madison, who was waiting for me by the door. "Maddy, I'm getting my mom involved in this cause. As soon as I get home, I'm donating these clothes, too. You'll see that I'm going to make things happen."

"Your enthusiasm is great." She smiled and pulled out her car keys. "Here." She handed them to me and then tucked her hair behind her ear. "Do you mind driving my car back? You can leave the keys with the doorman."

I shook my head. I couldn't look at her. "Madison, I can only take you in small doses. I've reached my f*cking limit."

I ran my hands through my hair and then grabbed the keys out of her hands. As I walked toward her damn car, she came after me.

"What's your problem? You're just an ungrateful son of a bitch."

"Ungrateful? You're my f*cking problem. All you do is cut off my f*cking dick. You came with me, so you f*cking leave with me. I'm done, Madison. F*cking done!"

There was only so much I could take. Between the absence of p-ssy and Madison's torture, I cracked. "And no, I'm not ungrateful. I do everything I can to constantly show you how much I appreciate you. What else do you want? All I want is a little thing called respect."

Madison composed herself, straightening her shoulders. In a menacing voice, she said, "You're done?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Then, you're done. No sweat off my back. Keep in mind though that today was all about you. You didn't think about her all day long. I gave you a break from your obsession and your quest to win Daniela back. You actually did something that was bigger than yourself that you can be proud of. How I cut off your f*cking dick is beyond me. Trust me…" She winked. "Your dick is alive and well. Stop with your ego trip. He knows you and I are just friends." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders again. "It's my turn now to forget. This is about me."

I placed my hands gently on her shoulders with my head hanging in defeat. "Maddy, what do you have to forget?" My eyes pleaded with her. "F*ck, baby, look at me. What do you need to forget? Just tell me."

She quickly looked away, shaking her head. She took a deep breath and then looked at me with no expression. "When Daniela is back by your side, you'll thank me for this."

I ran my hands through my hair and clasped them behind my head. "Goddamn it, Maddy. Leave Daniela out of this. This is about you." I couldn't keep up with her. "Just get in the car."

For a split second, I saw it. There was a glimpse of her humanity—like that girl on my back, laughing—and then she was gone.

"Focus, Rick. I'll call you in the morning. Don't make me wait." She turned and walked toward that motherf*cker.

I needed a f*cking drink.





Dani sat in the passenger seat, clutching my hand while bouncing her leg nervously. This was a big day. Wyatt flew up to spend the holidays with my mom. Since I'd already committed to working this Friday, I couldn't get away, so I was spending Thanksgiving with Dani's family. Under normal circumstances, it would've been a non-issue, but because I'd be meeting her parents for the first time, it was a monumental event. I wasn't worried about it. Of course, I wanted to make a good impression. I had no doubt that I would. It wasn't that I was a cocky son of a bitch. I just knew my feelings for Dani. I trusted her family would see them, but my confidence didn't convince her. As we were driving, I quickly glanced over at her before I thought back to last Tuesday night.

Macy thought it was cute that I was so calm. This only made Dani more nervous as she paced around her living room. Any hard feelings that had existed between them were gone. They were talking nonstop about the details. I sat back on the couch, channel surfing between basketball games and football highlights, while they obsessed over what Dani's dad would ask me or if her mother would embarrass her.

Dani hurled a fluffy pillow at me. "Excuse me, but you need to pay attention. This affects you."

This was important to her. I had to admit that it would've been easier to pay attention if she were sitting naked on top of me. I loved her more than my dick and ESPN, so I turned off the TV, stood up, and walked toward her.

"Tell me what I need to know to prepare for the end of life as I know it," I said, wrapping my arms around her.

She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. Our foreheads touched, and our bodies swayed.

"Baby, we're in this together. It'll all be fine. Trust me," I reassured her.

Dani kept her eyes focused on mine. "Macy, he's right. It's going to be fine. Thanks for listening to me, but you can leave now."

"Great, Dani. You have Liam coma." Macy rolled her eyes. "Liam, I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

"Too late, Macy. I'm already in deep." And I was. The only thing that mattered to me was the girl swaying in my arms. I loved her with everything I had.

I was jolted from my thoughts when Dani turned down the radio. She claimed the music was distracting her from her panic attack. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel to the barely audible tunes.

Her grip tightened as she dug her nails into my hand. "Liam, why are you so quiet? I'm dying here, and you're doing absolutely nothing to calm my nerves."

"Baby, I love you. Everything's going to be fine." My thumb drew circles on her palm, hoping that she'd relax her grip. "Are you worried they aren't going to like me? Because I'm not. What's not to like?"

"What? Do you think I'm crawling out of my skin because they won't like you? Oh no, they're going to love you. You, on the other hand, might want to run as fast and far as you can."

"I seriously doubt that. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

When I winked at her, her smile brightened, and the tension left her eyes.

"You know that Macy and her family are going to be there as well. I should also warn you about her brother, Marco."

"What do you mean by warn?"

"Marco's harmless. He's just very playful and flirtatious. Don't read anything into it because there's nothing there. This is just how we've interacted since we were kids. So, please keep your Fred Flintstone in check."

"Yabba dabba doo. He better not cross the line. I promise you that I'll be on my best behavior."

I hoped this guy wasn't a douche. Dani had a tendency to dismiss a*shole behavior until it bit her in the ass. I wasn't putting up with that shit.

"I'm a man of my word. You can relax." This Marco dude better cooperate.

"It's showtime. Are you ready? You aren't nervous or anything like that, right? Are you sure about this? It's really okay if you've changed your mind." Dani's smile was replaced with a wrinkled forehead and dread in her eyes.

I laughed. Along with being funny and smart, she was also the most confident and beautiful woman I knew. I was biased, but it was still true. Her internal freak-out, as she called it, almost seemed funny by comparison.

"Baby…" I paused. "I'm so sure about you. This is nothing. I'm really looking forward to meeting your family. Now, come on."

We pulled into the driveway of her mother's home in a nice suburban part of town. The landscape was lined with palm trees and bougainvillea. Dani's childhood stories came to life. I could picture her growing up here, riding her bike around the cul-de-sac, and playing hide-and-seek in the neighbor's yard.

When the front door opened, a guy, who looked like the male version of Macy, came out. I assumed this was Marco. Instinctively, I held Dani's hand possessively as I straightened my shoulders.

She leaned into me. "Chill out. He's harmless."

"Come here, my future baby mama. Damn, you look so f*cking hot. Give me some lovin'," Marco said as he strutted his motherf*cking ass over to us.

My jaw tightened. I wanted to rip his head off and punt it across the yard.

Dani squeezed my hand. She whispered, "Babe, just ignore him. He's playing, and if he knows he's getting to you, he's just going to keep it up."

I didn't care what the f*ck he was doing. It had to stop immediately. I hadn't made it through the front door, and I was already struggling to keep my promise.

Dani then turned to him. "Marco, stop it and be good. This is Liam."

"Are you playing hard to get? You know how that turns me on," he growled. "Let me feel that nice ass of yours." He smirked, reaching around for her ass.

Now, I knew he had a death wish. She laughed, smacking his hand away. My neck twitched as my fist clenched. She laughed more. I made a split-second decision to take charge of the situation. This shit needed to stop.

I extended my hand to him. "Liam Lucas. It's nice to meet you."

"Hey, yeah, dude. Marco Alonso." He shook my hand and then addressed Dani again. "So, Macy tells me you're off the market, but you know me. I'm holding out for that miracle when you let me make you mine."

I saw red. "Marco, I need a beer. Show me the way," I said.

I let go of Dani's hand and patted Marco on the shoulder. Dani had a look of horror on her face and reached for my arm. I winked at her. I was in the driver's seat now. I wasn't about to break my promise or ruin her day. I also wanted to make a good impression on her family, and kicking this guy's ass was not the best way to accomplish that.

I took control of dangerous situations every time I suited up. This was no different. At the end of the day, I was a man. Dani had to understand that about me, and this a*shole did, too.

"Come on back for that beer. Catch you later, baby cakes." After he blew her an air kiss, he led me to the back of the house.

The backyard was lined with tables and chairs. Salsa music was blasting from the speakers, and the reflection off the pool was blinding. In the far corner, there was a tiki hut with a built-in grill.

Marco opened one of the coolers. "What are you having? I have Yuengling, Becks, Heineken, Miller Lite, Samuel Adams, and a good old-fashioned Budweiser."

Apparently, they took their beer seriously.

"Yuengling is fine," I said.

Marco reached into the cooler and then handed me a beer.

"Thanks." I opened the bottle and took a pull. "Listen, I don't want any problems. This is Dani's day. Let's agree that you need to stop with the bullshit. It's Thanksgiving today, but tomorrow can be a very black Friday for you. Are we clear?" I deadpanned.

Marco grabbed his own beer. "It's about time she brought someone home who had balls. Nice to meet you. She's like my kid sister, so I'm going to issue you the same warning." He looked me square in the eye. "Break her heart, and you not only deal with my psycho sister, you deal with me, too. Welcome to the family."

We tapped beers.

"Thanks! And I'm glad we understand each other."

"I can't believe she let me go that long. What the hell is up with that?" He laughed, shaking his head.

He had a point. Dani always underestimated men. She wanted to believe the good in people, and she trusted that their intentions were noble. It was like she thought we were those characters in her books. She was so gullible when it came to the way real-life men worked. We were pretty simple. We ate, slept, and wanted to have sex. Few men wanted to be just friends.

Macy and Dani made their way over to us, weaving in and out of the people crowding the backyard terrace. As Dani slipped under my arm, she wrapped her arms around my waist.

Macy smacked Marco across the head. "Seriously, Marco, Dani was having a heart attack. Good thing her man can perform some awesome CPR." Macy winked at me.

"So, I've heard." Marco chuckled.

Dani shot Macy an evil stare.

Marco said, "Dani, he's a good guy. He has my vote."

"Yeah," Dani said, leaning her head against my chest, "he's a very good man, even if he does go caveman sometimes."

"I'm on his side here." Marco patted me on the shoulder. "I would've done the same thing or probably worse. He has self-control. I don't. I would've gone ape shit if some a*shole would have talked to my woman like that."

Dani rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in surrender. "Come on, you just met the tip of the iceberg."

Dani grabbed my hand and proceeded to introduce me to the rest of her family. I wasn't sure what Dani had been so worried about. Although a bit colorful, her family was cool. Dani's family consisted of her parents, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents from both sides of the family. Macy, Marco, and their parents were also there. I was kissed, hugged, and pinched.

Flying hands and facial expressions replaced most words, and when they spoke, their words were mostly a combination of English and Spanish. Fortunately, I was versed in Spanglish. I couldn't speak it, but I could follow along.

Her grandmother came over and insisted on having her picture taken with me. She wasn't your typical grandmother type. "I like younger men," she said with a thick accent. She winked as she placed her hand on my abs, posing for the camera. "I'm going to put this on Facebook."

We watched the first football game and then had an amazing meal.

Afterwards, Dani's parents called us aside and her face paled. I wasn't sure what the big deal was. Macy had already prepared me for the statement-of-intentions discussion. I loved Dani, and I appreciated her father's concerns.

"Baby, it's fine." I placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before we entered the den.

Her dad motioned us to sit down. He was tall with graying sideburns. He carried himself with authority, but his love for his daughters was clearly visible. Even though he didn't live here, he sat behind the dark cherry desk while her mother stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders. She was five foot nothing. I could see where Dani got her beauty and poise. They were presenting a united front. It was almost like a scene from The Godfather.

"Liam, it's great to finally meet you," her father said, folding his hands. "You have to understand that my girls are my life. I'll do anything for them. I'll cut to the chase. What are your intentions with Dani?"

Shaking her head, Dani buried her face in her hands. "Kill me now."

"Sir, it's nice to finally meet you as well. I love your daughter. My intentions are honorable. I want to get to know her and spend as much time with her as I can." As I laced my fingers with Dani's, I winked at her. "Dani is—"

"Are you having sex with her?" Her mother interrupted.

I was rendered speechless.

"If you are, I hope that you're using protection. If she were to get pregnant, what are your intentions then?"

"Way to go, Mom. I'm not sixteen. I'm twenty-eight years old. I'll answer this question. Yes, I'm having sex with him. I love him. I want to be with him. I want to take this," Dani said, motioning between us, "as far as it'll go. If I get pregnant, we'll deal with it. It's not the plan, but you know what? I would welcome it. Actually, I'd be thrilled. That's how much I love him."

"Liam, you know you don't have to marry her if she got pregnant, but I would fully expect you to assume your responsibility," her father interjected.

Dani's mom smacked her dad on the back of his head. "He most certainly will marry her if he's irresponsible enough to get her pregnant. I will not have a grandchild born out of wedlock."

Macy hadn't prepared me for this, and now I understood Dani's anxiety attack. Had it been any other woman, I might have bolted. But it was Dani, so I didn't care. They could bring it on. I wasn't sure if they were testing me or if they really meant it. I did the only thing I knew to do.

"With all due respect," I said, standing up and placing my hands on Dani's shoulders, "I love Dani with all my heart. I'm not going to make a grand declaration here because it's neither the time nor the place. But understand, without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I can't imagine my life without her. She's the one. I've known it all along. Wherever our lives lead us, I know that we'll figure it out. We belong together. Come hell or high water, she's mine, and I'm hers."

"That wasn't a grand declaration?" Dani whispered as our eyes met.

"No, on the day I ask you to be my wife, I'll be making a grand declaration. For now, I'm saying that you're stuck with me."

As her dad stood up, he extended his hand to me. "Welcome to the family."

Her mom came around, looking me square in the eyes. "There better be action behind those words. Talk is cheap. But I like that you took a stand. Keep it up. You might win me over." She winked and patted me on the back before she left the room.

After the Ruiz Family Inquisition was over, her parents morphed into normal people, and I liked them. The rest of the afternoon went on without a hitch.

Dani curled up next to me on the couch as we watched football and talked about boating with her dad. Her mom brought us some turkey sandwiches and about ten photo albums filled with pictures of Dani growing up. I was definitely part of the family, and it felt good.





The dessert dishes were piled in the sink as the last of my friends left. Liam blew out the candles on the table. Thanksgiving dessert at my place was a long-standing tradition with my friends. We'd gather to decompress and laugh at the lunacy that was sure to have happened during our family Thanksgivings.

I had a lot to be grateful for on this day, including good friends, my health, and most significantly, the man walking toward me. A warm glow flowed through me. I was still processing everything he'd said to my parents. His not-a-grand declaration was grand. I stood there, hugging the dishtowel to my chest. Wonderful didn't begin to express how his words had made me feel. God, I love him.

As our eyes met, I bit my lower lip. He grabbed the dishtowel out of my hands and then wrapped it around my waist, pulling me into him. Tilting my chin, he lowered his mouth and teased my lower lip with his tongue. I smiled and parted my lips.

Kissing Liam was my favorite pastime. Every cell in my body tingled, leaving me wanting more. Sure enough, my heart raced, my breathing quickened, and my mind cleared itself of anything other than the man whose arms were wrapped around me.

"I finally have you all to myself," he said in a husky voice.

Pulling back from him, with a raised eyebrow, I asked, "You didn't like hanging out with my friends?"

He twirled the dishtowel in his hands. "Your friends are great, and I'm glad that you and Macy have patched things up."

"Oh, really?" I said playfully. "Are you counting on learning my dirty little secrets from her? Fat chance since she's still on probation."

He flung the towel at me, and I yelped.

"Baby, I'm your number one. We don't keep secrets. I have nothing to learn from Macy."

I'd planned on telling Liam about Rick on a number of occasions, but the timing had always felt wrong. Now was a prime example. Everything with Liam was perfect, and I didn't want to rock the boat. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the visit with Rick was harmless. I'd be upsetting Liam for nothing at all. I had dragged him through enough post-Rick break-up shit that I didn't want to talk about him anymore. I was letting all of that go, so I could move forward with Liam.

"I have something for you," I said.

As I was leading him toward my bedroom, he wrapped his arms around me. I purred as I reclined against his chest. He buried his face in my neck, tickling me with his stubble.

With his lips against my ear, he whispered, "I have something I want to give to you, too."

A shiver coursed through my body as he pressed his growing erection against me. I forgot what I had for him. I remembered that it was special, but the overwhelming passion and desire I was feeling was all I could think of. My body craved him and throbbed in anticipation of his touch. His hands slid under my blouse and settled on my nipples. His breath against my ear tickled my senses.

He whispered, "I've wanted to touch you all day."

I whimpered as my legs stopped moving mid-way to my room. While his fingers kneaded my nipples, I panted and squirmed against his body.

"You like that?" he asked.

I nodded in response.

Still standing behind me, he unbuttoned my blouse, and it slipped to the floor. His hands reached for mine, and then he brought my fingers over my nipples.

"Baby, play with them," he mumbled in my ear.

I trembled, my legs weakening. His hands traveled along the side of my body as he lowered himself, trailing kisses down my back. I widened my stance and propped myself against the wall with one hand while keeping the other on my nipple. After he slipped off my skirt, his fingers gingerly skimmed up my legs. I moaned in pleasure as he began caressing my folds. He inserted his fingers inside of me.

"Baby, you're so wet."

He kissed along my legs and softly nipped with his teeth. I quaked at his touch. Both of my hands were now pressed against the wall. I stood on my tiptoes, closing my eyes, as I rocked against his hand. Then, he pulled away.

"What? No…don't…stop."

I was desperate for his touch. As I heard him unzip his pants and open a condom wrapper, anticipation rippled through my body.

"I'm not stopping. I'm never going to stop loving you," he said.

He teased me with his tip, rubbing it over my opening. My heart fluttered, beating uncontrollably.

"Please…Liam."

Giving me what I needed, he entered me. His arms reached around me, and his hands rested next to mine. My back arched into his chest as he rocked me into complete and total euphoria. The pressure mounted, my legs weakened, and I shattered, moaning and crying out his name.

Holding me up, he picked up his pace. With each thrust, the pressure built again. As he moved faster and harder, I couldn't hold on. He pressed me against the wall, supporting my body, as I let go. We found satisfying pleasure as we climaxed together.

"Happy Thanksgiving, baby," he panted.

I raised my hand to him, asking for a minute. "Yeah…happy…yeah."

His hands ran up the side of my highly sensitized body. I was about to pass out from the lack of blood flowing to my head. He picked me up and carried me to my room.

"I have something for you. Give me a minute while I try to remember what it is," I said.

When he set me down on the bed, my hair fanned out on the white sheets.

"You're so beautiful, baby. This is how you looked the first time I brought you home."

"Oh yeah? When you wanted to cop a feel?" I teased.

"I wanted to do a lot more than cop a feel. I had to hurry up and get the hell out of here. You've always driven me crazy."

I threw a pillow at him.

"What? You know it's true, and you love it."

Liam came to bed and dragged me into him. "Today was great. Thanks for making it special," he whispered, combing his fingers through my hair. "You're always surprising me. It was hot watching football and ESPN with you. Baby, it was a total turn-on." He kissed my neck and hugged me tightly.

"You're always turned on, not that I'm complaining," I said, squeezing his arms. "I'll watch football with you anytime, especially if that Cole Murphy guy is on SportsCenter."

"Cole Murphy? Baby, when I'm in bed with you, don't ever talk about another man. Got it?"

"I'm just teasing." I kissed his arm. "You know that I'm yours."

Liam had not been kidding in CPR class when he'd told me that he was a jealous fool. Most of the time, his alpha caveman attitude was sexy. Then, there was his exchange with Macy's brother, Marco, who had been flirting with me since high school. I didn't want Liam to interfere with how Marco and I goofed around. I really thought Marco would've matched my irritation, but instead, he'd been impressed by Liam's approach. They had formed an alliance, and I was outnumbered.

As I pulled away from him, the sheets slipped off of my body.

"Hey, where are you going?" he asked.

"I have something for you. When you're close to me, my brain goes to mush, so I need some distance, please." I waved him back before I slipped on a T-shirt.

He propped himself up on his elbows as he watched me prepare my presentation. I opened a drawer and took out a small wrapped box. I breathed in deeply. This was huge for me.

"This is for you." I extended it to him and then quickly drew it back. "I love you, Liam. No one has ever cared for me like you do. You've met my family and lived through their interrogation. And you're still here. I know that loving me isn't always easy. I have my stupid hang-ups. Moving forward, I promise you that I won't make you pay for what someone else did. I'm trusting you with my heart." I handed him the box and stepped back.

He smiled and slowly started to unwrap it. I realized then that watching him open gifts on Christmas would be painful. He wasn't the rip-it-open kind. He was the peeling-back-the-tape-carefully type. Before I could yank the box out of his hands and open it myself, he pulled out the key to my home.

"Like my heart, I don't share this easily. I want you to have it. I want more with you. I want more for us."

He sat up on the bed, hooking the key ring around his finger. "Do you still need your distance?" His eyes were hungry. He was ready to pounce on me.

"Wait. Don't get too close. I have to show you something else."

As I walked over to the bathroom, he sat on the edge of the bed, craning his neck.

"Um, I can't see. How about I promise to keep my hands to myself?"

"That'll work." I smiled. "On nights like tonight, I don't want you to leave." I looked into his soft eyes and smiled. I showed him the drawer I'd prepared for him. The other day, I'd cleared out my stuff and filled it with his.

"Baby, I love you," he said, dragging me into him. His hands cupped my face as his thumbs caressed me. "I love you so much."

"You're okay with all of this?" I asked coyly as our bodies swayed together.

I was relieved. He led me back to the bed. Lying down next to me, he laced his hands with mine.

"It wasn't too much? Not over the top?"

"Nope. It was just right, like you."

His lips grazed mine, sending a shiver through my body.

"Let's do more. I meant every single word that I said to your parents."

I took a huge leap of faith with him, and it couldn't have felt more right. The timing, as with everything pertaining to us, was perfect. Our individual grand gestures paved the way for more.