Page 16 of Payback
Chapter Four
Loran felt terrible after hearing Bella’s story last night. No wonder she’d written him off. She had every right to. But that didn’t mean he was giving up on her just because he’d made one stupid mistake. On the contrary, after the good-night kiss she’d initiated on his front porch last night he was more determined than ever to step up his game.
They’d spent the rest of the evening talking about his plans for his new home and he was more excited than ever to see that dream come to fruition in her capable hands. Watching her enthusiasm for the project just ramped up his eagerness to get started.
He wanted her to share his vision, his dream. Not just for the house, but for the future. As he sat in his truck, staring out over the land he’d grown to love, he imagined the life they could build there. Kids. Pets. Family. He wanted to make memories with her, to build a life, from the ground up.
She pulled up beside him in her convertible Audi and he grinned when she flashed him a smile and a wave. He was in love with her. He’d come to terms with that long ago, but having her back in his life intensified those feelings ten-fold. He just hoped he could make her see how good they could be together. To overcome her fears and convince her that he was the man she could count on to be there for her… forever.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” she said over the roof of her car. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long. I got tied up in a meeting.” She rolled her eyes. “Clients couldn’t decide how high they wanted the ceilings to be in the foyer. I swear this couple went back and forth for an hour. I was getting tired just listening to them.”
He smiled as he rounded the front of his truck to meet her. “I’ll try to be the ideal client so you won’t have any horror stories to tell about me. How’s that?”
She smirked. “You say that now. Just wait a few weeks. You’ll change your mind fifty times about every little detail. That’s how these things usually work.”
He’d been thinking about this build a long time. He even showed her some images he’d saved on his tablet so she’d have some idea of what he was looking for, but he had no doubt she was right about his indecision. He would likely have a tough time making up his mind about some things. Like how many bedrooms… based on how many kids he’d have.
“This is the spot you were thinking about?” she asked, turning around in a slow circle so she could see it from all angles. “Perfect slope if you want a walk-out basement.” She bit her lip as she looked up at him. “That is what you had in mind, right?”
“Huh?” It was hard to focus, especially when she pushed her sunglasses up on her head and he noted the way her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Where were you just now?” she asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
“Thinking about you,” he admitted. “About last night.”
She blushed. “I probably shouldn’t have kissed you—”
“I’m glad you did,” he said, curling his hands around her upper arms. “Real glad.” His lips were closing in on hers when she put a hand on his chest to still him.
“Uh, Loran. I shouldn’t have mixed business and pleasure last night. That was a mistake. I’ve never done that before. I guess I was just feeling a little vulnerable after I told you my story.”
He didn’t want her to think he was taking advantage, but keeping his hands off her while they worked closely together would be damn near impossible for him. “So what are you saying?” He took a step back, letting his hands fall. “You don’t want me to touch you?”
“I didn’t say that.” She looked confused as she shook her head. “Maybe we could just set some boundaries. Business meetings, like this, are for business. That’s all I’m saying.”
He knew this project would give them an opportunity to spend more time together, but if it meant he had to be on guard every minute, he wasn’t sure he could make any promises. “So you’d be open to spending time together outside of this project?”
“Maybe,” she said, seeming hesitant. “Why don’t we just take it slow, see where we end up?”
He knew where he wanted them to end up and slow wasn’t even in his vocabulary when it came to her. “Take it slow?” he repeated, thinking those just might be his three least favorite words. “Meaning?”
“Get to know each other.”
He already knew her well enough to know that he was in love with her. What more did he need to know? “Okay, what do you suggest?” He reminded himself that a few days ago she wasn’t even speaking to him, so this was progress.
“I don’t know, maybe dinner one night this week? Nothing fancy, just beers and burgers at a sports bar or something.”
Sports bars weren’t the kind of place he’d take a woman he wanted to spend quality time with. He’d be accosted for autographs and selfies every five minutes in a place like that.
“You don’t like that idea,” she said, quickly. “Or you have plans all week? Dates?”
“Dates,” he repeated, wondering what the hell she was thinking. “You really think I have a different woman lined up for every night of the week?”
She hugged her tablet against her chest as she eyed him warily. “Don’t you?”
“No!” He took a deep breath when her eyes widened. “I get why you’d think that. I sure as hell haven’t been an angel, but I’m serious about wanting a shot with you, Bella. I wouldn’t mess that up by seeing other women.”
“But seeing each other exclusively doesn’t sound like taking it slow.”
