Trade It All

  “Ready?” he asked, stepping back to look at her appreciatively.

  “I am,” she answered, her mouth dry from nerves.

  “You look awesome.”

  “Thank you.” She almost said he did, too, but she was more cautious this time.

  He walked her to his hybrid sedan and opened the door for her. Willa glanced up at the window of her apartment and saw Lexi watching her. Did I honestly think she wouldn’t? Don’t get involved, Lexi. I don’t know if I could forgive you again. This time you were warned. Their eyes met across the distance before Lexi let the curtain fall as she turned away.

  Perhaps noticing an expression of distress on Willa’s face, Lance asked, “Is everything all right?”

  Willa turned and slid into the car. Her stomach was twisted in knots. How am I going to look happy while trying not to throw up? I should have told Lexi where I was going. Did I just create a problem where there hadn’t been one?

  For God’s sake, can’t I let myself simply be fucking happy? She forced a smile to her lips. “Wonderful. Let’s get out of here.”

  Lance walked around the car and got into the driver’s seat. Before starting it, he put his hands on the steering wheel and looked as if he were engaged in an inner debate. Finally, he glanced over at her. “Did you have breakfast?”

  Not able to imagine eating anything while her stomach was churning the way it was, Willa said, “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Great. We’ll head right to the NOWA open market. It’s a craft and art fair.”

  Another surprise, or is he saying what he thinks I want to hear? There was nothing about his expression, however, that implied he was anything but happy about the idea. Don’t look for problems. “Is this your first?”

  He started the car and pulled out into the Boston traffic. “Art fair? No. I prefer them to galleries. More authentic. I have a few pieces hanging in my apartment from a relatively unknown artist, Simon Graft. And you never know who you’ll meet. Three years ago I came across a man who painted landscapes with Caspar Friedrich’s flair.”

  “I love his works. At first glance some seem dark and somber, but they draw you into their story.”

  Lance looked pleased that she understood. “Exactly. I bought one of Simon’s paintings for my place, then went back and hired him to paint my mother’s garden. My mother loved it so much she showed it to all of her friends. She knows everyone. His paintings are now in hotels all over the world.”

  His voice, his story . . . they washed everything else away. This side of him was unexpected and wonderful. “I sent your mother a bouquet of flowers with a thank you for the care package she gave me.”

  Lance smiled. “She’ll love it.” He navigated a busy intersection then glanced at Willa again. “I called Emily, and we’re all set for a private tour with her tomorrow. She asked if we were going to join everyone for dinner at my parents’ afterward. I didn’t say yes, but I didn’t say no either. I wanted to know how you felt about going there with me. On one hand it’s early to ‘take you home’ so to speak, but on the other hand you already know everyone, and they’d love to see you.”

  Willa gripped the front of her seatbelt as if it were a lifeline. If they’d never hooked up. If the condom hadn’t broken and she hadn’t—

  If we didn’t have history, what would I say to an amazing man who liked me enough that he wanted his family to know we are together?

  Wouldn’t it be an easy yes?

  It’s not like we’ll be able to hide what we’re doing. Everyone will know soon enough.

  She thought about her earlier conversation with Dax and cringed. What will he think when he finds out? Will he say anything to Kenzi?

  Probably not, unless he thinks I need protecting, which is a good argument for simply letting everyone see us together.

  “I’d love to have dinner with your family,” Willa said with forced brightness. “Will Kenzi be there?”

  “Probably. She’s spending more time with our parents lately.”

  “That’s really nice to hear,” Willa said sincerely.

  “It is,” Lance agreed easily. “So, I’ll tell them we’ll be there?”

  Willa swallowed hard. “Absolutely.”

  Lance valet parked at a hotel a street over from the park. As he and Willa walked toward the fair, he wondered if asking her to have dinner with his family had been a mistake. Things were going well. Part of him wanted to keep her to himself and ensure it stayed that way.

  He wanted this time to be different, though, and that meant not hiding it from his family. This wasn’t him breaking any rules and sneaking around with his little sister’s best friend. He didn’t need anyone’s permission or approval, and dating her out in the open would make that clear without the necessity of actually saying it.

  He didn’t usually take his dates to his family, but Willa wasn’t just a date. He didn’t know what exactly they were, or would ever be to each other, but she was important to him.

  He thought back to how badly things had gone the first time Kenzi brought Dax home and said the same thing about him. Asher and Ian had been the classic asses they often were. They wouldn’t be like that to Willa, though. They already cared about her.

  As they stepped onto the park grounds, he took Willa’s hand in his, and it felt like the most natural thing to do. Yes, the attraction was still there and pulsing between them, but there was also an easiness with her. He didn’t worry that she was after his money. She wasn’t using him for his connections. He could be himself with her, the man he was with his closest friends.

  The day went too fast. They strolled through the booths learning about each other as they explored all forms of artwork. They marveled at the creative possibilities of blown glass, then laughed as they challenged each other to find the most offensive T-shirt in the place.

  They were still laughing over one when they ran into two of his close friends. Thomas was a corporate lawyer who had married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn, right after college and now had two children under the age of five. Kathryn was a pediatrician and Thomas’s political polar opposite, but somehow it worked. Neil was a gifted pianist who, if the woman on his arm was anything to go by, was still dating women who looked exactly like Linda, the woman who’d broken his heart a few years earlier.

  Introductions were quickly made and Thomas asked if Lance and Willa would join them. Willa seemed okay with the idea, so Lance said, “We’d love to.”

  As they walked around the fair, Lance watched his two friends with their women. Thomas and Kathryn had a naturalness to their relationship. Even while they bickered, their respect and love for each other was clear.

  In comparison, it was a little sad to watch Neil with . . . What did she say her name was? I guess it doesn’t matter as long as I don’t accidentally call her Linda.

  He wondered if Neil was telling himself the same thing.

  The day flowed into the six of them going to a casual dinner, which led to drinks at a terrace bar overlooking the Charles River. Lance loved watching Willa with his friends. She could debate everything from politics to what survival items everyone should have on hand in case of a zombie apocalypse. After a few drinks, her opinion became more heated, but, even while she was disagreeing with someone, she still had them smiling.

  When Willa excused herself to go to the ladies’ room, Thomas said, “I like her.”

  They’d all had a few too many drinks, evidenced by how the usually reserved Kathryn leaned toward Lance and said, “Me, too. You’ve been stuck on her since college. I hope you close the deal this time.”

  Neil drank down a gulp of his beer. “If you love her, don’t let anything come between you. After you lose something like that, nothing and no one can ever compare.”

  Love? I don’t . . . Lance barely had time to deny it to himself before the brunette beside Neil threw down her napkin, grabbed her purse and stood. “That’s just great.”

  She stood there looking at Neil as if waiting for him
to say something that would make her stay. He shrugged awkwardly. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  Hitching her purse on her shoulder, the woman raised her chin proudly and said, “The problem is, you did.” She walked away without another word.

  Neil finished his beer in one swig. “I could go after her, but you know what, I don’t care enough to. That’s what I’m saying, Lance. When it’s wrong, it doesn’t matter. When it’s right, the thought of losing her hurts like having your testicles shoved into a blender.”

  “That’s a disturbing image,” Lance said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

  “Easy, Neil,” Thomas said with a nod toward the ladies’ room. “Willa’s coming back.”

  Kathryn patted Neil’s back with sympathy. “Let’s get him home, Thomas.”

  Thomas stood. “We shouldn’t have done the tequila shots. He can’t handle them.” He held out his hand to Neil. “Phone.”

  Neil stood and made a face at Thomas. “I’m fine.”

  Kathryn turned him around and took it out of the back pocket of his jeans. “You can sleep on our couch tonight, Neil, but we’ll hold onto this.”

  Thomas added, “Friends don’t let friends drunk text anyone. Come on, buddy.”

  Willa returned just in time for all of them to walk out of the bar together. After his friends left, Lance looked down at Willa and thought about what Neil had said. He understood how Neil felt more than he cared to admit.

  Losing Willa a second time . . .

  Right there on the street he pulled her to him and kissed her simply because he couldn’t hold back a moment longer. Her mouth opened eagerly to his, and her hands were in his hair while his ran boldly over her curves. He pulled back, gasping for air. She went to kiss him again, but he jerked his head away.

  Not like this.

  He hailed a cab.

  She searched his face for a long moment then went to open the door of the cab that had pulled up. He blocked her entrance with an arm. “Willa, we’ve both had too much to drink . . .”

  She kept her face averted, but he could see that she was embarrassed. “Good night, Lance.”

  With a hand beneath her chin he turned her face until she was forced to look at him. “This isn’t easy for me. In fact, knowing what I’m saying no to is damn near killing me.”

  Pride flashed in her eyes. “What you’re saying no to? I kissed you. That’s all.”

  His hand tightened on her chin. God, she was so fucking sexy. When she said yes. When she said no. He pulled her against him again. His swollen cock stretched the limits of his jeans. “You and I both know how little it would take for us to be screwing in the bushes, not caring who saw us.” He kissed just below her ear. “I’m not ashamed of how you make me feel. I want you. But not like this. Not because we’re both buzzed. I want to take my time. I want to fall asleep inside you because we came so many times we couldn’t move. Then I’ll wake up and start my day by tasting that sweet pussy of yours again.”

  Her breathing became as deep and labored as his. He whispered in her ear. “Yes, that’s how I want to fuck you. Not like this. Go home, Willa. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”

  She sank into the cab, biting her bottom lip, looking dazed, turned on and so damn confused. He couldn’t send her off alone in a cab that way. Swearing, he slid in beside her and closed his eyes, praying for strength. “I’ll see you home, but I won’t come in.” The cab pulled out into traffic and Lance gave the driver directions to Willa’s place.

  The air of the cab was charged with sexual tension even though he and Willa were neither looking at each other nor touching. They rode in silence.

  She folded her arms across her chest and said softly, “I’ve never even had sex outside. Your impression of me is way off.” Her chin rose. “And I’m not drunk.”

  It might have been the alcohol lowering his filter with her, but he put his arm along the back of the seat and leaned in. “Never?”

  She blushed and met his eyes briefly before looking away. “I don’t see the lure. All you’re doing is giving a cheap show for perverts.”

  He lifted her long blonde curls and tucked them behind her shoulder, exposing that glorious neck of hers. “I don’t know if anyone plans for it to happen.” He spoke closer to her, letting his breath on her ear be its own caress. “And I’ve never seen the lure either. Until you. When I’m with you all I can think about is you. Talking to you. Holding on to you. Kissing you. And yes, fucking you. I don’t care where we are or who sees us. I want to go slowly with you, and it’s driving me mad. How do you do this to me? How do you make me forget everything else and just need you?”

  Their eyes met and held. Her mouth parted slightly and that delicious tongue of hers licked her bottom lip nervously. “You make me feel the same way.”

  “Thank God.” He kissed her shoulder. “We could blow off the tour tomorrow, but Emily’s feelings might be hurt.”

  “We have to go.”

  “I’m on schedule at work. I could take Monday off. We could go somewhere. Just you and me.”

  Willa blinked slowly as she thought it over. “I have to work on Monday.”

  Lance kissed his way across her collarbone and to the sweet curve of her neck. “Your boss won’t fire you. Pack a bag. We’ll leave from my parents’ house.”

  Willa shook her head as if doing so would help her think. “I want to . . .”

  He kissed her jaw and loved how her hand found and clenched on his thigh. “Say yes.”

  Willa ran her hand up and down his thigh. The back of her arm brushed across his cock and Lance shuddered from the pleasure of it. “Yes.”

  It took all he had not to come just from the sound of her voice. They pulled up to the front of her building. He walked her to the door but didn’t kiss her. He knew he wouldn’t leave if he did. Only after he knew she was safe inside did he return to the cab and give the driver directions to his apartment.

  On the way there he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes with a pained moan. Why the hell are we spending tomorrow with my family?

  Chapter Eleven

  Hand in hand, Willa and Lance followed Emily through her museum as she explained the origin of each piece. Now and then she stopped and put her hand on her back as if it were aching, but her smile was bright. Although Willa was far from bored, she was struggling to pay attention to what Emily was saying. She wanted to fast forward through the tour, through dinner, and give herself over to the pleasure she knew the next couple days promised.

  She’d spent half the night asking herself if agreeing to go away with Lance had been a wise choice and the other half imagining how good it would be with him. It was about more than just sex, although she was looking forward to that. Everything was more vivid when he was at her side. Colors were brighter. Food tasted better. Willa’s face hurt from smiling as much as she had these last couple days. Simply holding his hand feels so damn good I don’t want to let go.

  She glanced at Lance and her breath left her in a whoosh when their eyes met. He winked and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He’s finding it as difficult to concentrate as I am. He wiggled an eyebrow as if checking that her mind had wandered to the same naughty place his had. She tried to keep a straight face, but she couldn’t. She let out a loud laugh.

  Emily stopped the story she was sharing and turned toward them. She placed a hand on one hip as if she were about to reprimand the two of them, but she smiled instead. Her eyes danced with humor. “You did ask for this tour.”

  Lance and Willa exchanged an amused look then both tried to look contrite. Lance chuckled. Willa joined in. They might be in trouble, but they were in trouble together. Together. Willa looked down at their linked hands and marveled at how open Lance was about being with her. It took how good she felt to a whole new level.

  With an indulgent shake of her head, Emily said, “I’ll show you one more section, then I’ll release you two lovebirds back into the wild.”

  As if he just rea
lized he could be offending Emily, Lance said quickly, “We’re not in a rush, Emily. This place is truly incredible.”

  Emily waved for them to follow. “Don’t worry, I totally understand. I’m just not sure what we’re doing here. Am I a chaperone? Because I feel like that parent at a school dance whose job it is to remind the kids not to maul each other in public.”

  Not liking that they might have repaid Emily’s kindness by making her feel uncomfortable, Willa dropped Lance’s hand. “Emily, I feel awful. You have no idea how much I admire you and what this museum represents.”

  Emily looked modestly pleased by the comment. “Coming from a fellow artist that means a lot.”

  Willa shook her head. “I’m not an artist.”

  “Asher told me you were,” Emily countered, looking puzzled. “Weren’t you an art major in college?”

  “I studied art, but I’m not talented. I simply appreciate it.”

  Lance frowned. “That’s not true. Kenzi was always talking about something you’d painted or the sculptures you created. She’d send me pictures of them. They were quite good.”

  Willa couldn’t even remember the last time she’d picked up a sketch pad. “That was a long time ago and Kenzi would have loved anything I made.”

  Lance looked certain he was right. “Didn’t you win a scholarship with one of your paintings?”

  He remembers, Willa thought in awe. “I did, but there wasn’t much competition that year.”

  Their eyes met and held. “It was more than that. I saw it. It had humor and emotion. I was amazed at how you’d been able to portray a real tension between two squirrels facing off over one acorn. It made me laugh and feel sorry for them at the same time.”

  Willa looked away, unsure of how to handle how much it meant to her that she’d mattered to him back then. Believing she mattered to him had died when Lexi told her about their kiss. Yet now it was cautiously coming back to life. She caught Emily watching her reaction and blushed. “Thank you, but they were nothing like what’s here.”