Tempting Adam

“You need to be careful, though,” he said. “He could be anyone.”

“Don’t go getting all protective on me, Adam. Whoever sent those roses is the sensitive type. I can’t imagine he’d be dangerous.”

“At least he’s not ostentatious in his gift giving. I hate gift buying for its pure material value.”

She turned toward him, her hands planted on her hips. “I never meant it that way.”

Waving his hand in a gesture of peace, he continued, “In this case, the value is on the thought, since the sender remains anonymous.”

“Well, it does build a sense of expectation, which is kind of nice. Of course, we could be making a mountain out of a molehill. This could be an isolated incident.”

Adam appraised her a moment. In the soft light of the kitchen, with her cheeks flushed and her eyes glowing, Lauren was one hell of an attractive woman—a desirable woman.

As he’d done so many times in the past, he stifled the thought. Somehow it just seemed wrong to think of her in that way. She was like a sister to him. She’d surely be horrified to know he harbored a fantasy—or two—about her.

“Somehow, I don’t think so,” he said. “And eventually, he’s going to make himself known. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

A sound of exasperation escaped her. “The point is the anticipation, the thrill, the romance.”

That irrational annoyance rose again in him. “The point is, this guy wants to get you in bed.”

“That’s not fair. You don’t even know him—”

“He’s a guy. What else is there to know?”

“Well, you’re a guy.”

“And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?”

Her eyes widened. Silence hung over them. Adam gritted his teeth. Why had he blurted that out?

The front door slammed a moment before Kamira breezed into the kitchen, her cat at her heels. “You didn’t tell me you were making your meat loaf.”

“We’re just getting started.” He pulled out a chair for her.

Lauren retrieved another plate from the cabinet. And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way? Adam’s words rang through her mind. Well, he was a guy. She should have expected this…but somehow, it was so…surprising.

She set the plate before Kamira, then sat beside her, purposely avoiding looking at Adam as he took his place on her other side. The weight of his gaze bored down on her.

“I thought you were at the clinic,” she said to Kamira, a nurse at the women’s center.

Kamira heaped large portions of the meal onto her plate. “Mmm. I just dropped off the tile samples. I’ll be happy when this new section is ready. I swear, there’s a baby boom going on. We need the space for all our new patients.”

“The women’s center is expanding?” Adam asked. He hadn’t made a move toward any of the dishes.

“Didn’t Lauren tell you? She’s been volunteering down there. She helped knock down the wall between our offices and the empty space next door. Boy, can she swing a sledgehammer.”

“Patterson, the building’s owner,” Lauren added for Adam’s benefit, though she still refused to look at him, “wanted to give me the first swing, but I had this fear the roof would tumble down on us, so he went first.”

“Ha, but we all got into it after a while.” Kamira smiled.

Keeping her attention on the bowl of whipped potatoes, Lauren bobbed her head. “Very cathartic. I got all my aggression out.”

Kamira’s eyes rounded. “I’ll tell you who else looked good swinging a hammer. Patterson’s son. If that boy was five years older, I’d drop Greg in a heartbeat.”

“Mark?” Lauren chuckled, then stopped. She’d filled half her plate with potatoes. “I think he’s Rusty’s age.”

She smiled, thinking of her younger brother. He’d taken off to work the oil rigs in Texas after graduating from the University of Georgia last year. It’d been harder to let him go than she’d thought, having felt responsible for him for so long.

“Of course, he dropped me a line a while back that he was dating an older woman. Mark’s young, but you’d better be careful. You just never know,” she said.

“He’s a very mature twenty-two, and is well read in all the classics.” The one dimple in Kamira’s left cheek flashed as she grinned. “He’d be a great cause—so much to teach that young, open mind. But Greg’s safe. I’m no cradle robber.”

“I’ve got a cause for you.” Heat filled Lauren’s cheeks as she glanced at Adam, then back at Kamira. “Help me find Adam a new lady friend.”

Maybe Kamira would take over the task for her. Somehow, playing matchmaker for him held little appeal.

“What?” Straightening, Kamira turned to Adam. “Since when are you having trouble finding women?”

“Since he wants to get serious with one,” Lauren answered for him.

Kamira’s mouth spread slowly into a wide smile. “Adam, you’re wanting to settle down?”

“If I find the right woman.”

“Wow. That’s so sweet.”

Lauren picked at her potatoes. “He wants a new best friend he can have sex with.”

The words tumbled out, surprising her. The heat in her cheeks intensified. She glanced at Adam.

He blinked, then his mouth quirked to one side. “Friendship and mutual respect like we have are vital to any relationship.”

“And where did you read that?” Eyebrows raised, Kamira nodded toward his empty plate. “What’s wrong? Not hungry?”

“Starved, actually.” With great relish, he piled food on his plate, then consumed several bites.

Lauren pursed her lips and poked again at her potatoes. How could he drop such a bomb, then stuff his face as if nothing had happened?

Because nothing had happened. Evidently, any sexual thoughts he’d had of her hadn’t been strong enough for him to act on.

A feeling of foreboding stole over her. He’d always been there for her, with his brawn when she needed it, and with his broad shoulders during times of crisis, like when her father had died thirteen years ago. Would he still be there if he found a wife?

A small sigh rose in her chest. She was losing her best friend. Once he found a woman to give him all Lauren did and more, he would no longer need his old buddy. She’d be superfluous.

Adam reached across the table and squeezed her fingertips. “We’re as good as family. It isn’t like you’ll be getting rid of me.” As usual, he’d read her mind.

“No. Of course not. And if you do marry it’ll be like gaining a sister for me,” she said through stiff lips.

“Right.” Apparently satisfied, he picked up his fork and again dug into his meal.

Kamira sat back in her chair, her expression puzzled. She turned to Adam. “Tell me, do you have a plan for finding this woman?”

“I thought I’d just open myself to the possibility and see what happened.”

A speculative light glimmered in her eyes. “Hmm, I see. That’s good, being open.”

“I told him when he found the right woman he should romance her.”

Kamira beamed. “Excellent idea. What do you think, Adam? Are you up for the romantic approach?”

His shoulders shifted. “Could be. Real romance should be more than just blatant gift giving, though.”

“Blatant gift giving?” Kamira asked.

“I want a woman who’ll want me for who I am, not what I can give her. It isn’t my style to make a big display over buying gifts for a woman.”

Lauren rose to carry her dishes to the sink. “I only meant you should try to make her feel special. Gifts are just a part of that.”

With measured movements, Adam followed her to scrape the spare remains of his meal into the disposal. “Okay, I can see that.”

“So, have we got ice cream for dessert?” Kamira left the table to pillage the freezer. “Death by Chocolate, my fave. Why don’t I dish some up, and we’ll eat it on the deck.”

“Just a little for me,” Lauren said.

“Adam…” Kamira ushered him toward the sliding door that led to the deck. “Can you light the citronella torch? We’ll be right out.”

“Sure. Make mine two scoops?”

“You’ve got it.” With a smile, she slid the door shut behind him. Then she turned to Lauren, her eyes shining.

“You know the mosquitoes don’t seem to notice that torch, Kamira. What are you up to?” Bending low, Lauren rummaged through a drawer for the ice-cream scooper.

“When did you and Adam have this conversation?”

“About his settling down?”

“About his wanting to have a serious sexual relationship involving friendship and mutual respect.”

“Around lunchtime.”

“And you suggested he woo the woman of his choice?”

“I hardly think his tactic of wham, bam, thank you ma’am will work toward establishing anything long-term.”

“Don’t you find it interesting that he’s opening himself to the possibility, but that he isn’t actively searching for this woman?”

Lauren shrugged. “He’s not going to find her in his usual haunts. Do you see a woman like that patronizing Charlie’s Corner Bar?”

“Of course not. But what about the fact that you received those roses anonymously after your conversation?”

“What does that have to do with Adam? There’s still the chance Todd sent them.”

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

“Todd, the man you’re no longer seeing? The man who gave you a new calculator for your two-year anniversary?”

“Point taken, but I still don’t see how Adam figures.” Blood rushed through Lauren’s ears.

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

Kamira glanced out the window to where he’d anchored the torch into its stand. “I’ve always had a feeling about you two. I just think it’s odd—the timing, the fact that he’s against what he calls blatant gift giving. Seems he would be the anonymous type.”

Lauren’s breath caught. “Tell me you’re not suggesting what I think you are.”

“Don’t you see? It makes sense. He isn’t looking for a woman, because he’s already found one. You.”

2

“ARE YOU NUTS?” Lauren stared at her housemate.

“Don’t you see? It all adds up.”

“I hardly think a couple of random coincidences add up to anything.”

Kamira took the forgotten scooper from Lauren’s hand, then dished up the ice cream. “Let’s ask him.”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Do you know how insane that sounds? He’ll have us locked up.”

After handing Lauren one of the bowls, Kamira carried the other two toward the sliding glass door. “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid. I just don’t see any point in pursuing this line of thought. Okay?”

With a heavy sigh, Kamira nodded. “Think about it, though.”

Lauren opened the door, shaking her head. The torch glowed and night insects chirped and whirred around them. Above, stars glittered in the darkening sky. Adam sat at the patio table that dominated one end of the deck.

She perched on a chair beside him. “It’s nice out here.”

Thanking Kamira, he took the bowl, then savored a bite of ice cream. “It’s these simple things that make life worthwhile—a hearty meal, pleasant environment and good friends.”

“Yes, good friends.” Lauren cocked her head at Kamira, sending her a smug I-told-you-so grin.

“He sounds like a commercial,” Kamira laughed.

Adam grinned. “Lauren’s cooking makes me want to endorse the good times.”

Reaching over, he clasped Lauren’s hand. “You are a remarkable cook. I hope the woman I marry knows her way around the kitchen.”

Lauren’s grin faltered as the warmth of his hand enveloped hers. She wiggled her fingers in an effort to free herself from his grip, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he carried her hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

“Now that you’ve gotten rid of Jeffries, maybe you should find a real man.” He released her.

Kamira leaned forward. “You could both be open to a serious relationship.”

Lauren stared at her, speechless. How could she say such a thing?

“Right.” Adam swatted away a mosquito. “We learned to swim, ride bikes and drive together. Why not learn about love together?”

He dropped his hand to Lauren’s knee. “You’ve worked so hard, Lauren. You deserve a little happiness.”

Her gaze swept from his hand to Kamira, who waved her spoon enthusiastically. “She sure does.”

Heat crept up Lauren’s neck and along her knee beneath his hand. He gave her leg a squeeze, then busied himself again with his dessert. What was wrong with her? He’d touched her a million times in the past and she’d never thought twice about it. Kamira’s wild speculations had her reading more into his friendly gestures than was there.

Of course Adam wasn’t her secret admirer.

“So, Adam…” Kamira licked a drip of chocolate off her spoon. “Tell us what kind of woman you’re looking for. Maybe we can help. I see a lot of women in the course of the day.”

He pushed his bowl away, then sat back, gazing into the distance. “I think for a substantial relationship, I want a substantial woman. Substantial in spirit and body, too. Not a big woman, necessarily, but one with a little more meat on her bones.”

Lauren raised her eyebrows. “You mean you’re done with all those ultrathin model types?”

He grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t object, as long as she didn’t mind getting pregnant.”

His head bobbed as he continued to stare into the night, as though the woman of his dreams might materialize if he looked hard enough. “I’ll want some kids along the way.”

“Hold on,” Lauren blurted. “I thought you were going to wait awhile before jumping into marriage. Now you’re talking babies?”

The thought sent a wave of shock through her. Adam with a wife was one thing, but with a baby? She couldn’t quite bend her mind around the idea.

“C’mon, you know I like kids.”

“No, I don’t. When have I ever seen you with kids? I can’t even picture it.”

He cocked his head and laughed. Though she’d heard that laugh countless times before, for some reason it wrapped around her and sent gooseflesh skittering up her arms.

“Come to think of it, I guess you haven’t.” He shrugged. “I liked us when we were kids. Don’t ask why, I just know I want kids, a bunch of them.”

“A bunch?” Lauren blinked at him. To think she’d thought she’d known him all these years.

“Well, we’ll start with a couple, then see.”

Frowning, she turned to Kamira, but her housemate grinned broadly. “I can see Adam as a dad.”

Lauren gaped at her, then rounded on him. “What do you know about caring for kids? They’re lots of work. You’ve got to feed them, and play with them, and…and feed them.”

“I’ll read up on it. Hopefully my wife will know a little about all that.”

“Read up on it? They don’t come with manuals, you know.” She folded her arms. “You can’t just decide all of a sudden that you want a wife and kids.”

“Why not? I told you I wanted more in life. And that’s what I want…eventually, anyway,” he said.

His smile faded and he shifted in his seat. “She’ll have to be the stay-at-home kind of mom, though. None of that palming the kids off on the neighbors.”

Lauren stared at him a moment, a mixture of surprise and compassion swirling through her. “Adam, your parents didn’t palm you off on us.”

“Sure they did.”

She straightened. His parents had traveled a lot. He’d probably spent more time at her house growing up than at his own, but she’d never known this had bothered him. Having Adam around had always been a way of life.

Needing to soothe him, she touched his arm. “Good thing for me they did, then. Who else would I have whomped all those times in Crazy Eights?”

“I was the Crazy Eights champ. Your memory’s flawed.” The corners of his mouth lifted in an easy grin.

“Well, maybe…” She again had that feeling of a shifting hologram. Adam the Dependable morphed into Adam the Sexy.

An unprecedented wave of desire rippled through her. She swallowed. As with his laugh, it was as if she’d never before experienced the charm of that grin. Sure he’d used it to cajole her into giving him his way hundreds of times before, but never had the mere curve of his mouth sent her pulse speeding.

Damn Kamira and her imagination. Damn this new Adam. His pupils dilated and he tilted his head. Did he feel it, too?

Lauren blinked, hoping the old Adam would slide back into view, but the new Adam remained, exuding sensuality. How had she not noticed before?

“I’ll get that.” Kamira stood, bowls in hand, her gaze intent on Lauren.

The wall phone in the kitchen pealed. By the look on her housemate’s face it wasn’t the first ring. “No. I’ll get it. I’m sure it’s Elliot. I’m supposed to have that marketing plan done.”

Without a backward glance she hurried inside.

ADAM PULLED INTO his driveway. His house loomed above him, dark against the blackness of the night. Why had he bought the monstrosity?

His footsteps rapped against the hardwood floor as he entered. He flicked on a light and the great room he’d once so admired stretched before him, still and devoid of life. He dropped into a leather chair set by the tiled fireplace.

“Honey, I’m home.” The words echoed through the structure.

He leaned back his head and closed his eyes. The silence pressed in all around him. He used to think he wanted peace and quiet.

He’d have stayed longer at Lauren’s, but she had her usual work she’d brought home. Besides, she’d seemed tense tonight. He could have sworn she’d breathed a sigh of relief when he’d hugged her goodbye. Sure, she’d come clean on the secret-admirer thing, but something else was bothering her.

She was keeping secrets.

Dinner had been enjoyable, as usual, in spite of his slip of the tongue. But something had changed when she’d come out on the deck. She had acted even more uncomfortable, or distressed somehow.

Moments from the evening drifted through his mind. Had he imagined it, or had she… Words escaped him. His stomach tightened. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she had reacted to his touch earlier. They’d danced together, even wrestled each other, but never before had there been…what? A feeling? An awareness?

And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

Was that what had rattled her? Surely she knew he’d never act on such passing instincts. Lauren was like a sister to him. Yet, the possibility tugged at the corner of his mind. Something new, something different had shone in her eyes when he had smiled at her earlier. The moment swept over him, her gaze soft, dreamy, the first rings of the phone going unheeded.

Could it be she wasn’t upset by his admission, that instead, she was intrigued?

“You’re losing it, Morely. Losing it.”

Even if Lauren was suddenly thinking of him in other than brotherly terms, she certainly wasn’t supporting his plans to settle down. She had sounded decidedly disappointed in his new scheme.

Couldn’t she understand he needed the warmth and energy that filled her house, made it a home? He missed all the evenings he’d spent with her there, playing poker, finishing some project she’d half started, knowing he’d pitch in to help, or just talking till the wee hours.

But that had been before she’d started the agency.

His gaze took in the oversize couch and matching chairs in warm plaids she’d helped him choose. She had a nice touch, had even managed to bring some of her essence into these rooms, though not enough to capture the same homey feeling of her town house. Furniture alone would not make this house a home.

People—warm bodies would help. A wife and kids really weren’t a bad idea. He hadn’t actually thought much about having either, until today. Actually, he’d told Lauren he needed a wife more to get her attention, but the idea had sounded right even as he’d said it. The patter of little feet, the smells of dinner cooking and the warm greeting of a wife, happy to see him after a long day’s work, held an intoxicating appeal when faced with the emptiness of his house.

He drew a deep breath. He had to face facts. Without Lauren, he didn’t have much of a life. Though she’d been too busy to notice, it’d been months since he’d taken a woman on a date. He couldn’t work up the stomach for it. Lauren was right. Meaningless sex wasn’t all it used to be.

He had to make something more of his life.

Exhaling, he rose. He plodded to the sprawling master bedroom. It was a shame she was so wrapped up in her work that she couldn’t see that she, too, was missing out. Having her life revolve around her agency might sustain her at the moment, but once she got her business on an even keel and learned to work smart, not hard, she’d realize what he’d just begun to know over the past year.

Work did not make the world go round.

As a contractual landscaper, he’d found more work over the years than he could handle on his own. With a full crew at his disposal, he spent much of his time meeting with landscape architects, implementing construction plans on site and inspecting projects. Sure, his work fulfilled him to an extent, but it wasn’t enough.

He stripped down to his Skivvies, then stretched out on his king-size bed, made up in the green and maroon linens Lauren had handpicked for him. At least she’d squeezed time into her schedule to help him shop. He couldn’t have done it on his own.

She’d been invaluable in choosing this house, too. Perhaps it wasn’t such a monstrosity, after all. Not only did it offer the flexibility needed to accommodate his plans, its market value had already increased by a tidy sum. She knew how to pick them. Now, all he had to do was get her to turn her energies toward finding him a wife. No one knew him better than she did. If anyone could find the right woman for him, Lauren was the one.

Unless, of course, she had thoughts of filling the position herself.

LAUREN TURNED from her computer as Elliot breezed into her office the next morning. With a grand gesture, he deposited a thick stack of flyers on her desk. “For Bennett’s mass mailing.”

Stifling a yawn, she glanced over the stack. “Too bad we couldn’t afford to have them folded.”

“You need a hand?”

“No.” She waved him on. “Go appease that atrocious director. He’s called twice and wants nothing to do with me. If Bennett wasn’t so adamant about using him on the commercials, I’d tell him to take a hike.”

“Ah, but if Mr. Bennett wishes to pay for a special caterer to stroke said director’s ego, where’s the harm?”

A dry laugh worked its way up her throat. “You know the money comes out of our pocket first, Elliot.” She cocked her head. “We’re cutting it close on this one.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “You know I can’t clutter my brain with those worries. Aren’t we in the black?”

“Yes, we’re in the black. Just not as much as I’d like to see us, but we’ll survive.”

She sighed. Lately, their funds seemed to be going out faster than they’d been coming in, but with the two small jobs she’d picked up that morning, they’d survive until Bennett paid them. Thank goodness Bennett’s bend toward extravagance blended with Elliot’s elaborate campaign ideas. As long as she could keep them afloat in the interim, the Bennett account offered the hope of a tidy profit.

Elliot helped himself to coffee, while she stirred creamer into hers. “We picked up two new clients this morning, and Nancy with Magic Cleaners called to say she thought the ad was simply decadent. She’s cutting us a check today.”

“Good. That’s great.” He gestured toward the door. “I’m going to get on that caterer.”

Steam curled from her mug moments later as she sat, stretching in a wide yawn. She’d hardly slept last night. It was Adam’s fault. What made him think he qualified as husband material, not to mention father material? He’d never had a relationship that had lasted more than a few months. What was he thinking?

After a fortifying gulp of caffeine, she grabbed her phone and punched in his number. She drummed her fingers, waiting for him to answer.

“Top of the morning. Adam Morely here.”

“What’re you so chipper about?”