Page 28 of Fortune's Control
“I can’t live off your generosity forever, Shane. We agreed to a temporary arrangement, and I promised to pay you back.”
My jaw tightened. “I also said to take your time. You also paid me back for some of it.”
“When?”
“You baked for me, remember? We agreed it was a fair exchange.”
Her eyes narrow with doubt. “That doesn’t sound correct.”
“It is. There’s plenty of time, and I’m not hurting for money, Lilah.”
“I should pay you rent.”
“That’s unnecessary, as, again, I’m not hurting for money.”
“From selling through Pete at the gallery?”
“That was dumb luck. I have my retirement pay, plus my sister and I rent out land we own.” Technically, I received disability benefits.
She drew her eyebrows together. “What land?”
“Acres. We didn’t want to farm, ranch, or raise horses, so we found other uses. A phone tower sits on part of it. There are two cabins on the creek that a rental company manages.”
“Oh, I had no idea.” Lilah leaned back, taking it in. “That’s a lot.”
“It leaves me with free time to fill.”
She nodded, understanding. I delayed her job searches, but it wasn’t an attempt to control her. Lilah wanted to work, which I understood, and I would cheer her when she found the right one. Lilah spoke like she’d take any job because of a mistaken belief that she owed me. She’d come to Fortune’s Creek for several reasons, and the first available job wasn’t one of them. I intended it to stay that way.
“I’ll still pay you rent when I can.”
She wouldn’t. “Suit yourself.”
I leaned back, and the green vinyl cushion squeaked at the movement.
Lilah walked past an open window that first day, and a compulsion demanded that I follow her. My instant attraction hasn’t faded, despite my efforts at ignoring it. If I’m honest, it was the opposite.
My eyes dropped to the swell of her breasts and lower.
I lost part of my leg over a year ago, and a part of me died until she walked past that open window.
“Shall we go home?” I asked.
*****
My leg ached. I eyed the stairs leading up to her apartment and took her hand. “Thank you for coming with me tonight.”
“Is this the part where you tell me we should do it again sometime?”
“This is the part where I tell you we will do it again.” My thumb stroked her cheek.
I had my back to a dark, empty house with her in front ofme. I didn’t want the night to end, and I also couldn’t manage those stairs without her noticing. Another night or another day, but not this one. We haven’t kissed, and moving straight to the bedroom wasn’t my way. I needed more time.
“Good night, Shane.” Lilah stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.
It was a tentative kiss, yet we both knew it was an offer, and I wanted her. I needed more time, and she was ready for more. I wanted more.
My discipline, cultivated over an entire year, broke, and a quick kiss on the cheek would not satisfy me. Not tonight. “No.” She drew back, surprised. “I want more than that from you.”
