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  “You are helping,” I admit. “You create here, and I’ll create there.”

  Her lips part slightly.

  “I fucked up those ornaments when I ran into you.” I pat my chest. “My ego apologizes for being a raging asshole that night.”

  She laughs. “You admit it was your fault?”

  “No.” I laugh too. “I admit that I wasn’t a nice guy after it happened. I trust this shows how much I regret that.”

  “It does.”

  I’m grateful for that. It’s important to me that she knows that if I could change the way I acted that night, I would.

  “So, I’ll work on the ornaments while you work on the sculpture?”

  “Unless you want to pack it all up and take it home.” I raise a brow. “I can’t promise that you won’t run into another guy who isn’t paying attention to where he’s walking.”

  “Are you admitting that…”

  I stop her on the second try to get me to admit. “I’m admitting that I’d like you to stay, but the decision is on you.”

  She runs the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip.

  My cock thanks her by rising to attention.

  “I think I’ll stay.” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “The lights you set up are better than what I have to work with at Dexie’s place.”

  We both know that’s not the reason she’s staying, but I’ll take it.

  All I want is more time with her.

  Chapter 16

  Raelyn

  Painting ornaments, while a shirtless Calder Frost is behind you, is not easy.

  An hour into his work, Calder yanked the sweater he was wearing over his head, complaining that he was too hot.

  He has no idea how hot he is.

  It’s been two hours since his sweater was dropped on the floor, and I’ve spent at least half of that time stealing glimpses of his body.

  I’ve seen attractive men shirtless before, but Calder takes it to another level.

  “Do you need anything, Raelyn?”

  His voice surges through me, sending goose bumps pebbling up my arms.

  I stand and face him.

  I should have remained sitting because this is almost too much.

  His hands are on his hips. His hair is even messier than earlier, and sweat is beading on his forehead and muscular chest.

  I have to be dreaming this.

  A small voice somewhere deep inside of me wants me to blurt out the word, you, but I can’t.

  “Water?” I mumble.

  He rakes his hand through his hair. I stare in awe at his bulging bicep.

  “Water it is.” He nods before he starts on a sprint toward the staircase.

  All I need to do is follow him. I could drop my sweater, my T-shirt, and my jeans on the way so that the only thing between us would be his jeans and my bra and panties.

  I’ve never done anything like that, but I’ve never met a man like him.

  This palpable desire I feel for him is overwhelming and unrelenting.

  I hear him coming back down the stairs before I see him.

  He stalks across his studio with an open bottle of water. When he reaches my workstation, he shoves it into my hand. “For you.”

  I take a swallow and then another, but it does nothing to take an edge off the heat.

  “It’s hot as hell in here, isn’t it?” He skims his palm over his toned stomach.

  “I’d be nude if you weren’t here.”

  I choke on the mouthful of water I’m trying to swallow.

  “Are you all right?” He asks with a grin. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “You work in the nude?”

  His hand drops to cover the front of his jeans. “Not when I’m welding.”

  My gaze follows the path of his hand. When he moves it, I can see the outline of his erection through the denim.

  “Are you welding now?” I ask without thinking.

  He chuckles. “Is that a request for me to drop my pants?”

  I shake my head. “No. Oh, no. I didn’t mean that.”

  “Or you did.” His fingers find the buckle of his jeans. He unfastens it.

  “You’re not going to get naked right now, are you?”

  I hear the hint of excitement mixed in with apprehension in my tone. He must hear it too, because he smirks. “Not unless you are.”

  I take another drink from the water bottle. This is way too intense. I need to lighten the mood now. “We haven’t even kissed yet.”

  Why the hell did I say that?

  His gaze drops to my lips. “Kiss me.”

  I take a step back. My ass hits the side of the workstation and the lone ornament I painted rolls off the edge, shattering on the concrete floor.

  “Fuck me,” I mutter under my breath.

  “That would be my pleasure,” he quips.

  “I worked hard on that.” I point at the broken glass. “I can’t believe I broke it.”

  He looks down at the floor. “It was beautiful, Raelyn. You’re very talented.”

  That surprises me enough that I look up and into his face.

  “I mean it.” He exhales. “From what I saw, you’re gifted.”

  “You’re just saying that,” I accuse. “You didn’t even get a good look at it.”

  “Like hell, I didn’t.” He chuckles. “I’ve walked up behind you at least twenty times in the last two hours. I saw the ornament. It was beautiful.”

  Was. Now it’s nothing. Broken. Shattered. It’s everything I don’t want my heart to become.

  “You don’t think my work is frivolous?” I ask with a perched brow.

  “Your work reminds me of a painting.” He scrubs the back of his neck with his hand. “I bought it a year ago. It’s haunting in its beauty. It’s the only piece of artwork I own that I didn’t have a hand in creating. Until now, that is. I’d like to commission you to paint an ornament for me. If you put a rush on it, I’ll pay you triple of what you usually charge.”

  “You’re joking.” I laugh it off. “Why would someone like you want one of my ornaments?”

  His hand jumps to my chin. The feeling is electric. Every cell in my body comes to life. “I’m serious. I want one, so I’ll always see you when I look at it.”

  Caution needs to be thrown to the wind sometimes, so I do it.

  For the first time in my life, I let fate take hold, and I tilt my head, lean closer, and press my lips to his.

  Chapter 17

  Calder

  I take Raelyn’s mouth in a lush kiss. Parting her lips with my tongue, I taste more. I want more.

  My hands move. I slide one over her shoulder to cup the back of her neck. The other settles on her lower back just above her curvy ass. Fuck, I want a handful of that.

  She purrs into the kiss, and I hold her tighter. Cradling her body against mine, I don’t care that she feels how hard I am. Hell, it’s all because of her.

  I have never felt this desperate need for a woman.

  She inches back from the kiss until her beautiful brown eyes meet mine. “Do you always kiss like that?”

  I steal another. This one is slow and makes my knees go weak. She tugs my bottom lip between her teeth as we break apart.

  “No,” I say with whatever breath is left in my body.

  “No?” she repeats with a tilt of her head.

  “No, I don’t always kiss like that.”

  “Oh.” Her lips form a perfect circle. “How do you usually kiss?”

  “Like it’s just a kiss.”

  Her eyelids flutter. “Isn’t this just a kiss?”

  I press my lips against the corner of her mouth and chuckle. “You know damn well it isn’t.”

  She nods. “I know.”

  I pull back far enough that I can look at her face. “I want you, Raelyn. If I haven’t made that clear, and I’m pretty damn sure I have, I want you.”

  “You want me?” she asks with her eyes wide.

  If she wants me to spell it out
, I have no problem with that. “I want to strip you bare and taste you. I want to fuck you, and then I want those beautiful lips wrapped around my dick.”

  She stumbles back, but my arms are wrapped so tightly around her that she barely makes it half a step. “That’s a lot.”

  I shake my head. “It’s not enough. I want it all again and again.”

  Her gaze wanders to my chest. “I’ve never…”

  “You’re not a virgin,” I say with confidence. “Your kiss tells me that.”

  She smiles. “No, of course not. I was going to say I’ve never had a fling.”

  “A fling?” I parrot the words back. “Is that what you think this is? We’ll fuck and forget each other once we’ve both had enough?”

  She nods in silence.

  I pull her closer. My hand edges down her back to her ass. I grab it roughly, tugging her against me, so she feels how hard I am. “I will never get enough of you.”

  Her eyes search mine for something. If she thinks I’m bullshitting her, I’ll prove her wrong. I don’t believe in love at first sight, and in my experience, lust at first sight is purely physical, and the intense attraction disappears after the first touch.

  I’ve never felt a connection like this before. I like her. I admire her need to help others. This can become something bigger than both of us with time.

  “Let me take you out for dinner tomorrow, or I guess it’s tonight.”

  The words surprise me as much as they do her. I want to hoist her over my shoulder and carry her up to my bed, but I want something else more. I want her to trust me. I want her to feel that she knows me well enough that she’ll share more of herself with me.

  The corners of her mouth edge up into a smile. “I’d like that.”

  “It’s a date.” I squeeze her ass one last time. “I’ll pick you up at eight?”

  Her hands slide from my shoulders to my chest. “I’ll meet you here.”

  I kiss her again. Slowly, almost painfully, because I know this is my last taste of her tonight.

  She smiles when her lips leave mine.

  “Go home and get some sleep, Raelyn.” I press my lips to her forehead. “I’ll call a car to take you home.”

  “I’ll get an Uber.” She looks into my eyes. “Thank you again for all the art supplies, Calder.”

  I nod. I should be thanking her for every kiss she’s given me tonight.

  “I’ll see you later.” She winks. “Since it’s already tomorrow.”

  I watch her walk out of my studio, taking a little piece of my heart with her.

  ***

  Two hours later, I rub my forehead as I sit at Raelyn’s workstation. I took a shower and chased sleep by getting into my bed. It didn’t come, so I’m back in my studio, staring at the broken shards of an exquisite work of art.

  I’ve tried to piece it back together. I’ve realized that it’s impossible, but what I’ve managed to connect has shown me that Raelyn paints from her heart. The ornament scene is of a mountain with a fresh stream flowing from the snow-peaked caps.

  It’s not as simple as that, but the purity of the brush strokes is flawless.

  She created this in the span of a couple of hours. It’s incredible.

  A sound behind me draws my gaze over my shoulder. It’s nearing three a.m., so unless that’s Raelyn strolling back into my studio to spend the night with me, I’m not interested in who is behind the door sliding it open.

  William, Bauer’s older brother and my best friend shoots me a smile as he enters the studio. He pockets the keys he used to enter.

  It’s the middle of the night to the rest of Manhattan, but William looks like he just left the tailors. He’s wearing one of his custom-made three-piece suits. His brown hair is cut to perfection, and the wool overcoat draped over his forearm is likely Italian made just for him.

  “Calder!” he calls out. “You need me.”

  Pushing to my feet, I laugh at that. “Like hell, I do. Why are you here?”

  “Bauer said you met someone.” He drops his overcoat on a chair near the studio door. “Raelyn. Tell me about her.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can help you not screw this the fuck up.” He perks a dark brow.

  William’s job is to help men. He’s an advisor of sorts. He counsels wealthy men in New York to become the best they can be. I may not be hitting the nail directly on the head. William’s always been vague about what he does to earn a living.

  “Don’t you have a woman to charm?” I ask with a smile. “They must be lining up to jump all over you.”

  “They are,” he says with a straight face. “We’re not talking about who wants me. I’m here because you want someone.”

  “She wants me too.”

  His brown eyes narrow. “You know this how?”

  “We kissed.”

  A smile perks the corner of his mouth. “That’s a good sign. You like her, don’t you? Bauer said there’s a spark between you two.”

  “Bauer may feel something, but he’s not my type,” I deadpan.

  “A joke and a smile.” He pats me on the cheek. “I already like this woman. Don’t drive her away, Calder. If she’s good for you, break down those walls and let her in.”

  “I need those walls to create sculptures,” I half-joke.

  I’ve always used my inner demons as fuel for my work. Most of that is related to my grandparents’ deaths and my regret that I didn’t see them more when I had the chance. I’m not holding tightly to any of my past pain, but I’ll dive back into it if I need the mood shift to find my muse.

  “You need a hammer, some metal, and a few other tools.” He points out. “Let her goodness seep into you, Calder. There’s inspiration in that.”

  Chapter 18

  Raelyn

  I carry my entire wardrobe with me as I travel the world. Usually, if I buy something new to wear, I’ll donate an older piece to charity. Today, I’m looking at what I have available.

  Calder has already seen me in the red jumpsuit, so my choices are limited to a black dress, a red dress, or a white one. Because it’s the dead of winter, I opt for the black one.

  It has a plunging neckline, and the bottom hem falls just below my knees.

  Paired with my black heels, I’ll look elegant. That’s the look I’m going for tonight, even though Calder didn’t mention where we’d be dining.

  There’s a knock on the guestroom door. Before I can say a word, my sister wanders in dressed in what looks like pink pajamas.

  “I came to see if you wanted to make popcorn and watch a movie, but it looks like you have a date.” She eyes me from head-to-toe.

  I could lie, but where the hell would I be going dressed like this besides a date?

  “I have a date,” I affirm with a nod.

  Settling on the corner of the bed, she sighs. “With who?”

  I toss her a look that must say it all because she squeals.

  “You’re going out with Calder?” She covers her mouth with her hand.

  Rocco is somewhere inside this townhouse, and since we are still trying to keep the sculpture under wraps, I wince. “Don’t say his name, Dex.”

  “Calder Frost?” she whispers. “Are you having dinner with him?”

  I nod.

  She jumps to her feet, wobbles for a second, but then finds her balance. “I like him, Rae. He’s perfect for you.”

  I should agree, but the fact that I only just met him scares the hell out of me.

  “It’s just dinner,” I remind her. “We’re probably going to talk about the sculpture.”

  She glances over her shoulder. “That doesn’t look like a business dinner dress. It looks more like a rip-this-from-my-body-and-ravage-me dress.”

  I stifle a laugh. “What the hell?”

  “You should sleep with him.”

  I shake my head. “We’re not having this discussion.”

  “Why not?” She kicks the toe of one of her pink slippers against the bed frame. �
��The sex would be mind-blowing.”

  I can feel my cheeks blush as I bow my head. “You don’t know that. You can’t judge a man’s performance in bed based on his looks.”

  “Yes, you can.” Straightening her back, she stands taller. “Look at Rocco. He’s a beast in bed, and he’s the most handsome man on earth.”

  I’d debate that last statement with her because I happen to think Calder holds that title.

  “I’m not going to bed with him tonight, “ I insist. “I’m having dinner, and then I’ll be back.”

  “I won’t wait up.” She rubs her chin. “Do you want to know why?”

  “Because you’re very pregnant and exhausted?” I joke.

  “No,” she says with a straight face. “It’s because you’re going to spend the night with him. It’s happening, sis. Brace yourself.”

  I let out a laugh. “Brace myself?”

  She nods in silence.

  I steal a glance at my phone’s screen. “I need to go. I’m meeting Calder at eight.”

  “Use a condom or condoms.” She pats her belly. “You may be ready for a wild night of fun, but you’re not ready for this.”

  Moving forward, I kiss her cheek before I run a hand over her swollen stomach. “Sleep well, baby Jones, and you too, Dex.”

  “I hope you don’t get a wink of sleep tonight.” She kisses my forehead. “I also hope you can’t walk straight tomorrow.”

  “You’re something else,” I say as I breeze past her on my way to get a coat. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Or not,” she quips. “You might still have your hands full.”

  ***

  As soon as I step into the lobby of Calder’s building, he’s exiting the elevator.

  I sigh in relief when I see that he’s dressed for the night in a suit and tie. The suit is dark gray. The shirt and tie are blue.

  He looks gorgeous as he approaches me with a smile on his face.

  “You look amazing, Raelyn.”

  He’s judging that only by the skirt of my dress. I’ve bundled myself in my wool coat since the forecast is calling for snow once again.