“I’m a little out of practice.”

Dylan ended his confession with a frown.

“It’s okay,” Nikki reassured him. “You want us to explore this…attraction, right?”

He nodded. “Interested?”

She swallowed hard. This was her chance to help him. Warmth filled her as she envisioned touching him, stroking him, bringing him pleasure…and peace. But something told her that leaving this man would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do.

She kept her voice casual, though her pulse pounded and her lips ached for more of his kiss. “Could be.”

“I can’t make any promises, Nikki. I’m not looking for anything serious.”

“You mean no extras?” She laughed, knowing that they wouldn’t be together long enough to worry about serious. “No frills? Sex only?”

“Well, I do owe you dinner.”

With a boldness she didn’t feel, she ran her hand up his torso. “Let’s not put off until tomorrow what we can do today.”

Dear Reader,

Have you ever met someone whose true-life story captured your interest like that of a fictional character?

I once met a young man who’d grown up with the Roma (Gypsies), saved a girl from an abusive household by running away with her, become engaged to her, then lost her in a senseless shooting. He was the first tortured hero I’d met outside the pages of a book and he inspired Dylan Cain, the hero of The Morning After, the first book in my SEXUAL HEALING trilogy.

Dylan captures the essence of the man who has loved deeply and now grieves the loss of that love. How could Nikki McClellan, born with the gift of sexual healing, not be drawn to him?

As always, it’s a pleasure to share my stories with you. Feel free to write me at dorie@doriegraham.com or P.O. Box 769012, Roswell, GA 30076. Please visit my Web site at www.doriegraham.com.

Best wishes,

Dorie Graham

While writing this trilogy I reflected on the number of sisterhoods that have touched my life. Marion, Carol, Maureen and Cathy, this one is for you. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without growing up beside you. Thanks for the support you’ve given me along the way and the love you continue to offer each day.

I’d like to offer a special thanks to Tami Harmon McGraw for her help and advice in portraying Nikki as a veterinarian. Thanks, Tami, for helping me keep it real.

The Morning After
Dorie Graham

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

1

SHE WASN’T A ONE-NIGHT wonder after all. Euphoria filled Nikki McClellan Sunday morning as the aroma of fresh coffee and the clatter of dishes roused her from a languorous sleep.

This was a Sunday for the record books.

True to his word, Brad Turner was making her breakfast to celebrate their first night together as lovers. A profound relief poured through her. At long last, she’d kept a man until morning.

The intense Miami sun peered through a crack in the curtains. It promised to be another scorching June day, but today she could face anything. With a smile she slipped from the bed, then stole into the shower. Humming softly, she lathered herself, then let the warm rivulets rinse her. This morning her luck had changed. If she played her cards right, she might finally have the lasting relationship she’d always longed for.

As she exited the bathroom, she breathed deeply the scent of the bacon and eggs she could almost hear sizzling. Tying her robe snugly, she padded barefoot down the hall to the kitchen. Thank goodness neither of her sisters seemed to be stirring.

“You adorable ma—” She stopped in her tracks.

A tray laden with bacon, eggs, hash browns, fresh fruit, coffee and croissants graced the center of her breakfast counter. A folded sheet of paper sat beside it, her name scrawled across its front.

Brad was nowhere to be seen.

Disappointment choked her as she sank onto one of the bar stools. “Well, at least this one left a note.”

Sighing, she unfolded the paper.

Dearest Nikki,

Last night was the most amazing night of my life, but I’m sure you get that all the time. No one has ever made me feel that way. Sex with you was like a spiritual experience, and I’m sitting here in awe, still trying to figure out exactly what happened.

All I know is that last night somehow changed my life. I feel as if I could go out and conquer the world. So that’s what I’m off to do. I’ve never felt so sure of myself. You did that for me. You’re a goddess and I only wish I was worthy of you. I will always cherish the memory of our time together.

With deepest gratitude,

Brad

“Gratitude?” She ground the word through her teeth. “Oh, hell, at least the man can cook.”

“WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA and honey cakes, dear?” Sophie Patterson, Nikki’s aunt, set a tray filled with the steaming brew and sweet-smelling cakes on the low coffee table before them the following Thursday.

Nikki rubbed her stomach. She’d managed to finish off the entire meal Brad had left, then she’d spent the rest of the weekend and a good part of the week eating through her misery. Still, she felt a little hollow, and the best place for filling up was at her aunt’s. It was also the best place for getting advice.

She shook her head. “You’d think all this rejection would have spoiled my appetite.”

“Actually I would be a bit surprised if you weren’t hungry.” The late-afternoon sun played across Sophie’s loose hair, illuminating an ample sprinkling of white in the dark strands.

Nikki gave her aunt a curious glance but refrained from commenting. Though Sophie often spoke in riddles, she always had a way of easing whatever troubles might drop Nikki on her doorstep.

Cradling the warm mug, Nikki settled back into the soft cushions of the couch. It was a sturdy old couch, much like the house and Sophie herself. In a world full of chaos and constant moves, Sophie and her Victorian with its wraparound porch had long been a sanctuary to Nikki and her sisters, Tess and Erin. It was the closest thing to home the girls had ever known.

But not for long. Their days in the apartment they shared were numbered. The one thing their mother had done right was to set up an investment fund for each of the girls at birth. In spite of the stock market’s many ups and downs, the funds still managed to accrue a tidy annual yield. With help from that, an unexpected inheritance and the income Nikki had generated since purchasing her animal clinic last year, she’d amassed a down payment and the excellent credit she needed to buy a home of her own.

She glanced at her watch. She’d have to leave soon to meet with her real-estate agent. Since Nikki opened the clinic half the day on Saturdays, she took off Thursday afternoons. For the past three weeks she’d spent her free afternoons house hunting. She hadn’t had much luck in her search, but maybe today would be different.

Sophie settled beside her, nodding at her own cup. “It’s a special herb blend. It’ll chase those blues away.”

Nikki breathed in the steam before taking a long swallow. She’d learned long ago not to ask too many questions about Sophie’s brews. If her aunt said the tea would help, Nikki meant to drink every drop.

“I just don’t get it,” she said, her throat tightening. “Am I such a loser? These guys really like me. You know, I can usually tell what they’re feeling….”

She stopped. Though Sophie had been the first one to point out Nikki’s empathic nature back in the days of her childhood, they hadn’t spoken about it much since then. Perhaps her aunt thought she sounded like some babbling fool.

“You’re wondering why you don’t know in advance that they’re leaving.”

“Well, actually, it’s gotten pretty predictable. You’d think I’d get a clue.”

“It isn’t easy being empathic. Emotions can be misleading and fickle. It’s difficult to tell what you’re tapping into.”

“What is it about me that sends them all running afterward? It isn’t as though I’m trying to tie any of them down. I’d just like a guy to stick around for a little bit.”

“You’re looking at it all wrong. It isn’t that they’re rejecting you. It’s that they’re embracing the world and all it has to offer.” Sophie set her mug on the table, then offered the plate of cakes. “Try a honey cake, dear. It’ll sweeten your disposition.”

Nikki frowned. She wanted to rave and cry. Life was so unfair. She couldn’t seem to keep a guy, and Tess collected them like baubles. “I don’t feel like sweetening my disposition. I want to scream. I’m a good person. I make a decent living and I don’t think I’m so hard on the eyes. All I ask for is a little bit of happiness.”

“Ah, that you’ll have in spades, love.”

Moisture swelled in Nikki’s eyes. “When?”

Sophie patted Nikki’s knee. Her shoulders heaved in a big sigh. “I guess it’s time. I had hoped to coax that sister of mine into telling all of you girls, but she’s always been a little…”

“Flighty? Fickle? Self-indulgent? You can say it, Sophie. It isn’t as though I haven’t figured that out for myself.” The bitterness inside Nikki grew.

She had managed to forget about her mother for a short period of time. Thinking of her now brought on a fresh wave of misery. If only Maggie had been able to settle for just one great love, Nikki wouldn’t have grown up feeling like such a vagabond. Instead Maggie—daughters in tow—had roamed from lover to lover, home to home.

“You’ve never understood her, Nikki. She’s a free spirit, it’s true, but she’s got a huge heart.”

“That she wants to share with as many men as humanly possible?”

“Actually that’s about the gist of it. But what you don’t understand is that she has a special gift she’s granting to each and every one of them.”

“Oh, I know about her ‘gift’ all right.”

“I don’t think so. You don’t understand. How can I explain it? You see, you have this very same gift, love, only in you it seems to be much stronger. It takes a little longer for your mother’s magic to work, but with you…well, it seems you’re a one-shot wonder.”

“I could have told you that.” Nikki stood, then began pacing. Her vision blurred, and she blinked to clear the unwanted moisture from her eyes.

“I don’t mean that in a bad way, dear. It’s quite a marvel, actually. I remember your great-aunt Emma was the same way. Does take some getting used to, but she lived a long, love-filled life.”

“Getting used to?” Nikki stared at her aunt in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Because I don’t think I can get used to the idea that the rest of my life will consist of a string of one-night stands. I’ll become celibate first.”

“No, dear, that would be most unfortunate. You have a gift. To keep it to yourself would be a terrible mistake.”

Nikki stopped to stare again at her aunt. “I have the mystifying ability to send men running from my bed. How can you call that a gift?”

“Sit beside me. I’m getting a sore neck looking up at you.” Sophie patted the cushion.

With a shake of her head Nikki settled on the sofa again. Her stomach grumbled and she took a bite of cake.

“I’d wager that each and every one of them left hearty and hale and a world better for sharing your bed.”

Nikki snorted indelicately. “The only one who left a note said he was ready to go out and conquer the world.”

“Exactly.” Sophie beamed.

“Well, great. That makes it all better.”

“You make it all better. You see, the women of this family all share the gift.” Grooves formed between her eyebrows. “The gift does impact one’s life, it’s true. Relationships can be very short-term, especially in your case, and that takes maintaining a certain attitude—the ability to let go when the time comes. The empathic nature can be a terrible burden. Seems the most damaged are drawn to us. But the reward…” Bliss lightened her expression. “Well, hopefully you’ll experience it for yourself. The reward is beyond description. It’s priceless to give so selflessly—to change a life or even save one—with the gift.”

“Sophie, you’ve gone on and on, but you haven’t really told me. What exactly is this gift?”

Sophie took a deep breath and faced her niece. “I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out. It’s the gift of sexual healing, of course.”

SOPHIE WAS NUTS. NIKKI frowned into her rearview mirror as she braked at a stoplight. Sexual healing? Impossible. Ridiculous. Who’d ever heard of such a thing? Sounded like the kind of harebrained excuse her mother might have dreamed up, but how could Sophie buy into it?

Her aunt had been disappointed when Nikki had scoffed at her explanation. Then Nikki had graciously excused herself for her appointment. She was a little early, but for some reason she found the possibility that there might be a small bit of truth to Sophie’s tale most upsetting. Did this mean she was doomed to flit from man to man, following her mother’s rootless path?

God knows, Tess seemed headed that way. Erin was another story, though. Her romantic pursuits had been very low-key up to this point. Yet Sophie had said they’d all inherited the gift. Would they all end up alone in the end?

Exhaling to rid herself of the unsettling feeling, Nikki checked her directions before focusing on the neighborhood around her. The best way to combat this new upset was to concentrate on putting down roots of her own. And this area, Coral Gables, looked like a great place to do just that. She was meeting her agent at the first house they were viewing.

The house was in an established tree-lined neighborhood with wide boulevards and lots of green space. No wonder Coral Gables was called The City Beautiful. Even better, it was a short commute to her clinic and she’d always loved this area. Tess and Erin would, too.

Nikki drove past a curious mixture of colonial-, French-, Dutch- and Chinese-style houses, some with ornate entryways. This area certainly had a flavor all its own. A bicycle path wound alongside the road. She turned onto a quiet side street.

“This must be it. Five-eighty-nine Chestnut Lane,” Nikki murmured to herself as she pulled up in front of a two-story house.

She glanced up and down the quiet street. Ginger Parker, her agent, was nowhere to be seen. Nikki left the engine running. Cool air hissed through the air-conditioning vents as the sun beat down around her car. Shifting forward, she peered at the house.

She liked it immediately.

It had a classic look, with bay windows across the front and wide dormers below the sloped roof. Barrel tile covered the surface and an archway to one side appeared to lead to an inner courtyard. Ferns, palm leaves and deep russet and gold flowers hinted at a garden beyond.

She started at a swift rap on her window. A stranger peered in at her. Blond hair swept back from his furrowed brow. Blue eyes narrowed on her. A myriad of emotions seemed to swirl in their depths, and foreboding swept over her.

Blowing out a breath, she rolled down her window. “Yes, may I help you?”

“You’re Ms. McClellan?” A roughness edged his voice.

It veiled a deeper vulnerability. Though he was a big man—hearty and hale, as Sophie would say—he somehow seemed…not whole, as if he was broken inside. How this revelation came to Nikki, she couldn’t say, other than the usual way she felt things about people.

And what she felt about this man drew an empathic rush from her heart. He carried a deep sorrow. It pressed him down with a crushing weight.

The stranger cleared his throat. She fumbled to remove her sunglasses, warmth fanning across her cheeks. She’d been staring. “Yes, I’m Nikki McClellan.”

“Mrs. Parker phoned to say she’s been delayed. I thought you might like to wait inside.”

“Oh. You’re the owner?”

He nodded briefly, his expression unchanging. “Dylan Cain, at your service.”

She cut the engine. “Thank you, Mr. Cain.”

Though he stepped back, she was all too aware of his solid presence as she exited the vehicle, then turned to fidget with the lock.

“She shouldn’t be long. You can wait in the study or you’re welcome to have a look around.”

She walked beside him, her chin just topping his shoulder. He was tall, over six feet. Her arms tingled as the sheer vitality of him shimmered over her. She caught his spicy scent and her pulse quickened.

“Is this really a courtyard?” Needing to put some distance between them, she veered away from him, nodding toward the archway. A riot of tropical flowers stirred in the slight breeze drifting through the opening.

“I wanted a home that brought the outdoors in. The courtyard and its gardens are a central feature.” He led her into the refreshing coolness of the garden.

Nikki inhaled a sharp breath. Tall palm trees presided over much of the space, adding needed shade. A large fountain stood amid a circular garden in the courtyard’s center. Water splashed and gurgled from an urn held by a laughing mermaid, while her sisters freed a wide-eyed fisherman caught in his own net. Small buds of yellow, red and orange danced all around the fountain’s rim.

The four corners sported smaller gardens, each with its own theme. A kettle wind sock prevailed over what appeared to be a bevy of herbs. Tropical flowers peered between and around huge boulders of varying shapes and sizes on the far side. Another area paid homage to a stand of palms that shaded a cozy hammock, and the last paraded flowers in a rainbow spectrum.

“It’s beautiful.” She turned slowly in a circle, breathing in the sweet floral scent.

“Yes, beautiful.” His tone was dark and fluid.

She faced him. Heat shimmered in his eyes as his gaze traveled over her. Awareness warmed her blood. Framed by the tropical garden, he looked like a predator ready to strike. She took an involuntary step backward.

He straightened and the moment passed. “Every room has a view of the gardens.”

Sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy and winked off the floor-to-ceiling windows and wide French doors that must indeed usher the outdoors in.

“This is incredible,” she murmured. “I’m surprised you can bring yourself to part with it.”

The muscles in his jaw tightened. “It’s time.”

Again a feeling of empathy swamped her. She stilled the impulse to place a comforting hand on his arm. Whatever ailed this man, he seemed quite inclined to deal with it himself.

“Would you care to see the rest?” He gestured toward a pair of French doors.

“Yes, that would be nice, if you don’t mind.” She followed him into the main entryway.

Jewel-colored light splashed across the wall above her. Opposite, a stained-glass panorama stretched above the heavy oak doors, depicting a mermaid singing to a sea prince.

“Do you prefer to wander on your own or would you like the guided tour?” Cain asked.

Her glance fell across a side table adorned with an assortment of gilt-framed photographs. The delicacy of the table and its ornate trimmings seemed in contrast to the man’s dark nature. A blond woman with an easy smile peered from one of the frames.

Nikki straightened, suddenly feeling very much like an intruder. “I’d like the guided tour…if I’m not keeping you from anything.”

He gestured with a wide sweep of his arm. “This is the foyer.”

Her gaze again gravitated toward the stained-glass window. The mermaid’s wistful expression elicited a strange melancholy in her. Or did the image evoke the emotion in Cain and she was feeling it from him? Why would such a beautiful display cause him sorrow? She frowned. Being empathic wasn’t easy.

She blinked inexplicable moisture from her eyes as his gaze pinned her. “Is it an original?” she asked. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it—or the fountain, for that matter.”

“Yes. They were both commissioned.”

He turned stiffly, and she followed him into the formal living room off to one side of the entryway. Here the contrast between the style of furniture and the man seemed even starker. High wing-backed chairs and sofas, dark claw-foot tables and delicate lamps adorned the space. Silk wallpaper with tiny rosebuds covered the walls, one of which featured shiny brass sconces flanking a large oil painting of a Victorian lady meeting her lover.

Nikki couldn’t help but verify her suspicions. “You collect antiques?”

Though his shoulders remained steady, he seemed to sag somehow. “It would appear so.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just a little odd. You don’t seem to be the claw-foot type.” As if she had any idea what type he might be.

His gaze caught hers. For a moment a storm threatened in his eyes, then he cocked his head and seemed to relax. “Perhaps I’m not.”

“Oh.” She waited with bated breath, but he didn’t elaborate.

Did the woman in the picture collect the antiques and knickknacks? If so, where was she now? Was she the cause of Cain’s pain?

And exactly what would you do about it if she were?

The doorbell saved Nikki from further speculation. Ginger Parker arrived in a bluster of apologies and out of breath, her blue-gray hair tousled by the wind. “I’m so sorry I kept you waiting.”

She patted her hair in place and turned to Cain. “Thank you for letting Ms. McClellan in.”

He nodded toward the study on the opposite side of the foyer. “No problem. I was just working.”

“Oh, well, we’ll let you get back to it then. Don’t mind us. We’ll just poke around on our own.” Ginger shooed him toward the study.

Dylan hesitated. His gaze swung over his prospective buyer. She was quite attractive with her brown eyes and coffee-colored hair. She had a sturdy build, not too thin, but she seemed unsteady at the moment. He’d made her uncomfortable somehow. She looked…upset.

“Ginger has been through already. She previewed the house a couple of days ago,” he said, wanting to reassure the woman. “You’re in safe hands, Ms. McClellan.”

“Oh, please call me Nikki.”

“Nikki then.” He extended his hand. “And I’m Dylan.”

“Yes, Dylan it is.” She placed her hand in his.

Warmth surged through him. Not just the tingling heat of sexual awareness—though that was there, too, which surprised him. Sure, on those rare occasions when Steven Benson, his lifelong friend, had dragged him out, he’d felt the odd passing attraction. But nothing like this.

Earlier in the garden, Nikki’s lush figure and sparkling eyes had had his mind wandering along lustful paths he hadn’t pondered in a very long time. Now her warmth enveloped him in comfort and ease. As he looked into her eyes, serenity such as he had not known these past two years descended on him. Her gaze softened, and he could no more look away than he could let go of her hand. He fought the alarming urge to sweep her into his arms.

What had come over him and who was this woman?

Ginger cleared her throat. “Shall we?”

Nikki glanced away, breaking the spell. She pulled her hand from his as pink blossomed in her cheeks. “Yes, of course. So far I love it. It’s certainly more house than I’d anticipated.”

“Let’s start with the study, then we can let Dylan get back to work.” Ginger ushered her client in that direction.

Dylan followed, staring blankly at the papers on his desk. What had he been working on? A haze clouded his mind. He turned and nearly collided with Nikki.

“Now this is your room.” Appreciation shone in her dark eyes as she took in the solid-oak furnishings and cluttered tabletops. Papers and files pertaining to the fraud case he was working on covered nearly every available space.

“I…this is where I work when I’m home. I like it to be…utilitarian.” In fact, it was the one room Kathy had had no interest in.

“Dylan’s an attorney.” Ginger rubbed her hands together. “He’s defending Councilman Weatherby. Imagine, one of Miami’s finest citizens on trial like a common criminal. You’ll get him off, won’t you, Dylan? I can’t believe George has done a dishonest thing in his life.”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss the case. The local media is having a field day with it as it is.”

“Yes.” Nikki cocked her head. “I believe I did read something about it. I’m sorry. I don’t follow the news as closely as I should. I spend my days doctoring furry critters, then fall into bed exhausted at night. I don’t know where the time goes.”

“You’re a veterinarian?” Dylan almost smiled, picturing the lovely brunette with her “critters.”

“Yes, I am. I’ve always gotten along better with animals than people.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

It was a full bottom lip. Luscious. Made for kissing.

“Nikki has her own clinic in Bay Heights,” Ginger said.

Dylan forced himself to look away from Nikki. Guilt filled him. What had made him think of kissing her? Had the woman bewitched him? He cleared his throat. “Bay Heights. That wouldn’t be a far drive.”

“No, not at all.” Nikki turned to Ginger. “I’m anxious to see the rest of the house.”

“Of course you are, hon. Dylan, if you’ll excuse us…”

“Certainly. Make yourselves at home. Just let me know if you have any questions.”

Nikki glanced back, smiling as they left the room, and he stilled the urge to follow. “Briefs,” he muttered as he sat at his desk. “Where was I?”

He consulted the notes he’d been scribbling when Ginger had called. “Right, finance summaries.”

With quick motions he punched a number into his phone. After four rings, the message center on the other end picked up. He waited patiently for the beep, then said, “Evelyn, if you have them ready, I could really use those summaries on the Weatherby finances. In particular, I’m looking for September and October of last year. Give me a call if you have them, or just fax them over. Thanks.”

He exhaled and focused on the file in front of him, immersing himself in his work. The accountants were going over every detail, but he needed to understand where the councilman stood himself. Though all the columns in Weatherby’s P&L added up, Dylan’s sixth sense told him all wasn’t as it appeared to be.

A short while later, Nikki’s musical laughter floated down from the upstairs, shattering his concentration. He tossed down his pen. He had purposely left the office and all its distractions to work at home this afternoon. Now how was he supposed to get any work done with all of this racket in the house?

After another moment of staring blankly at the page in front of him, he gave up all pretense of working. He stood, then went in search of the pair.

He found them in the guest room. Sebastian, Kathy’s orange tabby, had draped himself unceremoniously across Nikki’s shoulders. Dylan paused a moment, not breathing. Since Kathy’s death, the cat hadn’t let anyone pet him, let alone pick him up—not even Dylan.

Nikki turned. Her smile faded. “Your housemate found us.”

Ginger ruffled the cat’s ear and he hissed at her. “Oh my, he hasn’t any use for me, though he climbed right up there. Seems to have taken a liking to Nikki.”

“He doesn’t like most people.” Dylan took a shaky breath. Showing the house was turning out to be harder than he’d expected. He stepped forward to take the cat, but Sebastian growled and leaped to the floor.

“Ow!” Nikki clamped her hand to her collarbone.

“Did he scratch you?” Dylan asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s bleeding.” Ginger’s eyebrows formed a deep V.

“Let me see.” The softness of Nikki’s hand plagued him as he moved it aside to see the double slash where Sebastian’s claws had marked her. “I’m sorry. I’ll get something for that.”

She waved aside his efforts. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”

“He’s overdue for a clipping. He doesn’t like me handling him, and I’ve been so busy lately, I can’t remember the last time I took him in for a grooming.”

“He didn’t mean anything. Bring him by my clinic. We’ll get him clipped and clean for you.” She smiled as the cat rubbed up against her leg. “I’ve always had a way with the four-legged kind.”

“So it seems.” Dylan suppressed the anger rising in him. Why should Sebastian’s reaction to the woman upset him?

Or perhaps it was his own guilty response triggering his feelings.

“Well—” Ginger checked her watch “—if you’ve seen enough, I suggest we move along, Nikki. We have several more homes to visit.”

Relief flooded Dylan. Thank God they were leaving. His insides had been in a tangle since he first laid eyes on that woman. Now he could get back to work and get on with his life.

Nikki turned slowly around the room until she faced him. Her gaze caught and held his, though her words were directed toward Ginger. “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I believe I’m ready to make an offer.”

2

SUNLIGHT STREAKED THROUGH the stained glass in a last burst of fiery intensity before the sun set that evening. Dylan clenched his fist, unable to tear his gaze from the fading light. Kathy had loved the window he’d had designed for her twenty-fifth birthday.

That last fateful night they had been leaving for a party his parents had thrown to celebrate his passing the bar. Kathy had stopped to watch the sun give up its last rays. “Oh, look. The sun’s saying good-night.”

She had refused to leave until the final bit of color had faded, her sweet eyes growing sadder with each passing minute. Then she had turned to him with a shrug. “It just isn’t the same without the light shining through.”

He’d swept his arms around her and kissed her. “Then I’ll be your light until morning.”

Her arms had tightened around him, her breath warm against his cheek. “You’re always my light, Dylan.”

God, he missed her.

He swallowed past a sharp ache in his throat, gritting his teeth against the loneliness that always overwhelmed him at sunset. How wrong they’d both been.

She’d been the light.

He closed his eyes. To his consternation, a vision of Nikki McClellan flashed through his mind. Her dark eyes beckoned him, filled with a promise he refused to acknowledge. He pushed the image away.

“No.”

No one would ever replace Kathy. He had no intention of pursuing any kind of relationship with Nikki. He had nothing to offer her.

The doorbell rang. He straightened in the dark, hesitating before rising. His family never visited, and hadn’t most of his friends gotten the hint and given up stopping by long ago? It was probably Steven. His old boarding school roommate was a diehard.

Steven had gotten married a little over a year ago. It seemed settling down into his own happiness made him more determined to drag Dylan back into the world of the living. The more Dylan resisted, the harder Steven tried. Guess that’s what best friends were for.

Dylan yanked open the door just as the bell sounded again. Evelyn Rogers, a paralegal at his office and the woman his parents had always favored over Kathy, stood on his doorstep. A tall man beside her met Dylan’s steady gaze while a streetlight cast long shadows across the porch.

“Why, Dylan, I was beginning to wonder if you were home.” Evelyn looped her arm through her companion’s. His dark hair played opposite to the platinum strands framing her heart-shaped face. “This is Nick Vancouver. I don’t believe you two have met.”

Dylan hesitated a long moment, then shook the man’s hand. “Dylan Cain.”

“I’ve long been an admirer of your father’s.”

Dylan’s gut tightened. Too bad he couldn’t say the same. His father was hell in a courtroom, but Dylan had seen too much of the man’s private affairs to hold any kind of respect, let alone admiration, for him.

Evelyn peered past him into the darkened house. “Has your power gone out?”

Dylan flipped on the foyer light, then stepped back wordlessly. As much as it would have pleased his mother, Evelyn had never been anything to him. Why then did it aggravate him to see this man by her side?

“I just wanted to drop off these summaries you requested.” She pulled a file from the briefcase slung over her shoulder.

“Thanks.” He took it from her. “I would have had a courier pick them up.”

She shrugged, her glance swinging to Nick, then back. “I wanted to stop by. No one’s seen much of you lately. You burrow into your office at work, then you hole up here the rest of the time. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Irritation grated through Dylan. “I’m fine. You needn’t have troubled yourself.”

“Well…” She shifted and tried an uneasy smile. “We won’t keep you. We have to run anyway. We’re meeting Nick’s parents for dinner.”

She twisted a large diamond on her ring finger. Inexplicably the knot in Dylan’s stomach tightened at the sight of the ring. Evelyn laughed a nervous little laugh, holding up her hand. “Isn’t it beautiful? Nick surprised me with it last week.”

Dylan nodded, unable to utter anything intelligible. He should wish them well, but the words stuck in his throat. He’d never cared for Evelyn in that way, so why was her good fortune so hard to swallow?

Beaming, Nick pulled her to his side. “I’m pushing for a September wedding.”

Pink tinged Evelyn’s cheeks. “He’s so impatient, but we’re going to try.”

“Ah, well…” Dylan let the words trail off. What was he supposed to say— That he wished them all the happiness he’d lost the night Kathy had slammed her car into that power pole?

Nick released his fiancée. “We’re going to be late. It was nice meeting you, Dylan.”

“Good luck,” was the best Dylan could offer as he again shook the man’s hand.

“Take care of yourself. I worry about you.” Rising on her tiptoes, Evelyn placed a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t be such a stranger, okay. You’ll come to the wedding?”

He shrugged. “I’m not much for ceremonies.”

Disappointment flickered in her blue eyes. “Well…let me know if you need anything else.”

He nodded, then shut the door firmly behind them. What he needed was peace and quiet. What he needed was not to be reminded of all the happiness he had no hope of ever retrieving.

“SO, EVELYN HAS HOOKED HERSELF a husband.” Steven Benson’s green eyes glowed in the dim light of Dylan’s study late that Saturday evening. “That throws a monkey wrench in your parents’ plan. I’m surprised your mother hasn’t called to agonize over it.”

Dylan grimaced. His mother never missed a chance to play the drama queen. He lifted a bottle and two glasses from a nearby shelf. He wasn’t a regular drinker, but tonight seemed to call for it.

He handed Steven one of the filled glasses. “She’s storing it up, waiting for the perfect opportunity to let loose. The more people to witness how I’ve failed her and take pity on her, the better.”

“What made them think you’d ever go for Evelyn?” Steven shrugged. “She’s all right, just not right for you. She’s more like them. Surface.”

Surface. The word described Dylan’s parents to a T. Appearances were all they cared about. Image was everything. With her highbrow bloodline and Ivy League education, Evelyn would indeed add luster to the family reputation. Unlike Kathy, who’d made it to Harvard not through her family connections or bank balance but on the full scholarship she’d worked so hard to earn.

He gripped his glass, stilling the urge to slam it into the wall. His parents had never accepted her. They’d upset her, driven her away that night.

“You look like you’re ready to break something. Don’t tell me you’re unhappy about Evelyn.”

“It’s not Evelyn. I don’t know. Seeing the two of them mooning at each other…”

Steven’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah. Sometimes it’s tough to take.”

The fax machine in the corner rang, then kicked on. Dylan sat brooding while several pages printed. He pushed his chair back, then reached for what appeared to be a contract. Gritting his teeth, he scanned the pages.

“She’s met my asking price.” He glared at the contract and took a long swallow of Scotch whiskey, welcoming the numbness the liquor instilled.

Steven refilled his own glass. “You’ve got an offer?”

Dylan nodded. “This woman came by the other day. Said she was ready to make an offer. When I didn’t hear back, I thought she’d changed her mind.”

“Even at your asking price, she’s still getting a deal. It’s worth every penny.” He leaned forward, his cropped red hair spiking upward, his gaze intent on Dylan. “It’s not too late. You can back out of this. I know I’ve been pushing for you to get back into the swing of things, but I wasn’t suggesting such a drastic change.”

Dylan hesitated for a moment. Was he making a mistake? Why was it so hard to let go? His gaze scanned the paneled walls. “No, there’s no going back. This is the only room I spend any time in.”

“But, Dylan, this house…it means so much to you. I know that better than anyone. Imagine what you could do if you dedicated yourself. You’re a natural. It’s a masterpiece, a sign of real creative genius. To just let it go…”

Dylan waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m an attorney, haven’t you heard? We don’t create. We tear things down, argument by argument. Besides, I’ve finally earned the old man’s grudging respect.”

A scowl marred Steven’s otherwise pleasant features. “It would do the old bastard good to have his plans go awry.”

“He’s my father. I’m the only one who can call him a bastard.”

“Ha! They were calling him that way before you were born.”

“Either way.” Dylan gestured at the room. “This house was a phase. I only managed it with your help. You’re the real architect. Besides, I’m good at what I do now.”

“But are you happy?”

“I buried all my happiness two years ago.”

Steven smacked his glass down on the desk. “Yes, it’s been two years. When are you going to snap out of it?”

Dylan narrowed his eyes on his friend. He picked up the contract. With a furious scrawl he signed his name across the bottom. “There. I’ve sold the damn house. How’s that for snapping out of it?”

Silence hung over the room.

Steven slumped back in his chair. “I do want to see you moving on. I just hate to see you sell this place.”

“It’s done. She wants to set the closing in a month’s time. So be it.”

“Not even a counteroffer? You should have asked for more.”

He shrugged. “I’ll pay closing. Let the witch have the place.”

“Witch?”

An image of Nikki McClellan floated in Dylan’s mind. “She must be one. That or…something.”

“By ‘witch’ do you mean ‘bitch’?”

“No, not that.”

Steven sat forward. “I get it. So your buyer’s a babe?”

Guilt still plagued Dylan, but the liquor had loosened his resolve. “When we were in the gardens, all I could think about was getting her into the hammock.”

“Excellent.” Steven nodded in approval. “This is definitely progress.”

“I feel like I’m being…unfaithful.”

“No! You’re not. Kathy would want you to be happy. This is a good thing. You should act on those impulses. God, it’s about time. Ask this witch out.”

“I don’t know what it is about her….”

“I think she’s just what the doctor ordered.”

“I’m not ready for a relationship.”

“Make it a no-strings affair.”

Dylan stared at his empty glass. “I can’t believe a woman like her would go for that.”

“It’s a new millennium. Women like their independence. You won’t know unless you ask. This is huge. Do you realize you’ve been like a dead man walking around here? You’ve been working way too hard. When was the last time you even thought about a woman? I’d about given up on you. I can’t wait to tell Rebecca. She’s been living for this day.”

“Whoa. I said that I find this woman attractive, but I didn’t say I was going to do anything about it. This is a big step.”

“But you’re giving it serious consideration. I can tell. You’ve got that spark back in your eye.”

Slowly Dylan nodded. Maybe Steven was right. Anything was better than the agonizing tedium his life had become. “We’ll see.”

“THERE HE IS, ALL FIXED UP.” Nikki handed the kitten to its young owner. “Told you we’d make him feel better.”

“He’s a big boy. He didn’t even cry. Just like me. I didn’t cry when I got my shots to go to kindergarten, right Mommy?” The six-year-old owner of the kitten beamed at her mother.

“That’s right, sweetie.”

“Well, Oliver’s all set.” Nikki scratched the cat behind his ear. A wave of calm flowed from the little guy as he gave a contented purr. “You ready to take him home?”

The child radiated with excitement. “Can we find him a special treat?”

“You got it, sweetie. Thank you, Dr. McClellan.”

Nikki bade mother, child and kitten goodbye as she walked them out of the examination room into the waiting area. Several people sat in the chairs against one wall while Janet, her receptionist, talked quietly on the phone.

Nikki paused, absently nodding at something Oliver’s owner said. A tall blond man stood with his back to them, bent over the sign-in sheet at the reception counter. Her pulse quickened. A familiar melancholy drifted to her, but it seemed different today than when last she’d experienced it—tamer somehow.

The man straightened, turning toward her, and she smiled, unexpected delight filling her. “Dylan, I thought that was you. What are you doing here?”

He nodded toward her groomer, Sarah Hendricks, who stood behind the counter, her gaze fixed admiringly on him. Sebastian made a feeble protest from her arms. “I decided to follow your advice and bring him in for grooming and nail clipping.”

“Oh.”

The man was a mystery. Had she imagined that heated look in his garden? He certainly hadn’t acted on it. In fact, when he’d come upstairs during her tour of his house, she’d gotten the distinct feeling he’d been angry with her. Thank God he’d accepted her offer on the house.

“He seems happy enough here.” He nodded toward Sebastian.

“He’s in the right hands. Sarah will take good care of him.”

Talking soothingly to the cat, the young woman finally tore her gaze away to head toward the grooming area. Nikki drank in the sight of Dylan. He wore a charcoal suit with a blue shirt that brightened the color of his eyes. His shoulders appeared broader, and he seemed to take up more space in her waiting area than he had in the expanse of his house.

His pleasure at seeing her swept over her, stealing her breath and warming her cheeks. She had never experienced this kind of intensity from anyone before. It was a desire so pure, her throat tightened with the beauty of it. It called to something deep within her, and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to touch his arm. Even through his clothes she felt the connection.

“Thanks for bringing him in,” she managed at last before dropping her hand.

“It was the least I could do.” He traced his finger along her collarbone, sending a ripple of pleasure up her spine. “How’s the scratch?”

“Healing. I’ve had worse, rest assured.”

He nodded slowly. “This is a nice place you have here. Did I understand correctly that you own it?”

“That’s right. I had a little help from my great-aunt Emma. She died last year and left an inheritance to my sisters and me. I could never have established my own clinic so quickly without her.”

“It seems to be prospering.”

“I’m doing okay.”

“Okay enough to buy a house.”

“Yes.” She experienced again that giddy feeling that had hit her when she’d heard he’d accepted her offer. “I’m really excited about that. It’s my first.”

The muscles in his jaw bunched, then relaxed. “Seems we both have something to celebrate.”

She nodded.

He hesitated a moment, then said, “Perhaps we could toast our good fortune over dinner sometime?”

“Dinner?”

He was asking her out. The hungry glint in his eyes as they had stood in the garden flashed through her mind. So he had been interested. What would it be like to spend an evening with him? “I suppose that would be nice.”

“Great. I…” A short laugh escaped him. “I have to check my schedule. I have to be in court quite a bit this week. In fact, I need to run now. My assistant will pick up Sebastian later, but could I call you?”

“I look forward to it.”

“Wonderful.” A smile lit his face.

“Nikki?” Janet walked over and handed her a clipboard. “Boxer and Mrs. Sneldon are ready for you.”

“Thanks, I’ll be right there.” She turned to Dylan. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

“Right. Me, too. So…I guess your number is on the contract?”

She laughed and it came out higher pitched than she’d intended. “That’s right.”

“We’ll talk soon then.”

She nodded, and he favored her with another smile before turning to leave. She headed back to the examination room with a sigh. She needed to focus on her work before she succumbed to the worst case of infatuation in the history of womankind. Somehow she had to find a way to shield herself from this man.

3

“THE MELONS ARE FRESH TODAY. Would you like a squeeze?” The young man’s eyes gleamed the following Sunday as he offered the fruit to Nikki.

His gaze dropped to her breasts. She shivered and pulled close the blouse she’d worn over her sundress. She’d seen that expression too often. She smiled politely and moved on, knowing she’d have to circle back for her bananas. Her best strategy was to put distance between her and this Casanova.

Sighing, she turned her cart down the juice aisle. Attracting men had never been a problem. If only she could figure out how to keep one.

As they had for most of the past week, thoughts of Dylan Cain swirled through her mind. She’d missed his call earlier. They’d been playing phone tag since his visit to the clinic, so she’d left her cell phone number on his voice mail when she’d last called him back. She placed a bottle of juice in her basket. Like the house, something about that man called to her.

Her cell phone rang and her heart quickened as she pulled it from her purse. “Hello?”

“Nikki, how’s my girl?” Thomas Scott’s voice crackled across the line. He was the one man who’d remained a lifelong friend of her mother’s without ever having slept with her. Nikki loved him like a father.

“Hi, Thomas. Just grocery shopping.”

“I hate to bother you on a Sunday….”

“No bother. What’s up?”

“It’s my sister’s dog. He’s got something weird going on. His whole face is swollen. He was fine one minute, then he just started puffing up like a balloon.”

She frowned. “Poor Buck. Why don’t you tell Lola that I’ve got to drop these groceries off, then I’ll meet her at the clinic?”

“He’s over here with me. I’m watching him while she’s out of town.”

“Oh, then I’ll just stop by your place. You’re closer than the clinic.” And he wasn’t far from Dylan’s house. Maybe she could drive by afterward and get another peek.

At the house or the man?

“That’d be great. You think he’s okay?”

“I have to see him first to know for sure. Was he outside when it happened?”

“We were out back. Why?”

“The last time I saw a dog do that, he’d just snapped up a bee.”

“You think it’s an allergic reaction?”

“Maybe. I’ll know better when I get there.”

“You are an angel, Nikki. I knew I could count on you to take care of this.”

She said goodbye, then hurried to the checkout.

She made the short trip home in record time. With grocery bags weighing down her arms, she fumbled with the lock. The door swung open before she could turn the key.

Her youngest sister—green-eyed, blond-haired Erin—frowned at her as she grabbed several bags. “Why did you carry all this by yourself? I would have come down and helped—or at least sent one of the minions.”

She nodded toward the back of the apartment, where a steady banging sounded. Tess’s ex-lovers tended to hang around long after the loving. “Brandon or Brendon or whatever his name from the catering company is back there fixing her closet organizer.”

Waving aside Erin’s concern, Nikki pushed into the cozy living room and continued on to the kitchen. “I’m fine. Did anyone call for me?”

“Not that I know of.” Erin followed Nikki into the kitchen.

“Is Tess here?”

“Her latest stud picked her up hours ago.” Disdain laced her sister’s voice.

Nikki flinched. She’d been a little down on Tess for following in their mother’s footsteps, but in light of her talk with Sophie, maybe they should cut their sister a little slack. “You know, Erin, I think I understand her a little better now. I have to run help Thomas, but maybe when I get back we can talk about it.”

An indifferent shrug was her only answer.

Sighing, Nikki set her load on the kitchen counter, then ditched her blouse. “You sure no one called? There weren’t any messages on the answering machine?”

“I’m sure. No one called. What’s up?” Erin asked as she dropped a head of lettuce into the vegetable bin in the refrigerator.

Nikki bit her bottom lip. Not wanting to get their hopes up needlessly, she hadn’t mentioned her house hunting to her sisters in case the deal fell through. If she told her sister about Dylan, she’d want to know where Nikki had met him. “Nothing, really.”

Erin eyed her for a minute, then shook her head and tossed an empty grocery bag into the recycling. She looked as though she might argue but continued putting away groceries, slamming cabinets harder than normal. Nikki would soothe Erin’s rumpled feathers after the house was theirs. Her sister had been so moody lately, but Nikki would have to deal with her another time. If Buck really was having an allergic reaction, it could be life threatening.

Nikki hurried to Thomas’s house. He was sitting on his front stoop with his sister’s dog when she pulled up.

“What are you doing baking yourselves out here?” she asked as she climbed the front steps, medical bag in hand.

“Once I told him you were coming, he insisted.” Thomas nodded his gray-streaked head toward the dog. “He seems to feel okay.”

Poor Buck. His face was swollen and wrinkled like a shar-pei’s. Nikki knelt before the beast. The old Irish setter thumped his tail. “That’s my boy. Did you snap up a wasp? Can I take a look?”

He whined softly as she pried open his mouth. “There’s the stinger.” Grabbing an instrument, she pulled the offender from his mouth, then patted him reassuringly. “Just a couple of shots and you’ll be right as rain.”

Worry lines crossed Thomas’s forehead. “Will he be okay by the time my sister gets back tomorrow?”

“Let’s take him inside and I’ll get the injections ready. Give him about an hour and he’ll be fine.”

“Sure looks awful.”

“Untreated, it could constrict his trachea or make his tongue swell so much it could cut off his breathing.”

“So let’s get on with those shots. That sister of mine will skin me if I return him damaged.”

“Come on, boy.” She urged Buck into the house after her.

A short while later, she found Thomas tinkering in the small workshop he kept at the back of his garage. A box fan stirred the thick air around him. He turned as she approached.

“Hey, there, pull up a chair.” He patted the stool beside him. “How’s the old boy?”

“Took his shots like a trooper.”

“Thanks for the house call, pumpkin. Tell me, what do I owe you?”

She waved her hand in dismissal. “The way I see it, I owe you. I wouldn’t even have the clinic if you hadn’t talked me into going to work for Doc Emerson way back when. And I might not have stuck it out if you weren’t constantly encouraging me and sending me business.”

“Doc knew his practice would be in good hands when he sold it to you.”

“It’s certainly made life easier, stepping into an established practice. I’d be lucky to break even if I were starting from scratch.”

“You’ve worked your ass off for it and you earned every penny. You helped build that business. Now, you send me a bill. Nobody makes house calls these days.”

“This really is closer than the clinic. Besides, this way I can drive by the house I’m buying.”

“You found a house?”

“It’s in Coral Gables. The closing is scheduled for the end of July.”

“That’s wonderful! My Nikki is going to have her own home at last.” His eyes misted. “I’m proud of you, girl. No one’s worked as hard as you have. I’ve never known a more deserving soul.”

Happiness filled her. “I’ve wanted this my whole life, Thomas. You can’t know what it means to me. After this move, I’m never going to move again.”

His eyebrows drew together. “I know living with Maggie wasn’t easy, but it’s made you strong and independent. It’s made you the woman you are today.”

“Aw, it wasn’t so bad—not if you don’t mind changing addresses every couple of months.” In spite of Sophie’s revelation, Nikki couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her tone. “There was that one time we got to keep the same phone number through three moves. As long as I didn’t invite any of the kids over, they didn’t realize we had moved and I was spared the jokes about Mom taking a new lover. That subdivision had lots of street parties, so we met most of our neighbors. If there had been more single men, we might have stayed in the area a little longer.” Bitterness tinged her voice. “Until I got my first apartment, I never knew what it was like to not live out of suitcases and boxes. That was life.”

“You still don’t understand her. She loves her art and her men.”

“What’s to understand? Sophie says Mom has a big heart.”

“It’s true. Do you doubt that Maggie loved each and every one of those men?”

“I don’t know. I guess she did.”

“Was there ever fighting? Any bad partings?”

“Of course. What home goes without fighting?”

“Maggie had fallings-out with her men? They fought?” Thomas peered at her, his eyebrows arched.

Nikki frowned. Funny, she and her sisters had had their share of sibling rivalry. Seems she and her mother had fought all the time. But try as she might, she couldn’t remember a single moment of discord between her mother and any of her lovers.

“It’s weird. I can’t remember any. That seems strange, doesn’t it, that all those relationships were peaceful, then the breakups amicable?”

“That’s my Maggie. She has a special magic.”

“Sophie calls it a ‘gift.’ I guess that’s one way of looking at it.”

“I take it you don’t believe in this gift?”

“The gift of sexual healing? Get serious.”

“Oh, Nikki, it’s very serious business indeed.”

She turned to face him more squarely. “You mean you believe my mother runs through lovers like last season’s fashions because she’s in their lives to heal them sexually, then she moves on once the healing’s complete?”

“That’s right. You do understand.”

“No. I don’t get how a man as reasonable as you can believe that.”

“I don’t get how a woman with this special gift can deny the magic she’s been born with.”

She stared at him a moment. First Sophie, now Thomas. Was there something to this after all? “So you believe this gift is inherited by all the women of my family?”

“That’s my understanding, but you should be able to answer that for yourself.”

A small groan escaped her. Tess certainly seemed gifted when it came to the opposite sex. With Erin it was hard to tell, but she was young still and hadn’t had many serious relationships. Nikki’s own love life was at least unusual. “I don’t know, Thomas. It’s just a little out-there, isn’t it?”

“Is it?”

A shrug was all she could give in answer. “I suppose the empathic nature goes hand in hand.”

“I believe it’s stronger in some of you than in others.” His gaze pinned her. “Could be worth exploring.”

If it were all true, was she doomed to live a life devoid of love? “You mean, I should enter relationships for the sole purpose of healing but never get attached because I’ll always have to let go?” Her throat tightened.

“No, sweetie, here’s where you don’t understand. Look at Maggie. She loves each and every one of them heart and soul. That’s where the real magic comes from. That’s where she taps into her healing potential.”

“She loves them, then when it’s over she just lets them go?”

His head bobbed. “It’s the releasing that frees her to receive again.”

“So does she just stop loving them?”

“Of course not. She has unlimited potential to love in that big heart of hers. It’s part of her charm.”

“But I don’t want to keep getting left behind.”

“Then be the one to go out and embrace the world.”

“I don’t know.” Dylan’s image wavered in her mind. If ever a man needed her healing, he was the one. She didn’t question this inner conviction. And she’d never felt such a strong attraction. Did she dare explore her gift with him? Then, if she did, would she be able to let him go? “It’s a lot to think about. For now, I need to get going. There’s a house I’ve got to go see.”

“A new house and a new life, Nikki.”

She smiled. “Yes, I think so.”

NIKKI’S HEART POUNDED AS she passed slowly in front of the house. Soon it would be hers. It stood as solid and enchanting as it had before, the stained glass over the door reflecting the late-afternoon sun.

“I’ll just drive by,” she murmured to herself.

An orange cat suddenly streaked in front of her. She slammed on her brakes. She came to a screeching stop, her front tire grazing the curb. To her amazement, the tabby, which looked suspiciously like Dylan’s cat, jumped up onto the hood of her car.

“You little rascal.” With a shake of her head she got out, then walked to where the animal stood meowing at her. “What are you doing? Were you trying to kill us both?”

“Well, hello, Nikki.” Dylan’s deep baritone startled her.

The sun danced across his bare chest as he approached. He wiped his hands on a rag sticking out of his shorts pocket. Apparently he’d been working in one of the gardens.

Warmth filled her cheeks and her pulse quickened. “I was actually in the neighborhood, not five minutes away. A friend of mine has a dog I had to see whose face was all…had to give him some injections… Anyway, I just wanted to drive by to make sure I hadn’t dreamed this place. I tried to call you back…and your cat came out of nowhere.”

She closed her mouth, her cheeks burning. She’d turned into a babbling idiot.

“Sebastian, bad boy.” He turned his gaze to her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize he’d gotten out. Come on, big fella.” He reached for the cat, but Sebastian growled, flicking his tail in warning.

“That’s no way to act.” Gently she stroked his back and he calmed. “Would you like me to put him inside? I don’t think he’ll mind if I pick him up.”

“I guess I can’t leave him out here to endanger other drivers.”

The cat meowed when she scooped him into her arms but didn’t resist as she moved toward the house with him. “Now, what was that all about? Do you have a death wish?”

“Could be. He hasn’t been right since…for a while.”

She nodded, her heart swelling. What had happened to upset Sebastian? Was it the same something that had put that wounded look in Dylan’s eyes? The sun beat down on them as they crossed the wide lawn. Heat shimmered in the thick air.

Nikki stumbled, bumping into Dylan. “Excuse me.”

He steadied her, the muscles of his shoulders rippling across an expanse of bronzed skin. “No problem.”

With an effort she continued walking, all too aware of his musky scent and virile presence. And of the ache deep in his heart. She frowned against the overpowering need to soothe his pain. If she were to get involved with him, she’d best do it quickly, then move on. She was already too taken with the man. She was bound to get attached if she extended their acquaintance any longer than needed.

He kept his hand at her elbow, steering her toward the gardens. “The front door is locked. We’ll have to go through the courtyard.”

The cool green of the palm trees gave some respite from the heat as he stopped in front of the French doors. He opened the door but remained close. A cool blast of air hit her as she leaned in to drop Sebastian on the Spanish tile.

“You stay in here, away from the cars,” she said, drawing a deep breath and trying to calm her heart. The cat gave her a backward glance before padding off.

“Would you like to go in and get out of the heat?”

She straightened. All the blood rushed from her head in a dizzying swirl. She reached out to catch her balance and her hand connected with smooth, hot skin and firm muscle. For a moment she stared at him transfixed, his heart thudding beneath her palm.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. She inhaled a shaky breath and pulled back her hand. “Excuse me. The heat doesn’t usually affect me like this. Maybe I’m just dehydrated.”

“Let’s get you something to drink.” Though she had regained enough of her equilibrium to walk, he kept his hand at her back as he guided her into the kitchen. The heat of his fingers branded her where the sundress bared her to his touch.

“I’m sorry to trouble you,” she said as he filled two glasses with filtered water. “I never meant to intrude. I really intended just to drive by.”

He handed her a glass and drank deeply from his own. “It’s no trouble. I needed a break.”

She downed half her water before daring another peek in his direction. The man was hairless and sleek, sculpted like a Greek god. She pressed the cool glass to her cheek. She had to get a grip. “You were working in the garden?”

“Weeding mostly. I have a lawn service that takes care of it. I just like to get in there sometimes. It’s cathartic to yank up those weeds.”

She nodded, not sure how to respond. A moment of silence fell and she set her empty glass on the counter. “Thanks. I feel much better.”

A gust of cold air flowed over her as the air conditioner kicked on. Gooseflesh rippled up her arms, and her nipples beaded beneath the thin fabric of her dress.

His gaze traveled over her, lingering at her breasts before moving up to her eyes. “Would you like to sit down for a while? You probably shouldn’t get back out in that heat just yet.”

“No. I’m fine, really. I should be going.” She cast a quick glance down. The halter top of her dress left little to the imagination.

“Would you like to tour the house one more time?”

Though her earlier excitement about the house stirred, she felt exposed. She folded her arms over her chest. “Maybe another time.”

Disappointment swirled in the blue depths of his eyes. “Sure.”

“But I’d love to see the gardens again.”

He nodded and took her hand. “This way then.”

His grip was firm and strong. Walking hand in hand with him as they strolled the stone path circumventing the far flower garden felt oddly right. He pointed out various flowers, but her pulse throbbed in her ears, making it difficult to hear him. His mouth was beautiful to watch as he formed each sensuous syllable.

What would it be like to kiss him?

“Don’t you think?” He looked at her expectantly.

She bobbed her head in a half nod.

“I had a friend who didn’t think so, but I know it’ll hold two comfortably.” He gestured to the large hammock nestled beneath tall palms.

Tugging her hand, he drew her closer to the hammock. “I’ve never been able to get anyone to try it with me.”

“Oh.” She turned to him. “You’re awfully big.”

“It’s a double. It’s supposed to be for two.”

“Well, I’m sure two people fit then.”

They stood for a moment in silence, then he brought her hand up. “No rings.”

“No.”

“No fiancé, then?”

“No.”

“Boyfriend?”

“No, there’s no one. I wouldn’t have agreed to go out to dinner with you if I was seeing anyone.” Her heart thudded dully.

“Of course.” His eyebrows furrowed. “Still, how can that be?”

“Well, guys just don’t seem to stick around.”

“That makes no sense.”

“True nonetheless.”

“But you’re successful…and so beautiful.”

She cast her gaze downward, and he hooked his finger under her chin, urging it upward. She shivered at the intensity in his so-very-blue eyes. “Truly beautiful.”

He was going to kiss her.

The realization rang through her like a shot. The urge to flee took hold of her, but she stood, unable to move. His lips brushed over hers in a caress that grew steadily more demanding.

She opened to him, meeting the hungry stroke of his tongue, melding her body to his as he skimmed his hands over her back, then down her hips. Angling his head, he pulled her closer as he mated his mouth more firmly with hers, stealing her breath and sending heat rolling over her.

At long last he pulled back, his eyes blazing. “So…”

“So…”

“Um, I’m not great at this and I’m a little out of practice.”

“It’s okay. You…want to explore this…this attraction.”

He nodded slowly. “Interested?”

She swallowed hard. This was her chance to help him. Warmth filled her as she envisioned touching him, stroking him, bringing him pleasure…and peace. But something told her that leaving this man would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do. For some inexplicable reason, the prospect filled her with sadness. She barely knew him. How could she feel this way already?

She kept her voice casual, though her pulse pounded and her lips ached for more of his kiss. “Could be.”

His brow furrowed. “I can’t make any promises. I’m not looking for anything serious. You should know that up front.”

A rueful laugh escaped her. She tried to squelch the bit of disappointment that surfaced. “You mean no extras? No frills? Sex only?”

“I owe you dinner. We could go out. It’s up to you.”

She’d been down that road too many times before. She and Brad had dated for three weeks before she had finally slept with him. The outcome had been the same. With the way she felt about Dylan in the short space of time since they’d met, only disaster lay that way. Better not to get too close. “I don’t need any frills.”

He nodded slowly.

With a boldness she didn’t feel, she ran her hand up his torso. “Let’s not put off until tomorrow what we can do today.”

“We don’t have to do this now if it’s too soon. We could go to dinner first, then see how you feel.”

“I’m not hungry…at least not for food.”

He moaned softly and crushed her to him, claiming her mouth once more.

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