“How did you know I needed that?”

  Jonah’s hand hovered over the gear shift before he cast me a sidelong glance.

  “I didn’t. It was a guess. But I’m glad I was right.” He shrugged and dropped his hand to his lap. “Figured you needed a way to release all the pent-up shit you never talk about.”

  Blowing out a sigh, I nodded.

  “Just because you didn’t talk about it with me doesn’t mean I was clueless. I knew you needed an outlet that wasn’t whatever we were doing for the last four weeks.” His voice was soft. Serious. “Thank you for trusting me to give you that.”

  He was thanking me?

  After everything he’d done and been for me? He was thanking me?

  Jonah Kincade would never cease to amaze me.

  “Why do you keep being so nice to me?”

  “Because you deserve it.”

  My breath caught in my throat, and I gave another silent nod, willing tears not to fall.

  “You’re a sweetheart, E. Even when you were pretending you didn’t like me, I knew that for a fact. You’re smart and funny and patient. And so damn kind. I’m sorry you don’t always get that in return. And it’s okay that you needed a break from the bullshit to get yourself together.”

  As always, he sounded so damn confident.

  “You know that, don’t you? That it’s fine to take a step back and refocus when you’re overwhelmed?”

  Did I know that?

  Even though I was well over a month into this, some days it still didn’t feel like it was okay.

  “I hear what you’re saying, but what happens when you’re not the one who catches me when I fall in the future?”

  “Hey, look at me.”

  I did, and the earnest gleam in his eyes made me feel dizzy.

  “I will always catch you, Ericka. You won’t even have a chance to fall.”

  The dam broke then. Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice. Or maybe it was because I hadn’t had a good cry all day. But the tears couldn’t wait to fall, and when they did…

  “Please don’t cry. I thought we were having a good time.”

  “If you don’t want me to cry, don’t say shit like that!” I wailed, wiping at my tears as fast as they fell.

  Without a word, Jonah reached over me and opened the glove box. After pulling a pack of tissues from inside, he handed them to me and moved out of my space.

  “I wanna show you something. Unless you’re ready to go home.”

  “No,” I said, my voice panicky at the thought of this night ending. “Show me.”

  His lips quirked up in a smile. “Okay, put on your seatbelt and let’s go.”

  As I did what I was told, I eyed him in the process. “And for the record,” I prompted.

  Jonah lifted his eyebrow in question.

  “I wasn’t pretending to not like you.”

  ◆◆◆

  “This place is beautiful, but did you bring me out to the middle of nowhere to kill me?” I asked, looking out the windshield.

  “You’re not funny,” Jonah said dryly in answer to my joke.

  After turning down a narrow driveway a few minutes ago, we finally pulled to a stop in front of a charming ranch-style home. It was older, but I could tell it had good bones.

  The question was—why had Jonah brought me out here?

  “This is where I grew up,” he shared, answering my question as he cut the engine. He left the headlights on since they were the only light source.

  “You grew up in the cut,” I laughed. “Maybe we have more in common than I thought.”

  West Palm Beach wasn’t a big city, but it wasn’t rural, either. I’d always thought he was from there. But being out here, in the sticks, made me appreciate another layer of him.

  “Yea.” He gave a dry laugh. “I did. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with the place, though.”

  He told me about his parents being in Delray, well taken care of, and his penthouse in downtown West Palm Beach. Since he was an only child, the decision to keep the house in the family or sell it rested solely on his shoulders.

  “You can’t get rid of it,” I said, shooting a wistful stare out of the window.

  I imagined all the wildlife you could probably see from the kitchen window early in the morning or late at night. The way it probably smelled out here during a summer downpour.

  It looked like a place to have a family. Even if that family was just a husband and a bunch of fur children.

  This place was perfect. Way better than my place in Boca. I’d kill to have this much land surrounding my home.

  “I’ll help you redecorate.” I took off my seatbelt and fully faced him. “I decorated Derrick’s penthouse. I could help you with this. It’ll give me something to focus on that isn’t work.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that, E.”

  “You didn’t ask. I volunteered. And it’s not like I said I’d do it for free.” I giggled.

  Jonah dropped his head against the seat behind him, letting it fall to the side as his eyes danced over my face.

  It had to be the combination of the low lighting in the truck and his baseball cap pulled so low over his eyes that made the act so damn charming. Because suddenly, I was trying to remember what we were talking about.

  “It’s really good to hear you laugh,” he said quietly.

  His words were sobering, but I tried to play it off.

  Clearing my throat, I fought like hell to keep the waterworks at bay and offered my own comeback. “Just give me your credit card and I’ll give you the home of your dreams.”

  “Yea?” he asked in a low drawl.

  “Just say the word, Kincade, and whatever you want is yours.”

  “I might just take you up on that.”

  ◆◆◆

  Later that night, I was tucked in bed, freshly showered, and grinning at my phone while I texted back and forth with Devyn.

  Devy: You TOLD him about the dreams?

  Ericka: Yes. Was I not supposed to?

  Devy: *blank stare emoji*

  Devy: Bless your heart

  Ericka: That’s my line.

  When we first met, she told me that I was a typical Southerner who overused the phrase to deflect from saying something callous. But now, she was just as bad.

  Devy: All I’m gonna say is that I wish I could have been a fly on the wall

  Ericka: It was anticlimactic. Trust me

  Devy: So you say, but I feel like you’re leaving out some important details.

  She was correct. I was absolutely not going to divulge what happened after I told him about the dream and the way he clocked all my nonverbal cues and had me damn near salivating at the thought of kissing him.

  Devy: I give it two weeks. Maybe less. You see each other every day so…

  Ericka: WHAT

  Devy: I said, I give it two weeks. Keep up.

  Tempted to toss my phone to the other side of my bed, I was glad I didn’t when I saw those gray bubbles reappear.

  Devy: Let’s be very for real for a second. That man adores you.

  Ericka: Debatable.

  Devy: If his actions over the last month don’t prove that, then I don’t know what does.

  Ericka: So I’m supposed to just throw him some pussy because he was aggressively nice to me during a depressive episode???

  Devy: Now, I didn’t say that. And please don’t say “throw him some pussy” ever again. What is wrong with you?

  Devy: If that’s the only reason you feel compelled to give him some, then please spare everyone involved. I thought you liked him?

  Ericka: I think I only had that dream because we’ve been spending so much time together. I never had sex dreams about him before this.

  Devy: That’s fair. So, tell him to stop coming around. Problem solved.

  Now she was just saying anything. I wanted that like I wanted to take the NCLEX again. Five whole minutes passed of me just frowning at my phone.

  Devy: Yea, I didn’t think you’d like that option.

  Ericka: I’m woman enough to admit that I’ve grown attached.

  Devy: And I love that for you. I stand beside what I said about him loving you. He doesn’t even try to hide it

  Devy: He’s the one who made Derrick realize he was in love with me. You know why I think he read the signs so easily? Because he knew what they looked like firsthand. Every time y’all are in the same room, all of his energy is focused on you. Even if you’re yelling at him, he looks so fucking happy when you acknowledge him.

  Devy: Tell me I’m wrong.

  The last thing I wanted to do was confront the truth in her words.

  Ericka: I’d rather tell you good night. Don’t you have 6AM yoga or something?

  Devy: *rolling eyes emoji*

  Devy: I don’t go to that class anymore. Remember? After your brother pulled his little stunt on my date with Franco, I changed to the 8AM class. I can’t face him *sad face emoji*

  Ericka: LMAO

  Devy: But I’ll allow you to deflect. For tonight. I hope your dreams are full of Jonah. Smooches *kissing lips emoji*

  Ericka: Fuck you.

  Devy: *thinking emoji* You know who can do that for you?

  Ericka: GOOD NIGHT, DEVYN

  Devy: Love you, sleep tight.

  Finally, I tossed my phone to the other side of my bed and released a contented sigh.

  If that woman didn’t end up as my sister-in-law, I would never forgive Derrick.

  After I’d watched an appropriate amount of The Golden Girls, I took my Trazodone and welcomed sleep with a blissful sigh. And it was no surprise to find Jonah waiting for me in my dreams.

  The next morning when I woke up to my phone buzzing, I almost expected it to be Jonah after the way he’d showed out in my dreams. But it was one of his associates, Jalen, instead.

  “Good morning, Ms. Smith. This is a reminder that your appointment at Hygge Spa is at noon today. Jonah wanted me to call and see if you needed a ride.”

  Aside from the sleep still clouding my brain, genuine confusion rushed me.

  Reminder?

  Appointment?

  Hygge? I’d heard of the spa before but never before had I set foot in there.

  “I don’t have an appointment,” I said.

  “I’m looking at your confirmation email. Jonah thought you might be sore after last night and made the appointment before he left the office yesterday. He asked me to reach out to you because he’s busy with a client all morning.”

  “I see… Um, I don’t need a ride. I’ll be there by twelve.”

  “Great. You have a good day, Ms. Smith.”

  All I could do after the call disconnected was stare at my home screen.

  Jonah booked me a spa day at the most exclusive wellness club in the county?

  And he did it before I ever agreed to go to the rage room with him last night? Just in case?

  Butterflies were having a field day in the pit of my stomach. I’d never been this giddy in my life. My cheeks already hurt from smiling and I’d only been awake for five minutes.

  Yea, it was over for me. I was never going to stop dreaming about this man.

  Week five

  6. JONAH

  I knew why my parents were calling before Jalen even connected their call to my desk.

  Shoving my file aside, I picked up the phone and gave them my undivided attention.

  “Hi, JoJo.”

  My mom’s voice would always be soothing. Too bad what she usually had to say was the opposite of that.

  “Hey, mama.”

  My father cleared his throat in his customary greeting, and I said hello to him too. Then, I waited for the other shoe to drop. Because I knew it would.

  I pictured them huddled up over the phone in my father’s office, deciding how they wanted to tag team me today.

  I didn’t have to wait long.

  My mother spoke first. “So you know we’re having dinner with a few of your cousins and your Aunt Bri tonight.”

  “Yes, mom, I’m aware. I’ll be there.” I was excited to see my cousins.

  “We’ve had enough of you dodging us, Jonah. We’re having dinner tonight, and unless you can scare up the woman you claim you’ve been seeing for the last three years, Jessica will be with us.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut at the name and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I already told you I’m not interested in Jessica.”

  Jessica was perfectly fine…on paper.

  An orthodontist. Thirty-three years old. No kids. Homeowner. South Florida born and raised. Daughter of my father’s lifelong buddy, Harold Prince.

  I knew everything there was to know about her from a distance, and I still had no interest in giving in to whatever form of matchmaking my parents were attempting.

  There was nothing wrong with her per se. She just wasn’t my type.

  There was no doubt in my mind that she would make a man happy. That man just wouldn’t be me.

  It couldn’t be.

  Because the only woman I wanted was the one they were asking to meet, and I needed to think of a lie I hadn’t used in a while to excuse her absence from this dinner…again.

  “She works in the ER.”

  That wasn’t a lie.

  “Her schedule is unpredictable enough. She can’t make herself available to you for an impromptu dinner?”

  My dad clicked his tongue. “You said that last time, and when I offered to book a reservation two weeks out, you said she was going to conveniently be in South Carolina for the whole week.”

  Fuck. I forgot about that.

  “Either she’s too busy to meet us or she doesn’t want to.”

  “Or she doesn’t exist,” my mother chirped, sounding all too happy to have something to add to the conversation.

  “Really, mom?” The better question was—was I really gaslighting my parents for the millionth time about this? What happened to shame?

  “We have reservations at Kaleidoscope in Delray. Nine p.m. Be there. We can’t wait to meet her.”

  “If she exists,” my mother added sweetly before the call dropped.

  Flexing my jaw, I stared at the phone before pushing away from the desk. It was already six o’clock.

  So, I had three hours.

  A hundred eighty minutes to convince the woman who had no idea how madly in love I was with her to do the impossible.

  ◆◆◆

  She wasn’t home.

  And while I was happy that she felt comfortable leaving the house, I was stressed as hell waiting for her to get back.

  When she finally pulled up beside my truck, it was seven.

  She made it to the bottom step leading up to her porch before she noticed me in one of the Adirondack chairs to the right of her front door.

  “What are you doing out here? You already visited me this morning.” Ericka stuffed her keys in her pocket and finished the rest of her ascent up the stairs.

  “I need a favor.” Sugarcoating what I had to say would just waste valuable time I didn’t have.

  Golden brown eyes caught on mine, and the reflexive smile that stretched across my lips made her frown.

  “What kind of favor, Kincade?”

  I scratched my temple before fisting the brim of my hat and pulling it lower over my eyes.

  “Wait, why are you waiting outside?”

  “It didn’t feel right being in your space without you. And I didn’t know what time you were going to get home.”

  “You could have called me.”

  “You blocked me after that Spades tournament last Thanksgiving. Remember?”

  An exasperated laugh touched the air as she shook her head. Her locs brushed her shoulders with the movement, derailing my thoughts. “You haven’t been blocked in over a year. I suck at holding grudges. Unless it’s my mom,” she added at the last minute.

  That would have been useful information an hour ago, but now it just made me laugh.

  “So, tell me about this favor.”

  She stood a few inches in front of my seated form, and I stared up at her, mesmerized as always by the effortless way she stole my attention. She’d gotten her hair done today. Jet black replaced the fiery red I’d come to love, and all of her locs were neatly parted and retwisted.

  “I have a family dinner tonight.”

  Her lips quirked. “That sounds fun. But why are you here?”

  “Because I need you to come with me.”

  “What?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Explain.”

  “The favor. That’s what it is. I need you to pretend to be in love with me tonight.”

  ◆◆◆

  I couldn’t believe she agreed to this. But she hadn’t even blinked twice before nodding and asking me how much time she had to get ready.

  “Wait, really?” There was a saying about looking a gift horse in the mouth that seemed fitting here.

  Ericka shrugged. “You’d do it for me.”

  The softness of her gaze suspended my breath long after she disappeared down the hall.

  And when she reemerged from her room dressed in wide-legged satin pants and a tight black top that accentuated everything I adored about her body, I had to reevaluate my entire life.

  Ericka was my favorite kind of pretty, and it was on full display with her locs piled on top of her head and the light makeup enhancing her features. Her bright sable skin tone had a glow that wasn’t there four weeks ago. The slight upturn of her eyes and the heart shape of her lips demanded all of my attention.

  She was always stunning, but tonight she exuded a warmth that I could feel bone-deep, and when she smiled, the fact that it finally reached her eyes for the first time in weeks filled my stomach with butterflies.

  “Do I look okay?” she asked, and I didn’t miss the way she nervously bit down on the corner of her lip. A hint of red stained her cheeks as she stared up at me. All I could think of was kissing every inch of her face and moving down to her neck, over her collarbone, then lower still.

  My hands itched to run over the floral lace stretched over the softness of her abdomen.

  She was more bottom-heavy than top-heavy, so the tight fit of her top accentuated her small waist while the flared fit of her pants drew attention to the curves hiding behind the satin material.

  Everything about Ericka was so damn tempting. She was so far out of my league it wasn’t funny. But I’d learned that my delusion truly had no bounds since the moment I met her. Because for some strange reason, I always believed we would end up together. And even though we were just pretending tonight, I wasn’t about to take this for granted.

 

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