business in my own yard.”
He’d finished clipping the last of the fronds, so he climbed down and wiped the sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt. “Where did I say you couldn’t handle it? I just said I thought I’d finish the job I started on my side.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “Fine. And thanks. And next time, discuss it with me first.”
“You got it.” He pulled her against him and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped, then kissed him back, laying her palms against his chest, making his heart speed up its rhythm.
When he drew back, he said, “First, sorry I got you all sweaty. Second, I had a good time last night.”
She swiped her fingertip across his jaw. “First, I like you sweaty. Second, I did, too. Sorry I had to leave so early.”
“Me, too.” He started cutting through the limbs on the ground. “Oh, and you missed a great breakfast.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. Eggs and bacon and fried potatoes and fruit. Oh, and Becks saw you sneak out of the house early this morning, which she mentioned during breakfast, so now everyone knows you stayed over last night.”
She shrugged. “I’m not ashamed of having sex with you. Are you?”
He thought she’d be freaked, so her response made him feel good. “Hell, no. I like you, Carmen. I’m happy to be with you.”
Her lips curved. “Same.”
“Good. How about we go out somewhere tonight?”
“That sounds fun. What do you have in mind?”
“One of the firefighters from our station has a bar and restaurant, and a lot of the crew go there. I thought you might want to meet some of them.”
“I’d love to.”
She was a constant surprise. She’d fought being with him for so long. Now she was open to meeting the people he worked with—his friends. But if she was down with it, he definitely was, too. “Great. Pick you up at seven?”
“Sounds good. Now get out of my backyard.”
He laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
She went back inside, and he finished cutting up the limbs and cleaned up his mess, smiling as he left her yard.
He had a date tonight. Which wasn’t new for him, but he really liked this woman. Enough to show her off to his friends.
So maybe he liked her more than he should.
“YOU LOOK PRETTY. YOU GOT ANOTHER DATE WITH RAFE tonight?” her grandfather asked as Carmen came downstairs that evening.
She’d chosen a colorful, kind of tight-fitting dress. But hell, it looked good on her, and she hadn’t worn it yet, so, why not?
“Yes.”
He grinned. “Good for you. Where you going?”
“Some restaurant owned by one of his fellow firefighters.”
Grandpa turned in his chair to face her. “Which means he’s having you meet his family already.”
“Not his family. His coworkers.”
“With firefighters, his coworkers are part of his family. Same thing, bebita.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just dinner, Grandpa.”
“I saw he trimmed that giant tree out back today.”
She finished putting on her earrings. “The limbs were infringing on their backyard, so he came over to finish the job on our side. No big deal.”
“Uh-uh. It was a kindness, Carmen. He didn’t have to do our side, but he did. Why are you so resistant to a man being nice to you?”
She straightened, contemplating what he’d said. “I don’t know. Tod, probably.”
Her grandfather nodded. “He made promises he didn’t keep. He hurt you. But Rafe isn’t like that.”
“How do I know that? Tod was a good guy in the beginning, too. Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship. This is just for fun.”
“Fun. Pfft. You should be looking for forever.” Her grandfather got up slowly, grabbed his cane and walked slowly into the living room.
Her stomach tightened at the word forever. She hated disappointing her grandfather. But this was her life.
Her fears.
She just wanted to have some fun. What was wrong with not wanting forever?
The doorbell rang, so she walked over to open it. It was Rafe.
His eyes widened. “Wow. You dressed up. And you’re beautiful.”
She smiled, shoving away her conversation with her grandfather as she warmed under Rafe’s praise. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself. Come on in.”
He’d dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved button-down shirt with white tennis shoes. Even casual, he looked amazing, his tan skin appearing even darker contrasted against the white of his shirt. He was so handsome, and as he came inside and she followed behind him, his walk was predatory, his ass so fine. He glanced at her over his shoulder and