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  Per Drew’s request, we were seated in a round corner booth away from the crowd that occupied the restaurant.

  “Hello, my name is Kim and I’ll be taking your order. May I start you off with something to drink?”

  “I’ll have a glass of Moscato, please,” I replied.

  “Just bring the whole bottle and two glasses,” Drew told her.

  He reached across the table and took hold of my hand, gently rubbing his thumb across my skin. Feeling his warm touch soothed me and I still couldn’t believe he was here.”

  “I can’t believe I’m sitting across from you right now.” He smiled. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “I know, right? I can’t believe it either.”

  “Tell me what’s wrong, Jillian. Why were you crying?”

  I swallowed hard and then took in a deep breath.

  “It’s my sister, Kristen.”

  “I thought you were an only child?”

  “Remember when you asked if I was an only child and I said sort of but that’s another story?”

  “Yes. I remember.”

  “I have a half-sister and her name is Kristen. She was the product of an affair that my father had years ago. She found me and we connected. About six months ago, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She went through chemo and radiation with the hopes that the tumor had shrunk. But it didn’t and she was told today that the cancer spread and she has about six to nine months left to live.” My eyes started to water.

  The waitress set down two glasses and poured some wine into each of them.

  “Excuse me, where’s your restrooms?” I asked.

  “Right behind you, sweetie.” She gave me a sad and pathetic look.

  “Hold your thoughts.” I looked at Drew. “I’m going to clean myself up a bit.”

  “Okay. Take as much time as you need.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Drew

  I couldn’t believe she was here in New York. Seeing her again was a dream come true. Man, the news about her sister tore at my heart. Pulling out my phone, I called Lia.

  “Mr. Westbrook’s office.”

  “Lia, it’s me. I’m not coming back to the office today. Clear my schedule.”

  “Is everything okay, Drew?” she asked.

  “Everything’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Just as I ended the call, Jillian walked back to the table.

  “Better?” she asked.

  “I didn’t think you looked bad to begin with.” I smiled.

  She sat down and I immediately reached for her hand.

  “I’m sorry about your sister. I can only imagine what you’re going through right now.”

  “Thank you. I just can’t absorb it.”

  “How is she doing?”

  I let out a light laugh. “She was prepared for this and already accepted it. She’s acting like it’s no big deal and that’s what I can’t understand. And poor Noah.”

  “Her husband?” I asked.

  “Her boyfriend. He just sobbed like I’d never seen a man sob before. It’s weird, Drew. She’s so strong, she doesn’t seem scared, and she said she’s not afraid to die.”

  “Maybe she isn’t and you need to believe her. Whether you think it’s weird or not, you have to respect what she says and how she feels.”

  “I know and I do. Anyway, enough about me. I can’t believe you live in New York.”

  “I can’t believe you moved to New York.” I smirked.

  “I’m afraid to ask,” she spoke as she picked up her glass of wine. “Have you heard from Jess?”

  I sighed. “Oh yeah. She came storming into my office the other day begging me to take her back.”

  “Did you?”

  “Of course not. I told her that she deserved someone who could love her because I didn’t. The thing is everyone is happy I broke up with her. She wasn’t very popular with my friends and family.”

  “I can understand why.” She laughed.

  “It’s good to see you laugh, Jillian.”

  She held up her glass to me. “Thank you again, Mr. Westbrook, for making my shitty day a little less shitty.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” I winked. We talked a little more while we ate and then I called Roland to bring the car around.

  “Let me drive you home.”

  “I can catch a cab. I don’t want you going out of your way.”

  “It’s not out of my way and I want to.”

  Roland pulled up and I opened the door for her.

  “It’s not an option. I’m taking you home.”

  “Well, if you insist.” She smiled.

  Fuck. I couldn’t even begin to explain the feelings that soared through me. I was happy and I didn’t want to say goodbye. All I wanted to do was tell her that I really liked her and that I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to cause any waves or rock the boat, so to speak.

  “Where to?” I asked.

  “The Ellington on West 52nd Street, please.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “No reason. That’s a really nice building. They have some great apartments.”

  “I know. I just moved in a few days ago and I absolutely love it.”

  There was no way. No way at all she was the one who rented my apartment. It was just a coincidence. When Roland pulled up to the building, I opened the door, climbed out, and held out my hand to her.

  “Would you like to come up and see my apartment?” she asked.

  Perfect. I was hoping she’d ask so I didn’t have to.

  “I’d love to.”

  As we stepped into the elevator, she pushed the button to the twenty-eighth floor. It was her. The woman of my dreams was the one who rented my apartment.

  “Well, here it is.” She smiled as she opened the door.

  “Nice furniture. I like the color scheme.”

  “Thanks. My mom hates those colors.” She grinned.

  I walked around the space that I once called home. Telling her that I was her landlord was going to be fun.

  “I like the way you placed your furniture. If it was my place, I would have put my couch this way and the chairs over here. But the way you did it looks great too.”

  I walked into the bedroom. “My bed would have been placed here. Not where you have it, but it looks good there.” I winked as she stood there, narrowing her eyes at me. Walking out of the bedroom and over to the balcony door, I opened it. “Make sure that you have the lock on the knob unlocked before stepping onto the balcony. It’s one of those that doesn’t feel like it’s locked from the inside, but if you turn the knob from the outside, it’s locked. See.” I smiled. “You wouldn’t want to get locked out there. It’s not fun.”

  “How did you know that?” She shook her head in confusion.

  With a grin, I held out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Bell. I’m Drew Westbrook, your landlord.”

  “Huh?” Her eyes widened.

  “No handshake for your landlord?”

  She gently placed her hand in mine. “Wait a minute! This is your apartment?!”

  I chuckled. “Yes. This is my apartment.”

  “And you used to live here?”

  “Yes, before I bought my townhouse. I kept it for an investment.”

  She placed her hands on her head. “This is literally fucking crazy, Drew.”

  “I know.” I laughed.

  “So you knew I was here in New York?”

  “No. Everything is handled through my realtor. Rick just called and told me that a nice young woman rented it. I had no clue it was you.”

  Placing my hands on her hips, I spoke, “Weird, right?”

  “I have no words right now. This is totally crazy.” She smiled.

  All I wanted to do was feel the softness of her lips again. As I stared into her blue eyes, she stared back at me. Should I risk it? Maybe she didn’t want me to kiss her?
But I’d never know until I tried and I wasn’t about to let this opportunity escape me. Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I tucked it behind her ear and leaned in, brushing my lips against hers. She returned my kiss and placed her hands on my chest. Our tongues softly tangled as our lips gently touched. Nothing hot and heavy yet. I needed to respect her boundaries.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you since I left Hawaii,” I quietly spoke in between kisses.

  “I couldn’t either.”

  I broke our kiss. “You couldn’t stop thinking about you either?” I smirked.

  Her hand lightly smacked my chest.

  “No. I thought about you all the time.”

  “Then why didn’t you call?”

  She sighed and turned her back to me. “I did.”

  A smile crossed my lips. “The other night? That was you?”

  “Yeah. Sorry about that. I just—” She paused.

  “Just what, Jillian?”

  “I just wanted to hear a familiar voice.”

  Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I kissed the side of her neck.

  “I’m happy you did. But I do have a question.”

  “What?” She turned around in my arms.

  “You could have easily known that I was from New York just by the area code.”

  “Oh. To be honest, I didn’t even pay attention.”

  “Do you want me to leave?” I asked as I ran my thumb across her lips.

  “It’s probably for the best. Right now isn’t a good time.”

  “You’re right. I’m happy you’re here.” I smiled as I kissed her forehead. “Give me a call, okay? And don’t have your number on private.”

  “I will and I won’t.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Jillian

  Drew gave me one more kiss before I walked him to the door.

  “Bye, Jillian.” He smiled as he ran his hand across my cheek.

  “Bye, Drew.”

  He walked out and I shut the door. I had thought about that man since the day I met him and I just let him walk out. Oh hell no. What was I thinking? Fuck my journey for right now. I wanted sex with him again. I needed sex with him. I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

  “Drew!” I shouted as he was about to step onto the elevator.

  “Something wrong?” He turned and looked at me.

  “Yeah. I don’t want you to go.” I smiled. “See, I have this brand new bed that needs to be broken in.”

  Suddenly, the door across from me opened and an elderly woman stood there staring at me.

  “Hi, Mrs. Lowe.” Drew waved as he walked towards me.

  “Hello, Drew. Nice to see you again. What’s going on out here?”

  “Nothing. Just dropped by to meet my new tenant.”

  “Hmm.” She looked me up and down, gave me a wink, and then shut her door.

  “Oops.” I laughed as I placed my hand over my mouth.

  “Now take me to this new bed of yours.” Drew smiled as he placed his arm around me.

  “Since you lived here, why don’t you lead the way?”

  Drew picked me up, kissed my lips, and then took me to the bedroom. Gently laying me down on the bed, he hovered over me as his lips pressed tightly against mine. His erection pressed firmly against me, making my desire for him even stronger. I tilted my head back so his tongue could stroke my neck. Even though I’d only felt it one time before, it was incredible enough for me to remember. Soft moans escaped me as his hand crept up my shirt and brushed against the fabric of my bra, pulling the cup down and running his fingers along my hardened nipple.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about our night together,” he whispered.

  “Me either,” I spoke breathlessly.

  He climbed off of me and unbuttoned his shirt. Sliding it off his shoulders, I gasped at the sight of his ripped body, something I had longed to see again. Sitting up, I lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the side and then took down my pants as Drew took down his.

  “Leave your panties on.” He smiled. “I want to take them off myself.”

  I swallowed hard as I could feel the wetness pour from me already. He leaned over and his hands reached behind and unhooked my bra. Slowly taking one strap down at a time, he kissed my shoulders before removing my bra completely and throwing it on the floor.

  “You are drop dead gorgeous,” he spoke as his mouth explored each breast.

  Pushing me down on my back, he hovered over me once again and his hand found its way to my wet spot as his fingers gently played with me and his lips were on mine. Excitement tore through me like a fierce storm.

  “Fuck, you’re so wet.” He broke our kiss. “I want to taste you again.” His eyes bore into mine.

  “I want you to,” I spoke with bated breath.

  His hands took hold of my waist as I arched my back in anticipation for what he was about to do to me. The light stroke of his tongue against my clit set my body on fire and it wasn’t too long before an earth-shattering orgasm fell upon me.

  “Oh my God!” I yelped as my hands tangled through his hair while his face was between my legs.

  Once I came down from my orgasm, his tongue slid up my slick spot, to my abdomen and over each breast while his fingers dipped inside me. He had just sent me to the moon and back and everything that I was going through in my life suddenly disappeared.

  “I need to be inside you, babe. Are you still on birth control?”

  “Yes. But wait.”

  I thought it was only right to repay the favor. I began to sit up and he rolled off of me.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I smiled. “Sit up.” I lightly wrapped my fingers around his hard, throbbing cock.

  The smile on his face grew wide as I scooted off the bed and got down on my knees. He inched his body closer to the edge as my lips wrapped themselves around his manhood.

  “Jesus, Jillian. Oh my God. That feels so incredible.”

  His hands placed themselves on my head as I continued to explore him with my mouth.

  “As much as I love this, you need to stop or I’m going to come. Get up here,” he commanded.

  Removing my mouth and slowly licking my lips, I climbed on top of him and smiled.

  “I hope you enjoyed that.”

  “You have no idea.” He grabbed the back of my head and brought me down to his lips.

  Rolling me over, he hovered over me as he quickly thrust inside me. Gasping as his entire length devoured me, I wrapped my legs around his waist as his thrusts became faster and deeper.

  “Is this how you like it?” he asked breathlessly.

  “Yes. Oh yes.” My body prepared for another orgasm.

  “You’re going to come with me. I’m going to hold back as long as I can until you’re ready. Got it?”

  I nodded my head as our eyes locked onto each other. My heart was racing at the speed of light and my body temperature was on full heat. He pounded into me like I had never been before and I loved it. I wanted him to take me as hard as he could.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I breathlessly spoke as my body released itself to him.

  His thrusting slowed as he moaned and then he pushed one last time deep inside, filling me up with his come. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine before collapsing on top of me and wrapping his arms securely around my neck. We lay there, trying to catch our breath and taking in the pleasure we both had given each other.

  He rolled off of me and lay on his back. Rolling on my side, I ran my hand along his chest.

  “You okay?” I smiled.

  “Fantastic. How about you?”

  “I’m great. I bet you thought you’d never have sex in this place again.”

  “No. Never.” He chuckled.

  I glanced over at the clock. It was seven.

  “It’s only seven o’clock. Now what?” I asked.

  “Do you want me to go?”


  “No. I don’t.”

  “If you’re hungry, we can order in.”

  “We could but that kind of poses a problem.”

  “What problem is that?”

  “I don’t have any dishes or silverware. I hadn’t had a chance to get all that yet.”

  “Well, the stores don’t close for another two hours. Let’s go buy you some dishes.”

  “Now?” I scrunched up my face.

  “Why not? It’ll be fun. Where do you want to go?”

  “I don’t know. I never shopped for dishes before.”

  “Hold on a second.” He got up and took his phone from his pants pocket. “Hey, Jane. Where’s a good place to go to buy dishes and silverware? Great. Thank you. I’ll explain later. Jane said to go to Bed Bath & Beyond.”

  “And who is Jane?” I asked.

  “She’s my housekeeper.” He smiled as he pulled on his pants.

  “Ah. Yes. You would have a housekeeper.”

  “I do and I love her.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the cute expression on his face. Climbing off the bed, I got dressed and we headed out the door to Bed Bath & Beyond.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Drew

  We were walking through Bed Bath & Beyond, heading over to the section where the dishes were on display when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Jess.

  “Ah, shit!”

  “What’s wrong?” Jillian asked.

  “I just saw Jess over there.”

  “Oh. That’s not good.” She opened her purse and put on her sunglasses.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Going incognito. She would never think I was here, so I’m sure she wouldn’t recognize me.” We should stay at a distance from each other in case she sees you. I don’t want a scene being caused.”

  “True. Fuck.” I shook my head.

  Jillian walked ahead of me and I followed behind. Once we made it to where the dishes were, we stayed at a distance. Good thing we did because I saw Jess walking towards me.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. This wasn’t going to be pretty.

  “Well, well. What in the world are you doing here?” she asked as her eyes narrowed at me.

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business, Jess. But if you must know, I’m looking to buy some new dishes.”