Bidding War by Cher Carson Page A

was worth it. “Lacy, I want you, period. Whatever it takes, whatever we have to go through, I don’t care. I just want you in my life.”
    Another tear slipped down her cheek as she framed his face with her hands. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. The midnight calls where I have to get up and drive six hours because he’s had a set-back, or I have to sit by his bedside for days because he got pneumonia and they’re not convinced he’s strong enough to fight it.” She let her eyes fall to his lips. “That’s my life, Shane. It doesn’t have to be yours. You could have any woman you want. You’re smart, handsome, and successful. Please, do yourself a favor. Find a woman without all of this baggage. You’ll fall in love with her, get married, have a couple of kids, and a nice normal life. That’s what you deserve.”
    “There’s only one problem with your little scenario, sweetheart.” He knew it was now or never for them. Either he broke down her defenses or risked being shut out again.
    “What’s that?”
    “I’m already in love… with you.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    No one had ever said those words to her before. She’d never let anyone get close enough to fall in love with her. “I…”
    He pressed his lips to hers, easing back just enough to look her in the eye. “I don’t expect you to say anything, Lacy. I know this is sudden, unexpected… I just want you to know how I feel. I’m in this for the long haul. I want to get to know you, your brother. Hell, I want to know everything about you.”
    She could tell him she was falling in love with him too; it was true. If she was honest with him and herself, she would admit she fell a little harder every time he stopped by one of their projects in the middle of the day to bring her coffee or lunch. Every time they toured a completed project and he settled his hand on her waist as he praised her efforts. She loved everything about this man from the way he treated the contractors on the job, the sarcastic side that often came out around his brother, to the tenderness he’d shown her tonight. He was everything she’d ever wanted but never dared to hope she’d find.
    Smiling, he said, “Why don’t we clean up and go back to my place?”
    She wanted nothing more than to spend the night in his arms. No doubt the fear and doubt would creep back into her mind tomorrow, but for tonight, she was satisfied to let him help her keep the negativity at bay a little while longer. “I’d like that, but could you follow me to my place? I need to pick up a change of clothes so we can leave on time tomorrow.”
    He smiled, stroking her cheek. “Does that mean you’re going to let me come with you?”
    She was still apprehensive about letting someone into that part of her life, a part she’d always kept safely ensconced, but she trusted him. “If you’re sure you want to come?”
    “Absolutely, we’ll make a weekend of it. Spend some time with Tommy, Mrs. Roberts, have a few nice meals, and maybe even take in a movie. How does that sound?”
    It sounded like a vacation to her. She rarely dined out and couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to a movie theater. Money was tight, and that meant she had to save every dime for the essentials. “That sounds like fun.”
    He leaned in to brush a kiss across her cheek. “I can’t remember the last time I so looked forward to spending time with a woman.”
    She knew she had never felt about anyone the way she felt about him in that moment, so she couldn’t draw any comparisons between past and present. He was it, her only point of reference. Of course, she’d dated a few men, mostly guys from school or work, but she rarely found time to go out with them more than a few times, and by the time they were ready to initiate an intimate relationship, she was already rehearsing her “friends” speech.
    “I feel the same way,” she whispered, running her hands through his