"Jayden! Call Jayden. He's leaving, so Baylor will be alone. She'd love to have you guys till the apartment is done," her mother yelled before pulling out her phone and calling him, despite Lucy's complaints.

"I can't just expect to-"

But Autumn ignored her, talking quickly to Jayden.

River looked over at her and smiled. "It's okay to have help every once in a while, Miss Do-it-All."

Lucy scoffed. "Hush, you."

He wrapped his arm around her, squeezing her into his chest. "Damn headstrong, just like my daughter."

"That's why I like her," Lucy said with a wink.

And that was a good thing because it looked like she'd be staying with her sister-in-law until her apartment was fixed. Leave it to her mom to solve everything in seconds. Plus, Jayden didn't mind. He urged her to come, even when Lucy said she'd get a hotel. She really didn't want to and she'd rather stay at Jayden's, but she didn't want to impose on anyone.

"You can't impose on family, Lucy. Get your ass in the car and come on. We have plenty of room," Jayden demanded.

And so they did. Of course, after her mom and River fussed over them, demanding to know updates as soon as she had them. She felt a little better, but not much. It was all such a clusterfuck. Once in the car on her way to Jayden and Baylor's, Angie was in the backseat, singing, oblivious to her mother's troubles while Lucy was having a mild panic attack. When her phone rang, she closed her eyes, praying it wasn't Rick or anyone else who was going to make this day an even more complete hell. Reaching for it, she saw it was Rayne.

"Hey, you never texted me yesterday about the Paxton job. Are you doing it?"

Lucy swallowed hard, feeling a flutter deep in her gut. "Not sure. Still in the works."

She had no clue what was going on with that. Couldn't exactly tell her assistant that she slept with him and things were up in the air. Didn't seem very professional. After telling her about the shop and to postpone the interviews with the designers who were coming in that week, she said she'd get back to her about Benji's account.

"Okay, do you have specs? Pictures, so I can get started on that?" Rayne asked and Lucy nodded.

"I'm driving to my brother's right now. We are staying with him until things are figured out. Let me get settled and get my laptop to upload the pictures from the downstairs-"

But she paused.

Her laptop and camera were in her bag.

In Benji's house.

Fuck.

Leaning against the counter, Benji crossed his arms over his chest. Before him sat one black pump, one naughty lace thong, and a bag full of designing stuff, all spread out on the island in his kitchen.

All belonging to his magician, also known as Lucy.

That girl and her disappearing act were impressive. Problem was she left a lot behind. Now he had to figure out how to get it back to her. He tried her business line, but they were closed on Sundays. He searched her bag for her cell phone number, nothing. He could drive to the shop since he knew she lived above it, but he didn't want to just show up. That was rude. So there was only one thing he could do, but he was stalling.

Because calling your linemate for his sister's number so that you could get her stuff back to her after a night of endless pleasure seemed a little tacky. Then again, maybe it didn't, but he still felt a little strange about it. He knew Jayden would ask questions and he wouldn't lie, but he also couldn't disrespect Lucy like that. So he was kind of stuck.

And looking at her things wasn't making it any better.

Man, why did she have to leave?

He'd had so many plans. He had wanted to wake up in the middle of the night and take her to oblivion at least ten more times. He wanted to make her breakfast; he wanted to plan to get together today. Maybe a movie or something, hockey with Angie, anything. He just wanted to see her before he left later that night. It pained him to know he wouldn't see her for the next five days, especially since he didn't get to do anything with her he'd wanted to.

Because she ran.

He should have known she would. That girl didn't ever do anything for herself, and of course, she would freak out about it. After last night, the way it felt... Man, it was like bombs going off all around them. He knew it would be-she was the sexiest thing he had seen in a long time, but he hadn't expected for it to feel so damn perfect.

As if he was only made to make love to her. That was a scary and fucking guilty-ass feeling. What about Ava? She was his soul mate, right? But then he slept with Lucy and it was just different. He couldn't explain it, but it was easy to say he felt like shit for it. He felt like he was betraying Ava. But was he? It had been twelve years. He had to move on. Didn't he?

Closing his eyes, he shook his head. He needed to return Lucy's things and then take a step back. No one feels shit like that after only one time, and he sure as hell didn't deserve to feel these emotions. But the thought of not having Lucy made him physically hurt inside. He was so tired of moving through life and not being happy. For so long, he had mourned Ava and Leary-and he would always love them, he would-but wouldn't they want him to be happy?

Fuck, who knows?

All he did know was that Lucy may have skipped out on him, but when she was there, in his arms, beneath him, he had been so fucking happy, he could have cried manly tears. He didn't know what that meant for him. Did he chase after her, demand she give him at least a minute of every one of her days? Or did he just hand her her things and walk away?

Why couldn't she have just stayed so they could have figured this out together?

He shook his head. He had known she was going to be trouble the moment he saw her, yet he still went after her. Still had to touch his lips to those red-hot lips of hers. Feel her body beneath his and hold her in his arms. He just had to. And now, now he was craving her like he used to crave alcohol. The only problem was his thirst for bitter liquid could never come close to the thirst he had for her at that moment. He was pretty sure no matter how much of Lucy he got, it would never be enough.

And while it scared him to no end to have those kinds of feelings again for someone who wasn't Ava, it also excited him.

It made him feel alive again.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he curled his toes against the tile of his kitchen floor as he hit Jayden's contact info.

Jayden answered right away. "Bro, what's up?"

"Hey, man," he said, grabbing his shirt into a fist at his ribs, his heart pounding against his chest. "Can you send me your sister's number? She was here yesterday for a consult on my house and left her bag. Something had happened or whatever, I don't know. She just rushed out of here without her bag."

Oh God, he was lying. He hated lying.

"Oh, hell. Yeah, her damn apartment flooded and they are starting work on it today. She's actually on her way here. She's gonna stay here till it's done."

Oh, no wonder she was so upset. "Oh, that blows. I couldn't get much out of her."

Except lots of moans. And sass. Yes, lots of sexy sass.

"Yeah, she's dealing with a lot right now. But, yeah, I can swing by and grab it for her. Or let her know."

He squeezed his eyes closed. "I'd really like to talk to her, set up another time, and get her the bag."

Jayden paused. "Okay, and usually, I wouldn't care, I'd give you the number. But my sister is insane, and if she didn't want you to have it-not saying she doesn't, but just in case-she'd kill me," he laughed and Benji smiled.

"I got you, man, and I get it, but I really need her number. Remember, you owe me," he said and he knew that made him a dick, but he was on a mission.

"Oh, low blow, dude! I can't."

"She won't mind," he said uncertainly, but he had to believe she wouldn't.

"Ha! You don't know my sister. She's psycho about who has her number. I don't even know her designer number, the one for her business cell phone, to give you."

"That one is in the bag with a dead battery, anyway," he said, and Jayden made a sound of irritation.

"Shit. Okay. Well, listen, she'll be here in a few. I can give her your number," he said and Benji rolled his eyes.

He wanted to laugh at the hilarity of the situation. "We sound like two fucking high schoolers, you know that?"

Jayden laughed. "We do. But seriously, I don't like poking the bear, aka my sister."

"Okay. I guess I'll come by and drop off the bag and talk to her about my...stuff," he decided, going to slide his tennis shoes on.

"Um, today? She's sorta, like, superpissy. I don't even want to be near her."

Benji laughed. "It's fine. I can handle her," he said confidently.

"Your funeral. Hey, can I get your gamer chair when you die?"

But he wasn't too sure of himself when he pulled into Jayden's driveway behind Lucy's car. Reaching for her bag, he got out of his truck and locked it up before heading for the front door. His heart was jackhammering against his chest and he thought about just leaving the bag and hightailing it out of there, but he stopped himself.

He wanted to see her.

He knocked on the door, and it opened a few seconds later and Angie grinned up at him. "Benji!"

"Hey, Hart, what's up?" he asked, fist-bumping her before she opened the door enough for him to come in.

"We're homeless. My grandma is gutting her house, so we're staying with my uncle and aunt till our apartment is fixed," she said happily as she shut the door and skipped up beside him. "What are you doing here? You homeless too?"

He laughed. "Nope, came to drop your mom's bag off. She left it at my house."

"Aw! She got to come play with you?"

Oh, kid. You have no idea.

Swallowing hard, he smiled. "She's gonna design my house."

"Supercool! My mom is the best, isn't she, Aunt Baylor?"

He looked to the left to see Baylor sitting in a chair, her leg propped up. "She is. Hey, Benji."

"Hey, didn't see you there. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, today. Thanks for asking," she said as Jayden came into the room, scooping Angie up and putting her on his shoulders.

"Hey, BP. Lucy's in the shower," Jayden said, but Angie smacked his head.

"She's been out like for twenty minutes. Mammaaaaaaaaaaa," she yelled, and Benji met Jayden's sheepish gaze.

"Told you she was in a shitty mood," Jayden said simply and Benji grinned. "She told me to lie."

"It's fine. I'll be-" But he didn't get to finish his sentence because as she came out of the back room, Lucy's eyes met his and he was rendered speechless. Completely speechless. Her hair was wet, falling down her shoulders onto a white tee that was short in the front but long in the back, showing a bit of her belly. The same belly he had spent most of his time admiring last night. Her jeans were all but painted on and she had no shoes on. She looked exactly like what he imagined he would come back to after a long road trip.

She looked like home.

As his heart went wild, she moved her fingers through her hair, pulling it up into a wet bun. Looking over at Angie, she smiled. "Yeah, baby?"

"Benji is here. He has your bag."

Still not looking at him, she nodded. "Oh, wow, thanks for bringing that over. You didn't have to do that."

He willed her to look at him as she came toward him, reaching for it. But when she didn't look up, he held it tighter. "It's no problem. Wanted to check in with you."

She held the bag, pulled it once, and then pursed her lips. Letting out a sigh, she finally looked up. Just like that, everything stopped.

Did she feel that too?

Swallowing hard, he smiled as she blinked vacantly up at him. "Hey, Lucy."

"Hey," she said faintly, sucking in a big breath.

"Everything is in there," he said, his brows waggling at her, and her face deepened with color.

"Thanks," she said shyly, looking away as he let go of the bag. She set it on top of the couch and then crossed her arms. Looking around the room at her daughter, her brother, and his wife, she nodded as she cleared her throat. Not meeting his gaze, she tucked her hands into her pockets.

The silence made him nervous and everyone was staring at him, so he blurted out, "I tried to get your number from Jayden, but he told me you'd get mad."

She blinked at him. "He's dumb and was dropped on his head a million times as a baby," she said quickly and Jayden protested.

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were. I dropped you," she seethed back at him and Benji's eyes widened.

"You did not!"

"Ask Mom. Why do you think one eye is lazy?" she shot back and he glared.

"Don't listen to them, Benji. They are always like this," Baylor said with a laugh and Benji smiled.

"Yeah, she's always mean," Jayden spat at her and she glared.

"My grandma says that if they didn't fight, they wouldn't talk. But I heard Jayden whisper he loved my mom a lot, more than everyone else, to my aunt Baylor," Angie said sweetly, hugging Jayden tightly.

"I lied," he protested and Lucy growled at him before turning back to Benji. Her hands were shaking, and the nerves were coming off her in waves. Why was she nervous? Did she think he'd out them?

"Anyway, I'll get with you about your house later. I think Jayden told you about my current shop status. I should know more tomorrow, and I'll make sure my assistant gets back with you. So, yeah, bye. Thanks for stopping by and dropping that off. You shouldn't have."

Oh, so she was trying to blow him off?

"Jeez, Lucy, he can come in for a drink or something," Baylor teased and Lucy's eyes flashed with anger. "Or he can leave," she laughed and Jayden's brows rose.

Looking to Benji, he said, "What in the world? He's my friend, not yours. Wanna come in, bud? I'm getting them settled, but you can sit with Limpy over there until I'm done."