"Yeah, I'm in his bedroom." He paused. "My mom had an incident the other night."

Ah, that's why she hadn't heard from him.

"And I gave her an ultimatum. She could either go to the police or go to rehab."

"And she chose rehab?"

"She chose neither, actually. So I talked to my uncle. And, damn, if he didn't come through for me."

Oh, thank God. "What'd he do?"

"First, he called my uncle Brad, a lawyer in Aspen, who'd done some work for a rehab facility out there. They know the story, and they're going to give us a break on the price."

"I thought they're done helping her."

"My uncle said..." She waited, his voice sounding a little thick. "He said..." He cleared his throat. Her hand went over her heart, wishing so badly she could be there with him.

God, this was killing her. He was so strong and had such a fierce heart. No matter what anyone could say about his choices, his loyalty to his mom told her everything she needed to know about his character.

"They said no matter what they don't want me quitting school. And with the deal my uncle Brad made with the facility, my family agreed to give it a shot."

"That's wonderful. That's just...I'm so happy for you."

He was quiet, and she had no idea what he was thinking. Was he overwhelmed that his mom was finally getting the help she needed?

"They're helping me." He sounded like he couldn't believe it. "They've given up on her, but not on me. They're doing this so I can stay at Wilmington."

"That's so great."

"Yeah, it's just...she can't contact me. If we have any hope of it working, of her staying in, I can't be there for her. So, I'm going to change my number. Make sure she knows I'm not around to save her. Because the only alternative to me is her drug dealer. Who beats her up."

Okay, wow. That was more than he'd ever revealed before. "I'm so glad they're giving you this chance. But...how are you? Can you do that, have no contact with her?"

"I feel good about it. I don't think I could leave if she wasn't in a detox program. Also, my uncle arranged it so that he'll be the intermediary. If she needs me, she has to go through him. If he thinks it's a valid, healthy reason, he'll let me know and I can call her."

She wished she felt hopeful for his mom, but she knew rehab never worked unless the addict wanted the help. But at least Dylan finally had help dealing with her. "Well, she's in for the seventy-two hour detox period, so we'll see how she feels when she's got a clearer mind."

"Sometimes I forget that you know all this stuff. I wish you didn't."

"Yeah, well, I do, and that means I can understand what you're going through."

"See you tomorrow?"

Oh, my God. She couldn't wait.

Watching the top of the escalator, Nicole nearly jumped out of her skin when he appeared. Tall, gorgeous, and devastatingly masculine, he stepped onto it, looking like a warrior come home from battle. With his gaze trained on her, her body flooded with anticipation.

He looked focused, intense, and hungry.

The moment he stepped off, she flew into his arms. He dropped his duffle, lifted her, and then kicked his bag toward the nearest wall. Without a word, he walked her over and pressed her against it.

He didn't kiss her. He cupped her ass, and his hips pressed between the legs she'd locked behind his back. He turned his face into her hair. "I almost lost this."

"Lost what?" She could feel the slight tremble in his limbs, the long inhalation as he breathed her in.

"You."

She pulled back to look at him, the fear, the want in his eyes. "I'm so glad you didn't."

He pressed his lips to hers, the gentle contact igniting the need burning inside her. She couldn't help sinking into him, opening her mouth to taste more of him. And once his tongue touched the tip of hers, sparks went off in her core.

His fingers tightened on her ass, as he deepened the kiss, leaning into her, pressing his erection right there. He hitched her higher, tearing his mouth off hers.

"Car. Now." He set her down, grabbing his duffle and reaching for her hand.

They walked quickly out into the freezing cold New York City wind. At the stoplight to the parking garage, she said, "I can't believe you're here."

He squeezed her hand, and she noticed the way his jaw worked. He was worried about his mom. Maybe he felt guilty about leaving her behind. "How far's the car?"

She smiled. No, he just wanted to get his hands on her. "At the far end of the highest level in the most remote spot."

The tension broke slightly, as he cracked a grin. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

They broke into a run, darting in front of a brigade of taxis barreling toward them. Once inside the parking garage, she punched the button for the elevator, turned and found herself in his arms again, his mouth on hers as he backed her into the empty car. She pressed the button for the fifth floor, so glad they were alone.

Until a businessman called, "Hold up," as he slipped through the closing doors.

Dylan leaned back against the wall, wrapping a muscled arm around her waist, pulling her against him. He rested his chin on top of her head.

The man got off on three, and Nicole turned into Dylan's chest, her hand shoving beneath the waistband of his jeans. She grasped his erection, watching his eyes squeeze shut as he pushed into her fist.

The doors opened, and they race-walked across the nearly empty lot. "Good choice." He headed to her yellow Jetta in the far corner. Not another car in sight.

She hit a button on the keypad, and the trunk pop opened. Dylan tossed his duffle inside and then opened the back door, gesturing her inside.

"Start the car." He leaned over, his big body sliding into the backseat. "Don't want you cold."

He always looked out for her. Leaning in, she turned the key in the ignition and blasted the heat. Then, she joined him in the back seat. Her fingers trembled with her eagerness to be with him. Unbuttoning her jeans, she skimmed them off her hips, and straddled his lap.

Heat enveloped her as he wrapped her in his arms, kissed her with a passion that set her on fire. He squeezed her ass hard, as he drew her tighter up against him.

"Jeans," he said.

She got up on her knees, fingers fumbling with his top button. He shucked his jeans and boxers down to his ankles, then set her back on his lap. He sighed with such relief that she had to smile.

Immediately she gripped him, her thumb stroking over his crown, as she guided him right where she ached for him. He sucked in a breath, rocking against her. "I missed you." He lifted her, grasped himself, and set her down on top of him.

As he filled her, every nerve-ending lit up, flooding her body with heat. "Dylan."

Right away, he started moving, those big hands clutching her ass, lifting her up and slamming her down to meet his thrusts. And, God, he hit so deep, it made every cell in her body burst open and sing. She grabbed the seat behind him, fingers curling into the cushion, as she rode him hard and fast. "I missed you. So much."

"You have no fucking idea." He slid lower, looking at her with such tenderness it made her eyes sting. "Lean back. I have to see you."

She loved the feel of his silky hair on her skin, the smell of him, so starkly masculine, but she pulled back, bracing her hands on his thighs. Color flooded his cheeks, his nostrils flared, and a look of pure ecstasy took hold of him.

"You are so fucking beautiful." His hands found her bare skin under the sweater, glided up her body with reverence, and then cupped her breasts, giving them a lusty squeeze. When he pulled down the cups of her bra and pinched her nipples, a bolt of electricity flashed to her clit and she nearly convulsed with raw, intense pleasure.

"I don't want to lose you," he murmured. "Oh, fuck, I want you so bad." And then he sat up, pulling his hands out from under her sweater. Holding onto her ass, he tipped her onto the seat. One leg on the floor, the other knee braced against the cushion, he cupped the top of her head and started stroking into her. Deep, long, powerful thrusts that had her breasts shaking, her senses awash in desire.

"Fuck, Nicole, oh, fuck. Ah. Jesus Christ." Sweat beaded over his lip, his jaw hardened, and she tilted her hips to draw him in even deeper.

Holding onto his thickly muscled arms, she slammed her hips to meet his. She knew when he was going to come, could tell from the sounds he made, the tightening of his grip on her. He powered into her with urgency before shouting his release. Her whole body tightened, squeezed hard, and then burst into an ecstatic frenzy of sensation.

Collapsing on top of her, he said, "I'm not getting up."

"Now, we both know that's a damn lie."

He turned his sweaty face towards her, smiling.

She wiggled her hips beneath him. "You'll get up in no time."

He laughed, kissing her mouth.

Dylan couldn't believe the winter wonderland outside the window. This stretch of Connecticut highway looked like something right out of some kid's Christmas book. A canopy of snow-covered trees made it feel like they were gliding through a tunnel.

When she got off the exit in Greenwich, his jaw dropped. He'd never seen a world like this one. Trees, expensive cars, wrought iron gates. Flashes of cupolas, glimpses of rolling lawns behind stone walls let him know he was in rich man's country.

They drove down narrow, windy roads, heading deeper into the countryside. More trees, houses-houses? Right. Mansions-further apart. And then she turned onto a stone driveway. A quarter of a mile later, behind a wall of trees, rose a white clapboard house-uh, mansion-with deep blue shutters.

In the center of the circular driveway sprawled a huge garden. He'd think it was overgrown, but on closer inspection it was intentionally wild. Spots of pink caught his attention, and he noticed plastic flamingoes scattered randomly throughout it.

"Nice flamingos."

She smiled. "Ryan sent them for my brother's birthday."

She parked outside the six-count them, six-car garage.

"Nice place."

Reaching to the sun visor, she hit a button. One of the garage doors opened and she eased in. She killed the ignition, leaned over, and kissed him. "We're home."

She smelled so damn good, he couldn't keep his hands from cupping her face, keeping her close to him so he could kiss her more deeply and run his fingers through her soft, silky hair.

She pulled away. "Everyone should be here in an hour, if you want to shower."

"Shower sounds good, but what about your hair?"

She smiled against his mouth. "I would like nothing more than to shower with you, but you'll be enjoying one of the guest bedrooms while you're under Big Bill's roof."

"Uptight Easterners." He kissed her one more time, a slow, sensuous glide of tongues. "Let's do this."

They entered through what Nicole called a mudroom. She sat down on a bench that had a woven straw seat and tall wooden frame and pulled her slippers out from under it. He leaned against the wall and toed off his boots.

Reaching for his hand, she motioned to the stairs. "I can either take you to your room, or you can meet the guys."

"Nicole," a male voice bellowed. Seriously, the most booming voice he'd ever heard. "You home?"

"Yeah, Dad." She shrugged. "Just leave your bag here."

Passing through a massive-he'd go so far as to say it was industrial-sized-kitchen, sparkling white and stainless steel, with copper pots hanging over the stove and endless white, glass-fronted cabinets, she led him through a dark-paneled dining room with a table that could seat an NFL football team, through to a huge family room. The place was jammed with furniture-big and comfortable. Leather couch, leather love seat, leather recliners, and then these fancy high-backed chairs with blue velvet cushions. The house smelled strongly of pine and cinnamon. A fire blazed in a huge hearth.

"There you are." A big, beefy man heaved himself off the couch. Not fat-just brawny. With a big smile, he reached out his gigantic hand, as he headed toward him. "Bill O'Donnell."

"Dylan McCaffrey." That paw engulfed his hand and shook firmly. "Nice to meet you, sir. Thank you for letting me stay here."

"A pleasure." He turned his head aside still holding Dylan's gaze, as he barked, "Boys."

Jesus, that voice rattled his bones.

"Hey." Nicole touched his arm. "Let me show you to your room so you can shower and get ready."

"Nah, let him meet the boys first. Your friends are gonna be here soon, so you go on up and get ready. I got this." Her dad dismissed Nicole firmly-but not meanly-and focused on Dylan. "What can I get ya to drink? We got beer, water, soda?"

Nicole gave him a private look, asking if it was all right for her to go. What was he supposed to say? No, stay here and protect me from your big, bad father whose energy screamed Hurt my daughter, and I'll tear your head off? He gave her a short nod, and she took off toward a wide, curving staircase. A glittering crystal chandelier hung down over it-like something found in a palace. Funny thing, the house was huge and all, but it felt homey and warm. Comfortable.

"Water would be great."

"Water?" Her dad seemed surprised.

Nicole glanced at him from the middle of the stairs. He couldn't read her expression at all. Was she waiting to see what he'd do? Like if he'd drink around her dad?

"Yep. Just water." It would take her awhile to trust him, he got that. But, come on, like he gave a shit about partying compared to being with her?

"Okay, then. Come on with me into the kitchen." On his way, he stood at the top of a staircase that led to a lower level. "Boys? Come up and meet your sister's boyfriend."

Dylan followed him into the kitchen. As the big man pulled a glass down from a cupboard and filled it with ice from a drawer next to the sink, he said, "So, you're dating my little girl."

Why did that question sound so loaded? It made him stop and think what her dad was really asking. He'd never thought about it before, what he and Nicole had, but dating didn't begin to define it. "It's not really dating."

The older man's brow furrowed. He folded those big beefy arms over his stomach, glaring now. "Come again?"

"It's more than that. I mean, we're together."

Water sloshed out of the glass, dripping down the man's hand. The intensity of his gaze made Dylan wonder what he'd said wrong. He wouldn't be here if he'd just been dating Nicole.

She was...well, hell. "She's..." How did he explain it? "She's fucking amazing." Oh, shit. Nice language. To her dad.