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She stopped in her tracks when she saw the bed—the very bed she’d daydreamed abou
t. Only, her daydreams had nothing on this masterpiece. It was a ginormous sleigh bed, its wood polished and gleaming in the light falling through the ceiling-high windows.
“What do you think?”
He had to be asking her if she liked the house, but when he was standing this close and smelling so good, it was nearly impossible to think about anything other than pulling back the wine-dark counterpane covering the thick mattress and dragging him down with her into the middle of all that softness.
“It’s great,” she said. The world’s biggest understatement.
With that, she hurried down the hall, away from the warm deliciousness of the way he made her feel. Away from the temptation to make another huge mistake.
Because she could, with him. The last thing anyone needed was to get involved with a train wreck like her—especially a man as high-profile as Daniel.
“It’s all so big,” she added as she made a wrong turn and ended up in the game room.
“I didn’t intend to make the house this large when I started out,” he said as he led her back to the stairs.
She took them on shaky legs. No man had ever made her feel like this, not even Eric, with whom she’d foolishly thought she was in love.
“But I needed to add an extra bedroom for my parents,” he continued, “then one for my sister. And all the Mavericks. And now I need more rooms because my friends have all made their own additions to the family with wives and girlfriends and kids and mothers-in-law.”
His smile, full of joy and love and pride, spoke of how much he cared. As much as she had once cared for her family. As much as she still did, even though she knew better.
The sadness hit so fast, her heart felt like it was tearing in two—one half for Drew, one half for her father. If things had been normal, she would have asked Daniel more about Noah and Matt and Jeremy and all the other Maverick family he’d mentioned while they toured the house. But nothing was normal anymore.
Nothing would ever be normal again.
Furiously working to blink back tears she didn’t dare let Daniel see—if she cried in front of him, he’d ask questions, and then she’d have to flat-out lie to him while fighting the urge to spill her guts—she pointed at the fireplace. “You could roast an elephant in there.” Thank God her voice didn’t wobble. “I love the way the river rock climbs all the way up the wall. Did you do all this yourself?” She held up her hands, turning in a circle to indicate the entire amazing house.
“My friends helped me put the roof and log frame in place, but everything was cut to order, so all we had to do was lay it out. The rest has pretty much been a one-man job that I work on when I need to get away from the office. I’m actually keeping everyone out except the guys until it’s done.” He said it like he was a kid building a fort out in the backyard who wouldn’t let his parents see till it was all done—rather than a billionaire who was building the world’s most beautiful waterfront mansion.
“But you’re letting me see it?”
“You have a good eye, Tasha.” He smiled at her again. “And I’m really glad we’re neighbors.”
The flattery she felt at his compliment dried up in an instant. If he knew what she’d been party to—the scams her family had pulled on unsuspecting people all over the country—he wouldn’t be glad that she was in the next house over. On the contrary, he’d probably pull strings to get her kicked out of the county.
Her heart thumping hard inside her chest, she said, “Thanks for showing me around, but I should probably just grab the drill bit and leave you to your work.”
“What about doughnuts and coffee?”
Her stomach growled at the offer of sugar and caffeine, giving her away, but she needed to remain firm. Resolute. She hadn’t come to the mountains to snare a sexy billionaire—she’d come to figure out how she could have made so many mistakes in both her personal and professional lives, and ensure she never made them again.
Besides, she could only imagine the way her father would try to take advantage of Daniel and his generous nature if he ever found out his daughter knew the billionaire.
The thought made her tremble with dread. “I really should get back to work. The holes in my floor aren’t going to close themselves.”
“If you need help, I can take a break,” he offered. “There’s no time limit on getting this place done since I’m not actually living here.”
She made herself back away. It was easier this time, with her gut burning a crater at the images of her father taking advantage of Daniel. “I’m fine, really. Perfectly comfortable. I’ve got everything I need.”
“Except a roof that doesn’t leak and an insulated subfloor and a decent meal.” Damn him for pointing out so many incontrovertible facts. “Why don’t you come for dinner tonight? I do a mean barbecue.”
She wanted to leap on him and shout, Yes, yes, yes! Instead, she said, “I can’t tonight,” even though they both knew she’d be shivering over her camp stove while picking at canned beans and soggy hot dogs.
He stared at her for a long moment. She held her breath. Would he insist, or would he let her run away to her ruin of a house?
Finally, he turned to fish through a huge rolling tool chest with multiple drawers containing screws, nuts, bolts, and nails. He came up with a bit that matched her broken one. “Here you go.”
