They stared at each other.Okay, so friendship wasn't all Noemi wanted from Garth, but it was the only thing she'd grant herself. A relationship would ruin things and she wasn't willing to give up Scarlett or the chance of a friendship with Garth just so Noemi could scratch an itch.Or was she?Scarlett was going to be married and have a baby, all within the next year. Lots of people drifted apart during one of those events, but both? Was Noemi destined to lose it all here no matter what she did?Damn, she hadn't thought of that."Well?" she said when he didn't reply."I'm not sure how to respond. Do I lie to you and tell you we can be friends? Or am I honest?" His brown eyes were molten now to the point Noemi's mouth dried up. "I'm not sure I'm capable of being friends with you and not wanting more, No-No."Noemi drew in a deep breath at the silly nickname. He'd called her No-No the first time as a joke. She'd said no to another drink, second desert and turning in at a r

Garth STOOD FROZEN TO the spot, staring at his little brother while Noemi made her getaway.There was no denying what they'd done. From Noemi's abrupt exit to the disheveled office, not to mention the musky scent of sex, it was clear as day.Benji glanced over his shoulder then at Garth and back to the front of the house."Did I just...?" Benji opened and closed his mouth a few times."What do you want?" Garth snapped.Fucking hell. Noemi had finally let down that wall and opened up to him again. Why was it now was the moment Benji decided to traipse back home?"I, uh, came to bring you the notes for the festival." Benji held up an envelope Garth hadn't noticed."Give it here." He took the envelope and plopped it onto a bit of clear desk that hadn't just supported Noemi's ass.This desk was never going to be used again."What's going on with Noemi?" Benji's gaze raked over Garth.He fought the urge to tug his shirt down a bit more in an effort to hide his groin and

A chill swept Noemi's body that had nothing to do with the weather. Her gut knotted and she froze, halfway between the two houses.Had anyone seen her? Could she escape back to her place? What was he doing here? Why was he here?Garth was alone with her mother and Abuela.Nothing good would come from that.Noemi quicksteped toward the French doors.Both Mom and Abuela stood facing the sink.Noemi didn't see Garth at all.She opened the door, her stomach rolling. The smell of food and coffee hung in the air, but the cooking appeared to be done early."Morning," Noemi said when neither Mom nor Abuela turned at her entrance."Morning," Mom said over her shoulder.Noemi set her tote down and mentally braced herself. She strode over to where they were standing and peered over their shoulders at the man lying on his back, head and shoulders under the sink with the old tool box at his hip. He'd taken off his button-down shirt, which was currently hanging from the hook by t

Back during the summer the funny feeling in his chest he got whenever he was really worked up over something had gotten worse. Of course he hadn't said anything about it. Why should he? The men in their family all died the same way, either tragically or wasting away from a broken heart. It had taken one stubborn doctor beating it into his head that what he really had wasn't some old wife's tale about a curse, it was a combination of atrial fibrillation and a heart condition brought on by stress that mimicked a heart attack.That health scare had pushed his family into taking time off, and subsequently the vacation that had thrown him and Noemi together. If it weren't for his heart trying to give out on him, they wouldn't be here now. He'd have driven both Scarlett and Benji away. Noemi would have never become part of his life.He was grateful for all of it. Even the parts that sucked. Because they'd all brought him here.She lifted her chin and looked at him. "I'm worried about h

The hostess lost no time getting them seated. Servers appeared almost immediately to offer drinks and begin the three-course meal.Noemi sat back, watching Garth ask questions about the beers on offer. She was in trouble. He brought her mother plants, fixed their sink, remembered tiny details. If she wasn't careful, she would fall madly in love with him. He'd make it easy, too. And then at some point one of them would lose interest. It was well and good for him to say they'd just talk about changes in their feelings, but who really did that?Garth turned his attention back on her, leaned forward and took her hands in his."Do you want to make nice conversation tonight, or talk about what's bothering you?" he asked."What's bothering me?"He lifted a shoulder. "About us. Get that out of the way."She inhaled deeply, letting the complicated emotions settle inside of her. Maybe it was best to get it all out now? Scare him away?"When was your last, long-term relationship?" s