Do I keep her here where Griff can’t touch her or ask her to finish this one critical task for me?

I chew the inside of my lip. I don’t want Keeley to think I don’t value her. After tonight, she knows everything is different, right? She must. I’m an emotional dolt, so if I feel our connection, a smart girl like her will totally know. We’re a unit. We’re in love. We have a future.

As soon as I can put the past and this stupid rivalry behind me once and for all.

I close my eyes. Hesitate. Once I open my mouth, it’s final. I can’t take it back.

But I don’t see another choice.

“Can you have dinner with him?” I croak. “You don’t have to do anything but be a smiling, slightly flirty friend.”

She gives me a vague smile as she stands suddenly. “Sure. I’ll make sure you get what you want most, Maxon.”

Her words give me pause. I don’t like the way she’s phrased them. They’re careful. They could have more than one meaning.

“I want you, too.” I assure her. “I need you to know that.”

“I do.”

But something about her demeanor still feels off. “You okay?”

Keeley breezes past me, strolling out to the lanai wearing nothing but my shirt. She situates herself at the rail, letting the breeze ruffle the cotton swinging around her thighs, and tosses me a gaze over her shoulder. “Of course. Maybe you’ll come over here and give me what I want most?”

For me to make love to her on the lanai.

Yeah, she loves me. She gets me. Everything is going to be great, if I can stop being paranoid.

I grab a condom from my nightstand drawer, then saunter up behind her. I cup her thigh, then lift my hand up to her bare pussy, urging her legs apart. As I kiss her neck, I shift my cock out of my boxers and roll down the condom. Keeley arches back to me, and I smile against her skin, breathing her in.

“You want to fuck out here but you don’t want anyone to know?”

“Yes.” The word is a whisper, uttered on a catch of her breath.

“You’re a screamer, sunshine. And I’m not going to go easy on you. You’ll have to figure out how to keep this our secret…”

Because I don’t give a crap what my neighbors think, I don’t pause even a second so she can decide how she’s going to manage that before I slam deep inside her. I’m so damn grateful and blessed that we’ll have the chance do this every night for the rest of our lives. We just have to get past the next forty-eight hours.

Despite that thought, something is bugging me. And when Keeley turns to me over her shoulder, lips pursed in silent pleading for mine, it’s crazy but I find myself wondering if I’m kissing her for the last time.

My day drags on. Keeley texted me this morning to tell me that she got in touch with Griff, who invited her over at seven. No emojis. No hearts and kisses or LOLs. I frown. It’s possible she’s nervous. It’s also possible she’s pissed. But when I ask again if she’s all right, she sends back a vague Fine. I’m headed into an afternoon study group.

“You okay?” Britta comes up behind me with a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I just guiltily shove the phone in my pocket. I hate that she’s going to be angry with me. I hate that she’s probably going to quit. I search for something to say, some persuasion I can give her to make her understand that my decision to use Keeley to eliminate the competition is in no way a reflection of how I feel about her. Britta really is like a sister to me.

Damn it.

“I’m all right. Just a lot on my mind. Friday is coming up fast.”

“Yeah.” She blows out a breath. “My nervous stomach feels that. So does my mouse hand.”

As she shakes the appendage, I smile. “The graphics you’ve created are great so far. Thanks for making the phone calls to those nonprofit organizations you heard about.”

She nods. “I’m glad I remembered reading that article last night about how some of them keep their portfolios solid by buying real estate. I’m excited that United Way, Catholic Charities USA, and Goodwill all said they’d be willing to look more closely at the property next week.”

“I think it’s a strategy that could both keep the Stowes happy and make sure the place benefits others in the future.” At least I hope I’m not wrong. I don’t mention my doubts now.

It’s really too late to change direction. I have to hope Keeley comes through.

“Exactly. One of the organizations talked about using it for corporate retreats and donor gatherings, which isn’t my favorite but a necessary evil, I guess. Another charity talked about it as a recovery center for people dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies—that kind of stuff. I’ve only seen pictures, but I think this estate would be perfect.”

I agree.

“Anyway, great job.”

She looks around the office and sees Rob ducking into the bathroom. “Did you decide what you’re going to do about Keeley and…”

“Griff?” My gut tightens.

She nods as if she’d rather not say his name. “Any thoughts?”

I hate to lie to her. I really do. But Keeley isn’t going to have sex with Griff. She probably won’t even kiss him again. Right?

“Nothing is final,” I finally mutter. “I’m just…”

I let that trail off so she can draw her own conclusion. I don’t want to hurt her—and part of that is not freaking her out unnecessarily.

She gives me a stiff nod. “How are things going between you two?”

I blink at Britta. I might be steering into a gray area about my business plan but no reason not to come clean here. “I’m in love with her. I realized that for sure last night when my dad suddenly appeared on my doorstep and infuriated the hell out of me.” I fill her in about my parents’ divorce and what a fuckbag my dad is. “Keeley was there to make sure I didn’t commit murder. Or fall apart. She’s really great. You guys will get along, I’m sure.”

As soon as she’s done “distracting” Griff. Then we just won’t talk about that. It will all end well, so what’s the point of hurting Britta?

“You, in love? She and I got off to a bad start, which was my fault, but I want to shake her hand.” She smiles softly. “Can you two come to dinner tonight?”