The Millionaire's Club: Connor, Tom & Gavin. Michelle Celmer

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      Gavin left and Connor went inside, locking the door behind him, wishing once again that they had a security system. When Clint had told Nita how much it would cost, she’d said absolutely not and wouldn’t even discuss it. Maybe now she would reconsider.

      He locked the kitchen door, then walked back to the family room, found Nita and her father sitting together on the couch. His arm was around her and her head was resting on his shoulder. Connor couldn’t help feeling a stab of envy. Will showed Nita more love and affection than Connor’s parents ever had combined. He’d always been taught to hide his feelings, that speaking his mind only got him a whack with the belt. The only way he knew how to please his father, the only way he had known how to measure up, was to follow in the old man’s footsteps. To be everything his father expected. And in spite of it all, Connor had never gotten the approval he’d longed for. Never felt good enough.

      The further he stepped back and really examined his life, the more bitter he felt. But bitterness had gotten him where he was now. If he was ever going to be happy, he needed to let it go.

      “House is all locked up,” he said.

      Nita yawned long and deep. “I know it’s early yet, but I’m exhausted. I think I’m just going to head up to bed.”

      “Go ahead,” her father said, patting her arm. “Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

      “Are you going to need help getting to bed?” Nita asked.

      “No sweetheart, I can get by just fine.”

      “’Night, Daddy.” She kissed her father good-night then got up from the couch. As she walked past Connor, she flashed him a lingering look. “’Night Connor.”

      She really did look tired and she’d been through hell today, still, Connor couldn’t help feeling a healthy dose of disappointment. All afternoon he’d been looking forward to this evening, to see if he could get her as wet as she’d claimed to be earlier. But she’d had a long, trying day and it had probably caught up with her.

      Maybe tomorrow.

      “I guess I’ll head up to bed, too,” Connor told Will. “I have some reading to catch up on.”

      “Thank you for takin’ care of my girl.”

      “No need to thank me,” Connor said.

      “Yes, there is. You see this,” he said, raking a hand through his short, salt-and-pepper hair. “Used to be jetblack, just like Nita’s. I’ve got one gray hair for every stunt that girl ever pulled, every scare she’s ever given me, and as you can see there have been quite a few.”

      Connor grinned. “Yes, sir.”

      “She also has a heart of gold. I know she’s been trying to shelter me from the truth, but I looked at the books the other day. I know how bad things are, and I know that you’ve been working without pay because of it.”

      The last thing he needed was for Nita’s father to think he had ulterior motives. “We worked out a deal. Nita’s been teaching me the business in exchange for my help.”

      “Despite being a little wild at times, Nita has a soft side. And though you would never know it, she bruises easily, even if she doesn’t let it show. Any man who dared hurt her would have to deal with me.”

      Connor wasn’t sure if that was a general threat, or aimed at him in particular. “Only after they got through me,” he said.

      Will just looked at him for a minute, then nodded. “I believe you. And I want you to know I appreciate all you’ve done for us these past couple weeks. You’re part of the family now, and you’ll always have a place here with us, understand?”

      Connor was so choked with unexpected emotion, he could only nod.

      Will nodded back, then picked up the controller and switched the television on. “See you in the morning.”

      “G’night.”

      Leaving Will alone in the family room, Connor headed up the stairs, vowing that, if he ever had a family, he would raise his children the way Will had. They would always feel loved and appreciated for who they were.

      A wife and family.

      For the first time in his life he realized he wanted that. He wanted those things with Nita.

      And she didn’t want them with anyone, not even him.

      He stepped into his room, but before he could even switch the lights on, a pair of arms circled him from behind.

      “Ready to play, cowboy?”

      Connor turned and Nita rose up on her toes to kiss him. She loved the taste of his mouth, the softness of his tongue, the brush of his whiskers against her chin. Most men kissed too hard or too soft, or too sloppy. Connor, no matter how he did it, was always just right.

      Their lips still locked, he pulled her into the room and shut the door. She tore his shirt from the waist of his jeans, desperate to get him naked, before something else happened to sidetrack them. She grabbed the two sides of his shirt and yanked.

      Button’s flew everywhere and bounced across the hardwood floor. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and down his arms.

      “You are a wild one,” Connor muttered as she slid her hands up his bare chest, sank her teeth into his lower lip.

      “Do mine now,” she said, kissing her way to his ear, sucking his lobe into her mouth. She wouldn’t be happy until she licked and sucked every bit of him. “Rip it off me.”

      Connor slipped his fingers into the gaps between the buttons of her shirt, lightly stroking the skin beneath. She liked foreplay, but she was so ready for him she felt like she would burst into flames if he didn’t take her soon.

      “Do it,” she said, and still he only teased.

      “You in some kind of hurry?” he asked, and she could hear amusement in his voice.

      “In fact I am. If we don’t get this show on the road something is bound to happen that will stop us again. A meteor could hit the house or World War Three could break out.”

      His fingers brushed the skin just below her bra and she shivered. “I thought you were exhausted.”

      “Do I look exhausted to you?”

      “I guess not.” With one quick yank he ripped the shirt open and a second round of buttons went airborne. He pushed the shirt off her, then instead of reaching back to undo her bra, he gave that a yank too. Nita gasped as the garment ripped clear in half. It made her so hot she felt dizzy.

      He cupped his warm hands over her breasts. “Better?”

      “Oh, yes.” She sighed and closed her eyes. She liked a man who took charge every now and then. It wasn’t often she found one who could keep up with her. One that wasn’t intimidated by her aggressive nature.

      “I want to see you,” he said. He backed toward the bed, pulling her along with him, and switched on the lamp.

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