Ironically while they were in limbo, they were getting reacquainted. A part of him was overjoyed, another part cautious and wary. Because while they remained here in Hawken’s Cove, they were living Ty’s life. He didn’t know how she felt about the future and with all the turmoil in her life at the moment, it would be unfair of him to ask.

If and when they ever had that kind of conversation, there had to be nothing pulling them together except mutual desire. No trust fund, no death threats, no Alex, he thought, wondering if the other man was really a nonissue or if Lilly’s feelings for the guy would return when she did. He refused to think about that while he had her here with him.

He walked into the bedroom she was using at his mother’s and found her deep in thought, papers spread out around the bed. Digger lifted her lazy head up off the mattress, eyed Ty with a bored stare and laid her head back down again. The dog no longer fawned over Ty as if he was a new and exciting treat. Apparently his newness had worn off. Ty hoped Lilly didn’t get tired of him as quickly.

She wore a white robe she’d bought during their quick trip to Target for basics. In the time she’d been here, he’d learned she loved to lounge in a terry bathrobe, giving him a good view of her long legs. The tie cinched her waist and the deep V in her cleavage drove him mad. Just because he’d grown used to the sight didn’t mean it had stopped affecting him.

Each time he viewed her in that fluffy robe looking soft and ready, he grew hard immediately. His desire for her never ceased to amaze him, along with the deep feelings she dredged up from places inside him he thought long shut off from the rest of the world.

“Hey there,” he said, letting her know he was there.

She glanced up at him and she smiled wide, her pleasure at seeing him obvious. “Hi, yourself. Good meeting?” she asked.

He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “Actually yes. I’ve got myself a new client.”

She nodded. “Excellent!” Her eyes glittered with excitement, then suddenly dulled without warning. “Wait. You can’t devote yourself to a new case if you’re worried about me all the time. Neither of us planned such a long stay and we certainly didn’t count on having your apartment destroyed all because of me.” She began to gather up her papers in a frenzied state as she continued. “I’m going to go back to New York until my birthday. My uncle won’t follow me there. Now that the fire department has declared the fire arson and not an accident, he must know the police are keeping an eye on him. He’d be a fool to go after me now.”

Ty wasn’t letting her go anywhere, but first he needed to calm her down. “Stop for a minute and listen.” He sat down beside her, then placed a hand over hers, stilling her movements.

Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his.

“First, the police have our statements but they have no proof your uncle is involved with anything. We’re watching him, but they’re only in the background if something happens again. It’s not the same thing as round-the-clock police surveillance. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She nodded. “That you don’t think I’m safe back home alone.”

“Correct. Second, we’re in this together. We always have been. Have I given you any reason to think you need to go it alone now?”

“No, but-”

He silenced her by leaning over and placing his lips on hers. He lingered there, savoring the minty taste of toothpaste and Lilly, his body reacting to her nearness, the desire for her building by the minute.

“No buts,” he said, as he pulled back. “Now what did I interrupt when I came in?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Work. Everything’s running smoothly but I was just going over some changes in scheduling for next week and making sure it clicked with the amount of girls I have on hand.” She stacked the papers and put them on the nightstand. “I have other news,” she said, the light returning to her eyes.

“And what would that be?” he asked, glad for any subject that didn’t include her going back to New York.

“I called Molly this morning. We had a long talk and she revealed a few interesting things. First, you and Hunter were right. Anna Marie could have been feeding information to her brother Paul. Probably not as a way to intentionally derail us, though. But it is possible that her brother used her love of gossip to further his own ends. We just don’t know what those are.” She pounded her fist against the mattress in frustration.

Ty thought for a moment. “It could be as a favor to Dumont. There’s really no other reason for Paul Dunne to want to get Hunter out of the way.”

“So all roads lead to Uncle Marc.” Lilly’s sadness filled the room.

“Had you been holding out hope that he’d changed?” Ty asked.

Lilly shrugged, feeling like an embarrassed child caught wishing for a unicorn on her birthday. “I know it’s impossible, it just hurts so much to think someone who is related to me wants me dead.”

“I know.” He held out his arms and she crawled right in, snuggling against him. She needed his understanding.

Except suddenly understanding wasn’t enough. Just being close wasn’t enough. Lilly turned to Ty. “Move to the center of the bed.”

He blinked. “Okay…” He pushed himself to the middle of the bed and slid back against the headboard, shoving the dog out of his spot in the process.

Digger rose, stretched, and jumped off the bed, resettling herself on the floor.

“Now what?” Ty asked. His stare bore into hers, the electricity suddenly crackling in the air around them.

She grinned, unable to help herself. “Take your clothes off.”

He laughed. “We always seem to be in the position of someone wearing too many articles of clothing.”

“I wouldn’t think me asking you to get naked would be a hardship.” She crawled over and began to unbutton the collared shirt he’d chosen for his meeting with the new client.

“It isn’t.” While she worked on the buttons one by one, he reached for the sash of her robe, freeing the knot.

She parted his shirt. He pushed the collar of her robe aside. She bared his sexy chest. He slid the robe down her arms and she shook it off, leaving herself completely bare to his heated gaze.

He sucked in a sharp breath and immediately unbuttoned his pants. She hooked her fingers into the waistband and slid his pants and briefs down and off his legs.

“Now we’re even,” she said.

“Not even close.” He glanced down at his erection and she followed his gaze, her own desire growing at the sight of his.

Because she felt safe with Ty, she also felt daring. “So what are you going to do about it?” she asked him, her words more of a come and get me dare than a question.

“Lie down and I’ll show you.”

Her pulse raced and a heavy thick dampness grew between her thighs. She inched toward the middle of the bed and reclined on her back.

He shook his head. “Flip over.” His voice held a gruff edge.

Her excitement heightened, she did as he asked, stretching out facedown on the bed, her trust in him complete.

He straddled her with his thighs, and leaned forward, then pushed her hair off her neck and kissed her tingling skin.

“Mmm.” She loved the feeling of his lips on her flesh.

He continued to slide his moist mouth over her back while massaging her shoulders with his hands. She shut her eyes and allowed him to take complete control of her body and she wasn’t disappointed. His tongue slid over her skin and cool air caused her to tingle with growing awareness.

As he stretched over her, his member pushed deliciously against her backside and his body pressed hers into the bed beneath her. The effect was an erotic thrust of her pelvis into the mattress, causing a sudden rush of sensation to pulse through her, a throbbing awareness and a need for so much more.

He must have felt the arch of her back and sensed her need because suddenly he eased downwards and slipped his hand beneath her until one finger found her slick opening. She rolled her hips into the mattress, capturing his finger just as it slipped inside of her.

A low groan escaped the back of her throat but now that she had a part of him filling her, she was beyond caring. He began a slow, steady thrust with his hand, each gentle movement bringing her higher and closer to the orgasm that was just out of reach. Finally, everything around her exploded in bright light as she went up and over, into the most spectacular climax she’d ever had-short of having Ty inside her.

As she came back to earth, she became more aware of her surroundings. She rolled over and faced him. “Wow?”

“Was that a question?” He laughed and reached for her.

“No, that was a definite wow.” She grinned and next thing she knew, he’d pulled her on top of him.

He reached for the nightstand. “I stashed a few in here the other day,” he said, pulling out protection and taking care of it quickly.

“Smart thinking.”

He answered with a long, deep kiss, then lifted her hips and thrust himself into her, filling her completely.

She clasped her hands around his face and lowered her lips to his. He began to move inside her, the slow thrusts timed perfectly to bring her closer and closer not just to release, but to him.

His low groan told her he felt the intensity as well and the climb toward her second climax was even stronger and more spectacular than the first. And this time when she came, she wasn’t alone. Everything exploded around her and she felt the moment he joined her for the ride, clasping his arms tight around her back, his hips locked solidly with hers.

Another orgasm hit her, taking her off guard. “I love you, Ty.” Unguarded, the words escaped her lips just as she came back to earth.

The realization struck her hard and she rolled off him, turning away. Beside her, she heard him take care of their protection and she intended to use the time to escape.

They’d never spoken the words, no matter how many times she’d held them deep inside her. She hadn’t known if they were reciprocated, hadn’t known if he missed her, or thought about her, and hadn’t known whether she’d ever see him again, let alone say those words aloud. And then years passed and she’d pushed the emotions away. She’d had to in order to survive.

But she knew now she loved him still. She’d never stopped. Tears began to flow and she started to climb out of bed before he could call her on what she’d said.

Before she could rise, he grabbed her arm. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t go. Don’t run away. Don’t leave without acknowledging what you just said.”

Lacey turned back around and forced herself to meet his gaze. He hadn’t shaved today and his day’s worth of razor stubble added to his sexy air.

“I love you.” She swallowed hard. “You had to know that without my telling you.”

He shook his head. “Some words have to be said. They have to be heard in order to be believed.”

Ty Benson was insecure about how she felt about him? She couldn’t imagine it was true. “You didn’t know?”

“I hoped.”

She blinked in even more surprise. “You did? Why?”

“I’d think that would be obvious.” His heated gaze settled on hers.

Lacey ran her tongue over her dry lips. “Are you going to keep me in suspense?” she asked, her stomach tied up in knots.

“Because I love you, too.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms for a kiss that was as long and hot as the first time.

After they’d made love again, her stomach rumbled, interrupting their cuddling.

“You’re hungry,” he said.

She laughed. “Yeah. And your mother’s going to be back from lunch and the movies soon. We need to get dressed.”

“We’re adults,” he reminded her.

“But we’re in her house.”

He groaned. “I know, I know.”

Lacey grinned. Even when they’d been together the first time in this house, he’d been careful that his mother didn’t walk in on them or find them in a position that would make the older woman uncomfortable. Lacey felt the same way.

“I should shower,” Lacey said, reluctant to get up and leave the warmth and security here in this bed with Ty.

“You start. I’ll fix up the bed and join you. Then we can go out and get a bite to eat.”

“Ty Benson, you’re going to make the bed? Hell must have frozen over,” she said, mocking his messy habits with a joke and a laugh.

He nodded, a sexy grin lifting his lips. “My mother always said the right woman would have me doing backflips to make her happy.”

At his words, a sense of completeness filled Lacey and she refused to let the niggling fears and doubts enter her mind completely. New York, Odd Jobs, her trust fund and her other life would have to be dealt with but she’d waited ten years to be this happy and she was going to enjoy it for the moment.