up her fork with the other. Before lunch was over, she’d have to figure out a way to invite Sterling to Imani and Carson’s party while getting him to understand it didn’t mean it’d go any further than that.
Today would prove to be very interesting. She just hoped she didn’t lose her mind trying to figure out a way to get out of this unexpected situation.
* * * *
Sterling sat on the patio, attempting to read the latest mystery book he’d purchased on his e-reader. At this point he was failing miserably. He hadn’t touched the screen to turn the page once and he’d been on the same one for at least an hour. No, instead his attention was on Naja.
Something about her deeply appealed to him. It went beyond her beauty and vivacious
personality. The spark in her eyes along with her infectious smile had a euphoric effect on him. The fact he was fifteen years her senior should probably bother him, but it didn’t. He was interested in getting to know her better. Now he just had to convince her spending time with him wouldn’t be as bad of thing as she thought. The question was how.
This was the first time he’d even willingly thought about getting involved with another woman. Yes, Elton had been trying to persuade him lately, but his thoughts focused on trying to keep going after the unexpected loss of his wife. He loved Amelia with everything he had. She’d been a great wife, friend and lover. To lose her had been devastating.
The day she’d died, he’d kissed her as they’d walked out the front door together to leave for work. A few hours later he’d received an emergency call from one of his wife’s co-workers stating his wife had collapsed and was on the way to the hospital. That drive had been the most terrifying of his life. It wasn’t until after he’d arrived at the emergency room he found she hadn’t made it. She’d died the instant she hit the floor at work. The blood vessel in her brain had burst so she hadn’t stood a chance.
He’d been so distressed he couldn’t remember a full twenty-four hours after finding out Amelia had died. When he’d come to the next day, he’d been in the guest bedroom of Elton and Kate’s house. Elton had been sitting in the chair with a concerned expression on his face. The worst thing about that day was having to relive the events all over again. Next to that, arranging the funeral and then having to attend it.
The grief he’d felt at that point was indescribable. He wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy.
He’d been on autopilot for the longest time after that point. If not for Elton, his parents and his siblings he might not ever have gotten himself back together. But he had and he was grateful.
Now it seemed he was ready to get his social life back on track as well. His attraction to Naja couldn’t be denied or ignored. The past twenty-four hours had proved that to him. The question was how far could it go? This was not the idea sort of situation to start up anything. Yet everything in him wanted to.
He was pulled from his internal musings by the sound of the doorbell. Without a doubt he knew who it was. Not many people knew he was in Myrtle Beach and those who did weren’t scheduled to stop by.
He bookmarked the page on his e-reader then made his way inside. Just before he opened the door, he took a deep, calming breath, only to have it get stuck in his throat the instant Naja came into view. If he didn’t know any better, he would say she’d become more beautiful in the past twenty-four hours since he’d last seen her.
Today she’d donned a floral pink strapless sundress. The dress covered everything, yet revealed just what he wanted to see. She was a very shapely but toned woman. His palms itched with the yearning to trace her curves.
“Hi, Sterling.”
He blinked at the husky tone in her voice. She was too damned tempting. Clearing his throat in an attempt to pull himself together, he smiled.
“Hi, Naja. I must say
Today would prove to be very interesting. She just hoped she didn’t lose her mind trying to figure out a way to get out of this unexpected situation.
* * * *
Sterling sat on the patio, attempting to read the latest mystery book he’d purchased on his e-reader. At this point he was failing miserably. He hadn’t touched the screen to turn the page once and he’d been on the same one for at least an hour. No, instead his attention was on Naja.
Something about her deeply appealed to him. It went beyond her beauty and vivacious
personality. The spark in her eyes along with her infectious smile had a euphoric effect on him. The fact he was fifteen years her senior should probably bother him, but it didn’t. He was interested in getting to know her better. Now he just had to convince her spending time with him wouldn’t be as bad of thing as she thought. The question was how.
This was the first time he’d even willingly thought about getting involved with another woman. Yes, Elton had been trying to persuade him lately, but his thoughts focused on trying to keep going after the unexpected loss of his wife. He loved Amelia with everything he had. She’d been a great wife, friend and lover. To lose her had been devastating.
The day she’d died, he’d kissed her as they’d walked out the front door together to leave for work. A few hours later he’d received an emergency call from one of his wife’s co-workers stating his wife had collapsed and was on the way to the hospital. That drive had been the most terrifying of his life. It wasn’t until after he’d arrived at the emergency room he found she hadn’t made it. She’d died the instant she hit the floor at work. The blood vessel in her brain had burst so she hadn’t stood a chance.
He’d been so distressed he couldn’t remember a full twenty-four hours after finding out Amelia had died. When he’d come to the next day, he’d been in the guest bedroom of Elton and Kate’s house. Elton had been sitting in the chair with a concerned expression on his face. The worst thing about that day was having to relive the events all over again. Next to that, arranging the funeral and then having to attend it.
The grief he’d felt at that point was indescribable. He wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy.
He’d been on autopilot for the longest time after that point. If not for Elton, his parents and his siblings he might not ever have gotten himself back together. But he had and he was grateful.
Now it seemed he was ready to get his social life back on track as well. His attraction to Naja couldn’t be denied or ignored. The past twenty-four hours had proved that to him. The question was how far could it go? This was not the idea sort of situation to start up anything. Yet everything in him wanted to.
He was pulled from his internal musings by the sound of the doorbell. Without a doubt he knew who it was. Not many people knew he was in Myrtle Beach and those who did weren’t scheduled to stop by.
He bookmarked the page on his e-reader then made his way inside. Just before he opened the door, he took a deep, calming breath, only to have it get stuck in his throat the instant Naja came into view. If he didn’t know any better, he would say she’d become more beautiful in the past twenty-four hours since he’d last seen her.
Today she’d donned a floral pink strapless sundress. The dress covered everything, yet revealed just what he wanted to see. She was a very shapely but toned woman. His palms itched with the yearning to trace her curves.
“Hi, Sterling.”
He blinked at the husky tone in her voice. She was too damned tempting. Clearing his throat in an attempt to pull himself together, he smiled.
“Hi, Naja. I must say
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