Never Enough by Lauren Dane Page A

and shelves. Everywhere.
    “Well, it’s been a trial sometimes. Miles and his cats.” She rolled her eyes, but the affection was written all over her. “Lord above. One of them, Fat Lucy, well, she’s a plant eater so I had to be sure all the plants I have in the main areas and on the patio are nontoxic. Lucky for her, Jones protects her and swats at her big dumb head when she gets near something she’s not supposed to be near.” She grabbed the bottle of wine and two glasses. “Still up for a fire outside? You don’t have to. You must be tired and maybe just a little shell-shocked by all this.”
    “I’d like that, though it’s really cold out there.”
    “Grab that blanket right there.” She indicated the blanket with the tip of her chin.
    He followed her out the back and across a deck. “This is great.”
    “Thanks. This place was rickety when we first bought it. Over the years we’ve added things. Painted. Replaced windows. All that stuff. We have friends over a lot so it’s nice to have a good outdoor space.”
    She drew him down the steps and toward a paved, circular fire pit surrounded by chairs and benches. One flick of the switch and a fire sprouted merrily. She smiled and sat on a small bench, putting the wine and glasses down. A black cat streaked through the yard, rubbing across her legs on the way.
    He leaned back, happy to sit in the quiet and sip a glass of wine. She wasn’t always trying to make noise for the sake of it. He liked that about her.
    “My place has this sort of quiet, but even so, it’s in the city. This is real dark out here.”
    “Makes the stars very easy to see.”
    He paused, tucking the blanket around her and then himself. “ Thank you seems a pale tribute for what you’ve given me.” He snorted and then breathed deep. Someone somewhere had a wood fire burning.
    “I think Miles had a great time. He was positively giddy about you having Willie Nelson’s phone number.” She laughed and he wanted more.
    This place, this moment, it was beautiful and relaxed. He felt safe and comfortable and able to be who he was without having to be on guard.
    “At least he’s got good taste in music, even if he plays bass. Erin’s never going to let me hear the end of that. She likes you.” He licked his lips and her eyes moved to his mouth. The echo of that appraisal shot straight to his cock.
    “I found your sister impossible not to like back. She’s straightforward and protective of her family. She took a risk in coming here.”
    “She’s a force of nature.”
    “A good way to describe her. And how are you, Adrian? A lot has happened to you over the last month or so.”
    “Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel. It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me,” he sang softly.
    “Fish in the sea, you know how I feel. River running free, you know how I feel,” she completed. “I must tell you I feel much better about you that you’d quote Nina Simone to me.”
    He burst out laughing. “I was just thinking the same thing. Relieved you didn’t think it came from a commercial.” He reached out to squeeze her hand and the moment shifted back to what they’d had in her front hallway only the day before.
    The tail of her hair was so close. He gave in to his desire to touch. And the soft, cool strands against his wrist sent a hum of pleasure through him. In the moonlight and the glow of the flames, her skin looked even better.
    Her pupils nearly swallowed the iris of each eye. Her lips parted and he heard her gulp. Part of him registered relief that she was as off balance and drawn to him as he was her.
    “My brain wonders why I’m out here with you, when it would be far safer inside, in the light, in the open.” She made no effort to move.
    “I’ve had similar arguments and have decided to just accept two things I find utterly true. First, that Miles is my son and I plan