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He stalks toward me until there’s little distance left between us. He leans down to press a soft kiss on my forehead. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”

I shift back so I can look into his eyes. “Your help means a lot to me, William.”

We stand like that, staring at each other as Draven sets off toward the back of the bar.

Intensity swirls around us, and I feel an unexplainable urge to kiss him, but I stop myself by dropping my gaze to my tote bag. I fish around in it until I find the extra set of keys I had made when I had keys cut for Aunt Hildy.

William holds out his hand, so I drop the keys in it.

“I’ll see you at nine a.m.,” I promise. “If you or Draven need anything before that, you’ll call?”

His gaze slides over my face as he tries to read my expression. “You bet.”

I close my eyes briefly, suck in a breath, and tack a small smile on my lips. “Goodnight, William.”

“Goodnight, Opal,” he whispers before he steps back, granting me the room I need to get around him so I can walk out of my bar.

43

William

“Brooklyn?”Draven walks toward me just minutes after Opal exits the bar. “What the hell was that about?”

I consider my contractor a friend, so I lay it all out there for him, “I took her to the Brooklyn apartment last night because I don’t take women home with me.”

“I don’t take women home with me either,” he shares with a chuckle. “My reasoning behind that is pretty clear. What’s your excuse?”

Since I don’t have a daughter I’m protecting, I shrug. “I don’t see beyond one night in most cases, so it’s worked for me in that regard.”

“Until now?” he questions with his left brow cocked. “You said you don’t see beyond one-night hookups in most cases. Is this case different?”

I glance at the floor but come up empty with an answer, so all he gets in return is silence.

“You’re sacrificing a good night’s sleep to tread through an inch of water with me.” He points at my shoes. “You’re going to need a new pair of those.”

I look down at my shoes. “Maybe, but it’s worth it.”

“Because she’s worth it?”

Nodding, I meet his gaze with mine. “There’s something about her, Draven. I can’t explain it, butfuck, I like her a lot.”

“I can tell.” He chuckles. “Do you like her enough to tell her you live in Tribeca in a penthouse that just underwent a stellar renovation?”

I can’t hold in a laugh. “Says the contractor responsible for that renovation, which, by the way, isn’t complete just yet.”

“It will be within the week,” he informs me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Give me a few more days, and it will be Opal worthy.”

My jaw tightens in response. I can’t blame that frustration on Draven or what he just said. This is all self-directed. “I don’t know if I’m Opal worthy.”

“Tell her the truth, and you’ve got a good shot of being worthy,” he suggests. “I’m no expert on women, but I do know that the truth goes a long way with them.”

I value his opinion more than most men because he’s loved and lost. Draven’s wife passed away a few years ago, so he’s been a single dad since. We don’t talk about women often, but from the bits and pieces he has let slip, he’s held the same view of relationships as I have. One night of fun doesn’t have to lead to a lifelong connection.

Until it does.

Opal is different. She’s fucking magnificent, and I want her.

The problem is, I don’t know if she wants me. Judging by what happened earlier at the bistro, I’m inclined to thinkno, but there’s always tomorrow, and at nine a.m. sharp, I’ll shoot my shot to get more time with the woman who has invaded my thoughts since I first met her.