You understood me fine, I still shouldn't have said it.

The waitress dropped off my beer with a smile, and I closed the laptop to relax in the hum of the crowded bar for a few minutes before Laurel's partner arrived. If they were anything alike, this woman could be a handful, but I'd prepared.

As long as this meeting went well, the paperwork was ready to sign. I weighed the pros and cons again. There was a fine line between great salesperson and pushy pain in the butt to deal with. So far, Laurel had stayed on the side I'd like to have on my team.

Plus, their sales record spoke for itself and if Picket Fence Realty put this level of work into getting a contract, that was a good sign. Unless this partner crossed to the other side of the what-was-tolerable line, there were no cons, and I had my realtors.

I checked the time on my cell—fifteen minutes until she should be here. Hopefully, this wouldn't take long. I wanted to soak up as much time with Breanna as I could before Simone snatched her away, back across the country. Yeah, she's her kid and Miles is a great dad, but shouldn't an uncle have rights? Maybe they'd get stationed somewhere closer next time.

Someone stopped beside me. I turned and there she was, again. Her. My Jolivette, and she was giving me the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen.

But she wasn't mine. Jealousy turned in my stomach as I reminded myself she had a man, and it wasn't me.

"Jolivette!" My voice was unnaturally tight and required extra effort to sound casual. "We go ten years, and now I see you twice in a week."

Where have you been?

Did you think of me the way I've thought of you?

I wished I could ask. Instead, I pushed my feelings aside and stood to hug her—that wasn't inappropriate for old friends. It was a mistake, though, because when the flowery scent of her hair filled my head, I knew I'd never forget it, even if I never got to smell it again.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and glanced around for her boyfriend. "Are you by yourself?"

"I'm here for a work thing, actually. I'm supposed to be meeting someone." She squeezed her hands together until her knuckles bleached white.

Did I make her nervous? I bit back my smirk. Wait, work? "You are? Picket Fence Realty?"

Her pretty pink lips popped open. "You're the guy from Taylor?" The shock in her voice was cute.

Everything seemed to make her flustered. I should feel bad about it, but knowing I affected her the way she affected me stroked my ego in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. Needing a bit of space before I did something stupid, I turned to the table and opened the laptop, showing her the Oak Ridge layout.

"When I spoke to Laurel, she said to expect her partner Liv." Now that I thought about it, I vaguely remembered a few people calling her that toward the end of high school. "Jo-liv-ette."

"Yep."

She nodded, and I pointed to the opposite side of the booth. "Now, I'm looking forward to this."

I worked to restrain my excitement as she settled in her seat. Then I scanned the room for the waitress. If I was going to play it cool, I'd need another drink.

"So, you're a realtor in Atlanta." She'd been so close all this time. Why couldn't I have run into her before, while we were both single? I took a swig of my beer just as the waitress passed by and I waved her over.

"What can I get y'all?" she asked.

"I'll have another of these when you have a second, and whatever my friend would like."

Jolivette's brow furrowed as though she was doing algebra, and I hoped she wouldn't make me drink alone. I didn't want to seem unprofessional, but it was the holidays, and I was sitting across from the dream girl I still had no shot with. I deserved alcohol.

"Have something. I am."

Relief filled me when she ordered a drink off the specials board with a goofy Christmas name. She smiled at the waitress and thanked her, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. God, she'd gotten even more beautiful, and she seemed as sweet as she'd always been.

"I didn't know you were in construction."

While I rambled about working for Barry starting in high school, I did my best not to stare. My mind filled with images of her back then, and I couldn't help but compare that girl to the woman in front of me.

There were the obvious changes—her hair color, and the way her body filled out—and damn, had it filled out. Jolivette had gone from pretty to sexy as hell. But something had changed in the way she carried herself too. Confidence had replaced some of the shy tendencies I remembered, adding to the pull she'd always had on me.

She said something I was too distracted to hear. Thankfully, the waitress brought our order, saving me from asking her to repeat herself.

"I'll check on y'all soon."

We both thanked her, and she went to her next customers. I needed to stop checking Jolivette out. She was with someone, and we may be about to work together. Whatever chance I had was long gone. Focus on the work, Andre.

That lasted for about five seconds because as she sipped her drink through the tiny straw, her mouth became my entire focus, and kissing her was my only thought. Then she made an appreciative sound in her throat and all the blood in my brain rushed south.

"This is awesome." Her voice was a physical tug on my chest that I tried to ignore.

"Great." I smiled, hoping I sounded normal, and leaned back to adjust my jeans.

"So, did you always want to run Taylor Residential?"

Right. Work. Pay attention. "Not exactly. I loved it, but seeing the hours my uncle put in, I wasn't sure I could do it. He had faith in me though, and I strive to make sure we reach the high standard he set."

"Sounds like a lot of pressure."

I rambled some more, happy to chat about anything if it meant being there with her. The next thing I knew, I'd mentioned my ex. What the hell? Why did I say that?

"Oh, no. I'm so sorry." Her brow furrowed.

"Don't be. It's been almost two years since the divorce. We live and we learn, right?"

"I know I have."

Thinking of the men and relationships that could've filled the last decade with her made my neck hot. It was ridiculous. I had no claim, but a part of me always thought I'd get another chance.

She finished her drink. "Whoops. That went fast."

Gulping the rest of mine, I shoved my thoughts toward work again. Setting our glasses on the side of the table, I waved to the waitress, asking for two more. "Why don't we get this business talk out of the way and then hang out a bit? That's if you're not busy?"

"I have all evening."

"Perfect!" I grinned even as I mentally kicked myself. More time could only cause problems, but I'd have to deal with that later.

Our gaze held a little longer than could be considered casual, and I was the one to break the contact. Seeing her was amazing, but I'd need to keep my distance working with her. Laurel would have to be my primary contact.

Knowing Jolivette had someone was a torture I should avoid. I should just be glad she's happy. The urge to punch her boyfriend when he smiled and called her babe was insane, and I didn't see that impulse going away any time soon.

I turned the laptop and brought up the plans she needed to see. When I looked at her, she was studying my arms, clearly checking me out. Caught in the act, her eyes widened, but she didn't look away. Instead, her chest moved with shallow breaths and a blush covered her cheeks.

The waitress swung by, dropping off our drinks. "Holler when you're ready for more!"

"Thank you," I answered without taking my gaze from Jolivette's. It was wrong, and I shouldn't encourage it, but this electric feeling between us felt too good to ignore.

She took a slow breath. "I like your sweater."

The blush spread to her neck, and I had to bite back a smirk. Her gray sweater matched mine, but my favorite part of her outfit was the satin tank top. The black lace trim followed the curve of her breasts, and made me want to do inappropriate things I'd definitely regret later.

Maybe it should've been my least favorite part. "Thanks. We go together."

"What?"

"Our clothes." I waved between us. "We match."

Her nervous laugh was adorable. "We do. Cute."

I did my best to keep the conversation on work, showing her the layouts of both subdivisions, and talking over the amenities. I could see they impressed her, and pride swelled in my chest.

She finished another drink as she looked over the plans, and I signaled the waitress for a refill. "What do you think?" I tipped my chin toward the computer.

"It's ambitious, but it'll be totally worth it. You should advertise this place as a lifestyle, not just a neighborhood. Live where you play—that kind of thing. You'll have no problem selling this type of luxury and convenience there."

Sweet, stunning, and sharp as a tack. It'd taken her five minutes to come up with a sales plan, and it sounded like a damn good one to me. "I'm not really a salesman, but I like your idea. I think you and Laurel will have no problem selling it."

My offer surprised her, and she even suggested it might have something to do with our history or some sense of obligation. I brought the contract up on the screen to prove I'd planned to use their company before I knew of her involvement.

"Barring a terrible impression today, I'd already decided. So finding that Liv, of Picket Fence Realty, is the Jolivette I've always had a thing for, is just icing." Shit. Why did I say that?

"You've... always had feelings for me?"

The waitress set another bright red drink in front of Jolivette, but I hardly noticed. My stomach flipped, and I wished I could take back my words. "I'm sorry, Jolivette. I shouldn't have said that."

"You didn't mean you had feelings for me." She looked down, hiding her face, and I could've kicked myself for how awkward I'd made things.

"I misunderstood; it's okay," her words were almost a whisper. "Don't—"

"You understood me fine, but I still shouldn't have said it. You're with someone, and I respect that." Hate it, but respect it. "I promise this won't be an issue going forward. There's no reason we can't work together."

Please believe me. I'd never make this mistake again. I just wanted her in my life. Even if I had to see her with someone else.

Silence fell over the table, and Jolivette got that look again, like she was doing algebra. I'd clearly upset her, and I waited as long as I could for a reply. "Jolivette?" Her eyes met mine as I asked, "Did I ruin this?"

"I don't have a boyfriend."

That wasn't what I'd expected. I'd never known her to lie, but that made no sense. They were together. I'd chatted with her gym-bro boyfriend before I saw her or knew they were together. Even liked the guy before immediately hating him.

I didn't know what to say.

When I wrote chapter 14, I kept thinking about how Andre might feel about things, so I decided to find out. I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside his head. Thank you for checking this out! 💜

Let me know what you think!