Desert Heat Read online

  “And how do you think she will handle James being in your life now?” I asked, unable to hide the doubt I felt creeping into the back of my mind.

  “She said she has made peace with it and that she is willing to forgive me for my sins.” The pain he felt was palpable making my heart surge for him.

  “How does James feel about you bringing your mother home?”

  Mr. Edwards’ face shot up a sad smile, curling his lips. “James is excited to have her back in our lives. He was our neighbor, my best friend since childhood. He has loved her like a mother practically his whole life.”

  Patting his hand, I gave him an encouraging smile. “As long as your mother agrees to go home with you I don’t see why she can’t. I just need to hear it from her lips and you’ll be set.”

  Much to my surprise, after talking to Mrs. Edwards I felt so much better about my day. Mrs. Edwards raved excitedly about going home to be with her son and James. So much so that she swept me up in her enthusiasm, washing away the sadness that had stayed with me since my visit to the Davidsons.

  With a care plan in place and the paperwork signed, care of Mrs. Edwards was now placed in the hands of her son. I would have three visits with them throughout the course of the month before the file would be closed.

  It was visits like this that warmed my heart. Watching a family reunited pushed me forward; showing promise that despite the storms we weather, the sun would come out tomorrow.

  Chapter three

  A week had come and gone since I made the offer on the land, every day felt like an eternity as I waited patiently for the call that could potentially fill me with great joy or send me searching for another parcel of land. There was something about the land in Nevada that called to me; nothing else would do until I had it.

  My ringing phone beckoned my attention. Looking at the caller ID my heart leapt in my chest. I could feel the nervous energy rushing through me.

  “Hello?” I practically shouted into the receiver, wincing at the volume of my voice, my elation getting the better of me.

  “Ms. Gaines, it’s Devon here with Emerson LLC.” The familiar deep rumbling voice of Devon Emerson sounded on the other end of the line, sending butterflies dancing through my stomach.

  “Oh Devon, please tell me you have good news for me.” I pleaded into the phone giggling like a schoolgirl.

  I had been anxiously waiting for his call on the land I had placed an offer on in Nevada.

  “Well, if by good news you mean the offer for two hundred and forty-seven acres of land in Columbus, Nevada for thirty-seven thousand dollars, then yes, I have good news for you.” Devon chuckled into the phone, warming my insides.

  “That’s exactly the good news I was looking for. But I thought it was near Carson City.” I mused out loud, wondering if I had got the town wrong.

  I truly knew nothing about Nevada if we were being honest, I had never heard of Columbus, Nevada. For all I knew Columbus could have been near Carson City.

  “I can go back and check for you.” Devon offered not missing a beat.

  “No, no, it’s fine. I really don’t care where the land is. It was just too good a price to pass up and you know me and my fondness for collecting parcels across the US.” I laughed at my own silliness.

  “If you’re sure?” Devon queried.

  I could hear him smiling through the phone.

  Devon had thought of my land collections as cute, or so he had once told me, relating it to stamp collecting. I had never been sure if he was flirting with me or if he just thought I was some silly girl parading around as an adult. At this point I didn’t care. I was just happy that he had once again come through for me and made the offer happen.

  “Yeah, I’m sure. Land is land.” I reassured him, not caring if the land was on the moon at this point.

  “I have a few things to go over with you before you sign; just let me know when you’re able to swing by the office.”

  Glancing down at the time on my watch I sighed. “I have two more cases before I can get free. You wouldn’t be interested in staying late, would you? I could get by maybe around six?” Crossing my fingers, I sent up a silent prayer that he would say yes.

  “Sasha, if it were anyone else I would say no. But since you asked so nicely, I’ll see you at six.” Squealing excitedly, I thanked him, feeling sure I had blown out his ear drums.

  “Sorry.” I mumbled into the receiver before hanging up the phone.

  Getting through the last two cases on my schedule were going to be brutal with visions of my new land purchase dancing behind my eyes. I was scheduled for a visit to see Mrs. Edwards and the Forbes, two of my favorite sessions, yet I couldn’t get them finished fast enough. It was times like these I hated my anal retentiveness when it came to paperwork, always having to go through my case files not once, not twice, but three times, before finally calling them done.

  Finally, ten minutes after six I pulled into the parking lot of Devon Emerson’s office. Full of excitement, I bound from the car all but running into the office, my long blonde hair trailing behind me.

  “Hey Sasha.” Trina, the sixty-five-year old receptionist called from the reception desk, her gray hair curled and coiffed reminded me of a small helmet.

  “Hey Trina, how have you been?” I asked excited to see the elderly woman.

  “Busy, but good. Devon’s been the talk of the town since the ladies found out he was so good looking. They have been showing up from out of the woodwork buying houses just to get a look at him.” She said, shooting me a wink.

  If I didn’t know any better I would think she was trying to make me jealous. I playfully rolled my eyes at her comment.

  “Enough with your lies.” Devon’s deep booming voice sounded from behind me.

  Devon was a tall sexy piece of man meat. Standing just over six foot with dark brown hair and deep brown soulful eyes, his five o’clock shadow did nothing to diminish his good looks, chiseled jaw, and deep-set dimples. His crisp white dress shirt stretched across his broad muscular chest threatening to rip at the seams. I secretly wished it would. I wanted just a look-see at what lay beneath, just a tiny sliver of a peek.

  Hell, who was I kidding, I wanted to know what he looked like completely nude and then I wanted to lick him from head to toe. The whole ‘I licked it so it’s mine’ rang through my mind.

  Devon shot me a questioning look. Realizing I had been caught gawking at him I fought to keep down the heat I felt climb up my face. Had I been that transparent?

  “Devon, quit being an ass and say hello to Sasha.” Trina chimed in, breaking the awkward silence making my flush deepen.

  I watched as he shot Trina a menacing look to which Trina just rolled her eyes causing Devon to laugh.

  “It’s good to see you again, Sasha. Don’t believe a thing she tells you. I think she needs a new pair of glasses and some hearing aids.” He teased, hugging the elderly woman to his side.

  “Well I could afford them if you paid me better.” She teased right back, giving him a rib with her elbow.

  Devon rolled his eyes dramatically; releasing Trina he grabbed a stack of files from her desk and motioned for us to follow him to the conference room.

  I waited for Trina to come around the desk so that we could walk side by side. In truth, I just wanted to watch Devon’s tight firm ass retreat without being caught.

  “He may be an ass sometimes, but it’s a mighty fine one.” Trina said with a dreamy sigh.

  “Trina.” I gasped in a hushed whisper, shocked by her words. They were spot on but I still couldn’t believe she said them out loud.

  “What? Don’t act like you didn’t notice. It’s one of the perks to the job here.” She whispered, keeping her voice just low enough Devon couldn’t overhear.

  “I-“ I started to deny it.

  Trina shot me a look daring me to continue with the lie that sat on the tip of my tongue, the same tongue that wanted to lavish itself all over Devon’s backside.


  “I think you are absolutely accurate in your description.” I replied vaguely as we entered the small conference room.

  “What description is that?” Devon asked, catching the end of our hushed conversation.

  “The description of how large your ego is, now mind your business you pretty bag of brains and muscle, and sell this woman some land,” Trina shot out, saving me from the utter mortification of answering which would, without a doubt, leave Devon rolling his eyes and me ready to climb under a rock to hide for all times.

  “Okay, have a seat Sasha and Methuselah.” I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle the giggle that threatened to spill out.

  Watching Devon and Trina together was like watching an old married couple.

  Devon had acquired Trina when Frank Henderson sold the company to Devon before retiring. The firm used to be called Henderson LLC, then while the two worked together it was Henderson Emerson LLC, but now that Frank had officially retired it was just Emerson LLC. Trina stayed on teaching Devon all the tricks of her trade. She swore that she was too young to retire and Devon said there was no way he could function without her. It was cute, really. I couldn’t imagine coming to Devon’s office and not seeing Trina; she was the glue that held everything together and kept Devon on his toes.

  Taking a seat next to Trina, Devon laid out the file in front of him. It was much thicker than any of the files I had seen before during my land purchases.

  “Okay, so this is what we have.” Devon said opening the file and laying a map out in front of me.

  It was a topographical map filled with lines and numbers, five distinct shapes were lined in bright yellow highlighter.

  “The yellow lines mark the property lines for the five parcels you will be purchasing.” Devon said, pointing to the lines on the map.

  “From the information I gathered, the town of Columbus is considered a ghost town. The residents moved away back in the nineteen hundreds after the borax mines closed down.” Devon explained.

  Borax mines? I had never heard of such a thing. Shrugging it off I let him continue.

  “Land here is cheap because there’s really nothing around, just salt flats and miles of empty desert.” Devon motioned toward the surrounding parcels.

  “The center parcel has what looks to be a house in the center of it. Looking back at the tax records it looks like someone used to live there for some time, though; I couldn’t find anything on the condition of the house. It may just be a small shack if anything at all.” Devon shrugged, his lips quirking up on one side.

  “So I get all of this?” I motioned toward the highlighted parts of the map.

  “And a possible house, in a ghost town, for just fewer than forty thousand?” I asked excitedly nearly bouncing out of my seat.

  “If you sign on this line right here and present me with a check, you do.” Devon smiled brightly, his dimples deep enough to stick my finger in.

  Gawd did I want to do just that. Devon’s smile made my brain turn to mush. If his smile had such an alarming effect on me I couldn’t imagine what his touch would do.

  “Where do I sign?” My voice came out in a breathy whisper.

  Devon chuckled, sliding a stack of papers in front of me. Bright yellow stickers clung to each page marking where my signature went.

  “Sign away.”

  Excitedly I began to scribble my name on page after page, my heart pounding in my chest and nervous energy racing through my veins. The paperwork seemed to go on and on my hand nearly cramping with the practiced movement of signing my name.

  With the large stack signed by myself, Devon, and Trina as witness I signed over a check for the land as well as a check for Devon’s services.

  “Last one.” Devon said sliding a sheet of paper in front of me.

  I looked down to see a handwritten note from Devon, the words Will you have dinner with me? scribbled on them in his perfect penmanship.

  “Devon?” His name tasted like honey on my lips.

  “Is that a yes?” The nervousness in his voice warmed me.

  This gorgeous, sexy man was nervous about asking me out? I couldn’t believe it.

  “Yes, of course I will.” I gushed out, clapping my hands excitedly in front of me.

  “How about tonight?” He asked, his lips curled up into a cocky lopsided grin.

  “I’d love to.” I reddened beneath his watchful gaze.

  “Good, now that you two have plans, if you’ll leave the paperwork to me I’ll get it filed while you two kids run off and play.” Trina gathered up the file off the table leaving the two of us alone in the conference room.

  “How do you feel about Rosie’s?” Devon asked.

  The mere mention of the Italian restaurant had my stomach growling before I could answer.

  Devon chuckled good-heartedly. “Rosie’s it is.”

  -

  I followed Devon in his car to the small Italian restaurant. He had offered to drive me in his car but it just seemed ridiculous to have him drive back across town just to drop me off at my car when I knew he lived on the far side of town. How did I know that? I may or may not have watched him jog by my house a time or two. I wasn’t sure if he knew it, but the two of us had been neighbors for as long as I could remember.

  I never in a million years expected to be having dinner with Devon Emerson; he had always been someone I lusted for from afar. The fact that he was my attorney also had held me back from pursuing anything more than a working relationship with him. Now that we were together talking in the restaurant I couldn’t imagine being any place else. Devon was funny, charming, sweet, and damn good looking. All I could imagine was his hot sweaty body over mine.

  “What’s that look?” Devon asked over the rim of his wine glass.

  I flushed with heat for the hundredth time in his presence.

  “What look?” I asked coyly.

  “That one you get when your cheeks turn pink and your eyes say you have been very naughty.” The wicked gleam in his eyes told me he knew exactly why I was red in the face.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” My teeth sank into my lower lip as I tried to bite back a smile.

  “How about we get out of here and discuss this in a more private setting?” He offered, a smooth smile lifting his thick lips.

  Lips I wanted to have pressed to mine.

  With a small nod the day had gone from good, to great, to fan-fucking-tastic. Unable to wait any longer, Devon paid the bill and escorted me back to my car in what I can only describe as a rather brisk walk. The building excitement with each step resounded throughout my body, every nerve ending standing at attention as Devon’s arm wrapped firmly around my waist.

  Devon followed me home in his car, the exhilaration of my new land purchase combined with the fact that the sexiest man I had ever laid eyes on was following me home had me nearly bursting at the seams. Each step forward felt like I was walking on the moon as Devon followed me into my single-story bungalow.

  Once inside, Devon’s lips pressed to mine, stealing my breath. Firm hands cradled my face as our mouths and tongues explored one another. With my hands threaded through his hair I deepened the kiss. Skillfully, I walked backwards through the house, toward the one place I had yet to ever bring a man, my bedroom. Devon’s lips covered mine as his hands explored my body as I led him to my room.

  Chapter four

  “TGIF.” Sam called loudly as she drummed her hands along my desk, her excitement ringing through the small open office drawing the attention of the others daring to work a full day.

  “One more minute, I just need to finish up this file and then I am home free.” I spoke without looking up from my work.

  I had just completed my last home check on the Forbes foster children and couldn’t wait to close the case. The past few weeks had me running nonstop between busy days at the office and late nights with Devon when I didn’t have a call. Today marked my last day of being the on-call worker and I couldn’t wait to celebrat
e by climbing in bed with a good book, a pint of chocolate thunder ice cream, and lounging away the weekend.

  That is, unless Devon called. The two of us had been seeing more and more of one another lately, often sneaking away for late night dinners and even later night desserts. The past few weeks had felt like heaven.

  I had avoided dating due to my strenuous schedule. I often took calls late into the night when I was the on-call worker. Devon had been understanding, never once getting angry when I had to take an emergency call while we were out together. It made my fondness for him grow exponentially.

  “So, you said you wanted to meet Anthony and tonight is the night, no ifs, ands, or buts about it lady.” Sam held out a threatening finger warning me against canceling.

  I scrubbed my hands across my face, groaning out loud. “But it’s my first day off.”

  “Next week we start wedding shopping and planning so buckle up buttercup, we’re just getting started.” Sam shook her ass dancing a little jig as she ignored my pleas.

  If it were anyone else I would have told them to bug off, but I couldn’t do that to Sam. Well I could, but I didn’t want to. My best friend was getting married to a guy I hadn’t even met yet and I already felt like a heel about it. All of my free time lately had been spent with Devon either wrapped in the sheets or wrapped in his arms, heading toward the sheets.

  “Fine, fine, fine.” I concede, lulling my head back against my desk chair, tongue hanging out in exaggeration.

  “Yay.” Sam cheered, ignoring my theatrics.

  “So, I’ll pick you up at seven, dress cute.” She warned before spinning on her heels and rushing out of my office.

  Glancing down at my watch I groaned, dropping my head. It was five-thirty, not nearly enough time to wallow in self-pity before going out. Gathering my things, I made my way out of the office. I had just enough time to get home, shower, and dress before Sam would arrive. Knowing Sam, she would be at my house by six-thirty claiming I was running late. I shot off a text to Devon letting him know I would be out all evening with Sam.