Secrets Of The Tulip Sisters

Her brown eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“I work with several nonprofits. They collect materials and ship them to me. When I have enough, I ask for volunteers and we put together micro housing in kit form. It’s then sent to wherever it’s needed most.” He pointed to the solar panels. “Those are for sub-Saharan Africa. They’ll be self-sufficient as far as electricity. I’m working with a guy I know in Oklahoma who’s experimenting with different ways to purify water. Right now the units are too big and too expensive, but eventually we’ll be able to send them with the houses. These are more basic than what I sell here, but they’re still shelter.”

He walked over to the designs on the wall. “One of the organizations has me build tiny houses for homeless shelters. Same premise, different materials, depending on which part of the country they’re for. A couple of times a year, they send me interns to coordinate everything. We’re getting ready for a build next month. I’ll be putting the word out for volunteers.”

Her mouth wasn’t exactly hanging open, but it was close. Good. Griffith didn’t do the work for the attention, but he wasn’t above using it to impress Kelly. Because when it came to a woman like her, a guy had to be willing to take advantage of whatever the gods offered.

“I’d like that,” she told him. “To help. This is a great project. All of it. I had no idea you were doing this.” She shifted her gaze from the materials to his face. “It’s amazing. Everyone always says they want to make a difference, but so few of us have the opportunity to do so directly. With this, there’ll be homes for families when there weren’t homes before. That could mean the difference between life and death—literally.”

“You get it,” he said before he could stop himself.

She smiled. “Doesn’t everyone?”

No. Jane hadn’t. His ex-wife had gone along with him when he’d moved to Africa to work with his mentor, but she hadn’t liked it one bit. She’d made that clear on a daily basis. He supposed he had culpability in the problem. He’d been the one who was supposed to join an international architectural firm and design museums and elegant skyscrapers. Instead he’d fallen hard for micro housing. Jane hadn’t approved.

“You’d be surprised how many only want to write a check,” he said instead. “Not that I’m knocking the check writers. They provide the funds.”

“It takes both sides of the equation. Without your work, the check would be meaningless.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

She stood a comfortable distance from him. Her posture was relaxed and open. She’d forgotten why she’d come to see him. Which probably meant it was time to remind her.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

She blinked in surprise, then her whole body changed as she remembered her mission. “Oh, right.” She cleared her throat. “I, ah... Well, the thing is...”

He waited patiently. “Yes?”

“You are, um, around a lot. Around me.”

Around was better than stalking. A lot better. He gave her his best smile again, hoping it would help.

“You’re not imagining things,” he said quietly. “I’ve been trying to get to know you without being too obvious. I guess I suck at the spy thing, huh?”

She relaxed. “Kind of.”

“Sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to.” Now it was his turn to be nervous. Kelly didn’t play games so he wasn’t going to, either. He was going to put it out there.

“When I moved back, I noticed you right away. You were with Sven, so I figured I had to let it go. Then you two broke up. It’s been six months, so I’m hoping you’re over him.”

Her eyes widened. “Okay.” The word was drawn out to three syllables.

“So here’s the thing. I want us to get to know each other. I think we could have fun together. If I’m right, I’d like us to take things to the next level.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m a decent guy. I believe in serial monogamy. I’m not looking for love or marriage or happily ever after. But I am looking for a long-term girlfriend. I’m hoping you feel the same way and we can work something out.”

Her mouth dropped open. She closed it before taking a step back. “Friends with benefits?”

“Something like that, although I was thinking more lovers who are friends.”

“You want to have sex with me?”

He grinned. “Kelly, pretty much every guy who sees you wants to have sex with you, but to be clear, yes. I would like that very much.”

“I don’t understand.” She held up her hand. “I take that back. I understand what you said. It’s just... Wow.”

Wow was better than drop dead or hell, no so he would take it. “You probably want some time to think about it.”

“Yeah. That would be great.” She looked more than a little shell-shocked. “You read Eat, Pray, Love to get me into bed?”

“No. I read it because your book club was reading it and I thought it would be something we could talk about. I don’t just want to sleep with you, Kelly. I meant what I said. I’m looking for a relationship.”

“But not love or marriage.”

“Right.”

“You’re very up front and honest.”

“That’s the goal. You’ll think about what I said?”

“I would imagine it’s going to be hard to think about anything else.”

“No means no. If you decide to break my heart, I won’t bother you again.” Not that he wanted her to say no, but nothing about his invitation was supposed to scare her.

She nodded slowly, as if stunned.

“Why don’t I walk you to your truck?”

She nodded again and began walking. He fell into step with her. “Thanks for coming by.”

“Uh-huh.”

They went outside. Kelly glanced around as if she wasn’t sure where she was. He pointed to her truck.

“Over there.”

She glared at him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Just a little. Wouldn’t you if you were me?”

“Maybe.” Her brown eyes turned wary. “This isn’t a joke, is it?”

The softly worded question cut him more deeply than he would have expected.

“Kelly, no.” He moved close and took her hand in his. “I’m not kidding. I meant what I said. About wanting to get to know you, about us having potential together, about no meaning no. All of it. I swear. Please believe me. I have no reason to want to hurt you.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

She got in her truck and backed out of the parking lot. It was only after she’d turned onto the highway that he remembered what had happened in high school. How he’d dissed her in front of all his friends. He’d done it for the best possible reason but at the end of the day she’d been humiliated and it was all his fault.