Page 20 of Frenemies to Lovers
He knocked and opened the door after she called “come in.” Her eyes widened when she spotted him. “What are you doing here?”
He closed the door behind him. “I had to pick up a permit and wanted to stop by to see you. Everything good?”
She nodded. “It’s good now. I guess you heard the rumors Thomas tried to start.”
“I did. Miriam called. I was going to set her straight, but you’d already done that.”
“I did as soon as Robert told me.” She leaned against the edge of her desk. She looked sexy as all get-out in her black-and-white polka-dot blouse and black pants that fit her curvy hips and thighs.
“What did I tell you—you’re too much of a professional to let our relationship mess up how you do your job.”
She raised a brow. “A professional, huh. Not Goody Two-shoes?”
He grinned and crossed the room to pull her to him. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope, because I’m not all good.”
He bent down and whispered in her ear. “I know. I’ve seen your naughty side.”
Tamara chuckled, then lightly hit him in the chest. “Not here. Later.” She leaned back and met his eyes. “But for real, are you good? The project and everything.”
“The project is going to be good. I heard you just now on the phone. Talking to Thomas.”
She rolled her eyes and grimaced. “I had to set him straight.”
“No explanation needed. I appreciate you doing that. What you said about trusting me. You mean it, right?”
She looked at him as if she couldn’t believe he would even ask. “Do I have a reason not to trust you?”
He lifted a shoulder, suddenly uncomfortable. He hesitated before saying what always worried him. “How do you know I’m not like my dad?”
Tamara placed a hand on his chest. Her eyes steady as they stared into his. “I saw how much your dad walking out hurt you. We weren’t friends anymore, but I understand that part of what happened between us was because of how your dad left and how it changed everything for you. I also saw how you defended your mom, your siblings, even though they’re older than you, and the rest of your family. You’re not like your dad. You’ve been honest with me from the start and not afraid to talk about how you’re feeling. If anything, Andre, you’re a better man than him.”
“I was always afraid that I would end up like him. That I’d hurt someone the way he hurt my mom. It’s why I never really wanted to get serious with anyone.”
“Do you still feel that way?”
“Not with you. The way I feel when I’m with you makes me want to protect you just like you’re my family. Even though you trust me, I want you to hear me say it. I care about you, Tamara. I’m falling in love with you. I swear to you that I won’t hurt you like that. I’m straight up. I promise to talk to you about any problems that may come up in the future. I won’t just leave you wondering what’s going on with me.”
“And I promise to do the same with you, Andre. If you’re honest with me, I’ll be honest with you.”
“You still want to do this relationship thing with me? Me and you against the world?”
Tamara laughed and shook her head. “How about me and you against Peachtree Cove? I’m not quite ready to take on the world just yet.”
He lowered his head and kissed her. “Give me some time and we’ll be ready.”
“You sure? It might be a while before I’m ready to take on the world,” she teased.
“That’s no problem. I’m committed to this for the long haul.”
