Winning Her Forever. Harmony Evans

makes me a lot of money, but he also causes me a lot of trouble. He’s not the easiest man to like, or to defend.”

      “Aren’t you a co-owner?”

      “My father gave us equal control, but I’m more comfortable in a bulldozer than in the boardroom.”

      Sonya felt that invisible jolt inside when one connected with a kindred spirit.

      She’d felt the same way when she was a ballerina. She didn’t want to be bothered with the business side of things; she just wanted to dance.

      “Are you really going to build more affordable housing?”

      Trent folded his arms and rested them on the table.

      “Let me put it to you this way. I think we should. But that doesn’t mean we will. The only thing my father and brother care about is making money.”

      “And what about you?” she asked. “What do you care about?”

      “Building custom homes that allow families to live their lives in a safe, secure community.”

      “Sounds like a viable mission statement.”

      “The difference is that I believe it and work it every day.”

      “Maybe I’ll get to meet your brother one day.”

      “No, you won’t. I want to keep you all to myself.”

      “Now who is being selfish?” she teased back.

      “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” he asked.

      She took a sip of beer. “I’m an only child.”

      “Are you a little emperor?” he teased, referring to the stereotype that only children were selfish because they had no siblings and never learned to share.

      “No, but I’m the master of my own destiny.”

      “And what do you see in your future?”

      She tapped her index finger on her lips. His question took her by surprise. Since high school, she’d had her life mapped out. Her plan had been to graduate from college, audition for a major dance organization, be accepted and spend the rest of her life onstage, retire early and then teach.

      Somewhere along the way, as reoccurring injuries kept her sidelined, causing her to lose some key roles, she was forced to face a new reality. She knew that audiences were fickle, but didn’t know that they could make or break a season. Many of her friends had gone on to other careers, because being a dancer simply wasn’t sustainable. She never thought she’d be one of them, but here she was, back in Bay Point, living in her father’s house.

      “Let me see. I’d like to pass your class and get home in one piece, does that count?”

      “I have it on good authority that both will come true.”

      “Are you a magic genie?”

      He laughed. “No, just a man who has complete confidence.”

      After they finished their meal, Sonya excused herself to use the restroom while Trent paid the check. Outside, she gave him directions to her home. When he tried to help her with the helmet, she nudged his hand away.

      “I think I can do this by myself now.”

      He shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself.”

      Sonya noted the hint of disappointment in his voice and figured that a man with his reputation wasn’t used to having a woman say no. She wasn’t helpless, just confused about all the feelings swirling inside of her.

      When they arrived, she got off the motorcycle and handed him the helmet.

      His eyes scanned over her house. “You’ve got a couple of shingles missing off your roof.”

      She followed his gaze, wondering how he’d spotted them, as she hadn’t seen them before.

      “I actually need to have the entire house inspected—inside and out.”

      “I can give you a few names to call, if you’d like.”

      “I’d appreciate that. Thanks for the ride, and for the dinner.”

      “It was my pleasure. When can I see you again?”

      “Next week. Outside the hardware store, remember?”

      He winked. “You’re lucky I’m a very patient man.”

      As she watched him drive away into the night, she murmured, “You’re going to be waiting a while.”

      As long as she kept this gorgeous man at arm’s length, she could continue to figure out how she was going to live the rest of her life. Not as a dancer on a stage, but like a regular person.

      No applause, no curtain calls and no encores.