When I Had Nothing

<p><strong>When my stepmother talks me into doing a favor for her new neighbor it's clear she's up to something.</strong> She's been watching over me for years quiet and protective trying to save me from myself each time my life falls apart.<br><br>The neighbor in question is trouble I know it the instant I lay eyes on her: she's beautiful friendly and unwittingly seductive. A woman like her could get a man into deep trouble especially someone looking for a kind word or a hot meal and Natalie willingly provides both. For someone who's been starved for human affection and home cooked meals for years this makes the little dynamo my kryptonite. <strong>I want to hate her for it and I put on a pretty convincing show.</strong><br><br>There is no use in fighting Natalie: gorgeous persistent funny and kind when I don't deserve it. Patient to a fault she is quick to forgive my shortcomings. She's sunlight and happiness. Feisty and wonderful. She's always looking for the silver lining and it takes a long time to realize there's more to her than meets the eye: she's holding some secrets of her own and holding them close.<br><br>I've had enough trouble in my life already losing nearly everything I held dear and many days I wonder what it is that keeps me going. I don't need Natalie complicating things asking nosy questions trying to pick apart all the secrets I can't begin to share.<br><br>I'm good at pushing people away with harsh words and because I don't know how to apologize I find myself doing things for her instead. It allows me to be near the woman who's designated us friends though I'm certain there's more there.</p><p><strong>It scares me how much I want more.</strong><br><br>When a project spirals out of control and I have to call in help I begin to understand just what I stand to lose when I see her through the eyes of someone more desirable than me. Yet I continue to dig myself deeper...<br><br>On the other side of the country I have a life and a career something I willingly left behind to save the things most important to me. But I'm formulating my comeback plan building another arm for my empire the one my ex-business partner is trying to run into the ground while I hide away in the middle of nowhere Alabama.<br><br><strong>As desperately as I want to trust Natalie will she see me through different eyes once she knows who I really am?</strong></p>