Free Again (Time for Love Book 3) by Miranda P. Charles Page B

site had been demolished. He was very grateful that the Carmichaels had given him an excellent price for it—heavily discounted, at their insistence.
    He’d poured a huge chunk of his savings into that property when he bought it. And thanks to the combination of rent money from the tenants, a good portion of his salary from his Formula One job, and his share of the profits from the family business, the apartment was now fully paid off. He’d recently used it as a guarantee for the business loan he’d applied for to start his car servicing business.
    He couldn’t wait to move in. He had the perfect vista of Bondi Beach from his balcony, and he was looking forward to familiarising himself with his apartment. He’d only seen the inside once, right after it was finished and just before the first tenants moved in. Finally, after seven years of living a semi-nomadic life, he’d be staying put in his own home.
    He was walking towards his bedroom when the door next to it opened.
    “Hi, Connor!”
    “Sonya! What are you doing here?” His gaze inadvertently flickered down to her body before he hurriedly focused back on her face. She was wearing a sexy and revealing nightie, and she obviously didn’t have a problem walking out of her room with just that on.
    “Ugh,” Sonya said. “Why did I ever think that I could stay with my family for one whole month without losing my mind? I couldn’t, so I came back home.”
    “But I thought the whole purpose of you taking a month off work was to spend it there, since you haven’t seen them in a long time. Didn’t you say your parents will be celebrating their thirty-fifth anniversary in a few days, and your uncle will be turning sixty?”
    “Well, I’ll be flying back there again for that weekend. But I’ve had enough of my mother’s nagging and her telling me what to do.”
    Connor chuckled. “You’ve only been there a week. What time did you arrive back?”
    “This afternoon. You’re home late today. What have you been up to?”
    “I was up at the Hunter Valley since yesterday. It was my friend’s engagement party.”
    “Good party?”
    “Yeah. Excellent.”
    “Hey, I can’t wait to see your family’s property there. You said you’ll take me one day,” Sonya said.
    “Sure. One day,” he replied, opening his door. “So you’ll be around for the next couple of weeks?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll try to stay out of your way.”
    “No need,” Sonya said with a giggle, pulling her hair into a bun atop her head with her hands. It had the effect of arching her back and lifting her short nightie further up her thighs.
    “Well, I’m beat,” he said, ignoring her actions. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
    “Goodnight, Connor. Sweet dreams.”
    *
    C onnor heaved a great sigh as he closed his door, wondering if it was stupid of him to have accepted Sonya’s offer to stay at her place. The two of them had had a fling two years ago, when he was in the country for a brief visit. It had been no more than a handful of nights together, although Sonya had been tearful when he’d left.
    Sonya had heard from her brother that Connor was back in Australia permanently, and that he was waiting for his tenants to vacate his apartment. She’d offered him the use of her place, saying she wouldn’t be around anyway.
    Connor had planned to stay with his parents until he was ready to move into his own home. But it was vastly more convenient for him to be in Sydney than in the Hunter Valley. It meant being able meet face-to-face with business connections rather than discussing deals over the phone. So he’d jumped at Sonya’s offer.
    But now she was here, sharing the space with him. There was only one bathroom, so he’d have to make sure she didn’t need it before he used it. He didn’t mind sharing the place, but he hoped Sonya didn’t have any ideas of rekindling their fling. From her body language a few minutes ago, he could tell she had that intention.
    Sonya was a