Season of Love

by Jill Sanders

  “Nope.”

  “How did they take it?”

  “Not so well,” he answered. “They had to haul my father out in cuffs.”

  “What?” She sat up all the way now. “What happened?”

  “I’ll tell you the entire story tomorrow night. Is it too stalky of me to say that I miss you?”

  She smiled and lay back down. “No,” she said, breathless.

  “Good, because I do. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night.”

  “Me too.” She closed her eyes and his face came into mind. Then, suddenly, the image changed to him in his wet jogging attire, rain drops slowly dripping down his rippled chest. Her mouth went dry and her body started vibrating.

  “Lilly?” Corey’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Yes?” Her eyes opened slightly.

  “Did you fall asleep on me?”

  “No.” She smiled. “I was just remembering you soaking wet.” Realizing what she’d said, she gasped. “I-I…” she stuttered.

  Corey laughed. “Now you did it.”

  “What?” She bit her bottom lip.

  “I’m imagining you like that now as well.” His voice was deep and sexy, causing her to moan. “Yeah, those sexy sounds coming from you when I touch you.”

  She closed her eyes again and imagined it.

  “Lilly.” He broke into her thoughts again. “Go to sleep and dream of me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, feeling herself already drifting off with the dream just out of reach. “Corey, dream of me.”

  “I already am,” he said before hanging up.

  The next day she spent entering every item in the store into their new sales system. She had each item categorized and the bar code scanner codes entered so that when they sold something, all they had to do was scan it and the system would add taxes and ring up the final prices for them. They could even use their iPads if for some reason the computer wasn’t cooperating.

  Riley spent her day placing price tags on the rest of the items in the store.

  They sat in the finished store, eating sandwiches and soup that Riley’s father had dropped off for them. They dreamed about what opening day would be like and talked about Corey and Carter. Riley made clothing suggestions for their date and even helped her set up the table and chairs in the back room for their romantic dinner.

  “If we had our own place…” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “What?” Riley glanced over at her. “You’d kick me out for the night, so you could get busy?”

  Lilly chuckled. “I might.” She nudged her shoulder with her own.

  “I’d leave for you.” Riley wrapped her arms around her. “What are you having for dinner?”

  “I already arranged it with Sara.” She smiled. “She’s got an entire dinner ready for me to pick up on my way back here.” She glanced down at her watch and gasped. “I have to go. Will you lock up? I have to shower, change—”

  “Go,” Riley interrupted her. “I’ll make sure everything is perfect for you two.”

  “Thanks.” Lilly walked over and kissed her cousin on the cheek. “Tomorrow is opening day.” She hugged her and they both giggled and did a little dance.

  “Go,” Riley finally said, pushing her away lightly. “Get ready for your hot date. You can tell me all about it tomorrow.”

  “Bye.” She waved and rushed out the back door.

  It took her almost an hour to get ready. When she rushed out the front door of the house, she was wearing the outfit Riley had suggested. She texted Sara that she was five minutes away and ready to pick up the meal that the restaurant had prepared for her.

  When she pulled into the parking lot of the Golden Oar, Damion, one of the sous chefs, was standing by the back door with a large box.

  He smiled when he saw her car pull in and made his way across the parking lot.

  “Hey.” He smiled at her and shifted the box on his hip. “Hot date tonight, huh?”

  She’d worked a few years with Damion. He was tall, attractive, and a few years older than her. Still, there hadn’t been a spark between them, so he’d fallen into the friend category.

  “Yeah.” She opened her back door and stood back as he put the box in the seat.

  “It’s pretty easy to assemble yourself. I typed up instructions just in case, though.” He handed her a piece of paper. “Even your mom could do it.” He chuckled, and Lilly laughed.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She started to get back in the car.

  “Hey.” He stopped her. “You look really hot tonight. Maybe we should try a date night.”

  She stopped dead, her eyebrows rolled up slowly. “Damion?”

  “I mean…” He ran his hands through his hair. “It’s just… You were off-limits, you know… Boss’s niece.” He motioned. “Now that you’re not working here… I just thought…”

  “I, um… didn’t think you were interested.” She tried to think of what to say.

  “Oh, I was.” He smiled slowly and moved a little closer to her. “So were a few others. But no one was willing to cross that line.”

  “Who’s line?” She frowned.

  “Iian Jordan’s,” he said plainly, causing Lilly to sigh.

  “I guess that’s just it. I want someone who wouldn’t let anything stop them from being with me.” She smiled brightly and turned to get into the car. “Good night.”

  She stewed for the first few minutes as she drove. Of course, she’d known her family had interfered in her love life. That’s what family does. But scaring guys off from asking her out, that was a new low.

  She thought about texting her uncle and giving him a piece of her mind, but then she pulled into her parking spot and saw Corey waiting at the back door and all her anger disappeared.

  Looking into his green eyes as she stepped out of her car, she realized that here was a man who wouldn’t let anything get in his way.

  “Hi,” she said as he closed the distance between them. She had a moment to notice his face before he pulled her closer and closed his lips over hers.

  The breath was knocked from her and her knees actually went weak. She reached out and gripped his shoulders to stop herself from melting to the ground in the alley once more.

  His mouth moved over hers as his body pressed tightly against her. A low moan escaped her lips when he used his tongue to dip in for a taste. This time, her entire body went weak.

  When he pulled back, she was pretty sure her legs had turned to Jell-O.

  “Hi.” He smiled down at her.

  “Hi.” She was breathless, like she’d just run here from her house instead of driving.

  “I have these,” he said, and she noticed the bundle of flowers he had been holding in his hand.

  She took them and buried her face in the sweet softness. “They’re beautiful.”

  “Is that the food?” he asked, nodding to her back seat.

  Not trusting her voice, she nodded and stood back as he opened her door and hoisted up the box Damion had set in the seat.

  “What happened to your face?” she asked when he returned. She reached up and gently touched just under the blackness on his eye. His lip was a little puffy as well.

  “I’ll tell you inside. It feels like rain.” He glanced up at the dark sky.

  She nodded and pulled out her keys. Corey followed her into the back room and she gasped.

  Riley had strung some lights around the storage room. On the table, there was a soft white tablecloth and a vase full of water for the flowers she held. Lilly had to admit, it looked very romantic.

  “Riley?” Corey asked at her back.

  Moving aside, so he could set the box down, she smiled. “Yeah, she thinks of everything.” Lilly walked over and smelled the flowers again before arranging them in the waiting vase.

  “Whatever this is, it smells amazing,” Corey said. She lifted the lid off the box and started pulling out the meal: cheese, crackers, fruit, a
bottle of wine, and several full Tupperware containers.

  “Salad.” She motioned to the first. She pulled out the next one and opened it and steam rose from the seasoned vegetables.

  The chicken with creamy sauce was in the next one, along with rice. Another container held her uncle’s famous chocolate cake.

  She pulled out the dishes she’d brought along and started filling them, with Corey’s help. When they sat at the table, food in front of them, she glanced up at him.

  “Okay, now that we’re settled, start talking.” She motioned to his eye.

  He chuckled. “That’s what I like about you.” He motioned with his fork, then took a bite and groaned with pleasure. “Really good food.” He took another bite.

  “You’re stalling,” she added, seeing it plainly.

  “I am.” He sighed and set his fork down to sip at his wine. “Let’s just say, upon hearing that he wasn’t getting anything from his father, my father took it out on us.”

  “Carter?” she asked.

  “Is shiner free.” He touched his lip. “Thanks to me taking the second blow.”

  “Is your father in jail?” she asked, taking a first bite. Okay, she had to admit, the food was amazing.

  “He was, for a while. In the end, we decided not to press charges,” Corey added.

  “Why?” She frowned.

  He shrugged. “How would you feel if you were left out of your father’s will?”

  She leaned back and nodded as she set her fork down. “Will he contest the will?”

  “He can try. Our grandfather’s lawyer is one of the best in the state of Washington.”

  “Did you get everything signed?” she asked, picking up her fork again.

  “Yes. It’s a little more than we had ever dreamed of having,” he said between bites.

  “How much more?” she asked, taking up her wine glass and taking a sip.

  “Millions more,” he said under his breath, causing her to cough and spit out some wine. She covered her mouth with a napkin, but it was too late, she was coughing to the point that Corey had to slap her on her back several times.

  “Sorry,” she said when she finally got her breath back. “Did you say millions?”

  He nodded and frowned. “Yeah. Our exact reaction too.” He chuckled and sat back down.

  “What did your grandfather do for a living?”

  “Pacific Coast Construction.”

  If she had taken another drink, she would have coughed again.

  “Jesus,” she said under her breath. “You’re related to that Miller? Cecil Miller was your grandfather?”

  “Yes.” He frowned. “Do you know him?” His green eyes changed, and a shadow fell over his face, as if he was darker, deeper in thought.

  “Who doesn’t? Didn’t.” She reached over to touch his hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why?” He jerked his arm free and stood up, his almost-empty plate of food forgotten. “Because he was wealthy?” He paced the small space, the once-romantic lighting now casting shadows over him.

  “No.” She stood up, then walked over to him. Placing a hand on his arm, she stopped his movement. “Because I’ve heard that he was a real ass.”

  10

  He couldn’t help it, he pulled her into his arms and held onto her then. Just held on as tears burned the back of his eyes.

  “Corey?” she said against his chest. “Are you okay?”

  “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that.” He sighed and kissed the top of her head. “For the past two days, I’ve been dealing with kiss-asses. Yes, Mr. Miller, anything you want, Mr. Miller.” He sighed and leaned back to look down at her. “They were driving me crazy.”

  She was smiling up at him. “Yes, Mr. Miller.”

  He chuckled and brushed a strand of her blonde hair away from her forehead.

  “The worst was the lawyer’s secretary.” He groaned. “She actually threw herself at me.”

  Lilly’s eyebrows shot up and a look flashed behind her eyes. His smile grew when he saw the anger there.

  “Don’t worry,” he added, “I gracefully declined.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over her soft ones. “I’m sort of stuck on this hot blonde with sexy, pouty lips and silver eyes like moon beams,” he said between each kiss. He felt her melt against him.

  His hands moved down over the silky cream top she was wearing, moving lower until they brushed against her dark-blue skirt.

  “I’ve wanted this… wanted you,” he said softly.

  “Yes,” she said, her hands pulling at the jacket he’d hastily put on after getting home and showering. When it hit the floor, she started to fumble with the buttons on his shirt.

  His eyes moved around. Seeing a large chaise lounge in the corner of the room, he backed her up until her knees hit the edge of it.

  She deserved a large soft bed, one with a sweeping canopy overhead and silk sheets. And then some romantic music and maybe some candlelight…

  “Here?” he asked looking around the storage room. The lights hanging overhead made the room feel somewhat romantic, but it was far from what she deserved. Taking a deep breath, he turned his eyes back to her. “Now?”

  “I’m not going to wait,” she said, opening his shirt and running her fingers over his muscles.

  He’d worked hard for his form. He had been bullied as a kid and hadn’t ever had the chance to defend himself. Both he and Carter had worked together at transforming their genetically skinny frames into something more. Besides the hours of hard labor, they used to have to work for their father on job sites. They lifted weights, ran, swam— whatever it took to not be those skinny kids that took the lickings whenever someone bigger and meaner wanted to dish it out.

  Taking the hem of her blouse in his hands, he slowly lifted it.

  She leaned back and reached her arms over her head until she was free of the top. He looked down at her soft skin, glowing from the soft string of lights overhead. The white bra seemed to shimmer next to her pale skin.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered, running a fingertip over her bare shoulder.

  “Impressive,” she retorted. “You give off this vibe—skinny guy—but under your clothes…” She pulled his shirt all the way off and then hummed as she ran her fingers over his pecs. “Impressive,” she repeated.

  He hoisted her hips up until she could wrap those sexy legs of hers around him. Then he turned and sat down with her in his lap. Their mouths never separated as his hands roamed over her, enjoying the softness he found everywhere. His hands crept up under the skirt as she reached for the button and zipper on his slacks.

  “Let me,” he said against her lips.

  “I’ve wanted this as long as you have,” she said, leaning back and looking down at him. “Don’t ask me to go slow. There’ll be plenty of time for that later.” She again reached for his slacks.

  To solve the issue, he hoisted her up and around until she was tucked under his body. Her skirt hiked up until he saw the matching silk panties. Moving down, he trailed his mouth over her skin, over the softness of her bra. Her fingers dug into his hair, holding him, guiding him lower. He nudged her silk covering aside and took her erect nipple into his mouth, enjoying the sound of her moans and the taste of her skin in his mouth.

  After enjoying her perfect breasts, he moved lower, over her flat stomach, then nudged the silk panties down her legs and found her wet and hot for him.

  “My god,” he whispered before using his mouth on her. Her shoulders and back arched up. Her hands fisted beside her and he watched her eyes roll back as she bit her bottom lip while he pleased her.

  “Corey,” she cried out as he dipped a finger into her and had her coming for him.

  When her body went lax, he pulled out the condom and slipped his pants off his legs. As he covered her, her eyes fluttered opened.

  “You’re so amazing. I don’t deserve to touch you,” he said as he leaned closer. She reached for him, wrapped her arms around him, a
nd pulled him closer.

  “Please,” she said breathlessly.

  Her silver eyes locked with his as he slid into her, then they rolled back as she moaned with pleasure. His control slipped, and he started to move, losing sight of all the reasons he’d told himself he didn’t deserve to touch her, to be with her. All he could think of now was how she moved under him, the soft sounds she made, and how she made him feel.

  He lost every ounce of his ability for rational thought as her legs locked behind him and her nails dug into his shoulders. He heard her cry out with her release, and he followed her seconds later.

  Their breathing settled down and he realized that they were half off the chaise. He rolled a little until they were back in the middle of the lounge.

  “Better?” he asked as she snuggled against his chest.

  “Mmm,” she mumbled. “I could stay here until the morning.” She sighed.

  He chuckled, thinking about her dealing with opening day naked, lying in his arms.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked, leaning up to look at him.

  “The thought of you opening the doors to Classy and Sassy tomorrow, naked.” He ran his hand over her hip. “Both classy and sassy.”

  She chuckled and glanced down at him. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you deliver a pizza to me like this.” Her eyes ran over him slowly and he felt himself growing hard again. “Yes, definitely baked.”

  He chuckled and pulled her down for another searing kiss, then rolled her under him again for another chance to please her. This time, he took his time, learning every inch of her soft body, every tantalizing curve, every freckle on her skin, until she begged him. Then and only then did he give her release.

  When he walked into the rental house an hour later, he felt like he was on top of the world.

  “Date went that well, huh?” Carter said from his spot on the sofa. The game was on the muted television set.

  “Yeah.” He smiled and walked over to the fridge to grab himself a beer. Then he circled back and grabbed one for Carter.

  Sitting next to his brother on the old couch, he propped his feet up on the old coffee table that had seen one too many years and not enough care.