Cat frowned, disappointed. “You mean his gaze didn’t linger?”
Lisa shook her head. “No, sorry, but he seemed more interested in what Robert Hull was saying than in noticing you.”
Cat wished Lisa wouldn’t be so brutally honest at times, but then that’s what made her a special friend. Unlike Danielle, she was genuine and not phony.
“Okay, then, that means I’m going to have to turn up the heat.” She looked over in the direction where he’d been standing and saw him open the glass patio door to slip outside. Now was her chance. “Excuse me for a second, Lisa. It’s time for me and Mr. Dawkins to come face-to-face, don’t you think?”
__________
RORY LEANED AGAINST the brick post and pulled in a shallow breath. He had needed to get out of there to get a grip and to regain control. When Cat had walked by, she had moved with such a sensuous grace that he quickly had to take his eyes off her. But still, through his peripheral vision, he hadn’t missed the feminine sway of her hips that had made his groin go tight again. He knew then that he had to escape to the outside before a telltale sign of how much he wanted her began to show.
And his present frame of mind wasn’t helping matters. He felt downright horny and had a definite need to get laid. Going without for a year had been murder on his hormones, but he’d refused to get intimate with anyone other than the woman he loved.
But he couldn’t go there with Cat even if he wanted to. His future wife had a lesson to learn first, and no matter how much the wait killed him, she would have to accept things on his terms and not on hers. Wanting to have things her way was the reason they were apart now. And he didn’t plan to go through this type of separation from her again. Any relationship with Cat meant forever, and she needed to understand that clearly. He needed to be sure she was ready for them to move forward, and he wanted to know what had made her change her mind. If this was nothing more than a spurt of hormonal need, then he wanted no part of it.
Before meeting her, he’d never been involved in a relationship that lasted more than a few months, had never given any thought to falling in love. But he had taken one look at her that day at Peyton and Lisa’s wedding, and that rare phenomenon called love had ripped through him. And he’d known she was the one woman for him without them exchanging even a single word.
They dated for four months before they slept together, so although she could turn him on like nobody’s business, it hadn’t been just sex between them. The sex was better than hot, but then there was also something special about sitting down with her and talking for hours about how his life as a child had been while in and out of foster homes, and sharing information about his workdays. And she had been open about her past, too. He knew she came from a family of six and how her parents had made the ultimate sacrifice of sending all their offspring to college. He’d had nothing against the driving force that pushed her to achieve, and had admired her for it. What he had been against was her willingness to throw away what they’d had because of it.
He heard the patio door opening and hoped to God it wasn’t Danielle. The woman had been hitting on him ever since he’d arrived. Didn’t she have any shame? he wondered. And what about loyalty? After all, she was also Cat’s friend.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?”
The sound of that voice made the erection he’d gotten under control suddenly spring to life again. He was grateful the patio was dark except for one lone light fixture whose beam wasn’t hitting him. But still he decided to wait a few seconds before turning around and spoke over his shoulder. “Yes, it is.” After a few moments, he slowly turned around. “How have you been, Cat?” he asked smoothly.
Although the light wasn’t hitting him, it was hitting her, and he had to forcibly quell his body’s response to seeing her and being outside and alone with her. Even from across the distance, he could smell her perfume, a sensuous scent that was uniquely her.
“I’ve been fine. What about you?”
“It’s mid-March, the beginning of spring, our busiest time of the year, but it’s all good.” After a brief pause, he said, “I understand you and Lisa have moved into your new building. Peyton says it’s nice.”
“It is. You have to drop by one day, and I’ll be glad to give you a tour.”
She had no idea that he had dropped by already, and rather recently. “Thanks.”
“Rory, I—”
“Well, I’d better go back inside now,” he said quickly, not ready for anything else she had to say. The serious look in her eyes communicated what was coming, but as far as he was concerned, a pat apology just wouldn’t cut it for him right now. He had suffered for twelve long months.
“It was nice seeing you tonight, Cat, and I’m glad to know you’re doing well. I’ll be seeing you around.”
Not giving her a chance to say anything else, he quickly walked past her and went back inside.
2
I guess I didn’t turn up the heat enough,” Cat said quietly, looking into her wineglass. Disappointment etched in every word as she, Melody, and Lisa sat at a table in their favorite restaurant for lunch a few days later.
Lisa and Mel shared a look before Lisa said, grinning, “Oh, I think you did. Mel and I couldn’t help noticing when Rory came back that he was turned on as all get-out. That’s probably why he left the party so soon.”
Cat snapped her head up. “Are the two of you serious?” Hope was in her eyes and her voice.
“Yes, we’re serious, Cat, so I wouldn’t throw in the towel yet if I were you,” Mel said, taking a sip of her own wine. “If nothing else, you proved one thing. Rory is still attracted to you.”
“Yes, it definitely appeared that way,” Lisa tacked on.
Suddenly in a much better mood, Cat leaned back in her chair and smiled. That was definitely news she’d needed to hear. She had been down in the dumps since seeing him that night. “Now if I can get him to stay in my presence more than five minutes to let him know how I feel. The only way we can really repair our relationship is for us to spend time together. That’s the only way I can seek his forgiveness for what I did. I didn’t realize just how much I loved him until he wasn’t in my life anymore. It seemed like a part of me was missing. I’m sorry it took me almost a year to discover he’d been right all along and that the two of us were meant for each other.”
“So what are you going to do now?” Mel asked.
“Think of a way to get him off somewhere, without any interruptions.”
Lisa’s eyes lit mischievously. “I think I have an idea how you can accomplish that.”
“How?”
“Peyton and Rory have planned a fishing trip to the cabin this coming weekend. What if I come up with a reason for Peyton not to go, which means Rory will be there all alone?”
“Mmm,” Cat said thoughtfully, already liking the idea as numerous possibilities flowed through her mind. Then one she didn’t like suddenly popped up. “What if he asks his new girlfriend to go with him if Peyton backs out?”
Lisa pursed her lips, considering, and then spoke. “Her name is Shari, and a few weeks ago I asked Rory for her phone number, so I could invite her to do something with me that weekend since he would be away. That would give me the chance to get to know her.”
At Cat’s glare, Lisa quickly added, “That was before I knew you had come to your senses and wanted him back. Anyway, he said she would be out of town herself that weekend. In that case, I doubt she’ll be there.”
Cat felt better in knowing that. However if her plan worked, Rory would be faced with making a choice—her or Shari—and Cat was going to make sure she did everything to reconcile things between them. She had actually thought being a success was everything, but now she understood what Rory had tried to make her see. Success wouldn’t be there with her on those cold nights, nor was success something she could count on when she needed a friend to talk to. She could tell from their brief conversation that past weekend that Rory had his guard up with her and he wo
uld continue to keep it up. She had to try more than ever to breach it.
“Okay,” she said, looking at Lisa. “You come up with a reason to keep Peyton at home, and I’ll think of a way to make sure this weekend turns out to be one that Rory will remember for a long time.”
Mel held up her wineglass. “Here’s to getting your man back,” she toasted.
Cat laughed and raised her glass along with Mel and Lisa. “Getting Rory back,” they all chimed.
THE NEXT DAY
Peyton waited until he knew his wife had pulled out of the drive-way and then called Rory on his cell phone. He smiled. “Hey man, just thought I’d give you a heads-up. Our women are cooking something behind our backs.”
Rory, who had been outside cutting his yard, leaned against his kitchen counter after taking a huge gulp of water straight from an icy cold bottle. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because Lisa convinced me not to go fishing with you this weekend,” he said smugly. “She wants me to go with her this weekend to visit her cousin in Atlanta.”
“And you’re giving up fishing for that?”
“Hey, man, what can I say? She put her persuasive skills to work, and before I knew it, I was agreeing to anything she wanted. You can call me weak—I don’t give a damn. However, I prefer to be called satisfied instead.”
Rory chuckled. “Okay, man, I get the picture.”
“You know this is a setup don’t you?” Peyton then said. “And how much do you want to bet that Cat is going to show up at the cabin now that I’m out of the picture.”
Desire raced through Rory’s body. He definitely liked the thought of hanging out with her alone at the cabin for an entire weekend. Yes, it sounded like a setup, and if it was, little did the woman he loved know that he had his own personal agenda. He planned to teach her a lesson that she wouldn’t forget.
CAT LEFT WORK early on Friday to go home and pack, a chore she found easy, since she was taking as little clothing as possible. Although she knew that it would take more than seduction to bring Rory around, she believed when all else failed, hit a man right below the gut.
And she planned to hit hard.
The question of what his initial reaction would be upon seeing her at the door lingered in her mind. Would he get upset and close the door in her face, or would he pull her into his arms and kiss her? The thought of him doing the latter filled her with all kinds of anticipation. She could actually feel the hard demanding mouth on hers, tasting, promising, but more important, surrendering.
Cat’s entire body hummed at the thought, and she allowed herself to indulge further as images of those deep, chocolate brown eyes latching on her just moments before Rory picked her up in his arms to carry her off to the bedroom to make intense love to her. Adrenaline, excitement, love laced with lust flared within her stomach, and she knew if any of the scenarios she’d imagined took place, then this Shari would be old news.
An hour later, Cat was on the road, heading toward Georgia and a section of land near Blairsville that Peyton’s parents had given the couple as a wedding gift. The area was rich with prestigious horse farms, large country estates, riverfront homes, and breathtaking mountain views that opened not only your eyes, but also your soul. She would always remember the first time Rory had brought her here alone. They had cruised the back roads leading to the cabin, taking in the beauty of the mountains. And once they’d reached their destination and unpacked, they had taken in the splendor of each other when they had made love for the first time.
So for her and Rory, this would be coming full circle, going back to the place where their intimate life together had begun, and she hoped to mend the tear she had placed in their relationship. Based on the information Lisa had given her yesterday, if her calculations were right, Rory would reach their destination four hours before she did, and Cat hoped that Lisa’s claim that he would be alone was an accurate one. She didn’t want to think about her embarrassment if it wasn’t.
Scratch that. Wipe that thought out completely.
She refused to think of that possibility. Her hopes for this weekend were too high. For the past twelve months she’d been like a woman trapped underwater, and now that she was finally coming up for air, she planned to breathed in as much of it as she could. Already in the deep recesses of her mind, Rory’s manly scent was filling her nostrils, and she couldn’t help remembering that scent mingling with his taste whenever they kissed.
Sensations suddenly swamped her senses, and as she took the interstate that crossed the Alabama line into Georgia, everything faded from her mind, except thoughts of her and Rory spending time together.
RORY GLANCED DOWN at his watch. It was almost six in the afternoon. He’d been at the cabin only a few hours and already he was champing at the bit, wondering when Cat would show up. What if Peyton’s assumptions were all wrong and she had no intention of coming? Hell, he didn’t want to think of that possibility, since he had spent the past two days thinking of an angle he could use that would really throw her for a loop.
According to Peyton, Lisa and Cat’s plan was for Cat to arrive, claiming there was some sort of a mix-up, since Lisa had given her the okay to use the cabin for that same weekend. And now since the two of them were stuck here together … Oh, well… .
Rory snorted. Cat would get just what she wanted but on his terms, and she would have to be the one to prove that a future, and not just a temporary sexual fix, was what she really wanted.
His ears picked up the sound of a car pulling in outside. He swallowed, knowing the time to play-act had arrived. He hated being deceitful, but then, there was a reason for this madness.
He had deliberately parked his SUV in the garage out back to make the story Cat would tell seem even more plausible. Thanks to Lisa, Cat had her own key and was supposed to walk into the cabin and act surprised to see him. He would play as dumfounded as she while she explained there must have been a mix-up on cabin dates.
Yeah. Right.
He glanced around. The cabin looked cozy enough with the wood burning in the fireplace. He had unpacked and unloaded the food in the refrigerator. He had showered earlier and changed into another pair of jeans and a T-shirt. And now he waited for her to walk through the door. As he watched the doorknob slowly turn, he knew this weekend they would either get their act together or end things completely.
3
With her overnight bag in her hand, Cat slowly opened the door, and immediately her eyes connected with Rory’s, who was standing across the room next to a lit fireplace.
Silence stretched out for a moment as their gazes held. She closed the door behind her as she tried collecting herself to act surprised to see him, but at the moment the only thought that filled her mind was that he was there … alone with her. But still, she knew she had to become the actress she and Lisa had cooked up.
“So,” she tried to say calmly. “What are you doing here?” His eyes on her seemed hot and focused. Or was she just imagining things?
“I should ask you the same thing, Cat.”
His words barely registered, but the sound of his voice did. It was low, sexy, a total turn-on. And then there was that wonderful-looking mouth of his that could do so many naughty and wicked things to her. “Lisa,” she said softly.
He stared at her. “What about Lisa?”
Her lashes flickered as she held Rory’s gaze and hoped he’d buy what she was about to say, since she was not a very good liar. “She thought you and Peyton were canceling the fishing trip this weekend, and when I told her that I needed to get away and asked if I could use this place, she said it would be okay.”
Rory leaned back against the mantel. “Peyton backed out. I decided to come ahead alone. Evidently Lisa didn’t know that.”
“I guess not,” she said faintly, barely following their conversation. Her concentration was on Rory’s body. The tightness of his muscles looked good in the pair of close-fitting, sexy jeans he was wearing, which emphasized every physical line in
his body, his every bulge. As usual, her pulse quickened in appreciation whenever she saw him in a pair of jeans. He looked so compelling, so handsome, and the magnetism radiating from him was so intense, she was losing her train of thought. It was only when she noticed his mouth move that she realized he’d said something.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” she asked.
He nodded. “You said the reason you asked Lisa about coming here was because you had needed to get away. Why?”
Cat knew that now would be the perfect moment to level with him and tell him the truth. And although she believed that honesty was the best policy, this was one of those rare times she would have to make an exception to that rule. She had hurt Rory that night. She’d said things that she had later regretted. And now she was filled with uncertainty over whether the seduction she planned to orchestrate would work. Lisa and Mel were convinced that Rory still wanted her. But did he still love her?
“Cat?”
Hearing him call her name made her inhale a deep breath. She didn’t want to play games with him. She make a quick decision to come right out and tell him just what was bothering her and what a complete fool she’d been, and that she now wanted all those things he had wanted, all those things he had offered her a year ago: love, commitment, marriage, babies …
Dropping her bag by the door, she walked to the middle of the room to start speaking from her heart. “The reason I needed to get away, Rory, is because I’ve been torn and miserable since we broke up and—”
“I’ve been torn and miserable since we broke up too,” he said, interrupting her words.
Hope flared within Cat. “You have?”
“Yes.” Rory discovered that holding a conversation with her wasn’t easy, especially since his gaze seemed glued to the soft material of her blouse and short, short skirt that showed long gorgeous bare legs and hugged her curvy hips in all the right places. But then he doubted there were any wrong places anywhere on Cat.
And it didn’t take much to see that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Whether she had on panties was a mystery in itself. But it would stand to reason that if she had planned to seduce him, Cat would have dispensed with the small stuff. Her favorite way of getting it on was quick and hard, especially whenever she was in an extremely sexually hungry state.
Mr. Satisfaction Page 2
