“Oh? In what way?”
“In two ways,” she said leisurely. “First of all, you enjoy being with me or you wouldn’t have continued to ask me out.”
“What else?”
“We’ve both been victims of our own attraction for each other. It’s about time we agreed to do something about it. At least until I find the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.” It was a lie that rolled off her tongue as easily as a greased grape.
“Well, far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth.” With a quick movement, Pete turned the car, then skimmed down the street toward his house. When he reached the driveway, he pulled smoothly onto the brick paving and punched a small button on the dash. Immediately the wrought-iron gates opened to allow him access to the private part of the drive.
Seeing Pete’s beautiful yard would usually have interested her, but not this time. This time all her nerves anticipated his next move. Shortly she’d be in his bed and he’d be in her arms. All else was rendered insignificant.
When he opened her door and offered his hand, she eased out slowly without looking at him.
“My, you’re calm, Carly.” His voice was low and easy, his touch almost impersonal.
“So are you,” she returned, following him up the path to the side door.
He let out a short laugh. “Not by a long shot.”
His confession gave her courage. As he put the key in the lock, she leaned toward him. “No one would ever know,” she whispered seductively in his ear.
Pete turned and swept her into his arms. “Don’t play with my fire, Carly. You might get burned.”
“I can take it. I’m tough.”
He stared down at her so intensely that she wanted to look away from the heat. Instead, she stared back, returning look for look.
His tight hold slackened and his mouth, softened and the corners turning up. “I don’t know about tough. But you’re certainly direct.”
“If you want less direct, I could play the coquette...for all of a minute or two,” she challenged.
“Just for a minute? That’s the best you can do?”
“It’s as good as you playing the gentleman. You can’t even bring me into the house without making a scene.”
His grin was unrepentant. “Lady, I don’t give a damn about who can see us doing what. This is my territory.”
“And no one can see us from here, can they?” she guessed.
His grin widened. “Not unless they’re peering through the side gate.”
She thought of a thousand things to say, but didn’t have a chance. Instead, Pete’s mouth descended on hers. She parted her lips, letting a breath out slowly as she recognized she’d been waiting for this moment since they’d made love.
She wanted him to carry her away, to ravish her, to take the lead so she wouldn’t have to admit to her own needs. But he refused. Instead, he played with her, teasing her mouth with his as he waited for her to show him she wanted more.
Carly wouldn’t do it. She stood stock-still, waiting for the next step.
“Okay, lady. We’re changing the rules and playing the game my way for a change,” he muttered before swinging open the door and leading her to the Florida room at the back of the house. Once they were inside, he turned and pulled her into his arms for a kiss that was hot and hard.
She wrapped her arms around him and held on for dear life. His mouth explored hers, pulling emotions from deep within her as he took what he wanted. But as the kiss lengthened, his touch gentled, and his hands began to stroke her shoulders and arms. Then he slipped them around her waist and spread butterfly kisses across her eyes and cheekbones.
Her breath caught in her throat again.
“I want you, Carly.”
“You’ve got me, Pete. Or would you rather I wrap myself up as a Christmas gift and sit under your tree?”
“I don’t ‘do’ Christmas, you know that.” He backed her against the couch. “Besides, you’re just fine the way you are. In fact, the less wrapping the better.”
Carly reached up and tugged at his tie. “I couldn’t agree more.”
He nudged her down onto the soft cushions of the curved couch. “We’re here, now. Why not make use of the facilities available?”
Other than a soft moan, Carly never answered. She was too busy feeling Pete’s hands and mouth on her body, caressing, soothing, heating everywhere. When she finally called out in ecstasy, Pete’s low voice joined hers.
Afterward, they lay naked on the couch and watched the bright orange sun slowly set behind the pines. With his arms encircling her, she lay with her back curled snugly against him. Contentment flowed through every fiber of her being.
“You’re full of surprises,” Pete remarked lazily, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thank you. I think.”
“What’s next on the agenda?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what else do you have up your sleeve?”
“Not a thing.”
“I’m surprised,” he said dryly. “After this glorious afternoon, I thought you’d expect some kind of payback.”
Anger welled in her. Did he think this was a bartering field?
“Actually, the payback, as you call it, is due next Saturday at one in the afternoon.”
“So soon?” His surprise seemed genuine. But she was too angry to care.
“A baseball game at the Little League ball club by the YMCA. It’ll take two hours.”
“You’re serious.”
“You bet,” she stated, standing and reaching for the clothing so negligently discarded earlier. “So be there.”
She dressed with careful disregard of his stare. Suddenly she wasn’t willing to compromise. If he couldn’t accept her as she was, then he didn’t deserve her at all. It didn’t matter that she loved him, fool that she was. Nothing mattered except that he respect her for who she was. “Be there or lose me.”
He stood and stretched. Naked in the golden dusk of late afternoon, he looked like an angry Greek god. “I’ll be there,” he said.
* * *
“HI, KIDS. THIS IS YOUR dad. I was just calling to see what you were up to. I miss you both. I’m looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. I send my love. Give each other a hug from me, will you?”
8
PETE SAT BUNDLED IN two sweaters and a Windbreaker, warmed by his clothes and the bright early-winter sun. From the bleachers, he and Carly watched a teenage pitcher wind up. Between them was Karen, yelling her heart out for the home team. Her dark auburn ponytail whipped this way and that as she studied the coach and players, then yelled the calls she thought were necessary to win. Though only seven years old, she was obviously satisfied with herself and happy in her life. The little girl showed a lot of character, but seemed to handle it well. So did her mother.
Since it was an afternoon game, the crowd consisted of parents and siblings of the players. Minutes before the game began, Pete had driven over from the house. Karen had been at viola practice, so she and Carly had met him at the ball club. Although Pete had spoken to Carly every day by phone, he hadn’t had a chance to be alone with her since their Sunday-afternoon “tea.” They were both pleased to see each other again, even if it wasn’t in private.
He and Carly leaned against the steps behind them, enjoying Karen more than the game. Every once in a while he would catch Carly looking at him as if he were a piece of rich, thick chocolate. His pulse quickened, his heart pounding with a deep hunger for her. Then she’d turn away and he would settle down a minute or so later, only to have his responses kick-start again at the next glance.
He must be insane. It was the only explanation for this craziness. He couldn’t believe he was sitting on a hard wooden seat, watching a ball game he had no stake in, with a woman he wanted and a precocious child who was not his...and was enjoying the hell out of it!
He’d better be insane.
Just then he looked at Carly again, and foun
d her eyes on him. The intimacy of her gaze made a slow heat flow through his body. He stretched his fingers a little farther along the bleacher back and touched her hand. Her look intensified, and so did his response.
Karen jumped up in aggravation and shouted, “Throw it, don’t hatch it!” to an awkward teenage outfielder. The outfielder threw it toward the catcher, then waved his glove in Karen’s direction. The little girl made sure the play was completed right, then plopped down with a sigh. “Tony’s not gonna make it to the majors if he doesn’t try harder.”
“I take it Tony is the outfielder?” Pete looked to Carly for confirmation.
She shrugged, carefully hiding a small smile from her daughter. “I would guess.”
“Sure he is, an’ he’s gonna be my coach next season,” Karen continued explaining. “He’s good but he’s just not payin’ attention.”
“Put the ending on your words, honey,” Carly reprimanded gently.
“Paying.” Karen repeated the word absently, obviously used to her mother’s admonitions. Then she asked, “How about a pizza after this, Mom?” Her gaze was still glued to the game. “It’s the eighth inning and there’s still plenty of light. I’ll have lots of time to do my homework after we get home.”
Carly glanced at Pete but didn’t ask him to join them. Apparently she assumed he had other plans for the evening. He liked not being taken for granted—at least by the other women he dated. But not with Carly. He wanted her to tell him he could join them—should join them. He felt left out.
And he knew why. He was falling in love with Carly. Still, disastrous marriage, the loss of his children and his fear of being hurt again would always outweigh any impulse to get involved in a relationship.
Carly interrupted his thoughts when she answered her daughter. “I don’t know why not, especially since your aunts are out this evening. Pizza it is, honey.”
He wasn’t going to ask. He refused to grovel. But his mouth formed the words anyway. “Am I allowed to tag along?”
Karen looked surprised. She glanced at her mom and back at Pete, then answered with a shrug, “Sure, Mr. Cade.”
Carly looked just as surprised as her daughter. “I didn’t know you ate anything that didn’t have broccoli alongside it.”
“Banquets and restaurants aren’t the only place I eat,” he murmured, tracing her hand with his finger again. “It just seems that way.”
“Really? Somehow I can’t imagine you feeling comfortable in a pizza parlor or hamburger joint.”
“I took my kids often enough. But you’ve never asked me to either one of those places.”
Her brows rose imperiously. “You’ve never offered to take me to one, either. It wasn’t mentioned as an option on one of our dates.”
Damn, he loved her quick mind. “What time are the aunts returning?”
Her eyes turned dark and he knew she was thinking about the same thing he was: how they could get together and make love tonight. Just the thought of having her in his arms made breathing difficult.
She turned away, a delightful peach flushing on her cheeks. “Around ten o’clock.”
“Will you be taking a walk tonight?”
“Maybe.”
“Let me know,” he said casually. “I might walk with you.”
Carly’s only response was a slight nod.
They left immediately after the last inning, with Karen chattering all the way to the parking lot. When they reached Carly’s car, Pete took the keys from her hand and opened the driver’s door, then unlocked the other side so Karen could get in.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want—” She didn’t complete the sentence because his finger touched her lips.
“I wouldn’t have asked to tag along if I didn’t want to spend more time with you.”
The sunniness of her smile warmed his heart. “I’m glad.”
* * *
AFTER SHE GAVE HIM directions, he followed her out of the parking lot and into traffic. He could see her talking to her daughter, laughing, smiling, listening as if the earth and the moon hung on the child’s every word. A stab of regret hit him for all things that could never be.
He wondered what it would have been like still to have a family to go home to. But that would have meant still being married. Sleeping, eating, and dwelling with a woman he now knew he had never loved. It had been loneliness and habit that had kept him in the marriage, and it had taken anger—her anger—to force him out of it. He marveled at the time and energy he’d expended on a relationship that never had a chance.
But he’d loved the kids until he thought he’d be swallowed up in emotion every time he looked at them. Always wanting a big family, he’d never found a woman who wanted the same.
Until he met Carly.
His thoughts screamed the truth at him until his forehead popped out in sweat. No. He’d never get his hopes up only to get dumped again. And he was sure it would happen. Sooner or later she would see greener grass or find someone who was not quite so committed to his work. Then she’d cry “lonely” until he gave her a divorce and half his money.
No. He needed to keep Carly as a diversion only. What was wrong with him that he would even think about shooting himself in the foot again?
They reached the restaurant and he pulled up next to Carly’s car. She smiled at him and he steeled himself against being drawn even closer.
Something in his expression must have warned her, for she stood very still while he walked up to her, her own smile slipping.
“Listen, I’ve remembered I need to make a few calls this evening before I leave for a gathering downtown,” he said. “I don’t really have time to stop right now. I hope you understand.”
Karen stood between them, her eyes darting from one grown-up to another.
“I thought you wanted pizza,” Carly said softly. He could see the hurt in her eyes, but he couldn’t help himself. He had to get away while he could. The situation was just a little too threatening.
“I know, but...”
Her gaze continued to level him. He was torn between fleeing to escape from her and staying to be near her. Flight or fight.
“Let’s go, then,” he said. Although he didn’t really mean to, he sounded as if he was being put-upon.
“Never mind.” She spoke firmly. “We understand your busy schedule and that you need to be somewhere else.”
“No, I have time. I just need to make a phone call,” he lied.
Carly turned to Karen, who was still watching with complete interest. “Honey, go on in and see what video games they have. I’ll be there in a minute.”
She’d said, “I’ll,” which meant she was getting ready to give him the brush-off. His lips thinned. Like hell!
“You’ve done the baseball bit,” she began as soon as Karen disappeared inside the building. “And I thank you for being such a good sport. I enjoyed it and so did Karen. But I certainly don’t want you to be with us if you’re not prepared to be positive about it.”
She was dismissing him as if he didn’t matter at all. His instinct was to retaliate. “Have you always been this blunt?”
“Yes.”
“How many men has it scared away besides your husband?”
She tilted her head and looked him up and down. “Do you ever pick on someone your own size or only women you date?”
“I seem to recall your claiming that you’re tough. What’s the matter, can’t take it?”
Suddenly Pete realized what he was doing—the same thing he’d always done when someone got too close. He was delivering barbs so no one could see his own vulnerabilites. For the first time he realized just what a cruel response it was. More than that, the thought of Carly walking away from him because of his insults forced him to realize just how much he wanted her in his life. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. It was just a reaction.”
But the look in her eyes told him he’d alrea
dy caused her pain. He needed to apologize. Again. “I’m sorry. I’m just not sure what to say or how to handle you most of the time, so I fight.”
Carly gazed levelly at him, then let her breath out slowly. “This was supposed to be a day spent with my daughter. You were invited to come along, but don’t think for a moment that I’m willing to forfeit this time with her. Although I love being with you, I’m not giving up her time for you.”
He hesitated just a moment. “Do you like pepperoni?”
“I do. So does Karen.” A small smile appeared on her face.
He grinned, praying she’d forgiven him. “Then let’s eat, honey.”
Karen had the time of her life. Pete promised an unending supply of quarters for the video games, giving her four quarters at a time. When Carly protested, he stated what he’d always said to his own kids: “Everyone needs to splurge once in a while. Besides, she’s having a great time. What’s wrong with that?”
“Plenty,” Carly countered firmly. “She’s a child, not something to be bought. Besides, if you give her this treat now, she won’t think of my splurging as a treat later. Too much of a good thing is not wonderful when it comes to raising children.”
“Unless you’re talking about love.”
She smiled, but she shook her head as if to chide him. “Love isn’t a good or bad thing. It’s as necessary as water and air.”
“More homegrown philosophy?”
“Truth. And by the way, I don’t charge for lectures.”
“Much.”
Her smile turned to pure, rich laughter. “Much,” she admitted.
He watched her smile, mesmerized by the beauty of it. She was wonderful and sexy and utterly charming. Warning bells echoed in his head, but once more he ignored them. He’d only made the commitment for the evening. He was sticking by his decision. Anyway, he was having fun, wasn’t he?
Karen hopped over to them on one foot, her ponytail bouncing in rhythm. Her eyes were alight with life. Pete saw the ghost of a young Carly and his heart warmed at the sight. The child had personality written all over her, just like her mama.
“You’ll never guess! I was playing Ms. Packman when I heard somebody talking, and when I looked, there was my teacher!” Reaching for her mother’s hand, she hopped on the other foot. “And she’s my favorite person in the whole wide world! I mean, besides you an’ Aunt Cora an’ Aunt Nora. An’, Shelby, who’s my best friend in all the world. Oh, an’ Daddy, of course.” It all came out in a rush as the little girl continued to hop, using her mother’s hand for support.
The Twelve Gifts of Christmas Page 10
