by Jane Blythe
“I made some pretty awesome Valentine’s Day plans.”
“Dinner at a fancy restaurant?”
“That’s something you would do. Nope, my plans are on a much bigger scale. I have everything set up, but my biggest problem is going to be convincing her to go with me. Any tips from the expert?”
“You know you're talking about a guy whose Valentine’s Day plans are dinner at home with a five-year-old and a baby, and then if we’re lucky and the stars all align we’ll get one shot at hot, mind-blowing sex before we both pass out.”
“Beggars can't be choosers.” He grinned. “And you got the girl, so between the two of us you're definitely the expert.”
Graham pondered for a moment. “Trust your gut and follow your heart.”
“That’s very poetic,” he said, surprised.
“I honestly don’t think there was much I wouldn’t have done to convince Soraya that we should be together. I just felt it, I can't explain it any better than that. I know she did too once she let go of her concerns. So the question is, what is your gut telling you, and is your heart telling you it’s worth the work to prove to Florence that you two could have something real. Only you can answer those questions.” Graham stood and walked to the door where he paused. “Can I take it that you won't be in the office tomorrow?”
Eli didn't even have to think about what his heart was saying, it was screaming at him that he shouldn’t let Florence get away. His gut was also telling him what he had to do to get her to agree to his Valentine’s Day plans.
“Oh, I definitely will not be coming into the office tomorrow.”
“Hope your plan goes off without a hitch.”
“Me too.” Florence was stubborn, but she wasn't stupid, and she was already getting used to the idea that he wasn't going anywhere. If she said yes to his plans for tomorrow, then he was pretty sure that by this time tomorrow, they would be a couple.
* * * * *
8:53 P.M.
Her optimism this morning that this case might be wrapped up by the end of the day was over.
Justin Bates had been in custody when Jana Friedrick had been murdered, so if she was the sixteenth victim of the Dumpster Killer, he wasn't the man they were looking for. So either the eye painted in blood at the scene was a random thing, or an attempt to throw them off the case by the real killer, or Justin wasn't the serial killer.
Florence wasn't sure which was worse.
She liked Justin for the Dumpster Killer, he fit their profile, hated women, was definitely full of rage, but he had been in a jail cell waiting to try to get bail, there was no possible way he could have killed Jana. If the cases were related, then they were back to square one in finding the serial killer.
There was always the chance that the DNA that CSU had gotten from the blood at the apartment—which she had been correct in assuming belonged to the assailant and not Jana—would get a hit in the system, but they couldn’t count on that. If forensics didn't work out then she didn't know where she and Jake would look next.
Dropping the file she had been poring over, Florence rubbed her temples, she was getting a headache.
Disappointment over the case wasn't the only disappointment she’d faced today.
Other than the couple of texts they’d exchanged this morning, she hadn't heard from Eli all day.
She missed him.
It didn't make any sense that she was falling for him so quickly, especially given her past and who he was, and what she’s always thought she would want in a man if she were ever to settle down.
But none of that seemed to matter.
She was attracted to him, he was a good looking guy, so that went without saying, but it went deeper than that. She had actually had a good time with him last night on their date that she wasn't quite ready to admit was a date. He’d made her laugh, and she’d liked seeing his sweeter side when he’d talked about his family. He was charming and undeniably cocky, but underneath that he had a big heart, and that made him kind of adorable.
Could something really develop between them?
Something real?
Something lasting?
Did she even believe that relationships could last?
Not only had her dad abandoned her and her brother, but her mother had gone through a grand total of seventeen men before she graduated high school, none of them had lasted more than a few months, and each was worse than the last.
How could she believe in happy endings when her life experience was exactly the opposite?
Her gut told her that Eli was different, that there wasn't a single similarity between him and the men who had her putting a lock on her bedroom door and sleeping against it so she’d know if any of them tried to enter during the night.
Eli might be a good guy, but he was so far out of her league it terrified her. She’d grown up in a trailer in the middle of a field without electricity and running water, what did she know about fancy charity balls, and which fork was for salad and which was for dessert, and talking with people who had never had to worry about going to bed hungry?
Despite all of her worries, she grinned when her phone chimed with a text message, and she saw it was from Eli.
Eli
Hey, princess, I missed you today
She’d missed him too, and this time she wasn't going to let fear make her run and hide. She’d never hidden from anything else in her life, and she wasn't about to start now.
Florence
Missed you too
Eli
Success!
I knew if I tried hard enough I could get
you to admit that you liked me
Florence
Don’t go getting a big head
Eli
Too late ;-)
Florence
Are you always this cocky?
Eli
Confident not cocky, and yep!
Florence
Po-tay-toe po-ta-toe
I'm going to stick with cocky
Eli
Since you think I'm cocky anyway then
let me warn you that the next time I see you
I'm not just going to kiss you I'm going to
make you come so hard I’ll have something
to be cocky about
Her face turned beet red at his declaration.
Her body responded instantly, and she squirmed on the couch, suddenly uncomfortable and needing a release that only Eli could give her.
Eli
Got nothing to say about that, princess?
Her mouth went dry, and she could barely draw in enough air to function. What did she say to that? She didn't want to encourage him, she wasn't ready for sex yet, and yet her body was screaming at her that it vehemently disagreed.
Florence
I don’t think sex on the street
outside my apartment, or sex in the
back of your car is appropriate
Eli
Who said that tomorrow morning
was when I'd see you next?
A knock on the door accompanied the text.
Florence set her phone down on the small table by her couch, needing a moment to calm her racing heart and cool her libido before she replied to Eli.
She checked the peephole and sucked in a breath when she saw who was standing on the other side of her door.
Opening the door, she didn't even have time to say anything before he had grabbed her, dragged her close, and his mouth descended on hers, kissing her like he was possessed and she was the only cure.
Eli’s arm hooked under her bottom, and he lifted her up, carrying her into the apartment and kicking the door closed behind them. He carried her to her small kitchen and set her down on the counter, standing between her legs as he continued to kiss her, his tongue probing into her mouth, teasing hers and making her entire body tingle.
“If you want me to stop you better say something now,” Eli whispered against her lips.
Stop was on the tip of her tong
ue, but she couldn’t say it.
She didn't truly want him to stop.
As much as the logical side of her brain said that there were too many things that could go wrong and that she could wind up with a broken heart, her body and her heart said that she wanted more.
She wanted what Eli was offering.
Wasn't it unfair to pin the actions of others on him?
He’d done nothing to justify her doubt—it was simply a product of her past—and if he said that he wanted her and wanted to see where things could go with them, then shouldn’t she believe him and take him at his word?
“Don’t stop,” she said, curling her fingers into his hair and drawing his mouth back to hers.
She was wearing a pair of pajama pants and a tank top, and Eli’s confident hands slipped under her top, sliding up to claim one of her breasts. She moaned into his mouth as his expert fingers kneaded her and then began to roll her sensitive nipple between his fingertips.
She almost came from that simple touch, it had been so long since she’d been with a man, and she’d never ever been with one who she had feelings for, it had always just been about getting her needs met. But this…this was something else. This time her heart was involved.
It shouldn’t be, it was too soon, but it was what it was.
When his hand left her breast, trailing down her stomach, she mewed her protest.
“Don’t worry, princess,” he chuckled, “I have something better for you.”
His hand slipped under the waistband of her PJ pants and went straight to the bud that was already swollen and needy, desperate for some attention. She was wet and dripping, and Eli ran his fingers through it before returning his attention to the spot that was crying out for him.
He continued to make love to her with his mouth, while his hand expertly ministered to her, and it was only a minute later that white spots began to dance in front of her eyes. They exploded into a mass of colorful confetti as her body wound up tighter than she had realized was possible, and then unfurled in a blast of pleasure that seemed to go on and on.
By the time the feelings faded, she was slumped forward, resting against Eli’s chest.
The smug grin on his face made her give him a lazy smile. “Pretty pleased with yourself, huh?”
“Anyone else ever made you come that hard?”
“Nope.”
“Then yeah, I'm pretty pleased with myself.”
“You’re so cocky.” She idly ran her fingers through his dark hair then let them trail down his cheek, his stubble tickling them. Her gaze fell to the tent in his pants. She moved her hand to unbuckle his belt, wanting to give him the same pleasure he’d bestowed upon her, but he stopped her.
“Not tonight,” he said.
“But you’re going to be uncomfortable if you don’t do something about that.”
“You’re not ready for sex.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn't have to.”
Since he was right, she didn't bother arguing with him. “We don’t have to have sex for you to get off.”
“I know, but really, it’s fine,” he said, his hand lifting to tenderly cup her cheek. “You’re nervous about this, about us, and I don’t want you to think that all I'm interested in is sex, because I’m not. I'm interested in you, princess. Sex can wait until you’re ready, and I don’t want to come until I'm buried deep inside you.”
That might just be the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
Florence nestled her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tucked against his chest. This was nice. She’d never been held just for the sake of being held, and until this moment, she hadn't realized just how much she’d needed it.
Being held like this was so intimate, in Eli’s arms she felt safe and protected, but also cared about and wanted.
Maybe there was something in this happy ending stuff after all.
FEBRUARY 14TH
4:32 A.M.
He knocked on her door and waited, unsure what kind of reception he was going to get when she opened the door.
It had only been a few hours since Florence had gently told him it was time for him to head home after that amazing make-out session. Watching her face as she came, feeling her muscles tightening around his fingers as he drew out her pleasure for as long as he could, that was something he could get used to.
But he wanted more.
He wanted a deeper connection, more than just making out and hot sex, and he was pretty sure this was the first step in getting it.
“It’s only me,” Eli called out when he could hear her moving around on the other side of her door.
“Eli?” She threw open the door and shot him a confused frown. “Is something wrong? It’s four-thirty in the morning, what are you doing here? Are you going to drive me to work, because I don’t usually leave for another couple of hours?”
“I am here to pick you up, but not to take you to work,” he explained with a grin.
“What? Where are you taking me then?”
“To Florence.”
“Florence?” Her eyes grew wide, and she stared at him in disbelief. “I thought that was just you trying to, you know, convince me to go out with you. I didn't think you were serious about it.”
“Dead serious. I told you, anyone whose name is Florence should visit there at least once in their life. What better time to go than for Valentine’s Day?”
“Isn't that kind of over the top for a date? I mean it must take hours—”
“Ten,” he interrupted. “Ten hours.”
“We can't fly to Florence, we don’t have tickets, and by the time we got to the airport, and tried to find something, and waited for the flight, even if we didn't check bags it would take hours to get through border security, and…”
“We won't need to worry about any of that,” he assured her. “We’ll be taking my personal plane. I made the arrangements last night so everything is all set and ready to go. All we need to do is turn up at the airport. Ten hours there, ten back, I figure we’ll walk through the streets of Florence then have dinner at this beautiful Villa I know of, and we’ll be back in New York in twenty-four hours.”
Shock was written all over her face at his suggestion. “I can't just go away for twenty-four hours. I’m in the middle of a serial killer case that is quickly spinning out of control, not to mention the other cases Jake and I are working.”
“I already spoke to your boss and your partner, and they both said they thought you should go. They said you hadn’t taken a day off in almost two years and you deserve a break. It’s one day, Florence. Let me treat you, take you someplace special and spoil you rotten. The case will be waiting for you when you get back, and because I know you're a workaholic and that taking this break would be hard for you, I got sealed copies of your files for you so you can work a little on the plane if you want. Don’t worry I didn't take a peek at them.”
Although Eli didn't let it show, he was nervous. He wanted Florence all to himself for a whole day, but he knew he was taking a big gamble. There was a very real chance that she could say no. He knew twenty-four hours was the most he could convince her to give up, so he’d made the most of the small window of time they’d have in the beautiful city of Florence and planned out a walk and dinner for them, and he really wanted her to say yes. If he was going to convince her to be all in with this fledgling relationship they had growing, they needed some time away from their real lives to just spend together and connect.
“Please, Florence.” Eli reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb caressing her soft skin. “Come with me, just relax and let go, I have everything planned out, we’ll have an amazing time, just trust me.” He caught her gaze and held it, letting her read in his eyes how important for them he thought this was.
From the look on her face, she was clearly debating with herself, and he had to fight to keep breathing and not hold his breath as he awaited her answer. Fina
lly, she gave a single nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he echoed, hardly daring to hope that she had cracked and decided to let him treat her. Eli had the feeling that her tough upbringing had made her rely on herself and no one else, and growing up poor she probably wasn't used to extravagance like flying to another country on a private jet for twenty-four hours.
“This makes me feel weird, and a little irresponsible, but it’s obviously important to you, and it does sound kind of fun.”
“And romantic,” he added, leaning in to kiss her. Stopping himself before he reached the point where he wanted to throw her onto the sofa, rip her clothes off and plunge into her hot, wet body—that point seemed to get closer and closer the more time he spent around Florence. “We better get going, we’re supposed to be leaving at five.”
“What should I wear?”
“Something comfortable, and you’ll need your coat, it’ll be cold, and once we get to Florence, we’ll mostly be outside.”
“I've never been to Italy before, the only time I've been out of the country was for a conference in London that Jake and I went to the year before last. What's Italy like?” Florence asked as she disappeared into her bedroom.
He willed his feet to stay put, he wasn't here for a peep show, and he had a feeling if he watched her undress they wouldn’t make it to the plane in time to leave. “It’s beautiful. There’s so much history there, and Florence is a gorgeous city. I wish that we were able to spend more time there, but I packed in as much sightseeing as I could for the couple of hours we’ll be there. And the Villa I’m taking you to for dinner is just amazing.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s called Villa Il Leccio. It’s been around since the 1200s, and in the eighteenth century it was transformed into a country house for the Landi family. It’s been in their family for nine generations, and they still live there. Part of the house is used as a bed and breakfast, and they have the most mouthwatering food, cooked onsite, with a lot of the ingredients grown on the farm. The views across the Tuscan countryside are breathtaking, and the gardens are beautiful with roses and lavender, and lemon trees. I wish we had more time to spend there, and next time we go we’ll book a room and spend a couple of weeks exploring Tuscany.”
