Love Between the Pages: 8 Romances for Booklovers

by Bird, Peggy

  “This thing between us, it’s not going away. I know you feel it, too. Don’t waste the time that we have together. I’ll be there when you’re ready, rosebud.” His kiss was lingering, almost as though he were testing her willpower.

  God, their timing really sucked. Still smarting over having to be rescued in the pantry, Eva was anxious to hide away and lick her wounds, even as she kicked herself for wasting the precious little time they had left. Damned if she did, damned if she didn’t.

  Chapter Six

  Beau shuddered as he entered the bathroom with a stack of clean towels. Eyeing the claw-footed bathtub, he tried not to think about Eva submerged in the hot water, steam curling the tendrils of hair at her nape. Groaning, he swallowed down the frustration that had been a constant companion since he had put a stop to their lovemaking first, and then Eva had.

  When he’d heard her scream as he entered the house, he swore his own heart had stopped. It hadn’t started beating again until he’d made certain she was unharmed. Whatever sense of propriety and boundaries in employer/employee relations that he’d had flew out the window. He knew he wanted her, and he knew he’d have no regrets.

  But she needed more time to reach the same place. He could give her that. Because eventually they would be together. That sizzle he felt whenever they touched, the way she melted into his arms, it was all leading to something incredible. Beau shoved the towels into the linen closet and rested his head against the wood. He just had to be patient.

  Continuing down the hall, he spotted Eva sitting in the library. A book lay in her lap, but her attention was on the rose garden outside. He paused in the doorway, watching her. He was happy that she had been so thrilled with his efforts to make it a showpiece again. But it wasn’t enough. Not until she could go out there herself, smell her flowers, touch the velvety petals with her fingertips.

  He had plenty to keep him busy during the day, as would anyone who came after him as caregiver. But what did Eva have? She could read, watch TV, and spend time on the computer catching up on social media or whatever she chose to do. But she couldn’t go outside to her rose garden. And he could see how badly she wanted to.

  Pinching the skin at the bridge of his nose, Beau headed for the front door, snagging a spiral notepad and pencil off a side table on his way out. He wove his way around the side of the house toward the patio. He was no carpenter, but surely there was something he could rig up that would allow Eva to get outside when she wanted. To make her way down to her beloved rose garden. Surely a ramp wouldn’t be too hard to build. And some sort of thing to cover up the tracks of the sliding glass door, so her chair could pass through without getting stuck.

  Since he wouldn’t be here to push her. He frowned, but his pencil raced across the paper as his idea took shape.

  He’d have to order the supplies to be delivered. He couldn’t fit lumber in his car and would have to rent a truck anyway. Besides, if he left the manor, that would be violating Eva’s terms, and she’d worry unnecessarily that he wasn’t coming back. Beau had spent a good deal of time earning her trust and refused to ruin that, even if it was for a good cause.

  Spotting her watching him from the large window in the library, he waved. No, he wouldn’t be able to surprise Eva with the ramp, but he refused to let her in on the details until he had something a bit more concrete. Stuffing the pencil behind his ear, he went back to pacing off the space from the flagstone patio to the closest of the rose bushes.

  Later he’d borrow the computer in her office to do a little in-depth research, figure out what he’d need in terms of lumber and hardware. Maybe see if anyone had posted a useful tutorial on YouTube or Pinterest. Scratching his head, Beau considered tearing down the stalls in the stables to repurpose the wood for the ramp and save on costs. But, even though Eva wasn’t using the stables anymore, he couldn’t bear the thought of dismantling it. And to be perfectly honest, the woman could afford whatever cost he presented, and then some.

  Beau studied the wide arc in front of the first row of rose bushes. He could picture a sitting area out here, done in a pattern to match the patio. A fire pit for cool evenings. A comfortable, wide chaise lounge big enough for two.

  This project was supposed to be about Eva. She was a beautiful young woman who’d been dealt a tragic blow and deserved to find some happiness. But the more he planned and plotted out, the more he included himself in the final scenario. And that wasn’t part of their deal. Somewhere along the way, Beau had fallen for the lonely socialite who used her bitterness as a shield. That definitely wasn’t part of their deal.

  Heading back inside, he skirted the library, not ready to let Eva in on his plans. Better to have a budget in place, some sketches she could study, and a plan that would show her he could finish this before his month was up and still have time for the myriad chores around the house. For all he knew, she could shoot it down. In fact, he’d be surprised if he didn’t have to do some sort of tap dance to get her to agree to let him construct the ramp.

  Sadness pulled on him, like sandbags weighing him down as he walked. He didn’t want to leave. He closed his eyes, pulling up an image of his father’s bookstore. Breathing slowly through his nose he smiled, remembering the musty scent that wrapped around him whenever he walked in. And his father’s kind, twinkling eyes. He missed the old curmudgeon!

  But he almost wished he had more time with Eva. Every day she ventured further and further out of her shell. She was gaining confidence and working so hard to become more independent. He was so proud of the fact that she didn’t feel the need to hide behind the snarling mask of bitterness she’d projected when he first met her. He was going to miss her like hell, and he could only hope that she’d continue to blossom after he was gone.

  • • •

  “You’ve got more money than you know what to do with. I don’t understand why you can’t part with it for something that is solely for your benefit?”

  Beau paced the length of the library, dropping a stack of papers in her lap as he retraced his route for the third time. He continued to mutter under his breath as his feet took him farther away. She picked out the words “ungrateful” and “stubborn.” Perhaps.

  “Look, you busted your ass cutting back that jungle out there. Those roses look better than they did when my mother was alive. And no one asked you to do that. It’s not in your job description.”

  “Oh, please! My job description doesn’t even exist. This is just something we threw together. We both know I don’t really work for you. I’m helping you out. This is just another extension of that. I want to help.”

  “I don’t need it. It’s extravagant. I’ve gotten by without access to the garden for the last five years. I can see it from the windows. I’m good.” Eva smoothed her hands over her long denim skirt, keeping her features from betraying the emotion that Beau obviously had no problem displaying.

  “No! That’s not enough, and you know it.” He spun around, eyes blazing and chest heaving. God, could the man be any sexier?

  “I appreciate your concern. It humbles me that you care about my welfare.” She spoke slowly, calmly.

  Beau held up a hand, shaking his head. “Just read it. I’ve got a list of materials in there, a breakdown of price, and a projected timeline. I’m not much of an artist, but you can get a basic gist of the design in that mock-up.”

  He crouched down in front of her chair, resting his hands on her knees. Eva’s palm itched to cup his stubbled cheek. There was more to this than wanting to help her. It was there, in his eyes, whether she was willing to face the truth or not.

  “Why do you want to do this for me, Beau?” Nerves stretched taut, she waited breathlessly for the answer she was half dreading, half praying for.

  “Isn’t it obvious, rosebud? I love you.”

  “You couldn’t possibly … ” She shook her head, pressing her fingers to her lips.

  “I’ll be in my room when you’re ready.” His eyes held hers steadily before he sto
od up, brushed a kiss against her forehead, and headed for the door.

  Gripping Beau’s thoughtfully put-together plans for a wheelchair ramp to her rose garden in trembling fingers, she swallowed past the lump in her throat. So matter-of-fact. Like he hadn’t completely flipped her entire world upside down with those three words.

  “Wait!”

  She didn’t have to read the stack of notes. He’d been at her computer all afternoon, researching designs and materials, comparing prices. And he wasn’t doing this out of the kindness of his heart, to help a poor, pathetic crippled woman. He was doing it because he loved her.

  If she’d had the use of her legs, she’d have run across the room and thrown herself into his arms. She’d have kissed him senseless as she begged him to make love to her. She didn’t deserve this man. He was too perfect for words.

  “How dare you drop a bomb like that and just walk away! Don’t I get any say in this?”

  Beau had turned to face her, but the amusement that normally graced his features when he challenged her was missing. Instead, his eyes held all of the raw vulnerability that he must be feeling in his heart at that moment. He stood stiffly, not uttering a word.

  To tell him no, now, would be rejecting his beautiful gesture and him. She could never do that to him.

  “I love you, too.” Her words were garbled from the tears threatening to squeeze her throat shut.

  Releasing the brake on her chair, she rushed forward. Beau stepped back before she crushed his toes. Not paying attention, she scraped her knuckles against the doorframe, crying out in pain. Immediately, he was kneeling before her, cradling her injured hand in one of his, blowing on her reddened knuckles to lessen the sting.

  “You don’t have to say it back. I’ll still love you.” He kept his head down, focusing on her hand.

  “I’m saying it because I want to say it. Because it feels right.”

  She slipped her hand from his and raised his face with a finger beneath his chin. They stayed like that, eye to eye, for several beats. Then she leaned in close, putting her lips to his ear.

  “Let’s finish this conversation in my room.” Her voice was husky, and she nipped the shell of his ear, swiping her tongue over the bite.

  A rumble issued from deep within his chest, and Beau rose, his irises darkened considerably. “Hang on tight.”

  Stepping behind her chair, he gripped the handles and took off. Eva laughed with delight as they sped down the hall, turning the corner at breakneck speed. Too soon, their ride was over, and he angled her chair to the side of her bedroom doorway, out of the way.

  Eva propped herself up with her elbows once Beau had swept the covers from the bed and deposited her in the center. Confidence flagging, she chewed on her lip as she gathered her nerve. He didn’t have to do this. She was broken, after all. He’d be better off with a woman who had control of all her limbs, who could fully participate in the sexual act. What if she couldn’t please him? Boy, did she want to please him!

  Beau looked like he was struggling over what to say, trying to get the words just right. But she knew the words that he wanted to use wouldn’t hurt her. He wasn’t trying to find a way to let her down kindly. In fact, his expression was almost pained, bordering on desperate. Her breath sped up just watching his neck muscles work as he swallowed hard. He wanted her, and his restraint was more than evident.

  “I’ve waited for this.”

  He lay down beside her, the backs of his fingers brushing against her cheek eliciting a shudder. Eva started to speak, and he must have known she’d try to offer him an out. He pressed a finger over her lips, shaking his head slowly before leaning down to replace it with his mouth. His kiss was slow but thorough, melting her like hot wax before raising her up to a fever pitch.

  Tugging his T-shirt from the waistband of his cargo shorts, Eva plundered until she found bare skin. She’d ached to touch him, to see him without his clothes, the way he had seen her. He hissed as she raked her nails over his wide back. She pushed until he took the hint, breaking their kiss long enough to remove his shirt.

  “Fair’s fair, rosebud.” He chuckled, then pressed his face against her bosom as he began to work the buttons on her blouse free with his teeth.

  Good Lord! The man had a seriously talented mouth. Eva pressed him close as he revealed inch after inch of flesh. Her soft moans had quickly escalated into throaty cries, and this appeared to egg him on. Beau had yet to use his hands on anything but her face. He even took the front clasp on her bra as a personal challenge, it would seem, diving in to try to remove it using only his nose and mouth. Talented and resourceful.

  When his lips finally made contact with her nipple, she couldn’t have stopped the scream that tore from her throat if she’d tried. She’d waited for this moment for too long. But it wasn’t enough, and she grabbed his hand, dragging it to her other breast to show him what she needed. He learned quickly, and Eva was stunned to find that she had no problem taking the lead.

  She wanted to laugh with joy. After the car accident she’d just assumed that sex would no longer be a part of her life. At twenty-five, that was a pretty pathetic admission, but she’d had time to get used to it. And she thought if she ever did get lucky enough to have a man in her bed, it would mean lying there passively while he enjoyed himself. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought it possible that she could be a part of something so sensual, so physical.

  Dragging his lips away from her breasts, Beau forged a blazing trail back up to her mouth, alternating between scorching-hot kisses and mind-numbing swipes of his tongue. He took that exploration inside, tangling with her tongue, searching out the spots that made her quiver and moan.

  Scrabbling for purchase, she reached as far behind him as she could, grabbing his ass and pulling him tight. His answering groan was music to her ears. She couldn’t move her lower half, but she could move his. Unable to feel any sensation below her waist made no difference in her own enjoyment as she ground him against her pelvis, delighting in the way his eyes nearly rolled back in his head and how his breath was sucked from his body.

  “Too … many … clothes,” he panted, pulling out of her grasp to shuck his shorts and underwear before helping her off with her own clothes.

  Beau started to return to his spot beside her, but she shook her head, leveling him with a heated gaze.

  “Come closer. I want to taste you.”

  His eyes widened, the pupils darkening. He wet his lips and gave her a brief nod before shuffling across the mattress on his knees. He could have grabbed his cock in his hand and fed it to her, but he merely put himself within reach and waited for her to reach out to him.

  She watched him, his lightly furred chest rising and falling, like he’d just run a marathon. His thighs locked, thick muscles tensed. And on his turgid penis, a drop of pre-cum that she suddenly needed to taste more than anything else in the world.

  Licking her lips in anticipation, Eva lifted her head from the pillow. Beau’s eyelids had fluttered closed, his entire body gone rigid. She leaned forward, that delicious pearly drop her sole objective. Grasping him around the base, her tongue darted out, lapping the salty flavor off the tip. He shook from head to toe.

  Emboldened, she took him into her mouth. She wanted to memorize the taste of his skin, the way he felt in the palm of her hand, how he felt gliding against her tongue. Too soon, he pressed against her shoulders.

  “Stop. I’m too close. Damn, but you’re good at that.”

  She could have blushed, but his words made her feel too good. She licked her lips.

  He scrambled for the pile of discarded clothing and snatched a condom from the pocket of his shorts. He grinned bashfully, shrugging. “I may have snuck out for a bit the other day, while you were napping.” His expression was contrite. “Figured this was worth breaking the rules.”

  Eva took the condom from him without a word, removing the wrapper and rolling it on. They locked gazes for a moment, neither moving. Then, giving
her a tight nod, Beau moved into position. She watched the expressions dance across his face—joy, wonder, rapture. It was glorious to see.

  Her hands raced up and down his arms, marveling at the muscles bunched under her fingertips. So strong. So patient. So loving. His movements sped up, and he arched his back on one final thrust, his mouth open but no sound coming out.

  Before he fell asleep, Beau used the last of his energy to get them settled, depositing the used condom in the waste bin beside the bed. Relieved that there had been no pillow talk, Eva’s last coherent thought before falling asleep was that she wanted him to stay. But thinking it was one thing. Having the nerve to say it, entirely another.

  Chapter Seven

  “Hey, Pop, just checking in. How are you feeling? Did you finally go in to get that cough checked out?”

  Beau tucked his cell phone between his chin and shoulder, dropping a hand on Eva’s shoulder as she tried to sneak back out of the library. He shook his head, standing in the doorway to emphasize his point. He tried not to smile when she shot lasers from her eyes.

  “Yeah, it’s probably nothing. But that’s what insurance is for. You go in, and for the cost of a tiny co-pay, you get peace of mind.”

  He watched Eva roll about the room like she was looking for an escape route. Every time they had a breakthrough, she reeled back. He’d noticed it this morning when she’d been unusually quiet as they got dressed and ate breakfast. He had no regrets about last night, and he needed to know that she didn’t either.

  “See? Listen to that. Pop, stop being stubborn and ask the doctor to put you on something. I bet you’re having a hell of a time sleeping. Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he said when his father remained silent.

  “I’ve got to go, Pop. I’ll call back tonight, and if you haven’t made an appointment I will find someone who will go to you. I love you, old man.” Shaking his head, Beau stuffed his phone in the back pocket of his jeans and gave Eva his full attention.