Windy City Romance: Boxed Set: Prequel - Book III

by Barbara Lohr

“Keep your left arm straight as you come back.” His biceps tightened around hers.

  “My arm is straight.”

  “No, it’s not, Vanessa. Tighten your grip.” Alex gave their hands a little shake. “You don’t want to hook the ball.”

  Such an attitude today. His damp polo pressed against her back. No wonder she couldn’t concentrate. Letting the head of her driver fall to the grass, she straightened and turned. “Get up on the wrong side of the bed? You sound so angry.”

  The Chicago Cubs’ cap hid his eyes, but a muscle flexed in his chin. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re barking orders.”

  Stepping back, Alex whipped off the cap and swiped one arm over his forehead. “Sorry. I’m only trying to help.” His hair was flat, except for a few curls near the front cowlick.

  “Does your hair always curl like this in the heat?” she murmured. Even with the air conditioning, Bo often woke up with ringlets.

  Looking as frustrated as she felt, he swept the hair back from his broad forehead with one hand. “Better?”

  “No. Worse.” They both burst into peals of laughter.

  “Why don’t I just let you take it from here?” Stripping off his golf glove, Alex stepped back from the tee.

  “Fine with me. Thanks.” Tension broken, Vanessa shook out her shoulders and lined up her shot. Keeping her eye on the ball and her left arm straight, she swept the club back.

  “Meant to ask you, how’s your sister doing?”

  Vanessa swung and totally missed the ball. Embarrassing how fast that club made the circuit when it didn’t connect with anything. Turning, she fisted one hand on her hip. “Alex, really? First rule of the game. Never talk when someone is taking her shot.”

  And never ask about Jillian.

  Alex jammed his cap back on his head. “Sorry.”

  Moist heat from last night’s rain shimmered off the green. Vanessa was a hot mess, and she’d overreacted. Sneaking that pop can from his cooler into her beach bag had felt underhanded. When would the lab results come back? If her suspicions were right, what then? Her stomach knotted

  “Maybe we should call it a day.” Alex turned away with an exasperated sigh.

  “Fine with me.” Straightening, she yanked off her golf glove and marched toward the cart. Okay, now she was acting stupid. Her golf shoe caught on the grass, and she stumbled. When she felt Alex’s hand at her elbow, she twisted away. “I’m fine.”

  “Tired?”

  “I get up at four to bake.” Lately, sleep eluded her. Every night stretched long and restless, while she listened to the traffic and followed the reflected light moving across the ceiling. After jamming the club into her bag, she slid onto the bench seat of the cart and grabbed her lemonade. The ice had melted while they worked on her swing, and it tasted sticky and terrible.

  Climbing behind the wheel, Alex hoisted his can of pop and guzzled it, staring out over the driving range.

  “Yuk.” More of Bo’s vocabulary. “Does that taste all right?”

  Startled, Alex looked at the can like he didn’t know how it had gotten there. “It’s okay, I guess.” Cramming it back in the cup holder, he turned, draping one arm along the seat behind her.

  In the distance a locust keened, the high, thin sound slicing the heavy summer air.

  “Sorry if I have an attitude today, Vanessa. Maybe sometimes I am angry with you. Stupid, I know.”

  “What about?” Anxiety rippled through her stomach. “Isn’t Randall’s Cakes meeting your expectations?”

  His eyes softened. “Of course. I mean, how would I know? If you say we’re doing all right, then we are.”

  “We are,” she said. “So then, what?”

  By this time she knew that when Alex looked preoccupied, he was often forming his thoughts into words. That’s just how he was. “When I saw you on the TV set, I was ticked off. Mad as heck. Bidding on your job almost felt like revenge therapy.”

  Horror gutted her. “Really?”

  “Strictly a knee jerk reaction, and it was stupid. See it from my angle. Basically, you’d run out on me.”

  “And now?” She was holding her breath.

  “Now, I don’t know. Guess I still have plenty of questions. Maybe I have trouble keeping this relationship… I mean, this partnership… on a business level.”

  She didn’t miss the hesitation. So, that’s how it was. Sometimes Alex could be so open. Still, he did deserve to know more. After all, hadn’t he invested in her company when the banks wouldn’t? She was gaining on all of the bills, except for the second mortgage. That still worried her.

  “Jillian is getting better, Alex.” There. No details. Her sister wouldn’t have a problem with that.

  If he had more questions, he didn’t ask them, bless his heart. “Good. I just want the best for your family.”

  “I’ll take care of them.”

  Alex sucked in a breath. “I know you will, but I’m here to help if you need it.”

  “Thanks, but I’m fine.” She couldn’t even look at him. “Just haven’t played in a while.”

  “Ah, I’m not talking about the golf, Vanessa.”

  Straightening her sun visor, she shrugged. “But I am.”

  Now who was being the butthead?

  Silence blanketed the cart, and she wanted the beach back. Wanted the guy who’d flipped steaks on the grill and made sand castles. Wanted to be the girl who could get into a water fight with a guy.

  Alex just didn’t understand. Had he ever carried this kind of responsibility? Somehow she doubted it. But she sure couldn’t blame him for that. “Sorry, Alex. I’m just not used to accepting help from anyone.”

  “I can see that. Can you try?”

  She grinned. “Sure. I can try. For one day.”

  “Let’s make it this day, okay?” Sexy intent weighted his words.

  Sometimes silence can be read as a yes.

  Because she sure couldn’t get one word out.

  Taking the edge of her visor, Alex lifted it off and tossed it into the back basket. His own cap was next.

  “Sounds good,” she finally whispered. “Just today.”

  The surge of her desire would have knocked Vanessa over if she’d been standing. Instead, she curled one knee under her, moving into his heat. His hand tingled on her chin.

  The first kiss felt like a memory, and they both sank into it, long and delicious and leaving them both breathless.

  “Vanessa?” He pulled back.

  “Oh. Alex.” She pressed into him, one hand on his neck and the other tight on his shoulder.

  He groaned. Her tongue licked out and he gasped.

  Then he gave better than he got.

  “We should leave,” he finally ground out when they were beginning to attract attention.

  “Yep, we should.” Embarrassed, she straightened, smoothing her wrinkled blue polo.

  Putting the cart in gear, he drove to their cars while she unsnapped the barrette and shook out her hair. The breeze in her hair felt wonderful as Alex picked up speed in the parking lot. She’d met him at his club and was parked right next to his Mercedes.

  Grabbing her car keys, she jumped out.

  Alex met her behind the cart. “Let’s go to my place.”

  Urgency was undercut by frustration. “But it’s so far. I feel so grubby.”

  She could stop this right now.

  But she didn’t want to.

  Desire flamed in his eyes. “I’ve got a condo in the city. Don’t use it much in the summer.”

  Relief flowed through her. “Great, but I should get dinner for the troops.”

  “I’ll send pizzas to the bakery.”

  “Thanks, Alex.” With satisfaction, she felt him closing off her escape routes. He may not want a relationship, but today he wanted this.

  And so did she.

  “I could rustle something up for us. Food, that is.” He heaved her blue and white golf bag into her trunk and slammed it shut.

  “
Sure. Anything would be fine.”

  His eyes told her he had no intention of eating.

  She fanned her face with her visor, while Alex hoisted his bag into the trunk of the Mercedes. Then he drove the cart back to the club, the longest three minutes of her life.

  Jogging back, he said between gasps, “Follow me. I’ll try to drive slow.”

  “I can keep up.”

  He did a double take. “Oh, I know.”

  With a groan, she slid into her car.

  The trip seemed endless as she followed Alex through Chicago traffic. Her hand toyed with the turn signal. Was this a mistake? She had the cold air blasting, but it brought no relief. When they passed Buckingham Fountain, she wanted to pull over and dive in.

  Nothing would cool this heat, she thought.

  Well, maybe one thing.

  He led her up Michigan Avenue, packed with stores that gave the street the name of the Magnificent Mile. Stores she could never afford. From time to time, she saw Alex check his rearview mirror. Although she hated to use her phone while she was driving, she called the bakery when they stopped at a light. “I’ll be home in a couple of hours, Grandpa. We might stop for a bite.”

  “We’re fine, Nessie. You have fun now. And say hi to Alex. That new pizza place called to take our order. Imagine that! Fancy stuff. Be sure to thank him.”

  Grandpa liked Alex, but hadn’t Grandpa liked her father too? Right up until Dad deserted them. Maybe men just like to see you “taken care of.” She flipped on some music and began to sing along with Reba about cheating men and love gone wrong.

  Then she turned the radio off.

  Close behind Alex, she pulled into the underground garage of a tall building and parked in a guest spot. Hot air and the smell of oil engulfed her when she got out of the car.

  Within minutes, they were in the elevator. Thank God it was empty. The doors closed, and he reached for her. “Oh, Alex,” she murmured as his strong arms wound around her.

  He swallowed his name with a kiss that tasted like salt and sweat. The elevator opened with a ping and they tumbled out. Their steps were muffled by deep brown carpet. Her breath was tight in her chest when he unlocked the door and yanked her inside.

  Smile widening, he closed the door.

  Slamming him back against the door, she kissed him so hard she felt his teeth.

  Dear lord. She was shameless.

  And she would have serious whisker burn in the morning.

  “Come on.” He took her hand.

  As Alex pulled her down a hallway, she had a quick impression of guy furniture—massive and dark with that pungent leather smell. “Wow,” escaped her when they reached the master suite. The Chicago skyline shimmered in the distance, edged by the cool ridge of the lake. She blocked them out, closing her eyes while Alex smoothed her golf shorts from her hips and tugged the blue polo over her head. His breath was hot against her skin.

  “So hard to keep my hands off you today,” he muttered.

  “You didn’t, remember?”

  His laugh aroused every nerve ending in her body. While he nuzzled her neck, his hands cupped the lacy black bra. “Nice.”

  She couldn't think as he pushed the lace aside and thumbed the tips of her breasts. Arching into his hands, she felt achingly full and hot, with only his mouth to cool her. “More,” she said when he stopped. Opening her eyes, she found him looking at her. “What?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

  “Don’t. Don’t think.” Fisting his polo in her hands, she pulled him to her.

  This wasn’t going to be like the lake, where she’d pack it in and go home.

  Today she knew what she wanted.

  “God, you’re burning up,” he gasped, voice chainsaw raspy.

  “Absolutely.” When she tore off his black polo, the male scent encased her, familiar and crazy making. Hands on his torso, she ran thumbs down his ripped six pack. “Amazing.”

  “What?” He glanced down, like he wondered how those muscles got there.

  She plucked at the zipper of his golf shorts. “These have to go.”

  Oh, my. Was this her, being so bossy?

  Not to worry. His groans signaled approval. Sweeping the shorts down his legs, she took his black briefs with them.

  He was magnificent.

  But in a couple of minutes, he pulled back. “Hold it.”

  She wanted to stamp her foot.

  “Now, just slow down a little.”

  Easing out a sigh, she tried to shake the craziness from her mind. Today she would be patient. Today she wouldn’t rush and run.

  Taking her hand, Alex tugged her into a master bathroom of black and gray marble. Pretty impressive. Their flushed bodies were reflected in a ceiling-to-floor mirror. A large glass panel gave a clear view of a double shower with a gazillion spray jets at interesting levels.

  “So huge.”

  He lifted one brow as he twisted on the water jets.

  “The shower,” she said in a hoarse voice. “I mean the shower is huge.”

  “Right. Come here.” He coaxed her under the spray. Side jets sent hot water pulsating over their bodies. Grabbing an expensive looking bottle, Alex poured liquid soap into her hand.

  “Yum. Coconut.” Lifting both hands, she began to swirl it over his body. “I love coconut.”

  “My turn.” With a wicked smile, he squirted some in his hand.

  “Take your time,” she murmured, feeling so decadent.

  And he did. By the time he wrapped her in a black towel, scooped her up and took her back to his bed, she was trembling. Needing relief. The cool air of the bedroom should have slapped some sense into her.

  Not this time. She wouldn’t allow it.

  Unwrapping the towel, he slid her onto the satiny, slick surface of the gray sheets. As he stood there looking, a shadow moved over his face.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” He sank onto the bed.

  “What?” she asked again, pulling up the sheet.

  When he shook his head, droplets from his hair hit her skin. “Nothing, nothing.” Almost as if he were reassuring himself.

  “We'll take our time,” she assured him. Now, why did she tell him that?

  If she thought too much, she might get dressed and go home.

  Eyes sparking with anticipation, Alex tugged the sheet from her hands and slowly peeled it away. She gasped when the air hit her body. Stretching out next to her, he palmed the curve of her shoulder, hip and thigh. “Vanessa Randall. Nessie.”

  Her nickname sounded so sweet on his lips. When she molded one hand to his scratchy chin, he turned his face into her hand and inhaled. Her breath caught in her throat.

  This so wasn’t Vegas.

  “You look so sad. Come on. Smile.” He nicked her chin lightly with one knuckle.

  Wow, that snapped her back in time, and she gripped his wrist. Mom would be stirring spaghetti sauce when Dad came in from work, patted her on the fanny and said, “Come on and smile. Jenny, all you have to do is smile.”

  Even when she was so sick, that’s what he wanted from her. When she stopped smiling, he started coming home late.

  “So I’m just a pretty face?” she asked, fighting the memories.

  Alex pinned her with a puzzled look. “Sure, you’re pretty. Gorgeous is more like it. What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing.”

  Twisting up, she pushed him onto his back. With a surprised smile, Alex relaxed against the pillows. Letting his eyes drift closed, he whispered words that inflamed her, made her Vivien again. Oh, he told her just what he wanted her to do and what she could expect.

  Then he got real quiet.

  She knew sometimes words came hard for Alex.

  “Enough,” he finally said. “Good God, Vanessa, I won’t last.”

  After he pulled her up, he began to do all the naughty things he’d promised. Made her writhe with pleasure. Eyes squeezed tight, she heard the drawer slide open. My,
he was good at not losing the rhythm.

  She heard the snap of the condom. So, he did this a lot?

  The next kiss pushed that question from her mind. Alex was good at making her forget things.

  “Why me?” he whispered later when they were cocooned under the gray quilt. The night sky had deepened to purple. Getting late. “You’re not a one-time girl. I know that now. So why me that night?”

  “I’d just broken up with a guy…or rather a guy had broken up with me.”

  “So I was his replacement?” He looked insulted.

  “Kind of. Yes. You helped me out, remember?” She smoothed the puzzled wrinkles from Alex’s forehead.

  “Of course I remember.” Turning her hand, he kissed her palm.

  “I should get going.” Sure wouldn’t be easy to leave the warmth of this bed.

  The bedside phone rang. “Probably Kate. I can call her back.” With a satisfied smile, Alex wound a length of her hair around his finger and waited.

  The machine beeped and began to record. But it wasn’t Kate on the other end of the line.

  “Hey, Alex. It’s me. Sunday night. A lot of hang-ups on my phone lately.” The woman’s laugh was throaty and confident. “I know it’s you. You’re the techno guy who knows how to block your number. Knows how to do the heavy breathing thing. Give me a call.”

  Alex’s face held the surprise of a man impaled on his own sword. Vanessa sprang from the bed and grabbed her clothes. Numb with shock, she dressed in the bathroom.

  “It’s not what you think.” Alex’s voice came from the other side of the door.

  “You don’t have to explain,” she told him as she streaked through the apartment, grabbing her purse.

  At the door, he grabbed her upper arms. “Nessie, listen.”

  “Vanessa. Please let go of me.”

  Hands falling to his sides, Alex swallowed hard.

  At least she didn’t cry until she was in the elevator.

  ~.~

  The next night, Vanessa met McKenna and Amy at Prissy’s Bridal Shop in Oak Park. The dresses had come in for Amy’s September wedding. Time for their fitting. After leading them to the fitting rooms, Prissy went to get their dresses from the back.

  “Earth to Vanessa. Where are you tonight?” Amy snapped her fingers in front of Vanessa’s face as the three of them clustered in the narrow hall.