“Don’t work too late.”
Grace waved. “And if you’re in bed have a good time in the city. I plan to sleep in and spend the afternoon baking. See you Tuesday if not before.”
On Sunday the moment class ended Lauren drove home. Jamie was dressed for the trip. She loaded their overnight cases and the cooler with bottles and food for Jamie along with the umbrella stroller. She tucked her purchase in her overnight case. When she fastened Jamie in his car seat his face screwed and tears flowed. Would he cry during the entire road trip? Did he remember the accident? Why today? He’d never had that reaction before.
“Hey, love. No tears. We’re off to see Uncle.”
He sniffed. “Cool.”
“That’s right. Cool.” She wiped his face and slid into the driver’s seat. By the time they left the complex his tears stopped. She glanced at the phone and the directions on the passenger’s seat. Though she’d memorized them she wanted to be sure she and Jamie wouldn’t become lost.
As she paid the toll on the George Washington Bridge she glanced at her nephew and saw he slept. She left the West Side Highway on the proper cross street. Traffic moved quickly and she found a place to pull over near the apartment building. She dialed Tony’s number. “We’re here.”
“You made good time. Be right down.”
Before long he appeared beside the car. Lauren unlocked the door. He slid onto the passenger seat and handed her a card. “Just slide this into the machine and you’re set.”
Lauren followed his directions and parked in the spot he indicated. With Jamie in the stroller and Tony carrying the bags they rode in the elevator where he slid a card into a slot.
“Cool, up,” Jamie said.
“Hey tiger, no up yet.”
The ride though swift made Lauren uncomfortable. The aroma of Tony’s aftershave filled the space. He stood close enough for their arms to touch. She watched the floors flash past. Lord, he lived in the penthouse.
After exiting the elevator Tony opened the door into a small foyer. Lauren parked the stroller, lifted Jamie and followed Tony. She gasped when she saw the view from the huge living room window.
Tony set the bags down. “Welcome to the love nest.”
“What?” Lauren backed away. Why had she come? She could kick herself.
He winked. “That’s what Jim and I named the place. This was our father’s home away from home and where he entertained people we never met. When he died I moved in. It’s close to the office.”
Had he told her of the apartment’s nickname to remind her of why he’d issued the invitation? If so she wanted to leave. Their only connection was shared custody and lust. She wanted the custody to mean the most.
He took Jamie from her. “Come and see Jamie’s crib. I bought a changing table, too.”
Lauren exhaled the breath trapped in her lungs. They walked to the guest room where she unpacked Jamie’s bag. She lifted hers.
Tony shook his head. “You won’t be sleeping in here. Come and see what else I bought. There’s a highchair and a play table. Has wheels so he can practice walking.”
He held the baby in one arm and circled Lauren’s waist with the other. He turned her to face him. The blue of his eyes darkened with desire. Her qualms melted. He bent his head. “I’m glad you’re here.” His lips met hers.
Lauren surrendered to the sizzling sensations. She reveled in the heat infusing her body. Jamie squealed. Tony released her mouth and caressed her hip.
She met his gaze. “Later.”
He grinned. “I’m a patient man. Once tiger is settled I’ll greet you properly.”
Her breasts tightened. Her core tingled. Regret rose. After tomorrow this couldn’t happen again. Being with Tony threatened her plans for the future.
Jamie squirmed and fussed. “Eat.”
Lauren tapped his nose. “Let Auntie see what she can do about that.” She reached for the insulated bag.
“Kitchen’s this way.” Tony led them down the hall.
In the kitchen she heated Jamie’s dinner. Tony removed food from the fridge. As she sat to feed Jamie she watched as Tony cut celery, carrots, and onions in chunks and put them in a Dutch oven. He added a braised piece of meat and put the container in the oven.
Jamie ate every bite. When he finished she fastened him into the fancy play table. He explored the different rings, buttons and textures.
Lauren rose. “What can I do to help?”
“Tear greens for a salad. I’ll set out some appetizers.” While she washed he removed a tray from the refrigerator. Cheese and pates. He added crackers. She finished her chore and pushed Jamie and the play table to the living room where Tony handed her a glass of wine. Together they ate appetizers and watched the baby’s eager exploration. When he yawned Lauren carried him and a bottle to the guest room, bathed and fed him. When he slept she flipped on the baby monitor and returned to the living room.
Tony had placed their plates on the coffee table in front of the large window. Several cushions sat on the plush pewter gray carpet. While they ate he stroked her thigh and a time or two kissed her fingers. She watched desire in his eyes unfold like a rose from bud to full bloom. She put her fork on the plate. “This is delicious.” She touched his face.
He rose and pulled her to her feet. Their mouths met. His tongue caressed her lips and slid over her teeth to caress.
Lauren slipped her hands beneath his shirt. She stroked the firm muscles of his back. He growled. She stared into his eyes. “Shall we adjourn to another venue?”
He laughed. “Law talk. Sounds good.”
In the bedroom Lauren pulled the giant box of condoms from her overnight case. “We took a chance the last time. We were lucky but no more risks.”
He kissed her hand. “You are so right.”
She wondered why the flare of regret, anger and some other emotion in his eyes. Tony’s rapid undressing surprised her. In moments he had stripped and stood ready. Her breath caught. She opened one of the packets and slid the condom over his erection.
“Woman strip. Then touch yourself the way you did during the phone call.”
Lauren reached for the edge of her sweater. She turned her back to him and pulled the garment over her head. She opened her slacks and pushed them down and bent to remove her shoes.
A hissed breath told her he appreciated the deep green bra and bikini. She removed them and tossed the silk cloth to him.
He sniffed the panties. “On the bed.”
As she passed him she ran her hands over his chest. The hairs tickled her palms. She settled against the pillows and massaged her breasts with one hand until her nipples firmed. Her other hand slid across her belly.
Tony slowly approached the bed. He smiled in appreciation. His reaction brought a burning heat and a pulsing need.
“Ready?” he asked.
“For you.”
He sat on the bed and covered her face with kisses. One of his hands replaced hers on her clit. His mouth moved over her chin and over her throat. When he closed over one of her breasts an eagerness for more caused her to move.
“I need you.” His erection brushed her labia. “Now, now.”
With one thrust Tony seated himself. She wrapped her legs around his hips and used her heels to urge him to move faster and harder. The burn began. She moved with him rising to the peak. A fiery sensation engulfed her. “Tony. Tony.” His name flew on a breath.
He roared her name and thrust once more. He covered her body with his. “You are the best.” He rolled and pulled her atop him.
Lauren gazed into his eyes. She stroked his face and held back a sigh of regret. Tomorrow she and Jamie were leaving, she planned to tell Tony their affair was over. Sadness crept into her thoughts. No matter how much she would miss him her decision wouldn’t change. Not if she wanted to achieve her goals.
* * *
By Monday evening the box of condoms held fewer than when Lauren arrived. While she packed Tony played with Jamie. The b
aby’s laughter brought warm pleasure.
Lauren carried the cases into the hall. Tony caught her hands. “Stay tonight. Leave in the morning.”
She shook her head. “My class is at nine. There’s always a quiz and I need to study.”
He put Jamie on the carpet and drew her into his arms. “Move in with me. I’ll hire a nanny for the days you have classes.”
She met his gaze. What he saw in her eyes caused him to marshal arguments.
Lauren drew a deep breath. “I can’t. Being here with you would be fine but I would lose my edge. Until I finish school that can’t happen.”
He shuttered his eyes to hide what he knew was there. Would he keep her from her studies? He was asking her for more time to see his hungry need for her end. As long as they lived together he would cover her expenses. Wouldn’t that be an asset for her? Especially if the affair lasted until she graduated.
Whoa. That day was months in the future. He released her. What had triggered thoughts of a lengthy affair? Still, he wanted Lauren in his arms for as long as his need remained hot. He turned away. Was that fair to her?
His hands hung at his sides. “You’re right. The time for us to go our separate ways is now. Once I solve the nanny problem I’ll let you know.” Why did the nagging voice in his head disagree?
“Will you stop visiting Jamie? He does need you.”
“I’ll come on Saturday and be gone before you come home from class” He wouldn’t impose unwanted company on her but he didn’t understand her reason for never seeing him. He picked up Jamie. “Get him ready while I take the luggage down.”
Lauren carried Jamie into the bedroom. Tony put the bags in the open stroller and lifted a box containing another play table. He rode the elevator down and loaded the bags in the trunk of Lauren’s car.
When he returned to the apartment Lauren waited in the foyer. He carried Jamie to the car and watched her strap the baby in the seat. He rubbed Jamie’s head. “Tiger, I’ll see you on Saturday.”
He turned to Lauren “Drive carefully.” He resisted the urge to tug her into his arms and kiss her until she agreed to stay.
“I will.” She smiled. “Though our time together has ended. I’ve enjoyed myself.”
He winked. “So have I. There are many things I’d like to show you here in the city that don’t involve sex.”
“When Jamie’s older you can show him.” She stared into his eyes. “The food was wonderful. The sex was unbelievable.”
He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “Let your sitter know I’ll visit on Saturday.”
“I will.”
“If you change your mind about us, let me know.”
“Cutting the affair now is best. In time we can become friends.”
“I’ve a suggestion. Come to the apartment for Thanksgiving. I’ll feed you and Jamie a good meal and we can pick up again. We can watch the parade from the windows.”
She shook her head. “Not a great idea. Doing that will…will.” She drew a deep breath. “By the time I graduate you will have moved on.”
He tapped the tip of her nose. “Just consider the idea. Next time the condoms are on me.”
She strapped herself into the seat and started the car. “Thanks.”
“Think about my offer.” He stood at the parking garage exit and watched until the last glimpse of his taillight vanished. He returned to his apartment and stood at the living room window staring at the night sky. What was wrong with him? She’d been right to end the affair. Their lives were too different. So why did he feel like he’d lost forever.
He groaned. Raising a child in this apartment wasn’t a great idea. He’d taken his father’s love nest as his own and had used the penthouse for the same purpose. There’d never been a moment of love here.
Until. Do not go there.
He poured brandy into a snifter and slouched on the couch. What did he want? The emerging answer stunned him. He wanted what he couldn’t have.
Lauren. Jamie. A home. He would see his nephew but she had rejected future meetings until some unnamed time in the future. Could he change her mind? He had no idea of how to begin.
* * *
As Lauren drove across the bridge relief and regret clashed in her thoughts. The affair with Tony had ended. She could concentrate on school and making a home for Jamie. Would Tony realize his lifestyle held no room for a baby or anyone else for longer than an instant?
Love nest. The penthouse had been beautiful. She had listened to Tony’s ideas of the changes he needed to make to accommodate his nephew and a nanny. She had been tempted to move into the apartment with him. Yet she needed no future complications, especially after a breakup that would surely occur. Then she would have to find another place for Jamie and her to live. The pain wouldn’t be worth the passion.
Not to mention the real danger. Plunging into love for Tony hovered inches away. Doing that would overturn every plan she’d made for her future.
When she pulled into the garage at the condo Jamie slept. Glad she’d dressed him in a sleeper before leaving the city, she lifted him from the car seat. She carried him upstairs and managed to change his diaper without awakening him. Once she popped him into his crib she returned to unload the car.
The moment she saw the play table box several tears fell. She pinched her nose. What a nice thought. She had hoped Tony and his nephew would bond. Perhaps they had.
After unloading the trunk she opened the play table box and with no trouble assembled the piece. She sank on the couch and grabbed her notes. Study time. Once again she recited her goals. Finish the semester, and two more. Find a job, make a home for Jamie and have a life. A sigh escaped. She’d made her goals after Carrie and Jim had helped her change from a rebellious runaway to the person she had become. She’d added Jamie to her goals after the accident. Was it possible to love a man without all the wasted moments and foolishness of falling in love?
Study.
Some time later the door opened. Grace carried a pastry box with the bakery’s logo embossed. “Good. You’re home and can taste the Halloween and Thanksgiving specials.”
Lauren laughed. “Hope you didn’t plan turkey, stiffing and gravy.”
“You never know. Grace put four cupcakes on the counter. These first. Devil Spice, Ghostly Bliss, Candy Treat and Scary Tricks.”
Lauren filled a cup with coffee. She tasted a piece of each one and sipped between bites. “The chocolate has a peppery bite. The vanilla is so airy.” She bit the third and then the fourth. “Like the caramel and chocolate center of the treat. The last one is pure spice, ginger and maybe cinnamon.”
“Ready for Thanksgiving?” Grace asked.
“I’ll need to run around the block a dozen times pushing Jamie fast.”
“What I have is Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Potato Casserole and Cranberry Sauce.” She pulled the three from the box. “Business was great today. The woman you convinced me to hire sold dozens for Halloween and is taking orders for Thanksgiving. How was your trip?”
“Interesting. He likes Jamie.” She pointed to the play table. “He bought that for here. There’s another in the penthouse plus a crib, changing table and a high chair.” Lauren refilled her coffee mug.
“Surely there’s more.”
“He cooks fabulous food. He inherited the apartment from his father. Calls it the love nest.”
“Was it?”
“More like lust.” Lauren rubbed her temples. “I called a halt to us seeing each other. We need to stick to being Jamie’s guardians.”
“How did he take that?”
Lauren shrugged. “Accepted, I think. He didn’t argue.”
“Are you sure you’ve no future with him?”
“Not for me until I finish school and have a job. By then he’ll have gone through a dozen women.”
Grace reached for the carafe. “You could be making a mistake. He could support you until you graduate.”
“Not going to happen. I’ve no time for emotional ent
anglements.” She lifted the mug. “I’m ready to taste the others.”
Grace set the three in front of Lauren. She tasted the first and inhaled the spicy aroma. “Smells and tastes like pumpkin pie.” She sipped coffee and tasted the one with toasted marshmallows and a hint of brown sugar caramel. She laughed. “Terrific.” She tasted the cranberry cupcake. “You’ll sell hundreds of these.”
“Thanks.”
The mantle clock chimed ten times. Lauren rose. “Time for bed. I can give you several hours tomorrow afternoon and on Wednesday as long as I can bring Jamie.”
“No problem.”
Lauren headed to the stairs. “Night.”
Chapter Six
On Friday when her cell announced a call Lauren answered. “Hello.”
“Tony here. Let the sitter know I’ll be there tomorrow morning to spend time with Jamie.”
The sound of his voice sent sensations flooding her body. “I’ll let Ray know. He’s anxious to talk to you. This week he’s considering a career in law.”
“Only this week?”
“Since I’ve known him a law career is choice four.”
Tony chuckled. “How is our boy?”
Lauren swallowed. For now Jamie was theirs. Longing for the impossible brought a rush of tears. “He’ll be cruising soon. He’s mastered navigating with the play table. He walks if you hold his hand. I need to shop for shoes.”
“Leave the car seat so I can use it. Ray and I will take him shopping.”
“In your car? Impossible. Jamie’s car seat must be in the rear. Yours doesn’t have one.”
“I know that. I bought a sensible sedan.”
“Then I’ll leave the seat. Look, I have a major test tomorrow and I need to study.”
“Good luck. Ciao.”
With a sigh she disconnected. Why did his voice conjure all she had to forget? She reached for her notes. At least he would be gone before she returned home.
For the next few weeks Lauren concentrated on Jamie, classes and helping Grace in the shop. Mid-term exams ended and she worked toward finals. Every Saturday Ray talked about Tony’s visits. She shook her head. The man had bought Jamie three pair of shoes. One of them name brand sneakers, several outfits and more toys than any eleven month old needed.
Seducing the Attorney (At First Sight Book 5) Page 7
