by Desiree Holt
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Sexy Designs
Copyright 2015 by Desiree Holt
ISBN: 978-1-61333-905-3
Cover art by Fiona Jayde
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Look for us online at:
www.decadentpublishing.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Hard Lovin’ by Desiree Holt
Dear Readers,
Writing this book was a work of love for me, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. My readers are the most important people in the world to me, and I constantly strive to fulfill your expectations. Writing is a passion as well as an occupation for me, and I hope I communicate some of that passion to you. If this is your first Desiree Holt book, I hope you will find more of them. If you are already a reader, bless you and thank you.
I love to hear from my readers. You can write to me at [email protected] and I hope you will do that.
Where else can you find me?
www.desireeholt.com
www.desireeholttellsall.com
Facebook: Desiree Holt
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I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Desiree Holt
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Also by Desiree Holt
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Playing with Fire
Coming Soon!
Wolf Moon
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Northern Star Book 1
Fallout
Sexy Designs
Little did Ben Randall know when hired Grace Traynor to design the décor of the main buildings of Paradise Ranch he would meet the dream woman of his middle years. Sure, he’s dated women over the years, but none of them turned into relationships. And Grace’s mature figure calls to him in a way that has every inch of his body standing up and taking notice.
A refugee from a bad marriage, Grace has been single for twenty years and isn’t looking to hook-up with a man who at first reminds her too much of her ex-husband. But working together week after week, she soon finds herself playing out erotic scenes in her mind—with Ben as the star. The problem is her imagination only leaves her longing for the man himself.
The attraction between them escalates, and Grace worries it’s been too long since she’s been in a man’s arms. Can Ben ease her fears and convince her she’s exactly the sexy design he craves.
Dedication
To every one of my readers who took the time to write to me and remind me that “mature” people are romantic and enjoy sex also, this series is for you.
Sexy Designs
by
Desiree Holt
Chapter One
“Grace, you’ve done a fabulous job.”
Ben Randall stood in the living room of a Paradise Ranch model townhouse and took in the exquisite décor. Blues and greens blended with subtle earth tones for a feeling of warmth without being overbearing. The furniture was inviting, especially bathed as it was by the sun spilling in from the large picture window.
“I’m glad you like everything.”
“You promised me warm, sexy designs, and that’s exactly what you gave me.”
Grace Traynor slid folders and her iPad into her briefcase and snapped the lock. “Thanks, Ben. I’m happy we got just the look you wanted to achieve.”
What he really wanted to achieve was Grace across a dinner table from him. Lying on the grass in warm sunshine. Naked and in my bed. From the day he met her, he’d been strongly attracted to her, an attraction that only increased over time. At sixty-five, his sex drive might be a little lower, but he hadn’t lost any of the nuances of touch. And he’d learned long ago that a lot more than the physical made a relationship spark. He wasn’t slow where women were concerned, but, for months, he’d been searching for the right opportunity to move forward with Grace, and each time it seemed he hit a wall.
In the months they’d been working together, he had made a giant number of casual overtures. She’d politely rebuffed every one of them. At first, he’d figured maybe she just didn’t feel the same physical pull, the same interest in taking this out of the business arena. That would be disappointing, but he’d make himself deal with it. However, the more time they spent together, the more frequently he caught her looking at him with banked hunger in her eyes.
No, Grace was just as attracted to him as he was to her. Over time, he’d noticed whenever he came too close or invaded what he assumed was her personal space, she became as tense as a stretched rubber band. He’d love to know what that was all about. He just had to be smart enough to figure out what the problem was.
“Yes,” he said now. “I agree.”
“You know,” she told him, “when you first brought me out here to look at this place and tried to share your vision with me, I thought you might be crazy.”
He laughed. “Fourteen hundred empty acres with nothing but trees and deer? I might have felt the same way.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You had the vision. And the more you talked, the more I could see it.”
He smiled and lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles then dropping it before she could tug it away. “But the credit for this goes to you.”
He looked at the view from the sliding p
atio doors.
Selling the Crooked R ranch had been hard for him. Generations of Randalls had raised cattle on it, very successfully. But, somehow, the cowboy gene hadn’t passed down to any of his three sons so he’d looked for a buyer, one who knew the business. And he’d kept fourteen hundred acres for himself.
It wasn’t just that he needed something to do, although that was part of it. At sixty, he was far from ready to retire. He had visited friends who’d moved to one of the many Sun City developments or The Villages in Florida and been struck with the idea of creating a community for people fifty-five and over. A place where they could begin a new phase of their lives, with every amenity and convenience he could contrive. The community would have a definite Texas theme and be called Paradise Ranch because, as he told his sons, “It’s for people entering a new phase of paradise.”
Working with McMann Brothers Development, seeing his ideas actually come to life, had revitalized him. Paradise Ranch showed him life had a lot of excitement still waiting for him. Meeting Grace Traynor had kicked it up another notch.
Alex McMann had recommended her as someone they often worked with, so he’d made an appointment. When he walked into her office, his heart did a little drum beat and his cock, which hadn’t been interested in a lot lately, stood up and demanded attention. A silk blouse the same blue as her eyes, and navy slacks outlined a lush, mature figure. Highlighted sable hair fell in soft waves to just above her collar, and the wide smile she greeted him with made him want to taste those plump lips.
The first thing he’d thought was, Holy shit! He hadn’t exactly been a hermit since his wife passed away, but he also hadn’t met a woman who turned him on like this in more years than he wanted to count. The more time he spent with her, the more he was attracted to her. Not just her body, either. He wasn’t a horny teenager anymore. Grace was smart, funny, easy to be with. Someone he wanted to spend time with outside the work environment.
A goal he knew would not be easy to achieve.
“Let’s do one more walkthrough,” she said to him. “Make sure we’ve got the feel you want for the townhouses before we start on the first detached villa.”
Ben was sure she’d nailed it, but it gave him a chance to spend more time in her company. “Sounds good. Lead the way.”
He had to concentrate on what she was saying as they moved from room to room, mesmerized as he was by the musical lilt to her voice and the tempting sway of her hips.
“Ben?”
He stopped, almost bumping into her as he realized she had paused and turned to him.
“Sorry. Did I miss something? I was just enjoying the feel you’ve created here.”
She laughed. “I don’t think you’ve heard a word I said. We’ve spent a lot of time on this today. I think you need a break.”
“What I think I need is a cup of coffee,” he told her. “Or, better yet, a glass of wine. Thistle Creek Winery wants to open a retail outlet in the first town center we’re building, and they sent over some bottles for us to try. Let’s see what they gave us.”
She took a step back, holding her briefcase tightly. “Oh, I don’t think so.” She made a show of looking at her watch. “It’s actually later than I thought. I should get going.”
“One glass of wine won’t hurt.” He winked. “To celebrate what we’ve done so far. Come on. I won’t take no for an answer.”
She stood there, frowning.
“Come on,” he urged again. “You’ve done a terrific job with the model townhouses. Kept right to the theme without being excessive in your designs. And I want to see what you have in store for the villas and the first clubhouse. The wine is locked up in the model we’re using as an office. We can sit outside and enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.”
He considered it a major accomplishment that when he took her elbow to guide her along, she didn’t protest. By the time they reached the offices and he’d taken down a bottle of cab, she actually appeared slightly less tense. He urged her outside where a small café table and chairs were set upon the patio. The air was heavy with the scent of new shrubbery and flowers and freshly mowed grass. There was no one else behind the row of townhouses, but in the distance he could hear the sounds of construction. The signs of the ongoing development always excited him.
Ben couldn’t take his eyes away from her graceful neck or the smooth movement of her throat muscles as she swallowed some of the wine. Jesus! He was besotted with the woman. That was the only explanation for it. Probably had been since the day he’d met her.
“To a long and successful relationship,” he said, touching his glass to hers.
“I’ll drink to that.”
“Based on our most recent conversations, I’ve been working on the sketches for the first clubhouse,” Grace told him, setting her glass on the table. “Done some refining. Added a few things. And I have four new interior design plans for the villas. Ideas for accessories and new color schemes. I think you’ll like them.”
“I like everything you’ve done so far, Grace. You managed to capture the exact feel I was looking for and blend it with the architecture. That’s not an easy task.”
“Actually, it’s turning out to be one. I love your concept, especially since I’m Texas born and bred.” She grinned. “And I’ve looked at a lot of Texas art lately for inspiration.”
“Oh?”
“Mmhmm. Visited some museums. Even talked my way into a few private collections.”
Ben studied her face as she spoke. She looked relaxed for the first time since he’d met her. The air was heavy with late spring warmth, and when Grace settled into her chair, she’d taken off her jacket. The late afternoon sun picked up the highlights in her hair and bathed her face in an amber glow. A gentle breeze kissed the soft fabric of her blouse so it outlined her breasts. And was that just the hint of her nipples barely discernible? Was she reacting to him, despite her Keep Away attitude?
God, he hoped so. She was like a luscious plum, ripe for the picking.
As they chatted, very casually he lifted the wine bottle and topped off their drinks. Intent on what she was saying, Grace picked up the glass and sipped from it. He loved seeing her like this, less on guard, not quite so controlled. Could he possibly take this opportunity to move things along a little?
“You know,” he said slowly, “in all the time we’ve sent together, you’ve never really told me much about yourself.”
She tilted her head slightly. “What is it you want to know? I’m sure Josh gave you all my credentials. I’ve worked with them on a lot of projects. And you have my brochure.”
“But I know nothing about Grace Traynor, the woman.” He stroked the tip of one finger over her arm, just a brief touch. He felt a slight tremor and wondered if it was anxiety at his touch or, hopefully, controlled desire. If it was anxiety, what could possibly be the cause of it? He’d done his best not to crowd her.
“She’s really very boring.” She picked up her glass again and, this time, took a healthy swallow.
“I’ll bet she’s not.” He took a chance and stroked her arm again. Maybe the wine was mellowing her, but she didn’t jerk away. Instead, he noticed her nipples had become even more prominent beneath the thin fabric of her shirt. “For example, you never talk about your family. I’m sure I’ve bored you to tears about mine.”
“Not at all. I love hearing about your ranch. It’s too bad none of your sons wanted to take it over.”
He shrugged. “It is what it is. I came to terms with it a long time ago. And Paradise Ranch is really filling my life in a way I never thought it would. But there we go, talking about me again. I want to know about you. Let’s start with something simple. I know you have a degree from Rhode Island School of Design, but what made you start your own business?”
“I wanted my independence.”
She said it very simply but in a way that told Ben there was a lot of meaning beneath that one sentence.
“And y
ou certainly have it. You’ve done very well for yourself. I’m surprised, though, that you never wanted to marry. Have children.”
The muscles in her face tightened and her glance slid away. “I’m happy by myself.”
“So no special man in your life? No one to celebrate holidays and successes with?”
She turned and looked at him, and he was startled by the pain in her eyes. “What exactly is it you want from me, Ben? You must have better things to do than playing Twenty Questions with me.”
“What do I want from you?” Here was his opening. “I want to take you out to dinner. Maybe dancing. Spend a little time with you when we’re not discussing business.”
“Why?”
The question surprised him. “Why? Because you are an incredibly attractive, appealing woman, and I’d like to get to know you better.”
She lifted her hand, breaking his contact with her arm, and took another swallow of wine. “I’m not all that. I guarantee you’d be disappointed.”
What in hell? There was something going on here he didn’t quite understand.
“Since I have no expectations, that wouldn’t happen. But I think we’d enjoy each other’s company. When was the last time you went out for an evening that wasn’t related to business?”
She laughed. “If I went out with you, it would be.”
“No. I’d make sure it was nothing but pleasure.”
She paused, nibbled on her bottom lip in a way that made his cock swell and his balls ache. Unexpected desire flushed through him, stronger than he’d felt in years. All of the sudden, it became very important to convince her to do this.
“I don’t think—”
