Kissing Bree

by JoMarie DeGioia

  They’d snuck down without Mrs. Rollins catching on and spent their day out in Melbourne. His house would be beautifully outfitted when he closed next week. They’d eaten out on the Intracoastal Waterway after shopping, and it had been bliss to be out of the Cypress fishbowl. They’d spent Saturday night together too, and on Sunday drove back out to the east coast for brunch. He’d taken her out on the lake in one of the small sailboats for rent at the main lakeshore in Cypress. As he’d maneuvered the little boat, she’d thought how utterly perfect he’d looked. She wouldn’t think about that horrid story about his father. It was clear he still loved the water, so the man hadn’t ruined that for his son.

  Nothing was said of just where they were together but it was early days. She wasn’t even sure what she wanted them to be, since this was all so new for her.

  Derek had looked so good when she’d rescued him from Jessie’s interrogation today, too. Yummy, even. Ready for his work week, she’d wanted to strip off his pressed clothes and roll around with him on his desk. That behavior would so not do. Thinking about it, though? She couldn’t find anything wrong with that.

  As Eli went on about some of the features and where, precisely, they would be located she took notes on her tablet. They would have another meeting about this. Soon, unless she missed her guess. The underground infrastructure was nearly complete, and paving of roads would soon be underway. In her mind’s eye she could see the neighborhood and knew it would fit in nicely with the surrounding wilder areas.

  First up would be the recreation center, tennis courts etc. The golf course wasn’t far, but there would be a new swim center with east side access. A full activities center and other amenities will make the fifty-five plus community very desirable. Derek would be able to rest easy with his mother living here. Separate but close by, which should be perfect. He hadn’t said so, but if a man could abuse his little boy like Derek’s father did, his mother must have had a horrific time of it as well.

  “She’ll love it here,” she murmured.

  “What’s that, Bree?” Jessie asked from her seat beside her in the cart.

  “I’m just thinking that people are going to love this.”

  “It’s going to go like gangbusters,” Eli threw in. “From the launch.”

  “Do we have a date on that yet?” Tammy asked.

  “No,” Rick answered. “I’ll get with Mr. Forbes and we’ll come up with a concrete date for the announcement and pertinent dates to follow.”

  “I bet they’ll have our in-house counsel look it over,” Jessie stage-whispered toward Bree.

  Tammy laughed low in her throat. “I hear he’s very thorough.”

  Bree brushed a hand over her shoulder, her nose in the air. “Hmm. Something’s buzzing in my ear.”

  Jessie and Tammy both laughed.

  “Good thing Ollie’s not here,” Jessie said.

  Bree silently agreed with that. Ollie rivaled Lettie with his affinity for gossip.

  By the time they returned to the Sales Center, tours took up the rest of her day. She hadn’t solidified her dinner plans with Derek, but that hadn’t stopped her from checking her phone a hundred times.

  “What are you looking for?” Ollie asked.

  She jumped at the sound of his voice. When the guy wasn’t talking he could sneak up on someone like a Ninja.

  “Never mind.” Bree set her phone back down. “What are you and Todd up to tonight?”

  Ollie rolled his eyes. “Inventory.”

  She eyed him. “You’re going to help him at the store?”

  “It’s what you do when you’re in a relationship, buttercup. Support and all of that.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you’re too put out.”

  “I’m not. We’ll have a working dinner.” He eyed her, one hand on his hip. “You can join us, you know. If you’re on your own tonight?”

  Bree slowly shook her head. “Interesting approach, Ollie. I’ll give you props.”

  He stomped his foot, looking like a ticked off cherub. “Can’t blame me for trying. You’re keeping something secret. Someone secret and I can just about guess who it is.”

  “Just about.” Bree stared him down. “Have a nice night.”

  He threw up his hands. “Fine. See you tomorrow.”

  He was smiling when he left, though. She clicked through her laptop, sending her updated schedule to her tablet before shutting it down. Jessie bopped into the room to grab her stuff, holding her bag in front of her as she shot Bree a meaningful look.

  “What?” Bree asked, keeping her voice even.

  “Do you two want to join Noah and me for dinner?”

  Bree’s mouth dropped open. “I… I don’t know who… What?”

  “We’re going to the tavern, Bree. Should we grab a table for four?”

  “Yes,” Derek said from the hallway.

  Bree shot him a look, arching a brow at him. He gave her a small smile but it was the connection in those dark brown eyes that made a different kind of warmth wash over her. Something more than the sensual heat that always seemed to simmer between them.

  “Sounds good,” she said to Jessie, her gaze still on Derek.

  Jessie let out a happy little yelp and hurried out of the salespeople’s area.

  “You’re sure?” she asked Derek when they were alone.

  He shrugged. “It’s dinner, Bree. I, for one, want to spend the evening with you.”

  She placed a hand over her chest and inhaled deeply. “Me, too.”

  He waved a hand. “Then, let’s go.”

  Bree grabbed her things and she and Derek made their way to the tavern. He walked beside her, close enough that she could all but feel him against her.

  “Well, look at that pretty picture,” Lettie said from beneath her crepe myrtle. “Don’t you two look just lovely together.”

  Bree wished she could brush a hand over her shoulder like she had on the tour earlier, but this was Lettie. There was no fooling her.

  “We’re having dinner together, Lettie.”

  “Actually,” Derek cut in, “I’m taking her to dinner.”

  Lettie’s eyes sparkled. “As it should be, my dear boy.”

  “Have a nice night,” Bree said.

  “I don’t have to wish the two of you the same,” Lettie winked. “But I will.”

  Bree studied the sidewalk as Derek chuckled softly beside her.

  “We’re officially outed,” he said, his lips close to her ear. “Are you okay with that?”

  She turned her head, meeting his gaze directly. “Very.”

  Chapter 14

  Derek directed the moving men on where to place his new furniture. The closing yesterday had gone as smoothly as silk, and now he stood in his own house. His first house, actually.

  Mr. Forbes had insisted he take the rest of the afternoon off to get his house in order, and Derek had taken him up on the offer. It would be a great way to start his weekend, anyway.

  Bree had been adorably flustered as the last of the paperwork came through. The seller was out-of-state, but everything was signed electronically and met with all parties’ approval. He’d seen her handle several closings even in the two short weeks he’d been at Cypress, and she’d never appeared this invested. True, she stood to make a sizeable commission from the sale. He preferred to think that she was personally involved, too.

  “All set, Mr. Stone,” one of the moving men said.

  “Let me just look everything over.”

  “Sure.”

  “There’s soda in the refrigerator.”

  The guy looked surprised, but stocking the kitchen had been job one for Derek. He wasn’t sure if he was going to actually cook a meal in the well-equipped kitchen, but he wanted to have stuff on hand should a certain gorgeous blonde spend the night.

  He checked over all of the bedroom suites as they were set up, and the master and two of the guest rooms were fine. Now he looked over the big leather sectional and the dining set. It was one of th
ose thick weathered wood tables with galvanized metal chairs pulled up to it. The chairs coordinated with the taller stools set at the high counter. A new flat screen just waited to entertain him from its spot above the fireplace.

  His house had a masculine vibe, but felt fresh. That was probably due to the throw pillows and other accents that Bree had chosen for him. Lots of shades of blue and some nubby cream fabric throw that she had told him reminded her of a fisherman’s sweater.

  “Looks good,” Derek said, signing the moving man’s tablet.

  “Thanks for the sodas.”

  The three other guys with him murmured similar sentiments and soon Derek was alone in his furnished house. Settling on the pretty awesome leather sectional, he leaned his elbows on his knees. The coffee table, a big thing made out of weathered wood, held a woven bowl with balls of thick twine. They were monkey fists, actually. The common nautical knot didn’t have any functionality in modern sailing, but it was a nice decorative element. Bree really knew his tastes then, and not just in the bedroom.

  There was a pewter lantern lamp on a round side table and a poster of flags showing several common signals. She might say that Jessie was the best at house staging but the touches Bree chose made his house feel comfortable. The dark wood flooring, the light gray counters and cabinets, the oversized lighting fixtures all made him feel at home. Now he just needed to christen the thing, like a ship. Smiling at the silly reference, he texted Bree and invited her to dinner.

  She answered in the affirmative so he took the new dishes he’d run through the dishwasher and rummaged in his well-stocked fridge. They could order in, of course. They’d done that a few times this week, actually. At her place, mostly. He wanted to cook for her tonight, though.

  Over the past couple of days he could sense her getting nervous about the upcoming party at her parents’ house. She’d repeatedly offered to let him off the hook, but he remained firm. He hoped she needed him there. If so, he would be there. This might all be new for him, but he would try to be her anchor. He chuckled at yet another nautical reference.

  “Enough,” he told himself.

  His doorbell rang, the sound chiming throughout the house. Pulling open his front door, he found her standing there. She held a big houseplant, something dark green and shiny with touches of red, and smiled.

  “Lettie’s suggestion,” she said from around the foliage. “It’s a Red Aglaonema.”

  He took it from her, that and a kiss hello. “It’s nice. Big.”

  “It’s supposed to be for lovers.” Bree’s cheeks turned as pink as the edges of the plant’s leaves. “I wasn’t going to remark on the size, however.”

  He laughed and set the plant on the tall kitchen counter. “I don’t want to think about the conversation that would have followed.”

  She walked around his place, tweaking and adjusting the accessories here and there. “This looks great, Derek.”

  “You chose everything. I really like how it all comes together.”

  Picking up one of the monkey fists, she frowned. “Maybe I shouldn’t have chosen this rope knot.”

  He knew what she was talking about, but he shook his head. “No worries, Bree. Those knots were used a very long time ago. They don’t hold any memories for me, good or bad.”

  Her shoulders visibly relaxed. “Good.”

  “Want something to drink? I have soda. Water.”

  “A water would be great, thanks.”

  He grabbed her a bottle from the fridge as she sat on one of the tall stools. Handing it to her, he leaned on the low counter at his back. “I’m cooking tonight.”

  Her eyes went round. “Get out.”

  “I am, but I’m not making any promises.”

  “Hmm, let me guess. Steak? Or steak?”

  “I’m an evolved male. I bought salmon.”

  “Did you buy veggies?”

  “I did.”

  She hopped off the stool. “Then I’ll make the salad.”

  As they worked together it felt very normal. Domestic, even. He wouldn’t worry about it. Yes, they were working in easy compatibility in his kitchen but pretty soon they would take that up to his new bed in the master bedroom.

  They ate their dinner and afterwards sat on his sectional. “This is a really nice piece. You needed something big to fill this space.”

  “Size again?”

  She laughed, her brows raised. “It surprises me every time you make a joke, Derek.”

  “Because I have a stick up my ass?”

  “Now, before you get offended that was just your reputation.”

  “So I had a reputation of being a dick?”

  “Not a dick, precisely.” She came closer and kissed his cheek. “No one really knew you, that’s all.”

  Her words had him thinking. That was deliberate. Keeping to himself. From years of putting up a front.

  “Now that you know me?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you think?”

  She came up on her knees and placed her hands on his cheeks. “You’re Derek. Just Derek.” Her cheeks were pink again. “I can’t explain it.”

  He kissed her, softly so that their lips clung for a second as he pulled away. “You don’t have to.”

  She took one of his hands in hers, tugging as she came to her feet. “Show me the rest of your new house, Derek.”

  He felt that rush again. The want and hunger for only this woman. They were both avoiding putting any sort of label on what this was. Hell, they weren’t even talking about that avoidance. But right now?

  Right now he couldn’t even think about how many fucks he didn’t give.

  ***

  Bree’s eyes popped open and she stared at the tray ceiling in Derek’s bedroom. They’d spent the entire day together yesterday, again, and today was her father’s party. The screen on her phone showed it was just past five o’clock, but her mind was going in circles.

  Covering her face with her hands, she took in a long deep breath. She knew just who would be there. Her father’s associates and their families. Couples from the country club and their adult children. Ugh, Kip would most definitely be there.

  He’d dated her for the sole reason of getting close to her father, after all. What a dick. And she’d thought Derek had been that way? Kip was a completely different kind of asshole without equal.

  “Why are you awake, baby?” Derek asked in a sleep-roughened voice.

  She turned her head to find him gazing at her. His eyes were a little unfocused, his cheeks showing dark stubble, but he looked hot. Any thoughts of Kip and his grasping ways flew out of her head.

  “Just thinking about today,” was all she would say about the guest list.

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “Are you that worried?”

  She blew out a breath. “Not really worried. I just want to be prepared, you know?”

  “No. I don’t.” He turned, resting his head on one hand. “Tell me.”

  The setting was very intimate, like it had been in the tub at the inn. In the semi-dark, she could confess what had happened at her father’s last party.

  “It was a year ago,” she said. “May Day.”

  “The same day,” Derek said. “At you father’s party?”

  “Yes.” She turned, folding her hands under one cheek as she faced him. “I was seeing this guy, Kip. Sort of. Anyway, my mother and father wanted us to be together. My grandmother had died just two months before and I’d taken the job at Cypress. They told me I was drifting.”

  “Drifting.” His lips thinned. “Go on.”

  “Kip got me alone in my father’s study.” She held up a hand. “Before you even think it, nothing happened. He didn’t try to force anything or profess his undying love for me.”

  “So he’s a dick but not an asshole.”

  That made her laugh a little. “Pretty much. He had this idea, though. Why not get married and make our parents happy?”

  “What? That’s archaic.”

 
“At the very least. He was seeing someone at the time, too. Someone I don’t think his parents liked very much.”

  “This is all so…icky.”

  “Icky? Never thought I’d hear you say that, but yeah it was.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Told him to go to Hell.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  She let that little nickname slide without comment. “He told my father that he proposed and I turned him down.”

  “Is that the reason your parents are mad at you?”

  She nodded. “That and the fact that I took my grandmother’s inheritance and got the heck out of Dodge. Or Heathrow. The Kip thing was the icing on the cake.”

  “You haven’t tried to explain it? Never mind. You’re their daughter. They should have known what was going on.”

  “They thought Kip and I were dating. I was hardly speaking to them at the time, so I never bothered to straighten out the mess. Then it only got messier.”

  “This Kip guy.” Derek rolled onto his back and folded his hands beneath his head. “He’s going to be there today, isn’t he?”

  “I’m sure he will be.”

  “And how do you feel about that?”

  She tried to figure out just what he was asking her. “I never even liked him, Derek.”

  He turned his head and smiled. “Good. Then we have nothing to worry about.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “How can you say that?”

  “Baby, I’ve been to hundreds of these events. All of my life. I know how to act but I can be a son-of-a-bitch if I have to be. Sounds like this Kip guy might need a talking-to.”

  She groaned. “Please, don’t. I love that you’d do that for me, though.”

  It hung there. The L-word. He closed his eyes and nodded. “Then get a couple more hours of sleep. We’ll deal with this later.”

  Relieved, she settled against his side and let his even breathing and the steady rise and fall of his chest rock her to sleep.

  A while later, she stood in front of her closet. After waking her up at a more decent hour in a very naughty and memorable way, Derek fed her breakfast and sent her on home to dress. The party would start at noon, and there was no way she could be late.