Leo jumped in before she had a chance to unleash on him. “Before you go diablo on me and add to the crick in my neck, let me clarify that you implied that I was enjoying you and your body as a one-way benefit. Wouldn’t you agree that when you are having a bad day, you come to me because I am the best hugger? I give great shoulder and back rubs. And my advice is worthy of your appreciation.”
She nodded. Yet her mouth was tight. Her hands wringing the steering wheel.
“Do you not say in the throes of pleasure, ‘Leo, do it. Do it, Leo. Yes, that’s it. Right there. You the man’?” His falsetto drew a small smile from her.
“I don’t sound like that.” She laughed outright. “And I did not say ‘You the man.’”
He leaned over and playfully tugged her earlobe. “But I am your man, right?”
She nodded and then resumed driving.
“It was a busy morning, that’s all,” Leo added.
“Would you rather have been alone? Don’t worry—it’s not a trick question. I know sometimes being in a quiet place without people and things distracting you is helpful.”
“Not at all. I did want us to head out to lunch.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know.” And he truly didn’t know. He glanced over to her, knowing that he was responsible for the concern that slid into place on her face. The earlier exuberance had disappeared. “Just want to be with you.” He held her hand and brought it to his lips. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you, my sexy lover.” She kissed his finger, bathing it with her tongue. “Sure you don’t want to head back to the house?”
“You are making it darn difficult to concentrate.”
“Then I’m going to rehabilitate you.”
“Oh, really?” He had to hang on to the dashboard as she gunned the engine and headed to parts unknown. Leo kept an eye on the street signs, but they meant nothing to him. “Am I being kidnapped?”
“You could say that.” She smiled and he knew that everything would be all right.
They headed through town and beyond its outskirts, where a general store and a few antiques shops lined the sides of the road. After they passed a gas station and the one traffic light for the town, Fiona pulled into a hotel parking lot.
Leo scanned the area. “I hate to ask, but is this going to be a sex stop?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
The place looked fairly decent. A few cars were parked in its lot. Given its proximity to Southampton, the property was probably a cheaper option since it was outside town.
“We don’t have reservations.” Leo stated the obvious.
“Ah... we don’t need one. I did reconnaissance and thought that this would be ideal for a getaway treat. Didn’t know that I’d need to make use of it so quickly.” She pulled up in the half-empty lot and cut the engine. “Are you getting out? I don’t plan to have fun all by my lonesome.”
Leo still looked around, hoping to see one person walking down the hallway or going to the diner across the street. “Where are the people?”
“Hurry up.” She was out the door and headed to the front entrance. Her hair bounced with each step, with a little help from the sway of her hips. The woman could rock a pair of shorts.
Leo chuckled. His woman was so damned cool with a lot of badassness.
She got a room key, which dangled from her finger. The front-desk clerk had to know what they were up to with no luggage and Fiona’s come-hither glances at Leo.
Not that Leo cared what the guy thought. When Fiona beckoned him into the elevator cab, he didn’t hesitate. It was tiny for two people. Three would have been a tad intimate. He noted their final destination—third floor.
She held her place in the elevator as he brushed past her to his spot. The doors had barely closed when her hands slid behind her back. Leo felt the anticipation of something. He looked up at the light switching from one floor to the next.
He sucked in a deep breath.
Her hand slowly cupped him between the legs.
A soft squeeze to his balls. Her palm circled his arousal, then her fingers massaged him into exquisite delirium.
He groaned, the agony making it sound more like a growl. His heart pulsed at frenetic speed. The elevator was taking too long to get to the third floor. Any longer and he’d be ready to push the emergency stop button, kiss the back of Fiona’s neck and take her right there. His right leg spasmed, as if ready to make it happen.
Finally, the doors pinged, almost sending his nerves out of his skin. They barely made it in the room, pulling off each other’s clothes, kissing and grinding their bodies in a silent erotic message.
Leo loved this woman who moved in sync with his desire. In exchange, he served her desires and her needs. She lay on her side with her hair spread like a fan on the pillow. Perfection. He climbed into bed behind her, smoothly coming to rest against her silky skin. With his hand holding her hip, with condom on, he entered her wet sex, savoring the warm walls like a sheath around his arousal. He slid his hand between her legs, stimulating her clit to please her. Their bodies moved together in a sensual partnership. Leo continued to rub her clit, enjoying her wetness for him. He wanted her satisfied. He wanted her to climax. He didn’t stop teasing her as he kissed her shoulder. She bucked her hips against his pelvis. His fingers stroked and played intimately with her. He anticipated her release and brought her to the edge, then pulled her back, only to rush her to the edge with greater intensity. The room filled with her ragged breaths and soft moans in answer to his touch. When she couldn’t take it any longer, her hand grabbed his wrist in a tight vise. Soon after, her orgasm took hold of her and sent out waves of contractions against his arousal.
“Your turn, baby.”
“As you wish...” Leo let go—hard. Eyes squeezed shut. Toes curled tight. He soared, gripping her hips for dear life. The liftoff was steep and belly dropping. His release rendered him speechless but still able to manage a few deep-throated grunts.
“Lunch was delish, baby,” Fiona whispered.
“Yeah? Well, I want seconds.”
She giggled as he peppered her neck with kisses.
* * *
Back at the house and in her room, Fiona still glowed from her lunchtime romp with Leo. It was all she could think about as they watched TV. She was surprised that he hadn’t rushed back to Grace’s office but wasn’t going to mention anything.
“Let’s make a deal,” she said.
“Okay.”
“Let’s not call this time at the Hamptons the end.” Fiona muted the TV.
“What do you want to call it?”
“Part one.” She studied him for a reaction. His calmness unnerved her.
“And how many parts are there?”
“Two parts. And the second part can go on for a...very...long time.”
He made a face as if pondering the idea. “Sounds reasonable.”
“That’s it?” She pushed his thigh, not sure how to feel about his easygoing response over something that was important.
He turned toward her. The look of amusement disappeared. “Only need to know how far you’re willing to take it this time. Short haul. Long haul.”
She was peeved that he kept referencing the past.
“I thought you’d ask me to be your girlfriend for the long term.”
“Are you really ready?”
Fiona didn’t jump to answer immediately. “I didn’t start out knowing exactly what I wanted or how you’d react to me. I know we’re still working on getting to know each other.
“Trusting each other.”
“Yes, trust is important. But I’m ready for all of it.” Fiona felt like she was negotiating for her life.
“I’ll take you at your word, then.�
�
She kissed him and said against his lips, “Then let’s seal the deal.”
Chapter 8
Instead of the usual jog the next morning, Leo opted for a brisk walk along the Shinnecock Bay with its white sandy beach and blue waters. Boaters were up early and making their way to their destinations. He wasn’t the type to expound about the spiritual effects of water and its power over his mood. Such a philosophy was too close to the deeply held beliefs of his people and their interconnectedness to nature. And look where it got them when a massive flood and mudslide wiped them out in less than a day. He picked up driftwood and tossed it into the water, then watched it move with the current. Maybe the wood would float out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Leo noticed he suddenly had company. “Hey, fella, what are you doing out here by yourself?”
A small dog wagged its tail. Its mouth curved in a wet smile with its tongue lolling to the side.
“Lost?” He looked around for signs of anyone, but the beach was deserted. “I’m sure you shouldn’t be here.” Leo couldn’t boast about knowing what the steps were after finding a dog. Although, in this case, he felt that the dog had found him. “Are you a beagle? Kind of look like one.” He should have watched more Westminster Kennel shows. Were beagles friendly?
The dog kept an attentive gaze on him, but it didn’t move from the spot it had occupied since arriving on the scene.
“I need to look at your collar.” He held out his hands, unsure if palms up or palms down meant anything. But he kept a wary eye for any shift from the dog’s subdued curiosity to the bared fangs of a hellhound.
Leo moved slowly, hoping to gain the dog’s trust. They didn’t have the luxury of long hours to bond. He offered his hand for the dog to sniff. Its wet nose brushed across his knuckles, followed by a quick lick.
Success. They had passed the greeting stage. Leo grinned. His new friend did a happy dance of wagging its tail at a feverish pace and running in wide circles around him. Leo reached down and managed a few head scratches when the dog paused for the attention. Its excited yips filled the air. Eventually, Leo held the dog and checked the small tag that hung from the collar. He read off the phone number and pulled out his cell to dial.
No one answered. But he heard a phone ringing nearby and a voice calling.
The dog’s ears immediately perked up and its head turned toward the caller. Without so much as a goodbye wag of its tail, the little animal took off and disappeared over a grassy dune.
A car approached on his trek toward the road. Headlights blinked on and off. As it drew close, he recognized the car and driver. He waved for Fiona to pull over and slid into the car.
“Thought I might see you on your run. I was headed on a quick errand.”
“I was playing with a lost pup. But he or she found its owner. Then I was abandoned.”
“Who wouldn’t want to play with you?” she asked in exaggerated baby talk.
“Not any four-legged friends.”
“You got me.” She mussed his hair.
“Yeah, I do.” Leo settled into the seat with a small smile. He and his woman with their dog or cat to make the unit complete. He almost nodded over the pleasing image.
“Coming with me on my errand?”
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, I need for you to hit the gas? I’ll be late for work, but maybe I can cut it down by thirty minutes.”
“You don’t jump to attention with me. I’m jealous.”
“You aren’t paying me,” he teased.
“Oh, it’s like that now. I’ll walk with my wallet for the next time.”
“Guess I’ll be the one paying for that remark.”
She nodded. Her grin was wicked and fun.
They came to a stop in front of the house. Time for him to get his head back on his job.
“We’ll talk later.” He leaned over and gently popped a kiss on her waiting mouth.
“Before you go, I’ve got something on my mind.” She bit her lip, before continuing, “I never apologized for putting an end to us. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re a work in progress, right?” Her smile trembled.
“I’m looking forward to getting it right with you, baby.” He kissed her hard, her mouth sweet and hungry for his tongue. He stroked her, relishing her equal passion. All was not lost. As he pulled back to leave, he truly wanted to believe the look in her eyes that seemed to match what he felt. That they would be all right.
* * *
Another day slipped by and if she could sing, Fiona would have belted out a song to rival any musical number. Whistling an upbeat tune, she popped her head into the dining room to see if anyone was in there. Everything was quiet. No sign of anyone. She’d hoped that as the days dwindled down and her departure on Saturday neared, she could spend a lot of time with Leo. But the closed-door sessions with Grace were longer and his attitude even more intense. She couldn’t get time with him to throw out her invitation for another hotel getaway.
So instead she had roped in Belinda to help her do the gardening for Grandpa Henry. Even Cassie, her great-aunt, joined in. Right now, she wasn’t sure how much weeding and mulching got done, as she surveyed the area. But there was a lot of laughter and merriment among the group that she appreciated. And now with her grandfather having to take it easy, he couldn’t dodge her questions like he’d done all through the last week.
“Looks like fun.” Verona stood just outside their circle. “May I join you?” She wasn’t really dressed for digging in the dirt, but Fiona seized the suggestion.
“We are cleaning up some areas.” Fiona stepped aside for her mother to join them and close the circle. “And Dad?”
“He has one of his migraines. He’s lying down.”
Much of her childhood was spent witnessing her father suffer from crippling headaches. Staying quiet had been her special job. She’d wanted to be the best at it and earn the treats he’d give her when he was better.
“I’ll go see him later if he’s better.”
“He’d like that.” Verona offered a smile laced with sadness.
Her mother wasn’t a weeping willow. Growing up with Verona’s emotional distance hadn’t bothered Fiona at first. Hadn’t been until she visited her school friends at their homes that she saw the Starks contrasts with her family. They lived a life of polite indifference. Expressing feelings was not discouraged but was not a frequent occurrence. The hugs and kisses to the head she’d received for a job well done or to raise her spirits after a bad experience could be counted on one hand. By the time she was in college, she barely went home for the holidays. It would take Grace’s mandated family events to get her back home. Despite it all, she considered her life normal. Trading it in for someone else’s wasn’t realistic. Besides, her family’s attitude had its perks. It kept her in a position of never having to share her feelings, shielding her from the possibility of disappointment.
“When you were a little girl, we planted a tree together. You, me and your father—a cherry tree.”
“Really? I don’t remember...” Fiona recalled the events in which her entire family had participated—not many.
“You were probably three years old.” Her mother wiped her brow. “Unfortunately, the tree died. I think it was beetles.
“Why a cherry tree?”
“It’s about life.” Verona remained in her squatting position, pulling out the weeds. “Life is beautiful and fragile.”
“You sound like a poet.”
Her mother laughed. “Far from it. It was my stint in Japan.”
“Japan? When did you go to Japan?”
“When I was in college.”
“Grandpa, you never told me that Mom was in Japan.”
He grunted. “I think that I’d better get
in the shade.” He walked away, leaving Fiona to frown at his abrupt departure.
“You should tell me about Japan, Mom.”
“Yes.” Verona was suddenly intent on weed removal.
Fiona wasn’t holding her breath that she’d learn about her mom’s adventures in Japan. But she had to admit that her mother didn’t have to share the information. Observing such tenderness in her mother’s face, the gentle encouragement in her tone, the hand that lingered on her arm—every act made her yearn for more. Dare she hope that the Hamptons estate had enough magic to not only give her Leo but reconnect her with her mother?
This garden plot had been Cassie’s dream of an area designed by the family. Fiona remembered her mother and aunts creating the garden once the professional landscaper had done the heavy, backbreaking work. Tending the garden was another chance for family bonding. The three generations—well, minus Grandpa Henry—spent another hour digging through the dirt, pulling out the dead plants and shifting the landscaping rocks to form a more decorative boundary.
“Well, this has killed my back,” Belinda complained. She stretched her spine, wincing as she moved from side to side. “But I’m putting this on Instagram.” She pulled off her gloves and then positioned her camera to take several photos that had every family member scrambling out of the shot.
“A massage would be lovely,” Cassie said. “I love my gardens, too, but after the guys come and work on it.”
“I know what you mean,” Verona remarked as she watched Henry return with a drink to sit under the patio umbrella.
“Dad, you shouldn’t be out here. I know you went to the doctor yesterday.”
“And I’m fine.” He sipped his drink.
“What did the doctor say, Grandpa?” Fiona asked.
“That he should stop eating all those sugary foods and carbs.” Cassie shook her head at him. “I told Mrs. Finch to change the meals for him.”
“Means tasteless food.” Henry scowled.
“We want you here with us for a long time.” Fiona didn’t want to think about her dear grandfather being ill.
“Okay, everyone stop fussing. Let’s move inside, where it’s cooler.” Henry pushed up slowly from the chair and shuffled into the house.
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