“That’s great, dude.”
“Thanks. You’ve got a restaurant gig now, right? Somewhere close by.”
“Yeah, so I’ll be in Portland more often.”
“I expect to hear from you, then. None of this every few months garbage.”
“Absolutely.” Shane clasped Kagan’s hand underneath the table. “You know you could always visit Cascade. We’ll grab drinks at the Crown & Anchor. I hear the waitresses there are hot.”
Bash’s gaze tracked back and forth between him and Kagan a few times before he lifted his chin and gave a slight nod in understanding. “Actually, I’m thinking of buying a beach house there, so you might be seeing more of my ugly mug than you’d like.”
“I’ll warn the neighbors.”
“You do that.”
“You look really familiar,” Bash said to Kagan. “I never forget a face, and I’ve seen yours somewhere. I’ve been wracking my brain all night.”
“Do you get the Cascade Gazette here? They did a piece on me,” she said, her voice calm and steady. Shane had brought her another bag of jelly beans to celebrate the story that propelled Kagan to town sweetheart status. Pride had welled inside him when he’d read it. And he’d quickly put to rest her worries about national coverage. He and his family could handle it.
“No, that’s not it.” Bash’s eyes widened. “More like The New York Times.”
“I’ve been in that too,” Kagan said casually. “But I much prefer the Gazette.”
“Got it,” Bash said. “You here permanently now?”
Kagan fidgeted. “No. I don’t think so.”
Shane’s chest grew tight at her answer, and he tugged at his shirt collar. Damn, it was warm in this place. The idea of her living somewhere else hurt like he’d been punched in the stomach.
The waitress delivered their drinks, and he downed his soda in two gulps. A beer would’ve been so much better, but he had to drive back to Cascade.
They talked for about fifteen more minutes and then Shane excused them. “Thanks again for the tickets, bud.”
“No problem.” Bash stood. “You hang on to this one,” he looked a little too fondly at Kagan. “She’s a keeper.”
“Yeah. And she’s mine so turn your attention the other way, dude.” He motioned his friend off with a firm pat on the back.
Kagan looked at him funny, with a glint of uncertainty and… surprise, maybe? He brushed it off with a wide, closed mouth smile. Tonight she was his.
Quiet filled the car on the drive back to Cascade. After the loud, pulsing beats at the club, he figured they could both use some peacefulness. With the windows down, the scent of the sea air pouring in, a star-filled sky above, he wanted to give Kagan a chance to recharge her batteries.
When they reached The Duchess, rest was the last thing on his mind.
“Shane? What are we doing here?” Her soft voice was an interesting mix of pleasure and shock as he pulled into the parking lot.
He smiled inwardly. “We’re spending the night.” He parked and rushed around the hood to open her door.
“I don’t have anything with me.”
“It’s all taken care of. Come on.” He took her hand, and they entered the lobby. The front desk clerk had his key ready, and they took the elevator to the penthouse suite.
Kagan gasped when he opened the door. She held onto his arm as they walked inside, like she needed him to keep her balance. The breathy sigh she made as she took in their surroundings made his own knees weak. Large taper candles were everywhere, illuminating the entire suite so no other light would be necessary. To the left, on the granite kitchen counter, were the strawberries and cream he’d requested. Straight ahead, the living room’s blue and white décor was warm and inviting. To the right, the open door led to a bedroom where a king-sized bed and large sunken bathtub awaited.
“This… this is incredible. The most beautiful room I’ve ever seen.” She pulled him to a stop. “You did all this for me?”
“I’d fly you to the moon and back, Jelly Belly.”
“Brett’s gone,” she whispered. “He went back to New York today. So you don’t—”
“We both know this isn’t fake anymore, Kagan. What’s happening between us started out as pretend, but it isn’t anymore.” He took a steady breath. “Tonight is as real as it gets, and I want to show you how much you mean to me.”
She turned and wound her arms around his neck, leaning all her weight against his middle. She kissed his neck, his jawline. “No one has ever made me feel the way you do, Shane. Thank you.”
Her whispered words zinged straight to his growing arousal. Then he fumbled like a damn schoolboy when she withdrew her arms and stepped back with slow, sexy steps. She kept her arms stretched in front of her and motioned with her hands for him to follow.
Once she reached the floor to ceiling window, she stopped and pressed her hands against the glass. “Come look at the view with me.”
In two strides he was there. He turned her around and caged her in, his front touching her back, their arms up and hands clasped against the glass. He put his chin on her shoulder and gazed out at the sea of blackness. The moon cast a glow over the ocean, but otherwise darkness swallowed the land.
Kagan tilted her head, giving him full access to her neck. “When I was little,” she whispered, “I was terrified of the dark. My mom would tuck me in and leave the light on until I feel asleep. When I was eleven or twelve, Charlotte got me over it. One night when she was sleeping over she turned out my light and held my hand while we sat in the bay window of my room and looked at the full moon. She said it was the closest heavenly body to earth and all I had to do was see its light and nothing could hurt me.”
Shane brought their arms down and squeezed her around the waist.
“Those were the magic words and I was okay after that.” She took a deep breath. “Until my mom died. Then every time I found myself in the dark, I couldn’t stop thinking about finding her.”
Under his hold, she trembled. He wanted to take away every painful memory in her beautiful head and put new ones in.
“Charlotte came to my rescue again. This time she made me an appointment with a therapist. It took some time, but eventually I got over it. Candles helped. That’s why I love them so much. So walking in here tonight and seeing this room, Shane, it just… I felt… I wanted you to know all that.”
Very gently, he turned her around. Her eyes glistened like she’d fought back tears and his heart did a serious somersault. Her sharing something so personal made him feel vulnerable too. If she could let go of the past, so could he.
He brushed the hair away from her face and cupped her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Thank you.” Her soft voice washed over him like satin.
“I think I know of a way we can stop thinking and just feel.”
“Do you?” Her hands roamed up his back.
“You ready to feel the Shane Special?”
She giggled. “Very ready.”
“Great. It starts here.” He brushed her lips with a feather light touch, their eyes stuck on each other. He’d never taken things so slow or impassioned before. He never wanted every touch to singe and brand, ruining her for any other man’s lips.
He tasted and teased until her eyelids fluttered closed. Then he fed from the sweetness of her mouth, absorbing her essence into his every cell.
She moaned, fisted his shirt, and pressed tighter against him. They kissed for the longest time. His thigh nestled between her legs, and he wanted to lift her skirt and take her right there. He slid his hands down her neck, her shoulders, her arms, until he got to the hem of her shirt. He lifted it up and over her head. She reciprocated, tugging his shirt off and tossing it aside.
They wasted no time after that. He got rid of his shoes and jeans. She got rid of her skirt. His boxer briefs went next. Her sexy-as-hell lace bra and panties followed. When she reached for her heels, he stopped her.
“Leave those on.”
Then he made love to her. All night long.
Chapter Thirteen
Kagan stretched, her body deliciously content, her mind free, her heart…taken. The satiny sheets of the king-sized bed felt wonderful, and she wanted to stay there all day for repeat performances of everything she and Shane had done last night.
Shane. Just thinking his name made her hot and achy. She rolled over to kiss him good morning but found a silver tray with a small vase of flowers, glass of juice, and basket of assorted pastries instead. There was also a note.
Work emergency. Stay in bed. I’ll be back.
Love,
Shane
Smiling like a fool, she fell back against her pillow. She had no idea how long he had the suite for, and she needed to be at work at three, but it couldn’t be later than…
Noon? She’d slept until noon? She tapped the digital clock on the nightstand like that would make the time change. She never slept this late. You’ve never stayed up all night having sex, either. How long had Shane been gone?
And how sweet of him to let her sleep.
No wonder bright sunlight streamed in through the window. She sat up and grabbed a croissant from the basket. As she took a bite she noticed the leftover strawberries and cream on the small table in the corner and blushed. No one was even around and still her cheeks heated! She’d never eat a strawberry again without thinking about the way Shane had fed them to her, eaten them off her.
He’d worshipped every inch of her body and her response to him had been unlike anything she’d experienced before.
This took the relationship in a whole new direction. They could never go back to just being friends now. Could she go back to New York now?
She slid out of bed and padded to the bathroom. Naked. She’d slept naked. She never did that. The fluffy white robe she pulled off the back of the door fell to her shins, and she tied it loosely around her waist.
Thinking about Shane and how he’d gotten past her guard, how he’d so effortlessly made her want to give love a try, was dangerous. But worth it.
He’d told Bash she was his.
She padded into the living area and eyed the new outfit on the couch—a pale green sundress and flip-flops. Every toiletry she’d need sat on the bathroom counter. Shane had taken care of everything. When she looked at the clothes she’d worn last night piled on the floor by the window, she shivered. The things Shane had done to her against that window…
Stop. She shook her head and pulled her cell phone out of her bag. There were three voice messages from Charlotte.
Worry washed over her. Rather than waste time listening to them, she called her best friend.
“Jelly Belly,” she said picking up after the first ring. “Where the heck have you been?”
“Are you okay? I’m sorry I missed your calls.”
Charlotte let out a deep breath. “Did you not feel my brainwaves?”
“Sorry. No. I was a little busy.” Kagan felt herself blushing again.
“What kind of busy? You sound funny. Wait. Are you with Shane? Did you guys…”
Kagan pictured her friend narrowing her eyes.
“Did you guys do it? You did, didn’t you? I can totally tell. Oh my God. Spill!”
“We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. What’s up? Please tell me you’re okay.”
“Define okay.”
Kagan sat on the couch and curled her legs under herself. Charlotte was going to make her work for this, since she’d missed her phone calls. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“Okay, good. Something happened at work then. Tough case?”
“Uh, no case. Not anymore. I was let go.”
“What? Why?” Kagan changed positions so she could try on her new flip-flops.
“The usual tightening of the ship. Or payroll, I guess. Oh, also, Daniel is seeing someone else now. The kind of girl he’s always dreamed about. He thinks she might be his soul mate.”
“Oh, Char.”
“After two effing dates. And she’s an intern at Good Morning America. We both know what a crush he’s got on George Steph… however you say his last name. So, I thought I’d come visit you again. I could definitely use a change of scenery and more pastries from Crem’s.”
“Charlotte, I would love that! In fact, there are some things I need to tell you.”
“I’ve got all day.” She let out a long, suffering sigh.
“I wish I was there to give you a hug. Daniel is so losing out on the best thing to ever happen to him. He’ll be sorry one day.”
“Thanks, Kay. Now tell me everything about Shane.”
She did. Even mentioned the L word. She also told Charlotte that she planned to stay in Cascade for a while longer, maybe indefinitely. She’d found a home. A place that made her feel like anything was possible.
When she hung up, she thought about calling Shane but didn’t know if it was okay to bug him at work. They needed to talk. She needed to tell him that she wanted more. She’d never been more intimate or felt so connected to someone and after what he’d said to her last night, she knew he had similar feelings.
At two-thirty she couldn’t wait any longer, though. She wore the sundress, carried her old clothes and heels in a bundle, and went downstairs. Not sure whether to check out, she stopped at the front desk. The man there said she needn’t do anything, but a message had just come in for her. It was from Shane, letting her know he was still stuck at work.
Why he didn’t call her cell, she didn’t know. She grabbed a cab and headed home before rushing to the Crown & Anchor.
…
Shane lived and breathed his work. It filled him with satisfaction. Accomplishment. Pride. And until this week, he hadn’t known what he was missing.
He swiveled in his office chair to catch a glimpse of dusk and a sky dotted with pink-tinged clouds out the window. Last night had been the hottest, best sex of his life. Kagan had turned him inside out with her Mmms and Don’t stops. Please don’t stops. He wanted to oblige that request forever.
And that terrified him more than any other thing he’d faced in his twenty-eight years. Kagan stole his self-control, and he had to be in control if he didn’t want to hurt her. Sometime after he’d reluctantly left her in bed this morning, he’d realized the one thing that could break him—her. He’d survived his mistake with Mia, but if he hurt Kagan, even in the slightest, it would kill him.
That meant letting her go. If she wanted to be back in New York, he’d let her go.
“You are one amazing SOB,” boomed his boss, Belinda, as she stepped into his office.
Shane turned in his seat. “I am that.”
Belinda grinned and paced around the room. She was fired up, the energy coming off her palpable. “You are the future of this company, you know. My architects might be the best designers this side of Texas, but you’re the backbone that keeps this firm at the top of its class.”
“It’s a team effort, Belinda, but thank you.”
“Levi Roche was so impressed by how you handled things today that he wants us on every one of his restaurants.”
The famous TV star chef had impressed Shane too. When Shane’s civil engineer had found some discrepancies in the soil at the site of the restaurant and plans for laying the foundation had to be put off, Mr. Roche had swallowed his initial outburst and listened. Shane explained that every piece of the puzzle needed to be in place or there would be problems later.
It set production back, but hiccups along the way were normal, Shane had added. He’d also thrown in baseball stats as they’d talked, knowing Levi Roche was a Mets fan.
“You’re taking this company global, Shane. He’s got plans for restaurants in Paris, Sydney and Beijing.” Belinda beamed as if Shane had just given her a winning lottery ticket. “I hope your passport’s up to date.”
Shane fiddled with a pen on his desk. “It is, but we’ve got Portland to concentrate on first.”
Belinda took a seat on the other side of his desk and leaned forward, elbows on her thighs. Her eyes narrowed. “You having second thoughts about what I want from you?”
Yes. “No ma’am. I’m committed. Twenty-four-seven if need be.”
“Good. Because there’s no one I trust more than you. You’ve proven yourself time and again these past four years.”
“I appreciate that. I’m equally grateful for the opportunities you’ve given me.”
“I knew from the day you set foot in here, you’d impress me. I just hadn’t realized how much.” Belinda rose. “Monday morning I’d like to see you in my office. Say nine?”
Shane stood. “Sounds good. Have a nice weekend.”
She turned to leave. When she’d reached the doorway, she paused. “I forgot to ask how your days off have been.”
Life changing. “Good. Great actually.”
His boss studied him with that keen sense of knowledge that Shane’s mom often used on him. “It’s good to have you back.”
He gave a quick nod before she vanished around the corner. Had she seen something different in him just now? Were her parting words an ultimatum? Work or a personal life?
Shane leaned forward against his desk. His eyes shut. And there she was. Kagan. Her lavender scent lingered on his skin; her taste still stained his lips. When she’d smiled at him, when she’d yelled out his name, something so primal had welled within him that when he was inside her he’d wanted to leave something of himself each and every time.
How the hell was he supposed to choose? He’d fallen in love at the worst possible time.
“Shane?”
His eyes flew open. Drew, his part-time intern, stood at the door with a stack of files. “Come on in. Thanks for compiling those assessments.”
She put the papers on his desk. “Sure. I’m going to head out now if that’s okay.”
“Yeah. Thanks for today.”
“Ms. Burke said you might be in this weekend and could use some help. I’m around if you need me.”
Shane hated to ask, but an extra pair of eyes would speed things along. “How about Sunday? Say ten?”
Her Accidental Boyfriend: A Secret Wishes Novel (Entangled Bliss) Page 16
