“Stan showed me a copy of the letter he penned asking you out. Flowery language and written in his own hand.”
Rina rubbed her temples. “He’s playing you. He never sent any letter. But he wants you jealous and you are. You’re interested in the man. Just admit it and go out with him, for heaven’s sake.” She shot an imploring glance at Colin.
“Emma?” Colin prodded.
Old, wise eyes met Rina’s. “I’m afraid.”
“Logan won’t allow the Judge to put you in an old-age home, Emma.”
Colin spoke the words Rina had tried to convince Emma of already. But hearing him say it, Rina believed. She trusted Colin’s instincts. His judgment. And that meant her feelings for this man went deeper than she’d ever imagined.
She shivered, forcing herself to focus on Emma. “Isn’t that the same thing I told you the other day?”
The older woman nodded.
“Life is short,” Rina said, speaking from experience. “Please trust me on this and live every day to its fullest. If Stan wants to be your companion, then get to know him. Trust your own instincts.”
“I know you’re right. I just wish it was easy.”
Rina didn’t miss the irony in Emma’s life. She had no problem trusting her instincts when giving advice to others, but when it came to herself, she doubted her judgment. For the first time, Emma looked fragile, a word Rina had never associated with her before. She wanted to strangle the Judge herself, but she’d settle for comforting her friend.
As if reading her mind, Colin walked over and pulled Emma into a silent hug. Over Emma’s shoulder, he met Rina’s gaze. Sizzling heat and understanding passed between them.
Emma rose and cleared her throat. “Well, I plan to give Stan a piece of my mind for deceiving me,” she said, back to her old feisty self.
Rina smiled. “I bet you will.”
“And I’ll be keeping an eye on you, young lady. No more two-timing this wonderful man.” With a chuckle, she embraced Rina. “You are a good girl, Rina. I wish I had a daughter like you. And a son like you, Colin.”
“You just take care of yourself. More importantly, be good to yourself, okay?” Rina said.
“Am I ever anything but good?” A naughty twinkle settled in Emma’s blue eyes. At least she’d brushed off her bout of insecurity. “Now, I believe my driver’s waiting in the car.”
Rina raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t recognize the car. Come to think of it, I didn’t see anyone sitting in it, either.”
“I borrowed the Judge’s favorite sedan. Heaven forbid he thinks he has the upper hand.” She sniffed. “As for my driver, he probably went to take a leak—’er, do his business.” She shot Rina a wink and laughed.
Rina chuckled, helping Emma on with her coat and providing her with a pair of flat shoes to wear out to the car. “We’ll settle Norton’s mess later, okay?”
“Nonsense. It’s over and done with. Just give him a kiss for me. I love that boy.” And then she was gone.
Exhausted, Rina leaned against the wall and glanced at Colin. Somehow she found the energy to laugh. “Alone at last.”
He grinned. “We certainly are. So, can we get back to discussing Christmas Eve?” Because Colin didn’t want to put off asking her to spend the holiday with him one more minute.
She bit down on her lower lip. “I think I’d asked you what you had in mind.”
“You, me, a small tree we buy today and decorate, and then we make love by the fire all weekend long.” His body burned at the thought, and from the inferno in her gaze, she obviously felt the same way.
“It all sounds so great,” she said in a husky voice that aroused every male instinct he possessed. “We can do all that for the rest of today and tonight. As for tomorrow, we could have that fire if you don’t mind sharing with family.”
“Family?”
“Mine. With all the excitement over my series, then my desire to seduce you—”
“You wanted to seduce me?” he asked, obviously joking, obviously pleased as his lips hovered over hers.
His scent, his heat all worked to get her all stirred up again. “Stop and let me finish. I was so distracted, I forgot that Brianne and Jake are coming tomorrow.”
Disappointment hit him hard. He’d counted on Rina’s brother being out of state, on his and Rina’s similar lack of family to push them together for the holiday. So much for the intimate night he’d planned. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family holiday.”
A wounded look crossed her face. “Who said you’d be intruding? I just invited you. I would have asked you to stay anyway, had I remembered they were coming. You just kept me too distracted to think clearly.” She stepped toward him, a come-hither look in her eyes, a sizzling, sexy smile on her lips. “It wouldn’t be a holiday for me without you.”
She trailed her fingertips up his chest, letting them linger on the collar of his sweater. She knew how to get to him in word and deed. Heat pervaded his body and a throbbing erection took up residence in his jeans. And when she stepped closer, letting her chest brush against him, the swell of her breasts gave him every indication her invitation was sincere. Family or no family, he supposed he could deal with it.
For Rina, he could probably cope with anything.
“How about you go down, get Norton, do whatever you need to around here and then we go tree shopping?”
“Does that mean you’ll be here when Jake and Brianne arrive?”
“As long as you keep Norton away from my shoes, I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Anything?” she asked with a grin.
“You’re naughty, Rina.”
“And you love it.”
He nodded. He sure as hell did. And the notion caused his chest to constrict.
“Give me half an hour to get Norton and change and then I’m all yours,” Rina said. After brushing a kiss over his lips, one that was brief but electric, she bolted for Frankie’s.
Cheeks flushed and glowing, she lit up something inside him. Colin never wanted to lose the feeling, but he warned himself not to get too used to it. Life was all about change. His parents’ deaths, Joe and Nell taking him in, his brief marriage, followed by Nell’s death, Colin’s divorce and then Joe’s marriage to Corinne. Nothing ever stayed the same.
Fate always threatened to take away what he loved most. But in this case, Colin himself had the means to tear him and Rina apart. But he hoped to build a solid foundation before then, something that could withstand the repercussions when they came.
CHAPTER NINE
AROUND FOUR that afternoon, Colin lugged a pathetic-looking tree up Rina’s stairs. “This thing looks like it’s seen better days.”
Rina unlocked the door and held it open so he could drag their tree inside. “We’re lucky they had any left the day before Christmas Eve. Personally, I don’t care what it looks like. It’s ours and that’s all that counts.”
Norton barked when they entered, and he danced around, jumping on Colin with his front paws. “Go walk him before I become his next victim, will you?”
Rina laughed. “I expect that tree set up and ready to be decorated when I return.”
“Slave driver.” He winked and waved her away.
A few hours later, he stepped back to admire their handiwork. The small tree twinkled with all the spark, spunk and spirit that Rina had brought into his life. Red, green and gold ornaments decorated the branches, along with silver tinsel and a shiny star on top. The result was commercial in color but warm and comforting in the aura it exuded. A fire crackled in the small fireplace where Norton lay basking in the heat before deciding to snooze on the couch instead.
A feeling of accomplishment filled Colin, along with the strange sensation of belonging. Here. With Rina and her dog in this small Cape apartment. “Amazing,” he said, unsure if he was referring to the tree or the feelings she inspired.
“I know. Even with remnants left in the stores, this tree looks just perfect.” Her soft, grateful gaze me
t his and yearning flared to life between them.
He’d held off touching her all day, knowing the tree would never get put up or decorated if he even so much as stroked or kissed her soft skin. But the work was finished and now the fun could begin. “We can’t make love by the fire on Christmas Eve, but there’s no reason why we can’t do it tonight.”
She let out a husky purr of agreement and came into his arms. “But I thought we’d make New Year’s resolutions first.”
He blinked, surprised. “I’m not big on those.” Mostly because they entailed promises, something he’d never been great at keeping. To distract her, he slipped his hands beneath her heavy wool sweater so his hands spanned her waist, traveling upward and coming to rest on the outside of her breasts. The full mounds filled his palms, warm feminine flesh awaiting his touch.
“Force yourself. For me, okay? It’s an old family tradition, and I thought you and I could do it together this year.”
Even if they wouldn’t be together next year to reassess and reevaluate? Colin wondered silently. “You go first,” he said instead.
“Okay.” She scrunched her nose and she got lost, deep in thought. “I will continue to be true to myself.”
“In what way?” he asked, intrigued.
“You know how some people undergo psychotherapy? Well, I don’t have to. My column’s been one huge lesson in self-awareness. And it’s taught me a bigger lesson about you.” She wrapped her hands around him, trapping his hands against her bare skin. “So I’ll continue to write my column and only let people and things that are good for me into my life.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“I can handle it.” She grinned and brushed a kiss over his lips. “Your turn.”
He swallowed hard. “I’ll be true to…” He wanted to say you, but bit his tongue, knowing that kind of promise was impossible to keep. And any commitment he made to Rina, he intended to follow through upon.
“Come on, Colin. Don’t take the easy way and just repeat what I said. Make a New Year’s resolution,” she urged.
“I resolve to take care of things in my life the most responsible way I can.” Vague, but he hoped she wouldn’t question him.
Because it was a holiday weekend, no one had returned his business calls, but he intended to start by having another talk with the accountants and seeing exactly what shape the paper was in now. His last figures had been from too far back. Then he needed to talk to Joe. Together, maybe they could come up with a plan that wouldn’t hurt the people they both cared for, he thought, looking into Rina’s wide-eyed gaze. But in the meantime, he couldn’t deny that he’d been progressing with his plan, and he silently cursed Corinne for letting things slide so far that Colin had to put the pieces back together.
“See? That wasn’t so difficult, was it?” she asked.
He forced a grin. “Of course not.”
“And now we can pick up where we left off.” Without warning, she reached down and pulled her sweater over her head until she stood before him in a pink lace bra, her pale skin lit by the flickering firelight.
He leaned forward, intending to kiss her, but she stopped him by pushing down on his shoulders, bringing him to his knees. She followed, eyeing him expectantly. The time for kissing had passed and he dipped his head. Starting at her navel, his tongue traced a pattern on her flat stomach and silken skin. He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside so he could encircle first one nipple with his mouth, then the next, tugging on the distended tip until her hips tilted forward and a strangled moan reverberated from her throat.
“Get undressed.” Rina’s demand sounded hoarse to her own ears.
She didn’t care. She’d never felt such driving, overpowering need to be a part of another human being. To be one with Colin. Her hands shook as she reached for the button on his jeans, impatience overtaking her.
“Relax. We have all night.”
Someone ought to tell that to her overheated body. He covered her hand, moving it away so he could take care of things himself. Quicker, she figured, than if she’d fumbled around.
Instead, she worked on her own clothes, meeting him naked on the floor. He pulled her on top of his warm, strong body, allowing her to feel his erection hot and ready against her stomach. She reached between them, needing to feel him, and a drop of his moisture touched her hand. A wash of desire and sensation swept through her, a heavy dampness filling the space between her legs.
Unable to wait, she straddled him, holding his hard length in one hand and placing the head of his penis between her thighs. His gaze never left hers, hot and intense as she lowered herself, taking him in, inch by inch, feeling him swell and harden inside her. And just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, she released the muscles in her legs and he filled her completely.
He reached out, grabbing her hands in his, intertwining their fingers. They couldn’t be in a more intimate position. She sat up on his thighs, his penis embedded deep inside her, her entire upper body exposed for his view. When she glanced down, their joining was an erotic vision of two people becoming one. At the sight, her muscles contracted around him and his hips jerked upward, pressing on just the right place to increase the friction and orgasm-inducing sensation.
“Ride me, honey.” Colin spoke through gritted teeth.
He shook from the effort of holding back, and Rina gave him what he asked for. Rising up, she felt every hard ridge ease out of her body before she came back down hard, bringing herself closer to the brink. He picked up on her rhythm. Bucking in and out, up and down, she lost herself in hot, sweaty, carnal lovemaking.
Without warning, the physical sensations swamping her mixed with raw emotion and Rina swallowed over a sob, one that came loud and ripped from inside her. God, she was close. He slipped his fingers between them, clasping on to the one sensitive place she possessed and not letting go, rolling his fingertips while they moved, bringing on an intense, explosive orgasm that seemed to go on and on and on.
AT RINA’S INSISTENCE, she and Colin spent Sunday morning with the rest of the crowds doing last-minute holiday shopping. They separated in the mall long enough for him to buy her a present before meeting up again later. Now, gifts under the tree, they were relaxing at her place, when the doorbell rang.
She dropped the pad and paper. “They’re here.” She sprang from the chair where she’d been taking notes for her column, and ran for the door.
Their solitude had officially ended and Colin groaned. After making love in front of the fire, they’d showered, gone out for a quick burger, picked up a change of clothes for him and returned to her place for the night. And what a night it had been. The woman had energy, stamina and a completely giving nature, going so far as to insist Norton be allowed to join them when it came time for sleep. She didn’t want the pooch to face another night alone.
Now the damn dog was his best friend. While Colin lay on the couch watching football, Norton sprawled on top of him, his face on Colin’s stomach, his black tongue hanging out.
“What kind of dog doesn’t jump when the doorbell rings?” he asked aloud.
“The dumbest kind,” a male voice said from behind him.
Colin tried to rise but Norton wasn’t budging.
“That’s okay. If he’s attached to you, he’ll stay the hell away from me. I’m Jake. Rina’s brother.” The other man extended his hand and Colin shook it.
“Colin Lyons.”
“Good to meet you. Rina’s told me all about you.”
That shocked him. He’d never thought about whether Rina discussed him with her family. If he had, he wouldn’t have believed he was important enough for her to mention. It looked as though he’d have been wrong.
Jake studied Colin, as if taking his measure. “Good game?” he asked, settling in on the couch, comfortable and at home.
Colin glanced at the television. “Not bad. How was your trip?”
Jake laughed. “Long, with too many pit stops.”
In person
, Colin could see the resemblance between the dark-haired cop and his sister.
A pretty auburn-haired woman came up around Jake, joining them, reminding Colin their private time had come to an end, at least for the weekend. But time with her family meant that he would be learning more about her, as he discovered over the next few hours. Her sister-in-law liked to talk, filling him in on Rina’s life back in New York and how proud she and Jake were of her new job and column. She’d even mentioned how the glow in Rina’s cheeks was more pronounced now, with her new life under way, prompting an elbow in her arm from Rina.
Overall, Colin was overwhelmed by Rina’s brother and sister-in-law. Her family’s presence reminded him he hadn’t visited Joe in the last day or so, and guilt compounded any fun he might have had. “Listen, since you have company, I’m going to head on over to the hospital to see Joe.”
“His…father,” Rina said by way of explanation.
“Hospital at Christmas? I’m sorry,” Brianne said.
“Thanks.”
Brianne smiled. “Do you plan to come back? I was hoping we’d have more time getting to know you this weekend.”
“Colin?” Rina turned pleading eyes his way.
Knowing he couldn’t deny her a thing, even if it involved more family time, he nodded. “How about I go for a quick visit and come back after? That’ll give you all some time alone.”
While he visited Joe in a hospital bed and Corinne in Dior’s finest. He groaned, wishing not for the first time since Joe’s remarriage, that Nell was still alive and he had the family he’d grown up with. Instead of some awkward situation where Colin felt like a third wheel.
“Can you make it back by dinner?” Rina asked.
“You should try,” Jake said. “Otherwise you’re leaving me alone with these two women and one wuss of a dog.” He grinned, making his joke obvious before Rina could smack him.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“That would be great. I really want the three of us to celebrate. Jake, did you get the faxes of my columns?” Rina asked, shamelessly seeking praise.
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