by Jill Sanders
She couldn’t deny the bout of jealousy that had hit her when she’d seen the pretty blonde rushing from Calvin’s office.
After all, they hadn’t made any commitments to each other. As far as she knew, it could have very well just been a one-night deal. She’d never had one before and didn’t think Calvin thought of it as such, but she couldn’t be sure until she’d talked to him.
But after that kiss… she knew there was more between them. Grabbing a rain jacket, she checked her messages and then freshened up her makeup. Her hair would be a total loss since it was still lightly raining outside.
She glanced down at her watch and figured she had another fifteen minutes and spent the time walking around the room like she was nervously awaiting her first date.
This was ridiculous. It was Calvin. She’d slept with him last night. Why was she nervous? Then it hit her. This was their first date. It somehow meant more to her than he’d suggested they head into town instead of just eating dinner in the dining room downstairs.
He wanted to be seen with her in town.
She did a happy little booty dance and then spent the next few minutes gliding on air as she thought about spending the evening with him. Would he bring her back to his place? That thought stopped her and she rushed to change her smaller purse to a larger one and stuffed some necessities in it just in case.
By the time she’d collected the items, she needed to rush down the stairs so she wouldn’t be late meeting him. He was already standing in the lobby holding a large black umbrella as he talked to the man behind the front counter.
When he spotted her, he turned away from the man and smiled at her. “Ready?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her.
“Yes.” She sighed at the feeling of his arm around her.
When they stepped out on the front porch, they almost bumped into the pretty blonde woman and an older woman.
“Sorry,” Calvin said, trying to step out of the duo’s way.
The look both women gave her as they walked past them had Bella holding in a chuckle. As they walked down the pathway towards the docks, she leaned closer to Calvin to be under the cover of the umbrella.
“I’m not sure I am going to survive the attack that just happened,” she joked.
“Attack?” His steps faltered.
“Back there.” She motioned towards the building.
When he shook his head, she continued. “I don’t think it’s just the bride that has a thing for you. The other woman was obviously upset that you had your arm around me.”
“What?” He stopped at the end of the dock and looked down at her.
“Relax.” She giggled and leaned up on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips. “I think they got the hint that you’re taken.”
He smiled down at her. “Am I?”
She wrapped her arms around him a little more. “If you want to be.”
He bent his head down and kissed her slowly, running his lips over hers and making her knees melt. “I do,” he said when he pulled back. “We’d better get going or the ferry will take off without us.” He nodded towards the boat.
Since it was still raining, most of the employees that were leaving the island for the night huddled inside.
They stood up in the captain’s cabin. JT had spotted them crowding onto the ferry and waved them up to ride with him.
“What are you two up to tonight?” he’d asked them.
“Heading into town for some pizza,” Calvin had answered easily.
JT glanced between them. “I take it Ben knows?”
Bella sighed loudly. “I do not need approval from my brother on whom I see.”
JT chuckled. “Sure, you don’t. It’s just…” He turned to look over at her. “Don’t get me in trouble again.”
Bella touched his arm. “He knows that this”—she glanced to Calvin— “is none of his business.”
“Besides,” Calvin broke in, “Ben’s already loosened my jaw for it. Before he gave me his word that it was none of his business.”
JT nodded. “Fine.” He turned back to her. “If you need a ride back…”
“She won’t,” Calvin added. Then he turned to her. “I mean, if Bella wants to come back to the resort tonight, I’ll bring her myself.”
“Fine with me,” JT added as he maneuvered the ferry into the dock. “Have a good night. I’m heading home for some dinner myself.” He smiled. “We’ll have to get together soon so you can see the kids.”
“I’d love it,” Bella replied.
“Emma’s been anxious to meet you.”
“Me too,” she agreed and remembered suddenly that JT was married to Emma Wilder. Now Emma Thomas. The actress. The woman had played the lead in both of the movies adapted from JT’s books. The last one had been full of action, aliens, and Emma kicking some serious butt.
That was before she’d gotten pregnant with their twins. But JT had mentioned that he was working on another sequel. Bella was dying to know if Emma would play the infamous Hannah Rodgers again.
As they stepped off the docks, the sky cleared for a few moments, allowing them to stroll down the street and make their way towards the pizzeria.
The place was packed with families enjoying dinner. She knew a lot more people in town than she’d remembered and enjoyed catching up with a few as they waited for a table to be cleared.
Calvin chatted with a few people she assumed were employees upon hearing parts of their conversation. By the time they were seated at a table near the bar area, she was starving. She’d skipped out on lunch, since she’d buried herself in her work, fine-tuning her latest song, “Just One Night.”
When their breadsticks and drinks were delivered, she dug in as they chatted about the town and the people they’d run into.
“What did you do before this?” she asked him after they ordered their pizza.
He shrugged and looked uncomfortable. “This and that.”
“Which means?” She chuckled. “I know Sarah and Ben asked you to come in after Lilly had Alex.”
“Right,” he agreed, reaching for another breadstick. “I was working in Boston.”
“For?” she asked, leaning her elbow on the table and watching him.
“A law firm, one I was happy to leave.”
“Okay, before that? Ben mentioned something about job jumping before you settled here.”
He nodded. “I did. More jobs than I can count or care to revisit. What about you? Did you always want to sing?”
She laughed and relaxed back. “No, when I was ten years old, I wanted to be a superhero. But my parents were quick to dash those hopes. Then I wanted to be a scientist.”
“What happened to that dream?”
She shrugged. “I flunked out of biology class.”
He chuckled. “So, you turned to music?”
She nodded. “I was good at it and I’d been in choir most of my life.” She frowned slightly. “It was funny, my parents were completely fine with me signing, until I told them I wanted to do it for a living.”
He reached over and took her hand in his. “Some parents will never be satisfied, no matter what their children do.”
“What about your parents?” She watched his eyes and noticed the sadness behind them.
“They have their reasons to be unsatisfied with me. None of them have anything to do with my job.” He glanced around the restaurant, avoiding her eyes.
“I won’t press you, but if you want to tell me, I’d love to hear more.” She took a sip of her wine.
He waited for a moment and she could tell that he was thinking about opening up to her. “For as long as I can remember, every choice I’ve made seemed to go against their direct wishes.” He took a drink of his beer. “After school, things just got worse. That’s when I decided to stop trying to please them.”
“Where do they live?” she asked.
“New York. Another reason they’re upset at me.” His voice changed. “Calvin, everyone knows there are more opportunities in one block of t
he city than there are in the entire state of Maine.”
“Your mother?” she guessed.
He nodded. “Dad agrees with everything she says. Always.” He rolled his eyes. “Honestly, I don’t think my father has a spine of his own, except when it comes to telling his son how disappointed he is in him.”
“It can’t be all that bad. Even though our parents have voiced their agitation at my career choice, underneath they’re proud. Ben caught them bragging about me at the last holiday party he attended of theirs.” She smiled remembering her brother’s call when he’d told her what her parents had told their closest friends.
“My parents are nothing like yours. I’ve met your folks and they seem like saints compared to Tammy and Adam Winters.”
She frowned down into her wine. “You have a brother?”
He nodded slowly. “James. He’s closer to your age…” Her eyebrows shot up as she dared him to mention the handful of years between them. Wisely, he didn’t mention it. “He’s attending the college my parents told him to, heading towards a career they wanted for him.”
“So, he’s the perfect child?” She leaned on the table. “You know, growing up, my parents constantly compared me to Ben. Even though they complained about everything to his face, behind his back they used him as a mold for me to fit in. I was constantly asked why I couldn’t be more like Ben.”
He nodded. “Seeing as I’m the oldest… that wasn’t really an issue until…” He stopped and glanced off, then shook his head and took another drink of his beer. So much pain filled his eyes, and she almost reached for his hand. But just then, their pizza arrived, breaking into their conversation.
Taking the first bite into the pizza was like returning to a place she loved. She couldn’t help the low moan as her eyes slid closed with pleasure. When her eyes opened again, she realized Calvin was watching her and laughed. “Sorry, it’s just… orgasmic.”
He smiled. “Yes, it is.”
The tone in his voice hinted that he wasn’t talking about the pizza, since he’d yet to take a bite. When he leaned closer, he lowered his voice.
“Tell me you’re okay with staying with me tonight.” His eyes searched hers.
She swallowed and nodded. “I’d planned to.”
His smile was instant, and he reached for his slice. “How quickly can we eat?”
She laughed. “Don’t rush me.” She waved her pizza. “I’m enjoying myself. You can’t rush pleasure.”
“Oh god.” He groaned quietly then took a bite of the pizza.
Chapter Fourteen
He didn’t think he could make the short trip to his house from Ed’s. His eyes had been glued to Bella the entire time at the restaurant. He watched as her tongue slid across her bottom lip, licking up the red sauce that had dripped there, and imagined it running across his skin.
The soft moans that emanated from her reminded him of the sounds she’d made the night before when he’d been above her, pleasing her. He wanted his hands on her again. He wanted to taste her skin, to lap her sweet taste up.
It had been too long since he’d been with someone and now that he’d opened the floodgates, it would be hard to close them again. And because it was Bella, his desire was doubled.
He remembered the first time he’d felt lust towards her. It was a photo of Ben’s at school. She must have been in her early teens, after the summer in Mexico.
She was wearing light pink leotards on point as she held an almost impossible position in front of a mirror. Her long hair was tied in a tight bun at the nape of her neck as she focused on a point off-screen.
He’d never imagined he’d be so turned on by ballet but seeing her each day as he shared a dorm room with Ben had been like a drug. Over the years the pictures changed as Bella grew. So had his desire for her.
Until he’d seen her walking up the dock, he’d figured he had it under control. Then she’d kissed him, and his world had turned upside down.
They walked huddled together under his umbrella. The three blocks to his house had never seemed as long as they did now.
He finally unlocked his back door and helped her remove her jacket as they stepped into his mudroom. His hands shook as he removed his own.
When he turned to her, she was watching him, and he knew that he couldn’t wait another moment.
Pulling her into his arms, his mouth found hers and he felt her tremble in his hold. Or maybe that was him shaking?
The kiss deepened as he pushed her up against the hallway wall. Her hands worked the buttons on his shirt. When she pushed it off his shoulders, she raked her fingernails lightly over his exposed skin, sending waves of goosebumps to raise everywhere on him.
Then it was his turn as he pulled the sweater over her head and smiled down at the pink silk bra she wore underneath. He bent and ran his mouth over it as he lifted her into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his hips.
He walked them quickly into his living room and made it only as far as the sofa before she reached for his belt. Laughing, he turned a little and sat down while she settled on his lap, still trying to remove his belt.
“Easy,” he warned as she nipped at his neck.
“No, I can’t wait. Let’s go fast.” She looked into his eyes. “I want this.”
He swallowed and felt his desire bubble as she removed his belt and reached for the button of his slacks.
His hands reached and pulled her jeans loose then stood them back up as they both pulled the rest of their clothes off quickly.
When they stood in front of each other, their breathing labored from moving so quickly, he ran his eyes over her. He didn’t want to go slow either. He doubted he’d even be able to at this moment. His desire had spiked the moment he’d seen the matching pink silk she wore under her jeans.
“Did you wear these for me?” he asked as he ran a finger over the elastic holding them low on her hips. He played with the soft skin just above the underwear.
“Yes.” She groaned and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth.
“My god.” He reached over and once again lifted her into his arms. This time when she wrapped her legs around his hips, he moved until he could place her on the corner of his bar top. Pushing his barstools aside, he stood between her legs and kissed her until he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. His fingers had found her under the silk and played with her until she’d ground her hips against him and tightened her legs around his waist.
“Cal,” she groaned. “I can’t wait.” She moaned against his neck.
“Just a while longer,” he begged and for a split second forgot where he’d put his condoms. Remembering they were upstairs in his nightstand, he reached to pick her up again, only to have her stop him.
“No, here,” she begged.
“My condoms are upstairs.”
“My purse.” She leaned over and reached to where she’d tossed her purse on the bar top. She dug in the massive bag and came back with a row of the silver packages. He smiled.
“Thank god,” he growled out and took one.
After sheathing himself, he reached over and slowly pulled the pink silk down her legs, placing a kiss on her knee as he bent down to remove the material from her. Leaning up, he took one of her legs and tucked it close to his chest as he moved between her thighs again.
She pulled him closer and kissed him as he plunged into her. If he believed he’d lost control earlier, just feeling her wrapped around him left no doubt.
Their movements were frantic, but the fact that they moved together, pleasing one another, was all that mattered. He had never lost control like he was with her. He couldn’t even think as she locked her feet behind him and arched into his movements.
When he heard her cry out his name, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of the night pleasing her.
It was an hour before they finally made it upstairs to his bedroom. She’d pulled on his work shirt, leaving the top four buttons undone. She looked so damn sexy that when they got upstairs, he took
his time removing the shirt and pleasing her by licking every inch of her soft skin.
Falling asleep with Bella in his arms was indescribable to him. He’d never had a woman stay over at this house before.
When he’d lived in Boston, he’d had a couple of short-term relationships, but he hadn’t officially dated anyone since he’d moved into town. He’d had a few dates, but none of them had gone anywhere outside a few dinners or group events with Ben and the rest of his friends. This was the first time he’d brought a woman over to this house.
He knew that meant something. Hell, to be honest, he’d known before Ben had clocked him that Bella meant something to him. He’d sensed it even before touching her.
Glancing down at her dark hair fanning out over his pillow, he wondered if this was just a casual deal to her. The way she’d talked about Michael and what had happened between them made him think that wasn’t so. But it was obvious after that first night that she had no qualms about taking a casual lover.
Could he mean something more to her too? Was that why she’d agreed to spend the night with him?
Then his mind turned to the conversation they’d had during dinner. He knew there were things he had to tell her. Confessions he needed to make and other things he had to clear up if they were going to move forward with any kind of relationship.
When his mind finally shut down, he knew that he’d pay for the late hour the following day. When his alarm went off, he wished he didn’t have to be there for the Wright and Stafford rehearsal party.
Bella groaned, and he rolled over and wrapped his arms around her. “Go back to bed. Stay as long as you want and catch the ferry back when you want.”
“No.” She sighed and leaned up to trail her mouth over his jaw. “You need a shave.” She chuckled, running her hands over his face. “If you have time…” She started moving against him. He’d woken up hard from the way her soft scent had surrounded him, but now he felt himself growing even harder. “I can help you.”
He groaned. “For the first time in years”—he bent down and ran his mouth over her neck— “I just may be late to work.”
She sighed and arched. “You did say you had your boat.” She purred as his fingers found her, wet and ready for him.
