by Ali Parker
Without warning, a door behind me opened and an arm looped around my waist. I yelped as Andrew spun me around and pressed his mouth to mine.
“Mm,” I murmured, laying another quick kiss on his lips. “That’s a nice hello.”
His fingers pressed into my lower back, sending forbidden tingles all through me. “Sorry I didn’t hear you come in. I was on a work call.”
“That’s okay.” I lightly grasped his arms, enjoying the tautness of the muscles beneath his shirt. “Where’s Raven?”
“Last I saw her, she said she was going to do some homework. Hey. Thanks for coming over last minute.”
I cocked my head and scoffed. “You really think there’s someplace else I’d rather be on Monday night?”
“I hope not.” Andrew ran his thumb down my lower lip before taking my hand. “Hungry?”
“Extremely.”
Hands clasped, he walked me in the direction of the kitchen. At the stairs, he paused. “Raven!”
Footsteps sounded above our heads, and a beat later Raven appeared at the top of the stairs, earbuds hanging around her neck. “Huh?”
“Dinner.”
“I’ll be there in a little bit. I have to finish this essay.”
I opened my mouth to say hi, but she was already gone. Andrew squeezed my hand, giving me a smile.
“How is she doing?” I asked on our way into the kitchen.
Andrew pulled a chair at the table out for me. “Good. Wine?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
With smooth movements, he popped a bottle of red and filled two glasses.
“Has she been talking about school any?” I asked, accepting the glass Andrew handed me.
His back turned to me, he pulled dishes and silverware out of the cupboards. “No. She’s been kind of mum lately. But I think it’s the regular teenager kind of mum.” He turned around with a grin. “She has all these friends all of a sudden.”
Any of them Jason? I almost asked. Mine and Raven’s last conversation about Jason had been between student and counselor, though. The topic wasn’t something I needed to share with Andrew, and Raven would probably be mortified if I did.
“It’s amazing, really.” Andrew set a good-smelling lentil dish on the table. “You’re a miracle worker.”
“What?” I scoffed. “Are you not going to give yourself any credit at all?”
Andrew took my hand in his and gave it a quick kiss before spreading his napkin on his lap. He didn’t even look at me as he did it, which made the whole act more endearing. Touching me was becoming a habit for him, something he didn’t even need to think about doing.
“Why me?” he asked.
“Hm?” I lazily blinked, unable to take my eyes off his profile.
Andrew laughed and turned to me. “Lanie?”
“What were we talking about?”
“Are you serious?”
I slowly nodded. “Yeah. You’re just that handsome.”
He growled in pleasure and scooted his chair closer to mine. “Come here.”
Andrew’s lips graced mine, sending my head and heart both spinning. Before I could get too lost in the kiss, I pulled back. “Seriously. What were we were talking about?”
“How much better Raven is doing,” he murmured, squeezing my thigh.
His answer snapped me out of my lust-filled reverie. “Right. You can’t give me all the credit. What she needed was more attention from you, and you’ve provided that.”
“I’d like to give you my attention right now.” He ran his nose against my neck.
“Andrew!” I laughed, glancing at the still-empty doorway.
“Okay. You’re right.” Clearing his throat, he raised his hands in defeat. “I’m done. For now, anyway. And, as far as Raven, let’s agree that we both helped out. It’s something we did together.”
His eyes settled on mine, and there was something so deep and purposeful about that last sentence. A pleasurable shiver went through me, but I couldn’t say why. It was like Andrew was hinting at something that I didn’t quite understand yet but that I knew was inherently good.
“I want to ask you something,” Andrew said, still looking into my eyes.
“Uh-huh?” My pulse started racing. I couldn’t take a single guess as to what he was about to say, but I knew it would be good.
Taking my hand, he turned it over on top of the table and ran his fingertips down my palm. “Do you have plans this weekend?”
“No,” I exhaled, finding it hard to think of anything other than the way he was touching me.
“Good.” A smile danced at the corner of his mouth. “Come away with me for the weekend. We’ll go to San Juan. There’s a resort there I think you’d really like.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“That’s … Wow. When? Friday? What about Raven? When will we be back?”
I knew I was asking too many questions, but Andrew’s proposition had made me get excited, and sometimes when that happened, I talked too much.
“I was thinking we leave after school on Friday and then come back Sunday afternoon. Or early evening. I talked to Raven about it, and she’s fine. Karen will be around, so she won’t be alone. What do you say? Can you miss one weekend of yoga for me?”
Andrew raised my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist, and I laughed with joy. “I think I’ll get over yoga.”
“Erica won’t be mad?”
“Definitely not. She’s always talking about how you and I are meant to be.”
“Oh, yeah?” Andrew tilted his head, looking at me with increased interest.
Embarrassment hit like a ton of bricks. Shit. Had I really said that out loud?
“Should I go check on Raven?” I asked, desperately needing to change the subject.
“I’m right here,” her voice answered.
She took a seat at the table, and I guiltily pulled my hand from Andrew’s.
“Hi,” I smiled at her. “Did you finish your essay?”
She tore a piece of bread from the loaf near her. “Yeah. It was boring as hell, but I finished it.”
“Raven,” Andrew chastised. “Hey. Let’s not curse at the table.”
Her gaze jumped from him to me. “What were you guys talking about?”
“Um.” I bit my lip, looking to Andrew.
“This weekend,” he explained. “Lanie said she can go.”
“Cool,” she said around a mouthful of bread. “San Juan is pretty neat.”
“You’re sure you won’t be bored being by yourself all weekend?” I asked.
“Nope,” she quickly answered.
Our eyes found each other. There was a question glimmering in her irises, one I didn’t understand. Was she wondering whether or not I’d mentioned Jason to Andrew?
“You can have a friend over,” Andrew was saying as he busily cut his food. “But make sure you tell Karen first.”
Raven didn’t answer. She stared at the salt and pepper shakers, a zoned-out look on her face.
“Raven?”
“Oh. Yeah.” She snapped to and smiled at Andrew. “Got it.”
I couldn’t stop watching Raven. Did “a friend” in her mind include Jason? Would Karen even agree to having a boy over? Even judging from my two small interactions with Karen, I got the sense she was pretty conservative. If Raven had a guy come around, Karen would probably make the two of them sit at the kitchen table, hands in their laps, while she baked them chocolate chip cookies.
“What are you going to do at this resort?” Raven asked. “Can I have some wine?”
Andrew snorted. “Sure. A little bit.”
Taking her glass, he poured her an ounce of red.
“Oh, come on, Dad. You know, statistically speaking, I’m much less likely to go crazy drinking at parties if my parent lets me drink at home.”
Andrew rolled his eyes but poured another ounce. “To answer your other question, we’re just going to relax. Maybe go on a boat tour or a hike. It de
pends on what Lanie wants to do.” He gave me a smile, and I melted into my seat.
“When are you back?”
“Sunday.”
“What time?”
Andrew shrugged. “Late afternoon. I’m not sure.”
Again, my gaze caught Raven’s. This time, though, she quickly looked away. I glanced at Andrew, wondering if he also suspected something was up. Why was Raven so interested in what time he’d be home?
Andrew seemed oblivious, though, moving on and telling us about how he ran into my dad the night before. As he talked, all my worry about Raven faded away. She was a smart girl. It seemed unlikely she’d take chances with her safety and knowingly put herself in a bad situation. And, yeah, teens didn’t have the best judgment skills, but Karen would be around to keep an eye on things.
I was probably being paranoid, the last month of counseling kids nonstop taking its toll on me. It seemed I needed a serious break and hadn’t even known it.
For not the first time, Andrew had swooped in and given me exactly what I craved.
Chapter 42
Andrew
The wind and rain pummeled the windows, the water beyond the resort’s deck churning. Zeus was real, and he was very, very angry.
Sighing, I pressed my fist against my mouth.
“Andrew.” A soft touch on my shoulder pulled me away from the window. “What’s wrong?” Lanie asked.
It took me a few seconds to pry open my clamped jaw. “The weather isn’t looking good. I checked, and it looks like it’s rain all weekend. I’m sorry. The forecast was all sunny when I booked the other day.”
Lanie wrinkled her nose. “Who cares about the weather?”
“Me. This is supposed to be the perfect trip.”
Her hand trailed down my arm. “There’s no such thing.”
I opened my mouth to disagree, but the hostess approached. “Mr. Marx, your table is ready.”
With my hand lightly pressed against Lanie’s lower back, we followed the hostess away from the floor-to-ceiling windows, past the roaring fireplace, and to the cozy table at the back of the resort’s restaurant. As we passed other diners, I noted several men checking Lanie out before quickly averting their gazes.
That’s right, I thought, trying to keep the smug smile off my face. She’s all mine.
At the table, I held Lanie’s chair out for her, closely watching her slinky dress rustle as she adjusted herself on the cushion. The outfit she wore somehow managed to be casual yet sexy as hell. I shouldn’t have been surprised, really. That description basically summed up the way I always saw her.
Settling across from her, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at the windows again.
“Andrew.”
“Mm?”
Lanie smiled at me over her menu. “I don’t care if the weather ruins our chances of doing anything outside. I mean, I do, but if we end up stuck inside, I’m sure we’ll find other ways to fill our time.”
Her suggestive look nearly set me off. Leaning forward, I touched her knee under the table, enjoying the way her eyes went wide and her breathing quickened.
“That’s a good suggestion,” I answered. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind skipping dinner and heading upstairs right now.”
Lanie stifled a giggle. “Um, that’s … Okay, you have to stop.”
“Do I?” I rubbed her knee.
“Andrew,” she hissed, but her voice was all breathy, the lust not easily hid.
“Good evening!” a new voice chirped. “How are you doing tonight?”
Her face guilt-stricken, Lanie straightened up, and I pulled my hand away.
“Just fine,” I answered the waiter with a smile. “Thank you.”
We managed to keep our faces straight as we ordered drinks and an appetizer, but the second the waiter walked away, we both burst into laughter.
“You’re bad,” she accused.
“Only for you.” I let my eyes rest on hers. As I hoped, she smiled. “The room has a hot tub, by the way. Out on its porch. Even if we don’t get to go on the boat tour tomorrow, we can soak in that.”
Lanie’s bracelet slid down her arm as she tucked hair behind her ear. “Okay. I’m down with whatever.”
“Tell me what you want to do,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
“I just want to spend time with you,” she quietly answered, the intensity in her eyes taking my breath away.
Without warning, my chest swelled with emotion. How had I gotten so damn lucky? Years of having my nose buried in work, of thinking I had zero chances of finding another woman who was right for me, and then, suddenly, Lanie appears out of nowhere. Was it meant to be? A part of our predetermined lives?
My answer in that moment would have been an absolute yes.
“The wine here better be good,” she suddenly said, winking.
I laughed. “A run-down place like this? I’m sure it’s awful.”
We paused in conversation again as the drinks arrived. With each course, the conversation turned to a new topic. Raven. Lanie’s parents. Work—my own job being something I didn’t even want to think about, though I was more than happy to hear Lanie go over every detail regarding hers. Asking Lanie if she’d take a trip with me and Raven over the summer was on the tip of my tongue, but I held back. Though we hadn’t even been dating a full season yet, I already knew I wanted to spend winter, spring, summer, and next fall with Lanie.
I just didn’t want to scare her away with such a grand announcement. As normal as her role in my life had quickly become, things still felt delicate.
So I kept those thoughts to myself as we talked, laughed, and ate. For the time being, everything was perfect. The light dimmed as dessert came and passed. Half the other diners left the restaurant, and the candles flickered as mostly piles of melted wax.
“Ready to see the room?” I offered Lanie my hand, and her face lit up with excitement.
We’d had our bags sent to the room upon arriving and hadn’t seen the spot yet. Though I’d briefly looked at pictures online, I mostly went with Saxton’s suggestion and asked for the nicest room they had available.
Top floor. Full suite. A view of the harbor. Hot tub on the porch. I hoped Lanie would love it.
Judging by the gasp she emitted, she did.
“This place is amazing,” she cooed, going to the windows and looking out at the sparkling lights. The rain had stopped, leaving glass-streaked window panes in its wake. The effect made the view through the windows look like an abstract painting.
Wrapping my arms around Lanie’s waist from the back, I nuzzled my face into the top of her head. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Hot tub?” Her hands gripped mine in excitement.
“I wasn’t planning on staring at the thing all night.” I chuckled. “Go get your bathing suit on so I can fulfill my fantasy of taking it off you.”
Giving me a saucy look, Lanie skipped for the bedroom. I followed, eyes on her ass the whole time. We both opened our bags, but instead of changing in front of me, Lanie hurried to the bathroom.
Dropping my clothes on the bed, I pulled on my swimming trunks. “Do you need any help in there?” I called. “I’ll be happy to give you a hand. Or two.”
In response, the door opened. Lanie leaned against the frame, one arm above her head, her body seductively stretched out. I’d thought the black bikini she wore on Thanksgiving was revealing, but that was nothing compared to what she had on now. The tiny, red two-piece wasn’t much more than two thin strips of fabric, one going across her tits and one going between her thighs.
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
Lanie laughed. “You like it?”
I swallowed hard. “Forget the hot tub. Lay down on this bed and let me lick whipped cream off you.”
Smirking, she walked right past me. “I want to test out the hot tub. Just for a while. Wait.” She stopped, and I nearly bumped into her. “Is there whipped cream?”
I ran my knuckles over her shoulders. “I c
an order some. Go get in the hot tub.”
She kept walking and, once again, my eyes fell on her butt. My gaze seemed to be permanently glued there.
After ordering champagne and whipped cream—just in case—I grabbed two towels and joined Lanie on the porch. The soft lights made her face glow, the steam creating a hazy screen between the two of us.
“It’s hot,” she warned, “but amazing.”
I ceremoniously popped the bottle of champagne, the cork flying over the railing.
“Oh, gosh!” Lanie laughed into her palms. “You might have hit someone!”
“Hello!” I called over the balcony. “Anyone alive down there?” Frowning, I looked back to Lanie. “Sorry, babe. I don’t think they made it. Oh, well. We might as well enjoy our own lives.”
Lanie kept laughing, the gorgeous sound tickling my ears and filling my heart. Taking the two champagne flutes, I filled them to the brim, not minding the froth that bubbled over and spilled onto the patio’s boards.
Climbing carefully into the hot tub, I handed Lanie her champagne.
“What are we toasting to?” she seriously asked.
“Whatever you want.” I claimed the rest of the broad seat she sat on.
She sighed in pleasure. “I honestly can’t pick one thing. Everything is so perfect right now. I have a great job. Friends. Family. You.” Her eyes softened.
Deep appreciation rose in my chest and spilled into my mouth, where it yearned to give rise to words. Except there weren’t any. How could I properly convey to Lanie how much she’d changed me? I’d turned into a completely different person in the last month—and not because she’d forced me to. All Lanie had done was open the door and suggest I walk through it.
And thank god, I had. Now I couldn’t imagine going back to the way things were. Working all the time. Only seeing Raven for quick meals here and there. Shutting down my own desires for companionship or romance.
A long time ago, I’d known that life was good and that all it took for it to be that way were people to love. Losing my wife had shaken my belief in all that. Nothing felt secure after Danica passed. I fell asleep and didn’t even want to think about waking up.
