A strand of wet hair was stuck to his cheek and Katie flicked it away with her forefinger. “So I take it there’s a shower somewhere close?”
“A shower? You poor, foreign child.” He chuckled and raked his hair back with both hands. “There’s a loo down the hall and a bathroom with fairly warm water. That’s about as modern as the conveniences get around here.”
A clean, musky scent rose from his bare skin and Katie was suffused with warmth that couldn’t be attributed to the temperature of the flat. She met his gaze and saw a spark of attraction kindle in the brown depths. It was unfortunate, though, that he’d mentioned a loo, one of the few British terms with which she was familiar. Beautiful as Adam was, most of her attention was now focused on other bodily needs.
“A loo? Where?”
Attraction was replaced with contrition as Adam’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. Of course you … I didn’t think … Come with me.” A very pretty shade of pink washed into his cheeks and Katie bit back another giggle at his discomfiture. He took her hand and led her out of the apartment. Just beyond the stairs were two closed doors and Adam stopped before them.
“This one,” he opened the one on the left to reveal a small cubicle occupied by an enormous claw-foot tub, “is the bath. We share it and the loo with the other flat on this floor. The only rule is to clean it after you use it.” He closed the bathroom door and opened the other. “And here’s the loo. Same rules apply.”
Katie peered in, assessed the situation and turned to Adam. “Paper?”
His cheeks flushed again. “Right. Stay here.” He rushed away and returned in moments with a roll of paper. “Sorry about that. It’s a bring-your-own thing.”
Smiling, Katie laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t sweat it, Adam. Everything’s cool.” She was touched by his obvious desire to see to her comfort, but didn’t want him to think he had to rush around accommodating her every need.
“Right, then. I’ll just, er, leave you to it.”
With the relief of an empty bladder came the realization that she was famished again. Although she didn’t know the exact time, it was clear it was morning and she’d almost slept the clock around. The eggs and bacon she’d eaten at Libby’s pub were a distant memory. She decided to put off a bath until she got some food into her stomach and, the roll of paper in hand, made her way back to Adam’s apartment.
He stood before the kitchen sink brushing his teeth and glanced around as the squeak of the door heralded Katie’s arrival.
She held up the roll of paper. “Where should I put this?”
He spoke around a mouthful of toothpaste and toothbrush and Katie deciphered the words “Stuart” and “drawer.” Nodding, she slipped around the sheets that defined his friend’s space and placed the roll on a utilitarian dresser next to the bed. A New York Yankees pennant pinned to the wall caught her attention and she laughed under her breath. It was the last thing she’d expected to see in London. Curious, she stepped back into the living space and addressed Adam’s back.
“So Stuart’s a Yankees fan?”
Adam spit out a mouthful of water and wiped his mouth with a towel before turning to her. “So he says.”
“He’s from New York, then?”
Adam shook his head as he placed his toothbrush in a glass on a shelf above the sink. “No, he’s from Dallas.”
“Dallas? And he’s a Yankees fan? Was he dropped on his head when he was a baby?”
A grin lit Adam’s face. “I see you’ve met him, then.”
Katie laughed, but a sudden, unexpected wave of homesickness washed over her at the realization that Adam had no idea who the New York Yankees were and wouldn’t care if he did. She pushed the feeling aside. She’d made her decision to move to England and being homesick would fade in time. “I saw the baseball pennant on his wall and wondered.”
“Yeah, that. It’s his favorite sports team, I think. He’s always going on about them, buying American newspapers to find out scores.” He shrugged, clearly disinterested in the subject. “I’m just about to head out for some breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“I am. Let me brush my teeth and hair and I’ll be ready to go.” She hurried through her ablutions, slipped on a pair of sandals and left the flat with Adam, ready to begin the first day of her new life.
CHAPTER THREE
A harsh jangle of bells announced Katie’s breathless arrival at The Family Dog, the head shop where Adam was employed. Startled, she turned to stare at the big silver jingle bells stitched onto a strip of leather hanging from the inside door handle. From the noise level, she thought she’d knocked over a display of hookahs or something.
“A bit much, isn’t it?” Adam grinned at her from behind the counter where a half-smoked cigarette smoldered in an ashtray next to an open copy of the latest issue of New Musical Express.
“No one’s going to sneak up on you with those things.” Katie nodded toward the newspaper. “Anything good in there?”
“Eh,” Adam shrugged. “So did you have a good first day?”
“Oh, Adam, it was so far out! I found an apartment.”
“What? Already?” His eyebrows arched in astonishment. “Where is it?”
“Just up the road.” She gestured toward the door. “It’s like it was meant to be, you know? I wasn’t even looking for anything like that, but I was walking along and saw this dude moving boxes and stuff into a car, so I stopped to rap with him. And it turns out he was moving out, so he showed me around.” She bounced on the balls of her feet, unable to contain her excitement. “It’s just perfect, almost the whole ground floor of this house. And it’s got a living room and a kitchen and two bedrooms and, Adam, it’s got a bathroom! So the landlord showed up while we were looking around, and I rented it.”
“Are you having me on? Stuart and I have been looking for a space like that for months.” A half-smile curved his lips. “Sure you don’t want to trade? I mean, what are you going to do with two bedrooms?”
“Use one of them as a closet,” she replied. “And no way am I giving up my own bathroom.”
Adam grinned. “Well, it was worth a try, anyway.” He glanced behind him at the clock. “I close up shop in about five minutes. Want to give me a tour of your new pad?”
“I’d love to.” She leaned her elbows on the counter. “I’ve been cleaning all afternoon and I can’t wait to get started painting the walls.”
“You’re going to need furniture, you know,” Adam observed. “Just where do you plan to sleep while all this painting is going on?”
Katie shrugged. “I’ll get some blankets and a pillow and crash on the floor until I get a bed.”
“Nah, don’t do that. Stuart won’t be back until next week, so you’re welcome to stay at my place.”
“Thanks, Adam.” She smiled at him. “I just hate running you out of your bed.”
“Ah, it’s all right. Stuart’s bed isn’t too bad.” A faint blush reddened his cheeks. “Of course, if you’re worried about me being uncomfortable, we could always share my bed.”
Katie studied the twinkling brown eyes and felt a slow, pleasurable heat suffuse her body. “We could do that,” she murmured.
Adam leaned over the counter and placed a soft, warm kiss on her lips. “Let me lock up here and we’ll go.”
• • •
Their footsteps echoed on the worn floorboards as Katie showed Adam around the empty apartment, leading him through the living room and into the kitchen.
“The appliances aren’t too bad,” she commented, examining the stove. “They’ll do for a while, anyway.”
“You’ve got a lot of room in here.” Adam stretched his arms wide. “This kitchen alone is almost as large as my whole flat. It’s lucky you found it before someone else came along and snapped it up.”
“It is, isn’t it? Come with me.” She grabbed his hand and towed him down a short hallway tucked under the stairs and into the bathroom. “Look! My own bathtub, my own toilet, my own sink!”
Adam laughed and squeezed her hand. “Doesn’t take much to make you happy, does it? I can’t blame you, though. I’m rather tired of trotting down the hall to answer Mother Nature’s calls.”
“I don’t know how you stand it.” Katie shook her head as she led him from the room. “Everyone needs a private space, you know? Okay, this is the first bedroom, and I’m going to turn the front one in there into a closet since there aren’t any, and because you have to go through this room to get to the other one. I don’t dig the thought of people having to walk through my closet.”
“Not bad,” he observed. “I could help you hang some racks for your clothes in there, maybe some shelves to hold your shoes.”
“That’d be groovy.” She’d be grateful for his help, though she didn’t really need it. Her year in Haight-Ashbury had been spent in a crumbling Victorian that was in need of constant repair. As a consequence, she’d become proficient in carpentry, plumbing and even a little electrical wiring. She was itching to install a shower in the bathroom and construct much-needed storage in her new space. “It’s even got enough room in there for a dressing table.”
Long arms slid around her waist from behind and Adam’s husky voice murmured in her ear, “Too bad there’s no bed in here yet.”
Katie sighed and relaxed against him, all thoughts of home improvement having fled at the evidence of his arousal pressed against her back. “Mm-hm. Good thing you have one.”
“A very good thing,” he agreed, turning her to face him.
The kiss started out soft and tender, but mutual hunger turned it hot and heavy in no time. Katie tangled her hands in Adam’s silky hair and pressed her body to his. She moaned at the feel of his hands on her ass, pulling her tight against him. All she wanted to do was throw him down so they could have their way with each other, but the floor left a lot to be desired. It had been her experience that splinters in the ass ruined the mood quicker than almost anything. She broke the kiss, laughing under her breath.
“Never has the lack of a bed been so evident,” she whispered.
“Too true.” His lips brushed across her hair and he chuckled. “Although I suppose I should ask if you’d rather grab something to eat first. After all, it is almost five.”
“Huh.” Katie pressed her lips to the hollow of his throat and was rewarded by a shiver that ran through his long, lean body. “We can have food any time. Let’s go put that bed of yours to good use.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The squeaky door diverted Katie’s attention from the guitar in her lap as Adam entered with a grease-spotted bag. He grinned and held it up for her attention.
“Food!” His eyes widened as he caught sight of the instrument she held. “Wow, what a beautiful guitar.”
“Thanks.” Katie ran a loving hand over the Gibson 12-string. “I thought I’d better check to see if it got wet, but it was okay.” She continued strumming the song that had been interrupted by Adam’s arrival, checking the tuning of the strings.
Adam sang along as he deposited the bag next to the sink. “You like Van Morrison?”
“I really do.” One hand went to the tuning pegs to adjust the tone. “Especially this one, makes me feel happy.” She left off playing “Brown Eyed Girl” and strummed each string individually, her ear peeled for discordant tones. Satisfied with what she heard, she laid the guitar in its open case beside her and went to stand next to Adam. “I can play more later if you want, but right now I wanna eat.” She gave him a sidelong smile. “All that exercise made me work up an appetite.”
Adam’s arms slid around her waist and pulled her tight against him. “Me, too,” he whispered before placing a warm kiss on her lips. “Worth it, though.” With a last kiss, he released her and opened the bag. “Why don’t you go put on some music and I’ll get the food ready.”
An impressive pile of albums was stacked next to the stereo and Katie flipped through them looking for favorites. A familiar cover brought an exclamation of delight and she pulled four albums from the pile. “Far out! You have all of Wonderkind’s records.”
“Like them, do you?”
“Are you kidding? They’re my favorite band.” She slid their latest release from its sleeve and put it on the turntable.
“Food’s ready.” Adam placed two plates on the low coffee table in front of the couch and beckoned her over.
Katie’s worry over what he’d brought home evaporated when she saw what appeared to be some kind of chicken and rice. The first few bites were delicious, but her attention was pulled back to the music. “Listen to that guitar.” She gestured toward the stereo with her fork. “That guy’s a genius, isn’t he?”
“Jay Carey?” Adam’s smile had a strange quality. “You think so?”
“Right on. I’d give anything to be able to play like that.” She studied his look of amusement with a slight frown of confusion. “Why? Don’t you like him?”
“I suppose he’s all right.” He laughed under his breath at her outraged expression. “I’m just having you on. Actually, Jay’s my best mate and yes, he’s a genius.”
It took a moment to decipher the meaning of ‘best mate’, but when she did her mouth dropped open in astonishment. “No shit?” She leaned back and stared at him. “Lucky you.”
Adam shrugged and used his knife to cut a large chunk of chicken in half. “I don’t know how lucky I am, but he’s a good bloke.”
“He’s amazing is what he is. I really dig him.” Katie took a bite of her food and chewed without tasting it. “I don’t suppose you could introduce me to him?”
After a hesitation so brief Katie couldn’t be sure it had happened, Adam looked up and smiled. “I suppose I could.” He winked. “If that’s what you really want.”
“Oh, Adam, that would blow my mind. Thank you so much.”
“Blow your mind?” Adam snickered. “Don’t tell him that; it would make him even more arrogant and full of himself than he usually is.” He shook his head in amusement at her excitement. “Look, it’s not going to happen tonight since he’s off with his band, so eat.”
Katie looked down at her plate with surprise, having forgotten it was there. “Oh, yeah. I was hungry, wasn’t I?” She cocked her head to the side and smiled. “You know, you’re not the only lucky one. I am, too, since you’re the first person I met here.”
Adam chuckled, his eyes on his plate. “Luck had nothing to do with it. I saw you coming out of the tube station and almost broke my neck catching up to you before anyone else could.”
“Really?” She cocked a brow. “Why’s that?”
A slow smile full of promise was his answer and Katie started to melt.
“Eat,” he purred, his husky voice low. “You’ll need to keep your strength up.”
Her own smile was full of anticipation. “Thanks for the warning.” She let her eyes roam up and down his body and was gratified to see she affected him the same way he did her. She dropped her eyes back to her plate and murmured, “So will you.”
• • •
After four busy days of painting, furniture shopping and hectoring the telephone company to install her phone line, Katie’s new home was ready for occupation. She waved at the furniture delivery men as they left, then turned to survey her new apartment. No, it was a flat. Adam had been coaching her on British words and terms and she was doing her best to incorporate them into her vocabulary so she wouldn’t stand out any more than she already did. Drawing attention to herself was Katie’s least favorite thing; blending into the background suited her just fine.
So she turned and surveyed her new flat. Although it was devoid of any personal touches, she still thought it was perfect. The chocolate-brown velvet sofa, the leather armchairs with matching ottomans, and three lamps with clear Lucite bases fit the living space like they were made just to inhabit that particular room. The lamps resided on the floor until she could find the perfect tables for them, but she had all the time in the world to dig through second-hand shops and
jumble sales until she found what she wanted.
She almost danced through the kitchen, passing the round table with its matching chairs, down the hall and into her bedroom where she sighed with satisfaction at the sight of her new bed. Throwing her arms wide, she flopped onto the mattress. Even if she had to sleep using her rain jacket as a cover, she was going to stay there that very night. She was eager to end her temporary residence at Adam’s flat for a number of reasons, the least of which was the return of his roommate — no, flatmate — the following day.
The thought of Adam diminished some of her joy. With a heavy sigh, she turned onto her side and pillowed her head on her outstretched arm. If she had known he was going to get so attached to her, she’d never have gotten it on with him. Sure, the sex was great, but that was it as far as she was concerned. She liked Adam, but it was apparent they had little in common besides the ability to trip each other out in bed.
The worst thing, though, was his jealousy. Any male who spoke to her, up to and including the middle-aged postman, received a patented Adam Greene scowl full of implicit warning to back off. Even men she hadn’t met were a threat to him and it was crystal clear his friend Jay Carey fell into that category. After the initial promise to introduce Katie to the guitarist, Adam had evaded all reference to it. Just her playing Wonderkind’s records brought on a bout of sulking that made her want to scream with irritation.
Katie sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. After she’d left the staid, conservative values of Alabama behind for the anything-goes culture of Haight-Ashbury, she’d thrown herself into the free love atmosphere with the enthusiasm of a child turned loose in a roomful of candy. At first, all that unlimited sex was fun, especially since she had a hard time shaking the notion that it was forbidden. It wasn’t long, though, before she realized she wasn’t enjoying it as much as she wanted to. She found herself thinking more and more that it was stupid to get it on with some guy, no matter how groovy he looked, just because he wanted it. And they all wanted it.
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