What she wanted to do was seduce Tyler again, but her body was sore. What she needed was a hot bath. Hmm, maybe she could seduce her husband in the bathtub. She’d never done that before and it sounded utterly perfect. A little thrill tore through her and Laura smiled.
Husband. Definitely a great way to wake up on Christmas morning, with a new husband to unwrap.
“Tyler,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Hmm?” he mumbled and she grinned.
“Come with me.”
One eye opened, the bright blue of it telling her that he wasn’t as groggy as he pretended. “Anywhere,” he said.
That little thrill shot through her again, and she smiled against his mouth. It should be illegal to be this happy. But then Tyler smiled at her, with that slowness that spread through her, and she stood, holding out her hand.
Laura didn’t bother with a robe and simply walked through to the ensuite, her hand firmly in his. She flicked on the water before turning to kiss Tyler. No, she’d never tire of this, any of it—the way he made her feel, the confidence she felt when she touched him, and the freedom she felt around him.
He climbed in first and tugged her into the steaming water with him. Happily settling against his chest, she took his hand and lifted his fingers to see his ring.
“Are you insane?” she asked. “Or are we insane?”
Tyler laughed and lazily trailed one hand up her side. “I’ll take the blame,” he said and she felt him press a kiss to her hair. “You’re too sexy for blame.”
“You don’t know if I leave the cap off the toothpaste,” she pointed out, somewhat reasonably, she hoped.
“Sure I do.” She heard the grin in his voice. “I’ve spent the last two weeks living with you.”
Laura shivered at that and grinned in response. “All right, I’ll give you that one. But you don’t know if I leave my shoes in the center of the living room. Or leave dirty dishes piled high in the sink.”
His hand tightened around hers. “It’ll be fun finding out.”
Quiet for a few moments, Laura reached out to flick the faucet off. Skimming her fingers over the water, she trailed her hand over his hard, muscled thigh. She took a deep breath and admitted with a short, nervous laugh, “Tyler, this is the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done.”
His hands wrapped around her and held her close. “Impulsive is good.” He kissed her bare shoulder. “Sometimes, it leads to great things.”
She half turned and looked up at him. “But was this—”
“This was right for us.” He tilted her chin and brushed his lips over hers. “Don’t worry so much.” Then he grinned, a lightning fast curve of his lips that twisted through her. “Enjoy your honeymoon, Mrs. Kamari. Because I know I am.”
Laura smiled in response, the words sounding right despite, or because of, the quickness of their courtship. She wound an arm around his neck, pulling him to her, and kissed him.
Tradition be damned. This was perfect.
Chapter Eleven
The living room looked like an office war zone. There were pads of paper, pens, rubber bands, paper clips, and a random stapler scattered over the coffee table, the dining table, the floor, half the couch, and, if Laura squinted, beneath the media console.
Trays of food, an empty bottle of wine, and a pitcher of water and a pitcher of sweet tea sat among the debris on the dining table. In the background, Christmas music played softly, and the tree they’d bought together winked merrily at them.
Laura had completely lost track of time but knew it was somewhere between Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve. Or maybe it was New Year’s Eve. Yes, that sounded about right. Her wedding band glinted in the sunlight streaming in the opened curtains, and she knew it was morning. Other than that, time had no meaning.
She’d spent the last however many days with Tyler, making love to him, laughing with him, talking, and now…arguing.
They were going over the Napa Valley plans. He’d shown her the preliminary sketches based on the survey results that had arrived sometime before Christmas Eve. The crumpled balls of paper held several design ideas for the grounds. Currently, he pointed to his laptop screen and several features for the main hotel.
“Do you really think Italian fortress?” Laura asked, incredulous.
She stared at him from where they sat on the floor in front of the coffee table. She was getting hungry but didn’t want to move, not just yet.
“I’m not making it a fortress,” he pointed out with exaggerated reasonableness and clicked something on his laptop. “But we can take inspiration from Italian villas.”
Laura crinkled her nose. “I was thinking more French,” she said and shrugged. “Californian French. With a touch of Victorian.”
“My wife is certainly demanding.” He laughed, and that slow smile spread over his lips. Probably at her shocked look.
No matter how much time had actually passed, Laura didn’t think she’d ever get used to hearing “wife” from his lips. It made her want to kiss him and forget the plans. Almost.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his thumb caressing her lower lip.
“I’m thinking,” she said, but her voice caught. She swallowed and cleared her throat. Work—she needed to concentrate on work. Not how his fingers felt against her mouth. Really not that. She swallowed again.
“I’m thinking,” she started, “French country. Instead of one all-encompassing building, we have a main building with several outbuildings.”
Tyler looked at her, and she watched him. His eyes unfocused for a minute, and damn if she didn’t find that sexy, too. The way, despite the touch of his fingers and how their knees pressed against each other, he got so caught up in work.
Without a word, Tyler grabbed the closest pad and pencil and began sketching. He didn’t look up as he mumbled to himself, but her exact vision came to life with each stroke of his fingers.
Warmth settled around her heart at the drawing, and Laura leaned closer. She didn’t want to disturb him, but she also wanted to see every line come to life beneath his talented fingers.
“Most architects don’t draw freehand anymore,” he said absently as he continued to do so.
“Really?” Laura asked, surprised. She’d never really thought about it, despite the number of times she’d worked with architects. On TV they always used those big drafting tables and protractors and stuff.
“You just use the computer now?” That disappointed her a little. Tyler had beautiful hands, and she loved watching him draw.
“No.” Tyler looked up and grinned. “Well, I don’t. I like to draw. And my dad refused to let me into the company until I showed him I knew how to create buildings by drawing them out as well as designing them on the computer. He used to say one day it’s going to be like GPS: we’ll just talk to a machine who tells us where to go instead of learning to read a map.”
Laura leaned against his arm as he continued to sketch out their ideas. She wanted to tell him she loved watching him, she loved the way his hands moved over the page. Despite the intimacy of the last weeks, didn’t have the words to admit such a thing.
Instead she licked her lips and said quietly so as not to disturb him, “A pond. There needs to be a pond. And a pool area, of course. And maybe,” she said and grinned, “swings and things.”
“No, a garden. A full-fledged garden,” he said but didn’t look up and continued to draw. “Maybe we can put the swings in the garden. I don’t know; I’ll make a note.”
Tyler did look up at her then and grinned. Her heart flipped. “You realize”—he cupped her cheek with the hand not holding his pencil—“we’re honeymooners and we’re working.”
Laura laughed. “We’re a couple of workaholics,” she happily agreed. “In love.”
She leaned over and kissed him, still laughing. Tyler pulled back first and rested his forehead against hers.
“That’s why we’re perfect for each other.” He pulled back and brushed
his lips over hers once more.
She was about to push him down and seduce him on the living room floor, but his cell rang. Laura pouted at the interruption even as he shoved papers to the side and dropped his pad onto the table.
“Really bad timing,” he mumbled. Standing, he leaned over and kissed her again. “Don’t move.”
She grinned and watched him snag the phone and answer it.
“Matt,” he said without preamble. “I thought you were covering the office for the holidays. You know I didn’t want to be disturbed…”
He trailed off and she frowned.
“What?” His entire body went from relaxed to rigid, and she wished she could hear the other end of the conversation.
“Fine, yes, all right. I’ll deal with it myself.” Tyler turned to face her and smiled. Some of the anger left him with that, and Laura stood. She took his hand and squeezed it to show her support.
“But I’m not leaving until sometime tomorrow,” he added just as harshly. “Yes, tell them that. I don’t care.”
He listened for another minute, but Laura could see the annoyance lining his face. She didn’t want him to leave. She loved the secluded bubble they’d wrapped themselves in in Vermont. But work, well, it wasn’t as if she could complain about that.
Ending the call, he threw the phone onto the couch. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. It was another moment before he looked down at her, though he hadn’t released her hand.
“What’s happened?” she asked softly.
Tyler tugged her onto the sofa and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry,” he said.
Laura pulled back and raised an eyebrow in question.
“I have to leave for Denmark tomorrow,” he told her, his gaze direct.
“You mean you should’ve left now,” she said and shook her head slightly.
“I’m not leaving without spending our first New Year’s Eve together,” he told her with so much passion in his voice, so much conviction, she didn’t know how to respond.
Before Tyler, no one had ever put her first like that. And if he hadn’t, Laura would’ve completely understood—this was work, after all, and business was very important to the both of them.
But he hadn’t. And she didn’t know what to say. Licking her lips, she cleared her throat.
“I understand if you have to go,” she said and pressed her mouth to his.
“Nothing,” he said with such conviction it robbed her of breath, “can pull me away from you tonight.”
“I’m a lucky lady.” She laughed, the feeling of such acceptance, of him wanting so much to be with her, moving through her like a whirlwind. Laura sucked in a deep breath. “When are you leaving tomorrow?” she asked instead.
“Matt will leave the arrangements with the front desk,” he said and leaned against the back of the couch.
Laura put her head on his chest. How did she tell him she’d miss him without making him feel bad? The last thing she wanted was to appear like a clingy wife who didn’t want her husband to go off to work. Especially when it sounded like an emergency.
“But I’ll probably be flying out midmorning from Logan,” he added. His hand rubbed up and down her back, and Laura shivered.
Resolved to make the best of it, she pulled back and offered a coy smile. “So we only have the rest of tonight?” she asked in a sultry voice that surprised even her. “And a small window tomorrow morning?”
His eyes dark, he said in a strangled voice, “For now. We better make the most of it.”
Laura grinned and stood. “Come to bed, Mr. Kamari. So I can seduce you.”
* * * *
New Year’s morning dawned clear, and a cold wind battered Laura as she climbed into the hotel car next to Tyler. The wind blew straight through her, chilling her to the bone, and she huddled deeper into her coat. It was early, much earlier than either she or Tyler anticipated last night; the sun just brightened the mountains, and her eyes refused to stay open.
Granted, that might’ve had something to do with making love to her husband until neither could move.
Snuggling next to him, Laura rested her head against his shoulder and hummed contentedly. She felt his lips brush over the top of her head and his hand took hers. Even though Laura knew Tyler’d be on the phone for most of the time, she’d wanted to go with him to the airport, despite the over two-hour drive to Logan International in Boston.
“How long is the flight?” she asked, her eyes still closed.
She’d showered, pulled her still-damp hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, but hadn’t bothered with more than a quick brush of mascara and concealer. She’d been too tired.
And, if she was honest with herself, too depressed that he needed to leave on a business trip so soon. Laura wanted more time with him.
“Nearly eight hours,” Tyler said and squeezed her hand.
“Time to look over the plans again,” she said but didn’t pull back to look at him. She just wanted to stay there and breathe in the scent of him.
Oh, she was a goner. It didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would, feeling this depth of love for someone. The connection. More than a connection, Laura thought as her mind drifted. Tyler pulled out his phone and called someone, and she tuned him out, letting him work.
The closeness they shared wasn’t as scary as she’d thought it’d be. More…real, she supposed. She didn’t see the pair of them with some sort of fairy-tale glow, but as a real couple. One who argued over little things like what to eat or what to watch, and who liked to just curl up on the sofa and talk.
All right, so she didn’t know his favorite color. And she’d yet to meet his parents. What did it matter? She’d never been happier. And not in a fantasy way, either. This wasn’t all made up in her head. This was real. And she loved every second of it.
Laura let the sound of Tyler’s voice wash over her. She must’ve dozed, because the next thing she knew, Tyler kissed her awake.
“Hmm, best way to wake up,” she murmured against his lips.
“We’re here,” he said quietly.
Surprised, Laura opened her eyes and looked past him to the window. How long had she been asleep? The driver had already exited the car and opened the trunk, pulling out Tyler’s suitcase.
She squeezed his hand and followed him out of the car. With her hand still in his, she waited while he grabbed his suitcase.
To the driver she said, “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Marc nodded and pointed to a spot ahead. “I’ll wait up there, Ms. Dix—ah, Mrs. Kamari.”
Laura grinned a little as she walked with Tyler onto the curb and into the warmth of the airport. She’d never flown on New Year’s Day but wasn’t surprised to see the check-in counters nearly empty. Especially at the crack of dawn.
She waited quietly by the counter as he handed over his passport. Oh. She’d have to change her information, too. Not only on her passport but on her license. What did one need for all that? Laura had never thought of it before.
Maybe while he was gone she’d look into it. Or maybe she’d keep her maiden name. They hadn’t discussed that, either. Laura Dixon-Kamari. Eh, not horrible.
“Ready?” Tyler asked and reclaimed her hand, tugging her to a corner away from everyone else.
“This shouldn’t take too long,” he said once they had a modicum of privacy. “Less than a week, I’m hoping.” He grimaced and she chuckled.
“That’s what they all say.” But Laura squeezed his hand and smiled.
“Where are you going to be?” Tyler set his carry-on laptop case by his feet and cupped her cheek with his free hand.
“I have to take care of a few loose ends in Vermont,” Laura said and frowned. “Not sure how long that’s going to take—a couple days, maybe longer.” But she kept her smile firmly in place.
She didn’t want him to know how deeply this unexpected separation affected her. Laura wasn’t even certain how deeply it did affect her; she nee
ded to figure it out.
Their careers were a major part of both their lives. This was something they’d have to work out. Laura suddenly wished they’d had more time to figure it out before Tyler had to leave.
“At some point,” she said in a lighter tone, “I’ll head back to New York.”
“Hopefully I’ll be back before you head down,” he said softly, his gaze firmly on hers, “and I’ll meet you in Vermont. I just need to put out this fire.” Then he smiled. Not the one that curled her toes and sparked fire through her, not even the softer one Laura claimed as her own. It was a silly, little grin that broke the tension she felt building between them.
“Who knew the Danish were such drama queens,” he said.
Laura laughed with him and leaned up. She kissed him quickly. “You better get going, don’t want to miss your flight.”
Tyler sighed and tugged her hard against him. Even through their layers of clothing, she felt every inch of the body she’d spent the last weeks memorizing. When he kissed her, Laura closed her eyes and pulled him even closer, deepening the kiss though they were in a public airport.
“I’ll be back soon,” he promised.
Laura grinned and nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
Tyler lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her inner wrist. With another grin, he picked up his case. “Love you.”
And left.
Laura looked after him, dreading the two-plus-hour drive back to the hotel. But it was better than seeing him off at a smaller airport earlier. She wouldn’t have missed the extra time with him, even if he’d worked the whole trip and she’d slept, for anything.
“Love you, too,” she said to his retreating back.
She waited until he disappeared before turning for the doors and the waiting car.
Chapter Twelve
Six days. It’d been six very long days—and even longer nights—since Laura left Tyler at the airport. Six days of missed phone calls and voice messages, of hastily sent off e-mails, and unanswered video messaging.
Christmas Curvy: A Curvy Girl's Holiday Fling Page 9
