by Romes, Jan
Oh for the love of…
“I’m Nick Stockton.” He thrust his hand at Libby. She so wanted to grab her coat instead of his hand. “Libby Griffin.” The overconfident table-invader held onto her hand. Before Libby could make a scene by yanking it away, her food arrived. Nick was forced to let go.
“What do you do in Columbus, Libby Griffin?”
“Design clothes.”
A look of confusion raced across his expression. Libby pulled her lips in to keep from smirking. She had a style all her own, but in no way was she a fashionista, and it was hard for folks to imagine that she made a living designing clothes.
Nick didn’t seem to dwell on the contradiction of her appearance. “Awesome.” He moved even closer, his blue eyes shimmering with interest that she was sure had nothing to do with her occupation.
Libby didn’t want him in her space, or at her table, or within a five-block radius. She took a huge bite of burger and chomped it like she had no table manners whatsoever, hoping to disgust him into backing up.
Rats. He stayed put. Since there was no excuse for bad manners, she would have to put up with him…and make conversation. Besides, all Nick Stockton was guilty of was being interested. She should be flattered. “What do you do, Nick?”
“I own a fitness center.” Nick went into salesman mode with a spiel about the importance of exercise and diet, how many times a week to work out for maximum effect, blah, blah, blah. Libby tried to look as though she was listening, but she wasn’t—not even a little. Her thoughts were on a different dark-haired guy, one with a beard and an adorable dog.
“Do you agree?” Nick asked.
Libby nodded, but had no idea what she agreed with. She took another bite of burger followed by a sip of milkshake.
Nick forced her to tune back in. “You should see my equipment.”
His salacious grin made her drop her sandwich. She was fairly certain the buffoon wasn’t referring to an elliptical machine or treadmill. She frowned and was set to tell him to get lost.
****
Max wanted to flatten the guy’s nose but he wouldn’t do himself any favors by turning into a bully. He had to let things play out. If Libby went for the gene-pool lottery winner then he wouldn’t reveal his presence and he’d let her alone once and for all.
The guy moved into Libby’s personal space and she didn’t look pleased. Her brows knit together and her lips thinned with noticeable disdain. Max was overjoyed. He chuckled when Libby took an oversized bite of sandwich.
Max couldn’t stay in the booth one more second.
Right before he got to Libby’s table, the bonehead made a suggestive comment. Max’s jealousy was replaced with anger. He clenched his fists again and his voice boomed off the walls. “She doesn’t want to see your equipment or anything else.”
Libby’s head snapped around and her heart burst into a series of cartwheels. “Max.” She almost melted when he smiled.
Max looked as though he wanted to pummel Nick into the next county.
When he looked at Libby, he softened. “Sorry, I’m late, sweetheart.” Max put his hands at the nape of her neck and massaged her tight muscles.
The unspoken rescue filled Libby with warmth, but Max’s touch filled her with heat.
Nick’s gaze volleyed between her and Max, his brows bumped together with doubt and suspicion. “I thought you were in a hurry.”
Libby set eyes on Max while answering Nick. “I am.”
“She is, and so am I.” Max took Libby’s hand, planted a kiss on the palm and pulled her from the chair and into his chest. Their gazes held and Libby trembled.
Max fished a twenty-dollar bill from his pocket, held it up for the barmaid to see and laid it on the table. “We need to go.” His eyes searched Libby’s. Whatever he found in them made him smile and he hugged her tight.
Chapter Seven
The second they were outside, Max backed Libby against the side of the building, grinned liked he’d pulled a fast one and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.
A powerful surge of passion coursed through Libby, weakening her knees, catching the air in her lungs. “Max,” she gasped against his mouth, “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart,” Max whispered into her hair, dropped his hands to the small of her back, and pulled her tightly against him. He laid claim to her mouth again and kissed her long and hard until they had no choice but to come up for air.
Libby blinked up at Max, barely able to speak. “Where did you learn to kiss like that?”
Max’s eyes shimmered like blue diamonds. “Best compliment ever.” His smile made hers bigger. He ran his thumb across the fullness of her lips, making her tremble again. He laid his forehead on hers. “I wanted to march over to your cabin so many times in the past couple of days and kiss you until we were breathless.” He shook his head. “I should have.” Max lifted her chin. “Libby, there’s so much I need to say. Is there any chance…?” Before he could finish the question a mound of snow fell from the roof. The frozen powder went everywhere—in their hair, down the front of their jackets, in their boots.
“Brr! That’s so cold.” Libby pulled her jacket open to let the snow-fall out.
Max brushed the white stuff from her hair and shoulders. She did the same to him.
“Like I started to say, would you like to go back to my cabin?”
Libby was overwhelmed at the thought, but she didn’t hesitate even a second. “I’d love to.”
In some ways, hooking up with Max made no sense, yet it was flawless logic. They were two misfits who seemed to inspire one another. Plus when they kissed, they generated enough heat to bring the snow off rooftops.
Libby’s subconscious warned what it meant to go to Max’s cabin. They were going to make love, but they weren’t in love and the potential for regret was huge. She should probably listen to the inner-voice that had been her mainstay these last few weeks, but the passion pumping through her was stealing her ability to hear anything except the rapid thud of her heart.
Max folded her hand in his and carefully guided them to the passenger side of his car. He kissed her again, and any lingering doubt about accompanying him back to the cabin vanished. Right or wrong, she wanted Max.
Max ran his thumb down her bottom lip, across her chin, and tenderly down to the hollow of her throat, Libby thanked him with a moan that she couldn’t hold back if she tried.
“We’ll come back for your car later.”
Libby nodded with a grin.
“They won’t tow it if we don’t come back for a few days, will they?”
Max’s eyes went wide but he also smiled. “If they do, I’ll buy you a new one.”
Libby giggled against his chest to keep from saying the things firing through her brain—that with just a look he took her breath away and when he kissed her, he removed her inhibitions, and how she was sure that when they made love he would get the rest of her: heart, soul and body. Although, she was fairly certain she gave him her heart on…day one? No way. Her subconscious tapped her with the truth—yes way!
****
At the corner of Duck Drive and Mallard Lane, Libby nudged Max with her elbow. “Stop the car!”
Max hit the brakes. “What’s wrong?”
Libby pulled her lips in to ward off a grin.
Max cocked an eyebrow.
“Put it in Park,” Libby urged, easing out of her jacket and tossing it in the back seat. She tugged at Max’s jacket until it was off too. She looked in every direction and slid into his lap. “Since we’re the only ones in the campground…”
Max laid his head back and Libby moved in with a kiss. She devoured his mouth and ran her hands through his hair. He moaned, prompting her to move from his mouth to the soft flesh under his chin. She suckled lightly and nipped her way to his ear where she grazed his lobe with her tongue.
“Libby, honey,” Max whispered, the rasp of passion cracking his voice, “I…” Instead of finishing his thought, he moaned aga
in and worked his hands under her shirt. He cupped her breasts over her bra. Something so simple blasted Libby with so much heat it felt like he’d taken a blowtorch to her body. She writhed in his embrace and felt the pressure of his arousal push against her.
“Max, we should probably…” Libby put her mouth against Max’s ear. “…we should…” She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, managing to get enough unbuttoned so she could run her fingers through the hair on his chest. “Max, we…I…need you so much.”
“I need you too, Libby,” he replied quietly. “We should take this to cabin.” Urgency wrapped each word.
Libby nodded, pecked Max’s mouth, and moved off his lap. “Look what you did to the windows,” she giggled nervously.
“What I did?” They laughed, but the moment their gazes connected the mirth vanished. “You’re an amazing woman, Libby Griffin!” Max used the back of his hand to wipe the fog that gathered on the inside of the windshield.
It took less than a minute for the cabins to come into view. As soon as the car came to a rest, Max made a mad dash to the passenger side to open Libby’s door. He pulled her into his chest and held her for a few long seconds. Libby felt his rapid heartbeat keep time with hers. Finally, he tipped her chin so they were eye to eye. “Are you sure about this?”
“Completely sure.” Libby smiled. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to experience Max in every sense of the word.
Max swept her up in his arms and carried her into the cabin. The second he stood her up, they dove at each other. Hands, arms, and mouths were a blur of activity. Max broke the kiss long enough to kick off his shoes. Libby unzipped her half-boots and tossed them in the corner.
Max returned her to his arms and Libby felt the passion that fired through her at the bar and again at Mallard Lane blaze hotter than ever. He moved to her mouth and moved under her shirt at the same time. She shivered with delight when he located the hooks of her bra and with deft fingers released them.
Libby moaned urging him on. Max captured her nipples with his thumbs and forefingers, gently rolling them between his fingers. “I want you so much,” he whispered huskily at her throat.
Libby was aroused to the point of no return, but she was lucid enough to detect “but” in his voice. She understood it. Intimacy changed everything. But she needed this closeness with Max—wherever it took them. “I’m yours,” she simply said, letting him make the decision whether or not to proceed.
When Max released her nipples, disappointment lingered at the top of her throat. She swallowed hard to push it down.
He toyed with her choker. “Did I mention how sexy this is?”
“I had a hunch you liked it.”
Max held her eyes for a second and moved in for another kiss; a hot, melt-your-socks-off kiss that said he wasn’t calling anything off. Libby’s heart danced for joy. Every inch of her came alive and pulsed with anticipation.
Skillful fingers slowly unbuttoned her shirt. Argh! Why did she have to wear a shirt with so many buttons? By the time Max got to the last few, she could feel his patience splinter. Libby splayed her hand across his chest to stop him. With the cockiness of a woman about to be made love to, she issued Max a sexy grin, gave the bottom of her shirt a significant tug and popped the last three buttons. She chuckled inwardly at having done the same thing to his shirt a couple of days ago.
Max nuzzled her neck and trailed his tongue down to the swell of her breasts, while gently working the shirt from her shoulders. The straps of her lace and satin bra fell down around her arms, exposing her breasts. Libby bit her lip to stifle an outcry of delight.
He pulled back just enough to let his eyes roam. “You’re so beautiful.” His words were gritty and sensuous, and Libby felt explosive currents detonate inside of her. Her heart beat wildly and her body ached for fulfillment.
In a fevered rush, they were lying on the rug in front of the fireplace, embracing while tugging down their jeans, whispering each other’s name.
Max abruptly sat up with a dazed look. “I don’t have a condom. When I packed up and left Columbus, condoms were the last thing on my mind.”
Libby tried to make sense of the moment. They were both so turned on they could barely breathe yet they had to power down to make a responsible decision. “I’ve never had unprotected sex.”
“Neither have I.” Max held her close, his lips trailed across her forehead.
Libby didn’t want things to stop. She needed Max, needed him in ways she couldn’t explain. “It’s okay, Max, really. Just this one time.”
“Sorry, sweetheart, we have to make a trip to town.” He reached for his jeans.
“Seriously, we’re fine.” It took all the strength she could muster to share the truth. “I can tell you with complete certainty that you won’t get me pregnant.” The discussion, or rather, discussions she’d had with Doctor Stevenson barreled into her thoughts. Tears pooled in her eyes and her insides twisted. She didn’t want to deal with the information, much less share it, but she had to.
Max’s brows pulled to the center. “Libby, I…”
Please, don’t make me tell you everything! Please, please, have mercy! Libby pleaded silently.
Max felt the strain of what he should do and what he wanted to do. The desire in Libby’s voice and in her eyes wasn’t helping. With every fiber of his being he wanted her as much as she wanted him. In fact, he was so turned on he hurt. But he had to man-up and do the right thing. No protection, no loving Libby. That whole pregnancy fiasco with Shari left him more than a little cautious. Dammit! Why didn’t he have a condom?
Libby’s eyes filled with watery emotion. Damn! The passion in those hazel orbs were begging him to keep going. Argh! He was torn. But he had a feeling if he put on his jeans, it would be hard to rekindle the moment. Libby would have enough time to come to her senses and return to her cabin…without him. This was a fragile new beginning for them, if he left to buy protection…
Max’s conviction snapped in two. He was going to make love to Libby, and he’d deal with the fallout later. “Oh, sweet Libby,” he said, gently kissing her mouth and running his hands along the supple contours of her body, memorizing each delectable curve. Ever so lightly, he skimmed her nipples with his palm. Libby arched to get closer. She closed her eyes when he filled his hands with the fullness of her breasts.
Libby moaned and it was almost Max’s undoing. He pressed his erection against her thigh in warning.
“Now or never, August.”
“So bossy,” Max teased. Libby’s command sent him over the edge. In one fluid move, he rolled her beneath him and descended on her mouth. He kissed her long and hard, before using his knees to part her thighs. They gazed into each other’s eyes waiting for the magical moment when they joined. Max kissed each of her eyelids and the tip of her nose, and in the breadth of their next heartbeat he entered her. Libby’s eyes widened. He felt his widen too.
Raw, primal longing took over. They moved slowly at first to adjust to their new circumstance. With each stroke, the momentum picked up until they were in wild rhythm, grappling, groaning, and calling out one another’s name. Ecstasy came at them fast. Libby was the first to ride the billowy cloud of joy and Max joined her soon after. They’d made love fast, like two teenagers getting their first taste of the opposite sex. But it was incredible. And they had all the time in the world to become skilled lovers.
Libby lay panting. “You were wonderful,” she said between broken breaths. She clutched Max’s hand.
Max rolled to his side and toyed with Libby’s choker. “When I came to Celina, my only expectation was to finish my novel. In no way did I foresee that I would find someone who would turn my world upside down.” Max gave her a toothy grin. “I’m glad you almost nailed me with your Jeep.”
“Me too.” Libby ran her hands over the mat of dark curls on his chest.
Max kissed her chin and inched down until he was at the hollow of her throat. He nipped the tender skin with his tee
th and trailed his tongue to the swell of her breasts. Each of his hands circled a breast while his tongue lathered the nipples with strict attention. Libby moaned with renewed need.
“Max,” she begged, “is it possible to…”
Max answered without speaking. He rolled to his back and brought Libby on top of him.
With calculated slowness, Libby lifted herself up and down. Max clutched her bottom and moved with her. They stared into the depths of each other’s eyes, the cadence of their movements—perfect.
Chapter Eight
Max propped himself up on his elbow and studied the quirky blonde who was smiling while she was sleeping. So this is what it felt like to have a give-and-take relationship. He’d given his all yesterday. Libby took what he offered, and in turn, gave him a day and night he’d cherish forever. They’d made love three times; twice within an hour and a third time shortly after midnight. Before the last time, they sat on the loveseat, their arms and legs intertwined, making small talk.
Libby loathed canned peas, loved the frozen ones. She wanted to get a tattoo but was deathly afraid of needles. Her favorite color was black. She loved the feel of denim. Hated politics. Her hazel eyes fired with passion when she said if she could change one thing in the world it would be that no one had to go to bed hungry.
Surprisingly, her dream wasn’t to become the number one designer in the world. She just wanted to do what she loved—design some great clothes. If she happened to gain worldwide recognition, that would be cool too. She finally admitted that Slayte Designs cut her loose. Her voice had cracked when she said that Amanda didn’t as much as blink when she fired her. Max felt Libby’s pain. He wanted to hop in his car, track down Amanda Slayte, and give her a piece of his mind.
Libby loved dogs. She’d always begged for one but her parents thought they were too much of a bother. Dogs had a keen sense about people, and Max noticed how Rory nuzzled against Libby.
Max seldom talked about himself, but with Libby he didn’t hold back. He talked about growing up in New Hampshire as an only child and the great camping trips he and his parents used to take. He went to college at Ohio State and liked the Columbus area so he decided to stay after graduation.
