He’d escaped the meeting and took off into the city, aiming to grab a coffee and chill out in the cold Seattle sunshine. Instead, he’d found himself pushing open the door of the bookstore that was stuck between two coffee shops and changing his life forever.
He’d seen her right away, the tiny, curvy woman with a mass of dark chocolate hair piled up into a messy bun, smooth, unblemished olive skin and the incredible, somehow familiar violet eyes. She’d looked up at his entrance and given him such a lovely smile that he’d wanted to take her in his arms immediately, kiss that deep pink mouth. The spell had been broken by the rude blonde woman but the amused look he and the owner had shared had given him the perfect excuse to start talking to her.
Now, all these weeks later, he studied her – Ori – as she curled herself into the sofa across from him and sipped her coffee. The violet eyes were surrounded by long, thick dark lashes and the way they swept down onto her faintly blushed cheeks made his groin tighten.
“So, how’s your day been?” Really, that’s the best you can come up with?
Ori smiled. “Busy but busy is good.”
Milo sipped his coffee. “Agreed….if it’s something you’re passionate about.”
“What do you do?”
Milo smiled. He liked that she didn’t know who he was, obviously not caring about the social scene in which Milo orbited, the uber-rich eligible bachelor tag which he hated. He could be anyone he wanted. “I work in the music business…well,” he corrected himself, not wanting to lie to her, “the media business. Music is one of our subsidiaries.”
Ori’s eyes had taken on a wary look that he didn’t understand and when she spoke, she didn’t quite meet his eyes. “So, um, what’s your role in the business?”
Milo smiled sheepishly. “I kind of own it.”
Ori almost choked on her drink and then laughed. “Well, okay then, I’m officially embarrassed. What’s a C.E.O. doing ducking out every afternoon to come spend time with me?”
As soon as she’d asked the question, the answer was so obvious that she flushed, her cheeks taking on the deepest rose pink. Milo put his coffee down and slid over to her side, taking her cup from her hand and setting it down on the little table. She was trembling when he cupped his hands around her face but as he pressed his lips to hers, he was gratified that she kissed him back. Her soft lips moved against his and as he pulled her onto his lap, her fingers slid into his hair, the soft stroking making his senses explode.
Breathless, they broke off and stared at the other for a long moment, then burst into laughter.
“That was unexpected,” Ori confessed and he tightened his arms around her waist, trailing his lips along her jawline, kissing the hollow at the base of her throat.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for three weeks now.”
Ori flushed again – damn, that color was glorious – and he kissed her again. “Ori?”
She had her eyes closed as he kissed her. “Yes?” Her voice was breathy and he could tell she felt as excited and bemused as himself.
“I have a craving for pizza. Have dinner with me?”
Ori opened her eyes and grinned at him. “You had me at pizza.”
***
Milo was true to his word and helped her unpack the rest of the delivery. By the time they were finished the sun had gone down and they were both covered in packing dust. Ori grinned as she looked him up and down. He wore standard jeans and tee but closer inspection revealed that the t-shirt had been artfully and no doubt expensively made to look vintage, the jeans were cut beautifully to fit his huge frame. He must be at least six-five, she thought now, then as he caught her eye, she cleared her throat, embarrassed.
“Look, it’s late…”
Milo shook his head. “Nuh-uh, I’m not letting you blow me off. You promised.”
Ori smiled. “You didn’t let me finish, impatient boy. It’s late, but I have some cold beers in the back, shall we just get pizza delivered? Because I don’t know about you, but I’m filthy.’
Milo’s eyebrows shot up suggestively and Ori blushed for the millionth time that day. “I mean, I’m dirty…oh hell, I give up.”
Ori hadn’t laughed so much in one day for a long, long time. While she called Yas to tell her she’d be out late, she watched Milo play with the dogs. For such a big man, he sure was bullied by the two dachshunds, who weaved and skittered around him, play-growling and yapping.
Yas answered on the first ring. “Yo, sis, I’m almost at the shop.”
Damn. “Um, Yas, I kind have to talk to you, could you go home instead?”
“Too late, I’m here….oh.”
Ori looked up to see her little sister pressed against the main window, staring with a wide open mouth at the scene inside. Ori watched as a wide smile spread across Yas’s face. Her sister made a ‘well done’ signal to her. “I’ll be fine, Ori, you take your time. You’ve got protection, right?”
Ori scowled at her sister. “Yasmin Herd, you’d better…”
“Kidding! Kidding, sis, I meant the dogs, of course.”
“Go away now.”
Beaming, Yas gave her double finger-pistols through the window and disappeared. Ori turned to see Milo laying on the floor, Hamish and Flea jumping on his big chest.
“Help,” he shouted in mock-panic, “the wolves have gotten me.”
Ori laughed and shook her head. “Sorry, pal, nothing I can do. You’re dead meat.”
They’d shared a pepperoni pizza and laid waste to six beers by midnight, chatting and talking as if they were old friends. Ori couldn’t believe how easy it was to talk to him, and when he leaned over to kiss her again, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
“You should know,” she said, when breathless, they broke apart, “I’m not the sort of girl who…goes all the way on the first date.”
“Goes all the way? Excuse me, ma’am, are we in the 1950’s?” He was smiling. “I’m just kidding. Besides, this isn’t our first date?”
“It isn’t?”
“Nope. That’s tomorrow night.”
Ori grinned at him. “You’re very confident, Mr. Shaw.”
He pretended to consider then nodded. “Yes, yes, I am. Seriously, though, I’m fine about…that. I don’t want to rush anything here, Ori, I want to savor every last minute with you.”
His words made her stomach warm. Who was this man? He was the kind of man she didn’t think existed anymore: funny, intelligent, romantic. Was it too good to be true?
He was watching her. “I see what you’re thinking but I swear, no bs. I’m too old to play games anymore.” For the first time, she saw doubt creep into his eyes. “Ori…I’m guessing you’re what…mid-twenties? Would the age gap bother you?”
Ori could answer confidently this time. “Not in the slightest. It hadn’t even crossed my mind. And thank you for being…a gentleman.”
Milo gave a short cough of laughter. “Well, not so much…can I interest you in a little under-the-clothes action?” And he slipped his hand under her t-shirt and stroked her belly. Ori couldn’t help the moan of pleasure that escaped her and she pulled his lips down to hers.
“This isn’t at all the way I thought this day would go,” she murmured, hearing him chuckle as he maneuvered her under him on the couch.
It was getting light again before they fell asleep, a night of talking, kissing and caressing, a night that neither of them would forget. Milo wrapped her up in his arms and for the first time in an age, Ori felt completely safe and happy.
***
The rattle of metal screens being pulled up woke them before six. Despite the lack of sleep, they smiled at each other and Milo kissed her before she could object.
“Argh, my morning breath,” she protested but he shrugged.
“Mine too…we cancel each other out.” He kissed her again then they both made faces. “Well, maybe not.”
She extracted herself from his arms, grinning. “There’re spare toothbrushes upstair
s – and a shower if you want.”
“You live upstairs?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s mostly stock upstairs, but it does have a bathroom, a small kitchen. Handy if I’m working too late to go home…or, you know, I’ve had strangers here all night.” She waggled her eyebrows at him and he laughed.
“Can I interest you in sharing a shower?”
She reddened immediately. “Um…” Yes, please… “I’d better not…you go ahead while I take the dogs out for a pee.”
Milo, his eyes kind, nodded then gave a dramatic sigh. “My way is more romantic but whatever.”
When she got back, he was freshly showered and making fresh coffee. She went to shower, standing under the warm spray in relief. Even with only a couple of hours sleep, she felt amazing, invigorated, excited. Milo Shaw was….what was he? A nice surprise? As soon as she considered that, she knew that last night hadn’t been so unexpected…in fact, her instinct had been telling her he was someone significant from the first moment they saw each other.
Ori massaged shampoo through her hair fantasizing that his strong hands were moving over her wet body, caressing, loving. It had taken all of her self-control not to sleep with him last night. Call him upstairs. Ori frowned at herself and shut the water off, drying herself quickly and dressing with the spare clothes she always kept here for emergencies.
She was drying her hair with a towel as she went downstairs. A steaming cup of coffee was waiting for on the counter and she saw Milo, his back turned to her, flicking through a magazine.
When he turned and she saw what he was reading, her heart nearly failed. An old issue of Rolling Stone. Milo, grinning delightedly, held it up.
“I thought you looked familiar. You’re Astoria Vine.”
Ori stared at him in abject dismay, sure of one thing. I have to end this now.
It was time to say goodbye to Milo Shaw.
***
Milo was confused. Confused and hurt. Ori had completely shut him down, whisked the magazine from his hands and stood, quivering with something he couldn’t define. Anger? Fear?
“What? What is it?”
But she had just shook her head. “Please, Milo, you need to go now.”
“Ori..”
“Please.” And the way her voice had broken made his own heart thud with sadness.
Now, he sat in his office, he felt a jolt of irritation. What did she think he would do now that he knew who she was? She obviously didn’t want it to get out, which was fine by him, but the way her beautiful face had completely closed down…he picked up the phone. He’d snagged her number when she was in the shower, had even sent her a message while she was naked – man, the temptation – Next time, invite me in… He’d thought it a funny joke at the time.
The phone rang six times before she answered. “Ori?”
Silence. “I can’t talk, Milo, I’m sorry.”
“Now, wait…what the hell happened? We were having a good time then you just…” He sucked in a deep breath. Calm down. “Look, Ori…it makes no difference to me who you were, it’s who you are now that concerns me.”
Ori sighed. “Look, Milo, it’s just…with the business you’re in…I’ve managed to build a life here for me and Yasmin, a life where nobody interferes or pressures me to do things I don’t want to do.”
“Ori, what on earth makes you think any of that would happen? As far as I’m concerned, we’re just two people getting to know each other. Give us a chance, Ori. Trust me when I say no-one will be any the wiser.”
She was quiet for a long time. “I don’t know.”
Milo felt the sting of her hesitation but pressed on. “Look…let me bring you lunch at the shop and we can talk. No strings?”
Another long silence then “Okay.”
Milo sighed with relief. “I’ll be there at twelve.”
***
“You’re an idiot,” Yasmin shoved the last piece of leftover pizza in her mouth and glared at her sister. Ori glared back but inside she felt…she was an idiot. So what if Milo knew who she was? Did she really expect to meet someone who would never know? Truthfully, the thing that scared her was his job. Did she really know him well enough, trust him enough not to exploit her?
“He’s coming over later. We’ll talk but I’m not promising anything.”
Yasmin rolled her eyes. “Jeez. You need to get laid, sis, you’re way too uptight.”
“Thank you for the advice,” Ori pushed the thought of Milo’s skin against her own away. Complication. Very, very nice complication. “Look, Yas, just…don’t pressure me, okay?”
Yasmin sighed and jumped from her seat on the counter. “I’m just saying, don’t throw something – or someone – away before you test the waters. I understand your reticence, I really do.”
Ori smiled at her fondly and tugged one of her sister’s long braids. “When did you get so smart?”
“Brown.” Yas flashed her a smile. “Thanks to you. Not everything from that time was bad, Ori, it paid for this place, after all. Just because Milo knows who you are, doesn’t mean you have to go back to that life.”
After Yas had gone, Ori flitted around the bookstore, helping customers, dusting the shelves. Her mind, however, was fixed on the night she’d nearly ended it all. She’d always told Yas that it was the endless touring, the lack of privacy, the peer pressure to be a party girl. What she hadn’t revealed to anyone was the incident in the hotel bathroom. Lyon’nel (and yes, that was how he spelled his name), the lead singer of her support band, had cornered her. He’d always given her the creeps and she’d avoided him as best she could, without trying to appear aloof and now he’d gotten her where he wanted her. Ori swallowed back a wave of nausea as she recalled his hands on her, her struggle to get away from him…she’d rammed her knee hard into his groin and slipped past him but the damage was done. Never again, Ori thought now, never.
Milo arrived at noon and she closed the door after him, locking it and flipping the sign. She felt awkward now with this man in whose arms she’d spent a night. What made it worse is that he looked gorgeous. Gorgeous and more than a little pissed. Ori took a deep breath in.
“I’m sorry. I freaked out.”
“Yes.”
Okay, straight shooter. Ori looked down at her hands for a moment then met his gaze. “I walked away for a reason – actually, several reasons. I don’t want any of that life back. None of it. Astoria Vine doesn’t exist anymore, Milo and I…”
Milo took two long strides and swept her up into his arms, covering her mouth with his, pressing his lips against hers so fiercely she thought she might pass out. His strong hands holding her so tightly, she melted into the embrace, her fingers stroking his hair.
Breathless, they broke apart and gazed at each other. “That,’ Milo said, his big chest heaving for air, “That right there is the only thing that matters. The only thing.”
And in that moment, Ori Herd fell in love.
***
Yas fixed him with a beady eye. “This is the part where I tell you not to mess with my sister or you’ll have me to deal with. Now, I realize you’re built like a Sasquatch so you probably think you could win but I play dirty.”
Milo grinned at her. “You do, do you?”
“Oh yes.”
“Shut up, Yas, you brat,” Ori called from the kitchen. She appeared then, carrying three plates loaded with pasta. Yas and Milo fell on them gratefully.
She had officially been dating Milo for a week now and so far, she would never have known he worked in the music industry. They talked about music, of course, but in the terms of who they loved to listen to, which bands and singers they had in common – Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Prince – and they spent one entire date sitting on the floor of her apartment playing records on her ancient turntable.
So far, Milo had been a perfect gentleman, but Ori knew that he wanted more. She knew because so did she; they had kissed, passionately, stroked each other’s skin, had even gotten to the ins
ide-the-underwear part (before a returning Yas had quickly had them scrambling to cover themselves up).
Tonight, though, Yas was making herself scarce. There was an air of anticipation in the small apartment and when, after supper, Yas gave them a knowing wave and disappeared, Ori suddenly became nervous. Milo grinned at her.
“Alone at last.”
He pulled her down on the couch next to him. “Dinner was amazing, thank you.” His lips brushed hers tasting of tomato and basil. Her heart was thumping out a staccato beat, her palms suddenly felt very sweaty.
She opened her mouth to speak when Milo smiled at her. “I want to take you out to dinner tomorrow night, my favorite place in the city.” He named a place and she nearly balked – it was one of the most exclusive in the city. Milo was watching her carefully.
“My treat,” he said. “I like to think of myself as an enlightened man but sometimes, let a guy treat his girlfriend.”
Girlfriend? Wow. Ori tried not to grin. “Deal.”
Milo leaned over to kiss her, and as it grew in intensity, he pulled her onto his lap, wound his arms around her waist. “Ori…”
She hushed him with her mouth and got up, holding out her hand. Milo took it and followed her into her bedroom. They took their time, peeling each other’s clothes off slowly, exploring every curve, every inch of the other’s skin. Milo’s body was unreal…his arms thickly banded with muscle, his shoulders wider than her waist, his broad chest, a faint smattering of dark hair that covered his pecs trailing down to the deep vee of his hips. Ori felt tiny, vulnerable as she stood naked in front of him but he kissed every part of her as if in wonder. His lips trailing across her belly and she felt her senses quicken. Milo scooped her onto the bed, covered her body with his.
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 73
