Strangely, although he was more than glad to be alone with her now, he didn’t begrudge having the kids and Kristy along for the day. It had been fun. It had been great. As a package, the day had been perfect.
“Do you like it?” he asked Sage.
“It’s delicious.”
TJ took a taste. It was everything Caleb had promised.
There was a knock at the door.
The waiter entered with a rolling cart and took a few minutes to set up the table that was positioned in a turret of windows overlooking the park.
TJ saw the waiter to the door and gave him a tip. When he turned back, Sage was biting into a chocolate-dipped strawberry.
“Those are supposed to go with the champagne,” he said, making his way toward her.
She grinned unrepentantly. “I’m a maverick.”
“The tastes will clash.” He wanted her to have the best possible culinary experience.
A gleam in her eyes, she took another swallow of her wine. “It all tastes good to me.”
“Bohemian.”
“Snob.”
She was clearly teasing, but the accusation hit its mark anyway.
“You think so?” he asked, suddenly worried he’d overdone the evening.
“Oh, I do think so, Mr. Phone-a-Wine-Consultant.”
“It wasn’t the most expensive bottle in the cellar.”
She took another sip, then wrinkled her nose. “Cutting corners, are we?”
He waltzed forward and swung an arm around her waist. “I can’t win with you, can I?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” She went soft and supple against him, and a sensual glow came up deep in her jade-colored eyes.
“I take it back.”
“Oh, you will.” She moved to disentangle herself.
“What? What are you doing?”
She took a step away from him.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To change.”
“Please don’t change.” Even as he made the joke, he realized he didn’t want her to change. He didn’t want to change a single thing about her.
“I took your advice,” she said.
He moved toward her, but she backed off some more.
“Clearly, I’m giving you very bad advice.”
“I’m going to change my clothes, TJ. I took your credit card.”
“Your credit card.”
“And bought a little outfit.”
He stilled. His mouth went dry. “Define little.”
She gave him a saucy grin. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“You don’t want to finish the snacks?”
“The snacks will wait.” He couldn’t. He couldn’t wait to see what kind of an outfit she’d bought.
“I wouldn’t want to compromise your culinary experience.”
“You can compromise anything you want.”
She laughed at that. Then she turned for the bedroom, sauntering through the door and closing it behind her.
TJ took a deep breath, telling himself to stay cool.
He moved to an armchair and sat down, taking a swallow of the wine.
Whatever she looked like when she walked back through the door, he absolutely was not going to rush things. He’d take his time, just like he’d planned. He’d make it romantic, just like he’d planned. They had all night to—
She appeared in the doorway, and he nearly dropped his glass.
She was draped in purple satin—a short spaghetti-strapped nightie with flat lace panels along the neck and hem. Her shoulders were smooth and slender, hair copper under the soft lights. Her thighs were shapely, her calves sleek, and her feet were bare. Her auburn hair billowed around her face, bouncing to her collarbone and framing her slim neck.
He abandoned his wine, rolling to his feet, stripping off his polo shirt as he crossed the floor.
“What do you think?” she asked a bit breathlessly.
“Huh?” He had to shake himself out of a daze.
“Do you like it?” She spread her arms and did a pirouette.
By the time she’d turned, he had her in his arms. “I love it.”
“You’ve barely seen it.”
“I’ll see it more later.” He kissed her, bending her backward, going deep, drinking in the taste of her.
She held on to his shoulders, and he wrapped an arm around her, stabilizing her, using his free hand to roam the satin of her breathtaking outfit, smoothing his palm over her stomach, her breasts, her rear. Every inch of her felt fantastic.
Her breathing rate increased, her chest rising and falling. She kissed him with fervor, thrusting her tongue to parry with his. Her lips were so sweet. Her thighs were sleek and firm. And her breasts were soft beneath his hand, her nipples peaking against his touch.
She arched her back, and a soft moan came from her lips.
Desire flashed through him, and he scooped her into his arms, carrying her back into the bedroom, laying her on the four-poster bed, atop the crisp sheets, the moonlight filtering through sheer curtains to dance on the sheen of her skin.
He shucked his pants to lie down beside her, peeling the spaghetti strap from her shoulder, kissing his way to her breast, drawing her nipple into his mouth.
Her hands buried themselves in his short hair. She moaned again, gently flexing beneath him.
The silk bunched up at her waist. He drew back to stare at the sensual picture she made against the stark sheets, arms above her head, one knee bent.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered, brushing the back of his hand from her elbow to the side of her breast, then farther down to the nip of her waist and the curve of her hip. Her eyes were buffed jade, her hair a dark halo.
His touch followed her hip bone to her navel and below, dipping farther and farther.
She closed her eyes, and her thighs twitched open.
He dipped into her heat, his pulse pounding, his breathing labored.
When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he stripped off his boxers and covered her with his body.
She wrapped herself around him, kissing his mouth, her fingers kneading the muscles of his back. When her heat and softness engulfed him, he groaned her name, balling his fists, searching for strength.
He was determined to take it slow. She deserved romance. She deserved to be cherished. She deserved to be the only woman in his world. Just for tonight, he told himself. Just for tonight, he’d banish everything from his mind, everything but Sage.
He drew his head back, just far enough to focus on her. Her eyes were closed. Her lips were deep red. Her cheeks were flushed.
She moved with him, their rhythm easy, their bodies in sync. Pleasure ebbed through him, pulsing, growing, taking over his body and his mind. His pace increased, and her hold tightened. Before he knew it, he was out of control, moving faster, reaching higher, holding, holding, holding back every second that he could until a world of color, heat and light exploded behind his eyes and his muscles convulsed with release.
“Sage!” Her name was wrenched from his lips, then it thundered over and over inside his brain.
* * *
It was midmorning, and the house was completely quiet. Sage stood in the opening between the living room and the family room and drank in the stillness.
Eli and Heidi were at their first full day of school. Whiskey Bay Elementary was a fifteen-minute bus ride away, and they’d been thrilled to hop on the school bus at the end of the driveway. TJ had gone to the office, and Kristy was back at college. Verena wasn’t due for at least an hour.
Sage tried to remember how long it had been since she’d been completely alone.
There was course reading waiting for her in the office, and two reports from the college
board. Plus, there were always the philanthropic requests for Tide Rush Investments. Although she had that part down to a system, it was always satisfying to find a new project that fit their criteria.
But for now, just for a few minutes, she wanted to savor the peace.
Maybe some tea—since she’d learned how to use the cappuccino machine, a latte was her beverage of choice in the morning. But today didn’t feel like a latte day. It felt like herbal tea, maybe something with lemon.
The family room wasn’t messy, but it was comfortably disheveled. She liked that.
On the way past the table, she closed Heidi’s coloring book and put the stray pencils into the case. Eli’s rubber snake was coiled up on one of the chairs. It had stopped startling Sage a few days ago. TJ’s plaid shirt was draped over the back of a chair.
She reached out and touched the shirt. He’d been wearing it yesterday playing catch in the backyard with Eli. He’d stripped down to his T-shirt before dinner, because the sun was hitting the deck, and it was hot in front of the barbecue.
They’d grilled burgers and eaten ice cream. Yesterday had come close to being perfect.
Sage lifted the shirt and pressed the soft fabric to her face. She inhaled the subtle scent of TJ, emotions rushing through her. TJ himself was close to perfect.
Maybe he was perfect.
He was perfect for her.
“Hello?” Melissa’s voice called out from the front foyer.
Sage lowered the shirt from her face to call back. “I’m in the family room.”
She was getting used to the casual drop-in culture of the four oceanfront houses. She couldn’t quite bring herself to walk into anyone else’s house yet. But she was getting there.
“Kids get off all right?” Melissa asked.
“They couldn’t wait to leave.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“We’ll see if the novelty lasts.” It was a lot to hope that they’d love school every morning all year long.
“I didn’t mind school,” Melissa said, her glance going to the shirt in Sage’s hand.
“Laundry,” Sage said, hooking the shirt over the back of one chair, wondering why she felt flustered. “I was about to make tea.”
“Love some.”
Sage headed for the kitchen, and Melissa followed.
“When do your classes start?” Melissa asked.
“Thursday. I decided to just stick with the two. I don’t want to shortchange the philanthropic work for Tide Rush. There are a lot of requests coming in.”
“Free money is popular. Who could have guessed?”
Sage gave an eye roll to Melissa’s sarcasm as she began filling the kettle.
Melissa laughed. “I say that as the person who asked you first.”
“That’s true. You did. Do you need a contribution for next year?”
“Not yet. I’ll hit you up in the spring.”
“I’ll be here.” As she spoke, Sage realized her future looked bright.
Her future with TJ felt good. Maybe it felt too good. She found herself glancing at his shirt again. Before Melissa interrupted, Sage had been cuddling his shirt, smiling and musing on his perfection.
That couldn’t be good.
“Sage?” Melissa asked.
“Hmm?”
“The kettle’s overflowing.”
Sage glanced down. “Oops.” She quickly shut off the tap.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing’s wrong.”
Melissa moved up beside her at the sink, concern in her tone. “Is it TJ? Are there...problems?”
Melissa knew about their unorthodox sex life. It had been her idea in the first place.
“It’s good,” Sage assured her. “Really good.”
Melissa’s gaze sharpened. “Too good.”
Sage opened her mouth to lie but then changed her mind. “He’s... Yeah. Maybe too good is the right way to describe it. He’s so incredible. He’s great with the kids. Eli adores him. He’s patient and gentle with Heidi. She’s gaining confidence by the day.”
“And with you?”
Sage paused. “He’s off the charts. In every way you can imagine. I... We...”
Melissa’s arm went around Sage’s shoulders. “You’re in love with him.”
Sage closed her eyes, anxiety and relief washing through her in equal measures. “I can’t believe I let it happen.”
“Do you know how he feels?”
“He seems happy. He’s attentive. He’s relaxed. Our conversations are fun and funny. He trusts me with his money. Our sex life is terrific.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
Sage immediately shook her head. She backed away from Melissa, holding up her palms. “No. Oh, no, no. That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“The deal can change.”
“Not this deal. We’re co-parenting.”
“And you’re living together. And you’re sleeping together. And you’re sharing a bank account. That sounds a whole lot like marriage to me.”
“The marriage part isn’t the problem.” Sage stepped back and removed the kettle from the sink, drying it off with a towel before setting it on the stove.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Melissa said.
“That’s lust.” Sage knew TJ desired her.
“I bet it’s something more.”
“You can’t read his mind.” Sage set the burner to high.
“I can see love in his eyes.”
Sage swallowed. She wanted to hope, but she didn’t dare. “It’s not going to end that way.”
“You have no idea how it’s going to end.”
“Lauren,” she said simply.
“People get over their losses. They move on.”
“Do you think?” Sage turned to look Melissa in the eyes. She wanted to hope. She very desperately wanted to hope that TJ could love her. “Do you actually think it’s possible?”
“I do think it’s possible. I think it’s likely.”
“I don’t know...”
“Just consider telling him,” Melissa said while the kettle began to boil.
Sage nodded.
She did think about telling him. It circled through her mind through their tea and conversation. What would happen if she told TJ she loved him? She pictured him looking confused. Then she pictured him looking horrified. Then she pictured him looking delighted. She let her fantasy TJ say he loved her back.
He smiled. He hugged her close. He kissed her and told her he loved her more than anything else in the world.
The image was so compelling, that by the time Melissa left, Sage was ready to take the risk.
She held his shirt in her arms, hugging it to her chest, inhaling the scent again. Then she laughed at herself. She wasn’t going to spend the rest of the day mooning around the house like a lovesick calf.
Gripping the shirt, she marched down the hall to TJ’s bedroom. The door was open, as it generally was, but she found herself hesitating in the doorway.
She’d never gone into TJ’s room. They didn’t sleep together. Sage stayed upstairs with the children, and TJ slept in his own bed.
At first, she’d respected his privacy, and then it had become habit. There was little reason for her to come down to this end of the hall.
Now she took a step inside.
His bed was perfectly made, even though Verena wasn’t here yet—interesting. The curtains were closed over two windows on either side of the bed. The en suite door was open, and she could see a laundry hamper inside. She looked down at the shirt, laughing at herself for wanting to preserve his smell.
On the way past, she pulled the curtains open. Then she dropped the shirt in the hamper.
When she turned in the bathroom, her gaze caught on
a small crystal bottle that sat on the counter. It looked like perfume.
Her heart stilled and her breathing stopped. Next to the bottle was a container of scented soap, and a glass jar of makeup pads, pink bath salts and three copper-colored candles. It was as if Lauren had just stepped out and was coming back any minute.
Sage backed out of the bathroom. As she went to leave the bedroom, she caught a glimpse of TJ’s dresser. The top was covered in photos of Lauren, everything from a formal wedding shot to a picnic in the park where they were laughing and embracing on a blanket. And in the center of it all was a set of glass jewelry boxes.
Foreboding drew her forward. There were three boxes in the set, and the biggest one had Lauren’s name etched on the top. The smallest held rings—a diamond engagement ring, a woman’s band and a man’s band beside it. Everything inside Sage turned to ice.
“What are you doing?” It was TJ’s voice.
Sage whirled. She had no idea what to say. Maybe she should feel guilty. But instead she felt angry and betrayed. And intensely sad.
“Do you still have her clothes?” she asked.
TJ’s jaw went lax.
“This is practically a shrine. Have you kept everything that was hers?”
“That—” his tone was rock-hard “—is none of your business.”
“I’m your wife.”
He seemed to stumble for a split second. “It’s not the same thing.”
Her brain reeled from the hurt and disappointment. “You mean I’m not a real wife.”
“I was honest with you from the start.”
Her heart split in two. “In other words, I’m right.”
He’d acted like he cared for her. Everything he said and did made her feel like she mattered, like she was more than just Eli’s mother.
“Right about what?” he asked, looking confused.
“Not right. Wrong.” She made for the door.
He didn’t step aside. “Wrong about what?”
She swept her arm across the room. “About this. About you. About us. I thought I could do this, TJ.”
“We are doing this.”
“No.” It was crystal clear to her. “You’re doing this. I’m doing something else altogether.”
“You’re not making sense.”
She squeaked past him. “I have to go.”
His Temptation, Her Secret Page 17
