by Jo Leigh
The next thing Liam knew, a bootless Katie was tumbling headfirst into the water.
6
KATIE CAME UP sputtering. She shoved wet hair from her eyes and looked up to see Liam on the bank laughing his ass off.
“Very funny,” she growled.
“It’s kind of funny,” he said, but at least he made an effort to stop laughing.
“I’m soaking wet.”
She raised an arm. It was only then, as she watched Liam’s gaze hone in on her breasts, that she realized when wet, her sweater was practically transparent. Instantly, she crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her silhouetted breasts.
He held out a hand.
If she uncrossed her arms to take his hand, he would have an extremely good view of her nipples gone hard in the cold. Oh, why had she worn a camisole today instead of a bra?
“Take my hand,” he invited.
She didn’t want to, but it was going to be darn difficult getting out of the muck without a boost up. Reluctantly, she took his hand and tried not to notice when he watched her nipples pebble.
“Where’s Duke?” she asked, teeth chattering.
“You sit.” He led Katie to a park bench and draped his suit jacket around her. The now familiar scent of him surrounded her like a welcome hug.
He retrieved her boot from where she’d lost it, then got down on one knee and slipped it onto her foot. Talk about a Cinderella complex.
“Duke,” she repeated. “Three-hundred-dollar deposit.”
“I’ll go find him.”
He returned a few minutes later with a scraggly, squirming, soaking wet Duke tucked under his arm. Liam took one look at Katie and shook his head. “You can’t go back to work like that.”
“I’m blaming this on you.” She grinned at him, not the least bit mad.
“Me?”
“I would never have thought to rent Duke out for a walk. I guess I’m an all-or-nothing kind of woman.”
“Okay, I accept full responsibility. Let’s take Duke back to the pet shop and I’ll drive you to my apartment. It’s just a few blocks from here. I can send your clothes out to the one-hour dry cleaner in my building, while you take a shower. I’ll let Max know that we’ll need to postpone the meeting for another time.”
Katie could have told him that her own condo wasn’t far away, either, but she didn’t. Bad as it sounded, she wanted to see the inside of his apartment. In fact, her heart was thumping eagerly and quickly.
She soon found herself riding in the elevator with him up to the penthouse of James Towers. She might have come from old money, but overall, she’d lead a very sheltered life. Her parents had been quite strict when she and her sisters were growing up, and it was only since college that Katie had really stretched her wings. She’d never been to a penthouse apartment before, alone, with a man she barely knew.
Her stomach tightened, sending sexy messages shooting straight to the most feminine parts of her. She tried to ignore the sensations, but she knew she was in serious trouble.
Remember the new leaf? No more meaningless sex.
Yeah, but what about the Martini dare she’d drawn the night before?
You don’t have to do it.
But that was the thing. She wanted to do it.
When they stepped inside his living space and she got a bird’s-eye view of downtown Boston from his wide, curtainless window, Katie forgot to breathe.
Incredible.
“Bathroom’s down the hall, first door on your right,” Liam announced, tossing his car keys on a table in the foyer.
The penthouse was straight out of Architectural Digest. Sleek, modern and totally staged. The place was devoid of any personal touches. As far as she could tell, there wasn’t a bit of the real Liam here.
It made her feel a little sad to think he lived in such a sterile environment.
Katie slipped his jacket from her shoulders and draped it over a black leather couch. It was only then that she caught him watching her with heavily lidded eyes as he took in the way her damp clothes molded against her body.
Quickly, she turned and beat a hasty retreat, desperately searching for the bathroom and some small shred of self-control. She locked the bathroom door and sank against it with a shaky sigh.
He knocked on the door and she jumped, hand to her heart.
“Yes?”
“Put on my bathrobe,” he said, “It’s hanging on the back of the door. And then hand me out your clothes. I’ll pop them down to the dry cleaner’s while you shower.”
Katie stripped off her clothes. She thought of his long, strong masculine fingers touching her garments and she shivered at the image.
Stop thinking like this.
She put on his bathrobe that smelled of sandalwood shampoo, opened the door a crack and thrust her things at him.
“Thank you,” he said.
Why in God’s name did that sound like a come-on? It was just a simple thank-you.
Cold shower, cold shower. Get in, get washed off, get out.
She did exactly that. Five minutes later, she was showered and wrapped in his bathrobe again. She took the time to rinse her undergarments out in his sink, then drape them over his shower-curtain rod. Then she searched the bathroom for a blow-dryer, but couldn’t find one.
“Liam,” she called, leaving the bathroom, her wet hair twisted up in a towel, and padded into the living room. “Where do you keep your blow-”
He was standing in the middle of room, stripped bare to the waist.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He turned and a wicked grin tilted up the corners of his mouth. “Duke got me a bit wet and muddy, too.”
“Well, could you cover up or something?”
“What’s the matter?” He strolled toward her. “You don’t like what you see?”
“No, no-” she cleared her throat “-I like. Too much.” She waved a hand. “Now, cover up, please.”
The muscle in his throat jumped as his eyes traveled the length of her body.
He came closer.
Katie backed up until her butt hit the wall. “Um,” she said. “What are you doing?”
“What I’ve wanted to do all afternoon.”
“It’s not a good idea,” she whispered as his mouth dipped closer.
“No?”
There didn’t seem to be enough air in the room. You’d think in a condo this expensive there would be enough air in the flipping room. And his brownish green bedroom eyes were smothering her with closeness.
Her heart thundered at the feral look in his gaze.
He wanted her.
And she wanted him. Wanted his sweet, moist lips on hers and his masculine tongue thrusting deep inside her heated mouth.
Not only was there not enough air, but it was way too hot in here. Sizzling, in fact. It was a downright devil den.
He took her in his arms and pulled her up tight against his bare chest. Her pulse galloped madly. She wasn’t so sure about this. Things were suddenly slipping rapidly out of her control.
“I…” She started to say that she didn’t think this was such a great idea, but she got no further.
His mouth came down on hers for real and it tasted good.
That night at the masquerade ball had been exciting and wild and quick, but this was different. This was up close and personal and lingering, with no disguises to hide behind. She had time to really savor his kiss. To taste cinnamon on his tongue and smell his deeply masculine scent.
Liam’s tongue seared hers. She had no idea a kiss could be so intense. The towel came unwrapped from around her hair, falling slowly to the floor. Liam pushed his fingers through the damp strands, cradling her head in his hands.
Katie felt as if her entire body had short-circuited. Her stomach jolted. Her lips parted. Her toes curled. Her eyes widened.
Delight detonate
d in her mouth. A wildfire rolled through her nerve endings. He was suddenly more essential to her than the air she’d craved earlier.
How unforgettable he tasted. How safe she felt in his arms. It was strange to feel this way considering the circumstances, but that was how it was. As if he could and would protect her from anything.
She wanted to make love to him so badly her insides throbbed.
He tightened his arms around her. She relaxed her jaw, and his tongue speared deep inside. Moaning softly, she slid her arms around his neck.
More, she had to have more.
His chest was hard muscle against her soft breasts. She ran her fingers through his hair and made a fist. He growled low in his throat and used his hand to trace her spine to the small of her back. Then, through the cloth of his bathrobe, he gently kneaded her backside.
Her body, which seconds before had been tense and resistant, turned fluid and supple at his touch. She was clay-pliant and malleable. Anything he asked of her she would willingly do.
Wait a minute, whispered the voice in the back of her head, what about turning over a new leaf? What about no longer rushing in headlong where angels feared to tread?
Right. As if she could slam the brakes on when Liam was kissing her like this.
Don’t you want to be something more than everybody’s good-time girl? Aren’t you afraid this will jeopardize your working relationship? Or that you could lose your job over this?
Nah, she didn’t care about any of that. All she cared about was the magic of this moment.
And you wonder why no one takes you seriously.
But Liam took her seriously. He’d made her art director of his ad campaign.
Maybe that’s just because he was hoping to get into your panties.
Hush.
Determinedly shoving the ugly little nay-saying voice aside, she closed her eyes, made her mind blank and inhaled him.
She explored his mouth, taste by taste, texture by texture, layer by layer. He tasted honest and clean. His flavor was all masculine substance-solid and efficient.
Katie had to hand it to him. He was one helluva great kisser.
His lips soared her higher, flying her to a glorious realm where fantasy and reality merged into frenetic excitement.
He tasted like summer vacation, like long, hot nights in the backseat of a big old American car. Like Fourth of July fireworks-dazzling and explosive. He tasted like hard work and commitment and trustworthiness. His taste made her feel safe and supported and honored.
He kissed with the power and authority of a man completely in control of himself. And she realized his self-control frightened her because she had no control of her own. He scared her because she found herself wanting something she could not even identify. Something she’d never wanted before.
His lips hummed with strength and go-getter magnetism. His kiss whispered of all that could exist between them if she just had the courage to close her hand and make a fist. To take a tentative step toward something more than fun and frivolity.
She wished she could frame this moment in time, hold on to it like a snapshot. Kiss him on and on and on forever.
The thought jolted her. This quick jog on the wild side had landed her in mental quicksand. Should she flail around and try to get free? Or should she embrace the fall?
Suddenly, the struggle was taken out of her hands.
Liam broke the kiss, pulled back, stared down at her.
“What?” she whispered, peering up into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
He stroked his index finger down the length of her jaw, then stopped and pressed his thumb against her lips. “We have to stop now, or I won’t be able to stop.”
“Why stop?” she asked as the weight of his thumb caressed her cheek.
He drew in a ragged breath. “Our first time together was sex-crazed and anonymous. I want us to take our time and to get to know each other before we do this again.”
“But I like sex-crazed and anonymous.”
He had one arm around her waist, one hand tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. He was looking at her as if she were special, like something to be treasured. No man had ever looked at her like that before. Katie held a breath.
“That might be the case,” he said. “But you deserve so much more. No matter how much I might want to, I’m not going to have sex with you again.”
“You’re not?” Why did it feel as if he were denying her keys to Shangri-La?
“No.” He shook his head. “Not now. Not yet. Not until I know everything there is to know about you.”
She laughed because she didn’t know what else to do.
“I’m serious,” he said.
One look in his eyes told her it was true. She felt a rush of panic so strong that if she hadn’t been naked underneath his bathrobe, she would have bolted straight out the front door.
But the ringing phone saved her from replying.
He let her go, easing his arm from around her waist and stepped to the cordless phone docked on the glass end table beside his leather couch.
“Yes,” he answered. “Okay, thanks. Please send someone up with them.” He ended the conversation, turned back to her. “That was the dry cleaner’s downstairs. Your clothes are ready.”
Yes!
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said with the same take-charge manner she assumed he used to run his real-estate empire. “You’re getting dressed and I’m driving you back to Sharper Designs. Because I have an appointment at three, I won’t be able to review your designs for the ad campaign. With that in mind, I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at eight for a business dinner meeting. So have your proposal ready.”
“I have plans,” she said, just to be ornery. She didn’t have any plans beyond her usual Saturday-night clubbing, but she balked at being ordered around. Even if it was by the most eligible bachelor in Boston.
“Then cancel them.”
“I ACTED LIKE a self-important, arrogant ass,” Liam confided to Tony as they jogged together in the park on Saturday morning.
“She got to you, so you reacted out of instinct. Doing what you do best. Taking charge, bossing people around. It works on the job, not so great when it comes to romance.”
“I can’t explain it, but something about that woman brings out the caveman in me.”
“You feel protective of her.”
“Yeah.”
“And you can’t stand the thought of her dating someone else.”
“Yes,” Liam admitted through gritted teeth. The mere thought of some other man touching Katie twisted him inside out.
“She drives you so crazy you can’t think.”
“Exactly!”
Tony chuckled.
“What? It’s not funny. It’s irritating.”
“You’re falling for her.”
“I’m not,” he denied hotly. “It’s just that she’s so damned sexy.”
“So have a casual fling with her.”
“I tried. I couldn’t go through with it.”
“Why not?”
“She looked so vulnerable. Like she trusted me completely. She doesn’t know me. She shouldn’t trust me so easily.”
“Why do you care?”
“She has no idea how terrific she is,” Liam huffed as they rounded the home stretch of their five-mile run. “As an artist and as a woman. You should see her graphic designs. Amazing.”
“What’s she like?”
“She takes chances. I like that about her. She’s upbeat and energetic and full of surprises. Lively, spontaneous, freewheeling.”
“In short, all the things you aren’t.”
Liam dodged a park bench. “Yeah.”
“So what do you want from her?”
Good question. One he’d spent the night pondering as he’d tossed and turned and remembered their incredible kisses.
“Sex?” Tony asked.
“For sure.”
“But you want something more or you would have just done that again.”
“Maybe,” he admitted.
“Commitment?”
“Hey, wait, slow down. Slow way, way down. All I’m saying is that she’s interested me more than any woman has in a long time.” If ever.
“So you’re looking for a little romance? Nothing more than a good time.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“But you don’t really know how to romance a girl because you’ve spent your entire adult life getting ahead, amassing your fortune. And when you’ve had relationships in the past, it was up to the woman to put forth all the effort to keep you interested.”
“Something like that.”
Tony hooted. “I love it. Now you’re sweating because you’re scared that you’re not exciting enough for her.”
His best friend had seen right through him, but he was loath to admit it. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Wanna know how to keep her interested?”
“No.” Yes, yes!
“I’ll tell you because I know you’re only saying no to save face.”
“I am not,” he lied.
“You keep her guessing.”
“Guessing?”
“I know it’s hard for you to wrap your one-track mind around this concept, but to keep a fun-loving woman like Katie entertained, you’ve got to be unpredictable.”
“Unpredictable?”
“You know, do something impromptu, unexpected. Send her a gift no one else would ever send her. Something that would have special meaning for her. Take her someplace you would normally never go, like to a monster-truck rally.”
“A monster-truck rally?” Liam snorted. “That’s the best you have to offer?”
“Okay, that was a stab in the dark, but use your imagination. Take her salsa dancing. Or kayaking. Or ice skating. Have fun.”
“Fun?”
“You know, the thing you haven’t done since you were a kid.” Tony eyed him as they jogged side by side. “But this isn’t the kind of woman who’s going to be impressed by fancy French restaurants or long-stemmed red roses and boxes of chocolates.”
