Automatically, she tugged on a pair of light black wool pants and topped it with a dark blue cashmere sweater. A quick trip to the bathroom and she had a light coating of mascara on her lashes and a swipe of lipstick applied. Satisfied, she glanced at the clock.
It wasn’t quite nine.
Deciding she had time, she went to her kitchen and plugged in the kettle. While it boiled, she leaned against the counter and enjoyed the room. It was painted a cheerful yellow that made her smile. The cupboards were shaker style and painted a crisp white. Some of the cabinets had glass fronts, showcasing some of her nicer pieces of china.
She enjoyed pretty things and had surrounded herself with them. It was so different from the stuffy, stifling surroundings of her childhood. “Don’t think about that,” she cautioned herself.
But of course, she did.
The house she’d grown up in was filled with antique furniture and valuable oil paintings. She’d learned the value of them at a young age. It had been like living in a museum. You could look, but you couldn’t touch. Even her bedroom had been overdone. There had been a massive, four-poster oak bed, heavy armoire and chest of drawers. The bed curtains were dark burgundy, as were the drapes, bedspread and carpet. It had been oppressive and depressing. No place for a young girl to play and dream.
Which was probably why her bedroom now was a light and airy soft green with accents of pale yellow. Hardwood gleamed on all the floors, accented with colorful rugs that weren’t antiques.
This was her home and she’d made it everything she wanted. She’d put down roots in Jamesville and this was where she was staying. Her parents and brother could have as many plans for her as they wanted. The only ones that mattered were the ones she’d made for herself.
The kettle whistled, pulling her away from her musings. Grabbing a cheerful red mug and a teabag from the cupboard, she made herself some chamomile tea. The soothing steam wafted from the mug, settling her nerves.
“Time to go to work.” She locked the door of her apartment behind her, holding her keys in her right hand and her mug in the other. Her feet slowed as she passed by Levi’s apartment, but she didn’t hear him inside. Not that she expected to. The man moved like a ghost.
She unlocked the inner door to Past Promises and entered, stuffing her keys in her pocket. Satisfaction filled her as she went to her desk and began to get ready for her day.
Her mind was already working on new displays. She’d sold a lot of merchandise yesterday and needed to rework a few areas. Thankfully, Levi would be working on the storage room today. She had a lot of stuff still in boxes in the basement that needed to be opened and sorted. Plus, she planned on going to an estate sale on Sunday to look for more goodies for her shop.
Linda lost herself in her work, only looking up when she heard a tap on the door. She glanced at her watch and realized it was ten o’clock and time to open. Her mug of tea was still sitting on her desk. It was cold by now.
She shrugged as she unlocked the door and opened for business. She’d get another one later. “Good morning, Mrs. Saunders.” She greeted the older lady. “What can I help you find today?”
Levi spent the day working on the storage room. After he’d painted the walls, he’d checked on Linda, bringing her some lunch. She’d thanked him for the sandwich and smiled when she saw the oatmeal cookie tucked beneath the napkin.
As he worked through the afternoon, mounting shelving to the walls, he listened. With the door open, he could hear her voice as she chatted to customers. He liked listening to her, knowing she was near.
Last night had been the most incredible one of his life. His cock pressed against the placket of his jeans, thickening and lengthening in agreement.
He’d always been honest with himself and he knew that being with Linda had changed him. He’d always been a loner. Sure, he’d had drinking buddies in the army and guys he hung around with, but not many friends, except Jonah.
Since he’d arrived in Jamesville, he’d found himself being drawn into a circle of good folks—Jonah and his wife, Cyndi and Shamus O’Rourke, Shamus’s brother, Patrick, and his wife, Shannon. Levi stayed on the edges, mostly watching, as was his way. But he liked it here. He liked them.
Most of all, he liked Linda. A lot.
He wasn’t sure if he loved her. Wasn’t even sure he knew what love was. All he knew was he wanted to be with her all the time, loved to talk to her, to listen to the sound of her voice. He’d watched her sleep last night, marveling at how beautiful she was. She soothed the bad thoughts that sometimes haunted him in the dark of the night.
She was too good for him, but he’d take whatever he could get for as long as he could get it. And he would protect her, whether she wanted him to or not.
His eyes narrowed as he thought about that letter. He’d already started researching, digging into the lives of her parents and brother. He wanted to know everything about them, just in case. He’d always been a planner. Success was in the details.
He glanced at his watch. Speaking of details, he had to go shopping if he was cooking dinner for them again tonight. He’d done some research online while he’d wolfed down a sandwich for lunch, checking out ulcers and the foods that would be better for her.
Standing back, he admired the final shelf. The pine was thick and strong. Levi had sanded and varnished it so the wood grain shone. It might only be a storage room, but he wanted it to be perfect. It would hold everything from dishes to toys to whatever else Linda needed.
He’d bring up the boxes from the basement for her tomorrow and help her unpack them. He loved to watch her with her antiques. The joy in her face as she examined the stuff was something to behold. He didn’t know much about antiques, but he was learning. Partly from being around Linda and partly from the research he was doing online. A lot of the stuff he could do without, but some of the furniture had good, clean lines that he liked.
Maybe he should invest in a few pieces. He hadn’t missed the look on Linda’s face this morning when she got a good look at his thrift-store bedroom furniture. Not that she’d said anything. She was too classy for that. His furniture was functional, which was fine by him, but she was used to finer things. If he wanted her to be comfortable at his place, he should make a few changes. There was no reason he couldn’t buy some new furniture, make the place nicer for her.
Something to think about.
He shook his head at his musings. His buddies in the Special Forces would laugh their asses off if they could hear his thoughts. In all his years, he’d never once worried about furniture. He hadn’t had much growing up or during his years in the army. As long as he had a bed to lie on and a place to put his stuff, he was happy.
But that was then. He winced as he thought about his faded sofa and the chair with the duct tape. He definitely needed some new stuff. What was okay for him wasn’t anywhere near good enough for Linda.
Packing away his tools, he headed upstairs to get cleaned up before hitting the grocery store. Linda was busy with a customer, but she saw him and smiled as he was leaving.
She hadn’t agreed to sleep with him again, but she hadn’t said no either. Her smile was warm and inviting. It was enough. For now.
Chapter Six
The next few weeks flew by at the speed of light for Linda. Past Promises was doing a brisk business as word got around about her shop and the number of tourists passing through Jamesville increased. Cyndi was promoting Past Promises at her B&B, Stone Manor. The two of them had worked out an advertising campaign where anyone who stayed a night at the B&B got a discount at the store. In return, Linda handed out brochures for Cyndi’s B&B to all her customers.
She’d also hired her first employee. Dana Sampson was finishing her last year of high school. The girl had presented herself the first week the business was open. Quiet but competent, she’d handed Linda a resume and told her she was available to work weekends now and full-time in the summer and maybe beyond. Dana was looking for a job to earn some money
while she pursued her passion of painting. She could have had a reception job at her father’s auto body and repair shop, but she didn’t want that. It was the only time during the impromptu interview that Dana had acted like a teenager, screwing up her nose at the thought of working in her father’s garage.
Linda appreciated the girl’s honesty and had hired her a few days later. The girl had immediately become invaluable. She had a wonderful eye for display, was punctual, could follow instructions and was surprisingly good with the customers. The fact that Dana had grown up in Jamesville meant she knew everyone in town and the surrounding area.
As Linda had settled into a routine at work, she’d found time to socialize, getting together with her friends on several occasions for lunch or dinner. Amanda had tagged along with her last weekend when she’d gone to an estate sale an hour’s drive away. Both of them had scored big. Amanda had been in raptures over the boxes of books she’d bought. Linda recognized the enthusiasm in herself. They both loved the old and the unique. She’d taken home four boxes of china and trinkets herself, along with some good costume jewelry, two chairs and a small table.
People in town were beginning to know her on sight now, calling out a greeting to her as she picked up her mail or shopped. It felt…nice.
Linda glanced at the clock. It was almost time for her to open for the day, but she still had a half hour to enjoy her tea. She closed her account book, leaned back in her chair and stared out the front window of Past Promises to Main Street beyond. It was a beautiful May morning, the sun was shining and she was happy.
And Levi was a big part of that happiness.
Levi brought her lunch every other day, stopping to share it with her if she wasn’t busy with customers. He’d lugged boxes, made several furniture deliveries and put up several new shelves in the shop for her.
They spent evenings together just talking, watching movies or even playing board games. She’d discovered his passion for board games when she’d picked up a dozen at a yard sale and brought them upstairs one evening to check to see if they had all their pieces. The games were still being made today, but these were original ones and still in near-mint condition. She knew some collector would love them. They’d ended up playing two of the games. Levi was very competitive, but so was she. Linda had laughed until her stomach hurt.
Some evenings she had to work. With any business, there was always a ton of paperwork to be done. Levi would either leave her alone while she dug through the mounds of paperwork or he would sit in her living room reading or tapping away on his laptop. She had no idea what he was doing and didn’t feel she could ask. After all, they were having an affair, not planning a future together.
Partly, it was a defense mechanism on her part. She knew she was already half in love with Levi but had no idea how much longer he was going to be in Jamesville. She had no clue as to how much money he had, but even with the free rent he was getting from her for his work on the renovation, he had to be thinking about how he was going to live.
Then there were the nights. Her entire body clenched at the mere thought. Levi was an insatiable lover and a generous one. They’d made love everywhere. She could feel her cheeks heating as memories bombarded her. They’d had sex in the bathtub, on the kitchen counter, the table, the sofa and even one night in the stairwell.
He’d come in through the private entrance of the building just as she was locking the inside door to the shop. She’d smiled at him and started up the stairs to her apartment. He hadn’t said a word, but halfway up he’d stopped her, whirled her around and kissed her.
Clothing had been quickly discarded as he’d pulled her down and taken her on the floor of the landing, driving into her so hard she’d had to push her hands against the wall to keep from hitting her head. He’d taken her hard and fast and she’d loved it. It had been an intense and extremely erotic experience.
Shaking off the erotic memory, she squirmed uncomfortably in her chair, trying to ignore the fact that her panties were damp. The man was bringing out a side of her she’d never known existed. Around him, she felt alive and sensual and free to take what she wanted.
And it wouldn’t last.
She sighed. But at least she could enjoy it for now.
“That was a big sigh, darlin’.”
Linda jerked around in her chair, her heart pounding. Levi stood behind her looking as sexy as ever in a pair of blue jeans and a faded blue chambray shirt. He perched on the corner of her desk and crossed his arms over his massive chest. She swallowed another sigh.
“I swear I’m going to get that bell for you.” She put her worries away and smiled at him, ignoring all thoughts of doom and gloom.
Levi tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers grazed the sensitive lobe before he trailed them down the curve of her neck. Her breath caught in her chest before resuming at a much more rapid rate. Her nipples tightened, becoming visible through her bra and the thin silk of her blouse.
“Wouldn’t do much good,” he informed her as he let his fingers slide over her collarbone.
“No?” Her reply was little more than a breathy gasp.
He shook his head. His dark hair shimmered and settled back around his shoulders. “Nope.” He continued the gentle caress, back and forth over her skin exposed by the V-neck of her blouse. “I’d just silence the bell.” One long finger dipped into her cleavage.
Linda bit her bottom lip, barely stifling a moan of pleasure. “Did you want something?” Now that was a stupid question.
“Oh yeah, I definitely want something.” He withdrew his hand and held it out to her. “I need you to see something in the storage room.”
“The storage room?” She felt like a parrot, but she couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice even as she took his hand. Here she was, body primed, ready to explode and he wanted to show her something in the storage room.
“Yeah.” He pulled her out of her chair and led her to the storage room. The moment she crossed the threshold, the door closed behind them. His big body crowded hers back against the door. “I lied.”
“Did you now?” She grasped his shoulders for support as she peppered his neck and chin and jaw with kisses. He always looked and smelled so good.
He grunted and pressed his lower body against hers, rubbing his erection against her stomach. “Yeah. You don’t need to see anything, but I sure as hell do.”
His fingers made quick work of the buttons on her blouse and he carefully spread the silk back. A low hum broke from deep in his chest as he flicked open the front clasp of her bra. The lacy material fell away, revealing her breasts.
Levi clasped the globes in his hands and let his thumb circle the areolas. “This is what I wanted to see. So tight and pink. Like juicy berries.” He lowered his head, his breath warm and moist against her flesh.
Her core clenched and cream dampened her panties. Threading her fingers through his hair, she tugged his mouth closer. He gave a satisfied laugh, captured one peak in his mouth and suckled.
Linda gasped at the delicious sensations that surged through her. As always, the moment he touched her, all other thoughts fled except getting closer to the man in front of her.
His hands skimmed down her sides, molding her hips and thighs. She groaned when he touched her calves. He changed directions then, his fingers moving steadily upward, pushing beneath the hem of her skirt. The material bunched as he shoved it around her waist.
He released her nipple with one final tug and knelt on the floor in front of her. “Oh darlin’.” He raised his head and smiled as his fingers brushed her bare thighs. She was wearing thigh-high stockings rather than pantyhose. “You are so damn sexy.” His fingers skimmed the crotch of her lace panties.
She sucked in a breath as he barely touched her swollen clit.
“You’re wet and ready for me. Aren’t you?”
She nodded as he repeated the caresses, a strangled cry breaking from her lips. Her body was on fire. Her breasts were swollen, the tip
s wet from his mouth. Her skirt was shoved up around her waist, exposing her damp underwear. She was mostly dressed, yet felt more exposed than if she were naked. She felt wanton and voluptuous.
“Will you let me touch you?” His fingers skimmed the waistband of her panties. “Taste you?”
“God, yes.” She grabbed his head and tugged it closer.
Levi swore and yanked at her panties. She heard them rip, but didn’t care. He pushed her legs apart and dived between them. His mouth was on her, hot and wet. He pressed two fingers inside her, pushing them deep.
“Yes,” she panted. She hooked one of her legs over his shoulders, opening herself wider for him.
He gave a murmur of approval as he continued to eat her up. He flicked his tongue against her clit, circling it several times before he took it between his lips and sucked. He worked his fingers in and out of her core, stretching her, filling her.
Her scalp tingled. Her body ached, strained for release. He’d barely started, but already she could feel the familiar feelings racing through her body. This was going to be over quickly.
He stroked into her again, grazing her sweet spot on the way out.
Linda screamed, her hips pumping hard as she came. Heat flashed over her, through her. Levi continued to suck and lick her pussy, driving his fingers hard. Her orgasm seemed to go on forever. Finally, she couldn’t bear it any longer. Tugging at his hair, she tried to pull him away. “Enough,” she gasped.
His actions grew gentler, more soothing, until he finally released her and sat back on his heels. He licked his lips and smiled. Another shudder went through her and more cream slipped from her core.
It took her a second to come back to her senses. Levi was still obviously aroused. The front of his jeans had an obvious bulge. She started to slip to her knees, but he stopped her.
“No time.” He gave her a rueful grin. “You’ve got to open up in five minutes.”
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