“I’m all ears.”
If only that were true, she thought wishing he had Dumbo ears. If only he had a flaw to detract from his overwhelming appeal. Then her heart would idle in neutral instead of racing like a runaway locomotive.
She cleared her throat. “I was thinking we could serve the quesadillas and egg rolls as appetizers, then bring out the lasagna and garlic bread. I’ll do an antipasto salad with a light Italian dressing. And the previously agreed-on fresh fruit salad.”
Sipping his coffee, he nodded slightly. “Sounds good.”
She lifted one eyebrow. Right. Neither difficult nor persnickety. “You’re awfully accommodating. Why is that?”
“You’d rather I was a pain in the caboose?” He smiled. “I hired a catering professional. It wouldn’t be especially bright to ignore her advice.”
“I suppose not. What about dessert?”
“I’m always in favor of it,” he agreed.
“I was thinking about a cake iced and decorated with her school colors. What are they, by the way?”
“Red and black.”
“Yikes.”
“Problem?”
“Challenge.” She tapped her lip thoughtfully. “I have a recipe for a red velvet cake garnished with coconut. I’ll put Connie to work on a creative angle to work in the black.”
“Something that won’t be too gross?”
“Guaranteed. Trust me.”
He winced. “People always say that when it’s the last thing you should do.”
“I wouldn’t steer you wrong.” She made some notes, then met his gaze. Her heart stuttered at the intensity there as he studied her. “Shouldn’t we run this by Kendra?”
“She’s not here.”
“I thought she was grounded. Did she have a get-out-of-jail-free card?”
“She had freshman orientation at UCLA. College always trumps consequences. It’s a two-day overnighter.”
“Wow. That’s a major breakthrough for her. You must be happy.”
At least one of them was. Now that she knew they were alone, she was anything but thrilled. It was her cue to finish up and get the heck out of Dodge. She wasn’t far off the mark when she’d said it was crunch time. Because she wanted so badly to kiss him again. She’d replayed the last one over and over in her mind and each time she was left with a yearning to feel his lips against hers one more time. With hormones spiking the way they were, she couldn’t be held responsible for her actions.
“I have mixed emotions about her college weekend,” he admitted. “And I understand I have you to thank for this.”
“Should I be afraid?” she asked, leaning away from him.
He laughed. “No. She said she talked to you and you challenged her—pointed out that she had nothing to lose by gathering information.”
“I did,” she said nodding. “But I don’t understand your reaction.”
“That’s because you don’t have kids.” He sighed. “As graduation gets closer, the local junior college looks more appealing because she could live at home. Considering recent bad choices on her part, that wouldn’t be a bad thing. On the other hand, I’m glad she’s at least exploring her options. Thinking about spreading her wings. But that’s a scary thought, too.”
Thea empathized with him, and, at the same time, she admired his parenting skills. He stepped in when necessary and stood back with bated breath the rest of the time. She thought about the baby she was carrying and what she would have to deal with when her child was a teenager. She’d be alone like Scott and hoped she handled it even half as well.
But that was personal and she was here on business. “So she gave you full discretionary powers,” she said to get them back on track.
“Yup. I get to pick whatever I want.”
Thea met his gaze and her pulse skipped at the dark intensity there. He looked as if he’d like to pick her.
She stood suddenly. “Okay. I think we’re finished with this part.”
“We are?” He stood, too.
“You said, and I quote, ‘Sounds good.’ That’s good enough for me. Now all I need from you is a maximum number of guests attending the party and I can firm up a price.”
Scott put a hand on her arm. “Don’t go, Thea.”
“But I have stuff—”
“To do,” he finished. “So do I, but that’s not what this is about.”
“No?” she said in a small voice.
He shook his head. “Caffeine isn’t making you nervous. It was that kiss.” She opened her mouth and he silenced her with a finger on her lips. “I think you liked it just as much as I did.”
He’d liked it, too? Warmth spread through her until she threw cold water on it. One of them had to be realistic.
“It’s not that simple, Scott.”
“It can be.” His expression sobered as he studied her. “Is this about your husband?”
“That’s part of it.”
“It’s been two years, Thea. You’re allowed to have a life.” He took her hands in his and squeezed reassuringly. “You shouldn’t feel guilty that you didn’t die, too. There’s not a doubt in my mind that if you could do anything to bring him back, you’d do it in a heartbeat.”
She simply nodded when words stuck in her throat.
“Thea, I can’t imagine you loving any man who wouldn’t want you to move forward and be happy.”
“It’s not just that, Scott. There’s more. I have to tell you—”
“Me first,” he interrupted, then took her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers.
The tender touch set off a firestorm inside her and instantaneously passion ignited. Thea felt a hunger that had nothing to do with food and everything to do with her craving for a man’s touch, the feel of his lips on hers, the taste of him, the longing to be in his arms.
She pressed as close to him as she could get, reveling in the feel of her softness against his rock-solid body. He groaned and tightened his hold on her. When he traced the seam of her lips, she opened to him. Heat billowed through her as his tongue invaded her mouth, the motivation imitating the act of lovemaking.
She heard a moan and it took her several moments to realize that wanton sound had come from her. Was it reckless? Maybe. Probably. But she couldn’t find the will to care. The pleasure was vaguely familiar from another lifetime. Familiar, but so very different and new. Hot. Intense. Frantic.
Yet, she knew where she was going, what she was doing. And she could no more stop herself from experiencing the sensations of happiness in Scott’s arms than she could flap her arms and fly to the moon.
This was sex. The affirmation of life. And the physical expression of her femininity. It was reassurance that she was a woman. She was alive and this man was attracted to her. That realization was more intoxicating than any alcohol.
A frightening excitement exploded through her body, unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. It went beyond pleasure and became simply a demanding need. One she couldn’t deny.
Scott lifted his mouth from hers. “Thea,” he said, his breath ragged. “I want you. If that’s not okay, you need to tell me now.”
She studied the sincerity on his face and realized she didn’t have the words to express the depth of what she was feeling. “I want you, too,” she simply said.
He shut his eyes for a moment and let out a long breath. “Thank God.” Then he looked at her, his expression wary. “But I think it only fair to warn you I haven’t done this in a pretty long time.”
His admission only endeared him to her more. If he’d been arrogant and condescending, resisting him would be a piece of cake. But he was sweet, sexy and so very masculine. She was a goner.
“Me, either,” she said. “We can muddle our way through together.”
“I like the sound of that.” His grin made her weak in the knees.
As if he’d read her mind, he scooped her into his arms. She squealed with surprise as she encircled his neck with her arms. “Scott, put me
down. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“Way to make me feel manly,” he teased. “You hardly weigh anything.”
He headed for the stairs and easily carried her up to his bedroom. If she wasn’t already a sure thing, she would be after this. The sheer romance of the gesture melted her insides like a Fudgsicle left in the sun.
Beside his bed, he removed his arm from behind her knees and let her body slide down the front of his. She felt the bulge in the front of his pants and reveled in the knowledge that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly, nibbling his way across her cheek and over her jaw to the indentation beneath her ear. When he touched his tongue to the oh-my-God spot, her breath caught.
He slid his fingers up under her sweater and settled his palms on the bare flesh at her waist. The warmth of his palms felt too good and she realized how much she’d missed a man’s touch. Did he miss being touched by a woman?
She slid his T-shirt from the waistband of his jeans and imitated his actions. When she settled her hands on his chest, he sucked in a breath. The sound of his approval was sustenance to her soul.
He looked at her, his expression tight and strained from passion and need. “Don’t you think we have too many clothes on?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly.
In a frenzy of activity they pulled off shirts and pants and everything in between and stood there naked, simply looking their fill of each other. And suddenly the perfection of his body was too much for her. Thea knew if she didn’t explore the muscular perfection with her hands, she would shrivel up and blow away.
She settled her palms on his chest again, loving the tingle from the dusting of hair. Sliding over the contours of his muscles, she felt his ribs and the firmness of his abdomen. Again he sucked in his breath and she knew where to touch to get his attention.
He lowered his head and kissed her. The assault of sensations made her dizzy: the firmness of his mouth; the taste of coffee; the startling, stimulating intimacy of his tongue stroking hers. She’d shut out memories of the warm smoothness of a man’s skin, the spicy scent of his aftershave, the safety of his arms around her.
Suddenly her tender breasts were pressed against the unyielding wall of his chest. Her nipples tightened and throbbed in a way that made her revel in her femininity.
When he pulled back slightly, the intensity of his gaze burned her like twin blue flames. He half turned and yanked the bedcovers back. Then he scooped her up again, settled her in the center of his big bed and came down beside her.
His passion-filled gaze locked with hers. “I’m safe.”
Desire made her brain misfire, but she got his drift. The only response she could manage was, “Me, too.”
He nodded and settled his lips on hers. As he took her breast in his palm, she was swept away on a tide of emotion, excitement, anticipation. Need built within her as he rubbed her nipple between his fingers. He swallowed her moan of pleasure, then slid his hand down her abdomen and cupped her most feminine place in his palm.
Her already ragged breathing stuttered at the intimate, exquisite contact and liquid heat pooled there, getting her body ready for him. Then he slipped a finger inside her and she welcomed the intimacy. He explored the folds of her femininity and found the small nub encompassing all the nerve endings of her pleasure.
He stroked and rubbed until she was mindless with want. Tension built inside her and begged for release. Without warning, the pressure stretched and tore and exploded. She shattered into a million brilliant points of light, and her breath caught in her throat. Cares and worries and stress drained away and she felt boneless, like a rag doll.
Until he touched his tongue to that sensational spot by her ear. Just like that, her senses came to life. When he settled himself between her legs and nudged her knees apart, she gloried in the closeness. Then he slowly eased his way into her feminine passage. Her body was unaccustomed to this sort of intrusion and the care he took showed that he was aware. His tender sensitivity brought tears to her eyes.
He moved slowly at first, giving her time to become accustomed to him. When she arched her hips and accommodated his rhythm, he increased the pace, stroking in and out. His movements grew faster and more intense until he thrust one last time. His body went still as he groaned out his release and satisfaction.
Thea held him in her arms until his shudders stopped and he finally rolled away. She turned her head on the pillow and opened one eye. She saw that Scott was smiling.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“Not a doggone thing. That was pretty sensational.”
“It was amazing,” she agreed, returning his smile.
He rolled to his side, then reached over and brushed her hair from her cheek. “I’m glad,” he said sincerely.
“Me, too. I’d say we muddled through pretty well. You, sir, were way too modest about your muddling skills.”
“As were you.” He slid his arm around her and nestled her to his side. “If you’re game, we can muddle again in a little while.”
“I’ll be a muddler if you will.”
“Lady, I’ll muddle with you any time, anywhere. Just say the word.”
“Muddle,” she said with a sigh.
For just this one night, she thought. Surely no one could begrudge her a single night of sweetness and light after so much darkness.
Scott felt something soft and warm move beside him. Then he got a jab in the chest and opened one eye. He smiled when he saw Thea with her shiny, silky brown hair spread across the pillow beside his. He opened his other eye to see her better.
He felt the need to touch her, make sure she was real. Gently, he smoothed a strand of hair from the corner of her mouth. Heat shafted through him when he remembered how those full lips had aroused him the previous night. He’d seen her outer beauty the first time he’d laid eyes on her. Smooth, flawless skin, small turned-up nose, big brown eyes—the combination was a package that could turn a man into a quivering mass of locked-and-loaded testosterone.
But he’d learned she was beautiful on the inside, too. She’d taken his daughter under her wing at a time when Kendra was insecure, confused, and scared about the future. How many women would do that?
As he studied her face, he noticed the shadows beneath her eyes, highlighted by her high, sculpted cheekbones. She’d told him several times that this was a very busy time for her. Was she working too hard?
A sensation of protectiveness expanded inside him. It wasn’t unfamiliar; he felt it for his girls. But it was different. A man for his woman? Wow, that thought got his adrenaline pumping.
He pulled the covers more securely around her naked body and a wry thought occurred to him. At least he wasn’t a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of father. He had feelings for the woman he’d slept with. He just wasn’t sure what they were.
The insistent throbbing in his groin was proof that he wanted to make love to her again. But his gaze was drawn to the circles under her eyes and he didn’t want to disturb her sleep.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed and slid into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. He went downstairs and put on a pot of coffee. While he waited for it to be ready, he leaned his elbows on the island, stared into the family room and listened. There were no sounds. No thumping overhead to signal Kendra’s footsteps. No galumphing down the stairs because she was late for school. No phone ringing off the hook. No loud music vibrating the second story of the house.
Nothing but damn peace and quiet.
And this is how it would be if she went away to college.
He remembered Thea teasing him about not being ready for his daughter to leave home and he’d assured her he could picture it clearly. There was a part of him looking forward to the break in 24/7 responsibility. But he had to admit he hadn’t really known what an empty nest would feel like. He did now. And it felt weird.
“Good morning.”
“Hey, sleepyhead.” He smil
ed as Thea walked into the kitchen.
She’d put on his navy-colored terry-cloth robe and the abundance of thick material only made her look smaller and more fragile. His protective urge jabbed him again as surely as her elbow had just a little while ago.
He went to her and put his hands at her waist. Lowering his head, he kissed her and felt a sublime satisfaction when she shivered and sighed. “How did you sleep?”
“Good.” She thought for a moment and added, “Better than I have in a long time.”
“I’m glad.” He traced the shadows beneath her left eye. “You need to work on getting rid of these.”
“No. I just need to spread on the concealer with a palette knife.”
“I think you look beautiful without makeup.”
She grinned. “Silver-tongued devil.”
“Busted.”
He noticed the coffee had stopped dripping and went to get a mug. “Want some?”
She shook her head. “No caffeine. Remember?”
“Yeah. Right.” He poured the strong, black brew into his mug and took a sip. “You don’t know what you’re missing. Guaranteed to put hair on your chest.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest. “And a fine job it’s done on you.” Her grin faded and she said, “You were looking awfully pensive about something when I came in.”
He set his coffee on the island and folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the cooktop. Thea stood with the island between them and he wondered if she was distancing herself on purpose. He knew last night’s passion had caught her off guard. It had him too. He hadn’t meant for things to get out of control like that. But he couldn’t regret what happened and didn’t want her to, either.
“Earth to Scott.”
“Hmm?” He met her gaze. “Oh. Why was I looking thoughtful. I was thinking how quiet the house is with Kendra gone.”
“Surely this isn’t the first time. Hasn’t she spent the night with friends?”
It Takes Three Page 12
