by Leanne Banks
“Deal,” he said and she heard the splash of water as he stepped into the tub. “Ah.”
She tossed him a dark glance, taking in the relaxed position of his head, his broad shoulders and the hair on his muscular chest. “Glad you’re enjoying it. Four minutes and forty-five seconds.”
“No time to lose then,” he said, sitting up and meeting her gaze. “How was your day?”
“Good and bad and good,” she said.
“What were the good and good?” he asked.
Delilah smiled. “Maria the wonder nanny arriving today was the first good. Buying Christmas gifts for Willy at lunch was the second good.”
He nodded. “And the bad?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Okay.” He reached under the water and she felt his hand on her foot.
“What are you—”
“You said I couldn’t get any closer than your feet.” He held her foot firmly in his palm.
“That didn’t mean you were supposed to touch it.”
He rubbed the sole and a ripple of pleasure raced through her. Using both hands, he massaged the instep and Delilah couldn’t withhold a sigh. He pressed his thumbs over the ball of her foot and she bit her lip.
He paused. “Want me to stop?”
“No,” she said immediately. It felt too good and it was just her foot, she told herself. No secret feminine parts, just her foot.
He gave a low chuckle and continued to rub her foot until it turned to putty. When she’d had enough, she lifted her other foot for his attention.
“I’m past five minutes,” he taunted.
“Do the other one or I’ll feel uneven.”
He rubbed her other foot and she rested her head against the tub. “For someone who’s such a pain in the ass, you’re very good with feet.”
“I’m good with other parts too,” he murmured. “Remember?”
Trying not to remember, she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
“Better watch your book. It’s about to get wet. What are you reading?”
Delilah tensed and tossed the book over the side of the tub. “Nothing. Just something I picked up at the spa. We’ve added a book section.” He continued to massage her foot and moved to her ankle and she closed her eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t take a course on this or something? If law doesn’t work out, you could get a job at the spa if you don’t mind painting toenails too.”
He chuckled. “Does that mean you’d hire me?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Our most popular massage therapist is male. Lord, what a hottie. Nice guy, very nice guy.”
“How well do you know him?”
She wiggled her hand. “I don’t know his life history, and we get along. He works a full schedule, but he’s always in a good mood. He’s not cranky like the esthetician.”
His hand crept upward to her calf and it occurred to her that he was now somewhat closer than her foot, but she couldn’t muster a protest. She felt languid and relaxed.
“What’s wrong with the esthetician?”
“She’s territorial. Facials are her country and she doesn’t want anyone moving in on her country. I had to give her a small percentage ownership of the spa to get her to hire and keep some assistants.”
“Smart move.”
“I got it from Cash. He was smart.”
“But not too smart, because you don’t like too-smart men,” Benjamin said, his hands moving to her knee.
She really should stop him, and she would. In a minute. “He was too smart, but he didn’t make me feel dumb.” She smiled, remembering one of the conversations she’d had with him. “He made me feel like I could do anything.”
She felt his hand on hers and opened her eyes. Benjamin was much closer than her foot and he was studying her. “You can do anything you want, can’t you?” he asked in a dead serious voice.
She waited for him to wink or laugh or roll his eyes, but he did none. He didn’t even blink. He looked at her as if he thought she could do anything she wanted. Her stomach felt as if she was going down the up elevator.
“I’m still working on that,” she finally managed to say, but her voice sounded husky to her own ears. “Your time’s up and you’re closer than my foot.”
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes feeling like they were blazing a hole through her.
Delilah held her breath.
Benjamin released her hand and backed away, rising from the tub, revealing his naked body. She would have to be blind not to notice that he was aroused and as he turned, he gave her a nice view of his tight rear end.
Delilah began to sweat. Oh, wow. She could have him back in her bed tonight if she wanted. But she didn’t want, she reminded herself. She watched him towel off then pull on his boxers, slacks and shirt and gather the rest of his clothing in one of his hands. He turned back to face her. “So was I a pain in the ass?”
Hit by too many emotions to name, she shifted uncomfortably. “No,” she admitted in a small voice.
“Did you like the foot massage?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He nodded. “G’night.”
“Night,” she said and listened as he walked out of the bathroom and through the foyer. As soon as she heard him close the door behind him, she dunked herself under the water. Oh, wow.
Lilly stared at the two-carat diamond ring sparkling on her finger and pinched herself. She still couldn’t believe that she was engaged to marry Robert Huntington. In his darkened car, she stole a glance at him and felt her heart flutter wildly in her chest.
He was going to be her husband.
Lilly could barely contain her excitement. She sensed that Robert’s feelings for her weren’t as strong as hers were for him, but she was determined to change that. She would be the best wife Robert could imagine, she swore to herself. She would be exactly what he needed and that included getting the dirt out of her life—Delilah Montague.
Robert pulled into Lilly’s driveway and cut the engine. He looked at her and touched her hair. “Your hair is so pretty.”
Her hair colorist at the spa was responsible for that. “Thank you. You’ve been quieter than usual. Is something on your mind?”
“The usual,” he said. “The campaign.”
She nodded, trying not to feel a little disappointed that she wasn’t included in his thoughts. She stretched toward him. “I loved being with you tonight.”
His eyes lit. “Did you?”
He tugged a strand of her hair to pull her toward him and lowered his head. “You’re so sweet,” he said, brushing his lips back and forth over hers.
Her lips buzzed from the sensation. Other parts of her buzzed too. She wanted more. She pressed her mouth against his and he rewarded her with his tongue.
Lilly sighed, shyly rubbing her tongue over his in response. Robert deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. Her breasts tingled with arousal and her skin heated beneath her winter coat. Lilly heard a low moan, then another. A full moment passed before she realized she was making those sexual sounds.
Restless and hot, she wished Robert would touch her breasts. She wished he would rip off her clothes and make savage love to her. She wished …
As if he’d heard her thoughts, he cupped her breast through her coat. Lilly tugged at the coat. She wanted his hand closer. His hand slid away and she nearly wept in protest. Desperation made her bold. She lifted his hand to her sweater and his thumb immediately found her hard nipple.
He gave a low murmur of approval.
“Robert, do you want to stay the night?” she whispered, her heart beating a mile a minute.
He continued to massage her nipple until she couldn’t resist the urge to squirm. “Oh, Lilly you tempt me.”
Thank God, she thought. “I want you to stay the night.” She gave him a thorough French kiss.
Robert groaned and pulled away slightly. “But Lilly, you’re so sweet. You’re innocent. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
&n
bsp; Please do. “We’re engaged. How can you be taking advantage of me?”
“I don’t know. Don’t you want to wait until our wedding night?”
Why would she want to do that? She swallowed. “Do you?”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Lilly, you’re so innocent. I want it to be right for you.”
“When I’m with you, everything is right,” she said.
Twenty minutes later with her body on fire, Lilly was tearing off her clothes beside her bed. Alone, except for Maxine, who watched her warily from beneath Lilly’s bed. Frustration roared through her like a forest fire and she wanted Robert to put out the flame.
Her need was overwhelming, both sexual and emotional. In her softly lit room, she glanced into her bureau mirror and looked at her half-naked body. Her eyes were black with arousal, and her cheeks were flushed. She lifted her hands to her aching breasts. They were heavy with need, the tips sensitized. She looked like a woman ready for sex.
Lilly let out a shriek of frustration and turned away from the mirror. She darn well was ready for action, but her fiancé wasn’t cooperating. Lifting a hand to her forehead, she wondered if Robert wasn’t consummating their relationship because he wasn’t totally committed.
Lilly wanted the physical reassurance of their commitment to each other. She glanced at the diamond ring on her finger. Maybe that should be enough, but it wasn’t. She wanted Robert’s body pressed against hers. Then she would be more certain.
Lying awake in her bed, Delilah wondered if one more night of quick, hot, uncommitted sex with Benjamin would relieve some of the frustration that gnawed at her. Her feet were still tingling from his touch. As were other parts, she thought with a groan and flipped over in her bed again.
She was still surprised at how he’d handled her feet as if he’d known the exact spots to press to relieve tension, the exact level of pressure to bring her maximum pleasure.
It made her remember how he had handled other parts of her. And his body. She felt her temperature climb. Oh, wow. Delilah pulled her sheet over her head.
She wondered if she should just go ahead and hit the sack with him again. Even though he’d been Mr. Honorable Huntington nearly every step of the way with her, Delilah harbored no illusions that anything she shared with Benjamin would be more than a fling. Which was all she wanted. If she even wanted that. Then she remembered how he’d made her tremble when he’d made love to her. It wouldn’t be just hot sex with Benjamin, and that really pissed her off.
“Are we done for tonight?” Paul asked Sara.
Sara nodded, glancing at the clock. Paul was probably eager to hit the singles’ scene. She was certain he turned every female head when he entered a bar.
“You’re making great progress,” she said, rising from the chair of her dining-room table. Her townhouse was a work in progress since she’d left her husband. She didn’t have a lot of money, but she never stopped being thrilled with having the choice to decorate her small living space the way she wanted.
“I have a great tutor,” Paul said, rising with her, his dimple creasing his cheek.
“Thank you.” Her heart skipped a beat, but she ignored it. Paul Woodward was a huge flirt. He would flirt with her ninety-year-old grandmother if he had the chance.
“I left something in the car, but I want to bring it to you now. Is that okay?”
Surprised, she shrugged. “I guess.”
“Okay,” he said, heading for the door. “Don’t lock me out. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” she said, curious. She followed him to the door.
He whipped around just before he left, catching her off-guard. She stumbled and he caught her shoulders. “Don’t watch me. This is a surprise.”
She couldn’t resist smiling at his enthusiasm. “Okay.”
“Go back to the table.”
“Are you ordering me?”
“Yeah. You’ve given me a lot of orders, so I’d say it’s my turn.”
His playfulness made her feel as if someone had turned on a light inside her. “Okay,” she said, returning to the table. Pressing her hands to her hot cheeks, she made a sound of exasperation with herself. He made her feel like a teenager, and he probably had no idea. Gosh, she felt silly. She’d been surprised at how often he’d wanted tutoring, nearly every other night. She dreaded the time when he decided he didn’t need any more help.
Paul swept through the door with a huge grin on his face. One of his hands was tucked behind him as he walked toward her. When he stopped directly in front of her, he pulled his hand from behind him, revealing a beautiful bouquet of pink flowers.
Shocked, Sara put her hand to her throat. “Omigoodness, they’re beautiful.”
“You like them?”
“Of course,” she said and looked at him in disbelief. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I wanted to. I’ve taken up a lot of your time and you’ve been so patient and encouraging.”
“But it’s been my pleasure,” she argued. “It’s been very rewarding for me to see you progress so quickly.”
His handsome face turned serious. “But I’ve been the one who benefited. These are just a token of thanks. I want you to accept them.”
“I will,” she said, full of conflicting emotions. She was delighted, but also afraid. “I should get them in some water.” She took the flowers from him and searched a cabinet for a vase large enough to accommodate them. Finding a white milk glass vase, she filled it with water. Her chest tightened with a disconcerting knot. Usually someone said thank-you after a favor was complete. Did this mean that Paul felt he was finished?
She swallowed hard. “They’re so beautiful,” she murmured to fill the silence and cover her anxiousness. “I hope they’ll last a long time. You really shouldn’t have—” Her voice broke and she bit her lip in horror.
“Sara?” Paul asked.
She felt him close behind her and the earnestness in his voice unraveled her self-control a little more. “They’re wonderful,” she said, but her voice sounded unsteady to her own ears.
“Sara? What’s wrong? Are you allergic? Do they remind you of your husband?”
“No, no, no,” she said, a chuckle escaping her throat that could have passed for a sob. Steeling herself, she turned around and faced him with a smile. “I’m not allergic and I can’t remember my husband giving me flowers except for after I left.” Her throat tightened up again, but she was determined to keep smiling. “I’m just—” She took a shallow breath. “I’m new at this and I’m very proud of you. But I didn’t know we were—” Despite her deter-mination, her voice wavered and her eyes filled. “I didn’t know we were done.”
“You’re crying,” he said in surprise, lifting his thumb to her cheek.
Cringing inwardly, she closed her eyes and felt a tear slide down her cheek. “I’m sorry. I know it’s silly and—”
“Look at me,” he said.
She bit her lip. “Another order.”
“Please?”
As if she could turn him down. She opened her eyes and prayed he couldn’t see that his tutor had a mile-wide crush on him.
He traced her tear with his thumb then moved his finger over her bottom lip. She held her breath.
He looked at her with a sensual question in his eyes that nearly buckled her knees.
“I’m too old for you,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No, you’re not.” He lowered his mouth to hers and took her lips in the sweetest of kisses. There was gentleness. And need. She felt it under the surface, rumbling between them, catching her by surprise.
She pulled away. “I don’t think I can be like you.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I don’t think I can be casual about—” She groped for a word. “About things as you can.”
He looked at her with a sensual conviction that would have rocked her onto her rear end if he hadn’t been holding her shoulders.
“I don’
t feel casual about you at all, Sara.”
For men: How to make a woman weak in the knees (or get her flat on her back)—treat her like she’s water and you haven’t had a drink in days.
—DELILAH’S DICTUM
Chapter 14
Christmas shopping for Willy was so much fun it could almost replace sex, Delilah decided as she dressed him in his new little Santa PJs and danced with him to a song by The Wiggles. Since it was a week before Thanksgiving, she was probably rushing the Christmas thing a bit.
Her phone rang and she picked it up.
“Delilah, I was starting to wonder if something terrible had happened to you.”
Delilah winced at the sound of her older sister’s voice. She was usually delighted to talk to Katie, but she couldn’t quite figure out how to explain everything that had happened in the last two months. “I’m fine,” Delilah said. “Just obscenely busy.”
Willy let out a shriek and Delilah bit back an oath.
“What is that noise? It sounded like a baby,” Katie said. “Delilah, you haven’t—”
“Of course I haven’t. That’s the television.” Delilah set Willy in the playpen with a baby cookie and walked into the foyer. Willy shrieked again and Delilah stepped outside her front door.
“You’re sure you’re not in trouble? You sound out of breath,” Katie said.
Delilah frowned. Her sister was entirely too observant and perceptive. “I’m fine. Just super busy with the spa. How are you and Michael?” she asked, referring to Katie’s security consultant husband. “How’s Jeremy?” she asked, her heart twisting at the thought of their young hearing-impaired brother.
“Michael and I are fine. Jeremy is here every weekend. We’re starting to think about babies,” Katie told her.
“Oh, wow,” Delilah said, filled with a mixture of feelings. Having Willy had made her wonder what it would be like to have a baby and a husband. The thoughts had taken her off guard. “After all the parenting you had to do I thought you might wait forever.”
“Me too,” Katie said. “But Michael is changing my mind. He’s so good with Jeremy and he likes the idea of me going to college during the pregnancy and early years. I kinda do too.”
