A Little Rain Must Fall (Summer Lake Silver Book 3)

by SJ McCoy

  “Two questions: first, why? And second … we?”

  Izzy shrugged. “Why not, and why not?”

  Audrey had to smile. “I have a lot to catch you up on, but first, I think you should catch me up on what you’re thinking.”

  “What am I thinking?”

  “About Diego?”

  “No! Well, maybe a little. But only as eye candy. My real motivation is to make sure that you get to see Ted again. And of course, I wouldn’t mind flying in the plane again, and I wouldn’t say no to seeing Clay McAdam sing.”

  Audrey shook her head. “Well, I am going to see Ted again. But he’s not sending the plane for me; he’s coming here. And I’ve already told you that Clay is well and truly spoken for. His fiancée, Marianne, is lovely.”

  Izzy rolled her eyes. “And I have told you that I only want to look. But more importantly, when’s Ted coming?”

  “Tonight. He’s coming here.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome. Good for you.”

  “I think so.”

  “What’s that look for?”

  “What look?”

  “I don’t know. You look as though you’re not really thrilled about it.”

  “No! I am! It’s just …” She hated to admit it to Izzy, but she needed to. “I kind of pulled a needy female on him last night, and he said he’d come here to see me.”

  Izzy frowned. “What kind of needy female, and why? I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “It’s okay. It was just Richard got in my head, telling me that I’m old and saggy and that Ted wouldn’t be interested in me for long.” She blew out a sigh. “I know he was just being mean, but …”

  Izzy’s eyes were wide. “You told Ted that?”

  “I did. It was eating at me, even though I know it’s stupid. I thought it was better to tell him than to let it freak me out and change the way I act toward him.”

  “And it didn’t freak him out?”

  “No. Like I said. He’s coming here to see me.”

  “Wow! I would never have admitted that. Guys freak out and run when they think you’re getting needy.”

  Audrey couldn’t resist. “I guess younger guys do.”

  Izzy narrowed her eyes. “Touché. I’m not going to argue, because I know you have a point. I guess dating someone our age does have some advantages.”

  Audrey smiled. “I think so. And I know what you think of as the biggest advantage younger guys have—but there’s no way they could be better than Ted.”

  Izzy’s eyes grew wide. “In bed?”

  She tried to bite back her smile as she nodded.

  “Damn you, Audrey! I want to hear all about it, but I know you’re not going to tell me.”

  “Maybe you should test drive an older guy for yourself.”

  Izzy pursed her lips. “I would love to tell you that I’d never even consider it.”

  “Ooh. That’s what you usually say.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you telling me that Diego got under your skin?”

  “I hate to admit it, but yes.”

  “So, you should—”

  Izzy held a hand up. “Nope. That’s a terrible idea. Don’t even say it. And besides, we’re talking about your love life, not mine. So, Ted’s coming here tonight and … then what?”

  “I don’t know. We’re going to play it by ear.”

  “I like the sound of that. My guess is that you two are going to get serious.”

  Audrey smiled.

  “I think you will, too.”

  They both turned to see Ally standing in the doorway.

  “Everyone’s just sneaking in here today!” exclaimed Audrey. “How long have you been there?”

  Ally smiled. “Long enough to hear that Ted’s coming here tonight … and to agree with Aunt Izzy that you guys are going to get serious. And by the way … I approve.”

  “Well, thanks.” Audrey wanted to feel indignant that her daughter had overheard the conversation, but she didn’t. She was too thrilled that both she and Izzy were so enthusiastic about her relationship with Ted.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ted spotted her as soon as he came through the doors from the tarmac. He got the same feeling he had when he was a kid on a date. It made him smile. He’d have said he was too old to feel that way, but he liked it.

  She smiled and started toward him when she saw him. He closed his arms around her and landed a peck on her lips. “Hey.”

  “Hi.”

  He could feel her heart beating in her chest. “Are you nervous?”

  She nodded. “I am. It felt so strange standing here waiting for you.”

  “Strange in a good way?”

  “The best.” She took hold of his hand and led him out to the parking lot. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I’m glad you wanted me.”

  When they reached the car, he threw his bag onto the back seat and met her gaze as she watched him. He knew what she must be thinking. “I’m not assuming that I get to stay the night with you. But I brought my bag just in case. Karl’s standing by. He’ll fly me home after we have dinner, or if you want to see me tomorrow, I can get a room at the Marriott for the night.”

  She smiled. “You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “I’d like you to stay … with me, not at the Marriott.

  He closed his arms around her. “I didn’t want to assume. I didn’t know if you’d be comfortable with it. With Brayden being home.”

  She chuckled. “Brayden’s not home. Izzy and Ally were both over this afternoon, and when they found out you were coming, they decided that Brayden should stay at Izzy’s tonight.”

  Ted had to laugh. “I want to be happy that they’re giving us some time alone. I’m just a little concerned that they all took off when they knew I was coming.”

  “Oh, they wanted to see you. In fact, they’re hoping that they will tomorrow. I don’t know what time you need to leave …” She left the question hanging.

  “The only thing I have to do is be back in the office on Monday morning. So, I’ll stay until you want rid of me.”

  She looked up into his eyes, and he wanted to tell her the same thing he’d told Izzy—that he’d be with her for as long as she wanted him. But he held back. Maybe later.

  She made him a wonderful dinner, and afterward, they sat out on the patio by the pool with a glass of wine.

  “Thanks for coming, Ted.”

  He laughed. “You’re more than welcome. You know I could hardly wait to see you again.”

  “I do, but you weren’t planning on it being this evening. You’re only here now because I went all needy on you.”

  He frowned. “Needy? When? I missed that.”

  She smiled. “You know what I mean. Last night, when I told you what Richard had said.”

  That now-familiar anger bubbled up. “Ah. That. I didn’t think you were being needy. You were being honest with me. And you know I always want you to be honest. I’m glad you told me about it. It’d be too easy to let him get inside your head, make you doubt.”

  “It would. I couldn’t get past what he said. I wanted to. I knew it was stupid to let him upset me, but …” She looked away. “He does kind of have a point.”

  “About what?”

  “About me being … older. Less attractive. I’m not putting myself down. I’m just being realistic.”

  He got up from his chair and went to squat down in front of her. He took hold of both of her hands and looked up into her eyes. “I can’t argue that you’re older. But to me, that makes you more attractive, not less. I’ll never stop telling you that you’re beautiful …” He traced her cheek with his finger. “because you are. You compared yourself to his wife. You think that she’s more attractive because she’s young. To a man like Richard she might be. But you need to understand, Audrey, men are attracted to younger women when they’re not ready to let go of their youth. They don’t want to step into
the next chapter of their lives—or they’re afraid of reaching the final chapters. I don’t feel that way. I’m happy with who I am and where I am in life. I’m not searching for something or trying to reclaim anything. I want to enjoy being who I am, and I want to enjoy having a woman I respect beside me. You’re beautiful, inside and out.”

  A single tear rolled down her cheek, and he reached up and wiped it away. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You didn’t. That’s a happy tear.”

  “Does that mean you want to be the woman by my side?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Then tomorrow, can we talk about how we make this work? I want to be by your side as much as possible.”

  She looked a little disappointed.

  “If you’re wondering why tomorrow and not now, it’s because I have other plans for right now.” He trailed his finger down between her breasts, loving the way they rose and fell, and her nipples stood to attention under her shirt.

  She raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly are you planning?”

  “Well.” He got to his feet and offered her his hand. “Since everyone made a big deal of making sure we have the house to ourselves tonight, I think we should make the most of it, don’t you?”

  Her eyes sparkled as she nodded and led him inside.

  ~ ~ ~

  It was strange to see him in her bedroom. She’d deliberately decorated it to be a completely feminine space. Ted looked rugged, strong, and so very masculine by contrast. It sent shivers down her back.

  She stopped when she reached the bed and looked up into his eyes. He held her gaze for a long moment, and she could feel the words he wasn’t saying. He thought she was beautiful, and he wanted her.

  She looped her arms up around his neck. “I’ve missed you, Ted.”

  “I’ve missed you more.”

  “I’ve imagined this moment.”

  He smiled. “You have? And how did it go?”

  “Very, very well.”

  “Want to guide me through it?”

  She gave him a puzzled look.

  “Tell me how it went, what you enjoyed. What you want.”

  A wave of heat surged through her and settled between her legs. She swallowed.

  He lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a kiss that left her panting. “Tell me,” he breathed. His hands were moving over her, making it hard to focus.

  She drew in a breath to steady herself. “You undressed me.”

  He got rid of her skirt and top so that she stood before him in her underwear. “Like this?”

  She nodded as she watched him undress. His muscled thighs reminded of her of the first time she’d seen him in the gym at the lodge.

  “What else?” he asked when he straightened up.

  She sat down on the bed and held her arms up to him. Was she really going to tell him?

  He lay down beside her and claimed her mouth again. His hands moved over her, and by the time he came up for air, their underwear was gone.

  He leaned back and let his gaze travel over her. Her hands automatically came up to cover her breasts, but he shook his head. “Please? Let me see you?”

  She let her hands fall away and a little moan escaped from her lips when he cupped her breasts. His thumb made it hard for her to concentrate as it circled her nipple. She let her head fall to the side, wanting to enjoy the sensations that were rolling through her, but not wanting him to—

  “Come back to me.”

  She met his gaze, and he increased the pressure, sending shock waves racing through her.

  “I want us to enjoy each other, Audrey. I don’t want to touch you and make love to you while you hide in your head. I want you to stay here with me.” His hand moved down over her stomach, and she gasped as it slid between her legs. “I want you to come for me. I want to share this with you.”

  She bit down on her bottom lip as his fingers slid inside her. He held her gaze and rubbed his palm up and down over her clit as his fingers moved in and out. She wanted to look away, but she understood what he was asking her. Letting him touch her was one thing; this was another level of intimacy.

  He slid his leg between hers and opened her up so that he could go deeper. She grasped a fistful of sheet underneath her, and couldn’t help moving her hips in time with him.

  A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Does it feel good?”

  She nodded breathlessly.

  “What else did you imagine me doing here?”

  She closed her eyes briefly. Could she tell him?

  His smile grew wider. “Tell me.”

  She could barely form words. His talented fingers were taking her closer and closer to the point of no return. “This is good.”

  He withdrew his hand, and she shook her head. “No.” She didn’t want him to stop.

  He moved down until his face was between her legs.

  She nodded. “Yes. That’s what you did.”

  He smiled. “What?”

  “You … tasted me.”

  She closed her eyes and let out a low moan when his hot wet tongue trailed over her entrance and then dipped inside. She now had two fistfuls of sheet, and when his mouth closed around her clit, her back arched up off the bed.

  He lifted his head, so he could see her face. “Did you come for me?”

  She nodded breathlessly and then gasped when his fingers pushed at her again. This was so much better than what she’d imagined! His tongue teased her, and then his fingers sank deep. Her hips rocked in time with him. He was taking her to the edge … and over. “Oh, God! Ted!” She gasped as her orgasm tore through her. She saw stars as his tongue, and his fingers refused to let up. Her whole body quivered through what might just be the best orgasm of her life.

  When she finally lay still, he wrapped her up in his arms and claimed her mouth in a kiss that soon had her panting again. She opened her eyes when he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so that she was on top.

  His smile was still kind, but it had a wicked edge to it, too. She slid her hand between them and closed her fingers around him. He was hot and hard. She moved him against her, and he rocked his hips.

  She’d thought she was spent, but being up here like this had her ready to go again. He thrust his hips harder, and she gasped as he pushed at her slick entrance.

  “Sit up,” he breathed.

  She shook her head. She wanted to ride him, but she didn’t want him to have a full-frontal view of her while she did. Richard’s comment about her being saggy still echoed in her head.

  “Please?”

  She closed her eyes. She couldn’t deny Ted anything when he looked at her like that. She sat up, resisting the urge to cover her breasts with her hands. His hands grasped her hips. His eyes held her gaze, and he thrust his hips—not hard, not fast, but a slow, inexorable movement of his cock deeper and deeper inside her. She felt every inch of him, and his eyes never left hers. She felt connected to him in every way possible. His hand came up to touch her breasts which were rising and falling on her ragged breaths.

  “Come with me, Audrey.”

  She nodded, and they began to move together, slowly at first and then with more urgency. He grasped her ass, and she bounced up and down, taking him deeper and deeper until she couldn’t take any more. He took her over the edge, and she saw stars as a wave of pleasure crashed through her. He held her gaze the whole time, and she saw the moment that he found his release just before she felt it.

  “Audrey!” he gasped, as their bodies melded frantically into one.

  She slumped down on his shoulder, and he turned and pressed a kiss into her hair. “You’re amazing, Audrey Patterson.”

  She smiled. “Correction, Ted Rawlins. We are amazing.”

  “We are.” He looked as though he was about to say something else, but instead, he smiled. “We sure are.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Audrey set a mug of coffee down in front of him, and Ted caught her wrist with a smile. “Thank you.�
��

  She stepped closer. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me.”

  He pulled her arm so that she sat down in his lap, and he closed his arms around her. “I’ve done nothing.”

  She laughed and wriggled in his lap, making him stir for her—but after everything he had done, stirring was all he could manage yet. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do.” He brushed his lips over her neck. “But, you’ve done as much for me, too.”

  He loved the way she smiled; she looked different. They’d spent the rest of last evening in bed, and most of the night on and off, exploring each other, getting closer in every sense. This morning she was more relaxed with him, but perhaps, more importantly, she was more relaxed with herself.

  “I’m glad you liked it.”

  A shiver tickled the back of his neck at the memory. He hadn’t expected her to do what she’d done this morning. “Like is such a weak little word.” He winked at her. “I loved it.” His breath caught in his chest. There he went again! He wanted to tell her that he loved her. That was crazy. It was way too soon. Though, looking at her, the way she was smiling at him, the way she felt in his lap, in his arms, it didn’t feel crazy. It felt natural.

  She held his gaze. “What are you thinking?”

  He froze. He could hardly tell her that he was figuring out that he was in love with her and debating with himself whether it was too soon to tell her.

  Luckily, she laughed. “I knew it. You’re hoping that I’ll do that again, aren’t you?”

  He gave her a rueful smile. It wasn’t what he’d been thinking, but he couldn’t wait for her to do it again.

  She checked her watch. “Now?”

  He laughed. “No. I can wait.”

  “You know the kids and Izzy are going to be here in a while.” Her smile faded. “If not now, then I don’t know when we’ll get the chance again.”

  He brushed her hair away from her cheek. “Relax. We’ll see each other again soon. I don’t have to leave tonight. I can go straight to work from here in the morning if you want me to stay—if it’s not too awkward with Brayden.”

  She frowned. “I’d love for you to stay again, but …”

  He nodded. He wasn’t sure how he felt about sleeping in her bed with her son just down the hallway. Hopefully, the time would come when it wasn’t a big deal, but maybe tonight was too soon still. “Whatever you’re comfortable with. Before I leave here, we’ll set up when we’re going to see each other again. If it were up to me, I’d take you back to Laguna Beach with me and keep you there.” It was true, but he knew he shouldn’t have said it.