“That’s why I want to make love with you tonight. We both wonder what it’ll be like together. Let’s find out.” She cupped his face and searched his gaze so he’d believe her. “Please, Brady, make love with me.”
After a long moment he blew out a breath. “All right, but not here. Let’s go to the lodge. We can get to the parking lot without going back inside.”
With both of them leaving at the same time, people would no doubt notice and talk, but Holly didn’t care. She nodded. “I’ll follow you there.”
*
TWENTY MINUTES LATER Holly stood in Brady’s room, amazed at herself. Not even the drive to the lodge with the windows down and cold air blowing in her face had changed her mind.
She was about to make love with a man who didn’t want marriage and who was orchestrating the sale of the lodge. If she was smart, she’d drive straight home and lock herself in the house. But she simply could not.
Brady shut the drapes and flipped on the lamp on one side of the bed. Then turned toward her, his eyes dark and probing. “Are you sure about this?”
Trembling from nerves or anticipation or both, she attempted to smile. “I’m a little nervous.”
“Truth be told, so am I. I’ve dreamed about this for over fourteen years,” he said, his face intent as he moved toward her.
She bit her lip. “I hope I won’t disappoint you.”
“Not possible.”
Grasping her face between his warm palms, he gazed into her eyes, and she forgot her fears. Eyelids lowering, he leaned down and kissed her, the gentle press of his lips promising a night to remember.
The heat that had simmered for days and had flared on the football field licked through her. Feverish and feeling like a starving woman, she wrapped her arms around his neck and urged him closer. Several long, passionate kisses later, Brady broke contact.
Breathing hard, he rested his forehead against hers. “Are we crazy for doing this?”
“Probably, but I don’t care.” Even so, she wasn’t stupid. She stared into his liquid brown eyes. “I should have asked this earlier, but are you healthy?”
“Tested a few months ago and haven’t been with anyone since. You?”
“I haven’t been with a man since Holly’s father. I’m clean. Do you have protection?”
“Always.” He moved to the luggage stand and rifled through his suitcase. Grabbed a handful of condoms and set them on the bedside table.
“So you were planning to have sex while you were here? If not with me, then someone else?” To her own ears she sounded jealous, but she had to know.
“Not necessarily, but I like to be prepared.”
“That’s smart.” She studied the low-pile carpet.
“Holly?” She could feel his gaze. “Have you changed your mind?”
Nervous or not, she wasn’t about to back out now. She unzipped her dress and shimmied out of it. “Does that answer your question?”
“Sure does.” His appreciative gaze moved from her black demi bra to her matching bikini panties to her thigh-highs. “You are so damn fine.”
“I’ve had a child, Brady. I’m not.”
“In my eyes, you are.”
He tugged her close and kissed her. Again and again, until she was dizzy with the taste and smell of him. Somehow her bra disappeared, then her panties.
Brady studied her through hot, heavy-lidded eyes. “This—” one finger trailed a faded stretch mark on the side of her breast “—is beautiful.”
Her nipples beaded in longing. The desire darkening his face made her feel beautiful. And bold. She cupped her breasts and offered them to him.
A growl purled from his throat. He took one nipple in his mouth, then switched to the other, until she was squirming with need. When she was ready to collapse, he pulled back. Directed a hot look at her legs.
“Much as I like those stockings, they’ve got to go.”
Kneeling at her feet, he peeled off each one with his skilled fingers. Then kissed the inside of her calf while she stood, clasping his solid shoulders for balance.
No one had ever removed her stockings or kissed her there. Tenderness and love and heat tumbled together inside her. He worked his way up her sensitive inner thigh, dangerously close to the part of her that most needed him. Moisture pooled between her legs. Her very shaky legs. “I can’t stand up anymore,” she said.
“Lean on me, babe.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her to bed, the loving warmth on his face melting her. With one hand he tore off the bedspread before he gently laid her down. “Now, let me taste you.”
He parted her thighs and started where he’d left off, his lips continuing a delicious path toward her center. At last he was there, opening her folds, licking and teasing until she was writhing with pleasure and tension. It had been a very long time since she’d been with a man and she did not want to climax alone.
She pushed him away. “Take off your clothes and love me.”
Eyes locked on hers, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside, exposing a broad, muscled chest, a smattering of chest hair and a flat belly. Holly’s gaze dropped to the strained zipper below.
“See what you do to me?” His expression dark and hungry and dangerous, he shed his dress slacks and kicked off his briefs.
He was big, and gloriously aroused. Holly swallowed. “You’re the beautiful one.”
“Oh, I have my flaws.” He gestured at the long red scar on his knee, the injury that had cost him a career in pro football.
“Does that hurt?”
“Now and then.” Smirking, he glanced at his erection. “Right now another part of me hurts.”
“Maybe I can make it feel better.” Holly patted the bed beside her. “Come to Holly.”
Feeling powerful and womanly, she pushed him onto his back. Brushed her thumb over his sensitive head. Caressed the thick, smooth shaft.
Brady groaned. “Enough.”
He caught her wrist, then flipped her onto her back and covered her with his body. His skin against hers felt like heaven. His arousal nudged her sex. He kissed her and she lost herself in a haze of smells and tastes and desire.
Writhing under him, she moaned, “Please, Brady. I need you now.”
He sheathed himself. And joined with her. Less than a heartbeat later she lost herself in a shattering climax.
When the tremors ended, Brady collapsed beside her. “That was really amazing.”
“As good as you imagined?” she asked, languid against his side.
“Better.” He kissed her forehead, his hand resting on her hip. “How was it for you?”
“Wonderful.” I love you, Brady.
As badly as she longed to tell him, she bit back the words. He might like her. He might desire her. But he didn’t want what she did—love and forever after.
Chapter Six
Brady awoke as Holly pulled out of his arms. He must have dozed off. Now he propped himself up on his elbow. “Where are you going?”
“My mother’s watching Alix. I have to get home,” she said, shielding herself with her dress while she collected her bra and panties from the floor.
His blood stirred. Did she even know how sexy she was? She was great in bed, too, and he wasn’t ready to let her go. “I don’t want you to go yet, babe. Can’t you ask her to stay with Alix all night?”
“Better not.” She ducked into the bathroom and returned dressed. “I wish…”
“What do you wish?”
“Nothing. I’ll never forget tonight, Brady.”
After the best sex of his life, neither would he. “It doesn’t have to be over between us. We can still see each other. Denver isn’t that far away.”
“That won’t work.” She slid a comb from her purse and fixed her hair. “You’re about to hammer out the details that will put me out of work.” At his scowl she quickly added, “I know, I know, it’s not your doing. But aside from the negotiations, I don’t want to start something with you unless you’re int
erested in marriage. And we both know you’re not.”
“But—”
“Shh.” She held her finger to her lips, then stepped into her shoes. “Don’t ruin this, Brady.”
“Will you be at the brunch?”
She shook her head. “I’ll be working. Goodbye.”
She turned away, but not before he saw the tears in her eyes. He realized he’d hurt her, but it was too late for words or apologies. For she was gone.
*
“A SHAME YOU HAVE to miss the last reunion function for work,” Holly’s mother commented when she showed up to babysit Sunday morning.
“I really don’t mind,” Holly said. “I’ve already connected with everyone I wanted to see.”
And then some. Making love with Brady had been beautiful and wonderful. And never would happen again. But she’d known that going in.
Brady would be at the brunch, and even if she hadn’t had to work, the truth was, after last night, she didn’t want to see him. Thank heavens he’d be leaving this afternoon, gone until business negotiations brought him back.
“At least you got to the dance.”
Her mother’s eyes were filled with questions, and Holly knew she wondered what had happened. Last night, pleading the late hour and fatigue, she’d staved off questions. She couldn’t use that excuse now.
“It was great fun,” she said. Eager to change the subject, she smiled at Alix, who had made a full recovery from the flu. “Would you like another piece of cheese toast, sweetie?”
“Yes, please.”
“Did you dance with anyone special?” her mother inquired.
“Brady, if that’s what you want to know. It was fun.” She covered a slice of toast with cheese and popped it into the microwave to melt.
“Well, what happened?”
“Nothing! Now, please drop it.”
“You’re grouchy,” Alix said.
Her mother raised her eyebrows and nodded.
“I didn’t sleep well.” After making love with Brady, how could she sleep?
“Did you have bad dreams?” Alix asked.
“You could say that.” Her dreams had been full of Brady, dreams that never would come true. She sliced the cheese toast in half and dropped it onto Alix’s plate, then kissed her forehead. “I’d better go or I’ll be late. Be good for Nana.”
“I hope you have a busy, profitable day,” her mother said as Holly kissed her cheek.
“Me, too.” She hurried out.
*
SUNDAY MORNING Brady was still hungry for Holly. Finding her stockings on the floor didn’t help. They smelled of her light, flowery perfume. The whole damn room smelled of Holly. Of their lovemaking.
Leaning before the bathroom mirror, he lathered his face with shaving cream. Late last night he’d realized that after all these years, he still cared for her—a lot. If he weren’t involved in the sale of the lodge, he wouldn’t mind dating her and getting to know Alix better.
He dragged the razor over his chin. But he was involved with the sale in a major way. Holly was right. Seeing each other would only complicate matters. Especially since she wanted to get married and he didn’t.
Stuff he knew but conveniently had forgotten last night. He nicked his jaw. Served him right.
He felt like a first-class jerk, and hated that he’d hurt her. She’d be at the gift shop later. He would stop in and apologize. That eased his guilty conscience.
But what to say? He finished shaving, then rinsed his face. A long run would cool his body and unfog his brain. Surely then he’d figure out what to say. Forget the brunch. He’d had enough of those people. He dressed in his jogging clothes and headed out.
The bright sunlight, crisp morning air and grueling run did the trick and cleared his head. But he remained clueless about how to patch things up between Holly and him.
Back in his room, winded and sweaty, he ordered room service, then showered and dressed. By the time breakfast arrived, the gift shop was open. He ate quickly, then slipped Holly’s stockings into his pocket and rode the elevator down.
Through the large window of her shop he saw her talking to an older couple, pointing to a black-and-white photograph of Silver Cliff that hung on the wall. Her face was interested and alive. Beautiful. Brady’s chest filled with emotions he had no business feeling. He wanted her so much he ached.
Suddenly she glanced through the window and saw him. Her cheeks flushed before she returned her attention to the couple.
Brady waited for them to leave before he entered the shop.
“What are you doing here?” Holly asked. “Why aren’t you at the brunch?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear, a little thing that shouldn’t have aroused him. But everything about Holly turned him on. “I wanted to talk to you.”
Expression carefully neutral, she backed up a step. “There’s no need.”
“About last night—I never meant to hurt you.”
Her eyes went soft with forgiveness. “I’m a big girl, Brady. I’ll get over it.” She straightened an already neat stack of I heart Silver Cliff T-shirts. “When do you check out?”
“Soon.” He reached into his pocket for the stockings. “You forgot these last night.”
“I thought so. Thank you.”
Holly accepted the stockings from him and shoved them under the counter. Two teenage girls sauntered in. She offered Brady a sad smile. “Well, goodbye again.”
Chapter Seven
Brady drove to Denver on autopilot, his thoughts full of Holly. The way she looked at him, her smile. Her enthusiasm for her work and her love for Alix. The little sounds she made when she came apart in his arms, and the feel of her soft body snuggled beside him after.
Then in the gift shop… He’d expected… What? That she’d want more from him. Instead she’d let him off the hook. He should be grateful. So why did he feel hollow?
Back in the TYR headquarters he immersed himself in work but couldn’t summon much enthusiasm. Truth was, he was in a foul temper. His boss, Hal Waters, didn’t help matters.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he said when Brady snarled at him. “Did some old high-school girlfriend get under your skin? I warned you to keep your distance. Pull yourself together, man, and get back on track.”
Brady couldn’t deny that he was way off track. He’d never felt like this about anyone, not even his ex-wife.
“Did you work up a cost sheet for Webb?” Hal asked.
“Yes, and in my opinion his asking price is fair as it stands,” Brady said. He believed that, too.
“Forget your opinion. Lower the bid.”
Brady shook his head. “I won’t do that.”
Hal leaned forward, his beefy face too close. “You’d better think carefully about that, Brady, and about your future here. Because unless you negotiate the sale at our terms…” His eyes narrowed, and threatening, he strode out.
Brady did as his boss suggested, and thought about things. There was nothing different about his boss or TYR’s method of operation. Brady had changed, though, and was beginning to wonder why he’d ever enjoyed working here.
He also wondered how he’d walked away from Holly, and how to get her back. Because he loved her. That didn’t scare him the way it should have.
Thing was, she wanted a ring on her finger. Now, that scared him. His only experience with marriage had been unhappy and painful.
But aside from that, what about the sale and his promotion? What about Holly’s shop and her friends who soon would be out of jobs? That always would come between them.
Instead of contacting Barton Webb to negotiate TYR’s deal, he mulled over the questions for days. At the end of the week, torn and agonizing, he sat at a local restaurant for lunch, barely tasting his sandwich. If he were half as smart as TYR thought he was, he’d resign and start his own company. Buy the lodge himself at a fair price, with investors to help finance the deal.
Intrigued at the idea and also shaken by it, h
e mulled over the thought while he ate. Climbing to the top of the corporate ladder was what he’d worked for all these years. Was he willing to throw that away for Holly?
In the middle of a bite he spotted Hal striding toward him.
“There you are.” Despite Brady’s go-away scowl, his boss sat down. “You don’t usually take off in the middle of the day. What did Webb say when you lowballed him?”
Brady set down his sandwich. “Can’t this wait till after lunch?”
“I’ve waited long enough. Well?”
“I haven’t talked to him.”
Hal’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know what’s eating you, Brady, and I don’t care. Either you negotiate the sales price down today, or by God, I’ll—”
“Fire me? Don’t bother. I quit.” Brady pushed back his chair.
Leaving Hal Waters gaping, he dropped a twenty on the table and walked away. He might feel lousy later, but at the moment he felt lighter than he had in years.
He couldn’t wait to tell Holly. He couldn’t wait to tell her he loved her. Sometime during the past few days he’d decided that marrying her was a risk worth taking. He would ask her to be his wife. He only hoped she said yes. And that Alix was okay with the idea. If not, he’d just work to win her over.
First things first, though. He’d line up financing and talk to Webb about selling to him at a fair price instead of accepting TYR’s low offer. Exhilarated, amazed at himself and shaking his head, he began to empty his office.
*
BRADY HAD BEEN GONE two weeks now. Holly didn’t expect to hear from him, and he didn’t contact her. He didn’t return to Silver Cliff, either. Instead Mr. Webb drove to Denver for meetings. He was closemouthed about the negotiations, but things seemed to be moving forward.
Holly spent what little spare time she had searching for retail space. Every lead ended in disappointment. It looked as if she’d be forced to close the gift shop for good. With a heavy heart she brushed up her résumé and searched the want ads.
And hoped for a miracle.
*
BY THE END OF July rumors were flying. People said the sale was off, that TYR had withdrawn and that Brady no longer worked for them. But Mr. Webb was in Denver, and there was no way to find out.
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