Loving Spoonful

by Candice Poarch

  “Be serious.” She knew that was a lie, but she couldn’t help the blush heating up her cheeks.

  “I’m serious.”

  Kimberly’s stomach fluttered at the thought. Jack was so very handsome tonight, in an island shirt with tan linen slacks. Standing with one hand dug deep into his pockets as he talked to the island’s physician, he seemed the epitome of a GQ man.

  The sand felt wonderful beneath her feet and between her toes. She loved coming to this place. It was as if the weight of the world had lifted from her shoulders.

  “Are you ready to call it a night?” Jack asked Kimberly, just as the performer belted into a slow, soulful song.

  “Not quite. You haven’t danced with me.”

  He pulled her up and strolled over the sand to where other couples were dancing. The singer was belting oldies. Many of the women were just watching and grooving with the music, their feet and arms moving to the beat. There were always more women than men. That was something Kimberly had noticed lately, wherever she went. But these women exuded energy. They knew how to have fun with or without men. That was what she liked about the island.

  Closing his arms around her, Jack pulled her close. Heat radiating from his body warmed her as they moved to the rhythm. It was a change of pace from the energetic dances of before. She rubbed her hand up his chest around to his back. He groaned in her ear, his sweet breath brushing against her lobe.

  “You’re going to end up in trouble right here on the sand,” Jack rumbled.

  Desire rushed up Kimberly’s spine. “Too many people.”

  “Don’t count on it,” he said, nuzzling her neck and pulling her closer. He maneuvered them so they were apart from the others and her back was to the crowd.

  Kimberly was feeling no pain. “It’s not often I get your undivided attention. I’m taking advantage of it,” she said, listening to the rhythmic rush of the waves mixing with the band. She slid her hand under Jack’s shirt.

  “You’ve got to stop that, baby.”

  A smile touched her face. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure it’s time for us to go to our room.”

  “Hmm. I want to tease you a little more.”

  “You’re tipsy.”

  “I am not,” she scoffed, then hiccupped.

  Jack chuckled, stroking her with a loving touch. “You never could drink.”

  “I don’t have to worry about it tonight,” Kimberly said as she kissed him. “I’m not driving.”

  “Woman, you’re going to end up with more than you bargained for.”

  “Is that a promise?” she asked hopefully.

  Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she wrapped hers around his waist, as they strolled away from the beach and toward their cabana.

  The resort wasn’t too large or too formal, but it was an upscale, casual, laid-back, comfortable setting. With three hundred rooms, several cabanas and a couple of villas, it was booked year-round, and reservations had to be made months in advance. It wasn’t a huge island, but it was self-contained and had ample room, so that the guests didn’t feel crowded. There were boats at the harbor ready to escort them to other islands—places that offered other amenities, like gambling. Snorkeling, parasailing and deep-sea fishing were very popular here.

  Tonight, however, Jack’s mind was on his wife.

  “You look well rested,” he said.

  “So do you. You work too hard, Jack.” She rubbed his chest.

  “I guess we both do. That’s why I want you to quit your job. You look so much happier now.”

  “Of course I’m happy. I’m with you.”

  “You look tired most of the time at home.”

  “Jack, you’re always tired, too, but I’m not asking you to quit your job.”

  “A man has to work, Kim. He’s got to provide for his family.”

  She was butting against his sense of responsibility. “You provide more than we can ever use. And I appreciate it, really I do, but I’d like to spend more time with you.” She glanced at him. “I don’t want to lose you in the meantime.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  Kimberly nodded, but Jack knew she didn’t believe him.

  “I’m considering job-sharing again,” she said.

  “You don’t have to work at all. And you can take some time off while you wait for the right position, if you feel you must.”

  “But I’ve been at that station for more than ten years. I have benefits—retirement, insurance. If anything ever happened…”

  “Nothing will,” he said quickly, as the shadow of his father passed through his mind. “Lots of women would love the opportunity to spend more time at home. You know we don’t need the money. And you could come to the island anytime you wanted to.”

  “Alone,” Kimberly said. “Your schedule won’t let you come with me. Honey, I don’t want to talk about work now.”

  Jack sighed. “You’re a stubborn woman, Kimberly Canter. Sometimes too stubborn.”

  Kimberly sighed, too. “You don’t have any room to talk there.”

  They neared the courtyard of their cabana. Jack pulled her close and kissed her. She’d fired his blood so hot that he wanted to take her to bed and make love to her for the rest of the night.

  “We have to take this inside,” he said, fumbling the key in the door and shoving it open, pulling her in behind him. They barely made it to the bed before she tumbled onto it and he went down after her.

  “You’ve been teasing me all night,” he gasped, as he shoved her dress up and kissed her thigh. “No wonder that man couldn’t keep his eyes off you. You captivated me the first time I laid eyes on you.”

  “Is that right?”

  “You know it is,” he said, nipping her lightly—and when she moaned, he soothed the injury with his tongue.

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders, then caressed the strong muscles bunching beneath her fingertips. He was hard and smooth at once.

  He moved up her body and kissed her, settling his weight on her and driving his tongue deep into the cavern of her mouth. Their tongues dueled a mating dance, igniting a fire so hot only his soothing touch could calm the flames.

  He rolled her over so that she was on top, and slowly unzipped her dress, caressing the smooth, soft skin beneath. Her fingers were busy unbuttoning his shirt, then she ran them through the hair on his chest, bent and suckled on his nipple.

  He groaned and inched the dress up her thighs, cupping her butt in his hand and squeezing the cheeks lightly.

  She eased his zipper down and captured the thickness of him in her hand, massaging him back and forth.

  He groaned deep in his throat. “I can’t take much more of this, baby.”

  “You won’t have to,” Kimberly said. She eased up and Jack peeled her thong down her legs, his eyes widening as he realized what little scraps of fabric had covered her as she’d danced on the beach.

  “I need to lock you up and throw away the key.”

  “Welcome to the twenty-first century, baby.”

  “Your skirt tail was hiked up most of the night.”

  Affronted, Kimberly pinched his chest then kissed it well. “It was not. Everything was discreetly covered.”

  “I know I saw a lot of thigh when you were doing the limbo.”

  “That’s all you could see from the split.”

  Jack groaned. “I noticed.”

  “Remember that the next time you leave me on my own,” she said, her voice hitching when Jack stroked her intimately. A tremble inside heated her thighs and groin. He knew just where and how to touch her until passion rose in her like a searing flame.

  Jack moaned again as she leaned up, then seated herself, easing down on him slowly, breath easing from her in a rush. His gaze impaling her, he clutched her hips and moved his until she was stretched fully with him. Moving deeply within her, he stoked a fire so hot that her breath hissed with sheer joy. And the burning flames she saw in his eyes drove her wild. Hi
s tormented groans were heady music to her ears.

  He stretched her thighs wider, until she felt him deep inside. “Oh, Jack,” she cried out, her voice strangled.

  “You want me as much as I want you.” It was a command. He pulled out of her until she could feel only the very tip of him.

  “Yes! Yes,” she cried, wanting—desperately needing—every inch of him inside her.

  When he filled her again, Kimberly sighed with pleasure. She moved her hips and their bodies slapped against each other, building the passion, until that moment—that precious moment—when electricity seemed to arc through her and she heard his deep bellow of fulfillment ringing in the air, overshadowing her own cries of pleasure.

  The turbulence of fulfillment swirled around them. She crashed on his chest, feeling the staccato beat of his heart. He stroked her back until they had breath enough to move. Then shifting slightly, he spooned her against him.

  Kimberly had such a lovely evening, it was the next morning before she remembered Jack’s work. They dined on their patio, surrounded by hibiscus flowers, and watched the waves.

  Jack seemed to be brooding.

  “What is it?” After last night, Kimberly didn’t think anything could crush her good mood.

  “Are you pregnant?”

  Kimberly coughed. “Are you kidding?”

  “No.” Jack chewed a piece of mango. “I know I saw you drinking last night, but I can’t help but wonder…I mean, you aren’t using protection.” He paused with another piece of fruit inches from his mouth. “Are you?”

  “No. I haven’t used protection in years. But, Jack, we’ve tried and tried to have another baby and couldn’t. I’m not pregnant.”

  His chest expanded on a huge breath of air. “I see.”

  “Think about it. The kids are nearly grown. Do you really want a child at your age? Do you really want to start all over again with diapers? It was okay when we first tried. Byron was only five and April was three. There wasn’t that great an age difference between them.”

  “I guess not,” Jack said, but Kimberly could tell he was displeased, and some of the joy of the previous night seemed to dissipate.

  Kimberly ate a slice of melon. She hadn’t thought of having babies in years. She reached over and gently touched his hand. “I’m ready for us to have some time together, Jack. Before you know it, we’ll have grandbabies.”

  “God, not too soon, I hope. April’s way too young to be even thinking of boys. And Byron’s got an entire future in front of him.”

  “They are at that age. You had better be prepared for it.”

  “Well, I’m not.” With his mouth creased in a stubborn line, he attacked his food again.

  Kimberly shook her head and smothered a smile.

  “I signed us up for a massage this morning,” she said, pleased at the image of them lying on adjacent massage tables.

  “I can’t go,” Jack said, not meeting her gaze. “I’m going to finish some work I have to e-mail out later today.”

  “It’s couple massages. Let’s forget about the work for a couple of days. You promised.”

  “I know, but I got a call, and I have to finish something by this afternoon.” He smiled softly. “By the time you get out of your massage, I’ll be finished, and we’ll have the rest of the day and tomorrow together.”

  “We’re going home in a couple of days,” Kimberly said. “We wasted yesterday.”

  He sent her one of those looks designed to get the heat stirring. “I seem to remember some great moments.”

  “But, Jack, I have more planned than making love,” Kimberly insisted. “Although I enjoyed it very much.”

  He nodded in satisfaction. “I’m sorry, baby. I can’t get a massage,” he said firmly.

  “What are you working on that’s so important it has to interfere with our honeymoon?”

  He sighed, swallowed some orange juice. “I’m running through the numbers and feasibility of opening another brewpub.”

  Kimberly’s eyes widened. After a moment she said, “Without even discussing it with me? We never see you as it is. If you open another one, I’ll really never see you. You know how hands-on you are.”

  “The timing is good, and it’s a deal that’s too good to turn down. I want this place, Kim. I was going to run the numbers and studies before I discussed it with you.”

  “They’re all too good to turn down. I know you, Jack. I never complained about your working long hours in the past, but I’m complaining now. What about our lives?” Kimberly entreated. “We have no time together now. Even on vacation work intrudes. Opening a new brewpub takes months. You missed April’s birth because of them.”

  “Are you going to bring this up every time we have a fight? That’s why I hired Lauren, so she can take up some of the slack.”

  “She doesn’t take up the slack. You’re working as hard as ever, even though she’s there,” Kimberly said, scooting back in her chair. “Lauren’s in love with you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Kim. She’s an employee. I don’t fraternize with employees. You know that.”

  “You refuse to see it, don’t you? Is it because you have feelings for her, too?”

  Anger darkening his eyes, Jack leaned in close to her. “I have always been faithful to you, Kim. I’m not even going to entertain this line of thought. It’s ridiculous.” With an angry swing of his wrist, he tossed his napkin on the table.

  “Our family can’t stand one more brewpub, Jack.”

  Jack threw up his hands. “I’m just running through the numbers. That’s all.”

  “During the time you should be spending with me. You said this would be our time together. I spent yesterday alone.”

  “I’m a businessman. I either grow or die.”

  “The children rarely see you. They’ll be out of the house soon,” Kimberly shot back.

  “I have breakfast with them every morning.”

  “But lately you miss all their games. You used to never miss them. They see you for how long? Fifteen minutes, while they shovel food in their mouths on their way out the door?”

  “I’ve dedicated my life to you and those children.”

  Pain radiated from the depths of her eyes. “There’s a difference between financial support and emotional support.”

  “You want me to do all the bending. I’ve asked you to quit a job that you don’t even need. Then you’ll have all your time for the children. You don’t need to work at all.”

  “I get off at noon. I’m home when they get there. I have weekends off. Working part-time wouldn’t change anything. Except that I’ll be more lonely than ever, because you still wouldn’t have any more time to spend with me. Besides, I like having cleaning people come in every week. I kept the house clean before I started working, but it isn’t my favorite job.”

  “We can afford the cleaning staff. I don’t expect you to clean that huge house. We can afford a live-in. Money isn’t an issue.”

  Kimberly rubbed her forehead. She felt a headache coming on.

  “I promised you I’d take care of you when I married you, and I do that,” Jack said.

  “I’m not talking about money. I want a partner. Jack, we’ve grown apart. We don’t do anything together anymore. We live in the same house, but live separate lives. I don’t want that kind of relationship.”

  He glanced at his watch, wiped his mouth with his napkin. “This is a fruitless argument. There’s no reasoning with you. I have a few calls to make, and if you don’t get to the spa you’re going to miss your massage.”

  Kimberly clenched her hands together. “This is important, Jack. We need to discuss this. Whenever we broach this topic you run off.”

  “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, baby. By the time you finish up, we can do something together. We’ll make plans when you get back.”

  Kimberly clenched her teeth together to keep her voice from trembling. “I signed us up for snorkeling this afternoon.”

 
“Great. I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’ll meet you in the restaurant for an early lunch at eleven. That way, we can relax a bit before we get in the water.” He kissed her lightly on the lips and started back to the room.

  “But, Jack…”

  “Eleven sharp.” He waved to her and kept walking.

  Losing yet another battle, Kimberly headed to the spa. She was miserable, at her wits’ end, trying to figure a way to reach Jack. She knew that if they didn’t find some middle ground, the marriage wouldn’t last. She’d seen the way her parents had grown apart over the years. The same thing was happening to her and she couldn’t do a thing to stop it—not alone. It was like a train wreck waiting to happen.

  Kimberly sighed. Maybe the massage would relax her. This vacation certainly wasn’t. She should have brought the children. At least she’d have someone to explore the island with—and they’d enjoy the trip. It wasn’t that she was incapable or afraid to be on her own. She spent most of her time alone or with friends. But the game plan was, the weekend should be like a second honeymoon—and this was as far from their first honeymoon as they could possibly get.

  Jack hung up the phone and glanced at his watch. Damn it. It was eleven-thirty. He was late meeting Kimberly. She was going to kill him anyway, as soon as he told her they had to leave a day early. But he had no choice. The area was changing. A large company just bought property nearby to build an office building. Another was building a condo on the next block. Lauren could do part of the draft, but he needed to finalize everything before the Tuesday meeting. He needed to work all day Sunday. But at least they had a couple of days together, which was better than nothing.

  Grabbing his wallet, he strolled briskly out of the room, heading to the restaurant. Hopefully, Kimberly was still there. She was a slow eater, so more than likely she would be.

  But when Jack arrived, Kimberly was nowhere to be seen. He didn’t see her on the way, so where the heck could she be? They only had the afternoon left. He’d had his secretary reserve early morning flights. Why wasn’t Kim where she was supposed to be? He reached for his cell phone to call her, but realized he’d left it in the room.

  When Kimberly reached the room, Jack was nowhere to be found. But his cell phone was on the desk along with business papers. She had to change quickly if she wanted to make their snorkeling appointment. Obviously, he wasn’t interested. She’d stop by the dining room on her way out, just in case he was late.