He gazed up at her, holding her hips as they moved together. “Oh, baby. You are so good for me.”
The intimacy in his voice suggested more than sexual desire. As if he said it with love. Not allowing herself to believe it, she bent down, capturing his face, kissing him deeply, as she slowly rode him. He smoothed her hair away, and she moaned.
Greta closed her eyes as the pressure expanded, the rush climbed. Her entire being flooded with shimmering desire, flowing through her blood like molten heat. And when it claimed her, she cried out her ecstasy to the sky, feeling her heart going with it.
Chapter Eleven
The day after Christmas, when Greta got the news Leo was ready for more visitors, she and Mason drove to the hospital that afternoon. As soon as she walked in the room, he gave her a tired but bright, pleased smile. His kind eyes were red-rimmed, his usually flush cheeks pale, but he never looked better to Greta, knowing he could’ve been much worse.
She tossed her coat over the chair and leaned a hip on his bed, squeezing his hand. “Hey there.”
“Dollface! Good Lord, you are a sight for sore eyes,” he greeted, his usually boisterous voice rough.
“It’s about time you woke up to join the party. You already missed Christmas, but I guess I’ll save you a dance for later.”
The older man kicked his feet together. “Name the time and place and I will be there.”
She smiled, patting his hand. “How are you feeling? You gave us a big scare. If you wanted attention, all you had to do was ask.”
His chuckle shook his broad chest. “This was nothing. Wish my heart would keep up with my head. I tell my body I want to work all day and party all night, but I lost that battle. Pfft. Hey.” Peering over her shoulder, he noticed Mason standing in the doorway. “You brought Renclair.”
“Good to see you, Rossi.” Mason smiled as he approached the bed.
Glancing from her to Mason, Leo dropped his head back on the pillow with an awe-like sigh. “Ah yes. I knew it would happen. And such a beautiful couple you make! You did good, Renclair. Not many girls like her around these parts. I knew you wouldn’t let her get away.”
Silence settled, crackling. Greta, uneasy at Mason’s odd silence, corrected Leo. “Oh—we aren’t a couple. We’re good friends. Besides, he insisted on driving me. Made me return my Mustang.” Unable to see Mason’s face, she wondered what he thought at that moment. Since he hadn’t rushed in to negate Leo’s statement, she felt she had to say something. One, to remind herself they weren’t a serious item by saying it out loud and two…well, to make sure Mason agreed.
“Friends?” Leo scoffed. “Playing me for a fool again. Told you, I’m old, not senile. You two are hotter and heavier than a pot of Minestra Maritata. These old eyes see it plain.”
“It’s true,” Mason added at the skepticism in Leo’s face. “Miss Marcum and I are friends. She’s heading back to the UK on New Year’s Eve. She belongs to no one, Leo.”
Greta cast a grateful glance back at Mason, and tried to mask the hurt in her eyes. Why did that sting? Because it drove home the fact he wasn’t a part of her new plan and for some reason that bugged her. A little ruffled—more than she cared to admit—she changed the subject, sucking in a reviving breath. “I met Lena. She’s the mirror image of her mother. We’ve been stopping by Galore. Her husband won’t let her do anything resembling hard labor. It’s funny to hear them argue.”
He smiled softly. “Yeah, that’s my Lena. Even though I could shoot my son-in-law for taking her away from Swan’s Crossing, I know he loves her very much. Takes good care of her. Did you know she’s going to be a mama?”
“Yes! Very exciting. Grandpa Leo. There’s a certain ring to that.”
“Guess I found something else to live for. She’s going to be a wonderful mother. I know it. Like you, my girl. Someday. Think of the children you two would have!”
She sighed. “Leo—”
“Mason? Is that you?”
At the door, a red-haired woman in scrubs smiled and gave a quick wave, her face familiar. When Mason turned to her and started toward her with a warm greeting, Greta remembered this was the same woman he’d had lunch with previously. They hugged and he followed her out of the room to talk.
Greta switched her attention back to Leo, who was studying her curiously. She feigned indifference. Only her rapid pulse would give her away. “Do you want me to bring you something to eat? Or are you on a strict diet from the doctor? I can just imagine what they’re feeding you in here.”
Ignoring her, he asked, “Who’s that?”
Greta shrugged. “A friend of Mason’s. I don’t know her.”
He flipped a hand. “Eh, the RN got you worried? She’s got nothing on you. Cute gal, but anyone can see how taken he is.”
She kissed his cheek. He’s never going to let up. “I’m not the least bit worried. She can have him all she wants. Like he said, I’m leaving town pretty soon.” Rising, she reached for her coat. “I should let you rest. I’ll stop by tomorrow and bring you some soup.”
He fixed his stare on her. “Greta…” Leo’s tone reminded her of a parent about to give a dismissive child a warning.
“Yes, Leo?” she replied innocently.
“Don’t be foolish, baby girl. Remember what I told you about me and my wife? When you know, you know. Don’t fight it.”
“There’s no reason to fight in the first place. And it’s not the same. Mason and I, well, we have an understanding, okay? Neither one of us has plans for anything serious.”
Leo pursed his lips, unsatisfied with her explanation, but seeming to give up. “If you say so.” He smiled at her. “Promise I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I promise.” She blew him a kiss.
Mason smiled at Shannon as she recounted Christmas with her family. They’d been friends for a while and she’d often come over to check on Christopher when he was between nurses. She and her husband divorced two years ago and it’d been hard for her without a male around the house to help with little things. Sometimes he’d take her out to assuage their moments of loneliness and enjoyed how he could spend time with a woman who bore as much disinterest in a relationship as he did. That is until recent weeks. More and more he noticed she dressed a little sexier every time they met up, wore perfume, and held on longer when they hugged. Greta had seen it the day he took Shannon to lunch at the hotel even though he insisted he and Shannon were platonic.
Speaking of, Greta had reiterated to Leo, quite firmly, that they were only friends. A remark that—to his disconcertion—cut a little deep. Not that he had entertained any illusions about them. Greta was right to affirm their standing out loud both to him and Leo. Good to know she didn’t hold some expectations of going beyond their holiday rendezvous. Perhaps when she left, he’d consider taking Shannon out on a real date.
The thought of Greta’s departure and using Shannon to get over her twisted his stomach.
The attractive nurse must’ve caught the change in his expression as she cut off mid-sentence with a smile. “Anyway, enough about me. What have you been up to? How was your first Christmas at home? I still can’t believe you canceled your trip to Bali.”
“It was a spur-of-the-moment cancellation. One I’m glad I made.”
“Good! And you survived.”
“Christmas with my family wasn’t as bad as I remembered. I actually had fun. Starting to think my holiday travel tradition is over for good.”
“Well, well. I’m glad to hear it, Mason. I was wondering when you were going to let go of that bachelor mentality and settle down.”
“Who said anything about settling down?” he asked sardonically.
She laughed, shaking her head. “I spoke too soon.” Shannon went up on her toes and glanced over his shoulder. “Are you…” She hesitated as if unsure, and finally asked, “Are you seeing someone new? Th
e woman in the black coat perhaps?”
Keeping a neutral expression, Mason shifted his gaze to Greta down the hall. He met Shannon’s curious expression. “Her? She’s Sophie’s friend.” It sounded better to call her Sophie’s friend than his. An awkward answer tangled on his tongue. He was doing more than seeing her, but their affair had a definite deadline. “We’re not dating. She’s just visiting from England.”
“Oh, well, that’s a shame she’s leaving.” She rocked back on her Croc heels. “She looks your type.”
“Does she?” he asked as though he hadn’t thought about it. The first moment he’d met her, he knew Greta was exactly his type and it only took less than two weeks to feel as though she was much more. “Well, maybe I should go to Europe more often to widen my dating net.”
“Or you could search right here in Swan’s Crossing,” Shannon commented with an arching brow. He gave her a self-deprecating smile and nodded. She had a point.
“Shannon!” A nurse popped her head out from a nearby room. “We could use a hand in here.”
“I’ll be right there!” she tossed back then surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. “Gotta run. It was good to see you, Mason.” Backing up, she arched a brow. “Let me know if and when you cast that net.” A flirtatious smile spread across her mouth as she waved good-bye, disappearing inside the patient’s room.
Okay, so Shannon seemed hopeful to become more than friends now. Maybe seeing him with Ms. Marcum had encouraged her to voice her romantic interest. Some women couldn’t resist a man once he was off the market. Rubbing his chin, he turned and sauntered back. But, he wasn’t off the market. Not in the long run. This thing with Greta would be over in a matter of days and he’d be free to pursue any woman, including Shannon, who was attractive, smart and fun to be with. All the qualities he sought in a potential girlfriend. Now that he knew Shannon was interested in dating, he asked himself if he was, too.
As he lifted his gaze and locked eyes on Greta—who gave him a slow, sexy smile as she spoke with someone on her cell phone—he knew the answer.
He wasn’t interested in Shannon. Not like that.
He should be. The pretty nurse was a logical, easy choice. Oh and the fact she lived in the same town should’ve put her leagues ahead of Greta too. Nonetheless, he couldn’t deny he’d rather take things to the next level with the untamable woman standing in front of him. There is no next level, his rationale exclaimed. There’s next week, when she thanks you for a good time and flies home. He frowned, taking out his leather gloves and unnecessarily shoving his hands in them.
Greta mistook his stiff actions as impatience and touched his forearm. “Sorry. I’ll be done in a minute. I finally got through to a live being at the airline.”
Attempting to cover up his open display of vexation, he gave her a smile of understanding. “No problem. Take your time.”
Pretending to be distracted by the passing traffic, he showed no reaction as she confirmed her flight on New Year’s Eve and asked what other flights were available. Did she want to leave sooner? Had something come up? He didn’t hear the conclusion of the call as a page for a doctor was announced over the PA system. A few moments later, satisfied with the answer she received, she hung up and tucked her phone in her bag. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” He marched through the automatic doors and to his SUV, sort of leaving Greta to trail behind in his dust. Irrational frustration fired in his blood and he took it out on his car as he slammed his door a little too hard. Greta climbed in warily. He started the ignition and threw the gear into reverse.
Greta’s curious gaze was on him as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot. “The nurse you were talking to…was she the woman you were having lunch with last week? At the hotel?”
He nodded. “You have quite the memory.”
“I never forget a face,” she stated. “I would’ve liked to have met her.”
“Why didn’t you come over and introduce yourself?” he asked as he took a right turn.
“That would’ve been a little rude. Besides, I think she was happy to have your attention all to herself for a minute. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Or you thought you’d look jealous?” he teased without forethought.
She whipped her face to his profile. “Jealous? Hardly.”
Not even a little? Not that she had any reason to be. After a strained moment of silence, he blurted, “She asked about you.”
“Oh?”
“She wanted to know who you were. If I was seeing someone new.” Without waiting for her to respond, he added, “I told her we are friends, enjoying each other’s company.”
Out of the corner of his eye, she folded her hands in her lap, and crossed her legs. “That was the right answer. It’s the truth,” she said blithely.
“I was just echoing what you told Mr. Rossi. I distinctly remember you telling me men and women can’t be friends.”
“What else could I tell Leo? He thought we were a serious couple or something.”
“And you had to correct him.”
“Yes,” she emphasized.
Because he couldn’t take his eyes off the road, he couldn’t see her expression, to discern if it matched the lightness of her voice. Not that he expected her to argue with him about it, but her blasé tone ticked him off, emphasizing how casually she took what was between them. Reminding him he needed to do the same.
“You should ask Shannon out,” Greta suddenly suggested. “She likes you as more than a friend and you seem to get along very well.”
“You mentioned that last week,” he remarked dryly.
“The way she smiled at you made it completely obvious. It’d be only natural for you two to take the next step.”
His brows drew together. The last thing he needed was Greta patronizing him as though he was some clueless teenage boy and she the indifferent lover bestowing wisdom about another woman’s interest. “Are you seriously playing matchmaker right now?”
“I’m merely suggesting you ask her out,” she replied somewhat too brightly.
What the hell? This was a first. A woman he was currently involved with—albeit temporarily—encouraging him to ask out another. Was she trying to get off the hook so she could leave early without feeling guilty? He shoved away his irritation and instead decided to play along. “Maybe I will. Should I wait until you leave or give her a call tonight?”
She shrugged. “That’s up to you.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?” he asked with sarcasm, realizing the verbal game they were playing would escalate unless one of them gave in. It wouldn’t be him, though. She started it.
“Why would I mind? We’ve been spending a lot of time together. If you’d like to add a little more variety to your holiday, I definitely won’t stand in your way. All I ask is that you give me advance notice so I can make other plans.”
“Good to know,” he gritted through his teeth. His grip on the steering wheel tightened at her sassy tone. Variety? What kind of man did she think he was? A sizzling silence filled the cabin as Mason drove through the residential streets toward downtown. The plan was to drop Greta off at the hotel to help out Sophie while Mason went home to collect Grandfather for dinner. The idea was to get Christopher out of the house for an hour or two but Mason doubted it would be easy. Unable to stop himself from getting in another quip, he added, “I’d also appreciate you telling me in advance if you decide to take an earlier departure to England.”
“I was actually asking about a later one. I prefer overnight flights.”
“Make sure this time you don’t leave without saying good-bye,” he drawled, then regretted it.
“Yes, master.”
There was that sass again. “Call me skeptical. You’ve done it before.”
She crossed her arms. “That doesn’t mean I have to do it in person. My mobile will wor
k just as well.”
“Great. Whatever is more convenient for you.”
“Great! I appreciate that.”
As he pulled up to the hotel, brakes squealing at his abrupt stop, he knew he should apologize before she got out of the car. But he didn’t.
Her hand on the door handle, Greta climbed out, grabbing her purse with the haste of a woman who couldn’t wait to get away from him. “I’ll see you at dinner. Try to be less of a jerk when convincing your grandpa to come out with you.” She slammed the door.
Damn it. Women! He lightly hit the steering wheel before shifting into drive and heading to the estate.
An hour later, Mason came to the conclusion running a lumber company in this economy was a walk in the park compared to persuading a cantankerous elderly man to accompany him to dinner.
“When was the last time you got out of the house?” Mason asked, a handful of ties in his grip.
“Bah!” Christopher flipped his arthritic hand. “Nurse No-Smile parked me outside when the leaves started to turn. As if I wanted to sit there and witness the colors change from green to orange. I barely see in black-and-white, boy. Stuck me out there for over an hour by myself.”
Probably for sixty minutes of peace, Mason thought wryly. “Well then, it’s about time you got out there again. It’s an ideal afternoon, Grandpa. Temp is over twenty degrees for once, the sun is out…” And Greta will be even madder if I show up by myself. “All right. Forget the ties. We don’t need to dress up. It’s that…well…” With only one tactic left, Mason feigned helplessness, hoping this would convince his grandfather once and for all. “It would mean the world to Greta if you joined us for dinner. Personally, I would rather leave you here and have her all to myself, but she seems to think your company is as good as mine—”
“Greta’s expecting us?” he glowered. “You dolt. Why didn’t you say so?”
“Excuse me if I thought spending an evening with your grandson would be sufficient enough motivation.”
“I see your face all the time! Greta is leaving soon, isn’t she? That girl is wasted over there in Sweden.”
Wrapped Up in a Beau Page 12