by AliyahBurke
“You.” His hands began to move up and down her body, his need to be tactile increasing with every second he was near her.
“Why? Not that I don’t think it’s sweet, but why?”
“Do I need a reason? I thought you deserved it.”
“Thank you.” She began to rise and he pulled her back down onto his body.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. It’s almost four in the morning. I have to change and get ready for work.” His arms tightened around her pinning her to him.
“Stay with me.”
“Can’t. I have to go.”
“I don’t like this. We need to change this arrangement.”
“How? We both have our own lives.”
“I want you with me.”
“I can’t be there twenty-four seven.” Sanura turned on the light and looked into his anxious eyes.
“I don’t want to lose you. And I don’t think I have you yet.”
Sanura smiled at him, a soft gentle smile, and slid off the bed. “Come join me in the shower.”
Later there were two bodies standing under the cascading water as Gavin’s dreams became a reality. They dried each other off and at four-thirty she’d finally dressed.
“Tonight?” he asked as she picked up her car keys.
When she shook her head, his heart plummeted. “I’m closing tonight and I need to get some sleep. If I’m with you, I most definitely don’t get any. Sleep, that is.”
“If I promise to let you sleep?”
“I am getting off work around midnight tonight and am going straight home. You want to see me, be at my house. I’ll leave a key under the cushion of the wicker chair on the porch. Now I have to go. Have a nice day.”
All he got was one last, hot, lingering kiss that put his body on alert before she was gone. Knowing the idea of going to sleep was not feasible, he took out some of his sketches and sat at his office desk and worked until six o’clock rolled around.
He, Clint and Janice had been in the office for about an hour when he heard Janice speaking to someone outside the door. It opened without her even calling to see if he would take someone in his office. Before he could be angry a smile spread across his face at the person who walked in. Sanura.
“Delivery for Mr. Rawlins.”
“That would be me, come on in.”
He slid his chair back from his desk but stayed sitting. His gaze moved over her lithe form as she approached. She sidled over to the desk and, ignoring the work on it, jumped up and sat down on his papers. The box was held temptingly under his nose.
He rolled his chair closer so her feet were put on either side of his legs. “For me?”
“Of course. You said you wanted a delivery from that restaurant. So here you are.”
He tugged her face down for a kiss that had her purring. “Do I get the delivery girl as well?”
“Nope, that’s extra.”
“I’ll pay it. Name your price.”
Sanura tapped his nose, “Sorry. I happen to know that she is not for sale.”
“Can I at least give her a tip?”
Sanura flushed and his mind dropped right to the bottom of the gutter with his statement. “Sure.” It came out all husky and wanting.
Gavin removed the box from her hand and lifted her off the desk to sit firmly on his lap in the chair, her legs bent on either side of his hips. He wound his hands in her hair after he knocked off her cap. Then he kissed her, his tongue swept through her mouth, touching as much as it could.
“Uh humm.”
They drew apart slowly and he looked beyond her. Gavin flickered an eye towards the door. It was Clint. “What, Hartford?”
“I came to discuss some ideas with you, I had no idea you were busy. Hello again, Mac.”
Sanura blushed as she put her cap back on. “Hello, Mr. Hartford.” She got off of Gavin’s lap and headed for the door. “I was leaving anyway.” She waved goodbye and walked out. Gavin watched as she strolled out of his office. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Clint looked at him and shook his head. “You are hopeless, man. Do you think you can concentrate today?”
“Most definitely.” The men got down to work. By the end of the day they had signed up two more accounts and were looking pretty good for being new. It helped once word got out they had left Dorgan’s those who were used to their work came to them.
Gavin was leaving for the day when his phone rang. “Mr. Rawlins.”
“Mr. Rawlins, it’s Mr. Harris. We need to meet.”
“What’s the problem, sir?”
“I have another project I want you to do, but we will have to fly out tonight to see it. Are you available?”
Fly out? “Tonight?” He was supposed to meet Sanura. But work was work. “Sure thing. Where do I need to be and how long is this for?”
“We will be gone a week. Can you take that much time off?”
“Let me get it cleared with my partner and I will get right back to you.” As soon as he hung up with Harris, Gavin called Clint and spoke with him. Then he called Harris back. “It’s cleared, I can go.”
“Good.” Harris gave him the time and place to meet and then hung up.
Now all he had to do was call Sanura. Damn, but he wanted to spend the night with her. With a regretful sigh he picked up the phone and called her at work.
* * * *
“This is Sanura, how may I help you?”
“Hey, kitten.”
“What’s up?” She smiled, happy to talk to him.
“Change of plans. I can’t come over tonight. Harris and I are flying out to look at another building site and, well, I’m not exactly sure what it is all about. I will be gone for a week.”
“Congrats on the other work.” She made sure her voice didn’t betray her sorrow at not being able to spend time with him. “Have a safe trip.” She was hurt inside. She wanted to be with him, but Sanura knew she had to stay strong so he didn’t try to get out of the appointment.
Gavin’s voice deepened. “Will you miss me?”
“Of course I will. Why would you think otherwise?”
“Because you don’t sound like it. It sounds like you couldn’t care less.”
She chuckled at the pouty sound to his voice. “What would you prefer, me whining and begging you not to go?”
“Well, yes. At least show me some emotion. You keep your feelings so well hidden I don’t know how you feel.”
She chuckled. “I own a business. I understand things come up. It’s the way of the world. I wouldn’t ask you not to go because I want you beside me at night, because I would hope you’d do the same to me. You have a new business, you need to do what you need to in order to make it flourish.”
“So you do want me beside you at night?” He sounded so frickin’ pleased with himself.
Leaning back in her chair, she grinned. “Is that all you got out of what I said?”
“No, but that is the important part. So you will miss me.” The way he said it was a statement.
“Yes, I’ll miss you. Miss your body beside mine. Anything else?”
His tone was overly confident as he spoke. “No. As long as you will miss me. See you when I get back?”
“It’s a date. Stay safe.” She hung up the phone.
* * * *
The next week was flying by for Sanura.
Her phone rang and she picked it up to find Michael Wayne. He was her Realtor.
“Mac. Guess what?”
“What?” She hadn’t heard from him in a while and now wondered why he was calling.
“It’s open and it’s yours if you still want it.”
Her legs gave out from under her and she sat down hard in her chair. It couldn’t be. Could it? “For real? You ain’t shittin’ me are you, Mike?”
“No way. I took the chance you wanted it and have already begun the process. I also found a buyer for your place, if you want to sell it.” The price he quoted her was well
over what she ever thought of getting.
“How much is the other place?” The price was lower than before. “Why did it drop?”
“Don’t know. Some kind of family emergency. Want to come out and see it today? I’m here now and will wait for you.”
“Hell yeah. Be there as soon as I can. Thanks, Mike.” She hung up and yelled, “Yesss!” to the room before running out the door shouting over her shoulder she would be back.
Sanura pushed the speed limit all the way there, but within thirty minutes she was pulling her Yukon up next to the town car Mike drove. She jumped out and ran up to him as he waited on the steps for her.
“Oh, Mike. This is perfect. I can do it?”
“You can. Easier than before. Want to come in?” Mike was a handsome, average sized man with dark brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. An ever-ready smile said he truly loved his job and was good at it.
Here it was. Her dream. It was an old southern home with large pillars on the front of the veranda. It sat on five acres and had a private beach access. The home was beautiful. Sanura had fallen in love with it the first time she had ever laid eyes on it. The cathedral ceilings, wooden floors and openness that didn’t come in houses anymore were the basis for this one.
“How soon can I get it?” she asked as she followed him inside.
“Soon, I’m sure. They have already moved out so the only thing would be if you wanted to wait for your house to sell first.”
“What do you think?” Her fingers ran over the teak and mahogany wood in the house.
“I would wait, but I say that knowing someone is looking at your home.”
“Well, you’re the Realtor here. I want this house so bad, so do whatever you think would be best because I don’t intend on losing it.” She followed him upstairs to the huge bedrooms. The home had been modernized but it still retained that allure of the 1800’s in its décor.
“All right. I’ll get started right away. You might want to begin packing. I will try to rush it as fast as I can.”
“Mike, you are the best.” She hugged him tightly as she spun around the hallway.
“Well, you’re family. Besides, Tatyana would kill me if I didn’t help. Not that I wouldn’t do it anyway, but with those killer cat eyes my wife has it gives me the extra nudge.” He smiled as he returned her hug. “Besides, if it weren’t for you and Ali I never would have met my wife.”
That was true. He and Tati had met at the diner. She had begun working there, and was not really sure it was for her when Mike walked in. Mac and Ali had never seen the street-hardened girl at a loss for words but when she laid her tawny eyes on the confident man sitting at the counter she fell silent. Night after night he would show up. Mike became Tati’s customer. One thing led to another and they eventually got married a year and a half ago. Mac was one of the reasons it worked, for she was the one who convinced Tati that love had no color.
Since Tatyana was family it automatically made Mike family. He worked hard at getting people homes, but for the ones from the restaurant he worked extra hard. And Mac was no exception.
The ring of Mac’s cell stopped her next comment. “Mac. Hey, what’s up? Okay. Fine.” She pulled the phone away from her face for a moment and yelled down the hall to where Mike was wandering. “Mike, meet me in the back bedroom.”
“Who the hell are you with? Who is Mike?” Gavin thundered as she got back on the phone.
“None of your business,” she snapped, not liking his tone. “Did you have a safe flight?”
“Sounds like you are too busy to chat. Forget it.” His words were scathing and it hurt her but she didn’t want to let anything ruin this day for her.
“Fine. Bye.”
Click. He was gone.
“Who was that?” Mike asked as she caught up with him.
“A pain in my ass. Look at this view, Mike.” The room had large windows and they looked down onto the gazebo in the middle of a small rose garden.
“Let’s go, hon. I will get started on this right away. Tell Tati I love her?”
“Sure. Thanks, Mike.” The two friends hugged and got into their own vehicles and left.
Sanura shared her news with her staff when she got back to the restaurant. “You know everyone will be coming for a house warming party. Plus, you men need to unload my things.”
At the laughter she continued, “Just kidding. But we will have to have a get-together there. All of us. Close the restaurant for a day and take a break.”
For the remainder of the week, all of her free time was spent packing up her house. Gavin was always in her thoughts but she didn’t have the time to dwell on him. Mike called and said she could move in next week. He must have really done a rush on the paperwork. The people interested in her home stopped by for a walk through and decided to keep their offer on the table.
Her own house would be sold the day before she officially bought her new place. Mike was going to handle the money with Tony’s wife, who was a loan officer at a bank. Large families were awesome.
Some of the spouses were in construction and had already offered services to her. Tony’s eldest son—Tony Jr., called TJ—had a moving company so he was handling the transportation. That way she would be able to work and feel confident her things were safe and would end up in the proper place. She had gone out there with TJ earlier and showed him where everything was to go.
Sanura was at the church Wednesday night having rehearsal when her phone rang. She picked it up, “Mac.”
“I’m sorry, kitten. Are you still mad at me?” Gavin asked.
“I don’t have time to be mad at you. Where are you?”
“Miss me?” There it was again, that hopeful note in his voice.
“Yes.” She had and wasn’t going to play with him right now.
“Where are you?”
“Church. We have a choir rehearsal. What about yourself?”
“Lying on my bed dreaming about you.”
“Right. Where are you?”
“California. San Diego.”
“I didn’t know Harris had stuff out there.”
“Me neither. Apparently this is where the real money is. His older brother is out here heading up this one, and he wasn’t kidding about wanting more buildings. He wants to tear down the old ones and use the brick to build newer, more handicap accessible buildings. It is absolutely amazing to be a part of this.”
She grinned at the pride in his voice. “Good for you.”
“He keeps asking about you.”
“Tell him to mind his own damn business.”
“I tried. Now his thing is to make sure there are women around me all the time. He is pushy, like Mother.”
“Women, huh? Well, that would explain why you are in bed.” Her heart cracked.
“It’s not like that. You know how I feel about you.”
“Words. Those are just words.”
“I don’t know how to prove myself to you, Sanura. If putting a ring on your finger is the way then as soon as I get back I will. You have to trust me.” He sounded exasperated with her.
A ring. Her body shuddered. “Have fun. I have to go, they are waiting for me. Take care.”
“Don’t,” he interrupted before she could hang up.
“What?”
“Tell me you aren’t mad.”
“I’m not mad. But I really have to go. Later.”
* * * *
There came that damn click in his ear. He swore to himself as he looked at his phone. How he hated this. What he wanted was to hold her. Not talk to her across the country. A knock on his door brought him to his feet.
When he opened it there stood a variety of beautiful women, dressed in little more than revealing swimsuits. “Come to the pool with us.”
“Sorry, ladies. I have a dinner meeting.” He walked through them and down the hall without looking back.
Harris was waiting with his brother at the table.
“Sorry I’m late.”
�
��Not a problem. Get a hold of your woman?”
“Yep. She was at choir rehearsal.”
“Well, let’s order.” They ate dinner and then went to the bar for a drink.
At nine-thirty Gavin cried off and headed up to his room. He had put his key in the door when a soft hand touched his back, and he turned to look at the beautiful woman behind him. She had sultry eyes and a body that would have affected him in the past.
“Lonely tonight?”
“No.” He stepped away from her touch.
“Who has to tell her? I can make it worth your while.”
“Not interested. Goodnight.” He slipped through his door and closed it in her face.
Gavin showered and climbed into bed. Ten o’clock and he was in bed. He needed to hear her voice again. So he picked up the phone and dialed her number.
She answered on the second ring. “Sleep, Gavin, you are supposed to get some sleep.” Her voice was full of teasing exasperation.
“How did you know it was me?” he asked, pleased that she had known.
“Who else would call me at one in the morning? What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be out partying or something?”
“I miss you. I want you to be with me.”
“When are you coming home?”
“Not for another week. I told Clint this evening. Our work’s been extended.”
“Good for you.”
“What did you do today?”
“This and that. Come on, give me a nice dream to fall asleep to, I have to get up early tomorrow.”
So he did. Gavin gave her very vivid ideas for her dreams that night, and when he fell asleep he had a grin on his face. For the rest of his trip, Gavin called her every night to tuck her into bed. He began to look forward to hearing her sultry voice as he burrowed into the cool sheets on his bed.
* * * *
Moving day arrived. Sanura was on cloud nine. The day seemed to drag and she was chomping at the bit. She left the restaurant at three in the afternoon, so she would have some daylight to look around her house. A sense of security filled her as she pulled into the circular drive and saw one moving truck still there.