by Amanda Uhl
“Workaholic.” He raised his glass in toast.
“My boss is a slave driver.” She tapped her wine glass against his water glass before taking a swallow. “How often do you travel?”
“It depends. When I’m working on an assignment, like now, it can be frequently. Other times, maybe once every few months.”
“Do you enjoy what you do?”
“Usually. But lately, not as much. I’m thinking of retiring.”
“You’re too young to retire. What would you do with yourself?”
“I can think of a lot of things. Maybe settle down and start a family.”
Not for the first time, she wondered why such an attractive and intelligent man had never married. Closet drug addict? Gambler?
David quirked one eyebrow at her. “What about you?”
“I’d like to be more settled.”
Grace thought of Brains as she had last seen him on the beach. Across from her, David’s face took on a strange, almost hard expression. Although she’d known him for less than a week, she was beginning to recognize the look. There was something he wasn’t telling her. All her fears and doubts rose inside her. This situation was not what it seemed. They were advancing into unexpected territory.
“Did you ever learn the identity of your beach admirer?” He poured the last of the wine into her glass.
“No, not yet. Who was that girl you were with on the beach? She was also with you in Coffersations.”
“Her name is Geneva. She’s…my business partner.”
“Oh, I see.”
“What do you see?”
David was smiling at her again. What was so damn amusing? “She works with you? Right?”
“That’s right.” He was still smiling.
“What’s with the smirk?”
“You’re jealous.”
“What…how…I’m not jealous. I barely know you.”
David reached out, and before Grace could guess his intentions, grabbed her hand. She tugged, but he would not let go. “Whatever you say. Let’s go.”
David paid their bill, and they left the restaurant, his hand firmly grasping hers to lead her to his convertible. They spent some of the ride home in companionable silence as she took in the stars. She spotted the summer triangle high in the night sky, as a breeze off Lake Erie cooled her flushed cheeks. By the time she remembered his cottage, they were already there. He parked the car, took the key from the ignition, and turned to face her. “I neglected to tell you how beautiful you look tonight.”
“Flatterer. You don’t look so bad yourself.” He smiled, or at least she thought he did. It was dark in the car, so it was hard to tell. He removed his seat belt and leaned across the seat and undid hers as well. But he made no move to get out of the car.
“Grace, I need to tell you something.” He reached over and grasped her hand. He paused, deliberating. She waited patiently for him to continue. “I have to go away again on Monday and won’t be back until Wednesday or Thursday.”
“Okay.” Privately she wondered if the young girl would be traveling with him.
“I’m telling you because I don’t want you to be concerned when you don’t hear from me.”
“Oh, I don’t expect you to have to call me.” Grace reassured him. “Because we went out on one date doesn’t mean you owe me anything…although I do appreciate you telling me, of course.”
“I would like to see you again…tomorrow.”
She grimaced. “I have plans for tomorrow. I’m sorry.”
“Change them.”
“David, I’m sorry. It’s something I have to do. I can’t.”
Grace knew the moment he planned to kiss her. He bent forward, his breath warm on her face and the rich scent of his aftershave enveloping her. David wanted her. There was no mistaking it now. All the cells in her body seemed to want him, too, and she closed her eyes and parted her lips in expectation of a kiss that never came. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her, like the cat who got the canary, but all he said was, “Change them please. For me.”
If she changed them would he kiss her? There was only one way to find out. Her date with Brains was more curiosity than anything at this point. She could reschedule, right? If they had waited this long, there was no reason they couldn’t wait a little longer.
“All right. I’ll change them.”
He let out a slow breath, as if he had been holding it in, anticipating her refusal. But instead of kissing her, he opened his car door and said, “Great. Let’s go say hi to Oliver.”
Grace didn’t know whether to be relieved or frustrated.
Oliver was waiting for them, tail wagging, as soon as David opened the front door. Grace eyed the large dog as he went from David to Grace and back again in excitement. Eventually, he settled with a rawhide David dug out from a cupboard. As David rummaged in the kitchen, Grace took the opportunity to look around again. She couldn’t help but be impressed with the cottage. It was not overly elaborate, but quaint and well-constructed. Rustic wood floors covered by a deep, plush cream piled rug gleamed. A slip-covered, green sofa faced the giant pane of glass overlooking the lake. She could spend hours staring out the window. It was a beautiful view even in the dark with moonlight shining off the water.
David brought her a cup of coffee with plenty of cream and sugar as she liked it. She was impressed he remembered and told him so.
“I remember everything about you.”
She was flattered, although she guessed he was not being entirely truthful. “Oh, yeah? What’s my bird’s name?”
“Harvey,” he said instantly.
“Pretty impressive. Let me see.” She tried to think of the most obscure thing she might have told him. “What’s my favorite dessert?”
“German Chocolate Cake. You won’t win. I told you I remember everything.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t be so sure. How about Claire’s fiancé?”
“Tom.” He grinned. “Give up?”
“When’s the wedding?” He couldn’t possibly know everything there was to know about her.
He waggled his eyebrows. “October 10.”
He did remember everything. She tried again. “What’s my mother’s name?”
“Elaine.”
She frowned. “But I didn’t tell you my mother’s name. How did you know that?”
He tried to brush it off. “You must have mentioned it when we were talking about our families.”
She had? She eyed him suspiciously. “What’s the name of my ex?”
“I don’t believe you ever talked about him. But Brice Gallant did during your presentation at Gallant. His name is Gregory. Last name…Tilko. Which means you were once Mrs. Tilko.”
She was suitably impressed, but he was finally wrong about one thing. “Wrong. I kept my maiden name.”
“Ah, you got me,” he said smoothly, turning her to face him.
Her eyes immediately dropped to his warm, sensual lips. What would it feel like to experience those lips on her? Grace raised her eyes to his and drew in a sharp breath at what she saw there. He wanted her. He wasn’t hiding his desire. So, why didn’t he kiss her?
Suddenly the answer was there in her mind. How Grace knew what David was thinking was beyond her. But she knew. The same way she knew how a piece of glass would fit perfectly in one of her designs. David wanted it to be her choice. If anything were to happen between them, she would need to make the first move.
Before she could think more about what she was doing or why, Grace placed her lips on his. David did not pull away, but he did not respond immediately either. So, she did what she had secretly imagined doing since their first meeting and ran her hands through his dark locks and down his back. The silky texture followed by the taut muscles started an ache deep inside.
For a brief moment, David remained unmoving. Grace reveled in the freedom to touch his body, while her lips teased his. But he did not allow her to remain in charge for long. As she continued her exploratio
n, shaping the hard muscles in his shoulders and running her hands inside his shirt, David deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her and dropping to the couch with Grace in one swift motion. His tongue moved into her mouth, scraping her teeth. The rich smell of his cologne had Grace wanting a whole lot more than he was offering. The odd tingling sensation, which she had experienced once before on the beach, formed at the base of her skull and spread throughout her body. What was happening? Her heart beat hard, tapping out a fast rhythm. Oliver barked once, as if sensing her emotion. Grace took a calming breath and instead of resisting, gave herself up to the electrical current that seemed to run between them.
David pulled away from her. “Grace, look at me.”
Dazed, she obeyed, but it was difficult to focus on his lips, when all she wanted to do was kiss them. She forced herself to look into his green eyes and found them dark with desire. Grace shivered.
“I want you, Grace. More than you can possibly know. But you need to…understand something about me first.”
“What?” she asked, breathless, surprised to hear the trembling passion in her own voice.
“I don’t share. And contrary to what you may think, I don’t sleep around. If we are…intimate…then I’ll want more than a one-night stand.”
In all her life, Grace had never known a man’s desire like this. He was staking his territory. Despite his air of mystery, David’s arms offered a safe harbor. Grace never wanted to leave them. Which was plain stupid. She just met the man.
“Grace.” He drew her name out on a ragged sigh, laying his forehead on hers. “I don’t want to rush you. If this is too soon, say so.”
The tingling sensation seemed to pierce her temples. She struggled to clear her mind, but it was like walking through cotton. It seemed impossible they had only met this this week. It felt like forever.
David started to pull away. Panic raced through her system. “It’s not too soon.”
David lifted his face to hers. “You can’t mean that.” His green eyes seemed to search her soul.
Grace nodded. “But I do.” She did mean it. She didn’t know how or why she trusted David, but she found she did with a surprising certainty.
He stared at her, his always perfect hair messy and green eyes glowing with a dark passion. Slowly, as if he thought she might change her mind, David placed both of his palms on either side of her cheeks. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered, then proceeded to trace the outline of her lips with his tongue. Grace could smell the rich scent of aftershave mixed with the lake breeze. The electrical charge spread into her face and down her back.
David pulled her from the couch and carried her to his bedroom. Soon they were lying on his soft mattress. Overhead, moonlight streamed through the window making geometric patterns on the opposite wall.
She should put a stop to this. Common sense dictated she reconsider. But under the onslaught of his skillful hands and embrace, Grace could not find the strength she needed to haul herself off the bed and out the door. Her last logical thought was her mother would be expecting a phone call. But it soon vanished under the powerful passion that sprang between them.
Chapter Thirteen
Pumpkin Pie
Grace awoke to the sound of the lake and seagulls crying for their morning breakfast. For a moment, she lay there trying to piece together where she was. It didn’t take her long to remember her passionate evening, especially when the object of her passion was staring at her, a pleased look on his face. She couldn’t stop the blush that started in her chest and spread to her face.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” He ran one long finger along the side of her cheek.
“I know,” she said, a bit defensively. “I don’t know why I blush like that. I’m not embarrassed.”
David studied Grace for a moment. As if he were satisfied with what he saw, he kissed her softly on the lips, taking his time. After a few minutes, he moved away slightly to look her in the eyes. “Good. Let’s have a repeat.”
It was some time before Grace had another coherent thought. When she did, it was that she had to use the bathroom. She rose naked and walked across the plush carpet. She knew David watched her but shrugged it off. When you had to go bad enough and after a night and morning of shared passion, there wasn’t much more to be embarrassed about.
By the time she came out of the bathroom, David was nowhere to be seen, but she heard the sounds of dishes rattling in the kitchen. She needed her cell phone, which was in her purse in the other room. Grace looked at the pile of clothes at her feet. She didn’t want to wander around naked, but she didn’t have it in her to put on her fancy dress from last night. She spied a dresser across the room and rummaged in it. After the third drawer, she found a stack of sweatpants and tops, all neatly folded. She pulled one from each stack. The blue sweatshirt had Chief Wahoo on the front, and the pants were gray. She put them on. They were way too big but would do for her purposes.
Grace rolled the sleeves and ankles and wandered out to the main room to look for her purse. She could hear David humming in the kitchen as she felt for her cell phone in the bottomless cavern that was her handbag. That was unusual. He never hummed. How she knew that about David was beyond her, but Grace found the knowledge was hers. She selected Brains’ cell number and texted him.
9:02 a.m. I’m sorry. Something’s come up. I’m going to have to cancel.
David was studying her, a glass of juice in his hand. “Canceling your plans?”
“Yes.” Guilt made her cheeks bright, like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Despite his confidence last night, David didn’t know everything about her, Grace reminded herself. Still, she quickly deposited her cell phone back in her purse.
“Good, because I’ve got plans for us today. Those look good on you.” He pointed casually to her outfit.
“I’m sorry…I snooped in your dresser. I needed something to wear.”
He smiled. “I don’t mind. I like you wearing my clothes. Come and eat. Breakfast is ready.”
David fed her scrambled eggs and toast. She tried to get out of him what they had planned for the day, but he said it was a surprise. “I’ll need to go back to my place and pick up some clothes.”
“No you won’t.” He smiled playfully. “You look good in my sweats.”
Grace liked him this way—happy. David needed to smile and laugh more. But she did require her own clothes and clean underwear.
Paramour, singing the chorus about crying for your mama, blared from the other room. Her mother. Grace had forgotten all about calling her. She ran for her phone. By the time she found it in her bag, it had stopped ringing. She’d better call her back right away, or her mother would have the police searching for her. She pressed the callback button. She could hear David humming again, while he cleaned the dishes. “Hi, Mom.”
“Oh, thank goodness you’re all right. I was starting to worry about you. You were supposed to call me last night.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. We got home late, and I was tired and forgot.” The excuse was lame. It was not like her to forget. Her mother sounded suspicious.
“How was your date?”
“Great. We went to Club 32—you know the private restaurant? Fancy.”
“Good. How’d you like him? Do you plan to see him again?”
“I think so…yes.” She didn’t dare tell her mother that their first date wasn’t technically over and had already morphed into a second. David came into the room and sat on the couch. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to the cushion with him as she was talking.
“Did you kiss him?”
“Oh, Mom, do we have to?”
“What do you mean do we have to? I’m asking a simple question. I’m your mother. I’m entitled.”
Grace sighed audibly into the phone. “Yes, I did.”
“Now was that so hard? So, was he a good kisser?”
Behind her David stifled a chuckle and buried his face in her
hair. “Mother! Can we move on?” He nuzzled the back of her neck. She was never a great multi-tasker and was worried that this combination might be more than she could manage. That didn’t stop her mother or David from putting her skills to the challenge.
“What about the other one? Are you still planning to meet him?”
“No…at least not today. I’m trying to reschedule that.” She gasped and pulled away as David bit a particularly sensitive spot on her neck.
“Everything ok there?” Her mother had uncanny hearing.
“Yes, I got a paper cut.”
“What do you have planned the rest of the day? Do you want to come for dinner? You can invite the new beau if you’d like.”
“Oh, Mom, I don’t think…”
David straightened suddenly, turned her to face him and nodded.
“Mom, hold on a second. I think I’m getting another call.” She put the phone on mute. “What?”
“Your new beau would like to meet your mother.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“Be careful in making up your mind. My mother is wonderful, but she worries about me and will grill you with twenty questions. Are you completely, totally sure you want to subject yourself to that?”
“Absolutely.” He winked and then got up, kissed her on the lips and disappeared into his bedroom. She took the phone off mute.
“Sorry, Mom. That was David calling. I asked him if he’d like to join us for dinner, and he said yes.”
“That’s wonderful. Do you think he’ll eat pot roast? Or I could make a lasagna. What does he like?”
“For God’s sake Mom, I only met the man. Make the pot roast.”
“Pot roast is good.” His voice called from the other room. “I’m English, remember?” She winced, wanting to shush him. She wasn’t ready for her mother to know they were together.
“Who was that?” her mother asked.