by Morris, T M
“Did you find everything you need?” Devon asked as he glanced up from the computer.
“Yes I did.” She muttered as she sat down at the table across from Devon. “How much have you written on the report?”
“Not much. I need your deed search information to begin.” Devon paused for a moment to study Lucy’s delicate features. “Where are the files?”
“Um,” Lucy looked around for a moment before she asked, “Did we leave them in the truck?”
“I’ll go look.” Devon jumped up from the table and raced toward the door. He donned his shoes and coat.
“I’ll make some more coffee.” Lucy smiled as he opened the door and stepped out into the cold.
Devon managed to slip and slide his way to the truck and spent several minutes de-icing it. All the while he chastised himself. Man! You have got to get a hold of yourself. Lucy is your assistant, not your girlfriend. You can’t allow your attraction to her to ruin everything. Working with her is far better than never seeing her again. Where’s your iron resolve? If you have to, pretend she’s Sydney.
It was several minutes before he was able to open the door. He climbed in and rummaged around until he managed to find the file he was looking for in the floor under the passenger seat. By the time he returned to the kitchen he thought he may have regained control of his thoughts.
“There you are.” Lucy smiled as he came through the door followed by a gust of icy wind. “I was beginning to wonder about you.” She handed him his coffee mug filled with fresh strong black coffee.
“Thanks. I had to chip the ice off the door before I could get into it and find the files. Let’s get to work now, okay?” He motioned her toward the table.
Devon and Lucy resumed their light-hearted banter which continued throughout the rest of the morning and early afternoon. They were meticulous, however, to keep some distance between them and further references to the night before were avoided. There were several occasions when Lucy caught Devon studying her. But as soon as their eyes would meet he would look away. After the sixth or seventh visual clash Lucy couldn’t stand it any longer. She burst out, “What?”
“What?”
“Why are you staring at me? It’s unnerving!” Lucy jumped up and began to pace around the room.
Devon got to his feet and stretched, “I was wondering if you might be hungry.”
“Hungry?” Lucy stopped mid-step turned and studied Devon’s back.
“Yes. Hungry. We haven’t eaten in several hours.” Devon said as he added another log to the fire. “I have to admit a late breakfast, no lunch and lots of coffee cannot hold me all day. I’m hungry, how about you?”
Lucy looked out the window-wall to the lengthening shadows, “What time is it?”
“It’s after four.” Devon said as he sauntered into the kitchen to rummage around the pantry. “Does it have to be a certain time in order for you to think about eating?”
Lucy joined him and began to stare into the refrigerator. “No. I am getting hungry too. I was just wondering what time it was. What are you in the mood for?”
Devon paused for a second. Then with an evil grin he asked, “Do you mean food?”
“Of course I mean food.” Lucy snapped, “What else would I—never mind.” She buried her head in the refrigerator.
Devon laughed, “Why don’t we cook up some steaks, potatoes and salad? We’ll need to use up as much of the fresh stuff as possible. Otherwise we’ll have to take it back with us.”
Lucy threw a head of lettuce at him, which he caught without effort as she fumed, “For dessert I can make strawberry shortcake with those frozen strawberries and whipped topping.”
“You have quite a temper.” Devon observed as he began to wash the lettuce.
“And I suppose you never get irritated or angry or even a little out of sorts.” Lucy muttered as she handed him the remaining salad ingredients to wash.
“As long as my step-brother is out of town or I’m out of town—no.” Devon chuckled.
Lucy turned on the oven and set the temperature for the biscuits as she walked past it to the pantry for the ingredients for shortcake, “I wonder if this ice storm is local or more widespread.” She mused.
“We can watch the local news for a weather report later. Maybe we can get a better idea of how long it will be before we can expect a thaw.” Devon returned.
“Sounds like a plan.” Lucy agreed as she reached for a bowl on the top shelf.
“Here, let me get that down for you.” Devon’s body brushed against Lucy’s as he lifted the bowl from the shelf without effort.
“Thank you.” Lucy blushed and for several moments she wondered what it would be like to be held by him.
“Lucy?” Devon touched her shoulder.
She was so startled she could have jumped out of her skin and said, “Huh? What? Did you say something?”
“Yeah, I did. Where did you go?” Devon looked at her full of concern.
“I’m sorry I was thinking about something very personal, that’s all.” Lucy could feel a flush rise from beneath her shirt up her neck to her hairline.
“Well,” Devon smiled. “Well, whatever it was, it must have been something wonderful the way you were looking, darlin’.”
Lucy’s flush deepened to crimson, “What were you saying?”
Devon turned back to the sink, “I was saying those shortcake biscuits aren’t going to make themselves.”
Lucy looked down at the empty bowl. She muttered, “No, I guess they won’t.”
Devon laughed. He turned to the refrigerator and said, “I’ll get these steaks grilling. Will the biscuits be in the oven when I get back or are you going to go off to wherever you were again?”
“Yes and no.” Lucy groaned. She measured the flour and dumped it into the bowl.
Devon laughed again as he walked out the door. Why did he have to have such a wonderful deep laugh? Why did he have to be her employer? Why couldn’t she just ignore the way he made her feel when he was near? Good Grief! No one has ever made you tremble before!
While Lucy prepared the biscuit dough her mind struggled to figure out why she couldn’t keep from thinking about Devon. It was as if he was a flame and she a moth. Her heart and body ached to be his—but he was her boss. She had to remember that one crucial fact. . Didn’t she leave her last job to get away from her boss and his demands for an affair? She didn’t want to leave James Dalton. She was happy working for Devon. She couldn’t say the same about Jordan Lancaster without lying. Jordan had always made her feel intimidated and on edge whereas Devon eased her fears and made her feel safe and valued. Besides, Devon was not married and he wasn’t harassing her. All the same, she had made a commitment to herself. She would not compromise her career for momentary desire.
Lucy slid the baking sheet laden with a half dozen huge biscuits into the oven as Devon slid into the door on his behind. She raced over to the door and flung it open for him as he picked himself up off the deck. “Are you okay? You haven’t broken anything have you?”
“I think my pride may have suffered a mortal wound but nothing else seems to be hurt.” Devon grimaced, “The grill should be ready for the steaks in about five minutes.”
“The biscuits should be ready about the same time the steaks are done. I’m about to put the potatoes in the microwave. Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m fine, Lucy. Quit worrying over me and help me set the table.”
“Now I know you’re not as fine as you say. You are snapping at me.” Lucy muttered as she gathered plates and flatware.
Devon poured a chilled red wine into glasses as he shot back without apology, “So my pride wounds easily.”
“Would you be so ‘wounded’ if I hadn’t seen you fall?” Lucy jibed as she checked the biscuits.
Devon sighed, “No. I might have been annoyed but not humiliated.”
Lucy nodded. “Do you think the grill is ready for the steaks?”
“Yeah, I guess
I’d better get back out there and put them on.” Devon said.
“I can do it if you want.” Lucy offered.
Devon straightened to his full six feet four inch height as he said, “I’ll not have you breaking your pretty little neck.”
“And what do you suppose I am to do if you break your leg or something? Shoot you to put you out of your misery? I can’t drive your truck; it’s as big as a bus and I don’t know how to drive a standard shift on ice.” Lucy tried to glare at him as he went out the door.
Twenty minutes later, they sat down together to eat. Conversation was minimal. They were busy enjoying the food. Lucy broke the easy silence, “This steak is very good, just the way I like it. So you can scramble an egg and grill a steak.”
“My two specialties and you can make biscuits.” Devon said as he buttered his third. “I have never tasted a better biscuit.”
“Thank you, but save some for the shortcake.” Lucy smiled.
“I’m looking forward to that, too.” Devon said spearing a bite of steak with his fork.
Lucy took a sip of her wine and sighed. “If I keep eating like this I’m going to get fat.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you to gain a little weight.” Devon said, “Judging from what I saw last night.”
“Just what did you see?” Lucy asked, her voice laden with doubt.
“Your hip bones were sticking out a little. It’s nothing a couple of pounds wouldn’t fix.” He answered.
Lucy’s hackles rose. “My hip bones do not stick out.”
Without another word Devon stood and went into the kitchen. Lucy sipped her wine as she studied her plate. She didn’t care one iota if Devon thought she was skinny. She was fine the way she was.
She was still staring into her plate when Devon returned with two strawberry shortcakes piled high with berries and whipped topping. He set one before her and sat down with the other still in hand. As he placed the dish on the table before him he said, “You better dig in before you blow away.”
Lucy glared at him while jabbing her fork into a strawberry she had been chasing around the plate. The moment the sweet tang of the berry flooded her mouth her irritation with Devon was forgotten. Fresh or frozen, it didn’t matter; strawberries were her all-time favorite fruit. She savored every bite until she noticed Devon was watching her. . Lucy couldn’t be sure why but she was a little frightened. She blushed and to cover her unease she asked, “What’s the matter? Do I have whipped cream on my face?”
“Hmm? Uh, no you don’t.” Devon was slow to respond, as if he had been deep in thought and he was a long time in registering her question.
“Then why are you looking at me that way?” Lucy asked afraid of the answer.
Devon returned all his attention to his own dessert and said, “No reason. I was thinking.”
“If you say so.” Lucy didn’t pry. . If indeed he was attracted to her.... If he made any advance toward her.... She wasn’t sure she could resist him commitment or no commitment.
Still be deep in thought Devon said, “I suppose we had better turn on the evening news and watch the weather report.” Devon eased out of his chair and headed for the living area where the entertainment center stood. He turned off the CD player which had been playing in the background throughout the day and turned on the television. Devon watched the news report while Lucy cleared away the dishes.
Lucy couldn’t keep from thinking how wonderful it was to spend so much time with Devon. She knew being sequestered away from the rest of the world wouldn’t last. When the dishes were done and the coffee brewed, she poured them both a large mug and joined Devon on the sofa. Without realizing she sat next to Devon instead of at the opposite end as was her custom.
In silence they watched the weather report and sipped their coffee. The bad news was the whole eastern third of the state from the Cumberland Plateau east was under a thick blanket of ice. Very few of the main highways were drivable and even large portions of the area were without power.
The good news was the weather service was expecting a warming trend over the next few days. By the weekend temperatures should return to the sixties, the normal temperature range for autumn. Then the ice should melt away and they would be able to return to Nashville and their normal lives.
Lucy sighed, “Doesn’t look promising.”
“Are you getting cabin fever already?” Devon teased.
Lucy smiled. “I believe I could stay here forever. It is so peaceful and comfortable.”
Devon set his empty mug on the end of the table and asked, “Is it just the cabin or does the company help?”
She thought for a moment before giving a diplomatic answer. “I’ll grant you, if I were here alone I wouldn’t like it very much.”
“So the company helps?’ He took her cup and placed it on the table next to his own.
“Y-yes.” she stammered.
“Good.” Devon lips turned up a little as his face moved closer to hers. He thought, So much for your ironclad resolve.
“Devon?”
He pulled her into his arms, as the pressure of his kisses grew deeper. She groaned half conscious of her hands, having a mind of their own, were kneading his muscular back.
Over the next several minutes their lips were never more than a millimeter apart. Devon lifted her shirt over her head. He drew in a ragged breath as he gazed at her heaving breasts in her lace bra which struggled to contain them. His mouth once again possessed hers as his deft hands worked to free her of the skimpy lace and elastic contraption. He made a tortuous burning trail of kisses from her now swollen lips down her long neck to her breast. Lucy gasped with raw pleasure as his tongue began to tease her nipple.
In response Lucy’s clumsy fingers unbuttoned and removed his shirt exposing his taut muscular torso. Uncertain, she looked into Devon’s eyes. His eyes were smoky with passion. In a brief moment of indecision she touched her lip with the tip of her tongue. He shuddered as he reclaimed her lips with a deeper more passionate kiss.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bed where he eased her down. He lowered himself onto the mattress next to her. He looked into her eyes and said in a husky whisper, “If you want to stop—”
Drunk with passion Lucy kissed him She couldn’t bear to stop his lovemaking now. She was desperate for him to fulfill her aching need for him.
Consciousness made its lazy return to Lucy as she stretched her long body. She was stiff and she ached in curious places. When her foot bumped another foot she jerked wide-awake. She rolled over and opened her eyes. She looked around the room then at the man still sleeping next to her. She was in Devon’s bedroom. In his bed. The memories of the previous night flooded her mind.
There was intense passion, unbridled during their lovemaking. Lucy couldn’t keep from smiling. She blushed.
She was still smiling as she cuddled close to him trying not to wake him. His nakedness pressed close to her was pure bliss. Her smile faded when she realized she was going to have to savor these few precious moments for a lifetime. She recalled having said she would not have an affair with her boss. Yet, here she was lying in his arms. Where was her resolve last night? Before last night she wondered how it would feel to make love with Devon. Now she knew what she had been missing. It would be so much worse than she ever imagined it would be. Unshed tears stung the back of her eyes.
Sometimes ignorance was bliss.
Devon awoke when Lucy snuggled up to him. Aunt Carmella was right, he thought, I do love her. I can’t live without her in my life. We make a good team. We work well together. We get along at home so well, and making love with her…oh man…it was beyond words. Ecstasy doesn’t even come close.
Lucy started to sneak out of the warm comfort of Devon’s bed. He surprised her when he held her close to him preventing her from leaving. She tilted her face toward his, her eyes large and glistening with unshed tears were questioning. Devon kissed her with as much desire as the previous night. She felt her resolve dwin
dle.
Determined, Lucy pulled herself free of his embrace. Her voice was anguished and her eyes were overflowing with tears as she said, “Devon, you are my boss. I work for you. Oh my God, what have I done?” And before he could answer, she escaped to her own room for a good, long, loud cry.
Devon was so stunned he couldn’t move. He lay in his bed listening to her sob wishing he had never laid eyes on her. Lucy was the only woman he would ever want or love. In frustration Devon threw off the covers with such violence they flew across the room and went to shower. He let the hot water course over his body, hoping it would wash away the pain of rejection tearing through his heart.
In her own room Lucy’s heart was breaking anew with each sob. She was in love with Devon. How could she have been so stupid as to fall in love with her boss? The one man she should never have romantic notions about was the one man she loved most in all the earth. She swiped at her eyes with the corner of the sheet when she heard the shower. She knew what she had to do. She would have to quit her job and move on with a broken and empty heart. She crawled out of bed, wrapped herself in a robe and went to the kitchen to make an attempt at making breakfast.
Chapter Nine
“Coffee?” Lucy offered her voice free of emotion. “I’ll go shower now if it’s all right with you.”
“Whatever.” Devon muttered. He couldn’t believe how cool she was toward him. He had heard her crying her eyes out not twenty minutes ago, hadn’t he? Her puffy red-rimmed eyes and cherry red nose were the only evidence he had to prove he had not imagined her crying jag. How could she regret their lovemaking? How was he going to live in the cabin all iced in with Lucy without being able to touch her, to kiss her, to make love with her? He was going to go crazy; he knew it for a fact. Who was he kidding? He had a taste of how magnificent loving her could be and now he was going to have to live without it. It was like being stranded in the desert and given just one sip of water to quench a lifetime of thirst.
He needed to do something, anything to put space between them and clear his head. .