“Yes.”
“And you know my brother, how?” It almost seemed as if she already knew the answer.
“I work for him. I mean, I work for the American facility, of course,” she amended for no apparent reason. Her nerves were beginning to show themselves.
“And you’re here…visiting? When did you arrive?”
“Today.” Anne looked down concentrating on the meat in front of her instead of the dark penetrating eyes staring at her.
“Very nice. Have you ever been to Scotland before?”
“No.”
“Oh! Well, it’s a lovely country. How long are you staying?” Lena asked, watching the smaller woman. She seemed…nervous.
“A week.”
“Well, I certainly hope he takes you site seeing. If he doesn’t, I’d be happy to take you.”
“Thanks.”
“Right. Well, that certainly looks good. Do you happen to have enough for one more? I can’t boil water…”
“I know.” Anne commented. “I mean, your son said the same thing,” she quickly added looking up to see a small smile develop on Lena’s mouth. “Ah…sure?” Anne stated. What was one more? If it pissed him off, she’d invite the entire town just to get back at him.
“So, what do you do at Dunmed?” Lena asked as she pulled out one of the stools pushed under the island.
“R & D,” Anne answered simply. Her lungs were beginning to squeeze ever so slightly. She took a few deep breaths to try and calm her nerves.
“Scientist?”
“Yes,” Anne replied as she turned on the faucet. Her answer seemed a bit clipped. “I mean…yes,” she stated again in a softer tone.
“Oh, well you must be verra smart. I bet you and Ian have extremely boring conversations,” she stated.
Boring? Actually, their ‘conversations’ were anything but. She wouldn’t tell her that.
“I guess,” Anne answered instead.
“What did you go to school for? Chemistry?”
“Ah…yes?” Anne answered. Technically, she wasn’t lying. She did have a Bachelor’s of Chemical Engineering and Post Grad Chemistry Minor along with her Medical Degree. She just wouldn’t elaborate on that. The inevitable question always followed. Why aren’t you a doctor?
“Ian has his PhD in Chemical Engineering. He was always verra driven. I think he’s done quite well. So where did you go to school?” she asked.
“UCLA,” Anne answered quickly, her discomfort becoming harder to tamp down. “So, what do you do?” she turned and grabbed a paper towel from the rack beside the sink. Maybe turning the conversation to something else would help.
“Oh! I just opened an Inn,” she heard. Anne’s body turned immediately as her eyes sought and connected with Lena’s.
“Do you have any rooms available?” she blurted out.
“Yes? Why?” One of her dark brows lifted.
“Well, it would probably be more appropriate for me to stay…someplace else,” she answered.
“Ahhh…” a look of complete confusion seemed to settle on Lena’s face. “Aye, probably not a good idea,” she stated slowly, her voice sort of trailing off.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, I don’t want to be disowned. Secondly…” she breathed out as her eyes flicked toward the ceiling and back down, “I can’t think of a second reason, sorry. I have a feeling he wants you here. If he wants you here, I won’t be able to convince him otherwise. He’s stubborn,” she stated knowingly.
“Tell me about it,” Anne mumbled.
Lena smiled. “You can ask him when he gets here, though. I want to see his reaction.”
Anne gave a crooked smile back before grabbing the rack and wandering toward the refrigerator. Opening the door, she placed the rack on top of the paper wrapped packages. He certainly bought enough food for an army. She could always use the excuse that from the sheer quantity of food, she assumed she was to invite guests.
That wouldn’t wash, but whatever…
She grabbed a container of heavy cream and a carton of eggs on a whim before shutting the door.
“What’s that for?” Lena asked.
“Crème brulee?”
The other woman grabbed her chest. “Oh, I think I love you, Anne Bennett!” she exclaimed. “I would offer to help…”
“It’s all right,” Anne answered quickly.
“Probably a good idea,” she stated with a smirk. “Well, I’ll leave you be. I’m going to go check on my son. He’s supposed to be at the Library, the little brat,” she huffed out as she pushed the stool out and stood.
Anne turned and caught a glimpse of her retreating form before the longest breath escaped her mouth.
She stood immobile for a few moments before finally turning and opening the cabinet, grabbing a bowl and a saucepan. Both new, both gleaming and suddenly she was back to reluctantly mooning over Ian and his thoughtfulness.
A smile formed on her lips as she opened the container of cream and emptied the contents into the pan before turning the knob.
“So, I’ll be leaving ya. Looks like yer in good hands,” she heard behind her. Nelina stood near the entry way to the kitchen, her large purse slung over her shoulder. “Besides, I need to get home and explain myself to Paden. You probably didn’t notice the look he was giving me when I was talking to you…” she grinned.
Actually she did. She just didn’t realize why at the time.
“Ok? So…it was nice meeting you,” Anne stated quietly.
“Oh, we’ll see each other again. I come every day to clean. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. We can play charades again for old time’s sake,” she quipped, eliciting a laugh from Anne.
She was left alone once again as Nelina disappeared from her view. She busied herself opening several drawers, finally managing to find a whisk, check that, a brand new whisk. He had to have had help procuring all of this equipment. He thought of everything. Someone thought of everything…
She even found matching ramekins in the cabinet containing the dishes. She set them in a pan before whisking the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl. Looking over to the pan, she saw the cream was becoming frothy from the heat and immediately began stirring it.
The house was relatively silent, peaceful even, as she concentrated on the pan.
“Now, there’s a sight.”
Her stomach all but dropped to the floor. Her head automatically turned to see Ian leaning on the door jamb. He looked…wonderful of course. His eyes were intent as usual and a quick flush of heat infused her cheeks at the sight.
She quickly turned her eyes back to the pan and the slowly rolling boil that was developing.
She continued to stir with a suddenly clenching hand.
“Are ya verra mad at me or just a wee bit?” she could hear. His voice was closer, his footsteps almost pounding in her brain.
“Well, I can’t look at you right now. This cream will either burn or boil over. I would shoot you my evil death glare if I could. Then you’d have your answer,” she muttered as she concentrated on stirring.
“Ooo, well then, I suppose I’ll have to try my best to make it up to you, eh?” his voice was as smooth as the cream she was stirring. His breath tickled her ear. His body was so close.
Her skin was probably bathed in goosebumps if she cared to look. Tingles shot from the spot his breath touched to every outlying part of her body. She turned the heat off and moved the pan to different burner before stepping to the side.
“You have visitors, by the way,” she informed him quickly. Her voice seemed a bit shaky to her own ears.
“Don’t I know it. I saw their cars,” he breathed out in a clearly annoyed voice. As if on cue, Lena’s voice rang out in the kitchen.
“There you are! Guess what? We’re staying for dinner,” she stated in an all-too chipper voice.
“Aww, bloody hell, Lena” he grated out without looking in her direction.
“Language. Braden’s here too, ya know.”
/>
“He’s seventeen, he says worse than that,” he stated as he continued to stare at Anne.
She was here. In his home. All he wanted to do was pull her to him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her ripe mouth was begging for his kiss.
Damn, Lena…
“Well, we don’t need to encourage him,” he could hear behind him.
“What’s for dinner?” he ignored his sister and continued to watch Anne.
“Lamb chops,” her eyes dropped down; resting on the hand he had placed in the counter. The veins were clearly visible as his grip pretty much matched the intensity of the look he was probably still giving her.
“Good,” he said in a quiet tone.
“Should I open a bottle of something?” Lena’s voice broke in.
“Are you still here?” he stated as his eyebrows rose. He still hadn’t turned to regard her, Anne noticed.
He took a long, deep breath before a shooting an almost apologetic half-smile to Anne. Pushing away from the counter, he backed away reluctantly. “I’ll go change,” he stated softly. “Don’t invite any more people,” he added with a heated look.
She narrowed her eyes back at him.
*****
“Aww, hell NO!”
Lena and Anne looked up at each other moments later as Ian’s voice boomed from the floor above.
A distinct thump could be heard a few seconds later as the two women continued to stare at each other.
“What was that?” Lena asked with widened eyes.
That would be my luggage, Anne thought. She gave an innocent shrug instead.
*****
“The Xbox is in his library, so technically, I wasn’t lying,” Braden stated as he shoved another piece of meat in his mouth.
“This is so goo,” he added with a full mouth.
“Nice manners,” Lena stated as she shook her head before regarding Anne.
“So, you traveled all this way to consult on a project? It must be verra important,” she stated.
Anne’s eyes shifted to Ian. He was still staring at her under an almost hooded gaze. In fact, he never actually took his eyes off of her the entire time, or at least it seemed that way.
“I’d say it’s more…intriguing than anything. Very innovative,” she emphasized as her gaze flicked to Lena.
“What is it?”
Her eyes once again found Ian’s. She wasn’t quite sure if she should say. He gave her the faintest hint of a smile as if to encourage her.
“It’s a drug to treat Alzheimer’s and possibly Parkinson’s disease? They’re having trouble breeching the BBB. I guess that’s where I come in,” she stated still looking at him.
“What’s a BBB?” She could hear from across the table.
“Blood brain barrier. Most medicines have trouble breaking through and actually doing what they’re supposed to do. Molecules have trouble permeating epithelial cells surrounding brain tissue, so we’re going to start studying exosomes,” she stated before looking at Lena.
“They’re a cell-derived vesicle, present in bodily fluids and smaller than 150 nanometers. They can actually deliver antisense oligonucleotides if directly injected into the blood,” Anne stated. Lena’s face seemed to contort in confusion.
“It’s a rather revolutionary concept. They’re actually studying it at Oxford. They’re looking for Pharmaceutical companies to translate the concept into clinicals. It would be wonderful to be chosen. We just have to prove we have the ability to deliver,” Anne answered, pretty certain she just came off as a colossal nerd or perhaps the most boring person in history.
“Sounds…fascinating,” Lena stated but it was obvious from her expression she was joking.
“Well, it is to me,” Anne shrugged with a sheepish smile. “It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to innovate,” she shot a stern look to Ian before she could stop herself.
“We’re set up for that type of research here,” he answered quietly, his own look seemed to match hers.
“Right, and if you’re not set up, you can never be set up,” she answered, “Correct?” She tried to keep her tone light but her eyes practically burned into his.
“Now you sound like Rand,” he let out a disgusted huff of breath. “If I could only get you to concentrate on what you can do and not on what you can’t have, maybe I’d get something out of that facility,” he stated simply. His tone was smug yet his eyes were so intense on her.
“Maybe people need to know their contributions matter and that they have support from top management instead of feeling like they’re just going through the motions,” she returned hotly.
“Maybe people should trust that top management actually knows what they’re doing. Maybe they could stop looking at this as if it’s some personal slight and realize that the purpose of this company is to make money,” he stated before the mocking look that she knew all too well took over his features.
Her fists clenched as her pulse intensified. Apparently he wasn’t done yet, only increasing her agitation.
“What a notion! I know. Must seem awful cold to some people, that whole ‘making money’ thing. People that would rather wallow in emotion…” he stated in a cool voice.
“Must seem awful strange to some people, that whole ‘having emotions’ thing,” she mocked. “People that would rather wallow in their own little black void of nothingness. Oh! I’m sorry. Or was that just business? It’s so hard to tell the difference,” she contemplated as her eyes focused on the ceiling above her.
“Enough,” he grated out, causing her eyes to snap back to his.
Lena cleared her throat loudly but their eyes still locked and held.
“So…ah. That was pleasant. Are you a brain specialist or something, Anne?”
“She’s a neurosurgeon,” Ian answered instead, still looking at Anne.
She cringed inside, hoping it didn’t register on her face.
“You didn’t tell me that!” Lena exclaimed.
“You didn’t ask,” Anne blurted before clamping her lips shut.
“Well, so why do you work for Ian? Seems…”
“You know what?” Anne interrupted her, “I’ve bored you enough. Let’s talk about your Inn.”
“I’m not bored,” Braden piped up. “What?” he asked as all eyes focused on him.
“So…” Lena stated forcefully, turning her attention back to Anne. “It’s a verra lovely property. I have 5 rooms for rent and we’re looking to convert the attic into two more. I’ll have to wait on those, maybe after I actually start bringing in an income. Oh! By the way, Anne asked if she could rent one of my rooms,” she stated cheekily.
“No.”
Anne didn’t need to look at him to gauge his expression. She could imagine the heat in his eyes based on the snapped response he just leveled at Lena.
“No? Well, I must say, this is rather hospitable of you, Ian. I don’t know that you’ve ever…”
“Lena?” he interrupted her. “My penchant for hospitality is limited. Would it be too much to ask that you stuff the rest of yer dinner in her face and be on yer way?”
“Well then,” her eyes cast a glint of amusement in Anne’s direction before a small laugh erupted from her throat.
*****
“I thought they’d never leave. What are you doing?” she heard behind her as she rinsed the plate in her hands.
“Cleaning up,” she mumbled as she stacked it on top of the other rinsed plates in the sink.
“I have a housekeeper for that,” he stated directly behind her. Suddenly, her hips were grabbed, her body turned and he was lifting her easily before setting her bottom on the kitchen counter next to the sink. He immediately nestled his body between her thighs and placed both hands on either side of her head. Her wet hands braced against his strong shoulders, leaving a darkened spot that began spreading.
“Hello, Annie,” he rasped in a low tone before pulling her mouth toward his. There was no thought of stopping him. It started out sweet but
flared into something hot and wild eliciting a groan from somewhere in her body. He pulled his mouth away and rested his forehead against hers as his thumbs swept the skin of her cheeks on either side.
“Do you know how hard that was? To see you and not be able to do this?” he stated before his mouth caressed hers once again. He broke the kiss and leveled a scorching look at her.
“Come on,” He wrapped her legs around his waist before hefting her up against him.
“I can walk, you know,” she stated against his lips once she was settled.
“I know. You weigh a bit of nothing and besides, I can keep kissing you this way,” he stated before doing just that.
“I’m still slightly pissed off at you,” she murmured between kisses as he climbed the stairs.
“Only slightly? I can work with that.”
*****
“I’m close. I’m so close,” she rasped out as she watched the spot where their bodies were joined. It was dark, but moonlight filtered in from the large windows, casting an ethereal blue luminescence over his skin. His hands encircled her hips, tilting them up to where he kneeled between her legs. He immediately pulled himself from her and settled his length on top, still thrusting, causing a new type of friction that made her gasp out.
“Don’t do that, love. When I say I can go all night, I’m not joking.” He trailed his hands from her hips up her sides and back down her abdomen before massaging the top of her mound with his thumbs. His look was one of pure concentration as he focused his attention on that spot.
“If you want me to last any longer, you have to stop doing that,” she stated before one thumb slipped inside. The combination of pressure and friction were causing the familiar clenching and accompanying tingles to start again.
“Actually, I need to get you to sleep. You’re still five hours behind me. We’re up early tomorrow,” he stated almost absently before thrusting inside. “Let’s see what we can do, love.” His hands gripped her hips again as her back arched and a strangled groan emitted from her throat.
He was doing something with his hips, swiveling them in a hypnotically arousing circle, hitting every side of her as his thrusts increased. At some point, one of his hands trailed to her center, his fingers rubbing in time with his thrusts, causing her already trembling body to jerk when he gave a slight pinch. Just that small sting toppled her body off the edge and caused her to cry out as every nerve ending in her body prickled. He was saying something…his hands moving from her hips to under her knees, lifting her weak legs and settling them on his shoulders as he continued to move faster and harder, causing her already sensitive body to begin clenching again from the new spot he seemed to hit within her.
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