by Gina Wilkins
“Well, of course not.” She suspected he was thinking of his ex-fiancée. Sharon had made her displeasure clear to everyone when she didn’t think Scott was paying her enough attention. She’d even snapped at Tess a few times when Tess had answered the office phone and had to explain that Scott was in an emergency meeting and couldn’t be disturbed. Even though she knew he was comparing her positively to his high-maintenance ex, she would just as soon not be compared at all. She deliberately changed the subject. “So you’re following me home to drop off my car and then we’ll have dinner before the concert, right? We’ll have to choose someplace with fast service in order to make the start of the concert.”
They did make it to the concert hall in time, but just barely. The lights were already dimming when they slid into their seats. Tess wasn’t displeased by that. This way they didn’t have to wait very long for the music to start, nor had they risked running into mutual acquaintances on the way in. The concert was wonderful, a charming mixture of classical pieces and Christmas favorites. She relaxed into her seat, letting the music wash over her, not worrying about work or family or the future, just enjoying the evening. After one particularly rousing number, she glanced at Scott to find him gazing back at her. Though the lights were very low, she could see well enough to tell that he was smiling at her, apparently enjoying her pleasure.
He reached over to take her hand, squeezing her fingers. “Glad we came?”
“Very much.”
They’d both needed a couple hours away from work and expectations, she decided. True, they were on a date, and there was still the novelty of that—but it was Scott. With their demanding work schedule, they’d spent more time together over the past six years than most married couples. They communicated so well silently that she could even tell which musical numbers he enjoyed most without looking at him—which was probably also true in reverse. They were comfortable together...and yet underlying that familiarity was a new awareness that gave her a delicious buzz when he touched her. Knowing there would be more kisses later caused little ripples of anticipation to run through her. Thinking of where those kisses would eventually lead made her breath catch in her throat.
But no. She wasn’t thinking ahead now, she reminded herself. She wanted to enjoy every moment of this evening, just sitting beside him and listening to the music.
They each saw a few familiar faces on their way out, but the crowded rush to the exits prevented more than nods and waves. If there were any mutual acquaintances in the audience, she didn’t see them, but then she wasn’t really looking. She and Scott didn’t linger in the hall, but made their way to his car as quickly as possible. They’d accomplished their mission. They’d enjoyed a concert while growing more accustomed to being out in public as a couple. Maybe by the time next weekend rolled around, she would be a little less anxious about attending the party with his family and friends. Had that been part of his reason for bringing her to this concert tonight?
They talked about the concert during the drive home, comparing notes on their favorite numbers, expressing their admiration for both the musicians and the vocal performers. Arriving at her place, he parked next to her little blue sedan. Each unit came with two designated covered parking spaces, leaving her with an extra for her guests. He walked her inside, and her heart beat more quickly with each step they took toward her door. Should she ask him in? Of course she should. Were they ready for that next step they’d alluded to when he’d left her here last time? Part of her was most definitely ready.
He started to automatically follow her inside, then seemed to realize he hadn’t technically been invited yet. He hesitated. It briefly crossed her mind to send him on his way with weariness as her excuse, but she decided she didn’t really want to say good-night just yet. “Would you like some tea?”
“Sounds good.” His flash of a smile made her hands tremble. He closed the door behind them with a firm snap.
She set her bag on a table and draped her coat over the back of a chair. “Would you prefer tea or decaf coffee?”
“Actually, I’m not very thirsty.”
She turned toward him. “Neither am I.”
Scott stepped up to her and cupped her face gently in his hands. His palms were still cool from being outside, but her cheeks felt very warm against them. His eyes locked with hers, and she could almost imagine he could see her thoughts, her doubts as he gazed somberly down at her. “You can kick me out at any time,” he reminded her gently.
“I know. The problem is...I don’t want to kick you out,” she replied, resting her hands on his chest.
His eyes heated, but still he kept his tone even. “Is that really such a problem?”
“I’m still trying to decide.”
He moved his thumb against her lower lip, tracing the shape of it. His gaze following the movement, he murmured, “I’ve been trying to take it slow. Give you time to adjust.”
Take it slow? It had been only a week since he’d sprung this proposition on her. She felt a slight frown crease her brows. “How are you adjusting so easily?”
His smile was warm, understanding. “You know me. Once I make up my mind about something, I rarely second-guess myself. Now that we’ve acknowledged how great we are together, it just seems as if it was inevitable all along.”
Inevitable. Was that enough? She doubted Stevie would think so.
“And now that we’ve spent this time together,” he added, his mouth so close to hers that his breath was a warm caress on her lips, “I can’t believe it took me so long to see what was right in front of me.”
Okay, that sounded a little more intimate. A little less deliberate. Not exactly a declaration of devotion, but that wasn’t what she was looking for from Scott. She’d heard flowery speeches and passionate promises before, and those relationships had ended in disappointment if not actual heartbreak. Maybe this time she should put her faith in actions, not words. And speaking of action...
She wrapped her arms around Scott’s neck when he gathered her closer, capturing her lips with his. Despite the five inch or so difference in their heights, their bodies fit very nicely together. Each time they kissed, the sensations grew more familiar—and yet more urgent. He’d said he’d been taking things slowly, so perhaps he’d held back in those previous embraces. He wasn’t holding back now. He drew her closer, letting her feel his body’s response, making her intensely aware of his growing arousal. His mouth was avid, his tongue insistent. Faced with a choice between pushing him away and doing what she really wanted, she gave in to temptation. She crowded closer to him, returning the kiss with an answering demand.
Take it slow? Hardly. This had been building in her for six years.
He was quick to recognize the silent invitation and he accepted it with an enthusiasm that soon had them both breathing heavily, shoving impatiently at clothing to access the warm skin beneath. Scott’s jacket and tie fell onto the couch. She left her shoes behind when she led him to her bedroom. He had his shirt untucked and partially unbuttoned by the time they reached the bed. She reached for the zipper at the back of her dress, but Scott’s hands were already there as he gathered her into his arms for another hungry kiss. By the time the black dress fell to the floor, she was too deeply lost in the embrace, too eager for more, to be at all self-conscious.
She’d seen him without a shirt only once before. It had been the day they’d worked at his house after his surgery. Still loopy from the meds, he’d accidentally tugged off a corner of his bandage. She’d smoothed it back into place and then helped him don a fresh T-shirt. Other than the necessary touching, she’d kept her hands to herself that day, resisting the then inappropriate urge to run her palms over the firm planes and hard muscles of his chest, to follow a thin trail of hair down his ridged stomach to his shallow belly button and below.
She’d never forgotten how appealing he’d looked that day, a
ll rumpled and drowsy and half-nude. Unbidden memories had haunted her more than once during lonely nights since, though she’d quickly and firmly suppressed them each time. She didn’t have to restrain herself now. She gave her curious hands free rein to explore and savor every inch of him, even as he pushed her beyond coherence with his own bold forays of discovery.
They communicated with soft moans and approving gasps, with kisses and strokes and urgent movements. His mouth on her breasts made her arch with a choked cry of pleasure. Her hands closing around him tore a low groan from him. They rolled and writhed, shoving pillows to the floor, covers to the side. He dealt with protection swiftly and deftly before returning his attention to pleasuring her, which he did with even more practiced skill. Their hands were interlocked when he finally, finally thrust into her, filling an emptiness that seemed to have been waiting for him all her life.
For only a raw heartbeat of an instant, she was aware of a sense of panic, an overwhelming fear that this was too perfect, too powerful. The knowledge that everything would change after this night swept through her, and for just that second she fought to cling to the safe, cautious status quo. The comfortable camaraderie that had carried no risk of disappointment or heartbreak, no fear of losing what they’d found...of losing herself. But then he began to move, and any hesitation was replaced by an almost desperate need for release. Her mind emptied of any thought except that very moment, that very place, the two of them entangled in the cozy cocoon of her bed, their bodies joined, hearts pounding in unison. Her climax hit with a force that shattered any illusion that anything would ever be the same for them again.
* * *
He didn’t stay the night. Referencing an early breakfast meeting with a couple of job foremen, he slipped from the bed and dressed to leave while she wrapped herself in a robe to lock up behind him. He paused before opening the door, and she got the distinct impression that he was trying to come up with the right thing to say. It wasn’t like him to be at a loss for words.
To help him out, she said simply, “Good night, Scott. Drive carefully.”
He kissed her lingeringly. “Sleep well, Tess. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She nodded and reached around him to open the door.
His jacket over his shoulder, tie hanging from his pocket, his finger-combed dark hair tumbling onto his forehead, Scott turned just on the other side of the door to smile at her. “I knew we made a great team,” he said in visible satisfaction. “I really am a genius.”
That made her laugh, as he’d surely intended. “Yes, you are,” she said.
Because she didn’t want him to leave feeling too sanctimonious, she reached out to grab his shirt, tugged his mouth down to hers and gave him a kiss that turned his laughter into a groan.
“Okay, maybe I could stay a little while longer,” he said rather hoarsely when the kiss ended.
She tossed back her tumbled hair and took a step backward. “Good night, Scott.”
She closed the door almost in his face. Through the wood, she heard him sputter a rough laugh, then listened as his footsteps faded away. Only then did she allow herself to release a long, slow exhale.
After fastening the door locks, she turned toward her bedroom, then realized she was biting her kiss-swollen lower lip. She released it with a reassurance to herself that things really were going well between them. It was probably only weariness and lingering disorientation causing the heavy feeling deep in her chest. The sensation felt much like apprehension, but she couldn’t fully explain it and didn’t want to examine it too closely tonight.
* * *
The positive side of the showy dinner party Nina threw in celebration of Olivia’s fifteenth birthday was that she was too busy being the hostess and mistress of ceremonies to have much time to focus on Tess. She’d reserved a private dining room in the restaurant for some thirty guests. Most of the guests were related to Nina’s husband, Ken—his parents and two siblings and a few of their progeny—in addition to a few church, social and business acquaintances. More to Olivia’s taste, there’d been a teen party the night before at the indoor pool of a country club. Though she visibly relished being the center of attention again, Olivia made it clear she’d enjoyed last night’s bash much more than this dinner party. She huddled with her boyfriend and the few other friends she’d been allowed to invite while her brothers played handheld video games and Ken quietly did his part by standing at his wife’s side, following her directions and bankrolling the event.
Tess would rather be just about anywhere else, herself. She loved her niece, spoiled little princess that she was, but this was not her idea of a fun evening. All in all, she’d rather have been watching the football game. Either alone...or not.
She wondered if Scott was having a good time. If he’d thought of her at all this evening. She’d never been one of “those” girlfriends, she mused. Though she both practiced and expected monogamy during her relationships, she’d never expected to know where her significant other was or what he was doing at all times, nor did she report her movements to him. But it would be nice to know that she’d crossed Scott’s mind today as often as he’d hovered in hers. That he’d mentally replayed their lovemaking and relived the excitement, that he felt the same anticipation she did about the next time they’d be alone together.
She wanted to be confident that when he thought of her now, it wasn’t only with a list of tasks he needed her to oversee at the office.
It was a relief when the dinner was over. She exchanged farewells with the other guests, most of whom she’d met previously, then lingered to say good-night to her family.
Holding her boyfriend’s hand, Olivia sauntered up to her. “Thank you for the bag, Aunt Tess. It’s really cool. I love it.”
Pleased by the girlish delight in her niece’s voice, Tess smiled. “I’m glad. Jenny helped me find it for you. She thought you’d like it.”
They hugged quickly, and then Olivia and her lanky boyfriend hurried off to rejoin their friends. Satisfied that she could make her escape now, Tess looked around for Nina, finding her on the other side of the room saying goodbye to some departing guests. She made her way to her sister’s side. “I’m leaving now, Nina. It was a great dinner. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course you’d be invited,” Nina replied with an impatient roll of her eyes. “We invited all Olivia’s aunts and uncles.”
Resisting an impulse to snap that she’d just been trying to be polite, Tess drew a deep breath and held on to her smile with an effort. “It was good to see everyone again.”
“Don’t forget next week is—”
“Dana’s party,” Tess finished in unison. “I haven’t forgotten, Nina.”
“You’ve responded to the evite?”
Nina was very much in “mama mode” this evening, treating Tess exactly the way she would one of her children. Again, Tess had to cling to patience. “I have responded.”
“Did you tell her you’d bring a guest? Because if you haven’t invited anyone—”
“I’m bringing a guest. It’s already arranged, Nina.”
Her sister’s eyes widened in curiosity. “Who are you bringing?”
“Hon, we need to help Olivia carry out her gifts,” Ken interrupted the conversation to say. “The room’s booked for another party so they’re ready for us to clear out.”
Nina lifted her chin. “We have it reserved for another ten minutes. I will not be hustled out.”
“It’ll take us that long to gather everything up and get the kids out to the van. Come on, Nina, grab a couple bags, will you?”
Tess moved a step forward. “Can I help?”
Her brother-in-law gave her a quick wink. “We’ve got it, thanks. Get out of here while you can.”
She took grateful advantage of his suggestion.
* * *
&nbs
p; A particularly boneheaded play in the football game would have made Scott curse in exasperation had a baby not been asleep on his chest. As it was, he grumbled beneath his breath, making little Henry squirm and nestle his nose into Scott’s shoulder. Scott hoped fleetingly that it wasn’t a snotty little nose, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’d been used as a tissue by one of his brothers’ offspring. He patted the kid’s diapered bottom and Henry settled back into a limp slumber. Sprawled on Jake’s couch with his stocking feet crossed on the coffee table, Scott glanced at the canned soda on the table and wondered if he could reach it without waking his nephew.
As if he’d recently mastered the art of mind reading, but more likely correctly interpreting Scott’s expression, Jake snagged the can and handed it over. “Game sucks, huh?”
With a nod of thanks, Scott took a sip of the beverage, which had gone rather flat in the past hour since he’d opened it. “Yeah. I thought the score would be closer than this.”
“You okay there? Want me to take the rug rat?”
“He’s okay. We wake him up, he’s just going to want to eat again, and we promised Christina we’d give her a little more time to herself. Might as well stretch it out as much as we can after the week she’s had.”
The virus Henry had picked up at Thanksgiving had held on for several days. He was recovered now, but his parents were tired and frazzled. Scott’s mom had helped out when she could, but as a full-time accountant, she’d been busy with end-of-the-year work for her clients. Today had been a day for Christina to get some rest, with Jake and Scott taking care of the baby.
His eyes on the big-screen TV on the opposite wall, Jake munched a handful of popcorn, then asked idly, “You going to Bethany’s engagement party next Friday?”
“Looks like. You know Mom would pout if any of us skipped out without a damned good reason, and unfortunately I couldn’t come up with one.”
Jake chuckled wryly. “Yeah, us, either. We’ve got a babysitter lined up, so I guess we’ll make an appearance.”