The Baby Bargain (Men of Maine Series Book 3)

by Diana Tobin

  “You still have on your shirt.”

  His lips quirked up. “You still have on my boxers.” He slid his hands inside the waistband and caressed her smooth flesh as he let the shorts fall to the floor. “Better. Much better.” Moving his hands upward, he kept his gaze on her tank, rising and falling over her breasts as her breathing quickened. “I used to love getting you agitated.”

  “You did? When?” Her eyelids fluttered down as the tank rose over her breasts, forcing her arms up so he could slide it off over her head.

  “Hmm. In high school. I used to dream of touching you here.” He cupped her in his palms. “Tasting you.” He bent his head to lave first one nipple, then the other. “I’ve discovered something.” His hands splayed across her back as he moved her step by slow step to the bed.

  “Wh-what’s that?” Lynn wasn’t sure what they were talking about. All she knew was she needed her hands on his flesh. She wanted to do her own touching and tasting.

  “One taste isn’t enough. I need more.” He ripped his tee over his head, tossing it behind him. “I plan to have more. I plan to have all.”

  A shiver of delight, and maybe terror, ran up her spine. She pressed her hands to his chest, her fingers curling in the short hair covering the hard muscles. “A-all?”

  “Yep. Every last bit of you, sweetheart. Starting right here.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and slowly, oh, so slowly, made his way down.

  Her world tilted, then she realized he’d picked her up and gently placed her on the bed.

  He’d been right; he hadn’t planned on standing in her room for long. JC sprawled over her, beside her, around her, kneeling on the floor one minute, hovering over her the next.

  Hours, days, later he’d touched, kissed, worshipped every part of her body. There were a few times Lynn swore he’d reached her soul.

  Exhausted, draped over his body, her head tucked into the hollow of his shoulder, she slept and dreamt of her one true love proclaiming his undying devotion to her as he claimed her body over and over.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Lynn was having the most erotic dream of her life.

  JC was over her, keeping enough of his weight from crushing her into the mattress. He was murmuring as he kissed and nipped at her skin. “Wake up, honey. Open those baby blues so I know you’re with me.”

  Her lashes fluttered as she blinked him into focus, his own blue eyes mere inches from hers. Her lips curved up. It was no dream. He was really here, in all his glorious nakedness. “Time’s it?” She wiggled and discovered her knees were hugging his hips.

  He traced her lips with his tongue. “Early. We both need to get to work, but I had to have you once more.”

  “Did we sleep like this?” Her arms came around him and she flexed her hips.

  His dimples popped out as he met her move. “No. I’ve been trying to wake you.”

  “Mmm.” She pressed her lips to each dimple and matched his rhythm.

  Kisses went deeper. Sighs became moans. Flesh became damp and slick. Until both were caught on the edge and flew over together.

  JC collapsed on her, breath heaving. Despite being unable to draw a deep breathe with his weight on her ribcage, she shifted her fingers through his hair. “Best wake-up call ever.”

  He lifted his head, his lips curving to match her satisfied smile. “Damn straight!”

  ○◊○

  After their night together, Lynn didn’t make it out to JC’s. She needed to finish the cookies she’d started when he showed up, plus she had more orders to fill. By noon, the back room of Moose-ley Coffee was a sauna and Lynn promised to postpone more baking until things cooled down that night. Going upstairs, she intended to change clothes and head out to the farm, but she sat on the side of her unmade bed and fell back against the pillows. Just for a minute, she vowed. The ringing of her cell phone woke her hours later.

  “Hey, sweetheart.” His voice was low with promised delights.

  “JC?”

  “Well, that put me in my place,” he chuckled.

  “Sorry. Just woke up.” She stood up and stretched feeling muscles she didn’t know she had.

  “Uh-oh. Did you miss work?”

  “No. Dani and Mom begged me to stop baking since it was so hot in the kitchen. I came upstairs to change…Oh, JC,” she said in dismay. “I never made it out to the farm.”

  “Obviously, you needed the rest.”

  “Are you boasting?”

  “Maybe, a bit.”

  “I’d say you have the right, but I wouldn’t want you to get a swelled head.”

  JC cleared his throat. “Let’s not mention swelled heads right now. I’m wearing my loosest jeans and they’re still too tight because I keep thinking about you and last night.”

  For a moment, she was speechless as a flush worked its way over her body. “Um. Wow.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “So, I’m going to be working late tonight, but you wanna come over when I’m finished for some—wow?”

  “I do, but I’m going to say no. I’ve got more baking I need to do once it cools down. Fortunately, for my bank account, I have orders to fill.”

  “If I promise to have air conditioning installed would you consider baking at my house?” His voice held a hopeful note, making her giggle.

  “You and I both know I wouldn’t get any baking done.”

  “Maybe not, but we’d burn each other to a crisp.”

  Thinking about what he could do to her had her wiggling on the side of her bed. “We’d better stop this line of…discussion before I self-combust.”

  “No combusting without me,” he ordered. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Sure. I promise I’ll get to work—”

  “Honey, don’t worry about the stand. Your job at the coffee shop and your cookies come before my berries. I told you, only come out here when it works for you.” He sucked in a breath. “Unless you’re coming out here for me. Then, any time works for me.”

  Lynn didn’t know what to say. She wanted nothing more than to be with JC…be in his arms, be able to touch him as she pleased. Now, she was the one sucking in a hard breath. “I think we’d better hang up. We both could use a good night’s sleep.”

  “Hmm. Recharge the batteries, so to speak?”

  “I’m hanging up now. You’re putting crazy thoughts in my head.”

  His chuckle was deep and seductive. “Good. Save ’em for me.”

  ○◊○

  Lynn rolled over, again, looking for a cool spot on the sheets. She had been tossing and turning in between dozing off. At midnight, she’d placed her small box fan in the window, hoping to pull in the cool night air. She stretched her hand across the bed.

  Damn it! She’d slept with JC one night, just one night. How could she miss having him next to her? It wasn’t as if they’d done a lot of sleeping, but every time she reached out, he was there. Despite the heat in her upstairs room, he’d stayed close. Kept her close.

  Lynn had slept alone her whole life. Even when she’d shared a bed with that rat Donny, she’d felt alone. Rat face didn’t cuddle, even in the dead of winter. The closest he’d come to cuddling was a knee in the center of her back forcing her to the edge of the mattress.

  She flopped to her back, spreading her arms and legs into a giant X as the cool air from the fan washed over her. She closed her eyes and thought of JC. Her lips curved up into a grin. She could picture what JC would do if he found her like this. The more she imagined what he would do, the warmer she got. Groaning, she sat up and moved next to the fan.

  Once her body was at a more normal temperature, she curled on her side and thought of all she needed to do the next day. When her eyes popped open for the third time, she vowed she’d either spend the night with JC or make sure he wore her out so she slept like the dead.

  Punching her pillow, she rolled over, determined it would be the last time until her alarm went off.

  ○◊○

  Lynn decided the b
arn was a treasure trove. She found a rusted milk can minus its lid, but deemed it perfect for her uses. There was a wooden stool, the legs a bit uneven, but it would do for a seat until she found something better. The can of red paint was just what she wanted to complete her project.

  JC had left a board close to her requirements. After two coats of white paint, she embellished with the red. Then, enlisted Wil’s help putting it up. She hoped JC got home before dark so he could see it. Lynn stood out in the road, admiring his improved road side stand, proud to have turned this sow’s ear into…maybe not a silk purse, but it was an amazing improvement.

  She was in the kitchen putting together a pasta salad for their supper when JC came home. She turned to face him as he walked into the room, her smile matching his. His shirt was streaked with dirt and sweat, as well as his arms and face, yet he made a beeline for her.

  “Hi, Sprite.” Before she could return his greeting, he scooped her into his arms and kissed her. “Not gonna apologize for gettin’ you dirty. Now, you can shower with me.”

  “What did you think?”

  “I think I missed you. I think you taste like heaven. I think I’m gonna make you feel oh-so-good when I get you naked.”

  “Oh.”

  He frowned as he reluctantly set her back on her feet. “Something tells me you don’t care for any of that.”

  Lynn’s gaze flew to his. “No, I agree with all of that. In fact, right back at ya.” She gave him a sassy wink before turning serious again. “Did you look at the stand?”

  “Long enough to see you weren’t there.”

  “Come with me.” She grabbed his hand, tugging so he’d follow her. “I want to know what you think.”

  “Honey, I told you whatever you wanted to do was fine.”

  “Will you just come look, please? Before it gets dark.”

  She kept going down the drive when they reached the stand, wanting him to get the full effect from the road as she’d done earlier. She knew the moment he saw it. Up to that point, he’d been humoring her. Lynn chewed her bottom lip, waiting to find out if he hated it.

  “You made a sign.”

  “Yeah.”

  “How did you get it up there?” His full lips were a flat line as he looked down at her.

  “Wil did it. I knew where I wanted it to go, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it, so…” she lifted her hands in a helpless gesture.

  His shoulders relaxed, and the dimples in his cheeks made an appearance. “You’ve given me a lot to live up to.”

  “You’re the man for the job,” she assured him.

  JC laughed, then picked her up and spun her around. He brought her down so their faces were level. “I never thought of a sign, and it looks real good. I’ll always try to give you what’s promised on it.”

  Lynn had Wil attach the sign to the top of the overhang, so it stood up, announcing whose property this was. She’d painted the board white, and in red, had lettered JC’s Best.

  After a number of thank you kisses, he set Lynn down and took her hand to lead her back up to the house. “Were you fixing supper when I came in?”

  “Mm-hm. Pasta salad. I was going to grill burgers.”

  “Can it wait a bit?”

  “Sure. You can clean up first, if you want.”

  He squeezed her hand before sending her into the house. “Got something I want to take care of. I’ll grill for you later.”

  Lynn nodded her agreement. The longer the pasta marinated, the better the salad would be.

  The hamburger patties were formed and resting on a plate in the fridge and she’d cleaned up the kitchen by the time JC came for her. He held out his hand, beckoning her to him. “Do you want to shower?”

  “I should,” he said, “but there’s something we need to do first.” JC led her back down to the stand. Candles placed inside canning jars lit the interior of the small building. A pile of quilts and a sleeping bag were laid on the wood floor. A tin pail, holding ice and bottles of beer, sat on the counter. JC drew her inside and locked the door with a hook and eye latch that hadn’t been there earlier.

  “What’s all this?”

  He pulled two bottles from the pail and twisted off the tops. “Sorry, no champagne. Figured beer was a better fit.” He handed her one of the bottles then tipped his against hers making a soft clink, before he took a long drink. “At least take a sip,” he requested. She did so, and he placed both their bottles on the counter. Gathering her into his arms, he said, “I thought we should give the place a proper christening. I know I’m filthy, but it’s been too long since we’ve been together.”

  “Didn’t I once tell you I’m washable?” She lifted on her toes to press her lips to his.

  “Oh, yeah,” he breathed. “I aim to see to that, too. After.”

  “After,” she agreed as she tossed his cap over her shoulder and tugged up his shirt.

  They got around to bathing and eating much later. Lynn doubted she’d be able to spend much time in the road side stand without remembering how they’d christened it. Maybe customers would take her goofy grin as her being a naturally happy person. Boy, could JC make her happy.

  He’d asked her to spend the night, but she decided to return to her own bed. Despite her thoughts the other night, she hadn’t packed an overnight bag. JC insisted on following her home since she wouldn’t leave her car at the farm. By the time they reached the coffee shop, he parked at the back door and followed her inside.

  While Lynn opened the small windows next to her bed, JC stripped off his clothes and started on hers. He had no problem putting his clean clothes back on in the morning, not if it meant he could spend the rest of the night with Lynn in his arms. She was in total agreement with his plan, and refused to think about how she would sleep when he no longer wanted to share a bed with her.

  She covered her yawn with a hand. “Sorry. You must be exhausted, too.”

  He stretched across the bed, the mattress too small for his large frame, and pulled her down next to him. “Never too tired to love you,” he murmured.

  Her heart stuttered at his words, but the next moment she realized he meant he was always willing to make love to her not that he was in love with her. She gave him a small smile. “You always do your best.”

  His grin brought out his dimples. “You bring out the best, and the beast, in me. Let me hold you.”

  “It’s still hot and stuffy in here,” she protested.

  “Don’t care. I want you close to me. In fact,” he pulled her over him, spread her thighs with his and slipped inside her. He jerked the sheet over their legs and pressed her head to his chest. “Comfy?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed, waiting for him to begin the rhythm of their lovemaking.

  Gently, he rubbed his hands up and down her back in soothing strokes. “Close your eyes, Lynn, honey. Sleep with me.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  JC and Lynn spent their nights together. The few times they didn’t was because Lynn made some excuse. She was worried about losing her “self” as she did all, tried to be all, for him. She knew he was nothing like Donny; JC had proven that in a thousand ways. Her real fear was she’d put aside her own wants and needs so his were first.

  What would she do when JC found a woman he wanted to keep? For now, he definitely wanted her. To her ever loving satisfaction, the man couldn’t keep his hands off her. Lynn reminded herself that was what she’d wanted. She wanted an affair with a man who knew how to treat her like a real woman and make her glad of it. If he made her any happier she’d take off like a Fourth of July rocket and burst into a million sparkling bits.

  Determined to put aside her doubts, she dashed up to her room to change and get ready to head out to the farm stand. She was having the best time of her life, even with all the hard work, and she would savor every minute.

  Lynn tossed a red sundress on her neatly made, and un-slept in, bed. For the first time, they’d spent the night before in JC’s bed.

  She had
balked when he took her upstairs and asked her to stay with him at the farm. Lynn didn’t want to sleep, or anything else, in the bed he’d shared with his wife. Foolish, but there it was. She was surprised when he led her to a room barely able to contain a king sized bed. A small wooden table, tucked into a corner next to the bed, held an alarm clock. Navy sheets on the bed matched the curtains at the two open windows, letting in a cool breeze. There was no dresser, no other furniture. There was barely room for the two of them except on the bed.

  “Where do you keep your clothes?”

  “Closet.” He pointed to a small door in the corner.

  Lynn skimmed her fingers over the patchwork quilt neatly folded at the foot of the bed. “How did you and your— Never mind. None of my business.”

  JC wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “You’re wondering how Suzanne and I fit in here? Simple; we didn’t. This is my room. Always has been.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “C’mon.”

  He led her back down the hall to a room at the front of the house. This one could easily hold a king size bed, a dresser, a night stand or two, and a chair by the window to enjoy a view of the lake in the distance. The walls had recently been painted a stark white. Recent being a relative term compared to the rest of the house. But, the room was completely bare. No furniture, no throw rugs on the hardwood floor, no curtains at the windows. Nothing.

  “This had been my mother’s room,” JC told her. “Dad slept in the next room. Mother told him she couldn’t sleep with someone else in bed with her.” His lips quirked as he looked down at Lynn. “He must’ve visited at some point, since they had me.” He shrugged his shoulders, obviously uncomfortable discussing his parents’ sex life. “She was only here a few years and Dad never moved in. Before Suzanne and I married, I gave the room a make- over. At her direction, of course.”