“I need gloves,” he said. “Don’t move.”
Jamie didn’t listen.
There were no gloves. Tony hoped he could remove the waste product without getting the stuff on his hands. He opened the diaper tabs and used the front to wipe the child. Then a dozen wipes removed the rest of the matter. He put the messy stuff in a lidded container and moved his charge to wipe the table. A stream of liquid splattered his chest. Damn, what next? Thankful he hadn’t worn a shirt he wiped himself with the aromatic paper. After finding a new diaper he finished the changing chore and struggled with the snaps on the legs.
Downstairs he put Jamie on the quilt. “What are we going to do now?”
“Dada.”
“Uncle.”
“Cool. Cool.”
The kid’s verbal mockery was funny. On Lauren’s list, a walk was the third item. He stared out the window into the yard and saw the rain. No walk. For a time he watched his nephew explore the quilt and his toys. Then Jamie fussed.
“No tears,” Tony said. “Book.”
“Ook.”
“Yes.” Tony sat on the rug and turned the pages and said the words. He rolled his eyes. Whatever the nanny charged he would gladly pay. Maybe he would hire three so every instant of the day was covered. Some days he was at the office until ten o’clock and there were the business dinners, and social occasions. He groaned. The task of being a guardian looked formidable.
The mantle clock chimed ten times and the sound continued. Was there another clock? Finally, he realized the noise came from the door. Had she returned from her class early? Didn’t she have a key? He opened the door. A gangly young man stood on the walk.
“Can I help you?” Tony asked.
“I’m Ray. Lauren asked me to come.”
“Ray, Ray, go, go.” The baby crawled across the floor.
Tony stared. He hadn’t realized how mobile his nephew was. The young man scooped Jamie from the floor. “No walk today. It’s raining, munchkin.”
Tony shook his head. “Why are you here? Are you the one I talked to last night?”
“You’ve got it.”
“I cancelled. I didn’t know who you were.”
Ray laughed. “So Lauren said. When she didn’t hear from me she called. Told me to come at ten to relieve you.”
“Guess you told her what I did.”
“Assumed, she said.”
Tony groaned. “How angry was she?”
“A bit until she decided to give you a taste of what your life will be like. Then she worried about leaving Jamie with a jerk. Her words, not mine.” Ray sat on the couch and held the baby high. “She’s one smart lady.”
“Do you know her well?” His stomach clenched. Why did this young man’s connection to Lauren matter?
“She was my tutor this September. Mrs. Carlin asked her to help me with my reading comprehension. I’m passing the class.” He sighed. “Mrs. Carlin was a great teacher and Mr. Carlin was cool. I’ll miss them.” The young man’s voice broke.
Tony realized Ray grieved for the couple who had befriended him. The same emotion rose in Tony’s thoughts but the grief wasn’t the only thing. Guilt settled like a boulder on his chest. He’d been a fool.
As children he and Jim had been close. Just two years apart in age they had shared a household where love and caring had been provided by nannies and housekeepers. Their mother had died when he was two and Jim four. Their father had been involved in work and an active social life. As teens he and Jim had drifted apart. Different friends, different interests and different goals.
Jim went to college in California. Science had been his choice.
Tony considered his choices. College. Harvard. Law school. Joining his father’s firm and embracing a similar lifestyle. When the old man died Tony took over the firm. Until today he’d never realized how like their father he’d become. Aloof, selfish and a skirt chaser.
Those thoughts curdled his gut. He had to do something but he had no idea what. Maybe he should head back to the city and forget custody issues. But Jamie was his nephew, the only remaining member of his family. He had promised his brother to care for the baby. That was a promise to be kept. There was a problem. Jamie was Lauren’s sole relative, too.
Suddenly the condo seemed stuffy. He needed to get away. He turned to Ray. “Mind if I go out for a bit?” Thinking about Lauren brought another spate of guilt. He’d said things to her he shouldn’t have spoken.
He wanted her. Her response to the kiss had told him of her desire but she had rejected his offer. Was the cause lost?
You could try seduction.
The whisper in his head made him smile. A candlelight dinner, wine, flowers. He made a mean red sauce. Veal, pasta, salad. He dashed upstairs for his wallet and keys. “Where’s the nearest grocery store?”
Armed with directions Tony left. The rain had changed from light to moderate.
At the grocery story he found everything he needed for the main course including fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheese. After leaving with directions to the main part of town, he found the bakery, a liquor store and a florist shop.
When he arrived at the condo with his packages and sandwiches for lunch. The young man had finished feeding Jamie. While the infant examined a stacking toy and a large plastic car Tony had bought, he and Ray ate.
The young man talked about Jim and Carrie. Sadness cloaked Tony’s thoughts. Ray knew more about the couple than he did.
When Ray carried the baby to the nursery Tony started cooking. Before long the spicy aroma of the simmering sauce perfumed the air. Ray sat at the bar. “Smells great.”
“I’ll give you a sample before you leave.”
“Maybe a doggie bag.”
Tony laughed. “That can be arranged.”
At five Ray fed the baby his dinner. As soon as he finished Tony turned from the stove. “How much are you owed for today and tomorrow? Lauren should be home soon. I think I can handle the tiger until she arrives. I’ll do the honors tomorrow so you won’t have to check in.”
Ray named a number. Tony added a bit more. The young man grinned. “Thanks. You will tell her I came. Wouldn’t want her thinking I didn’t. Tell her I’m good for Tuesday morning.”
“I will.”
Ray left with a sampling of pasta and sauce. Tony shoved the flowers in a vase he’d found. He put candles in the holders and set the table.
“Up, up,” Jamie shouted.
Tony carried him to the French doors. Rain driven by the wind blurred the scene. “Auntie will be here soon.”
“Tee, Tee.” Jamie waved his hands.
“Guess you’ll be happy to see her. So will I.” He stared at the dark sky. The clock chimed six times. Where was she? Had she been in an accident? This thought chilled him. Jamie couldn’t afford to lose another relative.
What about you?
Not going there.
He left the French doors and walked to the entrance. He saw Lauren dashing up the walk. He opened the door. She ducked inside. Her coat dripped on the slate floor. “You’re soaked.”
She ducked past him and left the cloth bag on the counter before removing her coat. “Where’s Ray?”
“Paid him. Sent him home. He said he’s good for Tuesday.”
Lauren left her shoes by the door. She hung her coat on a hook. When Jamie held out his arms, she shook her head. “Auntie needs dry clothes. Something smells wonderful.”
“I made dinner,” Tony said.
“I’ll take back a few of the nasty things I’ve been thinking about you.” She headed to the stairs. “Be down in a few.”
“Don’t rush.” Tony drew a deep breath. That went well. His body reacted to the way her hips moved as she strode upstairs.
Do not leap. Slow seduction.
He carried Jamie to the quilt and emptied the cloth bag she had left on the counter.
Chapter Four
Lauren dashed upstairs. Rain had seeped through her coat making her sweater damp. T
he downpour had soaked her shoes and the bottoms of her slacks. She shivered and turned the corner at the head of the stairs to enter the master bedroom. Here she gathered clothes for now and tomorrow. Sweats, underwear, slacks, stockings and a sweater. As she straightened she caught a hint of Tony’s aftershave. Had he followed her? She jerked around and released a held breath. He had slept here last night.
Two steps took her into the bathroom. She locked both doors. The scent of his aftershave was stronger here. A shiver not completely caused by her chilled body rolled through her.
Thoughts about him scared her. She’d never been so drawn to a man. The attraction was dangerous.
As she stripped she turned on the shower. How was she going to act? He’d cooked, set the table and bought flowers. Was this offering an apology or a seduction tactic? Maybe both. Whatever his intention, her opinion of him was changing.
She stepped beneath the hot spray and reached for a cloth. Had he showered here last night or this morning? Her breasts and nipples tightened. He had touched them. For an instant, she recalled how heavy they had felt this morning when he circled her waist with his arms and whispered against her neck. This thought led to the kiss that had nearly ended her chance of becoming Jamie’s guardian. Lord, she wanted Tony Carlin with an urgency that frightened her.
He seemed to have changed? Could she trust him or was his apparent kindness just another way for him to prove his assumptions were right?
She drew a deep breath. Years ago she would have leaped to accept his invitation. Her days of rebellion and of using her body to gain a meal or a night in a motel room had ended when she reached California. Carrie and Jim had helped her reclaim herself. She couldn’t allow lust to take her hard-earned self-respect away.
She ran the cloth over her belly and washed between her legs. She rubbed until heat coiled in her clit. With one hand on the shower wall and with her imaginary lover stroking faster, she flew over the edge.
Water flowed over her. She flipped the lever, stepped from the stall and dried. In the mirror she saw her flushed face. When she went downstairs would Tony suspect what she had done? She dressed, unlocked the doors and left her clothes for the morning in the nursery. Drawing a deep breath she prepared to face Tony.
At the bottom of the stairs she stopped short. For a moment she thought she saw Jim. Tony sat on the couch with Jamie on his lap. The baby played peek-a-boo and laughed.
Tears oozed toward the surface. She tamped them down. No tears. The sight of the pair brought relief and pain. Could Tony’s resemblance to his brother be more than physical?
She had adored her brother-in-law. For months after meeting him she’d had a crush. Those daydreams had lasted until Carrie had pointed out the foolishness of yearning for an impossible dream. Once again sadness captured her mood. She would never talk to Carrie or Jim again.
Could she move beyond these paralyzing moments of grief? She must.
A thought surfaced. What about Tony? How did he handle his grief? Though he and his brother had drifted apart, surely there had been moments of closeness between them.
“Where are the groceries?” she asked.
“In the cupboard and fridge. As I was stowing them he started to cry and yell up.”
Her gaze settled on the pair. Perhaps Tony realized Jamie was more than an obligation. The clock chimed seven times. “I’ll bathe him and settle him for the night. Then I want to eat some of what smells delicious.”
“Can I watch the bath in case I need to be his sitter again?”
“Sure.”
She carried Jamie and the rest of the dinner bottle upstairs. After finding pajamas and a night diaper she took him into the bathroom, and knelt beside the tub to bathe him. As she soaped him he moved away. He splashed the water with glee.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Think I’ll pass on this chore. He moves like a greased pig.”
“Ig, ig,” Jamie kicked water.
Lauren laughed. “Have to be fast, don’t we, love?” She rinsed him and wrapped a towel around the baby. “How long will dinner take to finish?”
“Not long.” He stood beside the changing table and watched. While Lauren reached for a diaper she held the towel over his genitals. She slid the diaper under him and fastened the tabs as she removed the towel.
“So that’s how it’s done,” Tony said.
“Did he get you?”
“Sure did.”
Lauren finished dressing Jamie and sat in the rocker. She didn’t notice when Tony left but aromas rising from the kitchen made her stomach rumble. She lifted Jamie over the side rail of the crib and left the room.
Food was on the table. For a moment she nearly protested the arrangement but they had a truce. Tony filled the wine glasses with a ruby red liquid.
Lauren arched a brow. “That’s a lot. I seldom drink much. Makes me dizzy.”
“Just sip.”
She cut a piece of the veal and tasted. “This is delicious. Where did you learn to cook?”
“From our cook. She let me hang out in the kitchen when I was on punishment. Jim never acted up the way I did. He never seemed to rebel but he always went his own way.”
“If I ever meet this woman I’ll thank her.” Why had she said that? Once they settled the guardianship there would be no reason for them to meet other than to exchange Jamie. Probably not then either. He would send the nanny.
She concentrated on the food and ignored his attempts at flirtation. With subtle movements he touched her arm or her thigh. Finally, she finished the last bite on her plate. She rose and cleared the table. “You really are a good cook.”
The food, the roses and the warmth of the house made her yawn. Though she thought about bed, they had to talk.
“There’s dessert,” Tony said.
“You made something else?”
“My talents don’t run to baking. I found cannolis at the bakery were I found the bread.”
“I’m stuffed. Maybe later.” She slid the last plate into the dishwasher, covered the leftovers and put them in the fridge.
“Then we’ll talk about which days are best for you to have Jamie.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re agreeing to joint custody.” She left the kitchen and settled on the end of the couch.
Tony nodded. “I’ve had a chance to think this over. Jamie loves you and you are as much his relative as I am.” He sat beside her.
Lauren felt tears flow and she didn’t stop them. “I’m glad we don’t have to fight this in court.”
He placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t cry.”
“They’re happy tears. They’re tears of relief.” She leaned toward him intending to kiss his cheek and found his mouth instead.
He took charge and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her like a sailor on shore leave after months at sea. She parted her lips to receive his questing tongue. As he explored her mouth, she tangled her tongue with his.
Tony turned and pulled her so she lay atop him with her groin against his. Fiery sensations stormed her body and threatened to blur her reasons for believing being in his arms was a bad idea. He slid his hands under her top and unfastened her bra. He released her mouth and pulled her sweatshirt over her head.
“Lauren,” he whispered. “Let me see you.”
She straightened.
He cupped her breasts and teased the nipples with his thumbs. Her breath caught and she tugged at his shirt. “Let me see you, too.”
He tossed his shirt on the floor and pulled her into a tight embrace. His chest hairs tickled her skin. He rose and pulled her to her feet and bent to suckle her breasts.
“Damn, you taste better than dessert.”
Lauren arched her back and pressed her lower abdomen against his firm erection.
Tongues tangled and twined as he lowered her to the couch. Heat flowed from the kiss, from the feel of his firm muscles and settled in the place where his covered erection touched her groin.
“I’m not going to stop,” he growled.
“I want you and I need you.”
She nipped his lower lip. “I want you, too.” More than she had ever desired a man before.
“That’s the idea.”
“No strings. I need to finish school without distractions.”
“Agreed. No strings.” He rose and pulled her to her feet. “Not here. Come to bed with me.”
“Yes.” The urgency in his voice excited her. Whether this was a mistake or not, she wanted him to quench the fires he had kindled.
As they walked up the stairs, he walked behind. He cupped her breasts and rubbed her nipples. Lauren moaned. The steps were longer than she remembered.
* * * *
At the top of the stairs Tony turned Lauren to face him. His mouth fastened on hers. Using his hands to cup her ass he pulled her closer. His tongue thrust and her body responded. Her taut nipples pressed against his chest.
Using one hand he slid her sweats over her hips. He slid his fingers into the cleft between her legs and felt gathering moisture. He released her mouth. She struggled with the snap of his jeans. He gazed into her hazel eyes. “I don’t want to let you go but I’m wearing too many clothes.”
“Indeed.” She bent to remove her sweats.
Tony opened his jeans. As soon as the zipper opened his cock sprang free. He kicked off his shoes and finished stripping. Lauren ran her finger along the length of his penis. He groaned. “To bed.”
The desire in her eyes and her soft touches brought him to her side.
Lauren backed to the bed and pulled the covers down. As she leaned over, Tony’s breath caught. Damn, she was perfect. He moved to her side. A momentary thought about protection vanished when she held out her arms in invitation. No time to dig through his pockets. He wanted her now. He slid beside her and caught her hands in his. He held them above her head and positioned himself.
The desire to bury himself took control. Next time he would do this right. He released her hands and sank into her. “Damn, you’re tight.”
Her eyes flew open. “A problem.”
“A delight.” He brushed her lips with a kiss. “Feels good.”
“For me, too.” Her eyelids lowered. “Been awhile.”
With a finger he traced her lips. “How long?”
Surprising Seduction Page 3