Wine and Hot SHoes

by Donna Michaels

He wore cross trainers, jeans, another racing Henley, this one navy, which deepened the blue of his eyes and interfered with her damn pulse again.

  “I’m fine. Relax.” He reached across the gear console to touch her arm again. “Come on.”

  He got out, grabbed a duffle bag from his trunk, then cupped her elbow as he led her across the parking lot and into the hospital. Her mind immediately raced with thoughts of who they were possibly there to see.

  It couldn’t be his mother. If something had happened to Mrs. Bennett she would’ve heard from her mom, plus, this wouldn’t be the hospital. There was one closer to where they lived.

  As all sorts of scenarios played out in her head, Matthew smiled and nodded to the staff that greeted him. At first, she thought it was because the people recognized him from racing, but by the time they took the elevator to the third floor, she began to suspect it was more.

  “Mr. Bennett.” A tall doctor with a warm smile turned from the nurse’s station to shake Matthew’s hand. “Great to see you again. We have a full ward today.”

  “Good to see you, too, Doctor Haverford,” he replied then introduced her before they followed the man into a room full of children and nurses and parents…but not one person from the press.

  Audrey knew Matthew visited wards. She’d seen the photos. Seen the smiling faces, and some that didn’t smile but eagerly hugged the generous man. Seen the children with IV’s in one arm while they held racing related toys and treats with the other.

  But she never thought she’d witness it firsthand. It was different. Powerful. Hard on her damn heart. From the moment she stepped into the room, until the moment they left, her chest was squished in a vise. And the more she watched Matthew patiently interact with the children, the tighter the vise became. This wasn’t about publicity. Wasn’t about endorsements. He did this for the children. The parents, siblings, everyone in the room.

  ...and he did this for him.

  God, she didn’t think she could love him any more than she did at that moment. Which was foolish. So damn foolish. They had too much water under the bridge. They weren’t even an item, and yet, there she was falling in love with the man all over again.

  Still.

  She’d never stopped loving him. After seeing him with that blonde, she tried to stop, God, how she’d tried to stop, tried to build a life without him, but fate seemed to have other plans.

  And now they’d come full circle.

  After an hour and a half of building car models and putting puzzles together with some of the most wonderful children she’d ever met, Audrey left the hospital with a new appreciation for the man.

  “Thank you,” she said when they were in his car.

  He turned to her and frowned. “For what?”

  “For sharing that with me. For letting me see that side of you. The side without the cameras.”

  Something passed through his gaze, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, but his phone rang. “Thanks for sharing it with me, too,” he said before fishing out his cell. “Sorry. It’s my agent. I have to take it.”

  The ride back to her office was completed in silence—on her part. Through Bluetooth, he talked numbers and other stuff with his agent while she sat there and tried not to feel neglected. Like old times. But she understood it was business, and despite the fact he was telling his agent he wanted to retire, she knew if the right offer came around, he’d take it. Should take it. Racing was in the guy’s blood. Made him happy.

  Her heart stopped as a thought occurred.

  Was she the reason he was thinking of retiring?

  That was just crazy, not only to think she had that much influence on him, but that he would walk away from something so incredible. He’d spent his life building that career. It wasn’t something he should just turn his back on, not even for her. His racing brought joy to others. Those people back at that hospital proved it.

  God, she didn’t want to be the reason he walked away from his dream.

  A second later, reality set in. Of course she wasn’t the reason. Just because she realized she loved the man didn’t meant they had a future. Nor, did it mean he wanted one with her.

  Although, all day, the sideways glances and occasional brush of his fingers on her arm, hand, and back—as if he needed to touch her—made her heart hope otherwise.

  But by the time he answered his third call, she knew she needed to keep things friendly but professional. Once Phoebe and Ethan were back from their honeymoon, she would distance herself from the man.

  Probably.

  Matthew pulled up outside her office, ended his call, and sent her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I have to take care of something. Can you stop by the resort with the contract around five?”

  “Of course,” she replied automatically. “I’ll draw it up now.”

  As she reached for the door, he grabbed her other hand and brought it to his mouth. “Thanks for coming with me today, Audrey. I’d hoped to spend the whole day together. I’m sorry I have to run.”

  Her heart was fluttering so hard in her chest it was a wonder the foolish thing didn’t take flight. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  His talented lips brushed her knuckles while his gaze remained fixed on hers. And heated. Damn, did it heat. And she trembled.

  “See you later.”

  Unable to draw air into her lungs, she didn’t bother to reply, just nodded as she fumbled for the handle and got out.

  Inhaling, two…three…seven times, she entered her office and wondered if it was stupid to wish the paparazzi would find them at the resort later so she could enjoy the man’s kisses without needing her mind’s permission.

  Chapter Eight

  By the time five o’clock neared, Matt was in need of an Audrey fix. The woman calmed yet incited him, and after spending an hour visiting his uncle with his mother, he needed calm. He needed inciting. He needed not to think about Greg and how he failed him.

  Every time he visited his uncle, or drove past that damn garage, Matt felt his cousin, saw him everywhere. The memories crashed through hard and fast, and he understood how those memories had driven Keiffer to leave his family, his home, everything he loved.

  But, in truth, it wasn’t the memories. It was the guilt.

  Walking past the swimming pool inside his suite, Matt vowed to burn off some steam with several laps later that night. Right now, he needed a drink. And Audrey. He was just reaching for the whiskey on the corner bar when a knock sounded.

  He headed to the door. Checking the keyhole had his pulse kicking up at the site of Audrey on the other side. Embracing the calm of her presence, he unlocked the door and opened it.

  “Hi.” He stepped aside for her to enter, but she seemed rooted to the spot. “You can come in.”

  She blinked. “Oh, sorry. Of course.” With color tinging her cheeks, she averted her gaze and entered. “Where would you like me?”

  His sucked in breath echoed off the walls. “Anywhere I can have you,” he replied honestly.

  “Matthew.” She stiffened and turned to face him. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

  “Why not?”

  Setting her fancy tote on a nearby chair, she waved a hand around. “There’re no cameras here. You don’t have to use me to get the paparazzi’s attention.”

  “Audrey.” He frowned and stepped close to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “Don’t you get it? I’ve been using the paparazzi to get your attention.”

  She inhaled and widened her eyes again. “Y-you have?”

  “Yes,” he replied honestly. “I jumped at the chance to help Ethan, mostly because it brought me close to you again. I meant what I said at the wedding. I want you, Audrey. I’ve never stopped.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “I want to believe it, Matthew, but…”

  “But what?” He frowned, grasping her hand to set her palm over his thudding heart. “Do you feel that? You think I can fake that?”

  She shook her head, her gaze
torn between wonder and fear.

  “The pull has never changed between us, Audrey. We both feel it. So, what are you so afraid of?”

  Her chest rose on an inhale. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”

  What?

  He jerked his head back. “You got hurt? How? You were the one who left me?”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. But you knew I didn’t want to. I told you that. You knew it was hard for me to let you go, but I wanted to be needed, to be helpful—not sit in a room like this and wait for you to drop in for a few hours, fall asleep, then repeat.”

  His chest tightened with all the old remembered hurts, but he understood she had a point. “I know. I’d just…you meant everything to me, Audrey. I wanted to figure something out, but you left for college, then told me you didn’t think you could return.”

  “I hated being idle…then the towers fell. I had to stay here, Matthew.”

  “I know.” He nodded. Everything changed that day.

  “Did you also know I came back?”

  His heart hit tile beneath his feet. “You came back? When?”

  “A week after we broke up,” she said, shocking him silent. “I realized it was a mistake. I still wanted to do something other than occupy a hotel room, but I didn’t want to do it without you.”

  “Why didn’t…When?” His mind seized, and he had a hard time processing her words. “I never saw you.”

  “I know.” Pain and betrayal clouded her gaze. “You were too busy feeling up some blonde chick outside the gym.”

  She’d come back?

  Anger and pain mixed with regret to twist his insides into a million knots. He muttered a curse and shoved a hand through his hair. “God, I wish you would’ve said something, Audrey. I was hurt, angry, stupid. Thought I could use sex to block the pain of your abandonment, but I was wrong.”

  “You still felt the pain?”

  “No.” He shook his head, then nodded. “Yes, but that’s not what I meant. I couldn’t take her or any other woman to bed. Not for at least a good year after you left.”

  She stilled. “You didn’t have sex with her?”

  “No. God, no, Audrey.”

  “But I saw you two kissing, enthusiastically, then get in your car.”

  Shit

  “I can’t believe fate would bring you back to me to see that—my stupid attempt to feel. But it failed, Audrey. I swear. I drove her home, then went back to our place. Alone.” He blew out a breath and decided to get it all out there. “Then I told my dad I was going to go back to PA and join the Guard. I wanted to be with you. Wanted to support my country, but my dad didn’t take it well. He had a heart attack, then surgery. So, I stayed in racing.”

  “You mean…all this time…I thought…”

  He nodded, his gut clenching tight at the sight of tears filling her eyes. “And I thought you abandoned me and never looked back.”

  She shook her head, and the tears spilled down her face. “I’ve always looked back.”

  Unable to stay away, he stepped close and used his thumbs to wipe the wetness from her cheek. “Maybe it’s time we both looked forward.”

  She nodded. “Together?”

  “Yeah.” He lowered his mouth to hover above hers, sharing a breath. “Together,” he agreed, then kissed her slow and deep, thrilling at the sexy sound she made in her throat and the way she trembled against him.

  When they broke for air, he held her tight, hardly daring to believe this was reality and not one of his damn fantasies. But then she pressed him against the wall and rubbed her sweet curves up and down his body.

  “Matthew.”Her hands fisted in his hair and pulled his mouth so close her lips brushed his as she spoke.“I’ve missed you.”Then she kissed him, drinking and tasting, moaning into his mouth as if he was the best thing she ever tasted.

  Damn, she had him so hard he was afraid his erection might fall off.

  While her fingers played with the bottom of his shirt, he shoved his in her hair and took over the kiss, slowing the pace, brushing his tongue just inside her bottom lip. She let out another of her breathy little moans and pushed his shirt up his chest.

  Matt broke the kiss to help remove his shirt, and stilled when she drew back to stare at him with a crazed hunger heating her gaze.“Jesus, Audrey, if you don’t stop looking at me like that this’ll be over before we even start.”

  She shook her head and took another step back.“We can’t have that.”

  He was about to agree when she grasped the hem of her sweater, ripped it over her head, shimmied out of her skirt, and stood before him in a lacy red bra, matching panties, and those sexy-as-hell shoes.

  Hottest damn thing he ever saw.

  Then she reached behind and unhooked her bra.

  Matt nearly swallowed his tongue. But he had plans for it, and her.“Let me help.”He hit his knees, hooked his fingers under her panties, and pulled the lace down her curves, kissing a path he remembered so well.

  He sat back on his heels and drew in a breath.“You’re so gorgeous, Audrey.”Even more than he’d remembered.“Hold on to me.”He ran his hands over her ankles and helped take off her hot shoes one at a time, then slowly kissed his way up her body until he found her mouth and crushed her closed, cupping her sweet, sweet ass with both hands.

  Damn, he missed this ferocious, mind-warping need. When he broke the kiss, they dragged in air, and her fingers found their way down his torso, running lightly over the skin low on his abs, then popped his jeans and dipped inside. Her touch felt so incredible his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. She wasn’t holding back now, and neither was he.

  “Sit on the edge of the pool.”His voice sounded rough, but it was from need, and heaven help him, her eyes flared with the same fierce emotion as she did as instructed.

  He shed the rest of his clothes, then slid into the pool, watching as she sat at the edge, her gorgeous breasts bouncing, beckoning his attention. He gave it willingly, cupping each beauty, delighting in the way her nipples puckered under his touch.

  “Matthew.”

  Half-plea, all need, her voice sent a shaft of heat straight to his groin, and the way she arched into his hands had blood flow whistling through his ears.

  Leaning forward, he took one prominent peak into his mouth and pressed the other between his thumb and forefinger, tugging both with equal fervor. She moaned and shoved her hands in his hair, but he had another mission in mind. Releasing her nipple, he drew back to blow on her wet skin, smiling at her hiss of breath as he brushed his lips over her ribs and quivering belly to nip at her hips.

  He wanted to nip and taste every inch of her again, and would, later. Right now, his mission concerned the delectable spot between her legs. Setting a hand on each knee, he spread her wide, and his whole body tightened while his mouth watered, longing to taste her exquisiteness again.

  “Matthew.”

  Her half-plea was all plea now, and he watched her eyes as he ran a hand from her knee to her trembling thigh and stroked her glistening folds with his thumb.

  She jumped and sucked in a breath.

  “Easy.”He wedged his shoulders between her legs then leaned in to put his mouth on her.

  Another of her needy hisses met his ears while her fingers dug into his hair. He knew what she wanted, what she needed, knew her rhythm and length of stroke that did her in. Remembered all of it as if it were yesterday.

  He also knew his limits.

  Although he would normally take his time, Matt was wound tighter than an eight day clock. Given her reactions to his touch, and the way she was already rocking her hips, she was right with him. He made several passes with his tongue, then curled it and dipped inside, upping his pace as her hold on his head increased along with those throaty little mewls.

  God, they drove him wild.

  Wishing he could hold her on the brink a little longer, he took into account how close to the brink he wavered. He was reaching it. Fast.

  Drawing back an inc
h, he blew on her wet flesh in short, concentrated bursts.

  “Matthew,”she panted.“I need…”

  He slid a finger inside her, increasing the previous pace, pressing harder while he leaned forward to gently suck her into his mouth. She cried out as she burst, his name echoing around the room in a low, sexy tone forever burned in his mind.

  No one ever said his name like Audrey.

  As he brought her down slow, he talked his body out of bursting with her. He had plans for that part of his body, too, and they didn’t include letting loose in the pool.

  Matt released her and shot to his feet, quickly grabbing the condom he’d started carrying in his pants since meeting her again, and rolled it on.

  Audrey watched him with a satiated expression on her flushed face.“You’re amazing, Matthew.”She leaned back on her elbows and smiled at him.“I can’t wait to have you inside me again.”A wicked gleam entered her eyes a second before she rolled over and got onto all fours, wiggling that sweet ass at him while she grinned over her shoulder before she slipped into the pool.

  Holy hell.

  Chapter Nine

  Matt’s heart stopped for a full beat, then nearly rocked out of his chest.“You’re killing me.”He followed her in and pulled her close, the sight of her breasts smashing against him stole his breath.

  He dipped down to take a pebbled peak in his mouth and groaned as she wrapped her legs around his hips. So responsive. Rubbing his hands over her sweet ass, he released her nipple to kiss her throat while he guided his finger to test between her legs. He swallowed. Hard. And clenched his jaw in an attempt to keep his control.

  “Oh…”She inhaled.“This feels good in the water.”Her body rocked as she leaned into his strokes.“How can you have me ready for another…after the one you just gave me? But I am ready, Matthew. Please.”

  Ah hell, she didn’t have to beg. He was done.

  Capturing her mouth, he kissed as he walked to the steps and set her sweet ass on a wide rung.

  She immediately grasped the handles and stared at him through desire-filled eyes.“Now, Matthew.”