by Joy Brooks
Ian inched closer until he had her pushed against the counter. This wasn’t how she imagined it, but it was more than fine. He leaned closer still, and she closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. The kiss was different this time. It was still gentle, but more urgent. When his tongue glided across her lips, she quickly opened her mouth to him.
Her knees nearly buckled when his kiss deepened and his tongue slid along hers in a delectable dance. She shivered from the erotic sense of it. Her hands glided up his muscled chest to entwine around his neck. The fingers of one hand threaded themselves in his soft hair. Her hands around Ian tightened at the moan of pleasure that escaped him. He rubbed up against her, and she had no doubt as to his arousal.
Without warning, she was suddenly free. Katie stared at him in total shock. He stood before her, breathing hard. His fingers brushed through his hair in apparent agitation.
“Katie, I had better go. If I don’t, I have a feeling things may quickly get out of hand.”
Before she could say a word, he turned and headed to the door, swiftly shutting it behind him.
Chapter 4
Ian kicked himself mentally all the way to his car. Why did he say he would go with her into her apartment? He had told himself he wouldn’t see her again after tonight and here he was with a date to go Christmas shopping. The aching in his pants told him how close he had come to totally letting himself go. Sleeping with Katie wouldn’t be fair to her. He stopped walking and looked back toward her apartment. The way she returned his kiss, he knew she wasn’t opposed to the idea. He continued to his car. He liked Katie a lot more than he wanted to admit. He couldn’t sleep with her and then walk away. That would be beyond cruel. It wasn’t right to use her.
Ian slid into the driver’s seat and picked up his cell phone. He dialed his mother’s number.
“Hello.”
“Mom, I’m on my way to pick up Kyle.”
“Ian, he’s sound asleep. Why don’t you leave him here and pick him up after work tomorrow.”
“It may be a little late. I have a teleconference meeting at six.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have dinner waiting when you get here.”
“Ah, Mom, would you be able to keep Kyle Friday so I could get some Christmas shopping done?”
His Mother’s voice had a hint of glee in it. “You are actually going to shop before Christmas Eve?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Interesting. Is Katie going to help you?”
“What makes you ask that?”
“Two reasons. One, Kyle told me about you going to the dinner tonight with his teacher. I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t tell me. I mean, I would have liked to know my son had stepped back into life again. Two, as much as you hate shopping, there had to be a motive to go early.”
“Mom, Katie is a nice girl, but don’t get your hopes up. I don’t want you getting disappointed again.”
“Oh, Ian. You are thirty years old. You don’t need to spend your life alone. You’re too young for that.”
“I’m not spending my life alone. I have Kyle.”
“You know what I mean.”
Ian decided he needed to change the subject. “I’m surprised Frank didn’t tell you I was with a woman.”
“He did, but Kyle had already spilled the beans. Frank did tell me she is a beauty.”
Ian realized he had picked the wrong thing to switch his mother’s mind too. “I had better go. I’ll see you after my meeting tomorrow.”
“Ian?”
“Yes.”
“Please talk to your brother. It’s Christmas. There could be no better time. He won’t be here when you arrive tomorrow, but please contact him.”
Ian sighed. For two years, he had put off talking to his brother. He didn’t know if he could talk to him now either. “I don’t know if I can. I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, dear. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
****
Katie stared at the door as it closed behind Ian. What happened? She knew Ian wanted her and she left no doubt she wanted him. Why did he walk away? Her mind went to the conversation she had with Kyle about his Christmas wish. He had said his father missed his mother fiercely and Ian often stared at pictures of his wife. He said he asked his father why he did that and his father replied, “Your mother made me very happy. I miss her.” Surely, he wasn’t holding back in some misguided thought of loyalty to his dead wife.
Maybe getting involved with Ian wasn’t such a good idea, but she realized as her mind raced that she was glad she had. Being in his arms felt so right and she wanted to be in his arms again.
Katie put the coffee cups back in the cabinet, unplugged the Christmas lights, and strolled down the hall to her bedroom. The thought that had Ian not pulled away, they would be heading there together, set her pulse racing.
****
Friday at nine am, Katie sat on her couch watching the clock, eager for her doorbell to ring. When it did, she jumped. Ian was right on time.
She sprang from the couch and hurried to the door. She opened it to see Ian dressed in jeans that hugged his hips and a white shirt that showed off his tan skin. This further proved he didn’t work behind a desk much.
Katie had put on her favorite jeans, the ones that molded to her figure, and a red shirt that outlined her breast and flat stomach. The shirt’s length went to the top of her jeans. If she lifted her arms, her midriff showed.
From the spark she saw in Ian’s eyes, she knew he liked what he saw. Her heart fluttered a little at that.
Ian stepped closer to her but he didn’t enter the apartment. He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her lips. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I’ll grab my purse and jacket.”
Soon, they headed to his black sports car. When seated, she asked, “Where to?”
Ian shrugged. “To a toy store, I guess.” He pulled paper out of his pocket. “Take a look at Kyle’s list and let me know if you have any ideas.”
Katie took the papers from his hand and her eyes widened. Ian hadn’t been kidding. There were two pages full of items. She grinned when she saw the comments Kyle had made on each sheet. His spelling was atrocious, but he made himself understood.
She looked up after reading one item. “It says here that he wants a swing set to give to Carly MacDonna. She’s in my class.”
Ian smiled. “Kyle likes her. They were talking about Christmas one day and she told him she wanted a swing set. He asked her why she didn’t get her parents to get her one. She replied, ‘Because my parents aren’t rich like your father. I’ll have to ask Santa.’” Ian stopped at a red light. “I’m going to make sure Santa gets her one.”
Tears sprang to Katie’s eyes and she hurriedly blinked them back. “I know she would appreciate it.”
Ian nodded but he didn’t say anything. They went through the light, and the day of hunting for items on Kyle’s list began in earnest. They only stopped for lunch.
Katie stretched her feet in her tennis shoes and headed back into the mall to the jewelry store so Ian could buy a watch his mother had hinted at. At six, Ian put the last of the packages in his trunk.
“Katie, these are all for me. You didn’t buy a thing. Do you want to go back in?”
She wanted nothing more than to rub her feet. “No, not today. I’m bushed.”
Ian laughed. “Normally, I hate shopping, but today hasn’t been that bad. It must have been the company. If you’re free tomorrow, we can finish up.”
Katie groaned, and Ian’s grin widened. “There aren’t many more items to get. We still have to get the swing set.”
Ian held the car door open for her. “I’m taking you to dinner, and then we will go to my place to hide all this stuff. Then home for you.”
When Ian settled behind the wheel, he looked at her. “Do I have to wrap all these things? I mean, Kyle is five now. I’ve been just leaving the toys out for him. Mom wraps the gifts I bring to her for him.”
&
nbsp; “No, I wouldn’t break tradition. Besides, Santa doesn’t wrap gifts. At least I don’t think he does.”
“Good. The idea of wrapping all this stuff terrifies me.”
Katie laughed and sat back in her seat for the ride to the restaurant a block away. As they walked to their table, she caught snatches of conversations from the tables they passed. It seemed the place was full of tired shoppers.
They talked very little and ate heartedly. At the moment, she was too tired to say much.
Ian drained his glass and pushed his empty plate from him. He sat patiently until she finished her drink.
“Ready?”
“Yep. I have to tell you though. You owe me a foot massage for this.”
Ian’s eyes lit up and his lips spread into a wide grin. “Oh, yeah? I believe I could manage that.”
Katie’s eyes widened. She hadn’t realized she said that aloud. She was more tired than she thought. There was no way to retract her statement, so she decided to make the most of it.
“Promises, promises….”
Ian leaned close and spoke softly. “I always keep my promises.”
Katie had taken a sip of her tea and almost spit it out in surprise. Ian stared at her with a definite promise in his eyes. She knew without a doubt that she was going to get her foot massage. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to get out of the restaurant.
After paying the bill, Ian led her back out to his sports car. Katie sat back in her seat and tried to calm her nerves. She watched the scenery and soon discovered they were heading toward the lake. It did figure as wealthy as he was he would have a home by the water.
Katie needed to break the silence before her nerves became frayed. “You said we don’t have many items left to get.”
“No, we should be finished getting the rest of mine in short order, but we have to get yours.”
“Ian, I don’t have many to get. My Christmas buying is mainly Christmas cards.”
“I don’t mean to sell out Kyle, but he told me you were raised in foster care. Still, there’s no one you want to buy for?”
“I have friends in Savannah. I haven’t lived in Milledgeville long enough to have good friends yet.”
“What do you plan to do for Christmas?”
Katie didn’t want to sound pitiful so she answered, “I’ll find something to do.” She sensed Ian wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
She went back to watching the scenery, and soon, they were pulling into a drive. It wound through tall oaks into a semi-circle in front of a three-story mansion. Ian drove to the back of the estate and used a remote to open the garage. Katie tried to take in all she was seeing. She knew Ian had money, but this was far beyond what she had imagined. He was filthy rich. Fear rushed through her. How could she ever have thought she could be with someone like Ian?
Katie drew in some deep breaths when Ian stepped out of the car to make his way to her door. This was nonsense. Why couldn’t she be with someone like Ian? She wasn’t going to let this fear take hold and intimidate her. Being a teacher was nothing to sneeze at. She may not be as rich as he, but she was an equal. Katie shook herself. Why was she letting her thoughts go this way? Ian had never treated her as anything but an equal. He always treated her with respect.
“Is something the matter?”
Katie realized Ian stood by the opened car door. “Ah, no, I was just thinking about something.”
“Do you want to share?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She rose from the car and as soon as Ian closed the door, he had the trunk open. He commented as he reached for bags, “I think we can get this in one trip.”
Katie nodded. They would be loaded, but it could be done in one trip. Soon her arms were full of bags and she slowly followed Ian through the garage door into the house.
The outside of the white stone mansion impressed her. The inside did even more. To say the inside was immaculate was an understatement. Nothing was out of place. Not even one dirty dish was in the sink of the stainless steel, pristine white kitchen. The kitchen counters were solid marble. She stared at one object after another as she followed him through the kitchen down a short hallway into a living area. A large-screen TV covered one wall, a sectional sofa went around the room, large bookcases lined another wall, and leather chairs and marble tables were spaced about. The room was huge. Twice the size of any normal living room. Ten of her small apartment living rooms would fit in this one.
Ian opened a large closet at the back of the room and placed his bags inside. He turned to her and took her bags, placing them inside as well.
Katie asked before she thought better of it. “Where do you usually put Kyle’s Christmas presents on Christmas Eve?”
“I usually set them on the couch. He knows to look for them there. Kyle says that Santa puts them on the couch because it’s close to the fireplace where he comes down the chimney.”
Katie nodded. She glanced about. There were several places a Christmas tree could go in here. She wanted to suggest he buy one and surprise Kyle with it, but she didn’t know how he would take her meddling.
Ian turned from putting the presents away. “Have a seat on the couch and take off your shoes. I’ll get us some tea, or would you prefer something alcoholic?”
“No, tea sounds refreshing. Something alcoholic might put me to sleep.”
Ian gave her a mischievous smile as he left the room.
Chapter 5
Ian strode out of the room before Katie could get her mind to function. Take off her shoes! She shouldn’t be shocked. By the way he spoke at the restaurant, she knew this was coming. Anyway, this was his shopping spree. A foot massage wasn’t too much to ask for.
Katie sank into a soft cushion on the couch. She almost let out a purr of contentment at the luxurious feel. She slipped off her tennis shoes and socks then curled her toes in the plush carpet.
It wasn’t long before she heard Ian’s soft treads. He handed her a tall glass of iced tea and then took a long swallow from his. He set his glass down on a nearby table.
“Sit back.”
Katie did, and heat flooded her body when he sat down and pulled her feet onto his lap. She almost let out a sensual gasp as his fingers caressed her feet. His calloused hands began a slow knead across her flesh. She didn’t believe a foot massage could feel so good. His long fingers traveled from her ankle to the tips of her toes.
Katie sighed. “This really feels wonderful.”
“Does it now?” His fingers began to inch up her calf. “I think your tired leg muscles might enjoy a little attention.”
She couldn’t find her voice at first, but when his fingers spread to her thighs, she squeaked out, “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No, but I think it would be wise.”
“Why?”
“Well, it’s just….I don’t know!”
“Katie, we’re both adults.” His hands stilled, but he leaned toward her. “If you want me to stop, say so. Otherwise, I will take it as you giving consent for me to proceed.”
Katie looked into his light blue eyes for a moment and her resolve fled. She wound her fingers in his dark hair and pulled him to her. “I don’t want to stop.” Her lips met his, and she could have sworn she heard bells.
Her tongue slid along his lips and he opened his mouth to allow her entry. She groaned as she slid her tongue along his. Before she was even aware of when it had happened, he had taken over the kiss. It was no longer soft and sensual. His lips ground against hers and he leaned into her until she was on her back on the couch. Ian’s body covered hers, and she wrapped her arms around him drawing him closer.
****
Ian assaulted her mouth with raw hunger. His hand trembled slightly as it slid under her shirt to cup her breast. He knew he should stop this, but he couldn’t. His arousal strained against his jeans. He had never felt such a strong urgent desire for a woman as he did Katie at this mome
nt, not even his dead wife.
His fingers slid up to the top of her bra so he could slide his hand inside. He moaned against her mouth as his fingers tweaked her nipple to a peak. It wasn’t enough for him. Grasping the bottom of her shirt with his other hand, he pulled it up her body and over her head.
His lips left her mouth and traveled slowly down her neck while his fingers brushed her straps down her arms. He shoved her bra impatiently aside so his lips could travel across her soft mounds. When his tongue lapped at her nipple, Katie gasped and arched her back off the couch. One hand moved and slid up her thigh. She pressed into his hand as it slid between her legs. His fingers found her jean’s button.
Sound penetrated his mind. The telephone? He lifted his head and stared across the room at it. “What the hell?” Who would be calling him at this hour? He had left word at work not to disturb him. He glanced down at Katie. “I’m sorry. It might be Kyle.”
Katie nodded. “You had better get it.”
Ian rose and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. It had better be Kyle and if not, it had better be damn important.
He lifted the receiver and froze. “Frank?” Ian glanced over to Katie as she sat up and drew her shirt over her head. “No, no, Frank, not now!” His gaze hardened when Katie slid on her shoes. “Okay, tomorrow night. Damn it, Frank, I have company!” He ran a hand across his eyes. “I said tomorrow, good night.”
****
Katie watched Ian, and she could see the tension in his body. She hadn’t missed the hard glare he sent her when she righted her clothes.