by Nan Dixon
Carolina grinned. “I met him first.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow. Be ready for a crazy Friday night.”
She moved back to Sage. “I have to grab my stuff.” She untied and folded her apron. “Why don’t I met you by the parking lot?”
“Great.” He pushed away his ginger ale.
She went through the kitchen door and clocked out. To the kitchen staff, she called, “’Night.”
Abby waved as she cleaned the edges of a plate. “Did you want a dessert?”
“Oh, um. Yes.” She was a terrible daughter. With her mind on Sage, she’d forgotten about her mother.
Abby set the plate on the warming shelf. “Give me a minute.”
Carolina backed out of the path of the chefs and servers. The kitchen had a happy hum. Was that normal? Was Abby always here? A few of the places she’d tended bar, the cooks would snarl at the servers and each other. Here, everyone seemed—cheerful. Busy.
At the dessert station, Abby filled a take-out container with cake, adding whipped cream and streaks of chocolate and caramel. “I hope your mother enjoys it.”
Carolina took the container. “Thank you.”
“Tomorrow we can talk about what else she might like to eat.” Abby rubbed Carolina’s shoulder. “Why don’t you come in before your shift and you can get settled in the apartment?”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Tears threatened to fall and Carolina sniffed them back.
“You have a need and I have an open apartment. It’s simple.” Abby gave her a quick one-armed hug. “See you tomorrow.”
Carolina rushed out the kitchen door and sank against the outside wall. The exhaustion of learning new things and of worrying about her mother settled in her body like lead weights.
Mamá wouldn’t believe a Fitzgerald could be—nice. She bit her lip. And she’d stolen from them. Kept her true identity a secret. Her hand trembled and she tightened her grip so the cake didn’t end up on the ground.
Forcing her feet to move, she rounded the building, surprised to find a small playground behind a wall. Did they get that many kids at the B and B? Wait—there was a day-care sign. The Fitzgeralds owned an empire.
In the dimly lit courtyard, Sage propped a hip against a table, his profile a dark shadow. His body was lean and delicious.
She really didn’t have time to date. She sighed. Loud enough that he glanced over.
“How was your first night?” He met her halfway. His hands cupped her elbows and his chocolaty-citrus scent blended with the fragrance of beer from the bar and the dessert in her hand.
“That bad?” he asked when she didn’t answer right away.
Shoot, he’d asked her a question. “It was...” She laced her free hand with his. “The easiest first day I’ve ever had.”
She frowned. How could that be? Abby, the woman she’d thought had been eating bonbons and letting other people make money for her, had been kind and thoughtful. And since Carolina had had clear sight-lines into the kitchen, her half sister had worked her tail off.
“That’s fantastic.” He smiled but kept his distance from her.
Wasn’t he going to kiss her? She swallowed back her disappointment and headed for her car. “My...boss...offered to let me stay in the second-floor apartment while my mother is in the hospital.”
“That’s nice. You’ll be neighbors with Kaden. At least until he moves.”
Kaden? Ah, the guy who’d had dinner with Sage.
“Do you need help moving?” he asked. “I’m not cleared to drive yet, but I could help pack or unpack.”
“I won’t have much. Just clothes. The place is furnished.” They were in the parking lot. “Did you want a ride home?”
“It wasn’t the reason I waited.” He set her dessert on top of her car. Then pulled her into his arms. “This was.”
She dropped her tote and tipped her face to his.
His lips were as firm as she remembered. So was the way he took over the kiss, took over her mouth. Each stroke of his tongue drove adrenaline through her tired muscles. Her exhaustion faded as his hands stroked her back. With a groan, he pressed her against the car. The metal carried the warmth of the day. It matched the heat racing through her from everywhere his hands or mouth moved.
He pulled away, panting. “I wish...”
“Yes?” Her voice was breathless, like she’d held a note too long.
“I wish I’d known you’d longer so you’d feel comfortable staying with me.” He dropped his forehead to hers.
Her arms tightened around his waist. “This is fast.”
“I know. I don’t want to scare you.”
Was she scared? “I’m not afraid.”
“Is the offer for a ride still open or are you exhausted?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, you’re tired or yes—”
“Yes, I would love to give you a ride.” She pressed onto her toes and kissed him. “It lets me spend more time with you.”
He tugged her so they were fully aligned chest to breast, thigh to thigh. His arms anchored her to his body in a breathtaking hug.
Her body melted. She held on, letting him soothe away her stress. Delight bloomed inside her heart like a light in the darkness. Then guilt came and squashed the glimmer of hope. She should be thinking of Mamá, not her own selfish happiness.
But she wanted to keep seeing Sage.
* * *
“NO.” CAROLINA PUSHED the tip Sage tried to leave back across the counter.
“You earned it.” Sage stepped away from the bar.
Her shoulders itched. She shouldn’t be taking money from him. It didn’t feel right.
Last Friday and Saturday, Sage had sat on the same barstool. Now it was Thursday, her first shift of the week, and he was back. Just having him smile at her across the counter helped her forget the reality of her mother’s cancer. At least for a while. And his kisses...my, my, my. The Texan could kiss. Every moment she spent with Sage added to her bank of happiness. Something to draw on when she would be alone again.
“You ran all night, getting my drinks and dinner.” Sage narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you think I value your service?”
“I... I don’t know.” Wasn’t it wrong to take money from someone she’d kissed? Someone who made her day brighter?
“Are you done?” he asked.
She checked the clock. “Yes.”
“Go.” Naomi waved her hand. “Your hunky barfly awaits.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Carolina said.
“With your shadow?” Naomi’s eyebrows wiggled up and down.
“I don’t know.” She hoped so.
Carolina ripped off her apron, closed out her till and ducked under the counter.
“I’ll grab my stuff. Meet me at the stairs?” she said.
“Sounds good.” Sage nodded.
In the locker room, she stripped down to her tank top and stuffed her polo in her tote. On the way through the kitchen, she picked up the brownies Abby had set aside for her. Was it too early in their relationship to invite him up to the apartment? She chewed her lip. They could have dessert. And talk. They were good at talking. She hurried around the building.
Sage sat on the steps to the apartment. “That was fast.”
“I was motivated.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. Confessing her eagerness might scare him off.
He took her elbow and they headed up the steps. He bumped into her as they climbed.
“Are you okay?” Earlier he’d said he was frustrated that the doctor wouldn’t let him go back to work.
“It’s a balance thing. I haven’t done many steps since the accident.”
She put her hand under his arm. He ripped his elbow away.
“I don’t want
you falling,” she muttered.
“I...” He heaved out a breath and stopped. “I hate needing help.”
“Then think of it as me wanting to touch you,” she blurted out.
He cupped her cheek and kissed her. “I can deal with that.”
She wanted to lean into the kiss, but what if they tumbled down the steps? She pulled away from his addictive mouth. “Let’s get up these stairs and inside.”
They wrapped their arms around each other.
“I like this compromise.” He squeezed her waist.
At the landing, she handed him the brownies. As she bent over the lock, he kissed the back of her neck and ran his teeth along her ear. Shivers raced down her back and straight to her core. The keys slipped out of her hands.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and sexy.
“Good. Good.” But she couldn’t draw a full breath. Her hands shook as she searched for her key ring. Was she in over her head? She wasn’t even sure what she wanted to happen tonight.
He stroked her back and another set of shivers ran through her body. “Something wrong?”
“Just...my key.” She mumbled and jammed it into the lock.
He followed her into the apartment. She set her tote next to the door and flipped on the lights.
“This is nice.” Sage wandered into the living room. “The owner’s just letting you use the place?”
“Abby’s...great,” Carolina admitted. “Sit. I’ll grab forks and we can eat in here.”
She washed her hands in the kitchen, slathering on lotion. Leaning against the counter, she drew in a couple of deep breaths. She shouldn’t be this nervous. It was Sage. A man she loved to kiss enough that she’d placed a fresh box of condoms in the drawer next to the bed.
Could Sage sense they were there?
“Need help?” he called.
“I’m good.”
She grabbed forks. Then went back for napkins. What about something to drink? She pulled open the fridge. Only milk. Lame. She poured small glasses and placed everything on a tray.
“I thought you’d fallen asleep in there.” Sage smiled.
She settled close enough to feel the heat of his body and catch his delicious scent. Her mouth watered, and not for the dessert in front of them.
He flipped open the box and grinned. A dimple blinked beside his mouth. “There’s ice cream, too.”
Her insides melted. She loved his dimples.
She wanted to be smart, to eat the dessert and send him away.
“We’ll need spoons.” She launched herself off the sofa like it was an ejector seat and ran to the kitchen, grabbing a pair of spoons.
“This is incredible,” he mumbled around a forkful of brownie.
She sat next to him.
He held up a fork loaded with chocolate and vanilla-bean ice cream. “Here.”
Her lips opened and he shoved in the delicious mess. She slapped her hand over her mouth so nothing dribbled out. “Mmm.”
“Right?” He ate, then fed her again.
Apparently she’d only needed one set of silverware.
His green eyes twinkled. “Open wide.”
This time it was an even bigger bite. “Wait—”
He grinned and shoved the fork in her mouth.
She chewed the cool sweetness covered in warm caramel.
“You’ve got caramel...” His tongue touched the edge of her mouth, sending a pulse of lust to her core.
She choked as she swallowed.
“You okay?” He whispered in her ear and patted her back.
She coughed again and nodded. His gaze locked on hers and she froze.
Sage’s hand sank to her lower back. The fingers on his other hand tunneled into her hair. “Carolina,” he whispered, easing her face closer.
The scent of chocolate surrounded her. His breath carried the coolness of the ice cream. Close enough to kiss.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
She hesitated, then whispered, “No.”
Being in Sage’s arms, she wanted more. More kisses. More touches. More. She wanted everything.
“Good.” His cool lips brushed her mouth. His warm tongue slid against hers. Then he sealed their mouths together.
His tongue teased and taunted, advancing and then retreating.
Her hands burrowed under his polo shirt, finding the hot skin of his back.
She slid across his lap, straddling him. Her breasts pressed to his chest while her center rode his erection setting off sparks of desire. He shoved up her shirt—and paused. “Are you okay with this?”
In the kitchen she hadn’t been. Now? Instead of wasting words, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and yanked it over her head.
“Oh, yeah.”
His breath washed over her chest. He leaned back and whipped his own shirt off.
She trailed her fingers over the contours of his chest, discovering a deep scar on his side. “What’s this?”
“A bull caught me.” He bent and kissed the top of breast. “Stuck me with his horn.”
She tipped his head up. “A bull?”
“I was a kid.” He settled her more firmly on the thick ridge between her legs. “My brothers were teasing me.”
“That’s terrible.” She slipped lower and kissed the wound.
“I don’t want to talk about my scars. It’s a waste of our time.” He tipped so she was lying under him on the sofa. “I want to explore your body.”
She ran her hands down his sides. How many scars did he have?
Sage captured her wrists with one hand. He kissed her and the world disappeared. There was only Sage. His murmurs, his heart pounding with hers like the driving bass of hard rock.
He nudged off her bra straps and covered her breast with his mouth, sucking and nipping the hard tip. Somehow he unsnapped her bra and tossed it to the floor.
She buried her fingers into his hair, hanging on as he lavished kisses and bites to each breast. Her hips rolled.
“That feels too good.” He pinned her hips with the weight of his own.
“I want to touch you,” she gasped.
He rested his forehead against hers. “But I’m having fun.”
She grinned. “Why don’t we head to the bedroom?”
“I’m good with that plan.” His eyes twinkled.
He shifted off her. Cool air tightened her nipples. Then he scooped her up. “Where to?”
She pointed down the hall, smiling up at him.
Sage took a couple of steps and stumbled, his fingers digging into her side and thigh.
“Are you okay?” She wiggled.
“Maybe I pushed that a little too far.” He grimaced and set her down. “Thought it would be more romantic if I carried you to the bed.”
“You’ve got a headache.” It was her fault. “Let me help you.”
“It’s not bad. Really. Not bad enough to stop.” He cupped her face. Echoes of pain etched lines around his mouth. “But I wouldn’t say no to a nude massage.”
“Fine!” She laughed, pulling him into the bedroom. Sex had never been this fun.
They stripped and set aside their clothes. Oh, my. Sage may have been injured, but his body was a masterpiece. It made her want to start doing crunches.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Even with his headache, he was too observant. “You’re so...” She waved a hand at his body. “And I’m...”
“Beautiful.” He caught her hand and brought her closer. Resting his forehead on her belly, he inhaled. “Absolutely beautiful.”
She stood between his knees and hugged him. She’d never fallen in love before, but she could lose her heart to a man like Sage.
Brushing a kiss on his head, she climbed on the bed and knelt behind him, digging her fi
ngers into his muscles.
She followed his groans; pushing, kneading, trying to ease his pain. But she couldn’t keep from brushing her hard nipples against his back. Soon she was stroking instead of kneading. Finally leaning over his shoulder, she ran her hands down his chest and pinched his nipples.
“You’re killing me,” he groaned.
“How’s your headache?” She ran her teeth along his ear.
“Forgotten.” He caught her hands and pulled her so she straddled his lap. “I want you.”
“I need you.” She kissed him.
They shoved bedding aside. He settled his weight on her and she moaned.
His mouth took a leisurely trip across and down her body. If this was a song, it would have started slow, a love ballad that built to a burning crescendo as pulsing sound filled the stage. With his hands and mouth he took her up and up, until she cried out in pleasure.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” He kissed her as her body quaked with aftershocks. He sighed. “That might be all we can do. I don’t have a condom.”
She blushed. “I bought some today.”
His green eyes glittered. “You’re amazing.”
Her body wasn’t fully functional yet so she pointed to the end table.
Sage ripped the drawer open and then the box. There was a crinkle of foil and he was rolling on the condom and rejoining her before her skin cooled.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” she asked. She didn’t want to set back his recovery.
He nudged her with his erection. “Honey, I’m up for this.”
They laughed. It was magical, like finding the perfect lyric.
Sage slid into her slowly, waiting for her to adjust.
She needed more. She pressed her hips up, wrapping her legs around him. “Please.”
He moaned, “You’re too incredible. Too...good. Too...”
She squeezed around him. “You have to move.”
“Give. Me. A. Minute.” He pushed his words through clenched teeth.
She needed friction. With a shove of her hips, they rolled so she was on top. Flinging her hair back, she knelt and rocked her hips. “Yes.”
His fingers dug into her thighs, trying to hold her in place. But she wouldn’t let him. She rose and sank, taking him deep into her body. Her back arched. “Oh, oh, my.”