Eloise had on a strapless, bright yellow maxi dress that even from a short distance Liza could tell accentuated her large breasts.
Perhaps it was the way Eloise had her arm looped through Anthony’s, in a way claiming him for her own. In Liza’s mind, they looked very much like a couple, and she had two choices: ignore it or accept it.
Although she knew that appearances could be deceiving, validating that Eloise and Anthony were anything more than friends or business partners was too risky for her heart.
She wouldn’t know what to do if the answer was “yes.”
Liza turned away from the scene and searched the crowd for someone she knew. After a few moments, she found Mrs. Harrill near the front of the rotunda. She was just about to set off to further discuss her thoughts on renovating the old schoolhouse, when she heard Anthony’s voice calling her name.
Liza didn’t look back and ignored him, assuming Eloise was still latched to his side. She kept moving through the crowd, until she felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned around and kept her face neutral, even as a range of emotions tangled up inside of her.
Anger that he and Eloise looked a little too cozy.
Shame that she had been too fearful of the truth to confront them.
Lust as her eyes quickly took in his navy suit, crisp white shirt and yellow tie. To match Eloise’s yellow gown, she thought miserably.
“Hey, didn’t you hear me calling you?”
“No,” she lied. “It’s awfully loud in here.”
At her words, he took her by the elbow and led her to a small area where there were chairs set up. Many elderly Bay Point residents were there, and a couple of the men were playing an impromptu card game as they waited for the ribbon cutting to begin.
“Besides,” she continued, “it looked like you and Eloise were busy.”
Anthony leaned against a round support column and gave her a questioning look. He drew her closer to him, but then dropped her hand, as if it was hot to the touch.
Or maybe he was too embarrassed to hold it in public, she surmised. She could respect that, if he hadn’t allowed Eloise to hang all over him like wet laundry on a clothesline.
“Liza, it may be loud in here, but I distinctly heard a note of jealousy in your voice.”
He’d sounded pleased as he whispered the words in her ear, sending tingles down her spine.
Though she was grateful that he hadn’t shouted them to the whole room, he had no right to insinuate she was jealous, even though his assessment was spot-on.
“I’m not jealous,” she insisted, keeping her voice low to ensure the old-timers, or anybody else within distance, couldn’t hear.
“But she was acting like she was your girlfriend, rather than simply your investor.”
“And what do you think you’re acting like?”
His voice teased, but also brought her speeding back to reality.
What had she been thinking? She had no right to claim him, just as he had no right to claim her. They were business partners who were madly attracted to each other and who probably always would be.
“You’re right, Anthony. Your relationship with Eloise is none of my business.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “There is no relationship. But even if there was, you’re too beautiful to be jealous.”
His eyes traced the curves of her body, clad in a tea-length ivory silk dress with a sweetheart neckline.
But before Liza could respond, Eloise sidled up to Anthony’s side.
“There you are,” she cooed. “I’ve been looking all over for you. The ceremony is about to start soon and Mayor Langston wants us up on stage.”
She didn’t seem to notice Liza at all, but kept her eyes peeled on Anthony’s lips. Probably because he doesn’t have his wallet out, Liza thought wryly.
She cleared her throat and Eloise turned with a look of surprise.
“Miss Sinclair. I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s okay. I can see you were otherwise occupied.”
At her words, Eloise stepped away from Anthony, as if she’d just realized what a spectacle she’d been making of herself.
“We’re so excited that you’re going to design the clinic, aren’t we, Anthony?”
He nodded and kept his eyes on hers, his slight smile mischievous. “I knew she was the one, the whole time.”
His words seemed meant just for her, and her stomach did the kind of flip-flop that would likely stay with her throughout the evening.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”
A female voice that Liza recognized as Vanessa’s rang through the rotunda.
“If everyone could make their way forward, we’re about to start the ceremony.”
“Come on, Anthony,” Eloise said, reaching for his hand.
He stepped back, just out of reach. “I prefer to watch from here. I’m expecting a call from the hospital and if I’m with everyone at the podium, I’ll disturb the ceremony when I have to leave.”
Eloise narrowed her eyes, and then shrugged and hurried away. Everyone started to move to the front of the rotunda. Even the old-timers stopped playing cards and shuffled slowly away.
Liza started to follow them, but Anthony caught her wrist from behind and stopped her.
She looked toward the front of the rotunda, where Mayor Langston was already at the podium thanking everyone for attending. Maisie had an outlandishly large pair of blue scissors in her hand, ready to cut the yellow satin ribbon stretched between two support columns.
“Let’s get out of here,” Anthony whispered, tugging her hand.
Leave the ceremony? For what reason and what could he possibly want?
Her thoughts raced with the possibilities, none of them good. When her mother had died, she’d left her with a legacy of negative thinking. It was something that Liza struggled with on a daily basis.
She bit her lip, not sure if she should go with him.
Maybe he was going to tell her the truth about his availability for a relationship. Though he said he and Eloise weren’t an item, that didn’t mean some other lucky lady wasn’t.
Whenever she met someone nice, she never gave the relationship a chance to flourish. She was always the one to end it, before her own heart got broken. Her mother’s damaging words—that she would never have a good man—had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
She shook her head. “I came here with Maisie. How will she get home?”
“I’m sure Prentice will take her,” he replied, tugging her away. “Once she wakes him up from his post where he’s supposed to be providing security.”
Liza masked a giggle.
“Okay, if you think we don’t need to be here.”
“What I want to do is far more important.”
The determination in his voice gave her a little thrill. She allowed him to take her hand and lead her away, curious what he had in mind.
They snuck past the dozing Prentice and out the front door of City Hall. The carousel was ablaze in lights, waiting for riders, but Anthony didn’t seem to notice.
She thought he would drop her hand when they got outside, but he didn’t. He held on tight, and she didn’t mind at all.
“I need some private time with you. Let’s go to your place,” he muttered.
Liza silently agreed, since there were no guests at the bed-and-breakfast, and Maisie was out for the night.
A few minutes later, they reached Maisie’s darkened front porch and climbed the steps. She gestured to a bench, but Anthony shook his head.
The only illumination was the orangey glow from a nearby old-fashioned streetlight. Hidden by rose bushes and shrubbery, the couple had complete privacy.
He slipped his hands around her w
aist and she shivered at his touch.
“What’s this about, Anthony?”
“I’m trying to decide whether I should kiss you for the last time.”
Her mouth watered at the thought of his lips on hers again. She’d barely had a taste of him and now he was talking about “the last time”? Life was so unfair.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m really crazy about you, and it’s getting more difficult to maintain control, especially now that the contracts are signed and we’re ready to begin work on the clinic.”
“It’s a two-year job,” she reminded him.
“I know. And that’s the problem.”
Anthony nuzzled his nose against her hair and tightened his grip on her waist. “I don’t know if I can work with you for that long and not get deeply involved with you.”
She stared at his yellow tie, not quite ready to look at him, afraid that even in the dim light, he would see the desire in her eyes.
He pulled her to him tightly, and she could feel the strength of his erection. She leaned her forehead against his chest and smiled, wanting to dance with happiness at the physical proof that he wanted her, too.
On impulse, Liza drew her finger down the front of his pants, and she resisted the urge to unzip them, discovering that his penis was as hard as steel.
“Is this your way of changing my mind?” she asked.
He sucked in a breath, and then groaned as she scratched the fabric lightly. He grabbed her hand and stopped her.
“One of them.”
Liza put both hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes.
“It’s working,” she whispered.
She looped her arms around his neck and without another word, Anthony swept his lips lightly across hers before hungrily devouring them.
Plentiful with passion, rich with longing, their lips moved together and he collapsed hard against her, wedging her against the front door.
Liza felt his hand leave her waist and travel up between their bodies and claim her left breast. His thumb gently flicked the hardened tip of her nipple, as his tongue swept against her upper lip.
The initial, gentle probing soon ventured deeper, and he explored the inside of her mouth. With a deep moan she didn’t care if anybody heard, she pulled his head down hard against her lips, wanting more, needing more.
After a long while, Liza nudged him away with her shoulder and met his eyes. “Let’s go inside.”
He nodded and she got her keys out of her purse. On their way upstairs to her room, he placed his hands on her buttocks, stopping her.
“Are you sure there’s no one here?” he whispered.
She turned around, and held back a trembling sigh at his touch. “The place is empty this weekend. Don’t you trust me?”
“I don’t know. That smile you’re giving me seems mighty devious.”
She grinned and wiggled her ass in response.
When they reached the second landing, Anthony swooped her up in his arms. She laughed and held on tight, planting soft kisses on his neck during the final flight up.
After opening the door with one hand, he took her straight to her bed. The only light was the soft glow of a little lamp, sitting on top of her bureau. It was a habit of hers to leave it on when she went out at night, as she hated to return to a dark room.
He lay down on top of her, loosened his tie and looked into her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
Liza nodded, as she undid his belt buckle and reached for him. His large penis sprung forth, and she moistened at the sight of him, delighted that he was as ready for her as she was for him.
“I want this... I want you more than anything.”
She stroked him slowly and gently, while he hurriedly undressed.
Finally, he was naked, and he was as perfect as she’d imagined—toned and muscular and tight in all the right places.
Anthony unzipped her dress and drew it down over her shoulders. He took his time, and didn’t rush.
“You’re beautiful,” he muttered thickly, and her skin prickled at the need in his voice.
He took her hand in his, and flattened her palm and pressed it between her legs.
“Do you feel how wet you are?”
She nodded, and then moaned as he guided her hand against her underwear, now soaked through with moisture.
“Show me,” he commanded, his voice a low growl.
He was making her pleasure herself, making her need him even more.
She bit her lips as he lay down next to her, watching her body writhe. Her other hand groped for him desperately, but he wouldn’t let her touch him.
“Oh baby, that’s good. Too good,” he coaxed as he pushed her legs open and knelt before her. “You need a break.”
She craned her head up, as he took off her underwear and replaced her hand with his tongue. It darted along her flesh, cresting and teasing, making her whimper.
Liza melted back onto the pillow. She clutched and pawed at his head, as he explored deeper and deeper, until she felt she’d go mad, until she was just about to go over the edge.
Anthony straddled her then, seeming to sense that she was about to come, and she clasped his buttocks with her hands, drawing him toward her mouth, wanting so badly to taste him, too.
“No,” he said, and then brought his mouth to hers.
Tasting herself in his mouth was so sensual. Their tongues were like individual flames, burning hotter with every kiss, every lick.
She laced her hands around the back of his head, as his tongue traveled lower to her neck, and nibbled in that place that always made her laugh.
He cupped her breasts, thumbing her nipples until they were button stiff.
His eyes met hers, and she saw they were glazed over with desire.
“So luscious,” he said and oh, how she moaned when he finally sucked, drawing each tit deeply into his mouth.
He entered her swiftly, and she hitched in a deep breath, running her hands down his sweat-slick back. With his body bucking against hers, his penis probing deeper with every stroke, she knew Anthony had her completely under his control, that she would relish every moment.
The iron bed tapped out their hot and frantic rhythm of love against the wall. She lifted her hips, allowing him to go deeper, faster, submitting to the pleasure.
Suddenly, his body stilled, and she drew his face into the soft curve of her neck, reveling in the long, agonizing groan of their mutual release.
He collapsed in her arms, now softening inside her, breathing hard, and she kissed the top of his head.
“Liza...”
“Shh...don’t say anything. I just want you to hold me.”
He rolled over next to her and gathered her into his arms. She snuggled against him and closed her eyes.
Suddenly, she heard his phone vibrating on the floor.
Anthony reached down and fumbled around for his suit jacket. He grabbed his phone and cursed under his breath.
Liza draped her arm over her forehead and stared up at him while he looked at the screen.
“Duty calls?” she inquired, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“I’m sorry, Liza,” he nodded, sounding frustrated.
He got out of the bed and stood up. “That emergency I was talking about earlier, it’s happening now. The patient is being airlifted to the hospital and will arrive soon. I’ve got to go.”
She turned over and faced him, propping her head in the palm of her hand.
“Bad timing. Maybe it’s a sign.”
Anthony hurried into his clothes and knelt by the side of her bed. “Only that we should continue where we left off, and soon. Meet me at the beach, tomorrow at six a.m.”
She groane
d and smiled. “Another early-morning meeting?”
He clasped her cheeks between his palms and gave her a lingering kiss. “I promise you I’ll make it worth your while.”
She closed her eyes, trying to hold on to the tender moment, and when she finally opened them, he was gone.
Chapter 11
The next morning, Liza woke up feeling like she had the best sleep in her life. Anthony’s lovemaking had drifted from her bed right into her dreams. As a result, the tenuous hold she’d had on the lock to her heart was slowly eroding. And by the way he was pleasuring her body last night, she wondered if the same thing was happening to him.
What was it about his lips that carried her into another dimension? His hands that caressed her as if she were made of the finest silk? His tongue probing her body, as if seeking some hidden treasure?
Liza sunk deeper under her covers and clenched her thighs together. The man drove her wild and he wasn’t even in the room.
More than anything, Liza wanted Anthony to make love to her again and again, regardless of the consequences.
She rolled over and looked at the clock. “Six thirty! I’m late!”
Liza stumbled out of bed, hop-skipped over to her dresser and starting pulling on her clothes. She was supposed to meet Anthony at the beach at 6 a.m. sharp. There wasn’t even time for a shower, let alone breakfast. She’d have to grab both later.
She was on her way downstairs when she heard her phone ringing, way back in her room where she’d left it on accident.
She ran back upstairs, flipped the phone over and saw that it was Anthony. Rather than let the call go to voice mail, she answered it, ready to face the music.
She opened her mouth, ready to apologize profusely, but Anthony spoke first.
“Did you get my message?”
“No,” she responded, sheepishly.
“Where are you? At the beach?”
She rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. “Actually, I just rolled out of bed. Where are you?”
“I got called into surgery early this morning and I’m still at the hospital.”
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