Southern Charm & Second Chances

by Nancy Robards Thompson

  “Do you want to get out of here?” she said.

  “Yes. I do.”

  Chapter Seven

  The full moon streamed through the Spanish moss and the cicadas sang in the distance, the soundtrack to a balmy, electric night. Liam slipped his hand in hers and her instinct was to flinch away before anyone saw them, but she caught herself before she did.

  He wouldn’t be her boss much longer.

  Even so, it was nobody’s business but theirs.

  They walked in silence, hand-in-hand down Bull Street with its brick sidewalks and granite curbs, past the shops and restaurants, through Madison Square, skirting the horse-drawn carriages and trollies giving late-night tours of this town that was so familiar. But somehow, tonight seemed shiny and brand new.

  When they got to Monterey Square, Liam put his arms around her and pulled her close.

  He ravaged her mouth, giving her a preview of what was in store.

  “Do you want to go to my place?” she asked.

  “My apartment is just a few streets away from the Forsyth. We might have more privacy there. I love your family, but tonight, I’m not feeling very sociable.” He pulled her closer and punctuated the thought with another kiss.

  Soon she found herself following him up the moss-stained steps of a pretty Gordon Street row house. They paused while Liam unlocked the lacquered red front door that led to the foyer. Another larger staircase stood sentry to the left.

  “I’m in the parlor unit,” he said as he unlocked yet another door.

  “This is it.” He flipped up the light switch inside the door. She stepped inside and glanced around while he turned the dead bolt. A long hallway with hardwood floors and an expensive-looking runner sported several doors. The first one to the right was the bedroom.

  Climbing stairs and messing with locks was sobering. It brought her back to reality.

  Liam, too, because he looked her square in the eyes and asked, “Are you okay? Is this all right?”

  She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him, wanting to make sure there was no doubt in his mind exactly how okay it was. He leaned in and closed the rest of the distance between them. Then they fell into a hungry kiss, arms wrapped around each other. His hands trailed down her back to cup her bottom. Her hands were in his hair, impatient and ravenous as they devoured each other.

  Finally, she took his hand and led him inside the bedroom.

  She unbuttoned and shrugged out of her chef’s coat, letting it fall to the floor as she tugged him down onto the king-size bed with its toile bedspread, turned down over soft white cotton sheets. There was a dresser and matching nightstand that held a table lamp, but they didn’t turn it on. The bedroom windows fronted Gordon Street. The plantation shutters were closed, but light from the street filtered in through the slats. Liam must’ve partially closed the bedroom door because only a soft glow emanated from the hallway.

  They clung to each other as if their next breaths depended on it, and he slid his hands under her tank top. She reveled in his touch, loving the feel of his big strong hands on her skin.

  When he gently flipped her onto her back and she arched under him, showing him what she wanted, he pulled back a little. But his lips were still on hers, his hands were still working their magic on her body. “Do you want a drink or something?”

  She reached for his belt buckle and, as she undid it, smiled up at him. “Or something.”

  “Coming right up.”

  He pressed his lips to her collarbone, exploring the sensitive ridge, lingering over the hollow between her shoulder and throat. He stopped when he reached the neckline of her blouse.

  She made an impatient noise. So he eased it up and over her head so that he could rid them of the first of the barriers that stood between them.

  Next, he made short order of getting rid of her bra.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he helped her wiggle out of it. He tossed it away, letting it fall to the floor.

  She wasn’t, really. Her sisters and mother were beauties—Ellie, with her blond hair and delicate features; Kate, who was the one who most resembled their mom with that riot of auburn curls and emerald-green eyes.

  Jane’s body was a little too curvy, compliments of her affinity for pastry. Her medium-length brown hair was neither straight nor curly and its color was a little too ordinary. Her eyes were too silvery gray to be blue. On occasion, she’d been told that the contrast of light eyes and dark hair was striking, but like the difference between surprise and expect, striking was not the same as beautiful. No matter what Liam said.

  But if anyone had ever made her feel beautiful, he had.

  She lay there in just her panties. He sank down beside her, tracing his fingertips along the column of her throat, worshiping her breasts, taking one nipple in his mouth and caressing the other one. Need coursed through her, making her hot and ready. He slid his hand down, gently grazing her stomach with his fingertips. When he reached the top edge of her panties, he slid his fingers beneath the silk to find her center. She gasped as his fingers opened her and slipped inside. A rush of red-hot need spiraled through her and she almost came undone. All it took was his touch to send her over the edge.

  She almost tore his shirt, she was so eager to get it out of the way. But as her fingers worked his zipper, she stopped.

  “Wait a minute,” she said. “I didn’t bring anything with me. Um... I’m not on birth control.”

  “Don’t worry.” He was breathless. “I have us covered.”

  A low, happy moan sounded in her throat.

  “Of course you do.” She caught his lower lip between her teeth and sucked it into her mouth. “I love a man who comes prepared.”

  “Yeah? Why don’t you show me? Less talk, more action. But first, let me take care of us. They’re in the other room.”

  “While you’re at it,” she said. “Bring several. It’s early. I think we’re going to need them.”

  * * *

  It had been a long time since a woman had gotten to him like this. Jane had unleashed a want in him that rendered him desperate for something he had never known he needed.

  Since that first kiss, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. This was exactly how he’d imagined her body would feel. Now, he was greedy for her, needing to know every inch of her, too eager to bury himself deep inside her.

  When he came back into the bedroom and saw her lying on the bed, waiting for him, the picture of her sent a rush of need spiraling through him. He couldn’t stifle a groan.

  He tossed the condoms onto the nightstand and stepped out of his jeans. He left his briefs on to force himself to slow down and savor the moment. His body wanted her now, but first, he wanted to commit every inch of her to memory.

  Instead of doing what his body demanded, he lowered himself next to her, pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. He breathed in the scent of her. That delicious smell of flowers—jasmine, maybe—and vanilla and cinnamon. A fragrance that was so intimate and had become so familiar. It hit him in a certain place that rendered him weak.

  But not unable to function.

  Smoothing a wisp of hair off her forehead, he kissed the place where it had lain, then he searched her eyes, needing to make sure she was still okay with this.

  “Make love to me, Liam,” she answered before he could even say the words.

  He inhaled a shuddering breath. “Your lips drive me crazy. They have since that first night.”

  He covered her mouth with his and kissed her with urgency as he slid her panties down.

  Seeming as impatient as he was, she rid him of the last barrier between them, tossing his briefs away. He picked up a condom from the nightstand and sheathed himself.

  He held her so close, he could hear her heart beat. He shut out everything else but that sound and the need that was d
riving him to the brink of insanity.

  She pulled him even closer so that the tip of his hardness pressed into her. He urged her legs apart and, with a deep thrust, buried himself inside her.

  A moan escaped his throat and his gaze was locked on hers. He slid his hands beneath her bottom, helping her match his moves in and out of her body until they both exploded together.

  He held her close, both of them clinging to each other as the aftershocks of their lovemaking gradually faded. As they lay there together, sweaty and spent, Liam was still reveling in the smoothness of her skin, the passion in her eyes, the way they’d fit together so perfectly.

  She took his breath away. What they had right now was pretty damn near perfect.

  * * *

  “Let me get this straight,” Ellie said. “You’re quitting Wila to run the tearoom full-time and you slept with Liam Wright?”

  Jane’s heart beat faster at the mention of Liam’s name.

  “That just about sums up my life right now,” Jane said.

  She and her sister were sitting in the room that would become The Tearoom at The Forsyth, trying to make sense of blueprints that architect Ian Wilder had dropped off earlier that day while Jane was at work. Ellie had just finished an art tour and had returned her group to the inn. Jane was so happy to see her sister, because she was the only one she could trust with the details of last night. She didn’t need Gigi expecting an engagement. She didn’t need her mom judging her. She didn’t need Kate forgetting she’d made a promise not to tell and letting the cat out of the bag in front of her mom and Gigi—and probably Charles, too.

  It was just too soon. Even so, she was dying to talk about it.

  The night with Liam had been heavenly, but going back to work this morning had been a challenge. Even though she’d given her notice at Wila, they hadn’t yet announced it to her colleagues. Charles was the only one who knew and he’d agreed with Jane and Liam that they should wait to announce it until the grand reopening. Even if everyone knew she was leaving, it would have been unprofessional to give even the slightest hint that anything personal was going on between Liam and her.

  All day, Jane had taken extra care to keep her head down for fear of giving herself away. It was a disconcerting game for both of them to appear so aloof after the combustible passion she and Liam had shared last night.

  At work, he’d played his part so well, Jane had started to worry that maybe he considered it a one-nighter, but at the end of the day, after everyone had left, he’d told her how much he’d loved their night together. But right now, since they’d be putting in some long nights and early mornings, they’d agreed to wait to see each other again until after the restaurant had reopened. It was just a few more days.

  “I’m so jealous,” Ellie said. “You have such a glamorous life. I’m just...getting fat.”

  “And for a very good cause, may I remind you?”

  “I’m not complaining,” Ellie said. “We’re so happy. Besides, I can live vicariously through you and your exciting life and have the best of both worlds.”

  Wasn’t it funny how people always wanted what they didn’t have? Sometimes, Jane would’ve traded it all—New York, owning her own pâtisserie—to have the love that Ellie and Daniel had found.

  If she could have that with Liam, all the better... She blinked away the thought. Even though her heart was primed and ready, she couldn’t let herself get too carried away. Baby steps. Speaking of—

  “When are you and Daniel telling Gigi about the baby?”

  “We’re telling her at the birthday party. By that time, I’ll be about sixteen weeks along. Since we don’t know the baby’s sex yet, I bought two baby outfits—one for a girl, one for a boy—and I’m going to wrap them up and let her open them. Don’t you think she’ll love that as a birthday present? I can’t wait to see her face.”

  Jane held up her hands. “Kate and I might as well not even try to get her anything because she doesn’t want anything else except a great-grandchild or maybe a couple of grandsons-in-law.”

  Ellie slanted her a knowing look and made a suggestive noise.

  Jane held up her hands as if to ward off the suggestion. “Nope. I can’t give her that.”

  Not yet.

  She blinked. Maybe not ever.

  She had no idea what this thing was with Liam. He was leaving at the end of the month. She was staying...

  “Speaking of...how are things with Kate and Aidan? I still can’t quite wrap my mind around the fact that they’re a couple. Or are they a couple?”

  “You know, it’s hard to say with Kate. She’s such a free spirit. She was so good about looking in on Aidan while he was at the hospital and she’s been watching Chloe when he goes to physical therapy. But now that he’s out of the hospital, I worry that the relationship might be getting near the end of its shelf life. Aidan is Daniel’s brother. He’s such a good guy and he’s been through so much. Not only with the accident, but with Chloe’s mother. You know she’s not around. I hope Kate doesn’t break his heart...again.”

  Kate and Aidan had history that stretched back to high school. Jane wasn’t sure what had happened because she’d been happily ensconced in culinary school in New York. But they seem to have put the ugliness behind them.

  “I don’t want to speculate about them,” Ellie said. “The most important question is what’s going on with you and Liam? I mean are you in love with him?”

  Yes.

  “Love?” Jane hedged. “Aren’t you the one who encouraged me to have a one-night stand? Now you’re gunning for love?”

  Ellie laughed. “Yeah, I suppose I am. But that was the same night you were breathing smoke and venom over the mention of his name. Was it a one-night stand?”

  Was it?

  “I don’t know,” Jane said, suddenly engulfed in vulnerability. “I hope not.”

  “Good! Does this mean Daniel and I get to reinstate the name Liam to our list of baby names?”

  Jane laughed. “Let’s keep our facts straight. I never wanted you to take it off the list in the first place.”

  Ellie made conceding noises.

  “All that matters is you’re glowing,” Ellie said. “You really are. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you look this happy. That makes me think this was more than a one-nighter and has the potential to be something big.”

  Jane’s stomach twisted. “It’s complicated. It’s too early to label us. Why do we have to label things like this anyway? Besides, he’s going back to New York at the end of the month. I’m staying here. I committed to staying in Savannah before things heated up between us. Well, sort of...”

  Ellie’s eyes flashed with intrigue and she leaned in. “There’s more? What happened? Tell me everything.”

  Jane took a deep breath and spilled the details of her night in the pantry with Liam.

  “I never intended for anything to happen. Honestly, until then, I didn’t even realize I had feelings for him.”

  “So, you do have feelings for him?”

  “Like I said, it’s complicated. You know me. I’m not one for one-night stands. My heart has to be in it before I can take things this far. But the other side of that equation is that I have no idea how he feels or what’s going to happen next. Only time will tell, and until then, I need to protect my heart.”

  * * *

  “I’d like to propose a toast.” Liam held his glass high and looked out into the sea of faces of those who had gathered for the grand reopening of Wila. Because of the training and the hustle to get the restaurant in shipshape, he hadn’t had time to meet many people besides the staff and Jane’s family and friend, Robin, who were all in attendance tonight.

  He was thrilled that the Who’s Who of Savannah was well represented.

  But the only person he wanted to see was Jane.

  His gaze picked hers
out of the crowd that was all turned toward him, waiting expectantly. Because of the week’s demands, he hadn’t been able to spend much time with her.

  She held his gaze and gave him a secret smile. She’d changed out of her chef’s coat and baggy pants into a sleek, blue halter dress that accentuated her curves and brought out the color of her eyes. She looked stunning, and all night, he’d found himself scanning the room for her.

  “I would like to express my appreciation to everyone for being here to celebrate with us this evening. I was humbled and honored when Charles agreed to bring me on as a partner at Wila because I know his restaurant has a very special place in Savannah. It was our goal not so much to change it, but to freshen the concept and build on what was already a good thing. I would especially like to thank the team here at Wila for all their hard work. They have moved some major mountains this week. Some people tell me that I can be challenging to work with.”

  He paused to let the crowd have a laugh. “You’re laughing like that was a joke. It’s not. Just ask the kitchen staff. No, actually, I’m very easy to get along with when the job is done well. Each one of the staff brought their A-game and proved to be an invaluable part of the team. Thank you. Please give them a round of applause for the delicious food you’ve enjoyed tonight and put your hands together for the front-of-the-house staff for the great service.”

  Liam lifted his glass to the chorus of applause, cheers and clinking crystal.

  They had served the food buffet-style, so that people could try a little bit of everything and could mix and mingle. The night’s offerings ranged from the caprese salad and white asparagus stuffed with local wild mushrooms and bacon, to the risotto Milanese, beef carpaccio and an elevated low-country boil, to an array of Jane’s desserts, including her version of the mocha cake.

  The setup had allowed Liam to circulate and meet the people Charles had wanted to introduce him to, but it hadn’t allowed him any time with Jane.

  Their one night together had been an appetizer—an amuse-bouche—and the memory of it had vied for his concentration and left him ravenous for more. Now they were so close to being able to spend time together, he could almost taste it.