He hoped it would be earlier than that, because he intended to tell her the truth over dinner, and be back at his place making it up to her by ten.
“I’d hoped this place would be a little quieter,” he said, glancing around. “I should have known better because of the holiday. I really wanted to talk to you.” As he glanced at nearby tables, he again noticed the stares Meg was getting. “I don’t think I’m the only one who likes your new look,” he muttered, unable to hide a frown.
She followed his stare. A faint blush stained her cheeks. “I’m not used to much male attention.”
“You’ve always been a beautiful woman, Meg. That some men couldn’t see it in spite of your clothes makes them pure idiots. I see you for who you are no matter what you wear.”
Obviously noticing his discomfort with the attention she was getting, she asked, “Do you want me to go home and change into a skirt and sweater?” The humor in her eyes said she was teasing.
Only an ass would admit the truth…a tiny part of him would rather be the only man to see the incredible beauty of the woman he was falling in love with. Joe wasn’t that stupid. Besides, it was easy to see her excitement and happiness tonight.
Before he could reply, an efficient waitress brought a bottle of red wine to the table. As the woman uncorked it, Meg said, “Thank you again, Joe, for the flowers. They were lovely.”
“I hope they’ll look nice with the twenty construction paper hearts on your coffee table.”
Meg smiled and leaned across the table, reaching for his hand. But before she could slip her fingers into his, she accidentally jerked her arm and knocked the bottle of wine the waitress was pouring. As if in slow motion, the open bottle slipped to the table, landing on its side. Red wine literally gushed out, all over the pristine white tablecloth.
And all over Joe’s lap.
“Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry.” Meg looked horrified.
The waitress reached for the bottle, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Joe was positively drenched.
AN HOUR LATER Meg found herself exactly where she wanted to be: inside Joe’s apartment. She stood in the living room, waiting while he changed clothes…just as she’d planned. If he found out she’d intentionally spilled wine all over him, he’d probably think her insane. She hoped when she gave him his red-silk-wrapped Valentine’s present, he’d be in a forgiving mood.
“Okay, Meg,” she murmured. It was time to give him his gift. Now, before she lost her nerve, before he could emerge from the bedroom and insist they go back out to finish dinner someplace.
“No dinner tonight, sweetheart. We’re heading straight for dessert,” she murmured.
She turned off the lights in the room, leaving only the kitchen one on for some gentle illumination. Then she unzipped her dress, slipped it off, and tossed it to the sofa.
“Strike a pose,” she mumbled, remembering what Dixie had suggested as she’d purchased tonight’s provocative outfit.
A pose. She could do that. She jutted one hip out like a contortionist, and put her fist on it. Tossing her head back, she thrust out her chest, trying to look seductive and sultry. Probably, though, she just looked ridiculous and constipated, because a sudden ache in her lower back made her grimace. The horribly uncomfortable high heels had tortured her all evening. Now with all the hip-and boob-thrusting, her back screamed in protest. She’d be more likely to wind up in the chiropractor’s office than in Joe’s bed.
She bit her lip, dropped her fist and straightened. Think sexy…not painful.
But before she could come up with anything better, Joe returned. She heard his harshly indrawn breath and turned her eyes to see him standing frozen just inside the arch between the living room and the hall. “Oh. My. God.”
Obviously a pose hadn’t been necessary, after all.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Joe,” she whispered.
He opened his mouth but didn’t say a word. Somehow she didn’t feel jittery or nervous under his hot, appreciative stare. Knowing Joe cared about her made her confident enough to want him to look. Judging by the way he had to grab the back of a chair, as if to steady himself, he liked what he saw.
JOE DEFINITELY LIKED what he saw. She wore a miniscule bit of red silk that masqueraded as a bra. It pushed up, rather than held in, and her amazing breasts literally overflowed the material. Only some peekaboo lace covered her nipples. Even from here, in the shadows, he could see them grow tight and pucker under his piercing gaze.
His mouth went dry and he swallowed, hard, remembering what she tasted like.
He watched as she ran her hand across her bare hip, sliding her pinky over the edge of a lacy garter belt. Unable to do anything else, Joe followed every movement with his eyes. Below the garter belt, which cinched her small waist and emphasized the curve of her hips, she wore the skimpiest pair of panties he’d ever seen. Sheer stockings covered those long legs. Her sexy-as-hell, red, spiked heels completed the outfit.
“Women are capable of romance, too. Something sweet wrapped up in a red satin bow?” she said as she took one step closer.
He instantly remembered their conversation during their picnic in the penthouse.
“You’ve said I’m sweet, Joe.” She took another step. “And though this isn’t satin, I think the silk works. Don’t you?”
“It works,” he whispered, hearing the thin, reedy tone in his voice. He cleared his throat. “Absolutely.”
Meg closed the gap between them, step by step, until she stood just inches away. Her eyes were filled with promise and invitation. Joe couldn’t even begin to try to resist her. Hell, he probably wouldn’t have been coherent enough to notice if the building caught fire. Judging by the sparks in her eyes…and those shooting through his body…combustion was definitely a possibility.
“Are you going to open your present?”
He didn’t answer with words. Instead he leaned down, swept her into his arms, turned and carried her back down the hall to his bedroom. Their mouths met in a hot, frenzied kiss, and he heard her throaty purr of feminine triumph. Not that he gave a damn. Things might have gone a little differently than he’d planned, but they were going to end up right where he’d hoped they would tonight. In his bed.
MEG DIDN’T CARE that she lost one of her shoes on the way down the hall. She just kicked off the other one, as well. When they reached his room, she noted the big bed with the bedding turned down, and shivered in anticipation. This is really going to happen.
Remembering the condoms in her purse, she whispered against his lips, “I brought some, uh…”
“It’s covered,” he muttered as he lowered her to the bed. Then he stepped back, never taking his eyes off her as he reached for the buttons at his wrists. She arched on the covers, feeling hot, achy and needy. Then she stilled, watching him undress.
Meg had seen men’s bodies before. But seeing his emerge from his clothing, she knew she’d never seen anyone who could compare. Her pulse sped up like an out-of-control train as all that perfect male skin was revealed. If there was a sight more sexy than seeing a gorgeous man shrug off his crisp, white dress shirt to reveal an incredible body, she didn’t know what it was.
She whimpered when she saw the thick, rippling muscles of his broad shoulders and hard chest. A light dusting of dark hair swirled between his nipples, trailing down to the waistband of his pants. She held her breath as he unfastened them.
“You take my breath away,” he whispered, watching her as intently as she did him.
Then the trousers and briefs fell to the floor. “Oh, my,” she whispered, astounded at how perfect he was. How big, hard and perfect. She marveled that this part of him would soon be a part of her, and knew he was going to fill her in ways she’d never even imagined.
Reaching up, she pulled Joe onto the bed. Their mouths met again and Meg arched into his hands, silently urging him to take her. Just rip off what was left of her clothes and take her.
He seemed to know she had no pat
ience. He chuckled. “Honey, I’ve been waiting for this too long to let it be quick.”
She groaned. “I need you now.”
He wouldn’t relent, torturing her by slowly touching her from neck to knee with deliberately light caresses. His mouth followed his hands, kissing her on almost every inch of her body. Almost. Because he avoided those inches she most wanted kissed. “You’re driving me crazy!”
“Good,” he whispered as he deftly unfastened the garters holding up her stockings. “That’ll make it better. Trust me.”
She groaned as he moved his hand higher, passing right over the front of her panties, stroking her belly, then the vulnerable skin beneath her breasts. Her groan turned to a whimper as he slowly pulled down her bra strap, nibbling a path on each inch of her skin as it was revealed. She arched toward him, feeling something building deep inside her. More than need, more than want.
This was almost frenzy.
Finally, when she thought she was going to climb right out of her skin from wanting him so much, he sucked her nipple into his mouth. At exactly the same instant he slipped his fingers beneath her silk panties and caressed her throbbing center.
“Oh, yes,” she cried as utterly unfamiliar, hot bolts of pleasure surged throughout her body, inundating her with indescribable sensation.
Before she could even fully acknowledge that she’d just had her first man-induced orgasm, Joe was reaching for the bedside table. She watched, wide-eyed and breathless, as he pulled on a condom. He pushed her silk panties down, not even bothering with the stockings, then moved between her legs. “I wanted to do so much more,” he said, his voice thick with need and barely restrained passion. “But seeing you like that…I have to have you now, Meg.”
She leaned up to kiss him, tangling her hands in his dark hair. “Then have me, Joe.”
Their eyes never parted as he slid into her slowly, with agonizing restraint, until, finally, he was deep inside her body, touching her where no one had ever touched her before.
It was better than anything Meg had ever imagined.
And she knew it was only the beginning.
JOE WOKE UP FIRST the next morning and spent several minutes watching Meg sleep. He would have loved to make love to her again, to ease into her slowly, to wake her up with kisses and slow strokes inside her. But they’d made love several times throughout the night. While Joe knew she hadn’t been a virgin, he suspected it had been a very long time for her. He didn’t want to hurt her.
Easing out of bed, he headed for the kitchen to make some breakfast. They needed to talk—out of the bedroom. While they ate, he’d get things out in the open. Then they could move on—into what he sensed was going to be the most important relationship of his life. After last night, there was no doubt in his mind that he loved Meg. And no woman could possibly have been as passionately responsive if she didn’t feel the same way.
He put some coffee on, then noticed how chilly it was. Quietly going back to the bedroom to grab some sweats, he peeked at the bed to see if she was awake.
Not only was she awake, she wasn’t even in the bed. Startled, Joe looked around the room, and saw her standing in front of his open closet door, wrapped in a sheet. “Meg?”
“I didn’t mean to pry.” Her voice was soft. “I woke up and you were gone. I was looking for a robe or something to put on.”
He finally realized exactly what she held in her hands. A sapphire-blue teddy. Dammit. “Meg, it’s not what you think.”
“Really? So you know what I think?”
“I have a suspicion.”
She reached for the shelf, grabbing several pieces of tissue-wrapped, folded lingerie. “So you are not some kind of lothario who keeps up a nice supply of nightwear for all his overnight guests?” She tossed the clothes to the floor. “At least you have good taste. These are all from Sheer Delights, according to the receipts.”
Cursing his own idiocy for leaving the lingerie in his closet, he approached her. She held up her hand, palm out. “Stop. Don’t touch me. Obviously we had different ideas about what last night meant. You’re a lot more used to this than I am.”
“Meg,” he said softly when he reached her side, “it was all for you. Every item you threw on the floor was bought for you.”
Her eyes widened and her lips parted. Then she frowned. “No, that’s impossible. I saw the date on the receipt for the teddy, Joe. You bought it on Christmas Eve, long before you and I ever met.”
He swallowed hard. “Maybe you should sit down. This is going to sound kinda strange.” She looked as though she wanted to argue. “Please, Meg, give me a chance to explain.”
She reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed, still clutching the sheet around her body. Joe grabbed a pair of sweatpants off his dresser and pulled them on as he told her about going to shop for Gloria on Christmas Eve.
“So, you bought the teddy for your sister-in-law?” she said, raising a skeptical brow.
He answered with a vehement shake of his head. “I got her a gift certificate and that’s all.”
“Then who was the teddy for?”
Taking a deep breath, Joe told her the truth. “It was for you. I saw your picture in the computer system, wearing that teddy, and I just couldn’t leave the store without it.”
Her eyes widened and the color drained from her face. There was nothing left to do but to tell her everything. He spoke quickly, wanting to get the story out in the open, begging her with his eyes to forgive him.
When he finished, she slowly rose to her feet. “So, last Monday, when I thought you were some wonderfully nice, thoughtful guy, you saw your chance and never let on you’d seen me before.”
“Meg, it wasn’t like that. I was really worried about you.”
She continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I thought you saw and liked the real me, not the siren on the screen.”
“I did see the real you,” he insisted. “I’ve fallen in love with the real you every minute we’ve been together this week.”
She didn’t even comment on his declaration, instead laughing bitterly. “I spent a fortune on new clothes, trying to make you see me as sexy and desirable. I couldn’t understand why you didn’t want me.”
“I did want you.” He thrust a frustrated hand through his hair. “I was out of my mind wanting you, but I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I needed to figure out a way to explain everything. God, it drove me crazy, trying to resist you while watching you come out of your shell. Seeing the way other men looked at you when we went out nearly put me over the edge.”
Judging by the sudden fire in her eyes, that had been the wrong thing to say.
“Oh, so you want a frump who won’t get any attention in public, and a sexpot in private?” She stalked toward him, poking him in the chest with her index finger. “Did you think you could separate me into two neat little parcels? The good girl Meg in the ponytail and bulky sweater for the world to see, and the bad girl in the G-string at night in your bed?”
She swept the sheet off her body, kicking it out of the way, not even allowing him to answer. Stalking down the hall, completely—gloriously—naked, she beelined for her discarded clothes. “Well, too bad, mister,” she said as she yanked her red dress on over her body. “’Cause you just blew your chance with either one of us.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
ORDINARILY, Meg would never have walked outside into a virtual blizzard wearing a dress without a stitch on underneath. Desperate times, however, called for desperate measures. And at least she had the long, wool coat to wear over it. She even managed to avoid tripping in the stupid spike-heeled shoes, which she almost couldn’t get on over her bare, cold feet.
Joe had tried to talk to her, but she’d cut him off. He’d then insisted on taking her home. She’d refused, hurrying out while he grabbed his keys and shoes and came after her. Luckily, she was able to flag down a lone cab maneuvering through the snow as soon as she walked out the door of his building.
Though she’
d expected him to try calling her after she left, the phone remained ominously silent throughout the morning. Meg kept picking it up, checking for a dial tone, even as she told herself she didn’t want to hear from him.
“Bull,” she muttered out loud as she sat in her bed, eating her breakfast: a package of Oreos. She couldn’t even be bothered to separate them and lick off the cream. Emergencies like heartbreak required speed rather than precision.
She flipped the TV around the dial with the remote. Not that she was watching. No, her mind never strayed from what had happened last night. And this morning.
Last night had been pure heaven. This morning had…not.
Part of her was glad to know the truth. A bigger part wished she’d never found out Joe wasn’t simply a nice guy who’d helped her in her moment of need. Okay, yes, he’d helped her, but only because he’d been lusting after her for weeks.
Lusting. She had to admit—especially after last night—lusting wasn’t always such a bad thing. She’d never felt about Joe what she’d felt about Ted, or any of the nameless, faceless men who must have seen her at Sheer Delights. She’d never felt that Joe thought of her as an object. He’d wanted her, yes. But she’d wanted him, too, hadn’t she? Nearly from the moment they’d met. So how could she hold it against him just because he’d seen and wanted her weeks before they’d met?
No, it was the dishonesty that really bugged her. That and her complete annoyance about the double standard he seemed to expect from her. “You jerk.”
The dishonesty she could almost forgive. Because, no matter what, she knew the struggle he’d put up against going to bed with her too soon. She’d forced the issue last night. If she hadn’t seduced him, she truly believed he would have told her the truth before taking her to bed.
She checked the phone again. It was still snowing, and a line might have gone down. She heard the dial tone. “Damn.”
It doesn’t matter. This wouldn’t work anyway.
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