Toronto Collection Volume 1 (Toronto Series #1-5)

by Heather Wardell

  "Good enough. I'll make the reservation, and then I'll go to the coffee shop with you if that's okay."

  "Kegan."

  "Yes?"

  I smiled. "Anything that involves me getting to spend time with you is okay."

  I could tell he was smiling too when he said, "Glad to hear it."

  As we shared a muffin, which we both agreed wasn't remotely as good as the ones Mildred made, he said, "Anything interesting at Magma today? I wish I could get over there more often."

  I was glad he hadn't been there that day to hear my pathetic conversation, if it even deserved that name, with John Franklin. I'd requested shelves near the sinks for spare dish towels, so the staff would have no excuse not to replace them frequently. John had taken notes a few days ago on where I wanted the shelves, and I'd been pleased with myself for making my desires so clear, which was why I was so shocked to come in and find he'd put the shelves on the other side of the room.

  "Yeah, I know you wanted them over there but the studs weren't in the right place. It wouldn't have worked out."

  To my shame, I hadn't done anything but mumble, "I understand." I didn't understand, especially not why he hadn't even given me the chance to put the shelves somewhere more useful than where he'd chosen, but he was moving on to instruct his staff in something and I hadn't found the nerve to make him continue talking to me.

  So, my shelves were misplaced but at least Kegan hadn't seen me do nothing about it.

  We talked about Magma for a few minutes then fell into a comfortable silence. Eventually I broke it, since I'd been wondering about something. "Why did you decide to come here before Steel opened the first time?"

  He shrugged. "Needed a break. The prep work was exhausting, and I knew I'd need to go full-tilt once Steel opened, so I figured a weekend away would get me in a good frame of mind."

  "Makes sense."

  His eyes, suddenly intense, searched my face. "Plus, I had another reason. I wasn't going to tell you but now I want to."

  Unnerved by his changed demeanor, I said, "Okay. What's the reason?"

  "I was... romantically involved, let's say, with someone who was part of Steel at the time. It ended a few weeks before the opening and I came here at least partly to get her off my mind."

  "Did it work?"

  He gave me a half-smile. "No. But being busy with Steel did. And I realized here that I'd been a fool to risk Steel for her."

  "That New Year's resolution, it was about her, right?"

  "Partly, but I dated a lot in the first six months or so, trying to forget her, and like a moron I dated patrons too. The resolution was more about staying away from them and from any other woman who has influence on my work. I won't risk my restaurants again."

  I stared at him.

  He laughed. "Don't look at me like that. You're different. You'd never ask me to give up Steel or Magma. You know it'd be like cutting off my arm."

  "True, but..." I leaned closer. "Do you really think we can date without causing problems at Magma and Steel?"

  He stroked my cheek and I shivered. He smiled. "Yes, ma'am, I do. You get me, and I like to think I get you. We'll be fine."

  Loving his definite tone, I smiled back, then a dreadful thought hit me. "The one you were involved with... it wasn't Crystal, was it?"

  He burst out laughing and I joined him, relieved, and we went on to chat about anything but work. After ten minutes or so he said, "I think I'll go shower and get ready for dinner. I'll pick you up a few minutes before eight." I agreed, and we went back to our rooms. He gave me a hug at my door then left me.

  I walked into my room, then stopped. It smelled different. It smelled like...

  Like the vase of red roses now adorning the desk.

  My mouth pulling into a smile though there was nobody to see it, I picked up the card. The smile widened and my eyes prickled with tears as I read, "One for each month doesn't seem quite enough. Thank you. For everything."

  I sat on the bed still holding the card, grinning, then jumped as I heard the sound of rushing water from his room. He was in the shower, no doubt. Wet and naked.

  My mind wandered deliciously for a few moments. Knowing I might be able to walk right through into his room and join him was exquisite torture.

  But some of my thoughts weren't quite so exquisite.

  More and more, I felt like I had to sleep with him. Not because he expected it, but because the situation demanded it. A fancy dinner at a lovely restaurant, no doubt by candlelight, with the Falls as backdrop, then up to our adjoining rooms. After that, how would I say, "Well, have a good night," and close the door on him?

  I took a quick shower while trying and failing to answer that question, then got ready while still grappling with it, blow-drying my hair so I could leave it down for once and doing my makeup and easing on my garter belt and stockings instead of my thick support tights. My silky skirt wouldn't look right with them, and a few hours tight-free wouldn't hurt me, especially since we'd be sitting.

  But I'd become used to wearing them, and the sheer stockings felt so different. Everything felt different. I was dressing to sleep with Kegan and I so wasn't sure I wanted to. But I wasn't sure I didn't, so I wore the sexy new bra and panties and garter belt and stockings and hoped to hell I'd know what I wanted when the time arrived.

  His knock on my door scared me so badly I jumped and knocked over my foundation bottle. I picked it up and wiped up the little bit that had spilled while calling, "I'll be right there."

  "Take your time."

  I didn't, of course. I straightened the pale blue top I'd bought, making sure the fluttery hem lay properly across my hips, and put on my simple silver necklace and earrings with shaking hands. Then I studied myself in the mirror. I was ready. As ready as I'd ever be.

  I slipped on my new heels, found my room's key card, and opened the door.

  Kegan gave a low whistle. "You look amazing."

  "You're one to talk," I said, then coughed to try to hide the tremor in my voice. He always looked great, but he'd obviously made more effort than usual. I'd seen his black suit before, but not the dark blue shirt that made his eyes glow, and he was stunning.

  His expression said he felt the same about me. He slid his hand around the back of my neck, under my hair, and kissed me slow and sweet.

  My nervousness faded as my rising desire took over.

  Far too soon, he drew back, his mouth curving into a smile. "You are gorgeous, and I'm happy you're here, and we're going to have a great weekend. No pressure. Got it?"

  My throat tightened. He just knew me, somehow. How had he realized I was feeling like I had to put out? I believed him, though, and I wouldn't sleep with him unless it felt completely right. I reached up and kissed him again. "Got it. And thank you for the roses. They smell terrific."

  He pressed his face to my neck and breathed deeply. "That makes two of you."

  I imitated him, and the rich sexy scent of his cologne weakened my knees. "Three of us."

  "Good. No stinkers allowed." He took my hand, then tugged my door card out of my grasp and slid it into his jacket pocket. "Why do women's clothes never have pockets?" He took my hand again and we headed down the hall toward the elevator.

  "So we have to buy purses."

  "Ah. Anything for accessories."

  I giggled and he squeezed my hand, and for the next three hours we sat at an isolated corner table in the gorgeous restaurant and ate incredible food and laughed and talked and watched the Falls, illuminated for the night by bright lights of every color imaginable.

  Once we'd finished eating Kegan pulled his chair around beside mine and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. We sat close together and watched the lights playing on the water while finishing our coffee and tea. I had never had a more perfect evening.

  In the elevator on the way back to our rooms, though, my heart began pounding again. I had to decide. Now. I still didn't know. I did want him, but something felt wrong.

  At my
door, he put both hands, one holding my door card, on my shoulders. "That was amazing. Thank you so much."

  "I should be thanking you."

  He gave a small laugh and shook his head. "Without you, I wouldn't be opening Magma, wouldn't have survived Steel's renovations nearly as well, and would certainly not have had as good a time tonight." He gave my shoulder a squeeze. "I haven't had a girlfriend since the summer and the mess with Nora. I needed someone like you. No, I needed you. I'm so glad I found you."

  I threw my arms around his waist and burrowed into him. "I'm so glad too."

  We held each other close for a long moment, then he tipped my chin up and kissed me, his mouth moving gently and sweetly over mine. Then he said softly, "Good night."

  There'd been passion in that kiss too, and predictable parts of me were screaming, "Go for it! Sleep with him!" But I wanted every part of me ready for our first time and I wasn't there yet, so I took a deep breath, said, "Good night," and took my door card from his hand.

  He kissed my forehead. "Sleep well. Breakfast at ten tomorrow? Or later?"

  I smiled, proud of myself for not caving in and relieved that he'd handled it the way I'd expected, without being offended or upset. "Or earlier?"

  "Nine?"

  "Perfect."

  We studied each other for one last moment, then I went into my rose-scented room and left him standing in the hall.

  Chapter Twenty

  "You're sure you don't mind?"

  He shook his head. "It'll only take a minute, and you can't enjoy the Falls if you're cold."

  I'd debated whether to wear a sweater under my coat and decided against it, which turned out to be a mistake. We'd spent the morning inside, losing forty dollars a few quarters at a time to various slot machines at the casino by our hotel, but after lunch we'd gone out to walk beside the ice-laden Falls and despite Kegan's arm around me I'd had to admit I was freezing.

  When we reached my room, I stepped inside and held the door for Kegan but he said, "I'll wait out here."

  The hallway was bustling with people. "No, you won't. Get in there."

  We had a brief staring contest, and he gave in. "If you're sure."

  "Definitely."

  I let the door close behind him, said, "I'll be right back," and went further into the room. I dropped my coat on the freshly made bed and tried on the three cardigans I'd brought, then put on the one that fit the best over my long-sleeved top, picked up my coat, and turned to leave.

  Kegan stood studying the "in case of fire" instructions screwed to my wall like he'd been looking for them all his life.

  My chest squeezed as I realized he was deliberately not watching me. He hadn't moved an inch from the front door either. He was doing everything he could to give me my space, to make sure I didn't feel pressured into sleeping with him.

  I didn't feel pressured. Not by him, and not by myself. I felt touched by his consideration, and relaxed, and ready. I dropped my coat on a chair then walked to him, certainty growing with each step, and kissed him full on the mouth.

  After a startled instant he dropped his coat and wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back, and I pressed myself against him and gave in to what I knew for sure I wanted.

  When kissing wasn't enough any more I took a step backward, drawing him with me toward the bed.

  He broke the kiss then, his hungry eyes locked to mine, and said softly, "You're sure?"

  In answer, I kissed him even harder. With my doubts gone, all that lay between us was pure raw passion, and I realized we'd been restraining ourselves before, in all our kisses. No more, though. I gave him everything I had and he gave it right back.

  We reached the bed and tumbled onto it, still kissing. His hands moving over my arms and sides, my hands clutching at his strong shoulders and back, our panting and gasps... glorious.

  I yanked off his sweater, taking his t-shirt with it, and tossed them both onto the floor, and he rolled onto his back and pulled me to kneel straddling him. "It's too bad, you know," he said, his voice teasing.

  Nothing seemed bad to me at the moment. I'd thought his body looked good at the pool, but nothing beat the view from only a foot or two away, not to mention knowing I could both look and touch. "What is?"

  "You put that sweater on and now it's coming off. All that work for nothing."

  I laughed and ran my palms over his exposed sleek abs and up to his chest, shivering as the crisp hair there made my skin tingle. "It's coming off, is it?"

  He sat up and pressed his torso to mine. "Oh, I think so. Don't you?" He nipped at my neck and I moaned as pleasure shot through me.

  "Yes," I managed. "Please."

  Instead, he moved to my mouth and kissed me long and deep, and I locked my arms around him and abandoned myself to his kisses until he tugged at my sweater sleeve. "Are you sure you want this off?"

  "Why wouldn't I?"

  "Well, you were cold before."

  I couldn't imagine ever being cold again. "I'm not now, for some reason."

  He freed me from my sweater and top then traced along the upper edge of my bra's cups with his tongue until I whimpered and undid my bra myself, desperate for more.

  The bra joined our other clothes on the floor and his mouth found my nipple and I arched against him and began fumbling with the button on his jeans. I had to have him. Now.

  He caught my hands. "Mary, listen."

  My racing heart skipped a beat. "Oh, God, you don't want to."

  He gave me an evil grin. "Yeah, right. Sit down a little more and say that again."

  Relieved, I sank down onto him and ground against his erection, surprising myself at my forwardness, and he groaned. The contact and his reaction sent an electric shock ripping through me, making me shudder.

  "I want you. Trust me. I... look, I meant it that you didn't have to."

  "I know. I want to." I tried to free my hands but he wouldn't let go.

  "I'm getting that idea. Listen, though, okay?"

  My hands and mouth ached to touch and kiss him, but I nodded.

  "I didn't think you had to and I wasn't expecting this to happen. But I thought I should... in case you did... I didn't want us to..." He shook his head. "I'm being an idiot, so I'll just say it. I have condoms next door."

  So sweet, being afraid I'd think he'd expected me to surrender, but I had to grin. "Good for you. Check the bedside table drawer." I joined him in laughing when he found the condoms I'd brought. "Great minds think alike, I guess."

  "Or horny ones."

  "Those too."

  "Now, you were trying to undo something a minute ago," he said, guiding my hand back to his jeans' button. "Don't let me interfere."

  He did, though; his mouth on me made it next to impossible to keep focused on the button. I kept going back to it, though, and at last I had his jeans unbuttoned and unzipped. I scrambled off the bed and pulled them down then went for his boxer shorts, wanting to see exactly what was tenting them to such an amazing degree.

  He sat up and gently pushed my hands away. "My turn." He drew me to stand before him so he could kiss my breasts while spending a gloriously long time undoing my jeans.

  When the jeans hit the floor, I said, "Oh, crud. Forgot about these."

  He pinged my tights' waistband. "Can I get them off you?"

  "It's a bit of a science, and it's so not sexy. Like pulling plastic wrap off a cucumber."

  He laughed. "Spoken like a true chef. Well, take 'em off then."

  I got my fingers into the waistband and pushed the tights down to my knees, careful to leave my black lace panties on since I wanted him to remove those. Then I forced each leg down to the arch of my foot and pulled on the toes to get the tights completely off. "Sorry. Like I said, it's not sexy." I dropped the tights on the floor.

  "Oh, I don't know." He glanced at them. "They look pretty sexy now. Get back here."

  I did, and he pinned me to the bed and kissed me until I was begging him to take me.

  "G
ot another date later? We have all the time in the world. And I want to see something."

  He slid down my body and stood at the end of the bed looking at me.

  At my feet.

  He gave a low laugh. "You did your toenails. I love it."

  I pushed up on my elbows and looked at him, so gorgeous with his hair mussed and his eyes full of amusement and passion. "Seemed like a good idea."

  "Did I ever mention I think red toenails are sexy?"

  "You did not."

  "Probably because it never occurred to me before." He kissed the inside of my ankle. "But now I do." His mouth moved upward and his hand caressed my other calf. "Very much."

  Shivering with desire and anticipation, I spread my legs as he gently pushed them apart. Was he going to... Charles had never wanted to put his mouth... oh, please...

  "The only thing sexier," he continued, sliding further up both legs, "is black lace underwear." His lips found my knee and his hand stroked onto my thigh. "When it's on the floor, I mean."

  He moved higher, then higher still, and then my underwear hit the floor and pleasure took me over.

  *****

  A long time and two incredible orgasms later, I lay with my head on Kegan's chest and his arms close around me. The room was silent and beginning to grow dark, and I'd never felt so peaceful, so still.

  His hand moved slowly, lazily, over my hair, and eventually he said, his voice low and dreamy, "I've made a decision."

  "What's that?"

  "I'm never leaving this bed."

  I tightened my arm around him. "Good call. But what about food?"

  "That's why you're here. I brought my own chef."

  We laughed, and he kissed my head and said, "We'll order room service."

  "Sounds good."

  I burrowed in closer and he cuddled me against him, and we didn't speak again for a long time, until he said, "Do you want to get up and go see the Falls?"

  "I thought you never wanted to get out of bed."

  "But this is your first time here."

  I pushed up on my elbow so I could see him. "This was our first time."

  "And second, I'd say," he said, his eyes dancing.