“If you’re sure...” Natalie nibbled her bottom lip before turning to her kids. “You are both going to behave for Miss Emily and Mr. Tom, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Mommy.” Lexie bobbed her head. “They have cows!” Lexie’s eyes widened as she spoke. Colby simply nodded, then picked at his shirt.
“That sounds fun, sweetie. Now, go get your bags with Miss Emily. They’re by the front door away from all this chaos.” Natalie’s children sloshed through the water.
Tom’s brow furrowed as he looked at the mess. “Do you need me to stay and help with the sink and water?”
“You’re taking my children. That’s honestly the best way to help me because I can focus on clearing up this mess.”
Max placed a hand on her shoulder. “Tom, I’ve got this. Thanks, though.”
The whole lot of them made their way to the front door. Tom scooped up the overnight bags. Lexie wrapped her mother in a hard hug, and Colby even leaned into her, shoulder-to-shoulder, before the two children walked out the door with the Knoxes.
Max swallowed hard and scratched the back of his neck, doing his damnedest to look anywhere but at her wet T-shirt. “You’ve got quite a mess here.”
“Thank goodness I’d already made breakfast pastries for the week. We’ll all need to eat breakfast picnic-style.” She sagged into a chair with a sigh, a wrench in her hand, and glanced out the window. “I’m praying it won’t rain.”
He pulled a chair to sit close to her, their knees almost touching. “Temperatures are cool in the morning. It will be perfect. You handle everything with ease.”
Max stretched his arms wide, and the buttons on his green polo shirt pulled slightly. He’d opted for comfort today. One of his tactics as an investigator was to come across as unassuming—less like a suit. Which was why he’d worn a polo, cargo shorts and boat shoes today. Respectable without any hint of superiority. People seemed more candid with him that way.
“Ease? I don’t think so. I’m holding on by a thread, one day at a time.” Her eyes seemed to examine something he couldn’t.
“I really do want to help.”
She shook her auburn hair and sighed. “You’re not paying for my plumber.”
“I’m insulted you would think I can’t handle a simple plumbing fix.” He put his hand on his chest for added drama.
“I really don’t expect you to fix my sink.”
He shoved himself to his feet in a smooth sweep. “Consider it in the realm of driving along, seeing someone on the side of the road with a flat tire in need of help. It’s minimal time and the right thing to do.”
Standing as well, she eyed him skeptically. “Are you going to wreck my plumbing?”
He laughed. “If I do, then you can let me pay for it. Now, step aside and don’t challenge my manhood, woman.”
Pushing the toolbox closer to the sink, he squatted down to investigate what was going on. The leak wasn’t too bad—it had just expelled a lot of water.
He noted the tools he needed, and she passed them to him. Natalie sat next to him, eyes watching...learning. With every pass of a tool, their fingers would brush. Slightly. Enough, though, to continuously remind him of how damn attractive she was. Of the mutual draw tugging at both of them relentlessly.
Silence had overtaken them. Max cleared his throat, craving the soothing sound of her voice. “No critiques or advice?”
“Nope. You look like you’ve got it under control.” She laughed, silky hands touching his forearm.
“Hmm...” He emerged from under the sink to stare at her, gesturing for her to take a look.
“What does that mean?” Natalie drew closer, looking at the state of her kitchen sink, inspecting his work but not commenting.
“You’re a strong-willed woman. I expected your, um, feedback.”
“And risk dinging your manhood when you’re fixing my sink for free? I’m quite content to pass wrenches on this.” She leaned back on her heels, coy and sexy as hell.
“You look hot doing it, by the way.” The words tumbled out. But at least he was being honest. Wrench in hand, he went back under the sink to make the final adjustments, drying things off before he sealed up a couple of joints with plumber’s tape.
“I thought you weren’t going to hit on me anymore. That any further move was up to me.”
“I said I wouldn’t kiss you. I didn’t say I wouldn’t try to make you want to kiss me.”
Still, the word kiss hung in the air, until he could imagine caressing her ear with his mouth as much as his voice. Someday. Yes, definitely someday.
She crossed her arms over her damp chest, over her breasts pebbling from cold—or desire? “And that’s why you’re fixing my sink?”
He shrugged, biting off another piece of tape with his teeth. “It’s a way to spend time with you.” Ah, there. Perfect. The sink cabinet was bone-dry, as were the pipes. “And I’m not fixing your sink. It’s officially done.”
“And is that why you had a tea party with my daughter? To soften me up? Because I want you to know I absolutely draw the line at you using my children to get to me.”
He pushed out from under the sink, and holy hell, they were close. So damn close. He tucked a hand behind her neck and looked her directly in the eyes. “I would never, never use a child to manipulate any situation. That’s wrong on more levels than I can count. Believe that.”
Her eyes searched his for so long he was tempted to talk, encourage her to speak, but God, the chance to touch her, to look into those deep green eyes of hers was...just damn good. So he held on to the moment that was intimate in a way he couldn’t remember feeling before with a woman.
Then she nodded slowly. “Okay.”
His throat was raw, his thoughts sluggish. “Okay what?”
“I believe you.” She touched his temple with the softest fingers, wiping away droplets of water. “Now that we’ve cleared that up, I think it’s time you kissed me.”
Four
Natalie had stunned herself with that proposition.
But she wasn’t sorry.
And she wouldn’t call the words back.
She couldn’t deny the truth to herself or to Max. She wanted him to kiss her. She burned to feel the press of his lips against hers. Her body hungered for a man’s touch after so long. After all this time alone, however much she yearned for contact, she hadn’t acted. She’d resisted. Until now.
The draw to Max St. Cloud couldn’t be denied.
Would he question her?
She barely had time to form that thought before he angled toward her. He slid his hand behind her neck, his broad palm cupping the nape of her neck. His fingers thrust up into her wet hair and she felt the tingle all the way to her roots. Her lips parted and...yes.
Max kissed her. Oh, how he kissed her. His mouth slanted over hers with a skim, then another as he settled into a fit that only belonged to two specific people. A kiss unique just to them.
His tongue traced along her lips slowly, deliciously. And she was surprised at his careful finesse. He was such an immense and bold personality, she’d expected a more...audacious, forceful even, approach. Yet he took his time. Her fingernails dug into his chest and she wriggled closer, leaning into him.
A rumble of approval vibrated in his chest against her touch and she slid her arms around his neck.
As he leaned back against the cabinet, he pulled her across his lap. She held tighter to him, twisting her body to press her chest to his, her legs draped to the side. Max’s mouth returned to hers with a soul-drugging allure that seeped into her senses.
Their wet clothes sealed to each other, the heat of him radiating into her already-combusting body.
The attraction was every bit as strong as she’d thought, dreamed, even feared a little. Because she was a mature
woman who knew her wants and desires. This level of chemistry was rare.
Incredible.
If one kiss could set her on fire so intensely, what more would she find in bed with him? And, damn, how fast her mind had skated to there, to images of them naked together, moving and pleasuring each other.
Already she could tell from the brush of his hands and his attention to detail in noting what she liked—yes, that pause to kiss along the tender flesh of her neck—that there was a generosity that would bode well in bed.
He seemed to hear and react to her every hitch of breath, just as she went on alert for clues from him. How when she stroked along the edge of his ears he inhaled deeply, a tug on his earlobe... Yeah, he liked that. Although her wriggle in his lap launched an all-out groan from him. And a throb. A hard, steely throb that made it abundantly clear how much he wanted her.
Pulling away from the warmth of his kiss, she rested her hands on his hard chest for balance. The steady rise and fall of intrigued breathing. The warmth of his eyes searching hers.
Desire pulsed through her, enlivening her joints, her bones. She didn’t even seem to register the way her waterlogged clothes clung and hung off her body. Barely noticed how wet his polo shirt had become from the press of her body.
What she did notice was the flame in his eyes, the palpable hunger resting on his lips.
She took a steadying breath, attempting as much as possible to collect herself.
Moments of silence ticked by as they stared deep into each other’s eyes. She broke the stare, willing her tongue to form words as butterflies rose in her stomach. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I did that?”
“Uh-uh.” He tugged lightly on a damp lock of her hair, then traced down the length of the strand.
“Why not?” She couldn’t resist leaning her cheek into the cradle of his palm.
“I’m just glad you did.” His eyes skimmed over her face, as if he was learning and taking in every aspect of her.
Her face. Not her body. And somehow that felt even more intimate.
“Max, this is complicated. Maybe we need to talk—”
“Who says everything has to be analyzed or discussed? This attraction between us just is.”
“I don’t want you to think it’s an invitation to—”
“Shhh. I don’t.” He pressed a finger to her mouth. “Quit the overthinking. Stop with the overanalyzing. And yes, I understand. A kiss isn’t an automatic invitation to sex.”
“I know that.”
“I wanted you to understand I know that, as well.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, aware of the press of her bottom against his thighs even as she remained with her arms looped around his neck in a fit far too comfortable for her peace of mind. “We’re talking a lot, considering you said we aren’t going to discuss this.”
He rested his forehead against hers, their noses close, their breaths filling the thin space between them. “Then let’s make out.”
“Make out?” Just kiss? Maybe even heavy petting? But no sex? It sounded...appealing and frustrating all at once. She’d never expected to be single and dating at this stage in her life.
“Yeah, make out... Well, not now, exactly, since we’re soaking wet.” He plucked at her shirt lightly with a familiarity that teased without going too far. “The kids are gone for the evening. Let’s put on some dry clothes. I’ll take you out to eat...then we’ll go park somewhere.”
The plan smoked through her mind and curled in her chest with an appealing swish. Still, she couldn’t afford to be impulsive. She needed for things to be clear between them. “That sounds like a date.”
“It sure does.” Clasping her waist, he lifted her and stood in a smooth move. He set her on her feet and kissed her nose. “Wear a dress. I want to pamper you...and see your legs.”
Without another word, he sauntered out of the kitchen, his soaked jeans riding low on those narrow hips and drawing her eyes to his fine ass.
Damn. He was so arrogant and sexy...and yes, irresistible.
For the first time since high school, she was going on a date.
* * *
Max slipped out of the kitchen, knowing that if he stayed in there to make this next phone call, Natalie would protest and reject his assistance. The water-filled kitchen needed to be cleaned up, and after a quick search on his phone, he had identified a local cleaning service.
“I’m going to check on a lead really quickly, but you should head upstairs and change into something dry,” he called from the threshold, gesturing to his cell.
She nodded. “I do feel a little like a drowned rat.” Glancing around the floor, she let out an audible sigh. A weary sigh.
All the more reason to make this call.
Making the arrangements to have the kitchen dried and mopped didn’t take too much time. Natalie worked so hard—mothering her children, baking, running a B and B and designing wedding dresses—that he wanted to make just one aspect of her life easier.
While he was on the phone, he watched Natalie swish upstairs to get changed.
For their date.
Which he also needed to get ready for. He headed upstairs, phone in hand—multitasking like a pro. A lot had to be accomplished in a short amount of time.
Next on the agenda: dinner reservations at a five-star steak house.
Max shucked off his drenched clothes and ran his hands through his thick brown hair. Going on this date with Natalie had his heart pounding. He grabbed his favorite sports coat—the one he’d bought when his company made it in the industry. The tie he chose reminded him of his persistence, loyalty and dedication. All things he needed tonight.
After getting dressed, he knocked on her door. She stepped out, a radiant whirl in a silky lavender dress, her hair in loose flowing curls. A simple silver chain with a solitary pearl adorned her neck. But most beautiful of all, her chin tipped with confidence that flamed the fire inside him.
Breath caught in his chest, like warm molasses in his windpipe. All of him was warm. Because of her.
Damn. He was in a helluva lot of trouble. “Shall we?” He extended his arm, eager to have her fingers on him any way he could.
With more of that confidence, she met his gaze with sure bright eyes and slipped her hand on his arm. “We shall. Where are we going?”
A low laugh rumbled deep in his chest. “It’s a surprise.”
Brows raised, she looked at him sidelong, an easy smile tugging on her cheeks. Her smile outshone any makeup or jewelry.
Seeing her happy... Yeah, he could get off on that all night long.
They walked down the stairs to the SUV. The drive wasn’t long, not nearly long enough for him to get his fill of looking at her slim legs. But then he wasn’t sure how long would be enough soaking in the appeal of her.
About twenty minutes later, they reached their destination—the Society, a five-star steak house Chels had raved about. He trusted his friend’s taste would not steer him wrong tonight in his quest to impress Natalie.
He eyed her across the table, the low lighting playing with hints of gold in her auburn hair. Her body swayed ever so slightly to the riffs of live Spanish guitar as they talked, reminding him of the way she’d moved in his arms during that kiss that had been spontaneous combustion. She had a dancer’s grace, a musician’s ear for the rise and fall of the notes. It might not be the right time to make a move for sex, but dancing? Yes, he decided he would dance with her, feel her body against his before long.
Meanwhile, easy conversation flowed, about favorite books, movies, foods, recreation... He couldn’t get to know enough about her. He certainly wouldn’t have expected she was into hiking. He envisioned dozens of places around the globe he would like to show her...with her kids? Hell, sure, why not? He could imagine her and the kids in a private
jet, the dog, too, and maybe the trainer as sitter when he and Natalie wanted time alone—
Holy hell.
The thought caught him up short. Who the hell was he to think of himself in some kind of parental authoritative role? He was far from qualified for that job. And he needed to tread carefully when it came to her children, keep things light, not let them get too attached to him.
Or him to them.
This was about Natalie. And him. And exploring the attraction while he was in town. It couldn’t be more, for either of their sakes.
Still, even watching her eat was a total turn-on. She seemed relaxed and was enjoying herself as she finished off her caprese salad with Texas goat cheese. And wine. He already knew she enjoyed her wine...
He added hiking through a French vineyard to his list of possible dates. With a wine-tasting dinner after...
Max found himself wondering when the last time she’d been out like this had been. Or out, period. Natalie seemed to give everyone around her comforts, but didn’t seem to allow herself to indulge.
And how he wanted to indulge and spoil her.
The table was small, intimate...and probably too tiny to properly house the amount of food they’d ordered. That didn’t matter, though. They were together and that had been the goal.
He held her hand, felt the surge of her pulse increase at his touch. A flush spread over her skin, perceptible even in the dim light of the restaurant. Her eyes moved past him, skimming over the decor. The place, to his eye, looked like a living sunset. Stately paintings of the open Texas terrain hung on the walls, candlelight cast orange hues in the space—the feeling of twilight. Like Natalie.
Her slender fingers twined with his, calling his attention fully back to her. To the present. She raised her brows at him, and the strap of her silky lavender dress slid just off her shoulder as she speared a tomato with her fork.
The image sent him reeling. In the flickering light, he felt like he really saw her. Natalie the caretaker, the tenacious spirit. Her soft hair pooled on her shoulders, the wildness of her curls tamed by a vintage hair comb pushing her hair from her face, revealing her slender features.
Taking Home the Tycoon Page 5