Bales of hay and pumpkins sprinkled with fake fall leaves were artfully arranged, along with pumpkin-spice donuts and other fall-flavored products placed on and around it. There was a wicker basket on display too, holding a couple of wine bottles, some plastic plates and utensils, and a blue and green plaid blanket.
“Excuse me?” He went up to the tall, skinny kid working the counter. “I know you’re closing in a little while, but could I get one of those blankets? And a basket, too.”
The kid stared at him through his round glasses. “What?”
“The display? Over by the door?”
“Oh, yeah. They were putting that up earlier but I haven’t seen it.”
“So?”
“We don’t sell those things,” the kid said. “At least I don’t think we do.”
“Oh, let the boy have his basket and blanket, Jordy,” a portly guy said with a smile.
“Okay, Dad.”
The kid rushed out from behind the counter to grab the things for Eli.
“Thanks.” Eli held out his hand to the guy, who was just as tall as his son. “Eli Graham.”
They shook hands. “Pete Becker.”
“Are you sure I can take your display?”
The man grinned. “I think it proves that display is a pretty good advertisement, huh? I can get some more baskets and blankets from the sporting goods store in the square.” He winked. “Think I can get away with a little mark-up?”
Eli smiled. This guy had the sales touch. “I don’t see why not.”
“For you, Mr. Graham?” He winked again. “I’ll give it to you at cost.”
Eli laughed as the kid came back to the counter with the basket and blanket. “Sounds good. Now how about recommending a wine to go with these sandwiches?”
Pete nodded and walked him over to the upended crates holding the wine selection. By the time Eli checked out, he had everything for a picnic supper with Caro.
Previously he hadn’t been in the market for any longer than it took to grab a cold drink out of the coolers near the entrance, but it looked like they carried just about everything. A glance told him the prices seemed reasonable, considering the convenience to residents and visitors. He’d make sure to mention the place on his next tour.
He got to the townhouse with five minutes to spare. The basket, and everything he’d bought for tonight, fit under his arm as he unlocked his new place. The key stuck for a second and then the clicked the lock open. He swung the door inward and stepped inside. The A/C was running, he knew you never turned off the air in a property down here unless you wanted mold or worse, but it wasn’t as cool as he’d like. He walked past a small office to the left and on through to the big kitchen to set the basket on the light granite counter. The kitchen’s dark wood cabinets looked a little dusty and the place was dim. The fridge was running, so he stowed the sandwiches and six-pack of beer he’d bought. The bottle of wine, he set on the counter. He checked the tap and the water was on. Pretty good pressure, too.
Making a mental note to pick up cleaning supplies for this weekend, he went through the place turning the lights on. A ceiling fan turned lazily above the great room and the wide-plank floors looked to be in pretty good condition. A stone fireplace was opposite the tall counter in the kitchen, and there was an empty dining area with a glass and wire fixture hanging over it.
There was a half bath tucked under the stairs at the back of the great room. Toilet flushed, faucet ran, so he went up the polished wood stairs. There he found two good-sized bedrooms, a guest bath and double doors that had to lead to the master suite. He pushed them open and he wasn’t disappointed. The room was huge with a vaulted ceiling. A wall of windows showed the views of golf course and conservation areas. The windows were bare except for the same plantation shutters on the ones downstairs. He peeked into the big bathroom set beside a walk-in closet and was further impressed with the tile work and fixtures. He checked the water here as well, even the dual heads in the massive shower. He suddenly pictured soaping up the delectable Caro Richmond in that shower. Stretching her out on that built-in bench seat and spreading suds all over her toned and curvy body.
The doorbell rang from downstairs, and he grinned. It was the fantasy herself. He descended the stairs and went to the front door. He pulled it open and found her standing there, holding a square pan covered in aluminum foil. She wore jeans and a soft-looking shirt in light blue. Her hair was down, and shone beneath the porch light overhead.
“Come in, Cupcake.” He stepped back to let her in. “You look fantastic. Not that I didn’t like the way you looked in your yoga clothes.”
“Thanks.” She turned a little pink but she smiled at him and held up the pan. “I brought a treat.”
“Yeah, you did.”
Her laugh was easy and rolled over him in the best way. “So come on, Graham Cracker. Show me your new place.”
He couldn’t keep the grin off of his face if he tried. And if he got his wish, he’d put more than a smile on her pretty face.
Chapter 10
Caro looked around the stark emptiness of Eli’s new place. It was a mirror-image of Jessie and Noah’s place, but done in darker woods for the floors and cabinets. She set the still-warm, foil-covered pan of caramel brownies on the tall counter next to a big wicker basket. She’d made them in her apartment when she’d gotten home from the Fitness Center. It had done her good to keep herself occupied as she’d anticipated taking this next step with Eli.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I like it.” She smiled. “Very minimalist.”
“Funny. Do you want to see upstairs?”
“I think we should save something for the next time I’m over.”
“The next time, huh?”
She shrugged. “You know. Next time. When you have furniture?”
“And a bed upstairs?”
She held up a hand. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Eli. So what’s for dinner?”
“Sandwiches from the market, if that’s okay.”
“That’s great.” She walked around the counter and placed her hands on her hips. “Where are we eating?”
He grabbed a pretty blanket done in a blue and green plaid out of the basket and crossed to the front of the fireplace. “We’re having a picnic, Caro.” After spreading the blanket on the wood floor he peered into the fireplace. “Looks like the gas is turned on.”
“It’s a little warm for a fire,” she said.
“Gives us something to look forward to, then. It does get cold down here, doesn’t it? Sometime?”
“We get a few cold snaps, but it’s not like you’re used to. Brisk and chilly in the late autumn and actually cold in January.”
“Florida cold?” He smirked. “What’s that, like fifty degrees?”
“Just wait. Even you, with your thick Northern blood, will need a sweater then.”
He went back to the kitchen and picked up the basket. “Grab the wine, would you?”
She did and joined him as he set the basket on the blanket. He unpacked plates, napkins, flatware, and two wine glasses as she opened the wine. He took the bottle from her and poured. Handing her one glass, he held the other up. “To my new place.”
She toasted him. “To home.”
A strange expression crossed his face, gone in the next second. He’d almost looked sad, but that was something that seemed so out of place with him she must have been mistaken. He blinked, and that familiar grin tugged at his lips. She took a sip as he did, and then he jumped up to grab their dinner out of the fridge.
“I bought a couple of different kinds, so take your pick.”
She set her glass down and looked through the wrapped sandwiches. They were all big and looked to be double-stuffed with meat and cheese. She settled on a turkey with Colby on Italian bread, cutting it in half and wrapping the rest up to leave for him. As they began their picnic dinner, she looked around the great room.
“This really is a nice place, Eli.�
� She dug into a little bag of baked sweet potato chips and crunched for a minute. “Where do you plan on going for furniture?”
“Already found a site online. Point and click, baby.”
“Sounds so personal. Don’t you want to try it out before you buy it?”
He set his sandwich down and leveled a hot look at her. “If you’re asking about my bed, yeah. That’s something I’m going to try out in person before making a purchase.”
She felt a flush all over her body, like she had when he’d eyed her in her yoga clothes. “I wasn’t asking. You should know that there are at least twenty mattress stores in St. Cloud. I don’t know why, but it seems that every time a new storefront opens it’s another mattress store.”
“Sounds like a sleepy little town. I haven’t really been anywhere but the sports bar.”
“It’s got the usual big box stores, fast food places and auto repair shops. It’s the closest city to Cypress, so if you need anything the market or sporting goods store doesn’t have that’s your place.”
“I like the little market. Met Pete and his son today, actually. He sold me this basket and blanket right out of their fall display.”
She laughed lightly. “Yes, Pete will do anything to make a sale. His prices aren’t too crazy, either.”
He nodded and drank his wine, his eyes on her. Once again she got that feeling that there was more to him than the easygoing charmer. She couldn’t guess what he was thinking at the moment. When he licked his lips, she sure knew what she was thinking.
She drained her wine and set her empty glass and plate to the side. “This is nice. Sitting here and having a picnic. Thanks for inviting me.”
“I promise I’ll cook for you next time if you give me that treat you brought.”
She got up and went to the kitchen. Bringing the square pan back to the blanket, she rifled through the utensils in the basket and came up with a knife and fork.
He eyed the pan. “What did you make, Caro?”
“Brownies.”
His brows rose. “The s’mores ones?”
She shook her head. “Caramel.”
He rolled his eyes and groaned. “You’re killing me, Cupcake.”
She beamed a smile at him as she peeled off the foil and began to cut into the crisp and chewy top of the brownies. Before she could serve them he went at the pan with a fork.
“Eli!”
“I couldn’t wait,” he said around a mouthful of food. “Mmm, my God.”
She took a bite right from the pan too. It tasted pretty good to her, if not perfect. “I didn’t have time to make my own caramel so I melted the kind you dip apples in.”
“It’s fantastic.” He scooped another big bite. “Man.”
She sat back and watched as he savored her dessert. His strong throat worked as a look of bliss crossed his face. Her body began to tingle and her lips parted as she hungered for a taste of him right now.
“I’m glad you like it,” she managed to say.
He must have caught something in her tone of voice, because his eyes opened and pinned her with their intensity. “Caro.”
Oh, the way he said her name. Low and a little rough.
“What?” she breathed.
He set his fork down and cleared the blanket with a careful sweep of his hands. “Come here.”
She couldn’t stop herself if she wanted to. Tucking her head into the crook of his neck, she breathed him in. He smelled so good. Fresh and hot. Her tongue flicked out to taste his skin and he growled.
Cupping her face, he stared into her eyes and her pulse raced. Parting her lips, she welcomed his kiss when it came. This kiss was hot. Wet. Different from their kiss on the Ferris wheel. Deeper than the time out by the lake. When he eased her down on the blanket she went willingly. His big body felt so good covering hers and she nearly purred as she rubbed against him.
He tunneled his hands through her hair and nuzzled her neck. “You’re killing me, you know that?”
He’d said that before, about the brownies. The man had appetites, and she loved knowing that he craved her right now.
“Touch me, Eli.”
He lifted his head and kissed her again, pinning her down in the best way as he stroked her beneath her shirt. He pushed the fabric up and she held up her arms so he could take it off of her. His face was between her breasts now, his tongue stroking over her skin as he ran his thumbs over her nipples.
“That feels so good,” she sighed.
“You smell so sweet.” He teethed one nipple and she cried out. “Sweet Cupcake.”
The nickname was silly but she loved hearing it from him. His voice was rough and his touch insistent as he removed her bra. Easing up on his hands, he stared at her.
“You have the prettiest tits.” He licked her other nipple and her heart began to pound. “I could kiss them all night.”
She held his head with one hand, then tugged him up to kiss her again. Cradling his hips, she felt the long hard length of him. She wasn’t ready for that tonight, but she needed something.
Pushing him up slightly, she worked her hands under his shirt and he pulled it over his head to toss it on the floor with hers. She gaped at him. He was beautiful. Sculpted and strong and his chest was dusted with just a bit of golden hair that darkened as it led downward below his navel. She saw the hint of those sexy indents on his pelvis and she wanted to touch him all over. She gave in, palming his muscles as she felt the heat and strength of him.
He woke something in her she’d never felt before. Not with Brad and not with the couple of guys since the accident. Lust, yes. But there was something else. He was a good time. Of that she was absolutely sure. And tonight? She might not end up sleeping with him but she was going to have a good time.
***
Eli sensed a change in Caro, and her movements became more focused. On his dick, actually. She took her busy hands from his chest and reached down to cup him through his shorts. He let out a moan. He’d never been this hard, and all they’d done was a little bit of petting.
“You’re driving me crazy, baby.” He unbuttoned her jeans and slipped a finger just a little bit down her pants. “Am I making you wet?”
“Y-yes.”
He wanted to do everything at once. Kiss her beautiful breasts all night. Stroke her until she came. Lick her until she cried his name. That was a lot to expect tonight but he wanted to give her a taste of what she made him feel just by being in his arms.
He unzipped her jeans and eased two fingers into her. She was hot. Wet. Her moans were as sweet as she was as she arched against him. He wasn’t sure how she’d done it but his shorts were down past his ass and she was stroking him. It would be so easy to slip inside of her. To ride her until they were both satisfied. He held himself back, though he wasn’t sure why at this very second.
Closing his eyes, he began to pump into her hand. It was awkward and perfect and he never wanted her to stop touching him. Holding himself up, he stared down at where she now had both hands on him. His gaze flicked to her face and he saw she was staring up at him. Her eyes were dark blue now, nearly the blue of the blanket beneath her.
“Eli,” she whispered.
It was suddenly too much and he came hard against her bare belly. He was still shaking when he reached for a stack of napkins and wiped her clean. In the next second he pulled off her jeans, taking her panties with them. Cupping her perfect ass, he held her up and licked her.
“Oh!”
Her fingers cradled his head again, as she had when he’d kissed her breasts. She was sweet here, too. Straining toward him, she spread her legs further and he licked and nibbled until she was coming as hard as he had. He found her clit and sucked it, and her moans echoed off the high ceilings of the empty room.
She was sobbing now, and he gentled as he eased away from her. Eyes closed and breathing hard through parted lips, she was obviously spent and he couldn’t help but grin as he tucked himself back into his pants.
�
��You’re sweet all over, Cupcake.”
She took in deep breath and slowly let it out, fluttering her eyes open to gaze up at him. “That was amazing.”
“Hey, I had to do something to repay you for those brownies.”
She laughed at that and he helped her sit up. “What time is it?”
“No idea.” He fished around in his pocket and found his phone. “Almost nine.”
She sighed and tucked her legs against her chest. “By the way, why am I naked and you still have almost all of your clothes on?”
“My clothes had easier access.”
She pushed at him as she shook her head. “You’re bad.”
“Nah, I’m good. Which I think I just proved.”
She grabbed up her hair and twisted it over her shoulder like he’d seen her do before. “Thank God this place is soundproof.”
“How do you know that?”
She winked at him, adorable and sexy at the same time. “Jessie told me. She knows the specs on just about everything in Cypress.”
“I’m glad.” He stood and handed her clothes, unable to look away as she covered all of that delectable flesh even as he knew he should. “I wouldn’t want my neighbors complaining before I even officially move in.”
Dressed again, she stood and stretched. Rubbing her perfect ass, she groaned. “I think you need furniture, Eli.”
“Come help me pick out a bed?”
She held up a hand. “You don’t need my help. You’re a big boy.”
“Which I also proved tonight.”
She stared at him for a second, and then smiled. “This was fun. Thanks again.”
“Thanks for the brownies and the hand job.”
She snorted out a laugh and then covered her mouth. “I have to get up early in the morning. Jane and I are trying out a new recipe for the Fall Festival.”
“Just make those brownies, Caro. Although they weren’t the tastiest thing I had tonight.”
Rolling her eyes as she blushed, she covered the brownies with the foil. “I’ll leave these here with you, if you can stand it.”
Dreaming Eli Page 9