by Robyn Grady
Her stomach sinking, Elizabeth laid her head on her folded arms.
What if she never wanted to come back?
Ten
Elizabeth was curious when she didn’t hear from Daniel the rest of the day, but when flowers appeared on her doorstep the next morning, her heart leaped. She was sure he’d dropped off the gorgeous handpicked bunch of wild blooms. But when she ripped open the small card, she learned she was mistaken.
It read simply:
Thank you for making such a difference.
She slowly lowered the card. Not from Daniel. Still the warmth unfurling around her heart at the sentiment swam up to form a big smile. Seemed the flowers were from the sister of the woman she’d helped. She must have received the check Elizabeth had collected from Chad’s office and dropped at the shelter late yesterday. Good. Elizabeth hoped she would be kept up-to-date on that family’s progress from time to time, on how the days, months and even years ahead unfolded.
Midmorning, Elizabeth went for a long ride, checking cattle and fences until almost noon. She investigated study options until one o’clock, but the whole time she couldn’t help watching the phone. When Daniel still hadn’t called by two, she put pride aside and dressed to go into town.
Thirty minutes later, her pewter Shelby Cobra curved into the town’s main street. She parked directly in front of the Royal Hotel but then, for a good ten minutes, she simply sat, wringing the sports steering wheel, gnawing her lower lip. She didn’t want to look desperate and knock on her architect’s door a second time. But she couldn’t sit here all day, either. And she couldn’t stop wondering…
Why hadn’t he called? Had something happened with Abigail and his idea for a new design? Was he still in town, or had Daniel left without telling her?
Her heart knocking at her ribs, Elizabeth studied her cell, lying in her purse on the seat alongside of her. She could call Abigail, ask a few subtle questions. Oh, but that seemed beyond lame, too. She and Daniel had spent an amazing day together. He’d said he’d take her away. She couldn’t believe that invitation had been nothing more than pillow talk.
Or was she as vulnerable—naive—as Chad would have her believe?
Outside, Brad Price appeared, strolling down Main with new Texas Cattleman Zeke Travers, who, word had it, was also a consultant for Brad’s security firm. On the other side of the street, Addison Harper was holding court with poor Rosaline Jamestown, who glanced over and recognized the car. Sliding down in the driver’s seat, a chill raced over Elizabeth’s skin. Eyes and ears were everywhere. She didn’t care if she was seen with Daniel. To hell with anyone who didn’t like that the Cattleman’s Club was being redefined and updated after a hundred years. But she did not want to be seen chasing after a man. She’d rather never hear from Daniel again. She had her pride, after all.
Making a quick decision, she rammed into Reverse and stepped on the gas, ready to drive away. The jolt from her back bumper hurled her forward against her belt at the same instant the crunch of metal on metal echoed through the car and her heart jumped to the top of her throat. Elizabeth threw a wild glance behind her and withered. Of all the people to run into, and this way.
Her face burning, she set her forehead on the steering wheel. She couldn’t bring herself to get out and explain.
A rap on the window forced her to edge her gaze higher over the wheel. Daniel Warren was grinning in at her, signaling for her to lower the window.
“Fancy bumping into you here,” he said, looking amused as he leaned folded forearms on the ledge when the window was down.
She fought the urge to pat her warm cheeks. “I apologize. I…I didn’t see your vehicle.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he laughed. “You didn’t look.” His gaze searched hers before dropping to devour her lips. “Anything special bring you into town?”
“Special?” While her heartbeat skipped on, she pretended to think. “Just a few errands.”
“At the hotel?”
His devilish, knowing grin had her dissolving. There was no use pretending. Angling her head, she sat back.
“Truth is I was curious.”
“About my design?”
She nodded. And other things.
He swung open her door, but she hesitated. “Are you sure you have time?”
“I always have time for you.”
Before heading off, Daniel checked the negligible damage to their cars then, taking her arm, he escorted her around folk meandering down the footpath—some clearly interested in the pair—and into the hotel foyer. As they entered the building’s cool interior, Elizabeth’s stomach knotted and she slid a look around. Just the day before yesterday, after she and Daniel had made love, she’d bumped into Chad here. But surely lightning didn’t strike twice in one place.
When they were in the privacy of an elevator, Daniel wasted no time in rotating her to face him. His palms gliding down the sensitive indentation of her back, he gathered her near and kissed her thoroughly while she melted into a grateful, pliant puddle. The time spent waiting, wondering if she might have dreamed those hours spent together, had been worth every minute.
The world was spinning when the elevator doors opened. Still, Daniel took his sweet time breaking the kiss. When his mouth finally left hers, his lips remained teasingly close. Dizzy, Elizabeth clung to his shirt, imagining the hard flesh steaming beneath as his hooded, hungry gaze searched hers.
“You’re addictive.”
Floating, she leaned in. “Feeling’s mutual.”
“We’re still on for an escape from Royal then?”
She almost buckled with relief. He hadn’t forgotten.
“Anytime you’re ready.”
Hot, strong fingers laced through hers as they stepped into the corridor and headed toward his door.
“I want to get the basics of the new design sorted first. I’ll send scans to Rand so he can work on the dimensions and scaled drawings.”
“Don’t you want to do that yourself?”
“When I’ve sketched everything out, I intend to spend time with you.”
“You might be missing New York by then.”
“Is that a hint? Do you want to spend our days visiting the Statue of Liberty and Central Park?”
“If you really want to know, I have a craving for something far more private. Maybe something tropical.”
Swiping the keycard, he winked. “Leave it to me.”
Inside the suite, they crossed to a long central table. Sketches were scattered everywhere so that only snatches of wood poked through. When something crunched beneath her foot, Elizabeth looked down. Paper lay all over the floor, too.
After clearing a square, he positioned a sheet in the center of the table and stood back, hands low on his hips.
“Tell me if you think it’ll fly.”
Stepping up, she inspected the drawings. There were scales and numbers and different angles. Confusing for a layperson, but the overall concept was clear and, to her mind, nothing short of perfect!
At her side, he slipped slim reading glasses on then ran two fingertips over the main drawing.
“Exterior material will be stone but also with a strong emphasis on glass, which will encase a tall tunnel ceiling spanning the entire length of the curving building.”
“Lots of glass…to let the light in?”
“Natural light,” he agreed, his attention on the drawing. “Light coming from the new membership and century.”
Smiling at the excitement sparkling in his eyes, she nodded then looked down again.
“And this shape?”
“I couldn’t get away from the symbol that most typifies this state as well as the club. Plastering massive steer horns on a giant cowhide door, however, was one of my less inspired ideas.”
Elizabeth only pressed her lips together. Everyone made mistakes.
“But here the symbol of the club,” he went on, “steer horns, are embodied within the structure of the building itself. The charac
ter of the Cattleman’s Club is everywhere without being in anyone’s face.”
The building had no sharp angles or corners but rather curved around, in and out again, mimicking a set of horns. She pointed out the semicircular spaces.
“What’ll go in here?”
“I’m not sure yet. But I have an idea for the separate sections of the club with regard to color.” He pointed to the drawing. “That wing or horn will be devoted to equitable gatherings, such as sport, which should inspire a sense of fair play—or justice, if you will. It will be decorated with black opals in mind.”
“Black leather and granite trims?” she asked.
“Shimmering surfaces. The center third will be dining, meeting rooms and the library. The leadership area’s decor will reflect the legend’s red diamond.”
“Like red granite, redwood trimming and crimson carpet.”
“Uh-huh. The other wing…” He inhaled, slipped off his glasses and straightened. “Well, I’m still working out what to put in there but the theme will be emeralds. Green for growth.”
“And for peace.”
He smiled. “Right.”
She studied the design a final time then, satisfied, drew back. “If you’re going to get this done on time, I’d best let you be.”
His arm scooped around her waist and unapologetically tugged her in, deliciously close to his heady, innate heat.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled.
“I’m not?”
“Not today.” His head angled until his lips brushed hers, back and forth, up and blissfully down. Lower, she felt the physical result of his desire press against her belly and a wonderful floating feeling fell over her. Her next words came out a sigh.
“I didn’t bring anything with me.”
“What do you need?” His head lowered and he kissed her neck as if he were tasting fruits sent from heaven. “This.” He changed to the other side. “Or this?”
Gripping his broad shoulders, she liquefied more.
“You could wear a lady out,” she murmured.
A second before his mouth claimed hers, he admitted, “Or die trying.”
After two weeks of drawing and consulting with Abigail, Daniel was happy with his new design. He sent everything up to Rand to mark up the final drawings and to create a presentation, and then he told Elizabeth to get her beach gear and passport together. His private jet was fueled and waiting to fly them away.
During the flight out, he kept quiet about their destination. While she sat back in the leather seat, looking exquisite in a pretty yellow sundress and matching sandals, he wondered if she’d approve of his choice of location. Then again, she had asked for private.
Throughout the jet’s descent and when they touched down on an isolated tarmac, Elizabeth seemed breathless with excitement. Clear blue skies, a jungle of palms, riots of colorful island blooms. She held her cheeks.
“This is brilliant!”
“This Caribbean island’s very small, very private.” He grazed his lips against her temple. “Very romantic.” As they moved toward the door, he confessed, “I thought about the Pacific Islands, but I didn’t want to waste too much time in the air.”
When she smiled at him, understanding, he felt compelled to add, There’s always next year. But he didn’t want to jump the gun. No doubt they’d enjoy their time here together, but he wouldn’t go making any plans in advance. He would still need to stay in Royal on and off if he got the job. If that were the case he’d be more than happy to continue to see Elizabeth. But if his design wasn’t successful, fact was, soon he’d be back in New York. And Elizabeth would be stuck down South.
Not anyone’s fault. Nothing either of them could change. That circumstance merely reinforced the obvious. He wasn’t into long-distance affairs. He avoided them as much as ground glass in his oats. They should enjoy the time they had now.
A woman wearing a bright multicolored shirt and flowers in her dark hair greeted them. After collecting luggage, they were driven in a four-wheel drive to their lodgings—a thatched roof bungalow perched on the edge of an idyllic stretch of long white beach. Elizabeth audibly sighed as she moved through the front door, across the main room decorated with rattan furniture, then out onto a massive balcony, which overlooked sparkling shallow waters that journeyed out toward an endless turquoise sea.
“What’s this place called?”
“It’s a private island owned by a friend,” he said, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back as he joined her. “Sinbad Isle.”
She swung to him, her eyes bright. “Does it have a history of pirates? Of treasure?”
He laughed. “I vote we explore and find out.” Maybe they could start their own legend.
“Have you been here before?”
“I’ve had the offer for some time but I’ve never taken my friend up on it.”
“Are we the only ones here?”
“Aside from the caretakers, who have their own quarters on the other side of the island, we’re completely alone.”
With a wicked grin, she kicked off her sandals. “There’s something I want to try.”
“What’s that?”
“Take off your clothes and I’ll show you.”
Daniel wanted to pinch himself as Elizabeth proceeded to wriggle out of her sundress. When she got down to her fiery orange mini bikini, he snapped back and wound, double time, out of his shirt. Then she reached around her nape, pulled the tie and those two orange triangles of fabric fell to her hand-span waist. When his brain began to swim, Daniel remembered to breathe.
“You’d like to try out the bed?”
“No, silly.” She shimmied out of her bottoms, too. “I want to try out the water.”
Elizabeth left Daniel standing on the balcony with his jaw dropped and boxers ready to do the same.
She flew down the half-dozen wooden stairs and out along the warm, soft sand with not a stitch on. With the sun high and warm, she let out a laugh as her feet smacked the cool water. She’d waded out farther and was about to dive into the shallows when an arm lassoed her waist and brought them both down.
Water closed in over her head before hands, settled on her waist, jettisoned her up into the air and she heard Daniel’s laughter join her own. When she landed, she tried to escape again, but he caught her from behind and, her legs sending out fans of water, swung her around.
“You, Miss Milton, are a wild child. Are you known for this kind of behavior back home?”
“It might surprise you,” she told him over her bare shoulder, “but this is my first time running naked down a tropical island beach.”
“I’m glad I was here to see it.”
With them both out of breath, he rotated her around in the circle of his arms. His steamy palms slid down her back as he pressed her against his hard, beating chest.
“I guess now’s the time to admit,” he said, “that for some strange reason I’m not feeling much like swimming.”
“Who said anything about swimming?”
Her fingers slid down and, one by one, wrapped around his throbbing length while Daniel’s eyes widened.
With the incoming tide coursing around them, he lifted her inch by inch until her legs coiled around his hips and locked behind his back. Her wet hair hanging over his face, she nipped his bottom lip then, holding his head, captured his mouth with hers. She felt his heart hammering like an overworked piston by the time she let him go. His gaze on her lips, he hummed in his throat.
“You don’t mind if we shock a few seagulls then?”
Legs still coiled around his back, she’d moved on to nibbling his earlobe.
“You’re not going all shy on me, I hope.” When he eased her slightly down, the tip of his erection nudged inside of her and she sucked down a startled breath. Then, raveling her arms around his neck, she expelled a long, loving sigh. “I guess not.”
With him holding her in place, she moved as he moved—around him, with him—and let the syrup
y warmth spread through her as his mouth grazed her forehead, her cheeks, her ever-welcoming mouth. With him filling more of her, she embraced the thrust of his tongue and the tease as his damp chest hair tickled her breasts. Soon she was left catching her breath and softly repeating his name.
When the beginnings of a contraction quivered low in her belly, she buried her face in the hot, corded sweep of his neck. Her muscles clamped around him and her mind went deliciously blank as she started to tremble and her every fiber pulsed. As her lit fuse finally ran out, a storm of sparks flew and the fire at the heart of her broke free.
Her legs squeezed him closer, urged him deeper as her orgasm gripped again and again. But in the recesses of her mind, she was vaguely aware of Daniel cursing softly. And then, in her daze, she understood.
He wasn’t wearing protection.
As she clung to him still, he murmured against her jaw.
“You took me by surprise. Then again, you always do.”
She curled a fingertip around his sandpaper jaw and whispered near his lips, “Take me inside.”
He angled her around until she lay cradled in his arms and he walked them out of the water. When they reached the bungalow, he set her down, found a condom then led her to a spacious double shower surrounded by luminous ferns and slats of bamboo. Beneath the warm spray they soaped each other up, washed each other down, and when the sensations got too much, he made love to her—protected this time—his palm on the glass beside her head, while the water hissed and streamed around them.
Later, with big, fluffy towels, they patted each other dry. While Elizabeth found her hairbrush, hungry, Daniel checked out the well-stocked fridge. He came back to the bedroom with a platter overflowing with fruit, cheese and bread. After setting the banquet down on the bed, which was strewn with sweet-smelling flowers, he made a second trip, returning with a chilled bottle of champagne.
He took a flourishing bow. “Luncheon is served.”