The Sweetest Seduction, Breakaway Hearts

by Crista McHugh

  Her dismissal stung, leaving him scrambling to defend his pride. “Perhaps, but you of all people know that sometimes two very different things work well together.” He picked up three of the bowls and held them out to her to prove his point.

  She met him dead on with a bluntness he wished he’d gotten earlier. “Are you saying you find me attractive?”

  “I think that’s pretty obvious.” And if it wasn’t, he’d gladly give her proof.

  A rich shade of pink stole into her cheeks. “You certainly have an odd way of showing it.”

  “It’s kind of hard when you have my mother, my brothers, and Jasper all interrupting.”

  That earned him a laugh. Her eyes flickered to him, then looked away. She tucked a curl behind her ear. “I don’t suppose there’s a place we could go where we wouldn’t have to worry about interruptions?”

  His cock jumped to attention, and his mouth went dry. Was this the invitation he’d been waiting for? He racked his mind for some place they could go before settling on the boat. “Care to meet me on the dock in a couple of minutes for a sunset cruise?”

  “Sure, so long as my mother isn’t in a hurry to get back to Chicago.”

  “Doubt it—she and my mom have been talking bridge strategies all night.” He carried dessert into the dining room with a new spring in his step. By the end of the evening, he’d finally get to the bottom of his strange reaction to Lia and perhaps satisfy his curiosity about how her lips would feel under his.

  “Everything all right, dear?” his mother asked.

  “Just fine, Mom. I offered to take Lia on a quick spin around this part of the lake.” He turned to his brothers and silently added, Alone.

  Dan nodded. “Good idea. I’ll have to leave soon anyway. Call and all that.” He held up his pager as if to prove his point, but more likely, he wanted to get back to whatever nurse held his fancy.

  “And I need to call Kourtney,” Caleb said, earning an almost imperceptible frown from their mother.

  Adam definitely needed to find out what had happened in Florida before his brother left for Afghanistan, but that could wait.

  Right now, the closest thing to a date he’d had in the last six months was waiting for him by the boat.

  ****

  Lia tiptoed toward the dock, scared one loud sound would have Jasper after her again. But as she got closer to the boat, a whisper of doubt echoed through her mind. What the hell am I doing here? I’m going out there, alone, with a sexy man who will probably have me wanting to toss my panties overboard in a matter of seconds.

  In his defense, though, Adam had been a gentleman...so far. Perhaps all he wanted to do was chat.

  So why did that leave her disappointed?

  The sun sat low on the horizon, painting the clouds pink and orange and turning the water into fire. If Adam wanted to take her on a sunset cruise, it would be brief one. Night would be here soon, meaning she’d have to dodge deer on that gravel road in pitch-black darkness on the way home.

  This is a bad idea. I should just go now before—

  She spun around and collided with Adam. The scent of soap mingling with the faint trace of spicy cologne rose from his skin, filling her nostrils and turning her insides to mush. Why didn’t she notice how good he smelled earlier?

  He wrapped his hands around her shoulders, steadying her. “Are you okay?”

  She managed to nod, even though her heart was still thumping away in her throat.

  “Then why do you look scared out of your wits?”

  “I...uh....” Anything but the truth. “I’m worried Jasper may come after me again.”

  Adam laughed and led her down the dock. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly, really. Besides, I’ve got him tied up on the front porch, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  If you only knew.

  “When you said boat, I wasn’t expecting a small yacht,” she said as they stopped in front of the sleek thirty-one-foot powerboat.

  He shrugged as though it were a wooden canoe and helped her on board. “It’s not the most impressive thing on the lake, but it has a small galley below if you want a glass of wine.”

  She stepped into the cramped room below. The “galley” consisted of a small fridge—stocked with beer, wine and soda—a microwave, and a cooktop with two eyes. It wasn’t much, but it would do for a day on the lake. Of course, she didn’t miss the small bed tucked into the nook at the forward end of the cabin. How many women had gone on sunset cruises and ended up under those covers?

  The boat rocked from side to side, and the motor roared to life. She poured a glass of chardonnay for each of them and climbed back up to the deck, settling in the seat next to Adam. “Do you get to take this out often?”

  He shook his head. “My brothers get more use out of it than I do. I haven’t been on the boat in a couple of years.”

  So scratch the idea of taking a tumble under the covers below.

  The boat glided through the water at a calm speed as Adam pointed out some of his neighbors’ homes and the different landmarks. The stars were twinkling above them by the time he turned around and started back to the house. “Sorry to sound like a tour guide.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s a nice cruise.” She didn’t know if it was the wine or the fact she’d just spent half an hour in his company without any of the sexual tension they’d had before, but she had finally become comfortable with Adam Kelly.

  He stared straight ahead at the water. “So are you seeing anyone?”

  “No. I’m too busy with my restaurant. I’m there every night, which leaves me no time for dating.” Dear God, did that really sound as pathetic as I think it did?

  “I totally understand. Work keeps me pretty busy, too.”

  At least I’m not the only one so obsessed with work to the point of having no social life. “What kind of work do you do?”

  “I manage some properties my father built. When he died, I had to step into his shoes.”

  “And is that what you wanted to do?”

  He shrugged again. “I’m the eldest. It was what I was expected to do.”

  “So? My mom expected me to get married right out of college and give her half a dozen grandkids by now, but you see I haven’t done that. What’s your excuse?”

  The moonlight flashed off his white teeth as he grinned. “Okay, you got me. I enjoy the business. It’s always a challenge to take what my father left and turn it into something better. For example, I’m trying to get Amadeus Schlittler to open a restaurant in one of my buildings downtown.”

  Her eyes widened. “The Amadeus Schlittler?”

  “The one and same.”

  She let out a low whistle. “If you can get him to do that, you’d be set. I heard his New York restaurant is booked out a year in advance.”

  “Bingo. And it will help increase revenue to the other business in the building, which in turn would allow me to increase their rent, which in turn would increase my profit.”

  “Sounds like you have it all planned out. You’d be a fool to let this opportunity slip through your fingers.”

  “Well, it’s still up in the air. I have a place that might do for him, but there are a few matters I have to take care of first.”

  “I hope it all goes according to plan.”

  A gust of wind whipped across the lake, tearing through the thin fabric of her shirt and covering her skin with gooseflesh. She shivered and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Adam stopped the engines. “Let me get you a blanket.” He returned from the galley moment later and draped a fleece throw around her shoulders. “I forgot how chilly the nights can be out on the water, even though it’s almost summer.”

  She pulled the blanket tighter around her. “Thank you.”

  He knelt in front of her and rubbed her arms, his motions getting slower with each pass. He grew still and stared at her. “You know, I still haven’t gotten what I wanted tonight.”

  She braced herself for the grand overture
that would involve a request for sex, but instead, Adam simply leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers in the softest of kisses. A wave of heat rushed through her, starting at her mouth and flowing to the tips of her fingers. She forgot about the cold during those few seconds.

  “Now I’ve gotten what I wanted,” he said, his voice husky with restraint.

  “And is that all you wanted?” The words slipped out before she knew what she was saying, but his kiss left her hungry for more. She wanted his lips against hers again, his arms around her, his body pressed against hers while he kissed her until she grew dizzy from holding her breath.

  “I didn’t want to presume too much.”

  “I appreciate that.” She threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled him toward her until their lips met again.

  This time there was nothing sweet and hesitant about the kiss. She gladly opened her mouth to him when his tongue swept along the seam and clung to him as he took her to that head-spinning state she craved. The blanket slipped from her shoulders, followed by her button-down shirt, leaving her in the thin-strapped, cami-style tank top.

  His hands chased away any of the cold that threatened her bare skin, caressing her arms, her shoulders. His lips followed, blazing a trail of heat along her neck and down her chest. One of the straps fell off her shoulder, followed by a tug along her neckline that allowed him access to her breast. He ran his thumb across the taut peak, teasing it for a second before taking it into his mouth.

  A moan rose from her mouth as Adam alternated between using his teeth and his tongue on the sensitive bit of flesh. She slid out of her chair and straddled his lap, pressing her body against his. The hard ridge of his cock through his jeans both delighted and tormented her. She rocked against him, encouraging him to continue.

  “Oh, God, Lia.” He grabbed her hips and held her still. His lips abandoned her breast and devoured her mouth once again until they were both left gasping for air. “You taste more delicious than I could’ve imagined.”

  “Then don’t stop,” she urged before she lost her courage. Maybe she didn’t have time to date, but she wasn’t going to turn down what could possibly be the best sex in her life if the foreplay was any indication.

  His t-shirt came off in an instant, followed by her tank top. The coarse hair on his chest scratched against her already-tender nipples. Her sex clenched each time his tongue danced around hers, each time his hands ran down her back, each time he ground his erection against her. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be coming before he even got inside her.

  His fingers hooked the waist of her jeans. His kisses quickened, revealing his desire was just as desperate as hers. He reached behind her for the blanket and wrapped it around her bare back before lowering her to the deck. Then, with what had to be well-practiced skill, he unzipped her jeans and worked his hand into her panties.

  She moaned his name when he found her clit, unable to say anything else in her drunken haze of lust. He varied the pressure of his strokes, sliding from the tiny nub down to the deeper recess of her sex. Each movement drew her closer and closer to the brink, to the point of release.

  But instead of a blinding orgasm, she got a blinding spotlight in the face, followed by a voice across a bullhorn saying, “Is anyone on board?”

  Adam cursed and wrapped the blanket around her bare chest, moving between her and the police boat’s searchlight. “We’re fine, Bob. Just stopped the boat for a moment.”

  Lia wanted nothing more than to vaporize right there on the deck. If she and Adam had been a couple of horny teenagers, getting caught by the cops wouldn’t have been so mortifying. But they were adults, and the police had probably gotten more than an eyeful of her as she’d writhed around half-naked under Adam moments before.

  “Just wanted to make sure, Adam,” Bob the police officer said, this time without the bullhorn. “Say hi to your mother for me.”

  “Will do.” Adam gave him a salute as the police boat pulled away from them. Once they were back in the dark, he sat beside her and ran his fingers through his hair to smooth it out. “Well, that was embarrassing.”

  “To say the least.” Any desire she’d felt had vanished. She searched the deck for her clothes.

  “Perhaps we should head back.” Adam grabbed her tank top and shirt. “Here, put these on before Bob makes his next pass.”

  She was fully dressed in less than a minute, the blanket wrapped securely around her once again.

  Adam started the engine and drove the boat back to his mother’s lake house in silence. Disappointment gnawed deep inside her. If the cops hadn’t shown up, their bodies would probably be tangled in post-coital bliss by now. Instead, he refused to even look at her, leaving her with more questions than ever. Was he truly interested in her? Or was he just looking to score? If she knew where she stood with him, then maybe she could figure out what she wanted to do next.

  The boat slowed down as it approached the dock. Adam slipped past her and tied the boat to the moorings. When she tried to leave, he blocked her. “I’m really sorry Bob barged in on us like that.”

  “It happens,” she said, anxious for the night to end.

  He cupped her chin so she was forced to look at him. “What I meant to say is that I had a good time, and I’d like to see you again.”

  “I thought you said you were too busy to date.”

  “I am, but I could make time for you if you’d be willing to make time for me.” He released her chin and pulled her into his arms. “That is, if you want to see me again.”

  How could she say no when her body was already craving wicked things with his? “I think I could find some time for you.”

  “That’s just what I wanted to hear.” He gave her a cocky grin before lowering his mouth to hers once again.

  Lia laughed in spite of herself. Adam apparently did always get what he wanted, and she’d fallen right into his hands. Of course, if those hands continued what they’d started on the boat, then she was in for a fun ride while it lasted.

  Two deep barks came from the house, and a flash of white raced along the dock toward them. Lia’s muscles locked, preparing for Jasper’s impact.

  “No, no!” Adam moved in front of her to shield her from the Great Pyrenees. “Down, boy!”

  But Jasper refused to listen. He pounced on them. Lia stumbled back. Her foot hit air. Then the cold water of the lake enveloped her.

  Chapter Three

  Adam drummed his finger against the back of his iPad while Bates navigated traffic along Michigan Avenue. Last night had been a disaster of epic proportions, but once he retrieved Lia from the lake, she’d still been willing to give him her phone number. She’d even entered it into his phone so he wouldn’t lose it. Not that he would. He’d never had a woman turn him on like she did. One kiss, and he was gone.

  “I apologize for the traffic, Mr. Kelly. We should be there in a few minutes.”

  “Take your time, Bates. I’m just thinking about other things.” Like when he should call Lia. As much as he itched to finish what they’d started last night, he didn’t want to appear to be a complete sleaze who was only interested in sex. Not that he didn’t want it. But he also enjoyed her company enough to be willing to carve out time in his busy schedule for her, and that said a lot.

  And he wanted to make time for her—almost as much as he wanted Amadeus Schlittler to open a restaurant in his building.

  “The space I mentioned yesterday is already occupied by a restaurant, so Mr. Schlittler will have no trouble converting it to his needs.”

  “Good to know.” And even better that Bates had already scouted out the location for him and seen to all the details. “You said the tenant only had a couple of months left on the lease?”

  “Yes, sir. She’s subleasing the space after that dessert bar was forced to close, and has requested her own lease. Even though you’re not going to offer it to her, I’m sure she’ll appreciate the fact you wanted to deliver the news personally.”

&
nbsp; “If I’m not going to renew her lease, I suppose she’ll want to know why.” He shifted in his seat. Confrontations always made him edgy, but he’d learned over the years that it was better to deliver bad news in person and then point tenants to his staff to handle any of their concerns. It was messy up front, but almost always resulted in a good outcome in the end. “What’s her name again?”

  “Ms. Mantovani.”

  He shifted in his seat again. The Italian name resurrected his memories of Lia and how she’d murmured naughty-sounding things in that language while his tongue swirled around her sweet little nipple. His cock stiffened, and he pulled out his phone, wondering how much time would need to pass before it was safe to call her.

  Bates turned into the parking garage under the building and keyed in his entry code.

  Adam adjusted his tie and erased Lia from his mind. He didn’t need to go into a meeting with a tent pole in his pants.

  An elevator took them from the parking garage to the lobby. This was the last building his father had commissioned, but he’d died four months before it was finished. Still, Adam saw little pieces of his father in the building, from the marble tile to the rich mahogany of the receptionist’s desk. But since it was also the first property Adam had completed as head of the family business, he’d had added his own touches to it, such as the Chihuly glass sculptures that hung from the lobby’s ceiling three stories above. If he had his choice, he’d leave the day-to-day details of the family business to Bates so he could focus on creating new properties and reviving his current ones with fresh ideas.

  Bates pushed the button for the elevator that would take them to the top of the tower. The spectacular views would only enhance Amadeus’s cooking. In other words, it was perfect. He glanced at Bates and tried to read anything from the man’s stoic expression. “Did Chef Schlittler seem pleased when you mentioned this space to him?”

  “Yes, sir, but he still wants to inspect it personally next week.” Then, with an uncharacteristic tug of his collar, Bates added, “Mr. Kelly, are you sure you want to evict the current tenant? Ms. Mantovani has done an outstanding job of creating a restaurant here already, and she has established this as one of the hottest reservations in town in such a short time.”