“Am I boring you with more than you ever wanted to know about stars?” He shifted slightly, the movement of his thighs against hers a distraction she couldn’t ignore. They swayed together and Grace was happy to have Charlie dancing like this, holding her, their breaths mingling in the still night.
“Believe me, I’m not bored at all. You just keep talking. I’m going to rest my head against your chest. I could stay here all night.” Except her nose was cold. And her ears. When he rested his cheek against hers, she decided she could sacrifice a nose to the cause.
“We’ll freeze if I move into what I know about Ursa Minor, and if I hit the zodiac, just forget about it. They’ll find a frozen pink lump in the morning.” His voice was low and irresistible. He slowly slid his hands down to her hips to squeeze, test, and Grace wanted more than anything for this to be their beginning. Right here. A fresh start. Here they weren’t so mismatched. When it was just the two of them, they meshed together perfectly.
They stood there quietly for what might have been forever. Understanding that they could stand there until the end of time and for whatever reason Charlie would never make the move she wanted, Grace turned her head and pressed her lips against his in a quick, soft brush to test the waters. “Charlie, you said you’d always kiss me good-bye unless I tell you not to. Maybe you ought to add hello to your list too.” She smiled up at him. This moment was perfect. She didn’t want to lose it. His arms tightened around her, and he rested his forehead against hers.
“We have nothing in common, you know. I want trees and quiet, and you need applause and probably love every second you spend inside that hotel.” He pressed his lips against hers, this time teasing with his tongue while he ran hot hands over her hips. “But that matters not one damn bit right now. I can’t imagine any place I’d rather be. Please tell me you feel the same.”
Grace opened her mouth and closed it again, confused about how to answer him. He’d said a mouthful very, very efficiently.
“I don’t make friends all that easily. I probably don’t have to tell you that, but I’m glad you showed up here in Memphis, Grace. I’d call you a friend, except I’ve never wanted to kiss any of my friends the way I want to kiss you. Walk away now if you don’t feel the same.”
Grace frowned up at him. “You’re so smart, Charlie, but sometimes… I have something very important to tell you. Are you ready?” She waited for him to nod. “When a woman moves toward you, she wants a kiss. When she follows you out into the dark Memphis night to see the stars, she wants a kiss. And if she presses up against you like this, you better kiss her again for good measure. Got it?”
Charlie tilted his head to one side, a frown of concentration showing how carefully he considered her words.
Grace rolled her eyes. “Don’t think about it, Charlie. Just do it, okay?”
She could see the decision on his face. The frown smoothed out, his dark eyes heated up, and his tight lips eased. One corner of his mouth quirked up. She raised both eyebrows in a dare or silent invitation and then she couldn’t remember what they were talking about. His lips were warm perfection on hers. When he pulled her even closer and slipped his thigh between hers, she gasped. Charlie took advantage and invaded her mouth with a teasing glance of his tongue against hers.
Every shift of his body sent a flash of heat down to pool between her thighs. The cold night air was crisp and clear, and she could smell Charlie’s laundry detergent and something else, a clean, male scent that made her think of steamy showers. His arms around her tightened, and she wanted to be closer. When he pulled back to gasp for air, she leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
“Like that? Is that the kind of kiss you’re talking about?” Charlie’s voice was low and rough next to her ear, and the shiver that ran down her spine had nothing to do with the temperature.
She nodded and then pressed a kiss against his neck right next to the collar of his flannel shirt. “You start slow but really build up speed, Charlie.”
She could feel his rumbled laugh all the way to her toes and hear the smile in voice when he said, “You may know me better than I thought.”
When he stepped away this time, she forced herself to stand her ground. She didn’t follow him but looked up to see his eyes. “Thanks for showing me the stars.”
He frowned again. “You’re talking about the Big Dipper, right?”
Grace shook her head as she took his hand. They were quiet as they walked slowly back to the staff apartments, the ugly pink comforter draped across their shoulders. When they made it back inside, Charlie brushed some grass off and folded the comforter. “I hope you have another blanket. You’re going to get cold without one tonight.”
Grace watched him, and she could tell he was honestly worried about her getting cold. It was in no way an obscure come-on or a prelude to an offer to keep her warm all night. And she liked him even more for it. “I’ll just toss it in the dryer, knock off any creepy crawlies.” She forced him to let go of the comforter and tossed it on the couch.
He stepped back closer to the door, like he was going to leave just that easily. Like the kiss under the stars had been both hello and good-bye for the evening. And she couldn’t have that.
“Wait.” He closed the door so quickly she would have laughed if she weren’t so nervous. “Take off your coat.” He frowned like he didn’t appreciate her orders any more than she did his but he did it. And Grace scrambled out of hers before she tossed both on the couch. She tangled her fingers together and paced as she tried to figure out the best way to make her case.
“So, maybe we’ve gone about this the wrong way, Charlie.” Even the wrinkle on his forehead was cute, but he didn’t answer her so she went on. “I mean, we’ve been treating this”—she motioned between them wildly—“thing between us like it’s life and death, all or nothing, now or never. But what if it isn’t?” He straightened and took a step closer. “What if all we have to figure out is tonight? I can’t believe I didn’t see it! I don’t worry about the future. I let each day take care of itself. Why would I get all wrapped up in what-ifs and when-this-happens?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I blame you. You’re the only thing that’s changed.”
Charlie took a deep long breath, scratched his chin, and said, “Just exactly what are you saying?”
Grace felt a hysterical laugh bubbling up, but it wouldn’t help her case so she squashed it. No matter what sort of free-spirit nonsense she was spouting, she felt like she was about to take a leap of faith. But Charlie was here. And she didn’t want him to leave tonight. If she thought about the next six days without the chance of running into him somewhere in the hotel, she felt sad and maybe a little lost. But she was going to give up the future and focus on right here, right now. And if he didn’t step away from the door and kiss her, she was going to take matters into her own hands and soon…
Charlie’s mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. “Are you asking me to stay, Grace? I’m not sure I can forget about all the rest, but if you want me, I’m staying.”
He caught her as she bumped against him, her arms around his neck and her lips pressed against his. She’d never been so happy for her compact living space as she was then. She pulled him with her step by step without taking her lips off his. When she stumbled up against the bed, Charlie laughed and stepped back. “I like the destination, but maybe we should slow down.”
Grace nodded. “Sure. In a minute.” She toed off both shoes and then pulled her sweatshirt over her head in one smooth movement, afraid to give either of them much time to think about anything other than that moment. Before she could get her pants undone, he grabbed both her hands and guided her back onto the bed.
“Slow down. Believe me, I’m not going anywhere tonight.” Grace thought for a split second about telling Charlie to turn out the lights, but the gleam in his brown eyes as he leaned back to take a long look at her flimsy black bra was worth a little exposure.
“It’s a good thing
I didn’t know this was under that sweatshirt, Grace.” His finger was a featherlight pressure as it outlined the cups of her bra. “Makes me curious about the rest.”
She gasped a laugh as he leaned back and in his normal efficient manner unbuttoned, unzipped, and yanked off her jeans. He stood and lifted one foot up to rub it, a seduction all on its own after a long day in her businesslike heels. He tossed her sock away and then conquered her completely by doing the same with her other foot. Sprawled on the bed, unable to move, Grace was happy to see him reach for the buttons of his shirt. Maybe he was a conqueror, his eyes memorizing every curve of her body, but she was ready to do a little exploring of her own.
She pushed the straps of her bra down and reached to unfasten it, glorying in the way his gaze was locked on her. When she slid her fingers in the waistband of her panties and slid them off, she thought he might have stopped breathing altogether. And whatever fears she had disappeared. Maybe her whole life she’d been looking for the place where she stood out, where people noticed her. As long as she had one hand on her bra and Charlie was around, she had the feeling he’d see nothing else. Tonight she’d found what she was looking for.
Chapter Eleven
* * *
GRACE ANDERSEN IN a wedding dress was so beautiful it hurt. Grace Andersen in a bright red dress on a stage was magnetic. Grace Andersen in an orange coat on a winter night made a man warm and think about futures and happily ever after. But Grace in nothing…
Charlie didn’t even have the right words. Instead of telling her how beautiful she was or how pretty her hair looked spread out on the pink sheets she hated or how lucky he felt to be this close, all he could say was “Wow.”
Grace reached out and helped guide him down. He heard a hitch in her voice as he settled against her and loved the way she squirmed when he rubbed his chest against hers. When their eyes had met in the mirror of the bridal suite, he’d been amazed by how beautiful she was. She’d glowed. But here, pressed tightly against his chest, her perfect skin hot against his, he was certain there was not another woman in the world like Grace. The way she bit her lip and whispered his name made him feel like a god.
Her legs shifted restlessly against his as he leaned up on one elbow to paint a light trail of kisses from her collarbones down between her breasts and around her belly button. Her gasp was a laugh and she said, “That tickles. We aren’t playing that sort of—”
He wrapped his hand around her breast and covered her mouth with his at the same time, their bodies perfectly aligned and her satin skin as beautiful as he remembered from their very first meeting. While his fingers teased her nipple, he caught her sighs and impatience with his kiss. He wanted to laugh with happiness because this was… If he’d missed out on this because of his own stupid plans, that would have been a sad ending. Each squirm brought her closer against him and their tongues tangled and tasted until he was lightheaded. She wrapped her arms around him, her fingernails sharp encouragement to do more and faster.
“God, Grace,” Charlie said as he eased back to watch her face while he explored her other breast. He leaned down to suck that nipple into his mouth and had to fight back a groan when she buried her fingers in his hair to pull him closer. Her legs twisted against his, and each shift of her hips was a hot caress against him.
She frowned when he pulled back, resting between her thighs to memorize her.
Trailing her fingers down his chest, she said, “Don’t stop now, Charlie.”
As if he could. Their eyes met and he knew everything would be different because of her.
The idea didn’t scare him the way he might have expected.
She was beautiful spread out before him. He smoothed his hands down over her sides, squeezing as he went to feel muscle and satin skin, before he gripped her hips and ran his thumbs over the curve of her abdomen. She squirmed beneath him until his finger teased through her curls and then down into her heat.
She arched under him and wrapped a hand around his forearm, to stop him or encourage him he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t stop and she didn’t either, her hips moving against him eagerly until she forced her eyes open. He met her stare and absolutely nothing else mattered but Grace. Pleasing Grace. Loving Grace.
Winning Grace.
He kissed her hard on the lips then grabbed one of the condoms he’d been carrying in his wallet for who knows how long, opened it, and slipped it on. She sighed when he settled against her and then they both held their breath as he slid into her.
Charlie rested his forehead against hers and was happy to note her breaths were as ragged as his. He wanted to stay here with her forever. He shifted and felt the sharp points of her fingernails again. And then he moved. She groaned. And his control was gone. She wrapped arms and legs around him and held on as they worked against each other. When she arched, he pulled her hard against him and buried his head in her shoulder until the shudders stopped.
He was still gasping for breath when he realized his grip was hard enough to leave bruises. He forced himself to loosen his hold on her even though he hated every brush of cool air against his sweaty skin. Finally he rolled to the side and pulled her with him, her hair a beautiful sweaty tangle.
When he could talk without panting, he looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, dark eyelashes fanned over pink cheeks, but her hand moved in languid strokes over his side.
“You didn’t fall asleep on me, did you?” He ran a hand down her arm and frowned at how cool she felt. He eased her back and watched her eyes drift dreamily open. When she blinked up at him, the sharp intelligence he normally saw in her eyes softened with hazy satisfaction, and he felt like a god again. Maybe if he could make her eyes do that every day, they could overcome fighting about schedules and the millions of other things that would pop up.
He had to tear himself away, but after stopping in her bathroom, Charlie flipped off all the lights, grabbed the blanket on his way back to the bed, and slid in next to her.
She sighed heavily as she rested against him. “This night has not gone like I expected.”
He pulled her closer. “But in a good way, right?”
She stretched against him to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Charlie.”
He had no idea what she was thanking him for, and he didn’t really want to get into his sharing again so he smoothed her hair over her shoulder and pulled the blanket up.
They were quiet for so long that he thought she’d fallen asleep. “So, if I have the chance to sing again, I know what not to sing. Do you have an Elvis song that you do like?”
“‘Heartbreak Hotel’ maybe.”
When she raised up on an elbow to frown at him, he laughed.
“You really have a problem with this place, don’t you?”
He was surprised she’d gotten that from his answer, but she was damn smart.
“I did. Maybe I still do. A little.” He rolled his head on the pillow. “Listen, my mom… she’s great. You know it. I know it. The world knows it. And until this place came along, I had plenty of her time, even though she’s always been a person with pet projects, usually people.” Grace raised her eyebrows at him, and he kissed her forehead. “Of which you are my very favorite.” He laughed at her frown and saw her lips twitch in response.
“With this visit, I think things are changing a little. My mom and I’ve talked. You’re here.” Charlie glanced away, afraid to see her reaction to that. “And even Tony’s loosening up a little.”
Grace rested her pointy chin on his chest, and he did his best not to wince.
She wiggled closer to look down in his face. “I think Willodean’s lucky to have so many people who love her and are willing to fight over her, defend her. I hope she knows she’s lucky.”
Charlie watched a shadow cross her face and rubbed his hand down her back.
He wanted to ask her what that shadow was about, why she didn’t think she had anyone to fight over her or defend her. But she ran a hand down his chest, and he forgot where he
was going.
Since he was laying all his cards out on the table, he was going to go for the whole hand. “You know how my mother thinks she’s some awesome matchmaker?”
Grace nodded.
“Well, the thing is, I might be her nemesis, the one man in the world who can offset her abilities.”
Grace frowned at him. “Maybe you should have told me that sooner, like before we got naked.”
“I broke up her third marriage, her only failure, with my own powers. All I had to do was shout insults about her younger husband, call him a fortune hunter, pack my stuff, move all the way across the state, and refuse to talk to her for entirely too long. And poof! Next I hear, Travis Luttrell is no longer my stepfather.”
Grace perked up. “Travis Luttrell? He was number three? Even I’ve heard of him. He was on one of those cooking competitions.” She shook her head. “He’s really good-looking and handy with a grill.”
Charlie tried to remind himself that he was holding her. In bed. And she was naked. And they’d successfully rocked each other’s worlds. There was no need to be jealous. There was no reason to feel like she’d just said his enemy was a really great guy. He didn’t even know Travis Luttrell, not really.
“But they were adults, you know? They made their own decisions and with you taking your ball and moving across the state, it should have been easy to stick together. The fact that they didn’t… well, you didn’t help, but I’m not sure you can take all the credit either.” Grace didn’t turn away from him, just watched his face carefully.
Charlie felt a little of his worry ease. He’d expected her to think he was a bad person. Really, what had his mother’s marriage meant to him anyway? He was a grown up. She should have been free to do what she wanted. But Grace accepted him. Believed he was still okay.
Of course she did. Her ability to forgive easily might be number one on the list of things that made her perfect for him. He’d already proven he’d need it.
If it was possible, in the dark apartment Grace was even prettier than in the wedding dress. It had to be her hair. The snarls and tangles looked like she’d been twisting under him in passion. He liked the look.
Santa, Bring My Baby Back Page 17