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“Don’t know,” he replied. “Possibly.”
“Should we head back?”
He leaned back and looked her in the eye. “Do you want to?”
Something lurked behind his question—something important—but Kelsey was too lost in the moment to give it much thought. “Maybe in a few minutes.”
“Just a few?” Alex teased.
“Maybe a little longer.”
Alex cupped the back of her head. “Good answer,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers. “Good answer.”
They never made it to their seats in the amphitheater. They listened from beneath a spreading oak tree at the edge of the lawn. Alex lay stretched on his side beside her. He’d shed his jacket, gallantly spreading it on the ground so her dress wouldn’t grass stain. Every so often, she would look over and find him studying her with a contemplative expression. More often than not, he seemed to be studying her mouth which kept the memory of their kisses alive. Did he know her lips still tingled from the contact?
“What?” she asked finally, when his scrutiny became too much.
“Nothing,” he replied. “Admiring the view is all.”
He was lying. There was more to his gaze than admiration. She could see it pooling behind his eyes.
But, she didn’t press. Couldn’t press the issue, actually, because he leaned in and kissed her. A quick, chaste kiss, but enough to erase all thoughts.
The soloist, a pianist who really was quite good, switched from an overture to a ballad. Like the sultry music drifting into the night, Kelsey’s insides slowed too. The whole experience was too dreamlike to be real. It had to be a dream. Surely reality wouldn’t feel this natural or this good. Would it?
Common sense told her to stop. That what she was feeling was nothing more than two people giving in to their attraction. But she didn’t listen. As the music built to a crescendo, Kelsey drowned out the warning voice and let her feelings take charge. For the first time in her life she allowed herself to think that maybe, just maybe, she’d found where she belonged.
“What?” Alex asked.
It was her turn to stare at his mouth. How had she gone all summer without kissing them?
“Nothing,” she said, bringing her lips towards his. “Enjoying the view is all.”
Later that night, when Alex walked her upstairs, Kelsey couldn’t feel her feet touching the ground. Come to think of it, she didn’t remember feeling the ground since Alex kissed her. Had it dissolved away?
They stopped at her door. Pulse quickening, she leaned back against the wood and waited. Expectancy clung to the air. Only unlike the other night, she wasn’t wondering about a good-night kiss, she was wondering if he would want more.
“Tonight was amazing,” she said, looking up at him. “I can’t remember when I had such a good time.”
“Me neither. Hard to see it end, but—” he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand “—I think maybe it should. This time anyway.”
Pressing her lips to the knuckles grazing them, Kelsey nodded. Even though her body was willing, taking things slowly was the right move. For now. And that Alex recognized that too only pulled her deeper under his spell. “Then I guess it’s goodnight,” she said.
“Guess so.”
Neither of them moved, making her giggle. “Good night, Alex.”
He grinned, looking so boyish and adorable she nearly had trouble breathing. “Good night, Kelsey.”
His mouth found hers. What started out sweet and gentle soon became heated, until the only sound Kelsey could hear was her blood pounding in her ears. Her bedroom door opened and they both stumbled across the threshold locked in the kiss. But instead of moving toward the bed as she expected, Alex lifted his head. “You make a man forget his resolve,” he whispered, lips grazing her skin. “I better say good-night while I still can act like a gentleman.”
Gently he pried her arms from his neck, ignoring her soft whimper. His kisses were far too addictive; she missed them already.
Reading her thoughts, he pressed one more to her lips. “Sweet dreams, Kelsey.”
Sweet dreams? Wasn’t she already dreaming? How else could she explain this evening?
She closed the door with a happy sigh. Was it possible for a woman to float away? Why not? She’d been floating all night, hadn’t she?
Pressing her fingers to her lips, she smiled. They still tingled from Alex’s kisses. His taste still lingered. She ran her tongue across her lower lip savoring his flavor. Remembering the possessive feel of his mouth as it covered hers.
Listen to yourself, she chided with a giggle. When did you get so fanciful?
She already knew. The moment Alex took her into his arms. His embrace felt secure. Right. She’d never felt anything so perfect.
Through the walls, she heard the scraping of a chair, followed by the sound of Alex’s footsteps. What was he thinking right now? Was he thinking of her? Did he regret saying good-night? Was he, like her, counting minutes until they’d see each other again?
Dear Lord, she sounded like a smitten teenager. More proof tonight had to be a dream, because she’d never acted like that. Not even when she was a teenager. Surely, she’d wake up in the morning and reality would come crashing down. It always did.
Except for this time. Come breakfast, Kelsey was still floating. In fact, she swore her feet didn’t touch the stairs as she headed downstairs.
As it was normally her routine—although this morning felt anything but routine—she headed toward the office to check her e-mail. With all the activity yesterday, she hadn’t touched base with Stuart. The editor hated radio silence. Weekend, weekday, it didn’t make a difference. He no doubt flooded her inbox with requests for an update. Though she hadn’t looked, she bet her cell phone inbox was full too.
Reaching the office, however, she paused. A soft, low voice drifted from the terrace. Looking out, she saw Alex, his back to her, his head focused on his lap.
“You’re a mangy son-of-a-gun, you know that don’t you?” He spoke in a singsong voice, like what you’d use to address a child. The rhythm washed over her, making her smile. “A big fat mangy thing.”
A flick of orange flashed by his elbow revealing his conversation partner. Where she’d been floating, she now tumbled, her insides turning in a weightless free fall. That he could be so sweet with a cat he supposedly didn’t like …
“Careful,” she said, “he might get insulted.”
Alex turned and flashed a brilliant smile. So brilliant Kelsey had to grab the door frame. To wake up to that smile every day. The thought popped into her head so quickly that for a second, her heart stilled. Surely she didn’t really think this could be something permanent, did she? She wasn’t a permanent person. Alex wasn’t either. Was he?
“I don’t think he cares what I say as long as I rub his belly,” Alex said, still smiling. He looked back to his lap. “Unfortunately, pal, our moment is over.”
He rose, the motion causing the cat to slide unceremoniously from his lap. “How about you?”
“Are you asking if I want my belly rubbed?”
“Mmm, interesting idea.” A sultry sparkle appeared in his eyes. The free fall inside her gathered momentum. Doubly so when he crossed the space and slipped his good arm around her waist. “However, I’ll settle for a good-morning kiss.”
Their bodies molded together as if they’d never said good-night. “Now that,” Alex said when they finally broke for air, “is how a morning should start. Who needs coffee?”
“Unfortunately I do,” she said with a smile. His kisses were as wonderful as she remembered. So wonderful she still couldn’t believe this—they—were real. “Once a caffeine addict, always a caffeine addict, I’m afraid.”
“Cast aside for a cup of Italian roast. I should be insulted. Though I guess I can forgive you. This time.” He punctuated his answer with a kiss to her nose.
“You’re so generous.”
“Plus, I already had a cup.”
“Cheater!” Kelsey gave his arm a playful slap, which he laughed off.
“Tell you what. Why don’t we go get you a travel mug, refill mine, and have breakfast on the rocks? I feel like playing hooky today.”
“You do, do you?”
“Uh-huh. Think your boss will let you come play with me?”
“I don’t know. He’s pretty tough.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll persuade him. I can be very persuasive when I try.”
She’d been expecting him to release her so they could head to the kitchen, but he didn’t. Instead, he nuzzled the crook of her neck.
“So I see,” she replied. He was nibbling a path across her skin, his nose nudging the strap of her yellow tank top. Kelsey arched her neck allowing him better access. Her fingers slipped up to tangle his dark curls. A soft moan left her lips.
Alex swirled his tongue across the hollow above her collarbone. “That a yes?”
Yes, yes, yes. Right now she’d say yes to everything.
He gave her one more deep, toe-curling kiss before letting her go. “Good. Hold that thought. I’ll grab some breakfast and we’ll be on our way.”
“Can I help?”
“Nope. I’ve got everything under control. You can think of other things you might need persuading about. And you, pal—” he turned to Puddin’, who had reclaimed his spot on the abandoned chair and was waiting expectantly “—will have to find someone else to rub your belly. Kelsey and I have petting of our own to do.”
Though outwardly she giggled, inside Kelsey shivered with excitement. Glancing up through her lashes, she whispered, “Can’t wait.”
“Me neither.” He kissed her again and disappeared into the office.
Too full of anticipation to simply wait, she headed into the office herself and fired up her laptop. Might as well do what she started and check in with Stuart before he started sending telegrams or something.
Sure enough, there were close to a dozen messages from the man dating back over the past couple days. “Human grain of sand,” she murmured to herself. He could wear down the President of the United States. But it was his last message that caught her eye first. Marked urgent, the subject line read HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?!! Intrigued, Kelsey clicked open the link.
In a flash, her dream became a nightmare.
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