Bachelor Unforgiving (12 page)

“Don't forget about next Saturday, Virgil,” Kara said as they walked to where his car was parked.

He looked down at her. “What about next Saturday?”

“The back-to-school drive. Your company is one of the major sponsors and is giving away over three hundred book bags. You agreed to be there to help give them out.”

He nodded, remembering. “Will you be there?”

“There's no reason why I should. Your company has been doing it for years but this will be the first time you've made an appearance.”

She was right. It would be. His father had always participated in such community events and more times than not, his mother had been there, as well. His parents had made a great team and always worked well together for the benefit of Bougard Enterprises.

He glanced at the woman walking beside him. He was still holding her hand, and for the time being, he had no inclination to release it.

Chapter 13

“I
had a nice time with your parents, Virgil,” Kara said the moment he brought his car to a stop in her driveway.

He turned toward her. “And I'm sure they had an equally nice time with you since they've always liked you.”

He sounded a little annoyed by that, Kara thought. “I take it you think that's a bad thing.”

He shrugged. “Doesn't matter one way or the other to me. Since you were the first woman I ever brought home for them to meet, it would make sense for you to have made a lasting impression.”

She decided not to remind him that, according to his mother at dinner, she had been the
only
woman he'd ever brought home for them to meet. She could tell from the expression that had crossed Virgil's face that he hadn't particularly appreciated Rhona's mentioning that to her.

“I agree, it doesn't matter,” she said.
What does matter, Virgil Bougard, is that you pretty much haven't taken your eyes off me all day.

“Again, thanks for a nice day and you don't have to walk me to the door.”

Her front porch was bathed in moonlight and she could clearly see his frown by the light shining into the car. “I wish you wouldn't do that,” he said gruffly.

“Do what?” she asked, unbuckling her seat belt.

“Tell me what I don't have to do. I intend to walk you to your door, Kara.”

“Okay. I was just trying to save you the bother.”

When she reached to open her car door, he said, “And I'll get your door.”

She pulled her hand back. “All right.”

He unbuckled his seat belt, got out of the car and walked around the front of it to the passenger side. Sexiness was oozing from every part of his body—it was in his walk as well as his clothes. Earlier he had removed his suit jacket and she enjoyed looking at his broad shoulders and tight muscular chest outlined in his fitted dress shirt. Kara would admit that she'd kept a close eye on him today, just as he'd been doing with her.

He opened her car door and extended his hand out to her. She took it and immediately sucked in a deep breath when a hot, raw and sensual spark of energy passed between them. That had been happening a lot today, especially when their hands touched.

Because he didn't step back, her body was nearly plastered to his when she got out of the car. Desire quickly soaked into her skin in a heated rush and she didn't have to be told what he was doing was deliberate. If his intent was a plan of seduction, she was one up on him. She had a plan of her own.

“You're blocking my way, Virgil.”

He held her gaze. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry.” He took a step back and then strolled beside her to the front door.

When they reached their destination, she turned to him. “Well, this where we say goodbye. It was a longer day than either of us anticipated.”

She was certain neither of them expected his parents to suggest at dinner they go back to their place for dessert since Rhona had baked her famous chocolate cake the day before. They had sat around laughing and talking while eating dessert, and the next thing she knew they were watching several movies on Matthew's new ninety-inch flat-screen television. Although the additional time spent with Virgil's parents had been unexpected, she had definitely enjoyed herself.

“You're not going to invite me in?”

“Why, do you want to come in?”
Like I don't know.

His gaze slid down her body before moving back up to her face. His eyes met hers. “What if I told you I think we need to talk?”

From the look in his eyes, she knew talking was the last thing on his mind. She recognized that I-want-some-of-you look in his eyes. “Talk about what?”

“How to proceed in our relationship.”

What relationship?
They had a relationship? If they did it was news to her. “We don't have a relationship, Virgil. We have a business arrangement. You've made that pretty clear more than once.”

“And that's what I need to talk to you about.”

She gazed at him thoughtfully for a minute and then said, “Fine, we'll talk but only because you have me curious.” She then took the key from her purse.

When she found it, he took it from her hand. And the moment their fingers touched, a jolt of sexual desire rocked her to the bone. She glanced up at him and a tight smile touched the corners of his lips.

“I felt it, too,” he said, his eyes flaring with the same intense desire that she felt. “I've been feeling it all day and that's why we need to talk.”

If he thought talking would solve their problem, then he was not thinking realistically. But instead of saying anything, she nodded.

He unlocked the door and then stood aside for her to enter.

* * *

Virgil followed Kara inside, and the moment he stepped into the foyer, he couldn't help remembering what had happened the last time he was here. He had given Kara a kiss in a way that should be outlawed. And nothing would satisfy him more than to do it again. But like he'd told her, they needed to talk. While in Orlando he'd come up with a plan, one he hoped she would go along with.

“Would you like something to drink?” she asked him.

He reined his thoughts in and noticed she had paused to remove the high heels from her feet. “That would be nice.”

“You know where the refrigerator is. Help yourself. I need to grab my flats.”

He watched her walk off toward her bedroom and his gaze was fixed on her backside with every step she took. She damn sure looked good in that purple dress. He hadn't been able to keep his eyes off her most of the day. And he'd wanted to touch her every chance he got, which was why he'd taken hold of her hand a lot. Spending time at his parents' place had reminded him of other times they'd joined the folks for movie night. When she went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her, he rubbed a hand down his face and quickly walked to the kitchen. He definitely needed a drink.

Moving through her living room, he glanced around and noticed a number of changes she'd made. Several new pieces of furniture, more artwork on her walls. When he stepped into the kitchen, he immediately noticed new stainless-steel appliances. She had talked about getting rid of her old appliances but had kept putting it off. He was glad she'd gotten around to replacing them.

Grabbing a beer out of her fridge, he quickly popped the tab and took a huge swig. Today had been one hell of a day and spending a lot of time around Kara hadn't been easy. His parents had to know that, yet it seemed they'd intentionally prolonged the day.

“Virgil?”

“I'm still in the kitchen,” he called out. “Want anything?”

“A cold bottle of water would be nice.”

“A cold bottle of water coming up,” he said, reopening her refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of water. He walked out of the kitchen, stepped into the living room and suddenly stopped. Not only had she changed shoes, she'd also changed clothes.

“Is anything wrong?”

“You changed clothes.”

She smiled, glancing down at herself. “Yes, I decided to get comfortable. Anything wrong with what I have on?”

The fact that it wasn't purple was the first thing he noticed, although she did look good in the silky black shirt dress. What he liked most was how it was showing off her legs as well as how the outfit buttoned up the front with a shirttail hem that fanned across her backside. She wasn't wearing a bra, he was sure of it, and for some reason he had a feeling she wasn't wearing panties, either. She was taking “comfortable” to a level he definitely liked.

“No, nothing is wrong with what you're wearing. Here's the water,” he said, handing the bottle to her in a way that ensured their hands wouldn't touch. He wasn't sure how much control he would have if they did.

“Thanks.”

He watched her uncap the top and tilt the bottle up to her lips. Immediately his gut clenched. It was almost too much temptation. Renewed desire throbbed all through him, nearly overtaking his senses. Knowing he needed to get a grip, he glanced around the room and then said, “I like the changes you made in here.”

“Thanks. My next project is removing all this carpet and replacing it with wood floors.”

“That will be nice.”

“Yes, I think so.”

She placed the half-empty water bottle on the coffee table and eased down on the sofa, tucking her feet beneath her. Doing so gave him more than a flash of bare thigh. He could feel the pounding of his heart in his chest.

“You said we needed to talk.”

Yes, he had. He settled into the chair across from her, wondering about the best way to approach what he had to say. He figured the best thing to do was to come right out and not beat around the bush. “I want you, Kara. And you want me.”

She raised a brow. “You think so? About me wanting you?”

“Yes.” He paused a moment and held her gaze. “Are you going to deny it?”

She didn't say anything for a minute, and then she said, “At some point in our lives, Virgil, we all want things we can't have. Things we don't need. Things that can cause us more harm than good. Things that—”

“Don't get all philosophical on me, Kara,” he interrupted in a tense voice.

He drew in a deep, shaky breath when his gaze left her face and scanned down her body before returning to her face again. She had a way of stirring up his emotions and passions that could do him in if he wasn't careful. “Just answer the question.”

She broke eye contact with him to glance around the room, deliberately looking at everything but him. When she returned her gaze to his, she began nibbling at her lips before she finally spoke. “And if I do want you, Virgil, then what?”

He swallowed against the massive lump in his throat. He could tell her about a lot of ideas he had in mind. And all of them hot, raw and sexual. Instead he said, “Then it's time to present my own action plan.”

* * *

Kara arched a brow. Virgil was sitting across from her taking another swig of his beer as if giving her time to digest what he'd said. She was doing more than digesting it. Her imagination was going wild with ways she could use whatever action plan he'd come up with to her advantage.

When he had walked out of her kitchen minutes ago, he had stood tall, broad shouldered and sexy. She could remember his muscular chest very well. Remember all the times that naked chest had rubbed against her breasts, causing her nipples to tighten.

“And what if I said I'm not interested?” she asked, studying him intently.

He stretched his long legs out in front of him and his mouth slanted into a sexy and seductive smile. “You haven't heard it yet.”

“Don't have to, Virgil. I know how your mind works.”

His smile widened and it made her pulse race. “You probably do, but I still want you to hear me out. I think I have a plan where we can both benefit.”

She didn't say anything for a long moment. Instead she sat there and continued to hold his gaze. They were looking at each other with unflinching directness, even while she felt waves of sensual heat rippling between them. She could even feel the tightening of her nipples beneath the silk of her dress. And from his position in the chair, she could see the huge bulge pressing hard against the zipper of his pants. He wasn't even trying to hide his erection. Rather he seemed to be intentionally letting her see the proof of what he'd said earlier. He wanted her.

Kara knew Virgil was fully aware of what he was doing to her with his gaze. It was deliberately warming her, caressing her and sending throbbing need shooting through her. She'd discovered long ago that, when it came to seduction, Virgil's gaze was a mesmerizing force to contend with. It had the ability to break down her defenses. But for her it was about more than rolling in the sack a few times. She wanted to be back in his life. Totally and completely. She knew he couldn't fathom such a thing happening, but she had to believe she could pull it off. She was putting her heart on the line. But the big question was, would he ever feel secure enough to put his on the line again?

“Kara?”

“Fine, let's hear it,” she said in a tone that made it seem as if she'd gotten annoyed, when in truth she'd gotten aroused just thinking about what he might have in mind. Like she told him, she knew how his mind worked.

He placed his beer can on the table. “I propose we become lovers.”

“Why?”

He chuckled and the sound sent sensuous shivers down her spine. “Do you really have to ask me that?”

No, she didn't, but she wanted him to spell it out to her anyway. Every single detail. She needed to hear it. Feel it. Imagine it. “Yes, I think I have to ask. I want to make sure I fully understand what you're proposing, exactly what I'll be getting myself into.”

Virgil nodded. “Fair enough.” He paused a minute before he continued. “What you'll be getting yourself into, Kara, is me. And I will be getting myself into you. Your action plan requires us to spend a lot of time together for the next several weeks. I see no reason why we can't make it worth our while. We're still attracted to each other so we might as well do something about it. Enjoy each other, both in and out of bed. Mix business with pleasure. Stir up mind-blowing passion the way we used to do.”

He paused for a moment and Kara knew what his next words would be even before he spoke them. “But be forewarned, Kara. What we share will be sex and nothing else. There will never be anything of substance between us ever again.”

“Don't you think I know that, Virgil?”

“Just making sure that you do. I need to be sure you understand that sex is all we can ever share. I have to know you can be satisfied with that.”

“Yes, I'd be satisfied because that's the way I'd want it, as well.” She could tell he was surprised by her words.