Her stomach growled, and she blushed. Keefe laughed. “I guess that means a hamburger sounds good to you.”
“It’s been several hours since breakfast.”
“Yes, it has. Hamburgers coming up in a few minutes.”
* * * * *
Keefe sat on the edge of his bed and watched Marci slip into her dress. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t want her to go. She was the first woman he’d wanted sexually since he and Jeania broke up. When he’d invited her to spend the night with him, he’d assumed they’d have several rounds of sex and that would be it. That’s all he would want. He hadn’t expected to enjoy her company so much, even while watching a football game.
“You could spend the night again.”
She shook her head as she stepped into her shoes. “I can’t. I have too much to do at home. Plus I plan to go in early tomorrow. I have some calls to make to the East Coast.”
“So leave early from here.” He took her hands and tugged her closer to him. “I want you to stay.”
An apologetic look crossed her face and she smiled tenderly. “This was going to be one weekend of pleasure, remember?”
“The weekend isn’t over. It’s still Sunday.”
Cradling his face in her hands, she leaned over and kissed him. “Walk me to the door?”
It appeared he didn’t have a choice. He nodded. “Let’s go through the garage. That’s the shortest way to your car.”
Keefe took her hand and led the way. At the open garage door, he looked out at the rain still falling. “You’ll get wet.”
“I won’t melt.”
“If you wait a while, it might stop.”
“Now that the rain has started, it probably won’t stop until May.”
“I guess.” Turning to face her, he took both her hands and raised them between their chests. “I had a really good time.”
She smiled. “So did I.”
“How about dinner tomorrow evening?”
Her smile quickly faded. “I told you I can’t get involved with an employee.”
“Dinner isn’t involved. It’s dinner.”
“Keefe.” She squeezed his hands. He could tell by the tone of her voice that he wouldn’t like what she was about to say. “No strings or promises, remember? That’s what you said in my office last night. Nothing but pleasuring each other for the weekend.”
“What if I changed my mind and want more?”
“I can’t give you any more. I can’t risk stirring up any rumors.”
“Do you think your employees are going to believe I’m getting special treatment because I’m fucking the boss?”
“No.” She looked away from him and blew out a heavy breath. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Marci.” He waited until she looked at him again before continuing. “I went through hell when Jeania and I broke up. Getting involved with another woman wasn’t anywhere in my plans, not for a long time. And I’m not saying I’m ready to get serious about a woman yet. But I enjoy being with you. I want to keep seeing you.”
“We’ll see each other at work. That’s all. I can’t be with you again.” She kissed him again. “Goodbye.”
Keefe stood with his hands in the back pockets of his jeans while she jogged to her car. Once inside with the windshield wipers going, she waved. He jerked his head to acknowledge her. She backed out of the driveway, looking at him once more before heading down the street. He watched until he could no longer see her car.
Loneliness seeped into every pore. He never would have believed he could feel something for another woman so quickly after Jeania. She’d been his whole world, until she tore that world apart. Loving another woman didn’t seem possible.
Until now.
He wasn’t in love with Marci. It was too soon for that. But he wondered if his feelings could grow into love if given the chance.
He wouldn’t give up on Marci until he knew for sure.
Chapter Eight
The gray, misty day fit Marci’s mood perfectly. She listened to the
whoosh whoosh
of her windshield wipers as she searched for a parking spot close to Jennie’s Java. Barely five hours of sleep last night meant she desperately needed a double shot of caffeine this morning.
Thoughts of Keefe had kept her awake until after one. She’d relived their time together, over and over, remembering every touch, every kiss, every thrust of his cock into her pussy. Her mind had continued to whirl with dreams of him and their lovemaking. She’d awoken before six, aroused and frustrated.
An SUV pulled away from the curb directly in front of her. Marci whipped her car into the space.
She stepped into Jennie’s Java and glanced to her right. Molly sat at “their” table, pecking away on her laptop. The words must be flowing for her fingers were flying.
Marci ordered her double shot latte and made her way to Molly’s table. The young redhead was so engrossed in her typing, she didn’t notice when Marci sat down. Grinning, Marci reached over and tapped the lid of Molly’s laptop with one fingernail. Molly jerked and whipped up her head.
“Good morning,” Marci said, still grinning.
“Marci. Hi. Ohmigosh, how long have you been here?”
“Only a few seconds.”
“I’m so sorry.” She pressed a few buttons on her laptop and closed it. “I was lost in my own world.”
“Apparently. Is the writing going well?”
Molly’s smile could’ve lit up the entire room. “I’m having such a good time.” She bobbled her eyebrows. “I’m in the middle of the first love scene.”
“Hot?”
“Steaming.”
Marci sipped her coffee. Molly’s scene would be explosive if she patterned it after Marci’s time with Keefe.
“How did the dress work?” Molly asked, breaking off a piece of her spice muffin.
“Perfectly. I’ll definitely be back to buy more dresses.”
She popped her bite of muffin into her mouth. “Did you make it to Lavender Lace?”
Marci nodded. “You were right. The store is incredible. I didn’t take the time to really look around the whole store. I want to go back and do that.”
“My sister is starting there next week. She’s really excited.”
The front door opened and Twyla swept in. She looked tall and regal, the same as last week. A smile broke over her face when she caught Marci looking at her. She waved, then headed for the counter.
“Twyla just came in,” Marci told Molly.
“I see her.” Molly sighed heavily. “I’d love to have her figure.” She switched her attention to Marci. “Or yours. It would be so nice to have breasts.”
“I’m not nearly as well endowed as Twyla.”
“I’ll take anything I can get. Two more cup sizes would be good.”
Marci laughed. She really liked Molly. “Tell you what. I’ll trade you some of my breasts for some of your curly hair.”
“Deal.”
Twyla walked toward their table, a coffee cup in one hand, a chocolate chip muffin in the other. “What’s so funny?”
“I want some of your boobs,” Molly said.
“You can have some.” Twyla sat down and sighed. “I hate shopping for bras. I have to buy plain ones with lots of support. I’d rather buy lacy and sexy.”
“Have you checked out the bras at that new lingerie store, Lavender Lace?”
“Never heard of it.”
“Marci went there. Tell Twyla about it.”
“It’s a wonderful store, Twyla. Great selection, everything arranged by color. Even if you didn’t find anything that works for you, it’s worth the visit to see the hunk who helps the owner.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “There’s a hunk in the store? Shawna didn’t tell me that.”
“A hunk in the store doesn’t interest me.” Twyla peeled the paper wrapping off her muffin. “I’ve sworn off men forever.”
“Why?” Molly asked.
“I had the worst date ever Saturday night. I guess the guy figured he had the right to grope me since he paid for dinner.”
Marci winced. She’d gone out with guys like that. She’d been tempted to break some fingers when they wandered where she didn’t want them to wander.
“My friends mean well,” Twyla said, tearing her muffin in half. “My divorce was final six months ago and they’ve been fixing me up with guys ever since. I say no and I get this ‘but he’s
perfect
for you’ speech. Trust me, none of them has been perfect for me. That’s why I’ve given up on men. No more blind dates.”
“What about you, Marci?” Molly asked. “Did you have a date Saturday night?”
Marci took her time draining her cup, mostly to avoid Molly’s question. “I…had a business dinner.”
Molly’s eyebrows disappeared into her curly bangs. “You wore that sexy dress to a
business
dinner?”
“What sexy dress?” Twyla asked.
“Marci came into Nordstrom Saturday, looking for a special dress. I helped her find one. Then I told her about Lavender Lace.” She looked back at Marci. “You said you went to Lavender Lace. Did you buy something to go with your dress?”
“A bra and thong set, stockings and a garter belt.”
Molly grinned. “Sexy!”
Marci looked from Molly to Twyla and back again to Molly. She had friends and acquaintances, but few she could talk to about anything. Peggy was one of her special friends, Anne Marshall another. Although she’d met these two women only days ago, she’d had coffee with them three times and instinctively knew she could trust them.
“My business dinner turned into more than a business dinner. We spent the night together.”
“And?” Molly prompted.
“And it was amazing. The best sex I’ve had in a really long time.”
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing,” Twyla said.
“It is.” She started to pick up her cup before she remembered it was empty. “I wasn’t totally honest with you when I said I work at Marshall Media. I not only work there, I’m the president.”
Molly’s eyebrows shot up again. “Wow.”
“And the guy you had dinner with is an employee.”
Marci nodded at Twyla’s comment. “My newest vice president. So you understand my dilemma.”
“
I
don’t,” Molly said, frowning. “So he’s a VP. What does that have to do with anything?”
“It’s unprofessional for Marci to date her employee.”
“Who made up that stupid rule?” Molly’s frown deepened. “If you two had a great time, what does it matter if he works for you?”
“Things are different in the corporate world, Molly. My employees look up to me. I can’t do anything that might destroy their trust or make them think I’m playing favorites.”
Molly wiggled her lips back and forth. “Yeah, I guess I can see that. Still, it’s the pits. A gal can’t always get great sex from a guy.”
“Amen to that,” Twyla muttered.
“I had a wonderful time with Keefe, but it’s over. I can’t be with him again. I have to accept that.”
“Sometimes that’s easier said than done,” Molly said softly.
* * * * *
The view outside her office window of the Olympic Range usually raised her spirits. Not today. Marci stared out the window, holding her coffee mug with both hands. The coffee had grown cool since she hadn’t drunk any of it.
She had to be professional when she saw Keefe today. She didn’t know how she’d do that.
“Good morning,” Keefe said behind her.
The sound of his voice made her heart skitter in her chest. Taking a breath for courage, Marci turned to face him. Her tongue almost fell to the floor. He wore navy pants and a blue sweater that brought out those icy blue eyes. He was clean shaven, unlike yesterday when he’d worn a day’s worth of whiskers. He’d told her he never shaved on Sunday. That was his day to be a bum.
The dark whiskers had made him look devilish and sexy.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
He stared at her, his gaze dipping briefly to her breasts before returning to her face. “You look lovely.”