Authors: Jane Beckenham
"Thank you for a lovely evening,” she said a sweet, tentative smile curving her delicious mouth.
"Well ... um ... yeah. It was good,” he said, stumbling over his words—words he really meant, though in truth he felt like a pubescent school kid. Hell, he'd never
felt
so damned tongue tied before. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Not a good idea. It only drew the fabric over his very aroused status even more. “I've gotta go. I'll ... um, see you."
Taylor didn't answer him, but walked inside and shut the door behind her, leaving Cade with his conscience, and his arousal, fighting for control.
He blew out a long slow stream of air till there was nothing left. Why did he feel so let down? Damn it.
Because you wanted her, and you know she wanted you.
"So?” Nita questioned the moment she walked in, dumping her bag and shucking out of her coat as she made a determined beeline for Taylor.
"Here comes trouble,” Taylor muttered under her breath good-naturedly. She tried to ignore Nita's early morning excitement and carried on sorting through the list of calls she had to make that morning for the Hayes wedding. The bride wanted Cinderella; the groom wanted medieval. Taylor only hoped they she could fulfill their dreams with style.
Nita propped herself on the side of Taylor's desk. “I'm dying to know. Was he as good as expected?” She slapped her forehead. “Dumb question. Of course he was; I can see it written all over your face."
"Wishful imagination,” Taylor shot back. “Besides, I'm not sure what you think you can see."
"Satisfaction guaranteed."
The pen Taylor's hand jerked across the page. “Blast. Do you have to be so..."
"Curious?” Nita offered.
"This isn't a locker room."
"Come on, you know I've a knack for getting the low down, so give."
A weary sigh escaped Taylor's lips. Weary because she desperately needed sleep. And that was all Cade Harper's fault. He may have refused her bed last night, but he'd still kept her awake into the wee hours of the morning. Awake and aroused two nights in a row!
"Now, no more prevaricating, Taylor Sullivan. Spill."
"Prevaricate. Big word this time of the morning."
Nita gave her a wicked grin. “But it fits the bill, right? Come on, Taylor. I've been wondering all night."
"Then you'll be disappointed."
"
No
. Don't do that to me. I even stayed in last night and watched TV. Along with eating a half a tub of hokey pokey ice cream."
Taylor tried not to smile and failed. “And you say I need a life. Have you looked at yourself lately?"
"I was worried."
"About me?” Keep busy. Keep occupied. Maybe then, Nita would give up the inquisition. Taylor turned the page to view her week's appointments. “Thanks for your concern.” she said, hoping Nita would drop the subject. “There's no need. It was a date. That's all."
"I know it's important to you."
"Was. Past tense."
"What? You're joking. How can you give up on him? He's..."
"Not interested, that's what."
"Oh, honey, you've got it
so
wrong. Cade Harper is definitely interested."
"Then how come he hasn't ... we haven't ... well, you know...” Taylor's voice trailed off. What was wrong with her? She was discussing her sex life—correction—her lack of a sex life with Nita. Her assistant was a good friend and a great employee, but still, this was personal.
Taylor snapped her schedule book closed. “Damn Cade. The one time I let my guard down. I thought I could do this, and he turns out to be the wrong guy."
"That's where you're wrong, Taylor.” Nita cut her short.
"You keep saying that, but where's the evidence?"
"He took you to dinner, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"Kissed you?"
Taylor colored. “Uh huh.” Definitely. In fact, his taste was still there.
"Good. You at least reached first base."
"You make it sound like a competition!"
"Not quite, but it's like a game of baseball. First base, second, third, et cetera. Besides, a little competition never hurt anyone."
Taylor's eyes widened in horror. “How many bases are there exactly?” Her fingers griped her pen, twisting it. Any thing to stop her hands from shaking.
Nita shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin. “A few."
Oh, god
. “This is worse than I expected."
"Okay, okay. Keep your pants on.” Nita giggled at her own joke. “Well, maybe not."
"Nita!” Taylor warned.
"Firstly, there's kissing, lip-to-lip lock. You've done that, right?"
Taylor nodded as the “kissing” video revved up in her brain. Hotter than hot. Cade Harper was one good kisser.
"Then there's the tongue. Well, his tongue and yours, actually.” Nita eyed her.
"Don't ask me."
"Honey, one look at you and I don't need to. Now, let's see. Third base is the touchy feely stuff."
"No more.” Taylor held up her hand. “That's it. Don't ask me any more; don't even look at me. I'm not sure I can do this. I mean, I want to."
Man, did she want to.
Cade set her pulses racing without a doubt.
"He's turned me down twice."
"Two times, huh?"
"What do you mean, huh?"
"It's serious,” Nita informed, her smile fading.
Taylor found herself sitting on the edge of her seat. Sweat beaded between her breasts, and her throat felt suddenly desert dry. “Bad serious?"
"Yep."
The pen skittered from her fingers and across the desk. She needed a drink. “How bad?"
"Let's look at this way. Cade's no slouch in the lady department, right?"
Taylor nodded. Definitely temptation in one hunky package.
"So all we have to do is get him
into
you, proverbially speaking that is."
"What do you mean
we
?"
"Taylor, don't they say two heads are better than one?"
"Yeah,” she agreed as a great deal of trepidation mounted to dangerous proportions with every passing second. “I'm not sure I like that look on your face, Nita. What have you got in mind?” She really shouldn't have asked but couldn't help herself.
A devious glint darkened Nita's green eyes, and she gave Taylor a know-it-all sort of smile. “Wait and see, Taylor. Like Cinderella, you'll get your man."
"But Cinders wanted the whole kit and caboodle, Nita Brown. She wanted marriage to Prince Charming and the whole two point four kids. I
don't
want commitment, remember? I just want to get on with my life, get this whole thing over with."
"You need a plan. You phoned Cade yet?"
"No. Of course not."
"What ya mean ‘no'? How you going to get that boy between the sheets unless you're in his face, Taylor Sullivan? Women are allowed to phone the male species, you know."
Desperation warred in Taylor's belly. “What do I say? ‘So, Cade, when do we get between the sheets?’”
"Sounds proactive."
"Humbug,” Taylor wailed. “What on earth am I doing?"
"Oh, Taylor, Taylor. Boy, do you need me."
"Like a hole in the head.” Taylor hugged her diary to her chest as a protective shield.
Nita chuckled, and Taylor realized, then and there, she had no way out. Nita was like the proverbial dog with a bone, and she wasn't about to let go. “Come on; I'll get the coffee, then we can get down and strategize."
"You make it sound like an armored attack."
"Could be,” she chuckled, tapping the side of her nose as if she had some huge secret she was about to divulge. “A lady needs her armor."
"In that case, you had better make my coffee strong and black."
"An espresso coming right up. And while I'm doing that, take a look at some reading material.” Nita dug into the leather satchel she used as bag and passed Taylor a pile of books.
Taylor's cheeks burned as her eyes glazed over the titles. “Read...” Oh, Lordy.
Sex and the Single Man.
Want It Hot?
"You better make that a double shot coffee."
"Man, are you grumpy.” Zane Harper straddled the rickety wooden chair in front of Cade's desk.
Cade hissed out a resigned sigh. It didn't look as if his younger brother would move any time soon.
"Back off, Zane.” Issued as it was through gritted teeth, Zane should have realized he was on dangerous ground. He didn't.
"Yep, definitely cantankerous. Katie said you weren't your usual chirpy self this morning."
Cade picked at a stray thread on his jeans. It started to unravel. Typical! “Get lost, Zane."
"Late night, was it?” Zane folded his arms across the back of the chair. Nope, he definitely wasn't about to move.
His brother was driving him nuts. Cade grunted. “None of your damn business."
Zane grinned. “Now that's where you're wrong. Trust me. You know I look up to you; you're my elder brother, after all."
"Try looking for the exit instead."
"Why would I do that, when I can see you need to talk? Anything you want to tell me?"
"To you? You are joking. You'd spread gossip around the bar in ten seconds flat."
"There's gossip?"
Cade's mouth turned down, hands fisting at his sides. He wanted to punch his brother's lights out. Frustration gnawed in his gut, hell, his groin, too, if he was truthful. He'd had a hard on since ... well, since Taylor Sullivan waltzed into his bar with a proposal that was as outlandish as it was exciting, which jerk that he was, he'd agreed to.
Trouble was, belatedly, he'd come up with some fool idea of gentlemanly behavior.
Dumb move. All the cold showers in Antarctica wouldn't ease the ache he felt right now.
He looked up at his brother. “What are you looking so pleased about?"
"Just figured it out. You said you didn't have a late night."
Cade felt the pulse in his jaw flicker and gritted his teeth.
"So, it must be a lady. You didn't get laid last night, is that it?"
"Don't be so crude, Zane."
"We're family. I'm looking out for you. Katie said some classy chick came in here the other night."
"I don't need looking after, Zane. I've looked after myself since I was ten years old, remember?"
"Yeah, and you haven't forgotten it. When are you going to let it go, Cade?"
"What is it with you and Katie? Both of you trying to psychoanalyze me, or something?"
Zane simply smiled, which didn't help Cade's mood one iota.
"At the sound of repeating myself,
mate
, get lost."
Zane held up both hands in surrender. “Okay. I get the picture. You don't want to talk about her."
"Her?"
"The lady you've got the hots for."
"What makes you say that?"
A belly rumble rolled from Zane's chest. “Brother, I can read you like a book."
Just then, the phone rang, and Cade sent a prayer up for its inventor. He picked up the hand-held and eyed the display panel, then his brother and scowled.
"Okay, I'm going.” Zane gave Cade a mischievous wink, turned and exited, closing the door behind him. “It's her,” Cade heard Zane call to the bar patrons.
Cade groaned aloud. He'd kill his brother with his bare hands.
He flicked the phone on, aware of the upped tempo of his heartbeat and the sudden sheen of perspiration on his brow. But that was nothing compared to the burning need in his pants.
"Hello, Taylor."
There was no sound at first, except a soft feathering of her breath down the phone line.
"Taylor?"
"I ... yes, it's me. I ... um ... want to thank you for dinner last night. It was very ... enjoyable."
"Even though you didn't get what you wanted?” Not right away, he added silently
"I thought I should see your new premises, get an idea of what you want."
You,
sweetheart, Cade said to himself, smiling at Taylor's obvious sidestepping of his blatant question. His brain warned him repeatedly to slow down and take it easy, not to scare her off, but so far he hadn't listened.
From his office, Cade could hear the cacophony of music combined with laughter from customers on the other side of the door. It was late in the day, and already the bar hummed. It would be a good night for business, but definitely not a good night to bring Taylor here. He'd never hear the end of it.
His decision was decisive. “I'll be there in five."
"Now?"
Wired, Cade strode to the door, still holding the phone. “Sure. Isn't that what you want?"
"Yes.” Taylor's reply was soft, and he barely heard it. But the fact that she hadn't hesitated brought a quick smile to his face.
"Are you still at work?"
"Yes, I've got two weddings this weekend."
"More fools biting the dust,” Cade muttered beneath his breath as he hung up.
The five minutes it took to drive to Taylor's seemed to take
way
too long. He came to a halt outside her tiny office located in the heart of Devonport's village atmosphere and scooted up the path.
She opened the door wide and smiled, but he didn't move.
"Hello."
For some reason, Cade wanted to wait right there and remember the moment, taking it all in. Dressed in a matching camel colored dress and jacket, she bespoke elegance. She was all woman; soft curves and gentle and Cade wondered for the umpteenth time what she'd be like lying beneath him. Oh, boy, he had it bad. Cade expelled a long hiss.
"So this is where all the action takes place?” he said as he moved about her show room and office. Swathes of bridal silks and satins hung from one wall, photos of her clients decorated another, while shoes, headpieces and veils were artfully displayed inside two ornate white cabinets.
"We try and cater for all types of occasions and give brides an idea of what's available. It helps them choose."
"What about the grooms? Don't they get a look in?"
"Of course. It's their day, too. But usually what we find is the bride, and often her family, get things underway."
"And the groom comes screaming up the rear?” Cade said unable to help himself. “Sorry,” he shrugged sheepishly. “Marriage isn't in my line of thinking. I've seen how it works."