Winter's Magic (Music City Hearts Series) (12 page)

Nick stood in the driveway and watched her taillights fade around the corner. He hated to see Beth go, although he knew it was probably best. Definitely best.

They both had to go to work in the morning and if she had stayed, sleep wouldn’t have been his primary focus. And he would be seeing her in less than twenty-four hours. He’d promised to cook her dinner Monday evening since they’d opted for pizza delivery after cleaning up from the decorating.

As he walked back into the house, Nick knew he should get out his laptop and do some catch up work. Instead, he flopped down on the couch, closed his eyes and replayed the incredible weekend in his mind.

A photo-shoot ran through his thoughts as he drifted in and out of sleep. A picture of her sitting at the table at Carlino’s, with the glass wall reflecting the light of a full moon and snow falling in the background. Somehow, he’d known that night. His man-brain wasn’t about to let him admit anything aloud, or even to himself. Yet somewhere, buried deep inside, he’d known she was the one.

An image of her on the snow-covered hillside flashed through his mind. Before he had a chance to linger, his thoughts suddenly jumped back, and he saw the inquiring lift of her eyebrow, just before she wiped that disastrous red lipstick from the corner of his mouth. Talk about a telling moment in a new relationship.

The mental recorder replayed the smile on her face as she talked to his grandfather about her Christmas plans. Then they were at Macy’s. The look she’d given him when talking about the diamond earrings in her stocking.

His heart skipped a beat remembering the horrified disappointment on her face when she’d recognized Mr. Wilken’s voice in the night. The agony he’d felt when he’d heard the broken tone in her voice.

Never again.

He would never let her down like that again. Never make her question the trust and faith she had in him.

He quickly pushed the image away and sought to replace it with his favorite. Choosing just one was difficult. He loved the passionate glow in her eyes when he made love to her. That first climax Saturday night when their gazes held. A connection had formed between them. Something deeper than the act itself. For that suspended breath of time, she had let go of everything else and belonged to him. Only him.

But his favorite had been this evening. With the fire burning, 2,500 gold tree lights gleaming and the sounds of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” filling the room, he’d quietly stood in the corner and watched her place the delicate ornaments on the tree. She glided across the room in a light dance, placing one at a time, as she sang in a soft serenade.

He sighed. And as he did, something in his chest gave way. He relaxed and felt a peaceful contentment begin to flow through him that he hadn’t felt in . . .

Well, ever.

Beth felt her palms grow clammy as the elevator rose to the sixteenth floor. Before the doors could open, she took a slow, deep breath, hoping to steady her pulse. When Nick had mentioned the employee Christmas luncheon on Sunday, she’d accepted with excitement. She hadn’t allowed her mind to linger on the implications too long. Given his affinity to privacy, she knew the invitation was an enormous step in their relationship.

He’d told her not to bring anything, though she couldn’t imagine showing up to a potluck empty-handed. So, she’d stayed up late and baked one of her favorite desserts—a triple layer cheesecake with chocolate ganache. She’d spent the hour and a half baking time searching through her closet, laying out her clothes, and choosing the perfect accessories.

She’d woken up early, leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee while reading the morning paper and gave herself plenty of time to get ready. Then she’d driven across town and watched from a distance as her nerves began a slow splinter.

Stepping off the elevator, the bubbly receptionist she’d met the previous week welcomed her with a huge smile.

“Beth, I’m so glad you were able to come. Oh, my gosh! That looks heavenly. Here, let me take it for you.”

“Thank you, Cheryl.” Beth handed her the dessert and followed as they headed in the opposite direction of Nick’s office. She could hear voices coming down the hallway, growing louder as they approached the open double-doors. When they entered the conference room, the once-boisterous conversation cut to a low chatter. Thirty sets of eyes turned to her.

Beth quickly scanned the room for Nick, trying to subdue the panic rising in her throat. She didn’t see him. She held her smile in place and tried to ignore the glances and whispers. To her relief, she recognized two friendly faces. Jenny was on the far side of the room talking to Brandon.

“I thought Nick was already here,” Cheryl said. “Would you like me to take you back to his office? He must have gotten tied up.”

Suddenly, a familiar warmth came over her. Nick was standing right behind them. He hadn’t said a word. Hadn’t even touched her. But she caught a soft hint of the cologne he wore and she knew.

“Sorry I’m late.” Nick wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her in with a possessive strength she hadn’t expected. “Come with me and I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

“Based on the glances I’ve received so far, I think everyone knows who I am.”

“I think she’s right, Mr. Chester,” Cheryl whispered. “There’s been a lot of talk since Brandon told Marie that Beth was coming this morning.”

Before he had a chance to respond, Brandon appeared in front of them with Jenny at his side.

“It’s good to see you again. I’m glad you could come.” Brandon held out his hand.

“Thank you.”

Nick’s grip on her shoulder stiffened as she shook Brandon’s hand. When she glanced up, he was surveying the room. Beth guessed that Cheryl’s words were finally sinking in. Nick wouldn’t like being the topic of morning gossip.

Then he looked down and gave her a calculated smile. Leaning toward her ear, he whispered, “I could kiss you and give them something to talk about for the rest of the day.”

She chuckled, not believing what she’d just heard. “Probably the rest of the
week
.”

Nick turned her around so they were face-to-face. He bent down as her arms came up and wound around the back of his neck. His hands held her at the waist and he drew her close as he kissed her with a passion that spiraled through every limb.

Beth heard the collective gasp of their audience, quickly followed by an eruption of applause, a pair of whistles and a
woo hoo
.

She followed his lead and kissed him without reservation until he drew back. Smiling. “Guess I got a little carried away,” he said.

“Not at all.” She knew he heard the breathy tone of her voice by the way his eyes flared. Remembering the audience behind her, she made a show of straightening the lapels on his suit jacket before slowly turning toward the group. “You mentioned something about introductions?”

Beth willed her pulse to slow and hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. Finding Jenny two feet away with an awestruck expression on her face, the heat only grew.

“Everyone.” Nick’s voice didn’t sound effected at all as he spoke to the group. “This is Beth Sergeant. I believe Brandon did everything short of passing out her biography this morning. Please make her feel welcome.”

Beth watched him glare at Brandon with one of those
paybacks are hell
kind of smiles that best friends can make with just the slightest slant of an eye. Brandon laughed aloud and announced, “The food is ready.”

Nick led her away from the doorway, further into the room, but not to the serving line. “I do have someone I want you to meet.”

For a moment, they stood about three feet away from a gray-haired man with an Italian accent. As soon as his conversation ended, the gentleman turned to Nick.

“Mr. Moretti, I’m so glad you could join us today. I wanted you to meet Beth personally. She’s one of your biggest fans.”

Carlino Moretti
, the owner of her favorite restaurant.

“Awe.” He took her hand in his and kissed the top of her knuckles. “I understand why your request was so urgent, Nicholas.” His eyes never left hers. “You wouldn’t want this one to slip away.” Carlino leaned down, still holding her hand, and whispered, “Any time you need a table, just give the host your name. There will always be a table waiting for you,
mia bellezza
.”
My beauty
.

Nick stole her hand back and took one step away. He laughed. “I said meet her, Carlino, not try to woo her.”

Carlino chuckled and nodded. “
Mio amico,
my friend, seeing the way she looks at you, it is . . . How do you say, sweet music? You have no worries.”

Beth felt Nick pull her closer into his side. If they were alone, she’d curl into him and lay her head against his chest. She’d lose herself in the feel of his body engulfing hers.

She couldn’t let herself forget where they were. Here, surrounded by his co-workers, she didn’t dare meet his gaze. She couldn’t think about her true feelings. The intensity of what she thought was happening between them, how her heart ached when she wasn’t with him, and the way others could see her emotions like a flashing billboard, both thrilled and scared her senseless.

“I’m glad you came,” Nick said to Beth as they entered his office an hour later. After eating, he’d taken a few minutes to introduce her to his staff and the few local customers and contractors that had joined them.

“I am, too. You have a great group of people working for you.”

Nick closed the door behind them and slid out of his suit jacket. Then he wrapped her in his arms. “I wish it was the end of the day and I could take you home with me.”

He touched his mouth to hers, picking up where their earlier kiss had left off. She immediately relaxed into him and his mind lost track of reality. He hadn’t meant to take the kiss so far, but now that she was in his arms, he let his hands slide down below her waist and tugged her in closer.

He wished he could lock the door and take an all-afternoon break. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Inviting her to the luncheon to meet his staff had been a big step. He still couldn’t believe he’d kissed her in front of them. And now he wanted to lay her down on his office couch and make love to her until it was time to go home and start all over again.

Nick felt her hand move up the back of his head, her fingers sliding through his hair. Then she moved her hips in exactly the right way that made all the blood leave his brain.

She drew back. “Do you have a lock on your office door?”

Oh, God. Surely, he hadn’t spoken aloud.

No, he knew he hadn’t.

“Nick?”

“Yes? Oh, the door.”

She was staring at him as if he hadn’t spoken.

Right. The door.

He reached over and turned the lock, then drank in her sultry expression. Beth took one step away from him, reached around the back of her neck and unzipped the black sweater dress. Then, in what seemed like slow motion, she shrugged her shoulders forward and let the dress slide down her body, pooling in the floor around her feet.

He wasn’t sure if he was still breathing or if he’d died and gone straight to heaven. Beth stood in front of him wearing only a shear lace bra, black matching panties, a pair of thigh highs, and heels.

“Before you say anything.” She pressed her body into his and lifted to her toes, kissing him briefly. “You started this. You can’t expect to kiss me the way you did in front of the whole office and then escort me to the elevator.”

Her tongue grazed his lower lip right before her teeth gave a gentle nip. “Besides, I know your one o’clock appointment canceled.”

Without a word, she led him backward across the room, their eyes never breaking contact. He stopped when he felt the couch at the back of his calves. Then her fingers were at his waistband.

“I’m never, ever going to get any work done in this office again,” he said with a groan.

Beth smiled and unhooked his belt, then slid his pants and boxers to the floor. By the time she finished, he had his tie loosened, yanked over his head, and his shirt unbuttoned.

He sat down on the edge of the couch and drew her between his legs. Reaching up, he unhooked the front clasp on her bra and took both breasts in his hands. They were perfect. Her creamy skin, topped with a delicate pink tip. He kissed the center of her chest before he moved to one side and took her into his mouth.

His tongue swirled her nipple, then he sucked a tight pinch before letting go. She tasted so sweet. He repeated the motion on the other side and she arched into his caress as her fingers began a steady stroke through his hair.

He trailed kisses up the center of her chest, then stood, continuing to press his lips against her skin until he’d reached the delicate curve of her neck. When he’d made his way to her ear, he took the lobe in his teeth and sucked.

“I can’t believe how crazy you make me. I need you, now.”

He couldn’t take it anymore. The beautiful sounds she made drove him mad. He had to have her. Beth pressed his shoulders down and he obeyed, sitting back on the couch again. She straddled his legs and then came down onto her knees, digging into the couch on both sides of his hips. He pushed the thin strip of her panties to the side and hauled her down onto him with one powerful thrust.

At the sound of her gasp, he paused and gave them both a moment to breathe. Then she took his face in her hands and kissed him so deeply he almost shattered.

He forced himself to stay in control, but lost ground as she moved on him in a steady rhythm. He took her breasts in his hands, gave a gentle squeeze and felt her tighten in response. He squeezed again and her reaction was even stronger, taking him in deeper with each stroke. Then he took her nipples and rolled them between his forefinger and thumb, gradually increasing the pressure until he felt her climax begin.

The grip she had on him was so intense he gave up all pretense of control. He grabbed her hips and held, feeling her orgasm clench, unrelenting in demand. He buried his face in her neck as his own, almost violent, release followed.