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When the applause finally died, they turned to leave. “That was wonderful. Beautiful voices,” she said.
“Let’s go have a drink. The evening is still early.”
“Hardly early,” she replied, amused that he would say so when it was almost midnight. “A drink is fine,” she replied, unable to resist accepting.
As usual.
Six
He took her to a private club where they had a window table with a panoramic view of the city lights below. After ordering brandies and talking while they sipped, Will stood and took her hand. “Would you like to dance?”
“Yes,” she answered, knowing this was turning into the type of evening she had tried to avoid and should keep from allowing to happen again. As she stepped into his arms, all her caution and guilt disappeared. Will was breathtakingly appealing and she danced with him as if floating on a cloud. An old ballad played softly while Will held her lightly. They danced, legs brushing, her arm on his shoulder, her hand high on his back, the soft wool of his coat beneath her fingers. He was warm, close, his aftershave enticing. His dark gaze was on her as they danced, fanning desire into flames.
She was at a loss for conversation, wanting to dance away, just the two of them, and kiss him, knowing he wanted the same. She barely noticed when he danced to a darkened area, pushed open a door and stepped onto the terrace, taking her in his arms to continue dancing.
A breeze caught strands of her hair, blowing a few against her cheek.
“Beautiful,” he whispered and her heart beat rapidly.
“It is beautiful out here,” she replied without looking around. She still couldn’t tear her gaze from his. Her heart continued to race while they moved slowly in time to the music. Will danced around a corner to a more secluded place on the terrace where there were no other couples.
“Will, the music is fading,” she said, her heart drumming. She should stop him, go back, get out of the situation. Instead, all she wanted to do was pull him close and kiss him. As if they had the same thought, he stopped dancing and his arms slipped around her waist, drawing her close against him. When his attention shifted to her mouth, she couldn’t get her breath.
Winding her arms around his neck, she tilted her face up as he leaned down. His mouth covered hers, opening her lips to kiss her deeply. His arms tightened. She pressed against him and kissed him in return.
Her pounding pulse drowned out all other sounds and her heart raced while she clung to him, knowing she would never forget this night, never forget knowing him. She wanted so much more than kisses, wanted to caress him and love him.
She might as well be tumbling downward in a spiral she couldn’t stop. Yet they were on a terrace with people nearby.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered with his breath warm on her ear.
“Yes,” she replied, sinking deeper into involvement, breaking promises to herself, deciding to worry about it later.
He took her arm and they walked inside to get her purse. The moment the elevator doors closed to leave them secluded and alone, Will drew her into his embrace and kissed her. She returned his kiss, but then stepped away.
“Will, we’ll be in public when the doors open and you’re rather well-known. I don’t recall seeing a picture of you kissing someone in an elevator. I don’t want to be the first.”
He smiled. “There will not be a photographer waiting, I promise.”
“Anyone with a cell phone will do, and can sell the pic.”
“I’m not that big in the news. I don’t think they could get a dollar.”
“We won’t argue that point. We’re on the ground level,” she remarked and stepped off the elevator.
During the drive home, she tried to bank desire and get to impersonal topics. She chatted about Caroline, moving on to everyday events and began to cool, become composed and regain a bit of control over herself. By the time they entered his quiet house, she had overcome the wanton feelings that had run rampant at the club.
“Will,” she said, “it’s been a great evening. I had the most wonderful time and enjoyed the opera enormously. Thank you for a memorable time.”
“I had a great time, too,” he said, turning for the stairs.
Relieved that he was willing to call it a night, she walked beside him as they headed to her suite. At her open door, she paused to face him.
He placed his hand over her head on the doorjamb and leaned closer, placing his other hand on her waist. Her pounding heart was loud in her ears while his hand was as hot as a brand.
“Will, it’s been a wonderful evening. It ends now,” she said, wishing her voice were firm instead of breathless.
“This night can’t possibly end now,” he whispered, moving closer, his arm tightening on her waist as he walked her backwards into her suite and closed the door.
“Will—” His mouth ended her words and his arm pulled her hard against him as he leaned over her and kissed her deeply.
She intended to stop him, wanted to for the first seconds, but then succumbed to her own desires and his. The battle she waged with herself was lost before it begun, even when it flashed through her mind that she was getting more entangled with him each time they kissed.
Her head spun and heat pooled low in her, desire igniting and burning hotly. All the desire she had felt when she had danced with him returned swiftly. She ran her fingers through his thick hair. His neck was warm. His arousal pressed hard against her.
Clinging to him, she kissed him as passionately as he kissed her. Her other hand pushed his coat off his shoulders and then he wriggled slightly so that his coat tumbled to the floor.
His hand drifted down over the curve of her back, over her bottom to pull her up tightly against him.
Wanting him, she shifted her hips, barely aware of his fingers combing through her hair and pins flying. Locks fell over her back and shoulders and he trailed kisses down to her throat. She twisted free the top buttons of his shirt to run her fingers over his warm skin. His hand lightly slipped along her throat and then he caressed her breast, and she moaned as she clung to him.
“Will, we have to stop.”
“You don’t want to,” he whispered in return, showering kisses on her face and throat. He caressed her nape, sending tingles spiraling from his touch, and then she felt cool air. Will pulled the zipper at the back of her dress, slowly opening it and letting his warm fingers trail over her skin.
She stepped free of his embrace, gulping for air, trying for some semblance of control before she succumbed completely to his loving.
“This wasn’t in my plans and it could wreak havoc with all of them. It’s good night now, Will,” she said, stepping back again to keep distance between them. Her heart pounded.
He stood still, his shirt open, his hair tangled on his forehead and his mouth red from kisses. He was aroused, ready for love. She wanted to step back into his arms, kiss and love him. He was sexy, appealing, almost irresistible except common sense was surfacing. She had already crossed lines and let him destroy barriers she could never put in place again with him.
“You don’t really want to say good-night. Our kisses and lovemaking won’t wreak havoc with any job, yours or mine. This is something aside from jobs. Stop fighting your feelings. This isn’t going to hurt you in any manner.”
“I have my year mapped out. Any relationship I have has to have commitment and meaning. An affair could really wreck all that, and I have no intention of arguing about it. Good night, Will. And thanks for a wonderful evening.”
She could imagine he debated the next move with himself as he stood immobile.
“Good night, Ava. It’s been a wonderful night. Especially the last little bit. I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast. I’ll dream about you tonight.”
“I’ll forget I heard that,” she snapped and got a mocking smile that brought heat to her cheeks.
He caressed her throat. “Dream about you, want you, toss and turn because of you—”
“You’re not helping.”
“Just telling you how I feel. Darlin’, it’s been a great evening and I hate to see it end.” He held up his hands before she could speak. “I’ll do what you want.” Picking up his jacket, he left the room and closed the door behind.
She let out her breath. “I hate to see it end, too,” she whispered. Now he was larger-than-life, more handsome, sexier than ever. How was she going to cope with over six feet of irresistible male? She was wanted and in some ways, she loved his attention. Her own reaction to him shocked her daily.
When she was ready for bed, she curled up in the rocker to relive the night, minute by minute and kiss by kiss.
At noon Monday Will stood when his brother came striding across the restaurant where they had agreed to meet. Occasionally, Will thought about Zach’s looks, so different from the rest of the family except their grandfather Marcus Delaney. With a mass of dark brown curly hair and vivid blue eyes, Zach had a more narrow face. The only Delaney similarity was his coloring, like their grandfather’s, which no one else had inherited. Fortunately, he hadn’t inherited their grandfather’s fiery temperament. He shook hands with Will.
“I’ve got two and a half hours before I have to be airborne,” Zach said as both men sat.
“You’ve been in the sun.”
“Can hardly avoid it in Baja, California, which is where I went after Winnipeg. What’s the latest on Caroline?”
“Nothing since I last talked to you, but I have high hopes because I think Ava has bonded with her. Ava keeps telling me not to read too much into it, but no one else has gotten as much response.”
“So how long will she be here?”
“All summer.”
“That’s a plus for Caroline. What about for you?”
“Hardly. She doesn’t want entanglement and I damn sure don’t. I’m paying her royally to stay this summer.” He eyed his brother. “I wish you had time to stop by and see Caroline.”
“I always feel like she’s not happy to see me since she lost Adam. Sort of ‘why are you here and my daddy isn’t’.”
“I don’t think so. She’s just got it all locked inside.”
“Well, I want to do what I can. Let me help pay this Ava Barton. If she gets through to Caroline, it’ll be worth every penny. Ryan will help, too. I’ll talk to him.”
“No need. Zach, I can afford to pay her. We all can. From what Dad told us, we’re inheriting more. But thanks. I appreciate both of you being willing to help. Makes me feel good to know I can rely on you in a crunch.”
“I probably ought to be the one footing the whole bill. You have full responsibility for Caroline, and Ryan stepped up and agreed to let you name him guardian in case something happens to you. I need to do something.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you if I need anything.”
“Well, I’d like to meet Ava and thank her. Glad to hear you’re not getting too close to her because that could complicate your life and her dealings with Caroline. And glad she doesn’t have her eye on you for marriage material. Not that it would do any good, but it could mess up the deal for Caroline.”
“She doesn’t remotely have her eye on me. She keeps trying to hold me at arm’s length most of the time.”
Zach paused as he started to sip ice water. “Most of the time?”
“Stop worrying. She’s absolutely wrapped up in her plans to open a school, and now she’s making enough money to do so. She has no serious interest in me nor do I in her. She is special, though, and I want to get to know her. She’s intelligent, gorgeous and ambitious—I find that irresistible.”
“I believe you do,” Zach said, studying him. “Okay. How’s Garrett? Still acting as your right-hand man?”
“Same as ever. One beautiful woman after another with him. Will you be here for the reading of Dad’s will?”
“Yep. As soon as we know the date. It’ll be good to be together even if it’s for an occasion like that.”
They paused in their conversation while their hamburgers were delivered and then resumed talking about business, baseball and the coming football season.
With a glance at his watch, Zach stood. “Gotta go. It’s time.”
Will stood. “I’ll head back to the office. Mom called me to tell me she’s coming for the reading of the will. I don’t know how she’ll act with Caroline. Mom isn’t the soul of tact with small children.”
“Keep them apart. That’ll suit our mother,” Zach replied.
“Yep, it will.”
“Just another reminder why none of us wants to ever get married. Adam’s wife, our mother… Delaney men are not meant to marry,” Zach stated. He offered his hand to shake Will’s. “See you soon.”
“Sure, Zach.”
The brothers parted for their cars. Will climbed into his and headed to his office, his thoughts on Ava and the evening.
Will had told Ava he would be in town all week and home by five each day. To her surprise, he arrived at half past four—while she and Caroline were in the pool. Had she complicated her own life by asking him to be home with Caroline more than he had been in the past?
He changed to swim trunks and returned to join them. The minute he swam close, Ava treaded water. “Since you’re here, I think I’ll turn her over to you so you two can do a little bonding. I’ll get dressed and see you over dinner.”
“So no hope of talking you into staying with us awhile?” he asked while Caroline splashed at the far end of the pool.
“Not unless you really need me to be here. I would like to get dressed.”
“Go ahead. I’m here now,” he said, causing her to speculate if he thought she meant she was tired of being with Caroline.
“I think it will be good for her to get your undivided attention for a while. This is a chance for the two of you to have a stronger bond.”
“Sure, sure. I’d like to have a stronger bond with you.”
“No, you wouldn’t really. You aren’t interested in any strong bond, any more than I am. We both have other plans for our futures.”
“I didn’t mean a marriage bond.”
She laughed. “I know you didn’t. You’ve made that clear. I must not have made it clear how I feel.”
“Yes, you have, but you’re shutting yourself away from excitement and real living.”
“And you’re willing to provide it all.”
“You’ve made your point. I’ll make mine later. Come back out and join us. She’ll like having you around.”
She smiled at him and swam away to climb out, looking back over her shoulder when she picked up her towel to find him in the same spot, still watching her. She wrapped her towel around her, picked up her T-shirt and headed inside. At the door, she glanced back again to see him playing with Caroline.
Dinner was relaxed, with Caroline saying nothing, yet she was eating better than Ava had seen her eat before. The small brown bear Ava had given her was on a nearby chair.
“Caroline, I want to show you something,” Will said. He got up and left the table to return with a folder in his hand. “We thought you might like to have a puppy.”
Caroline’s eyes opened wide as she gazed at him.
“I brought some pictures of different breeds of dogs. Look at these,” Will said, spreading them on the table. “See if you like one in particular.”
“Caroline, they’re so cute,” Ava said, looking at the pictures.
