The Boss's Marriage Plan (Proposals & Promises 2)

He was quick to recognize the silent invitation and he accepted it with an enthusiasm that soon had them both breathing heavily, shoving impatiently at clothing to access the warm skin beneath. Scott’s jacket and tie fell onto the couch. She left her shoes behind when she led him to her bedroom. He had his shirt untucked and partially unbuttoned by the time they reached the bed. She reached for the zipper at the back of her dress, but Scott’s hands were already there as he gathered her into his arms for another hungry kiss. By the time the black dress fell to the floor, she was too deeply lost in the embrace, too eager for more, to be at all self-conscious.

She’d seen him without a shirt only once before. It had been the day they’d worked at his house after his surgery. Still loopy from the meds, he’d accidentally tugged off a corner of his bandage. She’d smoothed it back into place and then helped him don a fresh T-shirt. Other than the necessary touching, she’d kept her hands to herself that day, resisting the then inappropriate urge to run her palms over the firm planes and hard muscles of his chest, to follow a thin trail of hair down his ridged stomach to his shallow belly button and below.

She’d never forgotten how appealing he’d looked that day, a

ll rumpled and drowsy and half-nude. Unbidden memories had haunted her more than once during lonely nights since, though she’d quickly and firmly suppressed them each time. She didn’t have to restrain herself now. She gave her curious hands free rein to explore and savor every inch of him, even as he pushed her beyond coherence with his own bold forays of discovery.

They communicated with soft moans and approving gasps, with kisses and strokes and urgent movements. His mouth on her breasts made her arch with a choked cry of pleasure. Her hands closing around him tore a low groan from him. They rolled and writhed, shoving pillows to the floor, covers to the side. He dealt with protection swiftly and deftly before returning his attention to pleasuring her, which he did with even more practiced skill. Their hands were interlocked when he finally, finally thrust into her, filling an emptiness that seemed to have been waiting for him all her life.

For only a raw heartbeat of an instant, she was aware of a sense of panic, an overwhelming fear that this was too perfect, too powerful. The knowledge that everything would change after this night swept through her, and for just that second she fought to cling to the safe, cautious status quo. The comfortable camaraderie that had carried no risk of disappointment or heartbreak, no fear of losing what they’d found...of losing herself. But then he began to move, and any hesitation was replaced by an almost desperate need for release. Her mind emptied of any thought except that very moment, that very place, the two of them entangled in the cozy cocoon of her bed, their bodies joined, hearts pounding in unison. Her climax hit with a force that shattered any illusion that anything would ever be the same for them again.

* * *

He didn’t stay the night. Referencing an early breakfast meeting with a couple of job foremen, he slipped from the bed and dressed to leave while she wrapped herself in a robe to lock up behind him. He paused before opening the door, and she got the distinct impression that he was trying to come up with the right thing to say. It wasn’t like him to be at a loss for words.

To help him out, she said simply, “Good night, Scott. Drive carefully.”

He kissed her lingeringly. “Sleep well, Tess. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She nodded and reached around him to open the door.

His jacket over his shoulder, tie hanging from his pocket, his finger-combed dark hair tumbling onto his forehead, Scott turned just on the other side of the door to smile at her. “I knew we made a great team,” he said in visible satisfaction. “I really am a genius.”

That made her laugh, as he’d surely intended. “Yes, you are,” she said.

Because she didn’t want him to leave feeling too sanctimonious, she reached out to grab his shirt, tugged his mouth down to hers and gave him a kiss that turned his laughter into a groan.

“Okay, maybe I could stay a little while longer,” he said rather hoarsely when the kiss ended.

She tossed back her tumbled hair and took a step backward. “Good night, Scott.”

She closed the door almost in his face. Through the wood, she heard him sputter a rough laugh, then listened as his footsteps faded away. Only then did she allow herself to release a long, slow exhale.

After fastening the door locks, she turned toward her bedroom, then realized she was biting her kiss-swollen lower lip. She released it with a reassurance to herself that things really were going well between them. It was probably only weariness and lingering disorientation causing the heavy feeling deep in her chest. The sensation felt much like apprehension, but she couldn’t fully explain it and didn’t want to examine it too closely tonight.

* * *

The positive side of the showy dinner party Nina threw in celebration of Olivia’s fifteenth birthday was that she was too busy being the hostess and mistress of ceremonies to have much time to focus on Tess. She’d reserved a private dining room in the restaurant for some thirty guests. Most of the guests were related to Nina’s husband, Ken—his parents and two siblings and a few of their progeny—in addition to a few church, social and business acquaintances. More to Olivia’s taste, there’d been a teen party the night before at the indoor pool of a country club. Though she visibly relished being the center of attention again, Olivia made it clear she’d enjoyed last night’s bash much more than this dinner party. She huddled with her boyfriend and the few other friends she’d been allowed to invite while her brothers played handheld video games and Ken quietly did his part by standing at his wife’s side, following her directions and bankrolling the event.

Tess would rather be just about anywhere else, herself. She loved her niece, spoiled little princess that she was, but this was not her idea of a fun evening. All in all, she’d rather have been watching the football game. Either alone...or not.

She wondered if Scott was having a good time. If he’d thought of her at all this evening. She’d never been one of “those” girlfriends, she mused. Though she both practiced and expected monogamy during her relationships, she’d never expected to know where her significant other was or what he was doing at all times, nor did she report her movements to him. But it would be nice to know that she’d crossed Scott’s mind today as often as he’d hovered in hers. That he’d mentally replayed their lovemaking and relived the excitement, that he felt the same anticipation she did about the next time they’d be alone together.

She wanted to be confident that when he thought of her now, it wasn’t only with a list of tasks he needed her to oversee at the office.

It was a relief when the dinner was over. She exchanged farewells with the other guests, most of whom she’d met previously, then lingered to say good-night to her family.

Holding her boyfriend’s hand, Olivia sauntered up to her. “Thank you for the bag, Aunt Tess. It’s really cool. I love it.”

Pleased by the girlish delight in her niece’s voice, Tess smiled. “I’m glad. Jenny helped me find it for you. She thought you’d like it.”

They hugged quickly, and then Olivia and her lanky boyfriend hurried off to rejoin their friends. Satisfied that she could make her escape now, Tess looked around for Nina, finding her on the other side of the room saying goodbye to some departing guests. She made her way to her sister’s side. “I’m leaving now, Nina. It was a great dinner. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Of course you’d be invited,” Nina replied with an impatient roll of her eyes. “We invited all Olivia’s aunts and uncles.”

Resisting an impulse to snap that she’d just been trying to be polite, Tess drew a deep breath and held on to her smile with an effort. “It was good to see everyone again.”

“Don’t forget next week is—”