Sarah Beth smiled a knowing smile. “You don’t have to say a word. It wasn’t so long ago that I had that same dreamy look in my eyes.”
Cara picked up her mail. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Cara made a shooing motion with her hand. “Run along, Mrs. Coleman, I have work to do. And so do you.”
“Have it your way,” Sarah Beth said, laughing. “I’ll see you later.”
Cara read her mail and sent the necessary replies, then spent an hour reading the latest book reviews and announcements of upcoming books. She shook her head, thinking it was a good thing she worked in a library because she would never be able to afford to buy all the books she wanted to read. She filled out a purchase order for new books, answered several phone calls, and it was time for dinner.
She usually ate with Sarah Beth but Dean had the night off and he came by to take Sarah Beth out.
Leaving the library, Cara got into her car and drove to Vince’s garage, deciding she would rather see him than have dinner.
He was under a car when she got there.
“Hey, Cara,” he called, “what are you doing here this time of night?”
“How did you know it was me?”
“I’d know you in the dark with my eyes closed.”
She found the thought thrilling and a little frightening.
He slid out from under the car and nimbly gained his feet. “What brings you here?”
“I just wanted to see you. Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” He pulled a rag from his back pocket and wiped the grease from his hands. “How long can you stay?”
“Not long. I only get forty-five minutes for dinner.”
“Did you eat already?”
“No, I decided to come here instead.”
He drew her into his arms and gave her a hug.
“Is that the best you can do?” she asked with mock disappointment.
“You know better than that, darlin’,” he said with a roguish grin.
“Show me.”
His kiss was like silken fire and lightning, sending heat shooting through every fiber of her being. She pressed herself against him, wanting more.
“Here, now,” he said, “what do you think you’re doing?”
“Nothing,” she said innocently.
“Nothing?” He drew her body tight against his, letting her feel his arousal.
She smiled at him, a decidedly sexy, wanton smile.
“You keep looking at me like that and I’m going to take you upstairs and have my wicked way with you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Better hurry,” she said, “I have to be back at work in half an hour.”
He didn’t waste any time. He closed the garage, swung her into his arms, and carried her swiftly up the stairs. His hands made quick work of undressing her and then he shed his own clothing. Naked, he fell back on the bed, carrying her with him, his hands and his mouth doing wonderfully erotic things, arousing her until she couldn’t think straight, couldn’t think of anything but him. She moved her hands over his body, loving the feel of his skin beneath her fingertips, the texture of his hair, the way his body quivered beneath hers. She explored him in a way she never had before, touching, tasting, learning what made him moan with pleasure. She was surprised to find that he was ticklish, and she filed that away for future use.
Time lost all meaning. She didn’t care if she ever went back to work; she didn’t want to be anywhere but where she was, in Vince’s arms, in Vince’s bed.
Completion, when it came, was like Christmas and the Fourth of July all rolled into one.
Sated, she collapsed on top of him, her head pillowed in the hollow of his shoulder, her heart beating in time to his. Gradually, her breathing returned to normal. She shivered as the sweat cooled on her skin.
“Here.” Vince pulled a blanket over the two of them. “Better?”
“Hmm.”
He massaged the back of her neck, his fingers delving into her hair. “Are you sure you have to go back to work?”
“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want you to.”
She smiled against his neck. “I wonder what time is it.”
“Six twenty-five.”
Cara opened her eyes and glanced at her watch. It was exactly six twenty-five. She raised herself on her elbows and stared down at him. “How did you know that?” There was no clock in the room; he wasn’t wearing a watch.
He shrugged. “A good guess.”
She frowned, but there was no time to argue. She had to be back at work in fifteen minutes. “Can I use your shower?”
“Only if I can share it with you.”
The thought of showering with Vince made her blush from head to toe even as it made her smile with anticipation.
She experienced a twinge of embarrassment as she followed him into the bathroom. She wasn’t accustomed to such intimacies.
He turned on the water, adjusted it, stepped into the shower stall, and offered her his hand.
“I’ve never done this before,” Cara said, closing the door behind her.
“You’ve never showered before?” he asked with a wry grin.
“No, silly,” she replied, punching him on the arm. “I’ve never showered with anyone before.” She felt her blush deepen. “Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of things I’ve never done before.”
Vince grunted softly. “I’ve got no objection, as long as you do them all with me.” He handed her the soap. “Next time, we’ll wash each other.”
“Why not this time?”
“It’s okay with me,” he said, “but you won’t make it back to work on time if we do.”
Feeling as though she had swallowed a piece of the sun, Cara washed quickly and stepped out of the shower. Moments later, she was dressed and ready to go when Vince came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his lean waist. She eyed him hungrily, admiring the width of his shoulders, his muscular chest and biceps, the way the water glistened in his long black hair, and she wanted him all over again.
His knowing grin brought a quick flush to her cheeks.
“You’d better get out of here while you can,” he said, drawing her into his arms.
She nodded. “Will I see you later?”
“You bet.” He kissed her, hard and quick, then gave her a playful swat on her rump. “I’ll meet you at nine at the library. Now, go on, get out of here before I change my mind.”