The Deal

“Yes.”

?

??My son is important to me,” he said quickly. “He’s always going to be in my life.”

She lifted her head to look at him. “Of course, I wouldn’t expect that to be any different, no one would, surely?”

“Well, they might when they realize it means contact with Clara, too.” He paused a moment, letting that sink in.

“You’re saying any woman you’re with can expect your diva ex-wife to burst into the love nest at any moment.”

His eyebrows lifted. “No that's never happening, believe me. I’ll get a restraining order on her if I have to.“ He kissed her fingertips. “I just mean for negotiations for time with Toby, decisions and so forth.”

Naomi nodded. If she’d thought about it, she might have realized Clara would be part of his life for a long while to come, and she supposed some women wouldn’t like that. But she hadn’t been thinking in terms of a relationship – didn’t dare to – and what baggage they both might bring as part of that. It only deepened her respect for him, witnessing him setting his cards out on the table at this point. And it was what she needed, after her encounter with his ex. She still felt hurt and emotional about it, but she didn’t want to make a big deal of it. “I guess I’ll get used to it.”

"One more thing," he added, and stroked her under her chin with his knuckles. His touch was so gentle yet so sure. "We need a safeword, you indicated that out there.”

“We haven’t needed one so far, not really.” Her voice faltered, because his attention affected her so intensely.

“True. But we might, if we go further.”

There was a promise – and a challenge – in those gorgeous blue eyes of his. She wanted to go further with him, ached for it. Naomi wanted to go all the way to ecstasy and back again with Lucas Eaglestone. “Okay, we'll have to put that on the agenda as a to-do.”

His smile was wide. “We will.”

She wanted him to say more, anticipating what was ahead. "Tonight?"

A dark suggestive look glinted in his eyes. "A safeword might be appropriate. We're definitely not going to talk business tonight."

That showed her he'd put a plan in place for their reunion, which made her interest peak. "Okay."

His expression simmered. "I have something entirely different planned for this weekend."

"You do?"

"I'm determined to keep your mind off Georgio's verdict."

Arousal made her light headed. "If anyone can, you can."

* * * *

Dazed, blissed-out, and wondering if she'd dreamt it all, Naomi sipped her green tea and watched the sushi passing her by on the conveyor belt.

Sam grabbed a passing selection. "I'll starve if I have to wait for you to decide first."

"Sorry." Naomi laughed. "I'm miles away." She picked up a plate, scarcely looking at the contents.

"I'm so glad it went well."

"It did, and he liked my samples, but he has others to see. There's only room for one newbie on his list. It could go either way."

"It must have been exciting, showing your stuff to a top agent like that, a man who has the ear of all the buyers."

"It was." But not quite as exciting as what happened next. Had she really done that – fast, sudden sex with Lucas? Naomi tried to fathom it out. She'd been determined to go off in a huff after another run in with Clara, but Lucas told her he wanted her and that was it – she was putty in his hands. He'd lost his air of self-control there, almost, and her best efforts to walk away had totally failed. As he'd said, they were well matched. Like magnets, unable to resist the powerful pull between them.

Sam tucked in to her sushi. "Mm, this is so good."

Naomi lifted the domed cover from her plate and moved the sushi around with the chopsticks. The food looked amazing, but she wasn't hungry.