Chapter 7

She was with a customer when she heard the doorbell tinkle and knew instinctively that it was him. She had spent the rest of the night after talking to him recalling the sensations and feelings he had evoked inside her and could not sleep.

She was confused and frightened, but seeing him was clouding her mind, the anticipation making her nervous. She spent every minute since she opened the shop, looking at the door, expecting to see him walking in.

Her heart hammered inside her chest and her palms turned slippery with moisture. It took every ounce of control for her to be professional and answered the customer’s question about a book she had bought a few days ago.

“It’s a John Grisham and I could not put it down.” The woman admitted with a rueful laugh. “My dear, you have got me so hooked that I am spending my housekeeping money on these titles and of course your delicious coffee. I just picked up this one. Have you read it?”

Sadie barely glanced at the title. She was so acutely aware of the man standing in front of the bookcase that it excluded everything else.

“Yes. It’s an excellent choice.”

“I am going to go back to my house and settle in to read. Good thing my Larry is gone for the day.” She paid for the purchases and turned to see Gary standing there. “I am so sorry. Oh my.” Her hand fluttered to her throat as she gazed at him.

“It’s quite all right.” His charming smile had her fluttering her eyes, even more. She stood there a few more minutes before rushing out the door.

“Well then.” His long legs ate up the space between the shelves and the counter and before she could utter a word, his hand came around her neck and his mouth was swooping down to crush hers.

The protest she had been about to make died instantly and as soon as he fused his lips to hers, every conscious thought drained from her brain.

All she could do was feel. The shop and everything relating to it faded in the distance. She smelled his potent cologne and filled her senses with him. His tongue explored her mouth and left her trembling with a need so great; she wanted to weep.

Someone cleared their throat, and it took a second for them to remember where they were.

Pushing at him, Sadie jumped back to see her mother standing there, an interested look on her face.

“Mom!” Sadie had forgotten that she was there and had gone in the back to check on some stocks. “I…”

“I am Gary Russo.” Somehow, he recovered enough to introduce himself. An amused smile played around his sensuous mouth as he extended a hand to the older woman. “I can clearly see where your daughter gets her beauty from.”

“Sharon Ellicott.” She shook his hand and decided that she liked him. She could also see how much her daughter liked him too. She also wondered what would have happened if she had not made an appearance.

“Thank you.” When he let go of her hand, she turned to her daughter. “I will take over the shop, honey, why don’t you go and talk to your young man?”

“He is not…”

“And invite him to dinner on Sunday, will you?” She turned back to smile at Gary, admiring his good looks. “I heard about your dad. How is he doing?”

“Feeling much better. I called earlier. And thanks for the dinner invitation.”

“You don’t have to accept.”

They both ignored Sadie.

“I would be happy to attend.”

“Perfect. We eat at seven.” She turned to her daughter. “Now darling, there are two busy bodies coming in, I will deal with them.” She shooed them to the back of the store.

“This is not…” That was as far as she got.

As soon as they stepped into the tiny office, he closed the door and pulled her into his arms. She simply melted against him. His hands cupped her narrow waist, fingers burning through the thin silk of her sweater. She could feel his heart pounding and her nipples had turned rock hard as they pressed against him.

His body was flushed with a heat so overpowering, that he wanted to tug down her figure molding jeans and bury himself deep inside her. He had spent the night tossing and turning and it had not been because of worrying about his dad.

It had been the need to feel her against him – skin to skin. His hands drifted down to cup her derriere, easing her up so that she could feel the evidence of his desire. He swallowed her moans, his hips undulating, making stabbing motions against her middle.

When he abruptly ended the kiss, they sprung apart and stood there staring at each other, their breaths sounding loudly inside the small room.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said harshly. Lifting a hand, he rubbed the back of his neck and wondered how the hell he was going to leave her.

“I need to see you tonight.”

“You want to have sex.”

He just stared at her for a few seconds. “I need to spend time with you. If you want, we could go to dinner. There is a…”

“I have a book club thing tonight.”

His frustration was evident. “Can you blow it off?”

“No! How can you ask me that?”

“What time does it end?”

“Late.”

“How late?” The note of impatience in his voice had her chin lifting.

“Very.”

“Sadie…!”

“Just go.”

“Why?”

“Because this…,” she swept a hand between them. “It is too much. We should take a step back.”

He felt panic tugging at his chest. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“I cannot stay away from you.”

“You have your hands full. Your dad is ill…!”

“And he is in good hands. Please do not do this to me.”

“This crazy,” she whispered.

“I will meet you here. I will be parked outside waiting for you.”

“Gary…!”

“Please.” He started to approach her again but decided against it. He glanced at his watch. “Crap. I am running late for a meeting.” Reaching for her hand, he tugged her towards him. “Nothing is going to make me stay away from you. Nothing.”

His head bent and he took her lips in a bruising kiss that had her spinning. Letting go of her; he pulled the door open and walked out.

Sadie needed a minute. Going over to the desk, she sat on the edge of it and took several deep breaths. This was ridiculous. He was making her nervous, her nerves were shot to pieces. She could not hold a single thought inside her brain that had nothing to do with him. He filled her to the brim. He consumed her.

And she only just met him. She could not stop thinking about him. He filled her every brain cell. Seeing him turned her to mush and she was not that type to moon over a man.

Everything changed since she had met him.

She sprang off the desk when the door opened, and her mother stepped in.

“I was just about to come out. Sorry I left you to fend for yourself.”

“I was the one who suggested it, remember?” Sharon studied her daughter’s face. “I like your young man.”

“He is not my young man.”

“Honey, it’s not like you to lie to yourself.”

“Mom.” Sitting back on the desk and rubbed her hands over her jeans. “He is moving too fast. This is going too fast, and I think I should insist on him taking a step back.”

“What on earth for?”

“Because.” She got up and started pacing the small area. Her desk was crowded with paperwork. Some books had come in, customers had returned some of the ones they had borrowed, and several customers had donated several boxes of literature that needed sorting out.

Then there was the book club to prepare for and with Thanksgiving coming up, she had some experiments to do. Seasonal brews to make and shelves to stack. She certainly did not have time to think or moon over a man. And that is what she was doing. “I don’t know anything about him.”

“That’s what courtship is for.”

She stopped and stared at her mother before bursting out laughing. “Mom, bless your heart, you are so old-fashioned. What we feel for each other is good old lust.”

“Honey, I have seen the way the man looks at you and I am old enough and wise enough to know the difference between lust and passion.”

The doorbell sounded.

“I’ll get it.” Sharon held up a hand. “Stay and sort things out. Here and in there.” She pointed to her daughter’s head.

*****

Wrapping his jacket around him to ward off the sudden chill, Gary made his way from the car to the derelict building, a frown touching his brow. Windows were missing and boarded up and vines were clinging to the faded red brick.

The wide wraparound porch was sagging. The place had a sad air of neglect that seemed to cling to every crevice and corner.

But the land was prime with wildflowers still valiantly clinging to life despite the cold. It was unseasonably icy for this time of year, which meant they were in for a brutal winter.

He had won the battle with the board members, stodgy old relics who should have retired years ago. He was going to see to that as soon as he took over. Grinning wryly, he wondered when he had come to that conclusion.

Was it right after the smoldering kiss with Sadie at his place or the one where he almost backed her over to the desk and took her right there? Somewhere between that time, he made up his mind to stay.

The building was his to do with whatever he wanted. And the community center was a damn good idea. He had seen the need in this area. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his scarred leather jacket, he started to walk towards a towering old oak when he heard a sound behind him.

Turning around slowly, he spotted a boy, maybe not older than fifteen or sixteen, going still when Gary pinned him with a gaze.

“Who are you?”

The boy fidgeted from one shabby well-worn tennis shoes to the other and shoved his hands into the pockets of his dirty and ragged sweater.

“Raymond.” He sounded surly, light blue eyes defiant. “Who are you?”

“Gary. What are you doing here, Raymond and why are you not in school?”

The child smirked. “Are you the school cop?”

Lifting a brow at the boy’s insolence, Gary walked towards him. “No, just a curious adult. You are trespassing.”

Raymond gave the place a scornful once over before coming back to him. “This dump belongs to you?”

Gary hid a smile. “It does. Very soon, it will not be a dump.”

The boy’s eyes turned curious. “What will it be?”

“A community center. Do you think there is a need for such a thing?”

“What kind?”

Gary’s brows lifted. “The kind that caters to youths.”

Raymond eyed him up and down and noticed the expensive boots and sweater.

“How rich are you?”

Amusement twinkled in his eyes, and he found himself laughing out loud. “What a thing to ask someone. That’s none of your business. Now back to my original question. Why aren’t you in school?”

The boy gave him a sullen look and shrugged his shoulders. “I am a ward of the state and my foster parents are about to dump me back into the system.”

“What happened to your parents?”

The boy shrugged thin shoulders. “They died, okay? Why all the questions?”

“Perhaps I care about your welfare.” That got him a skeptical look.

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen. So, too old to be adopted.” He shrugged again.

“Are you still in school?”

“No. I hate school.”

“Education is always a way out of poverty.”

The boy sneered at him. “Have you ever been poor?”

“Can’t say I have. What would you like to be?”

“What?”

“What are your aspirations? What do you see yourself doing?”

The boy looked at him as if he had lost his marbles.

“How the hell should I know?”

“How about I make a suggestion?”

The boy shrugged again as if he was not interested.

“Like I said, I will be fixing this place up. The demolition team will be coming by tomorrow to gut the place. It is going to be a community center geared to young people who want to have someplace to chill, play games, learn some skills and socialize.

I am going to need someone to help me come up with ideas of what young people need these days.” He stared at the boy, until he realized what Gary was suggesting.

His blue eyes widened. “You mean me?”

Gary nodded. “What do you say?”

“I will be earning money?”

Gary nodded again.

“How much?” The boy demanded, causing Gary to laugh and admire his temerity and common sense.

“We will work that out.” He turned to look at a small cottage that looked to need small repairs. “Why don’t we go and check it out and see if it’s somewhere you could crash for the time being. I was told there is still electricity and water.”

The boy’s eyes grew huge. “I can live there?”

“It’s empty.”

The boy stood rooted to the spot as if he could not believe what was happening.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

“What do you want?” His face was guarded and suspicious.

“For you to take a step towards the place. What do you think I want?”

“You aren’t queer are you?”

Gary’s brows shot up and he had to quell the urge to laugh.

“I assure you I am very straight,” he said solemnly.

Raymond eyed him up and down. “It’s just that you are wearing expensive threads and that watch probably cost several hundred dollars.”

If you are thinking of robbing me, I have to warn you that I am a street fighter and also an expert in martial arts,” he told the boy dryly.

“You also look like a frigging model,” Raymond continued as if he had not spoken.

“Now, that’s offensive.”

“And people can be up to some strange shit. I am not going to be anybody’s bitch.”

“I would not want you to be. Shall we?”

Raymond hesitated a tad more, before marching past him. With a grin splitting his face, Gary followed him towards the neglected building. The key was under the threadbare mat.

“Someone could be living in there.”

“There is a no trespassing sign at the fence.”

Raymond snorted. “As if that would make a difference.” They stepped into the surprisingly cozy front parlor. Even though the place had been empty for several years, it had a homey look to it. It had been home to the administrator and when she left, everything remained.

“We could get started on getting the place cleaned up.”

“I can really stay here?” The boy’s belligerent attitude had disappeared as he eagerly checked out the rooms. “There are two bedrooms and two baths, and the kitchen is big.”

“What do you think?”

“I can do the cleaning up.” His eyes were shining with excitement. “I can start on it now. There is a supply closet with brooms and stuff.”

“Why don’t I pop over to the store and buy some cleaning supplies and maybe order pizza.”

Raymond’s eyes went huge. “And soda.”

“And soda. Coke?”

He bobbed his head.

“What do you have to get from your foster home?”

“Some clothes, but they are not worth shit. As soon as you start to pay me a salary, I will buy my own, those were hand-me-downs anyway.” He turned to go into the closet and hauled out a broom. “I will get rid of the cobwebs and dirt while you’re gone.”

“Good. I will be back shortly.”

Gary left a very enthusiastic Raymond cleaning up.

*****

For the life of her, she could not concentrate on the meeting. The shop was closed for business. She had set up the area with the help of her mother and the members of the club had carried in various dishes.

Chicken nuggets, lasagna, fruit, tiny dumplings with creamy fillings, pastries, and an assorted amount were heaped onto the table. In between discussing the merits of the author and the book, plates were heaped and carried back to the sofas where the meeting was taking place.

The love scenes were of special interest and had taken the discussion to another level. It was a historical romance written by a popular author who had a reputation of being very meticulous when it comes to everything, including describing the anatomy.

The love scenes took up several pages and left one hot and bothered.

And it brought back the kisses she had exchanged with him. He had called her in the afternoon to say that he had stared a project and was there for the entire day.

“I will swing by after I shower and change. I smell.” He told her teasingly. “And I would very much like the opportunity to take you in my arms. It would not do for me to have dirt clinging to my clothes.”

She could not stop thinking about him. Even after she had gone back to the front of the store and it had been busy as usual – even then, thoughts of him filled her.

“What do you think, dear?”

She jumped slightly as she realized that the eight women were staring at her.

“I am sorry. What did you say?”

“In this paragraph, Jake started to take off Samantha’s blouse but was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. I was saying that interruption spoiled the momentum, and we had to wait a few more chapters for them to resume.”

“And I was saying that kind of thing builds the anticipation.” Another piped up.

“What do you think dear?” The first woman prompted.

“I think…, oh, excuse me.” She jumped up when she heard her phone ringing. “I have to get this.”

Hurrying out of the earshot of the women, she went around the corner to answer.

“Hello?”

“I am outside.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and her knees turned weak. “I am not done.”

“I will wait.”

She looked up to see her mother standing in front of her. “Why don’t you go on? I will finish up here and drive your car home.”

“Mom…!”

“Go on. I will make your excuses to the ladies.”

Rolling her eyes, Sadie nodded. “Stop playing matchmaker,” she whispered.

“It’s my job,” her mother whispered back with a twinkle in her eyes. “Take the back door. Too many prying eyes.”

Going into the office, she grabbed her jacket and purse and went out the back door. He was parked a few feet away from the store. As soon as he saw her approaching, he jumped out and walked towards her.

“I thought you were not finished?”

“My mother said she would take over.”

“I am in love with that woman,” he grinned at her as he went over to open the passenger door.

“I will tell her you said that.” She waited until he slid into the driver’s side and closed the door. “What now?”

“Give me a second.” Engaging the engine, he executed a left turn that brought them towards an area shrouded in darkness and privacy. Switching off the engine, he unhooked his seatbelt and reached over to release hers.

Pulling her as far as the console allowed, he cupped her face between his hands and gazed at her hungrily. “I was doing grunt work today. We are building a community center and there is this kid who wandered onto the property.”

His thumb moved slowly over her full bottom lip, sending shivers through her body. “He was dirty and mad at the world, and we started talking. I gave him a place to stay and a job.”

“That’s wonderful.” She breathed him in and wondered why he was telling her all that.

“I helped him to clean the place up and I started to call and see if you wanted in on the project. But being in that cottage had me thinking about you and me alone together. And doing this.” His head lowered and he brushed his lips slowly, against hers, his breath fanning hers. “All day long, I thought about tasting you.

Feeling you, touching…,” he groaned when she opened her mouth. “Your scent was lingering on my clothes. I promised you dinner. I haven’t eaten anything except pizza.

But I am not hungry for food. I am starving for you. Satisfy me baby.” His voice had thickened. “Quench this mad craving for you.” He did not allow her to respond as his lips seized hers in a kiss that stole everything from her.