Close to You

wanted her made her
bolder than any amount of alcohol ever could. She licked her lips.
“You should look under my dress.”
    His hands ran up her sides. “Will I
like what I find?”
    “ I hope so.”
    He reached around her, his fingers
finding the zipper in the back. With agonizing slowness, he lowered
it enough that the front of her dress gaped dropped to her
waist.
    He paused. He swallowed
audibly. Then he said, “ Damn .”
    She grinned, but it dissolved into a
moan the second he began to run his hands over her.
    He explored. He molded the silk cups
over her. He felt the lace. His fingers dipped between her breasts.
Lowering his head, he bit her nipple through the fabric, hard
enough that she felt a sting of pleasure through the
silk.
    She arched up, panting, hyper aware of
her wetness soaking the matching panties.
    “ Eve.” He brought his lips
to hers again, ravaging.
    Someone rattled the doorknob, the
sound startling her. She blinked at him, panting.
    His eyes were half-lidded and sexy,
and she wanted him so badly she throbbed with it.
    But he tugged her dress in place and
zipped her back up. Then he kissed her slowly, the passion banked
but still there. Wordlessly, he helped her down and led her back to
the dance floor.
    This time, he clasped her closer,
grinding to the music slowly. She nestled into him, knowing he was
telling her this was how he wanted to make love to her.
    She wrapped her arms around him and
let him lead.
    They danced like that until her feet
ached and her toes cramped, but she was enjoying herself too much
to quit.
    Finally, the band stopped playing. He
kissed her again before leading her off the floor, settling up, and
escorting her home.
    He stopped in front of her building
and walked her to the door.
    Eve turned to him. Did she invite him
in? She wanted to. She ached with the need to finish what they’d
started.
    He reached out and tucked her hair
behind her ear. “I’m going to kiss you goodnight and then let you
sleep because you have to be up early. This time.”
    “ So there’s going to be a
next time?”
    His answer was a hot, searing kiss
that curled her toes. It was dark and smoky and seductive. She
gripped his shoulders, afraid her knees were going to give
out.
    He eased out of it, kissing her cheek
and then her forehead. “Go in, Eve, before my good intentions go
out the window.”
    Nodding, dazed, she went in and
floated all the way up to her apartment, her achy feet
forgotten.
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    Treat arrived at his mom’s house half
an hour before he knew she’d leave for Crumpet. As he walked to the
front door, he frowned up at the three-story Edwardian. His dad had
been an architect and specialized in restoring old homes. This
house had been his business card, remodeled so it was modern but
retaining its old charm and character.
    When Treat was a kid, the house had
been a gathering place for his friends because of the rumpus room
that took up the entire top floor. His mom and dad used to
entertain all the time too. He remembered the house being filled
with people and laughter, the tinkling of glasses, and music—his
dad loved music.
    He didn’t think Margaret had had
anyone over other than him in the past eight years. Even then, she
didn’t invite him over unless there was a practical reason. He both
understood and didn’t understand why she didn’t sell the house and
move someplace smaller. Someplace that wasn’t devoid of life and
full of ghosts.
    He worried about his mom, more so
after what Eve told him last night when he picked her up. It didn’t
help that he planned on getting closer to Eve—and soon. To have his
mother in a feud with the woman he was seeing posed problems, to
put it mildly.
    He rang the doorbell and
waited.
    The door swung open, and his mom
frowned at him. “Treat?”
    “ Hi Mom.” He frowned back
at her as he kissed her cheek. “You look different.”
    Her cheeks flushed. “You caught me
getting ready for work.”
    He shook his head. She looked softer
somehow—he just wasn’t sure how. “Have you done something with your
hair?”
    “ I told you I’m getting
dressed.” She stepped aside to let him in, closing the door behind
him. “Did you tell me you were coming here?”
    “ No.” He remembered why he
was there. “I have something I want to discuss.”
    “ Come into the kitchen
then.” She led the way. “Coffee?”
    “ No thanks.” He planned on
stopping by Eve’s. Frankly, since he’d started