“Sure.”
Holding her hand, he led them out the rear of the building, which opened to the lakefront. He paused just outside the door to allow her to kick off her shoes. A breeze picked up, swirling her skirt around her thighs. She slapped a hand on it with a laugh.
“I’ll carry your shoes so you can keep yourself decent.” He slipped the shoes from her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers again.
The cool night air blew across them from the lake. Dark waves rolled on the horizon as they walked through the sand. Kevin looked over the water and had the urge to scream to the world that he loved Kathy.
“This is nice,” Kathy whispered.
Her words crashed against his thoughts like the waves against rocks. “Nice. Not quite what I’d been hoping for in an evening spent with you.”
She pulled him to a stop. “I’m fine, Kevin. Things are hard right now, but we’re handling it. Our midday rendezvous tide me over more than I thought they would. When I said this is nice, I meant it. I’m taking a romantic stroll on the beach with my sexy boyfriend.”
“I want more of this.”
“We’ll get there.”
In a sudden flash, he had a great idea. “Let’s go away for a weekend together. We’ll leave everyone and everything behind. Can Anna cover for a weekend by herself?”
Kathy’s brows furrowed. “Probably. I’ve never taken a whole weekend off, but I don’t see why not.”
“You haven’t had a weekend off since you opened the shop?” What the hell kind of life had she been living?
“Nope.”
“Then we’re definitely going away. Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll plan it all.” His mind raced with ideas about where they could go.
“Bossy.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Just being your person. You might not need to be talked down from a ledge, but you need a vacation. I’ll handle it.”
She smiled softly up at him and then yawned. Covering her mouth, she said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into me.”
“Let’s head to the car.”
When they got back to the front of the building, he waved to the car that sat waiting for them. “Your place or mine?”
“Yours is fine.”
His night just did a one-eighty. He wanted Kathy in his home. He wanted her there all the time, but after the key incident, he knew he couldn’t pressure her into more. He opened the door to the car and waited for her to slide in.
He sat beside her and fought the urge to make out with her like a teenager because he knew he wouldn’t stop at making out.
“So did the night turn out to be a success?” she asked.
He studied her face and although he knew she asked about his work, he answered thinking only about her. “I think so.”
Falling in love wasn’t something he’d spent much time thinking about until all of his siblings had taken the plunge. Then he was surrounded. Even then, it was more of an abstract idea of something he wanted to have one day.
Knowing that day was today should’ve scared him. Instead, he felt at peace.
Well, peaceful except for the intense desire to fuck Kathy’s brains out. But that was all his hormones and cock. His heart, his heart was at peace in a way he’d never experienced.
“What are you thinking about? It’s making me a little nervous. You’re never this quiet.”
“Us.” He took her hand. “I’m glad we reconnected and that you’re giving me another chance.”
“Me too.” Her answering smile was soft, but the lust in her eyes matched the feeling in his gut. Thankfully, there was little traffic and they were almost at his apartment.
When the driver parked, Kevin handed him a couple of bills and slid from the car, still holding Kathy’s hand and her gaze. As soon as they were standing on the sidewalk, he pulled her to him and kissed her. He wanted her to feel what he felt underneath the lust and desire.
But he couldn’t say it. Not yet.
He pulled her face away from his, but kept the rest of her body in place. “Let’s take this upstairs,” she whispered.
Walking backward, he led her toward the steps of the two flat. She laughed against his lips. “We’re gonna fall. Let’s be adults and walk. I promise that once we’re inside your apartment, I won’t say a word. I’ll just strip immediately.”
Her words had him hard and he spun and yanked her to the steps. He shoved the old heavy door open, holding it for Kathy because he knew if she wasn’t prepared for it, it would slam against her. Then he patted her ass to get her to go up the stairs in front of him.
“Pushy.” She jogged up the stairs. With a flick of her eyes over her shoulder she added, “I think I like it.”
That had him racing behind her with keys in hand. The door was unlocked in record time. True to her word, she kept her lips together and slipped her sandals off. Then she reached behind her and released the zipper of her dress. The material began to gape in the front, but Kevin moved to her and held the straps.
“I’ll take care of this.” He moved the straps from her shoulders and kissed the soft skin. He made his way across her collarbone to her neck.
He let the dress slip a few inches to reveal the top swell of her breasts, and he paid close attention on his path south. Peeling back the cups of her bra, he sucked on each nipple in turn until Kathy sucked in a breath.
The dress slid from his grasp as he moved back to her mouth. Her tongue made him forget what he’d been thinking. Her fingers moved quickly to remove his tie and unbutton his shirt before he regained his ability to think.
He stilled her hands. “We’re going at my pace tonight.”
“We’re always doing things your way. Maybe it’s
