"Well, guess I'll see you in the morning," Kate said, dropping a kiss on the old lady's cheek. "Don't wait up, Tilly." She walked to her vehicle and drove slowly toward her date, the butterflies churning in her stomach.
Magnus watched her climb out of the dusty truck and straighten her dress. She looked uncomfortable in such ladylike clothes. His pulse quickened as Kate tucked a curl around her ear and headed up the path to the house. He was at the door when she made it to the top step.
"Good evening, Kate." He took her hand and turned her in a circle. "Nice dress."
"Thanks." She blushed under his gaze. "Guess it makes a change from the work gear."
"A very pleasant change, I assure you. Come in and let me get you a glass of wine before I start the meal."
Magnus ushered her in the door, his hand burning on the small of her back, as he guided her into the kitchen to sit at the breakfast bar. He took a bottle of chilled wine from the fridge, the cool glass a relief against his hot skin. Who knew that little Kate dressed up would stir his blood so easily and throw him out of kilter. He intended to lead the dance to his bed tonight. The fact that he felt like a teenager approaching his first sexual experience wasn't lost on him. The feeling was so far from the self-assured, hardheaded business man he was, it left him bewildered and just a touch annoyed with himself. He'd never felt inadequate or nervous when preparing to bed a woman. The only person he'd had to woo into his bed was Adele. Every female since had been too easy.
"Here you are," he said offering her a glass of crisp white wine. "To a beautiful evening."
"A beautiful evening," Kate murmured, her eyes downcast as she sipped the cool wine.
He watched her from under thick, dark lashes as he prepared a simple marinara sauce. "I brought fresh pasta from my favorite deli while I was away. I hope you like Italian cooking." Stirring the sauce, Magnus wondered how he was going to convince her that he wasn't the evil bastard she thought he was. He was still trying to figure it out himself.
The new emotions flowing through his body were foreign to the cool, calculated mindset he always hid behind. Magnus had felt his body relax when he flew over the farm this morning. He had sighed in relief to be away from the hustle of the city and the demanding style of life in the fast lane. The first thing he did when he got in the house was to phone Kate.
"I do, not that I've had that much of it. Tilly is a meat and three veggie kind of person. I still can't get over the fact that you can cook." Kate looked at him with shiny eyes and a small smile tugging at her full glossed lips.
Magnus tipped his head to glance at her. She was nervous, and she was trying so hard to appear nonchalant that he had to give her credit for putting on a brave face. "I might have to teach you one day. It is one of the most relaxing ways to end a busy day, and it gives me pleasure to create my own meals."
"I'm afraid I have two left thumbs. I'll probably just cut half my fingers off." She shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm a good teacher, so I have been told," Magnus replied, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Kate threw back her head and laughed.
The sound filled the kitchen, and Magnus put down his wooden spoon and turned towards her. Leaning his elbows on the bench, he spoke. "That sounds like you don't believe me, Kate," he said quietly his gaze locked onto hers.
"Sorry, it's just…"
"Just what, Kate?" He leaned over into her face and laid a soft kiss on her mouth, gently nibbling on her full bottom lip. His tongue traced where his teeth had been as he tasted her full, lush lips. He felt the air stir against his skin as she sucked in a quick breath before moving her mouth against his. His hand went to the back of her head, and he pulled her closer as he hungrily took what she offered. Magnus let his tongue tease hers in a dance of searching, learning, and exploration that he was fascinated to be a part of.
When they both came up for air, Kate's eyes were glazed with a faraway look in them. She ran her tongue over her swollen lips, and a deep sigh escaped her mouth.
"Not so bad, was it?" Magnus said as he tried to hide the evidence of how badly that kiss had affected him behind the kitchen counter. He waited with barely contained control for her to speak.
"Um, can I use the bathroom please?" she asked, her breathing unsteady as her fingers pulled at the neckline of her dress.
Magnus indicated the door in the hallway off the kitchen with his head and watched as she scurried like a frightened rabbit to escape him.
In the bathroom, Kate leaned back against the wall. Her hand was clutched over her breast as her lungs struggled to pull in enough air. She was rocked to the core by the kiss. As inexperienced as she was, it had made her insides turn to a hot mush of rolling lust. His lips were soft and persuasive at the same time. How she longed to give in to that seductive mouth and see what he could do given the chance.
Tilly was right. She had set her sights on him, and she was disgusted with herself. He was after one thing and one thing only—the water—and she was just the side benefit. The feeling of being used made her feel dirty. How am I going to be able to let him use my body and not respond how I want to? It's not as
