So, she decided, this was how he was going to go with it now. He’d made his past fair game for her, but he was going to be all about the facts and just the facts, ma’am. She could hardly be picky. But it only served to make her more curious, not less. She decided it might be less awkward all around if she did her own digging on the subject of his career, get her own answers. And, if possible, do as he’d initially asked, and use what time they did have together to get to know him, outside of all that.
“What’s on the agenda today for you?” he asked.
“Cleaning the rooms.”
He lifted a questioning eyebrow.
“Yes, I’m aware the inn isn’t exactly overflowing, but the rooms have to be dusted, swept, polished, fluffed. I can’t have someone just stroll in unannounced and then make them wait in the foyer while I rush up to make sure there’s no dust on the furniture. I need to keep it guest-ready at all times.”
“I think about what the workload would be like if the place was full. Were you planning on hiring help? Like cleaning or cooking?”
“I was, during the busy season. But I planned on doing as much of it myself as I could, too. I like keeping busy-the busier the better. Less time to think.” She hadn’t meant to say that last part out loud, and when his gaze narrowed a bit on her, she rushed on. “It’s actually kind of fun, all the rushing around and making things right for my guests. I enjoy the noise and the general chaos of it all. It feels…vital. And I like being in the middle of all that.”
Brett’s gaze stayed quite focused on Kirby, and she realized she was holding her breath, waiting for whatever question he lobbed her way. She could hardly duck it, given the open stance he’d now taken with her where anything having to do with him was fair game. He already knew about Patrick, but all he understood was the basic context, that she’d been betrayed by someone who was supposed to have her best interests at heart. And she was good with that.
He saw a lot, too much, at times, so she was braced. Which was why what he did say came as a complete surprise. “Other than the screen, do you have any other stuff that needs to get done?”
“You-have got to be kidding. I couldn’t possibly ask anything else of you.”
“You aren’t asking. I’m offering. I am generally happiest when I have projects to work on.”
“I’d say you have a pretty big one at the moment.”
“Initially it’s going to be a bunch of phone calls.” He smiled. “I like to work with my hands.”
She couldn’t help it, she smiled, too. And flushed, maybe a little. “Yes, well, that’s great, but I can’t just-”
“Kirby.” He sat down his empty coffee mug and walked over to where she stood, still by the sink.
She liked how much bigger he was; it gave her this private little thrill every time he got into her personal space. She wondered if he could read that on her face, too. “What?” she replied gamely.
“You
It was all she could do not to moan a little as he brushed his fingertips over such sensitive skin.
“So, you can either go clean rooms while I bang nails into something…or we can go mess up a few rooms first. And I can work off this pent-up energy in an entirely different way.”
By banging me, she thought, and her entire body stood up and shouted yes. Emphatically so. She had every intention of smiling and saying no. She had an inn to save. Now was not the time to be frolicking naked with carefree abandon. So, it came as a surprise to them both, if the look in his eyes was anything to go by, when she put her hands up on his shoulders and slid them around to the back of his neck and said, “I’ve found that dusting and scrubbing is a highly overrated method of distraction.”
“I find I couldn’t agree more.” He leaned in and kissed her, quite soundly, then made her squeal by lifting her up into his arms.
“Brett-”
He managed to nudge open the door to the narrow back stairway. “This feels rather indecent somehow, doesn’t it?” He looked down into her face, and his eyes were fully sparkling, his smile wide, and he’d never looked more handsome to her.
“Wicked, yes,” she said. “Having your way with the backstairs help.”
“Hold on.” He slid her legs around, but when they both wouldn’t fit on the skinny risers, he made her squeal again and grab at his belt loops as he slipped her over his shoulder.
“I can walk,” she said breathlessly.
“Where’s the wicked fun in that?”
They passed the door to the first floor. He wasn’t even out of breath. She still hadn’t found hers. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d start at the top. My room.” He pushed through the narrow door at the top of the stairs, then bumped open his own door, which he hadn’t closed all the way, and kicked it shut behind him. He laid her out on his bed and followed her down. “Then we can work our way down,” he added. “What do you say?”
He was already pushing up her shirt and sliding down her body.
“I think…working our way down…could be a very good idea,” she said on a breathless laugh.
He unzipped her pants and slipped them down her hips, taking her panties with them.
“Inspired, even,” she managed to gasp as he kissed his way back up her inner thigh.
It was impossible to believe that a mere hour ago all hope had seemed lost…and now, not only was there a plan to save her inn, but the gorgeous, sexy man responsible for saving it was about to make love to her. Again.
He slid his tongue over her as his hands moved up under her shirt and over her rock-hard nipples. She arched her back and lost all track of any thought she might have ever had as he took her body on that sweet, sweet climb. So effortlessly, so perfectly.
Distractions, indeed.
Chapter 12
Definitely beat the hell out of banging nails. Maybe Dan had been onto something about that.
Brett moved up and kissed Kirby just beneath her belly button while her body was still twitching in the aftermath of her climax. He loved how responsive she was to him. Loved. He rolled to his back and tugged her over on top of him.
She slid down effortlessly over him, taking him deep and making them both groan as he hit all of her still- twitchy spots.
“Sit up,” he urged.
She lifted her head from where she’d been most delightfully kissing the side of his neck. A little wrinkle furrowed her very lovely brow.
“What?” he asked.
“Gravity,” she answered rather succinctly.
It took him a moment to figure that one out, then he laughed. “Right. I want to see you. I want to see you while we do this.” He moved more deeply inside of her.
“You can see me right now.”
“I have seen you. All of you, I might remind you. From most angles. But right now, I’d really love to see you-” He groaned in deep gratification as she pushed on his chest and sat up, taking him even deeper as she did so.
Her hair was wild, her face, usually so perfectly aquiline and so proper looking, was all flushed and damp, hair clung to her temples. Her nipples stood out boldly from her small but perfect breasts, and she truly looked, “Beautiful.”
Her gaze was on his, and she smiled a little at that, then her eyes closed as he moved underneath her. She picked up his rhythm as perfectly as she’d suited him in every other way. His own eyes threatened to roll right back in his head, but he wanted to watch her. Watch her take him, come apart for him.
