“Need help?”
“Nope. Just sit there and tell me how your day went.”
“Alright.”
He began talking, and although she was washing the lettuce, she listened. She couldn’t help but do so since he sounded so good. When she glanced up after slicing the cucumbers, she saw he had taken off his jacket, exposing those broad shoulders. There was never a time when she saw Matt that every part of her didn’t take notice of everything about him. His handsome looks and his immaculate attire. She didn’t know of any other man who could wear a business suit as well as he did. And his scent was distinctive and alluring. A combination of musk and man.
And his expertise in the bedroom… Lordy, she didn’t want to go there. Iris knew that she couldn’t. That she shouldn’t. Not here of all places, her home. She had her rule and had put it in place for a reason. Already, he had covered more area in her house than any of her other lovers. She didn’t want to share any more of her space with him.
“Everything is ready,” she said, meeting his gaze, smiling.
“Okay to use the washroom for my hands?”
“Sure.”
Iris watched him walk off, thinking he was definitely a mouthwatering specimen of a man. She drew in a deep breath, beginning to think it hadn’t been a good idea to invite him to dinner after all.
* * *
“Dinner was great, Iris. Thanks for inviting me. Are you sure you don’t need me to help with kitchen duties? It’s the least I can do since you fed me so well.”
“Glad you enjoyed it. And as far as kitchen duties, that’s what dishwashers are for.”
“Okay, if you’re positive,” he said, sliding into his jacket. “You’re flying out to Denver this weekend, right?” He honestly didn’t know why he was asking when he knew she would be. He missed her already. For the past four weeks, they had spent their weekends together.
“Yes, and you’re flying out to Texas.”
“Yes. There’s a Sid Roberts Foundation meeting that the triplets want me to attend. It appears they are ending the year with over $10 million in additional funds, thanks to Save the Horses, as a result of the press release we published in the papers last month. The thought of wild horses getting slaughtered hit a nerve with many horse enthusiasts.”
“I can imagine,” she said, coming out of the kitchen to walk him to the door.
“Will I get to see you again before you leave?” he asked, hoping he would.
“Not sure. This has been a crazy week, and since we’re closing for the holidays with no plans to reopen until after New Year’s, there’s a lot of ‘end of the year’ stuff to be finalized,” she said.
“I understand. The same with my office. At least I can look forward to seeing you at the Westmoreland Charity Ball,” he said. When they reached her front door, he turned to face her. “That’s more than two weeks away, and I’m missing you already.”
“I’m missing you already, too, Matt.”
He liked hearing her admit that. Reaching up, he pushed a wayward curl back from her face. Their gazes met and held, and he heard both of their breaths. “I’ll call you on Christmas Day.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” was her reply.
His eyes watched the movement of her tongue as it licked around her lips, before she said, “I’m ready for my Matt Caulder kiss now.”
A smile spread across his face. She had told him weeks ago how much she enjoyed his kisses. “And I’m ready to give one to you, baby,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
The moment their mouths touched, his heart affirmed what he already knew and accepted. He had fallen in love with her. He loved every single thing about her.
He heard her moan the moment he slid his tongue inside her mouth. He had never known a more responsive woman. A woman who gave just as much as she took. That was obvious by the way her mouth greedily mated with his.
Suddenly, she broke off the kiss and dropped her head to his chest. Something he was getting used to her doing after each of their fiery kisses. She was giving herself time to catch her breath, and he was doing the same. Whenever he kissed her, it literally took his breath away.
She slowly raised her head, and the dark brown eyes staring at him filled him with a need so intense he could feel heat rushing through his veins.
“Make love to me, Matt.”
Her words gave him pause. From the serious look in her eyes, he knew she was aware of just what she was asking for. Still, he had to make sure. “In here? On the sofa?”