Fugitive Heart - By Bonnie Dee Page 0,59

up and work on your experiments at the same time.”

“Sounds perfect.” He followed her to the bedroom, where they both shed their clothes unselfconsciously. He managed to keep his hands off her, though his eyes were glued to her rear as they raced to the bathroom. Ames got the water running, and they wedged into the small space.

The pressure was poor and the water only lukewarm, so it wasn’t so much a sexy shower as a chance to quickly wash away the sweat and tension of the past twenty-four hours. Even so, he traced the shape of her curves with a soapy cloth, and she nearly purred as he scrubbed shampoo into her scalp. Turned out fast showers could be sexy too. After they’d washed clean, Nick held Ames close while the water drummed against them. When it switched from lukewarm to cold, he shut off the tap, warmed her chilling skin against his, laughing as they toweled dry in record speed.

Only after they’d tumbled into her squeaky bed did things begin to heat up. Their moist bodies pressed together, making steam beneath the covers. Nick threaded his fingers through her damp curls and cradled the back of Ames’s skull. He looked into her eyes, so big and blue and open and honest, and felt the harder bits of himself chipping away, leaving him exposed and vulnerable to her.

Sadness turned down the corners of her sweet mouth.

He kissed those corners and the place where the dimple usually showed. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m never going to see my brother again, am I?”

Not if he knows what’s best for him. “I don’t think so.”

“What about you?” Her eyes moved as if trying to read his mind with her gaze. “Am I going to see more of you, or are you planning to head back to New York?”

“Well…” Logic told him this town was no place for him. He fit in about as well as a fish in a birdcage. New York was pretty much out of the question too, since he wanted to stay away from the Esposito family, but he needed to live in a city with a museum. “I have some personal things to clear up there, but I have a house in Arnesdale now, so of course I’m coming back.”

“Hm. Can’t think of any other reason to return?” A glimmer of a smile curved her mouth again.

He slid a hand all the way down her spine and cupped her bottom. “Not really,” he teased.

Ames reached between them to take his cock in her fist; then, instead of stroking it, she gave an almost painful squeeze. “No reason at all other than owning some property?”

Yeah. He was going to get so very lucky. His cock swelled but so did something deep in his chest. His sassy, chatty Ames was back, and he wanted all of her.

“No. But hey, I have an idea. Maybe you could do something for me. Could I hire you as my interior designer? You go in and fix up the house exactly as you envisioned it. I’m sure I’d love whatever you do to it.”

Ames didn’t answer, although her grip on his cock loosened.

“I’m serious on that last part, Ames. Will you?”

When she remained silent, he grew worried that she might have taken his joking seriously. “You know I’ll be coming back for you, right? I was just kidding before.”

“Good. Because I want to spend time with you too,” she said softly. “And I know Arnesdale isn’t exactly your kind of place. Maybe in the long run you won’t be able to stay here, but for as long as you can—”

He stopped her words with a kiss. He didn’t want to think about the future, possibly facing a court case, trying to find a new job. All he wanted right now was to be in the moment with Ames.

When he pulled away, she whispered, “And yes, I’d be happy to fix up your house, if you trust my judgment. You could come back to gingham or a goose motif, you know.”

“I’ve seen your apartment. I think I’ll be in good hands. Anyway,” he added, “it’s really your house. It always was.”

Chapter Fourteen

Ames shook out her apron and tied it around her waist. Another lunch shift at the Back Porch and it seemed as if those surreal, crazy days with Nick had never happened. The regulars sat on stools at the counter or in booths, which might as well have been stamped with their names. Gopher manned the grill.