Foolish Notions (21 page)

Samantha took a long knife from the
drawer and began to slice the cake. “You know what I think?”

“I’m sure you’re
going to tell me regardless of how I answer that.”

She turned her attention to him for a
minute, making sure he got the full effect of her scornful look. “I
think you’re not a very graceful winner.”

James watched her slip the cake onto
three plates before he moved around the counter to her side. “You
know what I think?” He said the words as he took her hand in
his and studied the long, slender finger that was coated with
cheesecake. When he brought her finger slowly into his mouth, he
pulled her closer. He meticulously washed the thick sweetness from
it. Taking his time, he carefully sucked on the tip before pulling it
from his mouth and speaking. “That you make an amazing
cheesecake.” His tongue traced over the top of her perfectly
manicured fingernail. “Mmm, it’s still warm.”

James had to work not to smile, because
inconceivable was the only way to describe Samantha’s face at
that moment. In fact, she was so astounded she couldn’t even
utter a single word, although it looked like she was trying
desperately to do so. He noticed she became even more flustered when
Marie walked into the kitchen.

Marie set the money on the counter and
slid the bill to James. “Don’t spend it all in one place.
And by the way,” she added, “I’m never betting with
you again.”

“That’s what you said last
time.”

“I mean it this time.” She
turned her attention to Samantha.

“Don’t ever let me bet with
this man.” She gestured toward the plates. “Shall I carry
something outside?”

When Samantha didn’t answer,
James spoke. “Nope. I think we’ve got it.” He took
the twenty and stuffed it in his front pocket. “We’ll be
out in a moment.”

As James placed forks on each plate he
watched Samantha arrange mugs, sugar, and cream on a tray. It wasn’t
easy to leave Samantha speechless, but clearly he had. He moved
behind her. “Don’t look so shocked, I’ve licked
cheesecake off more intimate places than your finger,” he said
in a seductive tone. When the contents of the tray clattered, James
moved quickly around her and took the tray just in time to save
everything from toppling over. “Here let me take that.”
He paused. “What are you muttering about?”

“I’m not muttering,”
Samantha snapped.

“Sounded like muttering to me.”
He managed to get the words out without laughing, but the grin wasn’t
as easily contained.

“Stop looking so satisfied.”
She pulled her gaze from his mouth to his eyes. “I should wipe
that smirk off your face.”

His smile was cool, taunting. “You
haven’t seen me satisfied yet.”

“Nor will I.” She was
completely flustered.

“You will, trust me.” His
voice was so gentle it went straight to her heart. “Don’t
pout. Your lips are too tempting when you do.”

She lifted her long lashes, and found
James staring at her intently. Her chin rose defiantly as she squared
her shoulders.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

His lips found hers in record time. He
nipped and teased her plump lower lip, before placing kisses along
her jaw line, and then moving near her ear. He made sure he drove her
over the edge before he pulled away. “Don’t ever dare me,
Angel. You should know that by now.” If his hands hadn’t
been full, he would have done justice to the small kiss. It would
have to wait.

“Why do you feel you can do
whatever you please to me?”

He set the tray on the black granite
countertop. He took his time as he looked at her. Why was she so
desperately trying to disregard any and all of his advances? Why
wouldn’t she just put herself out of her misery and give in?
Denial was to be expected, but this type of self-control was unheard
of. “Angel, you wouldn’t be standing in my kitchen right
now if I were to do to you whatever pleased me.”

“You’re forgetting it takes
two,” she pointed out curtly.

“I haven’t forgotten.”
He leaned in and she pulled back.

“Whenever I decide to do what
pleases me, trust me, you’ll be just as pleased as I’ll
be.” He picked up the tray. “You can get the door for
me.”

* * * * * *

Samantha stood in the kitchen while
James went on. What was happening? How had things gotten so out of
her control? She had made up her mind that she wasn’t going to
allow him to affect her like this. What had happened to all that
determination she had? Her fingers brushed her lips. She knew it was
silly; the kiss had been nothing more than faint contact, yet she
felt him on her lips like he had been there for hours. No matter how
minor it was, just knowing that his mouth touched her was enough to
set fire inside of her. Hell, she had been on fire long before he
kissed her. She pressed her hand against her stomach, because her
insides shook

She didn’t like any of it in the
least, but she couldn’t help how her body responded to him.
It’s just been a while, she told herself. She looked up to see
James waiting patiently by the screen door. Damn, he looked so sexy.
Or was it smug? She decided it was a little of both.

As Marie took the last bite of the
delicious dessert she wiped her lips with her napkin and moaned a
long satisfying moan. “That was delicious. Cheesecake was the
perfect way to top off this beautiful evening.” She looked to
Samantha. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed
myself.”

Samantha smiled. “Would you like
some more coffee?”

Marie shook her head. “I’m
a little tired. I think I’ll turn in now.” She stood up
and kissed James’s cheek. “Good night, baby.” She
then kissed Samantha. “Good night, dear. As always, everything
was just lovely.”

Samantha smiled. “Do you need any
help?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”
She turned toward the door. “You two just stay out here and
enjoy this lovely evening.”

James looked at Samantha from across
the table when Marie slid the door quietly closed. “She does
look tired.”

“It was a long day, that’s
all,” Samantha said as she sipped her coffee and stared over
his shoulder at the ocean.

“I was beginning to think she
would never recover from that last round of chemo.” James shook
his head, trying to shake off the unwanted images.

Samantha sighed, remembering how
draining it was, not only on Marie but on everyone. “Yes, it
hit her hard.” She turned her attention from the rolling waves
to a group of people on the beach standing around a bonfire. “It’s
almost over. She has one more round next month.”

“And that’s it?” In
one aspect it felt like the treatments were taking forever, but in
reality it had all been very timely.

“Yes. Her doctor is very happy
with the results. The last MRI showed the cancer has shrunk to almost
nothing.”

“Does that mean they may not
operate?” he asked hopefully.

“They may decide not to. We’ll
have to wait and see how everything goes next month.”

Several people walked by and waved as
they made their way to the bonfire that had been started at dusk.
There were over twenty people eating, swimming, singing, and dancing
on the shore’s edge. The large fire snapped and crackled; small
sparks shot up in the air, then floated around until they burned out.

“Looks refreshing,” James
commented, as the shrieks of a couple diving through the white foamy
surf drifted up to them.

“You want to go for a dip?”

She shook her head. “I have a
kitchen full of dishes to clean.”

James got up and moved to the chair
next to her. When he sat, he said, “You cooked, I’ll
clean.” He reached around her neck and unclipped the barrette.
Her hair cascaded in long sheets covering her shoulders. When he ran
his fingers through it, a soft fragrance filled the air. “I’ve
wanted to do that all evening.”

Samantha tilted her head to the side,
pulling her hair from James’s grip.

Ignoring her gesture, James threaded
his fingers back through her hair.

“Please,” she said.

He stared at her for a moment.

“Please, stop.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I love the feel of it. I love
the way it smells. And I can’t get enough of it.”

“You know I’m not referring
to my hair.”

James brought the hair entwined in his
hand to his nose. “I believe this is what heaven smells like.”

Samantha yanked her hair from his hand
and stood up. “This is what I’m talking about. Why are
you doing this?” She snatched the clip out of his hand and
pulled her hair back. “I will not let what happened the other
night repeat itself. It was a mistake. We both know that.” She
started gathering dishes off the table.

James moved beside her. “Call it
what you want. However, I would thoroughly enjoy it if it were to
repeat itself.” The act of tracing his finger down her cheek
and across her lips stopped her instantly. “They taste as soft
as they feel.” he murmured.

“Stop.”

James indulged her but didn’t see
any reason to move away. She was reluctant because she was afraid.
Knowing that, he withdrew his hand and spoke. “You care,
Samantha. You can try to convince yourself otherwise, but it’ll
be futile.”

She shook her head. “And how have
you come to this conclusion? What makes you so sure that I still
care?”

“Dessert tonight tells me all I
need to know.”

“How so?”

He wanted to pull a strand of her hair
loose and twirl it around his finger. However, he fought the impulse.
“Raspberries aren’t in season.”

“And?”

He moved in again and his mouth
twitched when he spoke, “Tell me, Samantha, how many stores did
you go to before you found fresh raspberries?”

“It’s not every day that I
can get Marie to eat a full meal, much less request one. I wanted it
to be special. Don’t read more into this than there really is.”

“How many?”

“It’s irrelevant,”
Samantha insisted.

“Then you won’t have a
problem telling me.”

Samantha’s voice was low.
“Three.”

“Such effort and you don’t
care?” He dipped his head and studied her lips. With a great
sense of satisfaction he watched them tremble.

Samantha tried to step back, but the
table prevented any escape. “Your little observation proves
nothing. Perhaps I did it out of habit.”

James was going to toss her on the
table if she didn’t quit licking her lips like that. “Could
be, but I doubt it.”

“You’re too sure of
yourself.”

“No one can ever be too sure of
themselves,” he countered.

His possessive look was deliberate, and
he knew that it would dissolve her already crumbling will.

“You can,” she insisted.

He couldn’t wait, if he had
wanted to. He needed to kiss her. Taking her face in between his
hands, he tilted her head. He licked his own lips and then placed
them upon Samantha’s. It only took a gentle nudge with his
tongue for her mouth to open. A groan traveled across his lips to
hers when he tasted her sweetness. He purposely let the kiss linger,
enjoying every last detail, before deepening it to savor the flavor.

The kiss built in heat until each of
them felt its intensity race through and between them. With his
fingers, James moved Samantha’s chin, changing the angle of the
kiss, igniting even more pleasure.

As their lips parted, James immediately
began kissing her cheek, moving near her ear. He didn’t want
his lips to be off her, not even for a minute. Lifting her onto the
edge of the table, he pushed the soft material of her dress up to
expose her creamy, soft thighs. Her moan filtered into his ear like a
deep growl when he slid his hand between her thighs and stroked the
tender skin.

“I’ve wanted to touch you
for so long,” he whispered.

At the base of her neck, James could
see her pulse pound through her skin. He pressed his lips against it,
his heart slamming against his chest as he did so. The tip of his
tongue touched the heated vein and flames swept through his body.

“James.” His name spilled
from her lips, barely audible.

He didn’t move his mouth. “Yes.”

Samantha knew that if her dress hadn’t
been so tight she would have parted her legs and allowed him full
access. She was in too deep to even care if what she was doing was
reckless. Instead of contemplating her actions, she permitted herself
to drift into the surprisingly powerful sensations he was creating in
her as his thumb lightly stroked the supple skin. If she could
verbally beg for more, she would, but words had long been replaced
with sensation. A small noise, which came from somewhere deep in her
throat, escaped her lips, to convey her satisfaction.

She heard him whisper in her ear, but
couldn’t make out what he said—the blood rushing through
her body and her heartbeat were thunderous in her ears. She had
wanted to feel like this for so long. She had longed for her body to
come alive again. It was all so overwhelming. “James,”
she repeated achingly.

“Tell me.”

“I’ve missed you touching
me.”

“What else have you missed?”

“How you so easily make me want
you.”

“And.”

“I’ve missed how my body
feels when you love me.” Her fingers played with his shirt
until they found their way underneath it, hot skin and soft hair met
her needy hands. “You make me lose control.”

“It’s okay to lose
control.” His hand slid up her thigh, parting her legs further
as his fingertips touched the soft satin of her underwear.

Whistles, hollers, and clapping swept
up the beach toward them. Loud cheers filled the warm air around
them. James pulled Samantha to him, shielding her, as he looked over
his shoulder in the direction of the bonfire. In the diffuse dusk
light, there wasn’t much they could make out, but they
obviously got the gist of it.