Indigo Nights: A Sexy, Contemporary Romance (20 page)

“Okay, well, we can do that.”

“You think? I mean, the family thing, can’t we just skip it? If you ran into each other that would be one thing, but an introduction? It all seems a bit . . . over the top.”

“I want to meet your brother, Beth. Everyone who’s important to you. Don’t let this be a big deal. I’m not going to ask him if I can propose.” Though it was a big deal. I’d not met a girlfriend’s family since I’d asked Alicia’s father if I could marry her.

“Okay. I’ll tell him, but I’m warning you, he’ll want to meet you properly.” I could hear her smile, even from four thousand miles away. I wished she were closer.

“Good. I have plans for our weekend, so bring some outdoor clothes.”

“Outdoor clothes?”

“You know, stuff you can go outside in?”

“Yeah, thanks, genius. I understand what you’re saying, but why?”

I laughed. “Because I want to show you something.”

“But the things
I
want to see are indoors where clothes are optional.”

I shook my head. She was the perfect balance between sweetness and joy, sexy and dirty. “I think we can do both.”

I couldn’t wait to prove it.

Beth

I woke from a dream about lemon curd, shortbread and poppy seeds. I reached for the switch on the side of my chair that tilted it back up to a sitting position and I grabbed my notebook from the pocket to my side. I scribbled down some notes, then peeked over my shoulder and out the window.

My stomach tumbled, and I grinned.

I’d never enjoyed landings, but now my excitement at being stateside was threatening to bubble over as I willed the plane to the ground as fast as possible. I’d never been so enthusiastic to go back to the place I grew up.

Since my last trip to Chicago I’d returned to London, barely dating someone, and yet, here I was, going back to Chicago to see my
boyfriend
.

I’d resisted his numerous attempts to get me to stay with him. Moving quickly was one thing, but I wanted a life jacket to cling on to as I got swept down the river.

With Louis I’d moved in with him after our third date, and I’d become completely dependent very quickly. I was a different person now, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t fall into old patterns. Dylan and I could spend time together without me being a guest in his house.

Haven and I had gone shopping for a suitable dress for Friday’s gala, and we’d picked something that I thought Dylan would like. I was pretty sure he’d be okay with anything I chose, but as he’d told me I had the best ass in the universe, I wanted to make sure I had a dress that showed it off.

As soon as we were landed, I scrambled off the plane, texting Dylan on the way to immigration.

Beth: I just landed. See you later.

Dylan: I have the live arrivals board for O’Hare open on my laptop. I’m sorry I’m not there to meet you.

Beth: Make it up to me later.

I’d rather he finished his work so we could have the whole evening together than stop to collect me, then have to go back to the office. Once I was with him, I knew I wouldn’t want to let him go.

Dylan: It will be my pleasure.

An image of him licking my breast flashed into my mind.

Beth: I was hoping it would be mine.

Dylan: I’ll make sure it is.

It was a promise I knew he could deliver on.

At check-in, I was greeted by name. Clearly, I was spending far too much time here.

“You’re in 1204 again, Miss Harrison. Roger will take your bags up for you.”

“Thank you. I’m fine to take my own.” As much as I didn’t want Roger missing out on a tip, I didn’t want to have to wait on my suitcase.

I headed to the elevator and pressed the up button, glancing across at the bar where Dylan and I had sat when we were last here.

I squinted, and he came into view. He was here? He grinned, slid off his stool and walked toward me.

I breathed in the sight of his strong jaw and wide shoulders wrapped up in a beautiful navy suit that brought out his indigo eyes.

He circled his arms around my waist, pulling me toward him and kissing my forehead. “Are you eye-fucking me?” he asked.

I tilted my head as if considering my answer. “I really think I am.”

He chuckled and kissed me again on the forehead before reaching for the elevator button.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t meet you at the airport. I had a call, but got here as soon as I could.”

“I wasn’t expecting you until much later. My other lover is about to arrive.”

He shook his head as he pulled me into the elevator car. “Don’t joke about shit like that. It makes me restless.”

“Would it make a difference if I told you my other lover’s a woman?”

He growled and pushed me against the glass wall of the elevator, slamming his tongue against mine, plowing deep and hard. My hands slid into his hair as I tried to stop from collapsing. Lust overtook me. I liked him, and I enjoyed our phone calls, but seeing him was different. Seeing him made my breath short and panties damp. I wanted to press my fingers against every part of his body in the hope that it would soothe my need for him.

“I’m so pleased you’re here,” I said as he kissed down my neck. “I told myself that I could wait until tonight, but I think I would have turned up at your office, naked beneath a coat.”

He pulled back to look at me. “I should have waited.”

The elevator doors pinged open and we scrambled out. “I need a shower. I’m airplane grubby.”

He bent his head to my neck as I fiddled with the key card in the lock. “A shower sounds good.”

I grabbed some additional pillows from the top shelf in the dressing room, pulled back the bedcovers and started to build a pillow wall down the middle of the bed.

Dylan wandered back into the bedroom, a towel around his waist, eating an apple. “I brought the menu. We should eat. What are you doing?”

“Yes, we should eat. Good idea.”

I pushed a pillow down to the foot of the bed. The wall should probably be two pillows high.

“Seriously, what’s with the pillows?” He grabbed the belt of my robe and pulled me toward him. We’d made it to the shower, then the sofa, then eventually back to the shower.

“I’m building a pillow wall. I need to sleep tonight, and won’t if we’re lying naked next to each other.”

He sighed. “I can sleep at home. It’s fine and you’re right, as much as I’d like to keep you up all night, you’ve got to make whole sentences in front of a camera tomorrow. It’s best if you get more than thirty minutes of rest.”

I tried to peel his hands from around my waist, but he wasn’t budging. “But before we make it into the bed, anything goes, right?”

I grabbed the discarded menu. “What shall we eat?”

He leaned into my ear. “How about I eat you?”

“You did that already.” I smacked his hand. “Good job by the way.” He chuckled. “I think I’ll have the pasta. Shall I order you the steak?”

He cocked his head and smiled. “Yeah, that would be great.”

I placed the order and Dylan pulled me into the living room and onto his lap, facing the view of the river.

“I have to be up at six tomorrow. The car is coming for me at seven.”

“Friday has turned into a bit of a nightmare for me. I have meetings all day. I’m sorry.”

I leaned into his chest, savoring the feel of his skin against my cheek. “I’d planned to go and see my dad, then I’ll have to get ready for the gala. It’s fine.”

“We’ll have all day Saturday and Sunday together.”

I was concentrating on the vibrations in his chest as he spoke, so I didn’t register what he’d said at first. “Oh no, not Saturday. Didn’t I tell you? They’ve decided to show the first segment this Saturday, so I have to go into the studio for an interview, then meet with their publicity team. I think I’m going to be there most of the day.”

He took a deep breath and I sat forward so I could see his face. “Are you mad?”

He smiled. “Of course not. I just want to spend time with you.”

“Sunday, though. And I brought outdoor clothes.”

The door buzzed and I scampered off his lap. The sounds of the television filled the space behind me.

“Beth,” he called as I was answering the door.

“What?” I screamed when I saw my face on TV. “What’s that?”

I looked up at Dylan but he was staring at the screen. “That’s you.”

I sank to the sofa before my knees gave way. “Christ on a bike. What the hell am I doing on television?”

“Bake with Beth” scrolled across the screen, and then I was gone.

“Excuse me, can I get a signature?” a voice from behind me asked.

I couldn’t move. Dylan must have dealt with it as when I finally stood, the waiter had gone.

“Did you see that?” I asked.

Dylan nodded, his eyebrows raised. “Did you do publicity shots already?”

“I had some taken in London. I didn’t think, didn’t realize . . . I just didn’t expect this.” I couldn’t believe they were advertising
my
show. Or my slot on someone else’s show.

“You didn’t expect to be on television, even though you have a baking segment on
television
.”

“Well, when you say it like that it makes me feel stupid.”

Dylan chuckled. “You’re not stupid. But perhaps you’re not quite prepared.”

“I’m thinking you might be right. I’ve been concentrating on getting the recipes right, and making sure I’ve rehearsed. I guess I didn’t think about broadcasting into peoples’ homes.”

The more time that passed, the more it felt like I was leading some kind of double life. In one, I lived in London, dreaming up recipes and having my nieces spit up on me. In the other, I was in Chicago, on television, and had a boyfriend who looked like a Greek god and ordered me dessert whenever I wanted it.

I was living the best of both worlds but needed to mesh them together if I was going to be able to hold on to both of them.

Dylan

I glanced at the clock, again. This meeting had been dragging on far too long, and we were due to be at the gala in an hour and a half.