Once More From the Top (The Women of Willow Bay) (20 page)

TWENTY-EIGHT

Curled up on the sofa in her apartment, Carrie watched Liam pour wine into two glasses. The lights were dim. Candles flickered around the room. He’d seemed delighted to see the mood she’d set when he returned from taking Jack back to Lawson.

Dropping his jacket on the armchair, he’d pulled off his silk bowtie and vest, and unbuttoned the top buttons of his pleated shirt. When he removed his cufflinks and folded his sleeves back, she resisted an urge to reach out and
touch him. Before he opened the wine, he’d even tugged off his shoes and socks, so now he stood barefoot on the soft rug.

“Now
this
is a post-concert party,” he said, handing her a glass and tipping his toward her with a small intimate nod. “To us.”

“To us.” She touched her glass to his. “Okay, now I have toast of my own.” She rose and walked across to close the shutters over the big window.

Liam crept up behind her to slide his arm around her, his hand warm on her stomach. Nudging the strap of her dress off her shoulder with his bearded chin, he nibbled the sensitive skin there.

She stopped him with a gentle pressure on his head. “Don’t you want to hear my toast?” She smiled provocatively over her shoulder as he continued to explore her shoulders and neck with his lips.

“I’d rather hear that sexy little moaning noise you make when I touch your breasts... like this...” He demonstrated.

She stepped away from him just enough to get a hand’s breadth of distance and some sanity. “No. Truly. I think you want to hear this one.”

He kissed her earlobe, all the while managing his wineglass with great skill. “Go ahead, I’m listening.” He licked the skin under her chin.

Arching her neck, she granted him the access he was seeking before putting her hand up to move his face away. “Liam, this is
really
serious.”

“I am being perfectly serious.” He pressed a kiss into her palm.

“Hold up your glass, please, and let me make my toast.”

With an exaggerated eye roll, he held up his wineglass. “Remember where we left off,” he grumbled. “I’d hate to have to start this seduction all over again. In about two minutes, I intend to kiss you senseless, so don’t get long-winded.”

Carrie raised her glass to tap his with a little click. “To my Reilly men. May they both have long and illustrious careers touching the hearts of music lovers all around the world.”

Liam’s eyes widened. He slowly set his glass on the table behind him, keeping his gaze locked on hers. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you belong in front of an orchestra, Maestro.” She smiled. “And I belong with you. So wherever that is—Chicago, New York, Paris, Vienna, Moscow, Beijing... you name it. That’s where I’ll be.”

“Are you sure?” His voice was husky with emotion.

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” She set her wine aside to pull his face down to hers for a long gentle kiss. “Do you remember back in Montreal, you told me I was the only person who never tried to separate the man and the musician?” Kissing him again, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve had an epiphany—I realized I was doing just that by letting you change your career because I was too much of a coward to go out in the world with you. I’m not afraid anymore. I love you and I want you. All of you—the man, the musician, the celebrity, the father, the lover—the whole damn package. I want to travel with you and take pictures of all the wonderful places we visit. I’m getting bored with senior pictures and weddings.” With a tilt of her head, she gazed into his eyes. “I’m thinking about doing a book about concert halls around the world. What do you think?”

“I–I’m overwhelmed.” Liam pulled her close to him, cupping her face in his hands to kiss her deeply. “That sounds wonderful. I love you. I love you so much.”

“And I love you. I always have and I always will,” Carrie vowed. “I can’t wait for what’s next for us.”

He hugged her, then tipped his head back, a question in his expression. “What would you think about starting in Ireland?”

“Ireland? I’d love to see Ireland.” She laid her hand on his chest and slipped open another few buttons so she could touch his naked chest. “Why? How?”

“Frankly, when Jack and I were onstage tonight, I realized I don’t want to stop conducting. Not entirely. I knew we’d have to find some compromise to retirement. On the way home, Will told me the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast contacted us about filling in for one of their guest conductors for two weeks in August. Apparently, the other guy needs open heart surgery and can’t make his commitment to them. It’s short notice, but I’d love to do it and take you and Jack with me.”

“That would be fantastic!” Carrie’s sobered for a moment. “But what about school? I don’t even know when school starts in Lincoln Park. We need to check that out, don’t we?”

“Nope. No high school in Chicago. Jack told me tonight on the way back to Lawson that he wants to board at Interlochen. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t do that. He doesn’t start back there until after Labor Day, so we can all go to Ireland if you want to.” Sliding his hands down her arms, he touched his lips to hers. “Honey, I said we had to find a compromise and I had some ideas on the way home. Want to hear them?”

“Absolutely.” She nuzzled and stroked his chest before kissing his neck.

“How about if we build a house up by Eliot and use it as our home base, but we keep an apartment in Chicago? We’ll sell the house in Lincoln Park. Will lives in a great building on the lakeshore. Maybe we could see if there’s something available. That way we can be with Jack while he’s finishing high school. And since he’s boarding, we can still go on the road. But I really am ready to slow down.”

She stared into his eyes, shaking her head. “Liam, no. You belong on a podium. Tonight, I watched how much of your essence goes into your conducting. It’s who you are, my darling.” With a soft chuckle, she ran her hand under his shirt to stroke his back. “Little wonder you turn women on everywhere you go. You are so gifted and sexy up there. You take the audience on this incredible musical... I don’t know... odyssey. It’s amazing.”

He blushed to the roots of his hair. “Did I turn
you
on tonight?” he asked, putting his lips on her bare shoulder. “I think I must have—you just called me
darling
. I believe that’s the very first time you’ve ever used an endearment to me.”

“Really? Huh. They’re always in my head, but I do love to say your name. Liam...” She shivered at the touch of his tongue on her skin. “You turn me on whether you’re on a podium or not.” Toying with the silver streaked hair over his ear, she pressed her lips to his throat. “Please don’t stop conducting. Promise me.”

“I’m not talking about stopping entirely, just slowing down. I want time with you and Jack. Will’s mentioned a movie score, which would be fantastic. And I’d love to do a workshop or two at Interlochen. I’m also looking forward to working with an architect and builder on our house and”—he touched her nose with his—“I think I want to discuss adopting another child.” He slid his hands down her silk-clad back. “What would you think about that?”

Speechless, Carrie bit her lower lip as tears stung her eyes. “Oh, that would be heaven!” She hugged him close and kissed him over and over. “A little girl?”

“Do you think Jack would like a baby sister? We could start investigating when we get back from Ireland.”

“I think Jack would
love
a little sister.” She allowed him to push the straps to her dress down. It bunched around her waist and he smiled.

“A
hot pink bra—nice touch.”

Tugging his shirt out of his pants, she finished unbuttoning it as he made quick work of the bra. It fell to the floor exposing her breasts.

“Carrie, we have so many options open to us, it’s incredible.” His voice was jubilant as he cupped her breast and bent his head to her skin. “As a matter of fact, why don’t we start exploring some of those options right this minute?”

“Right now? Like what?” She gasped when his tongue touched one hardened nipple and the other, his hair brushing against the soft flesh in between.

“Hm?” Liam’s voice was muffled as he sucked and licked her nipples.

She pressed against him, feeling the touch of his tongue all the way to her toes. Putting her fingers into his hair, she lifted his head. “What kind of options
can we explore tonight?”

He blinked, then grinned. “Oh. Well, we have the option of staying right here and making love on the couch.” He brought his mouth down hers, opening her lips to his exploring tongue. “Or we can go upstairs and try out the bed.” Another long deep kiss. “There’s also the kitchen table—” He stopped when her wandering fingers found the button and zipper on his pants.

Shoving the dress down over her hips so that it made a puddle of silk around her feet, she gave him his second surprise of the evening.

The leer he tossed her made the effort worthwhile. “Carrie Halligan, are you wearing
a thong
?”

“I am.” Her voice was low and sultry as she opened the button on his pants. Carrie giggled, heat flushing her neck and cheeks, as she stood in front of him clad only in the lacy pink thong.

He stood back, one hand stroking his beard. Taking her hand, he twirled her around very slowly. “Oh, good Lord. I do believe I need to write Jules a thank-you note,” he said, his eyes devouring her as he shrugged off his shirt.

“I’m glad you like it, but frankly, it’s a little uncomfortable,” she admitted, her
own eyes widening when she saw what he’d revealed when he slid out of his pants and boxers in one step. He was more than ready and so was she.

“Okay, let’s get that thing off you. I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable.” He peeled the thong away and laughing and kissing, they fell together onto the sofa.

She arched up to meet him as he moved over her trembling body. “Ahhh, apparently right here on the couch is where we’re going to be finishing this,” she murmured as he entered her with a groan. Twining her arms around his back, she stroked each muscle as he moved slowly within her. “But I’m working on adventurous, Maestro, so maybe later, we
can
try the kitchen table.” She brought her legs up around his hips.

He smiled into her eyes. “You’re getting downright bold, sweetheart. The kitchen table it is. Then maybe the boat or even the beach.”

His mouth closed over hers and the music began in her heart.

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed Carrie’s story, be sure to read Julie’s story in
Sex and the Widow Miles
.

For more from Nan Reinhardt, visit
NanReinhardt.com
.