fingertip.
Â
"Here." Brian handed her another cleaning rag from the floor.
Â
She smiled her thanks and tried to improve the job. Frustrated at her ineptitude, she excused herself to wash up. She groaned at the image she presented in the mirror and got to work.
Â
Much cleaner, Karina walked back toward Brian, feeling a little better. "What are you doing here? Not that I'm not delighted to see you, of course." This time she got her voice right, cool and casually friendly.
Â
"Mark told me he'd helped out yesterday. I thought I'd come by and see for myself and invite you out for lunch. If you're done painting, that is?" He surveyed the bright interior with approval. "This is quite the store you two have put together."
Â
"Yes. We're really happy here. I know you weren't so onboard with the ideaâ¦"
Â
Brian looked at her in surprise. "No, no. I never meant to dissuade you. I just wanted you to be sure about taking such a major step. A startup business isn't easy."
Â
"I know. We just look at things differently." She returned to his invitation. "I'd be delighted to have lunch with you."
Â
She took him to meet Sandra on the way to the restaurant.
Â
"So you're renting a basement suite from her?" he asked.
Â
"Yes. So far it's working really well. The whole family is great, and they've all been treating me so kindly."
Â
Karina kept the lunch conversation light and friendly. She told him about the opening day plans and the new computer system they were trying to get up and running. Brian shared that he'd be leaving town in a few days for another weekend seminar. His last for a while, as he was getting ready to sit down and write again.
Â
"I'm going to be starting a weekly lecture series on Thursday nights. It'll run for six weeks, and then I'm taking a break."
Â
"That sounds great. Maybe I can get Sandra and Susan to come along, too." Karina pulled out her day planner, a major necessity now and wrote down the dates. If nothing else, it would give her an excuse to see Brian again.
Â
"With the grand opening coming up, my schedule is crazy. Stop by when you get back if you can. The store will be up and running by then."
Â
They walked out into the bright sunshine.
Â
"I'll do that. By the wayâhow are the nightmares?"
Â
She stopped walking and looked up at him, a little disconcerted at the caring probe. A warm light in those chocolate eyes eased the question. Because of course, the nightmares were still bad.
Â
A masculine, gentle hand covered hers. "That bad, huh?"
Â
Karina sighed. "I'm dealing with them. Hopefully, they'll go away soon." She brightened. "At least there are no prank calls here."
Â
He nodded. "Good. We haven't heard any more from Ian, so I imagine he's calmed down by now. Give it a little time. Your life has changed so much in the last few weeks that it's bound to carry into your dream state." He nodded toward the store front. "Go back to your painting. I'll see you when I get back next week."
Â
Uncertainly, Karina turned to go back inside the store. "Thanks for lunch."
Â
Her mind was a whirl, anticipation and letdown roiling into one emotion, confusion. That was it, no kiss, no invitation for another get together; just a casual friendly, 'I'll see you next week.' Well, what did she expect?
Â
Then he did it.
Â
"Oh by the wayâ¦" He turned back, tugged gently on her arm and wrapped her in his embrace.
Â
His lips stroked and caressed, coaxing her own to open then dipped inside, igniting her passion. It was just like last time. Only this time her body knew what to expect. Her lips trembled under the onslaught, answering his heat with intense flames of her own. Her body melted fully against him, yielding to his strength, surrendering to her passion. Liquid heat flowed through her, pooling, swelling and tormenting.
Â
Karina barely heard the whistles or the catcalls from the onlookers. The world
Â
"Here." Brian handed her another cleaning rag from the floor.
Â
She smiled her thanks and tried to improve the job. Frustrated at her ineptitude, she excused herself to wash up. She groaned at the image she presented in the mirror and got to work.
Â
Much cleaner, Karina walked back toward Brian, feeling a little better. "What are you doing here? Not that I'm not delighted to see you, of course." This time she got her voice right, cool and casually friendly.
Â
"Mark told me he'd helped out yesterday. I thought I'd come by and see for myself and invite you out for lunch. If you're done painting, that is?" He surveyed the bright interior with approval. "This is quite the store you two have put together."
Â
"Yes. We're really happy here. I know you weren't so onboard with the ideaâ¦"
Â
Brian looked at her in surprise. "No, no. I never meant to dissuade you. I just wanted you to be sure about taking such a major step. A startup business isn't easy."
Â
"I know. We just look at things differently." She returned to his invitation. "I'd be delighted to have lunch with you."
Â
She took him to meet Sandra on the way to the restaurant.
Â
"So you're renting a basement suite from her?" he asked.
Â
"Yes. So far it's working really well. The whole family is great, and they've all been treating me so kindly."
Â
Karina kept the lunch conversation light and friendly. She told him about the opening day plans and the new computer system they were trying to get up and running. Brian shared that he'd be leaving town in a few days for another weekend seminar. His last for a while, as he was getting ready to sit down and write again.
Â
"I'm going to be starting a weekly lecture series on Thursday nights. It'll run for six weeks, and then I'm taking a break."
Â
"That sounds great. Maybe I can get Sandra and Susan to come along, too." Karina pulled out her day planner, a major necessity now and wrote down the dates. If nothing else, it would give her an excuse to see Brian again.
Â
"With the grand opening coming up, my schedule is crazy. Stop by when you get back if you can. The store will be up and running by then."
Â
They walked out into the bright sunshine.
Â
"I'll do that. By the wayâhow are the nightmares?"
Â
She stopped walking and looked up at him, a little disconcerted at the caring probe. A warm light in those chocolate eyes eased the question. Because of course, the nightmares were still bad.
Â
A masculine, gentle hand covered hers. "That bad, huh?"
Â
Karina sighed. "I'm dealing with them. Hopefully, they'll go away soon." She brightened. "At least there are no prank calls here."
Â
He nodded. "Good. We haven't heard any more from Ian, so I imagine he's calmed down by now. Give it a little time. Your life has changed so much in the last few weeks that it's bound to carry into your dream state." He nodded toward the store front. "Go back to your painting. I'll see you when I get back next week."
Â
Uncertainly, Karina turned to go back inside the store. "Thanks for lunch."
Â
Her mind was a whirl, anticipation and letdown roiling into one emotion, confusion. That was it, no kiss, no invitation for another get together; just a casual friendly, 'I'll see you next week.' Well, what did she expect?
Â
Then he did it.
Â
"Oh by the wayâ¦" He turned back, tugged gently on her arm and wrapped her in his embrace.
Â
His lips stroked and caressed, coaxing her own to open then dipped inside, igniting her passion. It was just like last time. Only this time her body knew what to expect. Her lips trembled under the onslaught, answering his heat with intense flames of her own. Her body melted fully against him, yielding to his strength, surrendering to her passion. Liquid heat flowed through her, pooling, swelling and tormenting.
Â
Karina barely heard the whistles or the catcalls from the onlookers. The world
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