‘I know the cure.’
‘I thought you might.’ Maggie sighed and arched into his touch.
Chad slid his other hand around her back and began to work her zip down, inch by inch. She begged him to hurry but he only smiled. ‘Patience, Maggie, patience.’ His own hung by a thread but he tried not to show it.
‘Could we be patient next time, please?’ Her eyelashes fluttered temptingly as he reached the base of her spine.
‘Next time? You’re thinking of more than once?’ Chad cupped her backside and eased her closer, allowing her to rub up against him and swiftly drive him insane.
She whispered in his ear, telling him exactly what she wanted him to do and her low, sexy laughter made every cell in his body stand to attention.
‘A well brought up Southern gentleman always tries to please a lady.’ Chad pushed her dress down over her shoulders and eased it slowly past her hips, letting it drop to the floor in a pool of gleaming satin. ‘We’ll take this into the bedroom.’
‘That’s the best idea I’ve heard all week.’ Maggie’s eyes shone. ‘Love me.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ For the next few precious hours he intended to make her feel so loved and cherished she wouldn’t be able to imagine her life without him. He only hoped he was up to the challenge.
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Breakfast?’ Chad murmured, lifting a handful of hair from her neck and pressing warm kisses into her sensitive skin.
‘Are you offering yourself on toast?’ Maggie teased, wriggling around to face him. She still found it hard to grasp the idea that this seriously gorgeous man was attracted toher. But it wasn’t simply his looks, although she could happily gaze at him for hours and did so last night when she was too wired to sleep. He was intelligent, witty and caring — and Maggie couldn’t imagine what she’d done to be so fortunate.
‘I’m offerin’ myself in any way you want me, sweetheart.’ Chad’s smooth drawl made her heart race and his large, sure hands cupped her hips, hitching them closer making her aware of every rock-hard inch of his body. ‘I’m versatile, like an egg.’ His rumbling chuckle ran right through her blood. ‘You’ve scrambled my brain, fried my common sense and boiled all my gentlemanly intentions away. There’s not much left to try.’
Maggie insinuated her hands up through his hair, playing with the heavy, dark strands and breathing in his delicious musky scent. ‘Poaching is a good method that leaves the outside firm and the inside gooey and delectable.’
He groaned and seized her in a fierce kiss, rolling them over until he was on top. ‘That’s enough game playing, Miss Taylor. Time for action.’
Maggie’s last attempt at coherent thought faded away as he slid deep inside her with a satisfied groan, making her his all over again.
Afterwards she drifted back to sleep until bright light flooded the room and woke her up.
‘Here’s breakfast in bed for the sexiest cake decorator ever.’
Maggie opened her eyes and focused on Chad, posing in front of her in only a pair of black boxers and brandishing a large silver tray. ‘Slept with a lot of them have you?’
He didn’t reply, just settled the tray over her knees and walked around to sit down next to her on the bed. Chad poured her tea exactly the way she liked it and lifted the cover off the plate to reveal two perfectly poached eggs on wheat toast.
‘Eat up while they’re still fresh,’ he said softly.
She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings and should know by now he was sensitive about his perceived reputation with women. Maggie forced down a forkful of eggs. ‘These aren’t easy to make. You never told me you could cook.’
‘There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Maggie.’ Chad’s tawny eyes bored right through her.
‘Maybe it’s time you told me . . . before we go any further.’ She pushed away the tray, her appetite gone.
* * *
Chad watched the light leave her beautiful face. She’d been so happy and now he’d spoiled everything. ‘You know a lot of it already.’
‘Then why be so serious?’
Chad risked putting his arms around her. He buried his face in her hair and smelled the fragrant hints of vanilla in her silky curls.
‘You’ve forced me to be more honest.’ He needed to get this over with. ‘I want to tell you first what my grandmother said before I came over here. She’s very much like Audrey, a plain spoken woman who gives advice whether you want it or not.’ Chad recited word for word everything she’d said and watched Maggie’s eyes widen.
Use this vacation as a chance to take some time out, Chandler. Playing the field is all very well for a young man, butyou’re old enough to start thinking more about the future. Your father won’t come out and say so but I know he’d like to take things easier. He’s been hoping you’d decide to give up the law and take over the firm. Josh needs our help as well but he’s too stubborn to ask for it. You could do a lot for him if you chose to.
