As he escorted her into Sassy’s Restaurant at 7:00 p.m.on the dot, KC stayed close to her, with his hand splayed across her lower back, leading her to the hostess stand.After he had introduced Maura to Rebecca, they followed the owner/hostess to their table, where his uncle was already seated, waiting for them.KC nodded and said hello to several people along the way but never took his eyes off Maura for more than a second or two.She was absolutely gorgeous and sexy as sin.
When she’d first appeared wearing that knockout dress, he had wanted to say to hell with dinner and ravage her right then, but it’d been too late to cancel on his uncle.Unfortunately, he would have to wait before following through with the wicked ideas that filled his head at the mere sight of her.Feeling a twitch in his pants, he realized, not for the first time this evening, that if he didn’t bring his boiling blood down to simmer soon, he would be uncomfortably rigid throughout the entire dinner.
Arriving at their table, KC reached over and pulled out a chair for Maura as Dan stood like the gentleman he was.Over the years, the Malone boys’ parents and uncle instructed them to treat a woman properly.They were taught always to open a door, pull out a chair, walk a lady to her door, and stand when one joined them at a table or was introduced to them.If he or his brothers ever failed to do one of those things, they would have received a sharp reprimand or evil eye as a reminder.
Settling back into his chair, Dan Malone smiled at Maura.“You look absolutely beautiful tonight.Whisper seems to agree with you.”
She gave him a shy smile in return.“Thank you, Mr.Malone.And I think you’re right—Whisper definitely agrees with me.”
The older man winked at her.“You’re old enough to call me Dan or Uncle Dan.Mr.Malone was my father, and he’s long since passed away.”
“Okay.Dan it is then.”
Their waitress arrived to take their orders, and they all agreed on the “Famous Friday Fish Fry” dinner, which consisted of fried catfish served with hush puppies and coleslaw.KC hadn’t been lying earlier—it was his favorite meal to order here.The large platters of food were completed with a few lemon slices, tartar sauce, and malt vinegar, and he had yet to find another restaurant that cooked the catfish even close to Sassy’s special recipe.
Before their waitress left to turn in their dinner requests, KC also ordered a round of on-tap dark ale supplied by a local brewery after ensuring Maura was okay with the selection.The menu recommended it as the perfect brew to accompany the Friday night special.
Despite the full house, it wasn’t long before their dinners arrived, and he was happy to hear Maura found the food and drink to be as delicious as he’d hoped she would.Good conversation flowed throughout the meal as she relaxed and appeared to be really enjoying herself for the first time since her family had died.
Dan and KC both made a conscious effort to stay off the subjects of her family and ex-boyfriend, and the older man had been more than happy to entertain her with tales of the young Malone brothers.Some of the stories were downright embarrassing for KC, but it didn’t bother him.He loved to watch Maura smile and enjoyed hearing her laugh as she listened to his uncle’s recollections of their youth.
An hour and a half later, after their table had been cleared, Uncle Dan refused coffee, saying he had to get up early to do some errands.But he told them they were welcome to stay and have a slice of Sassy’s apple pie for dessert without him.When the waitress returned with a to-go order of pie, his nephew stopped Dan from retrieving his wallet, saying the tab was on him, and then the couple bid him goodnight.KC knew his uncle was playing matchmaker again—he had seen the twinkle in the man’s eyes when he rose from the table—but he didn’t mind at all this time.
After Dan had left, Maura’s gaze met KC’s, and she smiled.“Thanks for bringing me tonight.I had a wonderful time.Your uncle is such a sweet man.The woman, Bonnie, at the boutique told me he’s been a widower for a long time.It’s a shame he never found love again.”
He nodded in agreement.“Dan always said Annie was his true love, and he never expected to get that lucky twice in a lifetime.But I’ve always hoped he would find another woman who he could grow old with.”
The conversation lulled as they sat there and simply contemplated each other.KC took in her appearance for at least the hundredth time that evening.There wasn’t a woman in the room who could compete with her.After a moment, Maura cleared her throat and inquired in a husky voice, “Shall we, um, get dessert?”
Heat flared in KC’s eyes and groin.He most definitely wanted dessert, but not here.“Why don’t we get it to go?”
After paying the bill, KC practically dragged her from the restaurant and had difficulty maintaining the thirty miles per hour speed limit posted throughout Whisper.They’d be breaking the land-speed record to reach the cottage if he had his way.
Glancing over at Maura several times during the eight-block trip, he noticed her hands were gripped tightly together as she stared out the windshield.She hadn’t said a single word since they’d left the restaurant, and he hoped like hell he hadn’t scared her with their hasty exit, but he couldn’t wait to be alone with her.He desperately wanted to taste and touch her again, but this time, he wanted to be where they didn’t have to worry about being on public display.
Reaching over, he tugged her left hand gently from the grip of her right and brought it to his lips.He tenderly kissed her palm before impishly nipping at her skin.Her gaze traveled from his mouth to his eyes, and she grinned at his playfulness.He was certain his heart stopped beating at that exact moment before it picked up its pace again, this time pounding frantically in his chest.
There was no denying her beauty, but it was more apparent when she smiled because her face lit up and her eyes sparkled.He was amazed anyone would abuse such an incredible woman and swore that if he ever met her ex, the guy wouldn’t live more than five seconds.
Pulling into the white pebbled driveway adjacent to the beach house, KC turned off the car lights and ignition.Shifting slightly toward Maura, he released her hand and stroked her cheek.His hazel eyes zeroed in on her blue ones.He watched her pupils dilate, leaving only a thin border of sapphire surrounding them.She inhaled sharply at the contact as his hand continued upwards toward her hair.He threaded his fingers through the soft strands.Several stray wisps of auburn silk brushed against his wrist and forearm, causing his breath to hitch.Damn, what he wouldn’t give to have her hair draped over his thighs as she sucked him into her mouth and leisurely tortured him.
Cupping the back of her head, he slowly pulled her toward him.The first kiss was a brief feathered touch but immediately sparked a fire in his loins.He kissed her again, and his mouth took possession of hers this time.She whimpered as the kiss deepened, and he responded with a moan from deep within.
Their lips parted, and tongues dueled with each other for dominance.Her hands and fingers traced the contours of his chest and shoulders before reaching around to his back.Her nails dug into his flesh, and he reveled in the pain.Maura tried to inch closer to him, but the seat console was an unmovable obstacle.He realized her dilemma and reluctantly pulled his lips from hers.
Through his heavy breathing, his voice was strangled.“Come to bed with me?Please?”
Without hesitation, she responded in her own husky voice, “Yes.”
Fuck!That one word had his cock weeping with need.They quickly exited the car, and he grasped her hand, leading her up the deck stairs and into the house.Using his foot to shut the door behind them, he swung her around and pinned her against it with his body, immediately taking control of her mouth again.Every swipe of his tongue matched one of her own as she wrapped her arms around his neck as if hanging on for dear life.
Setting his hands at her waist, he slowly stroked his way up her sides until his palms brushed the outer surfaces of her breasts.He heard and felt her gasp as his thumbs flickered over her hard but covered nipples.More blood surged to his groin in response.His hands then moved in opposite directions, one to the nape of her neck, the other down to cup her ass, as his pelvis rocked against hers.
KC was dizzy with desire and willed himself to slow down, or he would take her right there against the back door.She deserved better than that for the first time he fucked her raw, but Maura showed no sign of wanting to slow down.Instead, the pace of her mouth and hands increased, urging him to follow.Her fingers were threaded in his hair, and the tips forcefully held his head where she wanted it, at just the right angle for her tongue to plunder his mouth.
Never breaking contact, he turned and clumsily walked them toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms.He halted their progress a moment to take her purse from her shoulder and tossed it on the back of the couch.
They paused at the closed door to his bedroom, and he fumbled to find the knob, reluctant to stop touching her to do so.When the door finally swung open, he backed her into and across the room.The back of her legs hit the bed, and he felt her body stiffen.A jolt of worry zapped through him, and he pulled away from her mouth to look down at her flushed face.“Is something wrong?”
