Ian bent his head, kissed her slow and deep.Thiswas what he’d hoped for all these years…this moment…with this woman… “I can’t wait to taste every inch of you,” he murmured against her lips.Another kiss, so damn much passion sizzling between them, so much–
Katie broke the kiss, stepped back, and slid the T-shirt over her head, fingered the lacy edge of her black bra.“Then don’t.”
“Is that a challenge?”
A laugh followed by a sultry smile.“Absolutely.”
Oh, he liked this side of Katie, wanted to see a lot more—preferably without clothesandin bed.“I accept.”Ian swooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.“I’m going to relearn every delicious inch of you,” he vowed as he laid her on the bed.“Every delicious inch.”He trailed a finger along her jaw to her neck, her breasts…
When he reached her belly, he made tiny circles with his tongue until she moaned.“Oh, Ian.”
And then the white-hot sizzle of passion and desperate longing consumed them, burst open and showed them a slice of heaven.
16
Katie was the only one who had no idea that Ian and Lawrence had worked together for years.She’d been so concerned about this meeting.I would never tell you what to do or how to look, but Lawrence Pickett is a pretty big deal.I want to give him the right impression.Ian almost laughed, but he kept his expression serious when he commented.You mean the impression I might give?You think the ratty T-shirts, the hair, and beard could make me look like I don’t know what I’m doing, and worse, that you don’t know what you’re doing?
She’d bit her bottom lip and darn if she didn’t tear up.I like your look.He’d shave his head if she wanted him to, wear a suit, though he hadn’t been in one of those in years.But this was Katie, and it was important to her, and she had no idea he was Lawrence’s boss.Ian had gone to the barbershop, had his beard and mustache trimmed so it looked business suitable, and while he wasn’t going to adopt a business haircut, he had enough taken off so his hair landed on his shoulders.Easy to pull into a ponytail, but still long enough for his old man to give him grief and not try to hire him.
Ian pulled out a black T-shirt and a pair of jeanswithoutholes.He eyed the worn boots, thought about how long it took to break them in.Nope, not giving those up.
“You’ve got to tell her the truth.”
Lawrence Pickett’s voice burst through his thoughts, yanked Ian back to his current predicament.“I will.I just…” He just what?Needed more time?Fifty years wouldn’t be enough to make Katie understand why he’d invested in her company, landed in Magdalena, and pretended he knew nothing about Katie’s Soup’s financials when he knew almost everything about them.
“If you start with how much you believe in her company—” Lawerence cleared his throat, continued in a voice that bordered on a lecture, “—then you might be able to segue into your concern for the success of her company.”
“Right.And then I should tell her that I’ve been following her all these years.And what about the engineer who’s coming to conduct an efficiency audit?What should I say about him?That he’s no longer needed?That he’ll love the ideas we’ve implemented?”Ian shook his head, rubbed his newly-trimmed jaw.“It’s all going to turn into a disaster and that’s why I haven’t said anything yet.I’ll figure it out.That’s what I do, right?I figure things out.I look at systems, find improvements, and make them work.I’m a problem solver.I can–”
“You problem-solve data and equipment, Ian.Not people.You’ve never…”
Ian sliced the man a look, dared him to finish his sentence.Damn if he didn’t.
“You tend to run away from relationships or you avoid them altogether.I’ve seen it many times, especially the one with your father.Nobody likes difficulty or a strain, but I’ve known you quite a few years, and you tend to avoid the issues, or you blow them up.”A pointed stare, a firm “What are you going to do with Katie?Wait until it’s too late?”
“I’m working on a plan.”That was such a bunch of crap because every plan he’d come up with had so many holes in it, it sank before he could flesh it out.He’d almost told her the truth the night they kissed in her kitchen…the night he did the right thing and left before they slept together.But less than twenty-four hours later, he’d gone back to her place to apologize yet again.And then she’d opened the door, and his brain stopped working.Literally shut down.He’d stepped inside, and every second after that swirled with passion and sizzling need, and he could not get enough of her.Three days later, he still hadn’t told her, and there’d been plenty of opportunity between touching, tasting, satisfying needs…
How was a guy supposed to spit out information that could destroy everything he’d dreamed of for ten years?He would tell her—soon.
Lawrence blew out a loud sigh, checked the timepiece attached to his suit.“She’ll be here in less than ten minutes.”A frown, a nose wrinkle, and then, “I’m supposed to pretend you’renotmy boss, but rather a free spirit who has a knack for saving companies.Is that correct?”
No missing the sarcasm in the man’s words, or the disapproval.Ian and Lawrence went back a long way, and the man was one of the few people who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.Fine, the guy was ticked Ian hadn’t told Katie the story behind the story, a.k.a.the real reason he was in Magdalena and knew so much about her soups.Well, Ian had enough disgust and disappointment swirling through him right now to cover the whole town.
“I’ll tell her tonight, okay?”Pause, as dread squeezed his gut.“Definitely by the weekend.”
The man shrugged and opened his mouth to land another guilt comment when the door opened, and Katie walked in.Beautiful.Smiling.Happy…
Her gaze landed on him, softened.No mistaking they were sleeping together.The side eye Lawrence shot him said he knew it too and that assessment did not make him happy.
“Am I late?”She glanced at her watch, moved toward the table, extended a hand to Lawrence.“Nice to see you again.I see you’ve met Ian.”
There was that look again and the dip in her voice that saidI know his man…intimately…he’s been in my bed…
“I have met Mr.Finnegan.We were just having a very interesting conversation about all of the changes you’ve made with the company.”A slip of a smile as he shook her hand, nodded.“Well done.I understand Mr.Finnegan has been working with you on it?”
“He has.”She took a seat next to Ian, inches from invading his personal space.“I certainly can’t take all of the credit for the changes or the recommendations.Ian’s been a great resource.”
There was that voice again…thrumming with emotion…and the look…
