Chapter Six
Eric had never been given such a gift. The uptown lady lawyer had not only chosen him over her highbrow old flame earlier tonight, she'd also fulfilled his every fantasy in her red fishnet teddy and stop-traffic garters.And, heaven help him, she was inching her way closer again as they sprawled together in her bed.
He could hardly think straight with a redheaded siren walking her fingers up his chest and whispering naughty invitations in his ear.
"Our first time was the most fun I've ever had in bed," she admitted as her questing touch drifted under the sheets. "Care to break that record in Round Two?"
Hell, yes. The sentiment blared across his conscience, obliterating his recurring thought that he needed to talk to her, needed to confess the sticky situation that might arise for them professionally next week. His body had more important talking to do ? as did Chloe's, judging by the way she slid one satiny leg over his thigh.
But while her one hand slid around his waist, her other caressed his cheekbone, lingering on the scar that had been there since childhood. He pried an eye open to find her studying his face with a tender concern that slugged him square in the gut and awakened his common sense.
"Chloe, wait." He had to tell her about the proposed project for the empty lot on Broadway, even if it robbed him of his chance to be with her. "We need to talk."
She frowned, her soft lips puckering into a sexy pout. "Don't tell me we're out of condoms."
"Actually, I'm as much of an overplanner as you are, and I'm armed for a couple more go-rounds." His finger itched to touch that sensual mouth, to trace the curves of an exaggerated Cupid's bow. "But there's a real-world issue I need to put on the table before we go any further."
If she was worried at his sober tone, her mischievous grin sure didn't give it away. "I didn't think it was possible to go much further than we've already been."
He propped himself up on one elbow, bracing himself for possible fall-out. "I should have told you earlier, Chloe, in the interest of full disclosure. After failing to put together the deal on the cultural center, I've decided to propose a different project for the lot next to your historical building." He waited for her to start throwing his clothes in his face, but she seemed to still be listening. "This one doesn't involve your client's property in the least. But I did already file the papers for the necessary permits."
Would she be on the phone to her client before she could even chase him out the door? Not that he'd leave before he made a few closing arguments of his own.
She stared at him across the pillow, eyes wide. Great, she was probably in shock, horrified that she'd slept with a guy who withheld information."And you think for some reason I wouldn't know this already?" She raised an auburn eyebrow. "What do I look like, a first year law student? A bad sequel to Legally Blonde?"
* * *
Chloe stared back at Eric, feeling pretty damn pleased with herself for shocking the socks off him. Her family had expected perfection of her for so long she wasn't used to being underestimated.
"You knew about this?" He sounded downright skeptical. Foolish man.
"City zoning information is open to the public. Ever since I signed on to represent the historical society, I've had a law clerk conduct frequent searches on permit applications in the Broadway area." She shrugged. Seemed like basic "cover-your-butt" strategy in her book.
But Eric looked at her as though she'd just solved global warming. A fact that sent an unexpected rush of gratification through her, a gentle pleasure that was ? in its own way ? as powerful as the earth-shattering sexual fulfillment he'd given her an hour ago.
"You're telling me you know I want to put up apartments next door to your historical building, and you don't care?"
The flow of pleasure slowed. "Of course I care. No doubt we'll be facing off over this in court again. But don't think I'm going to cut you any slack just because of tonight."
He lifted both hands in mock surrender. "Maybe I'd better find myself a good attorney. You might be a little too much for me to handle." His fingers skated across the blanket to land on her shoulder, and then traced the line of her collarbone. "In the courtroom, that is. I think I can fend for myself in the bedroom."
His touch sent shock waves through her, accelerating her pulse and reminding her she had absolutely nothing on beneath the sheets.
"You'd better get up early in the morning if you're going to find a lawyer to match wits with me," she teased, allowing her eyes to drift shut in response to his wandering caress.
"I'm out of luck until Monday." He lifted her hair off her throat and leaned in to kiss her neck. Thoroughly. "I've got houses to build tomorrow."
Had she just heard him correctly?
"Houses to build?" She scooted herself backward, away from the kiss that threatened to scramble her thoughts. "You don't have permission to start building anything on that site yet."
"Not those houses. I do volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity on the weekends. I've been building houses every Saturday since high school."
Perhaps she looked confused because Eric pantomimed the act of hitting a nail with a hammer.
"You know, house building. Like a carpenter."
Or like the blue-collar construction worker stud of her dreams. She'd watched enough soda commercials in her lifetime to buy into the fantasy of a sexy, sweaty guy in work overalls. Chloe's mouth went dry as she envisioned Eric Matteo's muscles in a faded T-shirt.
This wasn't sounding very blue-blooded to her at all. In fact, it sounded quite delicious.
"You mean like with a tool belt?" Chloe clarified. "And tools?" She needed to get her facts straight before she jumped to conclusions that might put her heart at risk. "I thought you were as much a part of New York old-money society as me."
"I'm not." He frowned, his intense eyes darkening until they were almost black. "Does that matter to you?"
"Having grown up in a house full of people so damn reserved they can't give their kid a birthday party without consulting the social register, yes, I'd say it does matter to me. I'm not getting involved in a serious relationship with any man who puts a lot of importance on those kinds of externals." She was struck anew by visions of her gladiator in blue jeans. And a tool belt. "But if you're the down-to-earth kind of guy I'm thinking you might be, this puts a whole new spin on things."
He reached across the bed and hauled her to him. Tightly. "Meaning a serious relationship with me is now in the works."
Warmth curled through her, along with an anticipation for something that went far beyond sex. "It's a possibility."
"It's a done deal, counselor, and don't even think about arguing your way out of this one." He outlined the curve of her hip with his hand, fitted her to his arousal by pressing her all the closer.
"I thought I was the Heart Queen tonight," she argued, just because it was fun to spar with him. She'd secretly enjoyed their courtroom clashes in the past because he'd been a quick wit and a clever speaker. She had the feeling she was going to enjoy their personal encounters all the more.
"Then it looks like you've got your work cut out for you to make an uptown girl fall head over heels in love with a working-class upstart like me."
"I'm a step ahead of the witness, as usual." Chloe combed her fingers through Eric's dark hair and drew his mouth closer to hers. Her girlfriends would never believe how wildly successful tonight's manhunting masquerade had been. "That particular romantic mission has already been completed."
He stared down at her in the half light, looking as dark and dangerous as a Roman gladiator, as muscle-bound sexy as any construction worker. "Then I'm going to spend tonight giving you a peek into your future, Chloe, and show you just how much I'm going to love you right back. Are you game for the adventure of a lifetime?"
She bit her lip as if really deliberating the question, then flashed him an innocent smile. "Actually, I made this pact to be a little more daring?."
Eric tackled her to the bed before she could even finish fully provoking him. And Chloe knew with deep certainty that this man was going to bring the best kind of turbulence, change ? and love ? into her life, after all.
The End
02-11-07, 04:18 AM
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