coffee and man, an intoxicating cocktail of comfort and arousal. Just what she needed to offset the emotional end of her day.
She sighed when he lifted his head and melted against his chest. “I’m glad you came.”
His mouth feathered over her cheek. “Tell me what upset you.”
“Just my grandmother being Grandmother. She called and wanted me to tape a lecture she’s giving tomorrow.”
“Ah, and she gave you a difficult time when you explained you had plans.”
“Yes.”
“It is okay if you need to help her.” He ran a soothing hand down her back.
“No.” She drew back, shook her head. “I’m not going to let her manipulate me anymore. She can’t call me at the last minute and expect me to drop everything.”
“She is family.” He said it simply, making it clear he understood the intricacies of family life.
“Yes, so she should respect my answer when I say I can’t this time.”
“Give her a chance. She has not heard no from you often. Perhaps she will get better with practice.”
That made sense. His perspective helped more than routine, more than a cold drink of water.
“I can hope.” She feathered fingers through his dark hair. “Thanks. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Me too.”
She lifted onto her toes, kissed him softly. “I really am glad you came by.”
“I’m glad I could be here when you needed a friend.”
“Yes,” she agreed, then she pulled his head down to hers. “But it’s the good night kiss I really loved.” And she pasted her lips to his.
He grinned against her mouth, bit lightly at her lower lip. “It is my pleasure.” And he took the kiss to a new level.
She forgot to breathe as she sank into the passion he ignited. Hands that had soothed only moments ago now glided over her skin, sending shivers of longing through her. She pressed against him, felt his need rise to meet her.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, her fingers dug into the fine linen of his shirt. She tugged at the material as she tilted her mouth under his, nipping at his lip, soothing with a slide of her tongue.
She opened her eyes, drew in a breath, and saw the door still stood open behind them.
“You should come inside,” she urged him while moving backward. Her fingers went to his shirt buttons. He took one step forward.
CHAPTER SIX
Y ES ! F INALLY . E LATION sent Amanda’s pulse skittering.
And Xavier’s phone rang.
They both froze. And then Xavier reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his cell. He read the display and regret darkened his eyes when he looked back at her.
“I must return to the event.” He confirmed what she had already guessed.
She let her head drop to his chest, felt the rapid beat of his heart against her forehead. The evidence of his excitement, knowing he’d been as caught up as she had, helped to offset the frustration of being interrupted.
He lifted her chin on the edge of his hand. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She smiled ruefully. “You told me you couldn’t stay.”
He kissed her hard before stepping over to the door. “Remember where we were.”
“Oh, I will,” she promised, following him, watching until he reached the stairs. He waved. She waved. He paused. She waited. He pointed to her apartment and she realized he wanted her to go inside and lock up. She complied, closing the door and leaning back against it. “And next time I’m disabling your phone first.”
* * *
As days so often did in San Francisco, Thursday started out as overcast and gloomy, but the morning news said the sun was expected out later.
Amanda had agreed to join Xavier at his hotel for breakfast so she hopped on the Bart. He was waiting for her in the lobby of the Fairmont when she arrived. It was a beautiful old hotel, elegant with a coolly chic décor blending comfort and tradition
He looked right at home in crisp jeans, a short-sleeved red polo shirt, a black leather jacket and high-end sport shoes. She’d advised him to wear
She sighed when he lifted his head and melted against his chest. “I’m glad you came.”
His mouth feathered over her cheek. “Tell me what upset you.”
“Just my grandmother being Grandmother. She called and wanted me to tape a lecture she’s giving tomorrow.”
“Ah, and she gave you a difficult time when you explained you had plans.”
“Yes.”
“It is okay if you need to help her.” He ran a soothing hand down her back.
“No.” She drew back, shook her head. “I’m not going to let her manipulate me anymore. She can’t call me at the last minute and expect me to drop everything.”
“She is family.” He said it simply, making it clear he understood the intricacies of family life.
“Yes, so she should respect my answer when I say I can’t this time.”
“Give her a chance. She has not heard no from you often. Perhaps she will get better with practice.”
That made sense. His perspective helped more than routine, more than a cold drink of water.
“I can hope.” She feathered fingers through his dark hair. “Thanks. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Me too.”
She lifted onto her toes, kissed him softly. “I really am glad you came by.”
“I’m glad I could be here when you needed a friend.”
“Yes,” she agreed, then she pulled his head down to hers. “But it’s the good night kiss I really loved.” And she pasted her lips to his.
He grinned against her mouth, bit lightly at her lower lip. “It is my pleasure.” And he took the kiss to a new level.
She forgot to breathe as she sank into the passion he ignited. Hands that had soothed only moments ago now glided over her skin, sending shivers of longing through her. She pressed against him, felt his need rise to meet her.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, her fingers dug into the fine linen of his shirt. She tugged at the material as she tilted her mouth under his, nipping at his lip, soothing with a slide of her tongue.
She opened her eyes, drew in a breath, and saw the door still stood open behind them.
“You should come inside,” she urged him while moving backward. Her fingers went to his shirt buttons. He took one step forward.
CHAPTER SIX
Y ES ! F INALLY . E LATION sent Amanda’s pulse skittering.
And Xavier’s phone rang.
They both froze. And then Xavier reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his cell. He read the display and regret darkened his eyes when he looked back at her.
“I must return to the event.” He confirmed what she had already guessed.
She let her head drop to his chest, felt the rapid beat of his heart against her forehead. The evidence of his excitement, knowing he’d been as caught up as she had, helped to offset the frustration of being interrupted.
He lifted her chin on the edge of his hand. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She smiled ruefully. “You told me you couldn’t stay.”
He kissed her hard before stepping over to the door. “Remember where we were.”
“Oh, I will,” she promised, following him, watching until he reached the stairs. He waved. She waved. He paused. She waited. He pointed to her apartment and she realized he wanted her to go inside and lock up. She complied, closing the door and leaning back against it. “And next time I’m disabling your phone first.”
* * *
As days so often did in San Francisco, Thursday started out as overcast and gloomy, but the morning news said the sun was expected out later.
Amanda had agreed to join Xavier at his hotel for breakfast so she hopped on the Bart. He was waiting for her in the lobby of the Fairmont when she arrived. It was a beautiful old hotel, elegant with a coolly chic décor blending comfort and tradition
He looked right at home in crisp jeans, a short-sleeved red polo shirt, a black leather jacket and high-end sport shoes. She’d advised him to wear
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