Page 90 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

The unexpectedness of his answer broke the tension. I burst out laughing. “Really? Are you planning for some kind of apocalypse?”

He laughed with me and stroked my hair. “No. I mean I want a woman who I can take to serious events. Who says the right thing to everyone. Who I don’t have to worry about—she’s not going to be bored or embarrass me.” He outlined my cheek with his thumb and his touch awakened my skin. “What I had to do today was hard as hell. One wrong word, and I could hurt people who were already hurting. I was sweating—but when I looked out there and saw you smiling at me, I felt good. I feel like you believe in me.”

“I do. You underestimate yourself constantly.”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You, Mandy, you inspire me to be a better person. I need you…” His voice trailed off, and he searched my face for clues. “Can you find a place for a washed-up hockey player who’s not equipped for the rest of his life?”

“Are you nuts? You’re so good with people—you charm everyone you meet. You’ve got this magnetic quality—people love you, you could run for mayor! You’re hard working, smart, and... um, well, handsome.”

That was only the understatement of the year. Chris was so gorgeous that being this close to him meant my underwear had not only combusted but was dividing into subatomic particles and dispersing across the universe. Or whatever the science of lust was.

He dropped his hands from around me. “You’re into the guy I used to be. The truth is that I’ve peaked—I’m never going to score another NHL goal or make the same money.”

The poignancy in his voice broke my heart. I wrapped my hands around his waist and hugged his waist hard. “I’m only into you. The person you are today.”

“Really? Well, you have weird ways of showing it. Do you trust me?”

I swallowed hard. Trust was something Cynthia had mentioned too. My mind raced through all the possible ulterior motives that Chris might have. The sale of the team? No, that was all completed now. Money? He had enough of his own. Connections? In hockey-mad Vancouver, the name Chris Luczak would open more doors than Richardson.

Which could only leave the possibility that he really liked me. And not only the polished Cinderella version who had gone to the gala, but the real me. Even the worst parts of me—the impatient Amanda who bitched at work, the sarcastic Amanda who made jokes at his expense, and even the frumpy Amanda who wore flannel pajamas to bed.

I exhaled mightily. “I do trust you. I’m not very good at trust, but I’m going to change. Because you’re too important to me to mess that up.”

A slow smile broke across his handsome face. “Now you’re talking. Just so we’re straight—we are going out now, right?”

I let my eyes meet his and nodded.

He reached a long arm out and grabbed my luggage. “So, I’m putting your suitcase in this bedroom. Not that you’re going to need clothes for what I have planned for you….”

My mouth fell open slightly, and Chris smiled. “Ahhh, those lips,” he whispered before his mouth fell upon mine. No polite touch this time—his kiss was urgent and demanding. He opened up my mouth, and I felt his hot breath and his probing tongue. I clung to him as the rest of my body turned boneless. Chris stirred something elemental in me.

But then his stomach grumbled. We ignored it once, but the second time was louder. We stopped kissing and laughed.

“Damn. I’m starved. Let’s get changed and do an early dinner. Then we can come back here.” He eyed the bed and ran a hand over my butt for punctuation.

“Okay,” I breathed. I finally pulled away from him.

Bonita was clearly in cahoots with my mother. As I unpacked my suitcase, I found casual clothes, rain gear, and one dressy outfit. But I also found a pale pink satin nightgown with black lace trim. Since I had never in my life owned such a thing, someone had gone out and bought one in my size and then packed it. There were only two suspects, and both of them liked Chris very much.

39

Happiness Is

Chris

Amanda was upstairs taking a shower,so I rummaged through the kitchen. I hadn’t eaten much of a lunch, and my blood sugar levels were plummeting. I looked in the cupboards, and Mary had stocked enough food for a family of twelve. Even a box of doughnuts, but they didn’t really appeal to me. I pulled out a veggie tray and a dish of hummus and went to the living room. I switched on the TV to look for the Millionaires game. They were on the bubble for the playoffs and needed to string together a few wins.

But the sound of wind outside the big picture windows distracted me. I muted the TV and walked over. The ocean had changed to something fierce and raging. Huge swells rose up to meet the rain that was now teeming down. When I called to make the travel arrangements, Mary told me that storm watching was a big tourist draw in Tofino. Now I could see why. Mother Nature was putting on a huge show. The restaurant was only a ten-minute walk down the beach, but driving seemed like the better option right now.

“Wow, what a night.”

Amanda had snuck up on me again. I turned around, and she was standing there in what looked like a pink and black nightie. It covered her curves, skimming over her breasts and the swell of her tummy down to where her thighs met. Her feet were bare and it was pretty clear that she had nothing on underneath. I realized I had stopped chewing, so I closed my mouth and swallowed the last bit of carrot.

“Jesus. You look hot. But maybe a little underdressed for dinner.”

“Yeah, about that. Can I ask you a big favour?”

I nodded. As long as it included getting that pretty nightie off her and me inside her. I pulled her close and ran my hands over the silky fabric and bounced an ass cheek in each hand.

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