Page 2 of Whispers at Seaside
He covered her hand with his, pressing it to his cheek. “It’s nothing, really.”
She nibbled nervously on the corner of her mouth. “I’ll just…” She pointed out of the office, and her hand slid from beneath his. She brushed against his arm as she walked away, stirring more of that same dark attraction.
There was no shortage of women vying for Matt’s attention. From coeds to faculty, he could have his pick back in Princeton, and the choices were just as plentiful here at the Cape. But the only woman he saw when he closed his eyes at night was heading down aisle seven of his father’s hardware store.
“Where’s Hagen?” He told himself not to stare at her hips swaying seductively in a pair of skimpy cutoffs, but it was a tough reprimand to heed, considering she had gorgeous long legs.
In an effort to dissuade his dirty thoughts, he asked, “Why are you working so late? I thought you worked daytime hours.” He’d have to mention something to his father. Orleans was a safe town, but he didn’t like the idea of Mira working alone at night.
“Hagen is at a slumber party,” she said, as if that explained everything. She planted her hands on her hips as he looked over the showerhead selections. “If I sit around at the cottage I’ll just drive myself crazy worrying about whether he’s okay, or if he’ll get any sleep. It’s better that I’m distracted with work.”
“Is this your first night apart?” He grabbed a shower fixture, taking in her thoughtful expression.
“At six and a half? Goodness, no. I mean, we don’t spend many nights apart, but he’s not babied by any means. He’d never stand for that. You’ve met him. He’d probably read a book on how to escape from under Mommy’s thumb and devise a plan.” She sighed and stared absently over his shoulder, like she was reliving a memory. “It’s funny how things change. When he was a baby I couldn’t bear to part with him.” She shrugged. “But life can be crazy, and I think to be a good mother—especially a good single mother—you have to occasionally give yourself a break to rejuvenate. Hagen loves spending the night with my brothers and my friend Serena. I don’t usually worry when he’s with family, but when he’s with friends I worry. It’s silly, I know.”
“That’s not silly. It’s the mark of a loving mother.” He should know. His mother had been just as protective of him and his siblings.
She laughed and headed back toward the office. “You make it sound normal that I’ve got my nose stuck in a ledger all night because my son’s at a friend’s house.”
He laid two twenties on the desk for the showerhead.
She gave him a deadpan look. “Seriously? You know your father won’t accept your money.”
“Then use it to buy coffee for the store and don’t tell him.” He left the money on the desk. “I spend most nights grading papers and working on research, so I’m not really sure whatnormalis anymore. But if this is your one night of freedom, let’s go enjoy it.”
She squinted up at him. “Like a pity date?”
He laughed and grabbed her purse from the back of her chair. “Hardly. Like two friends hitting the town to figure out what normal people do on Friday nights.” Taking her hand, he said, “Let’s go, sunshine. You can brighten up what was sure to be a very grim evening.”
SUNSHINE.HOW MANY times had she dreamed of him whispering that in her ear since last summer?A shameful amount, that’s how many.That was not something she was proud of, but with her busy life, fantasies were all she had time for. Well, that and the fact that the guys who usually asked her out were not the type of men she could see herself getting serious with. Having a son changed everything. She needed a man who was reliable and patient, but selfishly, she also wanted a man who would treat her like a woman. A man who would understand that she hadn’t had sex in years and not be turned off to reacquainting her to the darker pleasures of life.
She tried to keep up with the six-foot-plus hunka-hunka academic hotness dragging her out the back door. Matt was an intriguing mix of proper gentleman and flirtatious bad boy. She’d seen him at barbecues when he was in town visiting his family, and they’d gotten together a few times and taken Hagen to the park and the movies. They’d texted sporadically, and Mira had often hoped those friendly, sometimes slightly flirtatious texts might lead to something more, but they never had. It was just as well, because his world was a lifetime away from hers—in both miles and lifestyle.
“Where are we going?” She laughed as he tugged her along.
The door locked behind them, and he released her hand to check it. She’d heard rumors about Matt spending evenings prowling around saving little old ladies or something crazy like that. Her friend, and Matt’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Parker, called him thesecret savior, and Mira knew firsthand about his propensity for being careful and protective. They’d first met at Grayson and Parker’s engagement party, and sparks had flown from the moment their eyes connected. And the way Matt had treated Hagen, as if he were his to protect, had made him that much more appealing. When Hagen had played by the water, Matt had watched over her son like a hawk. The two of them had clicked as quickly as Mira and Matt had. And their amazing connection hadn’t ended there. During another visit, when they’d gone to the park and Hagen wanted to take a walk in the woods, Matt had watched his every step. The two had spent the entire time discussing bugs and snakes. The whole conversation had made her skin crawl, but Hagen had been in little-boy heaven. He’d finally met a man who treated him like he wasn’t just a child talking nonsense, but an important person who knew what he was talking about. And he did. Even before he could read, he’d preferred being read to fromNational Geographicand the dictionary over fairy tales. “But, Mom,” he’d insist. “You said we look up words we don’t know. Soteach methe words we don’t know.” Spoken like a boy of twelve, not four.
Matt pointed across the dark parking lot. “The Chocolate Sparrow. Perfect,” he said with a too-sexy grin. “Didn’t you tell me it was one of your favorite places?”
“That place is like the devil’s playground. I’d like to melt all their chocolate and bathe in it.”
Matt’s eyes went darker than a little black dress, and her temperature rose fifty degrees. He clenched his jaw, then took her hand and led her toward the Chocolate Sparrow, walking so fast she stumbled trying to keep up. He held the door open and she inhaled the heavenly scent of calories waiting to land on her hips. As the door closed behind them, a whoosh of air carried the spicy, male scent of Matt.Delicious.
They wound through the crowd to the line in front of the baked goods. Cakes, brownies, cookies, pastries…The possibilities were endless. Mira leaned around Matt, eyeing the fudge in the glass displays across the room. He stepped to the side, allowing her a perfect view, and released her hand. No amount of chocolate was worth not having that big, strong hand touching her. That was as close to a man’s touch as she’d come since her last dental appointment. She swallowed that sad thought, and seconds later, Matt’s hand pressed against her lower back and he leaned down until his face was beside her ear. If she turned, she could taste his very tempting lips.
“A tubful of fudge to melt later, perhaps?” he whispered.
When she met his gaze, it was swimming with heat. Molten lava. Temptations of the naughtiest kind.Holy cow.
Before she could form a response, he said, “We’ll get some of that, too.”
How would she ever eat chocolate again without seeingthatlook? Where did it come from? Oh my, she must look as lustful as she felt.
They stepped up to the counter, and Matt waved at the display of desserts. “What would you refrain from eating if you were with Hagen?”
“How did you know…?”
“You said he can only take so much sugar before he turns into a factoid chatterbox and you can’t keep up. More specifically, I think you said the equivalent to one kiddie-size ice-cream cone was his limit.”
