Page 17 of Heal Me
The lamplight made her dark eyes even more luminous and Ric could’ve gazed into them all night.
Kate asked, “Did you cook all of this?”
Ric gave a self-deprecating laugh. “No. Cooking is definitely not my strong suit. Emily is the cook in the family and she was only too happy to help me out.”
“Remind me to thank her,” Kate said.
“Will do.”
Once the meal was assembled and their plates filled, they started eating and it was quiet for a little bit. However, it was an easy, comfortable silence. Ric watched Kate eat, finding it refreshing to see a woman enjoy her food. A lot of his dates were overly delicate about the way they ate.
He knew that it was because they were trying to impress upon him how womanly and desirable they were, but Ric preferred a woman who was genuine and down-to-earth. Most of the time he didn’t care all that much because he only had one goal in mind: sex.
His job as CEO of the New York office was demanding, to say the least, and he didn’t have time for romantic entanglements. Therefore, casual, meaningless sex was exactly what he wanted. A way to have some fun and blow off some steam was all he needed.
But as his dinner with Kate proceeded, Ric found himself genuinely interested in her as a person. She was articulate and humorous and he was captivated by her laugh. It had been a long time since Ric had found a woman he wanted to know more about.
He also wanted her intensely and by the time they were ready for the Boston cream pie, Ric was glad that his lap was hidden by the table. Normally, he could keep control of his libido, but there was something about Kate that kicked it into overdrive. He hadn’t felt like that since his teenage years. And Lizzie.
As they finished the pie, he noticed Kate fidgeting with her fork a little.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
She licked her lips nervously. “Well, I couldn’t help noticing that you brought me somewhere with a bed. What were you expecting to happen tonight?”
Ric leaned back in his chair a little and smiled. “What I was expecting was that we could get to know each other better in a unique, cozy place where we weren’t distracted by waiters and other diners. I spend so much of my time in places like that and I was looking forward to doing something different for a change. Plus, call me crazy, but for some reason, I wanted you to see a small piece of my youth. Spending the evening with a beautiful, fun, intelligent woman was all that I was expecting. I swear.”
She sent him a flirty little smile that sent his blood pressure higher. “So you weren’t expecting anything to happen on that bed?”
Ric took a sip of wine. “No. Hoping, but not expecting.”
She swallowed and Ric wanted to bite her pretty neck. “I see. Ric—”
“I was hoping that I could put my foot up for a little while we watch the fire and talk longer,” he said. “I promise that nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen, Kate.”
*****
His relaxed, self-assured posture told Kate that he was a man who was used to controlling situations, but the honesty in his voice convinced her that he truly was letting her take the lead. Whatdidshe want to happen? He was so damn good-looking and genuine and nice…How was a woman supposed to resist all of that? Why would she want to?
Phil had been gone for eighteen long, lonely months. Wasn’t it time to move on? Kate wanted to move on very badly. She wanted to stop hurting and begin living again. Wouldn’t having fun with Ric help her do that?Damn straight it will!
Rising, she held out her hand to him. “Come on, cowboy. Let’s go talk.”
He took her hand and stood up, seeming to tower over her. The light in his eyes reminded her of the way a cougar watches its prey and she was his willing victim. She was surprised when he didn’t bother with his crutches and just hopped over to the bed.
The mattress sagged a little as he sat on it. His powerful shoulders bunched under his Broncos sweatshirt as he pulled himself back on the bed until his back rested against the wall.
He patted the spot next to him. “Come on. There’s plenty of room for you.”
Kate kicked off her cowboy boots and took off his sneaker. “We don’t want to get that pretty quilt dirty.”
“Good idea.”
The wine made Kate feel reckless and she wanted to shock him. Crawling onto the mattress, she moved across it, right up to him and straddled his hips. His eyes widened for a few moments while she settled into place.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hi.”
