Page 66 of A Secret Chance
He gave her the address and she promised to leave as soon as she could. She ran her brush through her hair, swiped on deodorant and quickly applied some mascara.
During the trip across town, she contemplated turning the car around at least three times, but she gripped the steering wheel and continued her journey, crossing the bridge to Sugar Peaks. The palatial mountain homes glowed against the star-filled night sky. It was the first night it hadn’t snowed in weeks and the snow reflected like crystals under the light of the full moon.
The mansion where Baxter was staying was one of the biggest on the mountain and came complete with an obnoxious medieval style door knocker. Lauren banged it twice and heard the sound echo through the cavernous home.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said as Baxter opened the door.
“Were you expecting someone else?” He stepped aside, gesturing her into the marble foyer.
“Did you give your butler the night off?” She stepped inside and pulled off her scarf. Baxter stepped behind her and helped her shrug out of her jacket.
“I gave everyone the night off.” He hung her jacket in the closet and then rested his hand on her lower back, guiding her into the great room. The twenty-foot windows ran the width of the entire room, a few lamps along with the wood-burning fireplace cast the room in a warm glow, but their light paled in comparison to that of the blue light from the moon that filled the entire room. The mountain range loomed, jagged and black along the horizon.
“It’s a beautiful view you have here,” she said. She walked to the window and the lights of downtown Chance Rapids sparkled below them.
“It is,” Baxter said. “Please, have a seat.” He relaxed into one of the many oversized leather club chairs by the fireplace. Lauren sat in the one beside him but didn’t let herself sink down into its depths. She folded her hands in her lap and perched on the edge of the cushion. The crackling of the fireplace grew louder in the silence between them.
“Baxter, why am I here?”
“I want to talk about us,” he said.
She took a deep breath. “I thought that we agreed to wait until after the hearing.” She stood up. “We shook on it.”
“Please, Lauren, sit.”
“I will not sit, Baxter. We had an agreement and you just broke it.”
Baxter stood and reached for her hand, but she pulled back from him. “You can’t just summon me here.” She saw the lust in his eyes and then it dawned on her. “Is this a booty call?”
“Oh god, no.” Baxter shook his head. “Lauren, wait right here.” He jogged out of the great room. “Don’t go anywhere,” he shouted from somewhere within the depth of the massive house. Lauren crossed her arms and stared into the fire. He returned shortly and handed her a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Read it.”
She sat on the arm of the chair and was glad that she did or else she might have fallen down. “What is this?”
“You know what it is,”
“Is this for real?” She folded the letter, her hands trembling as she held it out to him.
“It is.” He took the letter and set it down on the glass coffee table. “Lauren, I—”
“Stop,” she interrupted. Her heart thumped against her ribcage as she tried to make sense of what was happening. The letter was addressed to the council, accepting all of the changes Lauren had recommended for Caldwell Creek.
“I love you,” he said. He reached out his hand and this time she let him take hers. He tugged gently and pulled her to him. The moonlight shone in his eyes and his dark lashes reflected its light. He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly and slowly and she savored the moment, not wanting to break away to speak or to even breathe. She held onto his wrists and when he pulled back held his gaze, “I love you too,” she whispered. “But you can’t do this.”
“I can and I’m going to, first thing Monday morning.” He kissed her cheek and her body melted. He kissed her lips and butterflies attacked her stomach. “You made me see, Lauren.” He kissed her again, this time a little harder.
“What? What did I make you see?” She was still holding onto his wrists, her face inches away from his, not wanting to let go or get too far from the warmth of his skin.
“Me,” he whispered. He rested his face against hers and the softness of his breath on her ear brought goosebumps to her entire body. “Lauren.” He pulled back and held both of her hands. “When you met me at the lodge, that wasme.Something about seeing you and being back in this town reminded me of all the things that I used to care about. Before I became obsessed with proving myself to everyone at Caldwell. The executives might hate me for these changes, but it’s the right thing to do in the long run.”
Lauren’s vision blurred as the tears welled up in her eyes. In all of the scenarios she had imagined, this one seemed like the longest shot. He got to stay in town and work on his project, and she was able to protect Chance Rapids. Maybe Charlotte was right. Perhaps there was a reason she and Baxter Caldwell had reunited this way. Could it be fate? Were they meant to be together?
“Oh, Baxter.” As she hugged him, tears of joy fell down her cheeks. His strong arms wrapped around her and held her close to him. She squeezed him tightly, the want for all of him growing too much to bear, especially when she felt his erection pressing hard against the ache in her lower belly. She stood on her tiptoes to press herself against his rock-hard cock and moaned into his mouth as he kissed her.
He swept her up in his arms honeymoon style and carried her into the kitchen, setting her on the countertop. She pulled her sweater over her head and watched him bite his lip as he took her in. He literally growled as he bent down and kissed her collarbone while he reached around her back to undo her bra. She arched her back and a shiver ran up her spine as the warmth of his hands cupped her breasts, then a moan escaped her lips as he took first her left nipple, then her right into his mouth, sucking as he pulled away and giving each one a little nip with his teeth. He kissed her lips and she murmured with pleasure as he gave them the same treatment as her nipples. Her hair fell down her bare back, brushing the countertop as she allowed Baxter to undo her jeans. She lifted her hips to allow him to slide her pants off, and the chill from the marble countertop on her bare ass told her that he had taken her panties with them. The warmth of his breath between her legs confirmed it. He held one hand on her breast as he kissed up along her thigh, skipping the part of her that wanted to feel his lips the most, and back down the other thigh. She quivered. He did it again, this time pausing between her legs, the rhythm of his breath teasing her. She writhed and pressed her hands into the counter, arching her back into a crescent shape, wordlessly urging him to take her into his mouth.
