Page 22 of When I Found You

“Brooks and I have been together from the beginning. Cohen’s only been with us for the past few years, but his work shows great skill and an eye for detail.”

Hearing his high praise of my father’s work makes me swell with pride. Dad had a talent for design. It surpassed most of the other architects of his time. Getting a position with this firm at the age of thirty proved to be the single greatest accomplishment of his short life.

The waitress appears again bearing our pie heaped with ice cream. “Enjoy.”

I pick up my fork and take a bite. The buttery crust and sweet tang of apple filling melts in my mouth along with the decadent vanilla ice cream. The combination wrenches a moan from my throat.

Arthur pauses mid-bite and stares at me with an arched brow. “That good?”

“Better than sex,” I murmur before stuffing another forkful into my mouth.

He chokes, and I meet his gaze across the table. In their stormy depths I see his hunger, and it has nothing to do with apple pie and coffee.

Chapter Ten

Arthur

“Better than sex.”

The pie barely touches my tongue when her words strike me like a lightning bolt. I half-choke down the bite of now flavorless pie before meeting her innocent gaze. Maybe innocent isn’t the right word, but I honestly don’t know any other word to describe it. Those mesmerizing eyes widen with realization but no regret.

A volcanic heat rushes through my veins and a memory of her wearing skimpy lingerie flashes through my mind. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips before she presses them firmly together. It’s becoming harder to deny this blossoming chemistry. Reckless, I dive headfirst into the flames.

“Perhaps you haven’t found the right partner.” I lift another piece of pie and grin at her dazed expression before consuming it.

Kate clears her throat and turns her reddening face away from me, focusing instead on the street outside. Her reflection in the glass betrays her reaction to my words. Her eyes drift closed for a brief moment. Her breath quickens. Her lips move silently, but I catch the way her teeth brush her lower lip when she mutters an unspoken curse.

I eat, patiently, calmly, waiting for her to regain some composure. Within moments she faces me again and picks up her fork. Kate and I resume our meal, ignoring the tension.

My words must have struck a chord, because her cheeks remain stained with a lovely blush until the last of the pie disappears from our plates. She sips the cold coffee and avoids making eye contact.

After I pay, we exit the diner and find Cyril waiting for us at the end of the block. The ride back to the apartment is painfully silent. I wonder if she’s mulling over the possibilities of my response to her assessment of the pie. I am. I haven’t stopped.

But questions remain. And until I have answers to those questions, I cannot indulge in what I truly want. No. Not yet. It is obvious Kate is keeping secrets, and I will uncover them through any means necessary.

Once we arrive at the apartment, Kate disappears in the bedroom, locking the door behind her. I pull off my jacket and jerk my tie free. Coming home to an empty apartment never bothered me before, but this week it became apparent something vital was absent for the past twenty years.

I turn on the TV desperate for some kind of distraction. MTV pops up on the screen in full annoying color. I’m more of a fan of the sixty’s hits than this new shit. Most of it is loud and abrasive. I don’t understand the fascination with heavy metal and hair bands. Even the pop racket grates on my nerves. But right now, I’m thankful for whatever distraction it provides.

A new video plays. I read the name of the band at the bottom. The Cars. The beat is catchy. It’s not Elvis, but it works.

“Oh man, I love this song!” Kate steps from the bedroom wearing my plaid pajamas.

Suddenly, I wish I hadn’t given her my clothes to wear. Her bare skin hidden beneath the thin layers of cotton fabric. I want to peel it off and explore every inch of her.

She sings along with the song completely oblivious to the wicked ideas crossing my mind. When she curls up on the couch beside me, my whole body tenses. I want to reach for her, drag her across my lap and taste her. I close my eyes and try to focus on anything besides this white-hot lust pulsing through me. So much for my plan to draw out her secrets.

Unless I use seduction. My cock pulses at the fleeting idea. No. I won’t play that game. I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us.

“I haven’t heard this song in so long.” Kate leans back against the cushions and frowns. “It was one of my favorites as a kid. Dad loved The Cars.”

Her confession makes me pause. “A kid?” I face her. “How old are you?”

A look of panic crosses her face. “A lady never reveals her age.” She laughs. “I mean it makes me feel like a kid. My Dad loved all kinds of music. He got into their early stuff.”

Kate shifts uncomfortably beside me. I’m not sure I believe her or not, but honestly, I may have misunderstood her. Since my cock’s insistent demands distracted me.

“You like this crap?” I gesture toward the TV where a Michael Jackson video is blaring across the screen.

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