Bachelor Unforgiving (11 page)

Virgil knew at that moment that agreeing to have dinner with her was not a good idea. Chili wasn't the only thing he would want once he was inside her home.

“I've changed my mind about dinner,” he said. “As much as I would love to eat some of your chili, I just remembered something I need to do.”

“Okay, I understand. Perhaps some other time.”

Not if he could help it, he thought. He would make sure when their paths crossed again that he had his head screwed on right. Being overwhelmed by lust was the last thing he wanted or needed.

The rest of the drive to her house was done in silence and he couldn't help wondering what she was thinking. No conversation was taking place between them, and the quiet caused every primitive male instinct he possessed to be on full alert. He was aware when she shifted her body, making her skin slide against the leather seat, and when she stretched out one of her legs to a more comfortable position. When he slowed down for traffic, he glanced over at her. She was looking straight ahead out the windshield and he thought her profile was simply beautiful.

It was his opinion that no woman should look this good after going on over a dozen or so crazy rides. She should look sweaty, ruffled and exhausted, not cool, refreshed and relaxed. His gaze lowered to her hands, which were resting in her lap. He wished he didn't remember those hands and what they could do when they touched him all over, especially in certain places. Those hands had the ability to stroke him to dizzying heights. Make him moan. Render him hard just thinking about it.

He shifted his gaze from her hands to her lips, recalling how on several occasions her lips and hands worked together to drive him as wild as those rides had done today. Even wilder.

The car horn that blasted behind him was a reminder that, once again, he was paying too much attention to her. He refocused on the road and moved the car forward, feeling a tightness in his crotch. Hell, his desire for her wasn't going away. It was getting worse.

When he turned onto her street, she said, “Thanks for today, Virgil. I enjoyed myself.” And when he pulled into her driveway, she added, “And you don't have to walk me to the door.”

She was wrong. Yes, he had to walk her to her door. And it had nothing to do with any playacting but everything to do with the fire burning inside him. His control had abandoned him, taken a leap and at this point he couldn't get a grip even if he wanted to do so. He should be putting distance between them but he was too aware of the sexual need building with force inside of him. A need that just wouldn't go away. He knew his limits when it came to Kara and today they were being tested.

He brought the car to a stop and she proceeded to unbuckle her seat belt and he did the same. Intense heat had spiked in the area below his waist and was quickly spreading through other parts of him.

She glanced over at him with a questioning look after seeing he had removed his seat belt. “Really, Virgil, you don't have to walk me to the door. I'm okay.”

She might be okay but he wasn't. “Yes, I do have to walk you to the door, Kara.”

Evidently something in his tone told her he was serious. She merely nodded before opening the car door, not waiting for him to do it for her. But she did pause and wait for him before she got out of the car.

When he reached her, she studied his face a second before extending her hand to him. Without hesitating, Virgil took it and then they moved toward her front door.

Kara knew he was determined to put distance between them, which was the reason he had changed his mind about staying for chili. But she couldn't help but be reminded of other times she and Virgil would return from a date and stroll up the walkway holding hands. During those times there had been no doubt in her mind that he wouldn't stop at her door, but that he'd follow her inside and then take her into his arms the moment the door closed behind them. She suddenly got weak in the knees remembering the intensity of the passion they would share, right there in her foyer. His kisses didn't just leave her breathless, they left her wanting more and more and more.

Upon reaching her door, she opened her cross-body purse, the very one he had given to her when they'd dated. It had been for no special occasion, he'd said when he'd done so. The card that he'd given her with the purse simply said,
I am so grateful that you're mine.

When she took out the key, his finger reached out to trace along the intricate design of her purse. If he hadn't noticed the purse before, he was definitely noticing it now. Was he remembering that he was the one who'd given it to her? Did he remember what he'd written on the card, as well?

She turned to him before inserting the key in the lock. “Thanks again for a wonderful day, Virgil.”

His dark, penetrating eyes stared down at her. “Aren't you going to invite me in, Kara?” he asked in a deep husky voice, one that sent sensual chills all over her body.

“I thought there was something you had to do.”

“There is.”

She frowned, finding what he said confusing. But instead of asking him to elaborate, she opened the door and he followed her inside.

* * *

“This is far enough,” Virgil said when they stood in the foyer.

She turned to him questioningly. “For what?”

“This.”

His mouth came down on hers, needing what he'd only gotten swipes of the past few days. The quick tastes of her had been silky and warm, but now he wanted the intensity of the real thing. A tongue swipe across her lips just wouldn't do anymore. He needed to take the plunge. So he did.

Tipping her head back with the palm of his hand, he claimed her mouth as his tongue boldly swept inside, reacquainting itself with the special brand of intimacy they'd always shared. A deep sexual hunger, the same one that had been gnawing at his insides most of the day, stirred to life in his midsection. As if he'd opened some kind of erotic box, all the memories of their kisses came flooding back, arousing him in ways he wasn't used to.

Virgil wasn't sure if it was because of the length of time since he'd shared a kiss of this magnitude with her. Whatever the reason, jolts of sexual energy were rocking him to the bone, causing his tongue to dominate hers. The kiss was making him ravenous for her taste.

He was devouring her, and at this point, slowing down didn't seem to be an available option. And when he heard her moan, the sound compelled him to deepen the kiss even more. Swirling his tongue inside of her mouth, his mated with hers while coiling arousal settled deep in his core. He'd always enjoyed using his tongue to do all kinds of naughty things to her. They were things he'd been dreaming about doing since the day she had walked into that conference room to meet with him and his father.

He knew he needed to reel in his senses and pull back, but kissing her had always been his downfall. He'd never been able to get enough of her taste. It appeared that nothing had changed. He growled deep in his throat when fire seemed to spread through his veins.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he urged her body closer to the hard fit of him. His hands moved from around her waist and shifted lower to cup her backside. Touching her this way felt good. And it reminded him that he'd always enjoyed touching her here on her bottom every chance he got.

Then there was the feel of her breasts pressing against his chest. The swollen buds were hard, causing his entire body to sizzle. He would love to strip her naked right here and taste her all over. Feed the flames of the heat he was feeling.

Kara had missed this. She had missed him. His tongue had taken control of her mouth while his hands were making all kinds of erotic designs on her backside. She needed this. She wanted this. It had been years since she'd felt passion like this. Four years, to be exact. Every part of her body was like a live wire sending all kinds of electrical currents through her.

He'd always been a master kisser and that hadn't changed. His lips were stroking her mouth in a way that had her reaching up, gripping his shoulders with her determination to match his kiss with the same hunger and intensity. She felt blood rush fast and furious through her veins and could feel her panties getting wet. Like always, their mouths fit together perfectly, while his tongue continued to explore every crevice of her mouth, using strokes so sensual, her stomach began spinning at the same time as her senses reeled.

She could taste the hunger in his kiss, the passion and desire. And when he plunged his tongue even farther into her mouth, sensations she could no longer contain began smoldering out of control and effectively blocking every single thought from her mind.

Suddenly he snatched his mouth from hers. Drawing in a long and deep breath, he stared down at her, holding her gaze but not saying anything. She could imagine what he was seeing. Half-lidded, liquid eyes. Flushed cheeks. A pair of well-kissed lips. When neither of them said anything, she was tempted to lean up and kiss him again. But his next words stopped her cold.

“This should not have happened.” Removing his hands from around her, he took a step back. “Kissing this way could lead to things we don't want, Kara.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say
speak for yourself
because he had no idea what she wanted. But evidently he knew what he wanted and it wasn't her.

“You're right and I suggest you leave,” she said, trying to keep the anger and hurt from her voice.

Obviously he heard it anyway and he reached out to grab hold of her hand. She pulled it back. “Don't, Virgil. You're right. Why should you waste good kisses on a woman you'll never love again? A woman you can barely tolerate being around? I get it. Thank you for looking out for my best interests.”

Reaching behind him, she opened the door. “Goodbye, Virgil.”

He stared at her a minute before saying, “I'll be leaving town this week for Orlando to meet with investors there. I get back the day before we're to attend that UNCC commencement ceremony together. I'll call you.”

Tilting her head she pasted a smile on her face. “Have a safe trip.”

He nodded, hesitating for only a second before walking out the door.

Chapter 12

V
irgil gazed out of his hotel-room window to scan the grounds of one of Disney World's most prestigious resorts. It had been years since he'd visited Orlando, yet he could easily recall the times his parents had brought him and Leigh here as kids. Those had been fun days. And more than once when they'd been together, he'd thought of bringing Kara here.

Kara.

Drawing in a deep breath, he couldn't stop remembering this past weekend. Somehow he'd been able to let go of his bitterness and enjoy the day with her. It had been fun...until his desire for her had begun overruling his mind and taking hold of his body. He had immediately recognized the tormenting heat for what it was. And considering everything, the intensity of his attraction to her annoyed as well as mystified him.

Leave it to him to make matters even worse when he'd taken her home. Why had he walked her to the door and then suggested she let him inside? The torture of wanting her had gotten so great that he'd given in to intense desire and kissed her. And he'd kissed her the way he'd been longing to for days. Even though her presence back in his life was temporary and strictly for business, his libido didn't seem to care.

Nor did his mouth give a damn since the taste of her still lingered there, even after five days. She'd always had the sweetest mouth but it seemed that over the years it had gotten sweeter and so satisfyingly delicious.

Leaving his place by the window, he moved to sit down at the desk in the hotel room, deciding he needed to get some work done. Already he'd held a number of meetings with potential investors. The International Investors Summit had a tendency to draw hedge fund corporations from all over the world. For that reason, it was always a good policy to have appointments scheduled way in advance, like he'd done. He'd gotten positive feedback from the six investors he'd met with so far.

His thoughts shifted back to Kara and that kiss he couldn't stop thinking about. And tasting. He leaned back in his chair and recalled the outfit she'd been wearing Saturday. It had been purple, his favorite color. Strolling around the amusement park, he'd noticed more than one man checking her out. She had legs that made any man want to take a second look and several had. More than once a streak of jealousy had raced through him. Why had he felt such possessiveness for a woman who wasn't his?

He had forgotten how tight the compartments were for the rides, and more than once their bodies had been crammed together, which had kicked his testosterone into full gear. Then his horny mind had looked forward to the times he'd been squeezed against her backside or when their thighs had been all but plastered against each other.

Virgil figured that had to be the reason he'd gone crazy once he'd gotten hold of her mouth. He had kissed her like hers was destined to be the last mouth he'd ever taste. And she had kissed him back, meeting him greed for greed.

And then somehow through all that ravenous pleasure, he'd found his senses and pulled back. Surprising himself as much as he'd probably surprised her. There had been no logical reason for him and Kara to stand in the middle of her foyer and go at each other's mouths like they'd been doing. No logical reason whatsoever.

That didn't stop his body from yearning for her every day since. Or stop his mouth from feeling like it was missing something vital. Or stop his erection from swelling each and every time he thought about her.

Like now.

And although he hated admitting it, he would give anything to have another such opportunity to take her into his arms and kiss her. Unfortunately, he was finding out the hard way that when it came to Kara, out of sight and out of mind didn't seem to work.

What he needed to do was what any successful businessman would do—come up with a game plan, some strategic move to eliminate the problem without alienating the source. He could tell before he'd left her place on Saturday that she hadn't appreciated what he'd said about kissing her being a mistake. Had she considered that a blatant rejection of her? And why should it bother him if she had?

He knew the answer without thinking about it. It bothered him because it was far from the truth. As much as he wanted to continue to convince himself he was completely and totally over Kara, there was still this sexual connection between them. At times it was so strong it cloaked them in an air of intimacy so thick he felt as if he was smothered by it.

So the question of the hour was this: just what exactly was he going to do about it? Since seeing her was basically part of
her
plan—the one she'd put together to improve his image—he needed to come up with a plan of his own. One designed to save his sanity.

* * *

Kara looked at herself in the full-length mirror and smiled, pleased with what she saw. She didn't think twice about why she had put so much time and effort into her appearance. If Virgil thought he could continue to resist her, then let him try. She would do everything in her power to make sure he didn't succeed.

After spending time with him on Saturday and after that kiss he'd given her when he brought her home, she was convinced he wasn't as immune to her as he claimed. Granted, initially she had been slightly peeved at how he'd abruptly ended their kiss and left her home last weekend, but her annoyance had dissipated when she realized what had happened. He had been running scared.

Virgil had enjoyed the kiss; she was sure of it. But something had made him pull back and break off the kiss, then go even further by saying crazy stuff like kissing her had been a mistake and wasn't anything either of them wanted. He had tried replacing desire with logic. A person could do that only so many times, and she was determined to make sure the clock ran out on him. Her goal was to make sure he took off the blinders and realized they deserved another chance to get it right.

She turned slightly in the mirror and smiled again. The sophisticated-looking purple dress was one she'd purchased this week when she'd gone shopping. At first she'd thought that wearing his favorite color again might be a bit too much. However she decided, just in case he hadn't realized her intent on Saturday, that today should leave no doubt in his mind what she was about.

Pleased by that very thought, she tossed her head, sending her shoulder-length hair swinging around her face. When she looked at herself again in the mirror she didn't miss the seductive gleam in her eyes. Granted, she would behave herself around his parents, but later, when she got him alone, she would make it her business to find out just how scared he could run.

She hadn't heard anything from him all week while he'd been in Orlando, but last evening she had gotten his text message advising her he would pick her up at nine this morning. A second text had followed a few hours later, indicating his parents had invited them to join them for brunch at Hammer's, a popular restaurant in town, following the commencement ceremony.

Kara had texted him back to say she had no problem doing that and that she thought it was a great strategic idea that the four of them be seen together that way. He hadn't responded and, if her guess was right, he might not have liked being reminded of their business arrangement. Oh, well.

The doorbell sounded. Quickly moving from her bedroom, she grabbed her purse and jacket as she headed for the door. It was time to put Operation Virgil Bougard in full swing.

* * *

“Welcome back, Virgil,” Kara said, smiling before placing a quick kiss on his lips. “I'm ready.” She then closed the door and strolled past him, moving briskly down the walkway.

Virgil almost stopped breathing for the thickness of the air settling in his lungs. Dammit, where was the fire? Why was she moving so fast? He quickly reached out and grabbed her hand. “Whoa. What's going on?”

She glanced back at him. “What do you mean what's going on?”

“Usually when I pick you up there's a last-minute item you've got to grab and I have to wait inside a minute or two,” he said. Come to think of it, that's how it worked with most women, he thought.

“Not this time. I've got everything and I'm ready. No need for you to have to wait on me for anything.”

“Oh,” he said, releasing her hand to walk beside her toward the car. He tried not to check out her dress. She was wearing purple again and he liked it. But it wasn't the color of the dress that had grabbed his total awareness of her this morning. It was the style. On anyone else it probably would look okay, but on her it elicited some thoughtful cravings. Not only that, a hot rush of desire was sending shivers through his body.

It wasn't that the dress was too over-the-top for the event they would be attending because it wasn't. In fact it was perfect for the occasion. But did it have to emphasize the svelte lines of her curves and the gracefulness of her long, gorgeous legs? And did it have to show off her small waist and generous breasts? The effect was so mind-blowing that he felt it all the way to his groin.

“Is there a problem?”

A frown marred his brow. “No, there's no problem,” he said, opening the car door for her.

A spike of heat exploded in his gut when the dress flashed a portion of her thigh as she slid down into the car seat. Seeing her naked flesh could arouse him in a way nothing else could. And speaking of arousal...she could pretend nonchalance all she wanted, but he hadn't missed that crackle of sensual energy that flowed between them when they'd walked beside each other. And he was certain she felt it, as well.

“You can close the car door now.”

He'd been caught staring. Trying to keep his features neutral, he closed the door and walked around to the other side of the car. After getting in and buckling his seat belt, he glanced over at her. “You look nice.”

“Thanks.”

“And your dress is purple.”

She looked over at him, tilted her head back a little as if she needed to study his face. “I know what color my dress is, Virgil.”

He stared at her, unable to figure out if she meant anything by that. Grabbing his sunglasses off the dash, he said, “Mom is looking forward to your joining us today.”

“She knows the truth, right?”

“Yes, she knows the truth.”

“Good.”

As he backed the car out of her driveway, Virgil wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

* * *

“Rhona's speech was simply wonderful,” Kara said to the two men at her side.

“Yes, it was,” Matthew agreed. “She did an outstanding job, but then she always does,” he added proudly.

Kara had always admired Virgil's parents' close relationship. It was obvious from the huge smile on Matthew's face that he was very proud of his wife. And, although she was certain Virgil was equally as proud, he hadn't said anything. In fact he hadn't said much to her since leaving her place. He had taken her hand as they had found their seats beside his father. The entire time her hand had been encased in his, she felt flutters that stirred deep in the pit of her stomach. When they sat down and he released her hand, the stirrings continued for a while. More than once she had glanced over at him to find him staring at her, making her wonder if he'd had a similar reaction.

It was hard not to stare back at him. He exuded that Virgil Bougard level of charismatic and sexual power. He looked good in his charcoal-gray suit. Blatantly sexy would be one way to describe him but not the only way. There was this indescribable masculine aura surrounding him and Kara was certain she wasn't the only female who noticed it. More than once she'd observed several others looking his way.

“There's my queen,” Matthew said in a joyous tone, interrupting Kara's thoughts when Rhona could finally be seen among the throng of graduates and their families. Kara had always thought Rhona was a beautiful woman, one who didn't look a day over forty. Her honey-brown complexion was flawless, not a wrinkle in sight. And Kara knew Rhona credited her young features and slender form to a healthy diet and regular exercise.

“Come on, let's go meet her,” Matthew said, leading the way.

Virgil surprised Kara when he captured her hand in his again. It took everything she had to ignore the spike of hot sensuality that raced up her spine. There were a lot of media in attendance, so she knew they had to play their roles convincingly.

When they met up with Rhona, Kara wasn't sure what to expect. She and Virgil's mother had run into each other several times over the past four years, either while out shopping or attending various social functions. The Bougards had always been kind to her whenever their paths had crossed. So kind that for a long while she'd wondered if Virgil had told them why they'd broken up.

After accepting a kiss from her husband, Rhona then turned smiling eyes toward Kara, reached out and gave her a hug. “Kara, it's good seeing you. Glad you could join us today.”

Kara returned the smile. “I'm glad, as well.”

Rhona then turned to her son. She placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for coming, Virgil.”

He smiled down at her. “There's no way I was going to miss it. You did us proud as usual, Mom.”

“Thanks.” She then glanced back and forth between Kara and Virgil before leaning over and whispering, “Playacting or not, the two of you look good together.”

Before either of them could say anything—Kara wasn't sure what she would have said anyway—Matthew spoke up. “We might as well beat the crowd and head over to Hammer's.”

“I agree,” Virgil said, taking Kara's hand once again. And when he did, he felt it. That tingling sensation whenever he touched her. He was sure she felt it, too, which was why she glanced up at him. Their gazes connected and held until she broke eye contact when his father spoke.

“We're parked on the other side,” Matthew said. “We'll see you guys at the restaurant.”

“Okay.” Virgil glanced around. Just as he'd figured, eyes were on them. More than a dozen people he didn't know had approached him and Kara, unashamedly confessing they were ardent readers of Flo's column and basically giving them the same compliment that his mother had given about how good they looked together.