SEAL The Deal (23 page)

“Are you going to make me wait?” she asked with heavy-lidded eyes.

“All good things come to those who wait.” He said as he stepped to her. “I’ve missed you more than I ever could have imagined possible.” He brushed her lips and cheek with the back of his fingers. He placed his forehead against hers. “I want to be—”

He saw her eyes watering.

“Honey, have I hurt you?” he asked.

“No, Nick. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier.”

With her head cupped between his two palms he bent down and kissed her, easing into her mouth, soaking up the sounds of her breathing. Devon was a whirlwind of sensations; the way she wrapped her arms around him tight, the way her taste and muskiness drove him crazy, her moans coming from her need of him. He descended into oblivion willingly.

She led him to her bed, pulling her little black dress over her head but still standing. He quickly removed his clothes, and walked naked to her lithe body, waiting for him.

He kissed her fingers. “This is so right, Devon.”

Her eyes sparkled in the light of the fire. “Make love to me, Nick.”

It was something he was very definitely going to do, and he was going to make it memorable. She was everything to him. She was his inspiration. He wanted to devour every inch of her body again and again.

Chapter 24

Next morning, lying next to Devon’s sleeping form, Nick hoped Sophie would get stronger. Perhaps they’d find something they hadn’t detected, something they could treat her for that would improve the quality of her life. He knew it was a long shot, but he was filled with hope this morning. When he was with Devon, everything seemed possible. Even Sophie living to a ripe old age was a possibility.

Nick placed two calls to Dr. Harris, but only got the Duty nurse. Devon listened while she explained Sophie had finally fallen asleep and Dr. Harris had left strict instructions to not let her be disturbed. They weren’t going to attempt to move her until Dr. Harris arrived sometime after noon. She recommended they not visit until well after lunch.

Devon asked him to take her to the bistro on Fourth Street, and they arrived just in time for brunch. They got a table by the fireplace, the same one they’d had before. Instead of sitting across from her, he pulled up a chair and they sat side by side, staring into the flames. With their backs to the restaurant, it was almost as if they were totally alone. His firm thigh against hers was reassuring, but the sexual tension still caused her breathing to be labored.

What is this?

It wasn’t nerves. It was energy. Pure energy, which she drew from him. Did she have that same effect on him, she wondered? Her spirit had been released. A dull rumble like kettle drums being played with woolen mittens vibrated her insides. She was excited to be alive as never before.

“I like how you dress up all professional for me after we’ve had sex. You look hotter than hell, sweetheart.”

She loved hearing this. “I didn’t dress up for you. Usually I’m
un
dressing for you.”

“And that’s a good thing too. A beautiful thing.” He kissed her.

A cheesy scramble with buttered sourdough toast was placed between them. She’d been so hungry when she ordered. Now, as she stared at the food, she realized the butterflies in her stomach had taken away her appetite. She actually loved feeling hungry. Hungry for him most of all.

Nick wouldn’t pick up his fork until she did. His thoughtfulness touched her and as she looked at his lips that quirked up at one corner, she saw he was begging for a kiss.

So she leaned into him and brushed his lips as she said, “I know it’s eggs, but you might consider the oysters for dessert.”

He completed the kiss against her. “I don’t need anything but you, baby.”

She picked at her food, but Nick tore into the breakfast with gusto. Flames from the fireplace in front of them warmed her cheeks, but the feel of the side of his muscled arm and thigh against her body as she rested her head on his shoulder was even hotter.

He offered a forkful on several occasions, and she accepted mostly because she liked the way he watched her mouth work. In between his feeding they would kiss. 

She had been thinking it couldn’t get any better than this. She could stay in the cocoon of this warm morning forever.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. A group of men gathered on the sidewalk at the other side of the glass picture window, engrossed in discussion. One of them was the broker who had tried to force her to accept an offer on Sophie’s property. She felt odd about seeing him here, and nervousness snaked up her spine.

“Nick, look. That’s Mr. Silva, the broker who tried to show your sister’s property.”

Nick glanced outside with a slow but steady adjustment of his head. Devon thought perhaps it was his intense stare, but the men suddenly turned and regarded him. Mr. Silva faced Devon and gave her a slight bow and then adjusted so his back was to them, saying something to the other two men he probably didn’t want understood.

“I don’t trust him. I didn’t like him then. Your sister doesn’t like the neighbor, either.”

“We’ve got to hope that the Fire Department gets some leads on the fire soon. Not much we can do about it, except protect Sophie.” He wrapped an arm around Devon’s shoulder and shook her. “It’s going to be okay. Not much they can do since the property is already in escrow, right?”

“Well, the buyers so far don’t know about all this. I have to call them this morning.”

“Sophie has insurance, right?”

“I think so, Nick, but to be honest, she’s not been thinking clearly, and things have been slipping.”

Nick took a drink of water and crunched down some ice cubes. “Yeah. I was afraid of that.”

“We have reports that are on their way. The buyers have to approve all that. Nothing is done until the escrow closes and she gets her check.”

Nick took a quick peek at the group of men again. “Come on, Devon. I’d like to get you away from here.”

Devon walked hand in hand with Nick until they reached her Lexus down the street. She watched him take a quick look around the vehicle, even managing to check out the undercarriage. His muscled forearms pushed against the sidewalk as he brought himself up to standing position easily with a snap. He dusted his palms.

“Just being extra careful. I guess I’ll be looking for incendiary devices the rest of my life. Sorry.”

He hung his head and rolled his shoulders, but his eyes told her he was not nearly as casual as he tried to look. Devon peered down the street in both directions, looking for Mr. Silva and the group of men, but saw nothing that caught her eye. She allowed Nick to open her door for her.

“Nick, I need to go to the office so I can give the buyers a call. Or should we try to see Sophie first?”

“No, let’s get hold of the buyers. I’ll wait in the car while you make that call.”

“That’s probably a good idea.” She didn’t really want to expose him to the attentions of the other women in the office. But then she thought about it.

Time to come out of my shell a bit. Trust him a little. And myself.

“On second thought, Nick, the ladies at the office might appreciate it if you sat in the waiting room.” She watched for a reaction but didn’t get the one she wanted.

“Oh really?” He squinted. She loved the mystery there. “You trying to get rid of me, sweetheart,” he said in his best Bogart voice. “Or is it you want to show off your trophy boyfriend?”

She bit her lip at the sound of the word.

Boyfriend.

“Well, thought you SEALs like all the attention. We’ve got our share of hotties.”

“Dance card’s taken, baby,” he said as he gave her that smoldering bedroom look. “I got it major bad.”

“Glad to hear it. Me too.”

They kissed. “Your wish is my command,” he whispered. “I’ll go anywhere you want me to.”

“Well, I can share you with a few of the lovelies for just a few minutes, as long as I’m the one you go home with. I won’t be very long, Nick.”

“Some of them were at the big nursery liquidation sale, if I remember right.”

“Yes,” she chuckled, “And have never stopped talking about it, either. You guys left quite an impression on most the female population of Sonoma County.”

She knew he was being modest, perhaps even a little shy. His head was turned to look out to his left so she couldn’t see his expression. She’d always thought of him as being so egotistical…until she got to know him. Now she saw his calm demeanor and confidence as strength instead of bravado. Or was it that she was being more able to handle the bravado? It didn’t matter. She just enjoyed being with the man, doing anything.

The realty office was a small bungalow with steep slate tile roof, bordered with rose bushes. She’d always liked the location, and the fact that the owner’s wife had such a green thumb. Devon often brought big bouquets of fresh roses to sit on her desk.

Nick deposited himself on a Mission-style leather couch and picked up a decorating magazine, which made Devon smile.

“What?” he asked. His green eyes giving her the come-on that melted her bones. That damned little corner of his mouth twitching up to the right made her want to jump him right there. His huge veined hands were clutching a pale green magazine with a picture of a flower garden on the cover.

“You interested in decorating?” she finally asked.

“You should see my apartment. Since I’m hoping a certain female will come down and visit me,” he paused, and then continued, “I was thinking I better start transforming it from a crash pad to something she might not want to run screaming away from.”

“But then you’d catch me,” she said, accepting the challenge.

“That I would, Miss Devon. I’d make you pay as well.”

“Hmmm. I’m thinking we might have to role-play a bit on that one.”

“I might have to restrain you to keep you from running away. But somehow I think you might like it.”

She blushed just as a pair of high-heeled younger agents in tight skirts walked past and drank in the sight of Nick’s large frame casually taking up the entire couch. They leveled cool glares at Devon.

“I was kinda hoping for the restraints, myself,” she said within earshot of the girls. It embarrassed her and she felt her ears go red at the tips, but she enjoyed the risqué feeling of their sexual banter. One of the ladies turned around with her palm to her mouth. Devon wiggled her eyebrows up and down at Nick, surprised at her own bravado. “Back to work,” she said as she went back into her office.

He stood and followed her in.

“Back outside.” She pointed to the couch. “All good things come to those who wait, remember?”

“Within reason.”

“Oh, so it’s reasonable you want now. Well, I’ve got a house payment to make, and if I don’t make some calls, I’ll be borrowing from savings.”

He’d stopped but he was still looking for encouragement.

She put her hands on her hips. “Back on the couch. I’ve got to have some privacy. Won’t take long.” Then she softened her voice and whispered, “I promise.”

He went out, sat, adjusted his large frame, and picked up the magazine again, pretending to be interested in it. He was purposely ignoring her.

“I’ll just be here, studying.” Nick said to no one in particular with a sigh. He had that look that said everything. His warm smile and casual interest, just the right kind of interest without being a pest, allowing her to take the lead sometimes, appearing to enjoy just being around her. It  was quickly becoming such a pleasant routine. The more she spent time with him, the harder it would be to say goodbye when he had to go back to San Diego.

At her desk, she dialed the number for the buyers.

“I suppose you’ve seen the papers this morning?” she asked the buyers.

“Yes. We were wondering what the bank was going to say about our loan now.”

The loan had been approved, subject to the appraisal and approval of the property reports.

“I’m sure she had insurance. I’ll be checking into that today. We might be able to just get a cash contribution instead of having them rebuild the structure. That way, you could do whatever you wanted there.”

“They do that?”

“Well, we can ask. Can’t say as I’ve had this experience before. A lady in our office burned a house down after an open house when she left some candles burning. In that case, the owner decided to stay when he saw what the remodel was going to look like. But with Sophie, she has no choice. She has to sell. So, we’ll just have to see, as long as you’re comfortable with it.”

“Okay. We’re kind of nervous about all this. Kinda like a sign from above, you know what I mean?”

“That’s why I’m calling you. Once I have the reports, that’s when we’ll have to make up our minds what to do. I just didn’t want you to think that everything was off just because of the fire.”

“What caused it?”

Devon didn’t want to give her suspicions. Besides, it was nothing she could prove. But her instincts told her she was right. “The fire investigator hasn’t completed his report. You’ll know it as soon as Sophie and I do, and not a day later.”

“Thank you Miss Brandeburg.”

“Not at all.”

The next call she made was to the house inspector. She needed him to speed up getting the written report for the inspection done before the fire. She also wanted him to come back out to verify there was no permanent damage to the house, even though the office/showroom was a total loss. She also called the well inspector.

“Report’s already in the mail to you,” he said.

“I told you to email it to me.”

“No problem. I’ll get it to you later today.”

“Everything okay with the report?”

“All within acceptable levels, except for the arsenic levels. But your client has a filter at the water tank to take care of that.”

“Did you test the water there too?”

“We don’t usually. The arsenic level is pretty low, almost acceptable levels. She’s got an overkill system on the tank, so I didn’t think there was a need.”

Devon questioned this for a minute and then dismissed it as being overly worried. “But you’ll note that in your report.”