Work Like You Don't Need the Money (13 page)

He waited. No idea how she would respond. He'd never spelled it out for a woman before, never felt the need. But he wanted, no needed, for some reason, for Holly to understand.

Her question caught him off guard, “So why ask for more than sex? Why not be honest, like I was and admit it's all you want?” Her voice wavered, “Why push it?”

It was a good question. “But you weren't being honest though, were you? You do want more, but you don't think it's wise,” the truth dawned on him as he spoke. “And. I want more too, but I don't think it's wise either.”

“So we're back at square one, aren't we. We can choose just sex or nothing.”

Pete hated the way she said it, so matter of fact. He was usually the one to assess the facts of a situation and be realistic about the possibilities it presented, but he wouldn't accept that all he and Holly could share would be just sex or nothing at all.

“No.” He said it so forcefully that she looked up at him, surprised.

“What other choice do we have?”

“I don't know, but I'm not prepared to accept that there isn't something.”

She smiled sadly. “I know you're used to getting your own way, Bigshot, but sometimes you just have to face facts.”

He smiled back. “Or get creative. Let's look at the facts, shall we? And see what we can create from them. Fact one, you don't want to get attached to me. Fact two,  I don't have room for anyone in my life right now. Fact three, I don't want to walk away from this. Fact four, I don't want to be just that guy that you sleep with sometimes. Fact five, we're going to be spending some time with each other anyway, until the wedding. Does that cover it all?”

“I think so. But to me it still adds up to just sex, or nothing.”

“I refer you to facts three and four, Sweetheart.” He had to find a way around this. “I will not just walk away from this, and I'm not prepared to keep sneaking around. Nor do I want the others thinking that either of us is just a sex hound.”

She laughed at that. “You really think they'd judge us?”

Pete sighed. “No. If I'm honest, I don't. That's my own hang-up. Call me old fashioned, but I don't approve of people just using each other for sex. That's what I'm uncomfortable with. I don't respect people who do that, but I do respect you and I do respect myself.” As he spoke, he was desperately trying to see how they could get creative. The solution came to him and he grinned. “You don't want to get attached and I can't commit to anything long term. So how about we agree to something short term? How about we date for real? Just until the wedding,” he added quickly. “You were happy to sleep with me until then, why not make the most of it? Let's see each other for real, knowing that it'll end after the wedding. What do you say?”

Her amber eyes stared back up at him while she considered it. He was aware of his fist clenching as he waited.

“Why not? It's not much different than we'd already said is it? There can't be any harm, right?”

“No harm at all.” He pulled her closer to him. “We're going to have fun you and me.” He pressed his forehead to hers and cupped her face between his hands. “So much fun.”

Chapter Nine

Holly smiled as they drove along the lakeshore out toward Four Mile Creek. The lake sparkled to their left and the mountains rose to the right. It was such a beautiful place, and she'd just agreed to spend the next few months coming here with Pete. As his girlfriend! Kind of. No! She couldn't let herself start thinking like that. He reached over and took her hand, smiling warmly.

“You okay, Sweetheart?”

“Wonderful, it's so beautiful here. I imagine a new development will sell really well. What exactly is it you want my advice on?”

“The idea is to have a mixed residential and vacation community. There will be a lodge, but mostly it will be single family homes. A mix of full time residents, second homes, and vacation rentals. I want a shopping center that will serve our demographic; high income, boaters, golfers, their wives. We need to somehow create a balance between serving everyday needs and creating a high end destination shopping experience.”

Holly nodded, intrigued. “So you need everything from a grocery store, to a souvenir and postcard place, to a pro shop, to boating supplies, and fashion, right?”

“You got it.”

“And what's the plan? Are you going to bring in independent retailers, or chains, a mixture of the two, or keep it all in house?”

“That's something I'd like your opinion on. Retail is not my forte. I don't want chains. I thought we could do it in house, so we could set the tone and standard, but Ben thinks that would be too much of a headache. If we go with independents, Laura is interested in setting up another store here for her jewelry. One of the guys Jack worked with in Florida is keen to get back to California and is angling for the golf course and pro shop. But as for the rest, I really don't know. It's early days yet. I'd like to hear your ideas, get a fresh take.” He glanced across at her. “Maybe give you some ideas about thinking bigger, too.”

Holly was thrilled. Although she limited her own business to the one store, she loved to read about new shopping developments and did have her own ideas on what worked well with different demographics. She was eager to see the site, though she knew there was nothing there yet. More than that, she was flattered that Pete, with all the commercial sites he'd developed, valued her opinion.

He pulled the truck off the road and got out to unlock a gate that opened onto a dirt road. They followed it away from the lake as it wound up into the foothills, following a creek bed that held barely a trickle of water.

“All of this area will be part of the development,” said Pete. “There's a strip on the other side of the road. That'll be divided into a few premium lots for lakefront homes with docks and then the restaurant and marina. There will also be a community boat ramp and park. It will pretty much mirror Summer Lake resort in that respect, but this will be a private community.”

Holly nodded, imagining the hillside transformed. The road flattened out onto a bench and Pete pulled over and got out. 

“Come see. This is where the community center will be. There will be a club house and the golf course, a community pool, and right about where we're standing will be the main plaza, as Jack insists on calling it. I swear he gets a little obsessive about this stuff. But, see,” he swept his arm out.

Holly turned to take in the view. The lake stretched away into the distance. She could make out the resort, away to her left on the opposite shore. The whole panorama was breath taking.

“Wow! This would be shopping with a view.”

Pete grinned. “I know you didn't need to come up here to get an idea of what kind of stores will work, but I wanted you see. Isn't it amazing?”

“It is, and seeing the place puts it in perspective. I could never have imagined this.”

“So, what do you think? Will you help me with it?”

She smiled at his enthusiasm. “I'd love to, but I'd need more information on your demographics and goals.”

“Great. How about I get the data to you on Monday, and you can tell me all about it over dinner on Wednesday?”

She laughed. “I think I'll need more than a couple of days to go over it. I do have a store of my own to run.”

Pete shrugged. “So at dinner on Wednesday you can tell me how long you'll need.”

He'd changed since she'd agreed to his idea that they should date for real until the wedding. He was more relaxed, openly affectionate, interested in her opinions, and making plans for what they would do together. He was doing everything a girl could want her man to do. It made her a little uneasy, though. He wasn't really her man. She couldn't afford to get too comfortable with it because in a few short months it would all be over.

“Okay, Bigshot. Dinner on Wednesday it is.”

He wrapped her in his arms and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Good deal,” he murmured into her hair.

They spent the next few hours exploring the site. It occupied a couple thousand acres on the Eastern shore of the lake. She listened as Pete explained some of the processes they needed to go through to get all the licenses and permits they would need. It all seemed so complicated, so high stakes with huge amounts of money involved. To Pete, though, it was just another deal, like so many he'd done before. He spoke with such confidence. She realized that she'd been wrong about him. He didn't expect things to fall into his lap or turn out as he wanted them to, he simply had no doubts or fears about being able to handle it when they didn't.

They made their way back down the hillside and out to the main road. Pete got out to lock the gate behind them, then climbed back into the truck.

“So, since tonight will be our first official date, what would you like to do? From here a right will take us back to Emma's or a left will take us back to my folks' place. They're in Denver this weekend. We could stay in the cabin. What do you think?”

Holly smiled, she liked the idea of both. She didn't really care either way, she'd be alone with Pete on their first real date. “You choose. As long as you don't expect me to cook.”

Pete laughed. “I've been meaning to ask you about that.”

“Emma wasn't joking, my talents do not lie in the kitchen.” She felt the familiar heat spread through her as he held her eyes.

“Sweetheart, your talents lie in a different room, and I'd like to take you there again, soon.”

She leaned across and placed a hand on his muscular thigh. “In that case, Bigshot, which one is closest?” As she spoke, she moved her hand up his leg until it rested on the growing bulge. Pete slammed the truck into gear and took a right, back up toward North Cove.

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It didn't take long to get back to Emma's. Pete parked the truck and jumped down, eager to be inside. Holly scrabbled through her purse for the key and let them in. He closed the door behind them and led her through to the suite of rooms where she had slept the night before. He wanted her badly, but he wanted this to be different. This time it
was
different. It was more than just two people acting on lust, great as that had been. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. He traced her cheek with his fingers.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

She smiled at him shyly, the temptress gone. “Thank you.”

“You are, Holly. So. Damned. Beautiful.”

He lowered his lips to hers, hovering an inch away while he looked into the amber of eyes. Her hands came up to his shoulders as he lifted her top up and over her head, then freed her breasts from her bra. She unfastened his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. He stood back to look at her, beautiful!

He held her too him, loving the feel of her soft skin against his naked chest. She moaned as his hand closed around her breast. How he loved that sound. Her hands were on his belt and soon his jeans and boxers lay on the floor where her skirt and panties joined them. He dropped his head to kiss the sweet spot where her neck joined her shoulder. Again, that little moan as she pressed herself against him. The blood boiled in his veins at the feel of her breasts, his hard-on pressed into her belly. He let out a moan himself when she gently dragged her fingernails across his shoulders. He found her mouth in a hungry kiss, tongues mating, hands exploring.

He went to sit on the edge of the bed and brought her to face him, standing between his legs. He grasped her ass and kissed her stomach, wanting to taste every inch of her skin. He worked his way up, trailing kisses over her ribcage until he took her breast in his mouth. Her hands met in his hair as he sucked and teased the tight little buds with his tongue. He pulled her down onto the bed and crawled them up to the pillows. She lay on her back looking up at him, skin flushed, lips parted. He took one of the pillows and slid it under her hips, lifting her up to him. He held his weight to one side as he kissed her. He stroked her from her breasts, down to her wet heat, and back again. He was so hard now, it was almost painful, but the anticipation was such sweet torture he wanted to make it last. She was moving her hips in time with his touch. He could make her come this way whenever he wanted to. He loved knowing that he could take her there so easily. That her body was under his command.

“Pete,” her voice was husky with need, “Please, Pete.”

No way could he resist that. He reached for the condom he'd left ready.

“I don't need that if you don't.”

It wasn't a risk he would normally take, but he didn't even hesitate. He trusted her completely. He positioned himself above her. Her arms came up around his back when he spread her legs wider with his knees.

“Open your eyes, Sweetheart.”

She opened them and locked them with his as he plunged inside her. Her wetness was so hot and tight around him, the sensations so much more intense with no condom. He wasn't going to last long. He moved inside her and she moved with him, their bodies molding into one, matching each other perfectly. He picked up the pace, thrusting deep and hard, no longer able to control his own need as he hurtled them both toward release. He was building, building, building until he let himself go. He saw stars as he exploded, coming hard, the fire burning through his veins, pumping into her as she clenched around him, crying his name. She dug her nails into his back and dragged them down the length of his spine, intensifying his orgasm from his scalp to his toes.

When they finally lay still, Holly turned her head, still breathing hard, and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek. He lifted himself onto his elbows, still inside her, he rained kisses down on her nose, her eyelids, her cheeks and her brow. He planted one last one on her lips then rolled to the side.

“Wow!” was all he could say.

She smiled. “Mmhmm. Wow!” she agreed.

They lay in silence for a long time, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. Pete didn't know how to find words to do justice to what they'd just shared.

Holly didn't want to.

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