Worth Waiting For (12 page)
Authors: Vanessa Devereaux
“You don’t want to be
burdened with my problems. You’ve got enough of your own with your boat needing
fixing.”
Oh, she didn’t know
the half of it. Back in
neighbors—good neighbors—are for, cheering one another up.”
“Yeah, the only good
thing that’s happened in the last few weeks is you buying that old boat.”
They both laughed.
“See, you’re
smiling.”
She was so pretty
when she did that. No, that wasn’t true. She was pretty even when she was
crying. How unbelievable was that?
“Are you having money
problems?”
She wiggled out of
his hands and sat on the bed, not saying a word.
“There’s nothing to
be ashamed of, Kate.” Brock joined her on the edge of the bed.
“I know, but like I said,
you don’t want to hear my hard luck story.”
“How do you know
that? In fact, if you don’t tell me, I’m going to quit working for you.”
She turned to look at
him.
“I mean it, and yes,
I do need the money for the boat.”
Kate slumped back on
the bed, looking at the ceiling.
Brock did the same.
“So you going to start talking or do I start walking?”
“Okay, okay. Yes, I’m
having money troubles. The restaurant’s not been doing very well for over a
year, but David and I managed to struggle along. We went looking for a loan and
the bank manager told us David had too much credit in his name so he suggested
it go under mine. And since he’s left and no longer here, it’s all my
responsibility. Jeez, how stupid could I be for signing it only in my name?”
“Anyone would have
done the same thing. I mean you couldn’t see what was in the future and him taking
off like that. Jeez, it sounds like you’re well rid of him. I mean leaving you
in debt and now he’s opening a restaurant.”
Kate took a deep
breath. “Not just any restaurant but one that’s been our main competitor.”
“Christ, what a guy. Can’t
your attorney say that he should be paying his share of the loan? I’m sure he
used some of the money while he was here, and he’s obviously got some cash to
buy another restaurant.”
Kate rolled over on
her side and looked at him. “That’s a good point.”
“Ah-ha, see what
talking about it does? So where’s this restaurant he’s bought?”
“Two blocks from
here. They were our main competitors until they went out of business about six
months ago, which I know it’s horrible to say, but it was a blessing for us.
If
he’s
going to
re-launch it, I’m going to have to lower my prices or offer something he
doesn’t, neither of which I can afford to do.”
“I bet he doesn’t
have a chef like Henri or an all-around guy like me.”
She smiled again.
He leaned over and
kissed her. “We’ll think of some way to draw people into this place,” he
assured her.
***
Brock had a way of
making her think everything was perfect, not only with the business but the
whole universe. After the restaurant had closed for the night he’d talked her
into going to his boat.
This time it would be
her turn to offer him some moral support while he began working on his boat’s
engine.
He’d been to library and
borrowed some books on the topic and also gotten some tips from one of the guys
at the marina. However, she’d doubted it was enough information for this sort
of job.
“Fuck this thing…oops,
sorry,” said Brock. He looked away, over the engine. He was blushing.
It was the first time
she’d seen his cheeks glowing with embarrassment. Kate walked over to him. “You
sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Nope, haven’t a clue,
but this is a hell of a lot cheaper than having the
Kate
towed into the shop and having someone else work on her.”
“The
Kate
?”
“Yeah, didn’t I tell
you I’ve renamed the boat in honor of my favorite neighbor?”
“You are so sweet.”
“Once she’s repainted,
I’ll have you break a bottle of champagne over your namesake so we can launch
her out to sea.”
“Let’s hope she’s
actually seaworthy.”
“She will be.” There
was a pause,
then
he hissed, “What the fuck?”
Kate heard him swear
again and then the sound of metal being dropped on the floor.
“Shit, this thing
gave me an electrical shock.”
“Hey, be careful
there.”
“Yeah, maybe I should
take a break or leave it for the night and get a book from the library.”
“Good idea.” Kate ran
her hands up and down her arms. A breeze came off the water and put a nip into
the air.
“You cold?” asked Brock.
“A
bit.”
“Here, let me warm
you up.” He stepped toward her and put his arms around her, pulling her body
into his. They rubbed their noses back and forth. “Better?”
“A little.”
“Only
a little?”
“My body doesn’t like
even the slightest nip in the air. You should see me in the winter.”
Brock didn’t say
anything but stood there looking at her.
“What’s wrong? You
look sad all of a sudden.”
“Nope, just
daydreaming, that’s all.
Nothing to worry about.”
She squeezed his
waist.
“Hey, I still have
some of those strawberries and I could re-melt the chocolate in the microwave. We
could snuggle in bed and have dessert.”
“Best thing I’ve heard
all day,” said Kate.
***
Kate didn’t want to
wait for Brock to undress her tonight. She slipped off her T-shirt, jeans,
panties, and bra, and slid into between the sheets, yes, her sheets, while
Brock heated the chocolate and got the strawberries from the fridge.
“Well, someone’s
brave considering they were cold only a few minutes ago.” He handed her the
fruit and bowl of chocolate. He then stripped off his own clothing before getting
into bed with her.
Brock took a
strawberry and held it for Kate to nibble on.
They chewed on one together until their lips eventually
met. They kissed and then Kate put her finger into the melted chocolate and
offered it to Brock, who took her hand and sucked away every last bit of it.
Kate dipped again,
this time lifting the sheet and wiping the chocolate on his cock. She buried
herself underneath the sheet and went searching for her chocolate treat. She
found it and put her mouth around his dick. “Wow,
Kate, that
is…wow.”
She licked him some
more, tasting the salty tang of pre-cum mixing with the sweetness of the
chocolate.
His cock twitched,
and he lifted his hips toward her mouth.
Figuring he was about
to climax, she let his dick fall onto her chin and then felt him ejaculate on
her upper chest. She eased her body upwards.
“Sorry, couldn’t help
that.
Had to come.
You’re too talented with that mouth
of yours.”
He offered her
another strawberry as she put one leg over his body and let her slit rub
against his cock, hoping it would turn hard soon because she was getting
impatient. She kissed his nipples and then his belly. “You have condoms?” she
asked.
He got one down from
the bookshelf behind the bed. His cock grew harder each time she swiped her
folds across the tip of it. Three more slow moves and he was ready to go again.
Kate sheathed him and
hoped he didn’t mind her taking control tonight. She lifted his cock and
impaled herself upon it.
Brock put a hand to each
of her breasts and pulled at the nipples playfully. “After we’ve made love
tonight it will be a record for me,” said Brock.
“What will?”
“I’ve never had this
much sex with only one woman before.”
“Ever?” asked Kate.
She began moving back and forth.
“Never
ever.”
“So what is it you
like about me?” She moved with more force, already feeling wonderful things
happening throughout her body.
“That you’re down-to-earth,
kind—shit, Kate, I can’t talk while you’re doing this to me.”
Neither could she.
Kate pushed her hips forward and backward, supported her own weight, and lifted
herself up and then down, feeling Brock’s dick hit every sweet spot inside her.
She was in control of
her body, but right now it wouldn’t do what she wanted. Kate wished that tingly
feeling would last but it couldn’t. A climax was coming her way. She cried out,
fell forward onto Brock, who rolled her onto her side.
He raised her leg a
little more and thrust so hard that he had to hang onto her. He whispered in her
ear.
At first she couldn’t
understand but when he climaxed she heard her name and the words, “I think I’m
falling for you.”
That was strange. Not
the words, but the fact she thought the very same thing about him.
***
Brock listened to
Kate. She was fast asleep and the slight noise she made as she breathed in and
out was comforting to him. He knew it was stupid, immature even, but one of the
reasons he’d remained single was because he hated sharing a bed with a woman.
They not only liked to snuggle but always invaded his side of the bed...all
night.
Tonight he didn’t
mind. In fact, he’d welcomed Kate nestling down beside him, her leg resting on
top of his. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
You should see me in winter.
He recalled her
saying that earlier and it had thrown him completely off track. Hence the
silence and him covering up with
I
was only
daydreaming.
Winter was more than six months away. He would no longer be
here. He would have passed his father’s stupid test, and he’d be working in the
company, ready to take over the helm.
Kate’s body twitched
slightly and her head flopped down on his shoulder. Something he hadn’t counted
on was becoming emotionally involved while he was away.
His climax earlier
that night had been so intense, so pleasurable, that it was like sodium pentathol,
and it had compelled him to tell the truth. Without any hesitation, he’d
admitted he was falling for her. She hadn’t said anything to him after. Maybe
she hadn’t heard, but he didn’t care if she did. It was the way he felt.
Kate could sell the
restaurant, put an end to her financial worries, and come to work with him. Yeah,
that sounded like a possibility. However, she seemed to really love the
restaurant, and would she want to move to
A long-distance
relationship was always a possibility, but he knew he’d have to work 24/7 in
the family business. So when would that leave him time to visit Kate?
Her arm flopped over
his body this time.
He smiled. A month
ago if a woman had literally pinned him to the bed like this, he would have
gotten fidgety but now things were different. He liked it, liked it a lot. She
was soft and she smelled wonderful, too. He put his arms around her.
She mumbled something
and then pushed her face into his chest.
“Everything’s going
to be okay, Kate,” he whispered.
***
Brock was becoming a
bad influence on her. It was the second time since she’d met him that she’d
overslept. Outside, it was raining hard and the sound of the water hitting the boat’s
porthole and roof had woken her.
Brock, still
sleeping, shared her pillow.
She had to get up and
go to the restaurant. There was only one way out and that was across his body. She
tried to do it without touching him, disturbing him, but he woke up as she had
one leg and half a body across his.
“Got
ya
.”
He grabbed her
and pulled her down toward him so he could kiss her, and patted her butt. “You
sleep okay?”
“Too
good.”
“Yeah, you’re a sound
sleeper. You snore, too.”
“I do not.”
“How do you know if
you’re asleep?” asked Brock.
“Well, at least I
don’t drool.”
“So are you saying I
do that?”
“Maybe.”
When he pinched her right bottom cheek, Kate cried, “Hey—ouch!” She
playfully slapped his hand as she gazed down at him. “I’d love to stay here all
morning, all day, convincing you that you’re a
drooler
,
but I’ve got a restaurant to run.”