“I’m good. I owe you big time for the best sleep ever. Thank you.”
He moved the phone from his ear and stared at it before returning it to his ear again. He hadn’t expected to hear that admission from her. What a change in attitude. Was one kiss -and a bit more -responsible for it? In that case, he’d give her plenty more like it. All guaranteed to turn up the heat.
He smiled, deciding not to pretend he had no idea what she was referring to. “Anytime,” he said, walking into his bathroom.
“I’d advise you to tread carefully with that offer, Cobra Masters. I might take you up on it.”
He took a steady breath. Was she flirting with him? “I’ve been duly warned. What are your plans for the week?”
“Hmm, I really enjoyed ice skating the other night, and might do it again this week. And there’s a show at the Apollo on Tuesday night that I plan to check out.”
“By yourself?”
The sound of her chuckle had heat simmering inside of him. “Yes, by myself. I’m a big girl.”
He didn’t know about her being a big girl, but she was definitely a perfect woman. “Well, enjoy the rest of your day, Desiree, as well as your week.”
“You, too, Cobra, and if I don’t talk to you before you leave for Savannah, enjoy your family reunion.”
“Thanks.”
He ended the call, placed the phone on the bathroom vanity, and leaned against it. When had a phone conversation with a woman stirred such deep, burning desire in him? If an evening of sensual fun had made her this compliant, he couldn’t wait until they finally shared a bed. He was counting down the next three months now more so than ever.
He wasn’t flying out to Savannah until Thursday morning, and he wanted to see her again before he left town. Although heknew security was good at her condo, he didn’t like the thought of her being at the ice rink alone. Nor did the thought of her going to the Apollo by herself sit well with him.
He shook his head. Why was he acting like this? Being protective of a woman felt new to him, since there were few females in the Masters family—at least in his generation. Quinece was older and had always been capable of taking care of herself. Besides, she was a twin to his cousin Quinn, and from what he’d heard, Quinece had been the fighter, and Quinn, the negotiator. That made sense since Quinn was now a high-powered entertainment attorney.
Deciding not to worry about it, he thought of the week ahead. He liked the idea of seeing her again before he left town on Thursday. That was three days from now…and he intended to spend all three with her.
With that decision made, he began undressing for his shower.
***
Sydney, Australia
“What are you thinking about, Richard?”
Richard Sharpe smiled at the feel of the warm, feminine arms that wrapped around him from behind. He was standing at the hotel’s window, looking out at the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It was hard to believe he had found love again at his age. Lolita was everything he needed in his life, and he was glad to have met her when he had. In addition to being a very beautiful woman, she had a heart of gold.
“I’m wondering what your daughter and son-in-law think about you staying at the hotel with me while I’m in town.”
He would spend time in Sydney with Lolita, her daughter, and her family -at least for a week. Then he and Lolita would spend some time in Brisbane before flying to New Zealand. Theywould return to Sydney a few days before he returned to the States. It had been years since he had taken a real vacation, and he wanted to spend all his time with her.
She moved to face him and stood, her arms still around him, then smiled. It was that same smile that had captured his heart the day they had met. “After meeting you, I’m sure they think I am one lucky woman,” she said. “They know I am old enough to make my own decisions about what I want to do and who I want to be with. And I give my children the same respect.”
She paused before saying. “Both of my kids—my son and my daughter—were really worried about me after their father died, and for the past six years, I’ve assured them that I was okay. But it wasn’t until I met you that I realized how it feels to live again.”
It had taken nearly twice that long for him to figure out the same thing. “I just want you to be sure about everything, sweetheart,” he said.
“I am. This is where I want to be. You’ve gotten to know Keith—who can be rather protective of me, to put it mildly—and he likes you a lot. Vivian does, too. She told me so after dinner. My kids chose their spouses well, though I have to admit I was worried when Vivian decided to move to Harrison’s home in Sydney after they married. But she is so happy, and now with the baby to keep her busy, she is even happier.”
Richard nodded. “And I’d like to go on record to say I like them, too. You have a beautiful family.”
“Thank you.”
“Now,” Lolita said, pulling him toward the sofa in the suite, “come tell me how things are going with your granddaughter.”
