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He looked at the glossy pictures she pointed to. Décor and aesthetics weren’t part of the package Lowell Construction offered, and normally his clients just told him what they wanted, no opinions necessary, and he built them into the design. But everything Tempest wanted to do to this building interested him, and while any final decisions would be up to her, he wanted to make sure he gave her as much guidance as he could, as well as an honest point of view.
“You definitely want to go with recessed lighting right behind the bar area where the glass shelves will be,” he suggested, then tapped on the photo of the pendant light fixtures in the catalog. “But I think this sleek, contemporary design would be more eye-catching dropping down from the ceiling where customers will be sitting at the bar.”
She bit her lip so seriously as she considered his advice, which he found incredibly endearing, then she nodded. “I think you’re right.”
They spent another hour discussing options, ideas, and placement of various furniture and fixtures. Her eyes sparkled vibrantly, her expressions animated as they nailed down specifics.
“I’ll start pulling permits and submit my plans to the city for approval,” he said once he saw Tempest winding down and they were about ready to leave.
She smiled up at him. “That sounds great.”
He pushed his hands into the front pockets of his work jeans, still dusty and dirty from a day on the job, and felt for the velvet pouch he’d put into one of them earlier. It was a small gift for Tempest, to commemorate this special day for her. A spur-of-the-moment purchase after seeing one of those random ads pop up on his social media page.
It wasn’t like it was an engagement ring, but he was suddenly, ridiculously nervous as he withdrew the pouch and stretched his hand toward her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d given a woman a gift just because he’d wanted to. “I . . . uh . . . have something for you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she set her stack of catalogs on the concrete floor and tentatively accepted the sm
all velvet bag. “What is this?”
“Just a small gift,” he said with a forced casual shrug, wondering if she’d find his present silly. He was suddenly second-guessing himself and his random purchase, though it hadn’t been cheap. “To remember this day and all the great things you’re going to accomplish with Wilder Things.”
Her expression softened. “How incredibly thoughtful.”
He watched her pull open the strings on the pouch, then tip the bag until the memento dropped into her palm. Her breath caught as the overhead light glinted off a round silver disc key chain and the W in a feminine script that was encrusted in red Swarovski crystals.
“It’s beautiful,” she said in awe.
He watched as she immediately transferred the building key over to her new key chain, then she glanced up at him, and the smile she gave Remy made his heart skip a weird beat before resuming at a rapid pace.
“Thank you.” She closed her fingers over the gift as if she’d never let it go, then moved in closer and rose up on her toes to brush her lips over his. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
He groaned. Her kiss was soft, sweet, and filled with gratitude, but it sparked a raw, needy desire for her he instinctively acted upon. Sliding an arm around her waist, he brought her body flush with his and slanted his mouth over hers in a deeper, tongue-tangling kiss. Still slow. Still soft. And filled with so much longing his entire being ached for her.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his lips once he finally ended the kiss, and his mind answered, I’ve missed you, too. Because it was the inescapable truth. This woman was already leaving an indelible mark on him.
She pulled back so she could look up into his eyes, her expression one of irresistible seduction. “Now how about you take me back to your place so we can celebrate this occasion properly?”
He grinned, his body totally on board with her idea. “Let’s go.”
Since they’d taken separate cars, Tempest followed Remy back to his place in her own vehicle, where they parked side by side behind his office building in a residential area. From the outside, a flight of steps led up to his apartment, and within a few minutes, he had the door unlocked and escorted her inside.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, then indicated his dusty work clothes. “Give me a few minutes to take a quick shower, and then we’ll let the celebrating commence.” He winked at her.
He disappeared into the only adjoining room, which she assumed was the bedroom and bath, leaving her in the sparsely decorated kitchen/living room area. The place was small but tidy, with one long leather couch, a coffee table, and a TV mounted on the wall. He was, for sure, a minimalist.
She glanced around, trying to find more personal items to give her a better insight to this man she was falling for, but there were no knickknacks, pictures, or anything else that might give away a few of his secrets.
Hearing the shower turn on, she strolled into the small bedroom, also surprisingly clean for a bachelor. Even the bed was made. But again, no personal touches anywhere.
Wanting to surprise him when he walked out of the bathroom, Tempest slipped out of her heels, then took off her skirt and blouse, folding both and placing them on top of a short, functional dresser. In hopes of sexy times happening this evening with Remy, she’d worn a bra and panty set from her seductive collection—a provocative balconette bra that pushed her breasts up, gave her amazing cleavage, and covered just above the nipple. Except the racy red lace cups were sheer, which would give Remy a teasing glimpse of what was beneath. Same with the skimpy thong, which had been made more for seduction than practicality.
The water shut off, and a few short minutes later, Remy walked out of the bathroom, wearing a towel wrapped low around his hips and nothing else. As she saw him naked for the first time, his gorgeous, sculpted body took her breath away, and she took in his wide shoulders, a strong chest, and the taut muscles along his abdomen that disappeared beneath the towel. His hair was damp and had been finger combed away from his face, and he stopped in his tracks when he saw her standing by the bed in her sexy red ensemble.
His eyes heated, and a low, tortured groan rose up from his chest. “I feel like my birthday came early,” he murmured, eating her up with his hungry gaze.
A rush of desire swirled low in her belly. “When is your birthday?” A part of her expected him to skirt the personal question, but he told her the date, which was surprisingly soon.
“Not that I celebrate,” he said huskily as he closed the distance between them and caressed a finger along the low-cut design of the bra she wore, making her nipples pucker hard and tight with the need to feel his mouth on them. “But if I did, this is what I’d want my present to be.”
