CHAPTER THREE
He left her in the living room while he headed down a long hallway toward what looked like the kitchen. She looked for the cooler he’d mentioned, surprised when she realized it was a high-end wine cooler complete with a decorative frosted glass door and racks holding what looked like a small fortune in French wine.
She looked for one that was already open, sitting upright rather than on its side in the front of the deluxe cooler. She wasn’t much of an expert on wines but she did know a few names and this was one she’d had before. She poured a small amount in a glass, deciding to wait and see if he wanted some too before pouring for him. For all she knew, he was getting himself a beer in the kitchen.
He came back in, a cheeseboard in his hands laid with a pile of crackers and some brie. That answered that question. She poured a glass for him and joined him by the couch.
“I hope this is okay. It was already open.” She really had to get a grip on her nerves. She hadn’t been in this kind of situation in a long time and didn’t know quite what to do.
“It’s perfect.” He took the glass from her hand, raising it in a toast. “To the start of something great.”
She knew she was blushing as she joined him in the toast. She sipped at her wine, watching him over the rim of her glass. He really was the most devastating man she’d ever known. Well, besides his best friend, Mike. Both of them were potent and way out of her experience.
He placed his glass on the coffee table, then headed for the sound system. It was huge and held a prominent place in the room. Typical of a guy, she thought with amusement. He switched it on and surprised her with his choice of an old Jimmy Buffet album that was one of her favorites.
“Nice choice. I figured you for a classic rock guy. Or maybe jazz.”
He came back to the sofa and gestured for her to sit, following her down. “I like most kinds of music, but I really have to be in the mood for jazz. It’s not one of my favorites. I’d listen to Beethoven before Duke Ellington, I’m afraid.”
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” She nibbled on one of the crackers from the cheese platter.
“Just give me time,” he warned playfully.
“So you’re a Parrothead?” She used the name Buffet fans called themselves.
“Since high school.”
“I didn’t start appreciating his music until college. My roommate dragged me to one of his concerts and I was hooked. I go see him whenever he’s playing nearby.”
“Mike and I have seen him in concert probably a dozen times. Next time, we’ll all go together.”
She liked the idea of that. She liked even more that he was thinking about the future. A future with her in it. Little butterflies started to dance in her tummy at the idea.
“That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“You won’t mind if Mike tags along, will you? He’s my best friend and we tend to stick together like glue, even when we’re off duty. Does that bother you? You know he likes you a lot.”
She thought of all the times the three of them had shared a quiet lunch or a quick cup of coffee before or after class. She’d liked being the only woman at a table with two gorgeous hunks. And they’d never made her feel left out or started talking over her head. They were both gentlemen who were solicitous of her comfort and made her feel good.
“No, I like Mike. You know that.”
“How much?” His teasing eyes challenged her.
“How much what? How much do I like Mike?” Slowly he nodded, the smile still on his face. She liked this playful side of him. “A lot,” she shrugged, teasing right back.
“Enough so that if he’d been bold enough tonight, you’d have gone home with him instead of me?” The lopsided grin on his face didn’t fool her. Like a typical man, he wanted his ego stroked, but she wasn’t averse to that—as long he did some stroking when it became her turn.
“I guess we’ll never know.” She grinned in what she hoped was a mysterious way as she sipped her wine and he seemed to accept her answer for now.
They talked more about general subjects for a little while, comparing likes and dislikes. It was a comfortable conversation and despite the situation, it put her at ease.
She knew that by coming here she was agreeing to spending the night with Peter. Frankly, she’d been fantasizing about it for a long time, but now that the moment was almost upon her, she was nervous.
Peter moved closer to her on the couch, tempting her with a cracker he’d spread liberally with Brie. She took a bite, daring to nibble on his fingers when he didn’t pull away. He held her gaze as he popped the rest of the cracker into his mouth, licking his fingers in a sensual way that made her body flush with heat.
“Lilly…” He seemed to lose his train of thought as their gazes locked and held. “I missed you so much while we were away.”
His confession tugged at her heartstrings. “I missed you too.”
He placed both their glasses on the coffee table, then wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips to hers. The kiss was tempestuous and filled with promise as his hands roamed down her back, to her waist and below, framing her hips as best he could. When he finally let her up for air, she was panting. His kiss lit her insides on fire!
“Lilly, I want you so bad.”
She read the need in his expression. It matched her own. “I want you too, Peter.”
A slow grin spread over his face. He stood, tugging her to her feet beside him. He was much taller than she was, but somehow they fit together comfortably.
“How about a tour of the rest of the house?” He waggled his eyebrows as he tucked her hand into his.
“Let’s start with the bedroom.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
He led her down another hallway to a beautifully masculine bedroom decorated in sophisticated chocolate browns and pale blue. A decorator had to have created the basis for the room, but Peter had added his own personal touches. The room was tidy—everything tucked into draws or in the closet that stood open at one end of the room—but he wasn’t a neat freak, just neat. She liked that.
In fact, she liked everything about him. She’d known him for months now and they’d gotten acquainted little by little. He’d been slowly seducing her with his strong personality for a long time, but she’d only just realized it tonight.
Tonight was the turning point in their relationship. This could be the start of a new era for them as a couple, or it could lead to heartache. Lilly knew she had to take the chance on him. He was just that special.