Love and Romance, etc.
A Free Newsletter for romance novel lovers
By Bonnie Williams
Episode 14
A Serious Matter
“I swear. It wasn’t my fault.”
“Dillion,” Blake’s impatience shone through his tone. “We had a front yard when I left. How could we have a swamp with its own fountain in a matter of hours?”
“Look, all I wanted to do was hose off the driveway.” Dillion’s voice slowed, his words evenly spaced as if explaining himself to a four year old. “I parked my car on the lawn and turned on the hose. Then I don’t know what—“
“Men, what you have here,” said a portly guy with a hardhat and smug know-it-all smirk. “…is a classic case of sewage pipe blockage mixed with unfortunate house location which resulted in a low pressure point. Probably been building up for years.”
“And you are…?” asked Blake.
“Striker.” The man held out his hand to Blake. “Howard Striker. City Sanitation Department.”
“Mister Striker, can you clue me in on what set it off?”
“Well, any added pressure could have done the job. Probably just the added pressure of the vehicle on the lawn could have set it off. I won’t know ‘til we dig up these old pipes to know for sure, but I’d bet dollars for donuts, this here’s a tree-root problem.”
“Tree root?”
“Sure. Probably that one right over there at the front of the house. Fact, that tree may be older than the house itself. Those roots have been known to grow through concrete, causing damage for blocks. They can squeeze these ol’ pipe right in half.”
“Jesus,” muttered Conroy.
“Can you repair it?” Blake asked.
“My boys will give you an estimate. More than likely you’re going to need to replace all them pipes leading from your drainage pipe to the drain field under the street.”
Hicks stood in the sidelines, as a smug observer arms crossed like a head coach watching the team players. What an ass.
“Damn. If it’s not one thing—” Blake’s cell phone hummed at his waist. He removed it from his belt, but who ever it was hung up before he could answer.
“Not much you fellas can do in the mean time,” Striker said.
Blake nodded, glanced at Conroy, then took the opportunity to back away from the immediate problem to try and call Emma again.
He dialed, then waiting for several rings before her machine picked up. Even hearing her cheerful recorded voice raised he spirits. “Please leave a message after the tone…” “Emma? It’s me.” He sighed and thought for a long moment then said, “I miss you. Please call me, honey.” He didn’t hang up right away. But just as he removed the phone from his ear he thought he heard the phone pick up.
“Who is she?” Emma voice was cool and exact. But no less sweet. At least she answered—before her question registered.
“Hey, you’re home.”
“Who is she, Blake?”
“Who’s who?”
“That woman I saw you with? Look, if you don’t want to see me any more—“ Her voice caught.
“Hold it a second. You mean the woman at the vet’s? She an old family friend, Emma.” He lowered his voice. “My brother’s, um,” He glanced in Conroy’s direction. “…friend.” Blake felt elated that she was actually jealous.
“Oh.”
After a long silence he said, “I’m coming over there.”
“No, Blake don—“
He shut off his phone and placed it at his belt. “Hey, Connie? I, uh, need do some damage control.”
“That was her on the phone, wasn’t it?” Conroy asked with a sideways grin at Blake. “Go on. Take care of your lady. I can handle things here.”
“Thanks. There’s food in the fridge, if you can eat with this smell. I’ll be right back.”
“Get out of here already!”
He jogged down the block to her townhouse and knocked on her door, disappointed she wasn’t at the door waiting for him. “Emma, let me in.”
“Go away. I can’t talk to you right now.”
“That’s okay. I’ll do all the talking.” When she said nothing, he thought she might have left the living room. He nearly gave up when she slowly opened the door. “Hi,” he said, and noticed she was wearing that satiny light-green robe he loved on her, and her face was free of makeup. “Will you let me in?”
She stepped aside, let him pass and then closed the door softly, her back to him. Her head was cast down, she wouldn’t look at him. “I…have things to do. So if you don’t mind, you’ll have to talk while I’m doing…stuff.” She walked passed him but didn’t get far. He grasped her upper arm before she could get by.
“Emma?” Her gaze still cast down. “Look at me.” Blake tugged at her chin. She pulled it away, but he grabbed it firmly this time until her eyes met his. They were red and puffy. “You’ve been crying.”
A sob escaped as she tried to break free. She shrugged as pulled from his grasp, then turned and started down the hall.
“Hey, what happened?” He pulled her to him wrapping her in his arms despite her objections. “Tell me.”
She shook her head against his chest. “Damn you, Blake,” she whispered. “Don’t make me fall in love with you.” Her voice made him shudder as she gave him a half-hearted slug to the chest with her palm.
“Where is this coming from? Is this because of the friend you saw me with?” He backed her far enough to look at her face, tilted his head studying her for a moment. A fresh tear fell down her cheek.
She shrugged again. “Maybe. That, among…other things.”
“Are people at that salon filling your ears with garbage? Damn it, if that’s it, Emma, it’s nobody’s business what goes on between you and me, okay?” He placed his palm to her cheek and finally her mouth curved up just enough to form a smile to her face. “That’s better.” Blake felt an unfamiliar ache so intense, it was almost frightening.
“I’m sorry. I just got scared and I don’t like that feeling.” Her cheeks were flushed.
If it was his rough day, her tears, or just pure lust, he wasn’t sure. In an instant he had her pressed hard against him as he pressed his lips to hers. “Emma,” he whispered. He ran his tongue across her lips and when she opened them, inviting him, he delved inside, deeply, thoroughly. She was like ice cream on a hot summer day. Sweet, soft, and addictive. “I want you so much,” he said as he tangled his fingers in her soft hair, gently devouring, tasting. “Only you.”
Her eyes, now heavy-lidded, and her breath uneven, it seemed to him her body was reacting as intensely as his. The sizzling heat was rising between them. He moved with an agonizing slowness, though his body was screaming for release as his erection pressed against her silk-covered belly. He wanted to rip the robe from her, but he knew Emma needed more from him then just sexual heat. He measured her responses, his gaze slowly slipping from her swollen lips from his kisses down to the swell of her breasts, her nipples tantalizing him from beneath the fabric. He stifled a moan when her hands reached under his shirt, raking her fingers through the hair on his chest.
Blake had to see her. He tugged at the center of her robe, and as it fell from one shoulder, exposing one perfect breast, he bent his head down and took one incredible nipple between his teeth and into his mouth. His hands cupped them, firmly squeezing then until the peaks became the color of sweet raspberries. She gasped and held his head to her.
He was quickly losing control. Just the scent of her and the silky smoothness of her skin drove him to the cliffs of madness. No woman had ever made him feel so wanting, so possessive, and so satisfied all at once. Just the anticipation, just knowing she wanted him was enough. If she put a halt on things, he’d still feel as though— “Mmm.” Blake sucked in his breath as her fingers came dangerously close to releasing him from his jeans. He felt his abdomen constrict at the feel of her hands on him. “Honey, don’t start that yet or the night may end sooner than we want.”
“Blake, please.” This time, Emma tugged his head to hers, shifting her head for a full, deep kiss. Hot and wet with need. “I need you. Make love to me, now—” she whimpered.
That was all the encouragement he needed. He swept her up and into his arms and grinned with pure male exhilaration. “Where’s your bedroom, honey?”
THE LONELY GUYS
Copyright© 2004 By Bonnie Williams
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