Dreams Don't Wait (Contemporary romance) (20 page)

"I know what you're trying to do, but it won't work. I love you, and I want to go where those words lead." He struggled against his natural impatience and kept the words soft.

Her gaze turned again to the horizon. Her way of detaching. But this time he touched her chin to bring her back to him. He let out a long breath and conceded. It wasn't his normal M.O. to back off, but if that's what Evan wanted, that's what she'd get. He had a week, and he wasn't going to mess up the chances that came with it. "Okay, I won't push it. For the next few days, we'll just enjoy each other." He stroked her cheek and grinned. "Fair enough?"

Her tense expression eased, and she nodded.

"After all, you did promise to help me with these," he said, as the waiter put a plate of raw oysters in front of him.

She looked down at the slick, oozy creatures resting in their shells, and grimaced. "They look like seepage." Her eyes lifted to Linc, she cocked her head. "Can you guarantee that you're worth it?"

"Absolutely. Haven't I already given you a preview?"

Evan laughed outright and her eyes danced. "That's what I like about you, Linc, your refreshing humility."

He lifted one of the oyster shells to her lips, dipping it slightly so its contents started to slide. "We only have a week. I don't have time to be humble. Now"—he tipped the shell—"open up."

She straightened, swallowed, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth. The oyster slid down her throat like tide over smooth stones.

* * *

When they got back to the house, it was dark. Linc activated the garage door opener; a light came on, and he drove the car in. When the door closed behind them, he turned the car off, but made no move to get out of the car.

Evan pulled a knee up and turned sideways to look at him. "Thank you—for a great day. I loved the puppies."

"What about the oysters?" he teased, reaching for her. His hand went around the back of her neck, and his thumb gave it a light, sensuous massage.

"Especially the oysters."

He brushed his mouth over hers, returning to nibble on her lower lip. She smiled, and he kissed the comer of it before running his tongue along the seam of her lips.

She put her arms around his neck and smiled into his eyes. "But I have to say your mouth on mine beats an oyster hands down." She moved closer until her breasts touched the wall of his chest.

He crushed her against him, taking them both deeper into the kiss, then groaned in frustration and released her. "This is the last time I kiss you in this car," he said. "It's a lousy place for seduction." He leaned back against the side window. Draping one arm on the steering wheel while bracing the other against the seat, he sucked in some air.

Evan took the same position on the other side of the car, and he knew she shared his frustration. "I think you're right."

The light that had come on automatically when he'd opened the garage door went out, and they were plunged into darkness.

"We'd better go. Maud will be wondering what we're doing in here," Evan said, reaching for the door handle.

His voice, not his touch, stayed her hand. It was impatiently demanding and he said only one word. "Later."

Evan's hand stilled on the handle. "Later," she said.

He hated that she hesitated, but he'd live with it. "Good, now let's go say good night to Jenny." He opened the car door.

"You say good night to her. I think I'll go straight to the cabin. I'll see you later."

Linc watched her go. There was something he didn't like about the way she walked away from him. He frowned. He thought he knew Evangeline North, or was at least starting to, but the set of her shoulders as she left him told him he still had a lot to learn. She's damn near as self-protective as I am. Which meant only one thing—it could be a long siege.

* * *

Evan let herself in, closed the cabin door, and leaned against it. What had she let herself in for?
One week.
That's what she'd said, and now after one day, she wasn't sure she could handle it. A week with a man like Linc, and he'd be set rock-hard in any woman's heart. Besides, she was so needy. She closed her eyes.

So damned needy.
She lost it when he kissed her, touched her, spoke to her in his deep, caressing voice.
One week.
She wanted it. Didn't want it. It was a mistake. It was right. She banged her head back against the door.

You've got dreams, woman. You can't shove them aside the minute a man crooks his finger at you. You did that—twice—remember? You're supposed to learn from history, not repeat it.

You were a kid; she argued herself. Yes, a kid, but you were still
you
, still the one who put her dreams on hold because of love, lust, or whatever. Nothing's changed.

She stepped away from the door and headed for the shower.

Dreams...

Her crazy dreams, held onto for so long, it seemed they'd been a part of her forever.

Could be that Lincoln Stewart is the best dream of all.

She shut down that wistful voice in her head.

She had a week and she'd take it—and not go beyond it. This she could do. Nothing more.

She was curled up on the sofa with
The Life of Elizabeth I
when she heard Linc's rap on the door. She closed the book, but didn't get up.

"Come in. The door's open." She tried to calm her thumping heart by hugging the book to her breasts.

Linc stepped in and looked around. The room was lit only by Evan's reading lamp; it shone on her like a spotlight. He bent to kiss her lightly, careful to keep his hands behind his back. They were holding something.

"What's that?" She gave him a stern look. "You're not going to ply me with alcohol again, are you?"

"Nope, I'm on a whole new tack." He held out one hand with a flourish. "Apple pie. Specifically
, Maud's
apple pie. It was just sitting there, cooling, doing absolutely nothing, so... I lifted it." He raised his other hand. "And this is—"

"Ice cream." Evan got to her feet, put her hands firmly on his shoulders, and pointed him toward the kitchen. "Take your ill-gotten gains in there and dish them out. It's best we destroy the evidence ASAP."

"My plan exactly."

They filled their plates with pie and ice cream and returned to the sofa. Rich coffee followed, with some smoky jazz providing accompaniment. Evan stared into the unlit fireplace, content and relaxed sitting there with Linc. Closing her eyes, she prayed she'd still be there in the winter to warm herself at the hearth's first blaze. And while her optimistic nature said, why not, another voice chided her weakness.

In the next instant, Linc's hand curved around the back of her neck.

"You're much too far away. Come here." He drew her across his lap and nuzzled at her throat. "You're beautiful," he whispered. "And it's been a pleasure to share my booty with you." He smiled at her before his eyes ranged upward to her dark hair. He lifted it to let it spill over his big hand. "I love your hair—like ebony silk." He crushed it in his fist and his eyes darkened, never lifting from hers. "I want you. I ache with wanting you."

His words took her breath away—and what was in his eyes, more than lust, more than want, scared her. For a second she couldn't think. "You're sure that's not the oysters talking?" she asked, in a rocky effort to lighten things up.

Seeming caught off guard by her flip comment, Linc tilted his head, didn't say anything for a second, then ruffled her hair. "You're determined not to let this get serious, aren't you?"

"Wrong. My plan is to get
very
serious."
And stay in the moment. That I can handle.
Her hand flowed over the denim covering his erection, and she traced his zipper with one slow finger. He lifted toward her hand, and she pressed her palm flat against his rigid length.

A second later she was pinned under him on the sofa. She grinned up at him. "Too serious for you?" she asked with feigned innocence. He took a deep breath, then his lip curled ominously. He held her hands over her head with one of his and started to undo the buttons on her blouse.

"Teasing can be a dangerous game. One you could lose. You do know that?"

"A girl can hope."

He laughed, then finished his work undoing her buttons. When she was braless, he muttered his approval. He kissed one breast, then the other, before licking one pointed tip and taking it in his mouth. She squirmed under him, every nerve heightened by the pull of his mouth. His attention fully on her breasts, he let go of her arms, freeing his hands to mold their sides. She tangled her fingers in his hair.
Golden silk
. His teeth grazed a hardened nipple before he lifted his head to look at her. "Is that the game you had in mind?" He pulled down the zipper of her jeans.

"Exactly," she mumbled, lifting to the hand he inserted between denim and silk. "Is there a time limit?"

He kissed her ear, his breath a whisper. "No limits, love. No limits at all."

* * *

Thursday morning, before Linc left for the mainland, he strode the short distance to her cabin, kissed her potently enough to ensure she'd miss him, and told her he'd back in time for Maud to go see her sister.

Evan stood on the porch, touched her fingers to her lips, and watched him go. Her emotions were a jumble. Since Sunday they'd scarcely been apart. She'd even passed up overtime at work, something she never did. She felt a twinge of guilt about that but not about the time, the precious stolen hours, she'd had with Linc.

When she'd decided to spend time with him, she hadn't expected how deeply it would affect her. It wasn't because he was a spectacular lover—a faint flush warmed her cheeks at the thought of just how spectacular he was—or because of his lethal abundance of masculine charm.

So what was it?

Evan went into the cabin and idly picked up a few books and newspapers. Because he's funny, proud, possessive, arrogant, occasionally sweet, and—at times—achingly vulnerable, she thought. She loved his moods, his intensity, how dedicated he was to his work—and his eyes, at times contemplating her as though she were a
fascinating
riddle he couldn't solve. She stacked the newspapers in the recycling box.

So what's the problem? She straightened.

Maybe there wasn't one. Maybe...

The air rushed from her lungs, and she sat, stunned, on the edge of the sofa. A shiver rippled through her, a mixture of excitement and fear. Until now she hadn't really considered it, but could she?...

No!

She stood as abruptly as she'd sat down. She paced.

Crazy. She was crazy. Actually thinking of setting aside her dreams and plans—school, travel, all of it—to become Mrs. Lincoln Stewart! Marry Linc? It would never work. She paced some more. God, she even had Cal's approval.

What about Jenny?

Evan closed her eyes, and her love for Jenny merged with her feelings for Linc. She could take care of Jenny. Of course she could. She had raised Cal; she could raise Jenny. Everything
could
work out—if she wanted it to. All she had to do was put her own selfish goals aside.

Weak, drained, and more than a little afraid, she stepped out on the porch and took a deep breath. She looked out on, but didn't see, the ocean and the clouds scudding on the horizon. Instead she saw a family—Linc, Jenny, Cal, and her—exactly the way Linc wanted it.

Linc.

She couldn't lie to herself; she loved him, deeply, wildly. Madly. All she had to do was put her dreams on hold, and give that love a chance. A smile played across her mouth.

* * *

"So I guess that's it. My taxi's here." Maud reached for her bag. "I'm sure Linc won't be much longer, Evan."

"Will you stop worrying, Maud. Just get going. Sometimes I think you and Linc have forgotten the reason I'm in that nice, very free, cabin? As I recall, it was for exactly this kind of emergency."

"You know, I think we have forgotten. I guess we think of you more as a part of the family than a baby-sitter."

"That's nice." Evan kissed the older woman lightly on the cheek. "Now go. Jen and I will be fine."

"She's already eaten, and I told her she could watch a nature program. She should go to bed right after that. No excuses," Maud added firmly.

Evan gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am.
Now
will you go?" After Maud left, Evan returned to the kitchen. She finished the few remaining dishes, then cuddled up with Jenny on the family-room sofa. The nature program, as it turned out, was about insects. In gruesome magnification, they foraged, killed, and ate one another. Evan was about to turn Jen's interest elsewhere when she noticed the child was falling asleep. She helped her off the sofa.

"Come on, sweetie, I think we'd better get you to bed."

Once upstairs, Evan tucked her in and kissed her. After yesterday's soul-searching, putting Jenny to bed on this night was different. A preview of nights to come? Evan wondered. She stroked back the sleeping child's pale hair. "Sleep tight, Jen," she said, pulling the door to a partial close and leaving a triangle of light at the base of her bed.

Back downstairs, she settled back into the nature program, a cup of tea at her side, and waited for Linc. It wasn't long before she dozed off. Television was a reliable sedative.