Long Way Home (23 page)

“No woman, sorry, no high school girl has a chance with me as long as you’re on this earth,” he told her.

He stepped toward her and enfolded her in his strong arms. She loved being held by him, fully and completely.

She stood on her toes and pressed her lips firmly to his. He reached through her hair to cradle the back of her head. He kissed her harder this time, biting her lower lip slightly as he pulled away.

“Why’d you stop?” she asked.

“To be sure I’m not dreaming,” he said. “An outfit like that screams Rated X dream.”

She undid the button and zip on his trousers and slipped her hand inside. “You’re not dreaming.”

He groaned and pulled her in again for a long, lingering kiss. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips. She ran her other hand over his washboard abs and delighted in the smoothness of his skin.

“Tyler Barnes, will you go all the way with me?” she whispered in his ear before flicking the sensitive part of his lobe with her tongue.

She could feel his shaft harden and lengthen in her hand.

“On the bleachers?” he asked. “You really are trying to make all my high school dreams come true.”

“Well, the killjoy in me is pretty sure my back can’t take the discomfort of metal benches,” she said, stroking him while she talked. “So I came prepared.”

He followed her gaze to a spot below the bleachers where a blanket was neatly arranged with throw pillows and a bottle of wine.

“I forgot glasses so we’ll have to drink out of the bottle,” she said sheepishly.

“Drinking from the bottle will bring me right back to high school,” he said. Before she could respond, he lifted her off the ground and carried her down the steps to their oasis under the bleachers.

She ran her tongue lightly along the crook of his neck as he walked and he made sure not to stumble. He placed her gently onto the blanket and hovered above her.

“Now I don’t mean to be the killjoy, but I didn’t exactly come prepared,” he said.

“Reach into my shorts,” she coaxed him.

“Alexis, you’re going to destroy me. I don’t want to touch you any more if we’re going to need to stop.”

She lowered her gaze. “We won’t need to stop.” She turned down the waistband of her shorts and he saw the condom wrapper taped to the inside.

His smile broadened. “You sexy little minx.”

“And I seem to have forgotten my underpants,” she said with a sultry sigh.

The ravenous look in his eyes was intoxicating. He rolled up the bottom of her top to reveal her soft curves and she worked the tight top off over her head. She watched as he admired her breasts, stroking them, and then bent down to taste them. They were fuller now than they’d been in high school, so Alexis figured he was luckier than he realized.

She clutched the back of his head, moaning with pleasure as she felt his tongue flick across her nipples, teasing them.

“The wine’s a screw top,” she said breathlessly, “so we don’t need to worry about a corkscrew.”

“Stop saying screw,” he insisted. “I want to make this last.”

He lifted his face to hers and kissed her again before reaching his hand down into her shorts. He removed them carefully so as not to damage the single condom they had with them. Precious cargo, he thought as he dropped the shorts carefully next to him.

She was completely naked now and he leaned on his side for a moment to admire her, running a hand along her bare skin from below her hip to the curve of her breast. When she arched her back, summoning him, he thrust his fingers inside. He watched with growing excitement as her eyes closed and she tilted her head back, welcoming his touch. She was damp with desire and it made him want her more than ever.

“More,” she begged, pumping against his hand.

He pleasured her with his fingers until he felt her muscles tighten around them. She cried out, euphoric, and Tyler let out a low moan along with her. He was rock hard and ready to go. He slid his fingers out and nipped and licked his way down her torso.

“Tyler,” she breathed.

“What is it?” he asked seductively, running a hand lightly down the length of her.

“I want you,” she said.

His tongue teased her inner thigh. “How badly?”

Her desire was so strong now, she dispensed with the games. She gripped his arm and pulled him up toward her.

“I want to see you, too,” she said, opening her eyes. “All of you.”

He removed his shirt first and enjoyed watching her gaze flicker appreciatively over his torso. Then she reached down to remove the rest of his clothing. Alexis traced a finger lightly along his erection and watched his abs contract in response. She stroked him gently at first and then with growing urgency. Tyler fought through the haze of lust. He wanted to be aware of every second of this.

“Now, Tyler,” she commanded. “I need you now.”

He couldn’t wait anymore either. He tore open the condom and thrust his way inside her before she took her next breath. She gasped as he drove in and out of her, slowly and deliberately, his hands clutching her hips. She raised her legs, trying to feel every inch of him. He lifted her ankles over his shoulders and released a guttural moan as he plunged deeper inside her. Her hips matched his rhythm and he moved faster and faster until her body shook uncontrollably. Tyler watched her face with sheer joy, memorizing her look of contentment. He wanted to bring her that kind of pleasure every day, multiple times if she required it. He wanted to give her everything. With that thought, he exploded into a million thrilling pieces.

“Tell me the truth now that you’ve had me twice,” she said, peppering the top of his head with kisses. “Am I worth the wait?”

He caressed her bare stomach. “Without a doubt. Let’s not wait that long before the next time, okay?”

“How does five minutes sound?”

“Like Heaven.”

“Tyler, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say.” She drew him up to her level so that she could look into his eyes. “I am so in love with you, it hurts.”

His stunned expression was quickly replaced by relief and, finally, pure happiness. He pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her fiercely.

“You know I love you, too. I couldn’t hide it even if I wanted to.” He brushed a stray hair from her face. “Don’t go back to London. Stay.”

Stay. Alexis thought it was the best suggestion she’d heard in a long time.

Chapter Twenty-One

The shrill sound of the house phone pierced the air, jolting Alexis from her sexy daydream. These days she seemed to be having sex with Tyler even when she wasn’t actually with him. Now that she’d had him, she couldn’t get enough of him.

She jumped up from the couch and the magazine that she’d been pretending to read slid to the floor. When she realized that she was the only one home to answer the phone, she ran to the kitchen and plucked it from its cradle.

“MacAdams’ residence,” she said, slightly breathless.

“Alexis MacAdams, I’d recognize that voice anywhere,” a man’s voice thundered.

Alexis knew his as well. Morris, her mother’s boss.

“Hello Morris. It’s nice to hear your voice. My mother isn’t here, though, she’s at Lowry’s.”

“That’s okay. I was calling to speak to you, my dear.”

“Oh.” Alexis couldn’t think why. “How can I help you?”

“Would you be available to meet me at Pacho’s Café in about half an hour?”

She checked her watch. “Sure.”

“Great! I look forward to it.” Morris hung up the phone and Alexis stared into the receiver. She had no idea why Morris would want to see her alone, but at least she only had to wait half an hour to find out.

Alexis recognized Morris instantly. Same characterful clothing, much whiter hair albeit worn in the same slicked back style. His thin lips and large gums seemed more noticeable in his golden years. Alexis remembered reading that, as some people aged, certain features became more exaggerated and she decided that Morris certainly fell into that category.

She stood to greet him as he approached the table.

“My dear, sweet Alexis,” he said as he enveloped her in his paper-thin arms. Alexis worried that she’d snap him if she hugged him too hard.

“It’s good to see you again, Morris.” She sat down and watched uncomfortably as his bony fingers wrapped around the heavy chair and attempted to slide it out. Before she could stand to help, a waiter swooped in and pulled out the chair for him.

“Thank you, Peter,” he said.

“No problem, Morris. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“Surprise me,” he said with a devilish grin. “My companion Alexis will have an iced tea with a slice of lemon.”

Alexis nodded in agreement, shocked that Morris would remember her beverage of choice from her teen years. She’d long dispatched of her iced tea habit since the chilly and damp English climate didn’t warrant it.

“Let me look at you,” Morris declared. After a moment of scrutiny, he announced, “Exactly the same.”

“I was going to say the same to you.”

“Hogwash,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I’m an old man now and I know it. My joints do me the honor of reminding me every morning.”

“My mother says you’re as spry as ever.”

“Liar,” he said, a slow, gum-filled smile spreading across his face. “But do continue to flatter me. It keeps me young at heart, if nothing else.”

“You seem to be as busy with clients as ever. People still trust you with their work.”

Just then Peter stopped at the table with an iced tea and lemon for Alexis and a clear liquid on ice with a slice of lime for Morris. Alexis guessed it was a vodka tonic. She seemed to recall that Morris had a fondness for vodka.

“Let’s be honest,” he said and took a sip of his drink. He smacked his lips together before continuing, “Mangrove Island is hardly a hotbed of legal activity, but it’s real nice, the kind of law I’ve had the privilege to practice. Helping local folks with their needs. Sometimes I think I’m part life coach, part lawyer.”

“It does sound nice,” Alexis agreed and realized with a start that she meant it. After years of inflated egos and unrealistic face time and companies with unlimited funds and the demands to match, Morris’s description sounded like legal bliss. “I helped Betsy with an issue recently and it was so gratifying to see how much it meant to her personally. I never get that from my clients.”

Morris eyed her carefully and Alexis was quickly reminded of his aptitude for, as her mother put it, ‘sussing people out.’

“No, I imagine you wouldn’t,” he agreed.

She swallowed some of her iced tea.

“So how nice does it sound?” He leaned back in his chair now, still assessing her. “Nice enough to want to do it?”

“Are you offering me a job, Morris?” she asked. “Did my mother put you up to this?”

Morris wagged a finger at her. “We are not talking about your mother right now, although we’ll get to the topic of one Tilly MacAdams shortly.”

“I’ve only practiced corporate law, Morris. I don’t have a clue how to do what you do. Helping Betsy was easy. It wasn’t out of my comfort zone.”

“Do you think I came straight here from law school and threw up a shingle? Heck no. I paid my dues in a big Miami firm before I jumped to the island.”

“Really?” Alexis couldn’t imagine Morris in a big firm environment. No wonder he fled for the smallest island he could find. She was surprised she’d never heard mention of it before.

“I remember very well what it’s like.” He took a long sip of his drink. “I also remember very well why I left. It’s not for everyone.” He shrugged. “And you seem too human for that work, Alexis.”

Alexis straightened. For her, that was a pretty huge compliment. “You think so?”

“Heck yes. Somebody who can write beautiful poetry like you is far too human to be a corporate lackey.”

Alexis nearly spit out her iced tea all over the crisp, white tablecloth. “You remember my poetry, too?”

“Hard to forget when I’ve been staring at your poems in my office for the last twenty or so years.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your poems. The one about streets of fire and then the one about the golden summer. I could go on, but I daresay your cheeks have gone magenta.”

Instinctively, Alexis’s fingertips pressed against her cheeks. “They’re in your office?”

“Oh, not all of ‘em. Your mother has a few favorites in picture frames. Helps keep you close by even when you’re far away.” He paused, drinking in her reaction. “You know, Alexis, she couldn’t be prouder of you. I know your relationship isn’t all it could be, but whatever your impression is of your mom, she loves you.”

Alexis bit her lip. Although her relationship with her mother wasn’t any of Morris’s business, she knew he had good intentions, not to mention a daily front row seat. After all, her mother had been working for Morris since before Alexis was born.

“We’re working on it,” Alexis said. “I think we’ve made some progress.”

“You know how you could make even more progress?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Alexis knew what he was going to say. “If I take a job with you?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to offer you a job, Alexis.”

Her eyes widened. “You don’t?”

“No, ma’am. I want to offer you my practice. It’s high time I retire and pass the baton to a worthy lawyer.”

Alexis’s hand flew to her heart. “And you think I’m the right choice?”

“I know you are.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to process his offer. It was so unexpected. “But how do I draft a will? Don’t I need to pass the Florida bar exam? I’m a member of the New York bar.” Her mind was flying in a hundred different directions.

“Now don’t go making a list on me. You’ll remind me too much of your mother.”

“Morris, have you had the practice valued?” Between her savings and Mark’s life insurance and estate, Alexis had plenty of money, but she had no idea how much Morris would want for the practice.

“Lighten up, Alexis, this is Mangrove Island, remember?” To prove his point, he polished off the rest of his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You figure out if you’re interested first and then we can talk down and dirty.”