Читать книгу Remember Me - Laura Browning - Страница 7

Chapter 4

Lucy couldn’t believe how much she looked forward to seeing him the following morning. She took extra care with her clothing and makeup, laughing because she would probably fall on her ass in the snow and no doubt sweat off most of her foundation. When she entered the lobby, Brandon was standing next to a tall, muscular man whose dark hair was pulled into a braid at his nape.

Both men turned at her approach, Brandon with a smile, his companion with an assessing gaze that roamed from her feet and ended on her face. Lucy was used to being sized up by men, but in an overtly sexual way she found easy to ignore. This man’s regard was wary, as if he were deciding whether she was worthy of Brandon’s friendship.

“Lucy, come meet the owner of this place and my good friend, Matt Petersohn. I think I mentioned to you we used to compete together.”

Lucy smiled and shook Matt’s hand. “You did. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m afraid I’m new to skiing, so I’m not familiar with any of the sport’s athletes.”

“Your newness is why I’m here. Bran mentioned wanting to take you to one of the runs higher on the mountain. I rated it advanced because of the length, but the vertical drop is gradual enough that a less experienced skier would be safe—as long as she’s in great shape.”

Lucy laughed. “So you’re here to check me out?”

“That’s right. Why don’t we grab some breakfast first, and then I’ll join you for a couple of trips down the Lodge View trail.”

“You don’t mind, do you, Lucy?” Brandon asked. She detected just a trace of worry in his voice.

She smiled at them. “Not at all. The fact you would bother makes me feel a lot more secure about even attempting such a thing.”

Brandon grinned. “Great.”

She watched Matt’s easy manner with his employees and his guests and was impressed. There was no doubt he was in charge, but he treated everyone with equal politeness. His employees greeted him by first name. After they finished eating, he stood. “I’ll grab my jacket and my gear and meet you at the lift in about fifteen minutes. Good for you?”

“Sure thing, Matt,” Bran assured him. As he and Lucy went to get their equipment, Brandon grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alcove near the door. He took his time, kissing her on the lips, then grinned into her face. “Good morning. I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you. Are you sure you’re okay with Matt evaluating you?”

“Not a problem.” She didn’t want to tell him it made her feel cared for, and it had been so long since anyone had looked out for her best interests. But it warmed her, and Lucy held onto the feeling.

Matt was there at the lift and, this early in the morning, just a few hardy skiers were already out. They shared the chair, Lucy sandwiched between the two men. When they reached the top, Matt indicated they should go to the left.

“Lodge View’s a pretty quiet run. Did you do it yesterday?”

Brandon shook his head. “I kept her on the other side, on the shorter run to give her more experience getting on and off the lift, that kind of thing.”

Matt smiled at her. “This run has a few turns a little tighter than what you did yesterday, but it will give us a chance to see if you can maneuver well enough, plus the length will be a good indication if you’ve got the stamina for a longer run.”

Lucy grinned at them. “I’m game.”

In all fairness, she was fit enough from dancing she’d had no soreness whatsoever following skiing yesterday. Matt stepped up the pace a bit, so the run today demanded more concentration, but when they reached the bottom, she now saw a gleam of approval on Brandon’s friend’s face.

He clapped her on the shoulder. “You might be new to skiing, but it’s obvious you keep yourself fit.” He looked at Brandon. “Go on. I just wish I could join you, dude, but I’ve got to go over supply orders with my managers. Stop by my office when you get back and let me know how it goes.”

“No problem.”

Brandon put an arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “Ready, baby?”

She nodded. “If you two think I can do it, I’ll give it a try.”

By the time they returned to the lodge at lunchtime, Lucy was glowing with exertion and couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun. Brandon slung his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She fit perfectly along his side, and her smoldering attraction caught fire.

“I ordered lunch in my suite. I’ve also got a whirlpool tub in the master bath if you’d like to work out a few kinks.” He glanced at her with a sly grin. “It’s big enough for two.”

Heat raced through her. It must have shown because the grin left his face and his green-gold eyes blazed like the sun.

When he spoke again, his voice was a throaty growl. “What would you say to trying the tub first?”

Lucy could be nothing other than honest. “Yes.”

He hurried her through the lodge. When he opened the door with his key card, she noticed a slight tremble in his fingers. Apparently they were both turned on. He proved it true as soon as the door shut behind them. His fingers went to the zipper on her jacket, sliding it down at the same time he leaned in to kiss her.

“Damn, baby,” he choked, drawing back. “I swore I would go slow with you this time around, but every time I get near you, I feel like an out-of-control teenager. I’m so damn hard right now.”

She was feeling the same way, and was already working on his clothing. With his jacket unzipped, she slipped her hands inside and around him until she could pull him into her. When his hips met her stomach, his erection rubbed her. Lucy gulped.

“You know, slow can be for after lunch. Let’s just do fast now.”

He pulled back a bit and stared into her face for a moment before the hard planes of his softened and he chuckled. “I am so with you.”

Laughing together, they stripped off their clothing. Lucy finished first and took a moment to enjoy the pure, masculine beauty of him. Dark gold hair covered his chest and arrowed down to his thick cock. When she saw how hard he was, she gulped and took off down the hall to the bathroom with Brandon right behind her. She had already turned on the taps when he caught her and spun her into his arms.

“I watched your tight little ass swaying in front of me all morning and could barely concentrate on skiing because of the effect you were having on my body. Now, it’s a question of if I can wait long enough to get you in the tub, if I bend you over right here or set you on the counter and just spread you open.”

Lucy took a step toward him and twined her arms around his neck. She had never felt so comfortable right off the bat with any man, and though she trembled with arousal, there was no hesitation in her. “Let’s start with the last and work our way backward.”

“I like the way you think, lady.”

Brandon’s hands slid down her back, cupped her bottom and lifted her. She almost gasped when the contrast of the cold marble vanity touched her overheated skin. Brandon’s hands slid along her thighs, flooding her with even more sensation. While one held her hip, the other dipped and cupped her sex. Now she did gasp. Then he slipped a finger inside and she moaned.

“Look at me, Lucy,” Brandon ordered, and she glanced up from what he was doing. His gaze burned. “I want you right now. Nice can come later.”

His fingers moved and she threw her head back. “Please,” she choked. She heard the slide of a drawer, his fingers withdrew for a moment and the sound of a foil packet tearing followed. Then there was another, thicker probing between her legs. Lucy’s eyes snapped open, and she met his gaze.

“Now,” she hissed.

He thrust into her, filling her until she was positive she would burst with pleasure. When he began to stroke, she moaned. Skin slapped against skin. They panted. Forget gentleness. Brandon’s lovemaking was fast, hot and intense, and their releases tumbled one over the other with equal fury. He leaned his forehead on the top of her head, and Lucy held onto his shoulders, afraid she would collapse into a boneless puddle at his feet. She couldn’t think, just feel.

Gradually, the sound of running water intruded. Her breathing settled.

“The bath,” Lucy gasped.

“Shit!” Brandon withdrew, turned the taps off, then stripped the condom from himself. “In the nick of time, though I suspect we’ll overflow it when we get in.” He arched a brow at her. “Ready?”

“Absolutely.”

* * * *

Brandon tossed the condom in the trash, his heart beating double-time. Last night had surprised him with its intensity, just now had shocked the shit out of him. He’d had his share of lovers, even had a couple of women he’d thought he was serious about. He’d never had anyone like Lucy.

“You getting in?” she asked.

He smiled at her. “Yeah.” As he’d suspected, the water overflowed onto the tile. When Lucy cast a worried glance at it, he grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to the concierge about getting someone in to clean it.”

She nodded and eased back, sinking to her shoulders. “Oh Lord, that feels good. I often indulge myself at home once I’ve worked out at the Y.”

Brandon climbed in facing her, more water sloshing over the sides. Lucy had her eyes closed, her expression peaceful. She looked beautiful. She looked like she fit in his life. He wanted more than this week. He wanted them to become a couple when this vacation was over with. And when had he become tied to a female like his pathetic elder brother? Seth’s sole focus these days was Tessa, especially with her getting so close to delivering their child. He’d watched the protectiveness with amusement, but now he understood. Lucy had knocked him sideways, and he wasn’t at all sure she was even aware of it.

He caught her foot beneath the water and began to massage it. Her eyes fluttered open and she purred. No other way to describe it and, oh man, did it make him go hard again. Too bad he hadn’t brought a condom with him. Her foot brushed his cock. Now her eyes snapped open.

“Brandon?”

He nodded. “Oh yeah, I’m hard again, but I’ll live.”

“Yes, but I don’t want you in pain.” She shifted positions until she had somehow scooted between his legs. Her hand wrapped around him.

“Oh man.”

He let her caress him until he was afraid he couldn’t handle it any longer. When he rose from the tub, he held his hand out to her. “Come on. Grab some towels. We’ll continue this in bed.”

They took turns drying each other off, and if their efforts became caresses and kisses rather than toweling dry, Brandon had no complaint. Now, with his lips traveling across Lucy’s taught belly to the weeping heat of her sex, he doubted she had any complaints either. At last, he would show her the exact way he wanted to pleasure her. She was so responsive, her body moving with him and her cries filling the air, that when he tasted her, his body tightened with the need to come yet again.

Not yet. Not this time. This time was for her and her only. But in the end, Lucy wouldn’t let it happen with her as the sole focus. She pleasured him in return. Now at long last, they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, the covers drawn up while they dozed in the aftermath of what they’d shared.

Brandon had found the one thing he had doubted he ever would—his woman.

It took a while, but hunger drove them into the living room. Lucy was once again in his Nationals sweatshirt and boxers, while he’d pulled on flannel sleep pants and a t-shirt.

“This is getting to be a habit,” Lucy joked.

“Mmm. One I think I like. Eat up, baby. I want to take you into town this afternoon.”

They showered together after lunch, though it took some time to finish playing and start washing. Back in their skiwear, with snow boots replacing ski boots, Brandon dropped an arm around her shoulders and guided her out to his rental car. The trip was a winding one, but beautiful, made more so by the woman sitting next to him. Wow, he had gone nuts.

Once they reached Falcon’s Head, Brandon had to juggle for a place to park. At the tail end of the ski season, it seemed everyone was trying to get one last trip in. Afraid they would become separated, Brandon took Lucy’s hand and laughed when she raised one brow at him. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Her smile altered, her gaze grew serious. “You won’t. Not if you don’t want to.”

“Lucy…” He brought her hand to his lips. “Come on. Let’s go in here.” He drew her in off the crowded sidewalk, not even sure what kind of store they were entering.

“Oh!” At her delighted exclamation, Brandon realized they’d entered a small art gallery. And she had a masters in art history. He couldn’t have planned it better if he’d tried.

“Would you like to look around?”

She smiled, her gray eyes alight. “You don’t mind?”

An unaccustomed feeling of tenderness welled in him at the look of excitement on her face. Her gaze was drawn to a section including pottery and sculpture.

“Oh. Brandon. Look!” She pulled him by the hand over to a sculpture of a cowboy huddled on his horse as if seeking shelter from inclement weather. “I think this is a real Frederic Remington sculpture…not a reproduction.”

“How can you tell?” He was curious.

She bent closer to the sculpture. “The base is the first clue. A lot of reproductions are mounted on marble bases. It’s very rare to see an original one outside a museum anymore. And I see this one is not for sale. No surprise there. When an original goes up for sale, it’s a big deal, like a Sotheby’s or Christie’s auction.”

He could see how much she wanted to put her hands on the artwork, and knew admiring art was not her true love. She looked at it with the desire to create, to be able to feel what the artist had felt beneath her own fingers.

“I see you’re admiring the Remington.” An older woman, either the owner or manager, approached them. “It is an original, and not for sale, I’m afraid.”

“I thought it might be an original, but of course without being able to see the foundry mark and numbering…”

The woman’s eyes lit. “You’re familiar with authenticating art work?”

Lucy shifted. “I’m an art historian, but not professionally. I also work in clay.”

Brandon stepped back and observed, seeing a side to Lucy that was new to him. Her personality was happy and easygoing, so envisioning her being intense about anything was difficult. But when it came to discussing art, she was in her element. He followed the two women from the Remington to a display of Native American pottery.

The owner handed her a pot, which Lucy examined in detail. “This is modern pottery,” the owner said, “an olla, done in the traditional style.”

“What’s an olla?” Brandon inquired.

Lucy answered him. “It’s a type of unglazed pot that’s been a staple of most Southwestern Native American tribes for more than a thousand years. The jar would be used for soups, stews…any number of things. Ollas exist in every culture, but this style is consistent with this part of the country.” She turned to the owner. “It’s fantastic there are still potters keeping the tradition alive.”

They looked at some more pots, Brandon content to walk behind the two women. “So are you a potter?” the gallery owner inquired.

“Yes. I learned it from my grandmother. I had to give it up for a few years, but I’ve been working with several designs, some on the wheel, but others using a coil technique like many of the eastern Native American cultures.”

“Do you have any of your work on display?”

Lucy shook her head. Brandon saw her blush. “I haven’t made a determined effort to market it yet, so I guess it’s more of a hobby right now.”

“If you’re interested in pottery, you should go over to the museum in Coyote Creek. It’s a long drive from here, but you can fly it in less than an hour.”

Lucy started to shake her head. Brandon spoke. “I have a pilot’s license.”

The owner brightened. “You can rent a plane at Air Service at the airport. Pilots are available most of the time, but if you have your pilot’s license, you could fly it yourself.”

Brandon wanted to be able to give the trip to Lucy. He’d seen just how much pleasure being able to look around the gallery and talk to the owner had given her. He could imagine the trip to Coyote Creek would be even better. “We may do that. Thanks for the suggestion.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, then said their goodbyes. Lucy was almost bouncing on her toes she was so excited. Brandon grinned. She looked at him and laughed. “I’m having so much fun. Thank you for bringing me into town.”

He caught her hand as they started past a coffee shop. “How about some coffee and a snack? We can plan our trip to Coyote Creek.”

She stopped. “You don’t have to do arrange a trip, Brandon. You came here to ski. I’ve already taken you from the slopes.”

They found a table in a corner. “How do you figure?”

“This trip to town for starters. Admit it. Without me, you wouldn’t be here. You’d be on the slopes with Matt. And you for darn sure wouldn’t be skiing down even advanced trails. You’d be on the expert slopes.”

The waitress stopped by to get their order. After Lucy ordered a skim latte with an extra shot of espresso, Brandon smiled. “Make it two, and bring a couple of those chocolate croissants.”

“Brandon!” Lucy protested. “I can’t eat that.”

He arched a brow at her. “Who said it was for you? And the first thing you should understand about me is I never do anything I don’t want to do. Spending time with you? That’s something I want. And I would like nothing better than to fly us both over to Coyote Creek tomorrow.”

She leaned back and crossed her arms across her chest. “To look at pottery?”

He leaned forward, his arms crossed on the table. “To look at you looking at pottery. A distinction that makes it all worthwhile for me.”

She flushed. Another thing he liked about her. Even though she oozed confidence in herself and her body, there were times when he had to wonder if some of it wasn’t simply an image she forced herself to project. Now she nibbled her lower lip, worrying it until he wanted to lean forward and kiss her.

“All right,” she said at last.

Brandon smiled. “Well, since I have your agreement, let me try something else. Care to spend the night with me? I want to make love to you right in front of the fireplace.”

Her lips parted, but she was forestalled from a response when their waitress showed up, setting their lattes and the two chocolate croissants right in front of them. Once she had departed, leaving the check facedown on the table, Brandon raised his brows.

“Well?” Inside, he worried for an instant she might say no. Then she grinned and tilted her head.

“You don’t snore, do you?”

“Not that I know of. What about you?”

“My cat will never tell.”

* * * *

Lucy had to keep reminding herself what was between Brandon and her was only a little vacation romance. She couldn’t consider this as serious because what was happening was a slice out of time. He was like a dream, the fulfillment of a fantasy, but when this week was over, reality would return. She would return to taking her clothes off for money, and he would no doubt be back in the boardroom, his adventures with her no more than a memory.

“So, will you stay with me tonight?”

She should say no. That would be the safe way, but when she looked into his hazel eyes, there was only one answer. “Yes.”

Those eyes of his heated, like watching the glow of a fire when a log had been tossed on top. The heat warmed her, made her feel the answer she’d given was the right one. Brandon cut a bite of croissant. “Eat, Lucy.” She started to shake her head. “Let me feed you. Just this once.”

She took the flaky delicacy from the fork, her eyes closing with bliss at the combination of buttery crust and smooth chocolate filling. She swallowed. “You are a dangerous, dangerous man.”

He carried her hand to his lips. “If we were someplace a little less public, I would show you how dangerous.”

“Brandon?” A woman interrupted in a drawl of bored sophistication. Lucy caught a trace of a scowl cross Brandon’s lean features before his expression assumed a bland social veneer she had never seen.

“Taylor. Slumming? I thought Aspen was a little more your speed.”

“Mother wanted someplace quiet and said she needed my support, so here I am.”

“Well, I hope you have a marvelous time. We were just leaving.”

They were? Lucy kept a pleasant smile on her face. Brandon got to his feet, so she followed suit. The smaller woman eyed Lucy’s height as if she were akin to a giraffe in the zoo.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Brandon eyed the other woman with what appeared to be distaste and then did something Lucy would never have imagined.

“No.” Taking Lucy’s hand, he tossed a twenty on the table and pulled her out onto the street. She let him march her along the sidewalk in the direction of their parked car for about a hundred yards and then planted her feet.

“Would you like to explain the little scene back there?” Although she tried to ignore it, some of those insecurities from an adolescence spent being bounced from home to home surfaced once more. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

Brandon spun and stared at her, his brows drawn together in a thunderous frown. “What? You think blowing her off was because of you?” He grabbed her, holding her for a moment as if he wanted to shake her. Instead, he snatched her to him and buried his face in her hair. “Never, Lucy,” he growled. “I didn’t want to introduce you to her because she’s a first class bitch. My sister Anna went to school with her. Taylor was one of a group of girls who tormented the hell out of her. You are too good for the Taylors of this world.” He leaned back and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Come on, lady. Let’s get to Falcon’s Summit. I’d like to spend the evening and the night making love to you.”