Best Laid Plans Read Free

his tongue back in his mouth. There was something so sweet and innocent, and yet at the same time so sexy, about her. Would the reality of Violet in the flesh be a disappointment?
    In any case, there had been no thought — certainly no intention — of anything beyond a few hours of flirtation. But Violet had not been a disappointment, and she had invited him to extend the evening. Jake never said no to delightful and unexpected opportunities, or to women as attractive as Violet.
    Richard misunderstood Jake’s negative reply. He nodded, satisfied. “Good. The last thing she needs is someone like you messing up her life.”
    Violet had moved closer to the bar, and Jake heard her tell someone she needed to make a phone call. It was the moment he’d been anticipating ever since they returned from the balcony — the signal.
    He downed the rest of his drink and thumped the unlucky anchorman on the back. “Thanks for the drink, Rayburn, but I have to run.” Since he didn’t plan to take it, he didn’t thank him for his advice.
    • • •
    Unlocking the door to her apartment thirty minutes later, Violet felt a moment of uncertainty. Did this need to happen tonight? Jake lived in Boston; they would be able to see each other after she moved. Maybe she would even be sober. But then he leaned up against her back and kissed the exposed nape of her neck, and she thought she would melt into a puddle on the floor. When she turned to him with the key still in the lock so she could feel his length against the front of her, he pushed his tongue into her mouth again and her doubts disappeared.
    “Inside … ” she gasped.
    After turning on a light in the entryway, she led the way around the stacks of boxes to the bedroom where she’d slept alone for more than two years, ever since the breakup of her last, brief relationship. Once she reached the bed she turned to him, wanting to leave the next move up to him.
    “You’re lovely.” She could feel his hand tremble as he slid the zipper down at the back of her dress. It dropped to the floor in one fluid motion, leaving her naked except for lacy black panties and her shoes.
    As he had earlier on the dance floor, he put his arm around her back and pulled her to him. This time there was no polite space between them. He was still fully dressed, and the roughness of his clothing against her naked skin was incredibly exciting. Even so, she reached up and undid the black bow tie, sliding her other hand inside his jacket at the same time and slipping it off his shoulder.
    He joined in her efforts to remove his clothes, beginning with undoing his belt, but it was a slow process because of frequent stops to slide his hands over her breasts and bottom. Her nipples were stiff from the touch of his fingers, and she was more ready than she’d ever been. Had been ready, in fact, ever since that second kiss on the terrace. She couldn’t wait for him to discover the effect he’d had on her.
    Before he was fully naked himself, he yanked her panties down below her knees and guided her backward until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Kneeling in front of her, he slid them down as far as her ankles, removed both her shoes, and pulled the scrap of black lace over her feet.
    “This is no longer a formal affair, and I’m feeling overdressed.” He stood and began to unbutton his shirt with what she considered agonizing slowness. When he sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her to remove his shoes and socks, she leaned over and caressed the back of his neck. As soon as his hands were free, she grasped the collar of his shirt and slid it down and off his arms, revealing a tanned, well-muscled back with a patch of whiter, ridged and puckered skin covering most of his right shoulder blade. It appeared to be a scar from a bad burn, but she knew this wasn’t the time or place to ask him about it.
    He stood again and stripped off his remaining clothes, then turned and faced her. She was pleased