Chapter 4
4
BEN
M y life has completely changed ever since I met Iris. Of course, she didn’t have anything to do with one job being postponed and two others going much more quickly than expected, but still. It feels like everything is falling into place.
She’s also given me an excuse to visit Endless Waves, a beachy restaurant by the water that according to the sign out front is under new management. Laughing about the ridiculous cocktail names and themed food gets the conversation going, and it never stops.
After we finish an incredible meal, my arm slips around her waist, pulling us together in the booth. “I honestly would never have thought of calling in a cleaning service. I expected to bust my butt sweeping and mopping.”
Iris laughs, the sound so sweet and precious that my hand squeezes her waist tighter. “That’s the thing about hiring experts. A job that would take you ten hours will take them two, and the end result will be better.”
My lips brush across her temple. “You’re so smart. I like that.”
She looks up at me, biting that perfect bottom lip for a split second. “Hmm. Not about everything.”
“Of course not. Nobody is smart about everything. But hey – if you ever need kitchen cabinets, or any renovations, I’m your guy. Or if you need expert advice on any of the local baseball teams.”
“I like that you work with your hands.” Her fingertips dance lightly around the back of my hand, then up my forearm. “No, what I meant was, I’m not smart about…this. Relationships—” Her head shakes. “I shouldn’t have said that. I mean, dating.”
“Angel.” I’ve never called anyone that before in my life, but the endearment just pops out and feels completely natural. Iris is an angel, with her luminous eyes and innocent, casual touches. “It’s fine. I want to think of this as a relationship already. Cool?”
“Yes.” She smiles. “Very cool.”
“It’s also very cool that you’re helping me with my business.”
“Maybe I’m a superhero disguised as a bookworm, wanting to fight your evil Uncle Wayne?”
I chuckle and nuzzle the side of her neck, as my hand slides an inch up her inner thigh. “I think you like two things about this project.”
“Yeah? What would those be?”
“One, you get to problem solve in an entirely new environment with this puzzle. And two, you like me.”
She blushes faintly, staying silent.
“You don’t want to say it out loud?” Her eyes shine up at me. Dammit, I’ve made her flustered. “Okay… If you like me, just kiss me.”
Iris twists her head to meet my lips, her hand slipping up the back of my neck to pull me closer, her soft, delicate body molding to mine. Our kiss blossoms, and for several long moments, I forget that we’re in public.
“Do you want us to get thrown out?” I finally murmur, dipping my head to nibble under her ear.
“No. Not at all.”
“Then we should probably go.”
Once we’re in the truck, I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I meant to ask you about your plans for my space, but to be honest, I’m fine with whatever you decide. Including plenty of plants from your store, of course.”
Her head shakes. “Trust me, that’s not my focus. But…” She hesitates.
I squeeze her hand again. “Whatever it is, angel, just spit it out. Please.”
“I just don’t know how much money you want to throw at this little makeover.”
“Whatever it takes to make the place look good. I mean, maybe we won’t start gold plating the walls…”
She grins. “If everything was painted white, I think it would look very fresh. I found a team who could come in tomorrow.”
I love the excitement in her eyes. “Great. What else?”
“My sisters are already designing and constructing the plant arrangements.”
She’s so focused, even as we stare deeply into each other’s eyes. Me, all I can think about is pulling her sexy body against me. “Amazing. And?”
Iris hesitates. “I really think your lobby needs some artwork – the conference room as well. Nature photos would be great, but I have no idea how long it would take to get them framed?—”
My phone beeps, and I look down to read a text that makes my heart sink.
“What is it?” Her eyes are wide. “Is something wrong?”
“Wayne is coming sometime around noon on Thursday.”
This is the first time I’ve seen Iris frown. I hate seeing that look in her eyes. “ This Thursday, as in, the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
She stares out the front windshield for a few seconds, then grabs her phone, scrolling. “There was something on Web News Kingsville this morning about it being the last night for an exhibition at the Gilmour Gallery. An artist needs to sell all his work before he moves to Europe.”
I’m already starting the truck. “Let’s go.”
An hour and a half later, I have four massive paintings wrapped up in the back of my truck. They’re all forests, but not old-fashioned oil paintings: these are vibrant, energetic slashes of thick acrylic, a gorgeous mix of earthy and modern, and Iris and I agree they’re perfect. Helping out a local artist is an added bonus.
After I pull up in front of Palmer’s Potted Plants, I rush around to help Iris out of the truck. Her eyes dart up to the second story windows, and I chuckle. “You think your sisters are spying on you?”
She grins. “Well, when they came back from their first dates with their new boyfriends, I was definitely peeking.” Her eyes fly wide. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean?—”
I cut her off with a kiss, wrapping my arms around her waist to lift her and walking us over to a secluded alcove that must be the entrance to the apartment. We’re not exactly shielded from the street, but at least her sisters can’t see.
Forgetting all about Wayne’s impending visit, I slip an arm around her, pulling her close for a kiss. Iris melts against me, our fingers touching everywhere we can reach, our mouths hungry and desperate.
It suddenly occurs to me that Iris is energizing more than my business and my soul. She makes my blood pump faster. Makes my muscles feel expanded. And, quite frankly, makes my cock harder than it’s been in years, just from this all-consuming kiss.
At last I gently push her away, both of us with ragged breath. “Sorry. You’re just so sexy,” I murmur, as my fingers trail through the back of her hair. “Everything about you is riveting. And at some point I’m going to thank you properly for all your help. Until then…”
I love the way my hand feels pressed against the small of her back as I tilt her soft lips up to mine. Every kiss becomes more fiery, more open. Her lips part, welcoming me deeper. Her breath catches when my other hand slides up her ribs, tracing the lower edge of her breast through her dress.
“I liked that word, by the way,” I eventually murmur against her panting mouth.
“What word?” she gasps.
“Boyfriend.” I pull back to gauge her reaction. “Because that makes you my girlfriend. Which makes you mine.”
There’s a tiny flicker of fire in her lovely eyes before she nods quickly. “I like it, too.”
She pulls me close again, fingernails pressing lightly into the back of my neck. I would give anything to feel this beauty let go completely. To feel her hot, curvy body as she loses herself in me.
I should do the right thing. Take my time. Let things progress slowly. But I can’t. Iris has ignited a fire inside me that has been waiting to be set ablaze my entire life.
I pepper a string of kisses along her cheekbone, then breathe against her ear. “I have to go before I rip this dress off, angel. You’re just too hot for your own good.”
Her breath catches as she looks up at me with a twinkle in her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that you can’t control yourself?”
I grin. “Sure I can. I just don’t want to.”
Her head tips back when she laughs, and I kiss along the column of her throat, then lower, dipping into her dress as I kiss along the top of her breast. My back is blocking her from the street, but not enough for me to pull the fabric down and suck her nipple into my mouth as I want to. Instead, my hand slips in, softly teasing for just a few seconds.
Her legs tremble as I hold her snugly against me. “Talk to you tomorrow, beautiful.”
Iris is already nodding. “Be out of your office by ten. That’s when the painters are coming. And please warn Dakota.”
“Yes, boss.” I kiss her forehead, then step back while she pulls out her keys, adjusts her dress, and slips inside.
Someday soon, I’ll have her over to my place so she doesn’t have to go home at the end of our date.
But first, I have to save my business from the worst member of my family.