Bedazzled (The Beguiling Bachelors Book 1) Page 10

  “But the business will all be yours some day, right?” Keeli was really trying to understand Wyatt’s seeming lack of enthusiasm for his work. “And you are a power broker about town, that must be pretty cool. I mean you know the mayor and stuff.”

  “Don’t be too impressed. Yeah, I guess I know important people, but Keeli, they are still just people.”

  “Only someone who grew up like you did could say that,” she chided but the slight up tilt to her lips and way she placed her hand over his helped take the sting out of her words. “I mean what do you want that you can’t have?”

  “You,” he whispered causing her face to flame and her green-blue eyes to flare. “And the ability to create something completely on my own and take full credit for the success or failure. Like you.”

  “Then why do you do it? What not go do something you love? Go be a geek somewhere.”

  “This is Lyons Howe Real Estate we are talking about. Four generations have gone into the business and made it bigger and better. My brother and one of my sisters work there too. There are family expectations.

  “You wouldn’t understand, you do it all yourself, but I am completely tied to my family. From the moment I was born. I was groomed to take over this business. I have the CIO title because my father wanted to placate me but I do not do enough around the technology. I never make a difference. Then I get to run around the city letting everyone think I am a big-deal, sitting on the board of this corporation or museum or college because of my name, because we donated lots of money,” he took a deep breath and looked deep into her eyes. “I want to prove myself Keeli, that is what I want.”

  Keeli was clearly caught off-guard by Wyatt’s impassioned statements but recovered quickly. “In truth, I can relate. It is why I started my own business in the first place. Moreover, I did it with six months savings and a prayer. You have everything you could want at your disposal, Wyatt, so what on earth is stopping you?” Keeli’s was challenging him.

  “Family,” Wyatt spit the word at her. “Family. No one goes against the family. It would break my parents’ hearts if I said I wanted to do anything other than work at Lyons-Howe. My father is not well; he is counting on me to be ready to take the helm. If I said I was is leaving, I sincerely believe it would kill him.”

  Keeli saw the conversation tie Wyatt in knots and she carefully considered her next statement. “Wyatt, you have a brother and a sister in the business. Maybe they would like to step up if you gave them the chance. Did you ever think of that?”

  “You are so wise, Keeli.” Wyatt felt comfortable having this conversation with Keeli, more so than with his friends who voiced concerns over dashing family expectations, or worse, having less money and prestige. Everyone else seemed more concerned about Wyatt’s status than his desires. Keeli, the woman he thought might be an opportunist had never once mentioned living with less money. She just focused on his goals and desires.

  “I actually think my sister Regan would love to take over the business. And she would be so good at it. My brother Ethan is still pretty young and inexperienced.”

  “Have you discussed it with her?”

  “Not yet, because once she knows, the whole family knows. I have to find a way to discuss it calmly with my father first. As is, he will never forgive me, but if he found out from someone else, he would be furious.”

  Keeli nodded her head in understanding. Wyatt watched as she worked on a solution to his problem, teamed with him in a way Sloane never did. Actually in a way no one else did. Of course, Keeli was not part of his larger life; she would not understand all the risks, all he would have to sacrifice. Sloane could see that aspect of the issue in ways Keeli would never understand.

  “I know it’s not the same, but I had some family expectations I had to deal with too. Much less significant than yours, I am sure. My dad died a few years ago and my brothers put a lot of pressure on me to stay home and take care of my mom, so she would not be alone and so that the farm work would continue. The farm supports the whole family, my mom, my brothers and now their families too. They were very angry when I left; they accused me of turning my back on them. It was ugly.

  “So I can just imagine what it is like to be the fourth generation with such high expectations. My brother’s wife stepped in for me, and perhaps Regan and Ethan could step in for you. We kept it in the family, and you would be too.”

  Keeli impressed Wyatt. She was giving serious consideration to his issue, paying attention to him, not his status, not his money, not his name. In fact, her suggestion that he hand things to Regan and take a chance on his own company would risk all of his privileges. She didn’t seem to care. He appreciated her empathy. He felt comfortable talking to her, aroused touching her and proud to be seen in the company of such a beauty.

  Wyatt slowly slid his hand from Keeli’s hair to cup the back of her neck. The hand that had been drawing lazy circles on her leg reached across her to pull her toward him. Keeli’s heart sped up; he could feel it, see the flush rising above the low cut blouse.

  Her neck felt small, his hand was large and warm, and her skin was unbelievably soft. He was touched by her story, by how hard she must have worked to do it all alone. He dropped her work-roughened hand to return his to her leg, his lust-filled brain focused on the heat traveling into his hand as he moved back and forth. Wyatt stared into Keeli’s face, deep into her eyes. His gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered there. His hand pulled gently coaxing Keeli to move closer toward him as he leaned toward her.

  He heard Keeli’s heart hammer in in her chest, her erratic breathing. Excitement and anticipation were coursing through his veins. She kept her eyes open as long as possible, caught in his clear blue gaze, but at the last moment, they fluttered shut and so did his.

  The kiss was soft at first, enticing. His lips were firm and sure against hers. Hers were soft and pliant. He teased her mouth open with his tongue, allowing him in to explore. She tasted of mint, mustard, and moist warmth. Her tongue danced against his as he probed slowly and gently before deepening the kiss. She released a small sigh that was his undoing.

  Wyatt pulled her closer, his strong arms tightened around her and Keeli reached her arms behind his neck in return. Her palm rested against his nape, cool against his warm, fingers stroking his neck erotically, pulling gently on his curls. Her breasts flattened against his chest. The feeling was so arousing that he tried to draw her into his body, needing to be even closer.

  His teeth nibbled at her bottom lip, his tongue explored every corner before returning to dance against the roof of her mouth. His hand slid up Keeli’s back and around to graze her breast with his fingertips. Then slowly he backed away with a last nip at her lower lip and they both dragged in a deep breath. Keeli looked disoriented, her gaze unfocused and yearning.

  Jeez, what is wrong with you? You were about to feel her up in the middle of a restaurant, in front of God knows whom. And, unbelievably, she was about to let you.

  “So where were we? You were telling me about moving here from Gilman,” Wyatt leaned back with a satisfied grin, watched Keeli respond to his touch, her tongue slipping out to moisten her lips as a flush rose into her cheeks.

  “Are you going to pretend that didn’t just happen?” She was confused and indignant, and adorable.

  “Yes, for the moment, I am. We are in a public place after all, and I am trying to regain my equilibrium. For the moment…”

  He watched understanding dawn across her beautiful features and nodded encouragement for her to continue talking, while he continued to stroke her thigh distractingly.

  After a deep drink of her wine, hand shaking slightly, she was searching for conversation, clearly still rattled by the kiss.

  Holy shit the girl can kiss. Oh no, no, no, this is definitely not okay. I cannot bring a farm girl home and leave the family business too. One or the other maybe, but certainly not both. She will never live up to the family standards, my friends will eat her alive. Just get her in bed and
get over her.

  “Bro,” a dark haired,clean-cut, well-dressed man about Wyatt’s age approached, checking Keeli out from head to toe – not subtly. It broke the conversation and serious mood when his strong handshake almost pulled Wyatt off the couch. “I almost didn’t see you hiding over here. You should have let us know you would be here tonight. Aha,” he said spotting Keeli, “no wonder you are hiding. Introduce me to your fiery beauty?”

  Wyatt was incredibly relieved not to have been interrupted just one minute sooner. He pasted a tight smile on his face, and then exchanged pleasantries with Randall. The two waved to Alex and Tyler across the room, but they did not approach. Alex gave him a shrug. His expression let Wyatt know they had tried to keep Randall away. Wyatt was open and friendly a moment more, disguising as best he could his strong desire for his friend to disappear.

  “Keeli Larsen,” Wyatt made introductions when it became clear Randall wasn’t leaving, “I want you to meet one of my oldest friends in the world, Randall Parker. This is Keeli Larsen. She is a jewelry artist I met recently.” Keeli stood and the two shook hands, Randall relinquishing hers reluctantly.

  They exchanged pleasantries. He politely asked about her jewelry, she asked if he too was from Lake Forest and how long he had known Wyatt, but his constant perusal of her body and use of sexual innuendo obviously disturbed Keeli so the conversation lagged. Wyatt tried to steer Randall away from being his usual self, sweet but rough around the edges. When he wouldn’t take the hint, Wyatt jumped in to talk about getting together Tuesday for hockey and signaled the conversation was over.

  Instead of leaving, Randall put an unwelcome arm around Keeli’s shoulder, his hand dipping uncomfortably close to her breast, the smell of alcohol strong on his breath. “How ‘bout I get the guys to come over and hang for a bit?” he suggested. Keeli wriggled out of his grasp and moved closer to Wyatt.

  “How ‘bout you get lost,” Wyatt responded raising one eyebrow. Randall looked mildly surprised but not offended.

  “Ok, ok, I can take a hint.” Laughing and giving Wyatt an encouraging slap on the back, he said his farewell to Keeli. “Cute, let me know when you are done with her,” he mumbled under his breath to Wyatt, and giving him a significant look returned to his friends. Wyatt stood seething at Randall’s audacity and grappling with another more protective emotion.

  “Sorry about that, Keeli,” Wyatt apologized. “I thought we could be alone over here.”

  “No problem. We are alone now,” she quickly reassured him, “It was nice meeting a friend of yours.”

  “You are very gracious. Randall is a good guy, but maybe he should have stopped a few beers ago. So where were we?” Wyatt used a low, seductive voice he hoped would capture an earlier, intimate mood along with a blatantly carnal smile.

  “We were talking about your work,” Keeli’s sensuous voice gave lie to her words.

  “Yeah, let’s save that conversation for another day.” He signaled for the check. “It’s late. Let’s get out of here.”

  It was well after midnight as Keeli and Wyatt emerged into the rainy night air. It had cooled off considerably, and Wyatt quickly wrapped both his jacket and his arm around Keeli, to keep her warm and to continue touching her.

  He handed the ticket to the valet while they stood huddled under the large canopy doorway. Wyatt pulled Keeli even closer, tight up against him and began nipping at her lips first teasing then demanding. His warm hand was stroking up and down her back, around her sides, sliding a hand against the underside of her breast as if by accident. Under the cover of his jacket, he boldly slid a hand into the top of her blouse, cupped her breast and fondled the hardened nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He felt her thrust her hips hard against him, but she did not stop him, opening her mouth for his kisses.

  Lust rushed through his body, settling tight in his groin. He loved the sensation of her skin, her full breast overflowing his large hand and the hard nub of her nipple. He loved how responsive she was, fully giving herself over to his mouth and hand. He was savoring every sensation; all he could do was feel, as he became increasingly aroused. He deepened the kisses, his tongue exploring every warm recess of her mouth, encouraging hers to do the same. His body pressed her up against the wall, taking her mouth hungrily as his erection pressed hard against her.

  The sound of a car stopping just feet from them and an embarrassed “ahem” brought him back to his senses and he recalled where they were with a start. He could have taken her right there on the street, pressing her into the rough brick.

  So much for friendly. This is just where I want this woman, in my arms and in my bed. She bewitches me with her allure and her laughter, but once we have sex, I will get her out of my system. I need her out of my head.

  They ran through rain that fell hard and steady now. Always the gentleman, he got soaked opening her door for her. He nabbed his jacket and threw it over his head before he sprinted around the car, tipped the drenched valet and slid in to the darkness and hushed quiet of the Panamera. They watched as each of them dripped rain on his gorgeous leather interior. Seeing her stricken face, he reached to turn on the seat warmers and the heat.

  “It’s just water Keeli, and this should warm us up pretty fast,” Wyatt said innocently before he realized the double entendre with a wolfish grin. “I guess we are already pretty warm, huh?”

  “I think that is the understatement of the day.”

  They sat in the car a moment, not moving into the now sparse traffic. He hadn’t asked her yet where to take her, not sure the best way to phrase it.

  A break in the traffic opened up and Wyatt pulled out from the curb and turned the car north. He still said nothing except to ask her if she is warm enough before again adjusting the temperature and airflow in the car.

  Wyatt stopped fidgeting with the dials and turned the radio on low. Eric Clapton serenaded them.

  “I want to take you home with me,” he took the direct approach, “and make love with you all night.”

  She sat there, no response, looking like a deer caught in a headlight. He waited the span of two breaths but she still looked uncertain. Keeli sat silent, staring, mesmerized by his hands as they rested on the steering wheel. Those hands were on her not too long ago, but now he was not touching her at all. The loss was acute.

  “But it was a long day for you, and we both work tomorrow, so I think it would be better if I took you home.”

  Where did that little speech come from? You could have convinced her, and right now you could be minutes away from being deep inside her.

  He waited again for her to contradict him but she remained silent. Not sure why he offered her the out, bewildered by himself, he took the next left driving toward Keeli’s neighborhood, weaving around the buses and few cars, putting the performance car through its paces intuitively.

  Keeli still said nothing, watching his hands or perhaps staring into space, maybe just listening to the music. He had no idea what she was thinking. The silence would have felt surprisingly comfortable, two people quiet together after a long day, if the unresolved issue of sex didn’t hang in the air.

  As they drew closer to her apartment, they started the small talk that ends a date - how nice the wine was, his friend seemed nice, thank you and the usual pleasantries.

  “Well, we’re here,“ Wyatt said too soon, regret obvious in his voice. He should have said something about the kisses, mentioned another date.

  Instead, he reached for the umbrella behind his seat while Keeli quickly opened her door and bolted into the rain. “Wait,” he shouted at her back until the closing door cut off his words. He jumped out and ran to catch up with her.

  “Don’t bother, really. I am wet already,” she replied a bit too sharply. The heat of the blush rushed into her cheeks. He replayed her words, trying to understand the blush and caught the double entendre. They share a smile – his appreciative, hers embarrassed.

  Holding the umbrella over them both, Wyatt lightly touche
d his lips to hers, nibbled at her lower lip slightly then kissed her more deeply. He was not touching her anywhere just offering slow, drugging kisses over and over until she pulled back and fumbled for the sleek door handle. He leaned into her, sandwiching her between the door and his erection. Grabbing her damp hair in both hands, he pulled her mouth to his again, probing every crevice with his tongue, tasting her like a starving man.

  He pulled back to look into her lovely face, raindrops looking like tears on her cheeks, her mouth lush and pink from kissing. He could drown in this woman. Something made her different, less grasping, more insightful, and so damn sexy. He wanted her until he hurt. Literally. Maybe he should take her home after all.

  Before he could form a coherent sentence, Keeli rushed through the downstairs security door and looked back to see Wyatt standing there, a look of consternation on his face.

  Wyatt stood in the rain, dropping the umbrella to let the water hit him like a cold shower.

  What the hell man? What just happened to you? An empty bed was definitely not the game plan. You had better figure out what you want from this woman before she wrecks everything.

  CHAPTER TEN

  It was Saturday night and, after months of planning and hard work, the Howe Art Museum fundraiser was finally under way. The modern building had been converted to a ballroom filled with flowers and greenery, crystal and china and crisp white linens. Champagne flowed along with top shelf liquor, while wait staff efficiently passed through the crowds guaranteeing that everyone’s glasses were filled, and that the scrumptious tidbits were available to tantalize the guests’ palates.

  The Lyons or Howe name was on auditoriums, museums, concert halls, senior centers, parks, universities and prep schools, and of course, lots and lots of other buildings. However, this museum may have been their crowning achievement. It consistently ranked in the top five modern art museums in the world. Tonight they celebrated the 25th anniversary. They had accomplished a great deal, but Wyatt was now chairman of the board, and he had far more ambitious plans that required generous donations from the people in this room. A lot was riding on tonight’s success.