Coming Home to Love (Lakeside Porch Series Book 2) (17 page)

He swallowed. “In several ways. For one, it’s not going well, and it may fail completely. I don’t like to fail, and I would actually like your advice about it. Also, it’s very important to Joel and Manda, and I’ve already disappointed them terribly by not being here for them for the two weeks immediately following Joel’s accident. Finally, it’s important to you, since you’ll be an integral part of the center we want to build on the land, and I cannot stand the thought of failing you before we even begin.”

Gianessa’s nostrils flared, but her voice was calm. “When you say it’s not going well, what do you mean?”

Justin leaned closer and resisted the desire to capture her hands in his. “You know Lorraine, the owner, is Joel’s former fiancée and—”

“Yes, so you said. Go on.”

She would not give an inch, he was sure. This discussion was on her terms or not at all. “Lorraine is asking millions more for the property than its market value.”

“She doesn’t want to sell,” Gianessa said.

“You may be right.” Justin sat back. “That never occurred to me.”

“Why not? What made you believe she was serious about selling?”

Justin read her face. She was not mocking him. She was simply bringing a fresh perspective, asking a pertinent question.
A good one.
“I assumed she was serious about selling because she asked Joel to advise her last summer about developing the land as a gated community. I thought she had abandoned that foolish venture and was searching for another way to offload the land.”

Gianessa gave him a knowing smile. “Last summer she was probably trying to keep Joel on the hook until she could get Manda out of the picture. It was never about selling the land.”

“That’s interesting.” Justin drummed his fingers on the table. “I believe you may be right.”

“Women know these things.”

“And men don’t,” he admitted. “I’m out of practice negotiating with women. I believe I said that to you shortly after we met.”

Gianessa dropped her eyes. “Manda is coming.”

Justin caught Manda’s gaze and held up his hands in a time-out sign. At her eyeroll, he opened the fingers of his right hand to buy five minutes.

Manda put her nose in the air and redirected her steps to the wall of photographs of famous visitors to the steakhouse.

He would thank her later for pretending an interest in the dignitaries she’d never heard of. “She’s okay for a few minutes. Suppose Lorraine really is willing to sell the property. How would I get her to sell at a fair price?”

Gianessa moved the salt and pepper shakers into the middle of the table and added a bottle of hot sauce. “Right now it’s a triangle. She touched the salt shaker, “you,” then the hot sauce, “Joel,” and finally the pepper shaker, “Lorraine.” Gianessa paused, sat back a little, and told him, “You can convince Lorraine that Joel is terribly damaged by the accident and that Manda is resigned to being his nursemaid for life. That’s not a role that would appeal to Lorraine.” She moved the hot sauce to the edge of the table by Manda’s chair. “Then let it go. Pretend you’ve given up purchasing the land, although it’s very appealing to you personally as a piece of lakefront that might be of interest down the line, if you decide to stay in Tompkins Falls.” She moved the salt shaker in front of Justin. “Break off communication.”

Justin sat silently. It was not unlike Sydney’s take. The women’s thought processes were intriguing. He waited for the next installment, but none was forthcoming. “That’s it?”

“Give it a month. If she wants to sell, she’ll suggest a figure. You can negotiate.” Gianessa moved the salt and pepper shakers close together. “Make a deal that’s generous without ignoring the market value. Did someone say there’s a home on the property?”

“The home she built for Joel and lived in with her husband until they divorced. It’s probably worth a million or more by itself.”

“Acknowledge the value of the house by adding it to your final figure to seal the deal. What had you planned to do with the house?”

“Raze it. It’s brought nothing but unhappiness.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Gianessa’s mouth. “Just think, Justin. You could demolish two houses in the same year. The Cushman mansion and Lorraine’s.”

To Justin’s surprise, she reached for his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. “Then you’d have two clear sites to build your future—your own house on the Cushman grounds and the holistic healing center on the land for Joel and Manda.”

Justin looked at her in wonder.

Gianessa gave him a slow, sexy smile. “You see how easy that was?”

“Remind me often that I need you in my life.”

“I will.”

Chapter 8

“Did she get off okay?”

“She wouldn’t let me stay with her. I asked her to call when she was on the plane. We got her bag checked in at curbside, and I made sure she headed in the direction of security.”

Justin flipped through the room service menu and reached for the phone.

Gianessa prompted, “And did she call from the plane?”

“What?” He glanced up in mid-dial. “Yes.” He gave her a big smile. “You were as worried as I, weren’t you?”

She blushed. “I guess I was.”

“She really is very young and inexperienced,” he remarked.

“In surprising ways, yes.” Their eyes held for a moment.

Justin broke the silence. “Care for something from room service? I’m wanting decaf and strawberry ice cream.”

“I’ll have ice cream, too. You’re wearing your British accent tonight,” she teased.

“Am I?” He chuckled. “I wonder where that came from.”

“It probably gave you better cooperation from airport personnel. ‘Wealthy British gent putting his daughter on the plane’ and all that.”

“That is the worst British accent . . .” He got a better grip on the phone as a voice crackled from the receiver. “Yes, room service, we need a pot of decaf and two dishes of strawberry ice cream. There’s something in it for you if you get it here before it melts.” He winked at Gianessa. “Good man! We’re ready for it as soon as you can manage.”

He balanced the receiver on two fingers before replacing it. “Retiring the accent now.” True to his word, he continued in his normal voice. “How did you get so relaxed in the half hour I was gone?”

She shifted a little on the sofa and tucked her feet under her. “It was two hours and a half, enough time for a leisurely bath and some yoga. You might want to try it after the ice cream.”

“Make mine a hot shower and—” He paused as the door buzzer sounded. “Our ice cream already?”

He tipped the waiter outrageously.

She laughed heartily after he closed the door.

“What?” He looked comically at his front.

“The tip. You don’t do ‘moderation,’ do you?”

“Nonsense.” He wheeled the trolley next to her, slid over an ottoman for himself, shed his suit coat, and rubbed his hands together. “Strawberry ice cream is as moderate as I get. Enjoy.”

Gianessa put a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. “Cold!” She waved her hand helplessly. “Icy cold!”

“See there,” Justin said. “He earned that tip, didn’t he?”

Gianessa’s musical laugh made him smile.

His eyes roamed over her mouth, the spoon, her lips as she savored the silky ice cream loaded with strawberries.

Justin finished his, put down his spoon and asked, “If I take a very fast shower, will you still be up?”

“I will. Take your time.”

“Is there a robe that will fit me?” he asked, with an eye on the Trump logo over her left breast on the terry spa-style robe.

“I’m sure there are a couple to choose from in your closet.” He tossed aside his napkin, and she saw a smile tug at his mouth as he turned away from her.

Gianessa found a sexy jazz station on the radio, put the ice cream dishes and the trolley in the hallway and tucked the coffee pot under its cozy. She loosened the tie of her robe just enough to show the lace trim of her camisole.

“When does Manda’s plane land?” Phil asked Joel for the third time and he and Tony prepared to leave the hospital room.

“Seven-thirty. You’re only about fifteen minutes from the airport.”

“She’ll have her cell turned on?”

“And you both have her number, right?”

Tony nodded. “We’ve got it covered, Joel. You sure you can handle a visit from her before we take her to Tompkins Falls with us?

“Actually, I’m going to have you drop her here, and she’ll get a taxi back to the hotel. Justin booked a suite for both of them when he flew home in December, and he’s keeping it until I’m back home.”

“That’s costing a fortune.”

“He’s got a fortune, don’t worry. It’s what’s happening in the hotel suite in New York that I’m worried about.”

“What do you mean?” Tony asked and then clunked himself in the forehead. “Duh.”

“Tony, aren’t you the one that said Gianessa’s won’t be manipulated into anything she doesn’t already want to do?”

Tony nodded. “What they do is out of our control, guys, right?”

“Makes me crazy. My uncle is old enough to be her father.”

“He’s not,” Phil scoffed. “And Gianessa is a divorced woman. She can make her own decisions.”

“And her own mistakes,” Tony added with a laugh.

Phil lifted his hands in surrender and said sternly, “And Joel needs to manage his stress level.”

“You’re right, Phil. Joel, buddy, we’re out of your hair.” Tony zipped up his jacket. “We’ll return with the lovely Manda and then take off for home.”

“Love you, guys,” Joel told them. “Thanks for all of this. We’ll do it again at the Manse as soon as I’m out of here.”

Gianessa was so wrapped up in the music she didn’t hear the shower stop. She was swaying to a sensuous sax solo when Justin came up behind her.

“Dance?” he asked with an old-fashioned tap on her shoulder.

She turned with a happy smile and moved into his arms. He smelled of soap that was nothing like the one the hotel supplied in her bathroom. The mingled scent of cloves, nutmeg, and sandalwood made her melt into his body.

At first they made slow circles in time with the music. Then as Justin’s arm tightened around her waist and her head nestled on his shoulder, they made their own rhythm. His right leg found its way between her legs, and her arms tightened around his back. His lips caressed her neck, and she sighed. Gianessa immersed herself in all the sensations—the soulful saxophone, the spicy soap, the warmth of his body, the touch of his hands and his lips, the pressure of his leg as it moved between hers.

When the music ended, Justin told her, “That was better than any kiss could be.”

She smiled into his eyes and touched his lips with one finger. “I wouldn’t be so sure.” She invited with a lift of one eyebrow.

His mouth was on hers before she could take a breath. Demanding. Deep. She felt a thrill between her legs, and she shifted tighter against him where his leg touched her sweet spot. When his mouth was too much for hers, she pulled back, startled.

“You don’t like it rough, do you? I apologize.”

“You’re right, I don’t,” she said. “But deep is good.” She laced her fingers at the back of his neck and told him, “Deep is very good.”

He got it very right with the next kiss.

She laughed breathily. “I want more like that,” she told him.

“And I want to spend the night making love to you.”

“Let’s.” She said it with a dimpled smile.

She couldn’t read his expression. “What is that suspicious look about?”

“I am, you’re right. It’s from wheeling and dealing with unscrupulous people. My question is, did you two women arrange for us to be alone together?”

“God, no, there’s no conspiracy here. When Manda wanted to be with Joel, I welcomed the chance to be with you.”

“I see,” he whispered. His mouth captured hers, and she loved the way his tongue slid over hers and probed every sensitive surface inside her mouth.

She was breathless when he paused to watch her face, perhaps studying the passion she knew was written there.

“What’s under your robe?”

“Something I brought especially for this,” she said, her voice shaky.

“You were so sure?”

“I knew what I wanted.”

“And I thought I was the one doing the seducing tonight.”

“Oh, you were,” she said with a chuckle. “We did that very well together, didn’t we?”

He tugged at the tie of her robe and slid his hands inside, pressed his forehead to hers and invited her. “Come to bed with me, and we’ll find out what else we do very well together.”

At the foot of his bed, he slid the robe off her shoulders and let it pool on the floor. His breath came out in a rush as he observed the sheer, lace-trimmed camisole and lacy thong. “Especially for me?” he asked her, his voice husky.

“Exclusively for you,” she said. “Do you like it?” She modeled the view from all sides.

He unbelted his robe and tossed it on a chair. Her eyes made an admiring pass over his lean body, the firm, well-developed muscles and the erection that promised what she’d been dreaming about.

His eyes devoured her as she sat on the edge of the mattress and used one shapely foot to push herself to the center of the bed where she stretched out on her back. Opening her legs, she slid her left foot up the inside of her right calf.

Justin picked up her left foot and kissed the inside of her ankle. Her juices rushed as his gaze traveled up her inner leg. She walked her trembling fingers to the bottom edge of the lacy thong to tell him where she wanted his mouth to go next.

He knelt between her legs, edged aside the thong and planted kiss after kiss on the inside of her thighs until she tangled her fingers in his hair and urged his mouth to touch her where she ached for him. He licked and teased her until she opened herself completely, arching her back and crying out as waves of pleasure swept over her. His kisses made their way up her belly to her mouth, and she tasted strawberries and cream and her own sexy liquid.

Strong hands scooped and lifted her buns. When he thrust into her hot, wet core, she squeezed, and he grew harder and thrust deeper and faster. She gripped the pillow above her and her breaths became moans of pleasure. His rhythm quickened until he emptied himself inside her, and she held him there for an exquisite moment before relinquishing him. His withdrawal excited her again, and she mewed in surrender.

Justin rested on his side, watching her, his eyelids heavy.

As her breathing eased, she touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “You’re magnificent.”

“Just think, if I were twenty, we could do this all night.”

She gave a breathless chuckle. “I’m not sure I could take it.” She placed both her hands on her belly.

“Why so pensive? What are you thinking?”

“It feels like you just healed something in me that I didn’t know was broken.” She turned to smile at him, but his eyes had closed, and she drifted with him into a peaceful sleep.

When she awoke some time later, he had covered them with a blanket, and his hand was on her belly. He snored softly and twitched when she touched his cheek. She smiled, turned on her side, and snuggled back against him. His arm tightened around her, but he didn’t awaken.

It was nearly dawn when they both opened their eyes and made slow, sensuous love, accompanied by a different, equally skilled saxophone quartet in the next room.

Manda teased Joel. “I told you last night when I got back, it’s bad luck for you to know what my gown is like.”

“Phil’s hoping it isn’t poufy.”

“Phil will approve. In fact, it will knock his socks off.”

Joel raked her curls with eager fingers and brought her closer for a kiss that he knew would knock her socks off. “Am
I
going to like it?” Her sigh was an intoxicant for his sore body.

“You will be so proud, Joel. And I will be beautiful. And the garden will be blooming—our garden, Joel.” Her eyes sparkled like the lake in the early morning sunshine. Sapphires on fire.

“Your garden,” he corrected.

“And Harold’s and yours. He showed me the plans again last week. There’s a rose arbor. Did you know?”

“I asked him for one. I want us to stand in the archway when we say our vows.”

“You are so romantic.” She snuggled closer on the bed.

“You didn’t know that about me?”

“Of course I knew it.” She smiled into his eyes, and he felt a tug that made him know he was getting better every day.

“What kind of romantic entanglement are Justin and Gianessa having in New York without you?” He heard the worry in his own voice.

“Romantic?” Manda snorted. “Not. Justin went off to see some woman after we bought my gown, and Gianessa was fuming.”

“Really?” He chuckled. “Who’s the woman?”

“He said she’s some college president he knows who’s been advising him. When I saw how pissed Gianessa was, I told him we’d be sniffing him for perfume. He ditched us at Radio City and met us later for dinner. He and Gianessa had it out at the table while I went to the ladies’ room for, like, half an hour. And then, when we went for a fitting yesterday morning, she wouldn’t let him buy her a dress for the wedding, even though it was gorgeous on her.” Manda squinted, trying to remember something.

“What?”

“They’ve got something planned for today, something that involves jewelry. I think maybe Gianessa wanted to sell something and Justin set it up. I don’t really know.”

“Her necklace?” Joel wondered.

“What necklace?”

“Maybe you haven’t seen it. Gianessa has a necklace from her marriage that is worth quite a bit.”

“I know she wants to buy a car. Is it worth a car?”

“It might be.”

Manda whistled and ran her hand back and forth across his chest.

“And Justin would know how to find a jeweler to give her a fair price.”

“Is there anything Justin doesn’t know?”

Joel laughed. “Apparently he doesn’t know how to get Gianessa to accept a beautiful dress as a peace offering.”

Manda shrugged. “Gianessa may be broke, but she has principles. She was beautiful in it. It was the exact color of her eyes—kind of smoky violet.”