Greeley's Spyce (5 page)

body was. ―What do you want to do next?‖ he wondered as he tried to

lighten the mood.

Her voice was subdued. ―Whatever.‖

Putting his empty container at his feet, he reached across the boat

and turned her face to his. He removed her sunglasses and his so they were

looking into each other‘s eyes. ―No, not whatever. I‘m sorry I brought up bad

memories for you. I am here if you want to talk, but I want you to have fun

today.‖

―I am having fun,‖ she said as her finger dipped into the melted ice

cream and smeared it down the bridge of his nose.

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31

Blue eyes narrowed. ―Are you sure you want to start this?‖

Biting her lower lip, Kacy shook her head. ―No. I thought about it

and I don‘t want to.‖

Ernst wiped the ice cream off his face, dropped his hand in the water

to clean it off, and dried it on her skimpy halter top. ―Well, that‘s better.‖

Looking down at the damp spots on her top Kacy nodded. ―I‘ll re-

member this.‖

―So will I,‖ he said as his eyes filled with passion.

―I‘m hungry, so take me to shore.‖ She directed with a wave of her

spoon.

He crossed his arms and shot her a look. ―Oh, no, sweetheart, you

have to work also.‖

Curling up her lip, she slid her glasses back on her face and sighed.

―Okay. Probably just that you can‘t go the distance.‖

―Playing with fire,
schatzi
. You‘re playing with fire,‖ he warned as

they began to peddle back to the dock. ―Just say the word and I guarantee

you will find that I am more than capable of ‗going the distance‘.‖

―Men, always so touchy,‖ she quipped, refusing to look at him.

―I‘ll touch you.‖ He leaned over the side and splashed her with wa-

ter.

―Ernst!‖ Kacy cried.

―Well, hon, you looked hot.‖ He splashed her again.

―That‘s it!‖ She stopped peddling and leaned over, scooping up

handfuls of water to toss at him. In the process, she drenched herself, but she

laughed at the shock on his face. Forward motion stopped as they began to

have a water fight. Moments later, they were nearly soaked to the bone.

Ernst‘s eyes flared as they fell on the dripping wet halter top that

molded itself to her voluptuous body. Water ran down her face; the sunlight

glistening off the droplets made her skin shine even more. She was beautiful.

Ernst helped Kacy out of the pedal boat and onto the dock. He

brushed back the damp tendrils of hair that fell across her cheek to rest

behind her ear. ―Let‘s get some lunch.‖ The stance of his lean body stated to

those watching that she was his woman. As they walked down the streets

and strolled through the park, the warm Hawaiian sun almost totally dried

their clothes.

He took her to an outside café and they had a light lunch. As she

sipped her iced tea, he smiled. ―So, what‘s next for us, Ms. Travis?‖

―I kind of want to take a walk.‖ She looked around before meeting

his gaze again. ―I want to enjoy being outside here. I doubt I will be back for

a while.‖

―A walk it is. In the park?‖

She shrugged. ―Just a walk.‖ Kacy finished off her salad and drank

the rest of her tea.

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Aliyah Burke

Ernst nodded and paid the bill. ―Well, let‘s go for a walk then.‖ They

stood and he slid his arm around her side, loving the feel of her skin against

his.

They walked in silence until Kacy suddenly veered to the doorway of

a sidewalk shop. She grabbed his hand. ―Wait a second. I want to go in here.‖

His eyes grew wide as he took in the total girly shop even while al-

lowing her to pull him inside. There were about ten women in the shop and

they all fell silent and looked at him. He was the only male in there.

―Oh, hell,‖ he muttered. ―I‘m feeling a bit outnumbered here.‖

―Scared of a few women?‖ Kacy‘s voice teased.

Squaring his shoulders, he took a seat on the very pink frothy couch.

―Nope. By all means,
liebling
, give me a fashion show.‖ He waved one hand

around the room even as he looked pointedly at the lingerie.

Blushing, she walked away from his piercing gaze and over to the

window where she‘d seen the frilly skirt. The saleswoman walked over to

her. ―You have a very brave man, my dear. Most husbands don‘t come in

here at all.‖

―Oh,‖ Kacy corrected her, ―he‘s not my husband.‖

The woman picked up the skirt and held it out to her. ―Really? From

the way he watches you, I would have guessed you were married. Have you

been dating long?‖

―We‘ve been a couple ever since we met,‖ a deep masculine voice

reached them. Ernst‘s arms slid around Kacy‘s waist as he kissed her neck

and then he moved away.

Which was three days ago.
Kacy just rolled her eyes and turned the skirt

around, looking at it from all angles. ―I‘ll take this in a,‖ her brows

scrunched, ―a size two. Yes, that should work for her.‖

―I think this would work for you,‖ Ernst muttered from behind her.

In his hand he had a delicate piece of lace.

The saleswoman smiled and Kacy blushed from the top of her head

to the soles of her feet. ―Stop,‖ she protested, pushing his hand away. ―I‘m

getting this for a friend. She loves pink and skirts.‖

His breath teased her ear. ―Will you wear this for me if I get it for

you?‖

―No, now go put it back,‖ she admonished.

―Fine,‖ he whined, moving off after affectionately patting her on the

ass.

―He looks like a handful,‖ the woman said as her gaze followed

Ernst.

―He‘s something all right,‖ Kacy admitted. Turning, she watched as

he wove in and out of the silk, satin, and lace in the shop. Every now and

then he would hold up an item and look at her. Kacy would merely shake her

head.

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33

―I will just box this up for you,‖ the saleswoman said.

―Thanks,‖ Kacy said, handing her money. Copper eyes narrowed as

they focused on a skinny brunette who had sidled up to Ernst and talked

animatedly to him. The woman was leaning into him, showing off her ample

cleavage to the blond man.

Ernst could feel Kacy‘s gaze on him. The woman talking to him des-

perately wanted more than he was willing to give. Not wanting to risk his

newfound relationship on the simpering woman in front of him, he turned

his pale gaze to meet the fiery one of the woman he knew would be his wife.

He winked at her and watched her try to seem indifferent, but failing

miserably. Moving away from the brunette, he strode toward Koali Cynemon

Travis, and in front of everyone, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Sliding his tongue into her mouth, he absorbed her taste. Hands slid

around to rest on the small of her back, teasing and caressing her skin.

Her body arched deeper into his as she purred into his mouth. Kacy

moved her hands around his neck, drawing them even closer. His erection

pressed against her belly.

Easing back so his lips rested gently upon hers, he murmured, ―I

don‘t want anyone but you,
schätzchen
.‖

Kacy put her eyes on his. ―She‘s pretty cute.‖

―Not my kind of woman. Not enough curves, color, or spice.‖ He

winked at her again before lifting his head to glance around at their audience.

―Sorry, ladies, I couldn‘t help myself.‖

They were treated to a round of laughter. The saleswoman brought

Kacy‘s package to her along with the change. Carrying her purchase, Ernst

led his woman out the door and back into the Hawaiian afternoon.

Sooner than he preferred, they were standing in front of the hotel‘s

fountain, and Ernst held Kacy tightly in his arms.
I don’t want to let her go in

through those doors.
―Thank you for spending the day with me, Kacy,‖ he

whispered into her ear.

―Thank you for making it a day I will never forget.‖ Her arms tigh-

tened around his waist as she pressed her ear to the ―lub-dub‖ of his heart.

They‘d gone horseback riding along the beach; biking along wooded

trails; and wading in the creeks. Kacy had insisted on buying dinner, and

they‘d eaten at another nice outdoor café overlooking the water so they could

enjoy the sunset.

Each of them had pictures as souvenirs. Ernst had a wallet-size one of

the two of them standing together in front of a beautiful waterfall. He had his

arm across her shoulders and she had her brown arms wrapped around his

waist.

―I don‘t want to let you go, Kacy,‖ Ernst told her.

―I have to go. My plane is leaving in a few hours and I still have to

pack.‖ Kacy made no move to leave his embrace
.

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Aliyah Burke

―I want to see you again.‖ Ernst moved them off to the side to give

them a bit more privacy.

She smiled sadly and her body memorized his masculine scent. ―You

don‘t even know where I live.‖

His hands rubbed her back. ―You weren‘t very forthcoming with per-

sonal information.‖

She shrugged. ―I‘m a private person.‖

I know that. Private and not very trusting.
―Can I see you again?‖

Kacy leaned back to meet his gaze. ―Where do you live?‖

He stared deeply into her eyes. ―I have a small apartment in Virgin-

ia.‖

―Where in Virginia? It is kind of a big state.‖

―Near Norfolk.‖

Kacy closed her eyes briefly as if to control the swarming emotions

he saw in them. ―Do you know a little restaurant in Virginia Beach named

The Fisher King
?‖

Ernst shook his head. ―No, but I can find out where it is. Why?‖

―Two weeks from now, I‘ll be outside that restaurant. If you want to

see me again, be there.‖ Her eyes opened again and he saw more of those

conflicting emotions swirling in them.

―The only reason I won‘t be there is if we are sent away on a mis-

sion.‖ His gaze begged for understanding.

―Sure,‖ she said doubtfully. ―I‘ll be there at seven. It‘s a casual place

so jeans are fine.‖

―Why don‘t you believe that I want so much more from you than a

one-night stand?‖ Ernst asked as one hand cupped her cheek.

―I have to go.‖ Kacy said.

A sad smile crossed his face. Then it turned mischievous. ―You do

realize it is going to have to be one hell of a kiss to last me two weeks that

you give me, don‘t you?‖

―So you saying that I am going to have to do better?‖ Kacy arched an

eyebrow.

―I‘m saying kiss me so it will linger on my lips for the next two

weeks.‖ His other hand moved up to rest on her other cheek.

―I might need a few practice runs before I am ready for that final

one,‖ she teased as her arms slid up and around his neck to lace her fingers

behind his head.

―Quite a few.‖

―Definitely,‖ Kacy agreed. ―So, I should begin.‖ Her hands tugged

his mouth down onto hers.

C H A P T E R F I V E

Virginia Beach, Virginia

―That ought to do it, Mr. Stevens.‖ Kacy slammed the rear door shut

on her Volkswagen van and walked back toward the older gentleman who

had paged her. ―You can‘t have that much stuff hooked up to that one outlet.

The breaker will keep tripping like it did. But normally, the breaker would be

able to be reset; you had a bad one. If you need that much stuff there, get a

power strip.‖

―Thanks so much, Kacy,‖ the graveled tone said as the man shook

her hand. ―I know you have a bunch of more important things to do than

save my bacon time and time again.‖

―Well,‖ she said with a wink at his wife who had joined them on the

step. ―Keep this up and your wife may begin to get suspicious.‖ Both of them

laughed. ―Oh, well, just my luck, all the good ones are taken.‖ Her cell phone

began to ring and so she said, ―I have to get going. Take care y‘all and I will

talk to you soon.‖ She grabbed her phone, walked to her vehicle, got in and

said, ―KT Electric.‖

A huge grin crossed her face as she recognized the voice on the other

end of the line. ―Hey, Ilanderae, how are you doing?‖ Ilanderae Nycks was

one of the few people she considered a close friend.

―I just got the skirt and had to call and thank you. How do you al-

ways manage to find the cutest little things?‖ Her friend‘s rich voice was

easily heard across the line.

―Little being the operative word. A frickin‘ size two. You are so small

it makes me sick,‖ Kacy teased. She knew Ilanderae didn‘t need clothes given

to her since she was a fashion designer, but Kacy still loved to give her

something from time to time.

―But you have all those wonderful curves. How are you doing? How

was Hawaii? What‘d we do? Hell, who‘d we do?‖ Ilanderae asked.

There was one I wanted to “do.”
Kacy‘s body flushed hot at the memo-

ries of Ernst. ―I had a really nice time.‖

―You know I am rolling my eyes here, girl. Any men? Come on dish.‖

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Aliyah Burke

―Well, I did meet this one guy…‖ She held the phone away from her

ear at the piercing scream from Ilanderae.

―Details.‖ The order rang loud.

―I didn‘t sleep with him…well I didn‘t have sex with him. I feel as-

leep in his arms.‖