Some Like It Hot (12 page)

Gina sat on a stool at the kitchen bar and watched Mitch. He was standing at the stove with his back to her, grilling their cheese sandwiches. One word that readily came to mind as she continued to watch him was sensuous. He was such a sensuous-looking man.

She had thought that very thing each and every time they’d made love. At twenty-two she had come to him a virgin; and on their wedding night he had slowly, yet completely, introduced her to all the wonders of a woman and man coming together in love, meshing their minds, bodies, and hearts in a way that took her breath away. In bed, in his arms, there was no right and wrong. Whatever they’d felt comfortable doing and exploring was all right. Sometimes their lovemaking would be slow and easy. At other times he would take her with an urgency of passion so fierce, so demanding, and so frenzied, the effects would last for days, nights, even weeks. While in his arms nothing else mattered; not their problems, differences, or the inner turmoil that plagued their marriage. Whenever he filled her the only thing that mattered was him, and the sensations and ecstasy he was able to share with her.

He would know just where to kiss her, just where to touch her, and just what parts of her to concentrate on to bring her the greatest degree of pleasure. The bed was the only place she had truly felt as one with him, mainly because it was during those times that she knew, without a doubt, that she had his complete attention. Those were the only times when his job and career had played second to her.

She sighed deeply and decided to switch her thoughts. It didn’t help matters when she glanced around. The inside of the trailer was cozy. Too cozy. The furnishings were nice for a trailer, especially the bed she had seen on her way to the bathroom to wash her hands. She had tried not to stare, but she couldn’t help thinking about all the wicked and wanton things that could be done in that bed with Mitch.

“Gina?”

She blinked, realizing Mitch had turned around and said something to her. Their gazes met and a pulsing heat began gathering low in her body, spreading in a hot, sensuous rush to all parts of her. She wanted him, she silently admitted. Desire was flitting too fast and furious throughout her to
not
admit it. For nearly two solid years the thought of being with a man had never entered her mind, mainly because she hadn’t been ready to indulge in any type of a serious relationship with anyone. But now her senses were on full alert. Mitch was too close and too overwhelming for them not to be. Even from across the room she could smell his aftershave—a deep, potent, male scent. Her fingers itched to touch him, her tongue yearned to taste him and her body hungered to have him.

When he repeated her name she blinked, bringing both her breathing and mind under control; or at least trying to. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening. What did you say?”

He stared at her and she hoped and prayed he hadn’t figured out what she’d been thinking.

“I said I ran into Corinthians yesterday at the mall. It was the first time I had seen her since the wedding reception, and just from the brief conversation we had I can tell she’s an awesome person. I can see how Trevor fell in love with her.”

Gina smiled, remembering both Trevor and Corinthians’s tale of how they had hated each other in the beginning, although neither would say exactly how they had met or why they had disliked each other so. It evidently was a secret they shared. “Yes, Corinthians is a sweetheart.”

“Trevor is a lucky man.”

Gina nodded, thinking that was definitely true; the good thing about it was that her brother knew just how lucky he was and never took his wife for granted. He worked hard but when work time was over he knew how to come home and take care of business. He knew how to balance both work and home life, which was something Mitch never could figure out how to do.

“Don’t, Gina.”

Gina lifted her gaze and looked directly into Mitch’s eyes. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t remember the bad times.”

She swallowed and wondered how he’d known what she’d been thinking. She slowly eased off the stool when he walked toward her, suddenly feeling cornered when he came to stand in front of her.

“There
were
good times in our marriage, weren’t there? The memories aren’t all bad, are they, Gina?” he asked in an almost whisper, as he gently gripped her upper arms.

Touching her again was a huge mistake. The moment he did so, she gasped as sensations that had been left on hold for two years suddenly rushed straight from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet, making her fully aware of every inch of him and herself as well. Just from his touch, she felt like a woman for the first time in two years.

A woman who ached for the man who used to be her mate.

A shiver of passion aroused her and she knew Mitch felt it. Their gazes held for the longest moment. Then slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head toward hers. A part of her demanded that she step back but she couldn’t. The only thing she could do was stand there while he claimed her mouth slowly, tenderly, and thoroughly.

Heat, in various degrees, inflamed her when he slid his tongue between her lips. She took the time to feast on him, to taste him as he sought out her tongue, which she readily gave to him. Her body knew exactly what to expect. It knew what it wanted and just what it was going to get. A deep ache grew inside of her and began spreading to all parts of her body. Mitch made kissing an art form and today he was at his best.

He drew her closer and tightened his hold on her. The lower parts of their bodies touched and she could feel his hard erection through his jeans. It was such a familiar and a missed feeling that she immediately reacted and widened her legs to cradle him between them. Blood pounded fast and furious in her veins at the thought that after all this time she still affected him as much as he affected her.

Mitch heard a moan. He wasn’t sure if it had come from him or Gina, but neither did he care. Right now she was where he wanted her to be: in his arms while he kissed her with all the feelings of a man in love. He was lost. Totally and completely out of control…and evidently out of patience. He hadn’t meant to kiss her this way so soon. But when he’d looked across the room and saw her watching him, he couldn’t help himself. Some things just didn’t change, and their deep attraction for each other seemed to be one of them.

Knowing he had to bring them up for air sometime, Mitch slowly broke off the kiss. Then he bent to brush a soft kiss over her lips, wanting to taste her again, even if it was a quick taste.

“That kiss was inevitable,” he said quietly, his voice a soft, smooth murmur. “Just like it’s inevitable for us to do it again.”

He leaned over and closed his mouth completely over hers once more, absorbing the minty flavor right out of her mouth. He hadn’t realized just how much he had hungered for her taste until now. And he could tell from the way she returned his kiss that she had hungered for his as well.

It was Gina who finally regained control of the situation and returned back to reality. Breaking her mouth free of his, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed out of his arms. She inhaled a deep breath and released it. He was right. The kiss was inevitable. At least the first one had been. But not the second, and had she not pulled back there would have been a third. Possibly even a fourth. She and Mitch had always been a fire just waiting to ignite. But that was no excuse—those days were supposed to be long gone…in the past.

She forced her gaze up to Mitch. He was looking at her and saying nothing. Just looking at her. “This was supposed to be business,” she said softly, not knowing what else to say. At the moment all other words escaped her.

“It is.”

She frowned. “Two people conducting business don’t carry on the way we just did, Mitch.”

He eyed her with a ferocity that made heat skitter down her spine. “They could if they wanted to.”

Gina sighed as she continued to pull herself together. Mitch wasn’t helping matters. “Maybe we ought to lay down some ground rules.”

And maybe we ought to just lay down,
he thought as he continued to watch her.
Mmmm…that had numerous possibilities.
Knowing he had to smooth her over before her feathers got ruffled any further and she decided to call off the interview, he said, “Like I said, the kiss was inevitable, Gina, considering our history.” He smiled apologetically. “I got carried away. I promise to control myself in the future.”

Knowing he hadn’t indulged in the kiss-a-thon by himself, she smiled wryly and said, “Same here. I promise to control myself in the future, too.”

He hoped not. He’d always liked her out of control. “Go ahead and sit back down,” he said, nodding toward the stool. “Lunch is almost ready. Or instead of sitting you can help by getting a couple of glasses out of the cabinet and filling them with ice for the lemonade. They’re in the cabinet over the sink.”

She chuckled at his request. “That sounds easy enough.”

He shook his head, grinning as he remembered she was definitely not a whiz in the kitchen. But then her capabilities in the bedroom had more than made up for it. “It
is
easy enough.”

He watched as she sashayed around him and walked over to the cabinet to take out the glasses. In the pair of slacks she was wearing, her backside seemed to have gotten a bit curvier since the last time he had checked it out. He smiled. He couldn’t wait for the chance to check it out again. He could imagine undressing her, removing every stitch of clothing that covered her, then pulling her to him—skin to skin.

He groaned silently, knowing it was time to move on to the next phase of his plan. He just hoped Gina was ready for it. He knew that he definitely was. Slowly, methodically, he intended to break down every barrier she had erected. In the end he was going to have her so dizzy with passion, so saturated in desire, and so full of need that she wouldn’t be able to think straight.

And he intended to make sure that happened as quickly as possible.

“Are you sure you’re fine with the interview questions, Mitch?”

Mitch watched Gina as she placed her writing pad back into her briefcase. After lunch she had immediately developed a strictly business manner. It was one she figured would not be swayed. Boy, did he have news for her.

“Yes, I’m sure,” he said, taking another sip of his lemonade. At this point he would be satisfied with just about anything that would provide a chance for them to spend an ample amount of time together. “Now that we have that covered, how about me showing you around?” he said, standing.

She glanced up at him. “All right. But when can we officially get together for the interview?”

Mitch glanced at his watch. He was meeting the Madarises in a few hours. What he needed was to begin breaking down her defenses on her own turf.

“How about if I drop by your place later tonight?” He watched her reaction to his suggestion and could just imagine the wheels that had suddenly begun turning in her head.

“My place?”

“Yes.”

“Later tonight?”

“Yes. From what you said earlier it will take approximately a week to finish up the interview. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll need to meet every free chance I get. Unfortunately, getting things off the ground for the construction of the Madaris Building will take up a lot of my time this week.”

Gina nodded, understanding the predicament he was in. He probably hadn’t counted on it taking her an entire week to do an interview. “All right. Stopping by my place tonight will be fine. What about around seven?”

“Nine o’clock would be better. I have a meeting already scheduled for seven.”

She frowned; nine at night was awfully late for them to do business, but she did want to start on the interview. “Okay, nine o’clock will be fine.”

Mitch nodded, pleased with himself. “Now, come on and let me show you around. I especially want you to see the places I most enjoyed as a child.”

Gina’s heart began beating rapidly as she got to her feet. She was eager to see anything that was part of Mitch’s past; a past he’d always been reluctant to share with her. “I’d like that.”

With his hand on Gina’s back, Mitch guided her around his property, sharing with her tidbits of his childhood and how much fun he’d had while living with his grandmother. They came to a stop when they reached a huge pond. Earlier that morning there had been a light drizzle so the ground was still damp. The air smelled of earth and pine and was stirred by a gentle summer breeze.

“You loved your grandmother very much, didn’t you?” Gina asked after he’d shared yet another fond memory with her.

He smiled. “Loved, admired, and respected. My grandfather died in the early years of their marriage, but through hard work and dedication she was able to hold on to the ranch with only two young sons for help. And even when those sons later decided ranching wasn’t for them, she continued to hold on to the ranch, hiring out seasonal workers and depending on her neighbors only when she really needed to.”

He picked up a twig and tossed it into the pond. “When I arrived here I was still mourning the loss of my parents. In time she made my hurt go away; and as I continued to live here, a part of me knew that I’d be the one who would stay and be the rancher. I loved and enjoyed everything about this place just that much. I felt I had everything I needed right here and had no intentions of ever leaving.”

Gina nodded, wondering what had happened in his life to make him change his mind. She knew the time he’d spent with various family members after his grandmother’s death had had a lot to do with it, especially the time he’d spent with his uncle Jasper. Had there been something else, too? Something he had never shared with her?

“This has always been my favorite spot and it seems fitting that I bring my favorite girl here.”

Gina’s pulse raced at what he’d said. “Your
favorite
girl?”

He tilted his head back and smiled at her surprised expression. “Yes. You were the first woman I’d gotten serious about during my four years of college and two years of grad school. I had almost made it to the finish line free of any serious involvement with a woman, and then one day I bumped into you coming out of class and wham, my life hasn’t been the same since.”

Neither had hers,
Gina thought as she shook her head, smiling and remembering that day. Mitch Farrell had not only bumped into her that day, he had literally rocked her world. He had shaken it and in a short space of time he’d had it revolving out of control. But still, for him to claim nearly two years after their divorce that she was still his favorite girl was a bit much.

“What about all those other women I read about in the magazines and newspapers whom you’ve been involved with? Surely they rate much higher on the scale than I do.”

Of all the things that could have happened just then, Gina hadn’t expected—nor was she prepared—for Mitch to suddenly whirl her around to face him in such a way that brought them chest to chest, and made her tip her head back to see him. She’d barely had time to register what he’d done when she noticed the darkening of his eyes and the firm set of his jaw. When she did, her stomach curled and her nipples tightened. He wasn’t smiling, which indicated the intensity of his thoughts; she knew whatever he was about to say was serious.

“I evidently need to make something absolutely clear, Regina Farrell. Divorce or no divorce, no woman rates higher in my life than you do. You’re the woman I chose to be my wife, but you were more than that. You were my best friend and my most loyal supporter. And no matter who I may have dated after our divorce, you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted with unadulterated, relentless, and endless passion and never-ending and undying love.”

Gina’s heart thumped so hard in her chest that it hurt.
Never-ending and undying love?
Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She shook her head.
No, he doesn’t mean it. At least not the way it sounded,
she thought.
Especially not after all this time. There is no way.

She sighed deeply. A part of her knew Mitch still loved her; it was the same kind of love she had for him. You couldn’t fall madly in love with someone and then expect that love to go away with a mere divorce. A part of her still loved him and cared for him—as someone who had once been a special part of her life, nothing more than that. And she figured that for him it was probably the same. She was the only woman he had ever taken the time from his busy schedule to pursue. And he had done so relentlessly until he had broken down all her barriers, except for one. He had not gotten her to change her mind about them sleeping together before marriage, not that he had tried. Once she had told him of her intentions to wait, he had respected her wishes. But that hadn’t stopped things from almost getting out of hand a few times when they had been alone at his apartment. However, he’d always been able to regain control and bring things to an end before they’d gone too far.

The declaration he’d just made about how he felt about her rendered her speechless, and before she could say anything he glanced down at his watch. “It’s time for us to start heading back if I’m to meet the Madarises on time.”

Gina nodded, glad for the change in subject. “So how are things going with the plans for the Madaris Building?” she asked as they began walking back toward the area where their vehicles were parked.

“What Justin, Dex, and Clayton plan to build is awesome. It’s been a dream of theirs for a while and I’m glad to see them move forward with it. And I definitely appreciate them letting me be a part of it.”

Gina nodded. “Who will be the builders?”

Mitch chuckled. “I think that was decided before the first piece of land was purchased. Madaris Construction Company will be the ones handling things. They plan to keep it all in the family. At first I thought it was too large an undertaking for two such young men, but Justin, Dex, and Clayton felt comfortable in letting their young cousins do the work. After meeting them I can see why. Those two guys have good heads on their shoulders and there’s no doubt in my mind they will do a fantastic job.”

Gina smiled. The cousins Mitch was referring to were the twenty-seven-year-old twins, Blade and Slade Madaris. Originally, the construction company had been owned by the twins’ grandfather and father, Milton Madaris Sr. and Jr. Milton Sr. had long ago retired; Milton Jr. had recently decided to take early retirement and travel a bit and turned over the running of the operation to his offspring. Already, Blade and Slade were making a name for themselves and had been awarded a number of building contracts.

When they reached her car Mitch opened the door for her. After she slid in he leaned down and reached across her and snapped the seat belt in place. She appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Mitch.”

“You’re welcome.” He had to hold back from adding,
I now know the importance of taking care of what’s mine.
He was still leaning down and at that angle he was staring straight at her mouth. His gut clenched and he suddenly felt sweat form on his forehead. His control was good, but not good enough to resist moving in just a bit closer to taste her one more time.

He gazed into her eyes and saw the exact moment she realized his intent. He heard her breath catch and heard her gentle sigh. Then he saw her automatically part her lips for him. With such an invitation, whether intentional or not, he leaned closer and stroked his tongue past her parted lips and right into her mouth. Her tongue was there, waiting on his. Sweet, moist, delicious. He wanted to devour her but knew that now was not the time. He had to move cautiously since he didn’t want to do anything that would make her want to call off tonight’s meeting.

So after tasting her thoroughly for a heart-stopping minute, he retreated and slowly, reluctantly, eased his tongue out of her mouth. “Tonight,” he said in a husky whisper. “I’ll see you later tonight. At around nine.”

Gina swallowed. Mitch’s voice was rich with promise. A part of her wanted to tell him that tonight was off, since it appeared that she couldn’t trust herself around him. In her book he was the epitome of everything sexual. He was vital, strong and all male. Definitely all male. Even now she could feel moisture gathering between her legs just thinking about how male he was. Somehow and in some way she had to emotionally distance herself from Mitch before…

She didn’t want to think about what might happen if she didn’t. Every bone in her body was beginning to turn to mush at the very thought. “Mitch?”

“Yes?”

“About tonight.”

“Yes, what about it?”

“Ahh…” She tried to speak but couldn’t. Never before had she felt at such a loss for words. The only other time she had been this aware of a man had been her first encounter with Mitch. His very presence had taken her by storm, just like he was doing now. But still, she intended to keep things strictly business between them, even if it killed her…which, from the way things looked, it just might. “Nothing,” she said softly. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

Stella Grant glanced across the table at her daughter. Papadeaux was their favorite place for dinner; Gina just loved their seafood. But she couldn’t help noticing that Gina had barely touched her food. “Are you are all right, Gina?”

Gina lifted her head and met her mother’s concerned gaze. “I met with Mitch today.” She knew that about said it all. Of all people, her mother knew just what Mitch Farrell had meant to her at one time. Her mother also knew how much the breakup of their marriage had hurt her.

“So you have decided to do the interview?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Gina sighed. She hadn’t heard censorship in her mother’s voice, just blatant, outright concern. When it came to her children, Stella Grant was a fierce protector. But then, on the other hand, she had always allowed them to make decisions for themselves. Gina and her mother had always had a close relationship. Nothing had changed.

“The reason I decided to do it is because it’s a good career move for me that will also pay well when some magazine buys it. But I also have an ulterior motive for doing it. While I’m interviewing Mitch, I’m hoping that I can find out some things about him. In fact, I already have,” she said softly, thinking about what he’d shared with her about his parents and grandmother. Each time she conversed with him she learned more and more about the man she had once been married to.

“But those are things you should have learned when the two of you were married.”

“True, but there was never any time since Mitch spent most of his time working. The only time we communicated was in…” Gina cleared her throat upon deciding that no matter how close they were, she had no intentions of sharing intimate details of her marriage with her mother. Besides, she was more than sure her mother got the picture.

“So, where will all this lead?” Stella asked, concerned.

“I really don’t know, Mom. All I’m hoping to get out of this is one fabulous article. Both Mitch and I keep stressing this is strictly business, yet…” She sighed, about to go there again. Why were she and Mitch such passionate, oversensuous people? It seemed the only thing they used to do with their free time was make love, think of making love, or plan to make love.

“Gina?”

She blinked upon realizing her mother had spoken to her. “Yes?”

“What you do with Mitch is your business. I just want you to be careful.”

Gina nodded. “Careful that my heart doesn’t get broken again.”

Stella nodded. “Yes, that, too. But I was really thinking about being careful that you don’t end up pregnant.”

“Mother!”

Stella waved off Gina’s tone of indignation. “I want you to hear me out, Regina Renee Grant Farrell. I’ve been where you are now, remember? Your father and I were separated for nearly twenty years and during that time I still loved him something fierce. Around Maurice I knew how it felt to be a woman mainly because he was the one who made me into a woman.” She smiled. “There were times when he would come and pick you and Trevor up for the weekend, and I had to fight to hold back from throwing myself at him. While I always maintained control, there were times I literally climbed the walls after he left because I had wanted and needed him just that bad.” She looked at Gina pointedly and added, “I know all about wants and needs, young lady.”