What a Westmoreland Wants (12 page)

“Well, I regret that, but I can’t get over what she did. Twenty thousand dollars is not small change.”

A sound made Gemma turn around and she drew in a deep breath when she saw Callum standing there, leaning in the doorway. And from the expression on his face, she knew he’d been listening to her and Megan’s conversation. How dare he! She wondered if he would mention it to Ramsey.

“Megan, I’ll call you back later,” she said, placing her phone off speaker. “Tell everyone I said hello and give them my love.”

She ended the call and placed the phone back on her desk. “You’re early.”

“Yes, you might say that,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest. “What’s this about your administrative assistant embezzling money from you?”

Gemma threw her head back, sending hair flying over her shoulders. “You were deliberately eavesdropping on my conversation.”

“You placed the call on speaker and I just happened to arrive while the conversation was going on.”

“Well, you could have let me know you were here.”

“Yes, I could have. Now answer the question about Niecee.”

“No. It’s none of your business,” she snapped.

He strolled into the room toward her. “That’s where you’re wrong. It
is
my business, on both a business and a personal level.”

A frown deepened her brow. “And how do you figure that?”

He came to a stop in front of her. “First of all, on a business level, before I do business with anyone I expect the company to be financially sound. In other words, Gemma, I figured that you had enough funds in your bank account to cover the initial outlay for this decorating job.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “I didn’t have to worry about that since you gave me such a huge advance.”

“And what if I hadn’t done that? Would you have been able to take the job here?”

Gemma didn’t have to think about the answer to that. “No, but—”

“No, buts, Gemma.” He didn’t say anything for a minute and it seemed as if he was struggling not to smile. That only fueled her anger. What did he find so amusing?

Before she could ask, he spoke. “And it’s personal, Gemma, because it’s you. I don’t like the idea of anyone taking advantage of you. Does Ramsey know?”

Boy, that did it! “I own Designs by Gems—not Ramsey. It’s my business and whatever problems crop up are
my
problems. I know I made a mistake in hiring Niecee. I see that now and I should have listened to
Ramsey and Dillon and done a background check on her, as they suggested. I didn’t and I regret it. But at least I’m—”

“Handling your business.” He glanced at his watch. “Ready to go?” he asked, walking away and heading for the door, turning off the light switch in the process. “There’s a nice restaurant not far from here that I think you’ll like.”

Gemma spun around to face him. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m mad.”

Callum flashed her a smile. “Then get over it.”

Gemma was too undone…and totally confused. “I won’t be getting over it.”

He nodded. “Okay, let’s talk about it then.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to talk about it, because it’s none of your business.”

Callum threw his head back and laughed. “We’re back to that again?”

Gemma glared at him. “We need to get a few things straight, Callum.”

He nodded. “Yes, we do.” He walked back over to her. “I’ve already told you why it’s my business and from a business perspective you see that I’m right, don’t you?”

It took her a full minute, but she finally said, “Yes, all right. I see that. I’ll admit that you are right from a business perspective. That’s not the way I usually operate but…”

“You were robbing Peter to pay Paul, I know. However, I don’t like being Peter or Paul. Now, as far as it being personal,
you
were right.”

She lifted a brow. “I was?”

“Yes. It was your business and not Ramsey’s concern. I admitted it and told you that you handled it. That was the end of it,” he said.

She gave herself a mental shake, trying to keep up with him. He had scolded her on one hand, but complimented her way of handling things on the other. “So you won’t mention it to Ramsey?”

“No. It’s not my place to do that…unless your life is in danger or something equally as dire, and it’s not.” He looked down at her and smiled. “As I said, from the sound of the conversation you just had with Megan, you handled this matter in an expeditious manner. By all accounts, you will be getting your money back. Kudos for you.”

A smile crossed Gemma’s lips. She was proud of herself. “Yes, kudos for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “And just what did you find amusing earlier?”

“How quickly you can get angry just for the sake of doing so. I’d heard about your unique temperament but never experienced it before.”

“Did it bother you?”

“No.”

Gemma frowned, not sure how she felt about that. In a way she liked that Callum didn’t run for cover when her temper exploded, as it did at times. Zane, Derringer and the twins were known to have had a plate aimed at their heads once or twice, and knew to be ready to duck if they gave her sufficient cause.

“However, I would like you to make me a promise,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.

She lifted a curious brow. “What?”

“Promise that if you ever find yourself in a bind again, financial or otherwise, you’ll let me know.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need another older brother, Callum.”

He smiled and his teeth flashed a bright white against his brown skin. “There’s no way you can think we have anything close to a brother-sister relationship after last night. But just in case you need a little reminder…”

He pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.

G
emma’s face blushed with anticipation as she walked into Callum’s condo. Dinner was fantastic, but she liked being back here alone with him.

“Are you tired, Gemma?”

He had to be kidding.
She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a wry look. He was closing the door and locking it. “What makes you think that?”

“You were kind of quiet at dinner.”

She chuckled. “Not hardly. I nearly talked your ears off.”

“And I nearly talked yours off, too.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You were sharing how your day went, and basically, I was doing the same.”
While sitting there nearly drooling over you from across the table.
Now that they were alone, she
wondered if she would have to tell him what she wanted or if he already had a clue.

“So Kathleen worked out well for you?”

“Yes,” she said, easing out of her shoes. “She’s a sweetheart and so efficient. She was able to find all the fabric I need and the cost of shipping won’t be bad. I really hadn’t expected you to set up the office like that. Thanks again for the roses. They were beautiful.”

“You thanked me already for the flowers, and I’m glad you liked them. I plan to take you to the movies this weekend, but how would you like to watch a DVD now?”

She studied his features as he walked into the living room. Was that what he really wanted to do? “A movie on DVD sounds fine.”

“You got a favorite?”

She chuckled as she dropped down on the sofa. “And if I do, should I just assume you have it here?”

He sat in the wingback chair across from her. “No, but I’m sure it can be ordered through my cable company. As I said, whatever you want, I will make it happen.”

In that case.
She stood from the sofa and in bare feet she slowly crossed the room and came to a stop between his opened legs. “Make love to me, Callum.”

Callum didn’t hesitate to pull Gemma down into his lap. He had been thinking about making love to her all day. That kiss in her office had whet his appetite and now he was about to be appeased. But first he had to tell her something before he forgot.

“Mom called. She’s invited you to have lunch and go shopping with her, my sister and my sisters-in-law next Friday.”

Surprise shone on Gemma’s face. She twisted around in his arms to look up at him. “She did?”

“Yes.”

“But why? I’m here to decorate your house. Why would they want to spend time with me?”

Callum chuckled. “Why wouldn’t they? You’ve never been to Australia and I gather from the conversations the other day they figured you like to shop like most other women.”

“The same way men like watching sports. I understand that sports are just as popular here in this country as in the States.”

“Yes, I played Australian rules football a lot growing up. Not sure how my body would handle it now, though,” he said, adjusting her in his lap to place the top of his chin on the crown of her head. “I also like playing cricket. One day I’m going to teach you how to play.”

“Well, you must have plans to do that during the time I’m here, because once I return home it’s back to tennis for me.”

Callum knew Gemma played tennis and that she was good at it. But what stuck out more than anything was her mentioning returning home. He didn’t intend for that to happen, at least not on a permanent basis. “How can you think of returning to Denver when you still have so much to do here?”

She smiled. “Hey, give me a break. Today was my first full day on the job. Besides, you hired Kathleen for me. She placed all the orders and I even hired the company to come in and hang the drapes and pictures. Everything is moving smoothly. Piece of cake. I’ll have that place decorated and be out of here in no time.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, thinking he definitely didn’t like the sound of that. Then he turned her in his arms. “I think we got sidetracked.”

She looked up at him. “Did we?”

“Yes. You wanted to make love.”

She tilted her head. “Umm, did I?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head, trying to hide a grin, which he saw anyway. “Sorry, your time is up.”

He stood with her in his arms. “I don’t think so.”

Callum carried her over to the sofa and sat down with her in his arms. “We have more room here,” he said, adjusting her body in his lap to face him. “Now tell me what you want again.”

“I don’t remember,” she said, amusement shining in her gaze.

“Sounds like you need another reminder,” he said, standing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Now where are you taking me?”

“To the kitchen. I think I’d like you for dessert.”

“What! You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“No. Watch me.”

And she did. Gemma sat on the kitchen counter, where he placed her, while he rummaged through his refrigerator looking for God knows what. But she didn’t mind, since she was getting a real nice view of his backside.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll have everything I need in a sec,” he called out, still bent over, scouring his fridge.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m
enjoying the view,” she said, smiling, her gaze still glued to his taut tush.

“The view is nice this time of night, isn’t it?” he asked over his shoulder.

She grinned as she studied how the denim of his jeans stretched over his butt. He thought she was talking about the view of the ocean outside the window. “I think this particular view is nice anytime. Day or night.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I know I am,” Gemma said, fighting to keep the smile out of her voice.

Moments later Callum turned away from the refrigerator and closed the door with his hands full of items. He glanced over at Gemma. She was smiling. He arched a brow. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. What you got there?”

“See for yourself,” he said, placing all the items on the counter next to her.

She picked up a jar. “Cherries?”

A slow smile touched his lips at the same time she saw a hint of heat fill his green eyes. “My favorite fruit.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.”

She picked up another item. “Whipped cream?”

“For the topping.”

She shook her head as she placed the whipped cream back on the counter and selected another item. “Nuts?”

“They go well with cherries,” he said, laughing.

“You’re awful.”

“No, I’m not.

She picked up the final item. “Chocolate syrup?”

“That’s a must,” he said, rolling up his sleeve.

Gemma watched as he began taking the tops off all the containers. “So what are you going to do with all that stuff?”

He smiled. “You’ll see. I told you that you’re going to be my dessert.”

She blinked when she read his thoughts. He was serious.

“Now for my fantasy,” he said, turning to her and placing his hands on her knees as he stepped between them, widening her legs as he did so. He began un-buttoning her shirt and when he took it off her shoulders he neatly placed it on the back of the kitchen chair.

He reached out to unsnap the front of her bra, lifting a brow at its peach color. He’d watched her put it on this morning and when he asked her about it, she told him she liked matching undies.

“Nice color.”

“Glad you like it.”

Gemma couldn’t believe it a short while later when she was sitting on Callum’s kitchen counter in nothing but her panties. He then slid her into his arms. “Where are we going now?”

“Out on the patio.”

“More room?”

“Yes, more room, and the temperature tonight is unusually warm.”

He carried her through the French doors to place her on the chaise longue. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay.” Anticipation was flowing through her veins and she could feel her heart thudding in her chest. She’d never considered herself a sexual being, but Callum was proving just how passionate she could be. At least with
him. She had a pretty good idea just what he planned to do and the thought was inciting every cell in her body to simmer with desire. The thought that couples did stuff like this behind closed doors, actually had fun being together, being adventurous while making love, had her wondering what she’d been missing all these years.

But she knew she hadn’t been missing anything because the men she’d dated in the past hadn’t been Callum. Besides being drop-dead gorgeous, the man certainly had a way with women. At least he had a way with her. He had made her first time memorable; not only in giving her pleasure but in the way he had taken care of her afterwards.

And then there were the flowers he’d sent today. And then at dinner, she had enjoyed their conversation where not only had he shared how his day had gone, but had given her a lot of interesting information about his homeland. This weekend he had offered to take her sailing on his father’s yacht. She was looking forward to that.

While sitting across from him during dinner, every little thing had boosted up her desire for him. She couldn’t wait to return here to be alone with him. It could be the way he would smile at her over the rim of his wineglass, or the way he would reach across the table and touch her hand on occasion for no reason at all. They had ordered different entrées and he had hand-fed her some of his when she was curious as to how his meal tasted.

Callum returned and she watched as he placed all the items on the small table beside her. The patio was dark, except for the light coming in from the kitchen and the
moonlight overhead. They had eaten breakfast on the patio this morning and she knew there wasn’t a single building on either side of them, just the ocean.

He pulled a small stool over to where she lay on her back, staring up at him. “When will you be my dessert?” she tried asking in a calm voice, but found that to be difficult when she felt her stomach churning.

“Whenever you want. Just ask. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

He’d been telling her that so much that she was beginning to believe it. “The ocean sounds so peaceful and relaxing. You’d better hope I don’t fall asleep,” she warned.

“If you do, I’ll wake you.”

She looked up at him, met his gaze and felt his heat. She’d told him last night there were no limitations. There still weren’t. It had taken her twenty-four years to get to this point and she intended to enjoy it for all it was worth. Callum was making this a wonderful experience for her and she appreciated him for being fascinating as well as creative.

He moved off the stool just long enough to lean over her to remove her panties. “Nice pair,” he said, while easing the silky material down her thighs and legs.

“Glad you like them.”

“I like them off you even better,” he said, balling them up and standing to put them into the back pocket of his jeans. “Now for my dessert.”

“Enjoy yourself.”

“I will, sweetheart.”

It seemed that her entire body responded to his use of that endearment. He meant nothing by it—she was
certain of it. But still, she couldn’t help how rapidly her heart was beating from hearing it and how her stomach was fluttering in response to it.

While she lay there, she watched as Callum removed his shirt and tossed it aside before returning to his stool. He leaned close and she was tempted to reach out and run her fingertips across his naked chest, but then decided she wouldn’t do that. This was his fantasy. He’d fulfilled hers last night.

“Now for something sweet, like you,” he said, and she nearly jumped when she felt a warm, thick substance being smeared over her chest with his fingers and hands in a sensual and erotic pattern. When he moved to her stomach the muscles tightened as he continued rubbing the substance all over her belly, as if he was painting a design on her.

“What is it?”

“My name.”

His voice was husky and in the moonlight she saw his tense features, the darkness of the eyes staring back at her, the sexy line of his mouth. All she could do was lie there and stare up at him speechlessly, trying to make sense of what he said. He was placing his name on her stomach as if he was branding her as his. She forced the thought from her mind, knowing he didn’t mean anything by it.

“How does it feel?” he asked as his hand continued spreading chocolate syrup all over her.

“The chocolate feels sticky, but your hands feel good,” she said honestly. He had moved his hands down past her stomach to her thighs.

He didn’t say anything for a long moment, just continued to do what he was doing.

“And this is your fantasy?” she asked.

His lips curved into a slow smile that seemed to heat his gaze even more. “Yes. You’ll see why in a moment.”

When Callum was satisfied that he had smeared enough chocolate syrup over Gemma’s body, he grabbed the can of whipped cream and squirted some around her nipples, outlined her belly button, completely covered her feminine mound, and made squiggly lines on her thighs and legs.

“Now for the cherries and nuts,” he said, still holding her gaze.

He then proceeded to sprinkle her with nuts and place cherries on top of the whipped cream on her breasts, navel and womanly mound. In fact, he placed several on the latter.

“You look beautiful,” he said, taking a step back and looking down at her to see just what he’d done.

“I’ll take your word for it,” she said, feeling like a huge ice-cream sundae. “I just hope there isn’t a colony of ants around.”

He laughed. “There isn’t. Now to get it off you.”

She knew just how he intended to do that, but nothing prepared her for the feel of his tongue when he began slowly licking her all over. Every so often he would lean up and kiss her, giving her a taste of the concoction that was smeared all around his mouth, mingling his tongue with hers. At one point he carried a cherry with his teeth, placed it in her mouth and together they shared the taste.

“Callum…”

Callum loved the sound of his name on her lips and as he lowered his mouth back down to her chest, he could feel the softness of her breasts beneath his mouth. And each nipple tasted like a delicious pebble wrapped around his tongue. Every time he took one into his mouth she shivered, and he savored the sensation of sucking on them.