Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(61)

Draped against him, languid and boneless, Dani belatedly realized that he had let her rip through her orgasm without seeking his own. The aftershocks that were ebbing through her were undoubtedly torturing his still savagely rigid arousal, yet he simply held her, letting her body settle into a luscious slumber. She raised her eyes to his in question.

He bent to collect an untamed kiss. “Remember what we were arguing about the other day? How I think pro sports officials using video replay more and more is changing the game?” he asked, his voice stormy as he hungrily explored her ear with his tongue.

She could barely remember her own name, let alone whatever he was talking about. “Hmmm?” she managed. Pretty good effort on her part, considering.

“I decided you’re right, sweetheart; it can be a good thing.” He slid behind her and placed slow, deliberate kisses up her spine.

“It?” she managed to stutter out, the incredible sensations stealing the oxygen required for anything beyond monosyllabic answers.

“Instant replay,” he replied with a wolfish grin as he plunged back into her soft heat.

Hours later, back at her apartment, snuggled in bed next to Luke, it vaguely occurred to her she was supposed to tell him something. But as her eyelids grew heavy and her brain fuzzy, she couldn’t reach the niggling reminder. Even the muffled ringing coming from the living room seemed miles away. Her cordless phone, perhaps? It was probably wedged in her sofa cushions.

The message being left on her all-too-neglected answering machine was so faint, she couldn’t even make out the words…



*



“Hey, sis! Man, this is the longest we’ve ever gone without talking. I miss you! The honeymoon is going great. Vienna was amazing. So was Verona and Naples—hence our lack of calls all this time. It’s been an unbelievable few weeks. I swear, I should have planned for more time in that part of Europe; we’d spend a month just in Italy if we could.”

“Anyway, enough about us. Jonathan and I have been hearing all the titillating gossip from Xoey, which I’m assuming is the reason for the lack of calls on your part. We’re dying to hear more about you and this Luke fella so you better get ahold of us soon, sister-dear. Although Jonathan says he’ll settle for an email if you send a photo of Luke with it. The one Xoey took on her phone is way too blurry. It’s like the man didn’t know a camera was on him...”

A car horn blares

“Okay, okay, our ride is here. We’ve been in Greece all week; we’re in Santorini now wrapping up our trip. Remember, we’re flying back in on Valentine’s Day so don’t forget to pick us up from the airport. We have a bet going on whether you’ll actually remember to get us this time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll actually check your voicemail this week.”

Indistinct laughter in the background

“Oh, by the way, oddest thing, I got a voicemail from Noah the other day. Something about a winery? I have no idea what he was talking about, and since I promised Jon I’d stop checking my phone for the rest of the trip do you think you could swing by Harold’s to see if he knows what’s up? Who knows, maybe it’ll fit in with my new grand plans in life—I’ll tell you more about that work epiphany when I’m home. See you soon. Love you.”

click





CHAPTER TEN


“SHOOT, WHAT’S WITH all this beer? Where can I get some chocolate in this town?” boomed an obnoxiously loud man at the bar.

Dani gasped and dropped everything she was holding, almost taking out a waiter around the corner in her mad dash to the front. “Nice entrance,” she called out, laughing as she hurled herself into the awaiting arms of her one and only big brother. “Sheesh, you look like hell.”

Derek planted a big kiss on her forehead. “Aw, and I missed you too, sweets.”

She grinned, looking around. “Where’s Jonathan?”

“Exhausted from the flight. We got in really early. No worries, he’ll be here later.” He grabbed a seat with her at the nearest table. “So? What’s been going on the last two months?”

“You first. How was the honeymoon? And leave out the TMI parts please.”

“The honeymoon was incredible. I’m glad we held out for a longer trip; experiencing Europe like that made it tough to leave.” Sighing wistfully, his eyes danced as he looked over at her. “Though I admit it is nice to return to the same old, same old.” Tsking, he shook his head with a smile. “You made me lose twenty bucks to Jonathan at the airport today, sister-dear.”

Confusion knitted her brow.

He pitched his voice high, in what was presumably an insulting imitation of her. “I swear I won’t forget to pick you guys up this time...” He rolled his eyes teasingly. “I left a reminder on your home answering machine and everything. Your cellphone inbox is full by the way.”

Her mouth fell open. “Dang it!” She cringed, smiling sheepishly. “That’s right. I was your ride home today. I’m so sorry, Derek. Things have just been nuts around here lately.”

He ruffled her hair affectionately. “We figured. From what I hear, plotting to take down a neighboring business and then falling madly in love with its owner can be very exhausting.”

Dani’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You know, ever since you became Xoey’s gay BFF, all you two do is gossip about me,” she huffed, looking around for the perpetrator in question.