Reckless In Love (The Maverick Billionaires #2)(71)
“Ah,” she teased, “so you did have ulterior motives for coming to see me today. It wasn’t just to bring me beer and love me senseless.”
“You are always my first motive. Everything else places a distant second.”
He always knew the perfect words to melt her, but she leaned back against the workbench. The couple of things he wanted to talk about were already making her wary, even before she heard what they were. It would be easier to listen if she wasn’t pressed tightly against him. Then again, just gazing at his beautiful face was distracting. “Hit me with those other motives.”
“I’m glad you and your mother let me help with the move into Magnolia Gardens. It’s clearly a much better place than Shady Lane.” He paused, as if he needed to let that sink in first. “But I thought we could probably spruce up the furniture in your mom’s room. Cushy chairs. A bigger TV. A bookshelf. And something that’s not plastic for the balcony.”
The topic threw Charlie off—this wasn’t what she’d expected at all—but it was clear from the expression on Sebastian’s face that he’d wanted to discuss it for some time. She fought back her instinctively defensive response, but ultimately couldn’t stop herself. “They recommend that residents bring stuff from home they’re comfortable with. But I didn’t have room at my place to store everything from the house she shared with my father.”
“We’ll get her something new, then.” He stroked the bare skin of her arm. It should have soothed her, but the subject was pushing her buttons.
Still, she tried not to read any criticism into what he was saying, especially when she’d also thought about sprucing up her mother’s new bedroom a bit. “Mom would like that, I’m sure. Some pretty sheets and towels, in addition to the bedspread I was going to pick up for her. So it feels homey.” She was totally ready to switch focus to something that would make her less edgy—which she knew was her deal, not his. “What’s the other thing you wanted to talk about?”
“Actually,” he said, easing into her so he could rest his hands on her waist, “I wondered what you thought of the food at Magnolia Gardens.”
She could feel the frown between her brows and resisted the urge to scrub it away. “They had a great salad bar. Some stuff is probably better than others. I read that they have a brunch on Sundays with prime rib or turkey, baked ham or rack of lamb. I think it’s good.” She waited a beat, letting his hands on her ease her tension. Except that they didn’t, and she couldn’t help adding, “Didn’t you?”
She was working very hard to keep her voice light, but she heard the strain threaded through the question, Didn’t you? Because what she’d really meant was, Don’t you trust me to take care of my mom?
He seemed to battle with himself for a long moment, his fingers flexing against her, before he nodded. “You’re right. The food was fine, the gardens were great, and the doctors and the care seem good too.” He stroked her arm, once, twice, maybe trying to soothe them both this time. “The last thing is good news. Remember the couple at the gala with the house out in Woodside? She had the koi pond.”
“Vaguely.”
That was a lie. All she remembered about the gala was the way he’d shoved her up against the elevator wall, ravaged her mouth, then stripped her out of her dress in the penthouse. He’d taken her to heights she’d never dreamed possible.
At the same time, she was more than happy to leave behind the topic of her mom’s new nursing home. Sure, they might be able to find something better than Magnolia Gardens, but it would also cost even more than the shocking monthly amount she was currently paying. And though Sebastian could easily cover it, Charlie simply wasn’t ready to let him take over. Even if he had a miraculous capacity to overwhelm her resistance to whatever he wanted, she wasn’t going to bend on that one.
“The couple would like something with an Asian flair to sit by the pond. I said I’d set your creative juices loose on the idea.”
“A commission?” Charlie ran her fingertips over his jaw, loving the faint hint of five o’clock shadow bristling against her skin. She’d doubted anyone would call after the hotel gala, but in a matter of days, Sebastian had made things happen.
“Yeah.” He reached around her and grabbed one of the beers, popping the top for her. Then he raised his, tapping the bottle rims. “Here’s to getting all the commissions you’ll ever need.”
Need? What had happened to inspiration? She thrust the thought aside because she truly did need all this for her mother. And Sebastian was so excited for her.
“They sent me a photo of the pond.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll show you later. And there’s a party we should attend tomorrow night. We’ll make great contacts for you.”
Charlie sipped the brew. And it was surprisingly delicious. But another party? These galas could turn into work. And without an ounce of the fun part, like digging through junk shops and combing old worksites for the buried treasure left behind. Besides, she’d rather be working on the stallions. Or better yet, spending tomorrow night alone with Sebastian, making love in the workshop, in the hot tub, and in his bed. She wound her arms around his neck, the cool bottle dangling from her fingers, and pressed sinuously against him in anticipation of all that lovely, sweet sex.