Your Room or Mine?

Epilogue

Two months later

Jack applied the corkscrew to the bottle of merlot and flicked a glance at his kitchen clock. Maddie was due right about-

He heard the lock turning then the door opening and he grinned. The woman was almost comically punctual. She walked into the kitchen pulling her bright red carry-on suitcase behind her. He’d given her the bag after their first dinner date, telling her he didn’t want to risk anyone else getting her lingerie-packed black bag by mistake.

She greeted him with a saucy smile. “Hiya, handsome. Lookin’ for a good time?”

With a laugh he pulled her into his arms and gave her the kiss he’d been dying to give her since seeing her off at the airport three days ago. She’d flown to Tampa for a consulting job and damn it, he’d felt empty and lonely the entire time she was gone. He lifted her up and sat her on the counter. Stepping between her legs, he curved his hands around her bottom and pulled her closer. Until his erection pressed against the juncture of her thighs.

“Wow, seems like somebody missed me,” she said, as he ran his tongue down the side of her cookie-scented neck.

“Maybe just a little.”

“And maybe I missed you, too. Just a little.” She sniffed the air. “Hey, it smells good in here. Like Italian food.” She leaned back and looked at him in surprise. “Did you… cook?”

“Cook might be too strong a word. I ordered a pizza and calzone from Mario’s. They’re on Warm in the oven.”

She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Hmmm. Wine and food from my favorite restaurant. Is this a special occasion?”

“I have some good news,” he said, nipping kisses along her jaw.

“I signed on a new client today.”

She pulled his head back and kissed him on the mouth. “Jack, that’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you.” Then she shook her head and laughed. “I never doubted you’d be a success, but the irony of you being a consultant will never cease to amuse me.”

He smiled and pulled her tighter against him, quickly calculating how long it would take to get her out of her prim suit, deciding it would have to wait until he told her everything he needed to first. “It’s all your fault. You gave me a whole new appreciation for consultants, and I sure as hell like being my own boss.” He lifted his hands to free her mass of curls from their restraints. “Of course, I consider myself an atypical consultant.”

She cocked a single brow. “Are you implying that I’m typical?”

“Not in any way.” Her hair cascaded around her shoulders and he sifted his fingers through the shiny strands. “Which is why I love you. Or at least one of the reasons I love you.”

She went perfectly still. With his heart pounding, he looked into her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction to his admission. She looked… stunned. Damn. He’d been hoping for deliriously happy. These past two months had gone by in a blur, one filled with striking out to start his own company and spending every free minute with Maddie. And each minute spent with her had pushed him further into love. He’d kept his emotions in check as much as possible, not wanting to rush anything, but he couldn’t hold back any longer. He knew she was The One. And it was time she knew it, too.

“You love me?” she whispered.

“I love you,” he confirmed.

To his consternation, her chin quivered and a pair of fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, hell,” he muttered. He reached behind her and ripped off a half-dozen paper towels. “Damn. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Feeling helpless, he dabbed at her eyes with the huge wad of crumpled paper towels.

“I love you, too,” she said, then promptly buried her face against his neck and sobbed.

Even as elation rushed through him he felt compelled to ask, “Are you sure? Because you don’t seem very happy about it.”

She leaned back and laughed-at least he thought she was laughing. It was kinda hard to tell with all the tears running down her face. “I’m happy,” she said, kissing him. “I love you. I’ve wanted to say it for weeks, but was afraid I’d scare you off if I did. So I decided I’d give you one more week to tell me.”

“And if I hadn’t?”

“Then I was going to tie you to the bed so you couldn’t escape, then tell you.”

“You mean if I’d kept my mouth shut for just one more week, you’d have tied me to the bed?”

“Yes.”

“I take it back.” He nuzzled her neck. “Now will you tie me to the bed?”

She pushed at his shoulders. “You can’t take it back.” Suddenly she sobered. “Unless you want to.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I think it’s time you met Claire and Sophie. I told them all about you and they can’t wait to meet you. Would you join us for dinner Friday night?”

Her smile could have lit a dark room. “I’d be delighted.”

“And the Friday after that? And the Friday after that? And the Friday after that?”

The joy and love glowing in her eyes filled him with a happiness he’d never before known. “Sounds perfect.”

“Good. What also sounds perfect is this tying me to the bed you mentioned. Would this by chance include your copy of Fifty Ways to Please Your Lover and some slinky lingerie?”

She leaned forward and kissed him. “Why don’t you bring me to the bedroom and find out?”

He didn’t hesitate. Hoisting her into his arms, he headed down the hall. “Good. Fine. Whatever you say.”