“Yes,” she murmured, as though somehow she’d known he was there all the time. “Aren’t they gorgeous tonight?”
“Breathtaking,” Tyler answered. He ignored the night sky, instead gluing his gaze to the dark-eyed beauty who’d stolen his heart. Julie laughed, obviously pleased by the offhanded compliment.
“It’s almost midnight,” she said after a moment’s silence.
“Which is why Don sent me out here to get you.”
Julie nodded that she’d guessed that. Turning her back to the yard, she leaned against the ornate iron rail that edged the porch, then crossed her arms over her chest in a self-hug Tyler wished he could help her with. Her bold gaze swept Tyler from head to toe.
“So what do you think of our midnight birthday party tradition?”
“I think it’s perfect for someone born at 12:01 on January first.” Tyler, too, leaned against the rail, so close that the smell of her cologne instantly assailed him. The subtle floral scent brought to mind sunrise streaming through an open window, crisp cotton sheets and lazy wake-up kisses that led to morning love.
At once Tyler wished he could whisk Julie away to just such a place. They’d celebrate her birthday with a private party neither would forget. That is, if he hadn’t imagined the incredible instantaneous chemistry between them when they were first introduced. Had he? Tyler had to wonder, risking a sidelong glance in Julie’s direction. At that moment she shivered violently, and he realized why she hugged herself.
“My God!” he exclaimed. “You don’t even have on a coat.”
“You could share yours,” she suggested.
Tyler hastily unzipped the leather bomber jacket that was a gift from his parents on his twenty-second birthday, four years ago. He opened the front of it wide in invitation. Julie stepped up to let him share his warmth. Conveniently, Tyler’s temperature shot up another couple of degrees, and his heart began to thump erratically against his rib cage.
Wired as he was, Tyler didn’t trust himself to do anything more than hold the jacket around her with a loose hug, his chin resting on the top of her head. To his delight, Julie slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her body closer.
Green light? he wondered, even as she tipped her head back and met his questioning gaze square on. She smiled at him, a sexy smile that was an unmistakable invitation.
Accepting it but still holding back, Tyler did nothing more than touch his lips to hers in a brief, brushing kiss. Julie sighed with what could only be frustration. Reaching up to clasp her hands behind his neck, she took the initiative, tugging his head down to press her mouth fully to his. Her tongue teased for entry, sending a shock wave clear to Tyler’s toes. Groaning his defeat, Tyler gave in to their mutual desire, parting his lips, then taking control of the kiss.
And what a kiss it was! Wet, wild and wonderful…but not enough to satisfy him. Not nearly enough.
How could it be when Julie seemed to be everything he’d ever dreamed of? Her heated response set him on fire, and at once hungry for whatever he could coax from her, Tyler planted kisses on Julie’s cheeks, nose, chin and neck. Ah, but she tasted good…so damn good.
Tyler felt Julie slip her hands under his sweater. Lightly she raked her fingernails over his bare back, an incredibly tantalizing action that further fueled his need. Tyler responded by palming each of her breasts in turn through the thick yarn of her oversize sweater.
But even that wasn’t enough—not when she was so willing, so obviously excited by his touch. Taking his cue from Julie, Tyler slipped his hands under her sweater and traced with his fingertips the lace-encased fullness hidden there. Her breasts seemed to swell to his touch. The tips grew noticeably taut. Her breaths became soft pants that Tyler’s kiss stole away. His body tensed, strategic parts hard and ready for love.
He struggled with the front clasp of her bra. Somewhere nearby a door slammed.
Tyler leapt back, his own breath now ragged. A quick glance round revealed that they were still alone. Gulping audibly, Tyler looked down at Julie, now a good three feet away and obviously rattled. They exchanged a rueful glance, then shared a guilty laugh.
“Something’s happening here,” he blurted, anxious to let her know how serious he was about this.
Julie’s smile instantly vanished. She nodded solemnly, but said nothing.
“I didn’t expect this.” He could barely get the words out, suddenly and uncharacteristically flustered, thanks to this woman he’d met mere hours ago. “I just came to Idaho to ski.”
She nodded again.
“Don told me he had two sisters, but I never dreamed—” Tyler swallowed hard again. “I never dreamed one of them—” He shook his head, completely at a loss for words. “God, but you’re beautiful.”
Her smile lit up the night.
Tyler relaxed and smiled back. “We’ll just take this thing slow, okay?”
“Slow?” Her twinkling eyes challenged him.
Tyler chuckled. “Well, maybe not.”
For a moment they just looked at each other, then Tyler cleared his throat rather loudly. “I, um, guess you’d better go in. Don’s going to send out a search party if you don’t.”
“You’re not coming?” Julie caught hold of his arm as if she feared he’d suddenly vanish into the night.
“In a minute.” He did not add that he needed time alone to cool down. Surely she knew. They’d been standing so close…
“Promise?” Suddenly she sounded more like her teenaged sister than the mature young woman that she was.
Tyler, charmed by her unexpected air of innocence, nodded. “Nothing could keep me away, Julie. Nothing.”
With obvious reluctance, she left him and entered the house. Moments later, Tyler heard her guests cheer a welcome. Anxious to join the midnight fun, he sucked in a lungful of frosty air and willed his love-tense body to relax. He thought of the week that lay ahead and vowed to spend every hour with Julie, a woman like no other, surely the woman of his dreams. Several minutes of fantasizing about the days to come slipped by before Tyler came to with a start and glanced at his watch. Cursing softly, he spun and headed straight for the kitchen.
Just as he stepped through the door a noisy countdown to the New Year’s birthday began in the next room.
“Ten…nine…eight…”
Determined not to miss a millisecond of Julie’s special night Tyler quickened his pace.
“Seven…six…”
Just before he got to the living room door, he spied a two-tiered, heart-shaped birthday cake sitting on the table. It had not been there earlier.
“Five…four…”
The fancy red writing on it leapt out at him.
“Three…two..”
Tyler stumbled to a halt.
“One!”
And read the words.
Wild cheers and congratulations echoed off the walls, but Tyler stood in stunned silence, staring at the sentiment that changed his life forever and not for good.
Happy Birthday, Julie.
17.