“It’s no hardship. None at all.”
She squeezed his arm. “I know you think I’m innocent.”
He caught her hand, brought it to his lips. “Because you are.”
“No.”
He kissed the tips of her fingers one by one. “Yes.”
She shook her head. “No. Okay, it’s true that I haven’t had much experience with men. And I like to keep a positive attitude. But still, I’m not innocent, not really. I know what life is. I’ve been up close and way too personal with death. My dad was dead before I was even born. And my mom...she wasn’t right. You know what you said about the powerful love your parents have? Well, my mom loved my dad that way. She never got over that he died. And we lived in this tiny, run-down place and I was always sick and there wasn’t any money and Noah wasn’t anything like he is today. He was out of control back then, drinking and fighting all the time. And then when I was nine, Mom got sick and she died....”
He reminded her gently, “Luce, I know all this.”
“I know you do. But what I’m getting at is, when Mom died, I made up my mind that I would be happy no matter what, that whatever suffering or heartache I had to endure, I would focus on the good things. I wouldn’t let the losses and the hurts drag me down. I promised myself that I would keep a good attitude. It was not a decision made in innocence. I might have been only nine at the time, but believe me, when my mom died, I hadn’t been innocent for years.”
He dared to touch her sweet face at last, to trace the graceful arch of each brow, to trail his fingers down her cheek. She made a small questioning sound. And he said, “All right. Not innocent. Good. You are good, good to the deepest part of you. I’m not.”
She held his eyes. “Yes, you are.” And she laughed a little. “You are very good, I promise you. You are also curious and adventurous and I know you’ve been wild. So what? I find you generous and helpful, brilliant and fun. Not to mention a truly epic lover.”
That did make him smile. “Epic, am I?”
“Legendary. No doubt.”
He went ahead and wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and drew her close enough that he could breathe in the scent of her. “You’re just saying that to get me to have sex with you.”
She rubbed her soft cheek to his rough one. “Is it working?”
“Truth?”
“Please.”
“You had me in the entry when you took off your coat.”
A smile bloomed full at last. “Apparently, I’m good in more ways than one.”
“And a quick learner, too.” He claimed her mouth in a kiss that started out sweet but swiftly turned steamy.
When he let her go, she picked up her cup again and drank the rest. And then she said, “Also, don’t forget, I lived in my brother’s house for eleven years. And Noah was never a saint. I may not have done things until I did them with you, but I know what goes on.”
“Noah would hate that you saw more than you should have. His whole life has been about protecting you.”
“Dami, get real. Noah likes women. I’m sure you can relate to that.”
“Too well, I’m afraid.”
“Okay, then. I’m not blind. I saw what was happening. Until Alice, Noah would not give his heart. He didn’t want anything permanent and neither did most of the women he hooked up with. And none of that has anything to do with whether or not he protected me. He did protect me. He took excellent care of me and he kept me alive against all odds. That’s what matters—and why are you scowling at me?”
“Your brother doesn’t want you with me.”
She fiddled with her cup and sighed. “That’s still bothering you?”
“Think about it. There were paparazzi there tonight. Someone will have gotten pictures of that little scene with Susie. Noah is going to be pissed off when he sees them.”
“Too bad. He’ll have to look at it as more practice at minding his own business.” She got down from the chair and held out her hand to him.
He stood and snared her outstretched fingers, reeling her in and wrapping her in his arms. She tipped up her mouth to him in an offer he couldn’t resist. They shared another kiss.
When he lifted his head, she gave him one of those smiles that could light up the darkest night. “So what if Susie made an embarrassing little scene? Too bad if there are pictures online or in the Enquirer. And if Noah doesn’t like that you’re here with me, that’s his problem. I only want to know whether or not you’re going to let all that ruin the three days we have left.”
“You’re sure you still want to be with me?” His breath lodged in his throat as he waited for her answer.
She gave it without any hesitation. “Yes, Dami. I’m sure.”
Relief poured through him, cool and sweet. And then he frowned. “Wait a minute. Three days?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you get three?”
“Well, it’s after midnight, so it’s Sunday.” She ticked the days off on her fingers. “We have Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. You’re leaving Wednesday, so we really can’t count Wednesday. That leaves the three days, from Sunday on.”
He framed her face between his hands. “I think I should stay until Thursday, at least.”
Her eyes were shining. “Four more days.” She twined her arms around his neck. “I do like the sound of that.”
He bent and scooped her high against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck. And he carried her out of the kitchen and straight to bed.
* * *
Lucy woke at dawn, snuggled up close in Dami’s embrace and thought how right it felt to be there. She burrowed in closer, loving the warmth of him, the smoothness of his skin over all those lovely hard muscles, the absolute manliness of him—and then she remembered Boris.
She kissed Dami’s stubbled chin and whispered, “Good morning.”
He made a grumbling sound and cupped a hand around the back of her head in a possessive, tender gesture that stole her breath away. “Early. Ugh. Go back to sleep....”
She kissed his chin again. “Can’t. I have to go down and feed the cat.”
More grumbly noises. His big arms tightened around her. “Stay here. I’ll send Quentin to do it.”
That made her smile. “There will be scooping involved.”
“Quentin can scoop.”
“Oh, now. That’s just wrong, to send a highly trained bodyguard to clean up after Boris.”
“Quentin’s a soldier. He’s dealt with worse.”
“No. I have to do it. Boris needs cuddles. He’s been alone all night. Don’t you even try to tell me that Quentin does cuddles.”
Dami ran a hand down her back, tucking her into him even tighter than before. She wanted to stay right there for a lifetime or so. “Promise to make it quick?” he growled in her ear. “Remember, we only have four days left of our Christmas affair.”
She laughed at that. “Cuddles take time—but I won’t be that long.”
Grudgingly, he released her, and then he sat back on the gray satin pillows, laced his fingers behind his head and watched her scurry around naked finding her underwear, her dress—and finally her shoes, one of which had managed to end up halfway