Page 9 of Tempting the Tiger

Grace dared not look at Keair. “Wait, I can’t go. The store—”

“—is in good hands, Grace.” Mary said from behind the counter, a super-wide smile on her face. “You go and have fun.” She made a get lost gesture with the towel in her hand. When Grace didn’t move, she rounded the counter and started pushing Grace and Sally toward the door. “I got this. That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”

“I, I,” Grace didn’t know what to say.

“You are going.” Keair took her arm and then Sally’s leading both women out the door.

The drive to the hotel was anything but silent. Sally quickly filled Grace in on the details of her shower—one that she was apparently throwing for herself.

“Oh, I’m not really throwing it for myself—officially, Keair is throwing it for me, aren’t you?”

Keair smiled and winked at her. “As your BFF, it is my honor.”

“Oh, hell,” Sally grinned, “who am I kidding, it’s a big party for everyone, the baby coming is just an excuse.” She went on to explain how she and her husband hadn’t had a wedding, just a quick trip to the justice of the peace because of the kidnapping.

Grace didn’t know whether to be jealous or surprised at the easy comradery between the two. Keair had admitted to being the BFF to another man’s woman. She knew without a doubt that the man was not gay, yet around this woman, he was acting strangely like the gay sidekick betrayed on movies.

She had no more time for those types of thoughts as Keair pulled up in front of the Lion’s Pride. The doorman came forward and opened Sally’s door, who immediately stepped inside the hotel. Keair opened Grace’s door, extending a hand to help her from the sport utility vehicle. It wasn’t as high as her van, but she still felt awkward exiting it.

“I wish you had given me time to change clothes,” she murmured as she straightened the hem of her t-shirt. Thank goodness it was clean and long. Even if the straight cut of the shirt did nothing for her figure, it did cover her curvy hips and all the bumps and bulges in between.

“Why?” Keair smiled down at her. “You look beautiful, as always.”

Grace snorted. “You’ve seen me a total of two times.”

“Something I plan to rectify as soon as possible. Come.” He took her hand in his, his warm palm pressed against hers. Inside the hotel, he led them straight to a small room off the main lounge. The room was luxurious, to say the least, but then the entire hotel was decadent. Large, leather chairs surrounded the huge stone fireplace that dominated the room. Grace sighed. It was the exact type of setting she had imagined herself in for many years. Sitting in front of it, with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night would be heaven. Or, in the midst of a summer thunderstorm.

Dreams came easily, she thought. She knew she would never own a place big enough to hold a room like this. She had resigned herself to living in her small, studio apartment over the shop for many, many years. Maybe forever. Not that it was such a bad place. She had learned early not to have a sentimental attachment to things. Learned to live with just what she could carry from place to place. The first time she had to give up her thrift store furniture and decorative finds she’d grieved for weeks. After that, she had realized it was better to do without a lot of clutter in her life—both physically and emotionally.

Keair guided her across the room with a hand at the small of her back. She didn’t know why that small touch turned her into melted butter inside, but it did. He did nothing more than place the palm of his hand lightly on her back, and yet, it felt as he was touching a whole different part of her body.

He stopped at a glass-topped table overlooking an outdoor garden. While spring was upon them, not many of the flowers had started to bloom. Grace knew it would be spectacular in just a few weeks. Another sigh. Another dream.

“Is something wrong, Ibi?” Keair stopped so suddenly, Grace almost careened into his back. He turned, gathering her close.

“No, there’s nothing wrong. Just wondering what I’m doing here.” His large hands had wrapped around her upper arms and she fought the urge to struggle. Not that he was holding her too tightly, but because her arms were her least favorite—well, maybe second least favorite—part of her body. Her stomach was number one. But her arms ran a close second in the category of not wanting anyone to touch that part of her body—especially a man. And especially one that looked like Keair.

“You are here because I want you here.”

She could smell the earthy scent radiating from him that tempted her to beg him to kiss her, but her feminine feathers ruffled at his words.

“Excuse me?” Her right brow rose in question. “Because you wanted me here?”

The man might have a right to be arrogant considering his stature, his handsome face, and least one forgot his rock-hard body. But, it gave him no right to boss her around. She stepped back, out of his reach.

Or at least tried. He let her step away, but kept hold of her, his hands sliding down to hold her hands.

“Yes, because I wanted you here.”

He let go of one of her hands and pushed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. She shivered at the touch of his fingertips against her skin. Immediately, some of her indignation left her. Why she did not know. Just that it did. Was he capable of casting some type of spell over her? It certainly felt like it.

“Because you wanted me here?”

“Because I wanted you here. With me.” The last two words were whispered against her mouth, his breath mingling with hers before capturing her lips. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, seeking entrance. And she, even knowing it was foolish, gave him access. He took full advantage, plundering her mouth, his tongue seeking hers. The kiss was long and deep.

She didn’t know who moaned first as he crushed her against him, their bodies singing, and their mouths melding. It was all she could do to keep herself standing as he kissed her over and over again.

The sound of a throat being cleared brought them back to their senses.