Authors: Violet Walker
River wrapped his arms around her tight. “You don’t have to, you know. I’m perfectly happy where I am.”
God how she wished that were true. “I need to take a shower.” She pulled back and slowly separated their bodies. “You’ll let me know about the dinner?”
River nodded, an odd sense of disappointment pooled in his chest. “Yes. Bobby Lee is traditional, so maybe don’t wear that killer white dress. Plus, I’d hate to kill him before we close the deal.”
She laughed. “Noted. I have plenty of proper wife clothes to appease the old boy, River, don’t worry.”
He pulled her back down to him and planted a hot, steamy kiss that had moisture pooling between her legs again. “I’m not worried, just happy I won’t have to beat up an old man.” He dropped another, short, sweet kiss on her forehead. “I’ll pick you up like a real date.”
“Okay, River. See you soon.”
Chapter Three
“
R
iver, how did you manage to land a stunner like that?” Bobby Lee’s eyes were bugged out like a cartoon character as he took in the beauty that was Kara Harwood.
River took a step back to admire his wife once again. “Bobby Lee, I wish I knew.” Kara looked stunning in a pretty green dress that matched her eyes and showed only a hint of cleavage. It was to be expected with a body like hers, but still he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She wore sexy gold heels with a sweet little locket around her neck. “She is a beautiful woman.”
Kara’s smile was so bright, River saw that Bobby Lee fell under her spell when she turned it on to him. “You must be Bobby Lee, I’ve heard plenty about you.” She looked over at River. “He’s not nearly as old as you said, honey.”
River stiffened in horror but Bobby Lee took her hand and laughed until he was doubled over. "Not nearly, huh?”
She shook her head. “Well he said you’d been running that resort for four decades, so I was expecting a man with a foot in the grave, not a robust man like yourself.” She turned to the younger blonde. “You must be Molly, it’s a pleasure to meet you and I have to say those shoes are divine.”
Molly’s smile brightened. “Thanks! I saw them and fell in love with them at once. It’s a new designer from Italy, Kara, and these shoes, they’re as comfortable as sneakers!”
“Then I’ll have to convince River to get me a pair.”
Bobby Lee cleared his throat. “Just promise to wear’em in the bedroom and he won’t care how much they cost.” He laughed at his own joke.
Kara joined in. “I see someone has been telling tales out of school,” she sent River a scolding look.
Bobby Lee started a hacking cough and laugh that lasted for several minutes until Kara offered him a glass of water she stole from a waiter. “Thanks, dear.”
River stood stunned and how quickly Kara had won over both of the Wigglesworths. She was charming and funny, completely at ease with them. They were seated in a private room at a high-end surf and turf restaurant so when the time came, they could talk business privately. “Tell me what’s good here, Molly.”
She blushed prettily. “I always get a seafood and pasta combination, but Bobby Lee loves the steak.”
“Please tell me you have it medium rare or I’ll have to instantly dislike you,” Kara smiled at him with her hand over her chest.
“Is there any other way, sweetheart?”
“Not according to my daddy, rest his soul.”
“Then let’s have a toast to a good man who knew how to eat steak properly.”
She beamed at smile at him. “That’s sweet. What do you say, Molly? You pick the toast drink.”
River leaned over and kissed her cheek. She knew how to flirt without pissing off the wife and including her in everything. “You’re wonderful,” he whispered in her ear. She winked and he felt his slacks tighten uncomfortably.
Dinner passed quickly and soon they were enjoying after dinner drinks and getting ready to talk business. “Where’s your ring?” Bobby Lee looked suspiciously at her empty ring finger and River cringed.
Kara playfully slapped River’s arm. “You didn’t tell him?” She shook her head and turned to Bobby Lee and Molly. “I own a salon. I’ve been doing hair since I was a little girl and after Daddy died, I went to school and rented a booth wherever I could. Eventually I had enough saved to buy my own place, but I love doing hair so I still do it.” She took River’s hand in hers and kissed it. “This guy bought me a big ring, Molly, you know the kind that you just stare at all day like all your dreams have come true?” Molly nodded knowingly. “Well, he insisted I wear it to work and I did. One day it got stuck in a vat of perm and I got mild chemical burn trying to dig it out. After that, he understood why I stopped wearing it to work. Problem is,” she lifted up her bare hand, “is that I forget to put it back on.” Bobby Lee looked appeased but not happy. “So I keep it here,” she pulled the other gold chain from inside her dress to reveal a large diamond hanging from it.
River relaxed but he burned with jealousy. Where had that ring come from? Was it real? “I still contend she did it on purpose,” he joked.
Bobby Lee’s face softened and he addressed Kara. “Do you plan to keep working?”
“I do. I’ll revisit it when children enter the picture, but until then there’s no reason I can’t work.” Kara could tell Bobby Lee wasn’t thrilled with her answer. “Bobby Lee, unlike you all, I grew up poor. Dirt poor. Working is second nature to me. I get hives just thinking about not working every day. I mean imagine if this guy kicked me to the curb, then what would I have?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I understand that honey. I really do. Now tell me, what do you think of your husband’s idea for an eco-smart resort?”
Kara’s face brightened. “It’s pretty cool, don’t you think? I mean he hasn’t told me much about specifics yet but I saw one of those smart kitchens from some Swedish company and they tell you what you have left in your fridge, or if you need more carrots in your diet. It’s like the place takes care of you and saves you energy!”
“It does all that?” He turned his attention to River, and they spent the next hour discussing the resort while Kara and Molly sampled different cocktails and looked at shoes online. “Well this old goat is tired, but it’s been nice meeting you Kara. I hope to see you at the resort next week with your husband.”
River was impressed with Kara. She didn’t show her shock and she had to be because he hadn’t mentioned it. They agreed on one dinner. She wrapped Molly and then Bobby Lee in a hug. “I can’t wait, although I wished you’d reminded me I needed to fit into a bikini before I ate half a cow.”
He laughed, shook River’s hand, and walked out of the restaurant.
“Kara you were fantastic. I don’t know how to thank you.”
She gave him a look that told him she was not impressed with his deception. “You can start thanking me when you drop me off and I’ll let you know when I’ve been properly thanked.”
He laughed. “Alright. Does this mean you’re going to the resort and holding off filing the divorce papers?” River’s heart stopped and started several dozen times in the time it took her to answer him.
“Well I kind of have to, don’t I?” She sounded annoyed, but he saw the amusement in her eyes. “Fine, River, take me to a fabulous resort for a few days and pay for it all. Goodness, life is so tough!”
~
Kara had a problem. She was in love with her husband. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a problem, but when divorce was imminent it could be quite problematic. River had stopped by her house every single night after work with flowers and takeout and two sexy bikinis. He’d asked her to cut his hair and he fell asleep twice on her lap during a movie.
They were
dating
. There was no other explanation for it. She didn’t mind it--she kind of liked it, actually--but she had to remind herself it was completely temporary. River didn’t want to be married and most especially not to her. If not for Bobby Lee, they would’ve been divorced weeks ago. She was an adult and she knew that great chemistry and amazing sex didn’t equal love for men, particularly men like River who had their choice of women.
When he picked her up this morning for the airport, he’d looked so handsome with his sleep-rumpled hair and dimpled smile she could’ve cried. She’d realized with glaring clarity that she had fallen in love with the insufferable man. He was handsome, arrogant and funny. Add in the way he made her body sing, and she was surprised it had taken so long. She sighed heavily and looked out the window at the clear blue skies and calm ocean waters.
“You okay, sugar?”
“Yep, just thinking.”
“Me too. Harwood Industries is having a party, a Christmas ball actually. Would you go with me?”
She frowned in confusion. “Will Bobby Lee and Molly be there?”
He laughed. “No, I’m asking you to be my date for the hell of it. For the fun we have together. If you’re nice, I might even sleep with you.”
“Do I have to wear panties under my ball gown?”
“I hope you don’t.”
She smiled. “In that case, I’d love to go with you.”
“Good because I have one more question.”
She raised a brow at him. “Oh, do you now?”
He nodded. “How would you like to spend an hour, give or take, joining the Mile High Club?”
She laughed and stood. “As it happens, I know the secret handshake.”
~
River was screwed and not in the way he and Kara had screwed yesterday on the Harwood Industries jet. Nope, this was the type of screwed he’d never been, had never hoped to be and laughed at others when they found themselves on this side of screwed. He was pretty sure that he’d done the worst thing possible: he had fallen in love with his wife. His
temporary
wife. The worst of it was he had no idea if she was interested in changing the temporary nature of their relationship. Hell, was
he
ready?
River didn’t do relationships. Not ever. He’d been abandoned by the one woman who was supposed to love him, a gypsy mother who refused to settle with her husband rather than her ‘family’. He was one when she left, and a few years later he moved in with Uncle Oliver when his father died in the same crash that had killed Dean and Rory’s parents. Rory was the only woman he’d ever loved and probably ever would, and she was a sister to him.
She liked him, of that he was certain. She smiled at him affectionately and the way she gave her everything when they made love made him think that Kara felt
something
for him. But…what?
“Hey there, handsome, fancy a swim?” River savored the feel of her big, warm tits pressed against his back. She was soft everywhere he was hard, smooth where he was strong and gentle where he was rough. She fit him perfectly; hell she was perfect for him. Unlike many of the society girls looking for a rich husband, Kara was independent and brash. He didn’t have to worry about being polite or mincing words when he was around her.
“Is it going to be a naked swim?”
“Maybe later if you’re good,” she said and let her hands skate over the wide muscles of his back. “But for now, let’s keep it kid-friendly.”
Her smile said she was up to something. “Why, are there kids coming over?”
“Nope. Something better.” Kara put her hands on his shoulders and jumped into his arms, anchoring herself to him with her ankles crossed behind his back. “Molly called to tell me she and Bobby Lee were stopping by and she wanted to give me the heads up in case we were occupied.”
A smile spread across his face. “He’s coming now?” She nodded. “I need to put clothes on.”
She kissed him hard and fast to shut him up. “No you don’t. I told Molly we were swimming.” She shimmied down his body, every inch of her body stuck to his. “Last one in the pool has to do what the other one says!” The both ran and cannonballed into the pool. “I won!”
“You did not!” River swam over to her and gathered her in his arms. “But if it makes you feel better, you can do what I say all night long.” His lips touched hers and sparks flew all around them. Nothing existed during that kiss but River and Kara. The whole world melted away, and all that was left was them and that kiss.
“Whoo boy! With heat like that you’ll be having kids real soon,” Bobby Lee whistled from the fence.
“Bobby, come on in and have a dip.”
He pulled Molly in close and kissed her neck. “No can do, my boy. I just came by to give you something.”
River walked over to Bobby Lee and accepted the thick envelope he held. “What’s this?”
Bobby Lee clapped him on the back. “This, River, is the official unofficial sale of my resort to you and Harwood Industries. You impressed me, son and that wife of yours is one hell of a catch. Make sure you hang on to her.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen. She’s everything to me.” It felt good to acknowledge it, even if it was to Bobby Lee and not Kara.
“Alright son, you kids have a wonderful Christmas. We’ll go over the details of the sale after the New Year.”
River nodded and watched as Kara kissed both Bobby Lee and Molly’s cheeks and wished them a Merry Christmas. She was so kind to everyone, treating billionaires and busboys exactly the same.
“Take care, guys.” She turned a smile up at River. “How about that naked swim now?”
“God, I love you, Kara.”