Love in the City (The Complete Collection Boxed Set) Read online

  I quickly discarded my stocking hat, shoving it into my pocket. I tried to smooth down my stubborn mop as I gazed at Ally’s petite frame. Out of nowhere, a man holding a large 90’s style camcorder bumped into me, which made me more than bump into Ally. Her eyes traveled toward mine in the reflection of the window. She probably wondered who the ass was that had just collided with her so rudely.

  “Hi there, baby,” I thought.

  I knew the second she saw me, because a wave of recognition appeared on her face, followed by a look of disbelief.

  Quickly, I grabbed her upper arms. I needed contact and a simple reassurance that all was well. Leaning toward her right ear, I whispered softly, “Ally, turn around.”

  As she turned toward me, I wanted to kiss the shock right off her face. Kiss her neck. And really any place that she’d let me. Craving her was maddening, so I grabbed her hand and led her to the sidewalk’s edge.

  I hated the gloves that were separating us. My fingers were hungering for her touch, yearning to see if that energy I’d felt between us when we first made contact was genuine and real.

  Luckily, a cabbie stopped for me after my first wave for attention. Opening the door, I followed her into the warmth of the taxi, smiling at her with everything I had. I wanted to reassure her and erase that frozen look of disbelief on her face. With my eyes never once leaving hers, I rambled off our destination to the driver, The Roosevelt Hotel.

  Could I be asking too much from her too soon? I searched her face, but there was no resistance from her as she agreed to stop at the hotel with me.

  Relief hit me and I looked down to see her hand still lying in the space between us. Her fingers were hidden by her knitted gloves. I had to remove them, touch her, and caress her. Satisfying this ache for her was almost overwhelming to me.

  I reached out and gently placed her tiny hand in mine, asking her for permission, needing her to grant me my wish to let me touch her skin-to-skin.

  She nodded and I proceeded to slowly and torturously remove her glove then placed my hand in her open palm with the force of our connection once again hitting me like it did during our first encounter.

  Shit, it was real, she was real, and we were real. Unable to hold back any longer, I found my body sliding next to hers in the backseat. I brought my hand to her shoulder, still focused on her beautiful, flushed face.

  Looking deep into her eyes, I could see it. Desire. Longing. The shock and hesitancy was replaced with surrender as she closed her eyes and parted her lips.

  Damn right. I looked at her open lips and closed eyes. There was my invitation. It was my green light to kiss her delectable lips. My first kiss was tentative and slow, but as I pressed myself against her, I felt the need for so much more. Her soft almost inaudible moans were heavenly and fueled me on. But her silly coat was not meant for passionate touches, so I moved the one item, her scarf, which let me kiss more of her creamy skin. I trailed my lips across her skin while she hummed with the pleasure she felt.

  I reluctantly ceased from scattering my lips across her neck. As much as I wanted to keep our passion stoked, we needed to communicate beyond what we were feeling on a physical level. I searched her face, but saw that her eyes were closed with a sweet smile gracing her lips. There was no resistance from her as I held her tightly in my arms, but it was time to talk.

  “Ally, I can’t get you off my mind.” I paused to let my words sink in. “I can’t begin to explain it. But that touch when we first met… It seemed like there was something there between us.”

  Now time to confess.

  “I tried to deny it. Write it off as a weird fluke, but then I’d see you again either in the hallway or at our board meetings. Let’s just say I was completely caught up in every move you made or word you said. Any question I had about my attraction to you was gone.”

  She was still and silent as her eyes looked straight into my mine. But I had no idea what she was thinking and was starting to get nervous. I wanted to know her thoughts. Perhaps I was frightening her. Damn, that would kill me.

  “Ally, do you understand what I’m saying?” My fingers tightened around hers in assurance. “I want to get to know you, be with you. But am I scaring you?”

  Finally, her lips moved. I froze in place waiting for her to tell me what our fate would be.

  “Jack, my head’s spinning. I’m shocked that you’d want me. I’m plain next to you. You… you’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever met.” Her eyes looked away shyly. “To be honest, I feel like I’m in a dream and if I am, please don’t wake me up.”

  We both started laughing and I caressed her cheek with my thumb and cupped her face.

  “You’re the one that’s beautiful, Ally.”

  I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed more of her sweet lips. There was no better way to convince her of my attraction for her. Drawing her lips into mine, I passionately kissed her and pushed her coat up above her waist. Placing my hands underneath her sweater, I felt the warmth of her soft skin.

  We reached the Roosevelt as my greedy hands started to wander. I settled up with the cabbie and followed her out of the cab.

  Walking together hand in hand through the revolving glass door at the hotel’s entrance, we grinned at each other ridiculously. I’m sure we raised a few eyebrows, but we didn’t pay any attention to onlookers. We only had eyes for one another.

  We made our way up the marble steps, which led to the lobby. The front desk was a few feet away on our left, and as we waited in line to register, we were still smiling like two crazy fools. Unlocking our eyes, I bent down to whisper into her ear.

  “Let me check in and then we can go upstairs and order some room service. How does a bottle of champagne sound to you?”

  “I’m not twenty-one yet,” she said with a cute little pout. “Kind of stinks.”

  “Don’t worry about it. The room’s in my name anyway.” I pulled her tighter burying my nose in her hair. She smelled so sweet.

  “Thanks.” She pulled back a bit and looked around hesitantly.

  “Are you sure that you’re okay with this? You know—us together, upstairs, alone? I promise not to push or ask you to do anything that you’re not ready for. But I will warn you of this. Once we’re behind the doors of our room, I’m going to kiss the ever-living hell out of you. What happens after that will be your call. I promise. You have my word.”

  “It’ll be my call, huh?” Ally looked at me in question.

  “Yes, Ally. Your call.”

  “There’s no way I can refuse that proposition.” She squeezed my hand and smirked at me.

  Oh, no. What the hell was behind that smirk? I would’ve given anything to know. A guy could only hope, right?

  After checking in, we proceeded up to the fifth floor, heading to room 506. In went the key and out went the breath that I’d been holding since we walked through the hotel’s front door.

  Ally padded slowly to the side of the bed. I saw the trademark monogrammed “R” square pillow on the linen white bedspread.

  “It’s lovely, Jack. I’ve never been in a hotel room this beautiful.”

  Needing to be closer, I moved to stand in front of her. That jacket of hers had to go, now. My eyes never left hers as I slowly unwrapped the scarf from around her neck. As it dropped to the floor, my fingers found the zipper of her coat.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep you warm.” Slowly, inch by grueling inch I moved the zipper. I couldn’t help but notice that we were both breathing raggedly. Our desire increased as the zipper traveled downward. Finally, I freed her of her coat and saw her standing there in an ice blue crewneck sweater. It hugged tightly around her full breasts.

  Looking away from her heaving chest, I met her eyes and couldn’t contain myself any longer. “Are you ready to be kissed to within an inch of your life?” I winked and removed any space between us.

  But I’ll be damned if she didn’t hold out her hand to stop me in my approach.

  “No, actually, I
’m not ready.”

  My disappointment was evident. I knew that this was too good to be true. Damn, I felt crushed, but thankfully, she saved me from my misery.

  “Hey, I said I’m not ready, but I didn’t say ‘no.’” She winked at me this time. “I need you to close your eyes and no peeking. Okay?”

  I nodded as I closed my eyes as tightly as I could. This woman owned me. I’d do anything for her right now.

  I felt her hands unbutton my coat and gently remove it from my body. As my eyes started to flutter, she reminded me to keep them shut.

  “Keep ‘em closed, got it?” Her tone was sassy and by the sound of her voice, she’d moved away from me.

  What the hell was she up to? I loved this playful side of her. God, we had so much to learn about each other.

  “Alright, you’ve been a good boy. You can open them now.”

  My eyes popped open and I couldn’t believe the sight I saw in front of me. Ally was lying down on the bed propped up on her elbows as she bit her sweet lips. She had removed her jeans and sweater.

  I closed my eyes to calm myself. Damn, this was my lucky day.

  She was wearing white cotton boy shorts and a simple white bra. Her underwear matched the color of the bed’s coverings.

  As I moved forward, her head fell back upon the bed and her hair surrounded her like it had in my dreams… into a beautiful halo. But this wasn’t some crazy dream of having her on a mahogany desk. This was real.

  She was the perfect mix of a woman. Innocent yet sexy as hell. A devilishly sweet angel.

  I removed my sweater and roughly tugged off my boots. My jeans were added to the pile. I stood there in my black boxer briefs fully ready to give her whatever she wanted.

  “Okay, now I’m ready,” she spoke seductively to me and my hands were on her legs before she finished her sentence.

  My hands slid up her outer thighs to her hips. I placed my knees on the bed and leaned over.

  “I think you promised to kiss me within an inch of my life. I’m waiting,” she said.

  God knew I wasn’t one to keep a beautiful woman waiting…

  Waiting! That word shook me out of my daydream. Crap! If I didn’t hurry I’d leave her waiting out in the cold for me. It was almost noon. When I’d left our apartment that morning, I’d given Ally specific instructions about my surprise for her.

  She was to meet me in front of Macy’s kickoff window at noon. Straight up. I asked her to be facing the window, focusing on the display in front of her. A big smile lit up her face as she caught on to what I might have up my sleeve.

  Racing out of my office, I hit the street and hailed a cab.

  “34th and Broadway!” I practically shouted at the poor cabbie. “Get me there fast and I’ll double the fare’s cost!”

  “Yes, sir!” the driver replied.

  I reached into my pocket and checked to see if my surprise was still there. Yes, still there. Now, game on.

  We reached Herald Square in lightening speed and I gladly handed the smiling cabbie a twenty.

  “Merry Christmas, buddy,” I said as he greedily swiped the bill from my hands.

  Checking my watch, I realized that it was high noon. I ran to the front of Macy’s and there she was standing in the black cashmere coat that I’d bought her for her birthday. My darling wife deserved nothing but the best.

  Catching my breath, I slowed down as I approached her. The crowds were thick and she was looking intently at Macy’s magical display.

  Finally, I was behind her, quiet and just staring into the window’s reflective glass. I nudged her gently. Our eyes met in the window. We stood there gazing with our love reflecting back to each other.

  God, I adored this woman.

  “Ally, turn around.”

  Slowly, she turned around and we laughed as I tried to draw her near to me. However, her round eight-month pregnant belly kept my arms stretched out. I reached down and kissed her knowing that she’d never been more beautiful. And that I would be eternally grateful for her giving me the best gift of all—our soon to be born child, Virginia.

  “Hi, love. Thanks for meeting me. This is our last Thanksgiving together before the baby is born. I wanted to do something special for you. Reach into my coat pocket. There’s something in there for you.”

  She placed her little hand, slightly swollen from the last stages of pregnancy, into my pocket. Then she found the gift.

  A key to room 506 at the Roosevelt Hotel…

  Perfect Strangers

  by Liv Morris

  The Working Girl

  My eyes are looking down as I type away furiously on my keyboard. Just a few more numbers to enter and I’m finally going to shut this computer down.

  Ping, ping. Click, click.

  After pressing “send” and emailing my year end report, I’m finished… Finally! Twirling around in my office chair, the walls of my little cubicle blur before my eyes.

  When the spinning stops, my chair faces the partitioned offices of my neighbors. But something’s missing as I scan around me. There doesn’t appear to be a single head peeking over the top of the other cubicles. It looks like I’m the last holdout tonight. Which makes sense; it’s New Year’s Eve, after all. Only crazy workaholics stay this late on a night made for the fun type of alcoholic endeavors.

  A door slams loudly in the distance. I jump out of my chair turning quickly toward the noise once my feet land on the ground. Wobbling on the heels of my boots for balance, my heart pounds away, startled. Someone in the shadowy hallway moves in my direction. Thankfully, I recognize the person is my stumpy, firecracker of a boss. He’s notorious for being quite the tyrant, but I’ve found he’s really a softhearted man, at least where I’m concerned. He walks toward me with a scowl on his face. His countenance is nothing new and a welcome sight as I realize I’m not alone in this deserted building after all.

  “Katrina Williams, what the hell are you still doing here?” Mr. Stephens never yells but I know from his gruff tone and the use of my full name that he means business. “Everyone was supposed to leave a couple of hours ago. Gather up your coat and hightail it out of here.”

  “Okay, I’m leaving now,” I respond back to him. “I needed to finish the year end reports for Bentley. I’m gone all next week, remember? And he wants the numbers by January 4th or else.” I cringe at the thought.

  “Kat, it’s New Year’s Eve for Christ’s sake. And haven’t you heard the news?”

  I shake my head. I’ve been too busy with my report to even care about what’s going on beyond my three partitioned walls.

  “What’s up, Mr. Stephens?” I ask genuinely concerned when I see the worried look on his face.

  “For starters, Chicago is under a winter storm warning.”

  “You’re kidding me? I thought we were supposed to get just an inch or two.” I look out the glass walls of the building, but only see the evening’s darkness reflected back at me.

  “We’re way past a couple of inches already. The last report I heard said the wind is really starting to pick up too.” Okay. He’s worrying me a bit now. “So scoot and get started on that overdue vacation of yours.”

  “Alright sir, I’m out of here.” I stand at attention after pulling on my coat and give a little halfhearted salute. “Happy New Year, Mr. Stephens.”

  “Same to you, Kat. And please drive safely.”

  I nod and grab my purse out of my desk drawer but decide to leave the laptop here. Out of sight means out of mind. At least that’s my plan for the next few days.

  I shout one last goodbye over my shoulder as I wind through the labyrinth of office desks toward the elevator. I hear some cursing coming from somewhere behind me. I laugh at Mr. Stephen’s silly mutterings. How his sweet wife puts up with him and his sour moods is beyond me.

  Standing in front of the elevator, my foot taps impatiently. What’s taking so long? I push the down button a few more times for good measure. Finally, the doors slide open and I practicall
y jump in. As the cage starts to descend, I do a little happy dance. My vacation has officially begun. Yay, me!

  I’m free for a whole seven days and plan on being a lazy sloth. Days filled with wearing yoga pants and watching old Audrey Hepburn movies are awaiting me. Oh, and ice cream. Lots and lots of chocolate ice cream.

  Unfortunately, the lazy times won’t start until tomorrow because tonight I’m meeting my parents for a late dinner. It might be a bit of a snoringly good time for New Year’s Eve, but it’s better than the alternative. The usual New Year’s Eve party at which I’d make an appearance would likely be attended by my ex-fiancé. He’s a super big jerk and I’m avoiding him at all costs. Unless I have a GQ looking date by my side, that is. This would counteract his Victoria’s Secret looking replacement for me.

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to arrange even a semi-hot date for tonight. Since breaking up with the ex, my dating life has amounted to a couple blind dates that were orchestrated by my so-called friends. All of the dates, utter disasters.

  So, I’m off to meet my sweet parents, hoping they’ll have mercy on me and not ask if I’m seeing anyone new. They know how hard the last few months have been on me. It’s rather mind-blowing to come home early from work and find your fiancé in bed with the hot neighbor down the hall…

  Well, it definitely took the wind out of my sails. Now if I could just find someone to re-inflate them. Hmmm… Maybe there will be a hot waiter or bartender at the restaurant tonight. I could go for a little harmless flirting. Of course, I’ll need at least two strong drinks to play that game. Maybe even more with my parents supervising me.

  God, I’m hanging out with my parents on New Year’s Eve. Could I be any more lame? Probably not. At least I have my job to keep me busy. I’ve thrown myself into advancing my career since my breakup, and my latest promotion puts me way ahead of the ex-fiancé in the income department. Gloating isn’t my normal style but right now, I can’t help it.

  The elevator doors open to the garage parking in the lower levels of the building. There are only two cars in view, Mr. Stephens’s and mine. My sporty little SUV is all shiny and new. It was a little post-breakup present to myself. It should be a big help with tonight’s weather, too.