Dreams That Bind Us (Romancing The Keys #3)

Chapter 11

K ey West

James popped open an eye at the narrow beam of sunlight that broke through the slats of the blinds. He lay there for a moment, disoriented, his brain struggling to catch up. A rooster crowed in the distance and James pulled in a deep breath as he glanced at the clock.

Seven AM.

His brain murky, he blinked his eyes several times and looked again.

Seven AM.

What the hell?

Damn, he'd slept like the dead last night. And he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept in this late. Since his college days, he'd been an early riser, recognizing the boost it gave him to get up before the sun.

Because he traveled all over the world, he'd never seen the logic of taking a vacation. His motivation was acquiring companies and properties, building them up and selling them. Most days required being in the office earlier than everyone else and working long hours. Sleeping in was a luxury he'd never allowed himself.

Finally, the delicate honeysuckle scent and small weight on his chest registered, and he drew in a sharp breath.

Anna

Stunned, he lay there as the memories of the night washed over him. Anna had not only stayed the night but had been an enthusiastic participant in his bed. It had been even better than in his dreams.

He froze at that thought. He hadn't dreamed last night, or at least he didn't remember dreaming about her. It had been his first full night of sleep in close to six months.

Is that good or bad?

The possibility of losing his dreams of Anna made his heart thump in panic. It had been something he'd both cursed and loved at the same time. They had tortured him most nights, but he didn't want to let go of those erotic moments. In fact, now that she was finally in his arms, he wanted to act out each and every one he'd had.

A soft moan cut through his thoughts, and he smiled as Anna’s nose nuzzled into his neck. He hands stroked down her silky back, stopping briefly to massage her sweet little ass.

"Mmmmmmm," she hummed, arching against his chest.

"Morning, Kitten," James mumbled into her hair before dropping a kiss on her brow.

Anna lifted her head and blinked at him several times, as if she were confused how she’d landed in his bed.

"Huh," she grunted, her brow beetling.

His eyes narrowed. Did she not enjoy last night? Did she think this was a one-time thing?

Not on your life, Kitten.

"What does that look mean?" he asked, keeping his tone light. The last thing he wanted was to scare her off now.

His arms tightened around her, afraid she'd pull away. There was no way he was allowing that. Like he told her last night, she was his and she'd have to get used to it.

Anna's head dropped to his shoulder and she sighed as her body relaxed against his. She stroked a hand up his stomach and combed through the hair on his chest. "I wondered for a moment if this was just another dream."

The band around his chest eased. His brows shot up when her words registered. " Another dream ? What do you mean?"

With a groan, she buried her face in his neck, shaking her head.

"Anna?" Still no response. Annoyed she wouldn't answer, James rolled them until she couldn’t hide from him. She squinched her face, refusing to look at him.

James chuckled and kissed her lips softly, threading his fingers through her hair to hold her still. "Anna," he admonished. "Answer me." She shook her head again.

"I've dreamed about you," he blurted out, tired of holding it in and hoping she'd respond if he admitted this secret. "Every single night."

Anna's face went slack, her eyes opening. "What?"

"Since the moment I stepped foot in Key West, I've dreamed about you every night, most of them here in this very bed. It's why I recognized you when I ran into you at the coffee shop." James kissed her softly. "For a moment, when you looked up at me that day, I could have sworn you recognized me, too."

"No." Her voice was sharp with displeasure, and he knew it was the wrong time to break through that barrier.

"Okay." He’d drop it—for now.

His nose moved to her neck, nuzzling the soft skin. "You have the best smell. Have I ever told you that?"

Anna huffed out a laugh. "No."

He smiled, trailing his lips up her chin and to her mouth where he gave her a licking kiss. "Well, you do. It's like the sweetest honeysuckle." He stuck his nose in her hair and drew in a deep breath, then sighed it out. "It's intoxicating. I can't get enough. I want to bottle it up so I can take it with me everywhere."

Her frame relaxed, her eyes going languid, and he reveled in the grin he coaxed from her. He held his breath as she cupped his cheek and pulled his mouth to hers. Her legs twined around his middle and his body hardened, answering her demands immediately.

He seated himself in one thrust and smiled at her sharp gasp. "James," she sighed.

He could get used to this.

Anna watched as James expertly whisked the pancake batter and dipped eight silver dollar-sized dollops onto the hot skillet. He grabbed a handful of chocolate chips and dropped several into each pancake.

The man had no idea how incredibly sexy he was, standing there in his boxer shorts, a white tank top, his hair mussed, and a relaxed air about him as he cooked her breakfast. The cooking alone would make him the world’s sexiest man in her book, but you simply couldn't discount his looks, because the man was breathtaking.

"Tell me about your mom." The words flew out of her mouth before she thought about it.

They startled him nearly as much as they did her. He stared at her for a pregnant moment, then returned his attention to the sizzling pancakes. "She was an amazing woman, raised me by herself. My father died in a car accident when I was ten. She always called him her true love and refused to ever consider remarrying." He smiled faintly. "But she always made sure I had everything I needed to succeed."

"She sounds wonderful."

He nodded. "She was. I was in London on business when she passed. I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for not being there."

"Was she sick for a long time?"

James snorted a laugh. "Not a day in her life. She was healthy as a horse. She just went to sleep one night and didn't wake up. Her housekeeper found her." His voice was dull, a sharp contrast to his brashness only five minutes earlier.

"You can't blame yourself, James. Your mother wouldn't want you to feel that way," Anna urged. "You have to forgive yourself."

"How do you know?" His tone was soft, questioning.

Anna pulled in a deep breath. "When I was eighteen, my parents were on a whirlwind book tour through Europe. My father was a well-known author in the metaphysics field and he'd just released his fifth book. They were on their way to Italy and halfway through their trip, their airplane disappeared from radar over the Alps. It was two months before they found what was left of the plane."

"Anna…"

She met his somber gaze, her stomach twisting as the rest of the story spilled from her. "I spent more than a decade blaming myself for that accident. At that time, my psychic powers were still building but I was quite powerful for my age. I believed for the longest time that I should have foreseen what would happen. I should have known so I could have warned them of the danger. Prevented it somehow.”

She stared at her hands resting on the kitchen island, willing the lump in her throat to go away. "But there were no warnings, not even for Aunt Louise. I blamed myself for their accident for so long and blocked myself from real peace." She snorted. "I still struggle with it."

"Kitten." Muscular legs appeared in her peripheral vision. A hand stroked over her head and she arched into it, leaning into his chest. "You weren't responsible for that. Tell me you don't still believe it."

"I don't," she sighed out. "But that's a recent change for me. Aunt Louise has helped me and…" she dwindled off.

"And?" James pressed, swiveling her around on the stool to face him. He tilted her chin until she met his gentle gaze.

"You've helped, too."

His face softened with a smile and he kissed her lightly. "How did I do that?"

Anna's shoulders slowly tracked up to her ears, and she looked at the floor.

"Anna." His voice held a warning tone that gave her a strange thrill.

She bit her lip and met his gaze.

"Tell me," he urged, his voice firm. There was no way she could disobey him.

"You've helped me break down some of my walls." She shrugged. "I really can't explain it any other way."

His smile returned and it was drenched with satisfaction. "Good. Then I'm right on schedule." He moved back to the stove.

She scowled at him. What in the world was he talking about?

"Schedule for what?"

"To win your heart, of course." He grabbed a spatula and began expertly flipping the pancakes, oblivious to her gaping expression. "Can you tell me how many walls there are? I'd like a better idea for completion, if possible."

Anna sputtered a laugh. The man was impossible. "Twenty," she answered, making up the number. How in the world could she know exactly how many there were?

He shot her a shocked look over his shoulder. "Twenty? Right now?"

She snickered. He was so cute, holding that spatula in the air like it was a wand, his hair mused and sticking up in angles from her fingers, his lips swollen from her kisses.

"Oh, at the very least,” she joked. “You've knocked down three, maybe four so far."

James scoffed. "More like ten." He pointed the spatula at her. "But I'll take care of the rest in no time. Don't you worry about that."

She watched as he expertly plated their pancakes, smearing each with a layer of butter and drizzling maple syrup. He set the plate in front of her and gave her a smacking kiss on her head. "Here you go, Kitten. Now eat up. We have a busy day ahead."

Anna paused in a bite and looked at him. "We do?"

He took a bite of pancakes and moaned, closing his eyes for a moment. "Damn, I'm good," he breathed out.

"James? Why do we have a busy day? I have work to do."

He nodded through another bite, then leaned over to give her soft peck. "Yes, I know. And so do I. We both have a lot of work to do." He waved his fork at her. "Take that bite and tell me I'm not the best damned cook you've ever kissed before," he dared, his eyes twinkling.

She laughed, unable to resist him, and popped the bite in her mouth. A moan ripped from her chest as her eyes rolled back. It was a symphony of flavors—vanilla, maple, and decadent chocolate all rolled into one delectable bite.

"It's amazing. And just to clarify, you are the only cook I've ever kissed before."

"Damn right." He lifted an eyebrow. "And?"

"And, you're the best damned cook who has ever made me breakfast in boxers."

A satisfied grin stretched his face. "That'll do." He walked over with the coffee pot. "Do you need a refresh?"

"Yes, please." She held up her cup as he refilled it.

He sat next to her, sipping his coffee. "What I mean about our busy day is that we both have important work to do, and then I'd like to make dinner for you tonight. Will you come over?"

She bobbed her head, relieved he'd asked. It would take a hurricane of epic proportions to keep her away.

"And will you stay the night again?"

Anna turned to him, noting his hopeful expression. He looked like a little boy on the night before Christmas. She wanted it more than anything, but were they going too fast?

It was just like Aunt Louise had predicted: Anna would fall quickly and James wouldn’t relent until he’d won her over. But she had no intention of telling him that.

"If you want me."

He chuckled softly, drawing her in for a sticky kiss. "Are you kidding me? I always want you, Kitten."

She leaned back, her brow puckered. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

James tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Because you remind me of a cute, fluffy kitten who likes to hiss until it's stroked just right." He cupped her cheek, bringing her lips flush with his. "Then it arches into your hand and begs for more."

"Huh." Anna bit back a grin. She loved the description, but she wasn't about to tell him.

"Thank you for telling me, by the way," he said before cramming another bite of pancake into his mouth.

"Telling you what?"

"About your parents. I'm sorry. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you."

Anna looked at her plate and sighed. "It was rough. But thank god I had Aunt Louise. She’s been my rock."

"I can't wait to meet her. She gets here in a week?"

"Yes, and she extended her stay when she learned what the Royal Conch ladies have in store for her."

James chuckled. "I can only imagine what they've cooked up."

"Several parties, for which I’m sure you’ll receive invitations, and a full schedule of readings. Aunt Louise is a very talented tarot reader. She's exceptionally accurate," Anna explained.

He grinned as he took another bite. "I look forward to it." She watched as he finished off his plate and stole the remaining pieces from hers.

The sudden chill was Anna’s only warning as she felt an imperceptible shift in the air. An insistent tingle brushed her arm and Anna jumped, glancing to her side. The spot was empty, at least to the naked eye, but she knew very well when a spirit was trying to reach her.

A heavy wave of energy pushed at her—something she wouldn't have felt if her blocks were up. Alarmed, she hopped off the stool. She had an idea who was trying to get her attention, and there was no way she was prepared for it in her current state. She needed to bolster her defenses and privacy was a necessity.

"I'm sorry, James. I need to get moving." She kissed him on the cheek and scurried toward the door, grabbing her truck keys as she went.

"Wait!" he hollered, following her. "Anna, wait!"

She paused on the sidewalk, glancing over her shoulder.

He stood in the doorway, frowning, his eyes worried. "Did I say something wrong?"

She shook her head as she rushed to her truck. "No, you've done everything right." Anna launched in and rolled down the window. "I'll be back at six. I can't wait to see what you're making me for dinner," she teased.

She was rewarded when his posture relaxed and a goofy grin replaced the frown as he waved at her. Anna waved back as she pulled from the curb.

"Good morning, boss. You're looking well rested," Gwen commented. Her horn-rimmed glasses were perched precariously on the tip of her nose as she peered into the computer screen.

"I am rested. Finally got a full night’s sleep." He tipped his chair back and tapped a pen against his chin.

Gwen's eyes narrowed. "You look like you're up to something. What's going on? Is it what I think it is?"

Gwen had been his assistant for over a decade and knew him better than anyone. It was logical she'd read the decision on his face. "That depends on what you think it is."

"You want to sell." Her frown told him everything. She had been on the fence about him relocating to Key West and had considered it a temporary situation. But now she knew it wasn’t.

James dipped his chin. "I do. It's time and I don't fit there any longer. I belong down here."

There was a long pause as Gwen stared at him. "Okay," she finally drawled, a tone of defeat in her voice. "Are you selling everything?"

"Everything in the northeast, as well as most of the global properties. I’ll keep a few of the Singapore properties as well as my holdings in Key West, and in fact I’ll be adding to them. I toured the Sunset Key property yesterday and met with the owner of the resort. That deal should happen within the next thirty days, maybe sooner. Contact that broker on fifth about the northeast portfolio. He had a list of potential buyers last month."

Gwen nodded as she scribbled her notes. "Will he know the details or do I need to provide them?"

"He knows. You shouldn't have to provide a thing other than my scheduling information." James shifted in his seat, unsure how she'd take this next request. "I have a favor to ask of you, Gwen, but I’ll understand if you say no."

Her brows arched as she met his gaze, patiently waiting for him to continue.

"I've decided that you will get one percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the northeast portfolio, which will make you a wealthy woman in your own right. Theoretically, you wouldn’t have to work any longer.”

Gwen's jaw dropped and she blinked into the camera. It was a rare event when he could surprise her, let alone render the woman speechless.

"But,” he continued, “I'd like for you to stay on as my assistant. It would require you to fly down here at least once a month." When she opened her mouth, he rushed on. "It also comes with a significant raise, first class tickets with each flight, a room at a local haunted inn, and additional time off."

There was another stunned pause as Gwen stared off in space.

"Wow,” she muttered. “I mean, I assumed you'd sell some of your businesses. The writing was on the wall. But I never expected all this. It's very generous of you, James."

"I wouldn't be as successful as I am without your help over the years. It's only fair you get a piece of the pie. You’ve more than earned it."

Gwen straightened, a proud smile on her face, and her eyes twinkling behind the thick lenses. "Well, boss, you've given me something to think about. Let me sleep on it and get back with you."

James chuckled. "You do that. Keep me posted on the broker. My schedule is a little tighter down here with the hotel about to open and the Sunset Key deal progressing, but I'll try to keep my calendar updated."

Gwen grinned. "It's the hotel that's filling up your schedule, huh? Oh yeah. Sure it is." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "If that's the case, I can't wait to meet 'the hotel.'"

James barked out a deep belly laugh. "I look forward to introducing you to her."

"I knew it," she snapped with a knowing smirk. "Send me a picture the next time you see her."

"Will do. I'll talk to you later." James disconnected the video call and stared out the window. There was no going back once he engaged the broker, but there were no pangs of seller’s remorse.

He was ready to move on, with Anna, and a life focused in a new direction.