vittanos willow (22 page)

his waist, and black shoes adorned his feet. His black leather three-

quarter–length coat completed the ensemble.

His face was still covered with a few days of stubble, adding a

roguish charisma to his appearance. He found a stride that hid the

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Aliyah Burke

remnants of his limp and got in his car, heading for the mall. Most of

the snow was gone, but it was still downright cold. Tugging his coat

tighter around him, Osten walked into the mall. As the noise assaulted

him, he realized that the kids weren’t back in school yet. A sexy smile

turned up his lips as Chantoya came to mind.

Whispers of appreciation reached his ears as he moved past a

group of women. Before Chantoya, he would have stopped and talked,

perhaps even taken one of them home with him. Now, they had noth-

ing to entice him.

“Come on, CJ,” the woman’s voice said loudly over the hustle

and bustle of the mall. “Let’s get going.”

Osten almost tripped over his feet as he spun around. His eyes

zeroed in on a woman across the floor who was trying to pull someone

along at a rapid pace. Dark eyes moved to the person being tugged

along and felt disappointment fill him. It wasn’t his CJ.

Turning back to his initial direction, he walked off again and

went into a clothing store, heading to the men’s section. Waving off the

salesman, Osten looked at shirts.

“Yes, I’m here to pick up the Jackson order.” A deep voice got

Osten to look over. He recognized the tall blond brother to his Chan-

toya. Thurston.

Osten put down the shirt in his hand and thought about what to

do. The second her voice graced his ears, he knew.

“I’ll get the shirts, why don’t you go grab the women’s skirts,”

Thurston suggested with a gentle push.

CJ laughed. Her brother had no sense of subtly, but she allowed

him to send her to the women’s section to pick out some skirts to send

to Lan. With three skirts chosen, Chantoya made her way toward the

customer service counter in the back by the men’s section. “I’m ready,

Thurston. I think she’ll look great in these.”

Without hesitation the Nordic giant said, “You really liked her,

didn’t you?”

“I did. And I have never seen him so happy. It was like I didn’t

even exist when she was in the same room.”

“Is she as pretty as you?” Thurston asked, grinning down at his

little sister.

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145

“Please,” CJ scoffed. “I feel like a troll next to her. She is beauti-

ful.”

“Well, you are kinda homely,” Thurston quipped. His arm

dropped over her shoulder and pulled her close for a hug.

“
Kaie, hold kjeft!
” CJ snapped playfully.

Her brother tsked. “Now, now. What would our parents think

with those words coming out of your mouth? That isn’t why you were

taught Norwegian.” His blue eyes twinkled with mischief. “What

would Ajani think of you using such language? Calling me a jackass

and telling me to shut up.”

Chantoya immediately clamped her mouth shut and blanched.

Even though she knew Thurston was teasing, her mind immediately

conjured up the disapproving face of their eldest brother. Ajani was a

firm believer against using crude language. He thought it was a reflec-

tion of poor upbringing; and after their parents died, he didn’t take

kindly to hearing it.

Reading her expression correctly, Thurston snickered. “You are

so fun to pick on.”

The clerk held out a package to Thurston and he took the three

skirts from CJ and said, “Ring it all up.”

As the clerk did as ordered, CJ caught the light whiff of cologne

she recognized as Osten’s scent. Readjusting the hold she had on her

other purchases, CJ shifted her weight. Longing coursed through her

and she shifted again, trying to calm the wave of lust that smell brought

to her body.

“What’s wrong, Chipmunk?” Thurston asked as he signed the

receipt.

“Nothing.”
Like I am going to tell my brother I am aroused because of

a smell!
“I’m fine.”

Shoving his wallet into his back pocket, Thurston grabbed the

bag with the most recent purchases and turned. CJ waited for him to

put the question to her again, like usual. However, he was silent; in fact

he wasn’t even looking at her.

Chantoya frowned. “Thurston. Thurston? Are you even listen-

ing to me?” Muttering under her breath, “Probably some blonde who

got lost,” she turned and promptly gasped.

Osten waited for her to turn around. He had watched CJ move

through the store to reach her brother’s side with her natural grace. His

observant gaze took in the nice khakis she wore that cupped her firm

derriere in a way that sent the blood to his lower anatomy.

Osten spied her hiking boots and then he allowed his eyes to

move up. She wore a white jacket over her shirt. Her hair was free of

confinement today and it bounced with each step she took.

“I’m not a lost blond, but I could be,” Osten said smoothly.

“Hello, Chantoya.”

Not a word left her mouth. She just stood there and stared at

him. Her big brown eyes moved up and down his body before staying

fixed to his own.

“Hello again, Thurston,” he added politely. All he wanted to do

was pick up CJ in his arms and kiss her senseless.

“Mr. Scoleri,” Thurston said with a nod. Licking his lips, he

reached over and took the purchases his sister had in her hand, kissed

her on the cheek and said, “I’ll take these. I’m assuming I am no longer

needed. I’ll call you later on, Chipmunk.” Then he walked off, leaving

Osten and CJ alone in the store.

Silence dragged on between for a few more seconds. Osten

couldn’t believe how much he had missed just looking at her. “Happy

New Year, CJ.”

“Same to you,” she responded in a soft voice.

Vanquishing the distance between them, Osten cupped her face

with one hand and swiped his thumb over her lower lip before he

covered her mouth with his own. His lips were tender upon hers and he

took some time learning her taste all over again, as if it were the first

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kiss they shared. His other hand rested against the smoothness of her

face.

“I’ve missed you,” he mumbled against her mouth before his

tongue swept back through.

CJ closed her eyes in pure pleasure. She had been dreaming

about his touch since she’d left him at the restaurant. This was much

better than any dream could be. Drawing back from his intoxicating

mouth, she smiled as their eyes met. “I missed you too.”

“How was your vacation?”

“I had a wonderful time. Was reintroduced to work that I had

put behind me and really want to get back into.” Her intelligent eyes

shifted over his form. “How was your time?”

Osten shrugged. “We are all alive, so good.” His hand moved

through her hair before he leaned in and kissed her lightly. “Have some

time?”

Chantoya didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

“Wonderful.” He laced their fingers and began walking for the

door. “Did you drive?”

“No, I came with Thurston.” The callused feel of his skin against

her palm made her swallow and imagine earlier times and shared

experiences.

Osten gave himself a mental note to thank her brother for leav-

ing them alone together. He smiled as they moved through the crowd.

“What happened?” CJ’s question was low, but Osten had no

problem hearing her over the noise.

“What are you talking about?” He glanced over at her in time to

witness the frown of disproval cross her face.

“You’re limping. So, I’ll ask again, what happened?” Chantoya

stopped walking and Osten, being who he was, stopped immediately as

well without question.

He was impressed. It took a very observant person to be able to

spy the minute limp he had. Despite the glower on CJ’s face, Osten

couldn’t help but grin. “I didn’t think you would notice. I sprained my

ankle this last time out.” He saw the concern for him and some fear at

his job flare up in her eyes. “I’m fine. Just have a twinge every now and

then.”

Chantoya watched him intently for a moment before she nod-

ded. “Okay.”

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Aliyah Burke

Osten used one hand to bring her face back towards his. “Hey.

I’m fine.”

Her eyes flashed briefly before she got her emotions back under

control. “I see that.”

Backing off, he respected her disbelief. It was hard to push the

issue when it was a very real threat about getting seriously injured on a

mission. He was damn lucky all he’d gotten was a sprained ankle this

time out.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, smoothly changing the subject.

“Most definitely.” Her eyes smoldered with emotion. “I’m starv-

ing.”

Osten raked his eyes over her form, setting it on fire before they

made their way to the exit and his vehicle.

It was well into the evening before CJ and Osten were in any

condition to eat. The most pressing appetite, making love, had been

fulfilled and they were moving onto the next one on the list. Food.

Sitting across from each other in his living room, the satisfied

lovers enjoyed a healthy meal. “Tell me about Vietnam,” Osten said as

he took a bite of his shrimp linguine.

Chantoya told him as they ate dinner. She filled him in on every-

thing from meeting Lan to the fact she wanted to get back into missio-

nary work.

Osten’s eyes rarely left CJ as she talked. The musical lilt of her

Southern drawl was a balm to his soul. It made everything right once

again in his world. His dark-brown gaze took in the way his pale-

yellow, button-down shirt covered her runner’s body.

“Osten. Osten? Are you even listening to me?”

He looked up to meet CJ’s questioning stare. “Of course I’m lis-

tening,
bella
. I was also admiring how stunning you look in my clothes.

My shirt looks spectacular on you.”

She arched a brow in disbelief.

Osten flashed a disarming grin. “I
can
multitask, you know.”

CJ reached for her wine and rolled her eyes.

A strong hand covered his heart as Osten pretended offense.

“You doubt my ability?” His eyes closed and opened with a gleam in

them. Osten placed his plate down on the coffee table, drained the

remainder of his wine, and licked his lips. “Maybe I need more
practice

on how to multitask…”

CJ smirked. “Perhaps. Maybe someone could teach you.”

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149

“Oh, does that mean we get to role play?” He reached out with

one hand and moved it up her bare leg. “The whole schoolgirl bit

complete with the plaid skirt?”

Hopeful. He sounded so hopeful.

Chantoya rotated the stem of her wineglass between her thumb

and forefinger. Her light-brown eyes focused on the swirling liquid as if

lost in deep thought.

“Well,” she said after a pause. “I never really pictured you as a

guy who would wear a plaid skirt,” she paused and her eyes met his,

“but…sure, I’m game. Let’s see how you look.”

Osten laughed as he removed the glass from her hand and

kissed her. “
Bella
, very funny. Not what I meant, a fact I am sure you

are well aware.” His hands moved inside the button-down shirt she

wore, searching for and finding her skin.

CJ blinked innocently. “I thought that’s what you meant.”

“I don’t wear skirts,” he retorted. “Some men wear kilts, but I

don’t even wear one of those. The only man I know who would is

Aidrian.”

Chantoya gasped, “Aidrian…the large, black man, Aidrian?
He

wears a kilt?” She closed her eyes and muttered her approval as a

mental image of that came to her, “Wow.”

Osten frowned. “Wow? What do you mean wow?”

“Just what I said. Wow.” Her gaze focused somewhere off in the

distance at an image only she could see and Osten didn’t like it.

“CJ!” He forced an eye connection. “Stop thinking about him in

a kilt!”

“Right,” she muttered dazedly. CJ got up from the couch and

took their dishes to his kitchen. “I wonder…” she mumbled as she

loaded the dishwasher.

“Wonder what?” Osten asked, not sure he liked the expression

on her face.

Chantoya looked directly at him and said deadpan, “If they tru-

ly don’t wear underwear with kilts.” Then she turned and ran down the

hall toward his bedroom, laughing at his thunderous expression.

“Chantoya!” Osten yelled as he followed her.

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Aliyah Burke

Everything was set. All he needed now was his beautiful wife-

to-be. Slipping on his overcoat, he headed down to his vehicle. As he

got his morning coffee, even the barista picked up on his enthusiasm.

“You seem mighty chipper this cold morning,” she said as she

took his money.

“I am. I’m taking my wife on a surprise vacation. It’s been so

long since we’ve been able to get away.”