Catch Me (The Winters Family Series: Book 1) Read online

  After what felt like the longest shower in Isabel's life, she felt warm and completely satisfied. She had a towel wrapped around her, and was combing through her hair. Drew walked up behind her, naked and in all his glory, and carefully pulled her towel off. "You said clothes were overrated."

  Laughing, her arms up from combing her long and somewhat out of control hair, Isabel turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're right, what was I thinking?" She then slowly kissed his soft lips. "I really enjoy kissing you."

  Smiling, Drew said, "You do, huh? Well that's funny, because I really enjoy kissing you." After a few minutes, "So since breakfast is cold, what should we have for brunch?"

  Isabel decided her rule about cooking only with clothes on was immediately revoked. Tying her hair up in a messy bun she turned and sashayed into the kitchen. Drew was lightly laughing behind her, then grabbed her behind.

  Isabel let out a squeal, and quickly ran away from him, laughing. She reached the kitchen and surrendered. Drew spun her around, and pulled her into his embrace. Isabel laughed, then with a bit of a whiny voice, "but I am hungry, you made me burn a huge amount of calories!"

  Drew put his hands to his chest like he was wounded, "Made you? What?"

  I sabel motioned with her hands, looking at him from head to toe. "If your body wasn't so irresistible, then maybe I'd have more control."

  He had that look in his eyes, his pupils changed to black. "See, I think it's you who is too irresistible. So the counter or the table?"

  "What?" She looked around, then back at him, "No food, again?" She looked at him with sad eyes, "but I may just wither away to nothing! Feed me, Drew!"

  Drew just laughed, "OK, food. Then you decide, counter or table!"

  Isabel was snuggled into Drew on her couch, with her head resting into his neck. They decided on some fresh strawberries, and a simple egg sandwich for brunch. Then they decided the counter sounded like a perfect after-brunch dessert option. Maybe best of all, they both had the weekend off, with zero commitments.

  Isabel leaned her head back, "So should we go anywhere this weekend?"

  Drew leaned down and kissed her swollen, delicious lips. "I say, let's enjoy your place for awhile. Then let's switch over to my place. Maybe a night walk on the beach, with a little skinny-dipping involved. That's it, I want you all to myself this weekend. Is that okay?"

  She just laughed, "skinny-dipping, huh? I don't believe I have ever been skinny-dipping."

  "What? You haven't lived until you have." He pulled her onto his lap, "And now I know what we are doing tonight."

  She wiggled on him, "And I believe I know what we are doing right now."

  Drew pulled her in close, "You are insatiable!"

  CHAPTER 5

  Isabel was standing at her sink filling a pot of water for some much-needed coffee. She had put on her silk robe, but left it untied and hanging open. She looked out her kitchen window and just smiled. Could today really be happening? Did the most gorgeous man actually make mad passionate love to her, again and again?

  The man had a way with his hands... with his everything, for that matter. The feelings that were surrounding her, she never expected to truly have. He made her feel beautiful, romantic, and yeah, funny. She was thinking about her day when she heard her phone start to vibrate. If it was work she was planning to let it go to to voicemail. Instead it was her mom.

  She sat down in the wooden chair at her kitchen table, and it creaked when she sat. She tried to speak quietly since Drew was sleeping in the living room. With his unusual schedule, getting some rest will power him up for later. Later. Oh, my, she was excited.

  She hit talk, "Hi, Mom."

  Camille sounded so happy to talk to her daughter, "Hi my Sweet Izzy, how is my Angel?"

  Isabel loved her mom so much, the woman did not have a mean bone in her body. "Doing wonderful Mom. Relaxing on my days off. My neighbor Drew stopped by today."

  You could hear in her mother's voice the protector, the one who made sure everyone was safe. "He stopped by, huh? So, he's still there, then?"

  Isabel just laughed, "How do you do that? Yes, he is resting on my couch right now. He had a long shift yesterday, so he needed to rest a little."

  "Ohhhh, well then I won't keep you. We were thinking a week from today we could come visit you, maybe meet your new man?"

  "That sounds wonderful, Mom. We may be able to work out something where you both have my cottage, and I stay next door at Drew's.

  Her mom paused, "You really like this young man?"

  "Mom, I know you understand when I say I can't explain it, but yes, I really do." Isabel knew this wasn't the right time for that conversation, with Drew just a few feet away. "It is okay Mom. I'm okay I promise. I am looking forward to seeing you and Dad, I miss you both so much."

  Isabel hung up the phone, sat back in her chair, and just sighed. What she really wanted to tell her mom was that she was happy. For the first time in a long time, she was really happy.

  Drew started to come awake to the sound of something vibrating. He took a moment to get a grasp of his surroundings. When he remembered he was at Isabel's cottage, a smile slid across his face. He was laying on the couch covered in a blanket with nothing else on. He heard low talking, and realized she was talking to someone in the kitchen. He slowly stood, stretched, and wrapped the blanket around his waist. He walked to the kitchen, and saw Isabel sitting at the table with her back to him. He had to take a deep breath, she had a silk robe on, untied, and sitting open. His mind wandered to their morning, Hell... their whole day, and started to feel aroused.

  She hung up the phone, and leaned back in her chair. Drew slowly walked up behind her and ran his hands down her arms. She jumped, then reached for his hands. Drew moved around in front of her and kneeled in between her legs. He looked into her eyes, then at the gorgeous site before him. He ran his hands up her legs, settled on her hips and said, "Everything okay, Sweet Izzy?"

  Drew's touch could soothe anything. Isabel loved the way he made her feel. When he knelt down in front of her in only the blanket, her first instinct was to pull that excessive fabric off of his lean body.

  He had his hands resting on her hips. She ran her hands up his arms to the back of his neck. He closed his eyes at her touch and took in her scent. "Everything is wonderful, my Handsome Drew. It was my Mom, she and Dad are coming to visit in a week."

  He pulled her closer and softly laughed, "Handsome Drew, huh?"

  She just laughed and wrapped her legs around him. "Well, you are handsome! Now, I believe I need coffee, some more of you, and then we have a date with the ocean."

  "In that exact order?" As he ran his finger over her breast, her taught nipple, down her stomach, to the dark patch of hair.

  She felt heated and immediate desire, "Mmmmm, I believe we could compromise, but I will need that cup of coffee soon." Her hand roamed from his neck to his chest, she reached down, pulled open the blanket, and took his long hard shaft into her hand.

  He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  An hour later, after some breathless love-making, Isabel was sitting against the wall on her bed with a cup of coffee. Drew was on his side, resting on one elbow. "Okay, besides coffee, what is your other addiction?"

  Isabel gave a stunned look, "Addicted, me? Nah!"

  Drew grabbed her coffee, put it on the side table. He then pulled her down near him. They were both on their sides facing each other. "Truth time, I want to know more about you."

  Smiling, "Besides coffee, I think sex with you is becoming a close second."

  Drew laughed, "I like the way you think. What is your favorite color?"

  "Green. Yours?"

  "Red, but I may change to green soon. There is something about your eyes." Drew moved a strand of hair behind her ear, and traced under one of her eyes. "Favorite movie?"

  Isabel bent her head to kiss his hand, "The Notebook. I am a sucker for sappy romance. Your favorite movie?"


  He grimaced, "Romance? You are such a girl."

  "Hey!" She pushed him on his back. "You seem to like that I am a girl. So, favorite movie? Some slasher movie, right?"

  He wrapped his arms around her, "I do like that you are a girl, so I will deal with the romances. Only if you can handle action packed fun. I am a huge fan of the Mission Impossible movies, and James Bond movies."

  Isabel snuggled in closer to him, "Action is my other favorite type of movie." She placed her hand on his jaw, "Were you ever married? Kids?"

  He smiled, "Never married, and the jury is still out on my thoughts about kids. I haven't had a serious relationship in a long time. You?"

  She traced his nose, his jaw, around his lips, "Never married, and not sure on kids either. I was with someone in Philly, but he wanted too much, too fast. I should clarify, he expected me to be who he wanted me to be. Chad was the type of guy who always got what he wanted. He never listened to me, or any woman, for that matter. I could never be myself around him." She shook her head, slightly smiling, "But who cares about that? I threw him to the curb ages ago."

  He nipped at her finger, and then brought her finger into his mouth. "I can't imagine you with someone like that. You seem very independent, determined to get what she wants."

  She shivered at his touch then put her hands behind his neck. "I do, huh? Well that would be a fair assessment." She sat up, "I think we have a date?" She got up, put her robe on and hopped back on the bed, "Come on, what are you waiting for?"

  Drew just laughed, then grabbed her quickly around her waist and was off the bed so fast. He wrapped her in his arms and headed out the door.

  Laughing, with a look of shock, "Wait Drew, you're not wearing anything? I mean, I know it is dark out, but..."

  With a grin and gleam in his eyes, then with his eyes wide, "What?" Then looking down, then back at Isabel, "This is a skinny-dipping date!"

  Drew carried Isabel to the shores edge, then let her down from his embrace only long enough to remove her robe. He swiftly and easily lifted her back up in his arms, and walked into the ocean slowly. The water felt warm, the air around them was cool and inviting.

  Isabel snuggled into his embrace, kissed that sweet spot right behind his ear. She felt Drew shiver and smiled.

  When the water was up around his waist, he let her down, but kept a hold of her.

  Drew loved the way Isabel felt in his arms. Her skin was so silky and soft. He had this urge to want to touch every inch of her. Something in his chest tightened, then slowly released. A little unnerved by the feeling, he ever so slightly tensed in her arms.

  Isabel was unsure of exactly what was happening. The last 12 hours felt surreal, like something out of a fairy tale. She loved how Drew never let go of her, but just then she felt a slight release of his hands. The look in his eyes a moment ago was passion. Then she thought she saw apprehension, but it was gone before she could register what happened.

  Isabel reached up and put both hands on either side of his face, looking into his eyes, which were now black with desire. Slowly and softly she began to kiss him. Then without words she wrapped her legs around him and moved closer. Their kiss became more heated, as their tongues tangled in a dance of desire. Isabel wrapped her arms around him, and without words just held him close.

  CHAPTER 6

  There was a soft hum next to her ear as Isabel started to wake up. Before she opened her eyes, she took in her surroundings. The first thing she felt, two strong arms were wrapped around her. The hum was the faint sounds Drew made every time he took in a breath. Isabel loved the sounds he made, loved being tucked into his warm embrace. She very slowly opened her eyes, looked up and smiled. Drew's head was resting on the pillow, Isabel's head was resting on his warm muscular chest. She snuggled closer to him, and tucked her head into the side of his neck.

  Drew kept his eyes closed, made a very male sound of approval. Then wrapped his arms tighter around her. "Good morning, Gorgeous."

  Isabel moved her hands down his chest, "Mmmmmm... I could stay right here, just like this all day."

  Both of them were startled by the sound of a phone. Drew reacted quickly, sat up, and reached for his phone. "Yeah?"

  Danny was on the other end, "Sorry man, house fire... we need your help." That's all he had to say. Danny gave him the address and Drew sat up, "I'll be right there."

  He hung up the phone and looked down at Isabel laying on her side, with her creamy, luscious skin and smiled, "I'm sorry, there's a fire... I have to go- but damn do you make it difficult for me to leave. Can I come by and see you later?"

  Isabel smiled, "I'll be here. I have a few things I should take care of today," playfully pushing his chest, "you know, since I was distracted yesterday."

  Drew just laughed, bent down and kissed her softly, "Sounds perfect, Sweet Izzy!"

  Isabel tried to go back to sleep after Drew left, but she was missing his warm arms around her. She decided making bread was the best solution.

  She took a long, hot shower, tied her hair up in a messy bun, and bypassed the make-up. Today was all about comfort, so she threw on cotton shorts and a simple v-neck cotton tee, and headed into the kitchen.

  She loved her tiny kitchen. The big window over the sink had such an amazing view of the ocean. The room was bright, cheerful, and oh, so inviting.

  Growing up, Isabel loved making homemade bread with her Mom. She would stand on a stool at the counter and help mix the ingredients together. There was something about homemade bread, and the smell of the yeast as the dough was rising.

  When she was in the kitchen, she felt balance, she was in her happy place. Since Drew would be back later, she decided it would be fun to make a homemade meal.

  She pulled out flour, some fast-acting yeast, white sugar, dried herbs, and some canola oil. For a fun addition, she grabbed some vegetables. She decided a slice of bread with diced roasted vegetables mixed in, would be so good slathered with butter.

  She spent the morning in her little kitchen bringing together all the ingredients for her roasted veggie bread. She was having fun releasing some excess energy while kneading the dough. Once the dough was baking, she looked through her cupboards, trying to get inspired by any ingredient. She knew Drew would be tired when he came home, so dinner should be simple.

  She decided to make a roasted chicken salad, it would compliment the bread perfectly. Then maybe a green leaf salad on the side. Since everything seemed a little too healthy, she wanted to balance it out. On the door of her freezer she had some cherry chocolate chip ice cream, perfect!

  She was just mixing the ingredients for the chicken salad when her phone started ringing. She looked down and smiled, it was Shawna. "Hey you!"

  "Hey yourself, lady. So, usually I would just drop by unannounced, BUT since this was a special weekend."

  Isabel laughed, "Very funny. Are you in the neighborhood? You totally need to come over."

  About two minutes later there was a knock at her door. Isabel was laughing as she opened the door. "Seriously, you could've just stopped by unannounced."

  "Ummmm... and catch you both naked? No, thank you!" Shawna walked into the kitchen and leaned on the counter. "Where is your hot firefighter, anyway?"

  Isabel walked to her island and stood opposite Shawna. She worked on finishing mixing the chicken salad. "As a matter of fact, my hot firefighter is out fighting a fire!" They both laughed. "I'm not sure when he will be home."

  So, Shawna settled in, "Then, I'll keep you company. How was your yesterday?"

  Isabel just shook her head, "What you really want to ask is, how was the sex?"

  Shawna had a shocked look on her face, the corners of her mouth slowly turned up. "I am appalled that you would even think that." Then suddenly sounding excited, "but since you brought it up, how was the sex?"

  Isabel still had the flour sitting on the counter, she flung a little at Shawna. They both were laughing. "Let's just say, I am sore and, oh my God happy today."

&nbs
p; Shawna squealed with delight. She ended up staying for about two hours, then decided she better head home.

  About three hours later, after a fun day baking and talking with her new friend. Isabel was leaning over, resting her elbows on the counter, looking at the latest Food Network Magazine. She looked up and smiled- Drew's jeep was pulling into the driveway between their cottages.

  She didn't want to bother him just yet and wasn't sure how he would be after a long morning working, but she stood up when Drew started walking to her cottage instead of his.

  Before Drew could reach for the handle, Isabel swung the door open. He lifted his sunglasses to his head, smiled and held out his arms.

  When Drew pulled in their driveway, all he could think about was holding Isabel. He knew he needed a shower, nothing smells quite like a house fire, but it could wait. Today was not just intense like Danny had described. One person had to be rescued, and everyone made it out, even the cat.

  When the door opened to the cottage, she literally took his breath away. She had such a beautiful smile. He loved how she was wearing little shorts, and a tee that sat snug on her breasts. There were wisps of hair that had fallen around her face. But what caught his attention the most, she had a light dusting of flour on her forehead, and in her hair. Her shirt also showed signs she had been busy in the kitchen.

  When he held out his arms, she immediately went into his warm embrace. He stepped back, touched the side of her face and smiled, "do I smell homemade bread?"

  She covered his eyes, and guided him to the living room. "Okay, close your eyes, and no peeking. You are going to be the guinea pig for my new bread recipe."

  He just laughed, "Um, okay. Should I be nervous?"

  Izzy just huffed, "I guess you will have to wait and see."