Like the First Time

by Francis Ray

  “Yes?” the smooth voice coaxed.

  “This is Claire Bennett. May I leave a message for Gray? Mr. Livingston,” she hastily added.

  Warmth resurfaced in the woman’s voice. “Good morning, Ms. Bennett. Would you like for me to see if he’s available?”

  Claire blinked. “Yes, please, thank you,” she quickly said. She was still trying to figure out how she had gotten through so quickly when Gray came on the line.

  “Hi, Claire. How is Charleston’s newest entrepreneur doing this morning?” There was warmth and laughter in his deep voice that went through her like a sunshine.

  “Fine, and how are you doing?”

  “Can’t complain, but it’s early yet,” he answered.

  She smiled as she knew he’d intended her to. “I won’t keep you. I wanted you to know that the lease went through. The contractor is scheduled to start painting and putting up the shelves today and by next week we should be able to start moving products in.”

  “This calls for a celebration. How about I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”

  “Dinner?”

  He laughed. “Dinner, or supper as Granddaddy refers to it.”

  “Actually, that’s why I called. I wanted to invite you to lunch here tomorrow if you’re available.”

  “I’m available. What time?”

  She tried to slow her heartbeat. “Around twelve. We should be finished with the photo shoot around then.”

  “Photo shoot?”

  “John consented to be the Man of Bliss. Brooke is going to take the pictures on the beach.”

  A chuckle came through the line. “So Brooke talked him into it.”

  Claire’s brow arched in surprise. “Yes, but how did you know?”

  “Instinct. There’s the other line. See you tomorrow. Bye.”

  “Bye,” Claire said, hanging up the phone and puzzled over Gray’s comment. Then the answer came to her. Brooke had a way with men. For the tiniest of seconds Claire wished she had some of Brooke’s allure and self-assurance.

  * * *

  “Have a safe, successful trip,” Lorraine said, removing her keys from her purse.

  Hamilton looked around from straightening his silk tie. “Where’re you going so early in the morning?”

  “To Claire’s.” She expected the closed expression on his face, but was still disappointed to see it. Last night they had made love, held each other while they fell asleep, but this morning they were at odds again.

  “I see.” He went to his suitcase. “Thanks for repacking for me.”

  She sighed. “You’re welcome.” It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he was going to have to do things like packing for himself from then on. Instead she walked over to him and went into his arms. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you more.”

  They fell so easily into the pattern when there were no harsh words between them. “Go kick butt at Isaac.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I should be gone four or five days. When I get back, we’ll talk.”

  It didn’t take a mind reader to know what they would talk about. “We’ll talk.”

  His arms still around her he asked, “You think you could stay until the taxi comes?”

  “You aren’t due to leave for another hour.”

  His hands went to the top button on her blouse. “I know the perfect way to pass time.”

  “Hamilton, intimacy won’t solve anything.”

  He pressed against her, letting her feel his arousal. “I think you’re wrong about that.”

  Then he proceeded to show her.

  * * *

  John had made a mistake.

  He tried to keep from staring at Brooke when she opened the door to Claire’s house, but it was extremely difficult. She was the most exquisitely beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had on a floral bikini top and some kind of flimsy wrap over the high-cut bottoms. She twisted his insides and made his body and hands yearn to touch, to taste her. “Morning,” he managed to mumble.

  The smile on her face wavered, then blossomed again. “No. I’m not going to let you spoil this perfectly glorious day.”

  “Sorry,” he managed. “Guess I’m having second thoughts about this.”

  “It will be fun,” she assured as she stepped back.

  John entered, but remained silent

  “Morning, John,” Claire said, coming out of the kitchen. “I thought you were going to bring Amy and Mark with you.”

  “I got to thinking about us being busy with the pictures and thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to let Amy have free run of the beach without me watching her.” He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Is this all right? You didn’t say what to wear.”

  Brooke’s gaze tracked slowly over his body. By the time she finished he was glad he hadn’t tucked his plaid cotton shirt into his jeans.

  “Fine,” she finally said.

  “John, would you like some coffee or juice before we get started? I have a coffee cake,” Claire offered.

  “No.” He hunched his shoulders. “I’d kind of like to get this over with.”

  “Sure,” Brooke said with brisk efficiency. “We’ll go down on the beach and get started. Claire, you and Lorraine come down later.”

  This was getting worse and worse. Three women watching him make a fool of himself, and one of them he had the hots for.

  “You two go on,” Claire said. “Afterwards we’ll have lunch. Just so you won’t think you’ll be outnumbered, I invited Gray.”

  John didn’t have to look at his watch to know it was a little after nine. “It’s going to take that long?”

  Brooke heard the panic in his voice and automatically reached out to soothe him. The muscled warmth and the little jolt that traveled up her fingertips had her hastily withdrawing her hand. “It won’t be that bad.”

  “Easy for you to say since you won’t be in front of the camera,” he groused.

  “That’s not exactly true.” Claire folded her hands in front of her and moistened her lips. “I know you’re the marketing guru, Brooke, but I’ve been thinking and it seems to me that a man on the Web site would draw the women, but a man touching a woman would really sell the products.”

  “What!” Brooke shouted.

  The half-smile on John’s face died a swift death.

  “Not that way,” Claire quickly said, her face suffused with hot color. “Perhaps a hand on a shoulder, an ankle, to show how touchable and irresistible a woman’s skin is after she’s used the products. Then we’d have one with Brooke by herself with this blissful look on her face held up to the sun, a half smile on her lips. The afterglow effects of the products. I—” Claire snapped her mouth shut. Brooke and John were looking at her as if she’d sprouted two heads and wings. “It was only an idea.”

  John refused to look at Brooke. He tried to shove his hands deeper into his pockets, and hunched his shoulders to give some relief to his tight jeans. He’d always suspected Claire was an innocent.

  The doorbell sounded. Claire looked relieved. “That must be Lorraine.” She beat a hasty retreat to the front door and opened it. “Gray.”

  “I know I’m early, but I couldn’t resist seeing the photo shoot.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “There may not be one.”

  Coming inside Gray closed the door. “Why?”

  Claire cast a swift glance to where Brooke and John stood. Brooke was fidgeting with the camera Lorraine had left the night before. John was staring out toward the ocean. “I–I think I may have embarrassed them by what I said.”

  Gray smiled easily. “I doubt that.”

  “Everything was going so well.” Claire chewed on her lower lip.

  Without thinking Gray placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. “Stop shredding your lip.”

  Her eyes widened, but she did as he requested.

  “Good. Now tell me exactly what you said.”

  She thought about tucking her head, but sq
uared her shoulders instead. No more hiding. Her gaze locked on Gray’s left ear, she repeated exactly what she’d said. The slight tightening of his hands on her shoulder inexplicably made her want to lean closer even though he was displeased with her.

  “Claire.”

  His voice sounded deeper somehow. Once again she had the urge to lean. “Yes?”

  “You didn’t embarrass them.”

  She finally met his eyes. “I didn’t?”

  “No.”

  Taking her by the arm he went to join Brooke and John. “Morning, Brooke. John.”

  “Good morning,” they greeted, but they both appeared distracted. John kept hunching his shoulders and Brooke seemed to find something immensely interesting about Lorraine’s camera.

  “It was just a suggestion,” Claire said again.

  “I think it was an excellent one,” Gray said.

  “It has merit,” Brooke admitted reluctantly, lifting her head. “But I think we should use another female model.”

  “I don’t,” John stated flatly.

  Brooke speared John with a look that would have made a lesser man slink away. He appeared unfazed. “You’re the one who was talking about all the fun it was going to be, how you couldn’t afford to hire a model. Was it just talk?”

  “I’m not prepared to do a photo shoot.”

  “You were born prepared,” he said, his gaze running appreciatively over her body. “You’re flawless.”

  Brooke inhaled sharply.

  Claire stood frozen, eyes and mouth wide open with surprise. Gray just grinned.

  “Let’s go. I have things to do,” John snapped.

  Opening the sliding door, he started toward the beach. Why the hell had he said that to Brooke?

  “Ready, Brooke?” Claire asked when the other woman simply stared after John.

  “You’re going to owe me for this.” Handing over the camera, she started after John.

  “This should be interesting,” Gray said as he ushered Claire after them.

  * * *

  Why couldn’t he be flabby, with calluses on his feet and a receding hairline? But if he had been, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. She couldn’t even blame Claire. It wasn’t her fault that for some ungodly reason John ignited a spark of interest in her. He wasn’t her type, but that didn’t seem to matter to her body.

  “What do you want me to do next?” he asked.

  Put your shirt back on, Brooke thought. “Go for a swim.”

  He didn’t even glance behind him at the rushing water. “If I do, you’re coming in with me.”

  She stared at him. He stared right back. He wasn’t backing down, and she’d already learned he didn’t push worth a damn. She took a deep steadying breath. “Unsnap the top button of your jeans.”

  “Oh, my!”

  She ignored Claire’s outburst behind her. She folded her arms across her chest as John simply stared at her. “Open them just a bit, like you’re pulling them off or putting them back on.”

  John’s dark eyes narrowed and Brooke felt her nipples tighten. Damn. It got worse when he slowly did as she asked, never taking his eyes off her. “You see a woman on the beach you want. You take what you want. You can feel the warmth of her skin, the resiliency of her flesh, you can taste her lips.”

  Something hot flashed in John’s eyes causing Brooke to swallow. There was a promise there, quickly banked. He didn’t want the attraction any more than she did. Good.

  “Now move like you’re on the prowl.” She directed him through several more poses that caused her to mouth to dry and her body to heat. The scoundrel!

  “I think that’s enough of me.” John put his hands on his lean hips. “Why don’t we get you in these shots so we can finish this up?”

  Brooke swallowed. She didn’t want him touching her. Just watching him was difficult enough. “This is raw silk.”

  “I’m sure you have lots more.”

  The words were almost sneering, as if she was a spoiled brat. Her chin angled. “All right, big boy, you asked for it.” With no more warning than that she ran full tilt toward him. He caught her as she jumped. Her arms locked around his neck, her legs around his narrow waist.

  “Gymnastics for seven years,” she said, her smile smug. She stared down into his eyes and knew she’d miscalculated again. She began to shiver.

  “Celibate for eight months,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Her jaw dropped.

  “Don’t play unless you’re going to put out the fire.”

  Blushing—and she never blushed—Brooke tried to scramble out of his arms. John’s arms tightened, holding her effortlessly.

  “What’s the matter, found someone you can’t tease and charm?”

  She stopped immediately. “If you want a fight, you’ve come to the right place.” She spoke over her shoulder. “Claire, put in a new card, make sure it’s on auto focus, then shoot at will.” She curled her body tighter around John’s. “Let’s see who hollers uncle first.”

  She was all over him, her hands, her body, her lips. He wasn’t shy about where he put his hands, his body, his lips either. They went from him holding her to them being on the sand, water washing over them, her body arched, their lips inches apart. She was on top in one shot, the position reversed in the next.

  Claire took shots with John’s hand on Brooke’s ankle, splayed against her bare abdomen, her thigh.

  “I’m out of cards,” Claire said, her hands shaking as much as her legs. She’d never seen anything as erotic as Brooke and John. It was a wonder the water lapping against them as they lay entwined in each other’s arms wasn’t steaming.

  Applause sounded. Claire looked around to notice for the first time that the shoot had attracted a crowd. Brooke, lying on top of John, her legs sandwiched between his, jerked her head up. She rolled to her feet, her smile shaky.

  “Thank you,” she said with remarkable calm as John slowly came upright behind her. Her gaze flickered to him as he walked past her to pluck his shirt from the sand and give it a brisk shake. “You’ve just seen the photo shoot for Bliss, the newest name in women’s bath and body products. My partner will give you the Web site address. Goodbye.”

  Brooke started toward Claire’s house to more applause. As she passed John, he draped his shirt around her shoulders. “I think it’s a draw.”

  “You would.” She continued toward the house, planning to stay as far away from John Randle as possible.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “Looks like it’s just the two of us for lunch,” Claire said.

  Brooke and John had already left when they arrived back to the house. On the answering machine was a message from Lorraine saying she had to attend a called meeting of the Women’s Club.

  “Do you need any help in the kitchen?”

  Claire had to smile despite the nervousness that had steadily increased on learning they would be alone. “I don’t imagine you’ve had very much practice in the kitchen.”

  Folding his arms, Gray leaned against the counter. “You’d be surprised.”

  She looked at him again in his wheat-colored tailored sports jacket and tobacco brown slacks. As always he remained impeccably groomed from head to toe. “Plates are in the first cabinet. Flatware is in the drawer beneath.”

  Pushing away from the counter, he began setting the table. They worked easily together. In minutes they were seated, the food blessed, and she was heaping shrimp salad on their plates. “Please help yourself. I thought there’d be more of us.”

  “I’m glad there isn’t.”

  Her fork wobbled.

  Gray seemed not to notice. “I enjoy down time. I’m around people all day long. Going from meeting to meeting, inspecting the warehouse, talking to employees. It’s nice to relax.”

  “But I don’t think you’d give it up.”

  “Bite your tongue,” he said with a chuckle as she picked up a slice of French bread. “I never wanted to do anything but run the business. It fascinat
ed me, from the acquisition of merchandise to telemarketing.”

  “It must be nice doing what you enjoy and are good at,” Claire said, unaware of the wistfulness in her voice. Gray wasn’t.

  “I’ve been blessed to discover what I wanted to do at an early age. For some, it just takes a little longer.”

  Claire tilted her head. “You wouldn’t be trying to cheer me up, would you?”

  Gray leaned closer. “You can point a person in the right direction, but they have to take the first step themselves, then the next, to achieve their own success. I’d say you’re on your way.” He smiled. “Those photos should certainly heat up your Web site.”

  Heat spread across Claire’s face. “It didn’t come out as I envisioned.”

  Gray’s mouth lifted in an amused grin. “I think that’s an understatement. Brooke and John were just as surprised.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He leaned back in his chair. “They’re attracted to each other and fighting it tooth and nail.”

  Claire’s mouth gaped. “Brooke and John? I thought they were just caught up in the moment.”

  “That they were. They probably came near to melting your camera lens.”

  Heat climbed up her neck again. She bit her lip.

  “You always did that whenever I spoke to you when I visited my grandparents during the summers.”

  She tucked her head.

  “That, too.”

  “I—” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know what she’d planned to say.

  He placed his hand briefly on hers. “Forget it, and forgive my bad manners.” He picked up his fork. “If you need any help uploading the photos I’d be happy to help.”

  “Thank you, but I can manage.” The idea of Gray sitting with her as she went through those sensual photos made her twist uneasily in her seat. “I want Lorraine and Brooke to see them first.”

  “What about John? Did you get a release from him?”

  She paused. “No, I didn’t think of it.”

  “I don’t know him. He doesn’t appear to be the type to cause trouble, but it’s best to try and circumvent problems. You can download the pictures to him so he can view them at his leisure and fax a release at the same time.”

  “But there isn’t any need for a release. John’s a friend.”