Wanted: Wife for Hire (The Diamond Club Book 8)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Chloe turned serious, her blond eyebrows going low over her grey eyes as she tried to anticipate issues with this newest adventure. “Is it hard to roast a marshmallow?”

  Deni feigned seriousness too. “Yes. It’s very hard. You have to watch your marshmallow very carefully. Sometimes they roast too fast and sometimes, the coals aren’t hot enough and they don’t roast and a person is just sitting there, waiting and wondering and hoping that they can find a hot spot.”

  Chloe nodded, taking it all in. “But…”

  “Don’t worry,” Deni promised, touching the child’s cheek softly. “I’m an expert marshmallow roaster. My mom and dad taught me well and I will train you to be an expert too.”

  Deni’s words seemed to allay Chloe’s concerns and her face brightened. “Okay!” Chloe replied earnestly. A moment later, she was gone, off searching the woods near the campsite for kindling.

  Deni stood up, watching Chloe for a moment. Then she felt Sebastian move closer. She felt his gaze on her and glanced over in his direction. Sure enough, he was leaning against the Land Rover, his arms crossed over that magnificent chest as he watched her. Was that amusement in his grey eyes? Admiration?

  A warm sensation melted over her as she took in his gaze. But it was too intense and she couldn’t hold it for long. In the end, she broke contact and hurried into the dining tent, opening the coolers to figure out what Martha had prepared for their dinner. Deni lifted a foil covered object labeled “dinner”. Carefully, she peered inside. Instantly, her mouth started watering.

  “Oh wow!” she whispered, amazed at Martha’s creativity. Or her internet search skills. Either way, dinner was going to be easy and delicious!

  “What’s in that?” Sebastian asked as he loaded the iron fire circle with logs, twigs, and other kindling in a triangle.

  Distracted, Deni watched his hands, fascinated with the length of his fingers as well as the skill of his fire-making. “Where did you learn to build a fire?” she asked, staring at the perfectly organized campfire.

  He looked at her as if to say, “You doubted me?”, then turned back to finish building the fire. With a flick of the lighter, he got the twigs started and slowly fanned the fire until more twigs caught.

  In a few minutes, he had the beginnings of a perfect campfire going. “Have faith,” he teased.

  She chuckled, shaking her head. “You looked it up, didn’t you?”

  His eyebrows lifted with a look of disdain that only a man of his elite status could pull off. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  Deni shrugged casually, although she didn’t feel casual in any way. He was hot and grubby and that scruffy beard was doing things, dangerous things, to her libido! “The bank job. The tailored suits. The horror at the idea of camping. The thousand dollar shoes.” She looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Should I continue?”

  “Only if you want your cute butt spanked,” he growled and reached towards her menacingly. Deni laughed, and quickly danced out of range. With an arch look, she glanced back over her shoulder. “Since you’re such a brilliant camper, I’m putting you in charge of dinner.” And she tossed the foil wrapped loaf to him. He caught it, but winced at it as if it were coal. “This is dinner?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yep. Figure it out.”

  He stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I think you’re getting a bit too sassy, Ms. Hughes,” he teased.

  Deni laughed, trying to wiggle out of his embrace, but he didn’t allow it. “I’m not!” she gasped, but she was laughing so hard, it was difficult to catch her breath.

  “Explain what I’m supposed to do with this,” he demanded, brandishing the foil-wrapped blob.

  She laughed so hard she gasped for breath, but his hands tightened around her waist and all laughter died. She felt him…everywhere! He was so hard and so amazingly strong, it was difficult to remember what they were talking about. For a long moment, she just stared up at him. Her eyes dropped to his lips and…she was lost. So lost!

  “Are you guys gonna kiss?”

  Deni heard Chloe’s question and jerked out of Sebastian’s arms. Looking down, she realized that Chloe was standing right next to them, her arms filled with kindling, a curious and almost hopeful look in her shining grey eyes.

  “No, honey. We weren’t kissing.”

  “You were gonna,” she insisted, dumping her sticks right next to the stack of firewood her father had bought at the camp store.

  “Um…s’mores!” Deni announced. “Your dad is going to figure out dinner while we get the stuff for s’mores!”

  Chloe was easily distracted, but Deni peeked at Sebastian, saw the smirk in his eyes, and cringed. His gaze told her their interlude was not over. Postponed, perhaps, but not over.

  She shivered, thinking how nice it would be to be kissed by that man. He wasn’t…she shouldn’t…but…she did! Oh, goodness, she did!

  “I found them!” Chloe announced.

  Chloe held up a package of giant marshmallows. Not a giant bag of marshmallows, although the bag was huge. Nope, these marshmallows were literally four times the size of a normal marshmallow.

  “Good grief!” Deni breathed as she took the bag from Chloe. “These are mutant marshmallows!” she laughed.

  “Will they work?” Chloe asked, eyes widening with concern.

  Deni laughed. “We’ll have fun trying, right?”

  Relieved, Chloe threw her hands up in the air. “Yes!” Chloe exclaimed.

  “Dinner is ready,” Sebastian announced.

  Deni stood up, looking out through the mesh and, once again, their eyes clashed. Deni suddenly remembered their sleeping situation. Her lack of an air mattress…this was going to be an interesting night, she thought.

  “Right,” she whispered and grabbed plates and napkins as well as the leftover fruit from breakfast.

  The foil wrapped meal was actually a sliced loaf of crusty bread with slices of pre-cooked steak, cheese, and a special sauce that Deni didn’t recognize, but it smelled amazing as it heated over the campfire. Sebastian used tongs to pull it off the fire and they sat in their camp chairs, pulling off slices of the delicious meal, devouring almost all of it.

  By the time they’d finished dinner the sun had set. They moved their chairs closer to the heat of the fire to roast their marshmallows and laughed uproariously as they jousted for the best spots in the lower level coals. Deni explained that one didn’t want to put the marshmallow too close because it would catch fire. But not too far away, because the marshmallow would just melt and not become crusty on the outside.

  When they finally roasted the perfect marshmallow, she showed them how to put it between the chocolate and graham crackers. Chloe was too impatient to try her first bite of a s’more, so her chocolate wasn’t completely melted. But she fell in love anyway, her pretty eyes wide as saucers as she bit into the messy, gooey treat.

  Deni watched with painful awareness as Chloe roasted another marshmallow. Sebastian was right next to her and every few moments, his leg would brush hers. The first time, she looked at him, wondering if he’d done it on purpose. But she couldn’t see his eyes clearly in the dim glow of the fire. So the next time it happened, she kept her eyes on Chloe. But somehow, he seemed to move closer. He was roasting yet another marshmallow, this one probably for Chloe because she kept lighting hers on fire. But now he was so close, his shoulder would occasionally bump her arm. Or his leg would press against hers.

  Deni knew she should shift away. Becoming involved in any way with Sebastian Hughes would be a mistake. He was rightfully focused on Chloe and Deni should just move away.

  But she didn’t. Instead, Deni enjoyed the brief contact.

  And then the contact wasn’t brief any longer. He leaned forward to help Chloe slide the marshmallow between the chocolate and crackers, but when he sat back up, he didn’t move away.

  She peered at him, trying to determine what was going on. But just as had happened before, as soon as she looked at h
im, Deni couldn’t look away. His gaze was hypnotizing.

  Swallowing hard, she tried to look away. But somehow, she felt herself shift closer. And closer. Chloe was talking about something, dancing and hiking, while Deni and Sebastian leaned into each other. So close, she could feel his breath on her lips.

  And then he kissed her. His lips were hotter than the fire and she turned slightly, wanting to deepen the kiss. It was wonderful and shocking and the touch made her head spin. Deni wasn’t aware of lifting her hand up, cupping his jaw. But suddenly, her fingers were exploring the hard lines of his jaw, feeling the rough beard and moving lower.

  Over and over, he slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her until she opened her mouth. And then she gasped when she felt his tongue moving into her mouth. It was explosive and she wanted to climb up onto his lap and find out more, touch him more. Find all the places on his body that might make him feel the way she felt.

  The giggling was her first clue that they had an audience. Pulling away ever so slightly, Deni turned at the same time Sebastian did. Chloe was standing in front of the fire with a huge grin on her adorable face as she watched them kiss. Her marshmallow was slowing burning to a crisp, but the little darling hadn’t even noticed.

  Sebastian snatched the marshmallow-torch out of her hands and tossed the gooey mess into the fire.

  “Time for bed,” he announced and scooped Chloe up into his arms. “Bath house first, I think. A good brushing of those teeth is in order.”

  Deni stayed by the fire while they walked up to the bath house, trying to get herself back under control. Looking around, she noticed that it was much later than she’d thought. Goodness, it was close to ten o’clock! Chloe’s normal bedtime was eight thirty! They’d been so absorbed in making dessert, playing games, and being silly…and kissing…that she hadn’t noticed the passing of time. Of course, Chloe was probably hyped up on sugar, which is why she’d had so much energy well beyond her normal bed time.

  Chapter 16

  Deni watched Sebastian carry Chloe into the tent. He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, then backed out of the tent. As soon as Sebastian laid her down, tucking her into the sleeping bag, the little girl was out, her head lolling to the side as she sank into exhausted oblivion.

  From the light of the fire, Deni could see the intent in his eyes as he approached and she tensed, painfully aware of the man. Gone was the father and in its place was the man and all of his intensity, but it was different now. Purposeful.

  He straddled the log so that he faced her and they stared into one another’s eyes, tension building, heat rising, and not from the fire.

  When he reached for her, she twisted her body, needing the kiss, his touch, and anything else he could give her.

  She felt his lips, hard and firm as he pulled her closer. Deni knew that this was exactly where she wanted to be and wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth to his kiss. He tasted wonderful! Minty and fresh and so male that she needed more, tilting her head slightly to deepen the kiss. In response, she felt his hands on her back, moving lower to cup her bottom and lift her higher. She was somehow straddling the log with her legs over his, her core pressing against the very large, very intriguing erection. Shifting against him, she moaned as she found exactly the right spot.

  “Deni!” he growled, but his hands clenched around her bottom, pressing her against him as he kissed her over and over again. By the time he lifted his mouth away, they were both panting.

  “We can’t finish this,” he groaned. “Chloe is only a few feet away.”

  She pulled away from him, laying her head on his shoulder as she felt his hands sliding up and down her back. “I know. No privacy,” she whispered, wishing he would kiss her again. But kissing was dangerous because it led to wanting more. And they couldn’t have more. Not right now.

  He looked down at her, his eyes burning with desire. “Can you wait until tomorrow when we’re home?”

  She thought about that for a long moment, unaware of her teeth biting her lip. “I think so,” she said, but she didn’t sound convinced. And her body shifted again, drawing a groan from deep inside of him.

  “Don’t move, Deni,” he ordered, his hands tightening on her bottom. “Not even an inch.”

  She stilled, but it took all of her effort. “Okay. I think I’m okay now.”

  He laughed, lowering his head so that he could nibble along her neck. “I don’t think I am.”

  She chuckled, but tilted her head back. “We have to stop,” even as she gasped with the incredible sensation of his teeth against a spot just under her ear. “Do that again!” He did and she shivered.

  Sebastian pulled his head away with a groan. “Deni, we have to stop. Otherwise…”

  “We’re in a tent,” she finished for him. Tents. Small children. Lusting after one’s “husband”. The combination seemed wrong somehow.

  He went very still as they stared at each other, the implications of what their night would be like flowing between them.

  “Hell!”

  She laughed but pulled away. “We can get through this.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” he replied but they both stood up. “I’ll bank the fire. You go ahead into the tent and get into your sleeping bag. Make sure that you’re fully clothed.”

  She wanted to ask him what would happen if she wasn’t clothed, but figured that might lead to answers that were better left unanswered. So she moved into the dining tent to ensure the food was properly stored away and safe from curious creatures, and ducked into the tent. For a long moment, she stared at the air mattress. It was a big one, queen sized at least, but Deni’s was rolled up, shoved off to the side. Sebastian had spread her sleeping bag out next to his and it all looked so enticing! She should pull her sleeping bag off the air mattress and just sleep on the ground. It would be safer that way. And she’d probably get just as much sleep as if she were sleeping next to him.

  Movement behind her spun her around. Sebastian stepped through the door and then he crouched down to zip the tent closed for the night. When he stood up, he pulled her into his arms. “We can get through this, Deni,” he promised, his strong hands sliding up her back and into her hair, holding her gently to his chest.

  She could hear his heart pounding, but it wasn’t nearly as loud or as hard as her own. She was trembling with awareness and need. Her eyes moved to Chloe, sleeping innocently on the other side of the tent, mere inches from the big air mattress and Deni sighed.

  He’d promised that they could finish this tomorrow night. Did she want that? Yes! Would she have the courage to go for it? Probably. That was a question for tomorrow, she decided.

  “Let’s go to bed.”

  Deni smiled at the husky tone. It soothed her slightly because it told her that he felt the same way she did. He took her hand and led her to the sleeping bags.

  With a sigh of resignation, she slipped into the sleeping bag, trying to keep her eyes away from Sebastian as he did the same. She curled up on her side, facing away from him. But the moment he was settled, he reached out and pulled her close. Deni smiled, enjoying the feeling of being in his arms. She doubted she’d be able to sleep at all, but she liked it.

  A moment later, she shifted so that her head rested against his shoulder and…she was out. Sound asleep.

  Chapter 17

  “Leave everything,” Sebastian ordered as they stepped out of the Land Rover. They’d taken another hike this morning after a pancake breakfast, then broke down the tents and packed everything up. Chloe made them promise to have another camping trip “really soon!” and they both agreed.

  The sweet darling was completely unaware of the tension that continued to increase throughout the morning. On the drive home, she sang songs and had her stuffed animals “dance” around her legs, happy in her own world. Which was good because Deni could barely breathe. Every time she glanced over at Sebastian, his gaze told her what would happen as soon as they were home. She smiled tightly, he
r body tensing with need, fear, hope, and desperation.

  But now they were back at Sebastian’s house and she felt the tension increase even further. They’d slept last night on that air mattress, but woken up again to a grinning Chloe standing at the end of their bed.

  She glanced over at Sebastian, wondering if he would follow through on his promise to finish what they’d started last night. She still wanted him and knew his limitations. This was still just a temporary marriage, for the sake of Chloe. And if Deni could keep that in her mind, she could enjoy a hot and heated affair with a man she found more fascinating with every moment.

  But as he walked into the house with Chloe, he didn’t look her way, and her heart sank. Maybe it had just been the romance of the campfire. Last night had been dreamy and romantic. They’d both been tired after a long day of camping and hiking, their guards lowered. She looked down and tried to figure out what to do with her time now.

  “How about a swim?” Sebastian suggested.

  “Yes!” Chloe replied, doing her now-usual jumping up and down to reinforce her answer.

  Deni stood off to the side of the foyer, thinking that his invitation had been just for Chloe. But when he looked at her, his eyebrows lifted in silent question.

  He wanted her to join them? Really? Suddenly, her heart lifted and she felt…free! And happy! “Um…okay,” she replied, thinking about the reports she still needed to get done for tomorrow.

  He must have sensed her hesitation because he looked down at Chloe. “Hey, Deni and I need to get a little work done. Would you go find Jenny and tell her that you’re back? We’ll meet you in the pool in an hour, okay?”

  Chloe grinned. “Jenny must have been lonely without me all weekend!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to tell her about the s’mores!” She raced up the stairs, eager to tell her nanny about their weekend adventures.

  Sebastian looked over at Deni. “You ready?”

  She opened her mouth, not sure what he meant. “Umm….?”