Tempted by Mr. Off-Limits

by Amy Andrews

  And that was before they got to the best bit—opening the presents.

  There were only a few beneath the tree. Grace and Marcus’s presents were the biggest—she’d bought them his and hers matching bathrobes as a bit of a joke present but they were top-notch quality and had cost a small fortune. They were coming over for lunch today and Lola couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces.

  Hamish had also bought Grace a present and it was there along with the one Lola had bought him. It was just a novelty thing.

  Nothing special. A snowglobe. With the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House planted in the middle. It had made her smile and she figured it’d be a memento of his time here.

  And maybe he’d smile too every time he looked at it, the way he’d smiled when he’d talked about the innkeeper’s daughter in Mykonos.

  The biggest surprise, though, was Hamish’s present to her, which had appeared a few days ago. In Lola’s experience, men didn’t really do presents for people they loved, let alone those they just...slept with.

  Or whatever they were doing.

  What that was, Lola didn’t know. But an offer of solace had definitely turned into something more. Something she didn’t want to over-analyse. Hamish’s last shift was on the second of January and he was leaving on the third and starting back at his Toowoomba station on the fourth. Which meant they had just over a week left together.

  Why mess up a week of potential good horizontal action—which she’d miss like crazy when he left—to put a label on something they’d already agreed couldn’t go anywhere.

  ‘So.’ Lola, who’d thrown on shorts and a red tank top with ‘Dear Santa, I’ve been very, very bad’ splashed in glittery letters across the front, was pouring them both a tall glass of orange juice in the kitchen. A Christmas CD was playing ‘Frosty the Snowman’ in the background. ‘What say we go out to the balcony with these and open our presents?’

  Hamish wrapped his arms around her from behind. He hadn’t bothered with a shirt at all, just boxers, which left a lot of bare, warm skin sliding against hers. Strong thighs butted up against the backs of hers as he lowered his mouth to nuzzle her neck and Lola almost whimpered at the pleasure of it.

  ‘I’ll grab the presents,’ he said.

  Lola followed him out with the drinks. She sat opposite him—all the better to see him—and placed the drinks down with a tapping sound on the tabletop. The balcony was still in shade and with the Christmas music drifting out through the open doors it was a pleasant morning.

  Hamish swigged half of his juice in three gulps before handing over his gift. ‘Ladies first.’

  Lola, who’d already had a good feel of the present the moment he’d left the apartment, fingered it again. It was only palm-sized but quite heavy. She was dying of curiosity but also unaccountably nervous.

  ‘No. Guests first.’ She pushed his over. She’d rather break the ice with something gimmicky—have a laugh first. He started to protest but she shook her head. ‘Please, Hamish, indulge me.’

  He sighed dramatically but grinned and ripped the paper off. The boom of his laughter as the box was revealed had been worth it.

  ‘Oh, my God.’ He grinned as he pulled the plastic snowglobe out and shook it, holding it up between them. She watched him as his gaze followed the flakes fluttering down around the famous Sydney landmarks. ‘This is awesome.’

  ‘Yeah? You like it? I thought you’d appreciate something to take home from Sydney to remind you of the place. And the muster across the bridge.’

  And her.

  ‘Are you kidding? You know I’m nuts for all this tacky, tourist crap.’ He grinned. ‘It’s perfect.’

  Lola laughed. ‘I think I win Christmas, then.’

  ‘I think you do.’ He shook it again as he held it up. ‘I love it.’

  His casual use of the L word caused a skip in her pulse as her gaze narrowed to the snow falling in the dome. When she widened her gaze he was staring through the globe straight at her.

  ‘Now you.’ He placed the snowglobe on the table and tipped his chin at the present he’d given her earlier.

  ‘Right.’ She smiled as she picked it up, her fingers fumbling with the paper a little, suddenly all thumbs.

  Inside the paper was a plain, thick cardboard box that had been taped by someone who obviously had shares in a sticky-tape company. Lola glanced at Hamish. ‘Seriously?’

  He laughed as she sighed and started on the tape. ‘It’s fragile. I guess they wanted to protect it as much as possible.’

  Fragile? What the hell could it be?

  After a minute of unravelling layers of tape, Lola was finally able to open the lid. Inside was an object secured in bubble wrap and yet more tape. She pulled that out, working away at it, going carefully as she finally revealed the most exquisite glass ornament Lola had ever seen.

  It was a jacaranda tree in full flower. The gnarled trunk and its forked branches were fashioned in plain glass. The flowers, a perfect shade of iridescent blue-purple, hung from the branches, frothing in a profusion of purple, each individual bloom a teardrop of colour.

  Lola blinked as she placed it reverently on the table. It was utterly breath-taking. It was delicate and feminine and so very personal. She didn’t keep trinkets because gypsies didn’t do clutter, but she knew she’d take this to the ends of the earth with her.

  ‘I...’ She glanced at him. Nobody had ever given her such an exquisite gift. ‘I don’t know what to say... It’s utterly...lovely.’

  ‘Lovely’ seemed like such a bland, old-fashioned word but it was actually perfect for the piece. It was pretty and charming and sweet.

  It was lovely.

  More than that, it was thoughtful. Only someone who knew her, truly knew her would know how much something like this would mean. And the fact Hamish knew her so deeply should have her running for the hills. But all she wanted right now was to run straight into his arms.

  ‘You like?’

  ‘I... It’s perfect.’ She dragged her eyes off its loveliness to glance at him as she deliberately echoed his words. ‘I love it.’

  ‘I guess that means I win Christmas.’

  She laughed at the tease in his voice. ‘Yeah. You totally do.’ She sobered as her eyes followed the graceful reach of the branches before her gaze shifted to his. ‘Oh, God.’ She faux-groaned. ‘And I got you a crappy snowglobe that cost ten bucks.’

  ‘Hey.’ He picked up his present and held it against his naked chest as if he was trying to cover its non-existent ears. ‘Don’t insult the snowglobe.’

  Lola laughed. There was no comparison between the two presents but he seemed just as chuffed with his gift as she was with hers.

  He placed the snowglobe on the table. ‘You want to see how well I can win Christmas in the bedroom?’

  Lola’s nostrils flared at the blatant invitation. But... ‘I think you’ve already done that this morning. A couple of times.’

  ‘I was just getting warmed up. Third time’s the charm.’

  Lola shook her head regretfully. ‘I have things to prepare for lunch and a pavlova to make. Your sister’s going to be here in three hours. And I think it might be a good idea if we don’t look like we’ve spent all morning bouncing on a mattress together when she gets here.’

  ‘I’ll act my ass off, I promise. Not that I’ll need to. She only has eyes for Marcus at the moment.’

  Yeah. Grace was totally immersed in her new relationship, that was true. But women in love also had uncanny radar about other couples too.

  ‘Lola Fraser, if you don’t get your ass into that kitchen in the next thirty seconds, I’m going to take you remaining seated as a subconscious invitation to toss you over my shoulder, throw you on your bed and go down on you until you’re singing “Ding Dong Merrily on High”.’

  Lola’s stomach looped the loop at both th
e threat and the promise. ‘Hold that thought,’ she said as she rose and fled to the kitchen to the wicked sound of his low sexy chuckle and the jingle of bells from the CD.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE TWO GUYS had insisted they’d clean up after Christmas lunch so Lola led Grace out onto the balcony. It was warmer outside now after several hours of the sun heating things up but there was still a nice breeze blowing in from Manly.

  ‘Oh, my.’ Grace reached for Hamish’s present to Lola as she sat, turning it over and over. The sunlight caught the flowers and threw sparks of purple light across the glass of the tabletop. ‘This is exquisite.’

  ‘Yes.’ Lola sipped some champagne, still stunned by the gift. ‘Hamish gave it to me for Christmas.’

  Lola was too caught up in the beauty of the piece to realise at first how still Grace had grown. How the light had stopped dancing on the tabletop as her hands had stopped moving. It wasn’t until she spoke that Lola became aware of the situation.

  ‘Hamish gave this to you?’

  Lola glanced at her friend, a slight frown between her eyes at the strangled quality of Grace’s voice. ‘Yes.’

  Grace’s gaze settled on the tree for a moment before she placed it back on the table. ‘I see.’

  Her gaze flicked up to Lola, who frowned some more at the sudden seriousness of Grace’s expression. ‘What?’

  ‘There is something going on between you, isn’t there?’

  Lola had known that Grace had been suspicious about her and Hamish a couple of times but she didn’t see how a Christmas present could spark this line of questioning. Especially when she and Hamish had been impressively chummy throughout lunch.

  ‘That would be stupid.’ Lola trod carefully. They’d managed to keep the particulars of their relationship quiet from Grace so far. ‘He’s going back to Toowoomba in a week.’

  ‘I’ve been watching you two for the last few hours. You’ve been knocking yourselves out trying to prove you’re both just pals, but it’s not working.’

  Damn. Lola blinked, her brain searching for a rapid-fire response. She could just make out the low rumble of male voices inside over the sudden wash of her pulse through her ears and hoped like hell they stayed there until she had this sorted.

  ‘I think you may be projecting there, Grace. Just because you’re all loved up, it doesn’t mean everyone else is.’

  Grace sat back in her chair with a big, smug smile that was worrying and irritating all at once. ‘You think I’m so caught up in my own love life that I don’t notice anything else? It’s been obvious today you two are sleeping together.’

  Double damn. Lola swallowed, her eyes darting over Grace’s shoulder to check they weren’t getting any imminent visitors. She didn’t need Hamish out here, making things worse. ‘Obvious?’

  ‘Sure. It’s in the way you look at each other when you think the other isn’t watching, all starry-eyed. And even if I was so blinded by my own feelings I couldn’t see the blatantly obvious, I’d know from this.’ Grace reached forward and picked up the tree again.

  ‘It’s just a Christmas present.’

  ‘Lola.’ Grace was using her don’t-mess-with-me nurse voice. All nurses had one. ‘This isn’t just a Christmas gift.’

  Lola glanced at the piece, a tight band squeezing her chest. ‘He’s...really grateful for my...hospitality these past couple of months, that’s all.’

  ‘And normally some guy you’ve been renting a room to would get you something for the kitchen or, better still, a gift voucher to a home appliance shop. Roomie Guy gets you practical and impersonal. He doesn’t get you something pretty and frivolous. Something that’s fragile and delicate and beautiful. And meaningful. He doesn’t get you a work of art that speaks to you so deeply, that represents a place he knows you love, a place that’s part of your shared history.’

  Lola squirmed in her chair. She’d been so touched by the beauty of the blown glass, by its perfection, she hadn’t thought about it having a deeper meaning.

  Or maybe she hadn’t wanted to.

  ‘This is a gift of love, Lola.’ Grace placed the sculpture down again. ‘My brother is in love with you.’

  Lola breath hitched as her gaze flew to Grace’s face. No. How utterly ridiculous. ‘He’s just...a really thoughtful guy.’

  She shook her head slowly. ‘Trust me, I know him. He’s really not. He’s my brother and I love him but he’s more the gimmicky gift giver.’

  Lola thought about the T-shirt he’d bought Grace and his penchant for tacky snowglobes. Was Grace right? Adrenaline coursed through her system at the thought of it. She knew Hamish liked her. A lot. And it was reciprocated. They got on really well, enjoyed each other’s company and they were magic between the sheets.

  But they’d only known each other for a couple of months. It was just...fun.

  Starry-eyed, Grace had called them. But really good sex could put stars in your eyes. It had certainly put stars in hers. And Grace’s, for that matter.

  ‘He’s...going home in a week.’

  ‘Yes.’ Grace nodded, her expression gentle but earnest. ‘Broken-hearted probably.’

  Lola’s blood surged thick and sluggish through her veins as she stared at the miniature glass sculpture. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. They may have blurred the boundaries but he knew her attitude towards relationships and about her gypsy lifestyle. She’d thought he’d understood.

  He had understood it, damn it. So Grace had to be wrong.

  Lola was going to confront him about it as soon as Grace and Marcus had left. He’d deny it and they’d laugh over his sister’s silliness and it’d be okay.

  Although maybe they should stop sleeping together...

  ‘More champagne, good women?’

  Marcus’s jovial voice coming from behind ripped Lola out of her panic. Her gaze briefly locked with Grace’s, who was still eyeing her meaningfully before she turned and smiled. ‘Yes, please.’

  Hamish was there too, smiling at her, and the stars in his eyes blazed at her so brightly it was like a physical punch to her gut. Crap. She turned quickly back to escape their pull, her gaze landing squarely on Grace and her imperiously cocked I told you so eyebrow.

  It couldn’t be true. She wouldn’t let it be true.

  * * *

  Hamish was standing at the sink, washing up, a couple hours later when Lola returned from seeing off their guests. ‘Did they leave or did they make a pit stop in my bedroom for a quickie?’ He grinned at her over his shoulder. ‘I swear those two couldn’t stop looking at each other.’

  A faint smile touched her lips but it didn’t reach her eyes. She folded her arms as she leant into the doorframe. ‘That’s exactly what Grace said about us.’

  Hamish’s smile slowly faded. Lola looked serious. In fact, she’d been kinda serious this past couple of hours. This couldn’t be good. ‘Does she know we’ve been sleeping together?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘You told her?’

  ‘No.’ Lola shook her head. ‘She guessed.’

  ‘Impossible.’ Hamish smiled, trying to lighten the mood. ‘I acted my ass off today.’

  She didn’t return his smile, just dropped her gaze to the floor somewhere near his feet. ‘It was your Christmas present to me.’

  Hamish frowned. ‘The tree?’

  ‘She said it was a gift of love.’ She raised her gaze and pierced Hamish to the spot with it, her chin jutting out. ‘She said you were in love with me.’

  It was softly delivered but, between the accusation in her tone and the look in her eyes, the statement hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest.

  What the hell? Was Grace trying to sabotage his chances with Lola?

  ‘Is it true?’

  Of course it was true. But he hadn’t wanted to tell her like this. Not that he’d give
n this moment much thought but he didn’t want it to come when he was backed into a corner either.

  Hamish dried his hands on the tea towel he had slung over his shoulder and turned round fully. ‘Lola, I—’

  ‘Is it true?’ Her eyes flashed, her jaw tightened and her knuckles turned white as her fingers gripped her arms hard. ‘I told her it was ridiculous.’

  Hamish let out a shaky breath. She was giving him an out and he could see in her eyes that she wanted him to take it. He could pick up that lie and run with it and try and salvage something out of this mess. Paper things over, spend this next week with her as if tonight hadn’t happened. Then take things slowly with her over the next year—settle into something long distance.

  Woo her.

  But loving her was bigger than that. Bigger than him and her. Bigger than any will for it not to be so. Too big to dishonour with denial.

  Too important.

  He rested his butt against the edge of the sink. ‘It’s not. Ridiculous. It’s true. I’ve fallen in love with you.’

  His lungs deflated, the air rushing out with the words. He’d held them in for too long and it felt good to finally have them out. He didn’t realise they’d been a weight on his chest until they weren’t there any more.

  Lola, on the other hand, looked as if she’d picked up those words and was being crushed beneath them, her face running the gamut from shock to disbelief to downright anger.

  ‘But...that’s not what we were doing.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘I told you, I don’t do relationships. We want different things.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘This is just...sex, Hamish.’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head emphatically. God knew where they’d go from here but Hamish wasn’t going to pretend any more that this had only been physical. And he wasn’t going to let her pretend it either. It had been deeper than that right from the start.

  Right from the first time she’d turned to him. Their connection had been forged that night and he knew she’d felt it too.