by Lisa Weaver
Protecting Frank was as much a part of her mission as extracting information regarding Lawrence Mendacci from Damon Landers was. Now was not the time to indulge her infatuated hormones.
Mentally ordering those aforementioned marauding hormones to step back in line, she turned her focus back to keeping an eye out for potential threats, where it belonged. Daydreaming about how those gorgeous lips of his might feel pressed up against hers could get them both killed.
“Would you like to walk for a while?” he asked after they’d finished their meals.
“Sure,” she readily agreed, eager for the distraction.
There was a boardwalk just a short distance from the restaurant, and they strolled over to it, enjoying the view and the fresh sea breeze.
There was something spellbinding about the play of the sunset’s crimson and mauve colors on the dark and restless ocean waters. The panorama before them had no doubt inspired many an artist to put brush to canvas.
“Not to drag our evening down with shop talk,” Frank interjected, effectively breaking the spell, “but have you given any more thought to my offer?”
She and Frank had always shared everything. She didn’t want to keep him in the dark about what Liz had asked her to do. But if Liz was right and Frank was determined to hide the fact that he was in danger, he would never agree to let her watch his back. His pride would stand in the way. Nope, in this case she had no option but to follow the plan Liz had outlined.
A little shiver of trepidation tiptoed down her back at the thought of lying to him. Seeing her tremble, Frank mistook the reason and slipped out of his jacket.
“Here you are,” he told her, draping the jacket over her shoulders. “The breeze off the ocean is cool tonight.”
The heat from his body still clung to the leather, as did the luscious scent of his cologne. She snuggled into his coat, breathing in the essence of him.
“Thanks. But won’t you be cold?”
“Nah. I’m used to far worse temperature extremes than this. So … what do you think?” he prodded, reminding her she hadn’t answered his question. “Have you made a decision about the mission?”
“Yes,” she affirmed. “What you’re willing to do is very generous. I can’t refuse. You’re in.”
He inclined his head, regarding her contemplatively. “That’s great! I’m curious, though. You were so vehemently opposed to the idea of my accompanying you that I wasn’t sure the donation would sway your decision. Is there something else that drove your change of heart?”
“Actually, it was more than your generous offer that made me change my mind. When I got home from work today, there were a dozen roses waiting for me. They were from Damon.”
She’d found the gift to be thoughtful and sweet, and there hadn’t been any romantic undertones in the note that had accompanied the flowers. Damon’s handwritten message had simply relayed his appreciation for her agreeing to catalog his book collection.
But Frank didn’t need to know that.
His concerned blue gaze met hers, his brow furrowing. “I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you he could be persistent when he decides he wants something. The man is a barracuda.”
“I’m sure I can keep Damon in line, but it will be easier to carry out this assignment if I don’t have to spend time fending off his advances.”
“Agreed,” he told her with a satisfied smile.
“Fine. So now that we’ve established you’re going to be my plus one, you should know I expect you to follow my ground rules. I’ll conduct this assignment on my terms, which means you’ll do your thing and I’ll do mine. And we will not be carrying out the little lover’s charade you seem to think is the best way to gain access to Damon’s domain. We’ll vacation together as friends; nothing more. There’s no reason we have to lead Damon to believe we’re lovers to make this work.”
For a moment it appeared he was prepared to argue with her, but he apparently thought better of it. “Deal.”
“Good. I think we’re going to make a great team.”
“So do I. You’ve grown so much in the time I was away. Not that you weren’t amazing before, but there’s this inner strength about you, now. You’re more confident. I’m having a hard time reconciling the softer side of you I still want to protect with the warrior side of you that’s every bit my match. Knowing you don’t need me anymore has left me at a bit of a loss.”
“I’ll always need you, Frank, and we’ll always be there for each other.”
“So partners, then?” he asked.
“Partners,” she agreed.
They’d almost reached the end of the boardwalk. Beyond it lay a less frequented part of the beach, where the terrain was rockier. She expected him to suggest they turn around and head back, but instead he did something entirely out of character, knocking her for a loop.
Threading his fingers through hers, he took her hand, pulling her close to his side. A set of stairs provided access to the rocky shore, and he led her down them. When they reached the bottom, he steered her toward the shadowy underside of the boardwalk. Pausing by one of the support pillars, he gently pulled her into his arms.
Her heart leapt in ecstatic response to his nearness, even as her brain tried to process what was happening. She hadn’t a clue what had prompted his sudden and unexpected interest in her, but she wasn’t going to question it. Nestling up against him like this was sheer and utter bliss.
The common sense side of her psyche chose that moment to crash the party, reminding her that whatever had prompted Frank’s sudden compulsion to explore the chemistry brewing between them, it didn’t change the fact that taking their friendship to the next level was a horrendously bad idea.
She ignored her psyche’s unwanted input, refusing to dwell on ‘why nots’ right now. She was too busy rejoicing in the perfection of the moment.
Frank smelled amazing, like a pine forest after a summer rain. Her fingers itched to explore the muscled wall of his chest. As she tentatively reached out a hand to touch him, his hands framed her face. Her pulse hit warp speed when he dipped his head close to her mouth, his lips hovering a mere hairbreadth away from hers.
And the way he was looking at her?
Oh my.
She ached to feel the press of his mouth against hers, and yet his lips remained frustratingly far away. Mere centimeters, but the distance felt like miles.
He was taking too long! What was he waiting for?
Impatient, she took matters into her own hands. Closing the tiny, yet seemingly cavernous, gap between them, she pressed up against his solid warmth, melting into him. Rising on tiptoes, she settled her lips on his.
She felt the soft whisper of his surprised exhale and the tightening of his hands around her waist. Unmoving, he stiffened in shock.
Her stomach plummeted in dismay at the realization she might have misread his intentions. Yet the racing of his stampeding heartbeat under her palm and the desire darkening his eyes told her he was just as affected by the sensual undercurrents bouncing between them as she was.
Her heart told her she hadn’t misinterpreted his signals. Determined, she held her ground. She desperately needed him to return the kiss, but she wouldn’t beg.
Well, maybe just a little, she amended as a whimper of need escaped her lips.
Like a dam crumbling under the force of a flood, he gave in, reverently brushing his lips against hers before coaxing them to part. Frantic to taste and be tasted, she eagerly complied.
With a groan that was part defeat and part exultation, he took command of the kiss, devouring her lips with a hunger that matched her own.
She’d dreamed of this moment forever, but her imaginings paled compared to the reality of the magic he was spinning with his magnificent mouth and magical hands. The kiss was all she’d dreamed of—and more. It was the sweetness of cotton candy, the brilliant lightshow of fireworks, and the roaring dynamism of crashing ocean waves all rolled into one.
That it was Frank w
orking this magic, conjuring up these exquisite sensations with such tenderness that she wanted to weep, made it all the sweeter. The kiss trumped every fantasy she’d ever had about the man, and she never wanted it to end.
She was deeply disappointed when he slowly, reluctantly pulled away. His gorgeous blue eyes settled on hers, their depths brimming with barely restrained passion.
And then, with just two whispered words, he shredded the sensual web he’d woven. “Sorry, Kitten.”
Shocked that he would be expressing regret over something they’d both clearly enjoyed, she was about to ask him what he was apologizing for when she heard footsteps approaching.
Seeing Frank’s face tense, she instantly realized her grave misjudgment. The expression he wore was one she knew all too well. He was in watchful waiting mode, on high alert, and ready to take action if need be. It hit her then that he’d never intended to kiss her.
The realization that Frank had known they were being followed—something she would have caught on to if she hadn’t been so wrapped up in him—annihilated her hope that he’d finally decided to expand the boundaries of their friendship.
The kiss had been about duty, not about desire. He’d deliberately staged a romantic scenario in order to force the man trailing behind them to continue walking past.
“Stay sharp,” Frank whispered. “We’ve got company.”
Another wave of regret sliced through her as his words confirmed what she’d deduced. The moment they’d just shared hadn’t been a “moment” at all. It had only been a ruse.
Chapter Seven
Eyeing the stranger walking along the cove, Stephanie kicked herself for her stupidity. How could she have missed the obvious?
To add to her mortification, after telling Frank she wouldn’t play the part of his lover to sell their relationship to Damon, she’d flung herself at him like he was a prime cut of tenderloin and she hadn’t eaten in days.
Nice going, Knight, she mentally chastised herself.
She couldn’t even make light of her misjudgment and pretend she’d simply been value-adding to Frank’s impromptu charade, because the greedy moans of encouragement she’d uttered surely had given him every indication that, for her, the kiss had nothing to do with business and everything to do with pleasure.
Even worse, her response was a dead giveaway that her feelings for him went far beyond friendship.
Her only consolation was that he appeared just as stunned by their sensually charged exchange as she was.
Frank reached out a hand to gently trace the curve of her face as they watched the man who’d been following them make his way along the beach several feet ahead of them.
“I’m sorry about that,” he apologized again. “I suspected we were being tailed. I needed to be sure.”
She’d recovered enough from the startling impact of the feel of his lips on hers to find her voice. “It’s not your fault. I thought …” she hesitated, as chagrined as she’d been when she’d given in to her crazy teenage hormones and made a play for him back in high school. Fortunately, the stupid childhood move hadn’t been the death knell of their friendship. She hoped he’d be as understanding about tonight’s error in judgment. “Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought, really. I don’t know why I was so long on the uptake. I should have realized what was happening. What tipped you off?”
“I saw him sitting alone at the restaurant, which isn’t odd in itself, except he left at the exact same time we did. Later, I saw his reflection in a window of one of the shops along the boardwalk. That’s when it became clear it wasn’t a coincidence, and that he was following us.”
“We should go after him,” she asserted.
He shook his head. “There’s nothing to gain by confronting him. If he was tailing us, he won’t admit it. Besides, it’s possible he’s really just out for a walk. Maybe I’m overreacting again. In any case, he’s rounded the cove now. I doubt he’ll be back to bother us.”
“And again, I don’t think you’re overreacting at all. I think you must have a very good reason for being on guard. Care to share it with me?”
“There’s nothing to share,” he said, shrugging.
Despite his refutation, she knew he was holding something back from her. And she could tell by the way he was looking at her that he was still beating himself up for the kiss they’d shared.
Not that she wasn’t bashing herself mentally, too. She had a job to do, and she’d dropped the ball—big time. She should have realized they were being followed, too. If she had, she would have caught on to what Frank was really doing when he pulled her up against the pilings.
Once again, she’d let her feelings for him muddy her ability to do her job.
“About the kiss, Steph—” Frank began.
She rolled her eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you do wonders for a girl’s ego? You’ve already apologized. Twice. If you apologize again, I can’t be held responsible for my actions,” she teased, hoping to lighten the mood. “You really don’t have anything to be sorry for. It was my fault, not yours. Let’s just forget it ever happened, okay?”
He reached out a hand and tenderly caressed her face. “That’s going to be easier said than done, Kitten. That was one hell of a kiss. I’m trying to respect our friendship and not color outside the lines, but you aren’t making that easy.”
Her stomach fluttered at his pronouncement. Maybe the kiss hadn’t been as horrible a faux pas as she’d thought. She figured he would have run away as fast and as far as he could by now, figuratively speaking, yet he was still here. But since the feel of his mouth on hers was too tantalizingly recent, she couldn’t risk dwelling on the possibility that he might be as intrigued by the chemistry brewing between them as she was. It would be far too easy to bridge the short physical distance to where he was standing and sample the fullness of those tempting masculine lips again.
“Let’s just put it behind us and move on,” she offered.
“I’m not sure I have the willpower to do that,” he murmured. “Do you?”
“Yes,” she lied, all the while knowing she’d have to come up with some kind of miraculous reserve of that very stuff. In the meantime, she’d just keep telling herself the kiss had meant nothing.
Too bad it hadn’t felt like nothing. It had felt like forever.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Frank wanted to attribute the accelerated staccato of his pulse to the potentially risky situation he and Stephanie had just avoided, but he knew he’d be fooling himself if he did. Being tailed by an unknown pursuer rated a mere one on the hazard scale. A minor blip like that wouldn’t have every synapse in his body firing on full alert like they were now.
No, there was no denying that this adrenaline rush was courtesy of the warm and willing woman he’d just held in his arms.
What had begun as a simple tactical maneuver had taken on an entirely different and far more dangerous facet. His intent had simply been to force the man tailing them to walk past them. Presenting the illusion of a couple about to share a romantic moment on a secluded beach had accomplished that goal, but it had carried an unintended side effect. He’d contracted a bad case of Stephitis.
He never should have kissed her, but he hadn’t been able to hold back. He’d gotten way more than he’d bargained for when he’d merged his lips with hers. She’d tasted of innocence and seduction, all rolled into one mouth-wateringly enticing package.
That incendiary lip-lock had him thinking about insinuating himself into her life in more intimate ways than mere friendship, at a time when he couldn’t afford to have his focus splintered. He needed to stay on task.
Not an easy feat when discovering Stephanie’s passionate side had hijacked his brain. His blood was still steaming from her heated response.
Ten years ago, on that summer night when she’d offered herself to him, it had taken everything in his power to walk away from her. A glorious, untouched angel, her beauty had taken his breath away. But indulgin
g his need hadn’t been an option. He hadn’t been worthy of her, then.
And he most certainly wasn’t worthy of her now.
And yet how quickly he’d forgotten his unworthiness. The knowledge that he’d done something tonight that he hadn’t done then burned in his gut like battery acid. He squeezed his eyes shut, for a moment, to block the barrage of sensations assaulting him courtesy of that single, unintended kiss.
He hadn’t meant to give in, but with her trusting gaze locked on his and her perfect mouth pressed to his lips, he’d forgotten his personal code of honor. He’d taken things further than he had any right to. For the first time in his life, doing the right thing had been out of his grasp.
He’d held her in his arms. He’d tasted her. He was certain he’d never be the same again.
He’d had no right to take advantage of what she’d so innocently offered. He knew better. But not only had he partaken of that luscious mouth she’d offered him, he’d ravished it. And he hated himself for his weakness.
Chapter Eight
If he’d been alone, Frank wouldn’t have hesitated to chase down the thug who’d tailed him. Stephanie’s presence, though, had swept that option off the table. Keeping her as far away from the sinister game of cat and mouse he was engaged in was paramount.
Besides, he had a feeling the guy would find him again—and sooner rather than later. When he did, he would be ready for him.
Reluctantly stepping away from Stephanie, he sighed. “It’s late. We should probably head back. I thought I might stop in at the marina on my way home and make sure the boat is ready for our trip tomorrow.”
“We’re taking your speedboat to Damon’s island, instead of the ferry?”
“Yes, unless you prefer not to. I thought I could pick you up around nine. We can head over to the marina together.”