by Elle James
“Dresses?” Marly cringed inwardly. “I haven’t worn a dress since I was in grade school.”
Talia’s brows rose. “Darling, you’ll have to around here, if you want dinner.” She spun toward the door. “And I’ll bet you have some great legs hiding under that flight suit. Follow me. You’ll be staying in one of the upstairs suites inside the house. And I’ll get you fixed up with clothes. If not from my wardrobe, well, people have left articles of clothing over the years. They’ve come in handy when luggage doesn’t arrive with the guests.”
Marly swallowed her groan. She liked her own clothes. They fit her and she felt like herself in them. Beggars can’t be choosers, she reminded herself. She just hoped the tops Talia offered didn’t hang on her chest, making her appear to be an underdeveloped teenager.
Again. Beggars can’t be choosers.
* * *
TALIA HAD SHOWN Pitbull and the other members of his team to their individual bungalows while Marly made her calls to locate the spare part she needed to get her plane back up in the air.
Pitbull welcomed the time away from Marly. Since they’d left that morning, he couldn’t get his mind off the feisty pilot. After their last mission, he hadn’t expected to see her ever again. Even then, he’d felt that spark of something, if not between them, then at least on his side. He didn’t much care for women who wore a lot of makeup or ratted their hair to achieve bigger, brassier hairstyles. He liked that Marly was natural and that she didn’t apologize for it.
He tossed his backpack on the bed, tugged his T-shirt off and headed for the shower. After riding in the back of the old truck, he felt as if he had an inch of dust coating his body and filling all the crevices.
Nothing a little soap and water won’t cure.
If only soap and water could wash Marly out of his head.
He turned the shower to a cool setting and stepped beneath the spray. As he lathered his body, running his hands over his skin, his thoughts drifted back to Marly and that damned flight suit. He wondered what it would be like to undress her body from that all-enveloping garment, starting at the zipper and working his way down. The glimpse of her hot-pink bra had only left him wanting to know more. Such as, did she have matching hot-pink panties?
His groin tightened and his shaft swelled at the image in his mind. She’d be appalled at his lusty thoughts, but he couldn’t seem to stop them. At that moment, he wondered how her long legs would feel wrapped around his waist as he drove into her.
Pitbull reached behind him, turning the water to an even cooler temperature. He didn’t need to show up at dinner and embarrass himself. The guys would rib him endlessly.
After rinsing the soap from his hair, face and body, he turned off the shower, stepped out of the tub and toweled dry with one of the huge luxury towels provided.
As a navy SEAL, he wasn’t used to lavishness. Three squares and a bunk were all he’d come to hope for, and sometimes he went without. Having a shower at all was always a blessing. He pressed the towel to his nose and sniffed the light floral fragrance. Again, he thought of Marly and how that towel would wrap around her slender body twice.
He flung the towel over the curtain rod, pulled his razor out of his shaving kit and scraped three days’ worth of beard from his chin. With a clean body and a smooth chin, he strode into the bedroom naked. Talia had said dinner was formal. He dug inside his backpack for his best white long-sleeved, button-down shirt and his only pair of dark trousers. He didn’t have a suit jacket, but he could at least dress nicely for dinner.
The men had been warned that they needed at least one dressier outfit for dinners during their stay at the resort. Pitbull would have preferred to show up in his jeans and a T-shirt, but he had to respect the proprietress’s rules. He shook his trousers and shirt, hoping to knock the wrinkles out. When that didn’t work, he searched the small bungalow and found an ironing board. Great. Just what he wanted to do on vacation at a safari resort.
Pride forced him to pull the board and iron out. In less than ten minutes, he had the wrinkles smoothed. While the garments were still warm, Pitbull slipped into them and pulled on socks and shoes. He found the necktie he’d picked up at the Post Exchange on Camp Lemonnier, looped it over his neck and knotted it expertly. He might not have grown up in the best neighborhood, but his mother had taught him how to knot a tie for church.
He smiled at her memory. The woman had worked hard all her life, only to die of breast cancer when Pitbull had been in BUD/S training. She’d insisted he not come home for her funeral, knowing how difficult the training was and how much harder it would be to have to start over.
He still regretted not being with his mother at her bedside until her last breath. His parents had always been there for him and believed in him. They always told him that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to.
Except save his mother.
As an only child, he’d felt the burden of guilt for not being there for her when she’d needed him most.
His father had been there, comforting her as she left life and, as he’d said, joined the angels.
Pitbull had never been sure of angels and religion, but he’d experienced days in battle when nothing but a miracle could have saved them, and then it had. He liked to think his mother had been watching over him.
His father was still alive, living in Virginia, still a little lost without his wife. He’d been heartbroken by the loss and hadn’t dated or dared to love another woman since. Pitbull visited him as much as possible when he was Stateside in Little Creek, Virginia.
Having witnessed his father’s heartache, Pitbull had been hesitant to get that involved with any woman for more than a date or two. He didn’t want love someone he might lose, and suffer the way his father had.
This thing he was feeling about Marly was nothing more than insta-lust. It would fade and she’d be out of his life when they left Africa.
He ran a comb through his hair, smoothing it into place. The longer he took to get ready, the more jittery he became. Dressed thirty minutes early, he had nothing else to do but wait. Hell, he might as well wait outside.
He found himself anxious to see Marly again. How could that be? He barely knew the woman.
Chapter Four
Pitbull stepped out of his bungalow and noted Buck standing outside his. He gave the other man a slight lift of his chin and sauntered over to join him.
Buck wore a black button-down shirt and black trousers with a red necktie. He tugged at the tie. “Damned things are like a noose. Whoever invented them was either masochistic or sadistic.”
Pitbull nodded. “I don’t understand dressing in formal clothing for dinner. What’s wrong with jeans?”
“Women.” Buck shrugged and tipped his head toward the darkening shadows in the nearby trees. “Did you hear the hyenas laughing?”
His lips quivering in laughter, Pitbull shot back, “They think we look funny, too?”
With a snort, Buck started toward the main house. “I guess early is better than late to a formal dinner.”
Pitbull glanced around. “Wonder if the others are ready.”
“They were the last ones at the pool table and are running late. They’ll find us soon enough,” Buck responded.
As they neared the front entrance to the house, the sun was setting in a radiant wash of orange, red, mauve and finally blues and purples. The gap between the trees gave them just enough of the spectacle to make them stop and stare for a long moment.
The front door opened behind them.
“Gentlemen, won’t you come into the study for a drink before dinner?” Talia stood in the doorway, dressed in a long gown that hugged every curve of her body like a second skin. The neckline was low, dipping past her breasts, but not quite down to her belly button. The woman was well endowed, and gravity hadn’t yet made its claim there.
“Now I c
an see why formal dinners can be a draw,” Buck said beneath his breath as he followed Talia inside. Louder he said, “Talia, you look amazing.”
“Why, thank you.” Talia stopped in the foyer and turned a smile toward Buck, her lips spreading across her expertly made-up face. “Wait until you see Marly. I got to experiment with clothes and makeup. I barely recognized her.”
Pitbull’s brows drew together. He hoped Talia hadn’t painted Marly’s smooth, natural complexion with a ton of makeup. He liked Marly’s fresh face and naturally pink lips.
“Where is she?” Buck asked, craning his neck to see around Talia.
“She was combing her hair when I left her. Hopefully she won’t be much longer.” Her glance shifted from the men in the entryway to the sweeping staircases.
A figure moved toward the landing and paused at the top.
Pitbull’s breath caught in his chest. He stared up at the woman standing there. She had on a sapphire-blue dress that hugged her body like she was born in it. The top crisscrossed her breasts and rounded the back of her neck in soft, iridescent folds. The skirt clung to her waist, hips and thighs, falling to the tops of her ankles, shimmering with every move and exposing a hint of her tight calves. Rhinestone-studded, low-heeled sandals completed her outfit, emphasizing her delicate feet.
With one hand on the rail, she descended the stairs, her head held high, sandy-blond tresses pulled up in a stylishly messy bun with strands falling down around her cheeks. Her gaze caught his, holding it all the way down.
Without realizing he’d moved, Pitbull found himself at the base of the stairs, his hand resting on the rail, his foot on the first riser.
A low whistle sounded next to him. “Is that our Marly?” Buck asked in a hushed tone.
Marly gave a lopsided grin. “It’s me,” she said and laughed.
When Buck held out his hand to her, Pitbull brushed it aside and reached out to take hers for himself.
Marly laid her fingers in his palm and shook her head. “You act as if you’re staring at a unicorn.” She wiggled her fingers in front of his face. “For that matter, you might as well be staring at a unicorn. When I leave here, you’ll never see me in a dress again.”
“Oh, Marly, darling, you look fabulous.” Talia joined them and gave Marly a hug. “I knew that color would suit you perfectly.” Talia stood back, admiring Marly’s transformation. “Don’t you boys agree?”
“You look nice,” Pitbull said. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Beautiful, sweetheart.” Buck leaned in and bussed Marly’s cheek.
Her face flamed with color. “It’s just a dress. A borrowed one at that.”
“But you wear it so well,” Talia insisted. “I have another dress that will be just as spectacular on you for tomorrow night.”
“No.” Marly held up her hand. “I can wear this one every night. You don’t have to dress me in something different every evening.”
“I insist,” Talia said. “I don’t often have lovely ladies visiting. It would be my pleasure. And you wouldn’t want to deprive me of the fun, would you?”
Marly bit on her bottom lip and studied the other woman.
Pitbull could tell she was debating what she wanted to say to her hostess.
Finally Marly sighed. “I don’t mind at all. If you want to dress me like a doll, I won’t stop you. But I draw the line at corsets. I don’t do corsets.”
Talia laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
The front door opened, and the other four members of Pitbull’s team entered. They gathered around Marly, congratulating her on her amazing transformation.
“You look like an entirely different woman,” Harm commented.
She laughed out loud and then frowned. “No matter what I’m wearing, I’m still the same old Marly. And, for the record, I’d rather wear my flight suit and hiking boots than a dress and heels any day.”
Talia raised her arms, urging the crowd of people toward another door. “If Miss Simpson and you men are ready, we can go into the dining room to be served.”
Pitbull offered Marly his arm. As they entered the formal dining room, he leaned close to Marly and said, “You look amazing.”
She ducked her head. “Thank you.”
“But seriously,” Pitbull added, “I prefer you in the flight suit and boots.”
She shot a glance his way. “You don’t like the dress?”
“Don’t get me wrong, the dress suits you. But I like the pilot, Marly—the woman who likes to putter in airplane engines and get grease on her cheek.”
She ducked her head again, color blooming in her face. “You do?” Glancing up, she caught his gaze. “Why?”
Before Pitbull could think of a response, Talia interrupted his thoughts.
“There are no assigned seats. You may sit wherever your heart desires.” She pinned Marly and Pitbull with a stare and a half smile.
Was it a challenge? Pitbull didn’t know, nor did he care. He was still working through how he would answer Marly’s question without revealing too many of his internal thoughts.
He held out a chair for her and waited while she got situated. When he went to sit in the space beside her, he was outmaneuvered by Buck.
“Hey.” He laid a hand on Buck’s shoulder.
“You snooze, you lose, buddy.” Buck grinned up at him. “Besides, I want to get to know this new, sexy Marly. She’s hot.”
By the time Pitbull turned to the seat on the other side of Marly, Big Jake had settled in.
When Pitbull glared at him, he frowned. “What? Do you want me to move or something?”
He wanted to say Get the hell out of my seat, but why? Marly wasn’t his property. He had no more of a valid reason to sit beside her than any one of his teammates. They all wanted to be close to the beauty she’d transformed into. The only difference between him and them was they wanted her for what she’d become. Pitbull wanted Marly for the woman in the flight suit, not the one in the fancy blue dress.
He took the seat across the table from her and contented himself with staring at her as often as he liked.
The meal was excellent, served in seven courses. By the time dinner was over, Pitbull could swear he’d ground his back teeth into nubs. Who ate dinner over the space of two hours? The longest meal he’d ever had lasted maybe fifteen minutes, tops. In the military, you ate fast, not knowing when you’d be interrupted by enemy fire.
He wanted out of the suffocating pretentiousness of the house, out in the night where he could stretch his arms and legs, and remember what it meant to be free. At least there, the animals wouldn’t give a damn which fork he used with the salad and which he used with dessert.
When the dessert was served, he jammed it down his throat, pushed back from the table and half stood, ready to make a run for the exit.
“Mr. Taylor, are you up on the dangers of the African safari?” Talia asked.
He sat back down in the chair. For a long time, he didn’t say anything. Finally, he nodded. “I know not to move around alone in the night and to make sure my weapon of choice will bring down a man or an elephant, whichever attacks me first.”
Talia nodded. “You’re right. The four-legged animals can get testy when you invade their space. They usually don’t attack in this area, but we’ve had a rogue lion sneak in the past few nights and steal away a farm animal or, in the worst-case scenario, a child.”
Marly’s soft gasp could be heard around the table. “Did they find the child?”
Talia shook her head, her mouth turning downward at the corners. “Sadly, no.”
Marly glanced down at her half-eaten cheesecake. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Talia forced a smile to her lips. “My goal wasn’t to make for depressing dinner conversation. I just want you to be aware of the dangers lurking in the dark. Don’t go out alon
e, and don’t assume you’re safe. The animals have learned humans can be easy targets.” She placed her palms on the table and stood. “That said, please don’t hesitate to enjoy the walled gardens behind the house. We’ve never had any big cats attempt to scale the walls.”
When Talia had risen from the table, all of the men rose with her.
Pitbull pushed his chair up to the table. “On that note, I could use some fresh air.”
“Please, make yourself at home,” Talia said. “And you’re welcome to play pool as late as you like, or have drinks at the bar. The house is well insulated, so the noise won’t bother other guests.”
Harm nodded toward T-Mac. “You and I have a game to win. We can’t let Big Jake and Diesel claim the title.”
Big Jake shook his head. “I’m out. I’d rather have a beer and watch.” He tipped his head toward Buck. “Let Buck and Diesel clean your clocks.”
Buck cracked his knuckles. “You won’t have a chance against me and Diesel.”
T-Mac laughed. “I’ve seen you play. You’re all talk.”
“Put your money where your mouth is,” Buck said. “I’ve got a twenty saying we’ll win.”
“Make it thirty. I could use the extra cash in my pocket,” T-Mac shot back.
“You ladies care to join us?” Harm asked Marly and Talia.
Talia smiled. “I’d love to.”
Marly shook her head. “I’ll pass. Sounds too intense for me. I’ve had my share of intensity for the day.”
“Right.” Harm nodded. “Landing a plane in the middle of a herd of water buffalos and zebras has to be a bit extreme.” He shrugged. “If you get bored or lonely, join us anytime.”
“Yeah.” Buck winked. “We’ll be up late wiping the floor with these guys.”
The five men and Talia left the room, heading for the back of the house.
Pitbull rounded the table and stopped in front of Marly. “I could use some peace and quiet. How about you?”