“Why?” She tossed her head aside. “That is a perfectly good reason.”
He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say a word.
“Okay.” She blew out a breath. “I’ve got a lot on my mind, and having sex with you would be a distraction I don’t need.”
“Ah, but a pleasant one, I hope.”
“Look, you know I was married for a long time, and I’ve only recently begun to enjoy my freedom. I’m not interested in getting involved.”
“I’m not proposing that you fall head over heels in love with me. I’m not sure I’m ready for a commitment either.” He went to take her hand, but she backed away. “Let’s not complicate this. I enjoy being with you, and I want to see more of you. That’s it. We’re both adults. We can spend a little time together and take it slow.”
“No we can’t. That’s not what I want.” She gnawed on her bottom lip, then blurted, “Jim, my ex, left his wife.”
“Oh, I see.”
“No, you don’t.” She gave a wry smile. “He wants me to fix him up on dates. Can you believe it?” Her voice was shaky.
“How do you feel about that?” The guy had to be a complete jerk. She should be happy to be rid of him.
“I think he’s got some nerve, that’s for sure.” Her chin lifted and her shoulders went back a notch. “But personally, I don’t care.”
“You sure about that?” He spoke gently because he was fighting with himself—wanting to take her into his arms, but knowing she would resent that. He’d like to punch Jim in the nose for being such an insensitive prick.
“Absolutely. But forget him. He’s not important. Something else is.”
“Tell me about it, and I’ll see if I can help.”
“Thanks, Derek.” She blew out a breath in obvious frustration. “I signed up a woman client last week who happens to be the niece of one of my former salon clients, one of the most influential women in Palm Beach. If I find the perfect match for her niece, Emily’s recommendations for Champagne for Two would be better than any paid advertising I could do.”
“Good. That’s exactly what you want.”
“Yes. But I have a problem. I had someone in mind, a great guy, he was going to call the niece a couple of days ago, but then he landed in the hospital with a kidney stone. Emily has been calling every day, demanding I find someone for her niece. Now.”
“Is that a problem?”
“That’s always a problem.” Christine smiled. “Finding a good man is like finding a gold nugget. Both are valuable, rare, and worth hanging on to.”
“Come on. You’re being a little too hard on the fellows. There are plenty of good guys around. What about Jay Sullivan? You liked him, didn’t you?”
“Yes, sure, he’s a great guy, but I don’t think Emily Perkins would approve of him.”
“Then let her find someone.” At the look in her eye, he sighed. “Don’t you know some other nice men?”
“I can think of only one.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes.” Christine bit her lip. “I don’t want to do this. I really don’t. But you seem ready to…to date, and I’m not.” She hurried on. “Nora is a wonderful woman. She is very bright, has a lovely figure and a great personality. And quite a trust fund, I understand.”
“I’m not interested in any trust fund. And as soon as you say ‘great personality,’ you’re asking for trouble.”
Christine laughed. “I’ll have to remember that.”
They looked at each other, and their smiles faded. The energy between them changed. A sexual charge, or a bolt of electricity, something sizzled between them. Christine’s face flushed.
A sliver of opportunity had presented itself, and Derek took it. “Christine, I will agree to one date with this woman on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you go to the Dolphins game with me on Sunday.”
“The Dolphins? Nobody goes to their games. Aren’t they on a huge losing streak?”
“Once a fan, always a fan.” He smiled and waited.
Christine put her hand on her hip and tilted her head. “Sure. Why not? I guess I could do that.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
By the time Sunday rolled around Christine was looking forward to a day without work, and to enjoying Derek’s company. He made her feel good, and she had assured herself—many, many times—that she had a handle on the situation. They could be friends without either their bodies or hearts being involved. Just because they’d made love once didn’t mean they’d do it again.
Uh-huh. Having sex with Derek was like eating a quarter pound of Godiva—immensely satisfying at the time, but bad as a steady diet. Maybe she could satisfy her urge with a kiss or two.
On the other hand, nibbling could be dangerous. Like biting into a rich, creamy truffle and trying not to swallow. Forget kissing, forget sex. One day, perhaps, she’d be ready to tango with the likes of him. When the matchmaking business was running smoothly, her mother was back on solid financial ground, and Nicole was standing on her own two feet. If she wasn’t too old by then.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like Derek. She did—a lot. He was a very nice man and deserved a woman to complement his life. She simply wasn’t that person.
* * *
The Dolphins were losing to the Jets 27-3. A late hit on the Dolphin’s quarterback brought out the temper in the offensive linesmen, and the crowd began to boo. A few of the guys got some shoulder jabs in, and the referees called a penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior on the home team. More boos erupted from the stadium.
“Maybe we should leave,” Christine yelled over the raucous crowd, who were on their feet defending the honor of their team.
“Good idea,” Derek agreed. “The score’s not going to get any better, so we might as well beat the crowd.”
They started to leave, but to get to the aisle they had to pass a family, avoiding their knees, the beer, and the peanut shells on the ground. Christine didn’t see the half eaten hot dog and greasy chips until she’d stepped on them.
The youngest of the children began to howl. “She stepped on my hot dog,” the little girl cried. “And I’m hungry.”
Christine looked at the yellow mustard on her shoe, took a ten dollar bill out of her wallet and handed it to the child’s mother. “Sorry, kid. Here, buy another one.”
Derek grabbed her hand and they made their escape, giggling like teenagers. He stopped her when they got to the main concession area, grabbed a couple of napkins, and told her to lift her foot.
He knelt down, steadying her with one hand on her ankle, and cleaned the yellow mess off her sandal. A pleasant warmth settled in Christine’s stomach as she watched him. His head was bent, and she had to stop herself from running her fingers through his hair. She wanted to touch him more than anything in life. She wanted to show him her appreciation and kiss him like crazy, but did neither. When it came to Derek, she had to guard herself against her natural instincts.
Hell, if she didn’t, she’d be all over him in a minute.
Escaping the stadium, they breathed in fresh air. A light breeze cooled them somewhat as they walked to his truck.
“Want to grab some dinner at the beach?” he asked. “Maybe go for a walk after?”
She nodded, smiling. “I haven’t heard a better idea all day.”
They sat at one of the outdoor cafes on Ocean Drive and sucked down a dozen raw oysters, then shared a steaming dish of curried mussels and a large plate of French fries.
After dinner, with the fiery sun setting an orange glow on the horizon, they strolled along the beach.
“Thanks for being a good sport today,” Derek said. “Not too many women like to spend a Sunday watching the Dolphins get their asses kicked.”
Unable to resist touching him any longer, she took hold of his hand. “The company made up for it. All those beer-breathed, big-bellied men around me.” She fanned herself. “Be still my heart.”
“Yeah, wel
l, there was that.” He slipped his arm around her waist. “Did my beer breath offend you?”
“Uh, let me see.” She tilted her head and pretended to sniff. “No. You smell good.” Flirting a little, she grazed his lips with her own. “Look good too.”
His arm tightened. “Christine, that night we made love…I can’t stop thinking about it. I want you again. You know that, don’t you?”
Her eyes met his, and she felt scorched. His were hot, needy. She tried to move away, but he only pulled her closer. She struggled against him for, oh, a second or two, then relaxed, giving in to temptation. Dammit, she wasn’t a saint and she deserved a little fun now and then. She could kiss him, fuck him if she wanted, without getting her emotions involved. She could handle it.
As if to prove it, she lifted her mouth and he took it with pleasure.
The kiss was deep and satisfying. It made her feel light-headed, as though she could float on air.
She laughed and tossed her hair back. Sucked in some air. “Derek. Oh, wow. I forgot how good you are.”
“You did? Let me remind you again.” He dipped his head and covered her mouth in a heart-stopping kiss.
Christine lifted a hand and tried to distance herself. Her breathing was getting all messed up. Maybe she couldn’t handle it after all.
“What are we doing?” she gasped. “This is crazy. You and me. We’re flirting with danger.”
“Why? What’s wrong with us having an affair? I want you. You want me. Seems pretty natural, doesn’t it?”
“Not really. We have a business arrangement, don’t forget.” She added playfully, “Never, never mix business with pleasure.”
He took her face between his hands and kissed her again, only more gently this time. “I guess we have to cancel the ads.”
His words melted her resolve, and she kissed him back, enjoying the salty taste of him. She felt a tingle right through the core of her, and she knew she wanted to make love to him again soon. Now. Tonight. This very minute, before she changed her mind.
His hands roamed over her shoulders, down her back. He pulled her up against him. She could feel him. Hard. Hot. Wanting. She could feel him and she wanted him. For one night only, she wanted to turn her brain off and let her emotions rule.
She trembled and her knees grew weak. Her arms were around his neck, which was a good thing. Otherwise she might sink into the sand and drag him down with her. She had to be sensible and behave like a mature, civilized woman. If she gave into her wants tonight, what would stop her from doing it again and again? She had to be strong. Didn’t she?
Derek moaned, and she pushed him away. He was even better looking in the dim light of evening, with his hair in disarray, his eyes half-lidded and smoldering with passion, and his lips parted, ready and eager to devour hers.
“Stop this.” She grabbed his hand and swung away from him. “Come on. Let’s go back. It’s getting late.”
“I’d like to invite you to my home, but I can’t with the kids there. Will you go somewhere with me? I hate to suggest a motel because you’re not the kind of lady that should be renting by the hour, but I want you any way I can get you.”
She laughed at the idea, shaking her head. “No.” She started walking, and he yanked on her hand.
She stopped and stared at him.
“Why not?” he demanded. “What kind of game are you playing?”
Her spine stiffened. She felt so foolish kissing him the way she had. Wanting him the way she did. What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she keep her hands off this man?
She had to put a stop to this sexual attraction between them. It couldn’t go anywhere, and one or both of them would end up getting hurt. “This isn’t a game. I don’t play, Derek. I don’t have time for that kind of nonsense, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know the rules.”
He shook his head, looking less than pleased. “You call this nonsense? I call it gratifying.”
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes but she used all her reserve to shut them down. She didn’t cry. She didn’t allow her feelings to show. Hell, she didn’t even want to have these feelings! How could she be so stupid? How could she have let it happen?
“Then you’d be wrong,” she said softly. “We are not children, Derek. We’re too old to be groping each other and playing around with sex. We both know where that can lead and neither of us wants to go there.”
“No one is ever too old for that.” He took a step in her direction, and stood inches from her. “Want me to prove it again?”
Her mouth fell open and then clamped shut. She tried to march off, if for no other reason than to prove that she could, but the thought occurred to her that she needed a ride. They were in Miami and she still had to get back to West Palm.
“Okay. I admit I enjoyed kissing you.” She folded her arms so they wouldn’t do something stupid, like reach out to him and hold on tight. “There. Does that make you happy?”
He smiled. “A little. Come on. I’ll take you home and during the ride you can decide if you want to make me really happy. I could entertain you in your bedroom instead of a sleazy motel.”
She laughed. “Oh, you’re impossible.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just a guy.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Nicole was thinking about turning off the lights and going to bed when her mother walked into the house, laughing and chatting with Derek, the male model for Champagne. Very interesting. What was going on?
“Hi, Mom, hi Derek. How was the game?”
Derek said terrible and her mother said great at the same time. They looked at each other, and Nicole could see the blush of color on her mother’s cheeks.
Well, what do you know? Her mom had a crush on Derek. She looked at them closely, and could see he had a thing for her too. Nice. She was happy for her mother, especially after the horrible, inconsiderate thing her father had done by asking her to fix him up.
The moment her mother returned from dinner with her Dad, Nicole had pumped her with questions, and she’d had to relive the humiliation all over again. She’d tried to pretend it hadn’t hurt, but Nicole knew it had cut her through and through. Well, maybe Derek would ease her mother’s pain a little, and give her some pleasure too.
“I was just going off to bed, so I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, giving Derek a nod of encouragement.
“Goodnight, dear.” Christine took a pouch of coffee out of the refrigerator and placed it on the counter. “I promised you coffee,” she said to Derek. “How do you take it?”
He was standing between the family room and the kitchen, looking like he wanted to make a quick retreat. “I’ll pass on the coffee.” He took a step in her direction, then stopped. “Thanks for coming today. I can’t get many people interested in going to see the Dolphins, I’m afraid.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So that’s why I was invited? None of your friends would go?”
“No, you were my first choice,” he answered, never taking his gaze off her face.
“Good answer.” Christine put the coffee away and walked him to the door. “I had fun today. And I’ll think about that other offer.”
He winked. “Do that.”
The moment the door was closed behind him, Nicole popped back out of her bedroom. She grinned. “Hey, Mom. He’s great. How long has this been going on?”
“Nothing is going on,” her mother replied, kicking off her shoes and walking toward her bedroom. “I like being single, and have no wish to fall back into that trap.”
“Trap? You call marriage a trap? I don’t believe you. You’re like the biggest romantic in the world. How many times did Dad and I tease you about crying over soppy love stories?”
“I know, sweetheart, and I don’t mean it’s not a good thing for other people. Marriage is a true joy and blessing, and I would never want you to think otherwise. It’s just me. I like my life just fine. I’ve been there, done that. For some people, once is enough. I enjoyed it while it lasted, b
ut don’t feel the need to do it again.”
“You can tell yourself that until you’re blue in the face, but I don’t believe it for a moment. Besides, you’re way too young and beautiful to stay single for long. Some great guy will snatch you up. If it’s not Derek, someone else will come along.”
“Now who’s being the romantic?”
Nicole sank on the sofa and gave a mysterious smile. “Mom, remember when I said I needed a break between men? Well, I may have spoken too soon.”
“You’ve found someone already?”
“Kind of. Sort of. Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?” Christine put a hand on her hip, and frowned at her. “Did you or didn’t you?”
“Well, it’s kind of complicated. Actually, as far as complications go, it’s a whopper.”
“I’m listening.” Christine sat down next to her and touched her knee. “Whatever you tell me, remember I’m on your side.”
“I know. Thanks. It’s just that when I left Brett, I’d already found someone I liked. It’s Jake,” she blurted. “Brett’s brother.”
Nicole told her mom how he’d come home from his tour in Iraq all banged up, and after several surgeries at the Walter Reed medical center, he’d come home to heal. She explained how she would drop in on him now and then, on her way to work.
“He’s been emailing me and calling. He wants us to be together.”
Christine was dismayed at first, but hearing the joy in her daughter’s voice, she came around. She could imagine how very difficult it must have been for each of them to admit their feelings.
“Sweetheart, I’m sure when your feelings began to change it caused you all kinds of grief, and you didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“I know. But wait until Brett finds out. He’ll flip.”
“Jake should tell him.”
“I don’t want him to. Not yet. When he comes home at Thanksgiving we can tell him together.”
“Perhaps that is best. It’ll give him time to cool down.”
“That’s what Jake says too. I’ve seen Brett tailing me in his car, and it kind of freaks me out.”
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