by Desiree Holt
She wanted to tell Natalie that the spirit had dried up a long time ago. Instead, she forced a smile.
“Thank you for caring.”
“Come say hello to the hosts. Then we’ll get you something to drink.”
Paul and Melinda Hutton were standing together by the fireplace, chatting with a few people. Kari tried to hold back, unwilling to break into a conversation.
“I can say hi later,” she told Natalie.
“Nonsense. This will just take a second. They said to be sure and bring you over when you got here.”
Kari frowned. “But they hardly know me.”
“And now they can get to know you better. Come on.”
Paul Hutton, tall, dark, with a hint of gray in his hair, reminded her a lot of her boss. She could see why they got along so well. Melinda was a stark contrast, a petite blonde with a warm smile.
“We’re so happy you could make it.” She squeezed Kari’s hand. “Please help yourself to food and drink. Lord knows Paul made sure we had plenty.”
“Thank you. And thanks for including me.”
“Kip raves about your work,” Paul told her. “We owe it to him to make sure you stick around.”
The compliment gave her a warm feeling. With nothing else in her life now except her work, it was important she make a solid place for herself. She didn’t want to have to pull up sticks and move again.
“Thank you very much for that,” she told Melinda.
“Let’s get you something to drink.” Natalie tugged her to a corner of the vast great room where a bartender was working at a makeshift setup in the corner. “What’s your poison?”
“I’ll have a beer and the lady will have an amaretto on the rocks.”
The deep voice, so vivid from her dreams, jolted her and froze her in place. Her nipples hardened and her breath felt trapped in her throat. Her pulse throbbed with a heavy beat in the walls of her suddenly wet pussy. Words deserted her and she stood there, immobile, trying to find something to say. A kaleidoscope of erotic images flashed through her brain, one after the other, teasing and tantalizing her.
Stunned, she peeped over at Natalie whose eyes widened in surprise.
“I, uh, wasn’t aware you two knew each other.” The woman smiled. “Kari, you’ve been keeping secrets.”
Kari’s breath was trapped in her throat. She clasped her hands together to still their shaking before she turned to look at the man behind her. Oh, Lordy. He looked even better in real life than he did in her memory. The lines in his face were a little deeper, but his body was just as lean and muscular as she remembered. He stood tall and tan, the sculpted muscles of his body evident even beneath the collared shirt and dress slacks that fit him so well they could have been tailored for him. How many nights had she lain in bed since that one time, remembering the feel of him beneath her hands, the hardness of muscle, the softness of the hair on his chest, the swollen thickness of his cock?
Just staring at him now and remembering all that took her breath away.
“I—” She couldn’t form words. What was he doing here? How had he come to be at this party? Was she dreaming him? But no, when she inhaled, that remembered scent of earth and clean air tickled her nostrils.
Natalie glanced from one to the other. “I take it you two know each other?”
“Uh, we— That is—” Kari stammered.
“We’ve met.” Slade’s voice, thick and warm, rolled over her.
Kari looked at him, mesmerized by the flare of heat in his hazel eyes that had turned more of a dark gold. His dark-brown hair seemed shaggier than the last time she’d seen him, although it was apparent he’d made an effort to tame it. She had to stop herself from reaching up to let it sift through her fingers. She had to fight a desire to run her hands over every inch of him.
“Kari, I think you’re in good hands.” Natalie grinned at them. “I’m sure you two won’t mind if I excuse myself. I see someone signaling for me.”
Kari wasn’t even aware of the woman leaving. All she could see was the tower of testosterone standing beside her. He received their drinks from the bartender and put hers in her hands. Her fingers closed over the glass automatically and she took a sip. The smooth drink coasted its way down her throat, easing her edgy nerves.
“I see you haven’t changed your drink preference since I last saw you, Mandy Wheeler Baker. Or whatever your name is.”
She nearly choked on her drink, her hand shaking so she almost dropped the glass. A few drops spilled over the edge. A lean, tan hand took her drink, wiped the glass and her hand with some bar napkins and handed the glass back to her.
She stared at him, a face she’d dreamed about for so many nights yet never expected to see again. One that obliterated the faces of other men she’d met since then. “Uh, yes, it’s me.”
“And I’m guessing your name’s not Mandy Baker Wheeler.”
The lopsided grin he gave her sent heat rushing through her.
“I, um, I mean…” God, she sounded like a blithering idiot.
“Maybe we should sit down.” He paused. “Outside.”
He took her free hand, his fingers burning themselves into her skin, and towed her easily through the crowd, through the open sliding doors out to a patio adorned with appropriate furniture. She went with him, unresisting, still shocked to see him here, of all places, and after all this time. When they reached an umbrella table set in one corner, he pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit. Her legs were shaking so much she collapsed into it. Her heart raced and she had trouble catching her breath. He was here! She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Her nipples tingled as she remembered the hot wet feel of his mouth on them, and the walls of her sex clenched with immediate need. She knew her panties were soaked, for sure.
Then he was sitting across from her in the other chair in all his masculine awesomeness. She stared at him, at the hazel eyes that looked as if he wanted to devour her and the thick dark-brown hair she wanted to run her fingers through. His face, as hard and sculpted as she remembered, showed slight signs of having aged—deeper lines at the eyes and the corners of his mouth—but was otherwise still the same one that haunted her dreams.
She wet her lips. “I… You… That is…” Her tongue wanted to stick to the roof of her mouth and her brain had become nonfunctional.
“Yeah. Me too.” He grinned.
A wave of heat almost melted her panties. He was staring at her with such a penetrating gaze she was sure he could see right through her.
“W-Where did you come from? I mean… No, wait.” She took a healthy swallow of her drink while she tried to pull together her scattered thoughts. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“I know.” He studied her face, maybe seeking any changes, as she had with him. “I was just as stunned to see you standing there. I had to look twice to make sure it was you.”
“It’s me.” God, could I sound any more inane? Stupid?
Silence stretched between them, heavy with sexual memories.
“Are you friends with the Huttons?” he asked at last.
Kari shook her head. “No. My boss is. Kip Reyes.” Her laugh was shaky.
“Oh? Are you—? Do you—?”
She laughed, aware that he was trying to figure out a way to ask her what she did for the county prosecutor. Was she clerical or legal or what. “I’ll put you out of your misery. I’m an assistant prosecutor in Bexar County.”
He leaned forward, arms folded and resting on the small tabletop. “But you lived in Chicago when I met you. Or were you visiting, like I was?”
“No, I was living there.” She shrugged. “I moved. Recently. I live in San Antonio now.”
One corner of his mouth tipped up in a grin. “Lucky for me.”
She tightened her grip on the glass, unable to tear her gaze away from his. “And you?” she asked. “Are you visiting here?”
He shook his head and quirked a grin. “I live in the area t
oo. Go figure, right?”
She licked a drop of amaretto from her lower lip. “So what’s your real name, or is it a big secret?”
His gaze lasered her and she wondered if he was trying to see inside her head before answering her. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
She felt warmth creep up her cheeks. “Fair enough. Kari Malone.”
He held out a hand, palm open. “Slade. Slade Donovan.”
God! Even his name had an erotic sound to it. With only the slightest hesitation, she put her hand in his. “Nice to meet you, Slade Donovan.”
He squeezed her hand and left it tingling from the contact. She felt rough callouses on his palm and wondered what he’d done to earn them.
“Same here, Kari Malone.”
“Saving the good stuff for yourself, Slade?”
She jerked her head sideways at the man who had ambled up to the table. She didn’t think Slade had noticed him, either, until he’d spoken. He was tall, like Slade, only leaner and with longish blond hair. He winked at her, his smile cocky.
“Did you leave your manners inside?” Slade demanded. He had a slight edge to his voice.
“Just wanted to make sure I got an introduction.”
“Fine. Kari Malone, meet Beau Williams. He’s just about to go back inside for another drink. Right, Beau?” He looked past the man. “What happened to Megan? She dump you already?”
“Ha ha. She’s in the powder room.”
“Well, then. I’m sure you need to be inside when she comes out.” Slade’s tone was pointed.
“Oh, uh, sure. Nice meeting you, Kari Malone.” They heard him chuckling as he walked back inside.
“A friend?” she asked.
“He’s, uh, visiting me for a while.”
“Oh.” That startled her. “Don’t you need to spend time with him? I shouldn’t be monopolizing your time.”
“Beau is very good at taking care of himself.” Slade took a swallow of his drink. “He’s visiting, but we don’t live in each other’s pockets. He’ll be just fine.” He turned his attention back to her. “I tried to find you, but not having your name made it very difficult, as you can imagine.” He cocked his head. “Did you look for me at all, Kari? Ask about me?”
“I—” She bit her lower lip. “I was going to, but then I figured I should wait and see what you did.”
He laughed, a low, rumbling sound. “We certainly put ourselves behind the eight ball.”
“Man, Surfer was right. You skimmed the cream right off the top.”
This time Kari could actually see Slade tense. “You guys are itching for trouble,” he said between clenched teeth.
The new man, darker than Beau, held out his hand to Kari. “Trey McIntyre.”
She looked at Slade. “I gather these are your friends?”
“Not for much longer, if they don’t get out of my business. I believe he was just about to go back inside and get himself a drink. Right, Trey?”
“Oh, uh, yeah. That’s right. Nice meeting you, Kari.”
“And could you guys kindly stay out of my face?” Slade was joking, but not. “They’re some of the, uh, men that I work with. They think it’s a lot of fun to give me a hard time.”
“Really? What kind of work do you do?”
“Government work.” The words were clipped and gave the definite impression no more explanation would be forthcoming. Maybe he worked in a hush-hush office of some kind. No, not an office. This was a man who did dangerous, physical things.
“So I’m gathering you still live here, right? Are you friends with Lt. Col. Hutton?”
He nodded. “We grew up together.”
“Are you also an attorney?” She frowned. “Is that what you do for the government? I don’t remember hearing your name mentioned, although I’ve only been in town a few months.”
“No.” A faraway look came into his eyes. “Actually, I’m in the Army.”
“Oh!”
What did she say after that? She sure couldn’t ask the usual career questions. He obviously wasn’t sharing anything about where he went or why.
“Are you here with someone?” he asked.
She shook her head. “N-No. You?” She swallowed back the fear that had almost prevented her from coming here tonight. She hoped none of that showed on her face.
His mouth curved in that slow, sexy smile that never left her dreams. “Now I am.” He still held her hand in his, his thumb caressing her palm. “Are you done with this party? How about if we get out of here? Go someplace private.”
The seductive tone in his voice sent the butterflies in her stomach into a wild jitterbug.
“Private?” The look he gave her had her nearly climaxing where she sat. “You don’t think the host and hostess would be offended?”
Not to mention what on earth Kip and Natalie would say. She had to be crazy to even consider it. God! She hadn’t even been on a date in forever.
Then he gave that sexy laugh again and she knew what her answer would be. “Paul and I have known each other a long time. He’ll understand.”
Kari nibbled on her lower lip again. “I don’t want them to think—”
Slade shook his head. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll just tell him we’re old friends who reconnected.” He gave her that same hungry look. “We are, aren’t we? Right?”
“Yes. Yes, we are.”
He was still stroking his thumb back and forth on her palm. “What about you? What will your boss say?”
“Um, hmm.” She took a swallow of her drink. Yes. How should she handle this? “I’ll, uh, just do the same thing. Tell them I met an old friend and we’re going out for coffee. Or a drink.”
Slade’s laugh this time was full-blown. “And you really think they’ll believe that?”
“No, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” She wasn’t about to let him get away a second time.
“My friends and I came together. I don’t want to leave them without transportation.” He paused.
“I have a car.” She almost couldn’t get the words out. Was she really doing this?
“Then let me go leave my keys with one of the idiots you met. Where’s your car? If you feel more comfortable with us leaving separately, I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”
Quaking inside, Kari managed to slip out of the house unnoticed. She knew her boss would have a boatload of questions for her Monday, but she’d worry about it then.
She waited for him at her car. When he walked up to her, she drew in a breath, calming a sudden attack of nerves. “Was your friend okay with you leaving? Did he ask any questions?”
He shook his head. “He just listened to me, nodded and grinned. And don’t worry, he’s not a gossip, nor is his wife. This is just between us. For right now.”
For right now? Does he already have plans to take this further? We hardly even know each other.
“It’s all good, Kari.” He reached for her hand. “I promise.”
“What did you tell your friends?” Maybe they should have taken out an ad in the paper, or online.
He pulled her close to him, his free hand stroking her back in a reassuring gesture.
“It’s fine. I mean it. We don’t get all up in each other’s grills about stuff. They don’t ask questions and I’ll only tell them whatever you want me to.” He slid his hand around to cup her chin. “I hope we’re going to have more than this one night, Kari. I want this to be more than that. And I’ll only tell them whatever you want. But I have just ten days of leave and I want to spend as much of it with you as I can.” The look he gave her scorched her clear to the soles of her feet.
“O-Okay.” Only ten days? What would she do after that? First things first, Kari. “Come on, then.”
“This first.” He tilted her chin up and brushed a kiss lighter than a butterfly’s wings over her lips.
The contact was so electric her nerve endings sizzled. The heat rushing through her had little to do with the temperatur
e of the night and everything to do with her level of expectation about what was ahead.
One thought etched itself on her brain.
At last!
Chapter Four
Slade waited while Kari unlocked her apartment door, then followed her inside.
“This will just take a second,” she tossed at him. She closed the front door, the snick of the lock loud in the little foyer, and fiddled with two other locks. “Don’t go anywhere.”
As if!
“No worries there,” he assured her. He just hoped he could control himself while she did whatever her routine was. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep himself from grabbing her and pulling her into his arms, wanting to touch her again, to feel her soft skin, to inhale her heady perfume. Was it possible to make up for five years in one night?
He was still trying to conceal his shock at finding the woman who had haunted him for five years at this party tonight. What were the odds? If he strung together all the circumstances on both sides that had brought them together in this time and place, he’d definitely have to believe fate had a big hand in things.
He hadn’t wanted to admit to himself just how tightly wound he’d been, waiting to hear what she would say. Would she take him home with her or suddenly decide it was a bad idea? He couldn’t remember ever being so nervous waiting for a woman to give him an answer. Once he’d been selected for Delta Force, his social life had been confined to bar hook-ups and women he met in other casual situations. He was afraid the few social niceties he’d learned ages ago might have faded away.
He’d had to restrain himself from slugging down the entire glass of Jack Daniel’s at the party. Until he actually saw Kari Malone again he hadn’t realized just how much she’d come to mean to him in such a short time. Hadn’t even thought something like this could be possible. He was the original love ’em and leave ’em man, convinced that as a member of Delta Force he wasn’t relationship material. Kari Malone had put a crack in the wall he kept around himself. Was he crazy to want this to go forward? To see if it could lead to something more? Probably, but he didn’t seem to be able to stop himself.