Instant Enticement

by Samanthya Wyatt

  “One of our favorite hang outs. You visiting Dennis or you have business in Charlotte?”

  “Just came to see my buddy.” Craig tilted his bottle neck toward Dennis. He in turn clinked his beer against Craig’s. “Looking for some down time. Unwind.”

  “How long are you staying?” Pete rested his elbows on the table top.

  “For the weekend. Maybe longer.” Although he doubted it. If he couldn’t cool his jets around Kelly, he might be headed to the West Coast sooner than he planned.

  “Stay longer. We can catch up,” Dennis added.

  “How about a round of golf? I have an open spot at the Country Club every Tuesday,” Pete told him. “Larry can join us and make it a foursome.”

  “Depends on what’s happening at the office.” Craig mumbled the first excuse he could think of. One he’d used before.

  “You’re not going to work while you’re here, are you? You just said you came for some R&R.”

  Dennis slapped him on the shoulder. “Golf sounds good. Let’s do it. I need the practice.”

  “Right,” Craig said with sarcasm. “The last time I played golf with you guys, we did more drinking than playing golf.”

  “Who won the chariot race?”

  “Chariot race?” Kelly and Gail chimed together.

  Pete leaned both arms on the table, a maneuver to draw their attention, as though preparing to tell a story of great importance.

  “Well you see, girls. The golf carts are the chariots and we had a round of jousting.”

  “Jousting?” Kelly’s beautiful amber eyes glowed with suspicion and curiosity.

  “We made these swords out of cardboard and tin foil.” Pete continued the story until Gail and Kelly were in stitches.

  Craig balanced his weight on one leg while he shook his head. They did have fun on their golf dates.

  ~ ~ ~

  Dennis drew him to the side as the girls headed for the ladies’ room. Was there some girl code that said females had to go in pairs? Women never went to pee by themselves.

  “Hey, buddy, will you take Kelly home for me?”

  “You have got to be kidding,” Craig blurted in irritation. He knew his buddy had made a date with the sexy redhead. But he sure as hell couldn’t figure out why. Not when Dennis had Kelly by his side.

  “What? You can help a guy out, can’t you?”

  “Fuck, Dennis. Kelly came here with you.” Craig didn’t like being put in this position. Yeah, Dennis was his friend and he’d done such things in the past. But neither one of them had been attached.

  “She’s no problem. She’s cool.” Dennis seemed to think Kelly would accept the idea of him leaving her while traipsing off with another female. Craig couldn’t believe it.

  “You’re just going to shove her off on me and go off with another woman?”

  “Hey, man. I didn’t think you’d have a problem. Look,” Dennis said, as he placed a hand on Craig’s shoulder. “Kelly is a knockout. I thought you liked her.”

  Craig scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t have a problem with her. It’s you. You shouldn’t treat her like that.”

  “I told you. She’s cool. She knows how I am. Trust me, buddy.” Dennis tightened his grip on Craig’s shoulder. “She’s fine. And the Craig I know would normally jump at the chance of a hot woman.”

  Jump, leap, hurdle, as in shackles couldn’t hold me. Yeah. But not when she’s his buddy’s girlfriend.

  “Damn, Dennis.”

  “You worry too much. I’ve got a live wire over here, and I’m not going to turn it down.” He glanced to the redhead and his smile grew to leering proportions.

  “You son-of-a-bitch.”

  “Yeah,” Dennis laughed. “You’re jealous. But you don’t have to be. Look what I’m leaving you.” His gaze fixed over Craig’s shoulder.

  Craig turned to find Kelly slipping into the booth. A familiar lurch twisted in his gut. A knee-jerk reaction just at the sight of her. Damn, she was gorgeous. Even though Craig was getting the better end of the deal, he wanted to wipe the smile off his buddy’s face with his fist. It would serve Dennis right if Craig stole Kelly away. Fat chance.

  “She doesn’t deserve you,” he told Dennis.

  “She reminds me of that all the time.” His buddy gave him another slap on the back and strode off.

  ~ ~ ~

  The driver’s side door opened and Craig slipped in. Although the interior of his truck was big, he filled the space with his masculine presence. Kelly wondered if Dennis had intentionally thrown her a bone by dropping her in Craig’s lap. Well, not literally. Although, she wouldn’t mind being in his lap. The man was sexier than any man had a right to be. Inky black hair, blue eyes you could lose yourself in, and a body to get every woman’s motor running hot.

  She shook her head. He hadn’t done anything, made a move, or offered a pick-up line. Which confused her. He’d been polite and attentive. The sparks were definitely there, but he didn’t act on their obvious attraction to one another. All night she’d been thinking about kissing him. She shouldn’t. Hadn’t she sworn off men? A woman could not trust a man.

  But oh, how his lips beckoned.

  Happier than she’d been in some time, Kelly leaned back in the comfort of leather. “Nice vehicle.”

  “So’s yours,” Craig replied as he drove out of the parking lot. “Dennis likes your car.”

  Where did that come from? “What’s Dennis got to do with anything?”

  “He’s the reason I got into trouble.”

  “Trouble?” With her mind still wondering what his kiss might be like, she had to concentrate on what he’d said.

  “The ice water in the shower.”

  Oh, yeah. Heat flushed her cheeks. She’d thought of that scene many, many times. And each and every time, her body heated with the memory. She sat up straighter and turned, facing him.

  “Would you care to explain?”

  “The other day when I showed up, I saw his car in the parking lot. He’d taken yours for a drive, but I didn’t know that at the time. I saw his car and thought he was home.”

  “Oh, I see. Blame Dennis because he took my car, which made you throw ice water on me.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Makes sense,” she giggled.

  He gave her a long look, a sexy grin on his lips. “You agree. It’s his fault?”

  “Sure.” They both laughed. The deep rumbling sound sent prickles vibrating over her skin. “It is definitely his fault.” Kelly studied Craig’s fingers as he gripped the wheel and eased into traffic. Nice, strong fingers. He handled the car with ease. She wondered if his fingers would be gentle or demanding.

  “Not one of my finer moments.”

  The ice in the shower? A moment she would never forget.

  “It was quite a surprise seeing you. That is, seeing a strange man. I thought Dennis was up to no good.”

  “We used to do that kind of stuff in college. Seems like a long time ago.”

  “Evidently not so long. You’re still playing pranks.”

  “Only it backfired on me.” The expression on his face was lacking remorse.

  She giggled again. “The look on your face.”

  “Not the lasting impression a guy wants a girl to remember. Barging in on her privacy. Still, I can’t say I’m entirely sorry.” He glanced her way with a playful grin, then turned his focus back to the road. “I hope I’m not stepping out of line.” He hesitated. “From what I saw, you are definitely one well put together female.”

  Her pulse fluttered. She’d been standing there naked- of course he’d looked. What guy wouldn’t gawk at a naked woman? Hearing him say he appreciated what he’d seen thrilled her as much as when she’d seen approval in his lingering gaze. Her body temperature rose
several degrees. Before she traveled down a path of fantasy, she reminded herself she hated men.

  Sorta.

  “It would be interesting to see how you would have reacted had our roles been reversed,” Craig said.

  She shifted in her seat to face him. “Do you think I would have been horrified at seeing a naked man and run screaming out the door?” Hell no. She would have looked, stared, lingered. After seeing Craig by the pool, she more than likely would have had a meltdown. Oh, yes. Her reaction would have been much different. She would have been in no hurry to apologize and leave.

  “I don’t think you would have played the brazen hussy and joined me.”

  Damn. He had to go and plant that idea in her head. Joining him sounded pretty darn hot.

  Breathe. In. Out.

  “Maybe I would have stood there and stared at you.” She was playing with fire and she knew it.

  “I assure you, I have little modesty. If a hot woman wants to stare at my bod, I say go for it.”

  Oh, God. Now she wanted to see him naked.

  “You don’t give the impression you’re egotistical.”

  “I’m not boasting. I’m thinking more along the lines of opportunity.” His smile nearly melted her into a puddle on his leather seat. “I’ve got what God gave me. I see no reason to hide it.”

  Yeah, He gave you more than most.

  “A typical man.”

  “I hope you won’t put me in a category with all men.” His eyes searched hers for a long moment before he fixed his gaze on the road.

  How could she deny his words when she’d been doing that very thing? Robert had made her skeptical of all men. Dennis reminded her all men were not the same. But Craig, he drew her like a magnet. Mystery, charisma, sensuality, he captivated every part of her. She’d never been so attracted, nor so at ease with a man. Yet he held a part of himself back.

  “Are you going to try to convince me that all men don’t think about the same thing? Sex?”

  “Can’t argue with you there,” he replied on a chuckle. “Begins at puberty. But I will say this. Not all men think about sex the same way.”

  Before she had time to contemplate or ask him to explain, he drove into the parking lot of Dennis’s building. He shut off the engine and stared at her in silence. Awareness fizzed in the air between them.

  “Are you coming in?” Her voice sounded breathless with want.

  “No. I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”

  “Why not?” She bit her tongue, surprised at her outburst, but she wanted to know. One minute he seemed interested, the next he put on the brakes. She yearned for him to breach the distance, reach for her, take her into his arms.

  Craig got out of the car without answering. She trembled as she waited for him to come around to her side. He opened the door and held out his hand.

  “I’ll see you to the door.”

  Tingles shot up her arm as his fingers closed over hers. Judging from his reaction, he felt the same spark, but he didn’t look too happy about it. This man puzzled her in so many ways.

  Crickets echoed in the night, hiding from the glowing lights aligned along the walkway. The soles of her shoes tapped up the steps leading to the front doors of the building. Silence filled the elevator, making Kelly conscious of the man standing beside her. He smelled so delicious, she wanted to snuggle up to him and take a bite. Sexual tension hung in the air, and when she thought she couldn’t stand it another moment, the bell dinged and the doors opened.

  Her shoulders spiked with tension, feeling Craig’s vigilance as he followed her to the apartment. The click of the lock resounded and he opened the door, but not enough for her to walk through. Mere inches separated them. She glanced up. His eyes blazed with intensity.

  She leaned forward.

  He stepped back.

  “Good night, Kelly.”

  Chapter 7

  Kelly woke up after Dennis had already gone. With nothing to do, she puttered around the apartment, questioning why Craig had not kissed her. There was no mistaking that look. He had wanted her. Wanted to kiss her. Why didn’t he?

  She’d been more aware of him than any man she’d ever been with. At the bar, his thigh had brushed against hers, sending a tremor coursing through her tummy. A brush of his arm, a press of his hip, and her body had shivered with excitement. When he brought her home, she had stared into his baby blues and her world tilted.

  Groaning, she wrenched the pillow over her head in frustration. She was losing it.

  Never one to feel sorry for herself, she climbed from her warm bed and headed to the shower. This time she used the guest bathroom since she was not in a mood to pamper herself.

  After three cups of coffee and a dozen scenarios and possible explanations for Craig’s behavior, she felt like the walls were closing in. She fled to the grocery store, only to find her thoughts of Craig followed her there and home again.

  Curled up on the couch, she flipped through a magazine. Brad and Angelina Jolie made the cover again. Some people had entirely too much money. She tossed it on the table just as she heard a key in the lock. Seeing Dennis dressed in a white-collared Polo shirt and tan slacks jogged her memory—he had gone to play golf today.

  “I know you didn’t invite me here, but this is getting to be a habit.”

  “Am I supposed to know what habit you’re talking about?”

  “Ignoring me.”

  “You don’t need an invitation. But, when you show up at my home unannounced, don’t expect my undivided attention.” Dennis gave her a goading smile and headed to the fridge. “I’m giving you my hospitality. What more do you want?” He returned to the living room with two beers and handed her one.

  “Thanks.”

  He kicked off his shoes and tossed his visor on the table. He flopped down beside her, taking a long pull on his beer. “Miss me?”

  “You were gone when I woke up.” She pretended to pout.

  “Forget about my golf date with Pete and Craig?”

  Craig. The man who’d been on her mind all day. “I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

  “I’m surprised Gail didn’t come over.”

  “She has a job.”

  “So do you. But you’re here.” He winked, letting her know he was fine with her company.

  “How was the game?”

  “Pete won. I beat the socks off Craig,” Dennis said with glee. “He’s normally pretty good, but he came in way over par. His mind wasn’t on golf.”

  She’d listened to Dennis give details of his golf games before, but having no interest in the sport, she had no idea what ‘par’ meant. And didn’t care.

  So why did she ask?

  Because she wanted to hear about Craig.

  “What’s going on between you and Craig?” His question came out of the blue. Could he read minds?

  Nothing. That was the problem.

  Instead, she asked, “Why? Did he say something?”

  “He wouldn’t say anything. Trying to get him to talk about you was like a little kid at the dentist. He wouldn’t open his mouth.”

  “Why were you discussing me?”

  “There was no discussing to it. I probed, he wouldn’t crack. Then he smacked the ball like he wanted to kill it. If I had my guess, he had his mind on you.”

  “Me?” she squeaked. “Why would you think that?”

  “Didn’t he bring you home last night?”

  Yeah. That’s all he did.

  “Yes.”

  “I thought that was what you wanted.”

  Being in such close proximity with Craig had been nice. But not being able to touch him, wondering if he even wanted to touch her, drove her crazy. “It would have been fine if he had wanted the sa
me thing.”

  Dennis propped his feet on the coffee table. “Are you kidding? Craig likes you.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  “He put the moves on you?”

  “No.”

  Dennis laughed. “You sound disappointed.”

  She took a sip of beer. “Something else is going on with him.”

  “Come on, Kel. Tell me what happened when he brought you home.”

  “Nothing happened.”

  “Yeah? Hmm. Maybe that’s the problem. Come here.” He reached behind her and grasped her shoulder, pulling her to him. “Look. Just because Robert is a dickhead, don’t let him turn you against men. Craig is an upstanding guy. I wouldn’t allow him within ten feet of you if I didn’t trust him.”

  “He’s seems fine.” She picked at the label on her bottle. “I like him.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “It’s not me. I mean, he’s into me one minute, the next he shoves me away.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Craig.”

  “I don’t know if he’s toying with me or what.”

  “He’s not like that.” Dennis took a gulp of beer. “He’s interested. He’s acting too weird not to be.”

  Kelly shifted so she could see Dennis’s face. “Weird how?”

  He glanced down at her, then gazed out the long window as if considering his words. “Usually we talk. Compare notes. Every time I brought up your name today, he clammed up.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I mentioned you and asked him how you two got along. Pete said you looked hot and I thought Craig was going to slug him.”

  Kelly smiled to herself. Sounded a little like jealously. “Go on.”

  “Do you know Larry? He was our fourth. Pete told Larry about the hot redhead cozying up to me. Craig acted like I should have been with you. I told him you didn’t mind.” Dennis shifted and stared down at her. “Did you?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She swatted his chest, then sat up. “Maybe he thinks since I’m visiting, you have an obligation to watch out for me.” She placed her bottle on the coffee table and stood gesturing with her hands. “You need to make it clear, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”