Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set

by Carly Phillips

  The door behind her swung open wide. Mike stood in the door frame. In his standard denim jeans, black T-shirt and hiking boots, he looked sexy and masculine. A man confident in his own skin.

  She shook her head. Her conservative ex-fiancé had never stood a chance. With a flash of insight, she realized that Mike appealed to her wilder side. The part she’d tried unsuccessfully to suffocate. To hide.

  Seeking comfort from Peter’s admission, and what she viewed as Mike’s betrayal as well as her own, she wrapped her arms around her chest. “What a great time for a family reunion,” she muttered.

  “Okay, what the hell’s going on?” Mike asked, his gaze darting between Carly and his brother.

  She had no intention of explaining anything to the man who hadn’t seen fit to tell her the truth. Even as he’d spouted all the reasons she shouldn’t marry Peter, he hadn’t revealed the most important one of all.

  “Ask your two-timing brother.” Suddenly exhausted, she leaned against the wall once more. “I’ll handle notifying the guests and the caterers and returning gifts.”

  The small office felt suffocating. She walked around Mike, ignoring his burning gaze. She’d reached the door when she paused in midstride and glanced at Peter. He looked stricken, but at this moment Carly couldn’t bring herself to care. Nor could she bring herself to reassure him about his partnership. Before finding out about his affair, she’d made sure her decision wouldn’t affect her father’s feelings about Peter.

  “One more thing.”

  “Yes?” he asked warily.

  “Take this.” She twisted her engagement ring off her finger and smacked it into his hand before turning on her heel and storming out of the room.

  * * *

  Mike started to sprint after Carly, but Peter’s strong grip on his arm halted his departure. He pivoted and came face-to-face with his brother.

  “What?” Mike asked. He didn’t want to waste time dealing with Pete.

  “The truth. Did you tell her?” For the first time, his composed brother looked shaken.

  Though Mike wished he could pity him, the one person he felt for was Carly. “I wish I’d had that honor. Not telling her is something I’ll have to live with.” He prayed it wasn’t too late. “Obviously she’s brighter than you thought.”

  Peter groaned, bracing a hand on the doorknob. “No, I’m just a hell of a lot dumber.”

  Mike shook his head. “When will you learn, Pete? Things have a way of coming back to haunt you.”

  But he needed to speak to Carly, and unless the elevators were slow, she’d had enough of a head start for her to disappear into the crowd. By the time he’d reached the street, the clouds that had looked threatening earlier had erupted in rain showers. In this weather, finding an empty taxi would be damn difficult if not impossible.

  He glanced to his right and relief kicked into him. Carly stood on a corner flagging down a cab. He ran, reaching the taxi just as she pulled the car door shut. He rapped on the glass and called her name.

  She rolled down the window. “Go away.” Her face was wet with moisture, making it impossible for him to distinguish between raindrops and tears.

  “No.” He reached for the handle and opened the door.

  She promptly slammed it closed again.

  “Have a heart, Carly. It’s wet out here.”

  She glared through the half-opened window.

  “Have a heart? That’s a joke coming from you.” She smacked her hand down on the inside panel.

  He reached for the handle before she could lock the cab door. This time he was prepared for her resistance. His strength was no match for hers and the door flew open wide.

  Ignoring her murderous look, he flung his wet body into the seat, forcing her to move over or be crushed. She slid over quickly.

  “Wise move,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

  Silence greeted him.

  Leaning forward, he spoke to the driver. “Seventy-second and Second.”

  “Wait.” She tapped the driver and the man turned to look over his shoulder.

  “He’s not going with me.” Carly gestured toward Mike.

  “The hell I’m not.”

  A wide grin encompassed the older man’s face. “Me, I don’t care where we go or how long we sit. The meter’s running.” He patted the metal box. As if on cue, the digital numbers increased.

  “I’m in no rush.” Mike shrugged and leaned back in his seat.

  She groaned but remained silent. Raindrops pelted the windshield and the cabdriver began whistling.

  Mike slicked back his hair with one hand. This was one battle of wills he couldn’t afford to lose. He needed the chance to explain. More important, Carly needed to be with someone who cared.

  He glanced at his watch. The meter ticked off another fare increase. The driver switched tunes. Over the off-key whistling, Mike heard a clicking sound and turned. Carly huddled in the corner, arms wrapped around herself, shivering, her teeth chattering. She pushed her wet bangs out of her eyes with one hand before wrapping her arms around her wet body once more.

  He muttered a harsh curse and repeated her address aloud.

  The driver looked at Carly. “Miss?”

  “Just go,” Mike said through clenched teeth.

  The man glanced over his shoulder at Carly again and she nodded. He swiveled back in his seat and placed the car in gear, jamming his foot down on the accelerator.

  Mike looked at Carly and held out his arms.

  “Either you’ve lost your mind or your ego is bigger than I thought.” She curled into a tighter ball.

  He let out a groan, reached over and pulled her into his embrace. She tried to squirm free, but he held on tight. “Save your energy to argue with me later,” he said. “Right now we’re both wet and freezing. If you don’t want to come down with pneumonia, take advantage of my body heat.”

  Heaven knew he was taking advantage of hers. Every breath brought with it her unique scent, and her soft body had begun to relax, molding to his.

  “I’m only doing this to keep warm,” she mumbled.

  He chuckled. “I know.”

  “I’m still angry.”

  He leaned his chin on the top of her head. “I know that, too.” And a confrontation was sure to follow.

  * * *

  After towel-drying her hair, Carly wrapped herself in an ivory terry-cloth robe. The hot shower had warmed her body but not her heart. She felt ice cold inside. Ironically, heartache wasn’t the problem.

  She’d already broken up with Peter, already accepted that caring couldn’t replace love when he’d blundered into his admission. And though he’d shocked her, Mike’s silence hurt worse than anything Peter had done. Her ex-fiancé had merely wounded her pride and convinced her that she’d been going through life with blinders on, in more ways than one. She pulled the lapels of the lace collar together at her throat, drew a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom.

  Mike stood in front of the credenza that provided a makeshift bar. He’d changed out of his wet clothes. He wore the large gray sweats she’d lent him, a towel draped around his neck... and nothing else. Her gaze was drawn to the muscles in his back and upper arms.

  The strength in his body seemed as prevalent as the strength in his character. Another misguided perception, she thought. He too had betrayed her.

  The rational part of her rebelled at the notion. The emotional part, the part that had been humiliated tonight, clung to the possibility. A confrontation with Mike was inevitable. Today’s encounters were like a flood after a lifetime drought.

  He turned, drinks in hand. “Here.” He held out a brandy snifter. “I think we could both use this to warm up.”

  After accepting the glass, she walked away from him. “You knew.”

  “Yes.”

  She admired his honesty. She just wished it had come sooner. Carly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. How could the confirmation of something she’d already known hurt so much? She p
ushed up the sleeves of the oversized robe. “That’s something, I suppose.”

  “What is?”

  “At least you didn’t lie this time.”

  He grasped her arm and swung her toward him. His eyes bore into hers. “I never lied to you.”

  The heat of his fingertips seared her skin, branding her and making it difficult to remain focused. “What would you call it?” she asked. “A tiny omission?”

  “Yes.” With a groan, he released her. “Put yourself in my position. Where would you find yourself?”

  In the middle, she silently conceded.

  “I did the only thing I could. I pushed with the knowledge you already had and hoped you’d come to the right decision.”

  “And if I hadn’t?”

  Guilt etched his features. “I hadn’t thought that far. I guess I had faith in you. And besides... I couldn’t bring myself to be the one to hurt you.”

  “And you didn’t want to betray your brother.” A tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand.

  “That, too.”

  She lifted her drink to her lips with trembling hands. “Where did you find this stuff?” Carly only used the credenza when she entertained or had friends over to hang out. Brandy wasn’t a staple in her liquor cabinet. She stifled a laugh. She didn’t have a liquor cabinet.

  “I dug through your kitchen and managed to come up with something we could use. Drink up. It should help relax you.”

  She took a sip. The dark liquid burned a path down her chest yet centered her somehow. She crossed the room and stared out the window to the street below. Carly tried to hold on to her anger at Mike. She had to. Without it, she didn’t have anyone to turn the brunt of her feelings upon. So he had been torn between her and his brother. His brother, his only family, or a woman he’d just met. Not much of a decision there, she thought bitterly.

  He walked toward her and placed a hand on her arm. “Do you understand what I’m saying?” His intense gaze bore into hers, causing a pulse-pounding heaviness in her chest.

  Afraid she understood him too well, Carly backed off, heading for the center of the room, searching for space.

  SIX

  Mike watched Carly’s retreat. Somehow she seemed too composed for a woman who had not only broken her engagement but just discovered that her fiancé had been cheating on her as well. She set down her drink on the hardwood floor and turned her attention to a white wicker basket overflowing with magazines. She crouched down, knees resting on two over-sized throw pillows fringed in yellow.

  As he watched, she began rummaging through the stack of magazines, tossing unwanted ones to the side. A huge pile formed beside her. Whether her task enabled her to ignore him or whether she was searching for something, he couldn’t say. The relevance of her actions escaped him, but she seemed to need the distraction.

  Her movements caused her robe to part, revealing a hint of cleavage and the round swell of one breast. Mike sucked in a deep breath but found it impossible to look away. He shifted positions and lowered himself onto the couch because if she looked up now, she’d run far and fast. The sweats she had lent him were too tight under ordinary circumstances. What he felt now went way beyond ordinary.

  He glanced at her again. “What are you...”

  “Aha. Found it.” She rose, then ripped a page from the chosen magazine. “Did you know there’s such a thing as wedding insurance? Damage control for a wedding canceled due to unforeseeable events. Let’s see.” She skimmed the article in her hand.

  Mike narrowed his eyes and focused on her distracted behavior. He realized now that she was more affected than he’d originally thought. He fought the urge to ease her pain. To wrap her in his arms and never let go.

  Just because she’d dumped his brother didn’t make her ready for another relationship. Especially a short-term affair with a man who, as she’d so rightly said, was unable to commit. Whose career was destined to take him farther away at any time.

  She’d had enough pain. He had no desire to add to it.

  She raised her gaze from the magazine page. “Too bad,” she murmured. “Weddings canceled because the bride wore blinders while the groom was a cheating son of a bitch aren’t covered.” Her voice broke over her words. As she lowered her arm to her side, the page drifted to the floor.

  “Carly...” Mike stood.

  “It’ll cost every penny I have in savings and then some to cover the expense of ending this charade.”

  “Peter will pay his share,” Mike muttered. He’d see to it. “Better now than after the ceremony.”

  She attempted to laugh but choked on a sob instead. She dropped to her knees and bowed her head. Her damp hair fell forward, obscuring her face from view. Without warning, her shoulders began to shake violently.

  Something inside him shattered at the sight. Not since his parents’ deaths had he allowed another person to get close. As tight as they were, not even his brother had breached the wall around his heart. Carly tapped into emotions he’d never experienced before, ones he didn’t understand now. She’d reached the part of him that he’d protected for the better part of his life. Watching her, he had the unsettling notion that nothing would ever be the same again.

  Mike crossed the room and crouched down beside her. He lifted his hand and then let it drop uselessly to his side. Never having received a warm or loving embrace as a child, he wasn’t sure how to comfort her now. He only knew he had to try.

  He wrapped his arms around her. Her body molded to his. She rocked back and forth in his embrace as he held on tight. The fragrant smell of her shampoo drifted around him, tickling his nose, tempting his restraint.

  As need surfaced, comfort became a hazy notion. He coaxed her back until they lay side by side against the pillows on the floor. Mike cradled her head, running his fingers through her silken hair. Gradually her trembling subsided, but she didn’t push him away. They lay together in silence. Her rapid breathing slowed. As she unconsciously matched her breaths to his, a feeling of contentment stole over him. It was as if he’d been running away and had finally found what he’d been searching for.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “No.” The muffled sound was almost lost. With one hand, he brushed the tangled hair off her face.

  “I’m sure it hurts to be betrayed by someone you love.”

  She shook her head. “I wasn’t.”

  Wasn’t what? he wondered. Betrayed? Because if Peter had done nothing else, he had betrayed both her trust and her innocence. Mike hoped he hadn’t destroyed them as well.

  She drew an unsteady breath. A glassy sheen coated her eyes and her dark lashes were fringed with moisture. “I wasn’t betrayed by someone I loved,” she said, lowering her gaze. “I compromised until there was almost nothing left of me. In being so accepting, I gave him the freedom to cheat on me.” She sighed. “In a way, I deserve some of what I got.”

  “How the hell can you think that?”

  “I didn’t say I deserved all of it, but there’s no escaping the fact that I used him, too.” Looking down, she stared at her hands. “I never loved Peter.”

  Mike exhaled long and slow. He hadn’t known how badly he’d needed to have his suspicions confirmed until now.

  “But at the very least I thought he was the kind of man to honor his commitments the way I’d planned to honor mine.”

  Mike wanted to defend his brother. To insist that he was sure Peter meant to be faithful. But the truth was, Peter looked out for Peter first. Carly had never factored into the equation. He hadn’t intended to hurt her, but he hadn’t stopped to think about her before jumping into bed with his new associate, either. “If it makes you feel any better, he took me by surprise, too.”

  Her smile seemed forced. “It doesn’t matter. I was so wrong. As long as things seemed right on the surface, I convinced myself I was happy. But I wasn’t.” She shifted positions, rotating her legs until she sat Indian-style beside him. Her robe ended below h
er knees, revealing toned calves and long legs. “I was dead inside and just never knew it. Until you, Peter was safe.”

  “And I’m not.” Mike raised his hand to the back of her neck and brushed aside her hair.

  “No.” Her lips parted. “You’re not.”

  “Why?” He massaged her muscles that had worked themselves into tight knots. Her skin felt smooth and soft beneath his hands.

  “There was no...” She spread her hands in front of her. “No...”

  “Passion.” He ventured an educated guess. One based on the fact that she hadn’t slept with his brother, had never seemed to want more from Peter than a passing touch. But mostly he based his knowledge on instinct.

  Startled, she jerked her head up. “How...”

  “Did I know?”

  She nodded.

  He grinned at the shocked expression on her face as he completed her sentence for the second time. “Because you couldn’t feel an emotional pull toward my brother and respond to me like this.”

  He leaned over and brushed his lips over hers. His hand, already at her nape, dug farther into her hair as he shifted positions and slid his tongue across her lips. She sighed aloud.

  He meant to coax her into understanding but there was no need. Instead of pulling away as he’d expected, she raised her hands to his face and opened her mouth beneath his.

  The kiss was hot, intense and like nothing in his previous experience. Although he had intended to prove a point, he lost track of everything but Carly.

  He lifted his head and looked into her soft brown eyes.

  “Mike.” His name was a plea he couldn’t resist. He captured her lips again. Together they tumbled backward onto the floor. He trapped her slender body between his legs and shifted until the heat of his arousal was pressed firmly at the juncture of her thighs.