by Nicola Marsh
She sauntered across the room and his libido went ballistic.
“I believe you call these fatigues?”
“On army personnel they’re fatigues. On you they’re downright sinful.”
“Would you prefer I took them off?”
She perched on the edge of his desk a mere two feet away from him, a knowing smile playing around the corners of her glossed mouth.
“What’s gotten into you?”
His resistance wavered and he reached out, touching her leg, his hand stroking her calf. Surely one touch wouldn’t hurt?
“Nothing … yet.”
His head snapped up at her innuendo, as he tried to interpret the gleam in her daring gaze. He knew she wanted him but she’d never been this forward before. It turned him on. Big time.
“I could have you court-marshaled for that sort of remark.”
His hand slid up her leg to her knee while he watched her pupils dilate, her reaction stoking his fire until he thought he’d combust.
“Won’t you have to arrest me first?”
He could’ve sworn she batted her eyelashes, which seemed longer and darker than usual. Lori rarely wore make-up, which he preferred, though she’d obviously pulled out all stops with the mascara, not to mention the gloss that made her lips gleam, entirely too kissable.
“You know you’re playing with fire, right?”
He trailed his fingertips from her knee up the inside of her thigh as her tongue flicked out to moisten her bottom lip and it took every ounce of his willpower not to leap up and do the same with his own tongue.
“Am I?”
To his amazement, she slid out of his reach, sending him a coy smile as she unlaced her combat boots in record speed.
“Look, I’m not sure what you hoped to achieve by coming here like this, but — ”
“Did you always talk this much?”
She threw the boots on the floor and turned back toward him, planting one foot on his thigh.
“What the — ?”
His brain stopped functioning around the time she wriggled her toes, inching her way toward his groin and the hard evidence of exactly how much he wanted her.
He should’ve stopped her.
He should’ve never let their flirtation get this far. Instead, he sat there like one of the dummies his recruits used for bayonet practice and let her use her foot like some damn honing device — which had its sights set on one target. Unfortunately, it was the one target that threatened to detonate the closer she got.
“Nice to see you two getting along so well.” Michael’s voice came from the doorway and Flynn leaped from his chair as if he’d been shot.
He cast a quick glance at Lori, expecting her face to reflect the embarrassment scorching his own cheeks. She slid to her feet with consummate ease, picked up her boots and sat in the chair he’d just vacated.
“Hi, Michael. I’ve heard so many good reports about Flynn’s training school I’ve decided to enroll.”
“Well, the uniform looks good on you,” Michael said, an appreciative gleam in his eyes.
“Lori was just leaving,” Flynn butted in, torn between wanting to throttle Michael for barging in when he did and wanting to hug the guy for stopping what had promised to be the biggest mistake he could’ve made in a long time.
“Coward,” she murmured for his ears only as she stood and brushed past him on the way to the door. “See you later, boys.”
With a saucy wave, she strolled out the door leaving him aroused, frustrated and confused as hell.
CHAPTER TEN
Lori waited in the schoolyard for Flynn to arrive, hoping the last of her courage hadn’t deserted her. Adam had soccer practice today and she hoped it would give them some valuable time to talk.
She still couldn’t believe she’d managed to pull off that stunt at the training school yesterday. Thanks to Jane and her assertiveness coaching she’d walked onto his turf like a femme fatale, batted her eyelashes and flirted like a pro — when all she’d felt like doing was hiding in one of the tanks.
Rather than fobbing her off as she’d expected, Flynn had reacted to her act better than she’d hoped. Though a small part of her had been relieved by Michael’s arrival because she couldn’t have taken her performance much further without dissolving into giggles — or dissolving into his arms — whichever had come first.
At least his reaction had solved one mystery. He obviously wanted her as much as she wanted him and it was time to take this friendship to the next level.
He wanted to see what she wanted? He was about to get his wish.
“What are you still doing here?” Flynn tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped.
“You startled me,” she said, her breath hitching at the sight of him in uniform.
She’d seen him in casual clothes, a tux and a suit since he’d returned but nothing had prepared her for the impressive sight of the man she loved wearing a uniform. It should’ve turned her off — she’d hated every time her dad had strutted into the room wearing it — but something about Flynn wearing the crisp khakis set her heart thumping.
“You shouldn’t leave your rear exposed,” he said, his wry grin sending her pulse into overdrive. “Basic army training.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
Her gaze flickered over his body again, unable to resist ogling.
“You approve?”
“Mmm,” she nodded, trying not to drool.
“Where’s Adam?”
He straightened his shoulders, picking up on her obvious admiration.
“Soccer practice. He won’t finish ’til after six so I was wondering if you’d like to catch up for a coffee.”
He shook his head, sending her hopes plummeting. “Can’t. Just stopped by to say goodbye to Adam.”
Rather than plummeting her hope withered and died as she absorbed the implications.
He’d come to say goodbye to Adam, not her.
He was wearing a uniform.
He was going away.
“Oh.”
The one syllable came out sounding small and insignificant when the news he’d revealed was anything but.
“I’m going to Sydney. Business.”
“How long will you be gone?”
She tried to instill the right amount of casualness into her voice, as if his answer didn’t matter when in fact she was hanging on his every word.
He glanced away, focusing on the swings and seesaws behind her.
“Probably just the weekend.”
His noncommittal answer did it. She’d put up with his “let’s just be friends” crap for weeks, she’d tolerated his mixed messages, and now this.
“What shall I tell Adam?”
“I’ll call him tonight and explain.”
He met her gaze and by the wariness in his eyes, he’d got the message she wasn’t impressed. “What’s with the attitude?”
“You really want to know?”
“Wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
A frown appeared between his brows and she was torn between wanting to smooth it out and knocking some sense into him.
“I’m tired, Flynn. Tired of all the game playing, the dancing around each other. But most of all I’m tired of pretending you mean nothing to me. So, what’s this jaunt to Sydney really about? Are you running away again?”
“That’s not fair,” he said, the steel underlying his words brooking no argument. “I didn’t run away last time, I followed a dream, and you were supposed to follow yours.”
“Maybe you didn’t run away but you sure didn’t fight. You gave up on us.”
Lori bit her tongue as the bitter words popped out and Flynn’s eyes turned an icy glacier gray. Darn it, they’d already had this conversation weeks ago and it hadn’t stopped her from falling head over heels for him all over again.
“I know I acted like an idiot back then, not returning your calls or emails. But when I needed you the most, you’d given up … ”
Unfair, irrational? Definitely, but it was how she felt deep down inside, how she’d always felt. That despite saying he loved her, he loved the army more and he hadn’t tried hard enough to save what they’d had.
He thrust his hands in his pockets when all she wanted him to do was reach out, pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to okay.
“I can’t change the past.”
“What about the future? Is there a future for us?”
She held her breath, her heart pounding too loudly in her ears. His answer could make or break them and she was so tired of her heart breaking.
He shook his head. “I can’t give you the answer you expect to hear right now. I’m sorry.”
She stared at him, blinking away the tears that sprang to her eyes.
“So am I,” she whispered, watching him walk away, taking a huge part of her heart with him.
He’d taken a several steps before hesitating and turning around to face her.
“Just go,” she said, holding onto her emotions by a very thin thread.
“I forgot something.”
He covered the short distance separating them in a few strides, planted a kiss on her lips and crushed her in his arms before releasing her all too quickly.
“I’ll be back.”
He didn’t stop this time as he strode away.
“Don’t make any promises you can’t keep,” she yelled at his retreating back, hoping this would be the last time he’d walk away from her, knowing it was futile to make wishes that might never come true.
“How did my plan work out?” Jane sipped her cappuccino and licked froth off her top lip.
“It didn’t.”
Lori pushed away the third cup of tea she’d drunk in the last half-hour. Though her mom had died when she was young she could still remember her saying tea was the panacea for all ills. Unfortunately, all the tea leaves in Sri Lanka couldn’t ease her aching heart at the moment.
“You’re kidding? The man must be made of stone not to be moved by that little performance I coached you in.”
“He was moved all right. So moved he’s running away to Sydney.”
She fixed her friend with a baleful stare. “Remind me never to listen to your hare-brained ideas ever again.”
Jane shrugged. “Maybe it was in the execution?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my womanly talents. We were getting along just fine ’til Michael interrupted us.”
“That dork still around?”
Jane wrinkled her pert nose as if she’d smelt something nasty.
Lori smiled. “Dork isn’t the word I’d use to describe Michael anymore.”
“Yeah, right. He was the biggest geek in high school. And now he’s your accountant? How much dorkier could he get?”
Lori’s smile widened. “See for yourself. He’s just entered the café.”
Subtlety had never been one of Jane’s strong points as her friend swiveled her chair toward the door. “Wow-ee,” she murmured before turning back. “Are you sure that’s the same guy?”
Lori nodded. “One and only.”
“Sheesh. Where did those biceps come from? Not to mention the dimples.”
Jane fanned her face with a napkin. “How come I never noticed those before? I adore dimples.”
“You adore anything male on two legs,” Lori replied, waving at Michael to come over. “I’ll reintroduce you.”
“No,” Jane hissed. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a date let alone talked to a guy? Wait ’til I fix my hair.”
“You look fine.”
Michael walked up to their table, Lori buoyed by his appreciative grin as he caught sight of Jane. Her friend and neighbor was so devoted to her rambunctious kid she rarely went out — they were similar that way — but that didn’t stop Jane talking and acting like she’d stepped out of the latest Sex and the City movie.
“How are you, Lori?”
“Fine thanks. You remember Jane Davies?”
“Sure.”
He held out his hand, his grin widening and accentuating those dimples Jane had honed in on. “Been a while since high school.”
Jane took his hand, holding it a fraction longer than conventional while flashing him a dazzling smile Lori envied. Would be beneficial to master it to wield at will — in Flynn’s direction.
“Why don’t you join us?” Jane waved to the spare seat at their table.
“Thanks for the offer but I need to get back to the office. Burning the midnight oil tonight.”
“On a Friday? That’s dedication,” Jane said, disappointment audible. “If you need a break you know where to find us.”
“Sure thing.” His curious gaze locked with Jane’s for another few seconds before he half-saluted and walked away.
Jane leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on Michael’s butt as he wound his way between tables. “I retract the dorky geek comment,” she said, fanning her face again. “That’s one hot guy.”
“You really haven’t had a date in a while.”
Lori should know. They often lamented the lack of men in their lives while chatting over a glass of wine on a Saturday night while their boys played computer games or pirates or whatever the battle of the day was. She never really minded, but from Jane’s stories, she’d led a wild life as roadie for a rock band before accidentally falling pregnant with Chris and by all accounts, missed the fun of life on the road.
To her surprise, seriousness replaced Jane’s trademark cheek. “I’m over the dating thing. I want somebody special.”
“Not like you to need a guy. What’s up?”
Jane’s lower lip wobbled before she quickly hid it behind her coffee cup. “I’m lonely. All the guys I’ve ever been with have been wrong for me. I want someone different now, someone steady, reliable … ”
Her wistful gaze lingered on the door where Michael had left a few minutes ago. “Who would’ve thought I’d ever find an accountant attractive?”
“Michael’s a good guy.”
“And cute … ” She sat up straight, suddenly business-like. “Enough about me. Let’s get back to more important matters like your love life — ”
“Lack of one, don’t you mean?”
“You definitely have one. It’s just a matter of pointing it out to the other person involved.”
Lori sighed, tracing square outlines of the red and white checkered tablecloth.
“I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth it.”
“You love him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m just tired of letting him know and getting it thrown back in my face.”
“Have you actually told him? Used the exact words?”
Lori shook her head. “It’s too soon. He’d run a million miles in the opposite direction.”
“Like he already has?”
“Touché. What do you think I should do? And I want some credible advice this time, not some stupid scheme.”
Jane poked her tongue out though her eyes retained their sparkle.
“If you’ve tried telling him in so many words, why don’t you show him?”
“Wasn’t that what your last little scheme was about?”
“I mean, really show him.”
Jane reached for the salt and pepper shakers on the table, pushed them against one another and made strange puckering noises.
“By using seasoning?”
Lori tried to act puzzled and failed dismally as she laughed at her friend’s antics.
“S.E.X.” Jane spelled it out as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “Actions louder than words?”
“I’ve tried that,” she said, recalling the few times they’d kissed and wondering how much further they could’ve taken it if he hadn’t pulled back each and every time.
Jane shook her head. “No, you haven’t. He’s had an out each time you’ve tried. It’s time to confront him without giving him that option.”
“But how? He’s not even here anymore
.”
“Simple. Go to Sydney for the weekend. I assume he’s left his contact details if you want to get in touch regarding Adam?”
Lori stared at Jane as if she’d lost her mind. “You’re nuts. I have responsibilities.”
Jane waved her hands around as if shooing away her protests. “I’ll look after your darling son for the weekend. Go. Do this. Make it happen.”
And just like that, the tiny seed of an idea Jane planted took root and sprouted.
“I still think you’re nuts,” Lori said, already mentally sorting her wardrobe and coming up with nothing remotely suggesting seduction.
“You can thank me later.” Jane folded her arms, her mission complete. “Like after your wedding.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Flynn reclined in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, and looked out over the sky-high view of Sydney, spread out like a glittering carpet forty stories below. One advantage of having money these days was the luxurious accommodation he could afford and he hadn’t tired of it yet. After his poor upbringing and Spartan army life, anything else was pure indulgence.
He sipped at his soda, thankful all that was in the past now. He could look forward to the future — with Lori and Adam — without qualms, without regrets. She’d been more than patient with him. In fact, she’d shown the patience of a saint and he doubted he would’ve been as understanding in her position.
Sure, he’d given her hints how much she meant to him but after their last altercation before he left he’d started having serious misgivings his luck had run out.
He had one more loose end to tie up and he could tell her the truth — and hope to God that she still wanted him enough to become his wife.
The doorbell rang, surprising him out of his reverie. He glanced down and grimaced, hoping the turndown service would be satisfied with a quick brush off from behind the door.
“Yeah?” He opened the door and peered around it, carefully shielding his lower half.
“Hey.”
He stared at Lori in disbelief. Maybe he was more tired than he thought and was hallucinating?