“Prove it.” He patted the sofa cushion. “Come here, Lily. Show me you’re not afraid.”
She hesitated only a moment before she crossed the room to join him on the sofa. Her bare leg brushed against the soft, worn material of his jeans as she sat down next to him. He kept his arm draped across the back of the sofa. She felt its gentle weight pressed against her shoulders. Fluid heat warmed her body. She remembered their kiss. She remembered the feel of his strong, hard body against hers. She gave a silent moan. Sitting this close to Eric was a mistake.
“That’s not so bad, is it?” he asked.
She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
“So, what do we do next?”
“Forget the past four weeks ever happened,” she suggested.
He shifted against the cushions. She shivered as the tips of his fingers grazed her shoulder.
“I’m supposed to forget you’re pregnant?”
“Well, no.”
“Or maybe you’d rather we forgot my marriage proposal?”
She nodded. “That’d be a good place to start.”
He sat back. His fingers traced the shoulder seam of her blouse, sending arrows of pleasure darting throughout her body.
“I bet you’d really like it if we forgot about the kiss.”
“Eric—” She winced as her voice broke.
“I should try to forget how warm your lips were?” he asked, his voice a husky murmur.
Her pulse quickened. “Eric—”
“And how soft your body felt against mine?”
She told herself to move. But her body refused to cooperate.
“What about that sound you made when I kissed you? That breathy whisper that’s been haunting me day and night.”
She moaned, closing her eyes to blot out the image his words conjured up.
“Lily, did I ever tell you I have a perfect memory?” he asked, sounding sincere. “Darned thing’s almost photographic. It’s impossible for me to forget...anything.”
The way he drawled out anything proved to be her undoing. She felt bewitched, as though she were being made love to with words, slowly and lazily. She opened her eyes to find him watching her, his gaze mirroring her own desire.
He pulled her into his arms. She went willingly.
Their lips met with a tender fierceness that thrilled and scared her all at once. She felt the impatient flick of his tongue. She opened her mouth, seeking the taste she’d been craving. The taste that was uniquely Eric.
Her hands moved with a restlessness of their own, twining themselves in the thick hair at the back of his head, then moving downward to explore the wide strength of his shoulders and back. His chest rose and fell beneath her fingers with each sharp intake of his breath.
With their mouths melded in a breathless embrace, she fell backward onto the cushions, bringing Eric along with her. He settled himself on the sofa next to her. Gasping for air, they broke apart. He gazed down upon her, his brown eyes shining, wanting.
“I lied,” she said.
He frowned, looking puzzled.
“When I said we should forget. I don’t think I ever want to forget the way you taste.”
He smiled. “That makes two of us.”
He dipped his head for another bite. His lips touched hers briefly. Then he covered her face with butterfly kisses, tracing her cheekbone, her jaw, her neck.
She felt him fumbling with the buttons of her blouse. One by one the buttons fell away, exposing more and more of her flesh. She shivered at the impact of cool air and his searing gaze against her skin.
Pregnancy, which made her breasts fuller, also made them more sensitive. He brushed the knuckles of his fingers against the lacy cup of her bra, teasing her. Her nipples hardened in response. She gasped when his mouth followed and he pressed his lips to the place where skin met lace.
“Eric,” she murmured, closing her eyes and giving in to the shattering sensations that rocked her body.
She sensed him draw away. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”
Her lids felt heavy as she opened her eyes. Eric was studying her, his concern obvious.
“I’ve never—” He frowned, looking uncomfortable. “Making love to a pregnant woman is a first for me.”
She smiled. “You’re doing fine, Eric. Just fine.” She tugged him down for another hungry kiss.
“Too bad we didn’t realize this before we went to the fertility clinic,” he whispered against her lips. “Making a baby the conventional way would have been a lot more interesting.” He cupped his hands around her waist and brought her snug against him.
She sucked in a shaky breath, raking her fingernails over his back. “The time just wasn’t right.”
He lowered his mouth to nibble at the slope of her neck. “At least getting married will be a whole lot more fun.”
“Getting married?” Her hand stilled on the small of his back. “We’re not getting married.”
“Of course we are.”
“No, we’re not.”
Eric moaned. “Come on, Lily. Don’t argue with me now.”
She ignored the pained look on his face. “I want you, Eric. But I don’t want to marry you.”
“And what if I said I had too much respect for our friendship to make love to you any other way? What if I said, it’s with the intention of marriage or not at all?”
Her eyes widened. “That’d be emotional blackmail.”
He considered this for a moment. “You’re right.” His smile was playful. “It’s a good thing I’m a man of principle. I couldn’t live with myself if I’d blackmailed my best friend.”
Repositioning himself so he was more comfortable, he continued his downward exploration, starting with the ticklish spot behind her ear.
Lily collapsed against the cushions, sighing, enjoying the sensations his lips were creating. However, in the back of her mind, the words respect and friendship kept resurfacing. She tried to shut them out, but like a guilty conscience, they wouldn’t go away.
With a groan of frustration, she realized she couldn’t go through with it. Eric was right. Their friendship was teetering in the balance. Making love to him might be the push needed to topple it over the edge.
“Wait.” She sat up, almost knocking Eric off the sofa.
He grunted, grabbing her waist to catch himself before he hit the floor. “Now what?”
“Maybe we’re being hasty.”
He closed his eyes. A long-suffering expression crossed his face. “This had better be good.”
“I think you’re right. We’re too good friends to have a casual affair.”
His eyes flew open. He set his jaw in a stubborn line. “I’ve offered to marry you.”
“And I’ve already said no. Eric, I don’t want to lose our friendship. It’s too important to me, especially now.”
Sighing, he released her, allowing her to scramble to the opposite side of the sofa. Lily’s hands felt clumsy as she straightened her clothes. Her body felt weak. She ached with an unfulfilled need.
“Let me get this straight,” Eric said. “You won’t make love to me without a commitment. I’ve asked you to marry me, but you’ve refused.” He sighed tersely. “Does any of this make sense?”
Lily chewed on her lower lip. Her reasons had made more sense a minute ago. Now, faced with cold, lonely reality, she wasn’t so sure.
“Let’s hear it, Lily. Why won’t you marry me?” he asked, tucking his shirttails into his jeans. He shot her a smoldering glance. “But I’m warning you, it better not be because of your damned curse.”
Damned curse? A slow burn of irritation took arousal’s place. “All right, Eric. Curses aside. You’d make a lousy husband.”
He looked shocked. “What are you talking about?”
She searched her mind. “For one thing, you work too much.”
“No more than I have to,” he muttered.
She continued, “When you aren’t working, you like to play. You’d never
be able to settle into the dull routine of family life.”
“That’s not true.”
“Of course it is. From the house you live in to the car you drive, everything about you is fast and expensive.” She sighed, rising to her feet. “Being a husband and a father would cramp your lifestyle.”
Pain flickered in his eyes. She’d hurt his feelings. Her chest ached. She felt his pain as though it were her own. For his sake, she couldn’t allow herself to stop. Eric had to give up this foolhardy notion of wanting to marry her.
“I’ll admit, I don’t know much about being a father. But you’re talking about material things. Things I can change.”
She raised a brow. “What about the things you can’t change?”
He frowned. “Like what?”
“Like your attitude toward marriage. Are you telling me you believe marriage is forever?”
“For some people.” He refused to meet her eyes.
“But not for you,” she added for him, her voice quiet.
His wordless answer spoke volumes.
“If I ever do marry again, it’ll be for the same reason I married David. Because I want to spend a lifetime loving that person.”
“Rest of your life? Or theirs? We’re talking about a lot different time frame here, aren’t we?”
She drew in a sharp breath, feeling as if she’d been slapped.
A look of regret crossed his face. “I’m sorry, Lily. That was out of line. I’m just a sore loser taking my frustration out on you.” He rose to his feet. “You married David for love. You could marry me for the hell of it. No strings. No pain. I can’t guarantee it’ll last forever, but it’ll be a whole lot of fun.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks.’
“I’m not giving up,” he said, his voice holding a hint of challenge. “I’m going to change your mind, Lily. One of these days you’re going to admit you need me.”
“You’ll be wasting your time.”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
The room felt as though it were spinning when he finally released her.
“Wasting my time? Not hardly.” With a satisfied grin, he left.
Hearing the click of the front door as he closed it behind him, she collapsed into the cushions of the sofa. Marriage for the hell of it. She sighed. Eric never ceased to amaze her.
What amazed her, as well, was her reaction to his proposal. For a moment, she’d been tempted to say yes. Her body still tingled with the memory of Eric’s smoldering caress. She had no doubt, being married to Eric would be...interesting.
Guilt touched her heart. In David’s arms, she’d felt safe and secure. In Eric’s, she felt as though her world were spinning out of control. With a single touch, Eric could set her pulse racing and her body sizzling. She’d never felt that way with David. Somehow the realization left her feeling unfaithful to his memory.
Eric’s caresses had put a crack in the wall she’d built around her heart, leaving her raw and unprotected. She drew up her legs, hugging them. Undeniable attraction aside, Eric had proposed to her out of a sense of obligation. They weren’t in love. They were in lust. Whether or not her curse had anything to do with it, marriage to Eric would not last.
The thought chilled her. She pulled her arms tighter.
Eric was wrong. Being married wasn’t fun.
Marriage always left its mark of pain.
Chapter Seven
Nine o’clock the next morning, Eric rang the doorbell of Lily’s ranch. It was already a blistering ninety degrees outside. He could feel waves of heat radiating from the ground beneath his feet. A green speckled lizard skittered across the sidewalk, finding a shady spot beneath a rock. Eric sighed. Even a lizard knew when to get in out of the heat.
He wiped the perspiration from his brow with the back of his hand, then he glanced at his watch. A full minute had passed with no answer. Eric felt a niggling of impatience. Lily was home. Her car was in the driveway. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was still trying to avoid him.
As quick as it surfaced, he nixed the idea. Last night they’d reached an understanding. He was going to convince her to marry him, and she was going to do her best to discourage him. The most stubborn of the two would win. He’d admit—it wasn’t the most ideal understanding. But it was an understanding nonetheless.
Eric glanced at his watch again. A disturbing image of Lily almost fainting in the bakery cropped up in his mind. He shifted, one foot to the other. Lily told him she was feeling better. But what if she’d lied to keep him from worrying? What if she was sick? Or had fallen? Or was lying unconscious on the floor...?
Eric leaned on the doorbell.
Minutes later, the door opened. Eric glanced at the towel wrapped turban-style around Lily’s head, the short terry-cloth bathrobe that hit her midthigh and the fuzzy slippers on her feet. Her skin was damp. Droplets of water clung to her neck and collarbone. Obviously he’d interrupted Lily’s shower.
He wondered what she had on underneath her robe. The thought made him smile. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
She glared at him. “Eric, what are you doing here? It’s...” She glanced at her bare wrist, as though checking her wristwatch. Coming up empty-handed, she scowled. “It’s early. Too early.”
He held out a pastry box. “I brought you breakfast. Bran muffins.”
“Thank you,” she said, grabbing the box. “Now, go away.”
“Come on, Lily.” He gave her his most endearing smile. “I drove all the way over just to see you. Let me in.”
“You drove all the way over just to check up on me. Next time, call first.” She started to close the door.
His foot got in the way. “I thought maybe you’d like to do something with me today. How about a drive to the mountains? It’d sure be a lot cooler.”
“I’ve already made plans.”
“What kind of plans?”
She lifted her chin. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m spending the day cleaning out the spare bedroom. I need the room for a nursery.”
A nursery—for the baby. An unexpected surge of emotion rose in his chest. Eric took a deep breath. “That shouldn’t take a whole day.”
She frowned. “You’re right. I’m probably underestimating. It may take two or three days.”
He smiled. “How messy can a spare bedroom be?”
“Very messy. I’ve got papers to throw away. Boxes to sort through—”
“Boxes? That settles it. I’m helping. You shouldn’t be lifting boxes in your condition.”
“My condition?” She gave him a disgusted look. “You make it sound as though I have an incurable disease. I’m only pregnant, Eric.”
He pushed his way past her into the house. “No arguments, Lily. I’m staying.”
She followed him into the kitchen. “You can’t barge into my house and give me orders. Besides, cleaning out a spare bedroom is dull, tedious work. Surely you have something better to do today.”
“Nope.” He took the pastry box from her hands, sat down at the kitchen table and withdrew one of the jelly doughnuts he’d bought for himself. “Cleaning house sounds fine to me.”
She gave a strangled groan of frustration.
He took a bite of doughnut and glanced up at her. He froze midchew. Somewhere on the way to the kitchen, she’d lost the towel. Her hair fell in damp tendrils about her shoulders. The belt cinching the terry-cloth robe around her waist had loosened. Desire slammed into him, quick and hard, as he caught a teasing hint of creamy-white skin.
Slowly he swallowed the doughnut. “Um, Lily? Move another inch and you may be losing more than just your temper.”
Her eyes followed the direction of his gaze. A rosy glow of embarrassment bloomed on her face as she clutched together the lapels of her robe. “Finish your doughnut, then go.” She backed out of the room. “I mean it, Eric. I don’t need your help.”
Eric chuckled. Leave? When things were getting intere
sting? Not hardly.
While she was still dressing, he ate another doughnut and pondered the turnabout in his feelings for Lily. Last night he’d proposed a marriage with no strings attached. He’d lied. If he married her, his heart would be tangled in a web of emotions so thick he might never find his way out. Holding Lily, kissing her, had been magic. He’d never felt like this about another woman. It hurt to know she didn’t feel the same way.
But if he admitted how deep his feelings ran, Lily would bolt from him as quick as a roadrunner disappearing into the desert brush. Eric sighed. One thing these past few weeks had taught him—he couldn’t live without Lily in his life.
She asked if he thought marriage meant forever. There was a time when he’d believed in forever. Now he wasn’t sure. She said he’d make a lousy husband. He was determined to prove her wrong.
If only he didn’t blow it by going overboard. Since she’d become pregnant, he’d felt an uncharacteristic need to take care of her, to protect her. He’d become a man possessed. He was smothering her with attention.
Eric always considered himself fairly liberated when it came to women. He didn’t have a choice. If he’d even considered women the weaker of the sexes, his sisters would have clobbered him. In his line of work, he dealt with many divorced, working mothers raising their children alone. He admired their determination to succeed and respected their seemingly endless number of capabilities.
But Lily was different. She’d always been different. One look into Lily’s large green eyes turned him into a macho jerk. She made him do stupid things. Like yell at her for not taking care of herself when she fainted, when he really wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her how frightened he’d been. Eric sighed. Or push his way into her house uninvited when he’d awoken from a restless sleep and his first thoughts had been of her.
* * *
Two hours later, Eric glanced across the spare bedroom at Lily. Her mood had improved once she’d dressed and put food in her tummy. With a little persuasion, she’d reconsidered and allowed him to stay.
“You know, Lily,” he said, “my house is big. It’s got lots of empty rooms. If you married me, you wouldn’t have to waste a whole day cleaning out this bedroom.”
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