“I forgot,” Matt said as they sat down at the long table where all of the wedding guests were seated. “I’m sorry. With all the excitement of the wedding and everything going on with the two houses, I just wasn’t thinking about it.”
“It’s okay. Do you want me to go with you?”
He paused with his mouth open. “What? Why would you even think I wouldn’t?”
She shrugged. “You hesitated when you were introducing me, like you weren’t sure what to call me.”
He leaned toward her. “I’m always worried about scaring you off,” he said. “If I say the wrong thing or if I push you to do something that involves my friends or work, I just don’t want to upset you. And you’ve been really busy with everything, and I didn’t want to add to it.”
So he was walking on eggshells around her. That was the last thing she wanted.
“I think of you as my girlfriend,” he said softly. “I’m just not sure if you feel the same way.”
Oh. “I do. Think of you as my boyfriend.” She nudged his shoulder. “You’re right, I’m not one who is really into labels. But this is definitely a thing between you and me. So if you want to introduce me as your girlfriend, that’s cool. And your friends are fine. We had a great time when we went out with Brody and Mari. I’m more than happy to meet the rest of your work friends.”
He gave her one of those megawatt smiles. “Okay, then.”
“Okay, then.”
* * *
MATT WASN’T SURE what to think about Chelly. Part of her seemed to be really into the wedding, but then she’d put up a wall. One he wasn’t sure he could scale. They were in the hotel room and she was asleep beside him. They’d made love, but she didn’t quite give herself over as fully as she had just the night before.
The whole thing with the CO was bizarre. They hadn’t talked about their relationship; she never wanted to. And he wasn’t a big one to discuss feelings, but the feelings between them were intense. He’d never been in love, but this might be it. The idea that she might walk away at any minute really did tie him up in knots sometimes.
“You’re staring,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Sometimes I’m so struck by your beauty, I can’t sleep.”
She sighed and then smiled, her hand traveling to his cock, which was hard. It usually was whenever she was around. A condition he’d learned to live with over the last month.
“Are you sure it’s not because of this,” she said, rubbing up and down the length of him.
“Maybe.”
“Twice should have been enough,” she said, scooting closer.
“Never seems to be enough when it comes to you.”
He loved it when she was like this, her defenses down. So open and innocent.
“I feel the same way. In fact, I was just dreaming about you.”
“You were?” He wasn’t sure it was possible, but his cock hardened even more.
“What was the dream about? What were we doing?”
She let go of him and after tossing the covers off their naked bodies, she backed into her pillows. “You were doing that thing with your mouth,” she said, touching herself intimately. “And your two fingers were right here.” She began to moan and he thought he might lose control right then.
Before she could say another word, he was on his knees between her legs, pleasuring her. Using one of the pillows, he put it under her hips so that he had a better angle. His tongue teasing her in the way she’d described.
Moaning louder, her hand landed on top of his head, the other on her breast playing with one of her nipples—not a sexier sight in the world. This, right here, between them—it was more than sex. She might not know it, but he did. She bucked against his mouth. His little wildcat.
Here the walls were down and she was all his. It was one of the reasons he was always hard for her. That and she was gorgeous, smart...
“Come for me.” His words were soft, and she obeyed. Her muscles tightened and squeezed as her body shook. She cried out his name. Watching her come apart was a privilege, one he respected, one he wanted every day. He stroked her hair, whispered in her ear what she meant to him. Everything. That was an easy one. She’d calmed and he put on protection. Bringing her ankles up onto his shoulders, he pumped into her slowly.
So tight for him. Making love to her never got old. Her ankles locked around his neck.
“Yes,” he drawled and he increased his pace. His thumb continued to rub that little nub of hers. She groaned and pressed her hips against him.
“Tell me what you need, babe.”
Her eyes flashed open. “You. Just you.”
Sweeter words had never been spoken. The way she looked at him... Heat seared through him, going straight to his heart.
This was his Chelly.
She reached for his hands, and he clasped hers tightly as he thrust into her. Their gazes fixed on one another. The connection between them palpable.
His Chelly was special.
“Matt!” she screamed and her body bowed. His climax followed, giving himself over to the sounds of her bliss and matching it with his own.
A few minutes later her head was on his shoulder and she was splayed against his chest. This is how he slept best, with her across him. And him holding her like he would never let her go.
16
MATT PACED OUTSIDE the pool house door. Inside, Chelly was getting ready. “Babe, we’re going to be late.” He’d already been waiting an hour for her. Patient as he tried to be, he hated being late. But she just didn’t seem to care.
It didn’t help that he hadn’t seen her much all week. On Monday an emergency training session had been called. He’d been in North Carolina working with some of the grunts there on evacuation techniques. He’d flown home the day before to find she was on a shopping expedition with Mari in Dallas.
Maybe it was wrong, but he’d been disappointed when she wasn’t waiting for him. He’d missed her so much. Then she wasn’t even there when he got home. Selfish, maybe, but she didn’t seem to understand why he was upset.
In fact, she’d been so mad, she’d slept in the pool house for the first time in weeks the night before. He was determined to make it up to her. To make amends because the last thing he wanted was her out of his bed.
“Five more minutes,” she said. The same thing she’d been saying for the last half hour. “Babe, you’re beautiful with no makeup and naked. Everything else is icing on the cake.”
Today she’d come home when he was in the shower and announced she was going to hurry to change.
When she opened the pool house door, all thoughts left his mind. She’d arranged her strawberry-blond curls up on her head, and she wore a fitted red dress that hit her midthigh. She’d done something with her eyes that made the color even deeper than they normally were.
“Okay. You’re gorgeous. In fact, it’s an I-want-to-ravish-you kind of gorgeous.”
She laughed. “I wanted you to see what you were missing.” Her eyebrow rose.
“Trust me, I know. And I’m sorry. Can we chalk it up to the fact that I hadn’t slept in four days and I really missed you? Forgive me?”
She sighed. “I’ll think about it. Maybe if you behave tonight, you’ll get a treat.”
He smiled and moved closer. “What kind of treat?” He nuzzled her ear, knowing she liked that.
“We’ll see. I think you might have trouble with the behaving part.”
Then she slipped on some red heels; was she ever going to be eye candy for the entire party.
“I’m not really sure I want to share you with anyone else tonight. I’m feeling more and more selfish.”
She glanced back at him and grinned. “Come on, Marine, you’re the one griping about being late. Don’t want to miss the fir
eworks.”
“Babe, there could be fireworks right here.”
“Like I said, behave yourself, and maybe you’ll see those private fireworks later.”
“I have to wait that long?”
She laughed all the way out to the truck.
Maybe they’d be okay, after all.
* * *
“YOU GUYS SEEM serious about each other,” Carissa, the CO’s niece, said. It almost sounded as if she was disappointed. She was a pretty girl, but talkative, and her questions had been a bit too personal for Chelly’s taste.
The party was in full swing when she and Matt had arrived. Most of it happening out on the deck of the CO’s place—a sprawling seaside house that took minimalism to a new height.
They’d been cornered by Carissa for the last ten minutes. She’d been peppering them with questions about their relationship, and Chelly was beginning to think she might work for the CIA or something. There seemed to be no aspect she wouldn’t pounce on.
“Chelly and I are just having a good time together,” Matt said. But it was how he said it that didn’t sit quite right with Chelly. Why not say they were dating? Was it that big of a deal that they migh be attached? That was what she wanted, right?
Right. Or...
Don’t be stupid. You’re the one who runs when things get too serious. He’s just trying to keep it light.
“Chelly’s been great helping me with the house I’m building and getting my parents’ house in shape. I couldn’t have done any of it without her. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
At least he’d said that. She should be happy. The projects were in good shape. She’d made some real friends. And she was with a great guy.
So why am I this sad?
The kind of sad that would normally have her running away from the party in tears. Except she couldn’t do that because he hadn’t done anything wrong. And this night was important to him. There was no way she’d ruin it for Matt.
Put your big girl panties on and get it together. This was really about the fact that she’d been angry at him for being annoyed with her about her trip to Dallas.
First of all, she had no idea when he’d be home. That was classified.
Second, Mari only had that one day when she could go to The Market in Dallas, which might be Chelly’s new favorite place in the world. They’d found all the missing pieces she needed for both of his places. She’d tried to explain that to him, but he’d been so unreasonable. He’d never acted like that before and it reminded her of her ex.
Still, this party was about him, and she wouldn’t do anything to cause Matt trouble. Besides, he’d been really sweet before they’d arrived here, and they’d both been tired that night when she’d finally made it home at midnight from her shopping trip.
“It helps to have a client who knows what he wants,” she said, surprised by how cheerful her voice sounded. Maybe she could do this.
“Huh. So you guys aren’t a couple?” Carissa wouldn’t seem to let it go. What was wrong with this woman? Was she going to hit on Matt? Because Chelly could only be pushed so far before she caused bodily harm.
“Look, there’s Brody and Mari,” Chelly said abruptly. She gave Mari what she hoped was a beseeching look and the other woman waved them over. “We should go say hello.” She grabbed Matt by the elbow and yanked him toward the other couple. They were standing out on the deck facing the ocean. It was blessedly cooler and she tried not to gulp the fresh air.
“I totally get what they say about the glow,” Chelly said. “You are radiant tonight.”
Mari fanned herself. “It’s four days of a honeymoon with this guy,” she said, pointing to Brody. “I’ve never been so pampered in my life. And a lot of that is thanks to you, Matt. If you hadn’t been able to handle the training, we would have had to postpone our honeymoon, probably until I was too fat and miserable to enjoy it.”
“No problem,” Matt said. “Glad to see you guys had a good time.”
Mari hooked her arm in Chelly’s. “I’m borrowing my new favorite designer to talk shop. You boys keep yourselves entertained, but stay away from the man-eater,” Mari ordered, and she waved a finger toward Carissa’s back. Brody kissed her cheek and then gave her a wink.
“Man-eater?”
“It’s a long story,” Mari whispered as she led Chelly down the steps to the beach. “Lose your shoes,” she said when they reached the lower platform. They walked for a bit on the sand.
“I saw the stricken look on your face. I mean, you covered it up fast, but I was watching you close. What’s happened?” Mari prodded.
Chelly stopped and stared at the waves. “Nothing.” They were friends, but Chelly didn’t know what she should say. She was one of the few business contacts she’d made, and she was worried about crossing the line. And, technically, they were Matt’s friends. She and Mari had chatted non-stop on the plane to Dallas and back, but it was about the various jobs they were working on.
And really, what was there to share? The guy she’d been living with referred to her as just a business associate he was having fun with. Didn’t exactly put her in the best light. She was making too much of it. But they’d just had the boyfriend and girlfriend talk a week ago, and she didn’t understand why he wouldn’t say yes to the question: Are you a couple?
“It’s how she is,” Mari said. “Carissa’s always got her nose in everyone’s life. It doesn’t necessarily mean she’s hot for Matt. I think she just likes to gossip. Maybe she should have gone to journalism school because she’s good at it.”
“It was feeling a bit third degree-ish,” Chelly said. “Almost to the point of rude.”
The other woman laughed. “That’s how she rolls. You know, if there’s something wrong, you can talk to me. We’re businesswomen, but I think of you as a friend. And I have a feeling we’ll be hanging out more in the future.”
If I stay in town. Putting down roots had seemed like a good idea, but lately, things with Matt had been off.
Maybe she should stick to her gypsy ways and find another town. Might be too difficult to be so near Matt once things ended between them. “I appreciate that, really. But I’m fine. Just not used to strangers asking about my love life.”
“In other words, mind your own business, Mari.”
She grinned and put a hand on Mari’s arm. “No. Not at all. So...I heard you were taking on the CO’s house. That had to be scary. Trying to please the boss and his niece. Was the minimalist idea hers or his?”
“And there’s the switch to a different subject. It was a bit tricky at first. But Carissa’s moving out, so I made the CO sit down and choose his favorite things using an old technique from one of my professors. I guided him a little because I’m not going to lie, he’s your typical bachelor when it comes to design. But I think overall he’s happy with the results.”
“I like how you went with kind of a softer version of minimalism. It’s clean but at the same time it feels like a place where you can relax.”
“Thanks. The more I learn about the CO, the easier it is to understand him. Obviously. Still, you know what I mean. His work is hectic so when he gets home he wants the sea to be the view. Nothing obstructing it.”
“Can’t say I blame him,” Chelly said, turning toward the water. “What about Carissa?” she asked.
“Oh, no. She’s more a chic Paris salon kind of person. She mentioned she might want to use my company. Internally, I was screaming no, but she might be a good project for Abbott. That girl can go toe-to-toe with almost anyone. That reminds me, any word from Carrie?”
“No,” she said. “But I’m not surprised. I mean if designers in New York and LA couldn’t please her, how would my simple designs?”
Mari squeezed her arm. “You need to stop selling yourself short. There’s not a darn
thing wrong with your designs. I’d put them up against anyone else’s in the world. You need to own the fact that you’re untraditional and maybe a little wild, but that’s your thing. It works for you.”
“Untraditional. Is that another word for flaky?”
Mari smiled. “No. It means you think outside the box, which in design is a very good thing. A lot of the projects I do, and I own this, are kind of the same. People see my portfolio and they want the same sort of thing. I envy you working on projects like Matt’s river house, where you’re doing something so different. How’s it coming along?”
“Good. Meanwhile, Matt’s parents’ house was supposed to be a simple job, but every time we tear something out, there’s another problem. Matt’s got no clue. He’s been away. I’ve managed to keep it well below budget, though. Want to see the new kitchen?”
Mari nodded and Chelly pulled out her cell.
“Wow. That’s marvelous. And you did it under budget?”
“Yes. It helped that the cabinets could stay. They were solid maple. Moving the window was the big problem. However, we did it. Or Cal did. Thank you again for sharing your contacts. He’s been a lifesaver.”
“He is. And he only hires the best people. I always think I’m busy, but I don’t know how he keeps up with it all. But I can see why Matt’s so impressed with you.”
“Is he?” Chelly wasn’t sure what to think anymore, especially after his comment to Carissa.
“Yes. How could he not be? You do terrific work, and I admire how you refurbish old things into new. I could have used you when I was redoing my house. And you know those little buckets with the flowers on your website? I need about twenty of those for different projects.”
“That’s a lot of minnow buckets. You may clean me out. But thanks. I found some old thirties magazine holders I’m about to redo. Should have them up on the site next week.”
“I might start asking to see things before you put them up. I could use something like that on my Magnolia project. Are they iron? I want iron elements in the bathrooms.”
“Yeah, they have that scrollwork like the old sewing machines.” It felt good to talk about business.
Make Mine a Marine Page 13