Unzipped (Harlequin Romance)

by Lori Foster

  “How?”

  “I can get Susan for you, if that’s what you want.” Nick didn’t quite understand the attraction, but he’d always lived by the rule To Each His Own. If Bob wanted Susan, then so be it. Maybe Bob could keep her so busy she wouldn’t be able to find the time to make insulting remarks about him to Josie.

  “I can find out from Josie exactly what Susan likes and dislikes, what her fantasies are—”

  “Susan wouldn’t have fantasies!”

  The bright blue morning sky offered no assistance, no matter how long Nick stared upward. When he returned his gaze to Bob, he caught his anxious frown. He felt like a parent reciting the lesson of the birds and the bees. “All women have fantasies, Bob. Remember that. It’s a fact that’ll come in handy someday. And it’d be to your advantage to learn what Susan’s might be. I’ll help. Within a month, you’ll have her begging for your attention.” And he and Josie would have had the time together without interference.

  There was no doubt of Bob’s interest. He couldn’t hide his hopeful expression as he shifted his feet and tugged at his tie. “Okay. What do I have to do?”

  “Just keep quiet about Josie for the time being. You know Susan doesn’t exactly think of me as a sterling specimen of manhood. If she knows I’m interested in her sister, she’ll go ballistic. She’ll do whatever she can to interfere. I get the feeling Susan has a lot of influence on Josie.” Or at least, she had in the past. For twenty-five years Josie had remained a virgin—the last ten under Susan’s watchful eye. But last night, she had decided to change all that—with him; it still boggled his mind.

  A sense of primitive male satisfaction swelled within him, along with something else, something gentler. He assumed it was some new strain of lust.

  After glancing back at the boat, he decided he’d spent enough time with Bob. “Go home. Give Josie about an hour to contact Susan.” An hour wouldn’t be near long enough, but he’d have to make do. He could be inventive. And he had a feeling Josie would appreciate his creativity. “After that, go over to her house.”

  “I can’t just drop in.”

  “Trust me, okay?” He gave Bob a small nudge toward his car. “Tell her you were concerned about her. She’ll love it.”

  Bob peered at his watch. “She’s probably at the flower shop now. I suppose I can drop in there.”

  “Great idea.” Nick gave him another small push to keep him moving. “Let me know how it goes, okay? But later. Call me later.”

  Bob left, mumbling under his breath and thinking out loud, an annoying habit he had, but one that Nick had no problem ignoring this morning. He heard Bob drive away, but still he stood there staring down the dock. Confession time had come, much as he might wish it otherwise. With mixed feelings he started toward the boat. Josie would understand; she had to. He hadn’t had near enough time with her yet.

  His relationships, by choice, never lasted more than a few months, but he was already anticipating that time with her—and maybe a bit more. He wouldn’t let her cut that time short. But first he had to find a way to get through to Josie, to gain control of his farce and make her understand the necessity of his deception. As he neared the boat, he went over many possibilities in his mind.

  Unfortunately, none of them sounded all that brilliant.

  JOSIE HEARD HIS FOOTSTEPS first and froze. Her heartbeat accelerated and she tried to finish fastening her garter, but her fingers didn’t seem to want to work. Stupid undergarment. Why had she chosen such a frivolous thing in the first place? At the time, she certainly hadn’t suspected that anyone would ever know what she wore beneath her suggestive clothes. But it had felt so wickedly sinful to indulge herself anyway. And she’d felt sexy from the inside out. Maybe that had in part given her the courage to do as she pleased last night.

  She would never regret it, but last night was over, and she wanted to be dressed when Bob returned. At first, she’d sat there waiting, just as he’d asked her to. But after a few moments she’d gotten self-conscious. She’d read about the awkward “morning after,” and though she’d never experienced one herself, she knew being dressed would put her in a less vulnerable position. And she needed every advantage if she was to make her grand confession this morning.

  Then suddenly he was there, standing in the small companionway, his hands braced over his head on the frame, looking at her.

  He was such a gorgeous man, and for long moments she simply stared. His jeans, still unbuttoned, rode low on his lean hips and his bare feet were casually braced apart, strong and sturdy. She could see the muscles in his thighs, the tightness of his abdomen.

  His dark hair, mussed from sleep and now wind tossed, hung over one side of his forehead, stopping just above his slightly narrowed, intense dark eyes. He wasn’t muscle-bound, but toned, with an athletic build. Curly hair spread over his chest from nipple to nipple, not overly thick, but so enticing.

  Not quite as enticing as the dark, glossy hair trailing from his navel southward, dipping into his jeans. She knew where that sexy trail of hair led, and how his penis nested inside it. Josie had intimate knowledge of his body now, and she blushed, both with pleasure and uncertainty.

  “You moved.”

  The whispered words caused her to jump, and her gaze shot back to his face, not quite comprehending.

  “You promised you’d stay put, naked in my bed.”

  He sounded accusing and she managed a shaky smile. Though she wasn’t exactly what one would call dressed, with only her stockings, bra and panties on, she still felt obliged to apologize. “I’m sorry. You were gone so long….” Her voice trailed off as he gazed over her body. Feeling too exposed in only her underthings, she shifted nervously. “Bob?”

  She saw him swallow, saw his shoulders tighten and knew he must be gripping the door frame hard. “You have a very sexy belly.”

  “Oh.” She looked down stupidly, but to her, her belly seemed like any other. She cleared her throat. “Is everything okay, then?”

  He hummed a noncommittal reply.

  “Should I take that as a ‘yes’?”

  “What? Oh, yeah, everything’s fine. Just a misunderstanding. Forget about it.” He stepped into the room and knelt before her, and everything inside her shifted and moved in melting excitement.

  He lifted her hands from her thigh, where she’d been fumbling with the garter. Wrapping his long fingers around her wrists like manacles, he caged them on the berth, one on each side of her hips. “I’m not sure last night was real, Josie. I’ve been standing outside, trying to think of what to say, of where we go from here. But to tell you the truth, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to halt time and stay right here alone with you. To hell with the world and work and other people.”

  She started to speak, to tell him even though it was Saturday and she wanted nothing more than to stay with him, she had a few patients she needed to check on. But he leaned forward, releasing her hands so he could cradle her hips. He kissed her navel and her mind went blank. Hot sensation spread through her belly as his tongue stroked, dipped. She wound her fingers into his silky hair and held on.

  “Did you find the head okay?”

  “Hmm?” It took a moment for the whispered question to penetrate, hummed as it was against her skin. The head? Then she remembered that was the nautical term for the toilet. “Yes, yes thank you.”

  “Are you hungry?” He rolled one stocking expertly down her leg while pressing hot kisses to the inside of her knee. “There’s some food in the galley, I think. And coffee.”

  Each whispered word was punctuated with a small damp kiss, over her ribs, her hip bones, between. No, she didn’t want food.

  Gasping, she tried to speak, to tell him, but only managed a moan.

  “Josie, are you sore?” He kissed her open mouth, gently forcing her back until she lay flat on the berth with her legs draped over the edge. He knelt on the floor between her widespread thighs, his hard belly flush against her mound, his chest flattening her breast
s. His fingers trailed over her skin from knee to pelvis and back again, taunting her, making her skin burn with new sensitivity.

  “I’m…fine.”

  Cupping her face to get her full attention, he said, “How is it you were a virgin, sweetheart?”

  She didn’t want to talk about that now. She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to talk about it. She tried to shake her head but he held her still.

  “Josie?”

  Sighing, she considered the quickest, easiest explanation to give. A confession might be appropriate, but she didn’t want it to intrude right now, to possibly halt the moment, which seemed an extension of the night, so therefore still magical. It was all so precious to her, and she wanted to keep it close, to protect it.

  “I started college young, when I was barely seventeen.” She drew a shuddering breath, speech difficult with him so close. “I’ve always been something of an overachiever, which always made Susan proud. But because I was young, and she had to be mother as well as sister, she naturally kept an extraclose eye on me. Not that it was necessary. My studies were so time-consuming, I didn’t have room for much socializing anyway. We had clinicals at seven o’clock most mornings, plus the regular classwork. It took all my concentration to get my BSN.”

  “And since college?”

  She shrugged. “I spent two years working in a hospital, then two years gaining home health-care experience so I could open my own business. There were so many federal and state licenses to get, so much red tape, again I had little time for anything else. Now I work with the elderly. The…opportunity to meet young single men just isn’t there. So, bottom line, I’ve been so wrapped up in getting Home and Heart started, I haven’t had time for dates. And with my job, the dates can’t find me anyway. That is, if they’re even looking.”

  “They’re looking, all right. Trust me.”

  She gave him a smile, which seemed to fascinate him. With gentle fingers he touched and smoothed over her lips, the edge of her teeth. He kissed her—feather light, teasing. She had to struggle to follow their conversation. “Maybe I’m the one who didn’t know where to look, then.”

  He didn’t smile. “But you found me last night?”

  No way would she admit her guise had actually been to discourage and repel him, not after the very satisfying outcome. She feigned a nonchalant shrug. “Susan is always attempting to fix me up with dates. Most of the guys are total duds, at least for what I want out of life.” She smoothed her hands down his back. “But you were perfect.”

  “I’m so glad I was the one.” He pressed his face into her neck and gave her a careful hug. “And I still can’t imagine how a woman as sexy as you remained a virgin for so long.”

  Trying to laugh it off, she said, “I’m discriminating, so it was easy.”

  He licked the smile off her lips. “I want to make love to you again, Josie. I want to be inside you and hear you make those sexy little sounds, feel your nails on my back.”

  For the longest moment, words failed her. Finally she managed, “Me, too.”

  He shook his head. “I need to talk to you first.”

  Josie felt dread at the serious tone of his voice. His brows were lowered, and he looked regretful, almost sad. A slow panic started to build, making her stomach churn and her chest tighten. She tried to sound casual as she made her next suggestion. “Why don’t we save the talking for later?”

  Using his words against him, she dragged her nails slowly, gently, down his spine, holding his gaze, seeing the darkening of lust on his face. She slipped her hands inside his jeans and felt his firm, smooth buttocks.

  “Josie…”

  It sounded like a warning, which thrilled her. “Do you really want to see me again?”

  “Damn right.”

  Slowly his hips began the pressing rhythm she’d grown accustomed to last night. Even through his jeans, she felt the heat of it, the excitement.

  She could hardly believe he was still so very interested—it simply wasn’t the reaction from men that she was used to. She wasn’t about to give up such an opportunity. “How about Sunday? We could get together to talk then. Right now, I’m not at all sure I can listen.” She had some morning calls to make, but the rest of her day would be free, and tomorrow was soon enough for confessions, soon enough to see her fantasy end.

  With his lips against her ear, he whispered, “Just give me a time.”

  “Noon.”

  “I think I can manage to wait until then.” He raised up to look at her. One hand cupped her cheek, the other cupped her breast, plying it gently. She drew in a long shuddering breath and his fingers stroked her nipple while he watched her face, judging her reaction. “But remember, Josie.” He pinched her lightly and she moaned. “It’s your idea to wait to talk until then. Promise me.”

  Struggling to follow his logic and his conversation, she said, “I promise.”

  He kissed her then, and they both knew she hadn’t a clue as to what she’d just promised. They also knew, at the moment, it didn’t matter.

  “MAYBE YOU SHOULD call your sister.”

  Nick gazed at Josie from across the cab of the truck. She looked sleepy and sated, and he wanted to turn around and take her back to the boat. Damn, he’d never met a woman who affected him so strongly. But he had promised Bob.

  He reached down and picked up the receiver in his truck, then handed it to her. “Here. Why don’t you call her now?”

  “A car phone?”

  “Hey, we’re a growing company. We have to stay up-to-date.”

  She smiled, that beautiful killer smile that showed all her innocence and her repressed sensuality. All for him. He couldn’t remember ever sleeping with a virgin before. Even his first time had been with an older, experienced girl. Somehow Josie didn’t epitomize the squeamish, whimpering image of a virgin he’d always carried in his mind. He eyed the miniskirt and high heels she wore, and grinned. No, she was far from any woman he’d ever known, but she was exactly what he might have visualized in an ideal fantasy.

  Before she could use the phone, he took her wrist. “I’ve been thinking.”

  She politely waited for him to continue, and he cleared his throat, praying for coherent words to come through. “Last night took me by surprise, Josie.”

  “Me, too.”

  Damn, that soft, husky tone of hers. He felt his body stir and cursed himself for being ruled by his libido. It was brains he needed now, and a little old reliable charm.

  “What we’ve done, I know it’s out of the norm for you, but I want you to know it wasn’t exactly the typical conclusion to one of my dates, either. I’m not in the habit of having sex with women I barely know.”

  He peered at her, trying to judge her reaction to his words, but her eyes were downcast, her hands gripping the phone in her lap.

  “You’re beautiful, Josie. I want to see you and make love to you again, but other people might not understand.”

  Her head snapped up. “Susan said you were conservative, but… You’re dumping me because of what other people would think?”

  The truck almost swerved off the road. “No! That’s not what I’m saying at all. I just don’t want us to…share what we’ve done. I don’t want the world and its narrow-minded views to intrude.”

  She frowned, apparently thinking it over. “You want to keep our relationship a secret?”

  Damn, why couldn’t he have said it so simply? He couldn’t recall ever stammering over his words this way. “Would you mind? At least for a little while?”

  A shy grin tilted the corners of her mouth. “No. Actually I was wondering what in the world I was going to tell Susan. She wanted us to hit it off, but I’m certain this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind.”

  He tipped his head in agreement. Susan would want to cut his heart out, he had no doubt. “You’re probably right.”

  “I’m not ashamed that we were together, but she’d never understand or approve.”

  He stiffened, already anticipatin
g Susan’s interference. “Do you need her approval?”

  “No, of course not. But it’s important to me because she’s important to me. If she knew where I was last night, she’d be upset. She would never judge me harshly, but she’d worry endlessly and I’d never hear the end of it. I’d like to avoid that.”

  He’d like to avoid it, too. At least until he got everything straightened out.

  Cautious now, he made a necessary suggestion. “You could tell her we didn’t hit it off, and that you canceled. From what you told me, that shouldn’t surprise her. And then she wouldn’t ask you tons of questions that you’d feel awkward answering.”

  Laughing, she punched in her sister’s number. “No, she won’t be surprised. It’s what I usually do. But I can’t outright lie to her. That wouldn’t be right.”

  Before he could say anything more, Susan had answered, and even Nick could hear her frantic voice booming over the line. He kept one eye on the road, and one eye on Josie. He half expected his cover to be blown at any moment. Then Josie would look at him with those big green eyes. She’d detest him and his damn deception and she’d forget her promise to let him explain on Sunday.

  But Josie grinned and her look was conspiratorial as she explained to Susan that she’d had a change of plans last night—an understatement if there ever was one—but that she was perfectly fine.

  “I’ve asked you to stop worrying about me, Susan. Please. I’m a big girl now. If I choose to stay out late, or to unplug my phone, that’s my own business. You can’t panic every time I don’t answer one of your calls.”

  Nick reached across the seat and took her hand. She hadn’t lied, but she’d hinted at an untruth, and he suddenly felt terrible for putting her in such a position. As Susan claimed, he was a reprobate; lying came naturally to him. But they were never lies that hurt anyone, and he’d never lie to his grandfather, the only close family he had. Yet he’d forced Josie into a corner. He’d find a way to make it up to her, all of it.