by Lori Foster
Damn but she’d done the dumbest thing. She’d fallen in love with Nick Harris, lady-killer, womanizer extraordinaire. Confirmed bachelor. Nick would probably never want a permanent relationship. And he might even see her forgetfulness with the condom as a deliberate ploy to snare him. So far, their time together had been spent on her wants, her needs, her demands. She’d gone on ordering him to show her a good time, on her schedule, without real thought to what he might want. But she knew; he wanted no ties, no commitments, a brief fling. She swallowed hard, feeling almost sick.
Now everything was threatened. If she hadn’t pushed things today, the mishap might never have happened.
She realized where her thoughts had led her and she couldn’t quite stifle a giggle. A possible pregnancy was far more than a mere mishap.
Nick lifted his head to try to see her face. “What tickles you now, woman? I hope you don’t have more lascivious thoughts in your head, because I swear, I need at least an hour to recoup.” The boat rocked with the storm and she could hear the rumble of thunder overhead. Nick held her closer. “I’m personally amazed that my poor heart continues to beat with the strain it’s been under.”
Josie kissed his collarbone. He didn’t sound upset with her. So maybe now was the best time to find out if he planned to blame her. She didn’t think she’d be able to sleep tonight if she had to worry about it. “Nick, I’m so sorry I forgot…myself. I should have been more responsible.”
His hands on her back stilled just a moment, then he gave a huge sigh, nearly heaving her off his chest. “It probably won’t even be an issue, Josie. But if it is, we’ll figure something out together, okay?”
“I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured. Or to think I did this deliberately.”
“Hey—” he brought her face close to his and kissed her “—you’re new at this. I’m the one who should have known better. I’ve never forgotten before, not that it matters now. But like I said, I’ve never felt quite this way before.”
She wanted to ask him what way, but only said, “You’re truly not angry?”
He smiled. “I’m not angry. Hell, I’m not even all that worried.” His hand smoothed down her back to her bottom and he rolled to his side, keeping her close. They were nose to nose, and he yawned as if ready to sleep. “And I don’t want you to worry, either. If anything comes of it, then we’ll worry. But in the meantime, don’t fret. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, but didn’t feel completely reassured. Nick had never mentioned anything permanent between them, no matter how she’d wished it, and a baby would certainly be permanent. He was right, though. Worrying now was ridiculous. A waste of energy.
“Why don’t you get this dress off, honey? You can’t be comfortable like that.”
She followed his gaze to where her dress was twisted around her upper arms and under her breasts. Her body was so numb with her release, she hadn’t even noticed the restriction. She untied the belt, popped open the one button and slid it off. Nick took the dress from her and tossed it from the bed.
“That’s better.” He pulled her against his chest and closed his eyes once again. “Now let me sleep so I can recoup myself. There’s the little matter of a payback for me to attend to, and I’ll need some strength to see that the job’s done properly.”
To Josie’s immense surprise, her body tingled in anticipation. She supposed she just had more stamina than Nick, because she was already looking forward to the payback.
NICK LOOKED AROUND the crowded room and wondered what the hell he was doing there. He’d get no time alone with Josie tonight. Every couch and chair was filled with an elderly person, and even standing room was limited. He’d barely gotten the door open and squeezed in past the loiterers.
He scanned the room, looking for Josie and trying to avoid all the prying eyes peering over the rims of their bifocals. It had been over a week since he’d seen her, a week since he’d given her control and she’d used it to drive him to distraction. But she hadn’t tried in any way to abuse that control. She hadn’t breached his privacy, crowded him in any way. He wanted to talk to her, damn it, but he doubted he’d get much private time with her here.
He headed toward the kitchen, hoping to find Josie there, and ran headlong into Susan. He caught her arms to steady her and accepted her severe frown. “Susan,” he said by way of greeting.
“I want to talk to you.”
He looked at her hands, which were behind her back.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Checking for concealed weapons. I want to make sure verbal abuse is all you have in mind.” He flashed her a grin, which only made her stiffen up that much more. Damn prickly woman.
“What are you doing here?”
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “That was going to be my question to you.”
“I was invited!”
“And you think I snuck in through the bathroom window?”
Her face went red and she looked around the room, then took his arm and dragged him a short distance down the hall. “You’ve been seeing my sister some time now.”
“And?”
“And you’ve had ample time to decide if you’re serious about her or not. I don’t want you to keep toying with her.”
He thought of how Josie had toyed with him on the boat and couldn’t quite repress his grin. To avoid replying to her statement, he asked, “How’s Bob?”
Susan blushed. “He’s…fine, I guess.”
“You haven’t seen him lately?”
“I’m still angry because he lied to me, letting you work on my campaign when he knew how I felt about that.”
“Yes, you weren’t exactly subtle.” Before she could blast him, he added, “He cares about you, you know. He just didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“He lied to me.”
“Only so you wouldn’t go away. But I’m thinking it might have been better if you had. If you don’t care about him…”
She narrowed her eyes at him and almost snarled. “I didn’t say that.”
“Ah, so you only want him to suffer? This is one of those female games, meant to prove a point?”
She flushed, which to Nick’s mind revealed her guilty conscience. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I was planning to talk to him about it tonight. He’s here at the party.”
Nick felt his jaw go slack. “You’re kidding?”
“No.” Then she flapped her hand. “Josie insisted. She’s got some harebrained scheme to get me and Bob all made up.”
“Is it working?”
She chewed her lip. “I suppose. Josie already explained Bob’s reasons for the deception. In a way, even I understand them. And I hate to admit it, but you really are very talented.”
Nick’s grin was slow, and then he laughed full out, placing one widespread hand on his chest. “Be still, my heart.”
Susan looked like she wanted to clout him. “The thing is, I don’t know how to figure you anymore. Mrs. Wiley has been singing your praises ever since I got here. You’re doing her work gratis, aren’t you?”
“Our arrangement is private.”
“Hogwash. Mrs. Wiley is telling anyone who’ll listen what a dear boy you are.” Susan stepped closer, causing Nick to back up until he hit the wall. “Well, dear boy, I want to know what your intentions are toward my sister.”
Nick opened his mouth with no idea what he was going to say to Susan. Thankfully they were both sidetracked by his grandfather’s booming voice coming from the living room. When Nick looked in that direction, he saw his grandfather standing next to Mrs. Wiley. He looked happy and he kept whispering in her ear, making her smack playfully at his arm. Nick shook his head in wonder.
“Your grandfather is charming.”
“Ain’t he though?”
“He’s also very taken with Josie. He told me she’s been out to see him twice this week.”
That surprised him. No one had said a word to him, and his curiosity immed
iately swelled. What had they talked about? Him, no doubt. But what specifically? And where was Josie anyway? He needed to escape Susan’s clutches. She wanted explanations, but he had no idea what to tell her. His arrangement with Josie was private; it was up to Josie to explain things to her nosy sister.
He nodded toward his grandfather. “I should go over and say hello.”
“No need. He’s headed this way.” Susan gave him a searing look. “You and I will talk again later.” With that rather blatant threat, she dismissed herself.
“Well, boy, about time you got here.”
“I really didn’t expect you to show, Granddad.” Nick saw how Mrs. Wiley clung to his arm, and he couldn’t help but wonder what his grandfather had been up to. Not since Jeb had been widowed years before had he shown interest in any woman.
“Josie brought me. Which reminds me, I’ve been meaning to speak to you about her.”
Dropping back against the wall with a resigned sigh, Nick prepared himself for another lecture, but his grandfather wasn’t quite as restrained as Susan. The man had a way of making his feelings known on a subject and he didn’t cut any corners. Mrs. Wiley stood beside him, nodding her agreement at his every word.
“If you have half the brains in that handsome head of yours that I’ve always given you credit for, you’ll tie that little girl up right and tight and make sure she doesn’t get away.”
Attempting to ignore Mrs. Wiley’s presence—not an easy thing to do in the best of circumstances—Nick tried to stare his grandfather down. “We’ve had this discussion before, remember?”
“Damn right I do. But this is different.” Jeb’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t one of those other women. I like Josie.”
“Granddad…”
“So what’s it to be, boy? What exactly do you have planned here?” He raised his hand as if to ward off any insult. “I only ask because I hate to see you ruin things for yourself.”
Nick looked across the room and found so many eyes boring into him, he flushed. With the music playing, no one could hear their conversation, but he had the feeling every one of them knew he’d just been chastised, and why.
How the hell had he gotten himself into this predicament? And how could he tell his grandfather that he didn’t know what his plans were because he didn’t know what Josie’s were? She had insisted their time together be temporary, no strings, simple fun. Of course, he’d never betray her by saying so.
He ran a hand through his hair and silently cursed. He didn’t like being bullied, not even by his grandfather. “Right now, my plans are to find Josie and tell her hello. So if you’ll both excuse me…?”
He stepped away and heard Mrs. Wiley say, “Youth. They can be so pigheaded.”
Jeb laughed. “He reminds me of myself at his age.”
Mrs. Wiley cooed, “Oh, really?” There was a great deal of interest in her tone.
Nick finally found Josie in the kitchen. Once again, she took him by surprise with her appearance. He’d seen the sexy, femme fatale, the disheveled homemaker, the harried working woman…. Now she was the sweet girl next door. She wore a long tailored plaid skirt and flat oxford shoes. Her short-sleeve sweater fit her loosely.
She looked like a schoolgirl.
He grinned at the image and wondered what games he could come up with using that theme. She hadn’t noticed his entrance. She seemed preoccupied, though she wasn’t serving any particular function that he could tell. She stood at the counter, surveying the items Mrs. Wiley had laid out in a large display. Without disturbing her, Nick looked, too. There was an assortment of fancy bottled lotions, scented candles in various sizes, pink light bulbs and music meant to entice. He thought of the advertisement he had planned and felt good. He hoped Josie would be pleased.
He slipped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “Thinking of buying anything?”
She jerked against him and gasped. “Nick, for heaven’s sake, you startled me.”
He could feel her tension, her immediate withdrawal. His jaw tightened. Trying to dredge up an air of nonchalance, he asked, “What do you think I should buy?”
“You don’t have to buy anything. You didn’t even need to show up.”
She’d shown so much reluctance to have him there, he’d perversely insisted on attending. And to ensure success, he’d gone to Mrs. Wiley. He didn’t like being excluded from parts of Josie’s life. Usually, women tried to reel him in, not push him away. He didn’t like Josie’s emotional distance; it made him almost frenzied with need.
“Of course I’ll buy something,” he said while searching her face for a clue to her thoughts, but she was closed off to him. “Besides, I needed to be here to try to get a feel for the market I’ll be appealing to. And I think I’ve come up with just the thing.”
Slowly she started to pull away from him. He pretended not to notice. “Josie?”
Her smile was dim. “Tell me your plan.”
He kissed her nose, her cheek. He couldn’t be near her without wanting to touch her. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. “I don’t think so, not yet. I’ll run my idea past Mrs. Wiley first. If she likes it, I’ll let you know.”
“I hate it when you’re secretive.”
She sounded so disgruntled that he kissed her again. He didn’t want to stop kissing her, but he heard the sounds of the party in the other room and pulled back. Josie would be embarrassed to be caught necking in the kitchen. “How long do we need to stay here?”
If possible, she looked even more uncomfortable. “I’ll be here till late. I want to help clean up afterward.”
“I can help, too.”
“No!” She looked at him then backed away. “No, you should head on home. I don’t know how long it will take and there’s no reason to waste your entire night.”
Waste his night? His teeth nearly ground together as he pulled her close again. He tried to sound only mildly curious. Teasing. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Her head thumped against his breastbone, which offered not one ounce of reassurance.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Josie?”
“The thing is,” she said, her face still tucked close to his throat, “I’m a little indisposed tonight.”
“Indisposed?” She was giving him the brush-off? Had she already found another man to experiment with? Anger and a tinge of fear ignited. He ignored the fear, refusing to even acknowledge it. “What the hell does that mean?”
He could almost hear her thinking, and it infuriated him. “Damn it, Josie, will you look at me?” It seemed so long since he’d seen her, anything could have happened. Her sister could have gotten to her, or his grandfather. Hell, it seemed all the odds were against him. His blood burned and he knew there was no way he’d allow her to go to another man. Not that he had any authority over her, but…
“I can’t have any fun with you tonight.”
She blurted that out, then stared at him, waiting. He had the feeling he was supposed to understand, but damned if he did.
Josie rolled her eyes. She turned her back on him and began straightening the items on the counter, even though they were already in perfect alignment. Nick thought she wasn’t even aware of what she did. He felt ridiculous.
“Honey, I’d really like an explana—”
“I’m not pregnant, okay?”
He stilled, letting her words sink in and slotting them with everything else she’d said so far. Realization dawned. On the heels of that came a vague disappointment that he quickly squelched. “You’re on your period?”
She gave him a narrow-eyed glare that could have set fire to dry grass.
“Josie, honey, for crying out loud, I’m thirty-two years old. I understand how women’s bodies work. You don’t have to act like it’s some big embarrassment.” He knew he sounded harsh, but in the back of his mind had been the possibility that she’d be tied to him, that he might have compromised her and in the process produced some lasting results. He’d never even considered su
ch a thing before, and he hadn’t really consciously thought about it until now. But he couldn’t deny the damning truth of what he felt: disappointment.
“Well, then, given your worldly experience, I’m sure you understand that there’s no point in us seeing each other tonight.” She started to march away, but he caught her arm and swung her back around.
These overwhelming emotions were new to him, and he held her close so she couldn’t see his expression or wiggle away. “I’d still like to see you tonight.”
She forced her way back to look at him. “You’re kidding?”
“No, I’m not kidding, damn it.” He’d never had to beg for a date before. He didn’t like the feeling. “I can settle for a late movie and conversation if you can.”
She looked undecided and his annoyance grew. After what seemed an undue amount of thought, given the simplicity of his suggestion, she nodded. “All right.”
He propped his hands on his hips. Her compliance had been grudging at best and it irked him. “Fine. And in the future, don’t be so hesitant about discussing things with me. I don’t like not knowing what you’re thinking.”
He waited to see if she would question his reference to the future. Their time together, according to her preposterous plan, was limited. At first, he’d been relieved by her edicts. But now, whenever he thought of that stipulation, his body and mind rebelled. Every day he wanted her more.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind” was all she said. She picked up the tray of drinks and started for the door. Nick took one last peek at the display, decided his ad plan would be perfect and went in search of Mrs. Wiley. If everything worked out as he hoped, not only would Mrs. Wiley be able to expand her client list, Josie would also get some freed-up time.
Her dedication to the elderly who’d become her friends was admirable and he’d never interfere with her friendships. He wanted to support her in everything she did, everything she ever wanted to do. But now he wanted her to have more time for him, too. A lot more time.