Bachelor's Special

by Christine Warner

  He slid his opened menu around until it faced her. “No way. You can’t come to The Burger Bar without trying something new. Come on,” he teased, lifting the menu and dancing it in front of her face. “Be adventurous.”

  Jill pushed the menu away, laughing at the playful expression filling Chet’s face. His lips twitched, his eyes sparkled, and his good mood jumped off him to envelop her. Why not? Why couldn’t they eat out and have some fun. She’d been so focused on her problems the last year, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out and just let herself get caught up in the moment without worrying about tomorrow.

  “Are you feeling spicy, sweet, double the meat including bacon? They got whatever you’re craving.”

  He practically drooled as he talked, and she couldn’t control her laughter. She studied the menu, her mouth watering as she read the descriptions on the menu. “What are you getting?”

  “I’ve had them all, but my favorite is the Juicy Lucy.”

  “The one where they seam together two patties with piles of cheese between them?”

  “The best.” Chet licked his lips. “Of course the Mexican burger is another favorite, but you’ll need lots to drink to keep down the fire. I also think you might like to try—”

  “Hold up, I don’t think you can actually choose a favorite.”

  Chet flew the flimsy napkin airplane he’d made toward her and grinned. “I think you might be right.”

  His boyish charm melted her reserve. She picked up the napkin and tossed it back in his direction, hitting him on the forehead. Jill liked their playfulness. A night as friends wasn’t as difficult as she’d anticipated. Of course, Chet made having fun easy.

  The waitress appeared and placed two glasses of ice water before them. “Hey, Chet, you want the usual, or do you want to try Jeff’s special? He’s experimenting, and if it goes well he’ll be adding this new burger to the menu.”

  “Details, Carrie?”

  Jill got caught up in the laughter as Carrie dished out the ingredients for Jeff’s latest creation and Chet rubbed his stomach, teasing Carrie with outrageous questions.

  “Stop it, Chet. If you get me laughing too much Jeff is going to think we’re making fun of his cooking.” Carrie cleared her throat, trying to look serious. “Now let me finish, after all of the normal burger fixins’, he tops it off with coleslaw, French fries, and three onion rings before putting on the top bun.” Carrie pulled her pencil from behind her ear, raising her brow in question for their orders.

  “I’ll take it.” Chet snapped his menu closed.

  “What about you?” Carrie smiled at Jill. “If this is your first time here, I recommend the Juicy Lucy. It’s worth the mess.”

  “Let’s do it.” Jill closed her menu and grabbed Chet’s to put them both back in the rack.

  Carrie made off with their orders, returning minutes later with the two chocolate shakes Chet insisted on and a caddy filled with extra condiments.

  Jill flicked her finger along the edge of the whipped topping on her shake and savored the taste. “While we have a minute, I’d like to discuss the dinner party next week.”

  Chet lifted his hand to stop her. “Not tonight. Tonight, let’s just have fun. I had a rough day at work, you’ve been tied to the kitchen all week. We both need to relax.”

  “I can handle that.” Jill sank back into her seat. She lifted her shake and took a long draw on the straw. “Mmm. If their shake is anything to go by, their burgers are going to be out of this world.”

  “You have no idea, Jill. Be prepared to use two hands and at least five napkins. And be prepared fast because here comes our food.”

  Jill swallowed hard as she looked at the huge burger front and center on her plate. “I’m not sure I can eat half of that, let alone squishing it down flat enough to take a bite.”

  Chet laughed. “I know you’ll give it your best shot.”

  “Well, failure isn’t an option, is it?” Jill chuckled and made a show of stretching out her arms and flexing her fingers. “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck.”

  Jill picked up her burger and bit down into the soft bun and juicy meat. She couldn’t stop herself from chewing and laughing at the same time as she reached for a handful of napkins to wipe up the massive amount of cheese oozing from the center of the burger and working its way down her chin.

  “I knew you could do it. What do you think?” Chet asked around his laughter.

  “I think the Juicy Lucy has a new fan.” She peeled back the top of the bun, squirted on a mound of mustard, and dove in for another taste.

  “Next time you’ll have to try the Mexican burger.”

  “I’m game. Aren’t you going to try yours?” She dropped her burger onto her plate and opened one of the many wet napkins Carrie had piled on the table. Jill cleaned her fingers before grabbing a fry.

  Chet pressed down the center of his bun with his palm. Before he lifted his burger, he reached across the table to take her hand in his. “Thanks, Jill.”

  “For what?”

  “For coming out with me tonight. I really needed to forget about work.”

  Jill didn’t want to press for details and spoil the mood. Her feet did a happy dance beneath the table, and she squeezed his fingers before pulling away. “I’m glad you asked.”

  Ah, Sunday. A day of relaxation by the pool. Jill floated on the blow-up raft, the glaring pink plastic a startling contrast to the blue water. She wiggled her fingertips in the cool water, a humid breeze blew across her skin, and the scorching sun beat down on her flesh. Life couldn’t be any better.

  She adjusted her oversized pink sunglasses and closed her eyes. Birds chirped in the background and the wind danced along the trees, rustling the leaves, a calming sound. In the distance a well-tuned lawnmower buzzed, and she inhaled deep, hoping to catch the scent of freshly cut grass. Nope, must be too far away. There were no neighbors nearby, so Chet’s groundskeeper must be working a distant section. Though she’d never laid eyes on the person in charge of yard upkeep, it had to be a full-time job.

  “You look like a fifties ad for a pool installation company.”

  Her heart jumped to her throat, but she swallowed it down and lifted her glasses to peer out from beneath them.

  Chet—shirtless no less. Damn. His broad chest filled her vision. She lingered over his well-defined pecs, which flexed whenever he moved. His biceps bulged as he gripped each end of the towel flung around his neck.

  Hadn’t his calendar noted he’d be gone today? They had a great time eating out as friends, but she didn’t want to tempt fate and had avoided him the last couple of days.

  “I thought your family had their Sunday lunch?” Her smile held steady, but her heart wasn’t so easy to control.

  “Canceled. Jared and Mel planned a company picnic for his Castle Real Estate employees and he forgot to tell Mom, so we’ll meet up next week.”

  For some reason it fit her tidy picture of Chet to think of him as an enigma unto himself, an only child. Even thinking of him having parents seemed odd. Someone so powerful was just placed on the planet, right?

  They shared a smile again and her knees would’ve buckled if she hadn’t been lying back on her floaty chair.

  “I still find it hard to believe the fashion-conscious, fast-talking, ditzy, redhead Melody is your friend.”

  “Yep.” She grinned at his perfect description. “I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection between you and Jared the night we met.”

  “Of course, I’m the better looking one.” He winked.

  “Hands down.” Jill dropped her sunglasses back onto her nose. Had she said that aloud?

  Her body hummed as his smile wavered. Although he wore sunglasses, she’d bet her last dollar his gaze swept across her chest, lingering on the betrayal of her pert nipples pushing against the fabric of her suit.

  Until this moment, shyness had never been a trait she possessed. Air stalled in her lungs, her palms grew sweaty, a
nd she itched to cover herself with a towel. Even though her replica vintage swimsuit hid more than most sets of women’s underwear, she felt too exposed. She turned to the side slightly and folded her legs up. Not that it helped, but it made her feel a bit less exposed.

  Chet slid his feet from his sandals, brushing a hand through his hair. The heat from the sun wasn’t the only thing scorching her skin. She trickled several droplets of water over her arms, but she couldn’t drag her focus from his toned flesh.

  Jill soaked in his ripped abs and the obvious package of goodies covered by his brown swimsuit—the same sexy brown as his hair. Damn, did a man have a right to fill out a pair of swimming trunks like that? Flecks of hair, just enough to give him a manly appeal, covered the etched muscles of his long, tan legs.

  She licked her lips, hoping she could still speak. “Do you want some privacy?” Yes, say yes. She needed an excuse to make an escape without coming off like someone desperate to be making an exit.

  …

  Hell no, he didn’t want privacy. Through the shield of his sunglasses, he inspected her body from the tips of her pink-painted toenails to the top of her brightly flowered swimming cap. Did people still actually wear those things? “No, you look comfortable. Stay and enjoy the day.”

  “Oh…are you sure?”

  “Sure.”

  Amazed at his own ability to talk without his tongue hitting the cement, Chet turned to throw his towel and sunglasses on a nearby lounge chair. Damn.

  The red and white polka-dot halter-style suit featured a tight bodice, but her slender hips and shapely thighs hiding beneath a matching skirt grabbed his attention until all oxygen left his blood. Even showing less skin than the average girl on the beach, she far exceeded sexy and alluring.

  Get a grip, Castle. She’s off limits, no matter how delectable.

  He turned and stepped onto the diving board. He bounced along the surface as he made his way over the water. When he looked at Jill’s bathing cap covering her head, he held back his grin. The neon rubber flowers reminded him of something his grandmother would’ve worn, but there the similarity ended. Everything beneath that cap was far from making him think of Grandma.

  When he hit the water, the coolness didn’t alleviate the heat coursing through his veins. Swimming beneath the surface, he made his way to her raft and flipped it over. He might be asking for trouble, but he didn’t care. Whatever sizzled between them wouldn’t be squashed. This attraction had grown out of control—and he hated and loved the pull she had over him at the same time. A little flirtatious play was allowed. After all, they were both of age.

  They surfaced at the same time, laughing. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Hers clung to his shoulders, palms resting on his collarbone. She smelled of pool water and sunshine. For a brief moment he looked below the water’s surface at her sunglasses sinking to the bottom. He trailed one thumb across her eyes to clear away the water clinging to her lashes. She smiled up at him and that twinge—the one invading his groin with increasing frequency as of late—pushed against his swim trunks in force.

  Together they bobbed in the deep end, their legs working beneath the water to keep them afloat. Her fingers moved along his collarbone to grip his shoulders, and he realized he’d just made a huge mistake.

  This woman probably had no idea of the power she exuded over him. He’d sworn to himself he’d stay away from her sexually. The only thing they could share was friendship, and the other night had shown him Jill could be his friend. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had such innocent fun with a woman. But damn, friendship didn’t stop him from fantasizing about something more.

  Back off, Castle. He couldn’t become involved, especially after she’d told him about her experiences with those other men who should’ve acted like her bosses but failed. Chet was a “love-’em-and-leave-’em” type of guy and she was a “for keeps” kind of girl. He had to remember that.

  What the hell had he been thinking? How could he indulge in a little water play and not get turned on?

  Their bodies stilled. He tried to release her and pull away, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him in. Her legs surrounded his mid section and she crushed her mouth to his.

  He froze and they sank below the surface, the rush of water swelling around them. He slid his hands around her back, pulling her into his chest. His rough fingers flowed over her soft skin and hundreds of tiny bubbles rose to the surface of the pool when she sighed. He plunged his tongue inside her mouth to mingle with her own. Their bodies swirled beneath the waters, tongues dancing their own dance, the soft skin of her legs rubbing along his lower back. Sensual longing blazed his center, made him ache for what he shouldn’t let happen but was powerless to control.

  Drowning. Drowning in passion and want and need. His foot touched the bottom of the pool and he pushed upward, carrying them toward the surface. As they broke past the barrier of the water, their lips curved into small smiles, but they didn’t break connection.

  “I want you.”

  Did she just say that?

  Chapter Nine

  Oh my God, did I say that aloud?

  Jill opened one eyelid. Chet’s eyebrows rose and, judging by the crinkles around his eyes, yep, she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. No getting out of it now. Not that she wanted to. Women could make the first move, be aggressive. Right? Her belly flipped.

  Neither spoke. His hands slid over her backside like she’d been dipped in baby oil. Prickles of heat invaded every pore, then shot to her center. Every time she was within a mile of this guy, she lit on fire. Being submerged in water didn’t douse the flames.

  He’d been right when he pegged her as no wallflower, but come on. Her scorecard, as Mel called it, consisted of a few dalliances in the backseat of an old Lincoln Town Car with her high school boyfriend. They’d shared a few episodes of three-minute-sex before they’d parted ways.

  Then she’d dated an ex-football player who’d shown her what a good time he could have in the bedroom. She had to concentrate to become aroused, usually picturing a hunky movie star in the jock’s place. That didn’t make for hot, crazy sex.

  No concentration needed here.

  Just go with the flow, girl. You’ve hit the jackpot. Although she had limited experience, she got the feeling this thing between them was rare. A good thing.

  But how could she let anything more continue with Chet? He was her boss. If only she’d told Mel in the beginning that the man she intended to fix her up with wasn’t a stranger—at least not in the physical sense. Hell, it was just a kiss. Don’t fool yourself; the touching of your lips to his was a hell of a lot more than the average kiss. Instead she’d allowed Mel to convince her that what she needed to get her mind off her troubles was a fun night out. A date.

  Now here she sat—or in this case, floated…

  Chet’s hands slid along the length of her back. His breath fanned her face and she trembled back to the present. Lust took over, and she didn’t fight it. She sucked in a gulp of air. “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  He actually looked stunned.

  “I said I want you.” She licked her lips. Her pulse soared when his eyes darkened as he followed her movements.

  His grin spread. “I wasn’t sure if I said that or you.”

  “It was so definitely me.”

  “But what about—”

  She pressed her forefinger to his lips. “You said it yourself. We’re both adults, we both feel the attraction. Let’s go with it.”

  With no thought beyond the moment, she pressed against him and grazed his lips. Once, twice, she moved over his mouth in a soft caress before he pulled her in for a tight kiss. Their bodies became one pliant length. So close and so wrapped around each other, even a drop of water would be hard pressed to find its way between them.

  Oh my God! I’m either going to die of a heart attack or wake up—I opt for the heart attack.

  His hand slid underneath the waistband
of her suit to cup her rear.

  Her heart pounded against her chest so hard, she feared it’d burst through her sternum. She slid one palm down his pecs, marveling at the frantic pace of his pulse. At least she wasn’t in this alone. No, you should never swim alone.

  Her mind fogged over as she sank into the sensations he awakened. His fingers rubbed, caressed, tugged, and pulled in the nicest of ways. So lost, she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the prickles climbing her skin.

  Velvet heat bathed her from the inside out. Somehow they’d moved into the shallow end of the pool. The constraint of the pool’s smooth side on her back and Chet pressing against her front sent shots of heat—with a heady dose of anticipation—straight to the spot between her legs.

  He abandoned her lips to blaze a trail across her jaw, and she released a whimpered moan. His mouth enflamed her skin as he worked his way to lave attention on her earlobe, causing her veins to explode with bursts of fireworks. He tantalized her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. His mouth trailed lower, setting the skin at the base of her throat on fire when he stopped to linger over her crazy pulse.

  Unable to move, she held his shoulders in a tight grip. To breathe or not to breathe. Quick and shallow gasps escaped her lips as his fingers glided over her bare skin.

  Bare skin?

  Not sure how or when, but he’d managed to strip her naked. He was her boss all right—the boss of her arousal. She trailed her fingers down his torso, reveling in the divided muscles of his abs, downward further in search of the elastic waist of his trunks. Only to find a steel rod wrapped in silk.

  Damn, he was good. He’d managed to blindly remove her clothes and his as well. She was in the presence of a master.

  She slid her finger from the head of his sex down the shaft. With a tentative testing, she wrapped her palm around his hardness. The power he emitted filled her, grew in need, and ignited her own arousal. When he jerked from the pressure of her hand, the pit of her stomach ached and trembled.