Since she was unable to have children on her own…having guardianship of Callie had been the closest to being a parent that she’d probably ever get.
As much as she’d enjoyed caring for her niece, what she’d miss most of all was being married to Mack. She’d known going into it that it would only be temporary, but now that the time had come…
Mack took her hand in his, as if he sensed her feelings. He still seemed so guarded, though, so clear in his statements about their relationship coming to an end. Somehow, despite her best efforts, she’d gotten completely enmeshed in their marriage, while Mack hadn’t.
Had she imagined the bond forming between them? Was the emotional connection they’d formed totally one-sided? Mack was so hard to read. She wished she could understand him based on his actions and not his words, since they were so at odds with each other. He made love to her passionately one moment and talked calmly about getting a divorce the next. What was going on in his mind?
“We’ll be staying at a hotel here in Cabo with you until you’re ready to come back home,” he told Joe. “Callie can stay with us so you can recuperate, if you like.”
“I want my baby here!” Marisol said, panic filling her raw voice.
“We can bring a bassinet and her toys and her formula, maybe a play pen,” Lauren said quickly. She couldn’t imagine being in Marisol’s shoes, not seeing her daughter for so long and then having to be away from her again for even a second.
“Thank you,” Marisol said, smiling at her baby.
Lauren wondered if Mack felt as conflicted about their marriage coming to an end as she did. He didn’t show any sadness on his face. No…he just looked thrilled. Happy to have his best friend and business partner back. He certainly didn’t seem to care that, with Joe now officially alive again, Mack no longer held both halves of the company. Not only had Mack spent a massive amount of money hiring his own private search crew to look for Joe and Marisol, but when they found them, Mack must have realized he’d lose millions of dollars. But he still did it—and he did it all because she had asked him to. He’d never once said anything to show he cared about the money, or the business he’d gained from Joe’s disappearance. All he’d cared about was his friend’s well-being…and hers. If she was trying to gauge his feelings for her based on his actions, that said a lot.
Mack was hardly the self-centered, calculating business man she’d thought he was when she’d first entered into their marriage. The fact that he’d done something that cost him millions, all for her peace of mind and for his friend proved that, without a doubt.
“Wait,” Joe said, stopping them before they left to give them time to reconnect with Callie in private. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but how did you get guardianship of Callie while we were missing?”
Mack laughed. “No big deal. We just had to sign a few papers.”
Lauren groaned inwardly. Apparently that’s all their relationship was to him. Maybe she should pay more attention to his words instead of his actions. If she didn’t, she’d have only herself to blame when he was gone and she was left with a broken heart.
“Sign a few papers?” Joe asked. “To get around the stipulations in the will, you mean?”
“Um,” Lauren said. “Not exactly.”
Marisol paled beneath her tanned skin, recognition dawning in her eyes. “You mean you…got married? To each other?”
Lauren nodded, trying to shrug like it was no big deal, the way Mack obviously saw it. Just signed a few papers, la dee da. No biggie.
Joe whooped with laughter. “Wow, I appreciate you doing what needed to be done for Callie. I really do.”
“What are you laughing about?” Lauren asked.
“Well—it’s about time you two realized you were perfect for each other.”
She looked at Mack. “Perfect for each other?”
A few months ago the last thing she’d have labeled her and Mack was a perfect match. Two business people with their eyes on some distant prize and not each other…at least that’s what they’d been at first.
But things were changing. Or had changed already. She wasn’t sure. She’d always been undeniably attracted to Mack Hansen. But she hadn’t expected to…like him.
“If you don’t want to be together,” Marisol said, “at least you guys don’t have to pretend to be married anymore. That must be a relief.”
“Yes.”
Both Lauren and Mack said it at the same time, matching each other’s flat intonation. She looked at him and he smiled, as if they weren’t casually discussing the end of their marriage.
Oh please. It’s not like it’s a real marriage anyway. So why make a big deal of it?
Right?
Chapter Twelve
Sweat beaded on Mack’s upper lip as he and Lauren waited for the bellboy to take them and their luggage to their suite at Las Ventanas, a huge, gorgeous hotel known as one of the most luxurious in Cabo. Damn, Mexico was hot. But something was…off. He kept feeling like he was missing something.
Callie. Of course, he’d become so used to having the baby around. But she was with her parents—where she belonged.
The hotel sat right on the water’s edge, with wooden chaise lounges covered in soft white mattresses lining the shore, topped by white shade umbrellas. They seemed the perfect spot to spend a lazy afternoon getting a tan. The roof of the reception area appeared to be thatched, although Mack supposed it was more of a stylistic choice than actual…thatch, or whatever they used to make it look like the building’s roof was made of grass.
Butlers wove their way through the tourists, delivering fruity drinks on trays. Lauren was watching them wistfully.
“Do you want a drink? Something with a paper umbrella, perhaps?” he asked, following her gaze.
“No, I was just thinking I’m jealous of these people on vacation. The one and only vacation I’ve taken for myself in the last few years was me staying in Chappaqua and babysitting Callie. And you know how that ended up.”
Mack considered it. “We’re basically on vacation.”
“We are not,” she scoffed. “We flew down here last minute because we had to see Joe and Marisol and let them be with Callie. Not because we wanted a…vacation together.” She said the last words slowly, like they hurt a bit, but then she swallowed and looked back at the ocean.
“Let’s pretend we’re on vacation,” he suggested, warming up to the idea. “Like our honeymoon.”
“Our honeymoon?” she repeated doubtfully.
They followed the bellboy to their ocean front suite. The terrace doors opened out to a secluded private infinity pool and a view of the ocean.
“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed, looking around the rooms. “We have our own kitchen!”
“This can be our pretend honeymoon for a pretend marriage,” he said, tipping the bellboy generously in American dollars. The kid nodded and left, his mumbled “gracias” barely audible.
Yes, a pretend honeymoon, Mack mused. So what if the marriage had been in name only? No reason they couldn’t enjoy one more perk of marriage, a chance to enjoy their connection before she left him…a tropical honeymoon.
She grinned at him and he could tell that worked for her. “Okay.”
“And since it’s our pretend honeymoon,” he continued, “I imagine we won’t have much use for that kitchen.”
Lauren blushed and he realized she probably took that to mean they’d spend the honeymoon in the bedroom.
“I meant…we can eat out, or get room service. I meant we won’t have to cook, that’s all,” he said.
“Of course.”
Her blush deepened and now he was certain she’d mistaken his words. Not that spending the honeymoon in the bedroom was a bad idea.
In fact, it was quite a fine idea.
…
Lauren looked around the lush landscape. She was constantly amazed at the outstanding quality of service you could buy with the right amount of money. Brushing her fingers through her ha
ir in an attempt to detangle it, she went out onto the terrace.
It took every bit of self-control she had to not think about the fact that this would be one of the last times she’d be with Mack. Soon she’d be single again.
How could she go back to that lifestyle after experiencing this? It wasn’t the money that attracted her, either. It was having someone to come home to. Someone who relied on her, like Callie had.
And having someone she could rely on, like Mack. That was nice too.
Somehow, Mack had gone from being simply her brother’s business partner to being a man she couldn’t stop thinking about. A man she wanted to drink wine and eat late dinners with after a long day at work.
A man she wanted to have a pretend honeymoon with. Or a real one…
“Thirsty?” Mack asked, already laying out on one of the lounge chairs facing the water. He’d stripped off his shirt and lay in only his swim briefs and sunglasses.
I’m going to miss you. “Yes.”
He sat up and lifted his sunglasses. “I had something with a paper umbrella brought up for us. Hope you don’t mind.”
A tray with two pink and fruity looking drinks in tall frosty glasses sat on the teak end table.
“Mind? This is perfect,” she laughed, lifting one glass as if to say “cheers!”
Yum. Strawberry Daiquiri. Lauren took another sip and sat on the edge of the other lounge chair. This was exactly what she needed after all the stress she’d been through in the last few weeks.
“Different view than I’m used to,” she said, watching the blue ocean lap at the white sandy beach several yards in front of them.
“I could get used to this,” Mack said. “We should come here again sometime, when the situation is more relaxing.”
Why would he say that when he’d been so nonchalant about ending their marriage? She chose to ignore his suggestion, taking it for the mutterings of a man who hadn’t been out of Manhattan in way too long, except on business trips.
Unless…was it possible he wanted to continue their relationship? Her breath caught.
“I’m going for a swim,” he announced, standing up. “Care to join me?”
His muscles seemed to gleam in the sunlight, and Lauren realized they actually were gleaming, probably courtesy of the complimentary bottle of sunscreen she’d found in the hotel bathroom next to the coconut-scented shampoo and conditioner.
Standing above her as she lay back on the chaise, he seemed even more incredibly tall and powerful. If she hadn’t already seen how easily she could turn him into putty in her hands…well, steel in her hands, actually…she might’ve been intimidated by the sheer size of him.
Instead she felt more turned on than she had since…well, since the last time he’d looked at her like that. His gaze was pure molten heat. The invitation to join him suddenly took on a far more enticing suggestion.
“I’d love to join you,” she said.
Why not? They were having a pretend honeymoon, after all. And this would be one of the last times she’d have the opportunity to indulge in her naughty fantasies about him. Soon, they’d be back in Manhattan, back in the courthouse—and back to being single.
May as well grab the moment while she could.
Lauren smiled up at him, suddenly aware she’d been openly staring at his near-naked body for at least half a minute. In that time, he’d surely guessed what she was thinking.
The evidence of his arousal was easily apparent through his swim briefs. He put his hand out for her and she slowly lifted herself up off the chair, sliding against his powerful torso.
Her nipples tightened, jutting out of her thin T-shirt. She hadn’t thought to change into a bathing suit before coming outside.
“Think anyone can see us?” she asked, looking around. The landscaping made them feel completely alone.
“Let them watch,” Mack said, a smile breaking out on his handsome face.
That face. The strong jaw, the perfect profile…the slight stubble roughening his skin. She was going to miss it.
Don’t think about it.
Mack leaned down, his masculine scent mixing with the salty breeze off the ocean. His lips brushed against hers for a mere second before he kissed her fully, his tongue dancing with hers.
This was all she wanted to think about. This kiss…and where this kiss might end up. She pressed her breasts against his chest, letting him feel the tight buds of her nipples.
“Are you cold?” he teased.
“Actually,” she murmured, her voice low, “I’m—” hot. Hot for you.
But she didn’t say it, it was too cheesy. Instead, she took his hand and guided it up her cotton skirt. His long fingers grazed her panties and she arched against his hand, needing to feel more of him.
Mack kissed her again, so thoroughly she barely noticed what his wandering hand was doing until he’d already pulled her panties away and slid his finger inside her damp heat.
“No, you’re not cold at all now, are you,” he whispered, his voice roughened with desire.
Lauren squirmed against him, needing to feel even more contact with his fingers, his hand. With the rest of him. He slowly withdrew from her and she moaned in disappointment—and then he rubbed a lazy circle around her tender nub, until she felt her most intimate parts swell under his hand, becoming more sensitive with every touch.
She raked her nails across his back as she struggled to hold on, to keep from shattering around him, but he was much too insistent on pleasuring her. Within minutes every muscle in her body tensed and then relaxed in a spasm of ecstasy as she melted.
His kiss muffled her cry of passion.
“Come into the pool,” he said, smiling at her as she caught her breath.
What had just happened? Had he really just played with her body until she climaxed, and then went right back to what they’d been talking about before?
If her entire being wasn’t thoroughly revved up, every nerve tingling with awareness, she could have convinced herself she’d merely fantasized about it. But the devilish grin on Mack’s face proved otherwise.
“I’m not wearing a swimsuit,” she protested.
“Then I won’t either.” With that, he stripped off his swimsuit. “It was getting uncomfortably tight,” he said dryly.
His erection stood straight out, almost angling upwards, so hard it looked painful. The tip glistened with his arousal, matching her own, no doubt. She drank in the sight of him.
“Take off your shirt,” he said, his voice soft but commanding.
She was only too happy to oblige to whatever he might ask of her…or demand of her. Strip? No problem. Pulling the shirt over her head, she dropped it on the chaise lounge and stood before him in her pink cotton skirt.
“Skirt too,” he said. His eyes raked over her, and her body responded instantly to the lust in his eyes.
The skirt dropped to her feet.
“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he whispered.
The look on his face made her believe him. It was so nice to feel beautiful, to see herself through Mack’s eyes.
He dropped his head, kissing her breasts. Tangling her hands in his hair, she sighed as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, circling her areola with his tongue. Her nipple tightened even more than she thought possible.
“Ready?” he asked.
“For what?”
He picked her up, holding her against his chest, and jumped into the pool with her, the cool water splashing up around them. Lauren shrieked in surprise.
“Shhh,” he admonished. “You don’t want someone coming to rescue you, do you?”
Oops. “I’ll try to be quiet,” she giggled.
“And I’ll try to make you break that promise.”
He lifted her easily in the water until she wrapped her legs around his narrow waist. His hard length prodded the inside of her thigh in that position, and she knew all it would take would be a swivel of her hips and they’d be joined as one.
Exactly
the way she wanted to join him in the pool, come to think of it.
“Ready to make some noise?” he asked wickedly.
She grinned, shaking her head and miming zipping her lips shut. She could be quiet.
Mack laughed and grabbed her hips, pulling her toward his thick shaft. He sheathed himself inside her, filling her completely.
Oh my.
A moan threatened to escape her lips, but she held back—the game of who could stay silent longest was on, and she’d make sure she won.
She was weightless in the water, and Mack lifted her almost completely off his shaft before thrusting into her to the hilt once more. Her moan took her by surprise this time.
“Not so silent now, are you, sweetheart.” He laughed, nibbling her earlobe.
Grabbing his shoulders, Lauren bounced against him, up and down, riding his body. Every stroke hit exactly the right spot deep inside her. She gasped for air even though her face was well above the water level.
Suddenly Mack pulled her off of him and cradled her in his arms, his biceps flexing against her cheek.
“I’m not done with you yet,” he whispered.
He laid her out on the surface of the water and she floated easily, her hair fanning out around her in the pool. She moaned in disappointment, needing him inside her again. Why had he stopped?
Then she couldn’t see him anymore. She sat up, disconcerted, and flailed a bit in the water as she lost her perfect floating formation.
Mack’s head bobbed up from under the water, between her legs. His strong hands pulled her legs apart and she gasped in surprise.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. Damn it, she spoke. Well, she was still being quiet, so it didn’t count.
Mack didn’t answer, just ran his hands along her body, enticing her back to floating weightlessly on her back. She stared up at the beautiful Mexican sky and lost herself in sensation. The feel of the warm sun on her face, the cool water on her back, his tongue at the junction of her thighs…
…
The Tycoon's Convenient Bride... and Baby (Entangled Indulgence) Page 12