McIver's Mission

by Brenda Harlen

  "When?" Arden asked.

  "March," Nikki said.

  "Have you told Carly?"

  She nodded.

  "Is she excited?"

  This time it was Colin who nodded. "And adamant that the baby's going to be a girl."

  "This is such wonderful news," Arden said. And it was. So she wasn't sure why her eyes stung, why she felt an emptiness inside herself. She was happy for her cousin. Thrilled. Nikki and Colin deserved all the happiness in the world; they'd certainly earned it.

  It was the sound of hundreds of pounding feet—or six pairs of six-year-old feet—on the stairs that banished her melancholy. Then Carly swooped into the room, followed by her entourage.

  "Can we have cake now, Mommy?"

  "Is everyone ready for cake?" Nikki asked.

  "Yes," the children chorused in response.

  "Then find your places at the table," Nikki advised.

  She carried the cake in from the kitchen, candles lit. The children sang loudly and off-key, and Carly managed to extinguish all of the candles with a single breath and very little spit.

  "I'll take this back to the kitchen to dish it up," Arden said.

  "I'll give you a hand," Shaun offered.

  Arden sliced through the cake, sliding the pieces onto paper plates decorated with Cosmic Cat, Carly's favorite cartoon character. She glanced at Shaun as she removed the lid from the tub of chocolate ice cream. "I thought you were going to help."

  "I really just wanted to talk to you," he admitted.

  "About?"

  "I lied to you the other day," he told her.

  Arden frowned as she dipped the scoop into the ice cream. "When?"

  "When I said I wanted us to be friends."

  "You don't want to be friends?" It shouldn't have bothered her. After all, it had been his suggestion in the first place.

  "I don't want to put a label on our relationship that might limit the scope of it."

  Arden busied herself scooping ice cream. She wasn't sure what point he was trying to make, and he sure was taking his time getting to it. "Sometimes you sound just like a lawyer."

  He smiled, unoffended. "I like you," he told her. "And I respect you. And because I like and respect you, I figure I should be honest with you."

  "Then just say whatever it is you're trying to say," she told him.

  "I want to have sex with you."

  * * *

  Chapter 5

  « ^ »

  The scoop slipped in Arden's hand, and a half-formed ball of ice cream flew out of the tub and smacked against the front of the cupboard. It slid down slowly, leaving a sticky wet trail on the wooden door before dropping onto the countertop.

  Arden could feel Shaun's presence behind her. He was obviously waiting for some kind of response, but she was too stunned to know what to say to him. Okay, maybe she should have been prepared. His physical response when he'd kissed her indicated that there was some interest, but she didn't know how to deal with his sudden pronouncement.

  She stared at the trail of ice cream on the cabinet. That, at least, was something she could deal with. She turned to the sink and rinsed out the dishcloth, wiped the cupboard door and the melting scoop on the counter, then resumed serving up ice cream onto the cake plates.

  "This is a little … abrupt," she said, without even a glance at Shaun.

  "Is it?"

  His voice was low and husky, his breath warm on her ear. He was close, too close—his masculine scent clouding her senses. She couldn't even breathe when he was standing so near, how the hell was she supposed to think? She stepped to the side and slowly turned to face him.

  "Not more than a week ago you didn't seem to be aware that I was female, and now you expect me to jump into bed with you?"

  "I was always aware that you were female," he said, and grinned. "But you always seemed unapproachable."

  "I haven't changed in the past week," she told him.

  "No," he agreed. "But my perceptions have. That day in the park, when I held you in my arms, I realized how soft and warm, how completely feminine, you are."

  She glared at him, not appreciating this reminder of her moment of weakness. "Is that what turns you on, McIver? A woman crying on your shoulder?"

  He grinned again. "Are you really interested in what turns me on?"

  "No."

  "And I don't expect anything from you," he continued. "Although I wouldn't object if you wanted to jump into bed with me."

  "I don't," she snapped.

  "Don't be so quick to dismiss the possibility."

  "This whole conversation is ridiculous."

  "Can you honestly tell me that you haven't thought about that kiss? That you haven't wondered what might have happened that night if I hadn't pulled back?"

  "Nothing would have happened." She believed that. She had to believe it. She wasn't the type of woman who let passion overrule common sense—and having sex with Shaun McIver would definitely violate all common sense. She turned away from him and resumed scooping ice cream.

  Shaun shrugged. "Maybe not. Still, that kiss changed things."

  "I'm not going to sleep with you."

  "Never say never," he chided.

  "I'm sure I should be flattered that you've suddenly taken an interest in me, but I don't have time for games and I don't want things to be awkward between us on family holidays. Like now," she said pointedly.

  "We're both adults," Shaun reminded her. "I'm sure we could handle whatever might happen."

  "Nothing's going to happen," she said again.

  Shaun loaded up an armful of plates and disappeared into the dining room.

  "Maybe we should just agree to disagree on that matter," he said when he returned.

  Arden sighed. "I'm not playing hard to get, Shaun. I'm just not interested in any kind of relationship right now."

  "There's only one problem."

  "What's that?" Arden asked warily.

  "I can't be in the same room with you without thinking about that kiss. Without wanting to kiss you again."

  She swallowed around her suddenly dry throat. She'd thought they should talk about that kiss, had even considered bringing it up herself. But she'd decided that it would be too awkward, that talking about something he'd probably forgotten would make it seem too important. Apparently he hadn't forgotten it, either.

  "Look, McIver, I'm sure…" Her words trailed off as Shaun stepped closer. She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, took an instinctive step back, needing to reestablish the physical distance between them. Suddenly she wasn't sure of anything, except that his statement echoed her own thoughts and desires.

  "It surprises me," he said, continuing to move forward, "that a woman so cool and poised is unnerved by a simple sexual attraction."

  "I'm not unnerved," she denied. "I just don't want to be having this conversation."

  "At all?" he asked. "Or with me?"

  "Both," she admitted.

  "Why?"

  "Because I want us to be friends. I don't have time for anything more complicated than that right now."

  He shrugged. "Okay, then. We'll be friends."

  She started to exhale a slow sigh of relief.

  "For now," he added, then grinned.

  * * *

  Shaun was mildly disappointed when Arden turned down Nikki's invitation to stay for dinner. She claimed to have some work to do at the office; it was more likely that she wanted some time away from him. His revelation had surprised her, and maybe that had been his intention.

  It had surprised him, too. Not the fact that he wanted to have sex with her—he'd come to that conclusion about three seconds into that sizzling kiss they'd shared in her apartment—but the bold statement of his desire. He usually exhibited a little more finesse with women, and a lot more patience. But there was something about Arden that undermined his resolve, that made him want her even though he didn't want to want her.

  His only consolation was that he knew Arden w
as affected by him, too. When he'd told her he wanted her, she'd been shaken. And interested. It wasn't ego that made him think so, it was the awareness that had flared in her eyes, the fluttering of her pulse, the quickening of her breath.

  He didn't mind too much that she'd taken off—he knew she'd be thinking about him. As he'd be thinking about her.

  They had lasagna for dinner—one of Nikki's specialties and a favorite of Carly's. After the dishes had been cleared away, Nikki had shooed her husband and brother-in-law out to the porch while she got the birthday girl ready for bed.

  Shaun was still puzzling about Arden when Colin went back into the house to get them a couple of beers. He'd meant what he said when he told Arden he didn't date lawyers. As a rule he didn't. And yet, he'd concocted an elaborate ploy to get her to agree to be his date for the Law Ball. It wasn't as if he couldn't get a date if he wanted to. But since Jenna, he'd been careful to date women who wanted the same thing he did from a relationship: no strings, no complications.

  Arden Doherty had complication written all over her. They were too many facets to her character, too many layers. And yet, she was the only woman he wanted.

  The screen door creaked, announcing Colin's return. Shaun accepted the beer his brother offered, looking forward to some conversation to get his mind off of the situation with Arden. So he didn't know what compelled him to ask, "Do you think it's possible to be just friends with a woman?"

  "No way." Colin's response was immediate, adamant.

  "Why not?"

  His brother rolled his eyes. "Because sex complicates things."

  Shaun frowned. "What if they're not having sex?" He did believe it was possible for a man and a woman to be friends, but he couldn't see it for him and Arden. Not after that kiss.

  "Even if they're not doing it, they want to. Or one of them does, anyway." Colin twisted the cap off his bottle of beer, took a long swallow. "Who are you not having sex with?"

  "The list is endless," Shaun replied dryly.

  "Come on," Colin prompted. "Who is it you're not haying sex with because of delusions of friendship?"

  "No one."

  "Someone I know?"

  "No one," Shaun said again.

  "Whose idea was this friendship thing—yours or hers?"

  Shaun gave up trying to convince his brother it was no one. "Mine."

  "What was her response?"

  "She was skeptical."

  "Do you want to have sex with her?"

  Shaun sighed. "Yeah."

  Colin grinned.

  "But it would be a monumental mistake."

  "Why?"

  Because she's Nikki's cousin. It was the response that sprang to mind, but it wasn't something Shaun could tell his brother.

  Maybe the emotions that had suddenly surfaced were the result of some kind of empathy or compassion. That was the most logical explanation. After all, these feelings had only begun to stir when he'd comforted her through an emotional trauma.

  Like hell, he thought. He was a man, pure and simple, and seeing how nicely Arden filled out those tidy little suits she habitually wore, watching her sexy lips curve into a soft smile, seeing the lingering hint of sadness in her eyes, the sparkle of quick joy when she laughed, reminded him of that fact. And that he'd been sleeping alone for far too long now.

  An attraction to any other woman he might have pushed away. But Arden was practically family, and that made him wary. If he decided to pursue this, and he wanted to, he'd have to watch his step. Either one of them ending up hurt wasn't an option, not when they were destined to cross paths in the future.

  "Why would it be a mistake to have sex with her?" Colin repeated the question.

  "She's … complicated," Shaun responded at last.

  "Complicated." Colin grinned again. "Unlike the two-dimensional women you've dated since Jenna?"

  "They weren't all two-dimensional," he felt compelled to protest.

  "All except my wife," Colin said dryly.

  "Nikki is one of a kind."

  "So is Arden."

  Shaun nearly dropped his beer. "Arden?"

  "It is Arden, isn't it?" Colin pressed.

  "What's Arden?" Shaun asked cautiously.

  "The woman you're not having sex with."

  "No," Shaun said quickly. Too quickly.

  Colin took a long swallow from his own bottle. "You are having sex with Arden?"

  "Of course not."

  "Then what's going on?"

  "Nothing." It wasn't really a lie; it just wasn't the whole truth.

  "It didn't look like nothing when the two of you were cozied up in the kitchen."

  "I was helping her with the cake."

  "Yeah, that's what it looked like." Colin's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I'm surprised the ice cream didn't melt with all the heat you two were generating."

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Fine. We can play it that way," Colin said. "But if you break her heart, I'll have to hurt you."

  "You're my brother," Shaun said, unaccountably irked.

  Colin nodded. "And Arden is the closest thing Nikki has to a sister. They grew up together. And maybe I feel I owe Arden for the years she was there for Nikki and Carly when I wasn't."

  "I was there, too," Shaun reminded him.

  "But Arden is Nikki's best friend as well as her cousin, which means there's a lot more at stake here than your getting laid."

  "It's not just about sex," Shaun said. Although he hadn't given up hope that sex might be a fringe benefit of his developing relationship with Arden, he was genuinely concerned about her and whatever had put that haunted look in her eyes the night they'd had dinner together. He knew that it hadn't just been about Denise and Brian, and he was determined to get to the root of her fear. And to find out if there was any connection between her wariness and her windows being shot out. "Besides, there's nothing going on between me and Arden."

  Colin's cocky grin faded. "I know it's none of my business—"

  "Then back off."

  "She's been through a lot, Shaun. More even than I know."

  Shaun had suspected as much. He sensed there were scars that ran deep. He wanted to know why. He wanted her to open up to him. And he wanted her.

  "I can't give you any assurances about what might or might not happen," Shaun said. "But I care about her." More than he was ready to admit, even to himself.

  Colin nodded. "I guess that's good enough for now."

  "What's good enough for now?" Nikki asked, stepping out onto the porch and into the cool early-October evening.

  Shaun flashed his brother a warning look. The last thing he needed was for Nikki to mention to Arden that he'd been talking to Colin about her. Arden would be furious. Not that he could really blame her. She'd made it clear that she didn't want Nikki worrying about her, and he knew Nikki would worry if she thought there was something going on between her cousin and her brother-in-law.

  "Shaun's promised to help me clear out the spare bedroom upstairs so we can turn it into a nursery for the baby," Colin told her.

  Shaun didn't know whether to be impressed by his brother's quick response or ticked that he'd managed to turn the situation to his own advantage. But he managed a smile for his sister-in-law.

  "That's so sweet," she said, lowering herself onto the swing beside her husband.

  "That's me," Shaun said dryly. "A sweet guy."

  Colin laughed. "Of all the adjectives I could think of to describe you, sweet would not be one of them."

  "This from the man who wants me to clean his house."

  "And paint," Colin added.

  Shaun just glared at him.

  * * *

  After Carly's birthday party, Arden resolved that the best way to deal with Shaun was to avoid him. She usually faced a problem head-on, but she had no idea how to handle Shaun. He'd said that he couldn't be in the same room with her without thinking about the kiss they'd shared, so she decided not to be in the same room with h
im. It seemed like a simple solution. The problem was, it didn't stop her from thinking about that kiss.

  But she figured the more time that passed, the easier it would get. All she had to do in the interim was avoid Shaun.

  Unfortunately she had less than forty-eight hours to test her strategy before she crossed paths with him again.

  It was just before ten o'clock Monday morning and she was at the courthouse filing documents for an upcoming hearing when she saw him. He was standing outside Courtroom Four talking to Warren Blake. Whatever they were discussing, their conversation seemed heated, almost antagonistic.

  She should have taken her documents and made her escape, but she couldn't help lingering a moment to observe the two men. She knew Shaun didn't like Warren, which wasn't surprising since they were destined to be on opposite sides of the courtroom all the time.

  "Is it the assistant district attorney who has you looking all dreamy-eyed, or the other guy?"

  The question startled Arden out of her reverie. She turned to Marcy Crawford, the young associate she'd hired only two months earlier.

  "I'm not dreamy-eyed," Arden denied, stuffing the papers she'd been holding into her briefcase.

  Marcy just grinned. "It must be the other guy. He's coming this way."

  Arden glanced up, saw that Marcy was right. "Damn," she muttered under her breath.

  "Waiting for me?" Shaun asked when he'd joined them.

  Arden flushed, embarrassed that she'd been caught loitering in the courthouse, wondering if he'd seen her watching him. "Actually, I was waiting for Warren."

  Shaun scowled. "You're kidding."

  Arden laughed. "Yeah, I am."

  Shaun turned to Marcy and gave her one of his trademark killer smiles. "Shaun McIver," he said, offering his hand.

  Marcy looked pretty dreamy-eyed herself as she smiled back at him. "Marcy Crawford, and I'm very pleased to meet you."

  "Marcy's my new associate," Arden said, annoyed with Shaun's flirtatious manner and Marcy's predictable reaction. It shouldn't matter to her; she shouldn't care. In fact, if she was smart—and she liked to think she was—she'd be trying to set Shaun up with Marcy. It might get him off her back. The idea held little appeal. Suddenly she wasn't so sure she wanted him off her back.