The Man Ban

by Nicola Marsh

  “Have you heard from your mother?”

  No, because her mom had a life and that meant she left Harper alone most of the time. But the moment the thought popped into her head she felt disloyal. Her dad was like a giant teddy bear, and he was floundering. He needed her.

  “I haven’t, Dad, but I’ve been busy—”

  “She’s probably seeing someone.” He sighed. “Why is she doing this?”

  Every phone call, every face-to-face chat with her dad had her fielding the same questions, and with Manny sitting on the bed, his back turned to give her some privacy, she’d had enough. The great Alec Ryland, the life of the party, big, bold, boisterous, had to grow a pair and make a clean break.

  “Dad, it’s time.”

  “For what?”

  “To file for divorce.”

  Harper didn’t know what was worse, her dad asking questions about her mom’s dating life or this silence punctuated by what sounded suspiciously like sniffles.

  “Dad, are you okay?”

  “I’ll talk to you when you get back,” he said, and hung up, leaving her feeling more helpless than ever.

  Wasn’t she meant to be having life crises and her parents supposed to comfort her? This was all wrong, and she was tired of being caught in the middle. Her dad was right about one thing. When she got home they’d talk and she’d sort this out once and for all. Not that she had any say in their marriage or divorce, but she was tired of being pulled in both directions. She’d kept her opinion to herself, but it was time to voice it and make sure her parents moved on.

  She crossed the room to lay a hand on Manny’s shoulder. Only then did he turn, the concern in his eyes making her want to crawl into his lap for a hug.

  “Sorry about that,” she said, sitting next to him on the bed.

  “You don’t need to apologize. Family comes first.” He reached up to brush a strand of hair away from her face. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, but I’m tired of being caught in the middle. And of hearing my dad so down. When I get home I’m going to encourage him to file for divorce.”

  “He still loves your mom?”

  She nodded, sadness for her folks making her throat tighten. “It’s not my place to find out what went wrong with them, or try to fix it, but I wish I could. But that’s obviously not going to happen, so I need to be up-front and tell them what I think. They need to move on.”

  He slid an arm around her waist and she rested her head on his shoulder, grateful for the silent comfort. She liked that he could be serious and supportive, and shelve his joker self when needed. Who was she kidding? She liked everything about this guy, way too much, way too soon.

  “Do you want to head back to the bar for that nightcap?”

  He was giving her an out, and she gratefully took it. Talking to her dad had definitely put a damper on their sexy time. And while she had full confidence Manny could rekindle their spark quickly, she wasn’t in the mood anymore. Besides, she really should get some stuff ticked off her to-do list tonight, and if the prelude to sex with Manny had been any indication, she wouldn’t get much done if they went the whole way.

  “Thanks, but I should get back to my room and do some work.” She cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb across it, savoring the rasp of stubble. “Sorry about all this.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for.” He rested his cheek in her palm for a moment before straightening. “You’ve got some time off after this job, yeah?”

  She nodded, and he leaned forward to brush a soft kiss across her lips, a fleeting touch that left her wanting more, so much more.

  “Good, because once your work is finished, I have every intention of making that time count.”

  24

  Manny kept a close eye on that creep Jock McKell over the next two days. He’d wanted to punch the guy in the mouth for laying a hand on Harper. He’d hazard a guess she wasn’t the first woman who worked for him who he’d tried it on. Bastard.

  He abhorred jerks like McKell who used their power to intimidate women into wanting them. He’d worked with a neurosurgeon once, a chief of neurology, who’d made passes at every nurse, physical therapist, and doctor, regardless of their marital status. The guy had been a prized sleazebag, and Manny hadn’t been surprised when the son of a bitch got a sudden transfer interstate, probably after the hospital had to field one too many sexual harassment cases.

  But Jock had kept his distance from Harper while they’d worked the last forty-eight hours. Manny had no idea if Harper had factored him into a discussion with the chef, because the dickhead kept casting glowers his way the entire time.

  Now, with the job wrapped up, Manny could focus on more important things, like wooing Harper.

  He hadn’t been proud of how he’d turned Neanderthal on her when he’d seen Jock coming on to her. He’d all but dragged her back to his room. Yeah, he wanted her that badly, but sex that night would’ve been about possessiveness as much as lust, and he didn’t want to be that guy.

  He wanted her to want him, and that meant wooing her properly.

  Starting with a lakeside picnic at dusk.

  “So that’s a wrap?”

  She flopped into the chair next to him and groaned. “Yeah, all done. I can’t believe we pulled it off.”

  “You did most of the work. I was just the hired muscle.”

  “Who technically wasn’t hired because I’m not paying you.”

  “Oh, I’ll make you pay all right.” He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.

  “Right now, I’m too tired to slap you for that lame-ass comment.”

  “Are you too tired to be romanced?”

  A spark of interest lit her eyes. “What did you have in mind?”

  “A picnic by the lake.”

  “That sounds wonderful, but I really am exhausted. Rain check?”

  “Tomorrow at dusk it is then.” He tapped his temple, pretending to think. “So what shall we do tonight then, with the whole evening stretching before us, that doesn’t involve being upright?”

  He snapped his fingers. “I know. We could lie down. I’ve heard getting horizontal is excellent for tired muscles.”

  “You’ll do anything to get me into bed, won’t you?”

  “You got that right.”

  They smiled at each other, reinforcing how in sync they were. After their less-than-auspicious first meeting, he hadn’t held out much hope for them becoming civil, let alone this, and it made him want to punch the air in victory.

  “Jock kept his distance.” He made it sound like a conversational observation when he really wanted to make sure the creep had left her alone.

  “Thanks to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Her expression turned sheepish. “I might’ve implied you were my boyfriend and you had a black belt in tae kwon do.”

  He laughed. “While I like the boyfriend label, the closest I’ve come to martial arts is my first and last kickboxing session at the gym a few years ago.”

  “He doesn’t know that though and it worked.” She screwed up her nose. “I hate sleazy creeps. And I hate him for disillusioning me. I’ve admired his work for years, have watched reruns of his shows countless times, and he’s spoiled that.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.”

  He had no right to delve into her past, but there was something in her eyes that prompted him to ask. “Has that happened to you before, being harassed?”

  “Yeah, at my first catering job. I took care of it.” She smirked and mimicked a sharp jab.

  “Dare I ask how?”

  “Let’s just say a kitchen is full of sharp and heavy implements that can slip from my hands and end up almost castrating someone.”

  He winced. “Ouch.”

  “It worked though. The jackass didn’t come
near me again.”

  “Good for you.”

  “I can take care of myself.” She squared her shoulders and flexed her biceps into a superhero pose. “So watch out, buster.”

  “You never have to worry about me overstepping.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I’ve seen your arsenal of weapons, and it ain’t pretty.”

  A faint blush stained her cheeks. “The first night we met, you saw my equipment bag in the trunk of my car.”

  “Yeah, the second before you creamed me.”

  She grimaced. “Not my finest moment.”

  “Yet here we are.”

  She studied him with an intensity that would’ve made a lesser man uncomfortable. For Manny, he was happy to have her look at him with an interesting mix of adoration and confusion.

  “What?”

  “You’re some guy.” She held up her hand and started ticking off points with the other. “As you so delicately put it, I creamed you at our first meeting. Then I don’t return your text. Then you see me acting like a crazy person at the hotel in Auckland. And rather than enjoy a few days’ relaxation at the end of your conference, you volunteer to save my ass.”

  She punctuated each point by flexing a finger. “And to top it off, you travel all the way here to keep saving my ass.”

  “Already told you, it’s a mighty fine ass.”

  He expected her to laugh at his banter, but her expression turned solemn.

  “Seriously, Manny, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. Nailing this job was vitally important, and you’ve helped me achieve that. Thank you.”

  Manny had received gratitude from patients before, or families of patients whose lives he’d saved. But nothing meant more to him at this moment than having Harper stare at him like he’d given her a precious gift.

  “You’re welcome.”

  She leaned over and pressed her lips to his in a sweet, too-chaste kiss that had him wanting more in a second. But he didn’t want to ruin the moment with his relentless lust for her, so he settled for a smile when she eased away.

  “So we’ve got a few days before we head back to Auckland?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Good, because I intend to make every second with you count.”

  25

  When Harper opened her eyes the next morning and glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table, she had to look twice. Eleven. Which meant she’d slept twelve hours straight. Impossible, so she blinked and refocused. The time didn’t change, and she stretched before struggling into a sitting position.

  Being a morning person, she never slept in. And since her diagnosis, it took more time to get ready in the morning before she could face anybody, so she always set her alarm extra early.

  Shaking her head, she reached for her cell. Before she’d stumbled to her room in exhaustion last night, she’d made tentative plans to catch up with Manny for breakfast, but the time for that had well and truly passed.

  She checked her messages. He’d texted once, just after eight, and called an hour later. She read the text first.

  HEY SLEEPING BEAUTY, U STOOD ME UP 4 BREAKFAST.

  He’d inserted a heart split in two emoji.

  BUT I’LL SURVIVE. CALL ME WHEN U WAKE.

  Smiling, she tapped the button to play his voice message.

  “Hey, gorgeous, me again, your trusty assistant who gleefully resigned his position yesterday. If you’re half as exhausted as I am you’re probably still sleeping. Just to let you know I’m heading out to scout the local area for the perfect picnic spot. You know, for our D.A.T.E. later today. I’ll probably skip lunch and go for a jog while I’m out, so why don’t I meet you in the foyer around four? See you soon.” He ended with a loud smooch that made her grin and press the cell to her chest.

  Manny had a way about him that made her feel more lighthearted and carefree than she had in years. Technically, they were nothing more than two people attracted to each other making the most of a few days together. They’d end up in bed, she had no doubt, and she couldn’t wait. But the way he made her feel surpassed what she’d had with Colin, and that surprised her.

  Colin had been a nice guy. They’d had fun together. And despite him gutting her when she revealed her skin condition, she didn’t think too badly of him. Their lives had melded for twelve months, and they’d emotionally invested, meaning she missed the intimacy more than him.

  So how did Manny, a guy she barely knew, give her that same sense of closeness?

  It didn’t make sense, but for now she wouldn’t question it. She’d worked her ass off the last few days; she deserved to have some fun during her remaining time in New Zealand.

  She hit the “call” button next to Manny’s name. He picked up on the second ring.

  “Eager. I like that, Manny.”

  “Good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty. Or should that be good afternoon?”

  “It’s still morning, though I feel like I’ve slept away the day.”

  “You must’ve needed it.”

  “Is that your medical opinion?”

  “No. I’m off duty.”

  Just hearing his deep voice had Harper snuggling back under the covers, wishing he was next to her.

  “Pity. Because I’m not feeling so good, and I was hoping you made house calls.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “A distinct case of miss-you-itis.”

  “Damn it, if I wasn’t halfway along this Craters of the Moon geothermal hike, I’d be there in a flash.” He muttered a curse. “I know. I can give you a more accurate diagnosis over the phone if you do one thing.”

  Smiling, she said, “What?”

  “Tell me what you’re wearing.”

  Her thighs clenched as her smile extended into a grin. “My, my, Doctor, I didn’t think this was one of those calls.”

  “You’re in bed. You’re missing me. What did you expect?”

  “A little decorum.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “You’re right. I want to torture you a little.”

  “A lot, considering I’m now envisaging you cute and sleep rumpled.”

  “What are you wearing?”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Because I’m assuming there are families on that hike, and too much envisaging may lead to more than one tent pole in that national park.”

  He laughed so loudly she had to hold the cell away from her ear.

  “You are really something else,” he said. “And for the record? I miss you too.”

  “So I’ll meet you in the foyer at four for our picnic?”

  “Yeah. I found the perfect spot.”

  “Secluded?”

  “Babe, you’re killing me.”

  “Not yet, but maybe this will help.” She lowered her voice. “I’m wearing nothing and I’m thinking of you.”

  She hung up on his garbled cry, grinning madly.

  26

  Manny had a shit night’s sleep. He usually liked the tight corners of hotel beds, but he’d tossed so much he’d ended up yanking the top sheet free before kicking off the lot. When he’d eventually got a few snatched hours, he’d dreamed of Harper—lewd, erotic dreams that left him frustrated. Hence the excessive hiking today.

  He’d almost been glad when she’d slept in and hadn’t returned his text or call. It had given him time to burn off some energy. He’d already completed the Tokaanu thermal walk at the southern end of the lake, past hot mineral pools, spluttering mud pots, and beautiful native bush, and was halfway through the Craters of the Moon when she called.

  With her voice husky from sleep, her banter, and her sexy parting comment, he knew completing the hike would be tough.

  If she haunted his dreams, she consumed his every waking thought too. He may have wanted to woo her, but
in reality they’d be having the fastest picnic on record later today before they busted every speed limit to get back to the hotel.

  Yeah, he was that horny.

  Forty-year-olds shouldn’t be walking around with boners, and he had to hide behind a tree for a full five minutes after she hung up, ridding his mind of vivid images of Harper naked in bed.

  When he got the situation behind his zipper under control, he speed-walked for the next twenty minutes to complete the exploration of the lunar-like landscape. But he barely noticed the bubbling craters, the steam vents, and the soils of many colors before he reached the end of the trail.

  How the hell could he pass the time for the next four-plus hours?

  At home, if he had a rare day off, he’d hit the gym, take Izzy out for a meal, then pore over medical journals, trying to keep abreast of the latest developments. He always lamented the lack of downtime in his job, but then he’d pull a twelve-hour shift and would be back on a high again. Saving people was his life. It had to be. Because all too often during those days off, when he was alone in his swanky apartment, he’d remember a time when he hadn’t been able to save someone . . .

  His mom had died because of him.

  He’d killed Carla Gomes because he’d been young, cocky, and overconfident.

  And he’d never forgive himself for it.

  “Excuse me, have you visited the Otumuheke steam pools yet?” A teen in a ranger’s uniform thrust a pamphlet at him and he took it, glad for the distraction from his self-flagellating thoughts.

  “Thanks.” He brandished the pamphlet. “I’ll check it out.”

  Anything to keep memories of the past at bay.

  However, soaking in a natural rock pool, overlooking the stunning crystal clear waters of Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest, didn’t have the desired effect. As relaxing as the hot thermal pools were, they allowed his mind to drift, right back to Harper.

  He’d had it all planned out. A picnic on the shores of Lake Taupo at dusk tonight, followed by exploring Huka Falls tomorrow. Nice, friendly activities designed to get to know her better. Dating. A different experience for him, but she deserved it, considering they’d moved past his usual favored quickie the moment he’d offered to come to her rescue.