by Sarah Morgan
‘Sorry I’m a bit late. I only escaped from the hospital about twenty minutes ago. Thank goodness for fast sports cars.’ His glossy dark hair was still damp from the shower and he had that lazy, sexy look in his eyes that almost made her forget the mechanism of breathing. His gaze slid down her body and he sighed. ‘All right—we’re going to eat dinner standing up.’
She locked the door of the cottage and dropped the key in her bag. ‘Why standing up?’
‘Because that way I get to look at your legs all evening.’ His eyes were still fixed on her legs. ‘That dress is fantastic, although it could have done with being a little shorter.’
‘Any shorter and it would be a T-shirt,’ she muttered, and he flashed her a grin that was wickedly male.
‘Precisely.’ He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and breathed out sharply. ‘Is it hot tonight…’ his eyes gleamed ‘…or is it me?’
‘It’s you.’
‘No.’ He shook his head, his eyes still on her legs. ‘You look amazing. I always seem to be saying that to you. I thought the nightdress was good but this…’
Feeling completely flustered and wishing she’d worn the other dress, she glared at him. ‘Can you do me a favour? Can you forget about the nightdress incident?’
He pulled a face and finally looked up from his thorough contemplation of her legs. ‘Not sure that I can, to be honest.’ His eyes were laughing. ‘The memory keeps me awake at night. I’m having evil thoughts.’
She shot him a look designed to wither and followed him down the path to the road, walking carefully. ‘You need to think about something else. Oh, Josh!’ She stopped dead, totally distracted as she saw the car parked by her cottage. It was a dark, shimmering blue sports car, long and low and completely decadent. She gave a little purr of appreciation deep in her throat. ‘It’s fantastic.’ Reluctantly dragging her gaze away from the car, she turned to him, her gaze mocking. ‘Trust you to have a car like this. Does it help you pull women?’
‘You think I need help?’ The look he gave her would have melted steel and she felt her insides jump and her stomach curl.
No. He didn’t need any help at all. ‘If you have any success at all in that direction, I’m sure it’s because of the car.’ Her tone was cool and he threw his head back and laughed.
‘You really know how to cut a man down to size. And you still haven’t told me what to do about my evil thoughts.’
She was still admiring the car. ‘You need to think about something else instead.’
‘I’ve tried that.’ He opened the door of the car for her and she slid inside, unable to hold back a little moan of delight as her thighs made contact with the softest leather. For a brief moment she closed her eyes and breathed in, just enjoying the sensation of being in such a fabulous car. Then she felt his breath on her cheek as he leaned forward.
‘I’ve tried thinking about other things.’ His voice was low and seductive. ‘I’ve tried thinking about what would have happened that day if you’d been sleeping naked.’
Her eyes flew open and she stopped admiring his car. ‘Josh!’
Without warning he dropped a brief, tantalising kiss on her mouth and then strolled around the car and slid into the driver’s seat.
For a moment she couldn’t move, shocked by the sensation that exploded through her body. Her tongue flickered out and touched her lower lip and she almost groaned aloud at the tantalising reminder of the way he’d touched her.
What happened to her body when he touched her was nothing short of scary. She was a doctor. She was supposed to know all about these things. But there was nothing in the textbooks about the way she was feeling now.
Her whole body was burning up and she felt her legs tremble as he stretched out a hand and turned the key in the ignition. The engine gave a throaty roar and he turned and gave her a slow smile. ‘Would you still have come running into my garden if you’d been naked, Kat?’
The chemistry between them was so powerful that she felt as though she was suffocating.
‘No!’ Her face felt hot. In fact, her whole body felt hot and she wriggled slightly in her seat. ‘No, I would not. And the nightdress is hardly indecent. It goes all the way to the floor.’
‘And I could see all the way to France through the material,’ he said softly, leaning forward and reaching into the glove compartment for his sunglasses. ‘And the view was amazing.’ His gaze slid to her legs again. ‘As it is now. That is a fantastic dress and I love the fact they were short of material when they made it.’
Her cheeks flaming, she tugged at the hemline but the dress wasn’t designed for trips in sports cars. Her legs were on display to mid-thigh.
She should have worn the green.
Her hands still on the dress, she glared at him. ‘You could look the other way.’
‘I could, that’s true.’ His grin widened and he gave a boyish shrug as he slipped on the shades, obscuring his expression. ‘But why would I want to do a thing like that?’
‘Because it would be the gentlemanly thing to do?’
‘Ah…’ He gave her a sexy lopsided smile that was enough to make her forget her own name. ‘But I’m not a gentleman. Do you want me to put the top up?’
He wore a linen shirt, open at the throat to reveal a hint of bronzed skin, and she found herself staring and staring.
‘Kat?’
‘Sorry?’ Flustered by the way he was looking at her and feeling thoroughly out of her depth, she looked at him blankly. ‘What did you say?’
‘The car,’ he said patiently. ‘It’s a sunny evening but we’ve got a bit of a drive ahead of us and having the top down will mess up your hair.’
She frowned. ‘I don’t care about my hair. What’s the point of driving this fabulous car if you don’t have the top down?’
He stared at her for a long moment and then cleared his throat. ‘My sentiments exactly.’
‘So why ask?’
‘It’s just that women usually worry about their hair.’ He seemed to shake himself. ‘Obviously you’re not one of them. Right. Let’s go, then.’
He drove along the coast road, taking the corners like a racing driver, his large hands firm on the wheel, his movements brief and economical as he got the most out of the road and the car.
And she loved it. Loved the adrenaline rush that came from the speed and the sheer power of the engine, loved the whip of the wind as it tried to grab her hair.
With a laugh of sheer enjoyment, she released her hair from the clasp and let it blow around her head. She forgot to be self-conscious about the length of her skirt. She forgot that she was a single mother with responsibilities. All she thought about was the sheer pleasure of the moment. The wind, the sun, the sea and the spectacular man sitting next to her.
The road hugged the coastline and she saw the sun go down over the sea, watched the tiny yachts bobbing back into the safety of the harbour. Happiness sparkled though her veins like champagne and she couldn’t hold back her smile.
It was so beautiful.
Finally he took a tiny, winding road that dropped down to a little fishing village.
‘Oh…’ She stared at the natural harbour in fascination. ‘It’s gorgeous. I haven’t had time to explore the coast yet.’
‘Best fish restaurant in the area.’ Josh reversed the car into a space and turned to look at her. ‘I prefer your hair like that, by the way. Leave it down.’
Her hair! She’d completely forgotten what the journey must have done to it!
With a gasp she pulled down the vanity mirror and checked her reflection. Her hair fell in a soft, tangled mass around her shoulders. ‘Oops.’ She gave him a sheepish grin. ‘Maybe next time we’d better have the top up.’
And then she remembered that this was just a one-off and that this wasn’t a proper date, and she almost squirmed with embarrassment in case he thought she was expecting something more.
She tidied her hair with her fingers and then gave a mental shrug.
He obviously didn’t mind that it looked messy. Why should she?
He looked at her feet. ‘How far can you walk in those?’
‘I have no idea.’ She spoke without thinking. ‘I’ve never worn them before.’
‘You bought new shoes for our date?’
‘No!’ She grabbed her bag from the car, cross with herself for revealing the fact that she hadn’t worn the shoes before. ‘I bought them ages ago because I liked them, but then I never actually wore them anywhere because they were so impractical.’
He removed his sunglasses and his eyes glimmered with humour. ‘So this is the first impractical date you’ve had since you bought the shoes?’
It was the first date of any kind. ‘Something like that.’
She found it very hard to look away from that smile as she followed him into the restaurant and then out again onto a tiny terrace that overlooked the harbour.
‘How did you ever find this place?’ Her eyes scanned the pretty yachts and the piles of empty lobster pots. The evening sun branded the sea with fiery streaks of red and gold and the air smelt of the sea and sizzling garlic.
With an appreciative sniff, Kat turned her head towards the kitchen. ‘Something smells good.’
‘The food here is incredible. Sit down and I’ll order some drinks.’
A man emerged from the kitchen and a smile spread across his face. ‘Sullivan!’ He strode towards them and shook Josh’s hand. ‘How the devil are you?’
‘Good, thanks.’ Josh turned to Kat and introduced her. ‘This is Mark. He considers himself to be a chef.’
The man grinned and shook her hand. ‘Only from Josh would I allow that insult. I almost amputated my finger one night when I was working in the restaurant. Fortunately Josh was here and sorted me out. I’ve been feeding him ever since.’
Kat smiled. ‘Sounds like a good deal.’
‘I’ve saved you our best table, of course.’ Mark gestured to a waiter who was hovering with menus. ‘They don’t need those.’ He tucked the menus under his arm. ‘You’re going to have the scallops followed by the sea bream and then the chocolate crème brûlée.’
‘Mim.’ Kat’s mouth watered and Josh glanced at her, a question in his eyes.
‘Sound all right to you?’
‘Are you kidding? You’re talking to a girl who only had a glass of water for lunch.’
He laughed. ‘That’s right, so you did. In that case, you should be grateful for anything.’ He nodded to Mark. ‘Bring it on.’
The waiter delivered a selection of delicious breads to their table and a bowl of shiny olives.
Kat helped herself to an olive and then slipped her hand into her bag and retrieved her mobile phone. ‘I just need to be able to hear it,’ she muttered by way of explanation, ‘in case there’s a problem.’
Josh lounged in his chair, watching her. ‘Is there usually a problem?’
‘I just don’t like leaving him.’
‘You leave him when you’re working.’
‘That’s different.’ She lifted her glass. ‘Working is different.’
‘So you’re not allowed a social life?’
She sipped her wine slowly and then put the glass down on the table. ‘Guilt is part of being a single parent.’ She shrugged. ‘I have to work. It’s a fact of life and I don’t have any choice about that. But the rest of the time I want to be with Archie.’
Except for tonight, when she didn’t want to be anywhere except exactly where she was.
‘You say you have to work.’ He passed her some bread. ‘Doesn’t his father give you any financial support?’
Kat shook her head. ‘When he found out I was pregnant, he ran so fast he left skid marks.’
Josh looked shocked. ‘He’s never seen Archie?’
‘No.’ Kat sat back as the waiter delivered their starters. She stared at the plate in admiration. ‘Wow. That’s almost too pretty to eat.’
‘Almost, but not completely.’ Josh picked up his knife and fork, his eyes still fixed on her face. ‘I can’t believe he just abandoned you.’
Kat shrugged. ‘He’s a man, and plenty of men are programmed to avoid fatherhood at all costs. Unfortunately I picked one of them.’
‘But who looked after you when he was born? How did you manage?’
‘I looked after myself. And I looked after Archie. And I managed because I had no choice. I’m not helpless, Josh.’ She picked up her fork. ‘I do perfectly well on my own.’
She’d been doing it for years and she was used to living that way. She didn’t depend on anyone for anything.
‘By making sacrifices that no woman should have to make and by working so hard that you have black rings under your eyes.’ He looked at her. ‘Don’t think I haven’t noticed.’
Should she tell him that he was the cause of the black rings?
That since he’d kissed her she hadn’t been able to sleep?
‘I’m just a bit tired.’
‘What about your parents? Didn’t they give you any support?’
‘They weren’t exactly pleased when they discovered I was pregnant.’ She stared at her plate. ‘For six years it’s pretty much been me and Archie against the world.’
‘I’m beginning to understand why you’re so fiercely independent. What about men?’
‘No time and no inclination. And not a lot of confidence in my own judgement. Clearly I’m a lousy judge of men.’ She kept her tone light and took a mouthful of her starter. ‘I don’t date. It’s easier that way for everyone concerned.’
The sun dipped behind the headland and the candle in the centre of the table danced in the evening breeze. And from across the table Josh watched her, his eyes glittering in the semi-darkness. ‘If you don’t date…’ His voice was a soft, male drawl. ‘What are you doing here with me, Kat?’
She’d been asking herself the same question. And she looked around now and asked herself the question again. She looked at the pretty candles on the tables. The expensive wine. The couple next to them enjoying a romantic evening. She looked at the harbour and the stars in the sky and the handsome, sexy man sitting across from her. The evening couldn’t have been more perfect.
But this wasn’t her life. It didn’t feel like her life.
What was she doing, sitting on this pretty terrace, sipping wine with a man who drew every female eye in the room?
Dreaming?
Indulging a feminine fantasy?
Aware that he was waiting for an answer, she managed a smile that said nothing. Revealed nothing. ‘Eating a delicious meal, enjoying a fabulous view and drinking the best sauvignon blanc I’ve ever tasted?’
He laughed. ‘That’s it?’
‘What else is there?’ This time her smile was teasing. ‘Are you looking for flattery? Do you want me to tell you that you look hot, Dr Sullivan?’
‘Do I look hot, Dr O’Brien?’
Something shifted and curled deep in her pelvis. Something dangerous. Oh, yes, he looked hot.
‘Come on, Josh.’ She kept her tone light and avoided his question. ‘We both know the sort of man you are. You live for the moment. So let’s enjoy the moment and stop worrying about tomorrow. Tell me about you. I already know about the fast car. Now tell me about that boat in your garden.’
He smiled and leaned back in his chair. ‘I have two boats. The one in my garden I’m restoring.’ His fingers closed round his glass. ‘Just a hobby, but it’s as good a way as any to spend a day off when I’m not on the water.’
Kat finished her starter. ‘And the other boat?’
‘The other boat I race.’ He fingered his glass, a strange light in his eyes as he looked at her. ‘And she’s as fast as the wind.’
She saw the glitter in his eyes, the wicked tilt of his mouth as he smiled, and her breath caught in her throat.
Pirate.
‘Who do you sail with?’
‘Mac, a couple of GPs from the village…’ He lifted his glass and drank. ‘There’s no shor
tage of crew in a place like this.’
Kat listened, enjoying adult company for the first time in ages. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat with a man like this and talked. Really talked. And Josh was good company. He had a sharp brain and an equally sharp sense of humour. She found herself telling him about her childhood in Ireland, growing up next to the beach and how she’d dreamed of the same for Archie. She found herself telling him about her plans for the cottage. In fact, she found herself telling him things she hadn’t shared with another living soul.
And it felt good. Just this once, it felt good.
* * *
Josh settled the bill, ignoring Kat’s protest that she should pay half.
‘Fancy a walk before we set off?’
‘In these shoes?’
He looked down at her feet. He’d forgotten about the shoes. ‘Why do women choose shoes like that?’
‘Because they’re pretty and frivolous and it’s fun to keep looking at your feet?’
He laughed. ‘I’ll remember that next time I’m shopping for shoes.’ It was probably safer not to point out that it wasn’t her feet he was looking at. That it was her amazing, endless legs that held his attention in that equally amazing short dress. He took her hand and they walked back to the car. ‘We’ll drive back a different way. There’s something I want to show you.’
The shoes added a good three inches to her height and suddenly the top of her head was almost level with his chin. Her scent wrapped itself around him, teasing and seductive. Was it her perfume or her shampoo? He wasn’t even sure. He just knew that it oozed into his senses and fed his frustration.
He unlocked the car and held the passenger door open while she slid inside.
‘Where are we going?
‘It’s a secret.’ He started the engine and looked over his shoulder as he reversed the car out of the space.
‘You mean you haven’t decided.’
‘Oh, I’ve decided.’ Pressing on the accelerator, he watched her lips part in a soft gasp and decided that she looked good in his car. Her hair shimmered over her shoulders in the semi-darkness and her eyes shone green with delight.
‘I love this car.’
He changed gear and the car gave a throaty roar and shot up the hill towards the coast road. ‘I want to show you my favourite place.’