by Sarah Morgan
It would complicate her life and she didn’t need complications.
‘Excuse me asking this.’ He spread his arms wide along the rim of the hot tub, the muscles in his shoulders bunching. ‘But exactly which bit doesn’t work for you?’
‘The you and I bit.’ She flicked her hair away from her face. ‘It’s just not— Well, it isn’t what we do.’
‘Why?’
She frowned, but met his gaze head on, never one to avoid an issue just because it was uncomfortable. ‘Well, for a start, because it would make things awkward between us.’
‘Awkward? What can be more awkward than walking round in a state of permanent arousal, which is what’s happening to me at the moment?’ The corner of his mouth shifted. ‘Riggs, I’m a grown man, not some emotionally stunted teenager. I can make love to you and still have a civilised working relationship, if that’s what’s bothering you.’
His words had a disturbing effect on her heart rate. ‘You’re only here for the summer.’
‘So?’ He shrugged. ‘We could have fun. Do you know your problem?’
‘I don’t have a problem.’
‘You plan too much. You need to go with the flow. Live a little. Do something on impulse.’
Impulse.
Anna stared at him. The impulse to dive back into the hot tub with him was almost overwhelming.
She sucked in a breath and pulled herself together. ‘It’s the ability to reason and think that distinguishes us from animals, McKenna,’ she said primly, but there was a definite tremor in her voice and he gave a slow grin that churned up her insides more than ever.
‘That must be why you bring out the beast in me.’
‘I need to do this my way.’
‘Fine. You do whatever you need to do to bring your brain and body in line with mine.’ His eyes glittered with serious intent. ‘But do it fast, Riggs, before we both burn up.’
Sam stood under a cold shower and wondered if anyone had ever conducted an experiment into the quantity of icy water required to kill a ravenous libido because his was decidedly out of control.
If Anna hadn’t stopped him, he would have made love to her in the hot tub and he wouldn’t have given a damn if the cameras had been running and the entire village had been watching.
He reached for the shampoo and wondered how long she was going to hold out.
Was she right?
Would it make things awkward between them?
He closed his eyes, let the water rinse the soap from his hair and then reached for a towel, a smile on his face as he contemplated the situation. Things had always been awkward between them. They’d never had a smooth, comfortable relationship. It had always been like walking over rocks in bare feet.
He dried himself, pulled on a pair of clean shorts and stared into the mirror.
Of course, part of him was telling him to run a mile. Anna would be no man’s idea of a gentle, compliant partner. She’d be snapping and fighting all the way. He had no doubt that even during sex she’d have an opinion. And she’d probably waste no time in expressing it.
The prospect heated his blood to a dangerous level. The need he felt was so powerful, so all-consuming that he knew it was just a matter of time. It was when, not whether. And he sensed it was the same for her. He doubted that either of them would hold out for long.
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘YOU’RE both famous.’ Glenda made them both a cup of tea the following morning when they appeared for surgery. ‘Your rescue has been shown on every news bulletin since last night. Amazing.’
Anna took the tea with a smile of thanks, carefully avoiding Sam’s eye. She’d seen the bulletin and winced at the footage of her and Sam. She’d never realised that her black costume was so revealing.
‘They’ll incorporate a longer version when the programme goes out,’ Sam told Glenda, handing her a pile of papers. ‘I ran these off the internet for you. Have a read and see what you think. How’s your mother doing today?’
‘She’s so much better.’ Glenda settled herself behind her desk and flicked on the computer. ‘I’ve labelled everything in the sitting-room and put the phone next to her, and I followed your idea of sticking my picture next to the speed dial so that she can remember which button to press if she wants me.’
Anna lifted her head. ‘You’re full of good ideas, Sam.’
‘I certainly am.’ His eyes locked with hers. ‘You ought to try some of them some time.’
She swallowed. Why was it that she was suddenly so aware of every single inch of him? There’d been a time, not that many days before, when all she’d wanted to do when she’d laid eyes on Sam had been to pick a fight. Now, suddenly, she just wanted to strip him naked.
Glenda reached for the keys. ‘I’ll unlock that front door if you’re ready.’
Sam’s eyes didn’t leave Anna’s. ‘I’m ready. How about you?’
She knew what he was asking and suddenly she couldn’t speak. Aware that Glenda was staring at her curiously, she licked her lips. ‘I think I’m probably ready, too.’
Sam’s mouth moved into a smile of raw, masculine satisfaction. ‘Glad to hear it, Riggs.’
Glenda frowned at them. ‘Is something going on that I don’t know about?’
‘Nothing.’ Anna’s voice sounded raspy and she cleared her throat and glanced at her watch. ‘We need to get going. We’ve got a busy day and the beach barbecue tonight.’
Glenda nodded, her eyes sparkling. ‘I’m certainly going. I’ve got a girl staying the night to keep an eye on Mum and I intend to enjoy myself.’
Anna grinned. ‘And who with, exactly? Would this be the same “friend” you saw the other night?’
Glenda’s colour deepened. ‘It might be. I presume you’re both going?’
Sam suppressed a yawn. ‘I’m supposed to be doing a piece to camera about holiday night-life. The perils of enjoying yourself. Too much alcohol and unprotected sex. That type of thing.’
Glenda giggled naughtily. ‘I know quite a few people in this village who could star in that.’
Anna gave a reluctant laugh. ‘You’re both terrible. And, Sam, you should concentrate on the teenagers. You wouldn’t believe how many I have in here after parties on the beach. For goodness’ sake, talk about safe sex. It’s definitely a subject to address in our new clinic.’
Glenda hurried off to open the doors and Sam turned to Anna.
‘And when I’ve finished my piece to camera,’ he said softly, ‘you and I have some business to sort out, Riggs. And this time we’re doing it my way.’
She stared at him, hypnotised by the look in his eyes. ‘Your way?’
‘Your way hasn’t worked and I haven’t had an undisturbed night’s sleep for weeks.’ His eyes dropped to her mouth. ‘And it’s only fair to warn you that if you’re planning to argue then you’re going to lose.’
‘I wasn’t planning to argue.’
‘No?’ His mouth curved into a sexy smile. ‘Now, that is a first.’
Anna spent the entire day in a state of heightened awareness. She went through her surgeries and her calls with only half her mind in action, the other half thinking about Sam and the forthcoming evening.
Why shouldn’t they further their relationship? she reasoned.
As he’d rightly pointed out, who were they going to hurt? They were both consenting adults and neither of them was involved with anyone else. They found each other attractive. It was a relatively simple situation.
Except that it didn’t feel simple.
It didn’t feel simple at all.
Neither did dressing for the beach barbecue. The problem with being a GP in a small, tight-knit community, Anna reflected as she stared at the dress that she’d laid out on her bed, was that you were always in the spotlight and your behaviour had to be above reproach. She could never risk getting drunk in public or making an exhibition of herself.
Did the outfit she’d chosen classify as making an exhibition of herself?
She fingered the fabric gingerly. She’d bought the dress as a joke. To provoke Sam. But things had moved on and now she had a feeling that she’d be provoking a reaction entirely different from the one she’d originally anticipated.
A womanly smile spread across her face and she lifted the dress.
Impulse.
Wasn’t that what Sam had said?
Well, this dress had definitely been an impulse buy, purchased after he’d made that comment about her not being sufficiently ‘girly’.
And she was going to wear it.
She was wearing hot pink.
Sam felt his tongue almost fall out of his mouth as Anna walked out of the house onto the deck. Her silky dark hair was caught up on top of her head, her perfect mouth highly glossed. Her legs were long and lightly tanned and the heels she was wearing looked as though they should come with a health warning.
She paused and angled her head. ‘Say something, McKenna.’
He swallowed and dragged his eyes away from her legs. ‘You don’t wear pink, Riggs.’
‘Tonight I’m wearing pink.’
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. ‘Is it hot tonight, or is it me?’
She gave a slow smile that made his hormones shriek in protest. ‘It’s hot. That’s why I chose to wear a cool dress.’
‘There is nothing cool about that dress, Riggs,’ he said hoarsely, licking his lips and wondering how long he was expected to keep his hands to himself. ‘This beach barbecue. Is it something you particularly want to go to?’
He was willing her to say no, but she shot him an amused look, her brown eyes teasing. ‘It’s the event of our pitiful social calendar, McKenna. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s my only chance to go out.’
Which meant that she was going to make him wait.
His eyes were fastened on the dress. It looked simple enough. So why did it cling and hug and skim so cleverly? ‘I’m not sure you should be going out dressed like that.’
‘Well, I wouldn’t normally.’ She paused to fiddle with the tiny strap of the dress. ‘But someone told me that I should be more impulsive so I thought I’d give it a go. And you have to record a piece to camera, if I recall, all about responsible partying and safe sex.’
Sam ran a hand over his face and tried to think about suitably sober situations. And freezing cold showers. Anything to try and subdue his reactions, which were rapidly spiralling out of control.
‘Polly is waiting on the beach for you.’ She walked towards the steps, the smooth swing of her hips drawing his eye. ‘Let’s move.’
Sam swallowed and hoped they were planning to film him from the waist up. Otherwise he was in trouble.
‘Cut.’ Polly walked over to Sam, ignoring the crowd that was gathering around them. It was dark on the beach, a large bonfire was blazing and the barbecue was sending out the most tempting smells imaginable, and still people just wanted to watch the filming. ‘Are you all right? It’s not like you to fluff it.’
Sam ran a hand through his hair, his eyes on Anna. ‘Must be the audience. I’m finding them distracting.’
Polly glanced at the crowd and then back at him, puzzled. ‘You’re used to being stared at. Whenever we film in public, you’re stared at. I don’t see what’s different tonight.’
‘Don’t you?’ Sam’s voice was soft and Anna felt a shiver of awareness run through her and wondered why no one else could feel the tension between them.
From the moment they’d arrived on the beach they’d been surrounded by people, Sam by the film crew and herself by local people keen to catch up and enjoy a chat. But even when they’d been separated by others, she’d sensed him watching her every move. Counting the minutes. They both knew exactly what was going to happen later and the anticipation was reaching screaming pitch.
She was starting to wonder how she was going to make it through the evening and, judging from the number of times Sam had already fluffed his piece to camera, his concentration wasn’t up to much either.
Polly glanced at the cameraman. ‘We’ve probably got enough—it’s an informal setting anyway, so he doesn’t have to be word perfect. We just want to give the viewer the impression that they’re at a beach party—a bit of scene setting. Have we covered everything?’ She checked her notes. ‘Drinking, drugs, safe sex—looks about it.’ She looked at the sound man. ‘Are you happy?’
‘Ecstatic,’ he said dryly, ‘and longing for a drink.’
Polly grinned. ‘OK, then, folks, let’s join the party.’
Sam undid his microphone and handed it back to the sound man, his eyes never leaving Anna.
She felt her heart kick against her chest as he approached. ‘Hi, there.’ Her voice sounded croaky, totally unlike her own. ‘Are you done?’
His eyes roved over her face. ‘Riggs, I haven’t even begun.’
Since when had it been so difficult to breathe? Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him. ‘You seemed to be having one or two problems remembering your lines, McKenna.’
‘My mind was elsewhere.’
Without touching, they feasted on each other, using only their eyes and the power of the mind.
Her whole body was on fire. ‘You’re staring, McKenna.’
‘You chose to wear hot pink.’
It was foreplay, each of them knowing exactly how the encounter would end and, the anticipation heightened the excitement to almost intolerable levels.
‘We’re supposed to mingle, McKenna.’
His eyes dropped to her mouth. ‘Really?’
‘It’s part of the responsibility of being a local GP,’ she said huskily, longing to lift herself on tiptoe so that he could kiss her the way only he knew how. ‘You have to chat to everyone.’
‘Problem is, Riggs…’ his gaze didn’t shift from her mouth ‘…there’s only one person here that I’m interested in.’
Heat spread through her pelvis. ‘We shouldn’t be seen together. It will fuel gossip.’
‘I don’t give a damn what other people think.’
‘Easy for you to say. At the end of the summer you’ll be gone and I’ll be the one who’s still here.’
Finally his eyes lifted back to hers. ‘All right. Let’s mingle.’ Without another word he turned away, leaving her feeling oddly deflated and not understanding the reason. She’d been the one who’d suggested that they mingle. So why was she now disappointed that he was doing just that?
Because she wanted this whole evening to be over. She wanted this thing with Sam to start.
In the distance she saw Glenda arm in arm with one of the crew of the lifeboat and she wondered if this was the ‘friend’ she’d been talking about. Probably. And she was very pleased for her.
Anna moved among the crowd, chatting, laughing and all the time watching Sam out of the corner of her eye. She watched the way women crowded round him, watched the way they flirted and the way he subtly withdrew from their attentions.
Anna tightened her hand on her glass and felt her heart pound.
She decided that there was nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of knowing that, for tonight at least, Sam McKenna was hers.
He came for her at midnight.
He strolled across the sand, his shirt open at the neck, his feet bare. He looked dangerously handsome and more temptation than a woman should have to resist.
And she had no intention of resisting him.
‘We can play this two ways, Riggs,’ he said conversationally, coming to a halt just inches away from her. ‘We can leave right away and hope we make it back to the house, or I can just throw you down in the sand and have my wicked way with you here. Your choice.’
She caught the glitter in his blue eyes and her breath caught in her throat. ‘I’ve never been particularly into public displays,’ she murmured softly and he inclined his head and removed the plastic cup from her hand.
‘In that case, we’d better go now. While we still can.’ He tossed the cup into the nearest convenient bin and t
hey strolled back along the beach towards the house.
Within minutes the music and laughter had faded into the darkness behind them and all they could hear was the hiss of the sea as it touched the sand.
They walked side by side, both barefoot, the atmosphere choked with the heavy throb of anticipation. Neither of them spoke.
When they finally reached the foot of the steps, Sam paused to let her go first.
She hesitated, suddenly filled with a nervousness that she couldn’t explain. ‘Sam…’
His gaze locked on hers, his eyes burning. ‘I want you. Let’s go to bed.’
For a moment she faltered.
Whatever they shared wouldn’t last. She knew it couldn’t last. They clashed too violently, they both wanted their own way too badly. They were both too strong to be a good match.
But for now…
She swallowed and then turned and sprinted up the stairs, the knowledge that he was right behind her sending her pulse skyward.
They let themselves into the house and locked the door, and she was just going to suggest that they have a drink first when he took control.
His mouth was firm, possessive and she closed her eyes and gave a whimper of pleasure, acknowledging how much of the evening she’d spent longing for his kiss.
‘Much as I love the hot pink dress…’ his strong hands slid the straps down her arms ‘…it’s going to have to come off, Riggs.’
The feel of his fingers on her bare flesh made her shiver. ‘Maybe we should go upstairs.’ Her head tilted back and her eyes closed as he kissed his way down her neck.
‘Never make it that far.’
She felt the zip go on her dress and hot pink silk pooled at her feet. ‘Sam…’
He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the glass-fronted living room, refusing to let her finish her sentence. ‘Let yourself go, Anna.’
And she did.
She felt herself heat and melt under the touch of his hands, for once in her life relishing the fact that someone else was taking charge.
