“Now that,” Jada pointed to the closed bedroom door, “explains your hair, makeup, and that cute little sundress you're wearing.”
Peyton glanced down at the red, black, yellow and green short dress that hooked on one shoulder and stopped above her knees. Michael had helped pick it out the day before. Hanging with him made her feel beautiful, special. It had been a long time, if ever, since she had this type of connection with a man. After Dylan, she felt undesirable, and hadn’t allowed any man to get too close. Yet, being with Michael was different. It was as if they had known each other for years.
“And if this new look of yours hadn’t clued us in, that expression in your eyes a minute ago says that he is either more than a friend, or you want him to be more than a friend.” Toni moved closer to Peyton.
“So which is it?” Jada folded her arms.
Peyton blew out a breath. It was honestly too early to consider Michael a friend, but she’d be lying if she said that she wasn’t interested in him. That thought alone seemed too crazy to voice. He still hadn’t shared much about himself, and she resisted the urge to ask Christina too many questions.
“Whatever is between Mike and me is none of your business.” Peyton tidied the magazines, placing them all on the table. “So are we going or what?”
They stood staring at her for a minute before Jada said, “We’re going, but this conversation is not over. You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“I just thought about something. If you’re here with this gorgeous man, who’s sending you flowers?” Toni asked.
Peyton glanced at her. “What flowers?”
“Someone sent flowers to the office yesterday. I assume it wasn’t Michael since he’s here with you. So if not him, then who?” Toni tapped her foot impatiently.
“You’ve been holding out on us haven’t you?” Jada stood next to Toni with a similar scowl.
Peyton lifted her hands. “I have no idea who is sending me flowers. Toni, I’m surprised your nosy self didn’t read the card.”
“MJ wouldn’t let me, even shooed me out of the office.”
“You’re lucky we’re starving otherwise we wouldn’t be going anywhere until we got answers because I want to know everything. I want to know when you started seeing Michael and why we didn’t know. I also want a list of who could be sending you flowers,” Toni added as they headed to the door.
Before they reached the door, Peyton realized her small, across the shoulder purse was in the bedroom.
“I need to get my bag before we leave.”
“Well, hurry up. I want to get out of here so you can give us details about you and Pretty-Brown-Eyes.”
Peyton stilled her jittery nerves and gave a soft knock on the bedroom door before pushing it open and walking in, closing it behind her. Relief flooded through her body when she saw that the bathroom door was closed.
She hurried across the room, to the upholstered chair near the patio door where her purse lay. Ruffling through it, she confirmed her room key card was inside and then headed back across the room.
The bathroom door swung open. Steam filled the doorway before Michael stepped into view. And what an enticing view he presented. Tall, lean, and perfectly put together, he stood just inside the bedroom using a towel to dry his head and another hung low around his hips.
“Oh, hey. You’re still here, huh?”
Her gaze took in the length of him, staring at his broad shoulders and wide chest that tapered down to a narrow waist. His six-pack or maybe it was an eight-pack, she wasn’t sure, was on full display. No wonder he was arrogant. With a body like that, extreme perfection, he had earned the right to that huge ego. And the tattoos. Peyton had never considered tattoos sexy before, but on him…good Lord. She had seen the one on his forearm and the one on his left bicep, but the one over his heart, a decorative cross, was fascinating. She wanted to reach out and touch the elaborate design.
“Peyton?”
Her eyes shot up. “I’m leaving,” she blurted, fighting to keep her attention on his eyes, but her gaze drifted to the sizable bulge behind the towel. Going lower, she took in his long, powerful legs that were on full display. Heck, he even had sexy feet.
“Okay.” Amusement bounced around in his eyes. He knew he was torturing her with the sight of his tempting body. “I didn’t tell you this out there, but that dress is gorgeous on you. It looks a thousand percent better than it did on the hanger.”
“Thank you.” Heat stormed her body. She had never blushed so much in her life. The compliments he had showered on her in the short time she’d known him, made her glad she was a woman.
Peyton glanced back at the closed bedroom door. She had to be careful. It was too easy to fall for someone like Michael – a bad-boy. He was just playing a role in Jamaica. Besides, he wasn’t her type. He had a child, which meant there was a baby mama. He was arrogant like her ex-husband, and he had a dangerous job.
Nope, not her type.
“Thanks for helping me pick out the dress,” she finally said, fidgeting with her purse strap.
“My pleasure.”
The towel he used to dry his head, now hung around his neck as he strolled to the dresser. Apparently, he was comfortable walking in front of her half-naked. She could hear Martina’s voice in her head, encouraging her to yank the towel free from around his hips.
Peyton swallowed hard. The size of his package couldn’t be denied. She didn’t have to remove the towel to know he was well endowed.
Michael rummaged through the dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of briefs. The night before she told him there was an empty drawer he could use. Now in hindsight, she wondered if that was a wise idea. Especially if it meant him walking around in a towel.
“So where are you ladies headed?” Michael asked, cutting into her thoughts. He gave her the perfect view of the motorcycle tattoo intricately designed across his back. And then there was his round, firm butt. Whew.
The naughty part of Peyton wanted to walk up behind him and palm his butt cheeks, but she had never been so bold, so brazen.
“We’re going to get something to eat. But I’m not sure when we’ll be back since Jada wants to do some shop—” Her words stalled in her throat when he turned and let the towel fall from his hips.
Heat crept to her cheeks, and Peyton’s mouth hung open as she watched him take his time stepping into his brief, an impressive shaft dangling between his muscular thighs. Her heart thumped wildly, her ragged breaths loud in her ears as Michael pulled the shorts up over his hips and adjusted himself.
She tried to school her features before he looked up, but warmth overpowered her body, and she had a feeling he would notice her mix of excitement and discomfort.
She wiped clammy palms down the sides of her dress, clenching her thighs together to stop the throbbing between her legs. Every nerve in her body was on high alert.
Her gaze met his. His eyebrows dipped.
Oh great, he caught her staring.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as if dropping his towel, and leaving him butt naked in front of her had been no big deal.
“I…I,” she muttered, unable to form a coherent thought, let alone intelligent words. He approached her, and she forced herself to stay put and not take a step back. “I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay.” He touched her arm, and that familiar zing shot through her body, this time igniting a fire within her. His gaze, missing nothing, studied her face. “Maybe you should sit down.”
Peyton shuddered with irritation. She acted as if she had never seen a half-naked man before. Granted, never one of such perfection, but still. She was a grown, red-blooded woman acting like a doggone ten-year-old.
“Pu...put some clothes on,” she stuttered. “And apparently you have forgotten my number one rule — no touching.”
He stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. “Ahh, so that’s it. You can’t handle all of this male fine-ness” He flexed his muscles, striking erotic
poses showing just how fit he was. “Oh and the no touching rule flew out the window with the kiss we shared the other day.”
Peyton’s frustration grew, and she clenched her teeth. She didn’t know if she was more ticked at him or herself. No. She knew. Definitely herself. She let him get under her skin. Now she was paying.
“Just put some clothes on!” She pushed past him. “Arrogant ass,” she grumbled on her way out the door, ignoring his laughter.
“Let’s go,” she snapped at Jada and Toni as she rushed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
“Are you sure? You were in there an awfully long time. Maybe you would prefer we leave, and you stay and hang out with your boy-toy,” Jada teased, strolling across the room with a wicked grin. “We don’t want to block any action since it’s been awhile for you.”
Peyton swung the door open. “Just shut up and come on.” Her cousins burst into giggles, and she rolled her eyes.
This is going to be a long day.
Chapter Six
Hours later, Michael stood at the small bar nursing a club soda, watching Peyton from across the room. The wedding party and guests were gathered in one of the small banquet rooms and had just finished the rehearsal dinner. Peyton stood talking to her parents, two of the coolest people Michael had ever met. Her mother, Violet, reminded him so much of Christina with her free-spirited attitude and easy smile. And Peyton’s father, Thomas, hadn’t left his wife’s side, seeming to be totally enthralled with her even after almost forty years of marriage.
Michael took a sip from his drink. Despite being the only outsider, the whole family had treated him like one of their own. Although, Peyton’s grandfather gave Michael pause. Steven Jenkins had slowly shaken his hand when Peyton introduced them, saying that he was surprised that Peyton had never mentioned him.
Michael and Peyton stuck to their cover story. They admitted to being introduced by Luke but didn’t mention that it had only been a couple of days ago. By his behavior, the senior Jenkins was very protective of his oldest grandchild.
Michael turned back to the bar and lifted his glass to the bartender. “Can I get another?”
“If you’re trying to get drunk, you’re going to have to get him to add some alcohol to the drink,” Luke cracked, ordering himself another beer. Michael hadn’t had alcohol in years and planned to keep it that way. “So what’s going on? You’ve been brooding all evening, and you haven’t taken your eyes off of my sister-in-law since you two arrived.”
“Peyton isn’t your sister-in-law yet. There’s still time for Christina to change her mind about marrying you.”
“Ha, ha, ha, I see you got jokes. She won’t be changing her mind.” Luke glanced at his watch. “In less than twenty hours, she’ll be my wife. I’ll be the envy of every single man who knows her.”
Michael chuckled. Luke was probably right. To know Christina was to love her. Hell, it might’ve been a family thing because her sister had his stomach all twisted up inside.
For the last few hours, he had been replaying his interaction with Peyton from when she walked in on him earlier. He didn’t know why he got so much pleasure out of teasing her. Growing up with two brothers, and no sisters, Michael could only attribute his behavior to that of a guy picking on his little sister. Unfortunately, there was nothing brotherly about his feelings for Peyton. No matter how he tried shooting down the idea of there ever being anything more between them than friendship, the what ifs kept popping up in his head.
“She’s getting to you isn’t she?”
“Man, don’t start. You know damn well that she and I wouldn’t work.” He wasn’t the commitment kind of guy, and the last thing he would ever want to do is hurt Peyton, especially knowing she was a little gun-shy when it came to trusting a man again.
“Don’t do that,” Luke said.
“Do what?”
“Act as if you’re not affected by PJ. I’ve seen you with women. You’re different around her. The way you look at her, how attentive you are, and the way you cater to her as if you two really are…” He stopped, remembering where they were. “You like her. A lot. I just hope you’re not holding back because of the sins of your old man and your grandfather.”
Michael shook his head. Why Luke kept trying to bring Lewis into every conversation that they’d had lately was a mystery to Michael. Then to mention his grandfather was like rubbing salt into an open wound.
“What do you want me to say, Luke?” Michael kept his voice low though the tension inside of him coiled tighter and tighter.
“Look, I initially disagreed with Christina’s little match-making scheme. Now, I think it might’ve been a good idea. You’ve been avoiding serious relationships all of your adult life because of some supposed family curse.”
“I’m not doing this.” Michael turned to walk away, but Luke stopped him with a hand on his arm and nodded toward a door that led into the hallway.
Michael followed reluctantly, knowing he wasn’t going to like this conversation and that Luke wasn’t going to let the subject drop. As for the family curse, Michael didn’t know if his biological father or grandfather’s penchant for beating women was really a family curse, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
“Mike, I wouldn’t have gone along with CJ’s idea if I thought you were a danger to Peyton. You’re not them. You’re one of the best men I know, and I would go as far as saying I would bet my life on you. You would never hurt a woman. I know this and anyone who knows you – knows this. As for Peyton, don’t rule her out. If there’s a connection, see where it goes. Personally, I think you two are great together.”
Peyton might’ve been good for him, but he doubted he was good for her. The dysfunction he had witnessed the first nine years of his life had left physical, as well as invisible scars. He had never put his hands on a woman with the intent of hurting her. Yet, he had always been afraid that there might be some genetic imbalance with the men on his father’s side of the family.
“Mike, you haven’t had a serious relationship since Michaela was born.”
Michael whirled on Luke. “Have you forgotten the shit I went through? I almost lost everything. I…”
Luke lifted his hands. “Chill man. You know I haven’t forgotten. Like you, I will never forget.”
Michael took a breath and released it slowly. Of course, Luke hadn’t forgotten. He had barely been out of law school when Michael called him from the hospital, under police custody. It had been one of the worst nights of his life. The same night he had vowed he would never enter a serious relationship again.
“Just because you found love, doesn’t mean we’re all cut out for that life,” Michael said.
“You are. Look how great you are with Michaela. Whether you believe it or not, you’re family-man material. Not only are you capable of loving someone, but you also deserve to have someone love you back.”
Michael shook his head and laughed. “What has CJ done to you? She’s ruined you, man! Did she put something in your toothpaste? That’s why you’re spewing all of this love shit.”
Luke laughed. “She definitely did something to me because I can’t imagine my life without that woman.”
“And don’t you forget it either,” Christina said when she stepped between them. Her style of dress, from the huge hooped earrings to the long multi-colored dress with weird shapes, was so different than the way the women Luke used to date dressed.
“I was just telling my brotha here that he and Peyton would be great together,” Luke explained to Christina.
“I agree. I see how you two look at each other when you think no one is watching.”
Michael dropped his head. “Not you too.”
“Hey, you’re never going to find anyone better than my sister. She’s the total package – brains, beauty, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.” Christina sang her sister praises. “And I think you have the power to win her heart.”
“Seducing the boss lady is not on my list of thin
gs to do. I came on vacation for some R&R, not to participate in some matchmaking scheme. Peyton is a beautiful woman. I doubt she has or will ever have any problem finding a man — on her own.” He looked at Christina pointedly. “She doesn’t need anyone sticking their nose in her business.”
Christina waved him off. “Clearly you don’t know my sister well. If my cousins or I don’t intervene, she’ll spend the rest of her life alone and miserable.”
“And so I’m supposed to be the cure?” Michael never understood why women felt they had to get involved in each other’s affairs.
He glanced at the door to the banquet room. Maybe seducing the boss lady wasn’t a bad idea. They were both adults, and they were on vacation. Then again…
“I don’t want to hurt her,” Michael said under his breath.
“You’re not going to hurt her,” Christina said, punching him softly in the arm. He hadn’t intended to say that out loud. “And I know this because if you do, my cousin Martina will hunt you down and kick your butt.”
“Is that the carpenter?” Michael asked Luke, who was laughing and shaking his head.
“Yep and CJ isn’t exaggerating. Martina is very protective of her family. Don’t mess up.” Luke chuckled. “We’d better get back in there since this party is for us.”
Luke and Christina walked away hand in hand, and for a second, Michael entertained the thought of seducing Peyton. They had a connection, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in learning more about her. However, that little doubt that always seemed to surface whenever he showed the slightest interest in a woman crept along the back of his neck. He would just as soon die before hurting Peyton.
Later that night, Michael and the guys sat around playing poker in the small banquet room where the rehearsal dinner had taken place.
Seducing the Boss Lady Page 6
