Bedroom Diplomacy

by Michelle Celmer

  When Betty knocked on the door at nine, Rowena still hadn’t found anything useful.

  She shot a quick email to Cara explaining what she had—or more specifically hadn’t—found, then headed down to the pool. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she almost didn’t notice the faint outline of someone sitting in a chaise—Colin’s chaise. It was unlikely that anyone but him would be out there, and even more unlikely that someone else would pick that exact same chair to sit in. And despite his chilly greeting that morning, it would be rude not to go over and say hello.

  As she drew closer, she could see that his head had lolled slightly to one side and his eyes were closed, his breathing slow and deep. Cupped in his hands and resting in his lap was a large mug of what looked like brewed tea. Not the smartest place to hold a hot drink. Suppose when she dove in, the splash startled him and it spilled? He could do some serious damage.

  “Colin?” she said softly so she wouldn’t alarm him, but he didn’t budge. He looked so peaceful. Maybe she didn’t have to wake him; maybe if she just took the cup and set it on the table…

  She reached down, never imagining that she would have her hands quite this close to his crotch tonight. Or any night.

  Very gently, using the tips of her fingers, she clutched the cup by the rim and began to gingerly lift it from his lap. She’d lifted about six inches when she glanced up to his face. His eyes were open and looking at her.

  *

  As cold tea soaked his trousers, Colin belatedly realized that until Rowena had gotten the cup a safe distance from his crotch, he should have kept his eyes closed. But when a man dreamed he was with a woman, then opened his eyes to find her hand an inch from his fly, it was tough not to watch the action. And for several tense seconds, it wasn’t the cup he thought she was reaching for.

  “Oh, my God. I am so sorry,” Rowena said, looking as though she wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. “I can’t believe I just did that. Please tell me that wasn’t hot.”

  He set the cup on the ground beside him. “It was rather cold, actually.”

  She winced, “I didn’t…damage anything down there, did I?”

  He’d managed to catch the cup just in time. “Everything down there is fine.”

  She handed him her towel. “I don’t know how much help this will be.”

  He pushed himself out of the chair, leaning over to inspect the front of his pants, then handed the towel back. “I think it’s pretty hopeless at this point.”

  “For the record, I was moving it because I thought it might spill. And yes, I get the irony.”

  What tea hadn’t soaked into the linen went straight through to his Skivvies. “The staff is going to think I’m off my rocker. Walking in one night in dripping-wet clothes, the next looking as if I soiled myself.”

  She bit her lip, probably to keep from laughing, then said, “I could run up to your room and get you clean pants. Or you could borrow some swim trunks. There are always extras in the pool house. There’s bound to be something that fits.”

  The last thing he needed was her father possibly seeing her walking in or out of his suite. At least here, by the pool, no one could see them. Not without leaving the mansion, which no one seemed to do after dark. “Swim trunks will be fine.”

  “Let’s go look.”

  She rushed to the pool house, opened the door and switched on the lights. In the dark it had looked as if she was wearing a dress. Now he realized it was a cover-up, and underneath she wore…well, hello there, bikini. He wondered if she had worn that purposely, in case he happened to be at the pool again. Didn’t matter either way. She was off-limits.

  “There’s a shelf in the bathroom with extra suits,” she told him. “Take whatever you need.”

  Colin found a pair of trunks close to his size and pulled them off the shelf. He peeled off his wet slacks and boxer briefs, noticing, as the cold wet fabric touched the top of his legs, that the tails of his shirt hadn’t been spared, either. He took that off, too, and pulled the suit on. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Rowena was standing in the kitchen, bent over, looking in the refrigerator with her back to him. The cover-up was hiked up to reveal the very smooth curve of her behind and the backs of her creamy thighs.

  Bloody hell.

  “Found a pair,” he said.

  She straightened and turned, a can of soda in her hand. She looked briefly at the trunks, then her eyes drifted upward.

  Knowing what she was thinking, he said, “My shirt was wet, too.”

  “They’re big,” she said. “The trunks, I mean.”

  “Well, it was these or a Speedo.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head as if she’d decided that whatever it was was probably best left unsaid. “Want to split a soda, or would you like something stronger?”

  What he wanted, he couldn’t have. What he needed was a cold shower. And what he had to do was leave.

  And he would leave, just as soon as he finished his drink. “Soda is fine.”

  She pulled two glasses from the cupboard, poured the soda, then added ice.

  She handed him his glass and as their fingertips brushed, he could swear he saw her shiver.

  Okay, enough, he told himself. He shouldn’t even be here. He should have stayed in his room and watched television.

  Do what you came to do.

  “I did a Google search on you,” she said.

  “You did?”

  “I saw your back and I was curious. When my dad said you’re a war hero, I thought he was exaggerating, but you actually are a hero.”

  He shrugged. “That’s a matter of opinion.”

  “With a broken leg, you dragged a man from a burning helicopter. That’s pretty brave, Colin.”

  “The truth is, I don’t recall much of what happened. I remember getting caught in the sandstorm, the chopper going down. I recall being thrown and then looking back at the wreckage. I knew that William was probably still inside. I wasn’t able to stand but being so jacked up on adrenaline, I didn’t even know my leg was mangled. I dragged myself back to the chopper, felt around until I found him.”

  “There was smoke?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, thick black smoke. And dust. Couldn’t see a damn thing. I could hardly breathe. The explosion didn’t happen until I had dragged him about twenty feet away. Then I passed out, but luckily William regained consciousness. He put out the fire on my back and then dragged me a safe distance away. When I woke up, I was in the hospital.”

  “And if you hadn’t pulled him from the helicopter?”

  “He would have burned to death. I was the only chance he had. He would have done the same for me. Easy choice. No choice, really.”

  “I read that he walked away with some burns and a broken arm.”

  “The burns were mostly on his hands and arms, from putting out the fire on me.”

  “He has a wife and four kids.”

  Colin nodded, acknowledging the unstated sentiment. “I know that people have labeled me a hero, but I don’t see it that way. What I did for him, any other soldier would have done for me. It’s just part of the job description.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less heroic.”

  Not in his mind.

  “Will you ever go back into active duty?”

  “Never. With the damage to my leg I would be useless in combat. They gave me a choice. Take a desk job or retire. But I can’t be an outsider looking in. I’m a warrior. Warriors don’t sit behind desks.”

  “So what will you do now?”

  “I have a friend in private security who offered me a job. The only thing holding me back is my leg.”

  “Does it still hurt?”

  “Sometimes.” Almost all the time, but not like before. Right after the surgery it was excruciating. He hadn’t taken anything stronger than ibuprofen in a month.

  “And your back?” she said.

  “It’s sensitive, but not painful.”

  “Can I
…touch it?”

  She was playing with fire. And who was more foolish—the fool who started the fire, or the fool who gave her the matches?

  His gaze drifted down to her mouth, her lips full and pink and practically begging to be kissed. Then her tongue darted out to wet them….

  Bloody hell. He had to stop this now.

  “Rowena.” He set his glass down. “We need to talk.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I need to apologize for the other night. And this morning.”

  “Okay.”

  “I was very…forward the other night. I’m afraid I may have given you the wrong impression.”

  “Maybe a little,” she admitted.

  “And today…well, there’s no excuse for my behavior. I was very rude to you. I’m sorry for that.”

  “But?”

  “I like you, Rowena, but I can’t like you.”

  “Is it my reputation? Are you worried it will tarnish your good name?”

  “No! God no. Nothing like that. This is because of your father.”

  She frowned. “What about him?”

  “After he introduced us, he and I had a talk. About you. And he warned me, in no uncertain terms, that I am to consider you off-limits.”

  Four

  Rowena felt as if she’d been sucker-punched in the stomach.

  The shock of Colin’s words, her father’s sheer gall, rendered her speechless. She honestly did not know what to say. And even if she did, her throat was so tight with anger, her vocal chords were frozen.

  Her father controlled where she worked, where she lived, the decisions regarding her son’s medical care. Now he wanted to control who she could see socially? What would be next? Her clothes? Her brand of shampoo? Would he keep going until he’d stolen every last shred of her independence?

  For over three years now she had played by his rules, doing and saying what was expected of her, paying penance for her sins over and over. And he still wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t let her have a life of her own. What did she have to do to make him trust her? For him to see that she’d changed?

  Or maybe all this time she had been wrong, maybe this had nothing to do with her proving herself, with him trusting her. Power hungry as he had always been, maybe it was simply that he liked to keep her firmly under his thumb, under his control.

  In that moment, she resented the senator more than she ever believed possible.

  “I think he’s just worried about you,” Colin said.

  Her voice tight, Rowena replied, “Trust me, Colin, that’s not it. Not at all.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Colin said. “I can see that you’re upset.”

  She took a deep, calming breath. “Let’s get one thing very clear. Who I choose to see socially is none of my father’s damn business.”

  “I don’t think so either, but I can’t risk him pulling his support for the treaty. We’ve come so far already.”

  “He said he would pull his support?”

  “Not directly, but he insinuated it.”

  She was wrong—she actually could resent him more. She was so angry, so embarrassed and humiliated and disgusted—with her father and herself.

  “Rowena?” He touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head, brushing away an angry tear with the back of her hand. No. She wasn’t okay. Her father had crossed the line. One he could never uncross. And the worst part was that she had let him.

  But no more. This is where she drew her line. She was going to get away. She wasn’t quite sure how, but she would figure it out. Her dignity and her pride depended on it. And it depended on something else.

  “Colin, do you want to kiss me?”

  He had this look, like maybe he thought it was a trick question.

  “It’s okay if you say no. I just want the truth.”

  “Yes, I do. But—”

  “And I want you to. For the first time in over three years I met someone who I would like to kiss. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone, most of all my own father, tell me that I can’t. No one else knows we’re here, and I’m not going to tell anyone. So, if you really want to, just this one time, kiss me.”

  He stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers, and slid his hand through her hair to cradle the back of her head. Her heart pounded and her breath hitched as he leaned in, tilting her head….

  Her eyes drifted closed as his lips brushed over hers. Once. Twice. More of a tease than anything. Then it was over.

  He backed away, gazing down at her.

  That’s it? Seriously?

  She didn’t just want a kiss, she wanted a kiss.

  “Colin, no offense, but I’ve waited over three years for this. Please tell me you can do better than that.”

  Maybe it was all that military training, or he was a ninja, but damn did he move fast. One second he was standing there looking at her, then she blinked and she was in his arms and he was kissing her. Really kissing her. And it was very much worth the wait.

  She slid her arms around his neck, tunneled her fingers through his hair. Everything about him felt so solid and sturdy, but his touch, as he cradled her face in his hands and stroked her cheeks and ears, was so gentle.

  He pulled away slowly this time, as if he knew he had to stop but didn’t really want to. And as their lips finally parted, she felt limp and drowsy, as if she could melt into a puddle right there at his feet.

  “How was that?” he asked.

  She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

  “I think that’s the first time a woman has thanked me for kissing her. Though I’m not sure I deserved it.”

  “Why not?”

  The corners of his lips tilted upward. “I think I can do better.”

  Better than that? She honestly didn’t think it got any better than that. But if he thought he could, who was she to disagree?

  *

  “Okay, what’s going on?”

  Rowena looked up to find Tricia leaning in her office doorway. “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t stopped smiling all day.”

  “I haven’t?”

  She shook her head.

  She tried to wipe the smile from her face, but she couldn’t do it. The corners of her mouth refused to drop.

  “And it’s a sappy, lovesick kind of smile,” Tricia said. “There’s obviously something you aren’t telling me.”

  If she couldn’t trust her best friend, who could she trust? “Close the door.”

  Tricia closed the door and sat expectantly on the edge of Rowena’s desk. “Well?”

  “You can’t tell anyone about this.”

  “I won’t, I swear. Did you meet someone?” She lowered her voice and in a raspy whisper asked, “Did you get laid?”

  “Better,” Rowena said. “I got kissed.”

  And kissed, and kissed, until she and Colin had both lost track of how many times. Until it hadn’t even mattered anymore.

  “Just a kiss?” Tricia said, looking disappointed.

  “Yep.”

  “You didn’t do anything else?”

  “Nope. We just kissed. But it wasn’t just kissing. It was like…high school. That perfect first kiss in the backseat of a car, the kind where you’re so into each other that everything around you just…goes away. You lose track of time, of where you are and who you are. It was…perfect.”

  “Wow,” Tricia said, a dreamy look on her face. “I want a kiss like that.”

  “It was a slice of heaven.”

  “You have to tell me who it is and how you met him. Did you meet him on the internet? People do that a lot now.”

  Rowena laughed. “Nope. Not the internet.”

  “Then who—”

  A knock cut her short. Tricia pulled the door open and Rowena was stunned to see Colin standing on the other side. He wore jogging pants and a sweat-soaked jersey, and boy, did he wear them well. Her heart skipped a beat and her face went hot.

  “Colin…hi,�
� she said, wondering what he was doing there, and even more importantly, why he would risk getting caught.

  “Have you got a minute?” he asked.

  “Um, yeah, sure. Tricia, would you excuse us?”

  Tricia looked from Colin to her, and that was all she needed to make the connection.

  “Sure.” Colin stepped into the room and Tricia stepped out, and when his back was to her, she mouthed the words, oh, my God, and fanned her face.

  When the door latched, Rowena asked him, “What are you doing here? What if someone saw you?”

  “Your father had a late lunch meeting, and I decided to go jogging. If anyone asks, I’ll say I stopped in for a glass of water.”

  “Wooter?” she teased. “I’m not sure if we have any of that.”

  His brow lifted, lips curled into a grin. “Making fun of my accent, are we?”

  Honestly, every time he talked, it gave her warm shivers. She could listen to him for hours and never get bored. But that was beside the point. “Colin, you can’t be here. We said it was just going to be that one time.”

  “And I haven’t stopped thinking about you since then.”

  “Please don’t say things like that.” It made her go all gooey inside. Like last night, when she had to go, and he kept saying, No, not yet, just one more kiss.

  Who could say no to that? But this time she had to. “You only want me because you can’t have me.”

  “That’s not true,” he said, and she raised her brows at him. “Okay, it’s a little true. What can I say? I’m a thrill seeker. I like to live dangerously. I crave adventure.”

  “Colin, if I said yes and we were caught—”

  “We won’t be.”

  “But if we were I would feel awful.”

  “Rowena—”

  Another knock cut him off, but this was louder and more urgent. “It’s me, Row,” Tricia called. “We need you.”

  “So open the door.”

  Tricia opened it, peeking in like she expected them to be half naked. “There was an incident on the playground.”