Tamsyn had overheard two women discussing 1Night Stand while sitting next to them getting a manicure. Though their conversation had been exchanged in Spanish, she’d understood every word, being fluent herself. One woman gushed her night had been nothing short of life changing, and Tamsyn’s curiosity had spiked. After Googling and checking out the website, she’d called Brett, torn between wanting to go for it and having Brett talk her out of it. Tempted, Brett offered to give the service a go first and report back. Why not? It was good fodder for the article. She didn’t have a boyfriend. And she’d try anything once. Whatever it took to wipe out her lust for Linc.
“Of course I’m nervous, but it’s part of the thrill! The rush of the unknown.” Brett grinned, leaning in. “Plus, from what those ladies were saying about their experiences, it sounds like Madame Eve has a knack for knowing what one wants in a lover, even if they don’t.”
Her cell phone pinged with a text message, and she glanced at it. Speak of the devil. “Linc says he’s sorry, but he’s too busy at work to see your brother’s band tonight.”
Tamsyn’s eyes widened. “By the way, did you tell Linc about any of this?”
“Ha! No way. He’d call me nuts and would never see the fun in it.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Brett rolled her eyes. “Or the point of paying for it when I could go to a bar and bring a guy home for free.”
“This is much s-safer! Like you said, all the clients are screened to the nines. He just wouldn’t like the thought of you hooking up with a guy you don’t know. Or doing something scandalous without him r-right beside you.” Her friend’s rose ring sparkled as she waved her hand. “Even in college, he insisted on following you when you went to check out a story for the newspaper.”
Brett shook her head. “He doesn’t interfere anymore. Besides, I never get into something I can’t get out of.” She brought the mug to her lips.
“Anyway, I know you tell him almost everything, so if you do, please don’t say you got the idea because of me.” Tamsyn shrank in her seat, as if imagining Lincoln’s disapproval and judgment. “I’d be so mortified.”
“Don’t worry.” Brett sat back, stretching her legs on an ottoman and crossing her ankles. “It’s our secret.”
“I don’t know, Brett. He has a way of getting things out of you when he knows something’s up.”
“Trust me, my lips are sealed on this.”
***
Lincoln waited for a response from Madame Eve, his impatience worn to a nub. He’d refreshed his account every fifteen minutes until he’d had to leave his office for a meeting.
But Madame didn’t make him wait long. Right after he’d gotten back, he found a reply.
Dear Mr. Murrow,
Under normal circumstances, I don’t discuss my client’s appointments with anyone, particularly without the client’s knowledge. However, I’ve decided to consent to your very sincere request. I only agree because you have declared true love.
I’m certain Brett will be surprised, but happy, to know how much you desire her. I implore you to take advantage of this opportunity and tell, as well as show, how you feel. The villa is reserved in her name.
Sincerely,
Madame Eve
Lincoln closed his eyes and let out a long, pent-up breath. She’d agreed to let him take the place of the mystery man. Thank God. A poet he most definitely was not, but he’d revealed his feelings for Brett and more or less begged Madame Eve to let him be the one waiting at the villa. A big risk, but one he had to take. And he didn’t know for sure if Brett wanted him like he wanted her. The singular evidence one kiss a long time ago....
Chapter Two
Brett strode toward the secluded row of villas off the golf course, her heels punctuating each step. Maybe she should’ve worn the slinky silver dress instead of the figure-hugging black one. Her brown hair pinned off her shoulders instead of loose. Well, too late now to change her mind.
She stopped, pressed a hand to her stomach, and inhaled the scent of dewy, fresh-cut grass, then exhaled slowly. How ridiculous was it to be this nervous? She’d done some pretty hair-raising things in the past. At least her feet were on the ground, there stood little chance of getting bitten by an exotic arachnid, and she hadn’t had to sign a waiver for this adventure. Yet her adrenaline kicked in as though she was about to freefall over the edge like a base jumper.
Turning into the walkway of villa number six, she almost stopped in awe. The stand-alone cottage appeared as intimate and romantic as the website had described. With allusions to the French colonial style, it had attractive jalousie shutters and antique sconces flickering with gentle flames. In the brochure, there were photos of a huge walk-in shower plus an open patio in the back leading to a private garden and plunge pool. The setting couldn’t have been more ideal. At the door, she debated whether to knock or walk right in, but noticed it ajar.
A glowing fireplace caught her eye when she entered. Then an antique, four-poster bed. White rose petals fluttered away from her feet. She closed the door and took everything in with one observant sweep. The villa held an abundance of room with a modern kitchenette to the left, and open patio doors ahead, their curtains blowing. Very nice.
All she needed now was the mystery man.
“Um, hello?” she called, pulse thudding in her ears.
No answer. Approaching a table, she set her bag on it. A peacock feather lay beside the vase in the center and underneath it, an envelope marked with her name. She picked up the feather and ran it through her cupped palm, flitting it under her nose. What a fanciful little detail. As she reached for the card, a voice broke the quiet.
“You’re here.”
She jerked, heart seizing at the way-too-familiar male voice. Stepping around the corner from the villa’s patio doorway, hands in pockets, was Lincoln.
The president of the United States could’ve jumped out and she would’ve been less shocked.
“Linc? What are you...what’s going on?” She glanced around. How the hell had he found out about this? Had he scared her date away?
He came closer. “Let me explain.”
“Please do!” It had better be good. In fact, your explanation had better be mind-blowing.
She came around the table, crossing her arms. Regardless of what Linc would say, the evening couldn’t possibly go the way she’d imagined now. Unless he’d somehow become a client for 1Night Stand, too? Could it be a crazy coincidence? She doubted it.
He slid the patio door closed, came toward her, and stopped, raking his gaze over her body. “God, Brett. You look amazing.”
Though the compliment made her legs feel like overcooked noodles, she raised a brow in silent reproach, impatient for an explanation, not flattery.
He cast his eyes away for a moment then met hers. “Right. I’ll cut to the chase. The other day, while you were in the shower, I read your email from Madame Eve.”
Alarm bells went off in Brett’s head. “What! How could you? That was private!”
He flinched. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it intentionally. You’d shut off the monitor, and I wanted to check out some sports scores. The email was right there in my face. I went to close it, but then I read a few words and my curiosity got the better of me.”
“You mean your prying ass did!”
He brought his hand to his chest. “And if you had read this in my email? How would you have reacted?”
She would’ve been stupid jealous, but would never admit that out loud. “I’d think what you do on your own time is none of my business. This isn’t even the wildest thing I’ve ever done.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. Without a doubt, she couldn’t be more stunned. She’d planned for everything but this. The ideal date. The answer to purging Lincoln from her fantasies—ruined. “I can’t believe you interfered like this.”
“And I can’t believe you’re paying to have sex with a man you’ve never met. Was it just for fun? A sure thing or something?”
“No, I—”
“Then why?”
“I don’t have to tell you why. I have my reasons.” She couldn’t say Tamsyn had given her the idea; she’d made a promise. Nor could she divulge it had to do with him. A quarter-truth would have to suffice, because she sensed he wouldn’t drop it without one. “Well, if you must know, I’d overheard some women talking about this service and it...er, intrigued me. I thought I could use the experience for the mag,” she improvised and bit the corner of her lip. Blame it on her job.
His dark brows furrowed. “You’re really doing this out of some sort of research?”
“In a way. What’s the big deal? I’m not involved with anyone. I have the money.” Time to flip this back around. She pointed at him. “Now, tell me this, after you read the email, what made you decide to come here and destroy my plans? Where is my date, by the way?”
“He’s not here.”
Anger rushed through her, renewed. “Did you make him leave?”
“He was never here. I...um….” He tucked his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor.
She waited a few seconds for him to finish, then swung around in fury. Snatching her bag, she headed for the door, determined to contact Madame Eve and get to the bottom of this—
“Brett, wait.” The urgency in his voice stopped her. “I asked to take his place.”
She stilled, hand on the doorknob, his words vibrating in her ears. Confused, she faced him. “You did what?”
His dark brown eyes bored into hers. “I emailed Madame Eve and asked her if I could be the one to meet you. She said yes. The other man never had a chance to be here. But I didn’t do this just to stop him.” Linc shrugged. “I did it to include me.”
Shocked, Brett tried to assemble the pieces, but couldn’t put them together. She’d signed the contract with 1Night Stand, but, for some reason, Madame Evangeline had given in to Lincoln’s request. “Why would she let you do that?”
He stared at her for an uncomfortable period, and she felt trapped. The fire crackled behind him, and a broken log rolled off another, shooting off embers. The beat of her heart scattered with every second. She waited for his answer...fearful and desperate to hear it at the same time.
“She let me because I told her how I felt about you.”
Brett froze. A wrecking ball could crash through the wall and she still wouldn’t blink. She squeaked out, “Is this a joke?”
“The opposite.” He took another step toward her, his tone smooth, caressing, and, most startling of all, sincere. “I want you, Brett. If you need a man to make love to you like no other, then let it be someone who’s wanted to for so long. A man who knows you. Let it be me.”
What? Lincoln wants me? Not once had he given a sign before this. She should be elated, relieved even, but her mind continued to reel…and her practical side warned what would happen if either of them gave in to their mutual desires.
She shook her head to break the spell his words cast. “But—we can’t. You’re my best friend. After the night when we kissed and hurt two people we cared about, we promised we would never cross the line. Our friendship means too much to us.”
“I remember our promise.” He fingered a tendril of her hair. “But that was years ago, in college. Our vow did nothing to save those relationships. Now it’s different. We’re both available, and no one will get hurt.”
His rationality didn’t help. Her flawless plan had crumbled. Brett had imagined walking in, meeting her date, sipping on a drink, flirting, and twisting the sheets with some handsome Lincoln look-alike. Not only would that have preserved her most valuable friendship, it would’ve also remedied her vexing attraction to him. Win-win.
Instead, she stood in front of the man himself, who’d taken the place of her date because he wanted her. Even if she walked away right then, things would never be the same between them.
“Lincoln. I don’t know what to say, but I don’t think we should do this.”
“Why? Because you don’t want me?” He waited until she met his eyes. “Or because you’re afraid to?”
The latter. Afraid. Oh yes, she’d forced away her lusty thoughts many a time out of pure fear. But now that she had an opportunity to voice it? The words stuck in her throat. Once spoken, she could never take them back.
“Sex ruins everything.” She brushed past him for relief from his hypnotizing eyes. “No matter how hard we’d want things to go back to the way they were, it’d be impossible. The point of no return.”
“I know.” He eased her around. “But we’re already there. If this was just about sex, I would’ve never done this. I’d be blind, deaf, and stupid not to want to take you to bed, but that’s not the only reason I’m here.”
She gulped. “It isn’t?”
“No. Sex would just be the beginning….”
A feeling of helplessness took hold of Brett as he bent to kiss her with softness, but enough to elicit a whimper of longing from her. He turned his head, and his mouth commanded hers to open for him. His tongue dipped inside and desire snapped, igniting the blazing passion simmering for months. The moment she thought he’d go further, he drew back.
Oh my.
Breaking away and shaking, she spun away from him and faced the fire, eyes wide and threatening tears. Did he have to be an amazing kisser? How could someone who gave her such strength make her feel so weak?
“This is crazy. Yes, I want you, Linc, but you’re dearer to me than my own broken family. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
She felt like she’d lost him already. What he symbolized in her life. No longer would he be the friend she’d known since her teen years, laughed with, cried on, and run to when her family didn’t understand her. If she stayed, he’d be much more than that.
“This is so risky,” she whispered, facing him again. “What if we regret it? What if it’s a huge mistake?”
He gripped her upper arms. “And what if it’s not? What if you and I being together, really being together, is the best thing for us?” She attempted not to quiver as he added, “I’ve watched you get your heart broken time after time. And after a while, no matter how hurt you’d been, you’d give the next guy who came along a chance. Now I’m standing here, putting it all on the line, hoping you let the next guy be me.”
Man, how could a girl say no to that? The idea of getting involved with him enticed her, but like so many things in life, there were no guarantees. Any relationship held a certain amount of risk. If it didn’t work out, if she lost Lincoln, it would devastate her for years, if not forever.
Staring at him, she dared to imagine the alternative. If she rejected him, he wouldn’t fight her on it. He’d let her go and move on. They might remain friends, but they would never be as close.
On the other hand, she took chances all the time. Taking one with Lincoln might be the safest thing she’d ever done. She reached out and caressed his cheek, sliding her palm over his chest, mesmerized by the heat, the strength. His heart hammered, betraying his steady, outward calm. His eyes were the darkest she’d ever seen them.
Tilting her head, she admitted, “I’m a little scared.”
His hands went to her waist to draw her in. “Me, too, but that’s part of the thrill.”
She smiled. Hadn’t she said those same words last night?
He’d won.
And he wouldn’t take victory for granted, not for one second.
The expression on Brett’s face when he’d walked in had banked his hope, but now he knew she wanted him, too. So much so, her desire had overcome fear. He’d make sure to show her how much he appreciated the risk she took.
Cupping her face, he molded his mouth to hers, savoring the silken texture of full lips, the scent of her spicy perfume putting thoughts of sweaty, naked bodies writhing in the sheets in his head. The abrupt fantasy pushed him to taste her, and he deepened the contact, parting her lips. Her unique sweetness touched his tongue, fueling his lust, and he moaned. Brett brought her body closer.
Tugging at her bottom lip, he left her lips to brush her jaw, trailing down her throat, while his fingers sought the zipper at her back.
She tensed.
Closing his eyes, he paused halfway. “If you’re not sure....”
“No,” she said, sliding her arms around his neck, “keep going.”
Thank God. He continued tugging the zipper down before spreading the dress off her shoulders. She slipped her arms out, and he took a step back to watch her, pulse roaring in his ears while she maneuvered the dress off with an air of shyness. The garment dropped to her feet. Sweat broke out on his upper lip, and he smoothed a hand over his mouth. Her lace bra and panties were black, with a dainty pink bow in the middle of each to offset the erotic with a bit of playfulness.
She put a hand on one hip. “This isn’t the first time you’ve seen me in my underwear.”
“That isn’t underwear. It’s temptation incarnate. I’ve seen you semi-naked before, but back then I wasn’t looking. This time—” He grabbed her to him. “I’m taking it all in.” While her mouth curved, he kissed her long and hard, ready to worship her from head to toe. “Stay here.”
The feather.
Sauntering to the table, he picked it up and gave Brett a wicked smile. Her lips parted on a silent gasp, surprise and anticipation sparkling in her hazel eyes.
She grinned then bit her lip, folding her hands behind her. “And what do you plan to do with that, Mr. Murrow?”
“Get on the floor, and I’ll show you.” When she went to her knees on the plush carpet, he added, “On your stomach.”
Arching a brow, she did as told. He kicked off his shoes and stripped off his shirt. Best to leave the pants on for the time being since he didn’t trust his hunger to stay leashed with his current intentions.
He came down beside her.
“Close your eyes.”
When her lashes fluttered shut, he ran quick fingers through his hair and swallowed, admiring the sight of the sensuous lines of her back and round shape of her ass in the cheeky, lacy panties.
First and Forever Page 2
