Bachelor Undone

by Brenda Jackson

  “Why, York? Because he's showing interest in me?”

  York drew in a deep breath while tossing Darcy's question around in his head. In a way, she was right but then in a way she was wrong. He decided to be honest with her. “I had reason to suspect Felder of wrongdoing even before seeing the two of you together. But then I will admit that I don't like the interest he's showing in you or the interest you're returning, especially after our time together the other night.”

  “It was a one-night stand, York. Don't try to make it into more than it was because jealousy doesn't become you.”

  He had news for her. It was already more than that, and evidently jealousy did become him, although he wished otherwise. And he couldn't understand why it mattered to him. He of all people had never been possessive where lovers were concerned. He enjoyed women and had no problem moving on when boredom set in. But he had a feeling Darcy was a woman a man wouldn't get bored with easily.

  He hadn't been able to sleep last night for thinking of her, wanting her. And it hadn't helped matters that he'd followed Felder after he'd left her only to see him meet up with Danielle Simone. York was still trying to figure out that angle. If Felder was so into the leading lady then why was he spending as much time as he could with Darcy? And if Rush was so into Danielle, why hadn't he figured out that something more was going on between her and Felder?

  After the accusation Darcy had just thrown at him—that he disliked Felder because he was jealous—she wouldn't believe him if he told her the man was probably just using her as a decoy for some unscrupulous purpose. He might as well keep his mouth shut on the subject until he could prove his theory.

  In the meantime, there was a subject he wanted to bring up and decided just to come out and ask. “Are you on the Pill or any other type of birth control?” He knew it was crazy but he had lowered his voice, as if there was someone else in the room besides them.

  York could tell from her expression that she was surprised not only with the swift change in subject but also with what he'd asked. “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because of the other night.” The memories were etched in his mind and with her standing there in a cute sundress that showed what a gorgeous pair of legs she had, he could recall the feel of those same legs wrapped around him.

  His gaze raked over her, and he couldn't help but appreciate her feminine curves, small waist and firm and full breasts. The fact that she was a looker wasn't helping matters—or the fact that he'd seen her naked.

  Seeing the way he was checking her out made her gaze drill into his. “And if I remember correctly … and I do … you wore a condom each time. I hope you're not about to break the news to me that they were defective or something.”

  He shook his head. “No, that's not it.”

  “Then what is it, York?”

  He wished she wouldn't ask so many questions. It would really help matters if she just told him what he wanted to know. “I wasn't as careful as I usually am with the condoms,” he finally said.

  She tilted her head at an angle that pinned him to the spot. “Yes, I happened to notice, but I was enjoying myself too much to call it to your attention.”

  He laughed. The woman never ceased to amaze him. She said just what she thought or felt.

  “I'm glad you find me amusing, York.”

  “Only when you say whatever the hell you feel like saying,” he said.

  She shrugged. “And that's all the time. I do the professional thing at work but when I'm out among friends—or those who might not be friends—I am the real me. What you see is what you get. Now to answer your question … yes, I'm on some sort of birth control but it's not the Pill. So you're safe this time, and I want to think you're also healthy because I am.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Good, then there's nothing you need to worry about. I came to Jamaica to relax, read and romp. Since sex was on the list, I definitely came prepared.”

  She then glanced at her watch. “Don't you have somewhere to go?”

  “No. So what about that truce?” he asked her, taking a step closer.

  Darcy tried not to notice his fascinatingly sexy mouth, a mouth that had nearly driven her insane two nights ago. She wished she didn't have to think about that now but found she couldn't help herself. “You think a truce will work with us?”

  A slow smile touched his lips. “It wouldn't hurt.”

  She wasn't too convinced of that. When she'd left

  New York, she'd made plans, had such big ideas of how she wanted her three weeks of vacation to start and end. She'd intended to kick up her legs and have some fun. Well, she'd certainly kicked up her legs, right his way. And he hadn't wasted any time getting between them. “I wouldn't want you to get any ideas.”

  He chuckled. “About what?”

  “What a truce between us means. I didn't come here to have an affair with you.”

  He flashed her another smile, one that made her body shiver inside. “But you came here intending to have an affair with somebody, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then it might as well be me since we've already gotten off to a good start where sex is concerned.” He held out his hand. “So, can we agree on a truce? Even if we decide to take sex off the table and never sleep together again?”

  She looked at his outstretched hand and asked, “Will you stop accusing Damien of things you're not certain that he's done?”

  He frowned. “Why do you keep defending him?”

  “And why are you so convinced he's guilty?”

  He didn't reply for a moment and then said, “May I suggest we leave Damien out of this for now? This is between me and you.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Fine. For now,” she said finally taking his hand. The moment she did so she knew it had been a mistake to agree to a truce with him.

  Stealing a look at him from beneath her lashes, she saw the smoldering look in his gaze.

  She knew she should heed the warning bells that suddenly went off in her head, but she didn't have the strength to do so. The man had the ability to blur the line between reason and desire. She pulled her hand from his when it seemed he was in no hurry to release it.

  “Have dinner with me tonight, Darcy.”

  She lifted a brow. “Dinner? What if we're seen together? Would you want that?”

  York responded to Darcy's question with a shake of his head. No, he shouldn't want it but he did. And she had openly admitted she'd come to Jamaica for relaxation, reading and sex. Was Felder someone she'd placed on her to-do list? If that was the case then she could scratch him off. He intended to be the only man she made love to while on the island. A part of him knew that sounded crazy. They'd made love that one time, and it didn't give him any right to possess her. But he couldn't help it for some reason.

  He was satisfied with the fact that Felder had caught a plane off the island for a few days, and coincidentally, Danielle Simone had left the island as well. He had men tailing them both, and he wouldn't be surprised to receive a call saying they were together somewhere. He couldn't help wonder where that left good old Johnny-boy. What lie had Danielle told him so he wouldn't suspect anything? And why was Darcy being pulled into their little game? What role did they intend for her to play?

  “Since filming has stopped for the weekend the majority of the cast and crew have scattered with plans to return on Monday,” he said. “But even if they were here, it wouldn't matter to me if we were seen together. But if it makes you feel better, I know just the place to ensure our privacy.”

  She shrugged beautiful shoulders. “Doesn't matter to me.”

  He stared at her. Today her skin appeared smoother than before, and the scent emitting from her skin was different from those other times. The fragrance was just as seductive but reminded him of a flower garden. “You sure? There's still that chance that no matter where we go, we might still be seen by someone. So, if you're so into Felder that it would matter if he finds out we were seen together,
then say so. I know some women get all excited by those Hollywood types.”

  He could tell by the tightening of her lips and the flash that appeared in her eyes that she hadn't liked what he'd said. “I'm not one of them. I only spent yesterday with him, and he seems to be a nice guy. I think you're wrong about him, York.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Just remember there are a lot of nice guys sitting in jail right now, Darcy.”

  He checked his watch. “What about if I come back around six?”

  For a moment, he thought she wouldn't agree, and then she said, “That's fine. I'll be ready.”

  “And wear something with an accent on having fun. I plan to take you for a walk on the beach later,” he said, dragging in a deep breath as he headed for the door. He needed to get out of there now. It wouldn't take much to pull her into his arms for a repeat of what they'd shared two nights ago.

  They would make love again. He was certain of it. That night she had been simply amazing, had met him on every level and then in a surprising move, she had ridden him, given him an orgasm that still made his body tremble just thinking about it. Afterward he had been weak, wrung out and exhausted. And then she had proceeded to arouse him all over again.

  When he reached her door, he turned unexpectedly, and the guilty look on her face let him know she had been checking him out from behind. The gaze now looking at him was hot. He could easily change their plans and stay in—order room service, then spend a night between the sheets. They could take turns riding each other like they'd done the other night.

  A predatory and primitive urge eased up his spine. He felt great satisfaction in knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her. “I'll see you at six.”

  Then he opened the door and walked out.

  Chapter 6

  They were just going to dinner and taking a walk on the beach later, Darcy said, looking at herself in the bathroom's full-length mirror. No biggie. It meant nothing.

  First of all, York wasn't her type. But she would have to admit he had been the best lover she'd ever had. With him, there were no limitations. He was willing to try just about anything, and she'd had a lot of ideas. When you read as many romance novels as she had over the years, you were bound to have a few unique positions stored up in your brain.

  She left her bedroom and entered the living room area. York had said he would return at six, and it was a few minutes to that time. She was dressed, so with nothing else to do, she began pacing the floor, feeling hot and restless.

  Another first when it came to York. She would have to give him credit as being the first man she'd dated that not only made her aware of her power as a woman but encouraged her to flaunt it, to wrap herself up in her femininity in a way she'd never done before.

  Harold had been a total jerk, she could see that now. In the early days, all she'd wanted to do was to please him, both in and out of the bedroom. But he was never satisfied.

  When his job began going bad, he wanted to blame his problems on her since she was happy at her job.

  Then after he'd gotten laid off he resented that she was working. That was when the abuse began and when the love and respect she'd thought she had for him went plummeting down the toilet. It was then she'd vowed never to be ruled by another man. They were just heartbreak waiting to happen, and she'd learned her lesson. From what she'd heard, York was just as commitment phobic as she was—smart man.

  But the one thing she couldn't forget, although she'd tried, was that they'd made love. He wasn't the first man she'd made love to since her divorce, but she had even put affairs on the back burner. In fact, she'd begun to wonder why she'd even bothered getting those injections for birth control when there hadn't been any real action going down in that neck of the woods. But York had reminded her of why it was always important to be prepared for the unexpected.

  She hadn't expected to make love to him that night. Nor had she expected him to get so carried away he would get careless. The thought of having some man's child would cross her mind every so often, but she would push it way to the back. She loved kids and wanted some of her own one day. But she knew since she didn't plan to ever marry again that she would venture into the life of a single mother.

  The knock on the door made her breath catch in her throat knowing York was standing on the other side. Not surprisingly, he was right on time. She looked down at herself. He'd suggested she wear something for fun; she felt the short tropical-print dress did the trick. It was one she'd purchased on one of her infamous shopping sprees. This was her first time wearing it, and she couldn't wait to see York's reaction to it.

  Her insides were churning when she opened the door and saw him standing there. The way his gaze roamed over her from head to toe made her smile at the look of male appreciation in the dark depths of his eyes. She had gotten the reaction she'd wanted and had hoped for.

  “Hello, York, you're right on time. It will only take me a second to grab my purse.”

  She walked over to the table knowing his gaze was following her every step. Usually she didn't wear her dresses this short, but when she'd seen it on a mannequin while shopping with Ellie one day during her best friend's New York visit, El had convinced her it would look even better on her. And from the way York kept looking at her she had a feeling it did. She heard the door close behind him and knew he'd stepped over the threshold to come into the hotel room.

  She turned and saw the deep frown on his face. “Is anything wrong?”

  He placed his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “I suggested you wear something for fun. Not something to keep me aroused the rest of the evening.”

  She tossed her head, sending a mass of hair around her shoulders. She couldn't help the smile that touched her lips. “Poor baby. You'll survive. In fact, I'll make sure that you do.” She liked the fact that he spoke his mind just like she spoke hers.

  She placed the straps of her purse on her shoulder. “I'm ready.”

  She'd made the statement, but neither of them made an attempt to move. They just stood there staring at each other. Then he spoke. “Don't think that I don't know what you're up to, Darcy.”

  She threw him an innocent look. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” She then smiled smugly. “But then, maybe I do.”

  He took his hands out of his pockets and placed them across his chest. “You play with fire, and you're liable to get burned.”

  She gave him a thoughtful look. She'd already encountered his fire and knew how hot he was capable of getting things. And as long as he was the one doing the burning she wouldn't back down. “Fire doesn't scare me, York.”

  He shook his head and chuckled. “Maybe it should. Come on, let's get out of here.”

  She led the way out of the hotel room, figuring he was still enjoying the backside view. “So where are you taking me?” she asked when they reached the elevator.

  He smiled down at her. “You'll see.”

  York was glad there were others on the elevator with them or else he would have been tempted to take her right then and there. Every single cell in his body had to be aroused right now, thanks to the sexiest minidress a woman could wear. And she definitely had the body for it. He could just imagine other men checking her out in this outfit and felt pressure at the top of his head just thinking about it. Now he was glad he'd made the decision to take her to a place where it would be just the two of them.

  His lips thinned when he recalled that he had run into Johnny Rush on the way up to Darcy's room. He knew for a fact the man was staying at a hotel a few miles away, so who had he been visiting here at this hotel? If he'd expected to drop in on Danielle Simone, then he'd discovered she was long gone, since Danielle and Felder were together in Miami.

  “You've gotten quiet on me, York.”

  He glanced down at Darcy as he led her through the hotel's glass doors. Just as he'd figured, they'd gotten plenty of attention walking across the lobby. Men had literally stopped what they were doing to stare at her.

&nbs
p; And he had seen the look of envy in their eyes when they'd gazed at him walking by her side.

  “Um, I'm thinking about all the heat you and I seem to stir whenever we're together.”

  Instead of making a comment, she arched her brows. There was no need for him to elaborate. He was certain that she understood what he was talking about. Even now he was convinced he could still taste the most recent kiss they'd shared.

  He studied her underneath his lashes and thought now the same thing he'd thought when he first saw her that day two years ago. She was a whirlwind and could probably have a man falling for her without much effort on her part. You couldn't help but be drawn to her. And now he wanted to get to know the real Darcy Owens—uncensored, up close and personal. He knew she figured since they had slept together that should be the end of it, and maybe under normal circumstances that would be. But as far as he was concerned, the circumstances weren't normal. They shared the same close friends, yet there was a lot about her that he didn't know. He wanted to get to know her better. He intended to get to know her better.

  It didn't take long for the valet to bring his rental car to him. Watching her get in the car and ease down on the leather seats in that dress was worth the last few sleepless nights he'd endured thinking about her. She definitely had nice thighs, shapely and perfect for her legs. He wanted her. He had been convinced that a strong-willed woman turned him off, but the one sitting in the car beside him in that short dress turned him on big time.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she said when they had driven away from the hotel.

  He hadn't said anything for a while, trying to get his thoughts and his libido under control. He glanced over at her and decided to be honest. “I was thinking about making love to you again. I want you.”

  He did no more than steal a quick glance at her expression before turning his gaze back to the road. He'd seen what he had wanted to see. A mirror image of the desire he felt was reflected in her shocked gaze. He was beginning to understand just how to handle Darcy. She didn't need a man who sugarcoated anything but a man who could dish it out just like she could. She spoke her mind and appreciated a man who did the same.