Completely Smitten

by Susan Mallery

  “Piper!” Millie barreled forward, a determined expression on her wizened face. Not only did Millie always speak her mind, but, since she was mostly deaf, she usually spoke it loudly enough to be heard down the coast in Corpus Christi.

  This afternoon was no different.

  The thin, elderly woman stopped in front of Josh. “This must be your stud-muffin.”

  Piper tried to ignore the many heads that swiveled in their direction, as well as her great-aunt’s unexpected—and somewhat disturbing—use of the term. “Josh, this is Great-Aunt Millie. Millie, Josh Weber.”

  He kissed Millie’s hand, causing her to blush so becomingly that she looked years younger for a moment.

  “Have you two set a date yet?”

  “Uh, no,” Piper said, “not yet.”

  “Well, don’t dawdle,” her great-aunt scolded. “A woman your age can’t afford to wait. Only a few prime breeding years left.” As though Piper were one of the heifers Millie and Great-Uncle Earl had once raised.

  To avoid saying something she’d regret, Piper merely sipped her lemonade, wishing it were spiked.

  Then Millie glanced at Josh and cackled. “But I’ll bet you could still give her babies. A strapping young fellow like yourself is probably shooting more than blanks.”

  Piper choked, determined not to further commemorate the moment by shooting lemonade out her nose.

  Millie shuffled off to terrorize other members of the Jamieson clan, and Piper apologized to Josh. “I swear that after this weekend you never have to see these people again.”

  “So you’ve said. Numerous times.”

  “Don’t worry, I mean it.”

  He followed Millie’s progress with his eyes. “The women in your family seem to get even more outspoken as they age.” Grinning, he turned back to Piper. “Lord knows what you’ll be like in forty or fifty years. Look out, world.”

  “Are you implying that I’m outspoken?”

  “No, you’re quiet and meek. And tall enough to be a supermodel, too.” At her mock glare, he added, “Your not being a supermodel is a big loss to the men of the world. I don’t know a woman sexier than you.”

  Oh, she wished he’d stop saying things like that. And she wished her imprudent heart wouldn’t speed up when he did. “Josh, you’re doing it again.”

  “Doing what?”

  “When it’s just you and me, you don’t have to flirt.”

  “I’ve always flirted with you,” he pointed out. “Long before this weekend. What’s different now?”

  Now I’m in love with you, and it hurts.

  “Besides,” he pressed, his expression growing alarmingly serious, “how do you know I don’t find you sexy?”

  “Because we’re friends?” What was he trying to tell her? She knew from their kisses that he wasn’t indifferent to her—she wasn’t an idiot—but did he honestly want to act on the feelings growing between them?

  “You think being your friend means I can’t notice how funny and attractive and smart you are?” he challenged.

  “Well…” Being friends certainly hadn’t stopped her from noticing all those things about him. As she glanced away, trying to gather her thoughts, her gaze landed on a small, spry figure energetically winding up to pitch in the family softball game.

  Nana? Yep, that was her grandmother—the very picture of health. In fact, as Piper watched her grandmother throw a fastball, she realized Nana looked to be in better shape than some of the much younger players on her team.

  “I’ve been had.” Piper practically growled the words. It had occurred to her that her mother might stretch the truth about Nana’s condition, but to lie outright?

  With Josh trailing after her, Piper stalked over to where Blaine and Daphne stood in the shade. “I want an answer. Are you people so desperate to get me married off that you let me believe someone I love was seriously ill?”

  Blaine glanced guiltily to where Nana was in the process of striking out someone half her age. “Don’t get mad at Daph. Nana was sick. It started out as just a cold, but when she developed some complications, she went to the hospital for observation. So when your mom said Nana had been ill, she wasn’t lying. She just played it up because she knew you’d be more likely not to back out. And more likely to bring Josh for all of us to meet.”

  “I didn’t know until just before you got here that Mom made the situation sound so dire,” Daphne added hastily. “And Nana doesn’t know at all.”

  “But that business about her not coming outside to meet me because she wasn’t well?” Though definitely relieved about her grandmother’s condition, Piper was plenty irritated.

  “She’s supposed to avoid the night air while she’s still recovering from her respiratory infection,” Daphne said. “Dad will drive her home early tonight so she doesn’t catch a chill. Piper, you have every right to be annoyed with Mom. Just keep in mind that sometimes we lie to the people close to us, without even planning to, because we think it’s what’s best for them.”

  Piper flushed at the subtle jab. How angry could she get with her mother for the deceptive exaggeration when Piper herself was guilty of comparable tactics? Maybe Daphne had been right last night about Piper and her mom having some traits in common. Besides, there was no point in staying mad at her mother when the universe was sure to pay Astrid back for the deception, anyway.

  If Piper had learned one thing this weekend during her masquerade with Josh, it was that even the simplest white lies had a way of becoming complicated.

  Chapter Eleven

  Whatever else happened this weekend, Josh could honestly say he’d never been so well fed. Sitting at the picnic table, reflecting on the array of home-cooked food he’d enjoyed today, he knew he should feel mellow and full now, but mellow was difficult with Piper so close to him. Though he’d been trying—unsuccessfully—to get a few moments alone with her all day, her family’s presence did have one current benefit. With everyone squished together on the bench, Piper was pressed into him from shoulder to thigh, her softness a tantalizing weight against him.

  Her arm brushed his as she gestured during her conversation with Daphne, and his body hummed with awareness, like a generator kicking on, sending electricity to all the pertinent points. But this was nothing compared to a few moments ago, when Josh had reached past her and accidentally grazed her breast. They’d both frozen, and she’d stopped talking to her sister, turning to look into his eyes.

  They were leaving tomorrow, and unless Josh seized the moment soon, he was going to lose his chance. The odds of their exploring the attraction between them, of finding out if they could be more than friends, were greater here. Once they returned to Houston, it would be too temptingly safe to fall back into their old routine, regardless of the passion he knew they invoked in each other.

  “Hey.” He tapped Piper on the shoulder, and she tilted her head back to look at him. “How about you and I go for a walk? Just the two of us,” he added, lest she try to draft anyone else.

  Seeing the uncertainty in her expression, he quickly appealed to the workout guilt she had to be feeling by now. “I figured we could burn off some of the calories we’ve been packing on all weekend.”

  “Well…” She frowned. “I guess we could.”

  They both stood, telling her immediate family that if they didn’t see them later, they’d meet up with them in the morning for breakfast. Then they headed for one of the park’s hiking paths, into the surrounding woods. The breeze carried the sounds of crickets chirping, owls hooting in the distance and armadillos scurrying in the underbrush.

  “You were right,” she told him, her brisk pace at odds with the cozy chat he’d been hoping to have. “I do need to burn off some calories.”

  “No, that was me trying to get you alone. Your body’s perfect as is.”

  Her laugh was rueful. “Then you haven’t been looking hard enough.”

  The hell he hadn’t. “Tell you what. Strictly as a favor to you, I’m willing to make a
more thorough evaluation. Clothing optional.”

  After a moment, she broke down and smiled, shaking her head. “Cute.”

  “I was hoping for ‘irresistible,’ but cute’s a start.”

  “You know you’re irresistible,” she muttered.

  Hope flashed as brightly as a shooting star. The very fact that she sounded a bit ticked off made him think that her statement was more than an offhand remark. “You don’t seem happy about it.”

  “Well, I…it’s not important.”

  How she saw him was vitally important—high time he let her know that. But telling her the truth, even hinting at what the last few days had meant to him, what she’d come to mean to him… He took a deep breath, knowing that if he delayed much longer he’d fall back on the banter that was nothing more than a mask, and never take this chance.

  “Piper, the last couple of days have been some of the best of my life.”

  She chuckled. “Oh, sure. With my mother practically measuring you for a tux, and me acting like I’ve developed multiple personality disorder—”

  “Piper.” He stopped walking, turning so that he stood in her path. “The last couple of days have been some of the best of my life.” His tone brooked no argument, not even the playful kind, and she didn’t respond. He took advantage of her rare speechlessness while he could. “Because of you. But don’t get me wrong. In some ways, this weekend has been damn uncomfortable, too. Cold showers, for instance—zero fun. Plus, they’re not much of a long-term solution.”

  “S-solution?”

  “Yes.” He bluntly stated what they’d danced around since their first night in Rebecca. “Our lusting after each other and not doing anything about it has definitely become a problem.”

  That had lacked the eloquence she deserved, but with the effect her nearness was having on him right now, he was lucky to be saying anything besides “you woman, me man.” The way she was looking up at him, her lips softly parted, her eyes reflecting wonderment in the moonlight…

  To hell with figuring out what to say to her. Who needed words? He gripped her shoulders with his hands and drew her closer, using less finesse than he normally managed, but Piper didn’t object. She raised up on her toes to meet him, to kiss him for the first time with no witnesses. No excuses, no pretense, just their naked need for each other. His lips found hers, worshipping, ravishing, promising her a night she’d never forget.

  His hands ran down the curve of her spine to cup the swell of her bottom, pulling her tighter against him, groaning at the friction of her body against his erection. No turning back now—they’d definitely passed the point of platonic. They just weren’t as far past it as he’d like.

  “Piper, if this isn’t what you want, if you think we should stop—”

  “No! I—I mean, I don’t want to stop.” She leaned back, looking around their wooded surroundings with wide eyes. “Delay, maybe. Can we go back to the hotel?”

  Tiny lights exploded behind his eyes. Piper wanted to have sex with him! He was actually, finally, going to make love to her. Her ready acceptance left him speechless and feeling like the luckiest man alive. But, damn, he wished that hotel were closer.

  He laced his fingers with hers. Though she walked with a quick stride, his legs were longer and he had to force himself not to drag her to the parking lot. They reached the car, but instead of unlocking the doors, Josh pressed her up against the side, seeking her already upturned mouth.

  A soft breathy sound escaped her, somewhere between a sigh and a moan. “Keys.”

  He fumbled in his pocket for the key ring, then handed them over to his favorite speedaholic. “You definitely drive. The less time this takes, the better.”

  Skirting around the front of the car, she shot him a wicked smile. “Then we’re not thinking along the same lines.”

  He meant to laugh, but groaned instead, realizing just how much time he wanted to take exploring, tasting her body. If the drive to the hotel didn’t kill him.

  When he said as much, she chided, “Patience,” but the urgency in her eyes was unmistakable and immensely gratifying. “Patience? I’ve been waiting for this since the day I met you. It just took me awhile to realize it.”

  She shot him a look of such melting adoration that he wanted to reach across their seats and kiss her. She also hit the accelerator.

  Piper didn’t know what to say. His admission that he’d wanted her for so long took her breath away. She’d been fighting so fiercely to contain her desire for him, never believing she’d have a chance to act on her feelings, never thinking he’d let her that close.

  At the hotel, she slammed the car into Park, and he rushed out to open her door for her. After they’d hurried up the stairs like impatient newlyweds, he unlocked the door to his room and swept her into his arms, carrying her inside. She felt like a bride going over the threshold, but the matrimonial analogy didn’t bother her as it once might have. In fact, she experienced a twinge of wistfulness, but it was quickly replaced by the heady sensation of being in Josh’s arms.

  Fumbling one-handed with the small lamp on the nightstand, he set her down beside his bed, his mouth already on hers before her feet touched the floor. The deft way he kissed her, like a man who knew all her secrets, sent desire spiraling through her. His hands were at her waist, pressing her against him, and she mentally cursed the layers of clothing separating them. She smiled inwardly, though, at the chance to finally unbutton his shirt and slide it off his shoulders. When she’d dreamed of doing this, she hadn’t realized her hands would be shaking.

  She laid a palm across his bare chest, tracing her fingers over the smattering of hair and the muscles toned from recreational weight lifting. “I’ve imagined this, you know.”

  “Really?” He sounded pleased that she’d pictured being with him, but then he laughed. “Please tell me your fantasy didn’t stop here.”

  Their kiss muffled her answering laugh. She explored his mouth, then slowly lowered herself from her tiptoes to kiss his jaw and run her tongue over his collarbone. Her fingers went to the waistband of his jeans, but he lightly encircled her wrist, stopping her.

  “Wait. I want to see you.” He met her eyes, his gaze hypnotically sensual, as he released each button on her shirt with much more dexterity than she’d exhibited. “You’re not the only one who’s thought about this.”

  Cool air hit her skin as he pushed the material of her shirt away, but the appreciative gleam in his eyes more than kept her warm. He skimmed his fingers along her rib cage, trailing upward, seemingly in no hurry, though his breathing grew more labored. He cupped her breasts, his fingers grazing their already stiff peaks through the lace of her bra. A spasm of need went through her midsection, leaving her light-headed.

  Tugging gently at his hand, she sat on the bed before her legs gave out beneath her. Josh followed, kissing her again, building the waves of feeling inside her until she thought she’d drown. The possibility of losing herself in the undertow was exciting rather than frightening. She sank back against the mattress, pulling him with her, wanting his weight above her.

  When he broke off their kiss to remove her bra, she moaned in protest, but it quickly turned to a sound of approval as he bent his head and took one hardened nipple between his lips. He turned his attention to her other breast, and Piper gripped his hips with her hands, undulating her body against his in an instinctive attempt to assuage the slow burn she felt.

  Again her fingers went to the waistband of his jeans. He made no move to stop her this time as she lowered the zipper with some effort, her task made more difficult by his blatant arousal. She tugged the jeans and briefs down together, her eyes widening at his impressive erection. Knowing how much he wanted her gave her an electric rush, filling her with a tingling, ultrafeminine satisfaction. She curved her fingers around him, sliding over the smooth rigid length.

  His breath hitched. “You’re amazing.”

  Piper couldn’t find her voice, but she silently returned the se
ntiment. She’d never experienced this before. Not the fiery driving physical sensations and not the maelstrom of emotions, either. Happy and nervous and calm all at once. Nothing had ever felt more right.

  Moving together, they fumbled with her remaining clothes, and she wriggled free of them, desperately needing to be flesh-to-flesh. He traced one strong, lightly callused hand down over her abdomen and between her thighs, resting the heel of his palm on her. The contact, slight and unmoving, teased her senses. Tense with a sweet pain only Josh could ease, she moved against him, seeking more. His response was to scoot down the bed, replacing his hand with his mouth, kissing her intimately.

  Unused to feeling so vulnerable to another person, exposed in a way not even being naked could approach, Piper stiffened at first. But she’d already given Josh her heart. She wanted to give him her body now. She relaxed, surrendering herself to the man she loved and the dizzying heat of desire. His tongue moved on her, and her involuntary sounds of need mingled with the pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears. Soon her entire body pulsed with that rhythm. She climaxed in spasms that left her clinging to his shoulders, somehow utterly replete and yet feeling empty, wanting him to fill her and complete what they’d started together.

  He moved away only long enough to deal with a condom, then aligned his body with hers. When he entered her, the oxygen left her lungs in a whoosh, but she didn’t need air. Only Josh.

  And he gave himself to her, as generously and thoroughly as she ever could have imagined. Over and over, until the swells of passion crashed through her, propelling her forward into a second orgasm. Her body clenched, drawing him even more tightly into her. Glancing up, she watched his face, taut with desire, as he found his own release.

  They held each other, their ragged breathing and thundering hearts the only sounds in the small room. Piper wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to think or speak coherently again, so she was glad that it took Josh at least a few minutes to regain his composure, as well.