In Forbidden Territory

by Shawna Delacorte

  She silently berated herself for being too aggressive in her questions. She would need to be more subtle in enlisting Ty’s help. If only Mac hadn’t laughed at her six months ago when she had first worked up the courage to express her desire to work for his company. It would have made things so much easier for her now.

  Ty would be a good conduit for swaying Mac’s initial reaction to her working for the company, but that wouldn’t make Mac realize she was no longer a child to be patronized and protected. It was a dilemma she knew she would be wrestling with again and again just as she was now wrestling with her intense attraction to Tyler Farrell.

  After lunch they walked along the waterfront area. Each time he touched her—placing his hand at the small of her back to help guide her through a crowd, innocently draping his arm around her shoulder as they walked along the sidewalk, tugging on her hand to stop her when he wanted to point out a specific sight—a tremor of excitement rippled through her body followed by a warm sensuality that settled inside her.

  But oddly enough, the excitement was tempered with a feeling of closeness. It was a special combination she had never experienced with anyone else, but one she found appealing and very comfortable. A hint of concern tried to work its way into the warmth surrounding her, a warmth that suddenly felt far too comfortable. She couldn’t afford to lose sight of her goal.

  “How about a harbor cruise?” Ty’s question broke into her thoughts, jerking her back to the moment at hand.

  “Sounds like fun.” Her words said one thing, but reality was something else. She knew spending more time with Ty could only lead to complications in her life, complications she didn’t want or need at this time.

  A few minutes later they boarded the boat for the tour of Elliott Bay. The ocean breeze ruffled through her hair. The crisp air tickled her senses. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, held it for several seconds, then slowly exhaled. “I love being on the water. It always makes me feel so relaxed.” A cloak of calm and serenity settled over her.

  Ty watched as a slight smile turned the corners of her mouth—the same delicious mouth he had sampled the previous evening. The same mouth that tasted of more and held the promise of tantalizing pleasures yet to be. He tried to clear his head of the ill-advised thoughts, of desires that could only lead to trouble. She was his best friend’s sister…his business partner’s sister…someone who should logically be off-limits. Yet he felt drawn to her on every level as he had never been with anyone before.

  She definitely pushed every lustful button he possessed. His blood rushed hot and fast each time he came into physical contact with her. It was a sensation he wanted to pursue even though he knew it was forbidden territory. But there was more than merely wanting to get her into his bed for a night of unbridled passion—for many nights of unbridled passion. There was something else about her. Something that would not crystallize into a clear thought. Something he couldn’t seem to put into words—something intangible that scared him more than anything else ever had.

  Three

  The next night Angie and Ty strolled hand in hand up the walkway to Mac’s front door. Her enthusiasm showed in her voice. “Thank you for the play. I love theater and really enjoyed this production.”

  “It was my pleasure. I’m glad you were able to go with me.”

  The house was dark, but they could see Mac’s car through the garage window. Ty gave her hand a little squeeze. “Mac’s probably asleep. He’s been putting in long hours for the past several days.” He indicated the two chairs on the porch. “Let’s sit here rather than going inside. Our conversation out here won’t wake him.”

  Angie sat down. Ty scooted the other chair next to hers before sitting. She pursed her lips as if concentrating on something, then cocked her head and stared at Ty for a moment with her brow furrowed in thought. “I think he works too hard. Perhaps what he needs is some sort of personal assistant…an administrative assistant. Someone different than a secretary, with completely different duties. Someone with the expertise to comprehend his design projects and know how design works, someone who has the knowledge to understand conceptually how what he does relates to the business end.”

  She knew she was grasping for straws, trying to pull the proverbial rabbit from the hat. She wanted to establish as many possible career opportunities for herself as she could. Surely one of them would capture Mac’s attention and be something she could build on in her pursuit of a solid career move.

  Ty squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. Once again she had turned their conversation to the company as she had done on several occasions over the past three days and he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t know exactly how to respond. “Well, that’s an interesting description of a job.”

  She flashed a sparkling smile, one she hoped appeared more casual than it felt. “Perhaps that’s something to keep in mind when you get down to serious discussion of your expansion plans.”

  A soft chuckle escaped his throat, one that belied the caution in his eyes. “If I didn’t know better I’d swear you were putting in your bid for a job with the company. But, of course, that would be ridiculous. If you want a job all you need to do is tell Mac and I’m sure he’d hire you.”

  “Well…now that you brought it up…”

  Her words faded from his mind. A tightness pulled across his chest as the heat rose in his body. The streetlight provided just enough illumination to highlight her delicately sculpted features. He put a stop to any further discussion of company business, or anything else for that matter. He pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with a kiss that quickly exploded with the passion that seemed to always be simmering just below the surface whenever he was close to her.

  Her taste was as addictive as any narcotic. No matter how many times he kissed her, he knew it would never be enough. He ran his fingers through the silky strands of her hair, caressed her shoulders, then pulled her from the chair and onto his lap. A warning tried to push through his sensually fogged mind, but he shoved it away. At that moment he didn’t want anything to interfere with his pursuit of the captivating Angelina Coleman.

  His breathing quickened. He knew exactly where he wanted this to go. He tightened his embrace, pulling her body closer to his. He felt her breasts press against his chest with each breath she took. He brushed his tongue against hers, reveling in the texture and the intimacy of the action. The kiss deepened as the level of sensuality surged through his body. The tingle of excitement rippled across his skin when she brushed her fingers against the back of his neck, then ran them through his hair.

  More than anything he wanted to whisk her away to his house and spend the night making passionate love. But as much as that was what he wanted, he knew it couldn’t be. It was a topic he did not want to delve into any further, an internal battle he feared would be his undoing. He had any number of women who had been in his bed and would willingly be there again. All he needed to do was pick up the phone and dial. But that wasn’t what he wanted. Not one of them could measure up to Angie.

  He reluctantly broke the kiss, but couldn’t stop himself from lingering a moment longer with his lips brushing softly against hers. He knew he had to leave before it was too late and he did something he would end up regretting.

  He fought for control over the desire and emotion he feared would show up in his voice. “Angie…” He brushed another kiss against her lips, allowing his hand to slip from her back and come to rest on her hip. He suppressed a sigh of resignation, not wanting to show how much he didn’t want to say what he knew had to be said. “It’s getting late. I have an early-morning breakfast meeting in Seattle with the client who cancelled yesterday’s lunch meeting. I think I’d better head for home so I can get some sleep. I need to be bright and alert first thing in the morning.”

  He had never felt so out of control with what he wanted and so attracted to what he knew he couldn’t have. An image of Mac’s warning look popped into his mind, unwanted and unwelcome. He felt as if he
was walking a tightrope stretched between his desires on one side and his loyalties on the other side, without a safety net to catch him if he made a misstep. No matter which direction he went, he would end up losing something special and important. And like it or not, he had to admit that Angie was someone very special and with each passing hour was becoming more important to him.

  Angie stood up and took a step back to distance herself from the magnetic pull of Tyler Farrell. Her hand involuntarily went to her kiss-swollen lips, the heat of his passion still searing her. She had never been kissed the way Ty kissed her, had never experienced that type of toe-curling excitement. If they gave prizes for kissing he would possess every trophy available. Her thoughts strayed to what it would be like to have Ty make love to her. It was not the first time that notion had popped into her mind and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. She also knew it was not a very wise idea regardless of how exciting a prospect it would be.

  He grasped her hand as he stood up, sending a sensual flow rushing through her body. She stepped closer to him, resting her other hand against his chest. “Yes, it’s getting late.” She didn’t like the breathless quality of her voice. It betrayed far more than she wanted to show. “That early-morning breakfast meeting will be here before you know it.”

  “We’re scheduled to meet at seven o’clock.” He glanced at his watch with a self-conscious smile. “And that’s a little earlier than I like.”

  She took a step toward the door, allowing her hand to remain in his grasp a little longer. She didn’t want him to leave. She didn’t want to lose the warmth of his touch. “I know what you mean. Seven o’clock isn’t that early but to be up and ready, catch the ferry for that thirty-five-minute ride to Seattle, then drive to the restaurant in time for your meeting is another matter entirely.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Exactly. So, I’d better say good night.” He brushed his lips softly against hers. “Will I see you tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, if you’d like.”

  “I’d like that very much. I’ll call you tomorrow morning after I get back to the office.”

  The look in his eyes told her he didn’t want to leave any more than she wanted him to. She stood on the porch and watched until his taillights disappeared down the street, then she went inside.

  She felt the frown wrinkle across her forehead. He had done it to her again. As soon as she tried to talk to him about the company expansion plans and what type of job might be available for her, he had changed the subject. This time, however, instead of changing the topic of conversation, he had enfolded her in yet another one of his spine-tingling kisses that literally took her breath away.

  Perhaps she was being too subtle and he wasn’t understanding what she meant. Maybe the best thing was to come right out and tell him she wanted his help, why she needed it and exactly what she wanted to accomplish. She shook her head. She wasn’t at all confident about how to proceed with her plan…or whether she should.

  Angie went inside, moving quietly through the house so she wouldn’t wake her brother. She undressed and climbed into bed. Even though her eyes were closed she could not turn off her thoughts, especially the new one that said Ty probably suspected what she was up to and had been diplomatically avoiding the conversation. Perhaps his teasing comment about her being an industrial spy was less tease and more serious than she had first thought.

  She turned over and shoved her pillow into a different shape. Why was she feeling so troubled and unsettled? It was true that the situation had become more complicated than she had intended, especially where Ty was concerned. All she had been looking for was someone who would be fun without any pressure for her to fit into a preconceived role or a need to impress, and Tyler Farrell certainly filled those initial requirements. She laughed when they were together. She enjoyed the fun, carefree activities. Everything with him was open, easy and stress-free.

  A dark cloud invaded her thoughts. Well, maybe she had not been really all that open with him. She certainly was not looking for another relationship. She just wanted to put some fun and adventure into her life and procure a position with her brother’s company that would be a career rather than a job. Was that asking too much?

  Had she been purposely misleading Ty? Deceiving him? Would he think she was leading him on for her own selfish purposes? The bothersome thought lingered in her mind until she finally succumbed to the need for sleep.

  “Don’t worry, Mac. I understand about your work schedule…honest. You stay as late as you need to. I’ll be fine.”

  Angie quickly concluded her phone conversation with her brother. Ty would be picking her up in half an hour and she hadn’t even started to get ready yet. They were going to spend the evening doing what Ty had described as barbecue and the hot tub—just a casual evening at his house. A little shiver of anticipation, combined with a hint of trepidation, immediately told her it would be a special night. She had known him as an adult for only a few days, yet she felt so comfortable and at ease with him, not to mention the undeniable intense attraction she felt toward him.

  And now they would be spending the evening in the privacy of his house, just the two of them without anyone else around. The mention of the hot tub evoked a very sensual feel that left her short of breath just thinking about the possibilities. She shook her head in dismay. Ty was an incredibly sexy man, charming and lots of fun. But was she prepared to take what wasn’t really a relationship, something she wasn’t even looking for, to a more intimate level?

  If they made love, she could no longer claim that it was only a casual thing and they weren’t really involved. For Angie making love was not just a pleasant diversion. It was a serious step and one she did not take lightly. Was she prepared to admit to herself that in the short span of her adult association with him, as ridiculous as it sounded, she just might be falling in love with Tyler Farrell? That she was ready to take that all-important serious step?

  Her own thoughts shocked her. Where had the word love come from? It certainly had not been a conscious thought. All along she had steadfastly maintained she did not want to become entrenched in another relationship. She had escaped her suffocating engagement to Caufield and was not eager to tie herself to one person again. Love and marriage were definitely not in her plans, at least not for several more years.

  The realization stunned her. How had this happened? How in the world had she allowed her thoughts to set out on such a flight of fancy? There was nothing serious going on between her and Ty. They were just two friends enjoying each other’s company—nothing more. She forced her concerns aside and turned her attentions toward getting ready.

  She set out her swimsuit for use in the hot tub. It would be a fun night. Just a casual backyard barbecue and relaxing in the hot tub. It didn’t need to have the sensual overtones she had tried to attribute to it. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, a scowl marring her features. Who was she kidding? She looked forward to spending another evening with Tyler Farrell and the thought of the hot bubbling water perfectly matched the heated anticipation bubbling through her veins.

  It had all seemed harmless enough at first—the game of sexy banter, flirting, playful touches and caresses and even the tingling kisses. Ty was charming and good company. And most of all he was fun to be with. She enjoyed laughing and the carefree feelings that went with it. With Ty there was always something fun going on, so much so that it took her a while to realize she had allowed her goal of eliciting his help in convincing Mac of her job qualifications to slip from first place in her priorities. It was still what she wanted, but she had neglected putting a plan into effect. And with each kiss any sort of a plan on how to accomplish that goal seemed to slip further and further into the background.

  One thing was for sure…it was no longer a matter of the two of them simply grabbing a bite to eat or enjoying a tourist attraction. Somehow they had moved from casual friendship to something much more personal. A sensual aura surrounded everything they did together, no mat
ter how innocent the activity.

  And the not-so-innocent loomed large in her mind, too. What had started with casual touches had evolved into caresses and the type of toe-curling passion she had experienced the first time Ty kissed her—a passion that burned hot inside her, fueled by a flame of desire she could not extinguish. And the desire was no longer relegated solely to the physical, either. Even though she wanted to deny it, she knew her emotions were just as involved.

  She finished getting dressed, putting on a touch of lipstick just as the doorbell rang. The excitement built inside her as she rushed to answer it. The moment she opened the door his sexual magnetism flowed to her, touching her on every level of her existence. Every embrace, caress and kiss they had shared exploded in her memory, as real as when it had happened.

  Ty stepped inside the house and immediately drew her into his arms. “Are you ready to journey forth?”

  “Yes. I’ll grab my purse and swimsuit, then we can go.”

  He caressed her shoulders and ran one hand down her back to her waist. “I’m not quite ready to leave yet. I have something I need to do first.” A moment later his mouth was on hers.

  Angie was all he had thought about the entire day—a day that seemed to drag by as he counted the hours until he would see her again. Now she was in his arms and they had the entire evening in front of them. He reluctantly broke off the kiss, then took a calming breath as an uneasy feeling rose inside him.

  “We’d better stop doing this…at least for the time being. I think Mac is on his way home.” His own words caught him by surprise. A quick jolt of guilt told him how unsettled he was in his mind about his pursuit of Angie, what his true intentions were and what the ultimate impact on his relationship with Mac would be.

  “Really? I talked to him a little while ago and he said he wouldn’t be home for dinner because he still had a lot of work to do.”