A Proposal to Remember

by Sarah Morgan

Wasn’t that what Sam had said?

  Well, this dress had definitely been an impulse buy, purchased after he’d made that comment about her not being sufficiently ‘girly’.

  And she was going to wear it.

  * * *

  She was wearing hot pink.

  Sam felt his tongue almost fall out of his mouth as Anna walked out of the house onto the deck. Her silky dark hair was caught up on top of her head, her perfect mouth highly glossed. Her legs were long and lightly tanned and the heels she was wearing looked as though they should come with a health warning.

  She paused and angled her head. ‘Say something, McKenna.’

  He swallowed and dragged his eyes away from her legs. ‘You don’t wear pink, Riggs.’

  ‘Tonight I’m wearing pink.’

  He ran a hand over the back of his neck. ‘Is it hot tonight, or is it me?’

  She gave a slow smile that made his hormones shriek in protest. ‘It’s hot. That’s why I chose to wear a cool dress.’

  ‘There is nothing cool about that dress, Riggs,’ he said hoarsely, licking his lips and wondering how long he was expected to keep his hands to himself. ‘This beach barbecue. Is it something you particularly want to go to?’

  He was willing her to say no, but she shot him an amused look, her brown eyes teasing. ‘It’s the event of our pitiful social calendar, McKenna. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s my only chance to go out.’

  Which meant that she was going to make him wait.

  His eyes were fastened on the dress. It looked simple enough. So why did it cling and hug and skim so cleverly? ‘I’m not sure you should be going out dressed like that.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t normally.’ She paused to fiddle with the tiny strap of the dress. ‘But someone told me that I should be more impulsive so I thought I’d give it a go. And you have to record a piece to camera, if I recall, all about responsible partying and safe sex.’

  Sam ran a hand over his face and tried to think about suitably sober situations. And freezing cold showers. Anything to try and subdue his reactions, which were rapidly spiralling out of control.

  ‘Polly is waiting on the beach for you.’ She walked towards the steps, the smooth swing of her hips drawing his eye. ‘Let’s move.’

  Sam swallowed and hoped they were planning to film him from the waist up. Otherwise he was in trouble.

  * * *

  ‘Cut.’ Polly walked over to Sam, ignoring the crowd that was gathering around them. It was dark on the beach, a large bonfire was blazing and the barbecue was sending out the most tempting smells imaginable, and still people just wanted to watch the filming. ‘Are you all right? It’s not like you to fluff it.’

  Sam ran a hand through his hair, his eyes on Anna. ‘Must be the audience. I’m finding them distracting.’

  Polly glanced at the crowd and then back at him, puzzled. ‘You’re used to being stared at. Whenever we film in public, you’re stared at. I don’t see what’s different tonight.’

  ‘Don’t you?’ Sam’s voice was soft and Anna felt a shiver of awareness run through her and wondered why no one else could feel the tension between them.

  From the moment they’d arrived on the beach they’d been surrounded by people, Sam by the film crew and herself by local people keen to catch up and enjoy a chat. But even when they’d been separated by others, she’d sensed him watching her every move. Counting the minutes. They both knew exactly what was going to happen later and the anticipation was reaching screaming pitch.

  She was starting to wonder how she was going to make it through the evening and, judging from the number of times Sam had already fluffed his piece to camera, his concentration wasn’t up to much either.

  Polly glanced at the cameraman. ‘We’ve probably got enough—it’s an informal setting anyway, so he doesn’t have to be word perfect. We just want to give the viewer the impression that they’re at a beach party—a bit of scene setting. Have we covered everything?’ She checked her notes. ‘Drinking, drugs, safe sex—looks about it.’ She looked at the sound man. ‘Are you happy?’

  ‘Ecstatic,’ he said dryly, ‘and longing for a drink.’

  Polly grinned. ‘OK, then, folks, let’s join the party.’

  Sam undid his microphone and handed it back to the sound man, his eyes never leaving Anna.

  She felt her heart kick against her chest as he approached. ‘Hi, there.’ Her voice sounded croaky, totally unlike her own. ‘Are you done?’

  His eyes roved over her face. ‘Riggs, I haven’t even begun.’

  Since when had it been so difficult to breathe? Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him. ‘You seemed to be having one or two problems remembering your lines, McKenna.’

  ‘My mind was elsewhere.’

  Without touching, they feasted on each other, using only their eyes and the power of the mind.

  Her whole body was on fire. ‘You’re staring, McKenna.’

  ‘You chose to wear hot pink.’

  It was foreplay, each of them knowing exactly how the encounter would end and, the anticipation heightened the excitement to almost intolerable levels.

  ‘We’re supposed to mingle, McKenna.’

  His eyes dropped to her mouth. ‘Really?’

  ‘It’s part of the responsibility of being a local GP,’ she said huskily, longing to lift herself on tiptoe so that he could kiss her the way only he knew how. ‘You have to chat to everyone.’

  ‘Problem is, Riggs…’ his gaze didn’t shift from her mouth ‘…there’s only one person here that I’m interested in.’

  Heat spread through her pelvis. ‘We shouldn’t be seen together. It will fuel gossip.’

  ‘I don’t give a damn what other people think.’

  ‘Easy for you to say. At the end of the summer you’ll be gone and I’ll be the one who’s still here.’

  Finally his eyes lifted back to hers. ‘All right. Let’s mingle.’ Without another word he turned away, leaving her feeling oddly deflated and not understanding the reason. She’d been the one who’d suggested that they mingle. So why was she now disappointed that he was doing just that?

  Because she wanted this whole evening to be over. She wanted this thing with Sam to start.

  In the distance she saw Glenda arm in arm with one of the crew of the lifeboat and she wondered if this was the ‘friend’ she’d been talking about. Probably. And she was very pleased for her.

  Anna moved among the crowd, chatting, laughing and all the time watching Sam out of the corner of her eye. She watched the way women crowded round him, watched the way they flirted and the way he subtly withdrew from their attentions.

  Anna tightened her hand on her glass and felt her heart pound.

  She decided that there was nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of knowing that, for tonight at least, Sam McKenna was hers.

  * * *

  He came for her at midnight.

  He strolled across the sand, his shirt open at the neck, his feet bare. He looked dangerously handsome and more temptation than a woman should have to resist.

  And she had no intention of resisting him.

  ‘We can play this two ways, Riggs,’ he said conversationally, coming to a halt just inches away from her. ‘We can leave right away and hope we make it back to the house, or I can just throw you down in the sand and have my wicked way with you here. Your choice.’

  She caught the glitter in his blue eyes and her breath caught in her throat. ‘I’ve never been particularly into public displays,’ she murmured softly and he inclined his head and removed the plastic cup from her hand.

  ‘In that case, we’d better go now. While we still can.’ He tossed the cup into the nearest convenient bin and they strolled back along the beach towards the house.

  Within minutes the music and laughter had faded into the darkness behind them and all they could hear was the hiss of the sea as it touched the sand.

  They walked side by side, both barefoot, the atmosphere chok
ed with the heavy throb of anticipation. Neither of them spoke.

  When they finally reached the foot of the steps, Sam paused to let her go first.

  She hesitated, suddenly filled with a nervousness that she couldn’t explain. ‘Sam…’

  His gaze locked on hers, his eyes burning. ‘I want you. Let’s go to bed.’

  For a moment she faltered.

  Whatever they shared wouldn’t last. She knew it couldn’t last. They clashed too violently, they both wanted their own way too badly. They were both too strong to be a good match.

  But for now…

  She swallowed and then turned and sprinted up the stairs, the knowledge that he was right behind her sending her pulse skyward.

  They let themselves into the house and locked the door, and she was just going to suggest that they have a drink first when he took control.

  His mouth was firm, possessive and she closed her eyes and gave a whimper of pleasure, acknowledging how much of the evening she’d spent longing for his kiss.

  ‘Much as I love the hot pink dress…’ his strong hands slid the straps down her arms ‘…it’s going to have to come off, Riggs.’

  The feel of his fingers on her bare flesh made her shiver. ‘Maybe we should go upstairs.’ Her head tilted back and her eyes closed as he kissed his way down her neck.

  ‘Never make it that far.’

  She felt the zip go on her dress and hot pink silk pooled at her feet. ‘Sam…’

  He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the glass-fronted living room, refusing to let her finish her sentence. ‘Let yourself go, Anna.’

  And she did.

  She felt herself heat and melt under the touch of his hands, for once in her life relishing the fact that someone else was taking charge.

  He laid her on the thick rug, his powerful body over hers, his hands peeling away her skimpy underwear with an impatience that made her gasp.

  Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt but her hands were shaking too much to complete the task and she muttered something incoherent and yanked at the fabric, sending buttons flying.

  His mouth was greedy on hers and he moved his shoulders and freed himself of his shirt, his breathing ragged as his hair-roughened chest made contact with the soft mounds of her breasts. The rest of his clothes followed and their bodies tangled and locked as they moved with an erotic desperation driven by a torment of need.

  And then he drove himself into her. Hard and fast, he gave them what they both needed, any notion of control abandoned from the moment they’d entered the house. Dazed and desperate, she wrapped her legs around his slick skin and moved with him, wild excitement consuming every inch of her as he hurled her to the outer reaches of pleasure. She cried out and curled her nails into his back, held on and closed her eyes as she hurtled skyward in an orgasm so intense that for a moment she lost all grip on reality.

  ‘Anna…’ He said her name harshly, fisted his hand in her hair, and her eyes flew open and locked with his. And then she felt him shudder, saw the sweat sheen on his brow and felt the hot pulse of his own release as his body pumped into hers.

  She lay under him without speaking, wishing they could stay like that for ever, locked together, breathless and slick with their own passion.

  Eventually he raised himself off her just enough to speak. ‘Sorry.’ His voice was hoarse. ‘I think I forgot the foreplay.’

  She chuckled, loving the weight of him on top of her. He had an amazing body. He was an amazing lover. ‘I think the last few weeks have been nothing but foreplay.’

  ‘You could have a point.’

  ‘I hope the cameras weren’t running, Dr McKenna.’ She stretched underneath him, lazy and satisfied as a cat. ‘You just gave a very interesting lecture to the general public on the dangers of getting carried away after parties. Of not using contraception.’

  He stilled. ‘Oops.’

  ‘Yes, oops,’ she agreed softly, her hand sliding over his back. ‘Don’t worry. I’m safe. Let’s just hope none of the teenagers out there were watching your performance.’

  He gave a lazy grin and touched his mouth to hers, his voice husky. ‘Something wrong with my performance, Riggs?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ She was breathless. ‘I might need to evaluate it a second time. And maybe a third…’

  He lifted his head further still and his lips brushed hers. Her response was instantaneous and she felt his body come alive inside her as the kiss intensified.

  ‘I love your body.’ His tongue licked into the corners of her mouth and then he withdrew from her and slid lower, breathing heat and fire over her burning skin, exploring and tasting until his mouth hovered over one nipple.

  She felt the warmth of his breath and arched towards him but he held himself slightly away from her, feasting with smouldering eyes, his fingers sliding down the smooth skin of her thigh.

  After the frantic, wild lovemaking session that they’d both enjoyed, this time he was taking his time.

  ‘Sam…’ She couldn’t breathe, needed him so badly that every feminine part of her ached. ‘Sam, please…’

  His tongue flickered over her nipple and she cried out, pressing closer, her whole body quivering and shifting beneath his lean, powerful frame. Her hand slid over the bunched muscle of his shoulders and she wondered how it was possible to still want him so desperately when the most intimate part of her body still throbbed from the force of his possession.

  It was impossible not to keep touching him as he was touching her, and she slid her fingers through his dark hair, loving the silkiness, the softness of it. The contrast to the hard masculinity of his body. She kissed his neck, his shoulder. Cried out as she felt his fingers touch her intimately.

  She didn’t understand the hunger inside her, the burning fire that didn’t seem to want to be quenched. Her fingers curled round the heat of his arousal and she heard his groan, felt his body shift in response to her touch.

  ‘Are you all right here?’ His voice was gruff. ‘Do you want to go upstairs?’

  She slid one thigh over his. ‘I’m not capable of moving.’

  ‘Good point.’ He lowered his mouth to hers. ‘We’ll just stay here, then. You drive me wild, Riggs. Crazy.’

  ‘McKenna.’ She slid her other thigh over his and arched against him. ‘Can you stop talking and do something about the way I’m feeling?’

  His chuckle was low and sexy. ‘It will be my pleasure.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  ANNA beamed at the woman sitting across from her. ‘It’s so good to see you, Hilda. What can I do for you?’

  Hilda looked at her curiously. ‘I just wanted to ask you about this bite on my leg. It doesn’t seem to want to heal.’

  ‘Then let’s take a look at it.’ Anna stood up and walked round her desk, her step light. ‘How long have you had it?’

  ‘A few weeks. But it’s getting worse.’ Hilda stuck out the offending limb, allowing Anna to examine the calf. ‘You look well, Dr Riggs. A lot more relaxed than when I last saw you.’

  ‘I’m feeling great, Hilda.’ Anna frowned at the leg. ‘I don’t think this is a bite. I think it’s probably a flare-up of your eczema. Have you been scratching it?’

  ‘Eczema?’ Hilda stared down at her leg in surprise. ‘Well, yes, I have been scratching it. It’s been driving me mad. I assumed it was a bite.’

  ‘Have you been very stressed?’

  ‘It’s the summer,’ Hilda reminded her dryly, watching as she walked to the sink and washed her hands, ‘it’s my busiest time. There’s a queue outside my door in the morning when I open and it stays there until I close and my counters are stripped bare of food. It’s like exposing yourself to an attack of locusts. I’ve never known people eat so much.’

  Anna laughed and sat back down at her desk. ‘Well, I think that the locusts have made your eczema worse.’ She tapped the keyboard. ‘I’m giving you a prescription for cream to rub in that patch, and make sure you keep up your emollie
nt baths.’

  Hilda sighed. ‘I’m so tired by the end of the day that if I stepped into a bath I’d probably drown.’

  ‘It will relax you.’ Anna handed her the prescription and Hilda pulled a face.

  ‘I daren’t relax. If I relax, who’s going to cook for tomorrow? I just need to keep this up until the end of the summer. It isn’t long now.’

  Not long now.

  The happiness left Anna like air from a popped balloon.

  Once summer ended the tourists would be gone. And so would Sam.

  The past two weeks had been idyllic. At work they were very discreet, communicating on a totally professional level, but the moment they stepped through the doors of the house they were lovers. Crazy, wild, self-absorbed lovers. And up until now she’d been so totally caught up in the madness of the present that she hadn’t allowed herself to think about the future.

  But the future was on her doorstep.

  ‘You and Dr McKenna have done a good job here this summer,’ Hilda said, taking the prescription and tucking it safely in her bag. ‘Been just what the village needed. It was time for young blood in the practice and Sam’s just the man.’

  ‘Sam’s just temporary,’ Anna said briskly, reaching for some papers on her desk and trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. ‘He was only ever temporary.’

  Only somehow, over the past few weeks, she’d allowed herself to forget that. She’d lived so much for the moment that she hadn’t realised that tomorrow had arrived.

  Hilda looked at her. ‘He’s a local lad. This is his home and this is where he should be. You know it and I know it.’ She sniffed and rose to her feet, her bag clasped in her hand. ‘And sooner or later Sam McKenna will work that out, too. He wanted to spread his wings and he’s done that. It’s time for him to stop messing around. If you want to drop by later, I’ve got the most delicious seafood lasagne. I’ll put a couple of portions aside for you. And a lemon tart.’

  ‘Thanks, Hilda. Without you I would undoubtedly starve.’ Anna stood up and walked to the door with her. ‘I’ll pop by on my way home.’

  She watched Hilda go and then closed the door firmly.