by Anna Sugden
J.B. shook his head and looked at Bella, who rolled her blue eyes. The moment of shared humour was surprising and encouraging.
“You look like you’re in need of frothy drinks with umbrellas,” Taylor said.
Sapphie wrinkled her nose. “They’re too sweet for me. But I wouldn’t say no to a champagne refill.”
Bella held up her glass. “Ginger ale would be lovely. Thank you.”
“Your wish is my command,” Taylor said.
“I’ll come with you and help carry the glasses.” Sapphie stuck her hand through his arm. “I’ll try not to go all fangirl on you.”
“I can handle whatever you throw at me.”
The pair walked off toward the bar, laughing.
“There’s nothing fragile about your friend’s ego,” Bella said drily.
“He’s all talk. Under that boyish charm is a good guy.”
“Sapphie can handle herself. And him, too.”
Those uptight vibes were back. Perhaps Mad Dog was right about the jealousy thing.
J.B. stifled a sigh. It was going to be a long night.
Bella turned to him. “While they’re gone, I wanted to say that we know how the evening will end for them and you mustn’t feel obliged to stick with me.”
Her earnest comment caught him off guard. “We’ve just met and you’re already preparing to ditch me?”
She bit her full lower lip. “I’m sure you have things you’d rather do than entertain the spare-part best friend and I won’t be upset if you do them.”
He should be relieved; she’d given him the perfect out. Yet, inexplicably, he was slightly irritated that she was so keen to be rid of him. He smiled. “Let’s see how things play out. The night’s still young and there’s plenty of party left.”
“All right.” This time she gave him the puzzled look.
Good. He liked that he could throw her a little off balance. “How about we scout out the buffet table while we wait for our friends to return?”
“We might lose our places.”
He leaned past her, flipped out four napkins and turned over four water glasses. “Now it’s obvious someone’s sitting here.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Mad Dog and Sapphie, who were engrossed in each other, at the bar. “You’re right. It looks like it might be a while before we get our drinks.”
He cocked an elbow in invitation and she put her arm through his. His senses immediately snapped to attention at the touch of her soft skin. As they walked to the heavily laden buffet table, her fragrance—delicate, floral, but with an unexpected hint of spice—teased his nose. The contradiction intrigued him.
Hell, Bella was full of contradictions and they all intrigued him. She was as prickly as a porcupine, yet when she let her guard down, there were hints of a dry sense of humor. At times she seemed both innocent and uncertain; at others forthright and honest. Definitely able to give as good as she got, she stood up for herself but had an air of vulnerability that made him feel strangely protective.
As they filled their plates, she ribbed him that he was stockpiling enough food to feed a small army. He couldn’t help noticing that she carefully arranged her food so none of the portions touched. When he teased her about only taking one spoonful of the dishes she wanted, she replied coolly that it was polite to leave some for others to enjoy. Yet she gave him a conspiratorial grin when she sneaked an extra helping of potato salad.
Back at the table J.B. was pleasantly surprised that she didn’t pick at her food like a lot of the women he dated. But she was as prim and proper as if the Queen of England were seated beside her.
He mischievously speared a coconut-battered shrimp from her plate.
“Hey!” She jabbed him with her elbow. “You’ve got two mountainous plates. Leave mine alone.”
“But I didn’t get one of these.” He bit the end. “Mmm. Delicious.”
Bella surveyed his dinner. “Well, I didn’t get one of these chocolate-dipped maraschino cherries, so turnabout is fair play.”
J.B. plucked a cherry from his plate and held it to her lips.
Her gaze snapped up to meet his, indecision swirling in the blue depths. Then the tiniest spark of heat flickered. Her lips curved into a sultry half smile as, without releasing his gaze, she bit slowly, delicately, into the cherry.
Fire shot through him, tightening his groin. What the hell?
“Mmm. Delicious,” she said huskily.
J.B. popped the rest of the cherry into his mouth. “Not bad.”
“Looks like you guys started without us.” Sapphie laughed as she and Taylor appeared behind them, holding glasses.
Bella blinked. “We were wondering when you’d be back with our drinks.”
The edge was back in her voice, dousing the heat in J.B. as effectively as if she’d tipped her icy drink in his lap. He studied her, considering. He’d seen several sides to Bella this evening and he wasn’t sure which was the real one.
Would it be foolhardy to take the risk of finding out?
* * *
“IT’S TIME TO lower the bar!”
As the DJ played “Get Down On It” and the crowd chanted and clapped, Issy wondered how she got into these situations. She stood on the sandy dance floor, beside the other three finalists of the limbo competition.
Unlike her fellow contestants, who were lapping up the spotlight, she felt awkward. Other than when she was with her class, Issy preferred to be in the background. So why was she out here, center stage?
Because of Sapphie.
Ever since her childhood friend had teased, cajoled, pushed and dared Issy beyond her comfort zone. Although Issy was older by ten days, Sapphie had been the first to walk, talk and get into trouble. She’d also been the first to learn how to work the washer at the Laundromat. And how to sneak money from her mother’s purse so she could buy groceries.
Sapphie had also been the one to encourage Issy to follow her dreams. She’d bluntly pointed out that if Issy didn’t leave the town and her family behind, she’d spend the rest of her life taking care of them instead of having a family of her own.
Plain and simple, Issy wouldn’t be where she was today, so close to achieving everything she’d always wanted, without Sapphie.
So, although Issy didn’t want the emerald necklace, her friend clearly did, and Issy would try her damnedest to get it for her. Which meant winning the limbo contest Sapphie and the two hockey players had already crashed out of.
“As this is the final, we’re taking the bar down two notches,” the emcee announced.
“How low can you go?” the crowd chanted.
Part of her wanted to fail so she could return to the relative anonymity of the sidelines. But another part refused to surrender without trying. She hated to just give up.
“First up is the lovely Bella. Step forward and lim-bo.”
Issy walked over to the bar, which looked ridiculously low, and waited for the musical cue. The audience whooped and hollered.
“Go, Bella!” Sapphie’s voice mingled with Taylor’s deeper tones.
“You can do it,” J.B. encouraged. “Take your time and relax.”
How was she supposed to relax with him standing in front of her, his dark eyes watching every sway and shimmy? Making her feel sexy and a little naughty? Making her imagine a different, more private, dance with him?
Hot, hot, hot, blared the speakers.
Issy dropped her shoulders, arched her back and bent her knees. Slowly she inched forward.
When her chest brushed the wooden pole, she thought she’d blown it. Although the bar rattled on the stand, it stayed up. Even so, she didn’t move again until she was sure. Then she held her breath as she carefully made it through.
Giddy with success, she straightened to boisterous cheers. Sapphie ran over, squealed and hugged her tight, then pulled Issy off to the side. J.B. lifted her in the air and spun her around.
As he stopped and began to lower her slowly, their gazes met. Suddenly s
he was intensely aware of the hardness of his body as hers slid down the length of him. Of the crisp scent of his aftershave mingled with the heady fragrance of clean male skin. His arms around her seared her through the thin cotton of her dress.
Plastered against him—breast to chest, thigh to thigh—she felt every plane and dip of his taut muscles. Her cheeks flamed as his arousal pressed against the cradle at the top of her legs.
She should move...break his hold...step back...something.
The message in his dark eyes—he didn’t want to let her go—thrilled her.
She was venturing into dangerous, uncharted waters. For the first time in her life Issy wanted to dive straight in.
Excitement warred with her reason. As wonderful as that would probably—definitely—be, it would also be a mistake. There were bound to be consequences.
J.B. was like no one she’d ever met before. Her reaction to him was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.
And, he clearly wanted her, too.
Loud groans from the gathered crowd and the clatter of the limbo bar interrupted her thoughts, breaking the moment.
J.B. eased her away from him but anchored her to his side with his arm around her shoulder. His reluctance to let her go thrilled her. A few more minutes couldn’t hurt. Besides, Sapphie and Taylor couldn’t keep their hands off each other; they’d disappear once the contest was over. Then J.B. wouldn’t have a reason to hang out with her anymore.
That was for the best. Really. In the meantime she’d enjoy the pleasure of the moment and the undivided attention of a gorgeous man.
More groans signaled the third contestant had failed. One more to go. If the last man succeeded, it would delay the end of the contest and extend her time with J.B. On the other hand, she’d have to step back out into the spotlight and do more limbo. A devil’s choice.
Raucous cheers told her which path had been chosen for her.
“Down, down,” the crowd chanted as the DJ made a show of lowering the bar another notch.
“You can take that guy. No problem,” J.B. murmured in her ear.
The feather touch of his breath against the sensitive skin of her neck made her shiver deliciously.
As she gently disengaged herself, he pulled her back, then tilted her face up to his. “A kiss for luck.”
Her knees went weak. Who knew that could really happen?
Good grief—it was the slightest brush of his firm, warm lips against hers. What would happen if he kissed her properly?
Issy managed what she hoped was a casual smile before heading over to stand beside the remaining contender.
“Bella and Kent, are you ready for ‘winner takes all’?” the DJ roared.
Hell, no.
“Ladies first,” Kent said with an exaggerated bow and a cocky grin.
“Age before beauty,” she retorted to the delight of the crowd.
Where had that come from? She never made that kind of snappy comeback.
Clearly it had shocked Kent, too, because his gaze narrowed, assessing. He waved his arms to pump up the audience then strutted over to the limbo bar. The music started. With a flourish, Kent bent his knees and leaned back.
He almost made it. But his arrogance did him in at the last second. He raised his head to gloat before he was fully clear of the bar and knocked it to the ground. He acknowledged her victory with a rueful smile and another bow.
J.B.’s laughter made her grin. But she blushed when she read the dark, delicious and definitely dangerous promise in his eyes. Now she had to win.
It didn’t help that Sapphie was in her line of sight, standing with Taylor behind her, his arms around her waist. Envy twinged.
“Go, Bella!” the crowd chanted.
Issy swallowed her nerves and positioned herself behind the bar.
Hot, hot, hot. Clearly her theme song tonight.
Whether it was the incentive or practice, this time she cleared the bar without trouble.
The crowd went wild, congratulating her and patting her on the back. Even Kent gave her a grudging “well done.” Sapphie couldn’t stop jumping up and down and hugging her.
Issy’s heart thudded heavily as she waited for J.B. to make his way through the mass of people. What would he do?
She didn’t get a chance to find out as the emcee called her over. Swallowing her disappointment, she joined the DJ on the stone promenade and accepted the necklace gratefully, thanking him and the resort.
Back on the sand she presented it to Sapphie. “Happy birthday.”
“You’re kidding?” Her friend’s eyes welled with tears. “You’ve earned this.”
“So have you, my dearest friend.” Issy hugged her, then helped her put it on.
Taylor and J.B. dutifully admired the necklace, as around them the party kicked up another gear. The DJ raised the volume of the music and people started dancing.
J.B. gave her a one-armed hug. “Great job. You made it look easy.”
Not exactly the celebration she’d been anticipating. What had happened to the promise she’d seen in his eyes? “Thanks. It was fun.”
Behind her she heard Taylor say softly to Sapphie, “I can’t wait to see you model this Marilyn-Monroe-style, only without the radio.”
“I don’t get it,” Sapphie replied then laughed huskily. “But let’s find somewhere private, so I can channel my inner Marilyn.” She raised her voice. “Issy, I’ll see you later. Okay?”
Suddenly, being alone and reading didn’t appeal quite so much.
Damn it. Why couldn’t she be as casual about a holiday fling as Sapphie?
Issy smiled brightly at her friend. “Have fun.”
As the pair walked arm-in-arm down the beach, Issy turned back to J.B., who was watching her, his expression thoughtful. Issy wished she had more experience with men so she’d know how to read him. And know what to do next.
She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Let’s get some champagne.”
“I thought you didn’t drink.”
She wasn’t a teetotaler, but her family’s weakness had made her cautious. “I only drink on special occasions and I think this qualifies, don’t you?”
“Okay. Let’s get you some bubbly.”
His ready acceptance lifted her spirits. They soared when he rested his hand in the small of her back as they walked to the bar.
Once he ordered their drinks he said, “Giving Sapphie the necklace was nice.”
“She liked it more than I did.” Issy shrugged.
“Still, that’s a generous gift.”
“An expensive necklace is nothing compared to what she’s done for me.”
“Sounds like a fascinating story.” He handed her a champagne flute.
Issy didn’t want to spoil the evening by talking about her past. She wanted to enjoy the moment. And, if she could pluck up the nerve, live a little dangerously.
She sipped her drink. The bubbles went straight into her blood, giving her the courage she wanted. “Another time, maybe. Right now, I want to dance.”
“Then let’s dance.” He linked fingers with her as they walked through the palm trees toward the makeshift dance floor.
When they put their glasses on their table, J.B. said, “I hope I don’t embarrass you. My moves won’t match up to yours.”
Issy laughed. “I’m afraid you’ve already seen the best of my moves.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Sapphie and I used to limbo when we were kids. Except it was usually under a barbed-wire fence and the prize was apples from the farmer’s orchard.”
He grinned. “I bet Kent wouldn’t be happy to hear he was beaten by a ringer.”
She leaned forward and pressed her finger against his lips. “Shh. It’s a secret.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” He kissed her finger.
Just as before, her knees went weak.
Maybe it was those bubbles, but Issy’d had enough of being teased. Of fleeting little kisses that left her wanting m
ore. Much more. Time for payback.
She traced his mouth with the tip of her finger, lingering over his full lower lip.
The fire she’d seen earlier in the depths of his dark eyes sprang back to life. He caught her finger between his teeth and licked the tip.
Need pulsed through her. Before she could second-guess herself, Issy stood on tiptoe and replaced her finger with her lips.
CHAPTER THREE
J.B. WAS IN trouble again.
That internal warning—the feeling in his gut when he was about to be blown out by an opposition D-man—was flashing. Still, he refused to back out of this woman’s kiss.
He’d only known Bella for a couple hours and she’d already managed to keep him off balance with those damn frustrating, damn intriguing contradictions. She definitely had an uptight streak, but instead of putting him off, it enticed him to dig deeper. To see if he could loosen her up.
Even her kiss was a contradiction. He sensed her inexperience, yet the way her tongue teased his lower lip was anything but innocent. She tasted of champagne and chocolate-dipped cherries with a hint of Caribbean spice. Sweet yet intoxicating. Slightly wicked.
J.B. took her up on the invitation she so blatantly offered and deepened the kiss. When his tongue touched hers, she sighed softly. He could feel her smiling. That made him smile, too.
A bump against his shoulder brought him back to reality.
“Oops. Sorry. Carry on.” A tipsy blonde waved a hand with hot-pink nails.
Bella stiffened in his arms and blushed as if suddenly realizing what they were doing.
“Perhaps we should take this somewhere a little more private,” he suggested.
“Oh.” She bit her lip.
Sensing she might bolt, J.B. gave her an easy out. “Or we could dance, like we planned.”
Bella brightened and reached for her champagne. “Dancing sounds good.”
J.B. grabbed his drink, drained the glass, then took hers and put both flutes on the table. “Sounds like they’re playing our song.”
She tilted her head, arching an eyebrow. “‘Thriller’ is our song?”
“For sure.” He lifted his hands, fingers curled into claws, and waggled his eyebrows like an old movie villain.
