One in a Million

by Susan Mallery

  She lowered her eyes. “You’ve already done so much. Even when he was getting ready for school this morning, Drew was talking my ear off about ideas he has for possible artwork. And trust me, Drew is not a morning person.”

  Was she? JT wondered. He couldn’t stop himself from imagining how Kenzie woke up in the morning. Refreshed from sleep, did she rise efficient and ready to tackle the day? Or was she softer, dreamier? That was a Kenzie he’d like to see.

  There was also the possibility that she woke up as cranky as a bear, but he suspected she could make even that adorable.

  “JT?”

  “Mmm?”

  “Your mind’s still on your painting,” she guessed apologetically. “I won’t keep you. I just wanted to let you know that I talked to Ann today. She said she’ll pick the kids up from school on Friday, and they can spend the night with her.”

  She blushed as soon as she’d finished the sentence, and JT raised an eyebrow.

  “In case it’s a late night,” she added hurriedly. “We don’t have to worry about getting back at any p-particular time.”

  “Right. That makes sense.” But didn’t explain the blush. He grinned inwardly. “Tell your sister I owe her one.”

  She nodded. “Will do. I, ah, guess I’ll see you Friday.”

  “It’s a date.” Belatedly, he recalled saying those words to her once before and getting blasted with an automatic disclaimer.

  This time, however, she didn’t disagree. Instead, she sank her teeth into the full lower lip he suddenly couldn’t stop staring at. Though she looked a bit skittish, her eyes sparked with the blue fire of excitement, too. As if she wouldn’t mind his kissing her again.

  Before he did exactly that, she gave herself a slight shake and smiled at him. “It’s a date.”

  The woman with the loose curls and black dress appeared so different from the one who went to work at the bank every day that Kenzie almost panicked when she heard the knock at the door. I should change! JT can’t see me like this. He was perceptive enough to take one look and know she was a fraud, a harried single mom impersonating someone glamorous.

  Too bad Leslie wasn’t home tonight to allay her fashion fears. Kenzie alternated between elation at not having to worry about any unwanted witnesses for a good-night kiss and sheer terror. While she’d never consciously used her children as a shield against romantic entanglements, they’d certainly created a buffer.

  Tonight, bufferless and wearing such a comparatively short skirt, she felt naked. Which did nothing to help her regain her composure as she opened the door.

  She forced a smile. “H— Mick!”

  Her ex-husband’s wide brown eyes were filled with only slightly less surprise than she was feeling. “Mackenzie. Wow, look at you. Nice.” His gaze swept down her form in frank appreciation.

  There was a time in her life when getting that look from him would have weakened her knees, but when she recalled her reaction now, it was so distant that it felt like seeing someone else’s memories rather than experiencing her own.

  His grin was crooked as he teased, “Didn’t have to get all dressed up on my account.”

  “How could I have when I had no idea you were coming?” Her date was scheduled to arrive in a few minutes, and here stood her ex-husband. She was hard-pressed to imagine a more awkward social situation.

  “I told you I wanted it to be a surprise!” He looked so damn pleased with himself that she wanted to scream.

  Even if he’d been trying to do something sweet, did he ever think about the three of them? Understand that they had lives of their own and weren’t just sitting around waiting for him to have an opening in his schedule?

  “You gave me the address in case I wanted to send the kids anything, so I looked you up on the internet,” he continued. “Where are they, by the way? I’ve got presents for them both.”

  She started to shove her hands through her hair until she remembered how much trouble she’d gone to with the curling iron, then gritted her teeth instead. “It’s nice that you came to see them, and I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to know gifts are involved, but they aren’t here. They’re with my sister and won’t be back until tomorrow.”

  He grimaced. “They’re with Annie? Well, they aren’t going to have any fun with that sourpuss. Why don’t I—”

  “Ann’s not a sourpuss. She was just always mature for her age.” Which is more than I can say for some of us.

  “I still think the kids would have more fun with their dad tonight. Come on, Mac, I’m not going to be in town long, and—”

  “Of course you’re not!” She threw her hands in the air. “Mick, they’re not toddlers anymore. They aren’t content to giggle while you tickle them for twenty minutes, then wave slobbery fists goodbye when you leave. Again. They’re old enough to ask questions, to want explanations—from me, thank you very much—about why you can’t keep the most basic promises, why you can’t be relied on to send freaking birthday cards. They’re twins—you only have to remember one date.”

  His posture had turned defensive, his jaw clenched. “I’m here now, aren’t I? I’m trying. I told you I was working to change, and all you can do is bust my chops about the past?”

  She sagged in the doorway, wanting to kick off her high heels and spend the rest of the night hiding in her room within the folds of a comfy robe. “I get that you’re trying. I applaud you for it. But I will not rearrange this family’s plans to make life more convenient for you. I tried to tell you when we got divorced—it can’t always be about you, not when you’re a parent.”

  His gaze, scathing this time, raked over her again. “Fairly self-righteous coming from a woman who got rid of her kids for the night and looks ready to—”

  “If you finish that sentence, I will slap you.”

  He reddened.

  As well he should. Even when they’d been married, he’d flirted with band groupies and women at nightclubs. Before the kids had been born Kenzie had always been there to keep a proprietary eye on him, indulging him as he winked at females who would hopefully go on to buy his music. But swollen to three times her normal size in the eighth month of pregnancy, and later at home with crying infants, she’d had the occasional stab of insecurity about his faithfulness. It was a question she’d never brought herself to ask as their marriage ended—what would be the point when she was already bitter over so many other issues? She liked to think he’d never strayed, but after the divorce, he sure as hell hadn’t been celibate, and had no right to require it of her.

  Not that she’d already decided to sleep with JT!

  No, it was just the principle of… Suddenly she was too distracted by hazy but provocative images to complete her thought. She fanned her face with her hand.

  “I apologize,” Mick said formally. “I was being an ass. Whoever he is, he’s lucky to have you. You were always my biggest fan, and I screwed it up. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Worry about your children. It’s not too late, Mick. Don’t screw things up with them.”

  “I—” He broke off, both of them turning as JT came out of his own apartment, looking incredible in black slacks and a lightweight black turtleneck.

  Very sophisticated, very sexy. A giggle welled up in her throat as she considered her own all-black ensemble. Together, they would look like a pair of overdressed cat burglars.

  JT had drawn up short, noticing Mick, but flashed Kenzie a warm smile. “Sorry, I lost track of time painting. Any man who keeps a woman like you waiting should be shot.”

  “Thank you. But let’s forgo the firearms. Buy me a drink, we’ll call it even.”

  Next to JT, Mick suddenly looked older, even though the two men couldn’t be far apart in age. Still, there was something haggard in her ex-husband’s face
—too little sleep, too many late-night sessions fuelled by alcohol and nicotine. He stuck a hand out in her date’s direction. “Mick Green.”

  JT’s expression was inscrutable as he shook his hand. “Jonathan Trelauney.”

  Glancing back at her, Mick managed a smile that looked at least half-sincere. “You two have fun tonight. I’ll…call you tomorrow morning about seeing the kids.”

  “That would be good.” Feeling strangely melancholy, she watched him stride down the hall and disappear into the elevator.

  He was making a renewed effort, which as a mom she appreciated, and nothing had changed between them in years—she was more than free to date—so why did she feel sad? Pity. She felt sorry for the man who’d lost his family in pursuit of a dream, only to eventually lose even that.

  “Hey.” JT reached out, lightly cupping the side of her face. “You all right?”

  She nodded wordlessly.

  “We could alter our plans if you want, maybe stay in. Although that would be a huge sacrifice on my part. As you may have noticed, I’m quite the crowd-loving extrovert.”

  In spite of her mood, she giggled. “That’s the very first thing I noticed about you.”

  He leaned closer. “Would you like to know the first thing I noticed about you, Kenzie?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Proportion is important to an artist, ratio and dimensions and the different ways to manipulate them. And you seemed out of proportion, with so much life and spirit in such a relatively small frame. Although the frame is quite nice.” He trailed his gaze over her face, collarbone, the straps of her dress and the hint of cleavage below, then back to meet her eyes. “You steal my breath, the way you try to be stern but then smile. You have a great smile.”

  “So do you.” She reached out to trace his lips with her finger. “I wish I saw it more.”

  Capturing her hand, he pressed a featherlight kiss to her palm. “I can guarantee I’ve smiled more since I met you than in the entire past year.”

  A flattering comment, but she wasn’t sure she wanted the responsibility for making him smile. Seeing Mick tonight had reminded her of her former role as a cheerleader. Supporting his artistic dream and cajoling him out of moody doubts when a song wasn’t coming together or a purported talent scout didn’t show had required nearly as much effort and energy as raising twin babies. Barely an adult herself, she hadn’t had it in her to nurture all three of them without losing her own sanity. She was more stable now, the children less mindlessly demanding, but she didn’t want to carry the burden of someone else’s happiness.

  At least, not on a long-term basis.

  Right now, JT’s complimentary gaze and deadpan jokes were making her happy, and she hoped to return the favor. She had one whole night free to selfishly spend on herself, and she planned to devote the evening to their mutual pleasure.

  “CAN I GET YOU ANOTHER glass of wine, Kenzie?” JT offered, one hand resting comfortably at the small of her back.

  Before she could answer, Sean grumbled good-naturedly, “Better let me get it. At least that’ll give me something to do besides stand here like a third wheel.”

  Earlier, Sean had told Kenzie how thrilled he’d been to learn she was joining them. Unfortunately, his own date had canceled because of a cold. Before this evening, Kenzie couldn’t remember ever being so pleasantly spoiled. She was accompanied by not one but two handsome men who possessed tons of knowledge about art as well as senses of humor. They’d kept her thoroughly entertained as they squired her through the small upscale gallery, studying photographs and sculptures. In fact, they were so solicitous and charming she feared the attention was going to her head. She felt unnaturally light, nearly giddy.

  “I think I should pass on a second wine,” she said. She’d noted that JT had stuck solely to soft drinks all evening. “But thank you.”

  “Well, I’m going to get myself some refreshment,” Sean said, the twinkle in his gaze belying his gloomy tone. “At least pretend to notice my absence.”

  JT grinned at Kenzie. “Did you hear something?”

  She elbowed him gently. “You’re going to wound his ego. He’s very delicate.”

  Sean snorted. “I don’t have to stand here and take this abuse. I can go get plenty of abuse on the other side of the room.”

  As his friend walked away, JT chuckled with wry admiration. “He’ll probably end up with some pretty woman at the bar buying him a drink to make up for the way his friends are ignoring him.”

  “So his date tonight wasn’t a girlfriend?”

  “No. Sean’s a great guy, but he doesn’t have a lot of interest in long-term romantic relationships.”

  “I can understand that,” Kenzie said without thinking.

  JT cocked his head. “My experience is limited, but usually women cluck their tongues and say that settling down would be healthier for him.”

  “Maybe it would. But that’s not everyone’s experience, is it?”

  “No,” he replied softly.

  They both turned back to the framed black-and-white photograph in front of them, but there was only so long they could pretend to be studying its unique focus on the background, instead of the deliberately blurred subject in the center of the shot.

  “Did it upset you to see your ex tonight?” JT asked. “You’ve been a really good sport about being here.”

  “A rare night on the town with two guys who keep me laughing? Yeah, that’s a hardship.” She squeezed his hand. “I wasn’t upset. His unannounced presence just threw me at first. He thought it would be fun for the kids if he surprised them.”

  “And you don’t agree?”

  “I wish he’d think about more than ‘fun.’ He’s been the glamorous parent, the one off in a band who shows up for a few hours without sticking around for middle-of-the-night flu or teacher conferences. I’m the one worrying about homework and orthodontist visits and bills—all the daily grind that isn’t sexy.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.” JT’s expression took on an almost predatory gleam that was both disconcerting and thrilling. “Even in day-to-day routine, you’re plenty sexy.”

  She lowered her eyes. “Flatterer.”

  He shook his head. “I watched you put away dishes in your kitchen, the way your clothes slid and clung to the curves of your body. I openly ogled as you popped a bite of warm, buttery biscuit between your lips.”

  For a man who made a living evoking emotion visually, he was pretty skilled verbally, too. He had the ability to wring powerful reactions from her without even touching her. Which was kind of a shame—she really, really wanted him to touch her. The desire had grown throughout the night into a sweet, sharp craving she saw no reason to deny.

  Her throat felt so dry it was hard to get words out. “So, um, how much longer do you think we should stay?”

  “Why, you tired?” There was a silky, teasing note in his voice.

  “Ready to go someplace more intimate,” she corrected.

  She looked around in search of Sean. They’d arrived in separate cars, but it only seemed polite to bid him farewell. Raising his hand above the rest of the crowd, JT waved for Sean’s attention and made their goodbye by pointing toward the exit as he ushered Kenzie through the room. Ten minutes later, they were on the road. Although he was driving at a nice, safe speed—below the limit, by Atlanta’s standards—Kenzie felt as if she were hurtling toward something overwhelming and inevitable.

  And she couldn’t wait to get there.

  Chapter 13

  In an endearing gentlemanly fashion, JT quickly got out of the car and rushed around to open her door. The September night was still warm enough to be muggy. To Kenzie, it felt as if even the air was throbbing and heavy with expectation. He took her hand, and, dazed, she l
et him lead her inside the building.

  The elevator doors slid apart to admit them. For a change, Sylvia Myer wasn’t present with her button-pushing daughter. Must be after the little girl’s bedtime. Tonight, Kenzie and JT were all alone. A wave of wanting swamped her, and she watched him hungrily.

  As soon as the elevator jolted into motion, he reached for her. His arms, bands of gentle steel, encircled her in a fierce embrace. Ducking to her height, he claimed her mouth, absorbing her breathy gasp. Had she ever wanted a man so intensely?

  The elevator halted. Thank goodness. Somewhere in the course of the evening—perhaps when he’d first made her laugh after Mick’s departure, or when he’d held open the gallery door, or when he’d told her how sexy she was—she’d subconsciously reached the decision to make love with him. But she needed to get him into one of their apartments before she had time to lose her nerve.

  As they neared the end of the hallway, JT asked, “Should I walk you home, or do you want to come over for a little while?”

  “I’d like to see your place.” She’d never made it past the threshold.

  He’d barely ushered her inside before he pressed her against the wall, kissing her with even more fervor than in the elevator. He nipped at her bottom lip, saying between kisses, “I’m…a lousy…host.” Pulling back slightly, he trailed a hand over the side of her neck, toward the modest swell of cleavage revealed by her dress. “I should offer you a drink or something.”

  She tilted her head back, arching toward his touch. “I’ll take the ‘or something.’”

  When he kissed her again, she could feel the smile on his lips. They took their time, necking like a couple of teenagers. There was no doubt in Kenzie’s mind that he wanted her as desperately as she wanted him, but they had the whole night ahead of them. The sensual side of her appreciated the tantalizing foreplay; the part of her that was nervous about having sex for the first time in years was grateful for the slow seduction.