One-Click Buy: November Harlequin Presents

by Susan Stephens

  She could smell them—not just the mingling scent of their colognes, but the perilous undertones beneath, the thick lusty yet indefinable smell of arousal, and it made her feel dizzy, confused and more than a little claustrophobic.

  ‘No!’ She didn’t even attempt politeness, instead snapping the word out, his unvoiced question meriting no well-mannered response.

  ‘Your choice.’ Hunter shrugged.

  And it was surely the right one.

  Watching as he stepped out into the night, Lily dragged a shaking hand up to her hair, staring around the room and blinking at the normality of it. Surely somehow the windows should be broken, tables and chairs should upended, that there should be some evidence of the seismic shift that that had just taken place.

  What the hell had happened there? Lily tried to fathom, her breathing still coming out short and uneven, her heart still thumping loudly in her chest, every sense on high alert as if she’d just chased out an intruder. He’d offered her a jacket, for heaven’s sake, yet she felt as if they’d kissed, more than kissed…She felt as if he’d seen inside her, felt inside her.

  Flicking off the lights and stepping out into the pelting rain, Lily was actually grateful for the sting of the wind and rain, the cool change incredibly welcome after such a scorching encounter. Locking up behind her, Lily made a mad dash across the car park, her suit clinging to her drenched body, her French roll uncoiling as she unlocked the car door and, shivering, jumped inside, dreaming of a bubble bath up to her neck to soothe away the tension of the day…

  It wasn’t over yet!

  The day that had started so badly with a phone call from her mortgage broker went from seriously bad to downright disastrous as her engine spluttered noisily, emanating a huge grating sound that seemed to get louder with each and every frantic turn of her key. A mechanic Lily wasn’t—truth be known she didn’t even know where the catch was to lift the bonnet—but even to Lily’s untrained ears the sound was perilous enough to tell her that the only journey her car was taking tonight was on the back of the vehicle rescue truck.

  The passenger door opening momentarily panicked her—she’d thought the car park was empty and Lily wasn’t sure if it was the force of the rain and wind that caused her to catch her breath or the gorgeous but somewhat intimidating sight of Hunter climbing in beside her.

  ‘Most people knock on the window,’ Lily reprimanded.

  ‘I’m not like most people. ‘Problem?’ he added, stating the obvious for the second time since he’d climbed in the car beside her, because he really wasn’t like most people.

  He disturbed her.

  Spun her into a state of heightened nervousness, though not for her safety. An excellent judge of character, there was nothing in his personality that made Lily feel that her safety was compromised, her nervousness, her state of hyper-vigilance when he was around entirely due to the dangerous feelings he evoked.

  ‘Do you know anything about cars?’

  ‘I like silver ones.’ He gave a dry smile as Lily gritted her teeth. ‘I suppose I could do the macho thing and ask you to pop the bonnet and stand there staring for a few thoughtful moments—are you wearing stockings?’

  ‘What?’ Lily did a double-take. ‘What on earth has that got to do with anything?’

  ‘I saw it on a film, I think…’ He frowned for a moment. ‘Or did I read it? Anyway, it’s entirely irrelevant because I’d have no idea what to do even if you were wearing them—I haven’t a clue about cars.’

  ‘Well, thanks for your help.’ Lily gave a tight smile.

  ‘I haven’t given you any help yet,’ he pointed out. ‘Why don’t I give you a lift home? You can sort out the car in the morning.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Lily said, reaching for her mobile phone. ‘I’ll ring the rescue service.’

  ‘They could be a while. Cars will be breaking down and skidding into each other all over the place tonight.’

  ‘Then it’s just as well I’m a patient person.’ Despite her curt refusal of his offer, Hunter made no move to go. In fact, he didn’t even shift himself as Lily was forced to lean over him and delve into her rather messy glove box and retrieve her car manual. He sat drumming his fingers on his leg as Lily rang the number and after an impossibly lengthy time of being placed on hold she gave in and punched in the number for a taxi.

  ‘No luck?’ Hunter asked needlessly, having listened to her rather exasperated one-sided conversation.

  ‘I’ve been placed in the queue.’

  Which meant she was there for the duration. Staring out into the dark night, the rain lashing at her windscreen and no prospect of escape for the next couple of hours at best, Lily decided that if he offered again she’d let him take her home. After all, she’d been worried about him driving—this way she could make sure that he was OK and give him a quick coffee before he headed off to his house.

  Happy with her decision, she waited expectantly, a frown forming on her face as Hunter opened the passenger door.

  ‘Well, good luck,’ he said. ‘I hope you’re not waiting too long.’

  Damn! Lily cursed in her mind as he swung his legs out, yet still she was sure he was testing her, sure that he would offer again.

  But clearly he wasn’t into games. Even as the thought formed she was privy to the rather gorgeous sight of him, lean and long-legged, briskly walking across to his car, and Lily knew if she didn’t do something she’d be stuck her for ages, knew that he’d left it to her to make the next move.

  A man like Hunter didn’t need to offer his services twice.

  Even as she threw her keys and phone in her bag and opened the car door, even as she locked her vehicle and dashed across to his sleek silver car, Lily knew the decision she’d made, though on the surface it appeared rational, was perhaps the most dangerous, illogical thing she’d done in her life. Thumbing a lift on the freeway would possibly be more sensible—better the devil you didn’t know perhaps. Yet she wanted to do this and was curiously elated that fate had intervened and her brief dalliance with this unforgettable man wasn’t yet over.

  His headlights came on, illuminating her in the darkness, and for a second Lily froze, blinking into them, drenched and exposed. She could envision the glint of the triumphant smile that was surely gracing that surly, beautiful mouth. This was a man who liked to be in control.

  Unlike Hunter, who’d so boldly climbed into her vehicle, Lily went to tap on his window, but already he’d opened it, staring up as if he’d been expecting her, his hair damp and flopping over his forehead, music wafting out of the car’s stereo, his hands loosely holding the leather-covered steering-wheel. Never had a car looked more inviting or more dangerous.

  ‘That lift you offered.’ Her teeth were chattering and it had nothing to do with the temperature. Despite the pelting rain, the night was still warm, the shiver running through her having everything to do with his eyes lazily drifting over her before finally deigning to meet hers. ‘If you still don’t mind…’ Still he stared, not saying anything, forcing her to ask him outright. ‘I’d love a lift home.’

  ‘Sure.’ With the tiniest motion of his head he gestured to the passenger side and Lily dashed around, her heart in her mouth as she opened the door and climbed in, feeling the soft leather on her damp legs, the warmth of his car stifling, the music too loud, his erotic scent stronger in the stuffy, luxurious confines, every sense bombarded with confusing messages as she momentarily entered the world of this intriguing man.

  CHAPTER THREE

  HUNTER had turned down the music as she’d given her address and Lily felt she had to fill the rather awkward silence that ensued.

  ‘I’m sorry if this is out of your way.’

  ‘It isn’t.’

  ‘It really is very kind of you…’ Her voice trailed off and Hunter did nothing to fill the painful silence, made absolutely no attempt at small talk. Truth be known, where she lived wasn’t particularly out of his way, she knew from the form he had filled in the s
uburb where he lived, but had she not been in the car no doubt he’d have taken the freeway and driven the rather more direct route to the city. Instead, he moved the car skilfully along the wet roads and took the longer but infinitely prettier beach-road route that would take them to her bayside apartment.

  The view was divine. Staring out the window, Lily stared into the inky waters of the bay. Rolling clouds obliterated the moon, just angry spears of lightning illuminating the bay, the moored boats bobbing in the storm, the waves pounding the piers as his car silently gobbled up the distance. But the electric tension in the air outside was nothing compared to the energy in the car, the atmosphere so thick she had to drag the air into her lungs, the silence deafening as a million questions buzzed unvoiced between them. Never had her apartment complex looked so welcoming—normality soothing as the end to this strange encounter was finally in sight and Lily gestured for him to pull up. ‘This is where I live.’

  ‘Where do you park?’

  And it sounded like a normal question, only it wasn’t. He should have indicated and pulled into the kerbside, perhaps waited for her to offer him a drink, but instead he was gliding the car into the driveway as his eyes searched for her private parking space. It felt incredibly invasive as he glided into it and pulled the handbrake and turned off the lights and ignition, just assuming that he was going to be asked in.

  ‘I could really murder that coffee.’ He flashed a beautiful smile as she gave a tense nod, her whole body rigid as he followed her through the concrete maze of the car park and into the entrance of the apartment complex. She fizzed with awareness, even the most normal of tasks, like walking, made infinitely more difficult, her feet slipping inside her saturated sandals. She was excruciatingly aware of her damp clothes clinging to her body as he casually strolled along beside her. As she turned the key and pushed open her door, Lily blinked in wonder at the untidy familiarity of her own apartment, as if somehow it should have prepared itself, should somehow have known who was coming home with her tonight.

  Her dinner plate and mug was still on the coffee-table, a top and bra she had pulled out of her closet and promptly discarded when getting ready lay strewn over the back of her sofa, and a pile of magazines and newspapers lay lazily next to a mountain of bank papers.

  ‘Excuse the mess.’ She marched through to the kitchen, hoping he would follow so she could dash out in a couple of moments and do a frantic clean-up, but Hunter wasn’t going anywhere, except to the sofa. He sat down and stretched his long legs out, crossing them at the ankles. Her lacy pink bra hovered, apparently unnoticed a few inches from his cheekbone, as he picked up a magazine and idly thumbed through it.

  ‘Nice apartment.’ He glanced up briefly.

  ‘It is when it’s tidy,’ Lily answered.

  ‘I like it like this.’ He went to turn back to the magazine then changed his mind. ‘I usually get the more sanitised version of a woman’s life.’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Immaculately tidy, fresh flowers in the vase, a few highbrow books on the coffee-table…’ Lily gave a shocked giggle of recognition as he described how her apartment would have looked had she known he was coming. ‘I prefer the real you.’ He held her eyes for an indecent amount of time and Lily could feel herself colouring under his scrutiny, his blatant flirting unnerving her. She wanted to go and get changed, put something warm and safe on, yet she couldn’t imagine heading to her bedroom while he was in her home. Thankfully he averted his eyes and turned back to the magazine he was reading as he dismissed her. ‘Three sugars, please,’ Hunter said, not even looking up as he relegated her to waitress. ‘And lots of cream.’

  ‘You’ll be lucky if I’ve got any milk,’ Lily muttered, heading off to the kitchen, flicking on the kettle and pulling out only one mug, choosing instead to pour herself a glass of wine from a bottle in the fridge. After the day she’d had—was still having—surely she deserved it.

  A quick coffee and he was out of here, Lily decided, watching her shaking hands attempting to spoon coffee into a mug. Perfectly behaved he may have been since he’d set foot in her apartment, sitting quietly on her couch, reading, pleasant about the mess, even adding a ‘please’ when he’d requested his sickly sweet beverage, but she felt as if there were a wild animal in her lounge, a sleek black panther—infinitely beautiful yet dangerously unbridled, an untamed predator—just a few feet away.

  Do not feed the animals. Staring into her rather bleak pantry, Lily managed a wry smile—she couldn’t if she wanted to.

  Taking a deep, calming breath, Lily headed back to the lounge, but any attempt at composure vanished as she saw Hunter sitting on the sofa, calmly reading her financial papers and barely looking up as he offered his unwelcome opinion.

  ‘You can’t afford it.’

  ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Shaking with rage, Lily just managed to put the drinks down with out spilling them before ripping the papers out of his hand. ‘You don’t read people’s private documents!’

  ‘Why not?’ Hunter shrugged, completely unperturbed by her fury. ‘There’s no quicker way to get to know someone. Tell me, Lily, why on earth would you want to take on such a massive mortgage?’

  ‘That’s none of your business.’

  ‘On the contrary—money is my business.’

  ‘Oh, that’s right,’ Lily flared, ‘because you work on the stock market, because you’re featured in some magazines and appeared on television, you think you’re entitled to poke your nose into everyone’s private affairs?’

  ‘I don’t work on the stock market—I work the stock market,’ Hunter corrected calmly, an utter contrast to Lily’s trembling rage. ‘More often than not to my advantage. People pay a lot of money for my opinion and I’m giving it to you free—I’d listen, if I were you.’

  ‘I don’t have to listen,’ Lily bristled. ‘I already know that I can’t afford it—I already know that the banks are not going to lend me the money and that the house…’ Suddenly it all caught up with her, the tension of the past few weeks, the frustration of feeling so helpless all culminating into this moment, all her fears magnified as this impossible man forced her to confront what she already knew. Tears stung her eyes as she resumed talking, her words more to herself than Hunter as she admitted the unpalatable truth. ‘It’s going to have to be sold.’

  ‘Sold?’ Hunter frowned, staring again at the papers. ‘I thought you were looking to buy…Oh, I see.’ He flicked over a couple of pages. ‘This is your parents’ house.’

  She was too exhausted to be angry as he shamelessly delved further into her documents, the anxiety that had propelled her in recent weeks utterly depleted now. Sitting on the sofa beside him, Lily took a sip of wine and leant back, closing her eyes as Hunter questioned her further.

  ‘My mother’s,’ Lily corrected him her voice a monotone. ‘My father died two years ago.’

  ‘So it’s solely in your mother’s name?’ Without even a murmur of acknowledgment to her loss, Hunter dealt with the facts. ‘Why do you want to buy it?’

  ‘Because my mother can’t afford it—she’s defaulted on her loan.’ Lily let out a long tense breath. ‘She was planning to turn it into a bed and breakfast in the hope of keeping it. She’s up in Queensland now, talking to her sister about coming in with her, but things have just started to snowball. I just found out that there’s going to be a mortgagee’s auction in two weeks and unless she comes up with the money…’

  ‘But if she can’t afford it, surely she’s better off downsizing,’ Hunter responded, his voice utterly void of emotion, just as the bank manager’s and the umpteen lenders she had dealt with over the past few weeks had been. For Lily it was the last straw.

  ‘Says who?’ Lily’s voice was shrill. ‘She’s lived in that house for thirty years, all of her memories are there—her life. Why should she lose it?’

  ‘Because she hasn’t got the money to keep it,’ Hunter said blandly, utterly unmoved by her emotive outburst. ‘Why does she owe s
o much if she’s been there so long?’ God, he was direct—no skirting around the edges, no gently feeling his way into a conversation. He was business personified. ‘Didn’t your father have insurance?’

  ‘They took out a new mortgage to pay for my father’s treatment and to spend his last year travelling.’

  ‘That was rather selfish!’ Hunter rolled his eyes. ‘Didn’t he realise the mess he’d be leaving for your mother?’ Lily’s mouth gaped open, stunned at what she was hearing, reeling that he would say such a thing, but Hunter stared coolly back. ‘Don’t tell me you haven’t thought the same.’

  ‘Maybe…’ Lily blinked rapidly, feeling sick at her confession to a stranger. ‘Perhaps a bit, but you don’t know the circumstances, and you have no right—’

  ‘Fine.’ Shuffling the papers into a neat pile, he placed them down on the table and picked up his coffee, dropping the difficult subject, leaving Lily to freefall with all the emotion he’d just triggered as he calmly drank his coffee in a couple of gulps then stood up. Even though she hadn’t wanted him to stay, suddenly she didn’t want him to leave, curiously deflated as this wild animal took one sniff of the air and seemingly meekly walked away.

  ‘Thanks so much for the lift.’ Lily stood up and walked him to the door.

  ‘No problem. Thanks for the coffee.’

  ‘You’ll be OK to drive?’

  ‘Why? Are you worried about me?’

  ‘You’re a client…’ Lily attempted, but he shook his head.

  ‘No.’ Very deliberately he excused himself and Lily felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as he took away that moral dilemma and plunged her into a rather more personal one. ‘I was never there for me—I was checking the place out for someone else. So, you see, I’m not your client, which means you have absolutely no need to worry about me—unless, of course…’ boldly he stared ‘…you want to.’