The Wedding Bargain

by Yvonne Lindsay

  They took a break from movie watching to cook dinner together. Raif supervised as Shanal did most of the work. And he basked in her pleasure as the pasta dish came out better than she’d expected. They ate in front of the TV, watching the last movie in the trilogy, and as the credits began to roll on the screen, Raif caught her yawning.

  “Why don’t you go on to bed? I’ll sort things out in here.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t know why I’m so tired. We’ve hardly done anything today but watch TV. It must be the rain,” she said, getting up from the couch.

  Raif missed her presence immediately. He’d grown all too comfortable with her small figure perched next to his on the couch.

  “Don’t knock it. There’s nothing else for you to do right now but sleep, if that’s what you want to do,” he said, getting to his feet.

  The words no sooner left his mouth than a picture of the two of them doing something else in a bed, something that had nothing to do with sleep, imprinted on his mind. His body responded immediately, sending curls of arousal to flick around his all-too-willing flesh. As if her thoughts had taken the same direction, Shanal paused and looked at him—her eyes wide, the pupils dilated. Her hair, worn loose today, was slightly curly and disheveled, making her look younger and more approachable than the tightly buttoned-down and sleek appearance she normally favored.

  He decided he liked this side of Shanal Peat just a little too much. It would take very little effort on his part to lean forward and brush his lips against hers. Just a small kiss good-night, that’s all it would be.

  Liar, a voice sneered in the back of his mind.

  “Go on,” he said, his voice a little rough. “You head off. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She bade him good-night and went to her room, leaving him standing there like a starstruck idiot watching his first crush walk away. Then again, she was his first crush. There was no doubt about it. But to still feel this way? It was ridiculous. They were both adults now—adults with nothing in common. Except for a love of gory sci-fi flicks and possibly much more.

  He shook his head and focused on straightening up the cabin before going to bed himself. There’d be none of that “much more,” not after the way she’d reacted after their kiss this afternoon. No matter how much he wanted it. No matter how much he ached for it. But even so, Raif went to bed that night with his door open—just in case she had a nightmare again, he assured himself.

  * * *

  Shanal woke the next morning to the sound of the boat motor running. She rubbed her face and stared at the bedside clock, shocked to realize it was nearly 9:00 a.m. She’d slept almost twelve hours, which was unheard of for her. She shot into her bathroom for a brief shower then quickly dressed and joined Raif.

  “Sorry I slept in,” she said, as he turned to greet her with one of those killer smiles he specialized in.

  “No problem. You must have needed it.”

  She helped herself to some cereal and a cup of coffee and perched on the seat next to him as he steered the boat upriver. As with everything he did, his hands were strong and competent at the wheel. In fact, she’d never seen Raif Masters at a physical disadvantage with anything. Whether it was operating a post-hole borer to erect uprights for new vine trellises or training the canes along the wires, he approached everything with a surety she sometimes envied. In her line of work, developing new strains of vines, outcomes were not always guaranteed and she often found herself hooked up on data and forgetting that what she was actually doing was creating or improving a living thing. Raif’s work was hands-on, all the way. Her gaze lingered on his long broad fingers. Those very same fingers that had caressed her back yesterday as they’d kissed.

  A shudder ran through her.

  “You cold?” Raif asked.

  “No, I’m okay,” she said, getting up from her seat and taking her bowl to the kitchen.

  But she wasn’t okay. She felt disturbed. That kiss yesterday had been all too revealing to her. With it, she’d answered unspoken questions that had plagued her for years. As much as she’d tried to pigeonhole Raif as that cheeky schoolboy she’d met half his lifetime ago, she could no longer do that now. He was very much a man. A man she desired. There. She’d admitted it.

  She turned the thought around in her mind, over and over, until she felt almost dizzy with it. During all these years of exchanging verbal barbs with Raif, it had become habit, one designed to create a wall between them. But instead it had created an intangible link. A link that yesterday had become more tangible than not.

  It had shaken her to her core, but from the way he’d walked away from her without a second glance, clearly he hadn’t had anywhere the same kind of reaction. Why would he? He was a man well used to women throwing themselves at him. In fact, he’d probably found her kiss boring.

  Still, there’d been nothing boring about the erection that had pressed against her. He’d been aroused, of that there had been no doubt. And yet he’d later acted as if nothing had happened between them. Shanal tried to tell herself it was a relief that he’d responded that way and had backed off the instant she’d hesitated. But she was female enough to feel piqued that he’d brushed the whole incident off as nothing special.

  “We’ll be at Swan Reach before lunchtime,” Raif said over his shoulder. “We can take a walk around and then have lunch at the pub.”

  “That sounds great,” she answered.

  It would be good to be away from the cozy confines of the boat. As comfortable as it was, being out and around other people would hopefully provide some relief from this uncomfortable awareness she’d woken with. And even more hopefully, it would steer her mind clear of the completely inappropriate thoughts she was having toward Raif.

  After mooring the boat they strolled to the local museum and spent a surprisingly companionable few hours poring over the displays and documented social history of the area.

  “I always love to see these little museums, don’t you?” she commented as they headed to the pub overlooking the river for lunch.

  “It certainly gives you an insight into how tough people had it and how determined they were to carve out a living with what they had. Makes you realize how lucky we are.”

  “True, but your family, particularly, have worked very hard to be that lucky. You lost everything, and now look at you all.”

  “Giving up doesn’t come easily to a Masters, that’s for sure.”

  Because the sun continued to shine, at the pub they chose to sit outside at one of the picnic tables on a cobbled courtyard. The waitress was quick to bring them each a drink and menus. Shanal was completely relaxed and laughing at some comment Raif had made when she felt her neck prickle uncomfortably with awareness. She turned around, catching a glimpse of a tall man leaving the courtyard and going through the large glass doors that led into the main dining area.

  “Someone you know?” Raif asked.

  “I don’t know anyone here,” she said, turning back to face him.

  But even so, she couldn’t quite shake the uncomfortable feeling that told her the man had been watching her. She was oddly relieved when they returned to the boat and cast off again. She took control of the wheel for the next hour or so before Raif suggested they pull in on the riverside again. After tying off, he put some music on the stereo and challenged her to a game of backgammon. She’d never played before, but she was a quick study, soon grasping the strategy behind the game and beating him soundly several times. Several games in, she realized that Raif was spending more time watching her, and studying her expressions as she analyzed the board, than concentrating on the game. Eventually, he threw up his hands and cried uncle when she beat him once again.

  “Remind me not to be such an awesome tutor next time,” he grumbled good-naturedly as she packed up the counters and board.

  “Oh dear, was that
a blow to your masculinity?” she teased back with mock sympathy.

  “Ha, it’d take more than that to knock me down. Now, if you want to challenge me to an arm wrestling match...?”

  She laughed aloud. “I think I’ll pass on that. I know where my strengths lie.”

  “You hungry?”

  She looked at the time and realized how long they’d been playing backgammon. “I could eat,” she admitted, surprised to find it true, even though it hadn’t been all that long since lunch.

  But then again, she’d ended up only picking at her lunch after that unsettling feeling she’d had of being watched. It had left a shadow lingering in the back of her mind that even now had a presence. She forced herself to ignore it again.

  “Come on then. Time for cooking lesson number two.”

  Shanal followed Raif to the kitchen, where he selected a series of ingredients from the vegetable crisper in the fridge and extracted a couple packets she couldn’t identify. Raif began to chop vegetables with an ease that spoke of much practice.

  “Now, the key,” he said, chopping swiftly, “to impressing your dinner partner is to deliver food to the table that looks as though you slaved over it all day, when in actual fact it only takes a few minutes to throw together.”

  “Is that so?” Shanal leaned against the counter and watched him, mesmerized by the movement of his hands and how he managed to keep his fingers clear of the flashing blade. “And you’ve impressed a lot of dinner partners, I take it?”

  “I suppose I’ve dazzled my share,” he replied with false modesty, making her laugh again.

  “What are you cooking tonight?”

  “Me? I’m just doing the grunt work. You’re doing the cooking and it’ll be a seafood stir-fry, okay?”

  She nodded. “I love seafood.”

  He winked in return. “Me, too.”

  He showed her how to prepare the squid and left her to it while he poured them each a glass of wine.

  “Life doesn’t get any better than this,” he commented, before handing her wine to her and raising his glass. “To a good life.”

  Shanal wiped her hands and took the glass, clinking it against his. “A good life,” she repeated, then took a sip.

  The words were so simple, so easy to say, but while she had it good here and now, she had some serious decisions to make soon. She couldn’t keep running away forever, no matter how much she wanted to. It wouldn’t be fair to her parents, after she’d already let them down so badly. Yet Shanal looked up at Raif and realized that she’d happily run away with him forever.

  She sighed. This was ridiculous. She couldn’t feel that way about someone she’d actively avoided for so long it had become second nature. But then life wasn’t simple, was it? She’d never have believed in a million years that her normally astute father would have put all his eggs in one very broken financial basket, either. Or that he’d have done something as stupid as risk a life out of pride. But he had, and his mistakes had left him and her mother so terribly weak—financially, physically and emotionally.

  Was that what this was for her? A mistake? By running away from Burton as she’d done, she’d acted very irrationally indeed. But as hard as she tried, she couldn’t regret it. And as hard as she tried, she could no longer ignore her attraction to Raif. His good looks were undeniable, but it was the man beneath all that male beauty that drew her like a magnet. That made her dream stupid dreams and hope ridiculous things for the future.

  Shanal resolutely turned her mind back to the meal she was preparing under Raif’s excellent and patient tutelage, and tried to ignore the ember of warmth that glowed a little brighter every time their hands brushed, or whenever he accidentally bumped into her as they worked side by side in the small kitchen. She drank a little more liberally of her wine than she would normally, enjoying the delicious lassitude that spread through her veins, and taking pleasure in the moment.

  Her life was usually so structured, so detail oriented, that it felt positively sinful to be so relaxed. She’d make the most of it while she could. The meal, when she plated it up, was delicious, and when Raif opened another bottle of wine she didn’t object, instead holding her glass to him for a refill. It was a clear night, although cold, and they took a couple throw blankets outside with them to watch the stars as they enjoyed their after-dinner drink.

  It felt completely natural to curl up next to Raif on the wicker two-seater sofa on the front deck, and with the cabin lights off behind them, to enjoy the reflection of the moon and stars on the gently rippling river. Soft drifts of classical music filtered on the night air from inside, and when Raif lifted his arm to drape it behind Shanal’s shoulders, she didn’t object, nor did she pull away.

  “Look,” he murmured, “a shooting star.”

  “Probably just space junk,” Shanal commented with a tiny spark of her usual levelheadedness.

  “Where’s your sense of romance?” Raif chided gently. “Go on, make a wish.”

  She thought about where she was and what she had yet to face. A wish? Why not? It was a simple thing, after all, and who knew what lay around the bend? She closed her eyes and wished with all her heart.

  “Did you make one?”

  “I did,” she replied.

  “What was it?”

  “Isn’t it supposed to mean a wish doesn’t come true if you tell someone?”

  “Are you telling me you’ve overcome your scientific nature and become a believer in wishes now?” he retorted, but without a sting in his voice.

  She hesitated a moment, then put her glass down on the deck before turning to face him in the darkness. “I wished for you.”

  Seven

  For the first time in his life that he could remember, Raif didn’t know what to say. His breath caught in his chest, leaving it tight and aching. Much like another part of his anatomy. The silence stretched out between them.

  “To be precise,” Shanal eventually said in a small voice, “I wished for you to make love to me.”

  Every cell in his body urged him to seize the moment and take her up on her wish, but an unwelcome voice of reason whispered in the back of his mind. Why now? Was she looking for rebound sex? They hadn’t even touched on her reasons for leaving Burton at the altar, mainly because of Raif’s own reticence about hearing them. But whatever those reasons were, did he really want to be her rebound guy?

  His hesitation must have communicated itself to Shanal because she suddenly ducked her head and drew away from him.

  “I’m sorry. I’m being ridiculous. Probably too much wine. Don’t mind me.”

  She started to get up from the couch, but his arm shot out, his hand clasping hers and pulling her back. He caught her chin between his fingers and lifted her face to his.

  “Are you sure, Shanal? Is that what you really want?”

  What the hell was he doing, asking her? She’d already said what she wanted and his body was certainly eager and willing to make her wish come true. A little too willing, if the current fit of his jeans was any indicator. He wasn’t going to let his hormones take over. If he—if they—did this, it would be for the right reasons. And why was he even considering this? Was it to assuage all those pent-up, lustful teenage dreams he’d suffered for so long, or did it have more to do with getting back at Burton Rogers? He thrust the idea of the other man to the recesses of his mind. Burton was not going to intrude on whatever this evening turned out to be. Shanal deserved better than that and hell, so did Raif. He’d wanted her for what seemed like forever and he was more than ready, but she had to be certain. She had to come to him freely, unreservedly, or not at all.

  Time crawled to a halt as he waited for her response.

  He barely heard her answer when it came, but the softly spoken “yes” was all he needed. He bent his head and caught her lips with his. Wha
t he’d planned to be a sensitive and careful caress turned molten as she kissed him back. Her arms snaked around his waist and she pressed her body up against his as if he was a refuge from all the fears she held deep inside. Maybe that’s all he was to her right now, but he’d take that, and more.

  She was perfection in his arms. Her small frame fitted neatly against his. The softness of her curves melted into him as if the two of them had been carved from one piece. She moaned as he deepened their kiss, as his tongue met hers, as he caressed the roof of her mouth. Her hands found their way under his sweatshirt, tugging at his T-shirt until she touched his flesh.

  It was everything he’d ever anticipated and yet not enough at the same time. They were too restricted here, and there was so much he wanted to do with her. So very much. He scooped her into his arms.

  “Inside,” he growled. “I want to see you. All of you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered in return, her hands reaching for his face and drawing him to her to kiss again.

  She was heat and hunger and everything he’d always dreamed she’d be. The kiss they’d shared yesterday had been only a prelude to this moment—the denouement of years of fighting his feelings for her, of subjugating his desire for her. He made their way to his room in the dark, but once there, he laid her down on the bed and reached to switch on the bedside lamps, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. He didn’t want to miss seeing a single second of this.

  He reached for her, guiding her clothing from her body, exposing her natural beauty to him and relishing the sensation as his palms and fingers caressed her skin and absorbed her heat, letting it mingle with his own. He skimmed his hands up from her tiny waist and over her narrow rib cage, then filled his palms with her breasts before bending down to take her nipple in his mouth. He rolled the peaked flesh with his tongue, pulling softly, feeling a pulse of satisfaction at the moan of pleasure that fell from her swollen lips.