Good Guy Heroes Boxed Set

by Julie Ortolon

  With a sigh, Traci turned to the actor. “So, Sanchez, you want to, like, give it a whirl?”

  “Hmm?” Ricky frowned at her.

  “Dance,” she said between clenched teeth. “Do you want to dance with me?”

  “Oh, well, I…” He looked at Kate, clearly reluctant to leave her side. Mike’s sympathy vanished in a heartbeat. He hoped Traci annihilated the man’s toes.

  “Come on.” Standing, Traci grabbed Ricky’s arm and all but hauled him out of his chair. As they left, silence fell at the end of the table where Mike finally sat alone with Kate.

  “So,” she said after a moment. “I take it things are going well with you and Traci?”

  “Couldn’t be better.” Didn’t she care at all that he’d spent most of the evening dancing with other women?

  “I’m glad to hear it.” She smiled.

  “Let me guess.” He narrowed his eyes at her, looking for one of the sparks of attraction he frequently glimpsed in her eyes. “The sooner you shove me off on someone else, the sooner you’ll be rid of me?”

  “That was the general idea.” Her smile broadened before she looked away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s warm in here. I need to cool off.” She scraped her chair back and rose.

  “Where are you going?” He reached for her hand on reflex. When her head swung back, he thought he saw a hint of pain in her eyes.

  “Outside,” she said with a laugh, as if the answer should be obvious. But the sound came out just a tad dry.

  As she hurried away, he forced himself to stay put when everything in him wanted to follow and find out if he’d imagined that flicker of hurt. Patience, Cameron, he warned himself, patience.

  ***

  KATE GRIPPED THE rail of the balcony, tipped her head back, and stared at the dazzling sky. I refuse to be jealous, she told herself for the hundredth time that evening. I refuse!

  Yet the little green monster remained lodged in her chest, digging in with vicious claws.

  She tried again to tell herself Mike was off limits. He’d hired her to do a job, and she meant to do it to the best of her abilities. She had no business even thinking about the man’s obvious appeal in personal terms. He might be light-years away from Edward in personality, but he was just as big a workaholic. At least she could understand Mike’s passion for his work. He had a fascinating job with demanding deadlines.

  He isn’t always this busy, though. What about after the movie wraps?

  The thought tempted her.

  No , she warned herself. He’d admitted there was always be another movie, another project, another deadline. More flood than drought, he’d said. She didn’t want herself and her son shoved to the back burner of any man’s life. Especially since Mike wanted marriage. She couldn’t even think of that for herself yet. Maybe someday, but not yet.

  That didn’t, however, lessen the needs and wants she’d thought long dead. Since meeting Mike, she found herself thinking too often about the feel of a man’s body against hers. The thrill of a kiss. The rush of desire.

  Her eyes drifted closed as she pictured his slow, sexy grin, his laughing blue eyes. She imagined him pulling her into his arms, their bodies brushing together, his head lowering…

  What am I doing? Her eyes popped open. Physical attraction was no basis for a relationship. Not unless both parties wanted that and nothing more. Mike wanted far more than that, more than she wanted to give, especially to a man who might never spare a woman the time and attention a wife deserved. She might not mind something physical and light to relieve the loneliness that crept in during the night, but that wouldn’t be fair to Mike.

  She blew out a breath, wishing she could release the sexual tension inside her as easily as she released the air from her lungs. A walk, she decided. What she needed was a nice long walk that would put some distance between her and temptation.

  ***

  MIKE FORCED HIMSELF to wait a full fifteen minutes before going after her. Stepping out onto the balcony, he scanned the dimly lit grounds, which sloped down toward a row of bungalows that lined the cliff. Where could she be?

  Descending the stairs, he took a stone path that meandered through the gardens. The sounds of splashing water filled the night as the music from the bar grew distant. Rounding the corner of a high retaining wall, he found her seated in a lounger by the swimming pool, gazing up at the sky.

  He stopped for a moment, mesmerized by the sight of her bathed in moonlight. Behind her, a waterfall splashed down the side of the wall at the far end of the swimming pool. Potted flowers and ferns created the illusion of an enchanted lagoon.

  He longed to go to her, to sink to his knees beside her chair and cover her mouth with his own, to cover her body with his body.

  Shoving his hands in his pockets, he cleared his throat. “So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”

  She jumped at the sound of his voice, but shadows hid her expression as she peered into the darkness that surrounded him. “Just getting some air,” she said, her voice high with tension.

  “It’s a nice night for it.” He came toward her, into the light, hoping to put her at ease. Before he could join her on the lounger, though, she scrambled to her feet. He stopped a short distance away and tipped his head toward the sky. “Great view.”

  “Yes, it is.” He felt her study his profile, and forced himself to stay still. The light from the pool danced about them, bathing everything it touched in blue.

  “I’ll never get used to all the stars here. Real stars,” he clarified. “Not the kind who live in Hollywood Hills. Out in L.A. you’re lucky to see any stars in the sky for all the city lights.”

  “Do you miss it? L.A., I mean.”

  “Sometimes.” He lowered his gaze to smile at her. “But I like it here better. Here there’s more room and less pretentiousness. That, and no earthquakes,” he added with a slow smile.

  “No earthquakes,” Kate repeated. Turning away, she wondered if he’d brought some of those tremors with him, since her knees had begun to shake. In the distance, she heard the band play the opening strains to the Mavericks’ tune, My Secret Flame. Mike came up behind her. Her breath caught and held as she waited for him to touch her. She feared he might, even as she ached for it.

  “Dance with me, Kate.”

  She shook her head. “I already told you, we shouldn’t. People will get the wrong idea about us.”

  “I don’t see anyone here but you and me.” His hands settled on her shoulders and the warmth of his touch relaxed her muscles. “Dance with me. I need the practice.”

  “You seem to need practice in a great many areas,” she chided him as she turned.

  “Noticed that, did you?” He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her against him.

  She turned her head, trying to concentrate on the music rather than how well his body fit against hers, how well they moved together in a simple shuffle. His height would allow her head to rest on his shoulder if she let it. As he danced her around the pool, the singer’s sultry voice drifted on the night air with a song about hidden love.

  His hand moved up her back, drawing her closer. Against her better judgment, she settled against him, letting him fill her senses. So this is how it feels to be held in his arms, she thought. They danced toward the seclusion of the waterfall and his lips moved against her hair as he sang softly to the music.

  “My heart beats fast when I hear your name—you’ll always be my secret flame…”

  The words sounded like a confession, straight from his heart. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to believe that he meant them, and that she had no reason to resist. Was it so wrong to want, just for a moment, to be the most important thing in a man’s life?

  His steps slowed as the song sighed into silence. They stood for a moment, neither of them moving. Slowly, she lifted her head from his shoulder and opened her eyes. His face hovered above hers as he cupped her cheek in his hand and lowered his mouth.

  Entranced, she welcomed
the first brush of his lips, so long awaited, so long feared. His mouth retreated and returned, as soft and hesitant as a dream. His hand slipped into her hair as he deepened the kiss. She tightened her arms around his neck, wanting, yearning. Desire tumbled through her.

  He walked her backward and ivy enveloped her as her back pressed against the vine-covered wall. Past and future faded. Nothing existed but the quiet splash of the waterfall and the glorious pleasure of his body molded to hers.

  “Kate,” he whispered hoarsely as his mouth trailed down her neck. His hands moved restlessly over her sides, as if wanting to touch her more intimately but not quite daring to try. She arched her head back, giving him access to her neck, wanting more, but fearing the very thing she craved. He pressed his lips to her pulse, kissing her skin with abandon. “You’re driving me crazy in that dress. You know that, don’t you?”

  A hum of acknowledgment purred deep in her throat as she felt his arousal against her stomach. Resolve crumbled into need. She nudged him with her hips and thrilled to the sound of his quickly drawn breath. Her hands ran over his shoulders, his chest, down to his stomach, exploring the well-honed body that lay hidden beneath his clothes.

  He took her mouth again, his kiss rough and ravenous. Her heart soared at his obvious hunger. So, this is how it feels to be wanted, truly wanted. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been wanted with this edge of desperation. She lifted one leg along the outside of his. His hand moved to her thigh, pulling her hard against him. The dress bunched about her hips as he cupped and kneaded her bottom. Heat flooded through her. Their bodies pressed and moved together as the pleasure built.

  “Christ.” He broke the kiss, his breathing ragged as his forehead dropped to hers. “This was not a good idea.”

  “Hmm?” she murmured.

  “I want you, Kate.” With a knuckle beneath her chin, he tipped her face toward his, waited for her eyes to open. “And I’m tired of pretending that I don’t.”

  The haze of desire receded enough for his words to sink in.

  His gaze bored into hers. “I want you.”

  She shook her head to clear it. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “What am I doing?”

  “It’s okay.” He brushed a kiss onto her forehead. “Don’t get panicky on me.”

  “I’m not panicky.” The lie came out in a breathy rush. Resting a hand to his chest, she felt his heart beating strong and fast while her own raced out of control. Striving to look calm, she glanced up at him. “I just think you’re right, that’s all. This was not a good idea.”

  “Actually, it was a great idea, just really bad timing.” A sexy smile flashed across his face. “A problem we could quickly remedy by leaving.”

  Oh, how she wanted to agree with him. To go somewhere private with him. All the reasons not to came flooding back to her.

  “No. I mean, yes, I think we should leave.” She moved out of his arms. Pulling the hem of her dress down, she tucked a stray curl back into place. Oh God, why did she want to apologize?

  He came up behind her, his arms going about her waist as he snuggled her bottom against the hardness of his groin. “I’ll get the car.” His lips feathered kisses across her shoulder and her knees went weak. “We can be at my place in five minutes.” His lips moved across her nape to her other shoulder. “Make that four.”

  She closed her eyes as her body longed to give in, to let him soothe the ache that lay deep inside her. “Mike, no. That’s not what I meant.”

  “Hmm?” The sound rumbled against her back.

  “I meant that I want to go home.” Closing her eyes, she swallowed against tears of frustration. “Alone.”

  His body went still. Slowly he lifted his head. “Kate,” he sighed. “I want to be with you, I won’t lie about that, but I won’t push for more than you’re ready to give.”

  “I don’t think you understand.” She stepped away and turned to face him. “It’s not a matter of taking things slow. I’m not interested in the kind of relationship you want.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” He laughed. “After a kiss like that, you can’t tell me you’re not interested.”

  “Physically, yes, I’m obviously interested. But that doesn’t make it right.”

  “Right?”

  “For me or you. You want a wife. All I want is…”

  “What?” He stepped toward her, but stopped when she held up her hand. “Tell me.”

  You, she wanted to say. For you to kiss me, and keep on kissing me, until we’re mindless with passion and all the hurt goes away, even if it’s only for a moment.

  “For you to take me home,” she said instead, praying she wouldn’t cry.

  He stared at her a long time, as if sensing the tears she ruthlessly held back. Finally, he nodded. “All right. I’ll get the car.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll meet you out front.”

  Without another word, he walked away. She bit her lip, telling herself she’d made the right choice.

  So why did it feel so wrong?

  ***

  MIKE WANTED TO kick himself as he drove Kate home. Of all the stupid things to do! He couldn’t believe he’d kissed her like that. Not that kissing her was a mistake. That part was good. Fantastic, actually. She’d tasted exactly as he’d known she would, as if he’d known her taste all his life. But he should have left it there, one tantalizing kiss, just hot enough to give her something to think about, but not threatening enough to scare her off.

  He glanced sideways. She sat perfectly still, staring straight ahead with a wide-eyed look that twisted his gut. In his thirty-eight years, he’d met a lot of women and certainly more than one divorcée, but he had never met any woman as gun-shy as Kate.

  He gripped the steering wheel and fought the urge to ask her what the hell her ex-husband had done to make her so leery of men. How could anyone hurt this woman? In the short time he’d known her, he could already see his first impressions were right. She was intelligent, funny, sexy, yet fragile. The last warned him to be careful even though he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything. For the first time in his life, he didn’t have a clue how to go after his goal.

  “Look, Kate,” he finally said. “I’m sorry about what happened back there—”

  “Don’t be,” she said softly, surprising him. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I simply think we should keep things on a business level, since I am working for you.”

  “You’re right.” Stupid, idiot, moron. She’d told him specifically: You can date someone who works with you but not for you, and keep it light until you know if they’re interested.

  Well, he’d certainly broken both of those rules. “I didn’t mean to push you into anything you’re not ready for yet.”

  “‘Yet,’” she echoed and shook her head. “Mike, please tell me you haven’t put me on your mental list of possible wives.”

  “No!” he insisted, even though she was the only name on that list. “You’ve made it quite clear you’re not interested in the position.”

  “Good.” Nodding, she went back to watching the road.

  “It’s just that I thought in the meantime, we could, you know…” He trailed off, cringing at his own words. What a dumb thing to say. He held his breath, waiting for an adamant refusal.

  “No,” she said at last, in a much quieter voice than he’d expected. He glanced over in time to catch the frown that dimpled her brow. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea at all.”

  Hope flared to life. Unless he mistook the signs, she was considering the possibility of an affair with him. And if he managed to keep his big mouth shut about his true intentions, who knew where that could lead?

  When they reached her cabin, he pulled up under the grove of trees and cut the engine. She climbed from the car, denying him the chance to open the door for her. Even so, he followed her onto the tiny front porch where the porch light gave off a feeble glow, casting a faint halo over her tousled hair as she dug in her purse for he
r keys.

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked.

  She looked up at him, frowning. “Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

  “You’re right, I meant Monday. I assume Jim will be by to fix the hole in my ceiling.”

  She bit her lip. “I’m sorry about your house.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. Will I see you Monday?”

  “I can’t come until afternoon. I need to write a new column.”

  “Fine. As long as you swing by to keep an eye on the progress.”

  She nodded, without meeting his eyes. They stood there for an awkward moment, neither of them moving. More than anything, he wanted to gather her into his arms and indulge in a long, heated, goodnight kiss. Or, better yet, have her invite him inside. That, however, was not going to happen tonight.

  He sighed in frustration. “Well, then, I guess I’ll see you Monday.”

  Before he could make any more mistakes, he turned and headed back to his car. With every step, he vowed that the next time he saw her, he’d find some way to get her back into his arms.

  Chapter 12

  *

  Dear Cupid,

  Every time I try to do something romantic, like buy my girlfriend flowers, she gets all huffy and says I’m just trying to get into her pants. I don’t get it. Do women like roses or not?

  Confused

  Dear Confused,

  Most women adore flowers of any kind—depending on who they’re from and why they’re given. So, the question is, are you trying to romance her heart or seduce her body?

  If you are bent on seduction, take the time to learn her fantasies and gift her with pleasure. If, however, you strive to win her heart, take the time to learn her dreams, and offer a gift that shows your support.

  Cupid

  NODDING IN SATISFACTION after she finished her last email, Kate shut down the computer and headed for the Davises’ to get Dylan. The sun had yet to burn off the dew that dampened her feet through the open toes of her nicest sandals. As much as she enjoyed the casualness of working at home, she liked church on Sundays for the chance to dress up.

  “Hello?” she called as she opened the side door of the split-level house on the hill.