“And after this fairy-tale marriage, you don’t want one for yourself?”
She shrugged. “Just because theirs is a happy marriage, it doesn’t mean everyone can be so lucky.”
He frowned. “Do I hear a hint of disappointment?”
It wasn’t disappointment. At least she thought it wasn’t. Yes, as a little girl she’d dreamed about a marriage like theirs, just like every girl does at some point in her life. But then she opened her eyes and saw that real life wasn’t a fairy tale, so she’d focused on what she could control: her career.
“No, it’s just… I need to focus on getting my life back on track first. This temporary break has been awesome, but I need to have something to do. I don’t like having so much free time on my hands.”
“Workaholic.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. She snuggled into him, enjoying the proximity, even though they were fully clothed.
“I am, I guess. But there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve grown up with a hard-working mom as a role model, and since I’m never going to have a family of my own, I guess concentrating on my career is the best thing I can do to live my life to the fullest.”
He stiffened. When she looked at him, a frown was wrinkling his face.
“What do you mean, you aren’t going to have a family? Don’t you dream of Prince Charming and happily-ever-afters like all girls do?”
She chuckled. “That’s a bit old-fashioned, and a tad sexist. Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys who believes a woman’s place is in the kitchen, wearing an apron all day and tending to her husband’s every need.”
“I’m not that old-fashioned,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I too grew up with a hard-working mother, who had to take care of a big family when she came home from the bakery. I’m just saying that, I don’t know, I thought all women had the family gene in their DNA.”
“Well, I guess it skipped me.” She shrugged and could swear his face darkened a little. “All I’ve ever wanted was to have a successful career. Kids wouldn’t fit well in my plans.”
His eyes widened, although he tried to hide his surprise behind a frown. “Don’t you women have that biological clock thing? Don’t you all feel the need for kids at some point in your lives?”
She shrugged. “Kids make me uneasy.”
“But you’re great with Sophie. She adores you.”
Okay, now his tone was taking a slightly whiny edge. What was wrong with him tonight?
“That’s because she’s adorable, and because at the end of the day, she goes back to Adam and Ellie’s, and I go back to my cottage. Or to yours, in this case.” She stared at him and frowned. “Why, how many kids do you want?”
“Three, maybe four,” he said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
“Wow. Your poor wife will have a field day delivering them all.” She shuddered, and his arms loosened a bit.
“So, since your career is your priority, have you thought about what to do?” His tone was flat. She didn’t like the way things were going now. “Spring isn’t exactly thriving with job opportunities, but I guess we could always use someone who organizes parties, weddings, and festivals.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, right. Do you see me living here for the rest of my life? Ah, I don’t think so.”
Now she wasn’t imagining the cloud that passed over his face as he looked away. Oh, no. He thought…
“Hang on. You know this”—she moved her index finger between them—“was only a temporary thing, right? I thought when we decided to, uh… keep this up after that spontaneous first time, we agreed it was purely physical.”
He looked away as he gave a short laugh. “Of course. I’m right there with you.”
She frowned and tilted her head to the side, studying him. He didn’t look as if he really believed his own words. Perhaps she should leave. But then the cloud lifted and the familiar glint of mischief that never failed to make her feel all discombobulated appeared in his eyes.
“Okay, I think we’ve talked enough for one night.” His smile was more genuine now and it pushed away all the worries and thoughts she’d just had. “We can move it to the bedroom now. If you want.”
“I don’t know… I think I should probably call it a night.” She faked a yawn just to tease him. “I’m a bit tired.”
His arms went around her waist and he pulled her closer to him so that he could bury his nose in her hair. She bit her bottom lip to keep a whimper from escaping.
“I know at least a couple of ways to wake you up.” His voice was low and sexy, barely a whisper. Her heart slammed against her ribcage as his warm breath fanned her ear.
“Really.” She didn’t trust herself with a more elaborate sentence at the moment. He nodded against her neck. Her body quivered and she could feel his lips curving against her skin. Busted.
“Do you want me to show them to you? See if they work?”
Oh, yes, please.
But then the tip of his tongue flicked out and touched her skin, and the only sound that left her lips was a breathy “Mmh…” that made him chuckle against her neck.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, straightening in the chair. One hand went under her knees and the other wrapped more securely around her waist. She looped her arms around his neck when she understood what he was about to do, anticipation heating her up from the inside out.
He stood up and smiled as he stared at her. “I hope you don’t mind skipping dessert.”
She tilted her head to the side. “I thought you said you’d be my dessert?”
His deep laugh echoed in the quiet room as he walked toward his bedroom. Some kind of alarm bell went off in her head as she realized she was enjoying this thing a bit too much for her own peace of mind. This was too familiar. She knew the way to his bedroom so well, she could get there with her eyes closed. She knew where to find everything she needed to make breakfast. She had gotten used to the smell of his shower gel on her skin. He’d even started leaving an extra towel on the rack next to the shower. It was getting too cozy too fast. And it was only supposed to be one night. But the fact he’d just admitted he didn’t do one-night stands made things more complicated. Perhaps she should stop it now, before he got the wrong idea. She’d told him it would only be one night, a mistake she wouldn’t repeat, but then she’d kept coming back.
He stopped outside his bedroom. “What’s going through that pretty head of yours now? Are you overthinking things again?”
Her jaw dropped. Was she so easy to figure out? He hadn’t even taken a look at her, yet he knew her brain was working overtime.
“If you’ve changed your mind, now would probably be a good time to speak, before things get out of hand.”
His eyes locked with hers and her resolution faltered, just like every other time she’d meant to tell him she wasn’t going to sleep with him again. The tough, no-nonsense, career-oriented woman was nowhere in sight when he stared at her like that.
One last time, then she’d tell him it had been fun but they couldn’t keep doing this, and they’d go their separate ways. She could do it. Starting from tomorrow.
She shook her head and pulled his face to hers. “I think it’s time for dessert, Bob.”
His lips sealed the deal, and as soon as he walked into his bedroom she switched off her brain, determined not to turn it on until the morning.
Chapter 15
Despite their disheartening chat two nights ago, the day before the festival Kean woke up to Charli’s soft, warm body snuggled into him once again. He was either the biggest masochist or the biggest jerk. Whatever he was, when Charli showed up on his doorstep the previous night, with Mexican to-go bags from Chilli Spring and a smile hotter than their jalapeño sauce, he just hadn’t been able to send her away. This had gone way beyond the purely physical thing they’d agreed upon.
When she’d told him she didn’t want kids, he’d felt as if she’d just cut him open with a steak knife. Growing up i
n a big family, he’d always thought he’d have one of his own, too. Three, maybe four kids. A house with a spacious garden where children could play. A dog, maybe two. It wasn’t as if he’d already started thinking about proposals and wedding plans with her, but hearing her talk about another woman as his wife meant she hadn’t even contemplated the possibility that they could have a future.
Now, as he lay in bed with her arm across his waist, her head on his chest, and her soft breath fanning his skin as she slept peacefully after what had to be the most amazing night he’d ever had, he couldn’t help feeling like he’d fallen into quicksand—and he fell a little deeper into the pool with every kiss, every touch, and every moan that escaped her gorgeous lips.
He hated that he’d allowed himself to think that this meant more to her, that they could actually have a future together. She’d made it clear, again, that she had no intention of staying. And as much as he liked Charli, he wasn’t going to leave his hometown for a woman. He’d been away from Spring once, and he’d missed his family, his friends, and his town too much. This was exactly where he wanted his kids to grow up. Kids he wouldn’t have with Charli, apparently. He shook the thought away. There was no reason to keep torturing his mind now. He’d better revel in the warmth and passion while it lasted. When she left town, he’d move on. No big deal, right?
His grip tightened around her shoulder and he placed a kiss on the top of her head. In such a short time he’d grown so used to having her around, to falling asleep with her soft body next to him, to sneaking around his family just to steal a kiss, that the thought of losing her was inconceivable.
Charli stirred. “At some point we should probably get out of bed, you know.” Her voice was muffled and a little groggy as she lay with her head on his chest. She was right but, honestly, who wanted to get out of bed when you had a sexy, curvy brunette half sprawled across you?
“Or we could, hypothetically speaking, stay in bed for the rest of the day. I can bring some food and drinks and we can get out of this warm cocoon only to use the bathroom.”
Charli laughed. “Why, I had no idea you were a sex addict, Bob. You’re sort of scaring me now.” She pulled back slightly, disentangling herself from his grip. “In fact, I think I may have been right with my assumption that you’re a serial killer. First you seduce them, then you bury them in your garden. No wonder the grass is so green out there.”
He wrapped both his arms around her, hoisted her on top of him and squeezed tighter. Then he buried his face in her neck, her hair falling on his face. When he playfully bit her neck and soothed it with a quick kiss afterward, she gasped. She could play the prude all she wanted, but she loved being skin to skin with him—her body didn’t lie.
“Yeah, you got me. I’m a perv who enjoys hiding in the bushes and creeping up on pretty ladies. You’re my prisoner now. I’ll keep you captive until I’m done with you.” He let out his best evil laugh and buried his face in her neck again. She giggled. “And I’m afraid I won’t be done with you for a looong time.”
It wasn’t completely a joke. What had started out as an improvised romp, had quickly escalated into something more. It wasn’t just sex. Yeah, spending naked time with Charli was a great bonus, but he enjoyed their alone time afterward just as much. When they lay in each other’s arms, cuddling and talking, laughing and bantering—that was when he appreciated her presence both in his bed and in his life. Even though she wasn’t going to stay.
She pinched his hip, and he recoiled from his thoughts. “Maybe I’ve developed that syndrome… what’s it called?”
He laughed at the way her adorable face wrinkled in thought. She puckered her very kissable lips and it was all he could do not to devour them all over again. Maybe he really was a sex addict.
“It had something to do with Sweden, I think. Or was it Norway…”
“I think you’re referring to Stockholm syndrome.”
She smacked his chest. “Exactly!” Then she propped herself up on top of him, her hands on the mattress on each side of his face as a wicked grin curved her mouth. “I’ve got Stockholm syndrome, and if you let me go now, I won’t know what to do with myself. Better keep me captive a bit longer, just in case.”
He didn’t have the chance for a smartass comeback because her lips were on his a moment later, effectively stealing all the air from the room as he once again lost himself in the passion she brought out in him.
When he started running out of air, he pulled back, and she stared at him with slightly glazed eyes. Yeah, their kisses were something unreal and he was quite amazed at how quickly things escalated when they were together. The fuse didn’t take long to burn and explode into fireworks. Every. Single. Time.
He closed his eyes and she rolled off him, then rested her head on his chest. Breathing evenly, his mind started conjuring up images of lazy Sunday mornings, of romantic weekend getaways, of Sunday lunches at his parents’, with Sophie and her brother or sister playing in the garden, and Charli cuddling their own child. His eyes flew open.
Whoa, there. Hold your horses, buddy. She’s not long-term material, remember?
“You sleeping?” Charli asked, providing a reprieve from his dangerous fantasies. He groaned in response, and the giggle she let out warmed his heart. Damn, he was a goner. “I don’t want you to think I’m being nosy, but I was wondering… um…”
“Go ahead, shoot,” he said, when he noticed her hesitation. “No, wait. Knowing you, you’d probably pull out a gun for real.”
She giggled again and, man, those tingles in his belly had to stop. They made him feel like a sissy. If Adam knew what kind of effect Charli had on him, he’d never stop teasing him.
“It’s not that I don’t like lying in bed with you on this rainy morning but… Shouldn’t you be getting ready for work?”
Her question caught him by surprise, but he faked a nonchalant tone. “I don’t have anything scheduled for today. Work’s a bit slow these days.”
She propped herself up and frowned. “Are you having problems with the company? Because I’ve seen you hanging around a lot lately, and I’m sure you going to work late is not all my fault.”
He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Well, it partly is your fault. Who wants to go to work when he has a sexy woman in his bed?” She narrowed her eyes in her no-nonsense way that meant business, and he chuckled. “No, seriously, I’m good. Just not much going on.”
At least that was what he’d been telling himself lately. He didn’t want to let his fears of losing it all take over.
“I think you should expand your horizons, so to speak. You only cater to your town and the neighboring places now, but you should make sure even people who live farther out know about you. Do you have a website?”
He frowned. “No, I never thought I’d need one.”
She made a buzzing sound. “Wrong answer, Bob. We’re living in the age of the Internet. Everyone needs a website if they want to keep working. I could look into it, if you want, call a few contacts and get a quote. The guys who made the website for Golden Gate Events were pretty awesome.”
Why had they ended up talking about this, anyway? He just wanted to revel in the warmth of her luscious body a bit more, just until they both had to get ready to start a new day and go back into the real world, where they pretended they couldn’t stand each other. He didn’t want to be reminded he was close to calling himself a failure.
“Do we have to talk about it right now?” he asked, rubbing his hands up and down her back as she relaxed against him again. This was the best part: when she leaned into him and let him hold her without any sexual implications. Bonus points when she grazed her fingers on his chest. That short-circuited his brain cells every time. “I was hoping we could make a better use of the time we have left before you have to leave. And my idea didn’t include making a business plan for my company while we’re naked in my bed.”
She chuckled. “Sorry. You know I’m a planning freak. I have to have plan
s, I can’t help myself.”
“Do your plans for the morning include a hot shower?” he whispered in her ear. Her body quivered, and he grinned in satisfaction. “Together, perhaps?”
She chuckled, then moaned when he placed a wet kiss just below her ear. He’d learned that was one of her most sensitive spots, and he’d been enjoying taking advantage of the knowledge to weaken the tough, no-nonsense attitude she sometimes put on when she wanted to leave and he wouldn’t let her. It had always worked so far.
He sat up, purposely letting her body fall back onto the mattress when he got out of bed. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned, not exactly inconspicuously. He smiled.
“So, you gonna join me this time?” he called over his shoulder with a nonchalant tone, even though his whole body was on high alert, hoping she’d say yes. The wicked smile she gave him was all the answer he needed. He scooped her up and put her over his shoulder. She giggled, kicking her legs even as she held on tight to him.
A series of heavy knocks on his front door stopped him just as he crossed the threshold into the adjoining bathroom. A look at the clock on his nightstand informed him it was six a.m. That was weird.
“Who’s that?” Charli asked, wriggling until he put her down. The knocks grew more urgent, and his brother’s voice calling his name made her eyes grow wide. She brought her hands to her mouth as her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Is that Adam? I shouldn’t have stayed. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. Why did you let me sleep in? Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh.” She knelt down, reaching for her clothes scattered on the floor, and he couldn’t bring himself to stop ogling her, even as his brother’s fist kept pounding on the door.
He pulled a towel off the rack and wrapped it around his waist. “Stay here and be quiet. He won’t come into the bedroom,” he said, when he noticed her panicked expression when she couldn’t find her panties. “I’ll see what he wants and get rid of him.”
Unplanned Love Page 17
