by Jo Leigh
She did. She remembered. And she would push forward. She’d go back to her place, finalize the marketing plan and when Matt praised her, she’d bring up the promotion. It was time. She’d fulfilled her side of their deal-given Matt a makeover, taught him networking, even repaired his love life.
Talk about a bonus! She always went the extra mile. Wasn’t that what team leaders did?
Right.
The good news was that now that Matt and Jane had reconciled, Candy had no more worries about how she and Matt would end this. It was over and done.
Her plan in place, Candy found the program interminable. There seemed to be an honoree at every table. By the time the stack of plaques was down to a few, she’d eaten two untouched desserts and had three decaf refills.
Jane was as classy in her acceptance remarks as she’d seemed when Candy met her. Candy kept her eyes trained away from where Matt sat-no doubt watching Jane-afraid if she caught his adoring expression, she’d burst into jealous tears.
Eventually the last polite applause filled the room. Finally released, Candy barreled for the doors instead of pausing to reinforce her rapport with potential clients as she would normally do in networking mode. She’d grabbed plenty of cards before disaster struck. She managed to catch Matt’s eye and pointed toward the parking lot, so he’d meet her at the car.
Grateful to be outside, she sucked in smoggy air and fought the tumult inside. Get a grip. He was never yours. They’d had an affair. Don’t cling. Let go. She only wished she’d known their final lovemaking had been the last, so she could have memorized every touch. It was like wolfing down the last Cheeto before you realized the bag was empty. You wanted to savor the final lovely morsel.
The good news, though, was that she was anxious to get back to work. She’d learned that much about herself. She could work when it mattered. She was not just a party girl.
She watched Matt wend his way to their car, his expression anxious. When he reached her, he asked, “Are you ill? I saw you run out.”
“Just anxious to go,” she said with a fake smile, ducking into the car to avoid him.
Matt sat in the driver’s seat. “There was room at the table,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean for you to leave.”
“It was much better, Matt, and you know it. Jane liked the new you, which is great. Isn’t it?” He seemed too quiet.
“Nothing changed between Jane and me,” he said after a pause. He sounded weary and troubled. Maybe out of guilt?
“Give it time,” she said, glancing at him. “You got a start at it. I probably cramped your style.”
“It’s not like that, Candy. It won’t ever be.” He hesitated, as though he had something more to say, then looked out the windshield.
“Let’s head back,” she said, nodding forward. “I want to finish my marketing plan so I can show it to you.”
She felt him staring at her. “We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to say, Matt. I get it.”
“No, you don’t. That’s the point. We-”
“Let’s just go!” she said with clenched teeth, wringing the burgundy napkin that in her haste she’d taken with her. She’d twisted it so tightly it hurt her fingers. Unshed tears made her nose burn.
“We need to talk about us, about what we’re going to do.”
His cell phone rang, interrupting him. He fumbled for it, reading the display. “Scott,” he muttered.
“Take it,” she said, grateful for the reprieve.
“Hi, Scott. What’s up?” Matt said tightly. “Yeah? Where are we on the reorg? Uh…” He paused, glanced at her, then out the side window. He couldn’t talk to Scott freely with her in the car. “Not too far.” He cleared his throat. “I’m on vacation, remember? Use it or lose it?” he said in a falsely hearty voice. He paused, listening, then spoke again, his tone serious.
“I’ll get on that…um, plan…when I get back… Sunday? Not Sunday. Sunday’s a day of rest.” He laughed. “Be careful what you wish for, Scott. I’m addressing my PQ2 weaknesses, which means I’m taking it easier. I won’t be in the office 24-7 anymore.”
He winked at Candy, telling her he’d learned from her. “Unintended consequences, I guess.” He looked at her again, his expression full of gratitude and affection. Then she saw an idea dawn on him. He held up a finger to her.
“Scott, one thing. What do you think about a consumer version of Ledger Lite? We’d market it to our Paycheck Plus customers?” He listened, then turned to nod at her, indicating Scott’s interest.
“It’s Candy Calder’s idea,” he said quickly. “I was talking to her and-” He stopped cold. “Uh-before I left. We ran into each other…” He swallowed hard, panicked and jerked his gaze out front again. It must have dawned on him he didn’t dare let Scott know they were together on vacation.
“So, she’s, uh, putting together a plan… Sure, sure…I’ll tell her-when I get back, of course. At the next meeting.” His face was bright red and he sounded guilty as hell.
Matt put away his phone and rubbed the back of his neck. “That was weird. I almost blew it. Sorry I lied.”
“You had to, Matt. If Scott knew we were together, it would be utterly weird.” And there was no way Matt could comfortably keep the secret back at SyncUp. If he gave her the promotion, everyone would think she slept her way there. “I appreciate you talking up my idea to Scott. It means a lot.” Again, her throat closed.
“It’s the least I could do. After all you’ve done for me.” He stopped. “You know I mean the lessons, not the…not us together. And I would have told him anyway. It’s a great idea.”
“I know that,” she said softly, realizing how the sex had muddied everything between them. Matt was having trouble figuring out his own motivations. “I was glad to hear you say you wouldn’t be working so hard from now on.”
“You helped me figure that out,” he said, turning to her. “There’s something else I need to say. And it’s not about work. Being with you has meant so much to me. You mean so much to me.”
“You mean a lot to me, too, Matt. But that’s beside the point. You have Jane. We have work.”
“Jane and I are done, Candy. Period.”
“We had a deal. We have to stick with it.”
“We need to talk about us.”
“There is no us, Matt!” She didn’t mean to raise her voice, but he’d just thrown away her garlic-Jane-and her heart was racing with pointless hope. “You could hardly manage a lie to Scott about me. We have to quit while we’re ahead.”
He studied her. “Is that what you want?”
“It’s what we both want.” When she tried to smile, her lips trembled like a muscle held too long.
They sat in silence for a few beats, both staring out the windshield. “Okay. If that’s it, then,” Matt said finally, starting the car with tense, almost-angry movements.
After they’d driven for a while in awkward silence, she thought of something to get them on track. “So how many cards did you get, by the way?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know. You count.” He fished out his wallet and handed it to her.
She counted them. “Twelve! That’s excellent.” It was so hard to sound cheerful when she was so miserable. “I got twenty, so, at two-to-one, you beat me by four cards. Congratulations. You won.” Her smile felt glued onto her cardboard face. “So you can ask me any question you like. That’s your prize.”
“I don’t know, Candy,” he said, sounding discouraged.
“Think about it. Drop me off at my place, I’ll grab the computer and meet you at yours to show you my marketing plan. You can ask me the question when I get there.”
They didn’t talk the rest of the way and she was glad. She ached as if she’d been everyone’s target in a dodgeball game where they used rocks instead of balls.
She would push past this, though. She had to. This was what she�
��d worked for. She couldn’t give up when she was so close.
UNLOCKING HIS BEACH house, Matt caught his reflection in the glass of the storm door. He hardly recognized the GQ guy staring back at him with the fancy haircut and pricey shades. Fun Guy. Who’d just been shot down by the woman he loved.
She was right. Being together at SyncUp would be difficult, to say the least. She wanted it to be over. She was sticking with their deal. Maybe that’s what he should do.
Accept her decision, let it go. He loved her, but he’d get over it. Maybe she loved him, too, but not enough to try to work it out. Should he push her? Why? Why make her spell out all the reasons why he was wrong for her? All that BS about oil and water and oranges? Why put himself through that misery?
He stood on his porch and looked out at the ocean.
He noticed a parachute, bright against the blue sky, skimming by. A parasailor. He remembered Candy up in the air, the way she’d been terrified, but pushed past it. Don’t you dare, she’d said, eyes flashing, when he wanted to call it off. I want to try this.
He had to try, too-go for it the way Candy had. Push through the fear, take the risk-no matter what she said to him. If she loved him, they would figure out how to be together. He saluted that faraway parasailor, then stepped off the porch, headed for Candy, come what may.
CANDY SHOVED MATT’S computer in its case and started out, not even stopping to change clothes. She’d kicked off her shoes and removed her pantyhose to cross the beach in comfort at least. She didn’t dare stop moving or her feelings would hit and she’d dissolve into a heap of heartbreak.
This was more than a vacation fling with Matt. She had feelings for him that weren’t going away as ordered. She was trapped and the misery would hit as soon as she held still long enough to feel it.
It reminded her of stubbing her toe and the seconds of nothing before the pain struck, when she had time to brace for it, guessing how bad it would be this time.
When she looked toward Matt’s place, she noticed he was headed her way, taking long, purposeful strides, his expression fixed with determination.
About what? About her? About them? Against all reason, hope made her heart sing and she started to run toward him.
Seeing her, Matt also ran, then stopped when they were close. He was breathing hard and she was, too.
“I’ve got my question.” He paused. “Forget SyncUp, forget our deal and tell me the truth-how do you feel about me?”
“How do I feel…?” She swallowed hard, not sure what she should say, fighting dizziness, struggling to be sensible.
“Let me make it simpler. I’m in love with you, Candy.”
“You are? In love? With me?” Her heart was doing a fluttering hip-hop. She needed to sit down. Fast.
Sensing her faintness, he caught her by her elbows. “I am. So, what about you? Do you feel the same?”
“Do I?” Her mind was as fuzzy as a radio off its station. “I mean, yes, I do…I love you.” She said it with wonder, surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth.
At the same time, she knew in her soul they were true.
“That’s good, then,” he said. “We feel the same.” He leaned in to kiss her, but she held back.
“No, that’s bad. What about SyncUp?”
“We’ll work it out…somehow.” His words faded and she knew he’d gone fuzzy, too, unwilling to address the impossibility of a future between them. “For now, let’s just be here. Together.”
“Okay,” she answered automatically. This solution erased the agony she’d anticipated with so much dread. Matt was a smart guy. If he thought they could figure it out, maybe they could. She let her doubts melt away. She let her love for Matt take charge, pushing away SyncUp, even her promotion. They would discuss that soon enough. That would be part of working things out.
She knew this was wrong thinking on her part, but right now she was glad to escape the pain, to have more time in Matt’s arms. They hurried to his place. She set his computer on the table and they stumbled to his bed, pulling off each other’s clothes, laughing, breathless and amazed.
Could she really have this? Be in love with Matt? Despite their differences, despite work-
Stop! She wouldn’t think about that. It would ruin the moment and right now Matt was looking at her naked body that way again, like no other man, as though every inch of her was worth a lifetime of study, as though being able to touch her was a gift beyond measure.
She wanted this. So much.
“I can’t believe I have you in my bed,” Matt said, his eyes a hot blue that promised his love and all the support she could ever want.
“Believe it. I’m here.” At the same time she felt a tension inside, a held breath, the sense there was trouble ahead, that this wasn’t quite real.
Matt kissed her then, deeply, his tongue searching her mouth, while one hand slid down her body to her thighs and stroked her neediest place.
She parted her legs, inviting him inside, welcoming the rush of pleasure they’d felt together before.
Matt pushed into her, holding her gaze, and the moment was different, more serious. This was for keeps. “When I’m inside you, I never want to leave.”
“Then don’t,” she said, crossing her heels over his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
He kissed her hungrily, as if she were the source of his strength. They held each other so tight their bodies seemed melded together. Only their hips parted long enough to make short strokes. They were so in tune with each other that the tiniest movement from Matt sent spirals of pleasure through her. She could tell she had the same effect on him. Sex had never been so powerful or so intimate for her.
She felt her orgasm gather and sensed his doing the same.
“I don’t want to come yet,” she said.
“There’s plenty more after this,” he breathed, quickening his pace, moving in a way she couldn’t resist. “Just let go.”
Her climax began, then seemed to move to Matt, as if they shared the sensation, and he sent it back to her even stronger than before. Waves of pleasure poured through her, so strong she had tears in her eyes. Matt’s face was full of emotion, too.
Slowly, the intensity lessened and she became aware of the beat of Matt’s heart, in time with hers, heard the matched rhythm of their breathing. She never imagined feeling this close to another person. She knew that, no matter what happened, this was worth it.
She closed her eyes and held on to Matt.
They made love for what seemed like a long time and yet only moments. Rolling over after one more amazing orgasm, Candy caught sight of Matt’s travel clock. “God! It’s six, Matt. We have to get dressed for the beach party.”
“I’ve got a party right here. Come as you are.” He nuzzled her neck, finding her with his fingers.
She pushed his hand away with a reluctant groan. “I promised Ellie and Sara we’d do the events.” She struggled out of bed and bent to drag on her clothes. “I’ve got to go shower and change at my place.”
“You’re serious about this?” Matt said, watching her.
“One of us has to be.” She leaned down to kiss his sweet mouth. “And now that you’re Fun Guy, I guess it’s me.”
“I know,” he said, flopping back against the pillow, hands under his head, elbows out. “I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.” He looked deliciously strong, tanned and relaxed, the sheet bunched at his waist, sexier than ever. Of course she was seeing him through the eyes of love.
Grabbing up Sara’s blazer, she noticed Matt’s computer, where she’d practically thrown it on the table. She had to show him the marketing plan, talk about the teams, but when?
Maybe tomorrow? Or the next day? Before they left Malibu anyway. When they were ready to deal with the logistics of continuing an affair back at SyncUp. Because they had to continue this.
She and Matt were in love. She
couldn’t quite believe it. Or sort it out or figure out how it would work. For now, just knowing was enough. It had to be.
MATT GOT READY while Candy went to her place to change. After his shower, he scrubbed some of that ridiculous gel into his hair and put on the Hawaiian shirt Candy liked. He had to change shorts twice to get the right match. Now he was getting vain?
This was all pretty crazy. He’d promised Candy they would work it out, but he wasn’t sure how. A vague tension anchored itself in his gut, but he wasn’t going to deal with it yet. He wanted to float a while longer on the cloud he’d been on since Candy and he had wrestled her phone away from Radar.
He headed out to get her, enjoying the breeze, the sleek gray sheen of the ocean laid out before him, the waves rolling like the shivering pelt of a huge slow-moving beast.
The neon of the carnival rides glowed against the sunset sky. Down the beach, there were bonfires and he could hear the gathering noise of a crowd. Music, too. He and Candy could dance.
He wanted to dance? Unbelievable. But he realized if Candy wanted him to, he’d freak dance in front of God and everyone. He was in love. The way he’d been with Heather, all those years ago, except now he was mature enough to handle the roller coaster.
At least he hoped he was.
His gut tightened again.
Until he caught sight of Candy heading his way. The sight of her erased all his doubts. She’d changed how he saw everything.
She wore a strapless dress that exposed her shoulders and the tops of her breasts. When she was close enough he noticed a diamond on a chain resting in the hollow of her throat. He wanted to kiss her there, in that tender place. And everywhere else, too.
She threw her arms around him and he picked her up and spun her around, kissing her as he set her back down on the sand.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, looking up at him, her eyes full of love. “Sara had to know why I looked feverish, so I explained that I’m crazy in love.”
“So I make you feverish? All hot…and achy? You do that to me, too.”
“Mm-hmm,” she said. “I told her we were working everything out at SyncUp. Do you think we can?” She bit her pretty lip.
