by Lori Foster
“Does it take a genius to figure out it’s none of your business?”
“Why did you drag me along, then?”
Because he hadn’t wanted to tempt fate by seeing her alone again. He felt terrible for the things he’d said, the way he’d treated her that last day. Once they’d reached a hotel and been given separate rooms, Adam had tried to contact her, to apologize and do the old see-ya-later routine. He hadn’t wanted to part with hurt feelings, not when she meant so much to him. And he’d wanted her to know how to reach him, just in case his forgetfulness with the condom became an issue. But she’d already checked out. And he’d been feeling sick ever since.
Then a week ago he’d gotten her damn letter saying she’d bought the resort back for him, just as she’d promised to do. She had to have paid considerably more than he would have, just to get the new owner to sell. And looking around, he could easily see all the extra money she’d invested already. In just over a month she’d made the place look stunning, much as he’d always envisioned it.
She’d done it all, and put his damn name on the deed.
The papers crumpled in his fist when he finally spotted her sitting at an outdoor bar situated ideally beneath a cluster of ripe palms. Her shapely bottom was perched on a bar stool, her long legs and smooth shoulders mostly bare. The dress she wore was tiny, snug, and matched the floral decor of the many patio tables and open umbrellas.
Where the hell had she gotten that getup? And since when did she flaunt herself for the masses, rather than for his private pleasure?
Kyle evidently followed his gaze, for he let loose with a long, low, admiring whistle. “Holy cow. That’s Melanie Tucker, isn’t it?”
Adam snapped his head around to stare at his brother. “You remember her?”
“I was only a couple grades behind her in school. And being the richest kid in town, she really stood out.”
Adam thought it was more her eyes that made her noticeable, and when he looked at her, he saw those eyes staring directly at him. Slowly, she slid off the stool and started in his direction. She was barefoot, lightly tanned, her blue eyes looking bluer than ever.
His heart lodged in his throat, and he had to swallow hard twice to regain his composure. Every muscle in his body twitched, and he struggled to relax. Which did nothing about the erection making his appreciation of her rather apparent. In his worn jeans, there was no way to hide it. He’d missed her so damn much.
“Adam.” She stopped just a few inches from him and simply stood there, waiting.
Kyle stepped forward and extended his hand. “Miss Tucker. Nice to see you again.”
She drew her gaze from Adam with an effort. “You’re Kyle, Adam’s younger brother, right?”
Adam listened with half an ear as the introductions commenced. She looked so good, and he’d been sick with missing her ever since he’d realized she was gone forever. Then he’d gotten the damn letter....
He came back to his senses in a flash and thrust the deed toward her. “I don’t want this.”
She smiled, lifting her chin high. “Tough. It’s yours.”
“Then I’ll sell it and mail you back your check.”
“You can’t. We’re co-owners. You might not have noticed or read all the small print given your...rather quick temper, but we have equal control of the resort.”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s a fact. I told you, I have a knack for real estate, so I know what I’m doing. Everything’s perfectly legal. And you were right, this place is wonderful. Much too good to pass up.”
Kyle laughed, earning a glare from Adam. “Now, Adam, come on. I still don’t understand why you’re being so pigheaded about this.”
Adam turned on his brother, deciding he was a safer target than Mel. He didn’t have to fight the urge to kiss his brother. Through clenched teeth, he muttered, “We make our own way now, Kyle.”
“No, you make our way. I haven’t had a hell of a lot to do with it.”
Adam drew back a step, scowling fiercely. “That’s ridiculous. I’m your brother. Besides, you’ve been going to college.”
Kyle turned to smile at Melanie. “Did you know he mostly paid my way through college? With what I made working part-time, it would have taken me years to pay back student loans. He also bought my mother a house. That’s part of the reason he had to do some fancy financing to get the money together for this resort. If he didn’t feel so responsible for us, he’d be rolling in dough.”
“Kyle...”
Adam’s warning went unheeded. “We’re damn proud of him and all he’s done. Even before Dad died, Adam’s always been my hero.”
There was that word again, making him edgy. He scowled at Kyle. “We’re family. You’ve done plenty for me, too.”
Kyle clapped Adam on the back. “He’s always been one hell of a big brother. I was really looking forward to settling down here, soaking up some sun, using my degree in business to help get things going. But if he won’t accept it...”
Mel’s smile turned gentle and sweet. “I didn’t know all that about Adam. But it doesn’t surprise me. I think of him as a hero, too. After he rescued me from drowning, I knew he could do anything he set his mind to—which is why I didn’t want him to miss this opportunity just because he likes to wallow in stubborn, misplaced pride.”
Adam felt smothered in their collective praise. “For the last damn time, Mel, I fell in. I did not jump in after you!”
Very quietly, and with supreme confidence, she whispered, “But you would have.”
How the hell was he supposed to argue with that? It was the truth, and he could see there was no point in denying it. They stared at each other, both oblivious to the tourists milling around them. Kyle cleared his throat and said, “I think I’ll just go look around a little.”
Adam hadn’t wanted to be left alone with Mel. Not that standing on a crowded beach was alone, but he felt totally apart from the others, as if only the two of them existed. He touched her cheek. “I’m sorry, babe. I know you mean well, but I can’t accept.”
“You gave me so much, Adam.”
He smiled. “What? I let you use my shampoo and shared my toothbrush. It’s hardly the same as a costly resort.”
Melanie shook her head, and sunlight glinted off her dark hair. “No, don’t you understand? You gave me your strength and self-confidence. All my life I’ve been sheltered and pampered, and men treated me like a glass doll. But you...you treat me like a woman.” She nervously licked her lips. “You make me feel sexy.”
“Aw, babe...”
“I might have shared my money, Adam, but that money hadn’t made me happy. Knowing you wanted me, making love with you, even arguing with you, makes me happier than I thought possible. The best time I’ve ever had was being stranded with you.”
“Honey, you were always sexy. Almost too much so.”
She treated him to a crooked grin. “Since I walked out here this morning to wait for you, I’ve been hit on a dozen times.”
Adam scowled, his gaze scanning the crowds. “Who hit on you?”
“It’s not important. My point is—”
“The point is that you need more clothes on!”
“Adam, I’m covered far more than the women in their bathing suits. And besides, I like the way you looked at me when you saw me in this outfit.”
Adam stepped closer and gave in to the urge to hold her, bringing her against his chest. “It’s not the outfit, Mel, it’s you. Even when you wore schoolgirl jumpers and penny loafers back in high school, you made me hard.”
She blushed, but she also smiled. “You see? That’s the most precious compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “Your fiancé was an idiot.”
“No.” She licked her lips, and the vulnerability that sometimes clouded her eyes bit into his soul. “He wasn’t an idiot, Adam. He just wasn’t you.”
It felt like she’d ripped his heart out. “Mel.”
“And he didn’t...love me.”
The question was there in her beautiful blue eyes. Adam knew he owed it to her to tell her. What difference did her money make if he’d be miserable without her? In fact, he’d never felt so damn poor, so lacking in true wealth as he did when she’d left him without saying goodbye. He’d been an unhappy bastard ever since.
Before he could say anything, Kyle showed up, and he was grinning from ear to ear. “Adam, the place is perfect. Almost everything we would have done, she’s taken care of. But there’s still some things—”
Melanie spoke quickly. “—that could be improved on, only I’ve used up my savings. I need a partner to help me finish fixing things up.” She drew a deep breath and clutched her hands together in front of her. “I know about buying property and what a good investment is. But I don’t know much beyond that. I’ve got faith in this place, and I’ve done some cosmetic work, but there’s still so much that has to be done. I can’t...don’t want to do it alone. So if you truly don’t want to be partners with me, I’ll sell you my shares of the resort. You can reimburse me over a period of time. I’ll even make the interest rates fair, but I’d much rather—”
Very softly, Adam said, “I’d much rather marry you.”
She let out her breath in a whoosh. “Marry me?”
Kyle grinned. “I knew it! She’s the one you’ve always talked about. I could tell the minute you looked at her.”
Adam nodded slowly, his gaze still locked with Melanie’s. Melanie looked uncertain.
“Mom would harass him,” Kyle explained, “about settling down, about giving her grandkids, but Adam always said he couldn’t because he’d already met the most incredible woman, an icon that other women couldn’t possibly measure up to.”
“He said that...about me?”
Adam just smiled, watching his brother work. Kyle was smooth, much more so than Adam ever hoped to be. He could charm the socks off anyone, and though their mother didn’t realize it, he was the real hound dog in the family. But Kyle was subtle, so the ladies usually didn’t realize it until it was too late.
“Yeah. Adam always said you were an aristocrat and a little stuck up—”
“Hey!” Adam considered throwing his brother out to sea.
“But he made it sound real sexy.” Kyle’s eyes were bright with laughter.
“He did, huh?” Melanie looked unconvinced but open to suggestion.
“You betcha. So what do you think? You going to marry him so we can get this business settled?”
Melanie stared at Adam’s chest. “Do you love me, Adam?”
He cupped her chin and tilted her face up. “Since I’ve been old enough to know what love is, you’ve been the one for me.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Me, too, though I didn’t realize it. I just knew I watched for you and felt alive around you and that—”
“What?”
Mindful of Kyle’s rapt attention, she tiptoed to whisper in his ear. “That I wanted you.” She kissed his throat and wrapped her arms around him. “I knew I couldn’t marry anyone else, not when all I could think of was you.”
Adam dropped the deed so he could fill his hands with her. “I love you, Mel. I always have.” He kissed her and vaguely heard the stirring of interest from the crowds watching them. His brother made the announcement that they were newly engaged, which earned a round of applause.
It was difficult, but Adam finally managed to pull his mouth away from hers. “Are there empty rooms inside?”
“Too many to count. I expect we need to work on that.”
“I know one room we can fill right now.”
She smiled at his deep, suggestive tone, and her cheeks turned pink. “I have one reserved just for us.”
Adam felt like shouting, he was so happy. “So you’ll marry me and put up with Kyle and welcome my mother?”
She grinned, trying for a look of indecision when her expressive eyes already showed how happy she felt. “Well, I suppose so, as long as you know my parents are rather curious about you, too. They’ll want a big wedding, but they love me, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“I won’t take money from them, sweetheart,” he felt compelled to warn her.
She merely shrugged. “I told you I make my own money, and they’ve already accepted that, even if they’re not happy about it. But you can plan on them pampering our babies. I figure with your strength of will, you’ll be able to keep things balanced.”
Adam nearly swallowed his tongue. “Are you...?”
“Not yet.” She lifted her nose into the air. “But I want to be. And soon.”
“I just love a bossy woman.” Without warning he scooped her into his arms and swung her in a circle. Kyle laughed when he said, “You heard the lady. I have work to do.”
Kyle picked up the deed and shoved it into his pocket. “So we’re keeping the place?” he shouted after his brother.
“Hell, yes.” Adam grinned at Melanie. “I’m the richest man in the world. I can do anything.”
* * * * *
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER ONE
Rain drubbed the window sluggishly, but Mick Dawson could still see out, still see all the different people milling around with colorful umbrellas and hats. He was so intent on watching for her he listened to the conversation with only half an ear. But then, half an ear was the most required when his friends got started on that particular topic.
“See that gorgeous blonde?” Josh Marshall said, deliberately baiting as usual. “The one who just came in? She’s wearing a push-up bra.”
“Is that right?” Zack Grange kept his tone dry. “How can you tell?”
“I know women.” Josh’s reply held an overdose of world-weary cynicism. “And I especially know women’s breasts.” He added, “At your age, I’d think you would, too.”
“Yeah, and at your age,” Zack retorted, “I’d have thought you’d outgrown your adolescent obsessions.”
The three of them sat in the corner booth at Marco’s, a casual Italian restaurant they’d first discovered five years ago. It was central to where they each worked, in the downtown area.
They came often, more so every year, it seemed, until now they met almost daily for lunch and often for dinner, too. None of them was married. Josh remained a confirmed bachelor, Zack was now a widower and Mick...well, Mick hadn’t met the right woman. His criteria were strict, but to his mind, marriage was forever. He’d seen the worst quite often, marriages made in hell and sustained with sarcasm and cheating and drink. He’d also witnessed that elusive best, unions overflowing with love and trust and support. No way would he settle for less than what he knew could and should be.
Because of their different jobs—each of them stressful—and their lack of romantic ties, meeting at Marco’s was about as close to a domestic routine as the three men ever saw.
The restaurant served as a place for celebration—a promotion, a new house, whatever came up that seemed celebration-worthy. They also commiserated with each other there, as when Zack’s young wife had died and he’d wanted to retreat from life, not seeing anyone, not doing anything except coddling his little girl. Or after Mick had gotten shot in the leg and missed several weeks of work, making him edgy.
Mick’s life was all darkness and threats and caution. Ugly. Except here at Marco’s, and with the people he trusted—his two friends, his family.
No one else. At least, not yet.
No woman had ever snagged his attention long enough to build a trust, certainly never for anything serious. Un
til now.
Now he was intrigued.
“Mick, tell this fool that breasts don’t lift to the sun like a flower.” Josh laughed at his own jest. “If they’re damn near touching her chin, she’s wearing a push-up bra.”
Mick glanced at Zack and grinned. “Josh is an idiot where women are concerned—including his insane fascination with breasts, which, I agree, he should have outgrown years ago.”
Josh shook his head in a pitying way. “Men do not outgrow their fascination with breasts. You two are just weird.”
“A real woman,” Mick told him, “would chew you up and spit you out.”
“A real woman?” Zack asked, feigning confusion. “You mean someone with an IQ higher than ten? Why would Josh date anyone smarter than he is?”
Josh said, “Ha-ha. You’re just jealous.” He grinned and added, “Besides, the ladies have better things to do with their mouths when they’re around me. Chewing is definitely out.”
All three men laughed. “So,” Josh said, “if you two abnormal specimens aren’t turned on by a woman’s breasts—which should be soft and natural, not shoved heavenward—then what does do it for you?”
Mick groaned. “Didn’t we have this discussion back in high school?”
“Yeah, but it’s still interesting.”
“Bellies,” Zack blurted.
Josh raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
For the moment, Mick felt content to just listen.
“I love a woman’s belly.” Zack leaned back, smiling to himself. “Not all muscled up the way some women want to do these days. Just a nice soft smooth woman’s belly.” He nodded, confirming his own conclusions. “Very sexy.”
Josh considered that, then nodded, too. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Bellies are hot. But not belly button rings.”
“No,” Zack agreed. “A good belly doesn’t need decoration.”
“What about you, Mick?” Josh prodded. “Long legs? Great ass? What?”
Mick took another bite of his BLT, almost by rote, not because he was hungry. He considered his reaction when he’d seen her for the first time. What had he noticed? What had caught his eye and kept him so interested, to the point he almost felt obsessed?
