“I’m still thinking.”
“Come on, Em.” He gave her shoulder a nudge. “You know you can’t resist me.”
“You’re right, you haven’t changed. You’re still an incurable egomaniac.”
He gave another one of those grins, the kind that softened her tough, outer shell. “See, I told you I haven’t changed.”
She suppressed the smile that was itching to creep across her face. Grabbing the scrub brush, she started in on the pan her mother had cooked the chicken in, deciding almost immediately that she would need a sandblaster to loosen the blackened goo clinging to the bottom. She put it aside and grabbed a bowl instead.
Realizing that Matt had gotten awfully quiet, she glanced up and caught him staring at the front of her shirt. Again. All through dinner he’d been looking at her, undressing her with his eyes.
“They’re breasts, Matt. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty, so mine shouldn’t be all that fascinating.”
He had the decency to look apologetic. “Sorry, I just can’t get used to the way you look now.”
“Different, right?”
“Good, Em. You look really good.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Let’s be clear on something, Conway. Friendship is one thing but I am not, under any circumstances, going to sleep with you again.”
Something hot and dangerous sparked in his eyes and her knees instantly went mushy. “That sounds like a challenge, Emily. And you know how much I love a challenge.”
The bowl she’d been washing slipped from her fingers and splooshed down into the sudsy water. She turned away so he wouldn’t see the rush of color in her cheeks. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not the least bit attracted to you anymore.”
“Here, let me help you with that.” He stepped behind her and slid his arms into the water next to hers. The width of his chest spread heat across her back and every feminine nerve ending in her body screamed to life. His hands folded over hers, fingers linked with her own and her temperature shot up what felt like a thousand degrees.
If there had ever been a question that Matt still desired her the evidence was blatantly clear when he leaned in closer, pressing her against the edge of the counter with the lower half of his body. The firm ridge beneath his jeans took her breath away.
“Remember what it was like, Em? Remember what it felt like when I touched you?”
“Vaguely.” Her hands began to tremble. Oh, how she’d missed this, this utter passion only Matt could make her feel. And it would be so easy to melt into his arms. She wanted it so badly she ached.
He slid his hands up, wetting her arms all the way to her shoulders, and turned her toward him. Dark and intense, his eyes locked on hers and she was helpless to look away. “Remember the first time I kissed you?”
She gave a wobbly nod. Droplets of warm soapy water slid down her arms and dripped onto the kitchen floor.
“You tasted like chocolate. I wonder what you taste like tonight.”
Probably her mother’s chicken. And if it tasted as bad the second time around as it had the first, they were both in trouble.
Or they would cancel each other out.
In her mind, she kept telling herself to run. To get away. Unfortunately, her body wasn’t responding. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. And she didn’t.
Where was rational Emily when she needed her?
Matt lowered his head and she held her breath, heart pounding in her chest. She felt hot and cold all at once. Frightened and excited.
In slow motion he moved closer and her head began to spin. She felt dizzy and breathless, then his lips brushed lightly over hers and everything inside her went liquid.
“Hmm, I remember this,” he whispered against her lips.
She had to stop this. She had to come to her senses before someone walked in and saw them this way.
“I’ve been thinking,” she said, easing away from him, thankful that he let her go. “I guess maybe we could try being friends again.”
Something virile and primitive burned in his eyes. “Maybe that offer isn’t on the table any longer. Maybe now I want more.”
She backed toward the door. To hell with the dishes. Matt could finish them. She needed to get out of here before she did something monumentally stupid, like dragging him into the broom closet for a quickie. “You and I both know that would be a really bad idea.”
“I don’t know that, but I know how we can find out.”
She stopped, her hand on the knob, her soapy fingers slipping on the brass. She recognized the determined look on Matt’s face. Logically she knew this was destined to be a disaster, while her less logical side wanted everything he offered and more.
It was the “more” in that equation, and knowing he would never give it, that gave her the strength to open the door and walk out.
Matt watched Emily leave, knowing he’d won this round. He’d found her weakness—a way in.
She still wanted him.
When he’d touched her, she’d trembled. Actually trembled. He couldn’t remember ever having that effect on a woman before. Well, not since the last time he’d been with Emily. That night on the beach they had both done their share of trembling. If she wanted him half as much as he wanted her, leaving tonight hadn’t been easy. But this was Emily. She wouldn’t give in to him without a fight. If he could build a multimillion dollar corporation from nothing, he could manage to seduce a woman. Even one as hard-headed as her.
And while they were busy fighting to see who would win this battle of wills, he would leave her boyfriend in the dust.
Ty had said to take this as far as necessary, and if this was his only angle, his only way in, he was going to take it. And if he was lucky, he and Emily would walk away from this as friends again. And he was going to enjoy himself.
Five
“You want the guy,” Alex said from his perch on the corner of Emily’s desk. “Why won’t you just admit it?”
Emily glared up at him, tired of having this identical conversation for two days running. What was it with everyone lately? Her mother had gotten on her case earlier that afternoon about spending time with Matt while he was in town. “We have to make him feel welcome,” she’d said. Not an hour later Ty had called with a similar story, but he didn’t possess the same air of subtlety as their mother. “He’s rich, good-looking—what’s not to like?” he’d asked.
It was like a freaking conspiracy.
She dropped her head in her hands, massaging away a killer headache in her temples. “I do not.”
“But he’s so hot. And rich.” Alex grabbed a stack of messages off her desk. Messages Matt had left, that she hadn’t yet returned because she was a big chicken. “And he’s obviously interested.”
“And he’s leaving. I’m not looking to get my heart stomped on again. If you like him so much why don’t you go out with him.”
He let out a wistful sigh. “In my dreams, honey.”
She gave him an eye roll. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“You’re awfully cranky for someone who claims not to need sex. I’m telling you, you’ll feel so much better if you sleep with him then never call. Revenge is good for the soul.”
If she thought it would make her feel better, she might just try it. But she didn’t want revenge. She wanted to know what it was Matt wanted from her. One minute he said he wanted to be her friend, the next he was like a wolf on the prowl. And knowing she was his intended prey filled her with a sizzling sexual energy. That he could so effortlessly stir that reaction scared the hell out of her.
Her only defense was avoidance. So she wouldn’t do something dumb, like fall in love with him again.
“If you insist on being so stubborn, how about dinner and a movie tonight instead? My treat. You’ve been working too hard.”
Well, one of us has to, she wanted to say but held her tongue. Alex didn’t mean to be irresponsible. He couldn’t help that he was completely unfocused. “Only if we ca
n see an action movie,” she said. “No gushy romantic garbage.”
He slipped off her desk. “You’re on. I’ll pick you up at six at your place.”
“And no more talking about Matt?”
“Yes, fine. No more talking about Matt.”
An evening when she wouldn’t have to see Matt or think about Matt. It almost sounded too good to be true.
Matt pulled up in front of Emily’s apartment, and parked. He’d had enough of being brushed off. Problems with the restaurant and office responsibilities had kept him tied up the last two days but now things were running relatively smoothly. This was his chance. This would be the night he would seduce Emily.
He walked up to her door and raised his hand to knock when he saw the note taped there inviting him in.
Well, it was inviting someone in, although he seriously doubted he was the intended receiver. Still, it did say to come in. And he didn’t know for sure that it wasn’t for him.
Feeling only slightly guilty, he stuffed the note in his pocket and opened the door, peering inside. From the bathroom, he heard the shower running.
Emily in the shower, water and soap sliding down her body. Naked and wet. His favorite combination.
This just kept getting better.
He stepped inside and closed the door, and as an afterthought locked it. For the briefest of moments he considered joining her in the shower, then wrote it off as a bad idea. Tempting, but unwise. When they took a shower together—and they would—it would be her idea.
Considering her reaction to him the other night in her parents’ kitchen, finessing Emily into bed wouldn’t really be all that difficult. He had decided, because he liked to continually present himself with new challenges, he wasn’t going to make love to Emily until she asked for it.
Until then, he was predicting a fair amount of teasing and foreplay.
Her sofa bed was folded out, and since there was nowhere else to sit, he plopped down and stretched out lengthwise, stuffing a pillow under his head. He caught a hint of Emily’s scent mingled with fabric softener and imagined her lying there. The sheets were a disheveled mess, as if she moved around a lot in her sleep. Unless her boyfriend was back and the sheets were messed up for an entirely different reason.
The thought stuck in his side like a thorn. He shouldn’t feel this possessiveness toward her. Up until today, after repeated attempts to get in touch with her, he’d done a pretty good job of convincing himself he was only doing this for Ty and his parents. Yet with each unreturned call, his level of frustration had risen, until he could think of nothing but seeing her, of touching her again. One taste of her lips and he was like an addict, craving more.
He sighed and closed his eyes, exhausted beyond belief. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since he’d gotten to Michigan. As hard as he’d tried to convince himself it was stress-related, or due to sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, odds were it had more to do with Emily. And when he had managed to catch a few hours of sleep, Emily had invaded his dreams. More often than not he’d woken aroused and restless and craving Emily’s touch.
He stretched his arms over his head, sinking deeper into the mattress, feeling himself begin to drift off. And since a couple minutes of shut-eye wouldn’t hurt, he didn’t fight it. He had no idea how long he lay there and was only vaguely aware of the sound of a door opening, but he was too relaxed to move a muscle. Then something cold and wet hit him square in the chest and his eyes flew open.
Emily hovered over him. She wore a pair of cutoff shorts and a tank top the exact same silvery-blue as her eyes.
And she didn’t look very happy to see him. “What the hell are you doing in my apartment?”
Matt grinned up at her. He grabbed the wet towel off his chest and tossed it back. “You invited me in.”
She flung the towel onto the bathroom floor. “How? Telepathically?”
His grin widened and he pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket. “You left a note on the door for me.”
She snatched it out of his hand and unfolded it. “This wasn’t for you.”
“It wasn’t? Oops.”
Oops my foot. He was far too amused for this to be anything but intentional. The man’s ego knew no bounds.
She stomped over to the phone and punched in Alex’s number, and when he answered said, “It’s six-fifteen, why aren’t you here?”
“And break up your little party? Not a chance, hon. I take it that note was for me?”
“You are so dead.”
Emily peered out the front window and saw Alex’s car parked across the street. He waggled his fingers at her.
“Trust me, Em, you need this.”
There was a click and the line went dead. What was this, screw-with-Emily’s-life week? Was there anyone who wasn’t trying to set her up with Matt?
“Stood up?” he asked. He was still lying on her bed, propped up on his elbows. And he looked damned good there.
“I don’t suppose someone called and told you to come over here.”
“Nope. Just my lucky night.” He patted the spot next to him.
She spit out a rueful laugh. “You don’t really think I’d get into bed with you?”
“I’ll keep my hands to myself. Scout’s honor.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Like I would be dumb enough to fall for that one again.”
His smile widened, showing his dimples, and her resolve weakened the tiniest bit. “We’ll call the bed the safe zone. No touching. I promise.”
He might have been arrogant and occasionally sneaky, but when Matt made a promise, he didn’t break it. She knew that without a doubt.
She crossed the room and dropped down next to him on the bed. He sat up beside her and nudged her with his shoulder. “Bad day?”
“You ever have one of those days when it feels like the entire world is against you?”
“At least once a week. Anything I can do to help?”
“You could go back to California.”
He shrugged apologetically. “Sorry. You’re stuck with me until the restaurant is finished. Would you settle for a back rub?”
“I can’t, we’re in the no-touching zone.”
“Oh, yeah.”
She gestured to his leg. “I keep meaning to ask, how’s the knee? Does it ever give you trouble?”
“Occasionally,” he said, rubbing a hand across the scars bracketing either side of his knee. “It aches sometimes when it rains, or if I push myself physically. I avoid contact sports and running.”
“That must have been awful. To come so far in your career and then have it all snatched away.”
“I was devastated,” he admitted. “I felt like my life was over.”
“I was watching the game when it happened. I saw you take the hit, the way they flipped you over, and I just knew you would be hurt. It was such a shock, seeing you lying there, your leg all twisted up.” The memory made her shudder. “I can’t imagine how much that must have hurt.”
Matt nodded. “I’d taken a lot of hard hits in my years playing ball, had a couple of concussions, broken fingers, but I’d never felt pain like that.”
“Right after it happened, my dad was on the phone with the airline. He didn’t even know what hospital they were taking you to, but it didn’t matter. My parents wanted to be there for you.” Emotion stole up her throat. She laid a hand on his arm. “I should have been there, too. I’ve always felt that I let you down by not coming.”
“God, Em, you didn’t let me down.” He covered her hand with his own, weaving his fingers through hers. “You didn’t owe me anything.”
She looked down at her their hands clasped together. This was the no-touching zone, but his hand felt too good, too soothing to pull away. “What are we doing here, Matt? Why is it I don’t see you for years and now I can’t get rid of you?”
He frowned, rubbing his thumb absently across the top of her hand. “I didn’t plan any of this. I came back not knowing what would happen. I
just knew I had to come.”
“To reconnect?”
It was tough to explain something he didn’t even understand. “Lately, I feel like something is missing in my life.”
“You’re rich, successful. To the world, it looks like you’ve got it all. What more could you possibly want?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, gripped with this irrational fear that no matter how hard I work, no matter how much money I make, it will never be enough. I’ll never be happy.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “But this is good—being here with you. I’ve really missed you, Em. When I leave this time, it will be as your friend. And I’m going to come back to visit. And you can come to visit me.”
“I’ve always wondered, if I had just kept my feelings to myself, if we had never…maybe we would still be friends. I feel like I ruined everything.”
“What happened is not your fault. We both wanted it.”
“We did?”
A sick, cold feeling of dread slid through him. He’d always assumed what had happened was mutual. She’d sure as hell acted willing at the time. “Are you telling me I forced you?”
“No! Of course not. It was pretty obvious I wanted it. I just didn’t know you did.”
With a well of relief came a dash of confusion. “How could you not know?”
“I didn’t hear from you after. I thought…” She pulled her hand from under his and tried to stand. “You know, we probably shouldn’t be talking about this.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Matt grabbed her arm and pulled her back down next to him. “Talk to me, Emily.”
She hesitated before she finally admitted, “I thought maybe you did it because you felt sorry for me.”
He didn’t know whether to feel insulted or dejected. “How could you think I would do that?”
“It was either that, or it was so bad you couldn’t face me anymore.” His eyebrow spiked and she added, “I’m sure it was obvious it was my first time. I had, like, zero experience. For all I know, I did everything wrong.”
He buried his face in his hands and shook his head. Then his shoulders began to shake, and Emily realized he was laughing. Her blood heated to boiling, surging like fire through her veins. “You think this is funny?”
The Seduction Request Page 5
