A Friendly Flirtation (Friends First #3)

by Christine Warner

  He’d been out of town the last few days, and the week before that he’d been busy finalizing the contract with Sanders Machinery.

  As for Sunday dinners, they remained on hiatus as Dad and Gramps ran into one problem after another. First the appliances had been delayed, and now the plumbing had to be redone, which caused an upheaval with the installation of the floor.

  She’d put all her energy into work, and any extra time had been filled with thoughts about the upcoming wedding this weekend. She still hadn’t found the perfect dress, which seemed to consume more of her time than it should.

  All her begging Colleen to hit the mall with her had been for nothing, because her friend was working on a deadline.

  Allison wanted to be pretty. To look good on Jared’s arm. Most of all, she hoped his family liked her, although she knew it was wrong to care so much, especially since this wedding didn’t have anything to do with them as a couple—because they weren’t a couple. It was just another testing ground for her social savvy.

  That didn’t stop her feelings, though. No matter how wrong, her friendship with Jared had grown and changed. He’d become so much more than a friend. Were they friends with benefits? Lovers?

  She mentally shook her head. They weren’t lovers. They’d only made love that one night—but a couple of times. She wiggled in her seat at the thought. After this weekend she’d have a higher tally. Warmth flooded through her. She couldn’t wait to be with him again. On so many levels. Part of her wanted more, but the sane part of her warned that it would never happen.

  Did her attraction have more to do with her liking the attention? Had he become that shiny new penny in her life? Or was it something else?

  And what did it matter since they’d never have a future? He didn’t want one.

  Nick strolled into the break room and refilled his coffee mug. They made eye contact, and he gave her a cold nod. Her heart sank. He hadn’t gotten over the way she’d stood up to him, but eventually they’d find common ground.

  But would he and Jared?

  She speared a leaf of lettuce with her fork and twirled it around her plate. Her appetite vanished.

  Guilt consumed her on so many levels, but mostly for the way she’d come between two friends. As much as she knew she should pull back, she couldn’t. Not yet.

  “Oh. My. God.” Megan shoved the latest department store catalog at her, tapping the page with her finger. “Please tell me I just found you the perfect dress for that out-of-town wedding you’re going to.”

  For a moment Allison froze, hoping against hope Nick hadn’t overheard. She glanced at him again as he talked to the latest temp girl as he refilled his coffee, and her shoulders sagged in relief. Eventually he’d find out she’d gone with Jared to his brother’s wedding, but she’d prefer it happened after the fact. She might have stood up to him, but that didn’t mean she was ready to have it out with him again.

  Allison pasted on a grin and pulled the magazine closer. She squealed—because there was just no way she could hold back her excitement. Several pairs of eyes in the room landed on her. She grinned, bouncing in her seat. “Megan, you’re a lifesaver. You did find the perfect dress.” A line of penguins circled the hem of the dress. Not overdone, but enough to add a touch of whimsy. She’d been having fun discovering her style. A month ago she’d have wanted that dress but wouldn’t have dared to wear it outside her apartment, but now… Now a bubble of excitement filled her as she ticked off all the places she could wear it.

  Mary, another new temp, leaned across the table. “Good price, too.”

  In her excitement, Allison hadn’t looked at the price, and she released the breath she held. Right in her budget.

  But…

  “Is it really okay for a wedding?”

  “Why not? It’s perfect.” Megan grabbed the magazine and held the picture of the dress beside Allison’s face, as if that would be the deciding factor. “You look so good in blue.”

  “It’s a little curve-hugging.” Even though she’d asked Megan for her help in picking out something to wear, she hadn’t given her much more detail other than it was for a wedding. Definitely not a wedding she’d be going to with Jared—the buzz that would create was beyond anything she could handle.

  Nick brushed past their table on his way out, offering a stiff smile to everyone seated. Normally he’d have stopped and chatted, and it killed her that if she hadn’t been there he probably would have. At the same time a heavy dose of annoyance mixed with another round of anger bubbled up inside of her. He needed to get over himself. He thought she was immature and not ready to handle the world, but he was the one acting like a spoiled kid who didn’t get his way.

  A trickle of trepidation slithered down her spine at what he’d do once he found out she’d gone away with Jared for the weekend. All hell would break loose. She’d told Dad and Gramps, who both wished her well, and Gramps had even thrown in a saucy wink for good measure.

  She tried to harden her heart and remind herself again that Nick was the one being difficult. She shouldn’t even care what he thought or how he’d react. But she did. No matter how much she and Nick might fight, she’d never get over caring.

  An avalanche of guilt crashed down and settled at her feet. Maybe after this wedding she should take Nick’s advice. In the name of preserving his friendship with Jared, she should step aside. One more weekend. Then she’d let herself down easy. Move on. Let Jared move on.

  Even though her heart ached at the thought. Sometimes doing the right thing wasn’t necessarily the easiest. Or what you wanted to do.

  Allison stood at the top of the stairs. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Gripping her hands together, she stared across the expansive tiled lobby and through the double doors of the crowded banquet room.

  She and Jared had landed in North Carolina only a couple hours before. They’d been whisked off to the large oceanfront hotel and had gone directly to their room to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.

  She’d made the mistake of telling Jared to head on down without her as she finished messing with her hair—sweeping it up, and then brushing it down, and finally sweeping it back up again—searching for the best look. The shaky confidence she’d owned while getting ready vanished the moment she found herself perched above all the activity.

  Now here she stood, her stomach unsettled, wishing she could run away to hide in the shadows. If only she had a chocolate Kiss, but she hadn’t brought a purse, and her cap-sleeve gray dress had no pockets. Hadn’t she promised herself to always buy outfits with pockets?

  She channeled Margarite. Time to own your nerdiness. She lifted her head and made her way down the stairs.

  Don’t trip. Don’t trip. Don’t trip. Her mantra tamped out a dull rhythm in her head. At least she’d been thinking straight when she bought the shoes, keeping the heel at a modest two inches instead of going for the stilettos Megan kept pushing at her. The closer she got to the bottom of the stairs, the more her mind whizzed with the knowledge she’d have to make a solo entrance. What had possessed her to think she could walk into a room full of strangers and not drop ten pounds in sweat?

  But no, she needed to be tough. She might have more confidence than she did when she started, but there was still that little niggle of fear when it came to social situations. Not to mention that bigger nagging voice—the one reminding her that after this weekend she needed to break away from Jared so that he and Nick could make up.

  She stepped off the last stair and stopped, pulling in a large lungful of air, pressing her hand to her chest and considering herself lucky that the pace of her heart hadn’t landed her in the emergency room.

  “There you are.”

  She jumped at the sound of Jared’s voice as he came up beside her.

  “Where did you come from?” She glanced around, her gaze settling on him. She’d never seen a more welcome sight in her life as the smile filling his face.

  “Men’s room.”

  She eyed
the sign pointing to the restrooms on the other side of the lobby. He hadn’t come from that direction. He didn’t fool her. He’d waited for her to come down. All along he’d known she’d be nervous, and the fact that he stood in the shadows and didn’t argue the point with her earlier made her go warm inside.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You know what. And we’ll leave it at that.” She smiled up at him.

  He steered her toward the entrance to the banquet hall. The huge room was humming with conversation and laughter.

  They were barely two steps inside when they were surrounded by a slender older woman with huge green eyes and gorgeous black hair, a cute pregnant blonde, and a man who could almost be Jared’s twin. Definitely a brother, at least if the eyes were anything to judge by.

  The older woman reached up and pulled Jared down for a quick kiss on the cheek. Her eyes glowed bright, the love on her face evident. “You look wonderful.” She turned her attention to Allison, and her face softened even more. “And this must be Nick’s little sister.”

  Allison held out her hand, and the woman laughed. “Not a chance. I’m all about the hugs. Especially tonight.” She pulled her into her arms and squeezed, whispering in her ear, “By the way, I’m Gianna, Jared’s mom.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Allison swallowed, amazed that her voice sounded so normal.

  As soon as Gianna released her, Allison’s hand was swallowed up in the other man’s grip. “I’m Roth, and this is my wife, Holly.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “I know we just met”—Holly already had her arms wrapped around her in a hug—“but my pregnancy hormones have made me all touchy-feely-huggy lately. So—”

  “No worries. I’m a total hug advocate.” Allison squeezed her tight, and when they parted Holly rubbed her arms. “Cute dress. I can’t wait to wear real clothes again. I’m about done shopping in the tent section of the sporting goods store.”

  “Give me a break.” Roth hugged her to his side. “You look beautiful as always.”

  “Wait a minute. Let’s rewind. Did I hear the word wife?” Jared’s eyes darted between the pair.

  Holly nudged Roth in the side with her elbow and gave him a mock scowl. Allison liked her immediately.

  “You didn’t tell him?”

  “We’ve been a little busy.” Roth’s sheepish expression endeared him to Allison in a second.

  “Two of my boys married and my first grandbaby on the way. Life is looking good for the first time in a long time.” Gianna’s gaze took in the group, settling on Holly’s cute little belly.

  “Ohh, she’s kicking.” Holly grabbed Gianna’s hand and pressed it to her middle. “Can you feel that? She’s going to be a handful.”

  Roth grinned. “Like her mom.”

  “Her dad,” Holly said, laughing.

  Holly pushed out her belly, and Roth laid his hand across the side, grabbing Jared’s hand and putting it next to his. “Your first nephew.”

  Holly shook her head. “Niece.”

  “When did you get married?” Jared pulled Allison to his side, and she relaxed as his arm settled over her shoulders.

  She couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt. Of course the huge welcome hadn’t hurt, but neither did their easy conversation and laughter. Jared’s mom wasn’t the intimidating shadow she’d built in her head, and neither was Roth, and definitely not Holly.

  “I wanted to wait until after the baby, but Roth wanted to be traditional. Even though that goes against my nature.” She rubbed her tummy.

  “You’re more traditional than you let on.” It was clear Roth adored his wife as he smiled at her and then Jared. “Don’t let her fool you. I didn’t drag her to the justice of the peace kicking and screaming like she’s trying to make you believe.”

  “That’s great, man. Congrats.” He pumped Roth’s hand and leaned in to give Holly a peck on the cheek.

  Gianna’s face lit up. “Come on. Let’s introduce Allison to Omar and Devi before we all sit down for dinner.”

  They made their way across the room, and Allison couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She’d had nothing to worry about. Jared’s family was as easygoing as her own.

  ...

  The door to their room had barely closed when Jared pulled Allison into his arms. Not that she’d fight him about it.

  All through dinner she’d anticipated their being alone.

  Every time they made eye contact her blood fizzed. When his hand brushed her shoulder her skin burned. It wasn’t enough to have his eyes on her, or a fleeting touch, she needed to be with him in the most intimate way a man and woman could share.

  “What is it about this ocean air?” she whispered against his mouth.

  “It makes you think about sex, doesn’t it?”

  She smiled against his lips. “So it’s not just me?”

  He groaned, and the sound sent an array of shivers spiraling through her.

  “God, I couldn’t wait to get you alone.” His words came out rough and ragged. Exactly the way she felt. Need shot through her. She wanted to rip off their clothes as quickly as possible, but she’d promised herself she’d try something new.

  “Although I want nothing more than to have us both naked, I was reading an—”

  “Are you trying to kill the moment?”

  She shook her head, swallowing her laughter, as she stepped out of his arms just enough to lose some of his warmth. “Hardly. I think once you see what I have planned, you’ll be all about my reading.” With each word she undid one of his buttons. His brow quirked, and his smile got that mischievous lift at the edge.

  “I might like where this is going.”

  “Oh, you’ll definitely like.” At least that’s what the article promised. She unbuttoned the last button and slid his shirt, along with his suit jacket, off his shoulders and let them hit the floor. She tried to undo his pants, but she’d suddenly become all thumbs. When he came to her aid, she didn’t argue. Instead she tugged his trousers down his legs as he stepped out of his shoes. “I want you to strip down to your skivvies—”

  He laughed. “My skivvies?”

  Allison grinned, her face growing warm. “Sorry, blame it on Gramps.” She shoved him down on the bed before she walked to the dresser and removed the box of goodies she’d unpacked earlier when he’d been in the shower.

  “Whatcha got there?”

  “A box of fun just for you.”

  He sat tall to get a glimpse inside when she removed the lid.

  “Ah, ah, ah. No peeking.” She pushed aside the zebra-print handcuffs that she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to use quite yet and pulled the fuzzy blindfold from the box. With a flick of her wrist she twirled it around her finger. “I want to make sure you don’t cheat, so put these on and lay on your belly.”

  “You can trust me. I won’t peek.”

  She shook her head, licking her lips. “Nope. I need a guarantee.”

  He gave her a slight nod, his eyes holding a tinge of challenge. “You put them on me, then.”

  She fought down the nervous ball forming in her stomach as she adjusted the blindfold over his eyes. “You have less than a minute to get comfortable while I get comfortable.”

  He did as she instructed.

  Allison stepped out of her dress when it pooled on the floor at her feet. The soft swoosh of the fabric caught Jared’s attention, and his smile widened. She held her breath as she slid her underwear down her legs and then unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor.

  She placed the box on the edge of the bed as she slid up Jared’s legs until she sat on his backside. She grabbed the glass bottle marked jasmine from the box and poured a small amount into her palm.

  Jared crinkled his nose. “What’s that?”

  “Jasmine. An aphrodisiac. Not that I need an aphrodisiac to be attracted to you, but it’ll relax you while I give you an all-over body massage.”

  He groaned, and the
muscles of his jaw relaxed when she slid her hands from his lower back up toward his shoulders.

  “In my research I discovered that men consider massages a huge turn-on.”

  “Mmm. Definitely foreplay.”

  “Good. What’s the best part of the massage for you?” She kneaded his shoulders as she bent over and flicked her tongue along the outer shell of his ear, rubbing her breasts into the center of his back.

  He groaned again and his muscles bunched. “Are you naked?” he croaked.

  “As a jaybird.”

  His laugh came out raw and throaty. The sound definitely turned her on.

  “Do you like it when I kiss you here?” She nibbled on his earlobe. “Or what about when I do this?” She gyrated her hips over his butt in agonizing slowness, squeezing her legs on either side of him until he moaned and tried to rise up, but she pushed him back down. “Maybe you like this.” She ran her tongue along the length of his spine, pressing tiny kisses on the nape of his neck. “Tell me what you like about massages so that I can please you.”

  In an instant she was yanked off his back until she lay front side up staring at the ceiling behind Jared’s smiling face and hungry eyes. He somehow had managed to remove his blindfold, straddle her middle, and hold her arms above her head, with lightning speed.

  “How the heck…” Her chest heaved from the quick exertion that was over in seconds, but she couldn’t deny the thrill it gave her as his gaze circled her nakedness, lingering on her breasts.

  “You know what pleases me?”

  “Being on top,” she teased.

  He butted their noses, lightly pressing his mouth to hers. “Top, bottom, sideways, they’re all good when I’m with you. But what pleases me the most is pleasing you.”

  “You please me when you teach me.”

  “Then let me lead the way.”

  “You were excellent in the training videos at work. I knew you’d be the perfect guy to get the job done.”

  “You’re a tease, Al.”

  She shook her head, taking her time sliding her tongue across her bottom lip. “Little ol’ me? A tease?”