Game of Love

by Jeannie James

  “Ouch!” She sat up with a start, half-pushing Adam away, turning to glare at what was behind her. A gleaming winch handle stared her straight in the eyes. She glanced around. On all sides of them, hardware was bolted to the boat, shining in the sunlight, leaving no room for a recumbent body. She gingerly touched her back.

  “Are you all right?” Adam was concerned, but the hypnotic glaze never left his eyes.

  “I think I’ll live,” she said, then laughed, her passion dissolving into a fit of giggles. “I can’t believe you’re not set up for seduction on this boat. What kind of a playboy are you, anyway?”

  Adam sighed and moved reluctantly away, his look of unsatiated desire slowly fading into a mirthful grimace. “Stupid planning on my part,” he admitted, looking at the offending winch handle with undisguised irritation. “Leave it to me to buy a racing boat. Sleek lines and speed be damned. As soon as we get back into town, I’m ordering a master bedroom installed.”

  “In the meantime,” she reached for the picnic hamper and held out the wine bottle, “maybe you can open this for us.”

  “Good idea.” He looked at the bottle and sighed again. “Maybe I can drown my sorrows.”

  They sat side by side near the bow of the boat, their feet dangling over the edge, devouring the food and toasting each other with glasses of Chardonnay.

  This is my big chance, she whispered to herself. I can date a man who won’t mind when I move away.

  While he munched on some salad, she played a numbers game with herself. She had four months left to work at this job. That would be sixteen glorious weekends with this man. Seventeen if she saw him the weekend she moved. That should be plenty of time for a relationship with a man like Adam to run its course. A few weeks getting to know each other. A few weeks of passion. A few weeks getting bored. He’d lose interest and they could part with no tears shed.

  “We’d better head back while we can.” Adam’s voice brought her back to Earth. “The wind’s dying down. I’d hate to have to motor back to the marina, it would be so unromantic.”

  She nodded and went back to the wheel, watching while he lifted the anchor and hoisted the mainsail. At his direction, she turned the wheel toward the marina. It had been a glorious day and Micki had learned to enjoy the rare great days when they chanced to appear, not expecting any more from life than what happened to come her way.

  He whistled as he tied the lines, securing the boat to the dock. “Well, my lovely lady, dinner doesn’t start for several more hours. But I know…” He paused as he adjusted the tension on the lines, then looked back up. “I just happen to know how we can pass the time between now and then.”

  “And I’ll just bet you do,” she said, nodding her head with a dubious look.

  “Betting now, is it?” He dropped the line he was coiling to step closer to Micki. “I’ll take you up on that bet.” He was close enough that she could feel his breath in her ear. “Shall we retire to my place and make the stakes more interesting? We can pick up where we left off, before the winch handle so rudely interrupted us.”

  She breathed deeply, fighting a sudden panic attack. Was she game for a romance with Adam, or wasn’t she? She met his eyes.

  “I dare you,” she whispered to herself. “Go along with him. Have some fun. It means nothing. For him, it’s just another affair. And it’s been three years since I’ve had such a wonderful time with a man. I need this.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Not interested?”

  “Oh, I’m interested. And I think your place sounds like a wonderful idea.” She spoke with slow deliberation, but her mind was busy, swooping on a thousand different images. Sitting by Adam on the deck of his boat. Danny at their cabin. The way the sails had billowed, catching the wind. Her apartment. When Adam bent to kiss her, she jumped.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to react like that.” She could hear herself babbling, but she couldn’t seem to stop. “But I’d like to change first, if you don’t mind. Before we go to your place. I mean, I’ve got sea salt all over my skin and I’d like to wash it off.”

  “All right. A quick stop at your place and then on to mine.”

  Adam smiled, his white teeth gleaming in the sunlight, enjoying her nervousness. She was a mass of contradictions. First she ran hot, then cool. He couldn’t wait to see how she made love. Oh, yes. There certainly was a lot to learn about one Ms. Micki Vaughn.

  Chapter Four

  “Ta-da,” Micki sang out as she opened her bedroom door with a flourish. She flashed a bright smile at Adam but, to her annoyance, he didn’t even look up when she entered the room. He stood by the window with his hands in his pockets, surveying her apartment with a frown. She was growing wary of his serious moods. It seemed to mean he was thinking too much.

  “Do I look okay?” she asked, hoping to draw his attention and erase his frown. She certainly felt good, in comfortable tan slacks and a long sleeved white blouse with gold buttons. The buttons had shimmering threads running through them that highlighted the red sparkle in her hair.

  “You look fine,” he said with a distracted smile.

  “Adam Laurence!” Micki spoke sharply and Adam snapped his eyes up to meet hers. “It’s a good thing I have a strong ego, or I’d be devastated by that lame excuse for a compliment.”

  “I’m sorry.” A small smile played on his lips. “I’m just a little preoccupied. And you look gorgeous, by the way.”

  “That’s better,” she approved. “Now, do you want a drink before we go?”

  “No thanks.” His frown returned. “Your place is giving me the creeps.”

  “Excuse me?” The sheer, outright rudeness of his statement startled her.

  “This apartment of yours.” He gestured, shaking his head. “It’s exactly like a model house display. I don’t know how you can stand it.”

  “Well, I’m sorry it doesn’t meet your expectations.” Her voice was cold. “But if this is a small sample of the charm I can expect from you tonight, perhaps we’d do best to call off the rest of this date.”

  “Not a chance. I’ve been looking forward to this.” He strode forward and took her arm, propelling her toward the door. “Besides, I hate to think of you spending another minute in this place alone.”

  “Then by all means, let’s go.” She wrested her arm from his grip and walked ahead of him with her head held high. “I can’t wait to see your home,” she tossed over her shoulder. “After those remarks of yours, I have some pretty darn high expectations.”

  Adam saw her into the passenger seat, then drove in silence a few miles to a small upscale neighborhood before turning into the parking lot of a discreet, expensive looking restaurant.

  Micki turned to him in surprise. “I thought we were going to your place for dinner.”

  “I changed my mind,” he said blandly.

  She narrowed her eyes. “In the space of the last twenty-five minutes? What happened?”

  He put on the parking brake and gave her a measured look. “There’s a simple explanation, really. I want to talk to you—”

  “Why?” she interrupted. “Can’t we talk at your place?”

  He continued, “And I can’t seem to keep my hands off you when we’re alone.”

  “You can’t?” She felt a sharp shiver of pleasure at hearing him admit that.

  “I thought I’d made that perfectly clear on the boat,” he whispered. He leaned toward her and his face lost its harsh glare. “And in your office. And at Jan’s party.”

  The words were thrilling, but she didn’t completely trust his flattery. “Before I step foot in this restaurant, maybe you should tell me what you want to talk about.”

  “You.”

  His short response sent up danger signals and she glanced at him warily. He watched her with an intent expression. She forced a light tone to her voice. “Sounds like a boring conversation. There’s really not much to me.”

  “I beg to differ.” He smiled, his eyes holding hers as he reached for his d
oor handle. “I think you’re an extremely interesting and complex individual.”

  She grimaced as she followed him out to the restaurant. So much for a hot date. She really had no business going out with this man. The stately carved oak doors served to reinforce her fears. “This looks too elegant,” she protested in a low whisper. “I don’t belong here dressed like this.”

  “Seattle’s a casual city,” he reassured her. “And they know me. Not to worry.”

  Indeed, the maître d’ seemed to take no notice of her slacks or his jeans, seating them at a luxurious table near the window. Their view took in a serene duck pond with tall reeds waving in the wind. Through the reeds there were vague glimpses of condominiums and business complexes that also bordered the water.

  Adam barely glanced at the menu. “Do you mind if I order for you? They have an excellent oyster bar.” He already had his hand up to signal the waiter.

  “No! Yuck!” She shivered. “I don’t like raw oysters.”

  “That’s not very sophisticated of you,” he reproved. “Oysters are all the thing, these days.”

  “Then these days will have to get along without me,” she retorted in annoyance. “You do like being in control, don’t you?”

  “Sorry. I’m not used to people arguing with me. But yes, I do.”

  “Well, so do I,” Micki responded with determination. She opened her menu and examined it. “How about something that won’t try to squirm off our plates as we eat? Like crab cakes? Or sautéed mussels?”

  “One of each it is.” He folded his menu decisively.

  Once settled, with a bottle of light, smooth Chardonnay on the table and appetizers on their way, Adam sat back. “You intrigue me,” he announced.

  Good, she thought to herself. Leave them guessing, that’s for me. “Do I?” she inquired coolly.

  “You seem pleased with the thought.”

  “I am. A woman likes to be thought intriguing. But out of curiosity, what makes you say that?” She flashed him a teasing grin, hoping to humor him out of his somber mood. “I only ask so I know what area of my personality I should expand on.”

  “You,” Adam announced with a serious look on his face, “are the lady without a past who chooses to turn her apartment into a motel room.”

  “I have a past,” she denied quickly, busying her hands by unfolding her napkin and laying out her silverware. “It’s just a pretty mundane past, that’s all. Not really worth talking about.”

  “Do you realize I know absolutely nothing about you?” He looked put out at the thought and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “Even Jan knows nothing about you. You have no trinkets in your living room. No reminders of pleasant times. No family photos. You don’t talk about your friends.” He narrowed his eyes. “Last time I saw you, you said you have no friends. Were you kidding?”

  “Of course I was kidding,” she protested quickly. “I have lots of friends.” Friends she had made at work. And of course, when she left town in four months, she’d leave those friends behind, like she always did. But Adam didn’t need to know that. She was losing control of the evening and she wasn’t enjoying the feeling. “What is this?” she asked aggressively. “Twenty questions?”

  “That’s a very good idea.” A hint of steel appeared in his voice. “I’ll think I’ll take you up on that. I’ll ask you twenty questions.”

  “Well, I don’t think I want to play, thank you. If I’d known you just wanted to pump me for information, I’d never have gone out with you.”

  “It’s just a game,” he said, suddenly placating. “A game to see who can learn the most about each other.”

  “Your game, your rules I take it?” Micki quickly thought through her options. She could leave right now and take a taxi home, which might only pique his interest in her. Or she could finesse her way through his questions. If her past sounded boring enough, maybe he’d leave it alone. She decided on belligerence. “What happened to you, Adam? I thought you were going to be my friend. Now you’ve insulted my home, hijacked our date and you’re questioning me like I’m a convict.”

  “I just need some answers, that’s all. And what better way then to ask?” He settled back in his chair, taking her acquiescence for granted. “I’ll start, shall I?”

  “You would,” she muttered.

  He ignored her comment. “Here’s a question I’ve been dying to ask. Where did you get your daredevil nature from?”

  The question caught her flat-footed and she looked down, running various responses through her mind. I’m not a daredevil, she wanted to say. I just pretend, so I can make it through my life. Instead she responded, “That’s hard to say. Besides, I thought the twenty questions were supposed to be worded for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses.”

  “My own variation,” he explained tranquilly. “Do you always play games?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you always win?”

  “No,” she said, momentarily feeling the effect of the dark words settling over her. “And please don’t ask me about that.”

  “All right then, since that would be too hard of a question, here’s an easy one. How old are you?”

  “What?” She didn’t like giving out personal information. “I’m old enough to drink this wine.” She tapped the thin crystal with a determined fingernail. “And that’s all you need to know, buster.”

  “You’re not playing the game right,” he complained. “You’re supposed to tell me the honest truth to all of my questions.”

  “Well then you can just pick another game.”

  “All right, all right.” He held up his hands in surrender. “Give me another chance. Jan tells me you’re a contract worker, on hire to her firm for six months, then you leave for another job. Is that right?”

  “That’s right,” she agreed. A fairly straightforward question with a fairly straightforward answer. “Wait!” A thought occurred to her and she leaned forward. “You were talking to Jan about me?”

  “Of course,” he said smoothly. “How else was I to get any information?” He held her eyes as he took a sip of wine.

  She shook her head in defeat. They had exactly one friend in common and Adam was already asking her for information.

  I just want to flirt, Adam. I don’t want to tell you my life story.

  “Do you plan to stay in Seattle?” Adam continued, seemingly oblivious to her concern. “I checked your qualifications with the personnel directors at some companies around town. There seems to be a lot of demand for network analysts hereabouts.”

  “No.” At least this she could answer truthfully. “That’s part of the pleasure in having a contract job. I get to move on when the work’s over. I like it that way.” Then she added in amazement, “You called around, asking about jobs for me?” This man was beginning to scare her.

  “Of course.” His voice was mild as he continued. “So you don’t have roots in any particular place?”

  “No. Not yet. For now, at least, I’m just a will-o-the-wisp.”

  “Where were you raised?”

  She didn’t dare tell him exactly where she was born, just north of downtown Seattle. She improvised quickly. “Near here, just south of Seattle.”

  “Were you, now.” That seemed to interest him. “Whereabouts?”

  The appetizers arrived and, with a studied sense of unobtrusive grace, the waiter laid them out in front of them.

  “In the suburb of Des Moines.” It was the perfect fib. She had had friends from Des Moines, so she knew the area. She picked up her fork and bit into a crab cake. The delicious sweetness filled her mouth and she sighed in pleasure. “It was a wonderful place to grow up,” she added. “Or, at least it used to be.”

  “It’s still a charming little community. It has a great waterfront, I’ve always liked driving through there.” He considered. “Des Moines seems like it might be a close-knit kind of place. You must have had a lot of friends, going to school there.”

  She didn’t answer. S
he had had a lot of friends. She had dropped them all when she had packed her bags and left the state.

  At her silence, he added, “Have you been back there recently?”

  “Last month, actually.” Her words were reluctant. “I drove through town. It’s changed a lot since I was living there. It’s grown up a lot.”

  “Your family isn’t there anymore?”

  She shook her head, suddenly unable to speak.

  “So where is your family?” Adam didn’t appear to be taking notice of her discomfort, but he was concentrating seriously on her replies.

  “I have no family.” To her dismay, she couldn’t keep the truth from spilling out. She did manage to keep her voice light, but there was a slight tremor that wouldn’t stop. “My parents are dead.” Lie! she demanded of herself. Don’t be stupid. Just lie! She straightened her shoulders and blinked her eyes just a little, to hide the teardrops hovering on the edge of her lashes.

  “I’m sorry.” Adam was instantly contrite. He reached for her hand and massaged it gently. Micki lifted her gaze and stared unseeingly out the window. “What happened?” His voice was so soft, she barely knew he had asked a question.

  “It’s all right. It happened a long time ago. When I was a child.” That’s better, she thought approvingly. “I prefer to not talk about it.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “No. Not a single sibling of any kind.” It was hard to keep her voice light, when he seemed so sympathetic, so blasted concerned.

  “So you’re all alone in the world now, are you?”

  “That’s right. Just me and several billion other human beings.” She swallowed some wine without tasting it, took a deep breath and gave him a bright smile. “You surprise me. I’m a woman with no attachments. I have no outside commitments, no parental interference. I should think you’d be jumping for joy at having met me.”