“So you like kids?”
“Not only does she like kids,” Erin chimed in, “she’s amazing with them. She’ll be a great mother one day.” She rubbed her pregnant belly. “What about you, Holly? Do you want kids?”
“Not really,” Holly said. “My parents were career-oriented and never had time for me and my brothers. I refuse to make the same mistake.”
Erin stared at Holly as though the woman had sprouted another head. “You seriously don’t want any children? None at all?”
“I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I don’t want to give that up, but I refuse to be the selfish mother who puts her career before her kids. And, well, I just don’t see myself as good mother material.”
Disappointment traipsed across Erin’s face and I knew exactly what she was thinking. If Holly and Trent ended up together, there went her chance to be an aunt. Or rather, there went her chance to be an aunt to a niece or nephew who lived in the same city as her.
“What about you, Josh?” Trent asked. “You hoping one day to have kids?”
“Can’t say it’s a top priority of mine. But then neither is settling down,” Josh answered, appearing as confused as I felt at Trent’s question. It didn’t seem like the kind of topic a guy would ask another guy at a dinner party.
Unless he was trying to warn me away from his friend—because he thought I was now dreaming about a white-picket-fence future…with Josh.
Trent’s gaze flicked to me. I shrugged and began collecting the dishes. Trent pushed his chair away from the table to join me. Holly offered to help, but I waved her off. The conversation continued with the discussion of kids, with one side of the table being pro-kids and the other side pro-career.
“Nice going,” I hissed quietly to Trent as we set the dishes in the sink.
“No problem,” he said. “I aim to please.” He winked, which was like lighting the end of a stick of dynamite—and the sudden ache between my legs was the explosive.
“What was the point of asking Josh if he wants kids? And don’t tell me you were curious.” Not that I really cared, but Trent’s closeness was starting to unnerve me and the words just tumbled out.
“Why wouldn’t I be curious if my friend plans to be a father one day?”
I didn’t have an answer, so I shrugged off the question.
By the time we had served dessert, the topic had switched to the unseasonably warm weather.
“I’ve been dying to go for a hike,” I said. “I just haven’t had time yet.”
“I’m not much of a hiker,” Holly admitted. “I prefer hitting the gym or the tennis courts to keep in shape. Do you play tennis?” she asked me.
I shook my head.
“What are you talking about?” Erin said. “You play.”
“I haven’t played since high school and I wasn’t very good at it.” Erin should know. I crashed into her a few times when we had to play partners. I must have hit her harder than I realized and she was suffering from tennis-related amnesia.
“You have to join me,” Holly said. “I can hook you up with the tennis pro at my country club. He’s really hot. You’ll like him. He’s an amazing instructor.”
“Yeah. Okay.” If my lack of conviction was obvious in my tone, Holly ignored it and smiled.
The rest of the evening passed without any other issues—other than Trent becoming progressively grumpier and grumpier. He scowled more than he smiled. We had long since moved to the living room. I was sitting on the couch, with Josh sandwiched between Holly and me, his leg touching mine. Trent had claimed an armchair, while Erin sat on Darren’s lap on the other chair.
Needing more wine, I returned to the kitchen and grabbed another bottle from the fridge. I turned around, and walked smack into the familiar-smelling wall of lean muscle.
Trent.
“If I didn’t know better,” I said, “I’d say you’re way past your nap time.” He reminded me of an overly tired toddler.
He frowned but didn’t step back, our bodies close to touching. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I ran my fingertip along the grooves in his forehead. “This is what I mean. What’s going on, Trent? You suffering from withdrawals ’cause you aren’t at work like you normally would be at this time?”
“I’m not suffering from withdrawals.”
“Then why are you so cranky? Dinner was great. And you’ve got a beautiful woman dying to spend time with you. What more could you want?”
“What do you mean a beautiful woman is dying to spend time with me?” The frown faded as he studied my face. His gaze drifted to my lips.
I sucked in a soft breath as I imagined his lips against mine, and I temporarily forgot the beautiful woman in the other room waiting for him.
My lips parted—and as if drawn to him by a magnetic force, I leaned forward slightly. If I took a deep breath, my breasts would’ve pressed against his chest.
17
Trent
Remember when you were a kid and saw something you really wanted? Nothing else existed beyond it.
Your parents—the voice of reason that they were—tried to help you see why it wasn’t good for you. But that didn’t matter. You found a way to sneak it anyway.
Well, adulthood wasn’t much different.
Kelsey’s lips parted and all I could think about was kissing her and making her mine. Without considering the consequences, I lowered my mouth to hers but didn’t wait for an invitation to enter—I just did.
My tongue brushed against hers and I was instantly hit with the need to consume her. I knotted my fingers through her silky hair; the other hand went to her lower back and pressed her against me.
The logical, outspoken voice in my head reminded me this was a mistake. I wasn’t what Kelsey needed.
Plus, she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend—and I wasn’t looking to be a one-night stand with her. I couldn’t do that. Once I tasted her, once I felt her heat wrapped around me, I’d never be able to let her go.
“Hey, Kelsey…”
At the sound of Darren’s voice, Kelsey and I sprung apart faster than if lightning had hit us. Although from the way my body tingled after that kiss, it wasn’t much different than being struck by lightning. My nerves still sparked with an electrical charge.
For a dizzying second we just stared at each other, temporarily forgetting why we had stopped kissing as we fought to regain our breath.
“…do you have any more juice?” Darren asked, breaking the spell. He looked between us. “Am I interrupting?”
From the expression on his face, it was hard to tell if he had witnessed the kiss. If my sister had seen it, I could guarantee she would’ve said something. Immediately.
“Yes…I mean…um…let me get you more juice.” Kelsey took the glass from him, her hand shaking slightly.
She put the bottle of wine she was holding on the counter, filled Erin’s glass with apple juice, and handed it back to him. Then she picked up the wine and followed him into the living room. Not once did she look at me or give any indication the kiss meant anything to her.
How could I have been such an idiot to believe otherwise? We were friends, nothing more.
Kelsey knew that.
My brain knew that.
Too bad my body refused to get with the program.
I returned to the living room. Kelsey was sitting next to Josh again. Like back in the kitchen, she did everything to avoid eye contact with me. Disappointment and rejection sat heavy in my chest. Josh leaned toward Kelsey and whispered in her ear. A shy smile curved on her gorgeous face—and jealousy jabbed me in the ribs. Hard.
Erin yawned and leaned her head against Darren’s shoulder. He murmured something to her and she nodded. He helped her to her feet. “Looks like it’s time to get my sleepy wife to bed.”
Other than to say goodbye to them, no one else made a move to leave—including Josh.
“Don’t you have an early practice tomorrow?” I asked him, one step away from fol
ding my arms across my chest.
It was official.
I had regressed to the Stone Age.
Me caveman. Me club friend for stealing girl.
“No, it’s not until later in the morning.” He glanced at Kelsey in a meaningful way—and I did my best to keep from snapping at him. It wasn’t his fault I hadn’t told him how I felt about her. It wasn’t as if he could read my mind.
Kelsey smiled at him, but something was off about it, or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Kelsey and I walked my sister and Darren to the front door.
“Please make sure you take a cab if you’re going to keep drinking, okay?” Erin said to me.
“I can always crash on Kelsey’s couch if it comes to that.” That should put a damper on lover boy’s plans for the night.
No sooner had the door closed behind them, Kelsey spun around to face me. “You can’t crash on my couch.”
“Would you rather I crash on your bed?” I was joking…or not.
She didn’t answer right away, her gaze dropping momentarily to my lips. Hope flickered in my gut for a moment. “I meant you shouldn’t crash here, period. Doesn’t Holly live near you? She can drive you home. Maybe you could even crash at her place.”
I stared at Kelsey, unable to believe what she had said. I kissed her in the kitchen not fifteen minutes ago, and now she was ready to send me home with another woman.
For a second, pain flashed in her eyes, or maybe that was my own pain reflecting back at me. I returned to the living room. Josh was explaining the finer points of hockey to Holly. He peered over at Kelsey with a hungry look, hinting loudly that he wanted to taste her in a way I haven’t yet—the same way Holly was watching me.
Christ, just how drunk was I? Now I was imagining things when it came to the woman I worked with.
The hockey discussion continued, except every time Holly asked a question, she directed it at me instead of Josh.
Kelsey yawned. Josh glanced at me, the message in his eyes clear: Time to go home Salway, so I can get a little action here.
To hell with that.
And no, I wasn’t jumping to conclusions. Holly confirmed this a moment later when she said, “C’mon, Trent. They want to be left alone.”
Kelsey’s eyes widened in panic and she scrambled off the couch. Not noticing this, Josh stood up, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her against his side.
18
Kelsey
“That’s not a good idea,” Trent said, pushing himself off the armchair and swaying slightly on his feet. “Kelsey’s been drinking.”
“She’s not drunk.” Josh tightened his hold on me.
All I could do was stare at Trent, struggling to figure out why he had kissed me and if he’d meant it. But I was also busy thinking about how Holly liked him too.
You remember how when you were a kid and if someone found something belonging to you, they’d sing-song “Finders keepers, losers weepers” and that was the end of that?
Well, some women might still feel that way, even if her friend liked the same guy. Someone else might say the “rule” didn’t count if the woman was a long-time friend. The first woman to stake claim to the guy was the winner.
I’d known Holly for no more than a few weeks, so technically there was no statute of limitations—or whatever you wanted to call it—that prevented me from telling Trent how I felt about him.
But none of that was me.
And besides, I had no idea why Trent had kissed me. He might not have meant anything by it. It might have been one of those seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time moments.
Maybe he didn’t even like the kiss.
Holly looped her arm through Trent’s and winked at me.
“I’m fine,” I told him as I walked the pair to the front door.
He glanced one more time at Josh, then left with Holly. As the door closed behind them, I struggled not to envision him kissing Holly the same way he’d kissed me.
I struggled not to remember the feel of his lips against mine. And I struggled not to think about what might have happened if Darren hadn’t interrupted us.
Oh, and I might have also struggled not to think about Trent lifting me up onto the kitchen counter and taking me there.
The door had barely closed before Josh’s lips were suddenly on my neck. His lips that were nothing like Trent’s. His hand trailed down my arm. His hand that was nothing like Trent’s.
“Jesus, you taste good,” he murmured against my skin. “I can’t wait to taste your pussy.”
In my head, Trent was the one who uttered those words and my girlie parts clenched. I closed my eyes.
Then they snapped open and I jumped away from him like a kangaroo who had landed on a thumbtack.
I faked a yawn, which turned into a real one. “Looks like I’ll have to take a rain check.” A rain check with an expiry date of last year.
Mr. Kitty Whiskers let out a loud meow, ever ready to be my chaperone. Or maybe Trent had shared a brief word with him, to make sure Josh didn’t step out of line.
I wouldn’t have put it past him (or my brother) to do just that.
I giggled at the thought of either man having that conversation with my cat, confirming Trent was right. I’d drank too much wine tonight.
Josh skimmed his hand down my hip. “I bet I can wake you up.”
I laughed shortly. “I bet you can, too. But Trent’s right, I did have a lot of wine tonight.” I placed my hand on his arm and ushered him to the front door.
“You want me to leave?” His tone was that of a man who wasn’t used to having women turn him down.
The poor baby.
He stepped toward me. It wasn’t threatening. More like a kitten getting ready to pounce for the first time.
I easily darted out of the way.
“I thought you were all hot and bothered for me,” he complained, just this side of not pouting.
“Me?” I laughed. “It’s just you’re not my type.” That much was true.
He stopped moving, looking momentarily stunned. “You’re a lesbian?”
I giggled some more. “Just because a woman isn’t interested in you doesn’t mean she’s a lesbian.”
“True.” He cocked his head to the side. “So you’re really not attracted to me?”
I shook my head. “Sorry. But we can be friends.”
He winced, but his eyes held a flash of amusement. “You’re friend-zoning me?”
“Apparently.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “I guess friends it is.”
No sooner had Josh closed the door behind him, Mr. Kitty Whiskers meowed at it, chin raised. I could almost imagine him saying, “And stay out.” He rubbed against my leg then walked into the kitchen.
“So which was it? My brother or Trent who told you to chase away all single men from my house?” I called after him with a chuckle.
I followed him and groaned at the dishes piled in the sink. I didn’t want to leave them to dry overnight, so I loaded the dishwasher.
As I was finishing the task, my phone pinged from the counter. Trent had sent me a text: Sweet dreams
Sweet dreams to you, I texted back.
And please don’t break my heart more than it’s already breaking.
19
Kelsey
The next morning, I grabbed the sketchpad and pencils I’d bought for my drawing class. Then I made myself comfy on the couch and worked on my shading assignment…only to be interrupted a few minutes later by Holly’s tune on my cell phone. For several seconds, I deliberated if I was better off letting it go to voice mail. She was bound to be calling to share her “great” news about Trent.
Curiosity got the best of me and I answered.
“Good news,” she said. “I talked to Caleb. He had a cancellation for tomorrow at five p.m. Are you finished work by then?”
“Cancellation for what?”
“Tennis lessons.”
Oh. “I’m not—”
/>
“Before you tell me that you don’t think it’s a good idea or tell me you’re busy when you’re not, I promise you won’t regret it. He’s a great instructor…and he’s single.”
“But I’m not—”
“I know, you’re not looking for a relationship, but you might change your mind once you meet him. I mean, unless something happened between you and Josh last night.” The ending came out with a small lilt, a question as to what really happened after she and Trent left.
“Nothing happened. I’m not interested in him that way. What about you?” Shit, why did I have to ask her that?
She sighed, the sound of someone who had hoped for a wild night of hot sex…and had to settle for a cold shower. “Nothing to report on my front. Unfortunately. I drove Trent back to his place and he didn’t even ask me in. Although judging from his foul mood, it was just as well. I don’t think anything would’ve happened either way.”
Being the mature person that I was, I totally didn’t do a happy dance on my couch. “Foul mood? What do you mean?”
“He spent most of the trip scowling like a kid who’d had his favorite toy stolen from him.”
“Did he say anything?” Did he mention the kiss?
“No. He was quiet the entire time. I tried to get him to talk, but after a few minutes I gave up.” She sighed again.
I mentally cheered. I had no idea what last night’s kiss meant to Trent, but Holly’s news gave me a glimmer of hope. As foolish as it was, there was a large part of me that wished the kiss meant as much to Trent as it meant to me.
Shit, what are you thinking? Remember Erin? Your best friend? The one who would disown you if something happened between you and her brother?
Never mind that I was nothing like She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. If things didn’t work out between Trent and me, I would never start rumors about Erin, and I wouldn’t call her every bad name under the sun (and then some).
We ended the call and I went back to my assignment. Mr. Kitty Whiskers jumped onto the couch and tried to sit on my lap. “Sorry, boy, no lap for you right now. But what do you think?” I pointed at the page and was rewarded with a meow.
Or it might have been a critique of my abilities. In which case I don’t think he was too impressed.
Decidedly Off Limits Page 10
