Love By Accident

by Michelle Beattie

  God, could you imagine? He wasn't sure what Lauren would do if she 'saw' Gil. And after the breakthrough she'd made today, he didn't want her to take a step back. Then he'd remembered Gil saying he couldn't get into Lauren's house.

  So it had taken some major backpedalling and lying about the state of his apartment to get her to stay in the car while he ran up and fetched the food. He'd held his breath as he'd opened the door, expecting Gil to be there. But Gil hadn't been there. Guilt had come in a close second right behind relief.

  Passing him another few bags so she could open her door, Lauren slid her key into the lock. Matt followed her in, closing the door behind him. Soon eight blue-lidded containers lined the counter top. Matt began reheating them one at a time in the microwave while Lauren set the table.

  "Are those perogies I smell?"

  "And cabbage rolls."

  "My favorite," she said, bending deeply at the waist to reach the pop on the bottom shelf of her fridge.

  Food was forgotten as a perfectly rounded ass clad in faded jeans tempted him like nothing else could. Unable to resist, he walked over and took the cold cans of pop from her hands. Shutting the door of the fridge with his hip, he set the cans on the counter then drew her into his arms and kissed her. Taking his time, he drew out the pleasure of her mouth on his. He savored the little moan at the back of her throat and the feel of her hands clutching his shirt. Only when his brain reminded him he needed to breathe did he pull back.

  "Wow. What was that for?"

  She wasn't ready to hear the words he longed to say, so instead he answered, "For looking good in a pair of jeans." The cutest blush crept up her cheeks. "Did I embarrass you?"

  Swatting him lightly on the arm she said, "You know you did, now move. I need to eat and get to work."

  He let her go, but chuckled as he continued to warm up the leftovers. She didn't have a large table and before long there were more containers than she had room for.

  "Can I get rid of these?" he asked, grabbing the pile of newspapers and flyers that had been shoved to one edge of the table.

  "Just put them in my recycling bin."

  She had a series of stacked blue boxes in the corner but before he could get to them, the slippery glossies slid from between the newspaper and slapped against the floor.

  "I've got it," he said when she turned to help.

  Bending down, Matt reached for the fallen magazines. His hand froze when he saw what had slipped from the pile. Intrigued, he dumped the rest of the papers on the floor, grabbed the catalogue and stood up.

  "Hey, you're supposed to be putting those away. What are--"

  He turned the racy cover to her, raised a brow in question. "Sultry Secrets?" There was no way to hide his grin.

  Her eyes went round as globes. The cute blush turned scarlet. She leapt for his hand.

  "I don't think so," he laughed. "I want to see it."

  She reached for it, but he simply raised his arm over his head. Even jumping for it, she wasn't tall enough to get hold of it.

  "Give it back!

  "Why? Did you mark the pages or something? Circle something you wanted?"

  He thought her face would catch fire.

  She gave up reaching for it, stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. Because he was a guy, his gaze lingered on the curves cresting over her forearms.

  "I didn't even look at it! One of the ladies from the restaurant gave it to me at work."

  He dragged his eyes up. "At work? Shit, I'm in the wrong job," he grinned.

  "Shut up," she joked. "Anyhow, I shoved it in my purse and the minute I got home it went into my recycling pile. I've never seen the inside of one of those in my life."

  "I think the lady doth protest too much," he chuckled.

  "I swear, it's not mine!"

  "Then what's the harm of me looking?"

  Her mouth closed with a hard click. "Fine, knock yourself out."

  Wiggling his eyebrows, he said, "Wanna look at it together?"

  Since he knew she'd say no, he didn't give her a chance to respond. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. His intentions changed, however, when he sat and she fell into his lap. Suddenly he wasn't interested in the magazine any longer.

  "I missed this face," he said cupping her cheeks in his palms and leaning forward. "And I dreamed of this more often than I had any right to."

  He hadn't intended to lose control, but when he ran his palm over her thigh and up over her hip, she wiggled herself more firmly onto his lap.

  His arms banded around her, leaving no escape and his mouth claimed hers. Their kiss was hungry and everything he demanded, she gave. Sweet Christ, he thought when she opened for him, allowing his tongue to delve into her softness. This was worth waiting for.

  Her hands ploughed through his hair and her moans shot straight to his groin. He shifted, deepening the kiss. Fisting the material of her shirt in his hand, he pulled it free of her jeans and skidded his hands underneath. Goose bumps rose under his fingers and he wished he could rip off her shirt and taste each one.

  The sway of breasts against his chest was becoming a distraction, a lure he could no longer ignore. Fingers desperate to close around flesh, he slid his way around her ribs. Her trembles urged him on and he knew he'd never get enough of her. The fantasies he'd had of her over their college years, when he knew she slept in the room next to his, were nothing compared to what he was living.

  He'd never have guessed she was this soft, this pliant. Her skin was silk and smelled of citrus; her fingers were strong where they curled into his hair and pulled him closer. She tasted forbidden, or maybe that's because for so long she had been. But no longer. His fingers stopped at the edge of her underwire bra. He allowed the anticipation to build until his digits trembled with need. Twenty seconds was as long as he could stand. He inched upward.

  She jerked away from him. "Matt?"

  He clamped down on the disappointment, refusing to let her see it. "Am I going too fast for you?"

  "There's someone at the door."

  His fingers a sliver away from glory, Matt finally heard the knocking. Grudgingly, he removed his hands from her shirt, sighed and dropped his chin to his chest. "Unless it's Publisher's Clearing House, make them go away."

  Laughing, she kissed his cheek then went for the door.

  Before Matt could do more than stand and attempt to re-arrange his jeans into a more comfortable position, Nick strode into the kitchen.

  His nemesis looked from Matt's disheveled hair to the shirt Lauren had yet to tuck back in. Nick's jaw clenched but it didn't stop him from taking off his coat and slinging it over the chair as though he owned the damn place.

  "Matt."

  "Nick."

  A young boy stepped from behind Lauren. She gave the kid a hug. "Kyle, this is Matt," she said by way of introduction. "Kyle is Nick's brother. He's here for the weekend."

  Kyle looked about as happy to see Matt as Nick did.

  "We were on our way out of town but thought we'd stop in first. Looks like we got here just in time." Nick took in the containers filling the table. His gaze skidded to a stop at the catalogue. His sharp inhale was loud in the quiet kitchen.

  Matt took his time reaching for it, then rolled the catalogue and tucked it in the back pocket of his jeans.

  "We weren't expecting company." It was as close to an explanation as Matt was prepared to give.

  Nick looked ready to punch something. "Neither were we."

  Lauren looked from man to man. "Well, since you're here, why don't you stay for lunch. We seem to have enough for everyone. What do you think, Matt?"

  Well, fuck. What could he say? He couldn't very well kick Nick out on his ass, no matter how much he wanted to. Nick and Lauren were friends and Matt would look like an asshole for asking Nick and his brother to leave.

  "I thought you were taking a couple of days off?" he asked Nick instead.

  Nick looped an arm around Lauren's shoulders and held
her there. "I'm taking Kyle home and staying a few days. You sure it's not a problem to stay for lunch?"

  Lauren threw a helpless look Matt's way. "No, of course you can stay. Let me get more plates."

  "Don't worry about it, I know where they are," he said, shooting Matt a cocky grin before heading to the cupboard.

  Matt was working on a head full of steam when his cell went off. Shit, it was work. Not another bear, he prayed. Moving to the living room for privacy, Matt called the office. Two minutes later he slammed his phone closed.

  He looked into the kitchen, watched Lauren for a moment. He'd caught her hazing. He'd seen the longing that came over her face when she looked at his truck. And he knew her. If she suspected there was a poacher, she'd stick her nose in it. Not only didn't he want that because she could get hurt if she went out there by herself, but it wasn't her frigging job. And maybe, just maybe, if she wanted to know badly enough what was going on, she'd quit the waitressing job and go back where she belonged, as one of them.

  "Sorry," he said, striding into the kitchen. "I have to go."

  "Right now?" Lauren asked, an empty plate in her hand.

  "Yeah, sorry."

  "Is it serious?"

  He thought of what he'd been told. Yeah, it was serious, but he was sticking to his decision. Until she became one of them again, he wouldn't talk about work. Nick met his gaze and for a moment Matt feared he'd ask aloud if there'd been another animal found. Matt felt Lauren's stare, but he hoped his gaze was clearly telling his subordinate to keep his trap shut.

  Nick's eyes went hard. "Gee, it's a shame you have to leave," he sneered. "These cabbage rolls are to die for."

  Bastard. Matt knew what Nick was trying to do. He was basically saying, fine, you're the boss you can have the job, but I get to stay with the girl.

  Telling himself Lauren had had the opportunity to pick Nick and hadn't only went so far in cooling Matt's temper. Especially when Nick was sitting in her house, eating his baba's food and looking too damn smug about it.

  So, figuring he'd let Nick know how things really stood, Matt leaned in and kissed Lauren full on the lips, taking the time to flick his tongue over hers and feel her sway in his arms. "I'll be back for seconds."

  "But you haven't even had any firsts," Lauren argued.

  "I know," Matt whispered. "But I wasn't talking about the food."

  ***

  Lauren loaded her plate with more food than she had appetite for. Cabbage rolls balanced precariously over a bed of perogies and sausage. She ladled up soup and poured tall glasses of milk. When she couldn't think of anything else to keep her hands occupied or to stall the questions she could feel simmering in Nick, she took her seat across from him and Kyle.

  Nick didn't appear any hungrier than she was since the food he'd been so enthusiastic about a few minutes before remained untouched on his plate. She had no idea if Kyle was eating or not as once he'd filled his plate he'd taken it into the living room. He'd found TSN and had cranked the volume on the hockey game. It allowed her and Nick some semblance of privacy.

  "So, Matt, huh?"

  Lauren blew out her breath. She loathed confrontations but knew a freight train of one was barreling toward her.

  "We met in college. We were good friends."

  "That kiss wasn't about friendship," Nick scoffed. "Are you sleeping with him?"

  Lauren's eyes flew to the opening of the living room then back to Nick. She didn't know what she wanted to do more, yell at him to keep his voice down or tell him it was none of his damn business.

  "Nick, you and I are friends, good friends, but what Matt and I do or don't do is none of your business. I never made you any promises."

  His eyes darkened and his jaw went tight. "Maybe not, but I'd always hoped one day you'd change your mind. Lauren, I've been in love with you since the first time you filled my coffee cup. I was sure, so damn sure, that if I took my time and didn't push too hard, eventually I'd win you over."

  Lauren wished she could do something to ease the tension in the room, the pain clouding Nick's eyes. With his mother sick, he didn't need this drama. Especially when he was taking a few days off to spend with his brother and his mom. But she couldn't lie to him either.

  "Matt and I have a history. But this is the first time we've…well…dated, if that's even what we're doing." She flicked her bangs out of the way. "Look, I'm not sure where this is going, or what to call it. It's all happened in the last few days, it's not like I was seeing him all this time behind your back."

  "Is that supposed to be a comfort?"

  "Nick," she sighed. "I'm sorry you're hurt. You're a nice guy and--"

  Nick leapt to his feet. "Don't," he growled. "Don't you dare call me a nice guy. You know what happens to nice guys, Lauren? They finish last." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "First he gets my damn job, now you, too. Sorry I ruined your lunch. Kyle," he called, "we're going."

  Before she could do more than take a step, Nick grabbed his coat and slammed out the door. She turned as Kyle was coming from the living room. She forced a smile, moved to give him a hug but he ducked out of the way and ran out.

  Lauren sat, hung her head.

  "Shit," she said as regret washed over her. "That went well."

  FIFTEEN

  "I'm coming, I'm coming," Lauren called to the ringing telephone on the other side of her door. Keys and flowers in one hand and two bags of groceries dangling from her cold fingers in the other, Lauren hurried to send the key home. The key ring fell out of her hand and tumbled to the porch.

  "Come on," she muttered, "work with me here." Dropping the food, thankful she hadn't bought eggs, she shifted the bouquet to her left hand, grabbed the keys and tried again. The phone trilled its impatience.

  "I'm working on it!"

  Then, thankfully, the key slid in and the handle turned. The door groaned as it opened. The cordless telephone continued to show its annoyance at being ignored. Her first thought was, who on earth would let it ring so many times? It was quickly followed by, maybe it was time she got an answering machine.

  Lauren dropped everything onto the table, grabbed the extension. "Hello?"

  "Hey, Lauren. It's me."

  "Nick," she replied, relieved to be hearing his voice, but unsure how to proceed. She wasn't going to get into her personal relationship with Matt but neither did she want to sever her and Nick's friendship. He was going through hell with his mom and she didn't want to abandon him, but if he couldn't get it through his head that she wasn't interested in him…

  "Are you still talking to me?" he asked.

  "I want to, Nick. But you stepped out of bounds yesterday."

  "I know, it's why I'm calling. I had no right to say what I did about you and Matt."

  "I never made you promises, Nick."

  "No, you didn't. Look, Lauren, I can't change the fact that I love you anymore than you can change the fact that you don't love me back, but I'm hoping we can put this aside. I really don't want to lose you in my life, especially now."

  "You've been far too good a friend for me to ever hold it against you."

  He released a long breath as though he'd been holding it. "God, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that."

  Lauren clutched the phone. "Nick, is everything alright? How's your mom?"

  "The chemo's hit her hard this round. She's pretty weak and I--" his voice broke.

  "Can I do anything? How's Kyle holding up?"

  "Okay. He's at hockey practice right now. It's good for him, gives him something else to think about. I have to go get him in half an hour."

  "Are you still coming home on Thursday?"

  "Yeah, I think Mom should be stronger by then and my aunt is coming up from Calgary to stay with her for a few days. Plus I hate sitting here. I need to do something. I know being with her is important but it doesn't feel like it's enough."

  "It's all you can do, Nick. And I'm sure she appreciates it."

  "She does," he acknowle
dged, yet defeat laced his words. "So tell me what you've been up to."

  She unwrapped her bouquet and took the pink carnations to the sink, trimming off the ends. She remembered well how much she used to beg Carmen to talk about her life on the coast as it kept her mind off her own problems. So keeping her voice light, despite her heart going out to Nick and Kyle, she talked.

  "I've decided it's time I do some upkeep on this place. I'll start small, painting, curtains and such, and I'll start saving for the bigger stuff, like flooring and furniture."

  "Wow. Who knew so much could happen in twenty four hours? What made you finally decide this?"

  Not what, who, but she wouldn't mention Matt, not now when she and Nick were back on solid footing.

  "I just can't believe it's taken me this long to actually do something. I mean, have you looked at these walls? They're ghastly. So with Thanksgiving over, we have a bit of a lull right now. I was thinking of taking the bus into Edmonton to buy some things."

  Lauren filled the vase with water and set her flowers on the table.

  "Why would you do that when I'm already there? Just tell me what you need and I'll bring it back with me."

  "Oh, Nick, no. You have enough on your plate. I can take care of--"

  "Please, Lauren. Like I said, I need something to do. Besides, think of the time it would save you. What do you need?"

  She sighed. Would letting him help her only continue to encourage him to keep hoping she'd change her mind about him? On the other hand, she knew he was right. He needed something else to occupy his thoughts and time. Shoot.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Positive. Please, Lauren. Let me do this."

  "All right," she conceded. "It's mostly paint anyway." She didn't need to go shopping in Edmonton for rugs and cheap home décor; she could do that online. As for material for curtains, it could wait a bit. And she'd be saving the bus fare money, which she could tuck into her flooring fund. If she worked fast, by the time Nick arrived with her paint, she'd have the walls washed.

  "Thanks. I only have one thing to do on my way home, so I shouldn't be late on Thursday. Let me get some paper and a pen."