Chapter 3
Dennis gave a low whistle, one he’d give any hot babe he might see walking down Main Street. Even so, a tiny thrill raced down Kelly’s back. She knew she looked good, and she’d dressed with Craig in mind. Knowing she would see him again tonight, she’d taken special care with her appearance.
At least she’d thrown a pair of jeans in her suitcase. Luckily, she’d grabbed a sparkly blouse when she’d been mindlessly grabbing items from her closet. Blue being her favorite color, the shirt must have caught her eye.
“Be still my heart.” Dennis slapped his hand over the middle of his chest in a dramatic display of being awestruck. He might be biased, but she appreciated the praise.
“Since I only brought a few things with me, I didn’t have many choices,” she said, stepping farther into the room.
“You look hot in anything. I’ll take you shopping tomorrow.”
“You? Shopping?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “Why not?”
Kelly shook her head. “Most men hate shopping.”
A corner of his mouth tilted up into a mocking grin. “I’m not most men.”
Kelly laughed out loud. “Don’t I know it.”
She took a moment to look at her friend. Dennis was a breed of his own. He had the blond hair, blue-eyed thing going for him and was handsome as any man could be. He was six feet of trim muscle with a sexy come-hither smile. But the way he tried to seize every moment in life was what made him stand out. His deep sense of caring made him different. He had no enemies. Even ex-girlfriends wished him well. He most definitely was one of a kind.
“It’s early yet. Would you like a drink before we leave?”
“You consider eight thirty early?”
“Most of my co-workers are still at the office this time of night.”
“Then they need a less demanding job.”
“No doubt they feel the same way. But we love the thrill of being driven,” he said as he stepped by her on his way to the kitchen.
“Maybe a glass of wine.” Kelly dropped her purse on the couch and followed him.
“I have just the thing.” He took a bottle from a gorgeous wine cabinet.
“Nice piece.” She traced her fingers over the iron lattice, taking in the delicate detail. The dark wood gleamed with a coat of polish, and the intricate carved design on the glass doors added to the beauty of the cabinet.
“Do you remember Christine?”
“Let’s see. Is she this month, last month, or the month before?”
“Smart mouth,” Dennis twisted the corkscrew into the wine bottle. “She picked that up during one of her antique buying trips.”
“She’s the one who buys international then has the items shipped?”
He gave a slight nod. “That piece came from Spain.”
“I’m sure you paid a pretty penny for it.” Kelly removed two crystal wineglasses.
“As you mentioned, it’s a fine piece.” He smiled with satisfaction.
The cork made a muffled pop. He poured a measure of Bordeaux into each glass. The hearty aroma gently wafting in the air reminded her of his affluent taste. He handed a glass to her.
“Thank you.”
“Shall we go into the living room?”
He waited for Kelly to lead, ever the gentleman. She settled on the couch and kicked off her shoes.
“If those things hurt your feet, you might want to change.”
“I didn’t bring any others and I like these.”
“We’ll remedy that tomorrow,” he said, sitting on the other end.
She tucked one leg beneath her out of habit. “You wouldn’t want my shoes on your precious couch anyway.”
“Not with the danger of those spikes poking a hole.” He shrugged at her glare and continued. “I’m a neat freak. Would you rather I was a slob?”
“You don’t have a messy bone in your body.” She glanced at him over the rim of her goblet. “How did you get to be such an immaculate housekeeper?”
“At college, the boys’ dorms were worse than a scene of destruction after a tornado. I couldn’t handle it after the chaos at home. To say my mother was messy is an understatement. She didn’t put anything away. Left food and dishes sitting around. She’d drop clothes on the floor and never pick them up. My father couldn’t walk through their bedroom without stepping on her stuff. They fought about it. I learned at an early age that I like my things nice and tidy. Everything in its place.”
“I would say you’d make some woman a nice wife, but she’d get tired of your glowering every time she touched something.”
“I’m not that bad.”
Kelly moved to set her goblet on the coffee table. Dennis quickly leaned forward and tossed a coaster her way.
She arched her eyebrow. “I rest my case.”
“It’s a coaster. You’ll ruin the finish on my table. That’s just common sense.”
She took a sip of wine, giving him an indignant look.
“I don’t glower. And if I did like a woman enough to let her move in, she could just ignore me, like you do.” Humor flashed in his blue irises.
“Did I hear a clue, a teensy admission that perhaps you have entertained the idea of making room for another person in your life?”
“Not a chance. Not yet anyway.”
“That was quick.”
He rested his head against the back of the couch. “I haven’t decided if I’m looking for a woman like you, or if you’re the reason I don’t want a woman sharing my space.”
She picked up one of the couch pillows and threw it at him.
“Careful now. You’ll spill my wine.”
She lifted a second pillow and hugged it to her chest while pouting. “Admit it. You like having me here.”
“You could pick up after yourself.”
“One coffee cup in the sink,” she huffed. “One!”
He rolled his eyes. “Is it asking too much for you to rinse it out and put the cup in the dishwasher?”
“I had to pee. Besides, I’m a two to four cup girl.”
When he laughed, she did too. He glanced at his watch. “Nine fifteen. Are you ready?”
~ ~ ~
A neon sign flashed above a long building, illuminating a parking lot filled with cars. While Dennis drove to the edge of the city, he described the bar as an out-of-the-way place with good music, good beer, and good food. Sounded great to her.
She latched on to Dennis and held tight as they stepped into a crowded room. His arm came around her waist, securing her to his side as he weaved through the throng of people. Her relationship—the word affair smacked her between the eyes—with Robert had shaken her more than she’d realized. Even though she hadn’t known, the shame of sleeping with a married man, the humiliation of being fooled for so long, smothered her. Marked her. Made her relate to the neon sign outside. Had her wondering if the guilt reflected when others looked at her, questioning if her forehead flickered adulterer. She burrowed into Dennis, seeking his comfort.
“Are you okay?” He sensed her unease.
She shook off her wayward thoughts. “Sure.”
Several people greeted Dennis, drawing his attention away from her apprehension. She shook off her nonsensical mindset and joined the gaiety around her. Some of his friends she’d met before, others were new. Someone called to him from across the room.
“Over here!”
Dennis grabbed her hand and tugged. As they drew closer, she recognized the guy who looked like a NFL linebacker.
“Hey, buddy.” He stood as he welcomed Dennis.
“Nathan, you remember Kelly?”
“Of course I do. Hi, Kelly. Long time.”
“Hello, Nathan.”
“This is Katrina.” He gestured toward a girl sitting in the booth. She wiggled her fingers ‘hello’. “Let’s get you guys a drink.” He motioned for a waitress, so Kelly scooted into the booth on the opposite side. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same here. I haven’t seen you with Dennis before,” Katrina said.
“Kelly lives in Virginia,” Nathan answered for her. “Those two are long distance, as well as longtime friends.”
“Virginia?” Katrina exclaimed with surprise.
“It’s not that far away,” Dennis said. “About a three-hour drive.”
“Long distance relationship?” she asked Kelly with a glimmer in her eyes. “How do you two manage living so far away from each other?”
Kelly knew what Katrina thought. “We’re friends. I just dropped in to visit.”
“Are you here for the weekend?”
“Maybe longer. I haven’t decided yet.” The waitress placed two cold beers on the table. Kelly grabbed one and took a swig. Nice and cold.
“We got here about twenty minutes ago,” Nathan said. “This place fills up fast on a Friday night.”
“Dennis said we were early.” Kelly cocked her head and rolled her eyes at him.
“We made it, didn’t we?”
“Hey, loverboy.”
Kelly glanced in the direction of the sexy female voice. She saw a pair of double Ds in a tank top that barely covered the tips of her boobs, which were right at eye level with Dennis’s face. About to take another sip of beer, Kelly’s hand froze at the unexpected sight. If he moved an inch, he’d have his face buried in mounds of bare flesh. She didn’t know how Dennis managed to keep his gaze on the girl’s face and not on her displayed assets.
“Hello, Sherry.” A corner of his mouth lifted into a sexy grin.
Kelly punched him in the ribs, reminding him of her presence.
Didn’t faze him.
The tall blonde, who looked like she’d bleached her hair so many times it bordered on white, returned his leering smile with a beaming grin of her own. Kelly expected her to crawl into his lap at any moment. She thought about punching Dennis again when something drew her attention to a still figure behind the blonde. A wide chest with a dark shirt, open at the neck, stretched over some impressive abs. A dusting of black hair peeking out above the first button caused her to swallow. Her gaze traveled up a handsome throat, strong chin, and landed on a pair of arresting blue eyes that were focused on her.
Craig.
Blue eyes blazed like burning fire, reminding her of his blistering scrutiny from earlier. His intense gaze drew her into its beguiling depths. Her heart fluttered and her pulse quickened, making her breathless. Never before had a man’s eyes shaken her to distraction.
Oblivious to the conversation between Dennis and the double Ds, she flinched when Dennis lifted her hand.
He laughed. “You don’t have to worry, Kelly. I’m all yours.”
Coming out of her daze, she realized the blonde had gone and Dennis held her hand. She jerked her fingers in embarrassment, wondering if the others had noticed her staring. By Dennis’s comment, he obviously thought she’d been disturbed with his interest in the double Ds.
“Hey, man. When did you get in town?” Spotting Craig, Nathan rose and shook his hand.
“This afternoon.”
“Craig.” Dennis rose quickly and clasped his shoulder. “Glad you made it. Sit down and I’ll get you a beer.” He shoved Craig into the booth beside Kelly before anyone knew what he was up to.
Craig gave her an anxious glance and settled in beside her. She breathed in his tangy cologne. He smelled so good she wanted to lean closer and bury her nose in his neck.
“We meet again,” Craig drawled in a voice that sent a jolt all the way down to her toes. His thigh rested barely an inch from hers. Tingles of excitement raced through her blood.
“Good to see you, buddy. What brings you to Charlotte?” Nathan’s voice reminded her they were not alone.
“I’m here for a little R&R.”
Had his voice sounded that sexy this afternoon?
You’d think she’d remember every detail since she’d been fantasizing about the guy all evening.
“You can forget that if you’re staying with Dennis,” Nathan said.
“I’ve got my own place.”
“You do?” Kelly burst out on impulse. Dennis had said Craig normally stayed with him, so the announcement took her by surprise.
“You usually stay with Dennis. He kick you out?” Nathan spoke her thoughts aloud.
“I have a room at the Hyatt.”
“That was fast,” she said.
“Two’s company,” Craig muttered and lifted his beer.
What did that mean?
Kelly noticed his long fingers, lightly dusted with dark hair, as he gripped his beer bottle, raising it to his perfect lips. She watched the bob of his neck as he swallowed and imagined placing her tongue there.
“Don’t you have a branch of your business in Charlotte?” Nathan asked.
“I’m working on it.”
“Think you might move here some day?”
That got Kelly’s attention. She held her breath waiting for his answer. Then wondered why it should matter.
“No reason to. I’m not here that often.”
“Can’t be very comfortable in a hotel room,” Katrina added.
“Did you hear where he’s staying?” Nathan asked Katrina in a voice that implied she should recognize the popular chain. Then he faced Craig. “I’ll bet you’re on the top floor.”
Craig shrugged.
“Penthouse?” Kelly asked. That would cost a fortune at the Hyatt.
When he nodded, Nathan whistled. “That set you back a buck.”
Kristina leaned forward. “Does the room cover the entire top of the building?”
“There are two penthouse suites on the top floor. Even so, I have plenty of space.”
“Ohhh, I’ve only seen glimpses on television. I’ve heard they are gorgeous. I want to see.”
“Forget it,” Nathan told Kristina abruptly.
“Why not?”
“You’re not going to another man’s hotel room.”
Kelly didn’t know Kristina, but she recognized the body language, and Nathan had just ticked her off. “I just want to see it.”
“Not going to happen. Besides, you weren’t invited.”
Katrina’s anger quickly disappeared and her expression turned syrupy sweet. “Craig, will you invite me?”
Jealousy festered in Kelly’s chest. Seeing the glower on Nathan’s face, he was experiencing the same emotion.
“I have a standing rule not to invite women to my hotel room,” Craig said cautiously.
Kelly exhaled a sigh of relief.
Craig turned his gaze to Nathan. “Especially women with jealous boyfriends.”
Katrina swatted Nathan and he laughed. “Come on, nosey. The only man whose room you’re going to see is mine.” She giggled as he tugged her out of the booth. “See you around, Craig. Good to see you again, Kelly.”
“Bye,” Katrina said and held her hand up to her ear with her thumb and pinky extended, mouthing the words ‘I’ll call you’.
~ ~ ~
From the moment Craig had spotted Kelly across the room, he’d known he was in trouble. He’d been thinking of her all evening. Fantasies of naked curves, full breasts, long limbs entwined with his. He couldn’t find it within himself to stop. He still couldn’t believe his actions. Finding Kelly in Dennis’s shower had been unexpected. But his response to her had been unbelievable.
On the drive to the bar he’d convinced himself the reason he’d reacted so strongly was because he’d seen Kelly naked. Any guy would get all hot and bothered in that situation. But he wasn’t any guy, and Dennis was his best friend. All he had to do was keep reminding himself of that.
Somewhere between entering Jake’s and seeing Kelly, his earlier resolve vanished. Friendship was the farthest thing from his mind. His decision to remain unaffected gone as quickly as if it had never been.
All around him voices droned, music played, and couples danced. And here he was responding again. Her perfume was an alluring mixture of sweet and sinful. Sitting beside her was pure torture.
“If this is awkward for you—” he began but Kelly quickly interrupted him.
“No. I’m glad you’re here.”
By the intensity in her gaze, he wondered if it might be true. “Uh . . . this is the first chance we’ve had to talk alone.”
“You mean since the shower scene?” Her eyes twinkled with mirth.
“About that.” He glanced down to the bottle he held in his hand and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I thought Dennis was in there. I never meant to embarrass you.”
“I think we both were embarrassed.”
“Yeah.” He snorted. “After I stood there like a frozen statue.”
Kelly giggled, a delicious sound that walloped him in his gut. He couldn’t believe she was letting him off the hook so easily.
“Hey,” he said softly, scanning her face. “I really am sorry.”
“You know, it was kind of funny.”
“Funny? You didn’t appear to be laughing at the time.” He shifted in the booth. He wasn’t used to being in such an awkward situation and it was damned uncomfortable.
“I was in shock.” She rewarded him with a smile. “And the look on your face? Priceless.”
Craig shifted in his seat again. “I’m glad you can laugh about it. Any other female would have screamed and gotten her revenge.”
“I’m not any other female.” She gave him a wink that sizzled down to his toes.
He’d noticed. Kelly was gorgeous, and a temptation that could land him in a heap of trouble. He couldn’t allow a woman to come between him and his buddy.
“What about you?” she continued. “You looked horrified. Most guys would have thoroughly enjoyed having a naked woman in front of them, and more than likely taken advantage of the situation.”
Naked limbs and sensuous curves flashed in his mind, causing him to grip the bottle in his hand. No matter how much alcohol he drank, that image would never dull. Yet she’d thrown his words back at him, letting him know she could take care of herself. Strong, opinionated, and if she saw him as no threat, that only confirmed she was loyal to Dennis. The pressure of guilt eased. No longer worried that he might step out of line, he relaxed.
“I can only imagine the look on my face. I don’t believe in taking advantage of any woman. Although, if you could have read my thoughts at the time, you might have difficulty believing me.”
“Hmmm.”
“Don’t think too hard on that.” He turned up the bottle and downed half.
“You have to admit,” she said, humor coating her voice. “It wasn’t a typical first meeting.”
“Far from a normal introduction. I’m sorry I invaded your privacy.”
“Apology accepted.” She cocked her head. “For a few moments there, you seemed to be thoroughly examining me.”
Just like that, the self-reproach was back. But when he glanced over, her facial expression implied she was teasing. He liked a girl that could take an embarrassing situation and have fun with it.
“What can I say?” He shrugged. “I’m a man. Any man would take notice. You have curves in all the right places.” He hoped he hadn’t gone too far.
“I was too shocked to move.”
“I’m glad you’re not angry. You are a very beautiful woman.”
Her lips lifted in a smile. Damn if he didn’t want to kiss her.
“Even with my clothes on?”
Her teasing lightened the mood, shoving all thoughts of seduction away—for all of two seconds. “Are you fishing for compliments?”
“No.” She answered too quickly.
“If you are, I would have to oblige.”
Her expression changed from playful to one of interest. In the back of his mind, he knew pursuing this path could lead to disaster. But he couldn’t help himself. And a few flattering words wouldn’t hurt. Would they?
“Beautiful, spirited,” his voice lowered, “golden eyes that mesmerize, make promises.”
Her face flushed. “What kind of promises?” She tried to hide the catch in her voice, but he heard it. Hell, she leaned closer, her arm brushing his. One touch. One brush of her body and his leaped to attention.
A shout from the crowd drew him from the haze that fogged his brain.
Remember Dennis. She’s here with him.
Forget her.
That’s exactly what he should do. Forget her luscious curves. Forget her seductive eyes and sensual lips. Forget how, being this close to her, his mouth had gone dry and his pulse quickened.
Damn.