Chapter 8
Craig had to be the sexiest man alive. Every move he made enticed her, lured her. He had some serious animal magnetism. Like an exotic panther, his body incited, sleek and sure in his movements. His striking blue eyes mesmerized her, his deep voice lured her. Since the moment she’d jumped out of that shower, she’d been drawn by the electric current flowing between them.
When he had asked her to dance, her breathing had accelerated with anticipation and her skin had prickled. When he’d taken her in his arms, she released a sigh and the rest of the world simply drifted away. With her cheek on his broad shoulder, she had closed her eyes and floated, inhaling his delectable cologne. A scent so delicious, she wanted to turn her lips to his neck and taste with her tongue. When his hand slid down her back and pressed her closer, her stomach dropped. She’d struggled with the unbearable choice—snuggle deeper into his embrace and demand he never let go, or hold her breath until reason returned.
Craig was hot. Dangerous. The rational part of her mind kept saying ‘too fast’. She should have listened. She’d been weak. She’d given in to her heart’s desire. Like a fool, she had stood there, desperately trying to grasp what had happened. Watching him retreat, staring at his back as he shoved his way through the throng of people. It had taken only a moment for shock and confusion to clear, then her own anger erupted from her core.
Now she stood here, facing his ire, as hot as lava and as deep as she imagined a volcano to be. Where his blue eyes had once hypnotized, they now chilled her with intimidating cold.
“I thought you were Dennis’s friend,” she stated with contempt. “How can he even associate with someone so despicable?”
Craig took a threatening step closer. “It’s because I am his friend that I will not play your little game.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you think you can treat me this way because I was with a mar . . .” Her hands shook. She took a frustrating breath. “Yes, he was married. Even so, you have no right to treat me this way.”
“I have no inkling of your past relationships, nor do I care. I’m talking about now. Playing the field. You cannot be true to one man. And I’ll have no part of it.”
She gasped as if he’d slapped her. Tears threatened, and she drew a deep breath to hold them in. “You have no idea who I am.” Her voice trembled.
“I know you belong to Dennis, and that’s all I need to know.” He whirled around, turning his back to her.
Belong . . .
Had she heard correctly? Did Craig think she and Dennis . . .?
He started his car before she forced her legs to move. She pounded on his window.
He glared at her. She thought he was going to drive off and leave her standing there, but he rolled down the window.
“If you hear nothing else, hear this. I belong to no one.”
She didn’t wait for his reaction. She’d been tormented long enough. She would stomp back into the building, but her heels put an end to that temptation very quickly. She hastened her steps and stumbled in her urgency.
Blind to everything around her, she headed to the entrance, determined to find Dennis. At least she had friends inside. Someone would take her home if she couldn’t find him. She refused to turn around. Why had she let down her guard? Begun to believe in men again? She knew better.
Music roared in her ears as she flung open the door. First, she marched to the bar and ordered a B52 Bomber. If ever she needed strong alcohol, it was now. She scanned the crowd, searching for a body, any body, who would drive her home when the time came. She was about to get shitfaced.
The bartender shoved a shot glass her way and she grabbed it. Flinging her head back, she downed the whole thing. The sweet flavor coated her throat and burned her gut. Just what she needed. Hopefully the first of many.
“Any gal that can take a shot like that is my kind of woman.”
Kelly turned and met a well-muscled chest. Her gaze drifted higher. Tall, a handsome face, a nice smile, and twinkling eyes. Either the glimmering glow meant he was happy, or the Kahlua was kicking in. She took a lingering scan, from his button-down shirt with the cuffs rolled up, to his thick belt buckle and faded jeans on a pair of long, muscular thighs, right down to his scuffed cowboy boots. A tall drink of water. Her eyes snapped back to his.
“Well, hello there, cowboy.”
His gaze drifted from her face down the length of her body, giving her the same perusal she’d given him. When his eyes returned to hers, she saw approval in them.
“Can I buy you a beer or another shot?”
“You sure can.”
He signaled the bartender and within seconds, Kelly had one of each. She downed this B52 as fast as the first, waited for the burn, then took a sip of cold beer.
He stepped closer into her space. “Name’s Callum.”
Waves of blond hair bordered an incredibly attractive face. Long enough to tunnel her fingers through. Whiskey brown eyes sparkled with naughtiness, and full sensual lips lifted in a grin. He looked sinfully delicious and she was in no mood to say no.
“Kelly,” she said, giving him her best smile.
“Pretty name,” his deep voice rasped. He tilted his head just so, drawing her notice to a dimple, almost hidden by his five o’clock shadow.
“Thanks.”
“Want to dance, Kelly?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
He took her hand and led her into the crowd. They slid right into the two-step. She lost track of the number of shots between dances. Her only concern was not to think about a certain man with blazing blue eyes. When the room started to spin, she latched onto her partner’s shoulders.
“Woah, doll.”
“Maybe I need a cold drink.” She grabbed her hair and twisted it into a ponytail. Without anything to hold it up, she dropped it down her back.
Callum stepped to the bar and ordered another round. She snatched up the shot glass and tossed it like water. Grabbing his hand, she boogied back onto the dance floor. The band played a slow number and the bump and grind began.
He held her tight while their hips swayed in sync. The rising bulge left no doubt what was on his mind.
“Kelly.”
She sighed and snuggled deeper into the dark warmth swallowing her.
“Kelly.”
She blocked out the voice calling her name.
“You’re not cutting in, buddy. Go find your own girl.”
“This is my girl. Kelly!”
She thought she recognized that voice. If only the fog would clear in her brain.
“Get lost.” Her tall drink of water shifted her away.
“I’m not going anywhere until you get your hands off my girl.”
Dennis. Uh-oh. He sounded mad.
“If she’s your girl, where have you been? She’s been with me the last hour.”
“Dennis.” Her voice sounded a little fuzzy to her ears.
“Come on, Kelly. I’m taking you home.” He gripped her arm.
“Just a minute, buddy.”
“My name’s not Buddy. And I suggest you step back. She is with me.”
“Buddy? Who’s Buddy? His name is Dennis.” Kelly blinked and tried to point her finger but her arm felt too heavy.
“Kelly? You know this guy?” Callum asked her.
“Of course.” She stumbled forward and landed smack against Dennis’s chest.
“Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was with anyone.” He gave a nod and walked off.
“Hey. Where you going?” She looked up at Dennis. “Where’s he going? We were dancing?”
“You’re going home.”
Kelly shoved the hair out of her face. “No. I’m not messing up any more plans. You were with a girl, so go back to her.”
“Where’s Craig?”
“Who the hell cares? I need another drink.” Dennis grabbed her arm before she got two steps.
“No, sweetheart. You’re done.”
“What’s going on? Need help?”
“Thanks, Pete. I got this.”
“Oh my God. Kelly.”
Gail?
“What happened? Did that guy do something?”
“You guys sound like a bunch of geese. You’re making my head hurt. I want to dance.” She snatched Pete’s hand. “Come on, Pete.” She glanced back at Gail. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“All right,” Pete said, and twirled her around the floor.
She was having a great time, when all of a sudden cold air blasted her face.
“Nice move.” Dennis slapped Pete on the back.
“Figured it was the quickest way to get her out of there.”
She heard them all laugh. Dennis, Pete, and Gail. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“In the car, sweetheart.” She latched onto Dennis’s neck as he lifted her into the air.
“Always wanted to be swept off my feet.” She giggled.
Kelly felt hands on her body and heard the click of a seatbelt.
She settled back into the nice comfy leather.
~ ~ ~
Craig rolled over for the umpteenth time and kicked the covers off his feet. He peeked at the red numbers on his alarm clock. Three AM. Shit. Ten minutes later than the last time he looked.
The scene between him and Kelly weighed heavily on his soul. The moment he’d wrapped his arms around her, he knew he was in trouble. He wanted her so badly he ached in his bones. Need roared in his belly. Knowing he couldn’t have her only made it worse. If it were anyone other than Dennis, he just might throw his friendship out the freakin’ window.
Dennis had been acting like a dick. Actually, he was acting like himself. Like a single guy on the prowl. Women loved his refined manners and flare. Craig couldn’t fault the guy for that. But if you had a girlfriend, you didn’t play the field. He wanted to knock his buddy on his ass.
He slipped his feet to the floor and scrubbed a hand over his face. Might as well give up. Sleep wasn’t in the cards tonight.
He strode naked through his hotel room and stopped in front of the wall to wall glass window. Stars scattered in a black sky, disturbed by a distracting glow from the city lights. Being high in the sky gave him a sense of peace. Helped him forget the fast pace of the demanding city below. Another reason he longed for his cabin in the mountains. He should have gone there.
Okay, maybe ‘belong’ had been a bad word choice. Maybe it stamped too close to ownership. But, dammit. If his best friend had a claim on Kelly, she wasn’t free. No matter how perfect she felt in his arms, no matter if her eyes invited his advances, her lips his kiss, she was not his to take. He would never encroach on his buddy’s . . . Shit!
There he went again.
Well, hell. Those two gave the impression they were an item. Kelly lived with Dennis. They shared a bedroom, a shower. He couldn’t even think of the word shower without Kelly’s image flashing all naked and brilliant in his mind. What the hell kind of magic had she bewitched him with? It sure as hell seemed like a spell. His actions were completely different than his norm. Women didn’t affect him like this.
Kelly did.
He padded to the Mini Bar, looking for something stronger than a cola. Several miniature bottles with various alcohols filled the glass cabinet beside the refrigerator. The emotions attacking his system were more than the raging stirrings of lust. He could probably drink every bottle in the bar and still crave Kelly. He was in one hell of a fix.
He opted for a bottle of water instead.
He dropped into a large cushioned chair and leaned his head on its soft back. Staying with Dennis had not been an option with Kelly there. How had Craig eluded meeting Kelly so many times? How did Dennis and Kelly manage a long-distance relationship? Did Kelly love Dennis?
He growled, and realized the water was not going to cut it.
It was going to be a long night.
~ ~ ~
Somewhere down a deep tunnel, a noise like a droning sounded. It grew louder. A weight sat on Kelly’s head, thumping like a hammer. The damn noise continued, making the pressure unbearable. Kelly struggled from darkness to consciousness.
Oh, hell. The pounding grew worse, and she thought her head might explode. Her cell phone vibrated on the nightstand.
She pulled the pillow over her head and groaned with a new flash of pain. She must have swallowed a stick of dynamite during the night.
Dammit, will you stop! she screamed inside her mind. Even that sent a thunderbolt through her head. Finally, it stopped, only to start again.
Suddenly, the blast of music came out of nowhere. Why had she chosen a hard rock group for her ring tone? The vibration against the wood sounded like a damn jackhammer.
Shit!
I’ll kill whoever is on the other end.
She slammed out a hand, smacking her phone to the floor. Great. Now she had to lean over to get the damn thing. Why the hell didn’t they just hang up?
She rolled to her side and . . . Dammit. She hit the floor with a thud. Her head yelled in protest. But, she’d found her phone. It poked her chest.
“For God’s sake, who is this?” She yelled, but it came out as a croak. She never once considered or cared who was on the other end of the phone.
Dennis laughed. She hated him right now.
“I’ll get you for this.”
“Good Morning, Sunshine. Or should I say afternoon?”
“At this moment, I don’t give a rip what time of day it is.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. She could barely hear herself over the pounding in her head.
“Now, now. I’m not the one who poured shots down your throat. How many B52s did you have anyway?”
Little flashes of memory teased her. “I lost count somewhere after five.”
He laughed again. “Three is your limit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hank made ‘em stronger just for you. Even if he saw you were shitfaced, he wouldn’t water down his drinks.”
“Is there some reason for your torture? I was thankfully asleep. Dying would be preferable to the torment of my ringing phone.”
“The first thing you need to do is drink water. I left some aspirin on the counter and a note with a concoction that will make you feel better.”
“The first thing I need to do is get off the floor.” She struggled to sit up without dropping her cell.
“The floor? Did you throw up in my bed?” Dennis sounded horrified.
“God, I don’t think so. Wait.” She was fairly certain she hadn’t. She sniffed the air. “No. It doesn’t smell.”
“Maybe I should have stayed home today,” he groaned.
“No. I’ll be okay. Once I get my bearings.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “And get this hammer in my head to stop pounding.”
“Go drink some water. Everything you need is on the kitchen counter. Trust me. It works.”
“When a man says trust me—” she started, but he interrupted.
“I know, I know. But trust me. Go. Wash your face and hit the kitchen.”
“I don’t care to hit anything else, thank you. The floor was enough.”
“You can tell me about that later. I’ll be home in a couple of hours.”
“Okay. And Dennis. I meant what I said. I’ll get you for ceaselessly calling me until I had to answer.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He was still laughing when the phone call ended.
God, she felt like death warmed over.
She climbed up onto her knees, leaned her elbows on the edge of the bed, and stayed there for several minutes, holding her head in her hands. This was getting her nowhere. She forced her eyes open, even after the protest from her head to avoid the light. She pushed to stand up. So far so good. Eluding the mirror seemed like a good idea, at least until she could wash her face.
She glanced down at her apparel. Dennis must have dressed her for bed—or undressed her. Last night she’d had on a short skirt and daring blouse. She still had on her underwear, but one of his large T-shirts hung on her now.
A shower was needed, but she had to get her headache under control. The throb at her temples drove her teeth together, causing an ache in her jaw. She found a glass and some aspirin on the counter where Dennis had left them. After swallowing three, she padded back to the bathroom. Bracing her hands on the wall, she stood under the hot water, the needles prickling her body. Water saturated her hair, doused her face, and soothed the tense muscles in her body. When the water turned cool, she soaped her limbs and rinsed quickly.
The steam had helped to clear her head. She used a towel to wipe the mist from the mirror. The woman staring back looked vaguely familiar. Maybe the concoction Dennis left would help her feel like herself.
Thirty minutes later, she felt like a new woman. Well, at least a woman with a new head. That must have been a miracle cure. The hangover from hell was just a memory. Thinking food would help, she forced herself to eat something.
She cleaned the bathroom, tidied the apartment, and threw a load of clothes in the washer. She’d just twisted the cap on a bottle of water when she heard a key in the lock.
“Where have you been? You don’t work on Sunday.” she greeted Dennis.
“Today was the only day my client could meet, so I went to the office for a few hours.” He shrugged out of his coat and tossed it on the back of the bar chair. “Looks like someone is feeling better.”
“I don’t want to know how that concoction works,” Kelly said, thinking of the blend she’d prepared—and drank. “I only care that it worked.”
“That it does.” He stepped around her, heading to the refrigerator. He grabbed a beer and twisted the top.
“Speaking from experience?” she asked.
“Yep.” He took a long draw from the bottle. “Man’s that’s good.” Seeing her frown, he tipped his beer to her. “Want one?”
“No. I feel better and I’m going to stay that way.” She shoved the hair back from her face. “God, I’m never going to drink shots again.”
“Until the next time,” Dennis added.
“Go to hell,” she slung at him.
“Come on. Famous last words.” He turned and strode to the living room.
She followed. “I mean it.”
“We all do.” Dennis took his usual spot on the couch and patted the space beside him.
She sat, tucked her feet under her and crossed her arms. “I don’t remember much. I don’t like not knowing.”
“Um hmm.”
“It’s the worst feeling ever. Having no idea of your movements. Not remembering what I did. If I made an ass of myself.”
“Callum.”
She glowered at Dennis. “Who?”
“Callum,” he said before taking another swig of beer.
She narrowed her eyes, hating Dennis when he withheld information and teased her with one-word sentences.
“Who is he?”
“You should know. I had to peel you off him last night.”
“Peel? As in . . .”
Dennis held up his hand and made a motion as if he were peeling a banana. She rubbed her forehead.
“Please tell me I did not do something stupid.”
“Can’t do that.” He chuckled.
“Damn you, Dennis. This is no laughing matter.”
He placed his bottle on the coffee table. “It’s not that bad. You drank some shots with the guy. Danced. He didn’t like the idea of you leaving with me, but he was okay about it.”
Kelly groaned in exasperation. “Oh, no. I will never drink to the point where I have no idea what I’m doing again.”
Dennis got up and went to the kitchen. He came back with another beer. “Here.”
“No.”
“Hair of the dog. It might help.”
She screwed her eyes up at him and snatched the cold bottle from his hand. She took a sip and sighed at the cool refreshing liquid sliding down her throat. “Just one.”
“What do you remember?” he asked as he sat down.
“I remember dancing with Craig and that damn wall came up again. He accused me of playing a game.” She faced Dennis. “I think he believes we’re involved.”
“Involved?”
“As in together. An item.”
“You and me.” He swung his beer from her to him.
“Yes.”
“Nah. How could he think that?”
“Well, it’s not a stretch. I mean, look at us. I’m living with you—”
“You’re not living with me,” he interrupted.
“You know that first day he came by, I was in the shower. Your shower.”
“I remember. I explained that you like the shower head in my bathroom.”
Now that she thought about it, maybe Craig thought . . . “Which is in your bedroom.” Kelly jumped from the couch. “He thinks we’re sleeping together!”
“What?” Dennis scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re being ridiculous. I’ve practically shoved you two together. He’s seen me chatting up other women. No way I’d do that if you and me were an item. He knows me better than that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. I see the way he looks at you.”
She supposed Dennis should know his friend, but . . . “You said he was acting weird.”
“Yeah, like he wants to jump your bones and is trying to hide it from me. Goosy.”
Kelly chewed on the end of her finger while remembering several times he had seemed interested, then suddenly turned cold. It didn’t make sense.
“I’m headed to the shower.” Dennis stood up and stretched. “I’ve got a date.”
She tuned out, the rest of his comment echoing as he strode down the hall. She had some thinking to do.
Like, why did the word belong keep popping in her head?
~ ~ ~
Dennis left. In no mood to cook, Kelly ordered a pizza. Her head and stomach felt fine, so she figured a pie would be as good as anything else. When the doorbell rang, she grabbed her wallet and hurried to the door.
Craig.
Damn, he looked sexy leaning against the doorjamb, more delicious than any pizza. A half smile hovered around his lips, while resplendent blue eyes scrutinized her. His black wavy hair looked like he’d run his hands through it several times. Her tummy convulsed. She wanted to grab him, yank him inside, and have her hands give him that mussed look.
“Hi. Can I come in?” His husky voice had her stomach plummeting to her toes.
Somehow, she managed to find her voice. “Of course,” she said as she stepped back.
“Is Dennis here? I didn’t see his car.”
“No. He’s out.” She closed the door, sighing in disappointment. He wasn’t here for her. She padded to the sofa.
“I wasn’t sure you’d see me,” he said as he stepped from the landing.
“You made your opinion of me pretty clear last night.”
“I came to apologize.”
Her heart lifted. On the heels of her joy, her sensible side surfaced, reminding her not to be foolish.
“Apology accepted. Do you want a beer?” She made to walk by him, stepping toward the kitchen. Her breath caught in her throat as she was grabbed by her arm.
“Wait.” Instead of anger, Craig’s expression was one of pain.
She tried shrugging his hand from her arm, but he used both hands to hold her.
“Please.”
“Please? When only last night you couldn’t get away from me fast enough?”
He released her as if she’d suddenly burned his hands. The blue eyes she’d once thought so striking looked hollow and bleak. He shoved a hand through his hair.
“Look. We’ve gotten off on the wrong footing. Can we start over?”
Kelly resisted the urge to smooth the blue-black curl that fell on his forehead, then mentally smacked herself for even considering such a thing.
“I don’t believe in starting over. You called me a tease. You accused me of playing a game. Of trying my wiles on you. If you think me deceitful, why the hell were you dancing with me? My God, Craig. You practically made love to me on the dance floor. You call me a tease?” Kelly shook with anger, and wondered where the hell all this fury was coming from.
“Explain what you said. You don’t—”
“You want to listen to explanations now?” She couldn’t believe the audacity. “You knew everything you needed to know last night. Everything to make up your mind about whatever got your balls in such a twist.”
“Kelly, please.”
“Stop begging. I can’t stand it.” She flung her arms around herself and paced to the end of the sofa.
“I need to understand.”
She whirled to face him. “You? You need to understand? I’m totally confused.” She waved a hand as she began pacing again. “You want me. You don’t.” She stopped and stared with deliberation. “You insulted me.”
“What happened to apology accepted?” He stood there with his hands in his pockets, a lost puppy-dog expression on his face. “I think I might have misinterpreted something. I need to clear it up. You said you don’t belong to anyone.”
She recalled their conversation. Then it hit her. Belong.
“Do you really think I would have behaved the way I did with you if I belonged to Dennis? He’s not my boyfriend. And even if he was, like I told you, I don’t belong to anyone.”
Craig looked like he’d just been shot. She almost felt sorry for him. If he were any other guy. If she didn’t like him so much. If. Oh, hell.
“Damn you. Damn you for—”
His hands shot out, drawing her to him and he covered her mouth with his.
The movement was so sudden, she gasped, giving him the perfect opportunity to slip inside. His tongue began a slow assault, taking her mouth in a sensual kiss. He tasted divine. The kiss shook her, swept her away in a sea of bliss, where everything around them disappeared.
Weightless, floating, she returned his kiss, while a nagging voice somewhere out there kept interfering with the mindless abandon she wanted to lose herself in.
Hunger blossomed, but she couldn’t do this. Couldn’t trust her own judgement. Craig made her melt, then froze her out. What if he did it again? She’d just gotten out of one horrible relationship, which turned out not to be a relationship at all. The guy had been married. She’d be a fool to jump into another man’s arms, no matter how delicious his kiss.
She struggled out of his embrace. “Is that your way of winning an argument? I’m mad, and I’m confused. What the hell is going on with you?”
He shoved a shaky hand through his magnificent hair. He seemed almost as dazed as she’d been.
“Look. Tell me if I’m wrong. I thought you and Dennis were an item.”
“Explain item.”
“You know. You and him. You’re his girlfriend.”
And still Craig had been tempted. Unable to fight the spark between them. She let him stew a moment. She’d try one more time to get this through his thick head.
“Dennis and I are very close. I told you, I’m not his girlfriend. We’re friends.”
“Friends,” he repeated.
“Yes. Friends.” Did she have to come right out and say they weren’t sleeping together? She studied Craig, watching several emotions cross his face. Then, a huge grin, one that could melt any girl’s knees, including hers, formed on his mouth.
“So, you’re not his girlfriend?”
She rolled her eyes. Everything came together like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Craig wanted her, but he’d held back because he thought she and Dennis were together. The inkling had been there in the back of her mind all along. The hostility, the mistrust, it all made sense. He was being noble. Honorable. A decent man.
Tension flowed from her muscles. She belted out a mock laugh.
“Are we talking about the same guy? Have you been paying attention? I call him Casanova for a reason.” She leaned in as if she was about to divulge a secret. “He’s earned the name.”
“And here I thought you were—”
She gave Craig a glower, waiting for him to confirm that he’d thought the worst.
“Never mind what I thought.”
“No, please. Continue.”
He shook his head. “No matter how I say this, it won’t come out right. I think I should keep my mouth shut.”
“And I think that if you don’t explain yourself, you’ll be in trouble again.”
“Does that mean I’m not in trouble?”
The doorbell rang. Dammit. She spun on her heel.
“Hold on.” Craig grabbed her arm again, in a more gentle grip this time.
“It’s the pizza guy,” she explained.
She gave a generous tip and slammed the door. She turned, and bumped into a walled chest. Craig’s hands gripped her shoulders.
“Will you forgive me for being an ass?”
Damn his sapphire blue orbs that made her melt. She took a long assessing look down his body, scrutinizing every muscle-packed inch, compelling in his jeans. His eyes crinkled as if he waited for her assessment. The corner of his mouth quirked up and her world tilted.
“Want a slice?”