Читать книгу Australia: Bundles of Joy: Impossibly Pregnant / Top-Notch Surgeon, Pregnant Nurse / Caring For His Babies - Lilian Darcy - Страница 12

‘Most men I know are like mascara. They run at the first sign of emotion.’

Tahlia Moran, best friend and cynic.

‘HOW was the weekend?’

Keely plopped on the couch next to Tahlia and hugged a cushion to her chest. ‘Good.’

Tahlia quirked an eyebrow. ‘And I thought Librans were supposed to be well-balanced, eloquent individuals.’

‘What can I say? He lived up to his perfect reputation.’ Worse luck.

‘In and out of the bedroom?’ Tahlia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming at the promise of gossip.

‘I can only vouch for outside of it.’

Her friend’s eyes almost popped out of her head. ‘You mean he didn’t make a move?’

Keely shook her head, mentally kicking herself for being disappointed.

‘Let me get this straight. This guy goes to all the trouble to get you out to his love-nest by the ocean, practically strips naked in front of you, cooks you dinner and then nothing?’

Keely reached for her wine and took a sip before answering. ‘Nice twist, but in actual fact it was his beach house, he had to change after surfing, we shared cooking duties and—’

‘Nothing, right?’

Keely sighed and nodded. ‘Yeah, nothing.’

‘I don’t get it.’ Tahlia flicked her strawberry-streaked fringe out of her eyes and popped several chocolate-coated peanuts into her mouth before continuing. ‘The guy oozes sex appeal, he definitely has the hots for you, you’re keen on him and you’re two consenting adults. You do the math!’

‘By my calculations, I scored a big fat zero.’

Keely had relived that sequence in the kitchen after dinner a thousand times in her mind. She’d been torn at the time between wanting to shrug off her reservations and get physical with Lachlan and holding him at arm’s length. He’d annoyed the heck out of her with his cracks about bikinis and watching her weight, yet when he’d followed up with a compliment she’d been putty in his hands again.

When she’d crossed the kitchen and told him she was going to bed it had almost been a challenge, and his reaction hadn’t been what she’d expected.

A chaste goodnight kiss, albeit on the lips, hadn’t satisfied her. Not by a long shot. And what had she done about it?

Nothing.

She’d muttered something about being exhausted and rushed out of the room before she—or he—could change their minds.

His behaviour puzzled her. Despite the vibes she kept getting from him, he hadn’t laid a finger on her. The guys she’d dated in the past would’ve taken advantage of the situation in a second. However, Lachlan Brant was living up to his reputation as Mr Perfect more and more every day, a fact that wasn’t good for her peace of mind.

‘Are you sure he’s not gay?’

Keely glared at Tahlia. ‘What do you think?’

An impish grin spread across her friend’s face. ‘Nah.’ She dipped into the bowl again, managing to throw several nuts in the air, tilt her head back and catch them in her mouth. ‘So, where to from here?’

Keely laughed. ‘Nice to see our Director of Sales hasn’t lost her touch. Where do you learn those tricks anyway? Another one of your courses?’

As if her friend wasn’t busy enough, she also frequented business courses in her spare time, always pushing herself in all facets of her life, as if making up for a lack of something.

Tahlia sniffed and repeated the performance, this time managing to capture two peanuts in her mouth at once. ‘They don’t teach you this in Business Etiquette 101.’

‘Does the college run courses in How To Read Men 101? And, if so, where do I sign up?’

Tahlia munched on the peanuts for a moment, her brow furrowed. ‘Maybe he thinks you’re not all that keen. After all, you’ve been sending him mixed messages.’

‘Flirting is one thing, sleeping with him another. Besides, I thought he had a right to know up front so there’d be no misunderstandings later.’

‘But I thought you wanted more?’

‘Yes … no … I don’t know! Stop confusing me!’

Tahlia chuckled. ‘I think you’re doing enough of that for the both of us. Why don’t you just go for it? Don’t forget, that’s what your horoscope said.’

‘They’re called that for a reason. In my case, it’s a horror-scope.’

‘Don’t mess with the stars.’

‘Don’t mess with my head.’

‘Hey, that’s the Doc’s job, not mine.’

Keely stood and crossed the room, staring out at the stunning bay view. She loved watching the world go by from her sixth-floor apartment, particularly at dusk when the water took on a mauve hue.

Tahlia was right. She should stop procrastinating and go for it with Lachlan. What did she have to lose? It wasn’t as if she was expecting happily-ever-after or anything remotely like it. They could date, have fun, and make the most of every day as people her age should be doing.

Why did she need to constantly overanalyse every situation?

Because you’re in deeper than you think.

Telling her voice of reason to shut up, she turned back to Tahlia.

‘Thanks for the advice, Dear Abby. Now, how about we get down to the business of planning Em’s surprise party?’

Tahlia scrutinised her for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. ‘Nice change of topic. I’ll buy it.’ She picked up her pocket organiser and started flipping pages. ‘I’ve booked Sammy’s, organised the fìnger food with Andy, and drinks will be buy-your-own over the bar. How is the guest list coming along?’

‘All done, though she’s going to be pretty bummed that Harry isn’t going to be there.’

‘Time she got over him. Who pines after their first love for that long anyway? Men are all the same; they just have different faces so that we can tell them apart.’

Keely chuckled at her friend’s cynicism. Though Tahlia had men falling at her feet, she seemed oblivious, hell-bent on conquering the world rather than the male species. Despite the way she ignored them, they still flocked.

‘I think it’s romantic. And, from the photos I’ve seen of the guy, can you blame her?’

‘Point taken. What about a present?’

Keely picked up a magazine from the coffee table and flipped it open. ‘I know this is kitschy, but what do you think?’

Tahlia took one look at the page and almost fell off the couch laughing. ‘A Barry Manilow figurine? You’ve got to be joking!’

Keely joined in the laughter. ‘But she loves the guy almost as much as Harry!’ She looked at the picture of pint-sized Barry and cracked up again. ‘I think he’s kinda cute.’

‘And I think you’re kinda crazy. Besides, I have a better idea. What about that toe ring she was eyeing off in the jeweller’s window the other day?’

‘The one with her star sign on it?’

Tahlia nodded. ‘I think our Miss Conservative is going through a rash patch at the moment. She’s never worn a toe ring in her life.’

Keely clicked her fingers and practically bounced around the room in her enthusiasm. ‘Great idea. She’s definitely after a change of image, so we can also do a makeover. Clothes, make-up, hair, the works!’

Tahlia’s eyes fairly gleamed. ‘Now you’re talking. We can—’

The loud peal of the security buzzer stopped her mid-sentence and Keely glanced at her watch, wondering who her visitor could be. She rarely had company on a Monday night, apart from one of the girls, and the only reason they popped in so early in the week was usually to discuss some man problem from the weekend before.

She pressed the intercom button and said, ‘Who is it?’ And almost jumped back when Lachlan’s deep tones filtered through the static speakers.

‘Sorry to barge in on you like this, but do you have a minute?’

Keely turned to look at Tahlia, who leaped off the couch and gathered up her stuff in record time.

‘Don’t mind me, I’m outta here. Let the man up, for goodness’ sake,’ she mouthed while heading towards the door.

Keely glanced down at her candy-pink sweatpants and matching hood top and grimaced. ‘Look at me. He can’t see me like this. I look like fairy floss!’

Tahlia’s wicked grin didn’t reassure her. ‘With any luck, he might eat you.’ She gave her a saucy wave and sauntered towards the door. ‘And I want details. Don’t worry about buzzing him up. I’ll let him in on my way out. Later.’

Keely groaned and shooed her away and, as Tahlia left, she rushed around the room frantically trying to clean up. Housework wasn’t one of her strong suits, and as she’d been away for the weekend she hadn’t had time to devote her scant hour to the usual once-over.

Resisting the urge to shove everything under her couch, she settled for making a few neat piles of magazines and clearing away the remnants of the girlie feast Tahlia had been devouring—wine, pretzels and chocolate-coated peanuts—just in time for Lachlan’s knock at the door.

Smoothing back the wisps of hair escaping from her ponytail, and biting her bottom lip for a bit of colour, she opened the door. ‘Hi. What brings you by?’

His gaze flicked over her and, rather than seeing distaste, she read approval in the way his eyes lit up. However, it didn’t appease her. She knew she looked a fright and wondered what he was playing at pretending otherwise.

‘Sorry to drop by unannounced, but I’m going away for a few days on business and thought you might like this info.’

Her heart sank at his revelation. Just when she’d decided to take the plunge and see where all this tension between them was leading, he had to go away?

‘Where are you going?’

He smiled, the simple action illuminating his face and speeding up her heart-rate in a second.

‘I’ll make you a deal. If you ask me in, I’ll tell you.’

‘Oops, sorry.’ She stepped back, wondering why her manners deserted her whenever he set foot on her doorstep. It probably had something to do with the way he looked, and sounded, and smelt, but that was no excuse.

‘Did I catch you in the middle of something?’

She closed the door behind him and resisted the urge to lean against it and sigh. He looked amazing in a dark grey suit, white shirt and burgundy tie—every ounce the consummate professional—and she looked like fairy floss! Not fair.

Smiling, she strolled across the room as if he popped in to see her every day of the week—she wished—and indicated he take a seat before plopping down into one herself. ‘No, not really. Tahlia and I were just planning a surprise party for a friend.’

‘Was Tahlia the stunning woman who let me in?’

A shaft of jealousy pierced her gut. Okay, so it was true, but did he have to notice that Tahlia’s tall, slim figure could grace the cover of a magazine?

She nodded and wished she hadn’t removed her make-up and changed when she’d got home. Tahlia had come straight from work and still looked a million dollars in her red power suit, with not a hair out of place at the end of the day.

‘Tahlia is Director of Sales at WWW Designs. We’ve been friends for ages.’

He looked suitably impressed. ‘Must be a rule at your workplace to only employ beautiful women.’ He paused and allowed his glance to slide over her, very slowly, from head to foot. ‘I like your casual look, by the way.’

She tried to detect a hint of sarcasm and came up lacking. He thought she was beautiful? Looking like this? Now she knew for sure. The Doc needed his head examined!

‘Wish I could get out of these clothes,’ he said, sticking a finger between his collar and tie in an attempt to loosen it.

You can.

She stared at him for a long silent moment before swallowing those two little words and turning away.

‘Would you like a drink?’

‘I’d kill for a coffee,’ he said, following her into the kitchen. ‘So, whose birthday party is it?’

‘I’ll trade you. You tell me where you’re going—’ and why you’re really here, she thought ‘—and I’ll tell you about the party.’

He leaned against the benchtop as she switched on the percolator and she wished he wouldn’t look so at home in her apartment. It would make it hard to forget him when the assignment finished. And even harder if they started something that didn’t involve work. She wouldn’t be able to stand it when the inevitable split came—and it would. No matter how close they got, how well they clicked, he’d bolt like the rest the minute he learned the truth.

‘Fair enough. The TV station hosting my new show is sending me to Sydney for a couple of days to check out something similar they screen up there.’

‘Sounds interesting.’ She poured coffee and added milk and two sugars to his, thinking how strange to find a man with a similar sweet tooth to hers, even if she’d told him otherwise. However, she added an artificial sweetener to hers, forgoing her passion for sweetness in exchange for zero calories.

While she had her head stuck in the cupboard, looking for some chocolate biscuits for him, he said, ‘So what’s the deal with the party? Is it some old boyfriend you don’t want to talk about?’

She lifted her head too quickly and clunked it on the shelf above, cursing silently. There, that had to be another fault; he sounded jealous. Though, in a way, she should be flattered rather than annoyed.

‘The party’s for Emma, another friend I work with. And, as for not wanting to talk about boyfriends, that’s true. I’m not one to kiss and tell.’

To his credit, he let that last comment go. She’d said it as some weird sort of challenge, almost daring him to ask about her previous relationships, though for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why.

‘That’s good to know.’ He took a sip of coffee before placing the mug on the counter. ‘I like to keep my business private.’

Huh? Had he just said what she thought he’d said?

Rather than taking the easy way out and laughing off his comment, she pounced. ‘Are you implying that you’d like to be my boyfriend?’

He fixed her with a stare that bored straight down to her soul, as if trying to probe into her innermost feelings. ‘I’m not implying anything; I’m stating a fact.’

She hadn’t moved since he’d dropped his little bombshell, her feet rooted to the spot, and he crossed the kitchen in a second.

‘Pretty confident, aren’t you?’ She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her pulse tripping as his eyes darkened to midnight.

‘I call it how it is.’

A little demon lodged in her mind and prodded her with its pitchfork, urging her to provoke him further.

‘And how’s that?’

‘You, me, dating. Seems straightforward to me.’

She didn’t resist as he lowered his head towards her with infinite slowness and, with a sigh, closed her eyes. She’d been waiting for this, hoping for it, since that first time in her office when she’d been sure he wanted to kiss her. And if she’d thought the brief, gentle peck he’d delivered at the beach house at the weekend had been good, it wasn’t a patch on this.

The minute his lips touched hers, it felt as if a match had been touched to a bonfire and whoosh! They both went up in flames.

Heat sizzled between them as she plastered her body against his, her hands delving into his hair in an effort to pull his head closer. He didn’t disappoint, moulding her to his body with hands that wandered everywhere with skilled precision, stroking her till she gasped out loud.

Angling his head, he slid his mouth across hers in an erotic fusion, leaving her breathless. She melded into him, forgetting every last rational reason why she shouldn’t be doing this.

His arms tightened around her and she felt his hard chest muscles tense beneath her hands. The fact he must work out was a fleeting thought. He felt so good, tasted so good, that she didn’t want this moment to end, ever.

‘Wow,’ she murmured as his mouth left hers to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses to her neck and back up again.

A shudder rippled through her as his hand slipped under her top and cupped her breast, sending fiery sparks of pleasure shooting to her core.

He broke the kiss to whisper against her mouth. ‘What do you think of this dating thing so far?’

She clutched at the lapels of his jacket, knowing that if she let go she’d slide in a molten heap to the floor. ‘Not bad.’

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, drawing her attention to those masterful lips and the fact that all he had to do was twitch them in her direction for desire to pool deep within.

‘Mmm … maybe I need to brush up on my technique?’

Exhaling a shaky breath, she leaned her head against his chest. ‘With me?’

Those two little words came out soft and needy, when she’d sworn never to be like that ever again.

She didn’t need anyone. Needing only led to pain. And loss. And devastation.

He toyed with the strands of her ponytail while holding her close with his other arm.

‘If you’re volunteering for the job, it’s all yours.’

Say no! A thousand reasons flashed through her foggy brain in a second.

He’s toying with you.

He’ll bolt when he learns the truth.

He’s too darn perfect and you’ll never satisfy a man like that. Once he sees the real you, he’ll dump you quicker than he can say love handles.

Ignoring her fears, she lifted her head, looked him in the eye and managed a mute nod in response.

Lachlan grinned as he left Keely’s apartment building, more wired than he’d been in ages. He needed to get home ASAP and go for a long bike ride, desperate to take the edge off his physical hunger for the woman who tied him up in knots.

He’d hoped to steal a quick goodbye kiss before heading interstate and it must be his lucky day, for not only had his wish come true, it had blown his mind in the process.

Attraction was one thing, off-the-scale rampant need was another, and the minute his lips had touched hers he’d known he wouldn’t be satisfied till they shared more than a kiss, their bodies entwined, slaking a thirst that had him parched. For her.

However, in the midst of his fantasy, a tiny doubt sprouted and took root. Keely had shown him a side he didn’t like, a side that reminded him too much of his mother. She’d blown hot and cold too, all over him one minute, walking out the next, and taking a big part of his heart in the process.

As much as he wanted to explore the attraction between him and Keely, he’d better watch out. He didn’t have room in his life for a fickle woman, no matter how attractive.

In fact, if he were giving a caller advice, he’d probably warn him to stay well clear of a woman who looked eager to devour him most of the time yet could change into the Ice Princess in a split second. And, though he’d admit to inadvertently arousing her anger by his throwaway attempts at humour, he knew her mood swings would get on his nerves after a while. A short while.

However, in this case, he had no intention of practising what he preached. He didn’t want to stay clear of Keely; he wanted to get closer to her. The closer the better.

And if her mood pendulum swung once too often he’d walk away, heart intact.