Читать книгу The Winner Takes It All: Winning Back His Wife / In Her Rival's Arms / Royally Seduced - Melissa McClone - Страница 15

BILL PAULSON SAT next to Sarah on the couch with an impish grin on his lips and a suggestive gleam in his eyes. “So what do you want to do now?”

Charming might describe Hood Hamlet, but it didn’t come close to describing the friendly, easy-on-the-eyes firefighter in well-worn jeans and a faded T-shirt. Sarah enjoyed being with him. He made her feel feminine and pretty even when she looked like a boxer, albeit one who’d been out of the ring for a couple of weeks.

“I have no idea,” she admitted.

The guy had a great sense of humor. He could give any pop-star pretty boy a run for the money in the looks department and kick their butts with his athletic build. He was fun to hang out with, albeit a little immature with some of his not-so-subtle, yet humorous innuendos.

“You’ve kept me entertained all afternoon. I’m not sure what’s left for us to do,” she added.

Mischief twinkled in his eyes. “I’m sure I can think of a few things.”

Bill Paulson would be considered a catch, except for two things—the guy knew he was good-looking and he was an incorrigible flirt. No way would she encourage him.

He rubbed his chin. “I could paint your toenails. That has to be tough to do with your dominant hand in a cast.”

Okay, the guy was a good listener. He’d taken their earlier discussion on being right-handed and come up with this. But however tempting that might sound, she could survive without nail polish. The only man who should be doing any toenail painting on her was Cullen. Not that he would. Or that she would ask him. “Thanks, but I think a nap would be better.”

He scrambled off the couch. “I’ll fluff your pillows. Be right back.”

Sarah bit back a laugh at his eagerness to help. Bill was half player, half Boy Scout rolled into one. Adorable, but a handful if you were a single woman who happened to be attracted to him. Neither of which she was.

The front door opened. Leanne must be back.

Sarah turned to say hello, but the word died on her lips.

Cullen stormed inside, wearing his scrubs. His gaze was intense and focused on her. Lines bracketed his mouth.

“The bed’s ready,” Bill announced from the hallway.

Cullen’s face reddened. A muscle pulsed at his jaw.

Bill grinned. “Hey, Doc. I’ve been taking good care of Sarah.”

Cullen balled his fingers. He looked as if he wanted to punch someone. “I’ll bet you have.”

Sarah had never seen him act like this. She didn’t like it. “Cullen?”

He glared at Bill. “What’s this about a bed being ready?”

Bill held up his hands in front of him, as if to surrender. “Dude, I don’t know what’s got into you, but if you’re thinking I’d put the moves on your pretty wife you’re way off. I just fluffed her pillows.”

Cullen’s dark gaze bounced from Bill to her. “You fluffed her what?”

“Her pillows,” Bill said.

“The pillows on my bed,” Sarah clarified. “I wanted to nap.”

“A nap,” Cullen repeated.

“A nap,” Bill reaffirmed.

Cullen seemed to be digesting the information. She didn’t know what his problem was. She looked up at Bill. “You’ve been a big help this afternoon.”

“Anytime.” He smiled. “If you need a ride to Taco Night…”

“I’m taking her,” Cullen said. “After her nap.”

Bill pulled out his car keys from his jeans pocket. A grin twitched at his lips. “Looks like my work here is done.”

“Thanks for the brownies,” she said.

“You made her brownies?” Cullen asked incredulously.

“I made both of you brownies. Well, my mom did.” Bill had explained how his mom cooked his meals, cleaned his house and did his washing. No wonder the guy hadn’t grown up yet. He didn’t need to. “She dropped them off at my place this morning.”

Sarah stood. “Thank your mom for us. And thanks for keeping me company.”

“My pleasure.” Bill looked at Cullen. “Your wife is quite the card shark. She kicked my butt at Texas hold ’em. A good thing we weren’t playing strip poker, or I’d have been buck naked in no time.”

A confused expression formed on Cullen’s face.

Bill didn’t seem to care. Or maybe he didn’t notice, since he was looking at her. “See you at the brewpub. If Doc changes his mind about going, give me a call.”

With that, Bill left.

Cullen stood next to the breakfast bar. His lips narrowed. “Please tell me you know better than to get involved with a guy like Paulson.”

Defensiveness rose. “Get involved? What are you talking about?”

“A lot of women like him.”

Sarah didn’t like Cullen’s tone. “Bill’s a nice guy.”

“He’s a total player who will never grow up.”

She saw that. She didn’t need Cullen pointing it out. “You’re jealous.”

“No, I’m not,” he said with a dismissive air.

“Then why did you storm into the house like a bull from the streets of Pamplona looking for a fight?”

He took a deep breath and another, as if reining himself in yet again. “I was worried.”

“Worried.”

“I like Paulson,” Cullen admitted. “But he’ll hit on any female with a pretty smile.”

“You thought he would hit on me.”

He clenched his teeth. “You deserve better.”

Sarah had deserved better from him, too. She raised her chin. “Yes, I do. Bill is a big flirt, but it was innocent, all in fun.”

“He didn’t—”

“He was a perfect gentleman.”

Cullen’s brow furrowed. “Gentleman and Paulson don’t belong in the same sentence.”

“Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do,” she said. “Bill made me laugh and feel better than I’ve felt in a while. Since long before the accident.” Cullen opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “But even if I swallowed a ‘stupid’ pill and threw caution to the wind, I would never get involved with Bill…with any man…because you and I are still married.”

Relief washed over Cullen’s face. “Good.”

His response angered and confused her. Why would he care, if he wanted a divorce? “That’s all you have to say?”

“What more do you want?”

“An apology,” she said. “You charged in here assuming the worst without considering that Bill is your friend and I’m your wife.”

“I haven’t been thinking straight. I’ve…been working a lot.”

“What’s new?” She didn’t need to explain, but she didn’t want him thinking the worst of her. “Just so you know. I have been good. Very good. Doing everything you and Dr. Marshall told me to do. Which is more than I can say for you.”

Lines creased Cullen’s forehead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You told me you had shifts to make up, but you haven’t been here at all. Heaven only knows where you’ve been spending your nights.”

A devilish grin lit up his face. “You’re the jealous one.”

“Am not.” Okay, maybe a little. But no way would she admit that to him. “I was…worried.”

“Worried.”

More than she wanted to admit. More than he would ever know. “Yes.”

His eyes softened. He grinned sheepishly. “The way I was worried about you and Bill.”

Busted. Darn it. She nodded once, feeling stupid and petty and pathetic.

His gaze met hers. “No need for you to worry. I stayed at a friend’s place near the hospital so I could sleep more between shifts.”

“Makes sense to stay with a friend.”

But she didn’t know if his “friend” was male or a buxom blonde named Bambi. And she wanted to know. Badly.

Cullen strode toward the couch. “I’m learning how important it is to have friends. I realize I’ve been taking them for granted.”

The way he’d taken her for granted. But he’d never considered her a friend. Her throat tightened.

She should say something, but she hadn’t a clue what. “You shouldn’t get a pet if you’re gone so much.”

His eyes widened. “I don’t always work this many shifts. A cat might work. As you said, they’re independent.”

“Even cats need to feel wanted and loved.”

Not that he wanted and loved her, but once he had. At least, that was what he’d told her.

Cullen stood next to her.

Sarah’s pulse skittered. Tension simmered between them. She shouldn’t want him to kiss her. But she did. Badly.

Look away. Move away. But she couldn’t—okay, didn’t want to. Instead she was mesmerized by his blue eyes and full lips.

Once again she was reminded of magma rising. Only this time moving closer to the surface, where the gas pressure increased, accelerating faster and faster until erupting.

She wet her lips.

“In case you’re still worried, the friend I stayed with—he’s an anesthesiologist from the hospital,” he said.

The surge of relief did nothing to douse the flame building inside her, threatening to explode. “Thanks.”

The blue of his eyes deepened. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This.” Cullen lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Hard.

Heaven. His kiss made Sarah feel like she had died and gone to heaven. Best to enjoy every second, every minute if she was that lucky. She had a feeling this might be as close as she ever got to the pearly gates while her heart still beat. And beating it was.

In triple time.

His lips moved over hers with skill and familiarity. The kiss brought her home, back to where she’d longed to be for months now…in his arms. She’d thought about him, dreamed about him, missed him, even though she should have been getting over him. And now she realized why she was having so much trouble getting over him. He tasted warm and inviting. This was a yummy, comfy place she never wanted to leave. Each touch of his mouth, of his hands, made her tingle inside.

Forget pain medication—this was all she needed to feel better. Her blood simmered, rushing through her veins. It had been so long, too long, since she’d felt wanted. She didn’t want the feeling to end.

His hand ran up her back, caressing her, until her hair was running through his fingers.

More. She wanted more.

Sarah parted her lips. He accepted the invitation and deepened the kiss, pressing harder against her mouth.

He’d followed her lead. It was time to follow his.

Her tongue reacquainted itself with him, exploring the recesses of his mouth. She remembered all the times they’d kissed before. Remembered the good times in their marriage when she had believed it would last forever. Maybe her memories were hazy because of the concussion, but this kiss felt different. Better, somehow.

She didn’t want to analyze it too deeply. She wanted to…enjoy.

Heat pooled deep inside her. Need ached. Grew.

A moan escaped her lips.

More. Please.

Cullen drew her closer. She arched into him, only to come to an abrupt stop. She crashed into something hard, sending a jagged pain through her sore and healing abdomen. Her lips slipped off his. Spots appeared before her eyes.

Pain weakened her knees. It hurt, almost burned, so badly, but she didn’t fall. Cullen held on to her.

He groaned, but didn’t let go.

Sarah forced herself to breathe. A knife seemed to be slicing through her midsection. She straightened, intensifying the pain more. She looked down.

Stupid cast.

With the permanent bend in her elbow, her arm was stuck in position, a barrier between them.

In spite of her stomach hurting, she couldn’t deny her reaction to Cullen’s kisses. Her swollen and bruised lips throbbed. Her heart beat wildly. Her pulse hadn’t settled.

She wanted to rewind time and relieve each second of his kisses.

Stupid. Dumb.

Forget about the cast getting in the way—she should have known better than to kiss him back the way she had. “I’m so sorry.”

Cullen bent over, gasping for air. “Give me a sec.”

The rasp in his voice made Sarah look at her cast. “More dangerous than I imagined.”

He glanced up at her. “You have no idea.”

Sarah reached toward him, then thought better of it. If she touched him, she would kiss him again. She pressed her left hand against her side. Pain made her want to sit. She leaned against the couch. “You okay?”

He straightened. “I can breathe now. How about you?”

Her senses reeled. Her heart screamed for more kisses. Her incisions hurt. “I’ve been better. But the pain’s subsiding quicker than it usually does.”

Cullen’s mouth twisted. He looked so serious. As if the fate of the world rested on his shoulders and he’d screwed things up. “This was…”

“A mistake.” Better for her to admit it before him. She should never have kissed him back. “If you’re worried I’m thinking this changes things between us, don’t be. The other kiss didn’t. This one won’t, either.”

He didn’t say a word, but his dark gaze remained on her.

“Kisses are an old habit for us. The opportunity arose again. I wanted to be kissed. It was bound to happen,” she rambled, trying to justify what had occurred. “Someday we’ll look back at this and laugh.”

He raised a brow. “You think?”

She had no idea, but laughing this off was better than analyzing it to death and not liking her conclusion. “Sure.”

“Most kisses aim for romance, not humor.”

Was he aiming for romance by kissing her? Her pulse accelerated. No more kisses. “True, but romantic kisses are a dime a dozen. This one…”

A grin tugged at his lips. He rubbed his stomach. “I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.”

Her neither. But for different reasons than his.

Warning bells sounded in her head. Who was she kidding? She was past the warning stage. Alarms blared.

Best not to travel this road again. Giving in to desire would lead to disappointment and heartache. She couldn’t do that to herself, to her heart. “But it won’t happen again.”

“Definitely not.”

That was fast. Almost too fast. And he had said probably before, but definitely this time. Disappointment spiraled to the tips of her toes. At least they agreed, right?

She pressed her lips together, unsure what to say or do next. That seemed to be standard operating procedure whenever she was around Cullen. So why had she been so eager to see him when she woke up this morning?

He walked into the kitchen. “You mentioned taking a nap. While you sleep, I’ll figure out dinner. I’m sure we have enough leftovers.”

“It’s Taco Night at the brewpub.”

“You’re in pain.”

She didn’t want to stay inside, with him so close and her aching with surprise need. “I want to go out.”

His gaze raked over her, assessing her like one of his patients. “It’ll be too much for you after such a long day.”

“I’ve done nothing but lie or sit around, except for a walk outside with Bill.”

Cullen’s eyes narrowed. “There’s snow on the ground. You could have slipped.”

“We didn’t go far, and Bill never let go of my arm.”

“How gentlemanly of him.”

Sarah didn’t appreciate Cullen’s sarcastic tone, but maybe she could use this to her advantage. “Do you want to go to the brewpub tonight or not?”

“I like Taco Night, but I’m happy to stay home tonight. It’s been a long week.”

She empathized with that. “You must be exhausted.”

He opened the refrigerator. “Let’s go next week.”

“You can go then.” She straightened. “I’m going tonight. I’ll call Bill.”

Cullen slammed the fridge door. “Why do you want to go so badly?”

“I’m desperate to get out of the house.”

He arched a brow. “Desperate?”

Sarah nodded. “I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to do, but enough is enough. I need to get out and do something. Have…”

“Fun,” he finished for her.

It would be fun to kiss him again. She didn’t dare admit that. “Lying around all day resting is the antithesis of fun. I can sit at the brewpub as easily as I can here.”

“You won’t be here alone.”

That was the problem tonight. She was alone with him. “I’ve enjoyed having people around. Everyone is nice and we’re getting to know each other. But I need to get out, have a change of environment, scenery, whatever you want to call it, or I’m going to lose my mind.”

Or burn with unspent desire.

Kissing Cullen again would send her over the edge completely.

Going to the brewpub made the most sense. The other option—spending the evening at home with Cullen—didn’t seem like a smart idea. Sure, they’d agreed not to kiss again, but they’d also agreed to divorce. Who knew what could happen with the two of them here alone tonight? She didn’t want to take any chances. She couldn’t afford more kisses. She couldn’t lose her heart to him. That would destroy her.

“Leanne told me about the soft pretzels with the house dipping sauce,” Sarah explained. “I love pretzels.”

“I didn’t know that.”

She wished he had made more time for her so they could have gotten to know each other better.

“I didn’t know about your broken arm.” Sarah waited for him to respond. She didn’t understand his hesitation. “If you’d rather stay home, that’s fine. Bill will drive me if you’re not up for it.”

Cullen’s nostrils flared. “I’m up for it.”

“But you said—”

“I changed my mind, okay?”

More than okay. She didn’t care if jealousy was the reason or not, even if it gave her an unexpected rush of feminine power. “It’s great. Thanks.”

“Take a short nap first,” he ordered in that oh-so-strict doctor’s voice of his.

Such a change from the way he’d been kissing and touching her a few minutes ago. She gave a mock salute. “Aye, aye, Captain. Pillows are fluffed and the sheet turned down ready for nap, sir.”

If only he’d join her…

Playful images flitted through her mind. Her temperature rose.

On second thought, napping by herself was better. Safer. Even if she would be…lonelier.