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‘I can swing a club, and someone uttered the word “challenge”.’
‘And you can’t turn one of those down.’ She paused, giving him the once-over. ‘You fit in so well it’s scary.’
Pride puffed out his chest, then reality flattened it again. ‘I’m not meant to fit in. These are the men who are going to come after me when you tell them I’ve dumped you.’
‘I’m not going to say that.’
Really? He was in with a chance? But did he want one? He wouldn’t have put up his hand to help Kelli out if going their separate ways afterwards hadn’t been the conclusion to their engagement. Would he? This was starting to feel more about helping himself, not Kelli. Not only Kelli.
She flashed her entry key at the door pad and shouldered the door open, stepped inside and came to a halt, staring at that enormous bed.
Mac walked past her, trying not to let any X-rated thoughts push aside what little reason lurked in his skull. Continuing to the doors opening onto the deck, he slid one open, peered out and swallowed the need clawing up his throat, tightening all of his body. ‘Please don’t kick me out tonight.’
When Kelli didn’t answer he turned to face her. A breath stuck halfway between his lungs and his nose. She was gazing at him with sadness in those cobalt eyes. ‘Kelli?’ he whispered. ‘What’s up?’
She blinked, shook away that look. ‘Wishful thinking, that’s all.’ Dropping her clutch purse on a bedside table, she stared around the room, before her gaze came back to him. ‘You okay?’
If he didn’t want what he couldn’t have, then yes, he’d say he was in top form. The air was getting tight, the walls closing in on him. Three steps and he’d be close enough to raise his arms and hug this distracting woman, or kiss her, or pick her up and carry her to that bed to lie together and make love. But that sadness in her eyes had wrought havoc with his emotions. He needed to lighten the mood, to wipe away that despondency. Sex might do the trick, but if Kelli wasn’t in the mood then he’d be adding to her problems. ‘I’m good. Let’s try to get some sleep. I imagine tomorrow’s going to be full on for you. Lying back while someone paints your nails. Drinking coffee—or will that be wine?—as your hair’s styled and your warpaint applied. Definitely a massive day ahead. Then there’s the wedding. With tears.’
She’d cried at Tamara and Conor’s wedding.
‘The reception dinner with speeches and lots of laughter, the dancing with your brothers and fiancé.’ He slapped his forehead. ‘Why are you standing there and not rushing to get into your pyjamas?’ Another slap. ‘I forgot to bring my racing car PJs.’
Kelli’s mouth was a startled O. ‘Thank goodness for something.’ Then she started to laugh. ‘You’re mad. You know that? At least I don’t have to try and hit a tiny ball into a tinier hole a hundred metres down the lawn, and then have to shout a round of top-shelf drinks because I missed hitting the ball in the first place.’
It was good to hear that laughter. It warmed him right to his toes. Tomorrow, fingers crossed, he’d ramp it up when he beat the pants off her brothers. Unless they were top-class golfers, and from the few comments made at dinner he doubted it. ‘You want the bathroom while I turn down the covers?’
The bed had already been turned down, but Mac intended being in his side well before she returned from doing whatever took females a lifetime in the bathroom.
‘Don’t touch my chocolate while I’m in there,’ Kelli warned as she pointed at the confections on the bedside tables.
‘You won’t eat yours.’ She was particular about what she put in that delectable mouth. Didn’t seem to eat bad food ever.
‘I might, after tomorrow.’ Kelli rummaged in her case and pulled out some red satin creation. ‘But then again, I know what’s on the menu for the dinner and I probably won’t eat again for a week after that.’
‘Kelli, why are you so fixated with what you eat? You’re not overweight, not even a tiny bit, so there must be another reason.’ His hands had fitted perfectly over her curves when he’d held her earlier, curves that filled his palms with heat, turning him on fast.
Her eyes popped wide, like bugs caught in headlights. ‘I’m not exactly svelte.’
‘Svelte? Isn’t that another word for skinny?’
‘Mac, don’t. Please.’
Crossing to where she stood, looking as if she was ready to run if he said the wrong thing, Mac lifted a stray strand of hair from her cheek and slipped it behind her ear. The only thing he could say was the truth. ‘In my book, you’re perfect. Ten out of ten. Beautiful, inside and out.’
A lone tear slowly slid down her cheek. ‘That’s the nicest thing any man has ever said to me.’
Nice? Blah word that it was, he got her sentiment. And the atmosphere was getting heavy again. So, deep breath, and a quick slap on her bottom. ‘Go clean off the warpaint and get into whatever that red outfit is.’ It had better be a sack with drawstrings at each end to prevent any access for his hands. The night was going to be one of the longest of his life, and there’d been some doozies in the past.
* * *
Only her bedside light was on when Kelli slipped out of the bathroom, her light robe wound tight around her. She should’ve gone shopping for a winceyette nightgown that reached her ankles, not packed this little number. She hadn’t been thinking about the nightwear, only what to bring for the days and evenings right down to the last G-string.
Mac was lying on the edge of the far side, his hands behind his head, and a wobbly smile aimed at her.
Thump-thump. Her heart was cranking up the tempo at the sight of the man she had to share the bed with. Share, but not touch. Rule number one. How did she manage that? There wouldn’t be much sleeping going on for sure, and tomorrow she was going to look awful. ‘Don’t roll over or you’ll fall out of bed,’ she warned and gave him a quick smile.
‘I did mention sleeping on the floor.’
Talk about hopeless. Here she was about to climb into bed with Mac, the guy who had a short while ago told her she was not fat, and who she had started falling for: and nothing was meant to happen.
Nothing’s going to happen.
A strangled laugh broke free of her tense body. ‘We’re crazy,’ she spluttered.
Mac grinned at her. ‘Absolutely crazy.’
Still laughing, she slid under the cover and switched the light off, plunging the room into complete darkness. ‘I’m glad you agreed to do this.’
The mattress moved as he rolled onto his side to face her. ‘You had a problem, I had a solution.’
‘No regrets?’ She held her breath and tried to see his expression in the dim light beginning to push into the room from behind the curtains.
But his face was in shadow. ‘Not for a moment.’
She w
anted to believe him—she really did. ‘A weekend with strangers who are happy to give you a hard time and no regrets? Think I’ve said it before—you’re crazy.’
‘That’s me.’ He laughed softly. ‘It’s odd but I’m starting to feel alive again. As though I belong somewhere. Not that I’m saying I’m becoming a part of your family. I know that’s not on the cards, but they’re so friendly and easy to be around that I forget our relationship isn’t for real.’
It could be, if he meant what he was saying. ‘I suppose that’s why you’re so convincing.’ To the others, not her, though there had been moments when she’d wondered if he did want to be with her. As in properly, completely, every day, with her. ‘I’m glad for you. Could be this weekend helps you as much as me.’
‘Kelli, can I make love to you? I know it wasn’t meant to be, but I want you so much. You make me feel again, to want things I thought I’d never want again.’ He wasn’t reaching for her, no touch to soften her, tempt her, if she wanted to say no.
Rules one, two and three. No touching or kissing in bed. No sex anywhere.
Rules are made to be broken, repeated that annoying voice in her head.
If they made love then they’d do it again tomorrow night, and it would be harder to walk away from the relationship next week. On the other hand, she was halfway to being in love with Mac and resisting him was nigh on impossible. When her blood was fizzing, muscles tightening in anticipation, and desire winding up fast. She could make and store up exquisite memories for the long, lonely nights to come. Besides, she wanted to give back something to him, and if making him feel alive again was it then she was more than happy. ‘Yes,’ she sighed around a lump in the back of her throat. ‘Please.’
‘Don’t move.’ Mac tossed the covers aside and came over to her. His fingers traced a line from beneath her earlobe to her breast, followed by his lips, soft and tantalising.
When Kelli placed her arms around his neck Mac gently pushed them away. ‘Lie back and enjoy.’
‘But I want to touch you, to rub you, make you come.’
