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She shivered as his thumb stroked across her collarbone.
He laughed, the sound rough with arousal. ‘See what I mean?’
She batted his hand away, colour rising to her cheeks at the quiver at her core, the quick-fire response making her feel oddly vulnerable. ‘You’re going to have to do better than that. It’s not like we can spend the whole time we’re there in bed. I’ll have to talk to your sister.’ She threw up her hands. ‘How are you going to introduce me? I’m not even a proper girlfriend.’ How could she have forgotten that a moment ago?
Placing a hand on her hip, he tugged her easily towards him. ‘I’ll tell her you’re a friend. She’ll be so excited to see you she won’t delve too deeply.’
Ruby’s brow creased. ‘Why would she be excited to see me?’
He dipped his head, touched her forehead to his before giving a hefty sigh. ‘All right, I’ll come clean. Ever since Maddy’s got married, had a child, she’s made it her mission in life to find me that special someone. So I can be as blissfully happy as she is.’
Beneath the amusement, Ruby heard the sharp edge of cynicism. ‘And you don’t like that?’
‘I hate it. I’m not the love and marriage type,’ he said, making it sound like an affliction. ‘But she won’t take the hint. Maddy’s a fixer. She always has been, ever since we were kids. If she sees a problem, she tries to fix it. Even if the problem doesn’t exist.’
‘Maybe she just wants you to be happy,’ Ruby said, finding it sad he didn’t appreciate having someone who cared that much about him.
He shot her a rueful look. ‘You are such a girl.’
‘How observant.’
He smiled. ‘The point is I am happy. Or I would be if I could visit my sister without getting the third degree about my love life.’ He touched her cheek. ‘But now I’m thinking, with you there… as a very sexy distraction… things could be a whole lot easier.’
Ruby forced out a laugh, determined to be amused instead of insulted—or hurt—by the suggestion. This was good. He had a logical reason for wanting her along. She should be logical back. ‘So I’d be, like, your stunt girlfriend?’
He nodded, not looking remotely ashamed at the ploy to fool his sister.
‘That is so like a guy. Why can’t you just be honest with her? Tell her you’re not ready for that sort of commitment yet.’
‘Believe me, I’ve told her I’ll never be ready for that sort of commitment. But Maddy won’t buy it. She’s convinced herself her marriage is perfect, and it’ll always be that way, despite all the evidence to the contrary.’
Again she heard the note of cynicism, sharpened by bitterness—and wondered what had made Cal so sure his sister’s marriage was doomed to failure.
‘Plus you have no idea how persistent Maddy is,’ he added. ‘So you have to come with me. And protect me from her.’
‘So now who’s the sissy?’ she teased, pretty sure Callum Westmore had never needed anyone’s protection.
But she could feel her resolve weakening.
The man had charm to spare and he knew how to use it. But more than that, she was oddly flattered by his persistence. And desperately curious. Seeing someone in their home environment was always revealing. And there were so many things about Cal that she wanted to know.
‘And Cornwall’s incredible at this time of year.’ His lips lifted in an assured smile and her pulse slowed.
She laughed at the temptation in his eyes. ‘Oh, all right, then, Counsellor. I’ll come,’ she said, determined to ignore the panicked flutter of her pulse. They were fine, they were back to where they were supposed to be. Shallow and sexy, right where they’d been before she’d overreacted and made a twit of herself over the phone call.
‘Great.’
Warmth spread through her system at the approval turning his irises to a rich emerald.
‘But only if we stop by my flat so I can pack an overnight bag,’ she finished, not wanting to be a complete pushover.
‘You’re on.’
He tugged her close, his lips covering hers in a lazy kiss. She opened her mouth, making the warmth shoot to blazing heat—and burn off all her lingering doubts.
As they sped down the motorway in Cal’s flashy Italian convertible, with the roof up and two hastily packed overnight bags stowed in the back seat, Ruby stared at the not altogether sumptuous scenery of the M4 corridor and tried not to let the doubts resurface.
Callum Westmore was dangerous. But she could handle him and this ‘thing’ between them just fine, because it was nothing more than a straightforward mix of heat and curiosity.
