His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2) (8 page)

Last night during a documentary on clown fish and its relationship with sea anemone, it occurred to her that Joe’s problem could be beneficial to her. Joe needed a pretend girlfriend. Dani needed instruction regarding the mysterious matter of sex. Rumor had it Joe was quite knowledgeable.

Maybe it was the fifth cup of coffee she’d consumed or the late night air but she’d thought it was brilliant—a symbiotic relationship where each party was helped through the same situation.

Dani ignored the tremor in her hands, blaming it on the coffee rather than her sudden attack of nerves. The wind lifted her top and she smoothed it down. She’d forgotten how windy it could get along the beach. A gust whipped her hair into her eyes so she piled her hair into a loose knot on top of her head and found a pencil from her purse to hold it in place. The salt air would soon make her hair a wavy mess but there hadn’t been much time this afternoon to fuss with it. She was protective of her writing time and once she’d hit her word count goal, she’d showered and changed.

Dani climbed the steps to the porch and took a deep breath.

Life is too short to wait.

She rang the doorbell. Seconds later the door was yanked open.

“Thank God you’re here. What the hell took so long? I thought you’d never get here. Didn’t you get my text?”

It took a moment for her to respond to his barrage of questions because Joe’s shirt was unbuttoned. When she’d last seen his bare chest, it had been from a distance. The view from her attic bedroom was no match for the view up close and personal.

Oh my.

“Dani! Are you listening?”

“Huh?” She was glad she was wearing her new prescription sunglasses and even gladder she’d decided against the reflective aviator lenses. He would have known exactly what she was staring at. She was grateful her sunglasses allowed her to hide her eyes while she looked her fill.

“Nevermind. Come on. Let’s just get this over with.”

He put his hand on her back and guided her through the entry. The thin fabric of her shirt was no barrier. She tried to ignore the electric charge that zipped through her at first contact but must have jumped a little because he gave her a funny look. He didn’t pause long but kept moving her passed an open living space, a well-stocked kitchen to the spacious back balcony. The cottage wasn’t huge, but it was lovely—rustic with masculine touches sprinkled with the same blue that matched the gulf, along with shades of cream and brown.

A small grey haired photographer dressed in black had set up a variety of equipment while a stylist arranged pillows and sheers on a swinging bed that had been installed from the rafters. The Gulf sparkled in the distance and was dotted with several boats—another beautiful day in Sugar Bay.

Lisa stood with the photographer and they pointed to the laptop in front of them. Dani overheard words like, “mood”, “sexy”, and “increased exposure” but tuned them out when Joe grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the side.

“Stay with me the entire time,” he said close to her ear.

The photographer turned to them.

“So you’re the girlfriend?” He looked her up and down with pursed lips. She wondered if he found her lacking and questioned what Joe saw in her.

When she didn’t respond, Joe squeezed her hip. She nodded dumbly, still unaccustomed to their new status.

“Maybe you can do something. Hunk, here, is
not
a natural in front of the camera. He’s
stiff
and
uncooperative
—“

“I told you I wasn’t a model. We should scrap this whole thing and you can choose someone else.”

“Absolutely not.” Lisa’s hands were on her hips. “The Ladies League were thrilled you agreed. They think you’ll pull in a good number of donations, Joe. Rumor has it, you know how to please a woman.”

“What a load of crap,” the photographer muttered. “Rumor may have him as a bull, but these pictures show a constipated zombie.”

Joe’s face paled then turned red. Dani smothered a giggle and got a glare in return.

“I wasn’t feeling inspired.”

“Well, get inspired then, I haven’t the whole day to waste.” The photographer pulled out a cooler. “Young lady, you need to take him in hand and relax him,” he gave her a pointed look, “if you know what I mean or I won’t get anything worth printing. I’ll be on my break until he’s feeling more ‘inspired’.”

“Yes, well—“

“Come on.” Joe tugged her from the room and shoved her into what looked to be his study. He locked the door behind them as if afraid they’d be disturbed. The walls were lined with shelves of books and a desk stood laden with drawings and more books. It seemed that Joe enjoyed reading. “This is a nightmare.”

“What’s wrong? Feeling like a piece of meat? You know everyone who sees the pictures will be imagining you as their very own boy toy?”

Joe shoved a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re having fun with this, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little bit.” She walked further into the room and perused his book collection. He had an assortment of both fiction and non-fiction.

He exhaled heavily. “If you’d just followed my lead, I could have written a check.
But
no
—instead, you go off on a tangent and I’m stuck in this get up.”

He motioned towards the low hung pajama pants and his lightly oiled chest.

She grinned. “It’s just a few pictures.”

“Pictures are all good and well but there’s something distinctly unappealing about being photographed while three strangers stare at you and coax you to ‘work’ it.”

The frustration in his voice made her laugh. “Sorry, Joe.” She tried to put on her serious face. “I’m very sorry you’re having performance anxiety.“

The look he sent her made Dani lose it completely and she hugged herself while she snorted and gasped. If she hadn’t been giggling like a maniac, she might have noticed that he’d moved from the door towards her with a glint in his eyes. As it was, it was too late to run by the time he grabbed her. She stilled while Joe held her by the elbows. Her smile died as she looked into his fierce golden eyes.

“Since you got me into this mess, I think it’s only fair you help me find some sexy inspiration.”

“I’m not exactly dressed to inspire sexy thoughts.”

He looked down at her white cotton shirt, cut off jeans and boots. His gazed tracked the distance slowly; pausing at her V-neck t- shirt where the impressions made by two hard nipples greeted him. His gazed snapped to hers.

She swallowed.
Damn the thin cotton.

His grin stopped her heart. “I think I can work with it.”

She wanted to fan herself, but couldn’t move. He still held her by the elbows. She couldn’t believe she’d been the one to put that sexy grin on his face.

He released her and moved to his desk. He leaned against it and motioned for her to stand between his legs. “Come here, Dani.”

She released a shuddering breath but didn’t move.

“Come on.”
Said the spider to the fly
, she couldn’t help but think. But just like the stupid fly, she went forward.

“May I?” He motioned towards her hair. At her nod, he pulled out the pencil that held her hair in place. Brown waves of hair fell to below her shoulders.

“Beautiful,” he whispered. “Why do you always wear it up?”

She shrugged. “It gets in the way. I’m thinking about cutting it off.”

He glared. “Don’t you dare.” Joe shifted her closer and smoothed a finger down her cheek. “You’ve got the softest skin, Dani.”

Her eyes drifted shut as he stroked her with his feather light touch.

“Why is that, do you know? Do you use a special lotion?”

Dani shook her head, caught in his spell—served her right for doubting his mojo.

“You don’t wear lipstick, do you Dani?”

“No,” she whispered. “Sometimes some lip balm or a little gloss”. The late afternoon light wrapped around them while dust fairies danced like glitter in the air.

“I’ve always wondered if your lips were naturally red.”

He’d thought about her lips?

Dani watched as he studied her. His expression was fierce as if he waged an internal battle. At last, he moved closer. “I’m going to kiss you, Dani. You gonna be alright with that?”

She wanted to scream at him to do it already. She was ready, had been ready, had always been ready and to just move on with it because her nerves couldn’t take anymore, but she didn’t. She simply nodded. “For the sake of a successful photo shoot, I’ll do it.”

Joe chuckled and threaded his fingers through her hair to tilt her head. His tiger colored eyes twinkled. “Hold on to that thought, Dani, my little sacrificial lamb.”

Before she could reply, he’d covered her lips with his. Some guys tried too hard to show their mastery at first kiss but Joe was too good for that novice move. He sank into the kiss slowly, measured her response, tested the pressure and angle she preferred, guided her deeper and lured her to taste him, to play with him and to want more. The kiss went on as they explored—nibbling, sucking and sinking into the pleasure of a first kiss.

A knock on the door startled them and their lips broke apart while their lower bodies were still pressed together.

She felt him against her.

He was huge. And hard. Very hard.

She wanted to brush against him but he moved away to the other side of the room.

She couldn’t believe it. She’d kissed Joe. Or rather, he’d kissed her and, damn, he was good. It was obvious her choice of instructor was perfect. But still, she felt torn. Maybe he was too good. Maybe if he agreed with her request, she’d end up falling for him like the rest of his harem. A pathetic image of her trailing him like a love-obsessed fool made her shudder—what a nightmare that would be.

Yet it had been the best first kiss she’d ever had. Her readers needed spice and he could provide spice.

Her readers or her heart?

The door rattled again.

“Be right out,” Joe called to their intruder then turned to her. “You okay?”

She nodded, still flustered but not wanting to show it. “Never better.”

“Good.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Dani—you know this is just pretend, right?”

“Of course.” She stepped back, needing distance.

“Derek’s my best friend. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”

“I know, Joe. I know. Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall all over you.”
God, she hoped not.

“You’re not?”

“Please. I’m not stupid. I’m well aware of your reputation and I have no interest in being a part of your harem.”

“I don’t have a harem.”

“Whatever. Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be a part of it.”

“Okay. So we’re good?”

“We are.”

“You sure? Because that kiss was—”

“Yeah, I know. I was curious what the fuss was all about so I sort of threw myself into it.”

“Is that what it was?”

She nodded. “Plus, I needed to test out a theory.”

“Did I pass?”

“More or less.”

He looked as if he wanted to say more but someone pounded on the door. “What the hell?” They heard Lisa mutter through the door.

“Guess it’s time to get this over with.”

“Looks like it, but Joe, I need to ask you something.”

“Okay. We’ll talk after they leave.”

She nodded and followed him out. She hoped she wouldn’t lose her nerve by then.

The rest of the photo shoot was painless. Joe was able to produce some come hither looks that pleased the photographer. Lisa and the stylist enjoyed it so much, the photographer had to bark at them a few times when he needed the reflectors repositioned. The setting sun against the Gulf proved to be a spectacular backdrop just as Charlie had suggested and she had no doubt the resulting images would drive up the bidding war.

A sexy Joe, half naked and posing on the sheets, was enthralling. He smoldered and simmered while on the sidelines, she turned into a puddle of want. It was hard to believe he wasn’t a model by trade. By her estimate, he knew exactly how to turn it on.

At one point, his gaze fell on her and the expressions within its depth made her tremble. It made her think about their earlier kiss and what could have happened had they not been interrupted. He narrowed his eyes at her as if aware of her thoughts.

He dropped his gaze to her mouth and licked his lips.

“Excellent. Love it. A little more,” the photographer urged and Dani started.

She’d forgotten about the others.

Joe returned his attention to the camera and she wilted in her chair. Though he hadn’t touched her, his gaze had felt like a touch.

She moved away but she felt his eyes track her.

“Don’t go too far, young lady.” The photographer clicked away. “Can’t have the model lose focus.”

She grimaced and sat back down. Joe caught her gaze once more and did his eye seduction thing.
The rat.
It may help keep him in the sexy mood but it was killing her.

She needed to remember it was all for show. He smoldered so the photos would be good thus benefitting the charity. He simmered at Dani to reinforce their charade in front of Lisa. He
had no intentions
toward Dani and didn’t want her specifically.

She couldn’t afford to forget that. If she did, she’d be lost.

By the end of the shoot, she was ready for a cold shower. The crew packed up their equipment while Joe kept her by his side. Dani found it ironic that she played the bodyguard to a strong man who stood a few inches over six feet. Yet he seemed to think it was necessary because he never let her out of his sight.

The stylist sighed as she left with the last of the boxes. She probably saw Joe’s attention as romantic. “You are one lucky woman.”

“That I am,” she agreed while Lisa glared at her.

Dani grinned.

Mission accomplished—or at least on its way to being accomplished.

Now, on to the next step in this symbiotic relationship—getting Joe to agree to her request.

***

Dani dug her feet in the fine sand. They’d walked along the shore for almost a mile but she’d yet to work up the nerve to approach the subject on her mind.

Life is too short to wait.