Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (87 page)

Avoiding him, more likely.

Not that it mattered.

He gave the papers in his hands a snap and returned his attention to them, leaning back in his easy chair and recrossing his ankles on the ottoman.

But the subtle sounds continued to distract him. Finally he flung aside the papers and yanked his feet off the stool. Suddenly his nostrils filled with the heavenly scent of spices and brown sugar.

Baking.
The woman was baking.

He settled back, blinking at the kitchen door.
Well, hell
. Grinning, he picked up the papers and resumed his work, wondering idly what delights his new wife was concocting for him. This marriage thing wasn't so bad, after all. Once you got the hang of it.

Still, no sense letting on that he was elated over her efforts to please him. Might give her the wrong idea.

Hell, might give her the right idea.

Face it, this business arrangement idea was going nowhere fast. He'd tried his best to stay brisk and businesslike today for their wedding. He really had. But from the moment he'd seen her walking toward him up the courthouse steps, he'd known the effort was doomed to failure.

He might not be able to love her, but every time he looked at his bride, so pretty and glowing, her shy glances filled with warmth and hope, her body carrying the evidence of a mutual attraction he'd be a fool to deny, his belief in a strictly platonic marriage was exposed as the impossibility it was. Sooner or later, he'd stumble and fall. And fall badly.

He rested his head on the back of his easy chair and stared at the closed kitchen door. He and Rini had been dancing around each other all evening, ever since he'd insisted on carrying her over the threshold.

"Just a ritual," he'd assured her.

"Like when they threw the rice," she'd said as he lifted her into his arms. They'd looked at each other then she quickly looked away, embarrassed.

"I didn't think we really needed that rice shower, did you?" he said, gently teasing. "Under the circumstances."

He set her down, but kept his arms around her, tipping her chin up when she continued to study his tie. "Welcome home, Rini." He kissed her softly.

Lifting her lips to his, she had timidly returned his kiss. "I want to make you happy, Cole." Her eyes were guileless and sincere. "I know this isn't what you wanted—"

"Hush, sweetheart. You've already made me very happy, just by being here." He pulled her close. "We'll be fine. You'll see." He kissed her again, a little longer and a little harder. When he let the tip of his tongue graze the swell of her lower lip, she shied.

She backed away from him nervously, then glanced around the room. "Oh, Cole, you have a beautiful home."

With a mental sigh, he closed the door and propped himself against the back of it, following her movements. "It's a bit bare. I'm not here much. Maybe you can do something with it?"

He watched her take in the room—the gleaming hardwood floors and adobe-colored walls, floor to ceiling bookshelves, the huge fireplace. A couple of canvas-covered couches and his big leather easy chair. Come to think of it, it did kind of resemble his office.

"No curtains?"

"Never got around to them." He shrugged and grinned. "Just don't walk around naked with the lights on."

She darted him an amused look. "Too bad I had to leave my sewing machine at David's. I could have made some."

He pushed off the door. "You sew?" At her nod, he wandered over and sat down on the arm of his easy chair. "You can use mine." She glanced up, surprised, and he chuckled. "I make regalia, remember? It's in the guest room when you need it."

She nodded, purposefully examining some of the books on the shelves. "That'll be convenient. Having it in the same room I'm in."

He took a fortifying breath. This was the opening he'd been waiting for. "You won't be in the guest room, Rini."

She shot him a panicky glance. "No?"

He slid off the chair arm and walked slowly toward her. "No."

"Where will I be, then?" Her gaze darted to the living room couch.

Reaching out, he pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "In my room. A woman belongs in her husband's bed."

Her eyes widened and she let out a little gasp of panic, crushing the small hope he'd begun to feel. He had so wanted her just to be looking for a little pressure, or a definite invitation, so she could let herself give in to him.

"But our agreement. You said…"

He closed the distance between them, standing so close he was pressed into the baby, his face inches from hers. "Is that what you really want, Rini? To sleep alone in a cold, empty bed?"

When she wouldn't look at him, he slipped his fingers through her hair and gently pulled her head back, forcing her face up. "Alone, night after night? When there's a man right here who wants you? Who'll make hot, sweet love to you whenever you like?"

Her fire eyes were slumberous and full of want as she watched him. The blue darkened to cobalt, and her lashes fluttered down to rest on her cheeks. "I don't know, Cole."

"You're my wife, Rini. And I know you want me just as much as I want you. Sooner or later you're going to ask me to come to you in that big, lonely bed."

She swallowed. "I need time to think."

After a moment, he forced himself to let her go. Turning to the fireplace, he flicked a switch. The natural-gas logs burst into bright, colorful flames. "Okay. But you're still sleeping in my bed."

Silently, her eyes pleaded with him.

At that moment he was sure if he just swept her off her feet and carried her to that bed, she wouldn't fight him. Much. He could tell she wanted him, and he definitely wanted her. That was enough, wasn't it? After all, they were married now. For a few long seconds he was sorely tempted, but then reluctantly came to his senses.

"The room's bigger, and when the baby comes, you'll need space for the crib and what have you. I've moved my things to the spare room." He gave her an ironic look. "I'll sleep in your old bed. If nothing else, I can be surrounded by the smell of you."

Her mouth dropped open. "But—"

"You're down at the end." He gestured to the hallway. "Make yourself at home. I'm going to change my clothes."

With that, he had strolled down the hall to the guest room and gone in, carefully closing the door behind him.

Damn
.

Gripping the arms of his easy chair now, he brought himself out of the frustrating memory. That had been just a few short hours ago, and since then he'd been the model of a perfect gentleman. But her simple statement still hung between them, coloring every look, every accidental brush of their hands.

I need time to think.

How much time was she talking, here? Minutes? Days? Months?

Until she graduated and could blow him off for good?

He opened his eyes to the totally unexpected sight of her standing in front of his chair. "Jeez!" He jumped up, papers flying, and narrowly missed catapulting the tray in her hands to the floor.

"Oh, my God!" She hastily put the tray on the ottoman and knelt to pick up his scattered papers. "Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."

"Startle me? You scared the—" He halted and forced a grin. "Sorry. I'm just a little edgy tonight. Here, let me get those." He went down on his knees and started gathering the papers. She reached for one next to him, giving him a fine view of the upper curve of her breasts as they pressed against the fabric of the scoop-necked sweater she'd changed into earlier. He looked his fill. She caught him looking.

He winked, neatly straightening the stack of papers in his hands. "Hell, I'll take what I can get."

Coloring slightly, she handed him the papers in hers. "Are you hungry?"

He snagged her gaze with his and held on. "Oh, yeah."

"Good," she said, nibbling on her lip. "I, um, I made sandwiches. And banana bread."

He tore his eyes from her lips and looked hopefully at the tray. "Banana bread? How'd you know that's my favorite?"

"Lucky guess. Come on." Smiling, she patted the seat of his easy chair.

After she'd settled him comfortably with a turkey sandwich in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, she sat down on the floor beside him, leaning her back against the solid, straight side of the chair.

"Rini! What are you doing?" He started to get up. "You take the chair."

She grabbed the leg of his sweatpants and pulled him back down. "I like it on the floor. My back feels wonderful against your chair. It's at just the right angle."

He looked at her dubiously.

"Honest."

"We'll get you a chair tomorrow."

"Don't bother. I like it down here."

"Stubborn."

She batted her lashes.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "At least you could sit between my legs. Give me a thrill on my wedding night."

He almost choked on his sandwich when she said, "Okay," then scooted around and settled into the vee between his legs, pushing the ottoman to one side. She leaned back with her sandwich and mug, and the ends of her hair curled provocatively onto his lap. He stuffed his sandwich into his mouth to stifle a groan.
Great idea, compadre
. He thanked God for baggy sweatpants and prayed she didn't turn around anytime soon.

He'd just managed to relax when she looked over her shoulder. "Ready for your banana bread?"

"You bet."

She set aside his napkin and mug, broke off a piece of the bread and held it against his lips. "Open wide."

He blinked, his throat suddenly tightening.
She was going to feed him
.

She was sitting between his knees, her face practically in his lap, and she intended to feed him.
Ho boy.

He opened wide.

She picked up another piece and waited while he finished the first one. He was having a hard time swallowing. "Aren't you going to have any?"

She hesitated, bit off half of the piece she was holding, then held up the rest for him. A low sound growled out of his throat. He grasped her wrist and drew her hand to his lips.

He watched her watching his mouth as he pulled the bit of bread into it, along with her fingers, working them with his tongue. She followed his Adam's apple as he swallowed, then let her gaze drift down his body, coming to a skittish halt at the juncture of his thighs. His erection strained against the soft fleece of his sweatpants, inches from her languorous eyes. They looked up at him, slumberous and heavy-lidded. The sweater dropped seductively off her shoulder, and he knew he was in big trouble.

He had to taste her
.

Summoning the steeliest restraint that had ever been required of him, he gently lifted her face and bent low, angling himself to meet her lips. Softly, softly, he pressed a kiss to them.

Sweet.
She tasted like bananas and coffee and chocolate wedding cake. His arousal throbbed, and he had to clutch the arm of the chair mercilessly to keep from ripping that silly drooping sweater down to her wrists.

She ran her hand through his hair and kissed him back, her mouth warm and pliant. "It's been a long day. I think I'd better put these dishes away and get to bed."

Bed. Sounded like an excellent plan. Maybe she should just skip the dishes part.

"No, you go ahead. It'll just take me a minute to clean up out here."

"Okay, thanks."

Emotions warring inside his chest, he watched her pad softly out of the living room. He wanted her. With the pent-up passion of an eight-month wait, he wanted to be inside her. But he'd made a promise, and he never broke his word.

Closing his eyes, he listened for several minutes to the sounds of the night. Outside, leaves swirled around the cement driveway, carried on a light breeze. A car drove by. His bed creaked invitingly down the hall, calling him to his wife's embrace.

Damn, it would be so easy to love that woman. He wondered if, perhaps, he hadn't already started to...?

Strangely, the prospect didn't alarm him. It seemed she genuinely cared for him, and she had told him she truly wanted their arrangement to work. Maybe Tanya was right and Rini
was
different from the others, and he could let down his guard. Maybe his heart would be safe with her, after all.

He smiled as he turned off the gas fire and watched it die. Mindlessly humming a Pueblo flute tune, he cleaned up the dishes, then strolled to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

A few minutes later, he took a last glance at himself in the mirror. The face that gazed back looked happier and more content than it had in years.
Husband, father, and with any luck, lover
.

He could do this. Rini would help him move on, help him leave the past far behind, along with all its hurts and disappointments. He had been right to choose her at the powwow. She wouldn't abandon him now. Not after today. How could she?

* * *