Real Men Don't Break Hearts (13 page)

But the morning after his night with Ally was different. He woke first, the sweet scent of her instantly reminding him of how they’d spent the night together. For a while he was happy just to lie there next to her head of curls buried deep in the pillow. Memories of the amazing night they’d shared warmed him. Ally had been such an incredible revelation in bed. But when she woke, would she regret what she’d done? He could never have misgivings about last night, but if she did, he didn’t want to be there to see her sleepy eyes open and gradually fill with dismay.

He rolled out of bed quick smart, pulled on some clothes, and padded to the kitchen to put on the kettle. He made himself some tea and sat at his drafting table where he looked over his plans one more time. His first landscaping job. An important step in re-launching his brother’s business. In Sydney, Nate had everything Robbie had always coveted. But that was just a lifestyle, not a life. He wanted more: peace, satisfaction, a sense of belonging.

“Hi.”

Almost knocking over his mug, he swiveled to find Ally hovering in the doorway. She’d pulled on her jeans and shoes, but she was naked from the waist up, her arms crossed modestly over her chest. The sight of her barely covered breasts made his blood pressure rocket.

“Good morning.” He stood, lust already rising.

She hurried across the room, picked up her fallen T-shirt, and pulled it on.

“Can I cook you breakfast?” he said. “I make a mean omelet.”

“Um, no thanks.” Ducking behind the couch, she retrieved her bra and stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans. “I should leave now.”

“There’s no hurry. I’m not doing anything.” Except mentally undressing her. This morning after was unlike every other. Instead of wishing her gone, all he could think was how beautiful Ally looked. Her skin had a soft glow to it, and her mouth was ripe like a juicy tomato. He wanted her all over again. He wanted to spend the whole day in bed with her.

But she was already edging toward the door. “I have to open the shop today.”

“Can’t you give it a miss just once?”

“No, I can’t. Sundays are one of my better days, and I haven’t yet made up all the rent money I owe Mr. Cummings.”

The loose T-shirt she was wearing didn’t do a very good job of concealing her bra-less breasts. He could see them perking against the cotton, could practically taste them between his lips like ripe raspberries. His mouth started to water. “You don’t have to worry about that.” The words slipped carelessly from his tongue, all his thoughts centered on her lusciousness. “I can lend you the money.”

She caught her breath and bristled. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“What?” He blinked at her, slowly realizing he’d put his foot in it.

“You want to pay me money so I’ll spend the day in bed with you instead of working!”

“I said ‘lend,’ not ‘pay.’”

“I’m not some floozy.” She stomped toward the front door, her face flushed and angry.

“You’re taking this the wrong way. I’m trying to help you here.”

“Trying to help yourself, more like.”

Before she could reach the door, he hooked her by the elbow and forced her to face him. “Why’re you being so prickly? Did I do something wrong last night?”

“No.”
Her chest heaved as she fought her emotions. Eventually she said more calmly, “Last night was crazy good, but still crazy…”

His ribs tightened around his lungs. “So you’re regretting it?”

“Not at all. But…it doesn’t change anything between us.”

“Why would it?”

She frowned, lips tightening. “Yes, well, that’s what I want to make clear right here and now. You don’t have to go treating me differently just because of last night. I know the score.”

It was his turn to frown. “The score?”

She tilted up her chin and brushed the hair away from her eyes to give him a cool blue stare. “Nate, you don’t do relationships; I know that. It’s just sex, and I’m fine with that. Don’t think you have to give me special treatment. I don’t need it, and I don’t want it.”

“I see. And what about more sex? Are you fine with that, too?”

A faint trace of color bloomed on her cheeks. Her eyelashes fluttered down. “S-Sure. When it suits me.” She bit her lip as her blush deepened. “And you too, of course. But we’re just, um, friends.”

Friends with benefits. He’d had a few of those arrangements before, but this time it left a sour taste in his mouth. Ally wasn’t the kind of woman you made booty calls to. So why was she selling herself short?

Because that was all she wanted from him? Sex whenever it was convenient for both of them? Maybe she was right. After all, that was the message he’d been giving her all this time, that any woman who got involved with him couldn’t expect anything more than a blistering good time in bed. Call it playing to his strengths. When it came to sex, he knew everything there was to know, but relationships, that was a whole different ballgame. He’d never had a proper one, didn’t even know if he had it in him to sustain one. He rubbed his abdomen, vaguely aware of a cramp deep in his gut.

“Yeah, that suits me.”

“Fine. I’ll see you around, then.” She opened the door and almost bolted down the path.

He started after her but stopped at the bottom of the porch and watched as she hurried into her car and drove off, the gears grinding in protest. With a muttered curse, he leaned against the porch railing. This wasn’t at all the way he’d envisaged this morning.

“Just like your brother, eh?” A morose chuckle accompanied Mrs. Bennett’s head rising above the fence. Her gray hair was twisted around pink plastic curlers, giving her a bizarrely malevolent look. “Robbie was always kicking them out the morning after. Treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen. Looks like he taught you well.”

Fury thudded through Nate’s veins. Curling his hands into fists, he stomped up the porch stairs. “No wonder no one ever bothers to visit you, you interfering old busybody.”

Mrs. Bennett gasped and started to sputter, but he’d already slammed the door behind him.

Chapter Eleven

“Where were you last night?” Jess asked over the phone.

Ally fidgeted with the pens on her shop counter, glad her sister couldn’t see her. As soon as she’d gotten back from Nate’s place and opened the shop, she’d rung to check up on Jess. Her sister was fine. She was taking things easy for the next few days, and Brian had taken the twins out, which meant she had plenty of time to quiz Ally.

“I rang your mobile and your apartment at about nine last night,” Jess continued, “but you didn’t pick up.”

Ally remembered she’d left her mobile phone behind in her apartment when she’d gone out. She hadn’t even taken her purse, she’d been that agitated.

“I was so tired last night I fell asleep really early. I must have just slept through your calls.” Glancing at a mirror on the wall, she saw her cheeks growing pink. Why was she such a terrible liar?

“Oh, gee. Sorry for putting you through all that yesterday.”

“Hey, I’m just glad you and the baby are fine. You gave us quite a scare.”

“I hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable for you delivering those flowers to the Kerrigans?”

Ally grew still. Seth and Paige’s wedding. She hadn’t thought about that at all, not once ever since she’d left the Kerrigans’ mansion with Nate following behind her. She wasn’t even curious to know how the wedding went. A few weeks ago she’d thought Seth’s wedding would be a sour day for her, but the events of yesterday confirmed even more that she’d purged Seth from her system.

“Honestly, sis, it didn’t bother me. I had other things to worry about.”

“But I heard Crystal Kerrigan gave you a hard time. She rang Brian and complained about you and the centerpieces.”

“Oh, that.” Ally heaved a sigh. “I’m afraid I messed things up for you.” She quickly explained what had happened to rouse Crystal Kerrigan’s ire. “I’m sorry, Jess. I might have ruined your future business prospects with her.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll deal with her when I’m back on my feet,” Jess grimly said before her voice altered dramatically. “But forget about the Kerrigans. Nana tells me Nate Hardy brought you back to the house and stayed with you until Brian called.”

Ally fiddled with the pens again. “Yeah, I bumped into him at the Kerrigan place, and I was upset about you, so I told him. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Never mind that. Why did he sit with you? I didn’t know you two were so friendly. I thought you couldn’t stand him.”

“I’ve bumped into him a few times,” Ally found herself saying casually. “He’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. He’s starting up a landscaping business. Did you know that? Actually, it used to be his brother’s business, and now he’s re-launching it. A lot different from his old finance job, but he wants a change.” She was babbling, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “And he’s changed, too. He’s not the old Nate Hardy we used to know.” She forced herself to shut up. Silence lengthened between them.

“Oh my God.” Jess breathed out slowly. “Don’t tell me you were with him last night. Is that why I couldn’t get a hold of you?”

Ally clasped the bunch of pens tight in her fist. “Um, well…”

“Oh, no. Don’t tell me you
slept
with him?”

Excuses and evasions leapt instinctively to Ally’s lips, but she pushed them away. She was old enough to decide whom she slept with. “Yes,” she blurted out, “as a matter of fact I did. I spent the whole night with Nate, and—and it was pretty damn good.”

“Oh, sis.” Jess uttered a deep groan. “I don’t like the sound of this at all. Why on earth would you want to get involved with Nate Hardy?”

The front door jingled as a group of women entered, looking keen to buy something.

“Can’t talk now. I’ve got customers in the shop.” Ally nodded and smiled at the women coming in.

“But we have to discuss this.”

“Later.” Much later, if Ally had anything to do with it. She’d blabbed about her night with Nate in a fit of bravado, but she really didn’t want the third degree from her older sister.

“But Ally—”

Ally pressed the off button and turned gladly to her customers.

Later that afternoon, Ally was doing some bookkeeping when Nate called her. When she saw the caller ID on the screen, she had to take a few deep breaths before she could muster up the appropriately calm voice to answer.

“I’m picking up some Thai takeaway tonight,” he said as soon as she’d said hello. “Why don’t you come over?”

The sound of his caramel fudge voice instantly started to melt her cool. She hadn’t eaten much all day. Now, her stomach knotted and she started to salivate. Not from hunger, but from the thought of seeing Nate again. It wasn’t food she craved, that was for sure.

She cleared her throat. “That depends. What are you ordering?”

“Thai beef salad. Does that sound good?”

Or maybe he could run his fingers slowly down her spine. That sounded good, too. Or nibble on her neck just below her earlobe, or brush his stubbled jaw against her inner thigh, or touch her just about anywhere he pleased. Yum.

“Ally?”

She closed her moistening mouth and fanned her flushed cheeks with a bunch of invoices. “Oh, yeah. Thai beef salad. That’s great.”

“I’ll see you at seven, then. I hope you like it hot and spicy.” He hung up.

Hot and spicy. Damn, that only made her blood pump even harder. He’d been talking about food, but she felt as if she’d just had phone sex.

She told herself this wasn’t a date, so she shouldn’t tart herself up. No slinky dress or jewelry or special makeup. The only thing she allowed herself was some racy red underwear beneath her printed maxi-dress and a slick of pink lip gloss on her mouth.

By the time she pulled up outside Nate’s house she was buzzing with excitement. When he opened the door to her, Nate’s eyes widened, too, and she could have sworn he was equally roused at the thought of what was going to happen that night.

But he was obviously more used to this casual sex thing, because he greeted her smoothly and led her through to the living room where he poured her a glass of wine and opened a beer for himself. For a few minutes she gabbed on about the gift shop, wondering if she was doing the right thing or whether she was being annoying.

“I’m talking too much, aren’t I?” she eventually said.

“If it helps you relax…”

She rolled the wineglass between her palms and made a deprecating moue. “Shoot, am I that obvious?”

He grinned. “I think it’s cute.”

“So are koalas.”

“Yeah, I see the resemblance. Same fluffy ears, cute button nose, and guileless expression.”

She shook her head. “You’re not helping.”

“Maybe this will…” Eyes simmering, he plucked the wineglass from her, set it aside, reeled her into his arms, and kissed her.

His merest touch was all she needed. The nervousness burned away, and she kissed him back, matching his hunger. With his lips still on hers, he backed her up slowly until the edge of the bookshelf nudged her butt, and once he had her nicely trapped, he ravished her mouth even harder. Heat shot through her like erupting lava. She grabbed him round the shoulders and pulled him closer until their hips were locked together. Her body was ready to fry; she couldn’t wait to feel his skin against hers.

Pushing down the strap of her maxi-dress, he suckled on her throat. “Sweetheart, how do you like fast food?” he muttered against her hot, damp skin.

She raked her fingernails down the back of his T-shirt, pulling it free from his waistband. “I love fast food as long as it’s hot.”

“Good.” He swung her up into his arms and strode toward the door. “Because this is going to be very fast and very hot.”

It
was
fast and hot, and also incredibly tasty.

Ally was stretched out on his bed, panting and stunned but very satisfied, while Nate was lying on his side next to her, his chest heaving and an equally dazed expression on his face.

“That went off like a rocket,” he said between gulps.

Once they were breathing normally, he stretched out one hand and drew lazy circles over her belly. “I’ll give you the full menu later on. Ten mouth-watering courses all with matching wines.”

A shiver ran through her. Even though he’d just thoroughly taken her, she wanted more. One touch from him and she morphed into a sex glutton. She turned her head to him and gave him a saucy smile. “Will there be dessert?”

“You bet there’ll be dessert.” He teased her breast with his fingers, drawing a whimper from her. “Whipped cream, cherry pie, caramel fudge…whatever you like.”

What was he talking about? Were these euphemisms for kinky sex she was too demure to have heard of?

“Uh…you are just talking about different kinds of dessert, aren’t you?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “What did you think I was talking about?”

“I don’t know.” She glanced down at her aching flesh enslaved by his hand. “Sex, maybe. Dirty sex.”

With a throaty laugh he hauled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. “Would you like to have dirty sex with me, Ally?”

The rumble in his voice set her quivering. She’d like to have any kind of sex with him. She’d let him do just about anything to her. The idea turned her to mush.

He nibbled on her earlobe and began to lick her neck. “Dirty, smutty, filthy sex…mmm. I like how your mind works.”

Trouble was, her mind wasn’t working. Her mind had been taken over by a sex-crazed deviant. Her mind and her body. She had a virus rampaging through her, and there was nothing she could do except let it run its course.

She turned toward Nate and let the fever sweep over her once more.

“…and the best man got smashed before the reception and started bad-mouthing one of the bridesmaids during his speech. He had to be dragged off, according to my aunt.”

“Mmm,” Ally mumbled, straining to keep her attention on Tyler.

“What’s wrong?” Tyler filched a fry from Ally’s plate, dunked it in ketchup, and popped it into her mouth. “You look like you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”

Ally sat up and suppressed a yawn. She’d arranged to meet Tyler for lunch at the Red Possum on her Monday off, but she was having trouble staying awake. That’s what happened when you had vigorous, mind-blowing sex with a fit and gorgeous man two nights in a row.

“I’ve been listening,” she said, feeling guilty for not paying attention. Ally knew Tyler was only trying to support her by dwelling on the mishaps of the wedding. “The flower girl tripped over the bride’s train, and the best man was drunk.”

“At least your sister’s okay.” Tyler picked up another of Ally’s fries. “So you spent Saturday night at her place? Is that why you didn’t show up here?”

Oops. Too late Ally remembered that Tyler had badgered her to meet her here at the Red Possum on Saturday night, but Ally wasn’t ready to tell her why she hadn’t made it. Her firecracker fling with Nate was sparking hot, but she feared it would be over soon. Maybe in a couple of days, maybe in a couple of weeks. She wasn’t sure, but she did know it couldn’t last, and so, for the moment at least, she preferred to keep quiet about it.

“Sorry about standing you up,” she said. “I completely forgot.”

Tyler waved her fry. “Don’t worry about it. I was with friends, anyway. I had a good time, even if you didn’t.”

Ally picked up her burger, aware of the faint, pleasurable throb that still lingered in her muscles. She couldn’t tell Tyler yet, but she’d had a damned good time Saturday night. Maybe the best she’d ever had.

…

Nate pulled into his driveway just in time to see Mrs. Bennett letting her mutt take a whiz against his gate post. He hopped out of his pickup truck and strode toward his neighbor. Her fluffy purple slippers and sour expression were blights on the early morning freshness, but today he wasn’t in the mood to pick a fight with the old dragon.

“Morning, Mrs. Bennett. I see your dog’s making himself at home.” He directed a pointed look at the dog.

The old lady scuffled about in her slippers, an uneasy expression in her sunken eyes. Obviously she hadn’t expected him to be outside at this early hour and usually he wasn’t, but he’d spent last night at Ally’s apartment and slipped out at six because he had to be at his landscaping job by seven.

“He’s only marking his territory. It’s in their nature. Can’t stop him.” She aimed a surly glower at him, daring him to contradict her.

He could think of one way to stop the mutt. Cut off his balls. “That looks more like a full bladder to me. Next time, make him pee on your gate before you take him for a walk.”

Her mottled cheeks darkened, and her lips flapped, but she didn’t seem to know what to say.

“See you later.” With a brisk nod he brushed past her. Not long ago he would have been fuming at Mrs. Bennett, but today he felt too buoyant to argue with anyone.

He bounced into his house, feeling as if he could bench press a hundred kilos. Maybe it was because he’d spent the night with Ally. Their fifth night in a row, and it just kept on getting better. A month ago he would have snickered at the idea that prim and proper Ally Griffin would be any good in bed, but he’d learned she wasn’t at all prim or proper; she was more than good…she was dynamite. And it wasn’t just about sex. It was
her
. There was something about her that captured his attention. She didn’t try to pretend she was something she wasn’t. She was real and honest, and oftentimes he caught himself smiling and realized he was thinking about Ally.

She was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

And that was very good and very bad, depending on which way you looked at it. Good because it demonstrated he’d moved on from the superficial affairs he used to prefer. He’d progressed as a person, which was one of the goals he’d been shooting for when he’d moved back to Burronga.

But no matter how good it felt to be with Ally, it would also be bad to get too caught up. She didn’t see him as anything more than a cathartic fling. She wanted to change herself, break free from old habits, and he was about as different as she could get.

Besides, why would he want to turn what they had into a proper relationship? It was just something light and easy. Uncomplicated. And when it ended neither of them would get hurt.