Tempting Mr. Wrong (Wrong Man) (12 page)

“Isn’t it obvious? Probably not to you.” She laughed again. “You have been working on other people’s time lines your entire life. You finally earn your first taste of freedom and you come here because of a letter I found from Chris.”

“I told you. I’d do anything for my friends.”

“And you claim to have a complicated relationship with your mother,” she continued. “But when I asked you about food, you named her special dishes without even blinking.”

He’d never thought of it that way. “It’s good food.”

“You’re amazing,” she said as the sheet she’d been using for a cover-up fell to the bed, exposing her gorgeous body.

He ran a hand up her side and around her breast. “I think you’re the one in the room who’s amazing.”

And he did think that. Carly was so young, and she’d been put in a horrible situation.

Of course it was beyond imaginable that Mya, or any kid, should lose their parents. But at Mya’s age, she wouldn’t have many memories to hold onto. Carly had a lifetime’s worth. Carly and Chris had grown up together. They’d celebrated birthdays and holidays. She probably remembered unwrapping Christmas presents and watching fireworks together. There were probably countless memories of laughter and games, fighting, summer vacations, first days of school. Hell, he remembered when Chris had been so excited because his leave coincided with Carly’s college graduation.

While she was busy taking care of the house and the kid, working hard to find a job, no one had been taking care of her. Who did she have to lean on?

They may have been talking about his tiger mom and the structure of his life, but it was time to bring the conversation back around to her. At least he’d had a mom in his life, no matter how rigid she’d been. Carly had spent most of her life alone.

Decision made. Tonight, she would have him.

He leaned toward her and took her lips, softly, gently. She responded immediately, wrapping her arms around his neck and hanging on like he was some kind of life raft.

Gently, he moved his hand up and down the length of her, and then he replaced his hand with his lips and brushed soft kisses all over her skin. This was about making her feel good.

He couldn’t help the fact that with every one of her sighs, with each and every moan of pleasure, he happened to feel pretty damn good, too.

When he put his lips to the side of her neck, he felt her pulse quicken. He heard her breathing hitch as he moved his hands over her. He felt her tremble as he pushed himself into her. And when he moved inside her, he used slow, languid motions to make it last. His name emerged from her lips in soft whispers.

Just like the first time, she came first, and he followed quickly after. With a long, meaningful kiss, he gathered her in his arms, and together they lay in the silence of the room.

...

Lance woke from a deep sleep feeling good. Damn, fucking fantastically good.

It was still dark out, and he glanced at the clock on Carly’s bedside table. It was the middle of the night. Next to him, Carly murmured something in her sleep and turned onto her side. Then he heard another noise, a noise that clearly didn’t come from Carly. Lance shot up in bed. Squinting into the darkness, he made out a movement on Carly’s side of the bed.

“Aunt Carly.” Mya’s small, adorable voice pleaded with her sleepy aunt.

Carly stirred, but Lance decided to give her a break. “What’s the matter, Mya?” he whispered.

“I had a bad dream.” She hiccupped and his eyes had adjusted enough to notice she had one arm tightly wrapped around her favorite teddy bear and the other was pulling on her messy bed hair.

“Oh no,” he said softly. “Come over here and tell me about it.”

Like a shot, she was around the bed and climbing into his arms. Luckily, they’d replaced their discarded clothes before they fell asleep just in case this very situation happened. It had been Carly’s idea. Smart.

Mya sniffled and placed her head against his chest. When he felt the wetness through his T-shirt he realized the poor thing had been crying. Shit.

“Wanna tell me about it?”

She shivered against him. He pulled the blanket around her and leaned back against the headboard and the mountain of throw pillows on Carly’s bed. He never understood why women needed so many damn pillows. But maybe it was for cases like this.

“It was dark and there were monsters.”

Carly moved again, rolling over to face him. She started to rise, but Lance shook his head. He had this.

“Monsters? What kind of monsters?”

“Big ones. Big, hairy, scary monsters.”

“Those are the worst,” he said seriously and watched Carly smile. “I have dreams about them sometimes, too.”

Mya sat back. “You do?”

“Oh yeah. But you know what helps?”

“What?”

He waited a beat then he tickled her. She laughed and laughed as he made a buzzing sound. “The tickle monster always chases away all the other monsters, especially the hairy, scary monsters.”

He was happy to see her smiling now as the laughter died down.

“Lance?” she asked.

“Yeah?”

“How come you’re in Aunt Carly’s room?”

“Uh…” He looked down to see Carly stifle a laugh into her pillow. “Well…”

“Did you have a bad dream, too?”

“Yep. I had a bad dream about monsters, too. Good thing you showed up to protect me.” He tickled her again and she squirmed and giggled.

“Did Aunt Carly tickle you after your bad dream?”

“Well, you could say that.” Lance was glad they were in the dark because he could feel his face heating up and would guess his skin had turned bright red.

“Can I stay with you and Aunt Carly tonight?”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Carly nodding her head. “Of course. Why don’t you get right in the middle? That way you’ll be extra protected from the monsters.”

As Mya climbed in between them and snuggled against her aunt, Lance glanced over at Carly. She mouthed the words
thank you
and offered a big smile before wrapping an arm around Mya and closing her eyes.

He didn’t fall back asleep. Instead, he thought about the events of the day. The super-hot beginning with Carly and just now with Mya. Interesting how he felt the same sense of satisfaction he usually got out in the battlefield or running through a drill with his unit. But tonight hadn’t required any kind of advanced tactical training or life-threatening adventure.

Mya let out a cute little noise and rolled onto her side. He watched her for a few minutes and became aware of the fact that somehow he’d become wrapped around one of her tiny little fingers.

In a very short amount of time the same was becoming true of her aunt. Lance took in Carly’s sleeping form, finally at peace with all of that endless energy at rest. He felt uneasy and he wasn’t sure why. All he did know was that watching Carly and Mya sleep next to him was messing with his mind, and more importantly, his well-laid plans. Visions of road trips and casinos and vacations were giving way to tea parties and home renovations.

Lance was used to making a plan and sticking to it. So even if he was feeling a certain way about the two females next to him, he wasn’t going to change his mind on his scheduled plans.

Decision made, he closed his eyes. Yet, sleep eluded him the entire night.

Chapter Eleven

Lance observed the chaos running rampant throughout the room, trying desperately to take in the scene. But he was on sensory overload.

If he thought Mya’s bedroom was an explosion of pink princesses and sparkly ruffles, this party was like the equivalent of a nuclear detonation of girly goodness. Mya’s friend Caitlyn was celebrating her birthday with a tea party princess theme and invited twenty of her closest ladies-in-waiting. Her parents had decorated their house with every balloon and streamer ever invented. Lance had no idea that there were so many shades and variations of the color pink. A long table was set up near the window with a large cake shaped like—what else?—a princess. It was decorated with more icing than he’d ever seen. Layer upon layer of buttercream frosting, flowers made up of fondant, and extra sprinkles covered every inch of the cake. These kids were going to go sugar comatose real soon. Of course, they would have to stop running around and dancing to the
Frozen
soundtrack for that to happen. And just when had he learned to identify the damn
Frozen
soundtrack? Lance sighed and shook his head.

“I think you need this.”

He turned to find an oasis of wonderfulness in the form of a cold beer. Caitlyn’s dad chuckled and shoved it into his hand.

“Pete Bristol,” he said.

“Lance Townsend. I belong to that one.” He pointed to Mya as she skipped by, holding hands with Caitlyn and giggling. Hell, at least the kid was smiling and happy.

“My wife told me. You’re helping Carly out for a few weeks.”

Lance took a long swig of beer. The cold liquid coated his throat with a nice healthy dose of masculinity. “Trying to, so long as I don’t get buried in a sea of glitter.”

Pete laughed again. “I know the feeling. Caitlyn is kid number three for us. The other two? Also girls. I was hoping at least one of them would turn out to be a tomboy. No such luck.”

“Sorry, man.” Lance offered his most condoling expression.

“Ah well,” Pete said. “At least they’re all healthy.”

“Cheers to that.” Lance tapped his bottle to Pete’s.

“Once the tea party begins, my wife’s going to take over. Care to join me at the grill for some hot dogs?”

Best offer he’d received all day. Before he could reply, Mya called out to him. “Lance, Lance, watch this. Watch me.”

He dutifully stood while Mya did a short little dance that ended with a big leap and spin move. Along with Pete, he clapped and bent down as she ran to him and launched herself into his arms.

She looked up to Caitlyn’s dad. “Lance lives with me and Aunt Carly for a little while.”

“I heard that,” Pete said. “I hope you’re showing him all of your dolls and stuffed animals.”

Lance slid a wry glance in Pete’s direction. To his credit, Pete did try and suppress a smile. But Mya didn’t notice any of that.

She nodded emphatically. “I did. Lance loves to play in my room with Princess Sofia and everyone else, but he sleeps with Aunt Carly because he has scary dreams.”

“Oh really?”

“Yep. Every night.”

“Well, congrats to that,” Pete added as Mya ran back to her friend in a completely oblivious state.

The tips of Lance’s ears quickly heated up and that flush traveled down to his cheeks. Perfect. He tilted the bottle back and took another long chug.

“Scary dreams, huh?” Pete asked as he led Lance out to the backyard and his very large and impressive grill.

“It’s not what you think.”

Pete began fiddling with the different knobs to start the flame. “I think Carly is an attractive, funny, intelligent woman who also happens to be extremely available.”

Okay, maybe he did get it. Still, Lance didn’t want to spread any rumors about Carly.

As if reading his thoughts, Pete clapped him on the back. “What happens at the grill, stays at the grill. Don’t worry. I won’t be repeating any of that. As for Mya and company”—he pointed back toward the house—“you can’t be so sure.”

“Thanks,” he said gratefully.

“For what it’s worth, I like Carly. Always have. I knew Chris and Gretchen, and Carly was always around. She’s a good person.”

“Yeah, she is.”

After Pete slapped the first batch of hamburgers on the grill and closed the lid, he turned to face Lance. “Listen, I know this is none of my business, but I was close with Chris, so I feel like I have an obligation to say something.”

Lance clenched his jaw. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like this.

“Chris adored his sister but he also worried about her.”

Lance narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t misunderstand. Carly has a big heart and I wouldn’t want to see her hurt, that’s all. I think she just wants a family.”

Needs a family is more like it
, Lance thought.

“So if the two of you have started something, just make sure you’re in it for the long haul. Otherwise, get out now. Treat her right. She deserves nothing less.”

Lance couldn’t agree more, but as he continued to stand with Pete at the grill something nagged at him.
Make sure you’re in it for the long haul. Otherwise, get out now.

Lance didn’t want to get out right now. Yet… Uneasy, he opened a package of dogs for Pete. Maybe it was the thought that in the end he wouldn’t treat her right. She needed a stable family. He was going to leave. And there was nothing right about that.

…

“Quiggles!”

Carly heard the happy, if not screeching, calling of her college nickname all the way across the bar. Her smile came fast as she practically ran to the tall table where her very animated best friend, Piper, was waving her arms over her head.

Without worrying how crazy they looked, Carly flung her arms around Piper, and they hugged and screamed together. Carly felt ecstatic over getting a much-needed girls’ night out. She had Lance to thank for that. He volunteered to take Mya to one of her friends’ birthday parties.

“It’s been way, way, way too long. I’m so happy to see you,” Carly said as she finally took a seat across from Piper.

“You’re telling me. We have so much to catch up on.”

Piper and Carly met on the first day of college when they’d been paired as roommates. Whatever computer system filed them together was a blessing in disguise. The two of them had been inseparable since day one. They’d pledged the same sorority, took many of the same classes, went on multiple spring break trips together, battled a nasty case of mono at the same time, and had managed to never get sick of each other.

“I wish Anna could have met us tonight,” Piper said with a note of wistfulness in her voice.

“Me, too, but she had to go to Arizona for a conference. She’s been working so freaking hard lately. Although, I can’t complain since her hard work helped me land my new job.”

“Cheers to that.” Piper held up her glass of water, but Carly shook her head.

“Welcome home,” Carly said instead. She had to fight back a tear. She was beyond thrilled that her best friend had finally returned after one whole year in Paris, where she’d been working as an au pair. Piper claimed that being an au pair was simply an avenue that led to living in France for a year, but Carly got the feeling Piper had enjoyed the job more than that.

Carly scanned her friend. Piper was glowing more than usual and that was saying something. Piper had always been gorgeous, like a living, breathing Barbie doll. Her blonde hair had grown since the last time she’d seen her, and it fell down her back in loose, golden waves. Her blue eyes looked rested and the short black skirt she wore showcased her mile-high legs.

Not to mention, she was practically bouncing out of her seat.

“What’s going on?” Carly asked with a laugh after they ordered their usual cosmopolitans.

“What do you mean?”

Carly pointed her finger, wiggling it in Piper’s general direction. “Something’s different with you. I can tell.”

Piper put her nose in the air and used the British accent she’d mastered in theater class. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

Shaking her head, Carly persisted. “There is something. Come on, tell me. You tell me everything anyway.”

Piper glanced to the left and then to the right. Finally, she leaned across the table as if she were the keeper of the world’s largest and most guarded secret. Carly followed suit and leaned in, too, anxious to hear what her friend was holding back.

“I’m in love!” Piper screamed.

Carly jumped a mile out of her seat as her mouth fell open. “What? How? Who? When?”

“You forgot the where.” Piper took a sip of the cosmo that had just arrived. “Yummy. Okay, I’ll tell you every amazing, sexy, glorious detail.”

Carly listened attentively as her best friend filled her in on what sounded like a whirlwind romance in the city of lights. “Wow,” she finally said. “So you really met at the top of the Eiffel Tower?”

Piper nodded, biting her lip.

“That’s so romantic,” Carly said on a sigh.

“Luc is going to visit in a couple weeks. I can’t wait for you to meet him. What a year!”

Their waitress returned, and they ordered a couple appetizers. When she left the table, Carly sat back and took in her friend. “It has been a crazy year.”

Piper’s face fell, the happiness washing away as a serious expression dimmed all of her shining features. She reached for Carly’s hand. “Ohmigod, Carly. I’m sorry. Listen to me rambling on about love and Paris and making out behind the Louvre, and I haven’t even asked you about Mya or anything.”

“That’s okay.” And it was. Piper was an amazing friend. She checked in regularly and had even sent Mya a couple care packages.

“How is the little princess?”

“She’s great. Thriving in ballet class, enjoying her preschool.”

Piper took another sip of her drink. “And I should be asking where the little princess is. Did you find a babysitter?”

“Actually, Mya’s with Lance tonight.”

“Lance?” Piper’s eyebrows drew together as she tried to place the name. “I don’t remember a Lance. Have you been holding out on me? I know our emails and FaceTime sessions dwindled there at the end of my time abroad, but I would expect you to tell me if you’re dating someone.”

Carly sat up straight and gestured for the waitress to bring another round of drinks. “Remember when my brother got married and there was that really hot friend of his?”

She proceeded to tell Piper all about the letter she found and Lance’s unexpected arrival. She filled her in on all of Lance’s upgrades and improvements around the house.

“Wow,” Piper said, leaning back in her seat. “I totally remember that guy from your brother’s wedding. He was definitely hot. Didn’t you try to hook up with him?”

“Tried, but failed.” Carly rolled her eyes out of principle but, given recent circumstances, she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

“What is that?” Apparently Piper had noticed what was surely a decent blush. “Why are you getting all red at the mention of Lance? Exactly what have I missed?”

Carly shook her hands in front of her. “Nothing. I mean, a lot. Ugh.” She blew out a breath and tried to start again. “Lance really loved my brother. That letter meant a lot to him and apparently Chris asked him to check in on Mya and the house. Besides, he is Mya’s godfather.”

“I know a lot of godparents who wouldn’t make that much of an effort. Especially after they just got out of the army.”

“Well, Lance is different. He’s caring and sensitive. He’s great with Mya.”

“Oh really?” Piper asked calmly. “Anything else?”

“He’s patient and kind, not to mention smart. I’m sure he’s an amazing soldier, and he’s so good around the house. The renovations he’s doing are turning out great. Oh, and he’s funny, but not in the traditional way. It’s more of a reserved, dry sense of humor.”

“Sounds like Lance is the whole package. Let me guess, he also likes long walks on the beach and loves to travel.”

“I don’t know about that, but he does have this whole bucket list he wants to complete.”

Piper bit her lip, considering. “Then he’s only here temporarily?”

“Well…” Carly let the word fade into the air around them. She saw where Piper was headed with this and she didn’t like it. “He’s here now.”

“Maybe he’ll forget about this bucket list,” Piper offered.

Carly shook her head. “It’s really important to him. I don’t want to go into it because it’s his own personal stuff, but I get why he wants to travel and go through these experiences. He needs to. But besides that, he’s awesome.”

“And you guys are having super-hot sex and he’s fixing up the house and he’s really good with Mya.”

“Oh, he’s teaching me to cook, too. You’d be proud. I’ll make something for you next week.” The alarming look on Piper’s face made Carly laugh. “Seriously, I’m much better. Lance says he’s impressed.”

“So you’re cooking together. Tonight he’s watching Mya. Any trips to Bed Bath & Beyond yet?”

“Piper,” she said.

“Because two people playing house should totally spend their Saturdays checking out Bed Bath & Beyond.”

“We’re not playing house.”

Piper shook her head. “But you want to be.” She reached across the table and squeezed Carly’s hand. “Car, he’s leaving.”

Carly dropped her gaze to take in the wooden table filled with their appetizers and glasses. “I’m aware he’s leaving. Lance has been completely up-front about his plans from the beginning.”

Piper’s finger shot out to point right at Carly. “Holy crap, you’re in love with him.”

Carly dropped the fry she’d been about to shove into her mouth. Love? No way. That was impossible. “I’ve only known him for a couple of weeks.”

“What does that matter? Luc and I knew each other for two days before we were exchanging
I love yous
as we walked along the Seine. Time doesn’t matter in the love ’verse.”

“The love ’verse?” Carly quirked an eyebrow. “Seriously, Pipes. It’s not love.”

“You are so smitten. You’re a smitten kitten.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” She didn’t give her friend a chance to respond. “I think that you are in love with a hot Frenchman, and you just want everyone else around you to be in love, too.” She took a big bite out of one of the sliders they’d ordered.