The Heat is On (8 page)

“Thanks.” With a faint smile, Annabel e leaned against the counter and added, “So how are things with Matt?”

Her guard instantly shot up. She knew Annabel e was dating Matt’s best friend, and a part of her wondered if Matt had put Annabel e up to this. Was he fishing for information? After his whole date-for-sex trade, she wouldn’t put it past him.

But although she wouldn’t admit it to him, she real y was starting to enjoy their dates. Yesterday they’d gone for lunch at a fish and chips place near the harbor, and when he picked her up after work that evening, they’d seen a new horror movie playing at the Royal, an old-style cinema house near San Diego’s East Vil age.

The talking wasn’t bad either. She loved hearing about Matt’s family and he never ran out of stories to tel about his four older sisters. Apparently they fussed over their baby brother like mother hens. His mother and grandmother sounded sweet as hel , though she could understand why he felt smothered by them sometimes. Who wouldn’t, when your mother insisted on sewing nametags with bright red fabric hearts into every piece of clothing you owned?

But she knew she couldn’t keep letting it happen anymore. Al the dates, the long talks…way too close to relationship territory here, and she knew from past experience just how bad she was at those. Back when she’d actual y cared to find someone to share her life with, she’d only ended up broken-hearted.

Now she knew better, and no matter how much she liked Matt O’Connor, she needed to put some distance between them before anything got too serious.

Sensing Savannah’s hesitation, Annabel e’s smile widened. “He didn’t ask me to ask, I swear. It’s just that we haven’t seen him around the building the past week, so I figured he was hanging out at your place.”

“Yeah, we’ve been hanging out,” she said careful y.

“Does he make you melt in bed every time he cal s you
darlin’
?” Annabel e mimicked Matt’s faint drawl, then laughed. “I just about did.”

Savannah’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait—you slept with Matt?”

Looking sheepish, the other woman nodded. “Yeah.

I figured he’d tel you.”

“Oh. He didn’t.”

The icy jealousy coursing through her veins came out of nowhere. For some reason, her claws were out at the revelation that Matt and Annabel e had slept together. She tried to stop the annoying reaction, but it only intensified when she unwittingly pictured Matt and Annabel e naked together.

“It was just a one-night thing,” Annabel e added.

“Ryan was there too.”

Savannah pasted a bright smile on her face, but she suspected Annabel e could see right through it.

The other woman’s cautious tone had spoken volumes. “I’m sure it was fun,” she said, cringing at her overly cheerful voice.

Annabel e let out a laugh. “You’re jealous.”

“And you’re laughing about it,” she grumbled.

“Aren’t you nice.”

“I’m not laughing at
you
. Wel , I guess I am, a little, but that’s just because you’re total y busted.” Annabel e’s brown eyes shone with delight. “You keep acting like you don’t care about Matt one way or the other, but this proves that you do.”

Savannah eyed her suspiciously. “Did you…you purposely told me about having sex with Matt, didn’t you? You wanted to see my reaction.”

“Yep,” Annabel e said, making no move to apologize. “I just know he’s real y into you, and I wanted to make sure you felt the same way. Obviously you like him more than you’re wil ing to admit.” She wanted to protest, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. Annabel e probably wouldn’t believe her, anyway, if she insisted she didn’t have deep feelings for Matt.

But she
didn’t
have deep feelings for him. She liked him. She loved having sex with him. That was as deep as her feelings ran.

Surrrre,
said the mocking voice in her head.

Gritting her teeth, she ignored the internal taunt.

Even her own consciousness was trying to convince her she was in love with the guy or something. Which she wasn’t. She didn’t do pesky emotions like love.

Apparently she liked Matt O’Connor enough to experience a spark of jealousy at the thought of him with another woman, but that did not mean she liked him enough to have a relationship with him.

She suddenly realized she needed to make it clear to him where she stood. Matt and Annabel e believed there was some love connection happening between them, and who could blame them? Here she was, going to movies and lunch dates with the guy, listening to his funny family anecdotes. No wonder Matt and his friends thought this whole fling was turning into something more.

Maybe it was time to set them straight.

Matt knew something was up when Savannah suggested they go to one of the busiest bars in San Diego for their next date. The past week, they’d gotten closer than ever, and he’d started looking forward to their non-sex moments. He usual y did most of the talking, but eventual y he’d gotten Savannah to open up and tel him more about her life.

She even confessed about her cheerleading days, which he teased her about mercilessly. Somehow he couldn’t imagine her doing cartwheels and shouting

“B-E aggressive!” to a crowd of high school footbal fans.

Each time she revealed something personal, though, she immediately pul ed back, and this morning, when they’d made plans to meet up tonight, he’d heard the unmistakable distance in her voice. He knew Annabel e had been at the shop earlier in the afternoon to go over some wedding details, and he wondered if Annabel e had done something to upset her. Somehow he couldn’t imagine that happening. In fact, he was pretty sure he knew exactly why Savannah was acting the way she was.

They were getting too close for her comfort.

Pushing the thought aside, he focused on Savannah, who was sipping on a vodka-cranberry cocktail and laughing at the antics of a few younger guys arguing over by the pool table. Again, he knew why she’d suggested the Sand Bar for tonight’s date.

The place was loud and always fil ed to capacity, offering pretty much the opposite of an intimate atmosphere. This bar was one of his favorite dives—

he came here often with the guys—but it wasn’t the place to have a real conversation, which was something he’d been looking forward to al day. He knew this was Savannah’s way of distancing herself, though. She’d been doing it ever since the beach. The sex was stil as hot and passionate as before, but the emotional barrier Savannah kept in front of her heart had only seemed to grow higher.

“I’m in the mood for something different tonight,” Savannah announced, a sensual smile curving her mouth.

Matt’s guard shot up. “What kind of different?” He had to raise his voice over the din.

Her gaze swept over the throng of bodies in the bar. She lingered for a moment on a tal , blond-haired guy wearing a Chargers footbal jersey. “Him, maybe?

What do you think, is he good in bed?” Uneasiness washed through him. “What are you suggesting, darlin’?”

She shrugged, and the loose wide-necked shirt she wore slid down, revealing her bare shoulder. “Might be fun to have some company tonight.” A threesome. Christ, she was actual y suggesting a goddamn threesome.

His first instinct was to shout “hel no”. Not that he was a prude or anything. He and Ryan had indulged in plenty of threesomes. So had he and Aidan Rhodes.

Yet Savannah’s proposition absolutely floored him.

Especial y since he knew it was just another part of her plan to push him away. She probably expected him to balk at the idea, storm out in disgust.

Or…maybe she was actual y serious.

He couldn’t deny that he’d met his match in the form of Savannah Harte. She loved sex just as much as he did, and she was always quick to initiate a fun way to spice things up. Like the other night, when they’d ordered that Chinese food and she proceeded to lick low mein noodles off his stomach. She definitely knew how to have a good time.

So did he. Usual y. But right now…shit, was she serious or should he cal her bluff?

He decided to test the waters first.

“You want some random guy to join us tonight?” There was a sharp edge to his voice.

Her gray eyes twinkled. “Why not? According to Annabel e, you’re no stranger to threesomes.”

“Annabel e told you about that night?”

“Yup. And she also said it wasn’t an isolated incident, for you, anyway.” Savannah leaned forward with a teasing expression, and the neckline of her shirt sagged lower, revealing her creamy-white cleavage.

Trying not to look at those mouthwatering tits, Matt kept his gaze on her face, studying her. “Threesomes can be entertaining,” he said neutral y.

“Exactly. So let’s do it.”

Before he could respond, a familiar voice sounded from behind, and then Aidan Rhodes strode up to their table. “O’Connor,” he said, raising his beer in greeting. “What’s going on, bro?” He noticed Savannah and grinned, the dimples in his cheeks popping out. “Who’s your beautiful friend?” Interest flickered across Savannah’s face as she appraised Aidan. Matt wondered if she found Rhodes attractive. He wasn’t into guys, but even he had to admit that Rhodes had it going on. Six feet tal , strong jaw, perpetual stubble, and of course, those dimples.

Annabel e had once told Matt that women
loved
dimples.

“This is Savannah. Savannah, this is Aidan,” Matt introduced, then gestured to the empty chair at their table. “Have a seat, man.”

Aidan sank down and took a long swal ow of beer.

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I? I came here with a few other guys from base, but two of them have already hooked up with total strangers and the third might be throwing up in the bathroom.”

“Your friends left you al alone?” Savannah mocked, laughing softly.

Aidan’s dark eyes swept over her, zeroing in on the cleavage Matt had been trying to avoid. “They sure did. Good thing I found some new friends.” Matt sipped his own beer, watching the casual interplay between Savannah and Rhodes. Nearly an hour passed, and although Matt had been an active participant in the conversation, cracking jokes with Aidan, his mind was somewhere else the entire time.

He watched Savannah and Aidan interact, wariness creeping up his spine. Neither one was outright flirting or anything, but he could tel they each found the other attractive. His chest squeezed at the thought, but at the same time, he liked and respected Aidan. He was a good guy, real y truly decent, and if they were seriously going to have a three-way tonight, better with Aidan than some slimy stranger.

Matt almost choked mid-sip as he realized where his train of thought had taken him. Fuck, was he actual y considering this ménage idea?

“I’l be back in a few.” Aidan’s voice made Matt lift his head. His friend had stood up and was already heading toward the restrooms.

Matt noticed Savannah’s gaze focus on Rhodes’s behind as he strode off.

“I like him,” Savannah remarked. “How come he’s not a SEAL like you? He’s just as ripped, physique-wise.”

“You like his body?” he said darkly.

“Sure.” She reached out to rub the palm of his hand with her fingers. “It’s obviously not as super-duper sexy as yours,
darlin’
, but you’ve got to admit, he’s a hottie.” She suddenly cocked her head. “Have you ever had any threesomes with him?”

Matt gave a reluctant nod.

She raised one blonde eyebrow. “Real y. How were they?”

“Pretty damn good,” he admitted.

“So what do you think…?” She tilted her head again and flashed him a sexy smile.

Matt clenched his teeth. “Do you real y want to do this or are you trying to…”

“Trying to what?”

“I don’t know.” He felt frazzled. “Get me to break up with you or something.”

“Breaking up implies we’re in a relationship. And we’re not. I just want to have a good time, Superman.

It’s al I’ve wanted from the start. And I like this Aidan character. He’s real y cute.”

“Cute enough to fuck?”

A brief flash of indignation blazed through her eyes.

“Yeah, actual y he is. And considering you’ve seen him naked while the two of you screwed who knows how many random chicks, I don’t see how you can be upset with me for bringing it up.”

She did have a point. Matt hated hypocrisy, yet here he was, getting pissed that she’d suggested something he and Aidan had already done a few times before.

“ Yo u
really
want this?” he asked, studying her intently.

Savannah’s expression never wavered. “Yes.”

“Fine then.” From the corner of his eye Matt spotted Aidan returning from the men’s room. Just as Aidan reached the table, Matt stood up and clapped a hand on his friend’s arm. “You want to get out of here?” he asked roughly. “Savannah and I were thinking of heading back to her place.”

Surprise creased Aidan’s features. “You want me to join you?”

Matt lowered his voice. “My girl’s in the mood for some extra company.”

Aidan slanted his eyes at Savannah, looking more than a little intrigued. “You want some company, honey?”

Savannah’s cheeks turned a shade of pink. “You’d be into that?”

“I’m into a lot of things,” Aidan said with a husky laugh. He glanced at Matt, who was seconds away from wrapping his fingers around his friend’s throat and squeezing. “You cool with this?”