Anything Goes...

She arched her brows at him. “You mean, to take a vacation before starting work?”

“Don’t get so defensive,” he said, playfully cupping the back of her neck. Her skin was so soft and warm he wanted to run his palms all over her. Hard to believe this was the scrawny little tomboy who’d taught him how to bait a hook and beaten him at soccer. But here she was, all grown up and filled out. Soft and curvy, and making his blood simmer.

“I’m not defensive. It’s just that you’re making too big a deal out of a simple vacation.”

“My apologies.” He continued to massage her nape, pleased when she briefly closed her eyes and let her head fall forward.

His gaze followed the rise and fall of her chest, the way the rounded tops of her breasts pushed up above the sarong. The strong urge to slide his hand between the overlaps of the fabric made him sit up straighter and strategically angle his arm over his overactive crotch.

“Feel good?” he asked,

“Oh yeah.” She sighed. “Too good.”

“Nothing can feel too good,” he whispered. He had to watch himself. Given the slightest encouragement, he’d crawl all over her. He eased up, letting his fingers trail away. “About dinner…how about we get together?”

“I don’t know.” She sat up straighter. “What about Ginger and Tony?”

He shouldn’t have backed off. A little physical coaxing might be in order. “What about them? They can make their own plans. Or I suppose we could have dinner with them.”

She hesitated, her brows drawn together in thought, her tongue slipping out to moisten her lips again and drive him insane. “This is only the first full day of vacation.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “And?”

Fidgeting with the sarong, she seemed reluctant to continue. “Why are you here?”

“What do you mean?”

“You told me this was a notorious pick-up place.”

“And you’re assuming I’m here to get laid?”

“Yeah.”

He grinned at her directness. “That would be nice.”

“Okay, so don’t you think you’d be better off spending your time meeting that goal?”

He didn’t know whether to laugh or groan. “Talk about a brush-off.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Basically you’re telling me I’m not getting lucky here so don’t waste my time.”

She let out a low growl of frustration. “Don’t you see? I’m letting you off the hook.”

He was getting frustrated himself. “How?”

She leaned back and took a deep breath, the swell of her breasts undermining his concentration. “Let’s discuss this hypothetically, okay?”

“Okay,” he agreed, trying to keep a straight face. Hypothetically. Right.

“Let’s say we both came here to have a week of wild, uninhibited sex.” She quickly added, “Hypothetically, of course.”

He nearly lost it then. Wild? Uninhibited? He shifted to hide his body’s eager reaction, and nodded.

“Okay, then…” She seemed remarkably calm. “Wouldn’t you want the whole thing to be anonymous?”

“Why?”

Her eyes widened. “Surely you wouldn’t want anyone who knew you to be around watching.”

He put up both hands and shook his head. “Hey, I’m not into that.”

“Darn it, you know what I mean.”

He grinned. “Yeah, okay, I do. But I still don’t understand what you’re worried about.”

She shook her head and sighed. “Look, this is my one week of freedom and I’m not going to blow it.”

“Don’t you think we would hit it off in bed?”

“What part of anonymous don’t you understand?”

“Come here.”

“What?” She eyed him warily when he grasped her chin.

“What part of chemistry don’t you understand?” He slanted his mouth over hers and teased her lips open with his tongue.

At first she tensed, but in seconds she gave up all resistance and put a hand on his chest. He deepened the kiss, sweeping the inside of her mouth, tasting, sucking, absorbing her sweetness. When her hand drifted downward, he sucked in a breath, disappointed when she stopped at his waist.

He fought against guiding her hand down to his growing erection. He’d gotten so damn hard it was uncomfortable. But he didn’t want to rush her. She had enough misgivings.

Instead he drew his palm down her arm, then back up again, deliberately brushing her breast, pleased when she didn’t pull away. Cautiously he molded his hand to her shoulder and then moved it to cup her breast lightly.

She whimpered softly and shifted, forcing him to lose contact. When she leaned back, her eyes were dazed. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?” He casually moved his hand to her thigh, while holding her gaze.

“We have to stop before it’s too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“To stay friends,” she whispered, shifting, squirming, until his hand landed higher up on her thigh.

He couldn’t tell if the action were conscious or not, but he was getting damn close to heaven. “Who says we can’t?”

“This is so confusing.” She sighed, leaned away and moved her leg so that her thighs clamped together. “I never ever expected to see anyone I knew here.”

“But you did, and you have to realize we’re two mature adults now.”

“I do.”

“Obviously, I’m very interested.”

She blinked. “Okay, but if we do go through with this, and I’m not saying we will, we need to set ground rules.”

He frowned. “Such as?”

“If we agree to a physical relationship, we both go into this knowing it’s a one-week stand. Or you may decide one night is enough, someone else may catch your eye and I don’t want you to be afraid to—”

“Christ, Carly, I didn’t come here for the sole purpose of having sex.”

“I didn’t either,” she said defensively.

He smiled. “I didn’t think otherwise.”

“Okay, then…” She cleared her throat. “You understand that this is a one-week deal, right? Then we go our separate ways.”

A disgusting thought occurred to him. “Are you getting married?”

“Married?”

“When you return to Oroville. Is there someone waiting for you? Is that what you meant by a last fling?”

“Good God, no.” She shook her head vehemently. “I wouldn’t be here if I were about to be married.”

“Okay. I had to ask.”

She drained her cola and stood. “Maybe I will have a Bloody Mary.”

“Help yourself.” He watched her walk to the mini bar, enjoying the gentle sway of her hips, the athletic curve of her calves. “Are you still playing soccer?”

“No.” She laughed. “Not for over eight years.” She rinsed out her glass and then turned to look at him with dismay in her eyes. “This is a bad idea, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

“We have a history together. Not much of one, but still…”

“Isn’t that better?”

“No.” She looked away and focused on making her Bloody Mary. “We can forget the whole thing, Rick. No problem. Really.”

“Just stay friends?”

“Sure.”

He couldn’t tell if she was ignoring his sarcasm or just didn’t get it. “We haven’t seen each other in over twelve years. We’ve made no attempt to contact each other. I wouldn’t classify us as friends.”

“I’ll send you a card this Christmas.”

“Very funny.” He shook his head, wondering if this was commitment phobia making her so paranoid. “Is this an annual thing for you? Once a year you go on vacation and—”

She stiffened and set down the glass. Without another word, she headed for the door.

He jumped up and caught her around the waist. She shoved at his chest but he wouldn’t let her go. “Come on. I wasn’t being judgmental or trying to insult you. I’m simply trying to understand.”

“Of course I haven’t done this before. I’m just curious, okay? You know what Oroville is like. It’s a darn fishbowl. I can’t sneeze without everyone knowing about it.”

He tightened his arms around her. She was so soft, her skin smooth and warm and her eyes… “I didn’t remember your eyes being this green.”

“They’re kind of hazel.”

“Right now they’re green. Very green.”

“Because I’m annoyed.” With raised eyebrows, she added, “Very annoyed.”

“Not at me.” His mock expression of innocence made the corners of her mouth twitch.

Her lips lifted in a reluctant smile. “I don’t see anyone else in the room.”

“That’s right.” He waggled his eyebrows up and down. “We’re alone.”

Her gaze drew to his mouth, and he felt the tension radiate from her. “Rick, I’m very much attracted to you and I’d like for us to get together. As long as we both understand there are no strings attached.”

“Ah, so you think once we’ve made mad passionate love I won’t be able to resist your charms.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t quit your day job.”

He smiled, his gaze falling to her lips. “Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

HAD HE SLIPPED something into her cola? Or had she simply been hanging around with Ginger too long? Carly Saunders was not that bold. Well, sometimes, but in many ways she was still that shy little girl Rick had first met, full of false bravado and bluster on the outside.

She looked away, out of the window toward the ocean. Not that she could actually see it from where she stood but she imagined the warm blue-green water gently lapping against the shore. The image did little to calm her.

“Carly?”

She wouldn’t look at him, and instead reclaimed the Bloody Mary off the top of the mini-bar. He hooked a finger under her chin and brought her face around to meet his. The hunger in his eyes sent a thrill of pleasure up her spine. She forgot for a moment that she held the glass, and it tilted, the liquid sloshing on her hand and wrist

“Let me help clean that up.” Then he picked up her hand and bent his head.

Mesmerized, she watched as his tongue made contact and he licked off the spilled liquid. Her breath caught at the velvet warmth of it, and she closed her eyes, knowing she should stop him, but helpless to do so.

He continued licking his way up her arm, until he got to the curve of her neck. He kissed her there and then worked his way up to her ear.

She let her head loll back. This was much better than anonymous. This was Rick. She knew him. She trusted him.

He made a low guttural sound and captured her mouth. She responded, holding nothing back, opening up to him, their tongues meeting in an erotic dance.

When his hand moved to the knot securing her sarong, she didn’t stop him. When he untied it, letting it fall to the floor, and then slid his palm down the curve of her hip, she still didn’t object. In fact, she did some of her own exploring, running her hand over his flat taut belly, and twirling a finger in the hair around his navel.

He was the one to finally break the kiss, his breathing ragged and heavy. “We’d be more comfortable in bed.”

She swallowed, her breathing not so steady either. “God, this is so hard.”

“Not as hard as I am,” he whispered, lightly biting her earlobe.

“You’re awful.” She smiled at the casual way he ran his hand up and down her side as they talked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“And you love it.”

Carly bit her lip. That was the problem. She did love it. She loved Rick’s irreverence, his sense of adventure, and his go-for-it attitude. She remembered how much she’d learned that first summer with him. Oh, and the fun they’d had—even though she’d gotten into more trouble than ever before in her whole life. She’d also learned that it wasn’t so easy being the pastor’s good daughter.

“We have to take this slow,” she said firmly, straightening so he knew she meant business. “Really think about it.”

“I’ve hardly thought about anything else.”

“Rick.”

The pleading in her voice must have sunk in because the amusement faded from his face. “We’ll take it slow,” he said as he toyed with the elastic of her bikini bottom, slipping a finger inside, stroking her skin. “Did I ever ’fess up about the dreams I had about you?”

She shook her head, his mesmerizing gaze capturing hers. “Tell me now.”

He added another finger to his exploration, and yet another, and then followed the curve of her bottom, but not too far. Nothing threatening. Just enough to tease her. Make her wish he’d cup his palms over her flesh and pull her against him. Make her forget about going slow.

“I guess I wouldn’t have said anything then, especially at sixteen,” he said, watching her, his gaze locked onto hers. “Way too embarrassing.”

Mimicking him, she traced the top of his waistband, letting her fingernails dip under the elastic, pleased at his sharp intake of breath. “I hope you’re going to tell me now, since you brought it up.”

“It was the typical sex-crazed sixteen-year-old boy’s dream. I think I’ll leave it at that.”

Carly smiled. “Okay, then let’s talk about what you’ve been doing since then.”

“I thought that would be the kind of thing you would want to avoid on this vacation.”

Annoyed with herself, she lowered her hands. She was curious about him, about what he’d accomplished, but he was right, getting personal led to intimacy. Exactly what she wanted to stay away from.

He shifted away and reached for his beer. “Okay, what the hell…after high school I went on to USC. Stayed for two years of graduate school. Then headed for Kenya and the Ivory Coast.”

“To dig?”

“That, and to see the sights.” He brought the beer to his lips, drained it and opened the small refrigerator. “What about you?”

“That’s all?” She laughed, and he stared blankly at her. “Silly me. Everyone’s been to Kenya. Must make for very boring conversation.”

Ignoring her sarcasm, he got out another beer. “In school I did a lot of studying and an equal amount of partying. Just your average college Joe.”

“You’ve been everywhere. That’s hardly average.”

He shrugged. “I haven’t traveled much since. I’ve come here on vacation for the past three years.”

She frowned. He’d been dead set on studying archeology, on making his mark in the same field as his parents. That required travel. “I’m assuming you studied archeology.”

“Oh, yeah. Got my master’s and all that.” He gave her a pensive look. “You always wanted to teach. Is that what you’re doing?”

“I will when I go back to Oroville next week. Well, in two months when the school year starts.” She paused, hoping he’d continue. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing.”

“Trying to seduce you.”

“Come on.” She gave him a playful jab, but her insides were already turning to butter. “I’m serious.”

He took a swig of beer, and faced her, determination and desire blatant in his eyes. “So am I. But—” He held up his hands in surrender. “We’ll take it slow.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice a breathless betrayal. “Let’s talk some more.”

“Oh, brother.”

She ignored his grumpy expression. “How are your parents?”

“Divorced.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Why the surprise? It happens to couples all the time.”

“So they don’t work together anymore?”

He gave her a mocking look. “That’s about the only thing they could do together without fighting.”

“I didn’t know,” she murmured. As a boy he’d told a different story. To him they were like gods.

“No big deal.” He set down the beer. “If we’re going to talk, sweetheart, it’s not going to be about the past.” And then he reached for her. “Let’s talk about what we’re going to do tonight….”

4

“IN CASE you’ve forgotten, this room has only one bathroom.” Disgusted, Carly pounded on the door for the third time. The lighting at the desk was too dim and she had only five minutes left to finish applying her makeup.

“Hold on.” Ginger’s impatient tone only made Carly more annoyed. “This humidity is doing a number on my hair.”

“Your frizzy hair will be the least of your worries if you don’t open this darn door.”

It opened suddenly. Ginger frowned at her. “What the hell has gotten into you?”

“We have only five minutes before we meet the guys for dinner.” Carly jabbed a finger at her watch. “You can do your hair out here. I need the bathroom light for my makeup.”

“No kidding. You look like a clown.” Ginger threw her a cool look as she pushed past, curling iron in hand.

Tempted to make a crack about her frizzy hair, Carly held her tongue. Ginger always hogged the bathroom and Carly seldom minded. But this evening she was in a strange mood. Edgy. Uncertain. Scared to death.

It was only dinner, she told herself as she set down her makeup bag, looked in the mirror and sighed. She did look like a clown. Too much blush. The unfortunate bluish eye shadow made her look eerily like her mother’s high-school graduation picture.

She loved her mom, but yuk… Carly was used to wearing a more natural shade when she bothered at all. So why was she making herself crazy? She knew in her heart that Rick wasn’t a candidate for her week of therapeutic debauchery. No, actually she knew intellectually he wasn’t the right one. Her heart foolishly wanted to jump in head-first.

“What are you scrubbing all that off for?” Ginger stared at her from the doorway. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it about you looking like a clown.”

“You were right. This isn’t me.”

“It’s going to be dark. You’ll want to wear more makeup than usual.”

“Mascara and blush will be enough.”

Ginger sighed. “Yeah, I guess he’s pretty much a sure thing.”

Carly slid her a sidelong glance. “What do you mean?”

“I saw the way Rick looked at you.”

“We’re friends. That’s all.” Carly turned back to the mirror and inspected her bald face before reapplying the tinted moisturizer.

“Friends?” Ginger chuckled. “Okay, but don’t tell me you’re not ready to jump his bones.”

“I am most certainly not ready to jump his bones. I haven’t decided yet.” Carly smoothed in some foundation to blot out several obnoxious freckles. “Are you ready?”

“Pretty much.” She reached around Carly for the hairspray. “I don’t understand you. The guy is gorgeous. He obviously wants you. You’ve been doing a little drooling yourself. What’s the problem?”

“You have to ask? This whole week was supposed to be about anonymity.”

“So? Isn’t it better that you know and like him, and who knows what could develop? You said yourself you’d eventually like to get married.”

“Nothing can develop. That’s the—” Carly cut herself short. She didn’t want to get into this discussion with Ginger. Or anyone. It was too hard to explain. Her longings were a mystery even to herself.

Yes, she eventually wanted to have a husband, start a family, and she wanted to do it in Oroville. She loved her home, and she wanted her children to have the same advantages she’d had growing up in a small loving community. The problem was, the guys who lived there were conservative and boring, with not much more ambition than to own a new pickup every three years.

Not like Rick. He’d been exciting and adventurous and had brought out a reckless streak in her she hadn’t known she possessed. The discovery had been both exhilarating and scary, and the careless behavior not always easy to suppress.

Even now she could clearly recall the time he’d suggested they explore the old Colby mine. Condemned since she’d learned how to talk, the mine had been strictly off limits and all the kids in Oroville knew it. None of them would even dream about ignoring the no trespassing sign. But all he’d had had to do was dare her…

She smiled. That was one of her best afternoons ever.

Darn it. She could really like Rick. Heck, she already did. But, at this point, it wasn’t like she’d go home and pine away for him. Intimacy could change that. Then where would she be?

“Damn it. Look at the time. We’re late.” Ginger squeezed her eyes shut and aimed the hairspray at her French braid.

Spray went everywhere, and Carly grabbed her makeup bag and exited the bathroom in a fit of coughing. She applied some blush with a far lighter touch this time and decided to forgo any eye pencil.

“Okay.” Ginger surfaced from the bathroom, and slung her purse over her shoulder. “Ready for action.” She adjusted the top of her turquoise sundress to get maximum cleavage. “I’m talking really ready.” She grinned. “Tony isn’t going to know what hit him.”

Carly laughed as she grabbed her own purse. She couldn’t help it. What a piece of work. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about coercing Tony.”

Ginger got to the door but stopped, her eyes sparkling. “Why? Did Rick say something?”

“Oh, please. He didn’t have to.” Carly made a shooing motion, trying to get her friend out the door. “Tony is definitely hot for you.”

A pleased smile curved Ginger’s lips as she walked out into the corridor. “I’m betting he just might get lucky tonight.”

“Might?” Carly pulled the door closed. “Yeah, right.”

Ginger laughed. “Which reminds me. How are we going to work the room thing?”

Carly frowned at first, and then she got it, petty envy taking a bite out of her. “Just put out the do not disturb sign and I’ll disappear for a while.”

“If he spends the night with me, you can spend it with Rick in their room, right?”

Carly swallowed her disappointment and jealousy. “Sure,” she said, ignoring the butterflies that had turned her stomach into a circus.

“WHAT LOOKS GOOD?” Tony stared at the menu. “Anybody ever have conch chowder?”

Carly had never even heard of the dish. She glanced at Ginger who was too busy making goo-goo eyes at Tony to notice.

“It’s okay,” Rick said. “I prefer abalone myself, but it’s a local favorite. You ought to try it once while we’re here.”

“You’re right. Try everything once is my motto.” Tony grinned at Ginger. “Go back for seconds if you like it.”

She giggled and gave his arm a playful punch.

Carly started to roll her eyes but caught herself. From her peripheral vision, she saw Rick watching her. Instead of acknowledging him, she buried her nose in the menu.

“What are you having, Carly?” He touched her hand and she jerked in surprise, nearly knocking over the pina colada he’d ordered for her before she and Ginger had arrived.

She set down the menu and clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m not sure.”

“Want me to make a couple of suggestions?”

Something in his lowered voice made her look up. He winked and her silly heart fluttered. “I’ll probably have the mango chicken.”

“Oysters,” Tony suggested. “They’re good for—”

Giggling, Ginger nudged him again. “We all know what they’re good for.” With a lift of her chin, she made a teasing sound of disgust. “As if I need an aphrodisiac.”

Tony smiled and whispered something in her ear.

Carly inwardly groaned and quickly picked up the menu again. Why on earth had she agreed to come to dinner with them? Stupid question. She wasn’t ready to be alone with Rick again.

“Come on, children, save this for later.” Rick threw a wadded up cocktail napkin at Tony.

“We have far more interesting matters to discuss later,” Tony said, throwing the napkin back and giving Ginger a significant look.

Thankfully, Tony and Ginger cooled it long enough to order and eat dinner. Carly knew Rick had spoken up because he noticed she was embarrassed. Not embarrassed, really, more uncomfortable. And a little annoyed. Not with Ginger or Tony, certainly not with Rick, but with the situation in general.

She’d loved flirting with him earlier. No way could she deny the incredible chemistry that had made the entire room sizzle. She’d relived the touching and kissing the rest of the afternoon, but in the end apprehension nailed her. If she did anything with Rick, she was going to think back to it forever and ever. Think about the carefree person she was with him, and about what could have been. Sad, but true.

Which left her starting to panic over her vacation. How could she possibly enjoy herself wondering if he was watching her? She would have to think of something quickly or spend the rest of the week watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.