Fevered Nights

Clay signaled a five-minute warning to go time, and then stepped out to the balcony.

Thankful for the rescue he knew would be coming in five minutes, Neil grabbed his phone and took it off speaker. “Good morning to you, too, sir.”

“How could you get your name in the tabloids? If you’re going to cheat on your wife, couldn’t you at least be discreet?”

“Ex-wife. And you should know better than to believe anything you read in those rags, Dad.”

“Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant. What matters is public perception.”

“The truth doesn’t matter? Spoken like a true politician.”

“Maybe you can afford to be flippant, but my staff is fielding calls from every major news outlet. And thanks to your impending divorce, my poll numbers are already down. Or did you forget this is an election year?”

Neil never forgot election years. His father never let him.

“Neil? Did you hear me? Drop that Piper tramp and come back to your wife before it’s too late.”

Tramp? Neil ground his teeth. “Tell Mother I won the yacht race for her charity.” He hung up.

* * *

PIPER SLEPT LATE.

She’d lain in bed for hours last night thinking about the evening. Was that what a real date was like? At first, it’d been...nice. There’d been no game playing. No hidden agendas. Neil might’ve tried to take her dancing, but he hadn’t turned all macho when she’d ended the night early.

She hugged her pillow and relived the feel of his strong arm around her as he’d tried to shield her from the paparazzi. Another first. Not feeling so...alone. For a few blessed moments she’d let go and let someone else bear the burden.

If she was honest, that was probably why she’d scurried up to her room on her own last night. The energy that had sizzled between her and Neil in the lobby when she’d looked into his eyes? It had frightened her how badly she’d wanted to invite him up to her room. But that would’ve changed things between them. And not for the better.

A few months ago she wouldn’t have thought twice about sleeping with a man like that. But after the nasty incident at the cruise terminal, she’d had an epiphany of sorts. She’d looked back on her behavior the past five years, ever since she’d gotten control of her own money. And she’d been rather ashamed of herself. What would Nandan think of her?

Once she finally had fallen asleep her dreams were of her brother. Always of him. Always a variation of the same nightmare she’d had since landing in London. She and Nandan climbing over the great mountain of rubbish in Delhi—amazing how the stench could smell so real in a dream. Nandan joyously finding a half-eaten roti. They’d shared the flatbread that day. A good day. But the dream always distorted into her searching and searching for Nandan, wandering the streets, calling her brother’s name until she woke up crying.

Wiping her eyes, she sat up and padded to the bathroom to splash water on her face. A quick brush of her teeth, then she pulled on her workout clothes and went to the hotel gym for her two-hour regime.

By the time she’d returned, showered and dressed, Ragi was at the door. Piper let her in, and then sat at the table, her stomach growling.

Ragi was beaming, carrying a stack of newspapers and Piper’s protein shake. “It worked!” She dropped the papers onto the table.

“What worked?” Piper took the shake with a grimace. What she wouldn’t give for a rasher of bacon and eggs.

“The visit to the children’s hospital. And your date with the SEAL. The press has gone wild speculating about your affair. They’re saying you must have reformed your bad-girl ways since this hero is dating you.”

Piper read one of the headlines. “Oh, no.” Her stomach cramped.

“What do you mean, oh, no?” Ragi sat down on the other chair, scrolled through her mobile and then thumbed a short text message to someone before looking up. “This is what we wanted.”

“Ragi, this paper says that we’re lovers. How is that good?”

Ragi waved away the concern. “As long as they don’t have naked pictures of you two together or—” she gave Piper a meaningful glare “—another sex tape, it’s all good.” She pointed at one newspaper. “This one says that’s why you visited the children’s hospital, because this guy is a good influence on you. The PR firm is already spinning the story of you dating a navy SEAL. Trust me. Now, what time are you seeing him tonight? I’ve just scheduled you to visit the veteran’s facility this afternoon, isn’t that perfect? The press will be there, so be sure to find a navy vet and—”

“No.”

“Get your pic—what?”

“Ragi, I won’t exploit men and women who’ve been wounded in the service of their country. I’m not going.”

“It’s not exploitation. It’s bringing attention to their plight.”

“And I’m not going to see Neil again.”

“But your PR people want you to. This could be better for your career than a dozen charity events.” Her assistant acted as if the subject was settled.

“Ragi, it’s not fair to use him to fix my career. Besides, I have that lingerie shoot in Sweden next week. I thought we were leaving for the UK tomorrow. Won’t the press just label me a callous heartbreaker again?”

“Not fair to him how? He’s a senator’s son. I’m sure he’s accustomed to handling a little publicity. And we can stay in Miami for a few more days. Get some sun, repair your rep here. That’s the beauty of having a SEAL for a boyfriend. If he’s always away on a secret mission, how can they blame you for not being with him?”

“Boyfriend? Ragi, this is barmy.”

“Look, I’m only quoting the PR firm you hired, and for now they want you to keep seeing him. I’m sure Lieutenant Barrow will be more than happy to be seen escorting you around town.”

Piper made herself drink her shake. Could it be true? Would her appearance at this facility really help raise awareness for injured soldiers? At least the visit to the children’s hospital yesterday had been to raise money. And would Neil not mind the horrible headlines? A thought occurred to her. Maybe he’d asked her out for this very reason. To get his name—or his father’s—in the papers.

She pictured him sitting across the dinner table from her last evening. Listening to him talk about his training, watching how his jaw had clenched when he told her about earning the gold pin, and the sincerity in his eyes when he’d talked about honor.

No one should ever make you feel stupid.

She glanced over at Ragi. “I would like to see him again...”

“Good.” She snatched up Piper’s phone and extended it to her. “You said he gave you his number. Call and invite him out tonight.”

Piper accepted the phone. “Out where?”

With an I’ve-got-this-covered grin, Ragi produced two tickets from her leather satchel. “Courtside seats to a Miami basketball game.”

4

NEIL TURNED THE WHEEL, tacking the sloop, while Clay adjusted the rigging.

“If only we could’ve gone through BUD/S in this kind of water, huh?” Clay called over the flapping sails and slapping waves.

Neil huffed. “Yeah, we could’ve gotten tans instead of frostbite.” He grinned as Clay gave him a look that only someone who’d been through BUD/S would understand. They wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. It had made them who they were.

However, it didn’t stop them from appreciating today’s balmy weather. Heading out to open sea, Neil basked in the warmth of the sunshine and the cool spray of salty water. He was leaning over to grab a bottle of water when his phone buzzed. Motioning for Clay to take the wheel, Neil relinquished the helm and then pulled out his cell.

Hav tix to basketball game. Want to go?

“What is it?” Clay asked.

“Piper.” Neil sent Clay a smug grin. “She wants to see me tonight.”

A slow smile spread over Clay’s face. “You dog!”

Neil wasn’t sure what to make of the invitation. After those ridiculous headlines, he figured she’d be upset and he’d never hear from her again. On the other hand, maybe any publicity was good publicity for a supermodel. A professional basketball game wasn’t exactly low profile.

Neil hit Reply and thumbed, Pick u up at 5.

Within a couple of seconds she texted back, Meet u in lobby.

He shoved his phone into his pocket. “Better catch your big one pronto, bro. And I need a rain check on wingman duty tonight.”

Clay looked outraged. “Hey, man! That’s not right—”

“Okay.” Neil moved toward the bow and started releasing the line. “I’ll let the gorgeous model who wants to take me to the playoffs know that I can’t go ’cause I have to babysit my poor, pathetic...”

Clay swore. “Fine, but you owe me. I flew all the way down here on my weekend off just so you wouldn’t be lonely.”

Neil scoffed. “Yeah, ’cause you’re selfless like that.” Checking the line, he trimmed the jib sail. He and Clay had been assigned to different teams after BUD/S, so they’d never served a mission together, but he knew Bellamy would always have his back. He motioned toward the fishing rods. “Let’s catch us a big one.”

* * *

TURNED OUT THEY didn’t catch anything, but they weren’t exactly putting much effort into it. Fishing was more of an excuse to relax on the water, to sit back and shoot the breeze. Neil returned to his hotel room with time to shower and dress for dinner.

At Piper’s hotel, he’d had to shove past the swarm of paparazzi, but as soon as he strode into the Saint-Tropez’s enormous lobby, he scoped her like a sniper honing in on his target. She was standing next to a small woman in a colorful sari. The closer he got to them he could see that Piper’s companion was younger than he’d first assumed and that one side of her face was disfigured by a jagged scar.

When Piper’s gaze met his, he saw nothing except her light green eyes. She gestured toward the smaller woman. “Lieutenant, may I introduce Ragi Bhagat, my assistant?”

The woman bowed from the waist. “Lieutenant Barrow.”

Neil matched her bow and looked up in time to see the approval in her dark brown eyes. Had he passed inspection?

Piper was dressed casually tonight in pressed black jeans and an off-the-shoulder top that revealed burnished dark golden skin. She held up two tickets. “Ragi has secured courtside seats for us.”

“Sounds great.” He looked at Ragi. “Aren’t you coming, Miss Bhagat?”

Her eyes flared in surprise, but she quickly recovered. “I’m not a sports fan.”

Piper cut in. “Do you like basketball, Lieutenant?”

“Neil.” His attention returned to Piper. She sounded apprehensive about pleasing him, but why? Not for the first time he wondered about her motivation. She could have her pick of handsome celebrity types. So what was she doing with him? He was average looking on a good day. Between training and real ops, his body had been squeezed through the wringer more than once and gotten the scars to prove it. But who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth? “If it’s got the word ball at the end, I love it. You?”

Piper shrugged. “In the UK, football—or soccer—is very popular.”

“You better go, Piper.” Her assistant urged her toward Neil.

“Oh, yes.” Piper smiled at him.

Neil bowed to the assistant. “Nice to meet you, Ragi.” After the woman bowed in return, he accompanied Piper to the hotel’s main entrance. “So you live in London?” He’d talked so much about himself last night he hadn’t learned anything about her.

“Yes, I have a flat in Eaton Square, but I’m hardly ever there.” She stepped outside and headed for a long white limo waiting under the portico. Guess they weren’t taking a cab tonight.

As he walked beside her, a dozen media parasites closed in with cameras and microphones, all shouting questions.

“Piper, how did you and Lieutenant Barrow meet?”

“How long have you been lovers?”

“Lieutenant Barrow, how does your father feel about your affair?”

These people were leeches. In the abstract, the fantasy of making headlines was amusing. And really, who cared what a bunch of tabloids printed about him? But being hemmed in as he and Piper tried to get to the limo set off every warning siren. Was this what she went through all the time? Why didn’t she have security personnel?

But instead of cursing or shoving the recording devices out of her face, she just flashed that beautiful smile while she clung to his arm. His protective instincts kicked in and he pushed several reporters out of their way. Just as he reached the limo door, another reporter blocked their path.

“Is it true you’re pregnant with the SEAL’s child?”

Neil froze and Piper’s hand on his arm became a death grip. Man, they really did make this stuff up.

But then Piper spun to face the vipers and gave them a playfully scolding look. “You naughty lot.” She wagged her finger. “Lieutenant Barrow and I are merely friends.” She smiled and ducked inside the limo as the driver opened the door. Neil followed her. Just friends, huh? Why hadn’t she flat-out denied the pregnancy?

As soon as they were both in the limo, her scent invaded his senses. Something exotic and full of spices that tightened his gut and made him want to hold her close. He faced her and placed an arm across the back of the seat. “Are we merely friends?”

Her gaze flew to his and her eyes flared in surprise. “You’re very direct.”

He shrugged. “I don’t see any reason to beat around the bush.”

She gave him a quizzical smile. “You Americans and your idioms.”

Leaning toward her, he raised his brows. “You’re not answering the question.”

Her smile faded and her playful gaze became serious. In the silence he could hear her draw in a ragged breath. His own breathing caught. He stared deeply into her eyes as something passed between them. A frisson of energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. In the field, that would’ve been a warning that something was wrong. But with Piper this felt right.

She used her tongue to wet her lips. He stifled a groan. Now all he could see was her full, red mouth. He closed the distance between them, taking her mouth in a searing kiss.

She moaned and he tightened his arms around her, reveling in the feel of her soft curves pressing against him. Just as she had after handing him the trophy, she responded to his kiss, urging him deeper, her tongue playing with his.

After months of coming home to an empty, sterile apartment on base and sleeping alone night after night, he was starved for this woman. That must be why his body was reacting so intensely. His hands couldn’t seem to get enough of her. They moved from her hips to her waist, down her spine to cup her bottom.

Giving him hot, wet kisses, she moaned again and straddled his lap. When she rubbed against his erection, his body hard and needing, he almost cried out. He kissed her neck, across her bare shoulder. He wanted to taste her, to possess her. He slid one hand around to palm her breast.

“No.” Her voice was strangled, but her hand squeezed his wrist, tugged it away.

Neil blinked as the world cleared from its haze. He tried to get his breathing under control. Embarrassment made his face heat as she slid back to her own side of the limo.

“I’m sorry.” He shifted in the seat, his erection outraged at the aborted mission.

What was wrong with him? He’d never felt that out of control with a woman before. Certainly not with his wife. He ran a hand through his hair and forced himself to look at her. “I shouldn’t have— Maybe I misread the signals.”

“No!” Her gaze flew to his. She put her hand on his arm. “I— You didn’t.” Her eyes seemed to plead with him to understand. He didn’t, but maybe...he did. He covered her hand with his and turned away to look out the window at the bay. They were already on the MacArthur Causeway.

In the awkward silence he heard her stomach rumble. He looked over in time to catch her self-consciously rubbing her midsection.

“I’m starving, too,” he said.

She smiled and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “I didn’t eat lunch.”

“Why?”

She glanced down, running her fingers over the seams of her purse. “I just...” She shrugged. “I was scheduled to appear at a veterans’ facility this afternoon.” She scoffed. “Appear. How condescending that word sounds. As if I was deigning to grace them with my presence. The men and women I visited with are more brave and selfless than I could ever be.” She stared at him, unflinching. “Like you.”

Brave and selfless? His chest tightened. Good old brave and selfless Straight Arrow Barrow. But he didn’t want to be some knight in shining armor, superhero type, guy on a pedestal. He was flesh and blood. With flesh-and-blood needs. He cleared his throat. “I don’t know about that, but I could definitely go for a hot dog and some nachos right about now.”

“I shouldn’t eat that type of thing.”

“Oh, yeah.” He nodded, smiling. “I forgot. Should we stop somewhere for a salad?”

As she met his gaze, her worried expression slowly turned mutinous. “No.”

* * *

FORGET HER DIET. The frank’s juicy aroma enticed her as soon as they drew up to the snack vendor. She ordered a hot dog with mustard and relish piled on top, chips dripping with gooey cheese and a soda in a cup so large she doubted she could finish the entire thing.

But she did.

It was delicious. It was sinful. Ms. H would’ve never approved.

But she wasn’t under Ms. H’s thumb anymore, was she?

Piper licked her lips and smiled at Neil as he cheered for the men bouncing the ball across the court. Despite the flash of photographers’ cameras and the red blinking lights of video filming, he seemed to be having a good time.

“I’m sorry about all the press,” she said.

“Are you kidding? These are courtside seats. And this is the playoffs.”

Whatever that meant. Piper couldn’t have cared less about basketball, but she was having a smashing time, too. Neil was a perfect gentleman. If it hadn’t been for the tingling of her lips and flutter in her stomach, she might have thought she’d imagined the amazing kiss in the limo.

No, not a kiss. It’d been so much more. She’d felt as if she were engulfed in a powerful force of passion and, oddly, comfort. Wrapped in his arms, surrounded by him, she’d felt as if, for that moment at least, everything would be all right.

“Want some more nachos?” Neil spoke loudly into her ear over the shouting fans and the stomp of athletes’ shoes on the court.

She glanced down at her empty plastic tray, and then shook her head. “I can’t believe I ate all this.” She’d have to begin a liquid diet tomorrow.

“How long are you in town? Are you doing a photo shoot, or just handing out trophies to schmucks like me?”

“I fly to Sweden next week. But I may not fit into the lingerie after all this.” She patted her stomach.

After studying her a moment, Neil took the empty tray and cup from her. “Be right back.” He got up and disappeared down the corridor beside their floor section.

Had she ruined everything by admitting that? But what was there to ruin? It was a couple of dates. She was leaving in a few days. So was he.

Then, why did she feel as if she might’ve just lost something important?

He returned empty-handed a few minutes later, taking his seat beside her and smiling as if she hadn’t just admitted to all her bad behavior.

“I thought maybe I’d disgusted you.”

He whipped around to stare at her incredulously. “No way.” He took her hand and grasped it between both of his. They were such masculine hands. Tanned and rough, with a light dusting of hair on his fingers. So confident. So capable.

“You’re what, twenty-five?” he asked.

“Twenty-three.”

“Jeez, you’re a kid.”

“Then, why do I feel so ancient?” She finally looked up at him. Her breath hitched at the intensity of his gaze.

“Hey, I don’t know anyone who didn’t pull some stupid stunts when they were young. You just had more money and more people watching you than the rest of us.”

A lump of emotion tightened her throat. There was that feeling again. Safe. Protected. Everything would be all right. She squeezed his hand.

When everyone jumped to their feet and cheered loudly, he remained seated, his attention on her. “You’ve done a lot of living in your twenty-three years, huh?”

Had she? In terms of all the things she really wanted to do, she’d barely lived at all. Besides, nothing else mattered until she found her brother. She refused to think Nandan might not be alive. Was he hurting, though? Hungry? Wondering why she didn’t come find him? The latest report from her private investigators had turned up nothing new. She couldn’t think about what might have happened to Nandan without wanting a drink.

“Hey, you okay?” Neil tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She made herself smile. “Brilliant.”

Checking a thick complex-looking silver watch on his left wrist, he stood and then tugged her up. “It’s late, Piper. Let’s get you home.”

Home. Her hotel room wasn’t home. But neither was her flat in London. Not yet. Not without her brother. “But the game isn’t over. Aren’t they going to play off tonight?”

His demeanor lightened and he tipped his head back and laughed. The crinkles around his eyes and brackets by his mouth deepened when he smiled. His straight white teeth dazzled against his tanned face. Laughing. Smiling. He seemed so easygoing, so carefree. So...normal. She wanted that.

Quickly frowning, he swiped a hand over his rugged chin. “What? Did I get mustard somewhere?”

He looked so adorably self-conscious that she giggled and reached up to touch his cheek. “No, you’re fine.”

He stilled and covered her hand with his. “Come back to my place tonight.”

Well, that answered that. After the kiss in the limo, he clearly expected bad-girl Piper to fall right into bed with him.

Cameras flashed. Reporters closed in.

Neil glared at them all. She jerked her hand away, clearing her expression, adopting a cool nonchalance.

Being seen with a navy hero for her career was one thing. Letting herself feel something for him was quite another. And she’d already made a fool of herself over Brad. What was the saying? Fool me once... Fool me twice...

Twisting around to grab her bag, she repaired the chink in the armor around her heart. “I think I should just go back to my hotel,” she said as she straightened.

The heat left his eyes and he smiled. “Sure.”

* * *

NEIL COULD TAKE a hint. The lady wasn’t interested. He’d like to sweep her off her feet, carry her to her room and make love to her in her bed all night long, but he’d received her message loud and clear.

Still, this time he was determined to walk her to her door. She frowned at him when he stepped into the elevator beside her. He wanted to reassure her, palms up, “Just seeing a lady to her door, that’s all.”

She blinked at him, that funny look in her eyes again. As if she didn’t believe he was for real. He figured the lady had been lied to one too many times. But he could wander around in those light green eyes of hers for days and never care that he was lost. When she focused her attention on him, he couldn’t seem to care much about anything else.

As they reached her door, she fidgeted with her key card, avoiding his gaze. “I had a marvelous time tonight, Neil. Thank you.” Her smile was purely for show. What was going on here?

“Piper.” He cupped her elbow, laid his other hand gently along her jaw. “Whether you sleep with me or not, I still want to see you again.” He inched closer, lowering his head, bringing his lips within millimeters of hers, but he didn’t make contact. This time it had to be her decision.

Her lids closed and her mouth touched his. The kiss was combustible. Deep, full of need and something else. A longing. Maybe just for sex, but it felt like more. As if she was asking him for something, but he didn’t know what.