A Convenient Arrangement(7)

“Happy New Year,” he said again, and touched his forehead to hers.

“Happy New Year to you too.” Leo’s kiss proved that he too felt the heat that coursed between them. She hadn’t imagined the electrical sparks at the Teddy Bear Luncheon, at Christmas, and all those other times she’d seen him before tonight.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, his voice like soft velvet against her skin.

How could she leave? She was meant to help Aubrey and Nina…

As if he could read her mind, Leo said, “They won’t notice.” His lips pulled at her earlobe. “Besides,” he whispered, “everyone leaves after the countdown.” The hand on the small of her back drifted down to her ass.

She could barely form thoughts, much less words. She started to speak, but those lips, Leo’s lips, were consuming her. Oh, yes, she was leaving, she was leaving now, and she wanted to do so quickly, without Aubrey or Nina or anyone else noticing who she left with. Yes, this was most definitely the best New Year’s of Gwen’s life.



*



This was the worst New Year’s of Leo’s life. He stared up at the ceiling and ran his hand over his jaw. Lights from outside illuminated the ceiling, where a long rounded crack shaped like a rabbit’s ear split the plaster. What had he done? He turned his head and his gaze landed on Gwen. One breast peeked out from beneath the soft blanket on her bed. Her face was relaxed, her skin smooth as marble, and her red hair flamed across her pillow. Damn. She was hot and fun and pretty, but she wasn’t his type. Plus, she was his sister-in-law’s best friend. Gwen wasn’t the type of woman he was looking for, not now, and most likely not ever.

Nope.

He appreciated that Justin was in love and now had a family, and that Anthony had always loved Shelly and they were finally together, but settling down wasn’t in Leo’s life plan. Nor were children and picnics and summer vacations with the kids.

So what the hell was he doing laying in Gwen Fleming’s bed? This was bad. Very very bad. Not only was Gwen much too sweet and family-oriented for Leo’s taste, but she was also quickly becoming a permanent member of the Travati inner circle. Leo closed his eyes. He’d made a huge mistake.

Leo pressed his hand to his forehead. This would be an utter mess. Aubrey and Shelly, not to mention Nina (who owned knives!), would have his balls for this. Leo’s gaze roamed over Gwen’s peaceful face, his thoughts spinning. Unless, of course, Gwen thought this was a mistake too. Then, with a little luck…maybe…they could both go about their lives, and even be in the same room at the same event, without feeling the weird tension that was created when one person wanted another who didn’t want them back. Leo would be okay, there would be no awkwardness for him, but Gwen didn’t seem like the type of woman who bedded guys for convenience.

His eyes swept across her room, filled with pictures of friends and flowered curtains and matching pillows piled on the floor. Pink. Loads of pink. Nope, he was pretty certain Gwen wasn’t a one-night-stand type of woman. More like a “let’s date for three months, meet each others’ parents, then maybe have sex right after we pick out a china pattern for the wedding” type of woman.

He was screwed.

Leo quietly lifted the blanket. He’d go home. Yes, it was the shitty thing to do, and yes, she might be pissed, but he would say he was feeling ill, that his dog needed him, that Devon called, that—

“Hey,” Gwen said softly. In the first glow of dawn beginning to dispel the darkness, he could see her eyes on him. Though a tiny smile curved her lips, a question lingered in her eyes.

“Hey.” His heart hammered in his chest. She was beautiful, not like the skinny model-type women he normally bedded, but sensual, with that doe-like wide-eyed look and swollen lips. She was damned good in bed too. He hadn’t expected Gwen would be so…uninhibited…but he’d been pleasantly surprised. Maybe the best he’d had. “I was going to head home.”

Disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she recovered so quickly that Leo wondered if he’d imagined the hint of sadness.

“Yeah,” he continued, “Renley’s been alone all night and he’s used to our run in the mornings, plus I really should go into the office for just a little bit to get a jump on some of the business for the new year.”

“Right. Of course.” Gwen pulled the blanket tighter around her body. “Yeah, I have tons to do today too.” Her smile was a toss-away, an attempt to make the best of an awkward situation.

Leo turned from the bed and bent forward to put on his clothes. He felt her eyes on him, just like last night when they’d been standing outside Aubrey and Justin’s bedroom. He picked up his sweater. Damn, when you were trying to subtly let a woman know that sleeping with her had been a mistake, getting a hard-on didn’t help make your case.