A Tricky Proposition(16)

“You’re biting your lip.” His tongue flicked over the tender spot. “I don’t know why you’re fighting this so hard.”

And she didn’t want him to find out. “Okay. I’m not worried about your sexual prowess. I’m worried that once we go down this path, there’ll be no turning back.”

“Oh, I see. You’re worried you’re going to fall in love with me.”

“No.” She made a whole series of disgruntled, dismissive noises until she realized he was teasing her. Two could play at this game. “I’m more concerned you’ll fall in love with me.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“I don’t know,” she said, happy to be on the giving end of the ribbing. “I’m pretty adorable.”

“That you are.” He scanned her face, utterly serious. “Close your eyes,” he commanded. “We’re going to do this.”

She complied, hoping the intimacy they shared as friends would allow her to revel in the passion Jason aroused in her and keep her from worrying about the potential complications. Being unable to see Jason’s face helped calm the flutters of anxiety. If she ignored the scent of sandalwood mingled with car polish, she might be able to pretend the man lying on top of her was anyone else.

The sound of his soft exhalation drifted past her ears a second before his lips found hers. Ming expected him to claim her mouth the way he had fifteen years ago and kiss her as if she was the only woman in the world he’d ever wanted. But this kiss was different. It wasn’t the wild, exciting variety that had caused her to tear at Jason’s shirt and allow him to slip his hand down the bodice of her dress to bare her breasts.

Jason’s lips explored hers with firm but gentle pressure. If she’d worried that she’d be overcome with desire and make a complete fool of herself over him, she’d wasted her energy. This kiss was so controlled and deliberate she wondered if Jason was regretting his offer to make love to her.

An empty feeling settled in her chest.

“See,” Jason said, drifting his lips over her eyelids. “That wasn’t so bad.”

“I never expected it would be.”

“Then what are you so afraid of?”

What if her lust for him was stronger than his for her? What if three days with him only whet her appetite for more?

“The thought of you seeing me naked is one,” she said, keeping her tone light to hide her dismay.

His grin bloomed, mischievous and naughty. “I’ve already seen you naked.”

“What?” Lust shot through Ming, leaving her dazzled and disturbed. “When?”

“Remember that family vacation when we brought you with us to Saint John? The outdoor shower attached to my bedroom?”

“Everyone was snorkeling. That’s why I came back to the villa early.” She’d wanted the room Jason ended up with because of the outdoor shower. Thinking she was alone, she’d used it. “You spied on me?”

“More like stumbled upon you.”

She shoved at his beefy shoulder but couldn’t budge him. “Why did you have to tell me that?”

“To explain why you have no need to be embarrassed. I’ve seen it all before.” And from his expression, he’d liked what he saw.

Ming flushed hot. Swooning was impossible if she was lying down, right?

“How long did you watch me?”

“Five, maybe ten minutes.”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Goose bumps erupted at the way his gaze trailed over her. Was she wrong about the kiss? Or was she the only one who caught fire every time they touched?

He stood and offered her his hand. She let him pull her to her feet and then set about straightening her clothes and finger-combing her hair.

Already she could feel their friendship morphing into something else. By the time their three days together were up, she would no longer be just his friend. She would be his ex-lover. That would alter her perspective of their relationship. Is that really what she wanted?

“I’ve been charting my cycle for the last six months,” she said, uncaring if he’d be disinterested in her feminine activities. “The next time I ovulate is in ten days. Can you get away then?”

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Had he hoped his kiss would change her mind? “I really want this baby. If sleeping with you is the only way that’s going to happen, I’m ready to make the sacrifice.”

He grinned. “Make the arrangements.”





Four


Ming had chosen Mendocino, California, for her long weekend with Jason because the only person who knew it was her favorite getaway spot was Terry’s daughter, Wendy, her closest girlfriend from high school. Wendy had moved to California with her husband seven years earlier and had introduced Ming to the town, knowing she would fall in love with the little slice of New England plopped onto a rugged California coast. The area featured some of the most spectacular scenery Ming had ever seen, and every year thereafter she returned for a relaxing long weekend.