“We’ve been best friends since we were freshman,” Marie said, butting in on her reverie. “You don’t do one-night stands.”
Kelsey felt her nipples tighten as Ross unbuttoned the top of his shirt and loosened his tie. His hands, she noted with approval, were large and strong. Whatever his tie and watch might say, this man didn’t get manicures or spend his life clicking on a mouse and a keyboard. She imagined the rough skin trailing over hers and shivered. “This is different.”
Marie touched her arm. “You’re coming back from this trip. You aren’t going to die out there.”
Kelsey shrugged off her hand. “It isn’t about that.”
“Of course it is.”
“And if it was? Would impending doom be such a horrible reason to spend the night with that?” Kelsey looked back at Ross’s fingers, one of which was tracing the edge of his glass. She pictured the finger somewhere else.
A rush of heat shook her body.
“If you really think you’re about to die, why the hell are you going?” Marie demanded.
Kelsey shook her head. “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about how you’re going to go home and leave me with Mr. Sexy, while keeping your cell phone next to your bed in case I need to call in the middle of the night.”
Marie took Kelsey’s hand and tugged. Unwillingly, Kelsey forced herself to focus on her friend.
“Kelsey, honey, are you sure you want to do this?” Marie asked. She had fixed the sort of stare on Kelsey that she usually reserved for the kids she babysat: hard, direct, and impossible to ignore.
Kelsey adjusted the tiny bag that she had slung over one shoulder. It was a passport holder, really, not a purse like most women carried. Just one of the many things that made Kelsey different from other women her age. Women like her best friend Marie, who desperately wanted to get married, settle down, and pop out some babies before she turned thirty.
Kelsey had her own plans, but they involved snow, ice axes, and really big mountains. Having a family simply wasn’t in the cards.
She felt Ross’s eyes on her bare shoulders. What would he be like in bed, she wondered, half-dreamily. Would he be fast and hard, exploding inside her like a freight train? Or would he take his time, torture her with his lips and mouth before bringing her to a screaming peak?
Desire, as sharp as it was unexpected, tightened her muscles. There was a frantic energy inside her that almost sent her shaking. She’d never experienced anything like it before, and it terrified and thrilled her all at once.
“Marie,” she whispered, “I need this. I can’t be home tonight, thinking and waiting. You understand, don’t you?”
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around Kelsey’s neck. Marie’s curly hair tickled her nose as her friend landed a kiss on her cheek. “I do.” Marie reached into her purse and pulled something out, which she shoved into Kelsey’s hand. “Here. You might need these.”
Kelsey peered down at her fingers. A grateful bubble of laughter broke the tension as she realized Marie had given her a handful of condoms. “Jesus, you really think we’re going to need three?”
“You never know,” Marie said primly. “You are an athlete, after all. And I’ll keep the cell phone handy, in case you need me.” The smile slowly faded from her face as her eyes grew misty. “You’ll e-mail me when you get to Nepal, right?”
Kelsey shoved the condoms into her bag, fighting a quick rush of tears. She hadn’t thought about the fact that this would be good-bye. “Absolutely. As soon as I find an Internet café. And I’ll post pictures whenever I can.”
“I’ll miss you.” Marie’s chin started to tremble, and she wiped a finger under one eye, careful not to smudge her mascara.
“Get out of here, okay?” Kelsey said through a wobbly smile. “You’re ruining my hot sex vibe.”
Marie snorted, but gave one final wave before heading back through the crowd. Kelsey waited until she’d disappeared from view before turning to Ross.
Her stomach nearly dropped out of her body when he met her gaze. He stood and held out a glass of white wine. She sauntered over, forcing her legs to move slowly and deliberately.
Control yourself. He probably does this all the time. Act cool.
She took the glass, shivering a little when his fingers brushed against her. “Thanks.” She slid into the high-backed stool.
“So, where do you go tomorrow?” Ross asked. He had a pleasantly deep voice that carried easily despite the noise of the bar.
Kelsey glanced at his hands again as he picked up his drink. That was when she noticed the thin white line on his left ring finger. A sick feeling entered her stomach.