Package Deal(33)

“No, I won’t. The coffee should be ready in a couple minutes. ” He handed her one of two champagne flutes, and clinked his glass against hers before taking a sip as she did the same. “For now, we enjoy the bubbly. Happy New Year, steady girlfriend. May the new year be as wonderful as the last part of this one has been.” Then he kissed her.

She kissed him back.

He released her, shrugged out of his jacket, and pulled off his tie. “Now, where were we?” He eyed her hungrily as she sat down on the couch. Before he could act on his thoughts, Amanda leaned toward him, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him passionately. His throat tightened as he pulled her closer. Is this the night?

Her hand slipped down to his waist.

“Amanda,” he whispered. “I have a very large bed where you will be extra comfortable.”

“I know. Cece and I slept in it a while back.” Her hand briefly skimmed the front of his slacks. She sucked in her breath and pulled her hand back. “I think the champagne is talking.”

“Let it chatter away,” he replied, bringing her hand back to touch him more firmly.

She moved her hand as if burned when her cell phone rang. What did he see in her eyes—uncertainty, fear, desire, disappointment … or was it something else?

Her lashes hid her eyes as she looked away from him and concentrated on the caller. “I—I’ll be home soon, Cece.” She closed the phone.

I’m sorry, Marcus.” She actually sounded disappointed. “I think we need to call it a night.”

“Why?”

She sat up and sighed. “Cece had a bad dream. Janet said she would try to get her calmed down, but I think I’d better go.Maybe I’m not quite ready for—whatever we…”

“Well, you could have fooled me.” But he backed away from her, fearful he’d said too much.

“That kiss … sorry, I didn’t mean to … mislead you.” Amanda stood up and reached for her coat. Keeping her voice flat, she said, “I need to go home. Cecelia’s waiting for me.”

Damn.Cecelia—ever the convenient little complication. Maybe Troy was right—Cece is an excuse—whenever Amanda wants to use it. His voice clipped in spite of himself, he said, “I’ll take you home then, but do me a favor.”

“Anything.”

If only that. He looked into her large brown eyes. “Don’t wear a dress like that where other men can see you. It drove me nuts the way they were looking at you.”

“I thought you liked this dress.” Amanda whirled slowly around as if showing it off, then stopped and faced him. “What about you? Eugenie was all over you. I thought she was going to wrap her legs around your middle during that one number—and—and knock you to the ground so she could swallow you whole. And you didn’t even try to stop her!”

“She has arms like an octopus. Short of punching her lights out, I was having trouble getting away from her.”

Amanda glared at him as he helped her on with her coat.

“Aha! The green monster raises its ugly head.” He waited for her to get into the car.

“What are you talking about? I’m not jealous. I was just thinking how—how inappropriate Eugenie was, and in front of the entire faculty!”

“Riiiight!” He reached for her and kissed her, not wanting her to talk anymore. “How about we make a deal?” he whispered in her ear when she didn’t pull away.

“What is that?” Her voice was quieter, but her pulse thrummed as he kissed her neck.

“I stay away from Eugenie and you tell that slimeball Carl to keep his hands off you.”

“Deal.” Amanda removed his hand from her breast where it had crept, and shook it.

He resumed his position behind the wheel and they drove toward town. The silence was heavy with sexual tension. He wondered if she felt it. How could she not? Minutes later, when they stopped at a red light, Amanda placed a hand on his nearest arm.

“I think I left something back at your house.”

He looked over at her. “Do you want to go back for it, or should I bring it to you tomorrow?”

She turned away from the window to look at him sidelong for a long minute, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’d prefer … I think we should go back for it.”

He turned the car around. When he parked it, she opened the door and reached the porch before he turned off the engine. Inside the house, the lights he had left burning suddenly were extinguished.

“What the hell—” He took the steps two at a time. When he entered the house, all was quiet. He headed toward the dim light issuing from his bedroom. He opened the door, a candle the only illumination in the room. Amanda sat in the middle of the bed, her feet dangling over the edge, her shoes on the floor. She was closing her phone.