He tugged a black T-shirt over his head and tucked it into his jeans. She wasnt at all what hed expected. He realized hed sketched her in his head as thin, angular, rigida paragon of cool efficiency. But this woman was all curves, and shed just blown a gasket with him.
If he pushed just a little harder, hed have her right where he wanted her, so frustrated shed toss in the towel and Caitlyn would be forced to start all over.
He hung his own wet towel on the hook outside the shower and slid open the door. She was still standing with her back to the bathroom.
Im as decent as Im going to get. Now, what can I do for you, sweet thing? Damn, he sounded obnoxious.
She pivoted to face him. Even with her mouth tightened like that, her lips were lush and full. Im Natalie Bridges, she said, extending her hand.
Ah, Nightmare Natalie. Hed never been rude to a woman before, but he was doing a damn good job now. He took her hand to shake it, and it was as if a sparkplug had fired inside him. Her brown eyes widened but he wasnt sure whether it was because she felt the same surge or a reaction to the name hed hung on her, or perhaps both.
She reclaimed her hand and totally threw him off track when she laughed, a husky, rich sound. Thats flatteringcoming from Beau the Bastard.
He chuckled, thoroughly enjoying himself. Ive been called worse.
No doubt. She smiled sweetly, and it had the same effect as when he hit the nitrous switch on his car and three Gs slammed him back against the seat.
A brief knock sounded and then the door opened. Scooter, wearing an unrepentant grin, stuck his head in. Were outta here. He nodded toward Nightmare Natalie. Nice to meet you, Ms. Bridges.
It was a pleasure, Mr. Lewis.
Ha. All three knew Scooter had set her up to walk in on him in the shower.
Scooter laughed. Yes, maam. See ya in the morning, boss.
Scooter closed the door, once again shutting out the track noise and leaving them alone. She shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, and he realized it was all the more awkward because she was missing the heel on one shoe.
Have a seat, Miss Bridges. Or is it Mrs. Bridges?
Thank you, she said, perching primly on the edge of the couch. And its Miss. Im not married.
Here, let me help you out. He squatted in front of her and grasped the back of her left calf in his hand. She gasped and her muscle flexed against his palm. Her skin was warm and soft and he quelled the urge to stroke his hand along that tantalizing expanse from knee to ankle. Instead, lifting her leg in one hand, he plucked her shoe, the one with the heel still attached, off her foot. Her toenails were painted a similar shade of pink as her lips. Sexy.
What are you doing?
He stood. He placed the long, narrow heel on the counter with the rest of the shoe facing down. Beau slammed his hand down on the back, rendering her former stiletto a ballet slipper. He handed it back to her. Now they match.
She quickly leaned forward and slipped the shoe back on, as if to preclude him from doing it. Thank youI think.
Youre welcomeIm sure. He dropped to the sofa, more the size of a love seat, beside her, angling toward her and stretching out his legs. Deliberately invading her space and crowding her should definitely up his asshole quota.
So, youre a wedding planner whos never been married? It seems it might limit your qualifications. He stretched his arm out along the back of the love seat. He was invading her space and conversely she was invading his. He was intensely aware those luscious lips of hers were ever so close, and all he had to do to release those hair pins was lean a bit to the right, raise his hand and pluck them out.
Some professions dont require firsthand experience, Mr. Stillwell. He gave her points for standing her ground and not squirming closer to the kitchen counter. Morticians. Brain surgeons. You know, that kind of thing. They manage just fine and so do I. She pulled a day planner out of her purse and opened it. It was a schedule and a neat script had pretty much every space filled in. She was a busy woman. Now if we can just nail down some dates, Ill be more than happy to get out of your hair, Mr. Stillwell.
She obviously wanted to be anywhere other than in his company. That she wanted to leave, in and of itself, was something of a novel experience, except he had gone out of his way to be a jerk. Most of the time women were eager for his company. And while hed been looking forward to watching some test and tune runs of the other drivers, he was actually having a damn good time needling the unorthodox and intriguingly unpredictable Ms. Bridges.
Why dont we discuss it over dinner?
As appealing as that may be yet another kiss my ass Im not particularly dressed for the occasion and as you so gallantly pointed out, I need a shower.
The offer still stands to use my towel.
Ever the gentleman, but Ill wait until I get home.
Hed been turned down. By Nightmare Natalie, no less.
I JUST NEED a date when youll have the remodel complete.
For Gods sake, just give me a date so I can get the hell out of here. She was desperate, or maybe all the stress was getting to her and Beau Stillwell had just pushed her over the edge because he was arrogant and infuriating and the reason that a several-hundred-dollar outfit, shoes included, was now ruined, but some crazy, totally irrational part of her had wanted to accept his dinner invitation.
She had the oddest sense he was deliberately goading her. It was possible he was just an obnoxious jerk who went around calling women sweet thing and then insulting them in the next breath. There were plenty of sexist men who operated that way, but thered been a flash of something in his blue eyesAnd Natalies foster-sister Shelby and Caitlyn Stillwell had roomed together in college. In all the time Natalie had known Caitlyn, which had been casually for almost five years, the younger woman mightve been occasionally exasperated with her big brother, but thered never been any doubt she respected him. It was difficult to imagine strong-minded Caitlyn respecting a jerk.
How about a guesstimate, she prompted.
He shrugged those impossibly broad shoulders. I cant give you a finish date until I get out to Belle Terre and see what has to be done.
That makes sense. She nodded in agreement, trying to get along. When are you available to do that?
His eyes captured hers. Natalie found herself drowning in those blue depths. When do you want to do it?
A lazy, sensual spark in his eyes issued an invitation to wicked pleasure. A single, singeing look that tightened her nipples and dampened her panties.
She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. Every thump of her heart seemed to echo do it, do it, do it. Do it?
Yeah. When are you available? His dark lashes formed a spiky frame for his eyes. She couldnt look away, couldnt think, could barely breathe.
Available for what?
Mocking amusement replaced sensual promise. Try to keep up here, honey. When do you want to go out to Belle Terre with me to go over the remodel?
Embarrassment flooded her. Shed prefer a hot poker in her eye. Actually, shed prefer a hot poker up his ass. I dont want to go out to Belle Terre with you. I dont need to be there. I just need to know a date youll have it done.
Mocking amusement replaced sensual promise. Try to keep up here, honey. When do you want to go out to Belle Terre with me to go over the remodel?
Embarrassment flooded her. Shed prefer a hot poker in her eye. Actually, shed prefer a hot poker up his ass. I dont want to go out to Belle Terre with you. I dont need to be there. I just need to know a date youll have it done.
Itll go much faster if I have you there to explain exactly what Caitlyn wants done. And you can take notes for me.
I know you have a secretary, Mr. Stillwell. Ive spoken to her so often shes now on my Christmas-card list.
Ah, but I need her in the officeto answer the phone.
Did he have any idea how busy she was? It was springhigh wedding season. Actually, the real question was did he care? And that answer was obviously no. Fine. Ill make myself available to accommodate your busy schedule. Hopefully he wasnt impervious to sarcasm.
How about Sunday, after the race?
No problem. As it happens, I dont have a wedding on schedule for Sunday. What time?
Probably around four. Just show up here and well go when I get through.
She managed not to gape at his total arrogance and disregard for her schedule. As if she had time to stand around cooling her heels at a racetrack while he indulged his testosterone-laden hobby. Ill give you my cell number and you can just call me and Ill meet you out there.
Ill try not to forget.
Ill phone you to remind you.
Sure. Youve got my number. He all but smirked. They both knew how successful shed been with him and the phone.
She gritted her teeth and mustered up a smile. If he was on some power trip and she had to kowtow to his schedule, then so be it. Ill just come here. That way you wont forget.
Its a date, then.
She tried to steadfastly ignore the way his voice seemed to caress the word date, but she couldnt stop her heart from beating faster.
Yes. Four oclock here on Sunday. Good. She had what shed come for. An image of him still shower-damp and clad only in a towel flashed through her mind. Okay, shed gotten more than she came for.
She jotted the time and notation in her day planner and stood. She hated to admit it, but it was much more comfortable with both the heels ripped off her poor shoes. Ill see you then.
He stood, as well, dwarfing her in the close confines of the motor home. Whered you park?
The lot on the other side of the three-story building.
Spectator parking. Im heading up to the tower she assumed that was the three-story building to check on tomorrows ladder. You can ride with me. Its a hike from here to spectator parking.
She wanted to turn him down but she was well aware of just how damn far it was. Thank you. Thatd be nice.
They both moved toward the door. Im a nice guy.
And she was Mary Poppins. Ill take your word for it.
He reached past her to open the door, his shoulder brushing hers, his clean scent enveloping her. Her legs werent quite steady as she walked down the two steps. Night had descended, but the racing continued. Cars were still being towed behind four-wheelers and golf carts. Across the pit street, a crew was frantically working on a car under the glare of big floodlights mounted on stands.
He cupped his hand beneath her elbow and his touch sizzled right through her. Okay, on you go. You might want to ride sidesaddle.
She looked from him to the four-wheeler hed stopped beside and back to him. Youre going to take me on this?
Yeah. Its the best way to get around the track. Do you have an issue with four-wheelers?
No issue, Ive just never been on one before. Thered never been money in her family for anything like a four-wheeler. And shed never dated a guy with a four-wheelerthey werent her type.
She caught a flash of his teeth. No doubt a mocking smile. Ah. Your first time. Ill make sure you like it.
Did he have to make it sound like a seductive promise? Did her body, even knowing he was arrogant and manipulative and toying with her, have to respond with instant heat?
Make that a yes on both counts.
She stepped onto an open-grid platform and slid her butt to the back of the seat, keeping both her legs on one side and her knees pressed together. It wasnt so bad.
He climbed on in front of her, straddling the seat, presenting her with a solid wall of masculinity. He spoke over his shoulder, You comfortable?
Comfortable? With his absolute maleness crowding her space? With his hip and leg pressed against hers? With her entire body humming at the proximity?
Absolutely. Never more comfortable.
He cranked it. Not only was the engine loud, but she felt its vibration through her seat, which was strange, inappropriately erotic under the circumstances.
Youll want to hold on, he said as he rolled to the edge of the pit road and looked both ways to see if the coast was clear. She lightly put one hand at his waist. The less body contact, the better.
One minute they were sitting there idling, the next they were off like a bat out of hell. She instantly, automatically wrapped both arms around him, hanging on for dear life.
Woo!
She heard his yell above the din and the rush of blood in her ears. Once she realized they werent going to die, she had to admit she rather liked itthe rush of wind past them, the thrill of going fast. And, heaven help her, the feel of him.
Her right cheek and breast pressed against his back. She felt the play of muscles beneath the cotton T-shirt as he drove. Likewise, there was no mistaking the six-pack ripple of his belly beneath her clasped hands. He felt even better than hed looked wearing that toweland that was saying something.
She had the craziest, hormone-fueled desire to nuzzle the muscled expanse of his back, to slide her hands beneath the edge of his T-shirt and explore the hard ridges of his bellyand lower. Natalies bad-girl side had the urge to experience skin on skin with Beau the Bastard.
He made a quick left, ground to a stop and killed the engine. He climbed off. Hed parked in the area chock-full of other four-wheelers and golf carts between the bleacher entrance and the tower. The starting line was right ahead of them, on the other side of the fence.
He reached for her and his hand engulfed hers as he helped her off. Much as shed have liked to shrug off his assistance, her legs felt like rubber.
Do you always drive like a maniac? She tugged her hand free of his, determined to regain her equilibrium, which had seemed to fly out the window during the ride. It had to be his driving and not the fact that shed been reduced to jelly legs from being wrapped around him. From wanting to stay wrapped around him. Dangerous ground, that.
He laughed. A maniac? He shook his head in pretend consternation, his blue eyes glittering. Now thats disappointing. Since it was your first time, I gave you the slow ride. Ill try harder next time to make it better for you. By the way He reached out and casually brushed a hank of hair out of her eyesher chignon was seriously destroyed at this pointas if he were a lover with every right to do so. His fingers barely grazed her skin but his touch echoed through her. Two suggestions for Sunday. You might want to dress down a bit and you might want to lay off the beer.