Oh, and Claire says the rent is very reasonable, he said. For a place like this.
Rent?
You didnt think youd be paying rent?
Did your sister tell you I was coming?
Yes. She said youd be needing a place to stay next term. While youre here teaching.
Ah, obviously, he thought she was someone else. But maybe she could use that to her advantage. Considering the rather uncanny skill he had of avoiding her until now, she wasnt about to give him a chance to toss her out on her ear. If they could just get to know each other, maybe hed be more inclined to accept her proposal.
What is the rent? she asked.
Didnt Claire tell you?
Marlie shook her head. I think she wanted to make sure I liked what I saw first. She glanced up and met his eyes.
And do you? he asked, his gaze fixed on hers.
His attention drifted to her lips and Marlie held her breath, wondering if he was contemplating something more than just conversation. A man didnt just stare at a womans mouth for no reason. Unless, of course, she had something in her teeth. Oh, God.
I do, Marlie said. Wheres the bathroom?
He pointed to a door near the entrance to the kitchen and she hurried over and stepped inside. Staring into the mirror, she smiled, examining her teeth. No, nothing. Marlie groaned inwardly. That meant he was staring at her mouth because he
Is there anything else I can show you? he asked, appearing in the doorway.
She quickly spun around, leaning back against the sink. All right, he was toying with her. Maybe it was time to put a stop to this and tell him why she was really here. Marlie drew a steadying breath.
Would you like to get something to drink? he asked. Or maybe something to eat? Dinner, perhaps?
II had a latea late lunch, she stammered, unable to fashion a quick answer. Was he asking her out? Or was he just hungry? But I could eat, she added quickly.
Good. Theres a pub just down the road. The food is good. He smiled. Great. Lets go, then.
He buttoned up his shirt and grabbed his jacket, then held the door open for her. When she got outside, Marlie offered to drive, but Dex insisted they take his SUV, a dusty BMW. He opened the door for her and helped her inside. Marlie watched him through the front window as he strode around to the drivers side. It still felt odd sitting on the wrong side of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road. But everything about this day seemed a little upside-down and backward.
For now, shed just roll with it. What harm could it do? She needed him. And when the time was right to tell him exactly who she was, shed tell him.
Ready? he asked as he slid in behind the wheel.
Marlie nodded. I think so.
* * *
THE PUB WAS quiet when they walked in. Dex held the door open and Marlie stepped in front of him. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, fighting the urge to place his hand in the small of her back.
For the first time in a very long while, he wasnt dwelling on the past. No, he was firmly in the present, his mind racing and his body reacting. She was so pretty, though not really the kind of girl he was usually attracted to. He normally went for the more exotic beauties, French and Italian women, certainly not some American girl-next-door type. But then, he wasnt the same guy anymore. Maybe his preferences had changed.
They found a table near the bar, and Dex held out her chair as she sat down. He took a place across the table, offering himself a better vantage point to study her. The barkeep appeared a few moments later with menus. He ordered a Guinness and Marlie did the same.
When in Ireland, she said before taking a sip.
He stared at her mouth as she licked the foam off her lips. Thered been quite a few moments in the past hour when hed lost himself just looking at her. She was like a breath of fresh air, blowing all the cobwebs out of his head and making his body feel alive again. But was he really interested in seducing this woman? She was a teacher. And Claires coworker. But, hell, if she was willing, then who was he to refuse pursuing the matter? There was an obvious attraction between them, and he was used to acting quickly when it came to sex. He was never in one place more than a night or two, which didnt leave a lot of time for foreplay.
My sister says youre going to teach at her school next term. What do you teach?
Uh...thats boring. Tell me about yourself, she countered. Youre a filmmaker.
He frowned. How did you know that?
Ive seen your films, she said.
Dex sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. Though he knew he had fans, he rarely met them, except when he was accepting some kind of award.
I was sorry to hear about your partner, Marlie added. That must have been such a dark time for you.
Until that moment, hed put the nightmare out of his head. But now he realized that would never be completely possible. It was, he said. But Im trying to focus on other things now.
Thats a good philosophy, she said with an encouraging smile. Whats your next project?
If only she knew, he thought to himself. Screw filmmaking; his mind was occupied with plans for a full-on seduction. Im considering my options, he said.
I have an option for you, Marlie said.
Unless it had to do with tearing her clothes off and having at it right here in the pub, Dex really wasnt interested. But he had the luxury to take things slow. I dont want to talk about work, he countered. Lets talk about what youre doing tomorrow. The term doesnt start until after the New Year. Are you going back to the States for Christmas? What about your family? Dont they celebrate together?
They do. But Im usually working and cant get away and I
You work over Christmas in the States? he asked. You dont have a school holiday?
She looked at him, her eyes wide, then cleared her throat. Im not a teacher, she said. And Im not interested in renting your cottage, although is a very nice place.
Dex stared at her for a long moment, taking in the look of confusionno, desperationon her pretty face. I dont get it, he said.
My name is Marlena Jenner and Im working on a documentary film about Aileen Quinn. Ive been trying to track you down through your agent, and when he wasnt getting any response, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Your sister, Claire, said
Marlena. Right. Youre the not the teacher. Dex quickly stood. Shed been playing him. He bit back a curse. Hed told both his agent and his sister that he wasnt even going to think about work for at least another year. He needed a damn break, and he didnt appreciate that his sister had sent this woman to try to change his mind.
You know, Im really not interested, he said.
But you havent heard about the project yet, Marlie said, following him to the door. Im sure once you
He spun around to face her, his anger bubbling over. Listen to me, he said. Im not interested. He shook his head, then walked back to the bar and tossed enough money on the polished surface to cover their drinks.
What the hell was happening to him? He could usually read people better than this. He should have seen that she had some ulterior motive. But the moment he set eyes on her, all he could think about was getting her into bed. Not that that feeling wasnt still with him. But no-strings sex didnt work unless they were both interested in the same outcomepure lust and mutual sexual satisfaction. She was just playing along until she could pitch him her idea.
What the hell was happening to him? He could usually read people better than this. He should have seen that she had some ulterior motive. But the moment he set eyes on her, all he could think about was getting her into bed. Not that that feeling wasnt still with him. But no-strings sex didnt work unless they were both interested in the same outcomepure lust and mutual sexual satisfaction. She was just playing along until she could pitch him her idea.
He strode outside, Marlie hard on his heels. Wait, she said. Just give me a chance to explain.
He yanked the passenger door open. Get in. Ill take you back.
No, Marlie said.
Dex gasped. Was she really going to draw a line? He couldnt exactly leave her standing in the middle of the road. It was at least a fifteen-minute walk in the cold, windy night to get back to her car. And he wasnt the type of guy whod leave a woman stranded.
Dex slammed the door. All right. If you want to pitch your project, go ahead. Right now.
Jaysus, she was beautiful. Her color was high and her green eyes bright. And her hair whipped around her face in windblown strands. He wanted to reach out and grab her, twist his fingers through the thick mass of waves and pull her into a very long kiss.
She shifted nervously, then stared down at her toes. I left my laptop in my car. The pitch is better with visuals. I have a whole presentation made up.
With a low chuckle, he pulled the door open again. Lets go, then.
Reluctantly, she got inside. When he joined her, she turned in her seat and faced him. I didnt mean to mislead you. I just thought if you got to know me, you might trust me a little more.
Oh, sure. Lying is always the best way to get a bloke to trust you.
Can we just start over? Marlie asked. She held out her hand. Hi, Im Marlena Jenner. Im a producer at Back Bay Productions in Boston. Id like to talk to you about making a documentary about the Irish author Aileen Quinn. When he didnt reciprocate, she wiggled her fingers. Come on. It goes both ways.
Dex laughed and took her hand. Really? And what did I do to mislead you? She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut, yanking her fingers away. Dex gave her a dubious look. What?
You wanted to kiss me, she said, tipping her chin up defiantly.
I did not. God, was he that transparent? Usually he was much more discreet about his desires. Where did you get that idea?
I can just tell, she said.
Oh, really. How? From your vast knowledge about men? Irish men, in particular?
She sat back in the seat and crossed her arms over her chest. You dont know anything about me, she said.
And you know next to nothing about me, he countered.
I know what you want.
Prove it.
What happened next happened so quickly that Dex wasnt able to stop it. In one quick movement, she leaned over, grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him. At first, he wasnt sure what to do, but then he took advantage of the invitation and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer.
Her lips parted slightly and he slipped his tongue into the sweet warmth of her mouth. When a tiny sigh slipped from her throat, Dex took it as another invitation and dragged her body on top of his until he could run his hands over her backside. His pulse pounded, the warmth of desire pumping through his body.
The kiss ended as quickly as it began when Marlie drew back and looked at him with a wide-eyed gaze. II think Ive made my point. She scrambled over to her side of the SUV and quickly fastened her seat belt. We can go now, she murmured.
Bloody hell, you must really want me to do this project.
I do, she said. Its imperative.
Imperative?
Yes, no one else could do it like you could. She drew a sharp breath. I mean the documentary, she quickly added. Not the kiss. Marlie cleared her throat. But the kiss was good, too.
Yeah, thats what I thought you meant. He started the truck, his heart slamming in his chest. Hed never reacted so strongly to a simple kiss.
Just so you know, thats not usually part of my pitch. Nothing is going quite the way I intended.
Will there be more kissing involved, or is it all business from here on out?
Would kissing you make you more inclined to take the job? she asked.
Probably not, he replied.
Then I suppose thats the last time Im going to kiss you.
Good, he said, throwing the truck into gear and pulling out onto the road.
Though Marlie Jenner would provide the perfect distraction from all the pain hed experienced in the past eight months, he wasnt about to use her just to satisfy his own lust. He wasnt ready to work again, and nothing she offered him, even a few enjoyable kisses, was going to change his mind. Once he got her back to the cottage, hed send her on her way.