His tongue caressed hers in a deep, long, rewarding kiss. And he finally, finally cupped her breasts. Pleasure flooded her.
They must miss you.
She sank her fingers into his hair so he couldnt pull back more because she wanted his mouth on her, not talking. No.
No? Another kiss, a slow, long, wet, deep one that robbed her of thought. I would miss you, he said.
Youre nothing like them. His thumbs were slowly gliding over her nipples, back and forth, making her gasp, making her writhe until her hips were undulating on the lounge.
Im not? He stretched out over her, giving her his warmth, his weight. She could thrust against him, and he could thrust back. Heaven.
Did they hurt you, Carly? His hands slid beneath her sweater, his big, warm, work-roughened hands. Is that why you dont like to talk about them?
What? Was she supposed to be able to think with his hands on her?
Your family. Did they hurt you?
No. She was nearing the cusp of oblivion, thrilling to his body on hers, his hands on her skin.
Then he tried to pull off her glasses.
No!
Its just a pair of glasses.
Yes. She wanted that oblivion! The promise in his body! But-
You use them like a shield. He pushed up, bringing reality back with a cold dash, and looked at her with those dark, dark eyes. You use the glasses and your clothes and your makeup. I feel like I dont even know what you look like, Carly.
Im just as I appear. God, it was almost true in a way. Shed nearly become Carly.
And if she took off the disguise, she wouldnt even know how to act.
Shed forgotten how to be Carlyne.
Why dont I believe you? he asked softly.
Idont know. Yes. Yes, she did know.
I want you, he said with heart-wrenching sincerity. I think you want me back. But this isnt going to happen without honesty.
Regret washed through her because she couldnt give him that honesty. She couldnt give it to him, and in return, he wouldnt give her what she wanted. Him.
When she remained silent, he stood. For a long moment, he looked at her, all the longing and yearning so evident in his gaze a mirror of her own.
Then he walked away.
NEARLY TWO WEEKS to the day after Stacy had changed Seans life by leaving him Melissa, she called him long distance.
Shed called every few days to talk to her daughter, sounding both homesick and elated at the way her job was going, but never had she called in the middle of the night.
You okay? It was his first question. When she said yes, his second was, When are you coming back?
Today or tomorrow, he knew. Melissa would be picked up. Carly would go back to whatever life it was that she was so mysterious about.
His life would be back to normal.
He could work late again.
He could stop making sure there were vegetables and fruit at the house.
He could sleep whenever he wanted. Not do dishes. Leave the toilet seat up.
He couldnt wait.
But his sister hadnt said anything. Stace?
Um, yeah. About that. She spoke in the little voice that always used to melt him, but he was unmeltable at the moment.
Stacy. When are you coming back?
Wellthe job has been extended.
Extended as in a couple of hours, right?
Oh, Sean. I miss Melissa so much, I do, but they love my work here. My designs, the material, everything. And they want me to do an entire show. Me. They want me, Sean. I still cant believe it. Im pinching myself to wake up, but Im not dreaming.
Sean wished he was.
Can you believe it?
No, dammit.
They really want me, Little Miss No One U.S.A.!
And just like that, Seans heart fell right to his toes.
Sean?
Its great, he heard himself say. Of course they want you. Youre the best.
No, Im-
The best, he said firmly, willing her to believe it. Willing her the confidence shed never had, the confidence he was supposed to have somehow given her but hadnt.
Hed tried.
But their parents had never really known what to do with their young, wild, carefree, trouble-bound daughter. Sean had been ten when shed been born, already independent, so he hadnt spent that much time with her-until five years ago, when their parents had died one after the other.
Twenty-five years old. His own man. His own life. And yet hed been left with this whimsical, fanciful fifteen-year-old on his doorstep. Sean hadnt known a thing about teenage girls, much less troubled ones, but theyd gotten to know each other pretty quick. Together theyd done the best they could, but deep down he knew a real guilt, for even his best had clearly not been good enough.
He hadnt managed to make Stacy believe in herself and her abilities.
This is my future, Sean.
I know.
Do you think I could stay? Just for another week or so?
Another week? His voice cracked on that one. Thats a long time, Stace. Melissa really misses you.
I miss her, too, so much. Shes doing okay?
Sure. If he forgot about her destroying his office one-handed. If he forgot the fact that she had a cry that could crack glass and a temper that could headline any horror flick. But she also had huge, expressive eyes that looked at him as if he were the center of her universe. And a hug that got him every time. Shes doing good.
Im making money, and its not flipping burgers. I cant get over that. She sighed with relief.
Sean stifled his own sigh. Well be here waiting.
SEAN WENT to work before dawn. He did some of his best thinking at work.
Fact was, he wasnt sure what to do. He wasnt sure about a lot of things.
Such as Carly.
But he was clear on one thing. They seemed to have a hormone problem around each other. It wasnt something he understood.
Until Tina, hed had the occasional relationship, which included a date every week or so, the midweek phone call and some recreational sex.
Then Tina had come along, and he had fallen hard. After, hed closed off his heart.
End of problem.
Ever since, hed avoided complications. Simple enough. Whenever a woman wanted more from him, he felt claustrophobic. But this time there was no claustrophobia in sight, and this woman was living with him. What did that say?
The thought was nothing less than terrifying.
He could want her and not trust her, he told himself. Hed learned that much. Keep it simple. Easy. Light.
Yeah, no problem.
So why he canceled a meeting, didnt return phone calls, left Nikki with her mouth hanging open in shock and, for only the second time ever, went home early was beyond him.
So much for simple, easy and light.
He didnt want to think about why he was doing this. Except that when Melissa saw him walking up the porch steps, she squealed with such delight his heart squeezed.
Carly didnt squeal with delight, she didnt even smile, but something in the way she looked at him melted him anyway. He didnt want to be drawn to her, but it didnt seem to matter what he wanted. His brain was no longer in charge.
The unthinkable happened the next morning, Saturday.
He didnt want to go to the office. He wanted a weekend at home, no work, complete with relaxing. He wasnt sure what that entailed exactly, but he would figure it out.
It was early when he walked into the kitchen, but Melissa and Carly were already there. They stared at him in surprise.
Youre late for work, Melissa said, pointing her finger at him. Bad boy.
Im not going to work.
Melissa grinned.
Carly went still.
Im taking the day off.
To do what? Melissa asked.
Well He glanced at Carly, then laughed. Im not sure.
Ill pack, Carly said quietly.
Well He glanced at Carly, then laughed. Im not sure.
Ill pack, Carly said quietly.
She thought it was over. And the two weeks were. His heart squeezed because he didnt want her to go. In spite of everything, he didnt want to say goodbye. Yeah. About that-
Can we have a picnic? Melissa demanded, oblivious to the tension around her.
Just a minute, Melissa. Sean lowered his voice to a mere whisper for Carly. My sister needs some more time.
Shes not coming back?
He shook his head. Not for at least another week.
She looked deep into his eyes for a long moment. I didnt expect that.
I know. Will you stay?
Melissa was bouncing around at their feet. So can we? Can we have a picnic?
Carly was looking at Sean. Yes, she said.
Melissa beamed, thinking she had her answer. Yippee! A picnic!
Carly avoided Melissas gaze and started cleaning the breakfast dishes. Have fun, she said.
Melissa threw her arms around Sean and gave him a sloppy, wet kiss on the cheek. Youre the bestest, she cried.
Sean wiped his slobbery cheek, smiled at Melissa, then moved behind Carly, who was washing a pan for all it was worth. You game for a picnic?
She looked at him, glasses fogged from the hot water, for once her mouth unpainted. She had a world of mistrust in her gaze. And a vulnerability that twisted at him.
Come on, he coaxed. Im the bestest, you know.
She smiled at that. Yes. Yes, you are.
Grinning, he bent to kiss her on the cheek. Just a little kiss. A little thank-you kiss.
Only Carly turned to look at him, and their mouths lined up.
Perfectly.
She made a little sound, and Sean pressed closer still, needing to hold that kiss for as long as he could. He might have stayed like that forever, except he became aware of a violent tugging on his pants.
Kiss me, too! Melissa yelled.
Okay. Still stunned, Sean bent low, gave her a sweet little peck on the cheek.
Thats not the same!
Carly let out a startled laugh.
And at the sound, Sean felt lighter than he had in a very long time. No, its not the same kind of kiss at all.
8
FOR THE FIRST TIME in Seans life, he was attracted to a woman, and it had nothing to do with her physical appearance. He couldnt blow it off towell, he didnt know exactly.
They saw a movie. Went on a picnic. Had a walk on the beach.
Melissa had a great day, and Sean had to admit, so did he.
It wasnt until hed showered for the dreaded required cocktail party that night that work came into his brain. It almost seemed like an imposition.
He came out of the shower, reached for his clothes and stopped short. Would Carly have something to wear to go with him tonight? And how could he not have thought of it before?
He doubted she had much money, and she certainly didnt seem to have a wide variety of clothes.
Cursing himself, he slipped into his pants and went down the hall to her bedroom.