Yes? She didnt open the door to his knock.
Can I talk to you?
Uh, now? Im a little busy. She did sound rushed. Im trying to get ready.
Thats what I wanted to talk to you about. I might have forgotten to mention its dressy
You mentioned.
Okay, well Ah, hell. Carly, do you have something to wear?
Nows a fine time to ask, she said, but at least there was a smile in her voice.
Yeah, I know. Im sorry. So He stared at the closed door, feeling like an idiot. Do you? Have something to wear?
Go away, Sean. Ill be ready in a second.
YES, CARLYNE had something to wear. But no, it wasnt going to be sleek and slinky and earth-stopping.
She looked at herself in the mirror and feltplain.
It was new, this feeling, this not turning heads. Who would have thought shed miss that? Did you change your mind about taking me with you? she called to Sean, not knowing if he still stood outside her door. In the mood for a little trouble, she hauled it open with a satisfying yank. Because, if you did, thats really just fine with me-
Oh, Lord.
He still stood there, wearing only his pants. His chest was wet, as if hed showered and hadnt taken time to towel off.
Had he said his swimming was a stress reliever? Because man, oh, man, it had truly done wonders for his physique. Those broad shoulders, that sleek, smooth chest
I didnt change my mind about taking you, he said. A tiny rivulet of water ran down his jaw, dropped to his chest and slowly slid over his ribs, past that stomach she wanted to touch, and disappeared into his pants. They were open, proving hed indeed been in some kind of hurry, and if thered been better light in the hallway she might have gotten to see-
Did you change yours? he asked, his voice low and husky.
Hed seen her staring. And he was staring back. Only it wasnt in quite the same heated, hungry way, and she couldnt say she blamed him.
She wore a full black skirt, to the floor. The matching sweater was a zippered tunic, leaving her covered from chin to toe. It was purposely unrevealing and not even close to sexy. But it suited Carly.
If Carlyne had dressed like this, whoever her date was would have been bitterly disappointed, as she was known for her beautiful, sophisticated and naturally sexy style.
But Carly wasnt sophisticated.
Sean didnt look disappointed, though. In fact, he wasnt looking at her body at all, but into her eyes. She saw relief that she was going with him, and something else that made her breath catch.
Had she thought he wasnt looking at her with hunger and heat?
He was, oh, he definitely was, and it was her own little miracle.
I just wanted to make sure about your dress, he said quietly. I should have asked before now.
Shed done nothing to deserve it, and yet he cared about her. Another miracle. Are yougoing like that?
Mischief filled his gaze. Is that a problem for you?
Not for me. But you might find it tedious with all the women in the place following you around, drooling.
He laughed, looking a little embarrassed, which she found unbearably sweet.
The men in her world knew exactly how gorgeous they were.
Ill be ready in five, he said.
In five minutes exactly, he met her in the foyer, and Carlyne nearly fell over.
Shed seen him in jeans. In casual wear. Oh, and his bathing suit, lets not forget that mouthwatering experience. But shed never seen him dressed for success. Quite simply, he took her breath away.
Okay? he asked.
Okay? He could have walked right off the glossy pages of any magazine. I, uh, yeah. You look
Mrs. Trykowski walked in the front door. Beautiful! She gave him an enthusiastic hug. Only thirty years younger, Seany, my boy, and Id go for you myself.
To Carlynes amusement, he reddened as he kissed Melissa goodbye.
The little girl clung, throwing her arms around her uncles neck. For exactly one second, Sean hesitated, as if surprised by her genuine show of love and affection. As if he didnt quite know what to do with all that emotion.
Over Melissas head, he met Carlys gaze.
Just as baffled by matters of the heart, Carlyne lifted a shoulder and gave him a little smile. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around Melissa and returned the hug.
It was a family moment, a special one. And suddenly she yearned for some of that same love and affection in her family.
But then Sean was taking her arm, leading her down the walk, and they were alone in his car.
He put the key in the ignition but didnt turn. Instead, he faced her, looked at her, into her. Unhappy in her get-up, especially next to his beautifully clad body, she wished he could see the real her, not this dowdy unsophisticated person shed created. Wished hed stop looking at her. What?
Youre beautiful.
With a snort, she pushed up her glasses and turned away.
His hand settled on her arm, and reluctantly she turned back.
You are, he said quietly.
Were going to be late.
Carly
That name! Please, Sean. Just drive. Lets get this over with.
For a moment, he looked at her, at her hair, her glasses, her mouth, then into her eyes. We can talk later then.
Maybe.
He started the car. Definitely.
HALFWAY UP THE WALK to the sprawling beachfront house where the party was, Carlynes deep skirt pocket started ringing.
It was her cell phone, which she was carrying because she still hadnt made her daily call to Francesca.
Sean stopped short and looked at her as if shed grown wings. Your skirt is ringing.
Its nobody, she said, hoping Francesca-it had to be Francesca-would hang up.
Why dont you take out the phone and say hello to nobody? Sean asked.
Its probably just a wrong number.
Uh-huh. He reached into her pocket and took out the phone. Looking at the readout, which had a caller ID, he frowned. Its long distance. As in another country.
She grabbed the phone. Hello, Francesca. Can you say bad timing?
Sorry, sweetie. Im going to be out and didnt want to miss your call. Hows your hunky boss?
Carlyne pressed the phone closer to her ear and glared at Sean. I never said he was a hunk.
He lifted a brow.
Francesca laughed. You never had to. You extended your stay. You wouldnt have done that for just anyone.
Was she so shallow that she wouldnt have helped a friend in need unless he fit a certain physical criteria? God, she hated facing that. Well, Im doing it now, she said stiffly. And thats what counts.
Yes, Francesca agreed sweetly. And of course, with all this newfound righteousness, youve told him the truth.
Um Carlyne looked at Sean.
He smiled.
Her heart went pitter-patter. She wanted him, no doubt. But she couldnt let herself have him under this pretense. It was wrong. Tonight, she promised.
Francesca sighed with relief. Call me if you need me.
I will.
Who was that? Sean asked as she slipped the phone into her pocket.
It was time, past time, to come clean with the man shed more than half fallen for. But in doing so, she very well might lose the best thing that had ever happened to her. It was a friend of mine.
Ah, you admit to having a life.
She had to smile. Yes.
His eyes softened, and he cupped her face. Thats a start.
Because she had to, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him softly.
His thumbs stroked her jaw. You keep doing that and well miss the party.
That would belovely.
His eyes heated. Say the word.
Sean.
He slid his cheek to hers, nibbled at her ear. You know where to find me when youre ready. He opened his mouth on her throat, and her eyes crossed with lust. Are you? He dragged that hot, wet mouth down her neck. Ready?
Judging by the weakness in every bone, yes. Judging by the throbbing between her thighs, double resounding yes.
Your party, she mumbled. You said it was required.
He lifted his head, looking frustrated and hot. Very hot. After the party, then.
At the thought, the throbbing intensified. After the party they would do it all. Talk. Make love. Talk some more.
Or so she hoped, with all her heart.
THERE WAS MUSIC and laughter. Elegant, sophisticated people milling around, talking about themselves. It should have been second nature to Carlyne, but it wasnt to Carly.
All she could think about was Sean. About tonight. Tense and edgy, she did her best to circulate when what she really wanted was some release to all this tension inside her. The music was classical, the food expensive and tasteful. The people were interesting.
And she couldnt breathe.
She escaped into the bathroom, turned on the light and stared at her reflection. What was the matter with her? She should have fit right in out there.
Shed been bred for such parties. Small talk, a distant smileshe had a talent.
But tonight she wasnt Princess Carlyne.
Tonight she was Carly, a woman who took care of a child for a living. A woman beginning to wish with all her might that this was really her life.
Carly?
At the light knock on the bathroom door and the unbearably familiar masculine voice, everything within her tightened in anticipation. Debating between what her brain knew to be best and what her body wanted, she opened the door a crack. Sean pushed in.
Sean. What are you doing?
He shut the door, then sent her a long, scorching look that told her exactly what he wanted to be doing. He was so big, so leanly muscled, so masculine. So gorgeous. And so utterly out of place in this ridiculously feminine bathroom.
Still holding her gaze, he engaged the lock.
Um, Sean?
I cant breathe out there. He unbuttoned his jacket, slipped it off his shoulders and hung it on the hook on the back of the door. Youre supposed to be helping me, Carly.
Yes. Well In his white dress shirt, he looked every bit as sophisticated and elegant as any aristocrat shed ever seen. Then he smiled and took a step toward her. I can breathe when Im looking at you, Carly.
Oh. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. He pressed her against the counter, buried his face in her neck and rocked his body to hers. Oh, my, she whispered.
She felt him smile against her neck as he slid his arms around her. Ive been wanting to do this all evening.
Weve only been here twenty minutes. She gripped the counter behind her, which did two things. One, it gave her some desperately needed support, since her knees had refused to support her.