Authors: Mary Jo Putney

A Holiday Fling (15 page)

BOOK: A Holiday Fling

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It was a mistake. Being in his arms did alarming things to her heartbeat, even though he wasn’t clutching her to his body like a life preserver. Darkness had fallen while they ate, and the handful of patio lamps cast a soft, romantic light over the garden. Instead of pulling away, she moved closer. He was a convenient height, not so tall she got a crick in her neck looking at him.

"It’s nice to see you when you’re not on the run," Hal said softly. "I’ve watched you ever since you moved in, and you’re just a flash of energy. Running to the office, running home, running to stay in shape. Constant motion, like a beautiful, desperate hummingbird." He brushed a kiss on her lips.

She froze. This was not a neighborly kiss. It was... it was...

She kissed him back. His mouth was warm, leisurely, intent. Without putting a hand below her waist, he had her yearning to wrap herself around him.

"Kerry, what the hell is this about?"

Ohmigod, it was Troy! She spun around, feeling horribly guilty. He stood in the back gateway, his giant SUV looming over Hal’s fence. "I... I thought you weren’t going to be back until late tomorrow."

"I washed out of the tournament. The damned referee called every disputed shot in favor of the local guy." Hands on his hips, Troy surveyed Kerry, more baffled than angry. "I got your message, and decided to come by when I couldn’t reach you. Why don’t you have your cell phone on?"

He seemed more upset about that than the fact she’d been kissing a strange man. "I really didn’t think I needed my cell phone on a Saturday night, Troy. It’s not as if I’m a doctor on call."

Probably wanting to defuse the tension, Hal stepped forward and offered his hand. "Hi, I’m Hal Gordon."

"Troy Wilhelmson." Automatically Troy shook hands. "Why were you kissing Kerry?"

"She was looking very pretty," Hal said. "Have you had dinner yet? I can toss another filet mignon on the grill and have it ready in a couple of minutes."

"Thanks, but I haven’t time for dinner. I just came to get my girl." Troy gave her his golden boy smile. He really was gorgeous—tall, blond, broad-shouldered, athletic.

He was also totally clueless. Brilliant at number crunching, but unable to figure out why another man might kiss her. Exasperated, she asked, "Don’t you even wonder if I’ve been cheating behind your back?"

"Of course you haven’t, Kerry. Hell, when would you have the time?" Troy laughed at the thought. "C’mon back to your place. Since I got blown out of the tournament early, I’ve got lots of energy left." He gave her a cheerful leer.

She suppressed a sigh. They hadn’t had much sex lately because he’d been so busy. Why tonight, when she wasn’t in the mood? "I’d rather stay a while longer. It’s been ages since I’ve had a day off. Why not take Hal up on his offer of dinner? The food was great."

"You know I don’t eat red meat. Terrible for the cholesterol levels. Come on home now, honey." He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a smacking kiss. Marking her as his property. "Later I’ll tell you about a great new fund based on derivatives that I heard about. We can make a bundle if we move fast."

She pulled away, thinking that he didn’t kiss half as well as Hal, and at the moment, she wasn’t particularly interested in derivatives or any other form of financial shell game. "Troy, do you know where I was born? Where I grew up?"

He blinked at her. "Is this a trick question?"

"Not really. I’m just curious if you know anything about me."

Baffled again, he said, "You’re Kerry Roland, the smartest, prettiest female broker in my office."

She was also the only one who was single. How much of her appeal for him was based on her availability?

That insight triggered another one that was even more shocking: Her attachment to him wasn’t much different. Even though she’d occasionally fantasized about athletic blond children, she wasn’t in love with Troy. Take away their mutual employment, and was there a real relationship? Testing her theory, she asked, "What did I do before I became a broker?"

He frowned. "Real estate, wasn’t it?"

She sighed, knowing she couldn’t blame him for being gorgeous and clueless since that’s what he’d always been. While working herself to exhaustion at her job, she’d been slothful about personal relationships, which were far more important. "I didn’t work in real estate. Troy, it’s time to call off our relationship, if an office partnership with occasional sex can be called a relationship."

"It
was
a trick question! What the hell’s gotten into you, Kerry?" He swung around and glared at Hal. "This is your fault, isn’t it? You’ve been screwing around with my girl."

"No," Hal said, unintimidated, "but I can’t say the thought hasn’t occurred to me. Kerry is a terrific, bright, warm, funny woman."

This was becoming more surreal by the second. Afraid Troy might slug Hal, Kerry said hastily, "My breaking up with you isn’t about Hal. It’s just that today got me to thinking about what I want."

"Is this one of those biological clock things?" Troy asked suspiciously. "I thought you were a real career woman."

"I’d thought so, too, but I’m not sure that being a broker is the career I want. I don’t find financial work very interesting, and I’ve been too busy to even notice."

"You don’t like being a broker?" he exclaimed. "But you’re so good at it!"

"I used to be a good cook, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to be a professional chef." Suspecting her analogy was weak, she offered her hand. "I’m sorry, Troy, I know this must seem like a bolt from the blue to you. I hope we can stay friends."

At that, Troy exploded. "I
hate
it when women say that! Why the hell would I want to be friends with a woman I’m not fucking?" He pivoted and swung a massive fist at Hal. "I don’t care what Kerry says, this is your fault!"

She shrieked, "Hal!"

Too late. With a series of swift, graceful moves, Hal laid Troy out in a bed of pink impatiens.

While Kerry gaped, Troy climbed to his feet, saying with grudging admiration. "Damn, you’re good, Gordon."

"I’ve studied martial arts for years." Hal grinned. "A very handy skill for a public school teacher."

"You’re a
teacher
?" Troy brushed off crushed pink petals. "Kerry’s gone off the deep end for a loser? Hey, if you want her, help yourself."

Kerry’s temper snapped. "I am not yours to dispose of, Troy!"

Ignoring her—hadn’t he always except when he was horny or wanted an audience?—Troy stalked out the back gate. A moment later, the SUV engine roared to life, and he was gone.

Kerry watched the retreating lights, shaking at the knowledge that she’d just ended a two-year relationship. She was
never
the one to end a relationship. Though maybe it was a skill she should have developed earlier.

Hal circled Kerry’s shoulders with one arm and guided her to a lounger, pulling her down to sit next to him. "I’m really sorry. I’ve admired you for a long time, but I didn’t intend to wreck your life. It’s going to be tough to work with him now."

She sighed. "I need to get out of that office anyhow since I don’t enjoy the work. The money is nice, but I don’t even have time to spend it."

"If you’re going to be looking for a new job, the Baltimore County school district still has vacancies for the upcoming school year."

She thought of the kids she’d taught in the past, and clear, warm certainty spread through her. Of course. She was a teacher. Why had she let herself forget that?

"I should probably take a few days to get my head straight, but going back to teaching is the best idea I’ve heard in years." She smiled wryly. "I owe you one for slowing me down enough to realize I hate my life."

"Money’s nice, but the one truly priceless commodity we have is time. We need to spend it wisely and well."

She focused on Hal’s face. There was something powerfully attractive about a man who actually had thoughts beyond sports and profits. Had it only been a few hours ago they’d really started to get acquainted? She felt they’d known each other for years. "I think I need lessons in how to use time well. If I ever knew how, I’ve forgotten."

He kissed her. "This is a pretty good use of time."

Lovely as the kiss was, she reminded herself that she’d made enough relationship mistakes for one lifetime and pulled back a little. "Am I wrong to think you’re the type who prefers serious involvement to casual flings?"

He brushed back her hair tenderly. "You’re not wrong. The first time I saw you, I thought ‘I want to marry a girl just like that one.’"

"Even if I’m too thin?"

"That can be fixed with a little time and ice cream." He kissed her again.

She relaxed into his embrace, feeling as she’d come home.

Some activities really were best done slowly.

The End