A Marriage Between Friends (6 page)

They walked past the garage. Beneath the overhang the boards they’d painted last night leaned against the wall.

Jill led Vince up a path farther away from the building, her jeans snug across her hips. Her hourglass figure would have most men itching to trace those curves with both hands. Most men. Not Vince. He’d become immune to her charms the night she’d walked out of his life. All that was left now was a detached appreciation of her figure.

“Did you bring the paperwork?” Jill asked. “You must have been thinking about this for a long time.”

“It’s too soon.” A contract with the tribe would need to include specific financial agreements and obligations. He and Arnie were still talking big-picture numbers as they danced around approvals.

Vince saw that words had been painted on the boards, but from this angle he couldn’t read them. Jill and Teddy must have gotten up early. Another step, maybe two…

“It’s been more than ten years, Vince.”

Now Vince could see the big, bold red letters. He stopped, staring at the spray-painted phrase—NO CASINO. This was a problem. An amateurish, grassroots problem, to be sure. Still, if Jill teamed up with the mayor Arnie had warned Vince about, she’d be trouble. Vince didn’t have time for trouble.

“I helped you paint those,” Vince said, jabbing his finger at the signs. “I thought you said it was Teddy’s school project.”

Jill shook her head twice, so slowly her ponytail barely moved. “You assumed—”

“Oh, come on, Jill. You could have set me straight last night.” Vince glanced back at the painted boards, torn between the need to shake Jill and kiss her senseless.

Wait a minute. Kiss Jill? Vince frowned. Jill was maddening. Jill was amusing. He stared at her.

Yes, he wanted to kiss her.

“What?” Jill’s brow creased.

“Nothing.” Kissing would be a big mistake. He wanted to bring her into the casino deal, not scare her away.

“I hope you’re not arguing with that nice man again,” Edda Mae called, crossing the lot to her cottage.

“You’re talking about me as if I’m not here.” Frowning, Vince swung around. “Again.”

“Apologies.” Edda Mae laughed, Moonbeam a poofy white ball bouncing at her feet. “But you had your coffee.”

Shaking his head, Vince returned his attention to his wife, who looked nervous. “What were you going to ask me before?”

“I…uhh…” Now that he’d seen the signs, Vince knew bringing Jill into the casino deal was a long shot. “It was probably the same thing I was going to ask you.”

Jill walked up the hill away from Vince. “I meant to do this a long time ago.”

“What?” Vince’s gaze had swung back to the boards. He’d helped her paint them. He’d helped her—

“Divorce you.”

What the—!

Vince spun around, his knees jerking unsteadily as his world tilted and fell out of focus so that all he could see was his long-lost wife. Jill hadn’t come to her senses. She’d totally lost her mind. Divorce her? Why? This marriage was the perfect setup.

“Vince?” Jill circled the small rise, the sun casting filtered light through the tall trees behind her.

Vince couldn’t find his voice.

“You’re not divorcing me?” There was a wobbly note of hope underlying her words.

“No,” Vince blurted. “Why would I?”

“Maybe because we’re not really married?” Jill gave him a soft, sad smile, looking more like the girl in school who never quite fit in than an accomplished businesswoman. “You live your life and I live mine.”

“Yes. It’s perfect.” He was starting to sound like a total idiot. But Vegas was full of women looking for a meal ticket, and without his wedding ring his life would be…complicated. Or at least more complicated than it already was.

“It’s not a marriage, Vince.”

“Is this about money?”

“I don’t want your money.” Jill’s smile became more animated. “Well, that’s not quite true. When you sell the house my parents gave us, I’d like my share.”

Vince took a few steps closer so that he could see her face, gauge if she’d fallen for another man. “Is there someone else?”

“No,” she said much too quickly.

“Because you have carte blanche. I know I certainly have.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Jill crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows.

“You thought I’d been a monk all these years?” Vince could tell by the way Jill worried her lip with her teeth that she hoped he had. It went against everything he’d once felt to hurt her but, “I refuse to feel guilty.
You
left
me.
”

Jill studied him, judged him. Vince’s hands fisted at his sides.

Then Jill sighed. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Why did you marry me? Why didn’t you divorce me?”

He ground his teeth. She didn’t understand. “Jill—”

She waved a hand in his direction. “Clearly, you don’t want to be married.”

“I wear my ring, don’t I?” Vince didn’t know where his anger was coming from. He was nearly shouting.

“Why keep it on? So you can pick up girls who aren’t looking for anything more than a one-nighter?”

The admission broke free. “Yes. You know better than anyone that I’m not cut out for this love business. My parents sure as hell didn’t love me. My dad thought a good backhand to the head was an appropriate father-son greeting. And my grandfather…well, whatever he once felt for me is long gone. I know who I am, Jill. I know what I have to offer.”

“Sex.” The word sounded foreign coming off Jill’s lips.

“Guilty as charged.” Vince waited for Jill to close in for the kill. He was scum. He deserved it, probably more so because he wanted to kiss her. “Damn it, Jill. If we’re ending this thing, we’ll do it the same way we started.” With a kiss. Only this time it wouldn’t be G-rated.

Capturing Jill’s gaze, Vince moved another few feet up the path. The Jill he’d married would have made an excuse and scurried away.

News flash: Jill wasn’t backing off.

They were going to kiss. Vince could see from the widening of Jill’s blue eyes that she knew it, too.

J
ILL’S HEART POUNDED
,
urging her to flee, to hide the warmth creeping up her neck.

Stupid, stupid fantasies.

But the rest of her railed, insisting she demand Vince leave. He must think her a real piece of work. What kind of woman left her husband on their wedding night and didn’t annul the marriage right away and then waited—after he’d admitted his marriage vows meant nothing to him—for him to kiss her goodbye?

Vince stared at her without speaking as he advanced. And yet, Jill swore she could hear his thoughts. He wanted to know everything—from Jill’s reason for marrying him to her excuse for staying away after she discovered she adored Teddy to why she never divorced him. He’d listen, because that’s what he’d always done for her. He’d listen to Jill whether he stood in the chilly September sunshine in dress slacks and a white sodden T-shirt or they sat on the hearth in the dining room with a fire blazing behind them or lay in bed—

No. That was her fantasy Vince. This Vince was hungry and after instant gratification. He stalked toward her, his long strides reminiscent of the proud boy who’d survived on the fringe of high-school society. But where he’d been lanky as a teenager, he was solid now with a broad chest and muscular arms that could crush a woman to him whether she wanted that intimacy or not.

Jill was unable to pull her gaze away from Vince’s lips. It was a crime for a man to have such a perfect mouth. There’d been no one since Vince’s kiss sealed their vows. Her wedding ring ensured that.

When Jill didn’t argue, Vince paused and cocked an eyebrow, sending another unwanted, heated signal her body couldn’t ignore.

Get a grip. If not for yourself, then for Teddy.

That jolted Jill’s brain back into defense mode. “This is not how I pictured us meeting after all these years.”

Vince frowned. “You’ve been hiding up here waiting for me to serve you divorce papers?” He ambled a few feet closer, close enough to touch Jill with an extended arm. Close enough for her to sink her fingers into his thick, dark hair.

And have him flinch at her touch as he’d done at breakfast? She was nothing to him. Undoubtedly she was misreading the entire situation. Vince was here to wreak havoc on Railroad Stop and to do so he had to put her off balance. There was no way he could send out those smoking sexy vibes unconsciously. He was messing with her libido, all right. He could probably see the infrared stamp on her forehead that said
sexually repressed, yet undeniably curious.
And it
was
curiosity about Vince.

Jill backed up a step and then another. She had enough problems of her own without trying to figure out what was going on in Vince’s head. “It makes sense. You should be free to pursue whatever…whoever you want.”

“Come on. Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to kiss me? Now’s your last chance.” Vince advanced on Jill again, slowly. “Prove to me you’re ready to move on.”

How did you do that after being date-raped? She’d been a willing participant at first. Craig hadn’t been able to stop. What man could at that point? No. It was safer to sleep alone. Jill clumped clumsily to the edge of the tree line. They were out of sight of the main buildings now. Her heart hammered. “I’ve lived without you for ten years. I think I’ve proved I can do it.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Vince kept coming toward her.

Ten years ago she would have held up a hand to indicate that was close enough and he would have respected her wishes. He’d known she was nervous around men. Why wasn’t he stopping? “Vince?”

He halted at her question. Two steps above Vince on the trail, Jill’s eyes were almost level with his nose. She could retreat farther into the woods, but he’d follow—she could tell by the way his gaze seemed to encompass her.

Vince placed his hands on Jill’s upper arms, achingly gentle, just as he’d done in her dreams. Her body tensed, poised for flight.

“If you want to end this, Jill, let’s end it right.” Vince’s voice was as tender as his touch. “I want you to be happy, after all.”

“I am happy,” Jill croaked, her eyes drawn to his mouth. She wished that things were different, that she had the courage to lean forward and kiss him. Not only was Jill a coward, she had to consider her priorities—Teddy, who wanted to keep Vince, and the fate of Railroad Stop.

Why couldn’t she want to kiss someone less complicated, less threatening, less…sexy?

His smile revealed that dimple. “You’ve been hiding up here, pretending to be happy. Otherwise you would have asked for a divorce a long time ago. You would have fallen in love with someone else.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because I know you.”

Jill’s body thrummed with electricity generated by Vince’s touch. Her heart pounded out a near-frantic cadence for her to escape to. And still she stood paralyzed.

“Tell me about the men you’ve kissed since we’ve been married. Whoever’s been kissing you has done it all wrong. I’ll track them down and beat some sense into each one. I…You’re trembling.” Vince seemed to notice this last with wonder. His voice softened, lowered. “You need a man in your life who’s gentle and patient.”

“I haven’t kissed anyone,” Jill whispered, her eyes still on Vince’s mouth, which had drifted closer to hers as he leaned in to catch her words. “I—”

Her response was lost as their lips met.

It didn’t matter who closed the gap between them. Vince’s lips were soft, his mouth warm against hers. Their contact was awkward as they adjusted for height and comfort, her hesitance and surprise stiffening her spine. And yet Vince was gentle and patient just as he’d promised. On a sigh Jill accepted him, pressing her hands against his shirt, seeking balance as he deepened the kiss.

Why had she waited so long to kiss someone? And not just anyone.

She was kissing her husband!

“I love…the way you kiss,” Vince murmured against her mouth, pulling back before breaking this wondrous connection completely. His breath drifted over her skin, into her mouth.

Jill absorbed the moment, absorbed Vince into her shuddering system. Mellow heat spread through her, making her bones feel soft, her body deliciously sinuous. So this was what she’d been missing.

Vince’s large hands drifted lazily across Jill’s shoulders, skimmed down the slope of her back, creating a tender cocoon around her. She cuddled closer. As if on cue one of Vince’s hands slid over the curve of Jill’s bottom, the other beneath the hem of her T-shirt. As his hand ventured northward, the warmth of his palm against her spine was electric, sending a startled jolt through Jill’s muscles, sending her careering against Vince’s hard, powerful chest.

“Oh, baby.” Vince hauled her body against him, his kiss no longer gentle, but urgent, demanding, reminiscent of that night Craig hadn’t listened when she’d said,
“No!”

“No!” Jill cried into Vince’s mouth, twisting her body and pounding his chest, gasping for air as panic vaulted into her throat.
Not again!

She fell onto the wet gravel path, sending the air out of her lungs in a high-pitched whoosh. The clay mountain soil hadn’t absorbed the rain from last night. Water soaked through the seat of her jeans. There was little chance of getting into the apartment without Teddy seeing what a mess she was. And she was a mess. She should have known better.

“What the hell?” Vince bent to help Jill up, but she scuttled away, gravel biting into her palms. Vince took a few steps back, his face probably as ashen as hers. “I’m an ass. I should have realized. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Let’s just…forget that happened.” Would her legs hold her if she stood? She’d been trembling since before they’d kissed. First with anticipation, then with desire and finally with fear.

“We’ll go slow next time.” Vince extended his hand to Jill once more, his eyes filled with remorse.

“Don’t you get it? I can’t do this. I haven’t since…” Jill scrambled up off the ground before Vince could touch her, giving herself a head rush that nearly sent her tumbling into him. “You got your end-of-the-marriage kiss. I think you should go.”

But Vince wasn’t listening to her. “Have you talked to someone? A counselor? It’s been…”

“I know how long it’s been.” Sometimes the loneliness was unbearable. When Jill looked at Vince she kept her eyes carefully above his mouth, kept her voice below a freaked-out shriek. “Please leave.”

F
OR THE SECOND TIME
in twenty-four hours, Vince wondered how he’d lost control. The kiss was meant to put Jill in her place, retribution for her asking for a divorce and a way to divert attention from his gut-spilling tirade. The opposite had occurred. It was Vince who had been humbled, Vince who felt sorry.

Vince, the man who had once vowed to protect Jill, had acted nearly as uncontrollably as Craig. It was Jill’s panic that sent comprehension surging through Vince’s system, quenching his desire as he watched her stumble away from him.

He needed a reality check. This was Jill, with her average curves and her average face. Except…he liked looking at Jill. He always had. Her facial expressions gave away her emotions much too easily, and her smile…he’d always liked her smile. Vince found it hard to believe that she hadn’t been smiling at some backwoods sap all this time.

Sure, Jill had a good reason to become celibate eleven years ago—
damn Craig to hell
—but she practically lived like a nun. Vince frowned. Jill had made a home out in the middle of nowhere with a security system Tom Cruise would envy. A man would have to be pretty damn determined if he wanted to infiltrate Jill’s defenses. Was it any wonder she hadn’t kissed anyone since their wedding day?

Vince stared up at the blue sky, contrasted against the soft green of the pine trees. Jill’s personal life was incomplete. Okay, his own personal life wasn’t perfect, either, but he was a realist. He’d never be able to hold on to happiness with a woman long-term. It was easier to find a happy medium.

Vince blew out a frustrated breath.

I haven’t since…

Jill’s words reverberated in his head. She was scared of being with anyone physically. She’d need someone who cared enough to be patient, yet was stubborn enough not to let her hide.

Someone who was staying in her home. Someone obstinate enough not to leave. Someone who’d help reintroduce her to her sexuality and then be gone. Vince smiled. He was the perfect man for no-strings-attached sex.

His smile faded, his gaze drawn again to the sky. Not that he wanted Jill to fall in love with him. And Jill was sentimental enough to read more into this than there was. He’d have to be careful, that was all. His priority was the casino deal, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use this unexpected attraction between them to his advantage as he tried to convince Jill that the casino was the right thing for Railroad Stop.

“Vince? Hey, Vince.” Teddy came into view on the driveway below. Once he caught sight of Vince, the boy veered with coltish steps onto the gravel path. As he got nearer, Vince could see his mouth drawn in a sad pout. “I wanted to say goodbye.”

“Are you going somewhere, buddy?”

“Not me,
you.
Mom said you were leaving.” Squinting against the sun only made Teddy look sadder.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“But Mom said—”

“Edda Mae said I could have a shower first.”

“I don’t know. Mom said—”

“Why don’t you let me worry about your mom?”

Teddy tilted his head to one side and scrunched up his nose. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

“I’ll talk to her.” Vince bent down to Teddy’s level, ready to put his plan into action. “In the meantime…”

“W
HAT DO YOU MEAN
you’re not leaving?” Jill propped her hands on her hips and glared at Vince. She stood in the crook of the kitchen, about as far away from Vince’s position on the couch as she could get without leaving the apartment.

Vince’s kiss had been incredibly magnetic, making her want more, and earth-shatteringly scary, making her…confused. Jill didn’t do more. She didn’t do kisses. Just thinking about kissing had left Jill hot and cold for years, wondering if she could go further, if she could make love with someone.

Well, this proved it. Jill couldn’t. Vince had to go. Only he didn’t seem to want to take the hammer-over-the-head hint that Jill wanted him to leave.

“I’ve decided it’s more convenient to stay. Here.” Vince pointed at the living room carpet, but Jill could just as easily picture him rubbing his hands in glee because now he was going to be around to mess with her head.

“You can’t stay.” Jill paced the limits of the tiny kitchen because Vince was in the living room, and after what had happened earlier, distance was called for. Vince’s impact on Jill was unexpected. One minute Jill wanted to comfort him, the next bop him over the head, and then she found herself wanting to fall into his arms.

“You’d throw me out? I’m your husband.”

Jill’s mouth fell open, but she quickly recovered. “Soon to be divorced, remember?”

“Jill. Be reasonable. What will people think if I don’t stay here?”

“The same thing they’ve been thinking for ten years.” She pinned Vince with her gaze. “My husband is either a loser or he’s dead.”

Vince’s eyebrows shot up. “You told them I was dead?”

“No.” She hadn’t told them Vince was a loser, either.

“I’ll make it worth your while.” There was a smile lurking behind those seemingly innocent, dark eyes of his as he sprawled in the corner of her couch and watched her.

He wouldn’t proposition her, would he? Jill’s heart pounded faster.

Vince opened his mouth to speak.

“Choose your terms carefully,” Jill warned. If he so much as breathed inappropriately, he was out of there.

Vince’s dimple flashed. “I’m offering you free labor. But if you want me to pay to stay here, that’s fine, too. You can’t send me away. It’s obvious we need time to settle our personal business.”

“Obvious to you, maybe. We agreed to divorce.” By supreme willpower, Jill refrained from spinning her wedding ring. Once Vince left this morning, she could post her signs and begin planning a campaign against him and his casino.