Curvaceous (7 page)

"Who are you looking for?" she asked.

"You're alone?"

"Yes."

"Is Jayson coming?"

"No," she said.

He smiled, looking pleased. "Good."

She compressed her lips. "Good? Really, Dave?"

"Yes, good, Rica. Really."

"Why?"

"Because New Year's Eve should be spent with family."

"And?"

He shrugged. "And there's someone I want you to meet without Jayson in tow to spoil things," he said.

"What makes you think he spoils anything, Dave?"

He shook his head. "That was probably a bad choice of words."

"Probably?"

"Definitely a bad choice of words," he amended. "I don't want to start the New Year arguing. We're family and since Kia can't be here tonight, it means more to me than I can say that you are."

He could be a royal pain in the ass when it came to Jayson, but she knew he loved her. And she loved him. She smiled.

"Okay?"

She nodded.

He slipped his arm around her shoulder and led her inside. After closing the door, he led her into the living room and over to a tall, handsome man with dark hair and green eyes. "Rica, this is one of our new neighbor's Bill Denton. Bill, this lovely lady is my sister, Cherica Martin."

"Lovely is an understatement, Dave," Bill said, smiling warmly at her and extending his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cherica."

Although annoyed at Dave's matchmaking attempts, Cherica decided there were worst ways to ring the New Year in than in the company of a man who seemed so eager to meet her.

She smiled and shook hands. "Thank you."

"As I said, Rica, Bill's new to the neighborhood and, like you, he's here alone. I'm sure I can count on you to make him feel welcome and to ensure his New Year gets off to a great start."

Despite herself, Cherica liked Bill on sight. He was no tall, dark, and handsome Jayson clone, but he had an engaging smile and looked so damned happy to meet her, she decided she just might enjoy the night after all.

Two hours later, she and Bill were standing with Dave and another couple discussing their New Year's resolutions when Dave suddenly stiffened. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Following his gaze, she saw Jill crossing the room towards them with Jayson at her side.

Suppressing the urge to rush across the room and toss herself into his arms, she gave him what she hoped was a casual smile. "Jayson!" She glanced at her watch; 10:30. "I thought you'd be partying at your mom's waiting to ring in the New Year."

He shrugged. "My plans changed."

"She's not going to like that."

He glanced at Dave and smiled. "I'll bet my mom isn't the only one who won't."

Dave inhaled quickly but said nothing.

"I take it you and Rica know each other," Bill said, extending his hand to Jayson. "Bill Denton."

"Know each other?" Jayson shook his head. "Oh, we more than know each other."

Surprised, Cherica looked at him.

Smiling at her, he put his arm around her shoulders while extending his free hand to Bill. "Jayson Calihan...Rica's my woman."

With her heart pounding, Cherica gaped up at him and then looked at Dave, who stared at Jayson as if he'd like to slug him. "Your woman?"

"Oh, yes, Dave. My woman."

Cherica's heartbeat raced. "Oh, Jay. What is your mom going to say...or does your mom know?"

"She already knows and now so does Dave," he said, smiling down at her. "And now that our family knows, I'm ready to tell anyone else who'll listen."

Feeling as if she were in a beautiful dream, she slipped her arm around Jayson's waist. "Oh...Jay...finally." Then aware that Dave was probably pissed, she sighed. "We should leave."

With his arm still around her shoulders, Jayson nodded at Bill. "Nice meeting you."

"And you."

He then turned to look at Dave. "We won't spoil the party by staying. Good night and Happy New Year." He turned and walked her across the room and into the hallway.

They got as far as the door before Dave called to her. "Rica. Wait!"

Afraid he was going to try to talk her into remaining without Jayson, she turned to find he and Jill crossing the hall to them. "Yes?"

"We're family," Dave said, after an awkward pause. "Family should welcome the New Year together whenever possible. So unless you're on your way to Jayson's mother's house, Jill and I would like you both to stay."

"Are you sure, Dave? I mean I know you—"

"If you're sure you want to go there with him—"

She looked up at Jayson, who smiled down at her with a warm, intimate look that left her longing to go someplace private and love him until his dick went limp. "I've never been surer of anything in my life," she said.

Dave sighed and then extended his hand to Jayson. "Then I think it's time you and I got to know each other. Jill and I would like you both here to sing Auld Lang Syne with us. It's a family tradition we hope you'll share with us."

With her heart bursting with pride for Dave's graciousness, she looked up at Jayson, willing him to accept Dave's olive branch.

"Thank you. I'd like that, but my mother is expecting us to spend part of the night with her, so we'll be leaving shortly after the toast."

Dave nodded, looked at her, hesitated, and then leaned over to kiss her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"He'd better treat you right," he warned.

"He will," Jayson said, not sounding in the least angry or annoyed.

Dave nodded again and he and Jill walked back to the party.

Left alone with Jayson, Cherica slipped her arms around his waist. "Oh, Jay, I'd just about given up on you ever being willing to openly acknowledge our relationship."

He sighed. "I know things have been difficult for you and I'm sorry."

She regretted the time they'd squandered pretending friendship was enough, but she wasn't willing to waste any more time on regrets. "If you're sure, Jayson—"

"I'm positive."

She sighed with relief. "Then I'm not interested in looking backwards. Let's just move forward together."

He nodded. "Thanks."

"So what kind of welcome can I expect from your mom and sisters?"

He sighed. "Probably a little frostier than the one I just got."

"That's what I was afraid of."

"I'm not going to deny this won't be easy, but I went to see them tonight and made it clear that you and I are a packaged deal."

"You did?"

"I made it clear that if they want to see me as often as possible, they're going to have to be prepared to see you and to play nice."

"Meaning they're going to hate my guts."

"Hate is too strong a word. But even if it were appropriate, I hope the fact that I love you will be enough to compensate for a lack of warmth from them in the short term. I say short term because once they get to—"

"Wait a minute. What?" She pulled away from him so she could gaze up into his eyes. "What did you say?"

"I said once they get to know—"

"No. No. Before that."

He frowned. "Before that?"

"Yes," she said impatiently. "Before that."

"Oh! You mean the I love you part?"

She nodded. "Yes. That part."

He smiled slowly, his gaze warm and intimate. And yes, loving. "I said I love you. But you knew that already. Didn't you?"

She inhaled slowly, feeling almost dizzy with delight. "Jayson Calihan. How could I know it when you've never said it before?"

He seemed surprised. "I know, but surely you knew."

"I didn't! And I swear that if I didn't love you so much, I'd push you off the nearest bridge."

He glanced towards the living room before he reached out and slapped her ass. "Wouldn't that be a waste?"

She felt so excited and eager to explore their new relationship, it was difficult not to grab him by the hand and rush him out the house so they could be alone. But she'd waited years for him to realize and admit he loved her. She could wait a few hours more. "I'll deal with you later," she warned.

"Oh, I hope so, sweet girl," he said, giving her a lecherous grin.

She glanced towards the living room before gazing up at him. "What first attracted you to me?"

He hesitated. "You want the real version or the respectable version?"

"The real version."

"The first time I saw you walking in front of me I was hooked."

She smiled. "Based on my walk?"

"Yes...that walk of yours is unbelievable."

"Yeah? You mean my I-am-a-strong-female-who-doesn't-need-a-man-to-be-happy walk?"

He arched a brow. "Do you have one of those?"

"Damn right I do. If not that, then what?"

He grinned. "It was your come-and-get-some-of-my-incredible-pussy walk that hooked me the first time I saw you."

"I'm going to want to hear a lot more about that later."

"And I can promise you talking isn't going to be high up on my to-do list once we're alone."

"I feel you," she admitted. "But right now, we'd better join the others." She slipped her hand in Jayson's and walked back into the living room, with a smile on her face; ready to welcome the New Year with a heart overflowing with thankfulness.

T
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J
ake

My mother, a beautiful, generous woman, often said beauty was only skin-deep. Maybe so, but show me a man who doesn't prefer a beautiful woman to a plain one and I'll show you a blind man. Despite my mother's efforts, I'd never dated a female I didn't find drop dead gorgeous. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against ordinary women. I've just never seen the need to date one until I met Bree.

The moment I saw her, I knew I'd been had, and that I would be getting even. I also knew I had to go through with the date—no matter how much I wanted to pretend I was at the wrong apartment.

Before you think I'm some fickle knucklehead unable to see past appearances, I'll save you the trouble and admit that, like most males, I prefer a woman I spend time with to be at least pretty. Her being beautiful would be even better.

I prefer slender, petite, gorgeous women with green eyes, fair skin and long, flowing red hair. Bree's skin was dark and clear, her eyes were an ordinary brown, and she wore her dark hair short and natural. I guessed she was roughly five eight—hardly petite. There would be no swinging her up into my arms and carrying her off to bed after a night of wining and dining.

I could have dealt with Bree's other shortcomings had she at least been pretty. Granted, she had a nice smile. Actually, she had a fantastic smile that shown in her eyes. Even so, it would be a stretch to call her anything other than almost cute. I don't mean to imply that she was thoroughly unattractive. She wasn't, but she was no wear near my ideal woman.

"You must be Jake." 

I blinked. Her voice was husky in a surprisingly sexy way. Still, her great smile and intriguing voice wouldn't get her past first base with me.

"Jake? I'm Gabrielle Williams."

I swallowed hard, hoping no trace of the dismay I felt showed on my face. I might have managed that, but for the moment, I was literally speechless at the situation I'd allowed Lea to maneuver me into.

She offered her hand. "My friends call me Bree."

I smiled and shook her hand briefly. It was soft and warm, yet she had a firm handshake. "Jake Volmer." 

She glanced briefly over her shoulder into her apartment. "Would you like to come in for a drink?"

"No." Realizing I'd spoken too quickly and decisively, I smiled again. " We have reservations. If you're ready, we should go."

She gave me a long, piercing look, sighed and then shook her head. "You don't need to do this."

"What do you mean?"

"I can see I'm not what you expected."

Now that was an understatement if ever I'd heard one. "What?"

"What did Lea say to get you here tonight?"

Lea was my sister-in-law who was forever complaining that I was too fickle when it came to women. She's a fine one to talk about fickleness, but I'd lost track of the number of times she'd told me that I wouldn't know a good woman if I fell over her. Why the hell had I allowed her to talk me into a blind date just to prove...what? What the hell was this date going to prove, except that even married to my younger brother, Ed, Lea could still manipulate me?

I knew Lea expected me to take one look at Bree and find a way to back out of the date. Then she could gloat and say I-told-you-so for the next year or so when we met at family functions. Well hell would freeze over before I gave Lea that satisfaction.

I arched a brow and smiled down at Bree. "I'm not dating anyone, so Lea suggested we might enjoy spending an evening together."

"I can see that my appearance surprises you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She nodded. "I think you do. You don't have to go through with this."

If she didn't want to go out with me, why had she allowed Lea to set up this date? Were she and Lea in this together? Were they both expecting me to back out? Then they were both going to be disappointed. I narrowed my gaze, wondering just how deeply she had plotted with Lea. How far was she prepared to go to make me look bad?