The Best Man (2 page)

Jake
grinned, looking reckless and sexy. “But you’re blushing like crazy. It must be
a good fantasy.” He lifted his brows. “Maybe I can help make it come true.”

Oh
no. He was not going to set her up with some other guy.

“I’m
not
telling you,” Christine said.
“Besides it doesn’t matter. I’m too much of a romantic to fall in love on
vacation and that’s what’s important in the end.”

There
was no question that she had Jake’s undivided attention. He swallowed, then
spoke quietly, his low voice working its usual magic on her. “You don’t think love
happens fast?”

Christine
shook her head. “I think it takes time to get to know someone well enough to be
head over heels in love.” He was watching her so intently that she changed the
subject. “And it’s just so tacky how Fiona does it. I’m more interested in the
long term.”

“Agreed.”
Jake glanced across the departure lounge and turned off his phone. “Look out, Ryan’s
buddies are changing seats, maybe closing in for attack. Got your shields up?”

“Oh
no!” Christine tossed her phone into her purse and spared a glance at the guys.
Just as Jake had said, the dark-haired guy was watching her closely and
grinning. He saluted her with his take-out coffee cup and she stifled a groan. She
looked toward security and saw Fiona headed straight for them. She was dressed
in her usual black and white, her red hair swinging loose and freshly tinted to
a brighter shade. “Oh look, Fiona’s coming.”

Jake
swore so thoroughly that Christine giggled. “Tell me she’s not looking at me.”

“You
could look for yourself.”

“And
encourage her? Forget it.”

“You
are in her sights.” Christine gave Fiona a fingertip wave and a smile, just to
torment Jake.

And
to prepare him for her suggestion.

“No,
no,” he muttered. “Don’t encourage her to come closer.”

His
dismay was exactly what Christine needed to feel bold. “We could make a deal,” she
said and Jake’s gaze locked with hers. She had a hard time catching her breath,
so she said it, all in a rush. “We could cover for each other.”

“How?”

“By
pretending to have a thing this week.”

Jake
arched a brow. “A thing?”

Christine’s
face was hot but she had started and she would finish. “Maybe we see each other
in a new light. Maybe we have a vacation fling with each other. Seven days, no
strings attached, we’re crazy in love and have eyes only for each other. It
would be the perfect cover for both of us.”

Jake
smiled so slowly that Christine’s heart thudded. “So, I would do the
gentlemanly thing and save the damsel in distress from the wolves, while you
would defend me from Fiona.”

Christine
nodded.

“I
think you’re in more danger than me. I’ve been fending off Fiona for years.”

“What
does that mean?”

Jake
leaned closer, his eyes gleaming. She could feel the warmth of his skin against
her upper arm and his intensity made her mouth go dry. “You need to sweeten the
deal.”

Christine’s
voice had faded to a whisper. “How?”

Jake
smiled, a slow sexy smile. “Tell me the rest of your fantasy.”

He
was serious. Christine’s heart pounded with the knowledge that she would give
anything to Jake, anytime, anyplace. “I told you no...”

“Then
no deal. Good luck with the wolves.” His smile turned wicked. “Take a chance,
Christine. Maybe I
could
make it
come true.”

Oh,
Jake could. Christine had no doubt of that. But she was also pretty sure that
he was teasing her.

On
the other hand, wasn’t it time to take a chance? She wasn’t making any progress
otherwise. What really did she have to lose, except her pride?

“Deal,”
she said before she could change her mind. She offered her hand to him to shake
on the agreement.

“Oh
no,” Jake murmured, his eyes glinting with intent. “This isn’t the kind of deal
that gets sealed with a handshake.” He caught the back of Christine’s neck in
one warm hand, slid his fingers into her hair, and tugged her closer. “We start
the affair right now,” he whispered, his eyes gleaming.

Christine’s
heart stopped, then took off at a gallop. Jake was going to kiss her, right in
front of everybody—and not just a sisterly peck on the cheek. She was
glad she was sitting down—her knees were going weak in anticipation.

“Play
along, Christine,” Jake murmured, his mouth the tiniest increment away from
hers. His eyes were half-closed, their green dark and sexy. He looked
purposeful and so completely focused on her that Christine felt dizzy. “This game
won’t work otherwise.”

“Right,”
she whispered, then slid her arms around his neck. He felt good, solid and
muscled and warm. When his mouth claimed hers, Christine closed her eyes and
surrendered to the fantasy.

If
she was only going to get one kiss from Jake in her lifetime, she’d make it one
to remember—even if it was just strategic in his view. She kissed him
back and felt Jake catch his breath. Then his mouth slanted more possessively
over hers and he deepened his kiss, apparently oblivious to the whistles from
Ryan’s friends.

It
was Christine’s fantasy and then some, and she never wanted it to stop. Jake’s
strong fingers were in her hair and his other arm stole around her waist.

The
man could kiss. He was turning her soul inside out and Christine wondered how
she’d manage to survive the week without revealing her true feelings for him.

Then
his tongue slid between her teeth and she forgot to worry about it. She just
hung on, savored the moment and wanted more.

* * *

Jake
had spent months trying to figure out how to suggest to Christine that they be
more than friends. This trip south for the wedding seemed like the perfect
opportunity to move their relationship in a new direction, but he hadn’t been
able to think of a way to present his case that didn’t sound crass. In the end,
she’d made the suggestion.

Could
their thoughts be running in the same direction?

Jake
couldn’t believe that. She was just afraid of Ryan’s jerk friends, and
understandably so. Fiona’s timing was impeccable, as well. But Christine’s hot
kiss, her soft sweet mouth and her teasing tongue, was making him forget where
they were.

Did
Christine always kiss like this? Jake wanted to toss her over his shoulder and
find some privacy, then work out later whether it was impulse or kismet.

But
they were sitting in an airport, with family and friends closing fast.

He
broke their kiss with an effort, unable to keep his hands from lingering in the
silk of Christine’s hair. He’d made a mess of it, encouraging it to fall in
loose tendrils from the way she’d knotted it up, but Christine didn’t seem to
mind. She looked up at him, her lips swollen and her eyes sparkling, and he
wished she’d look at him like that every minute of every day.

Then
she smiled, pulled free of his embrace and reached to fix her hair. “So, now
they think we’re a couple. I get it. Good idea.”

Her
light tone made him feel like an idiot. He’d been fantasizing too long about
Christine and he had to keep his reaction under control. Otherwise, he’d spook
her and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

For
years, he’d worried about asking her out. They’d grown up together and she
could have been his other sister. But she wasn’t: she was Christine. She was
the adorable little girl who had reached out at the age of four and stolen not
just his Popsicle but his sucker heart.

She’d
had it ever since.

But
Jake was sure she had no idea—and he wasn’t sure she’d care if she did
find out.

He
liked being friends with Christine. He liked being able to call her and hear
her voice whenever he wanted, and he liked being able to give her a hug in
public without anyone thinking it was inappropriate. But as much as he didn’t
want to risk that friendship, Jake was ready to make a commitment. He was ready
to get on with the next part of his life, the marriage and house and family
part, so long as the right woman was at his side.

Christine
was the only woman who would do. It was time to find out whether she would have
him or not. She certainly kissed as if she thought of him as more than a
brother—but maybe that was an act for Ryan’s friends.

The
idea of her having a secret fantasy was not helping him keep control.

Jake
steadied his breathing with an effort and tried to keep the tone light. “Sorry I
messed up your hair,” he said, taking the chance to tuck back a loose tendril.
Christine’s hair was honey-gold, long and thick. He could never decide whether
it was sexier loose around her shoulders, or twisted up to leave her sleek neck
bare. He knew that when there was a single tendril of loose hair against her
neck, the sight of it drove him wild.

Just
his luck—that’s how it was right now. He wanted to ease aside that
tendril with his fingertip, bend down and kiss her nape. Then go on from there.
Christine caught her breath and eyed him warily, a sure sign that she was
figuring out that he wasn’t just playing a game.

Jake
sat back and looked away, just as Ryan’s jerk friend Mark leaned over the back
of the seat on Christine’s other side. “Hey, gorgeous, if you’re giving out
welcome kisses to the wedding, I’ll have mine next.”

“Sorry,
fresh out,” Christine said, easing toward Jake. He put his arm over her
shoulders and gave Mark a look that should have warned him to back off.

He
didn’t.

“You’re
Jess’s brother, right?’ Mark said. “And the maid of honor, Christine.” He sat
down beside Christine and grinned at her. “Maybe you’ll settle a little bet for
us.”

“Maybe
not,” Christine breathed. Jake cupped his hand over her shoulder, and let his
thumb move in a lazy caress there. Christine caught her breath, then eased a
little closer, making him catch his own breath. Her perfume teased his
nostrils, making him want to close his eyes and find the exact spots where
she’d touched it to her skin.

Mark
waved his boarding pass. “Tell me I scored and you’ll be sitting near me on the
plane, not these other losers. I got 19B, Steve’s got 23D, and Kade has 22C.”

Christine
stiffened and Jake knew she must be seated beside one of them.

Time
to keep their deal.

“Hey,
there’s the reservations agent,” Jake said, as if they’d been planning this all
along. “Let me check with her about our upgrade.”

Christine
flashed him a grateful smile that made him sizzle to his toes. She gave him her
boarding pass, keeping her thumb over the seat assignment.

Which
was 19A.

Jake
really was saving the damsel in distress. Good thing he had a ridiculous amount
of points, courtesy of that three month cross country commute he’d done on a
big contract. This was the perfect use for them. Jake winked at Christine and
went to the desk, joining the line that was already forming there.

Then
he looked back.

Jake
told himself that he was just keeping an eye on Mark, but the truth was that he
couldn’t look enough at Christine. She was always so elegant and pulled
together. Maybe she had a natural flair. Maybe she considered appearances.
Maybe that was why she’d become an interior designer. There was no doubt that
she had a gift for it. She was trim and pretty, curvy in all the right places
and had perfect manners. She was a lady.

He
was crazy for that.

And
he was astounded that she kissed the way she did. Her kiss was so hot and
hungry that he only wanted more. A secret fantasy? Could the cool and composed
Christine be a passionate lover, too?

It
was more than Jake could ever have hoped for.

This
morning, Christine wore a slim khaki skirt and a red blouse, managing to look
both casual and businesslike at the same time. She wore little make-up, except
the lipstick that he saw now he’d smeared. Jake ran a hand over his own mouth
and the telltale trace on his hand made his heart thump. Christine’s sandals
and bag were caramel leather, vintage in style, and he’d guess that she had
brought those sunglasses with the tortoiseshell frames, the ones that made her
look like a movie star.

If
she’d packed the black bikini that she’d worn at the cottage the previous
summer, the one that barely existed, he was a dead man.

“Can
I help you, sir?”

Jake
reluctantly turned his attention to the attendant and summoned his best smile,
determined to ensure that Christine was alone with him for the next four hours.

No
matter what the price.

* * *

Christine
was trying to figure out how to get rid of Mark when Fiona dropped into the
seat that Jake had vacated. Ignoring Mark wasn’t working, at all.