Bride by Design 3: Manchala Nights (3 page)

I gulped. "I
am
concerned about them, but I'm more concerned about you."

We looked at each other silently, and then Colin finally
shrugged. "D
idn't realize Roger was in the running for this project. And
before
dinner, I didn't realize Sir Donald
seems set on giving
him
the job
. But I
won't
give up - you can never predict the future completely, and I'll make sure everything I
can
control is perfect."

I nodded. "What happens if you don't get it?"

Colin smiled easily, and ran a hand through his hair. "Life goes on. I'll develop something else. But I haven't given up on the Manchala project, I have a feeling I'll get it in the end."

My heart was sinking, and it probably showed on my face. "And what about me?"

Colin shook his head. "Don't worry, I've got lots of developments where we need a good interior designer. You can work on one of them. I promise, you'll get a good job out of this, you don't need to stress about your career."

I nodded. Colin might be a jerk and a womanizer, but I trusted him when it came to business.

Colin disappeared into the bathroom and I started rummaging through my clothes, trying to find some comfy pajamas. Colin emerged and grabbed his nightclothes, and started changing - I quickly looked away. I didn't need his bare abs to tempt me, and I stared
intentl
y into my messy suitcase until Colin announced drily, "I'm done."

I looked up at him, he had a thin smile and his green eyes were amused. Unfortunately, he was just wearing pajama pants - his chiseled abs were still bare. I frowned disapprovingly.

"Why can't
you wear a shirt or something?"

Colin grinned. "Scared you can't keep your hands off me?"

"Of course not!"
I bristled inside, was I that obvious?

"Well, it's too hot
in here
to wear a shirt. Why haven't you changed?"

My frown returned. "I can't find anything comfy."

"That's because I didn't pack 'comfy'."

It took a moment for that to sink in.
So the flimsy nightgowns I'd found were all
there were
? "Are you serious?"

"Come on, we're newlyweds, you're expected to wear something sexy to bed."

He
raised an eyebrow suggestively and I blanched. Most of the night clothes
in my luggage
were
tiny
, transparent things made of gauze and lace.

"I'm not wearing this stuff. And no-one here'll know what I'm wearing
to bed
."

Colin sighed, as if he was dealing with
a recalcitrant toddler. "Nobody'll see you
now, but what if there's a fire alarm? If you wear comfy nightclothes, you'll rush out
in
a mess. But if you wear something sexy, you'll be wearing a dressing gown and folks will get it."

I stared at him blankly. He was right, what he was saying made sense.
But I didn't want it to make sense.

Why did Colin have to make things so difficult? I was determined to stay away from him, I'd already learnt that his kisses and touches were addictive and I couldn't trust my body when I was near him.

"Fine." I grabbed the negligee nearest to me and stalked off into the bathroom. I'd wear the damn thing, but it was only because of the deal.

When I was changed and ready for bed, I rushed out of the bathroom, one arm covering my breasts, the other flipping up the covers as I dove under them.

Colin laughed and slid in beside me. "You'd win the Olympics for quickest dash into bed," he murmured, "But I've already seen what I need to."

I felt one arm snake around my waist, and I glared at him. "This isn't happening."

My anger surprised him and he moved his arm away. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. But we agreed on no sex, and I expect you to stick to that."

Colin propped himself up on one arm and stared at me. I felt the covers slide down a bit, and I pulled them up high around my neck. Colin's eyes were calm and speculative, and he smelled of the ocean and musk. His shoulders were broad and strong, and I fought back the impulse to bite into his chest and see how he tasted.

He stroked a finger down my cheek and I flinched, refusing to admit that my skin was tingling where touched me.

"Why are you fighting this?" His voice was soft and deep. "I can see that you want this."

I looked at him. His eyes were calm, as if I was a foregone conclusion.

"You're not going to seduce me," I said. "I don't need a guy to use me and leave me."

Colin smiled. "Why don't you think of it as
you
seducing me, you using me and leaving me?"

I looked at him in surprise and he went on, "Why does everything have to be complicated? We're both adults, we both know what we want. You're so busy worrying about everyone else and taking care of other people you forget about yourself. Why can't you just have some fun for once? We could have a lovely time together."

His words were slowly sinking in and I knew he was right. I deserved to have some fun, to take a break from my mundane life of being broke, struggling with my career and taking care of my baby brother. But he was too smooth, he was just saying all this to get what he wanted, and I refused to give in so easily.

"A lovely time, like you had with Celine?" My voice was sharper than I'd intended, but when I saw the look of surprise in his eyes I felt a wave of triumph.

"So Celine told you about that, did she?" His voice had darkened again,
and
I could feel the hatred in his words. "Did she tell you how she was only with me to get in the tabloids, and how little she cares about anyone but herself?"

I shrugged. "That didn't stop you from chasing her even after she got married."

He laughed bitterly. "I didn't chase her. She got me drunk and got me to bed. I don't even know if we did anything, but it was enough for her to tell Roger about. She just wanted him to get jealous and care about her, but I doubt that worked."

I suddenly felt sorry for Celine, living a life of lies
, chasing fame and fortune instead of
real
love and accomplishments
. Maybe her life was just an extension of what I was doing right now, except I knew my lie would end in a few days, and her lie would never end.

"Well, I guess now I know why Roger hates you so much."

Colin shook his head. "No, Roger's just a self-righteous bastard. He thinks nobody but old money has a right to be rich and he's just full of it because of who his great-grandparents were.
He and Sir Donald seem to deserve each other.
"

I wanted to give Colin a consoling hug, but I didn't trust myself yet. His words about having fun were still ringing in my ears, and his hard muscles were still being flaunted in front of me.

"Let's forget about these guys," Colin said.

He moved quickly
and lay
down on top of me. My eyes widened as his muscles pressed against me, and his hands held my wrists down. His lips pressed d
own on mine before I had a chance to think, and I felt myself drifting off as his tongue sought mine. I arched into him despite myself, our mouths merging and his minty taste overpowering my brain.

I felt an urge to wrap my legs around his waist, to press myself against him and I tried to wake myself up from the stupor. This wasn't happening…

Just as I felt myself about to give in, Colin moved off me and lay down on his side of the bed. I felt an emptiness where his body had been,
where
his
he
had been
rubbing against my skin. I turned to look at him, wondering what I wanted, and I knew he could see the ache in my eyes.

"Why don't you think about it," Colin said smoothly, and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight."

He turned away and I watched as his breathing slowly got heavier
.

I didn't want to say anything, I didn't trust myself to think straight. His warm breath was still lingering in my mind and I used all my willpower to stop
myself from begging him to kiss me again.

What he'd said made sense. We were adults, we could have fun. But I wasn't sure if I could move on as smoothly as he would - Colin had started to get under my skin, and I might as well admit it to myself. Being with him was tempting, but
it was
a risk I wasn't sure I could take. Would I fall to pieces every time I saw a photo of him with his latest starlet?

He was right, I should think about it.
I lay in bed quietly and tried to sort out my feelings.
I
mages of Colin and I together, and the other guests at Manchala floated before me, till they jumbled together nonsensically and became strange dreams.

Chapter
Three

Colin was shaking me awake, and sunlight was streaming through the window. I gazed at him sleepily, smiling happily at the beautiful man in front of me, until I realized with a jolt that this was real, not a dream.

"Lisa, we need to be up and about."

I yawned and was about to stretch when I remembered I was wearing a revealing negligee. I pulled the covers up quickly, and Colin rolled his eyes and
covered them dramatically with his hand.

I got up quickly, grabbing a
short sun
dress and some fresh underwear.

I took a while to get ready, taking my time with my makeup in the hopes that I wouldn't look so
plain beside Celine, and packing a small purse with my lipstick and cell phone.

When I finally emerged, a flicker of desire lit up
in
Colin's eyes before he became all business-like again and briefed me about the day ahead of us. We'd take a walk along Manchala's beautiful beach, have
a
light lunch,
enjoy
a siesta, have drinks and dinner and then retire for the day.

The big presentation was going to be tomorrow. I didn't have to do anything - even though he'd told Donald I was the interior designer, I wasn't expected to reveal my plans or designs yet. I nodded thankfully - I'd completely forgotten Colin
ha
d
sprung that information on the group.