Friends With Benefits (6 page)

Yeah, that was it. It was just the way he expressed his anger.

She didn’t even want to think about her own reaction. Holy smokes, she’d actually been turned on! She was wet and aching between her legs. What was wrong with
her
, never mind him. That was a totally inappropriate reaction to a friend who was angry.

She had never been kissed like that before, never felt that way before, and…never been terrified like that before, terrified of the lust that had surged inside her for her best friend. Even more scary was the way she couldn’t stop thinking about it—the feel of his mouth on hers, how his body had felt against hers, the taste of him.

That night she dreamt about endless hot, consuming kisses that went on and on. And in her dreams, she was kissing Mitch.

What had possessed him to attack her like that? He could guess the answer. He’d been so frustrated by her stubbornness, impatience and crazy obsession with finding a husband even before she’d started in on him with all those stupid ways she had of twisting his words.

Kerri was an intelligent woman. Why couldn’t she see how insane this whole thing was? Why couldn’t she see this was jeopardizing their friendship? And why couldn’t she stop pushing his buttons?

He ran a hand through his hair as he took a break and drank a glass of ice-cold water. He’d been working hard in the un-air-conditioned garage moving things, cleaning. He stripped off his shirt and went back to work in his shorts, perspiration running down his chest and back.

Man, he’d have to phone her and put things right.

Could he put things right, after a kiss that hot? Holy shit. The biggest reason he regretted what he’d done was because now he knew what Kerri tasted like, what she felt like in his arms, and he wasn’t going to be able to ever get that out of his mind.

He yanked the ties of a big plastic garbage bag together and tossed it into a trashcan. Yeah, he’d phone her. Apologize. Tell her they’d just pretend that never happened. They were going to the wedding together in two weeks.

Did she realize how hot he’d been for her? If she knew, how were they ever supposed to go back to being friends?

He drew the back of his hand across his sweaty forehead.

God, how embarrassing and stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Well, there
was
one thing he could do to make sure she never knew how he felt. He could try one more time to set her up with someone. There had to be someone.

His gut twisted. He’d managed to play along with the whole insane plan this long but it was getting harder.

It was just that marriage was such a bad idea. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want her to be happy. She was his friend and he loved her. Like a friend. And he knew, better than most people, what marriage could lead to.

Yeah, he’d have to phone her. Right after he scrubbed his toilets.

Not that he was procrastinating.

He grabbed the brush from under the bathroom sink and poured some blue cleaning stuff into the toilet bowl. He was about to start scrubbing when his doorbell rang.

He tossed the brush into the toilet and headed to his front door.

Kerri stood there. She nibbled her bottom lip, her brows drawn down, shadows under her eyes. Damn, she was cute.

“Hey.” His voice came out scratchy. “What are you doing here?”

“We have to talk.”

“Yeah.” He moved aside so she could come in. “I was going to call you. As soon as I finished my work.”

Her eyes went up and down over his body. Crap. He had no shirt on and was sweating like a construction worker in July.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I was working around the house.”

She swallowed. “That’s okay. I interrupted you.”

“Thank God.” He tried to smile. “I hate cleaning toilets.”

“I know.”

“Sit down.” He followed her into the living room and sat beside her on the couch as far away from her as he could.

She smiled at him, a small, tight smile.

“Look,” he said, at the same time as she said, “Mitch—”

“You first,” he said. She shook her head.

There had never been this awkwardness between them before. Shit.

“Okay,” he said. “I just want to apologize. I shouldn’t have done that. I just lost it. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. And we’ll just pretend it never happened. Okay?”

She nodded slowly, her face relaxing a bit. “Okay. I don’t want to…I…you’re my best friend.” Her voice turned into a whisper. “I don’t want to lose your friendship.”

“You won’t,” he assured her, although he wasn’t sure at all.

“I wanted to apologize, too. I was acting like an ass, as usual. I’m just so frustrated. But it’s not your fault at all. You’ve been a great friend, helping me even though you didn’t agree. I’m just being stupid. So I’m sorry too.”

He nodded. “I thought of someone else I could introduce you too,” he said helpfully, and watched in surprise as her face clouded. “A guy I went to college with. He’s been working overseas and he’s just come back between jobs. Very interesting guy.”

She nodded, another strained smile on her face. “Sounds good. Thanks, Mitch.”

“And I need a favor from you,” he continued. “Help picking out a wedding present for Miguel and Hailey.”

She laughed. “I told you you would wait ’til the last minute. We’ll go next week.”

“Okay,” he said, exaggerating his relief. “Thanks.”

“Want any help with your toilets?”

He laughed then too. “That’s okay, you don’t have to clean my toilets.”

“Hey, what are friends for?”

“Not for that,” he said firmly, smiling.

She needed to meditate.

She went into her new office to the corner where she had now arranged cushions and scented candles. She turned on the soft music, dimmed the lights, lit a candle and sat down, folding her legs gracefully into the lotus position. She took a deep breath.

People took breathing for granted. Sure, it was a simple thing, but it was life-giving. The primary source of prana. It affected mind, body and spirit. Every inhalation brought oxygen into the body and began the transformation of nutrients into fuel; every exhalation purged the body of toxic waste, carbon dioxide.

She inhaled, allowing her belly to fill with air, drawing air deep into her lower lungs, then exhaled, allowing her belly to deflate. She smoothly repeated the breathing several times. Then she breathed air into her belly and expanded her chest, allowing her rib cage to open outward…and…exhaled.

Breathing affected a person’s state of mind, excited or calm, tense or relaxed, confused or clear. She drew in another long, slow exhalation, felt her heart rate slowing.

“Feeling relaxed?” a voice asked from her office door.

She opened her eyes and saw Mitch standing there. Immediately her body tensed again. Damn.

“Not really.” She blew out her breath and rose reluctantly to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned, but with a hint of uncertainty. “I was going to call but I thought I’d swing by and check things out.”

“What do you think?” She couldn’t help it, she was anxious for Mitch’s approval.

“It looks great. How are things going? Everyone showing up for class?”

She nodded, excitement rippling through her. “Yes. It’s been wonderful. Everyone loves the new space. Reaction has been very positive so far. They also like all the parking nearby. That was another problem at the old place.”

He smiled. “Maybe I should come check out a class.”

“Yes, you should! I keep telling you, you need to come to class. Yoga would be good for you. It would help with all your stress.”

“What stress?”

She snorted. “Okay, it would increase your flexibility.”

“Are you talking physically or mentally?”

“Both,” she snapped. “It would also make you feel more at peace in your life.”

“Hey, I’m peaceful.”

She sighed. “How many hours did you work last week?”

“Uh…I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Okay, it was about fifty, fifty-five.”

“Mitch! That’s insane!” She shook her head

“Anyway,” he said, changing the subject, “I was just going to let you know that I talked to Liam, and we’re going to get together on Friday. I said you might come too. He remembers you from college.”

She frowned. “I know him?”

He shrugged. “You didn’t know him very well. He was in a few classes with me. He’s a journalist and he’s been working in the Middle East. Liam Moffatt.”

“Oh. Cool.” She shook her head. “The name doesn’t ring a bell.”

“That’s okay. We’re going to go for a drink after work on Friday.”

“Same deal?” She grinned and he nodded.

“Yup. We’ll meet you at Amigo’s around five-thirty.”

“Okay. I can do that. I’m meeting Hailey, Laurel and Melissa later that night. We’re celebrating Hailey’s last days of being single.”

“Great. Now, to repay me, you need to come help me pick out a wedding present for Miguel and Hailey.”

“Oh.” She glanced at her watch. “Right now?”

“If you can. I’m taking a late lunch.”

This was the first time they’d seen each other since he’d apologized for kissing her. They’d agreed to pretend it never happened, but it wasn’t that easy. She kept looking at his mouth for some reason, then uncomfortably looking away. Such a nice mouth…no! She shouldn’t go with him.

“Okay, I guess I can do that. I’ll just let Sela I’m going out for a while.”

She grabbed her purse from behind her desk and they walked out front. She saw the glances of appreciation Mitch received from both customers and staff as they passed by the spa, and scowled. He was such a pain in the ass sometimes, but he was gorgeous and, of course, that’s all they saw.

She went over to Sela, standing behind the reception counter with Belinda, while she showed her how to use the new computer.

“Just going out for a bit with Mitch,” she said to her sister.

Sela frowned. “You’re going out? There are a million things to do to get ready for the big grand opening party Saturday night.”

Kerri sighed. “I know, but every time I ask what I can do to help, you won’t let me.”

“Well, you have some things in your studio to do, don’t you?”

You’re not my boss,
the voice inside Kerri’s head said, sounding childish. “I won’t be long,” she said aloud, quietly, and led the way out of the building, with Mitch following behind.

“What was that?” he asked, amusement shading his voice.

“What? Sela?”

“Yeah. Jeez. She cracking the whip over you now that you two are in the same building?”

She sighed. “Well, she is a bit of a Type A. She has lists and schedules and spreadsheets. I don’t have that much to do, not as much as she does, but when I offer to help she just says no. Has to do it all herself.”

He grinned. “Where to?” he asked. She shook her head.

“They’re registered at Dinardo’s. Didn’t you know that?”

“I have no clue.” He started his vehicle. “That’s in Montecito, isn’t it?”

“Yup.”

They drove out Coast Village Road beneath a cloudless California-summer sky, palm fronds tossing in a gentle off-shore breeze. At the store where their friends had registered, it was easy enough to check the registry and make a decision.

“What did you get them?” Mitch asked.

“I got them the big pottery bowl. I know Hailey really wanted that for the kitchen. It’s gorgeous.”

“I can’t believe the prices of some of those things.”

“They’re designed by some artist Hailey likes.”

He nodded. “So those sushi dishes will be okay?”

“Oh yeah, they’ll love them. Don’t worry.”

He nodded and they got back in the SUV. “Did you have lunch?” he asked, pulling out into traffic.

“Um…” He was going to offer to take her for lunch, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t want to have lunch with him. Squirmy and restless, all she wanted was to get back to her studio and retreat into meditation. She was so aware of him, big and muscular in the seat beside her in the vehicle, taking up all the space and, it felt like, all the oxygen. He’d turned back the cuffs of his dress shirt to expose his strong, lean wrists, lightly covered with dark gold hair, his fingers long and firm on the steering wheel.

She swallowed. “Um, yeah, I did,” she lied. “I’d better get back.”

She sensed him glancing sideways at her, but he said nothing and drove straight back to the studio, dropping her off out front.

“Thanks for the help. I’m clueless when it comes to shit like that.”

She forced a smile. “I know, but you can’t help it. You’re a guy.”

He smiled back, his smile, too, looking a little unnatural. “So I’ll see you Friday after work.”

“Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that. Great. See you then.”

She jumped out of the SUV and waved as she ran lightly up the front steps, not waiting to watch him drive away. Once inside, she sagged against the door, but straightened immediately when a customer walked out of the waiting area.

She scurried into her office, dropped her purse on the floor and sank into her chair, burying her face in her hands.

Nothing was supposed to change. The big stupid idiot. This was all his fault. Why the hell did he have to kiss her like that and mess everything up? Now, everything had changed.

She worked herself into a good frenzy of anger against Mitch, then finally sat down in her calm oasis in the corner of the room and resumed her yogic breathing.

An hour later, she went to find Sela. She hadn’t said anything about the statue and plants and candles Kerri had put in the reception and waiting areas. Maybe she liked them.

“So have you thought any more about my ideas for the waiting room?” Kerri asked her sister.

“No. I actually forgot. But I thought I told you, it looks fine. We don’t need to spend any more money, that’s for sure.” She grimaced.

Sela had had a lot of expenses because of this move, and now she was going all out for their grand opening party.

“It wouldn’t cost a lot,” Kerri told her. “We just need a little water fountain, and I could pick up some different herbal teas that we could serve. I think a couple of lamps would help too. It would soften the light. Improve the energy flow. It will be good for business.” She had to appeal to the bottom line to get to Sela.

“Energy flow!” Sela snorted. “Come on, Kerri. Nobody cares about energy flow.”

Kerri sighed. “You
should
care.” She flipped her hair back. “If your customers feel the harmony, the life energy, they’ll want to come back. They’ll tell other people. It will happen, believe me.”

Sela just laughed. “Go on,” she said, not unkindly. “Go do your classes or whatever. I have to call the caterer with some last details about the food for the party.”

Kerri paused, wanting to say more, but Sela had already turned away, on some other pressing mission. Damn. She had good ideas, she knew it, and she believed in the flow of energy, harmonizing mind, body, spirit. She’d just have to concentrate on her own little world and do her best with that.