HOOKED ON YOU (Paradise Cove) (23 page)

“Yes. A little.” She looked down at the ground. Away from his eyes—his mouth—the temptation that was him. “We’re friends.” She tried for a light-hearted tone. “Can’t mess with that.”

He groaned. “Taylor. You’re killing me.”

She took a step back, her stomach in a knot. She wanted Colt, but not like this. “If you want instant gratification, you can always find it elsewhere,” she told him, hoping for a denial. What would she do if he said okay? Well, then she’d have her answer, wouldn’t she? With that mindset, she decided to press harder, eager to know where she stood. “You know the old saying—there’s plenty more fish.”

“Not the kind of fish I’m looking to catch. I want one worth fighting for. Anybody can get a flounder. But a spectacular beauty like a sailfish, now that’s worth waiting for.”

“Am I a sailfish?” she asked, actually liking the comparison.

“You sure are.” He reached out a hand and scooped it behind her head, bringing her face down to his. “One kiss, then I’ve got to run.”

She shouldn’t have, but she let him kiss her. She tasted his salty lips, his sweet minty breath, and the wholesome scent of the sea. A whole mess of feeling swept through her—an awakening of desire, a need to fill the emptiness inside of her, a surge of longing to take what he offered, but caution pricked her consciousness, and she knew she’d say no.

She wished she could be like her sister, and live for the moment.

Yet he was still kissing her, and she hadn’t stepped away.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Taylor?” His lips caressed hers, slowly, tenderly exploring her full lush mouth, tasting her and feeling the heat grow between them with every breath. How long could she hold out? His patience was long, but his need was great.

“Hmm,” she murmured, her beautiful breasts nestled next to his chest. She kissed him open-mouthed, wanting him as he did her. She might pretend she wasn’t interested, but a man knew. She wanted him, and she wanted him good.

“You know that I care about you. Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.” She pushed back a little and looked at him with startled eyes. “Why do you ask? You think I’d be tonguing you if I didn’t?”

“No. But I want us to be closer. I don’t want other women. Just you.” His eyes pleaded with hers. “Tonight my boat will be next door. I have champagne in the fridge. And roses for you. At least consider it. Okay?”

She chewed on that for a moment, a frown crinkling her brow. Then gently she pulled out of his arms. “You know I want to. But I can’t. Having sex for fun sounds like a hellova an idea for most people, but I’m not made that way. I don’t want anything from you, Colt. I’m not asking you to be different than what you are. You have your business and your son to take care of. I’ve got the cafe and the resort. Maybe one day things will be different, but it isn’t now.”

He admired that about her. She was hard-working, honest, and even-keeled. Good work ethics, like he had. But what did that have to do with sex? They could still enjoy each other. Didn’t mean they needed to jump on the marriage train.

“I agree that we can’t rush full steam ahead, but I’m just talking about you being my girl. We’re both adults and we can have a little recreational sex if we want to.”

“True, but still I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She tossed her head back and straightened her shoulders. Her hazel eyes had that worried look she wore so often. “Sex always complicates things, and our lives are so complicated anyway, that I think we’d be making a really big mistake.”

“Doesn’t have to be. Not if we both go in with our eyes open.” He gave her his sexiest, melting-the-pants-off-a-woman smile.

“Colt. Look at it from my point of view. Sex is different for a woman. What starts off casual doesn’t stay that way. A woman’s emotions always get involved. Men—they can do it ’til their dick falls off, and not have their hearts involved.”

He laughed. “That’s crazy. Men are just as much at risk as falling in love as women are.”

“I don’t believe it. Maybe Rhett Butler, but how many others?”

“Me, for one.”

“All the more reason to stay clear of you.” She shook her head. “Really. You and I would be a colossal mistake. I can’t be a mother to your boy. I wouldn’t even know how.”

“Jamie already has a mother. Try another excuse.”

“He’s a good enough reason.” She folded her arms around her middle. “He doesn’t want to share you with me, or any other woman competing for your affection. Maybe you don’t realize it, but he must still be hurting over the divorce. It hasn’t been that long, and he’s being bounced back and forth. It’s tough on a child.”

“How would you know?” She could be so infuriating at times. Why the hell wouldn’t she just sleep with him and put them both at peace? They were walking around like two hormonal kids, all hot and bothered by each other. He wanted her. Period. And he wasn’t the kind of guy who gave up easily.

“I just do.” She tossed her head back and glared at him.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’m trying to get you to see sense. You want me. I want you. As far as Jamie’s concerned, I know he’ll be fine with it. He likes you. A lot.”

“I adore Jamie too,” she said softly. “But I know what this kind of upheaval can do to a kid. I’ve lost two fathers, neither from a divorce. Kids need both parents, and it’s very hard when they lose one.”

“Taylor, I know that must have been really tough. You girls didn’t have an easy childhood, did you?”

“No, but we’re doing fine now.”

“I understand where you’re coming from, but Jamie hasn’t lost a parent. He still has both of us.”

“Yes, but…”

He interrupted, wanting to get his point across. “If you and I hung out once in awhile, he wouldn’t have to know. If it got serious, then we could tell him.”

She shook her head, but her eyes misted up.

He stepped closer and cupped her chin. “Life is difficult enough without someone to hold once in awhile. I want to hold you in my arms, sleep with you.” Before she could push him away, he kissed away her tears.

He felt her body shiver. “Stop trying to sell me on this idea. I said no. Why can’t you just accept that?”

“Fine. No it is.” Disappointment kicked him in the gut, and his groin was stinging like a jellyfish bite. He hated her stubbornness and common sense. Even more, he hated pressuring her, but he had been patient for the better part of a year. The night of the hurricane had changed everything. At least for him. He couldn’t get her out of his head. Every night when he went to bed, he hurt for her.

“Thank you, Colt.” Her expression softened. Her bottom lip trembled. “You’ll see. It’s better this way.”

“If you say so.” He turned away and took a step. Then halted. “Remember how we first met?”

“Uh-huh. Down at the docks. Brittany and I would go for long walks along the beach, and we’d see you half naked on your boat. Or fishing.”

“And you’d always stop and say hello. Once you knew that I wasn’t just a bum hanging around all day—that I actually made my living off the sea, you wanted to buy fresh fish from me.”

“Which you wouldn’t sell. You always made a silly excuse to give me one free.”

“And you’d sit and talk for awhile, even flirted, if I remember right.”

“Maybe I did. But I didn’t know you were divorced and had a son. And at the time I didn’t expect to open a restaurant. It’s a big responsibility running two businesses.”

“Always comes back to that, doesn’t it?”

“Guess so.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll stop pestering you.” He thrust his hands in his pockets, so as not to reach out for her. Touching her set everything inside of him on fire. If she didn’t want that, he’d just have to find a way to live with it.

* * *

Taylor watched him go. Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a weary sigh. This was not easy. She knew she was hurting him, as well as herself. They did have strong feelings for each other. The only thing holding them back was her fear. Fear of loving him too much, and not having him for keeps. Everything else was just an excuse. That was the real issue at hand. She was afraid of the consequences if she chose to sleep with him regularly. She might lose her heart completely. How could she not? He already owned a part of it. And since neither one of them wanted to commit to each other, she’d be better off to keep her legs shut.

Pushing all negative thoughts from her mind, she stepped into the single bathroom and turned the shower on, letting the steam rise as she tossed off her clothes. Tonight was going to be one of the happiest days of her life. Her best friend and beloved sister was getting married, and nothing was going to mar this special occasion. Certainly not worries about what or what might not be between her and Colt.

Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door of the bathroom.

And there stood Kayla, peering into a full length mirror and struggling to zip up her wedding dress.

“Oh, my gosh,” Taylor gasped, seeing her beautiful sister. She rushed over to give her a big wet hug. “Look at you! Stunning. Here, let me help you with that.” She took hold of Kayla’s shoulders and turned her around so she could zip up the back of the strapless gown. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s getting dressed. They saw you talking with Colt, so they both grabbed the shower before you.”

“Sneaky. I didn’t see them pass.”

“Maybe because you were kissing Colt,” Kayla said with a laugh. “Oh, I do hope things work out with the two of you.”

“They won’t. I basically told him to forget about me.”

“Why did you do that?”

“It’s not important. Your wedding is all we need to think about right now.”

“Oh, Taylor, I’m so excited and nervous.” Kayla gave a shaky laugh. “Look. My fingers won’t work.” She pulled at the dress and patted her tummy. “Am I showing?”

“Just to the people in the know. The other guests will never suspect.” Taylor spun Kayla around to face her again. “You are the picture of a radiant bride.” She nodded at the mirror that captured their image. “Look at you. Pink cheeks, sparkling eyes, ruby red lips. And that dress! You look like a magazine cover. Only better. Sean is going to be climbing all over you.”

“He better not! I just spent a fortune getting myself all primped for this today. Hair, nails, bikini wax.” Kayla’s sunny smile faded. She turned from side to side frowning at the mirror. “Is it too plain?”

The dress was simple but elegant. An ivory-colored mermaid dress with a sweetheart bodice, that clung to Kayla’s lush curves and swept around her size nine feet. “Plain, my ass. Good thing we have more than one cardiac surgeon around tonight, because you’re going to get everyone’s heart pumping!”

“Oh, Taylor,” Kayla laughed and kissed her cheek. “I do love you.”

Their mother came out of the second bedroom. She wore a rose-colored fitted dress that fell to her ankles. It had sheer lacy sleeves, and was extremely modest compared to what she normally wore. Tonight she was playing the role of Mother of the Bride, and carrying it off beautifully.

“Kayla, my baby girl.” Tears filled her eyes. “This is the happiest day of my life. You’re getting married at last.”

Taylor stifled a laugh. Kayla was thirty-two years old, not quite two years older than she was. And yet, their mother had worried that they’d all be old maids.

“Yes. I got lucky,” Kayla said with a playful grin. “Went fishing last year and hooked myself a real catch.”

“Don’t get cheeky with me,” her mom said with a twinkle in her eye. “You did do well, but so did he. Sean’s a wonderful man and you’ve made him happy again. It does my heart good to see the love shining in his eyes for you.”

“I know, Mom. It was hard seeing him hurting so badly.”

“Yes, well, that’s over now. You two are going to be very, very happy and give me lots of grandchildren.” Anna kissed her daughter’s cheek, then wiped the rose-colored lipstick stain left behind. “I know that this is the one.” She touched her daughter’s tummy. “A little Anna, maybe?”

Kayla grinned. “Maybe. With any luck.” Taylor watched the exchange and felt a tug inside of her. Maybe she was wrong not to give Colt a chance.

“I better get my hair dried before it turns to frizz. I’ll finish getting ready and then join you for a pre-wedding drink.”

“Don’t be too long,” her mother warned, “or the first batch of sangria will be all gone.”

Brittany popped her head out of the bedroom she once shared with her mother, and waved the empty glass in her hand. “I can second that. I need another one.”

“Let’s see your dress,” Kayla said, clapping her hands in excitement.

Brittany pranced into the small living room, and swirled around. Both sisters had matching bridesmaid’s dresses. They were a pale blue, with off-the-shoulder cap sleeves. The silky fabric danced around Brittany’s toned calves, accentuating her tiny ankles and slender legs.

“Gorgeous.” Kayla took her younger sister’s hand. “You look amazing.” She waved her free hand at Taylor. “Hurry up. I can’t wait for a toast.”

“Who’s waiting?” Brittany asked, grabbing the pitcher from the fridge. “I’m going for seconds. You, Mom?”

“Oh, I better not,” Anna replied with a longing look at her empty glass.