Love By Accident (23 page)

From her vantage point, surrounded by the gurgle of jets, Lauren watched Matt approach. He hadn't spotted her yet but when he stepped into the hot water, he must have sensed her because his gaze cut straight to hers.

"Hi."

He slipped further into the tub and took the seat next to hers. Not counting the old man on the other side, they were alone.

"Hey."

He settled back, his arms stretching over the rim. "Enjoying your time off?"

"So far, it's been pretty good. Except for the other night. Matt, I'm sorry."

He nodded, his face already misty from the heat. "I know you are."

"It doesn't make you feel any better, though, does it?" she asked, skimming her hand over the water's surface, scattering bubbles.

"Not really," he admitted. "I wish I knew what to say, here, Lauren, but I don't."

"I'd like to make it up to you."

His gaze flickered, but otherwise he didn't move. "I'd rather you explain."

Underneath the water, Lauren's hands twisted together. "I will, but this isn't the place. For now, is it enough to know that this isn't a competition? It's not about you versus him. It's just you."

The old man got to his feet and waded to the steps. He smiled and tipped his head to them before using the silver handrail to step out of the hot tub.

Once alone, Matt turned to Lauren, his left hand stroked her shoulder. "Yeah," he answered, leaning forward until his lips hovered over hers. He lingered, teasing her, his eyes half closed and burning. "For now," he whispered before mating his mouth with hers.

***

Saved by the knock
.

Lauren set down her brush, rested it across the rim of the paint can, and stepped over the clutter she had arranged on scattered newspapers in her living room. She'd only started painting that morning and as much as she'd told Nick painting was enjoyable, she was more than ready for a break.

Wiping her hands on an old rag, Lauren swung the door open.

"Is that a rag in your hand or are you just happy to see me?" Matt asked, a lazy grin on his mouth.

Lauren stood hip-shot. "Is that a joke you're attempting or are you just trying to charm me?"

His smile widened, showing off his teeth. "Depends on what I can get if I'm charming."

"Guess you'll have to come in to find out."

She turned, leaving him to follow her. God, it had been such a long time since she'd teased, since she'd flirted. The door closed and Matt's scent curled around her kitchen. Turning around, she watched him set a red toolbox onto her table.

"You already fixed my taps."

"When I was here the other day, I saw a couple other things that needed fixing. Your doorknob's a little loose, so are some of the handles on your cupboards. Not to mention your front door's annoying squeak." He stopped and sniffed. "What are you painting?"

"The living room. I've also got paint for the bedroom and kitchen and hopefully the bathroom if I've figured right."

Matt walked over, looked around the room. "Shit, Lauren, it's a girly color."

She smacked him lightly on the arm. "It is not. Plus it'll make the room much brighter. Why, what would you have chosen?"

His expression was pained. "Anything but yellow. How about beige or white? Maybe a light blue?"

"Wouldn't match my furniture."

Matt's gaze slid to the couch. "Why in God's name would you want to match anything to that?"

"First of all, I meant my chair. The couch came with the house. And I'm thinking of covering it."

"Yeah, with a layer of garbage once it hits the landfill."

Lauren smiled. "Well, I can't argue since that's where it belongs, but I can't afford to replace it."

"If you need money, Lauren, I can help."

"Thanks, but no. Besides, you'd probably insist I buy something black."

He winked. "Never underestimate the power of black."

"I don't," she answered, her gaze lingering over the black jeans covering his long legs.

"Hell," he said, his gaze heating. "It works better than I thought."

"What does?" Lauren asked, trying to control the hormones racing through her. The ones that made her want to run her hands all over his body.

"My costume."

"What costume?"

Grinning, Matt undid the zipper of his jacket and threw the garment onto the couch. "This costume."

Lauren burst out laughing. "What the heck are you supposed to be now?"

"I'm a chick magnet."

"Is that so?" she asked, her cheeks sore from smiling. He must have had at least ten Barbie dolls pinned to his shirt. All blonde, all wearing bikinis. God, how did he manage it? On most men it would look ridiculous. But standing tall and tanned in her living room, his weighted down t-shirt hugging his broad shoulders, his hair just tousled enough to invoke several fantasies, he looked sexy. Damned sexy.

With his gaze fixed intently on hers, Matt brought her into his arms. The plastic dolls limited the contact, but not the desire humming in Lauren's blood. Going up on her toes, she captured his mouth.

Like a forest fire, heat flashed through him. She wasn't being tentative or cautious. She was hungry and sweet and tasted like nothing he could describe, but still a flavor he'd never again be able to live without. Lauren. Only Lauren. And, God dammit, he wasn't bringing Gil's name up tonight.

His fingers brushed her neck, curled up behind her ears. She moaned and dug her hands into his shoulders, her teeth nipping at his lip. A drowning man, Matt took everything she was giving, lost to the sensations of her touching him, to the feel of her tongue in his mouth, her hands on his body.

Hardening fast, Matt pulled back before he ended up throwing off his clothes and taking her right there on the floor. Which, with his dick pounding, didn't sound do bad. Except she deserved better.
They
deserved better for their first time. There would be time for hot sex on the floor later.

"See? Chick magnet. Works like a damn."

Her eyes weren't quite focused. Her mouth was swollen and wet from his. God, he needed to stick to his plan here before he said, "the hell with it" and let his hormones take over.

Taking her hand, he led them back to the kitchen. "I could use a drink while I do these repairs," he said.

"Sure," she answered.

He peaked over her shoulder as she looked inside her refrigerator and rattled off his choices: milk, pop, some purple juice in a clear plastic pitcher.
Can't be good
, he thought. Still, he was thrilled she hadn't bought any beer since he'd last seen her fridge. Feigning innocence he asked for a beer.

"Sorry, I don't have any. Do you want to go get some? I'll come with you," she offered.

"Oh, no, that's okay. I'll just fix this stuff and then I can get one at my place later." He set out some tools onto her table, not meeting her eyes in case he gave himself away. When she sighed, he knew he had her.

"Tell you what. How about I run out and get some beer while you do this?" she said, gesturing to the tools.

"Are you sure? I mean, I'd really appreciate it, but I don't want to put you out."

She shrugged, took her jacket off the peg by the door. "No problem, I'll take my bike. It won't take me long."

Her bike. Damn, he'd have to work fast. "Okay. Kokanee, if you don't mind. Cans or bottles, it doesn’t matter."

"Got it."

Before she could move another inch, he swung her into his arms and dipped her, cradling her in the crook of his arm. The Barbies swayed, pulling at his shirt and ruining what should have been a damn good move. Nevertheless he gave her a kiss promising everything she was in for when she returned. Even if she didn't know exactly what that was.

Yet.

NINETEEN

Why was the house dark? Lauren wondered, squeezing the brakes as she rolled onto the sidewalk and walked her bike up her porch. The bag holding the six pack of beer swayed from the handlebars. He wouldn't have left without waiting for her to get back with the alcohol
he'd
wanted, would he?

"He'd better not have," she said, but a quick glance showed the Corvette sleeping at the curb.

"You know, talking to yourself is never a good sign," Matt said from the darkness to her left.

Lauren nearly dropped the bike. "Don't do that! What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?"

Matt slid the bag off the handlebars, handed it to her and propped her bike against the house. In the distance, a train rattled by.

"Now why would I want you to have a heart attack, honey?" he asked, moving back to her side, moving until his heat surrounded her and replaced the chill of the night. "I'd never want to hurt you, Lauren. Never."

Even as she thought,
I believe him
, his mouth touched hers in a whisper of a kiss. Her body sighed; everything went molten and she leaned into him.

His jacket slid against hers and Lauren's hands coiled around his neck. Soft hair wound between her fingers. She used it as an anchor to hold him where he was. Where, if possible, he'd always be because she didn't ever want this feeling to end.

He kissed her again before he drew back. "Follow me."

Before she could take a step, he opened her door and covered her eyes with his hand.

"I have a surprise for you," he said into her ear.

Holding onto his arm, she shuffled blindly into the house. The door closed and locked. He kissed her temple, removed his hand from her face. She opened her eyes.

"Oh, Matt," she said. "It's...Oh, wow."

Floating candles bobbed in glass bowls that seemed to cover every surface: her table, her counter, the stove top. The house smelled of hot wax, a hint of vanilla, and the lingering smell of paint. The curtains were closed, which accounted for why the house had been so dark from the outside.

"This is just the beginning," he said, his lips teasing her ear. He helped her with her jacket and hung his own next to hers. He must have had another shirt hidden in his toolbox because the Barbie shirt had been replaced with a black t-shirt.

Looking over his shoulder, his gaze zeroed in on her. Her belly jumped, knowing what was coming next. Knowing it and wanting it. She didn't wait for him to come to her, she went to him.

"So the beer was just a ruse to get me out of the house?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Guilty as charged," he said. "Although I may have a beer later."

"Later?"

"Hmm. Much later."

In one swoop he lifted her into his arms and carried her through the kitchen.

Cradled in his arms, Lauren felt treasured. She rested her head on his chest, smiling at his familiar scent. Unable to resist, she leaned forward and scraped her teeth over his ear lobe. Matt's grip tightened and he increased his pace.

In her bedroom, he set her down and turned her so she could see the bed.

He'd worked magic here too. More candles. Flames reflected in the water they floated on and cast the room in a soft glow. On the small night stand next to her bed was a sweating bottle of wine and two wine glasses. He'd turned down her bed, but not before spreading rose petals over the entire surface. The sight took her breath away. The effort he'd put into everything filled her heart until it felt too full to remain behind her rib cage.

"I know it's all one big cliché, but I didn't know how else to make this special for you."

Lauren took his hands in hers. Nobody had ever gone to such lengths for her and she was deeply touched. "It's beautiful, Matt. And it would have been special anyway, because it's with you."

Matt's heart tripped over itself. How many times over the years had he wished for those words? Had he envisioned making love to her? Even though he'd planned it tonight, so much had gotten in his way over the years he'd been afraid it wouldn't happen. Still, if it was to go further, there couldn't be any doubts.

"I'm not pushing you too fast, am I? Even though I did all this," he gestured to the room, "I'd be okay if you weren't ready."

Her lips on his was her answer and when her tongue slipped into his mouth, he knew she had no doubt. His whole body tuned into her scent, her sound, her touch until he was immersed in Lauren. He kissed her until he forgot where they were, forgot the past and forgot everything else but the way she felt in his arms.

Tonight, finally, reality would replace fantasy.

Because his fantasies always included Lauren wearing her hair down, he slid off her elastic until the cascade of golden silk fell past her shoulders. He sifted his fingers through the cool mass, pictured it spread across the pillow. Liking the visual, Matt once again scooped her up.

When he set her down on the mattress, her legs wrapped around his waist and her mouth once again fused to his. Matt's dick went rock hard.

"You keep that up, Lauren, this'll be over before we can get started."