Sun-kissed (The Au Pairs 3)

"We know what you've been doing." Duffy said, looking at her mournfully.

"You deceived us," Ben lamented.

"What?"

"You've

hooked up with all three of us--don't try to deny it; we all know," Grant said.

Jacqui blushed. "I didn't mean to. ..." Really, she didn't. It had just happened--she had found all three of them irresistible, although in the back of her mind, she'd known this day would arrive, and she suddenly felt awful.

"It's okay. We should have known," Ben said. "It's not such a big deal, except that there's three of us and only one of you."

"And we can't live like this," Grant confessed. "So you have to choose."

"One of us," Duffy said soberly. "Only one."

Exchange all three boys for just one? Jacqui turned crimson. How could she ever decide? Because in a way, she loved all three of them ...

249

you get what you wish for

WHEN MARA ARRIVED BACK FROM NEW YORK, SHE FULLY

expected the Malpractice to be messier than ever--after all, several of Ryan's college buddies had descended on the boat for the weekend. Mara steeled herself for the smell of stale beer when she walked inside the main cabin.

She pushed the sliding door aside, but she was assaulted by a strangely pleasing smell. Like roasting vegetables and rosemary. She looked around--there were no boxes on the floor, no cigarette butts, no empty cans, no dust bunnies in the corner. Instead, the boat was clean, its floors shining, the carpets vacuumed. There was a spray of bamboo sticks in a glass vase, emitting a pleasant scent reminiscent of freshly washed laundry.

For a moment, Mara wondered if she should check the boat's transom to see if she was in the right place.

But then Ryan walked out of the kitchen, holding a wooden spoon.

"Taste," he said in greeting, placing the spoon to her lips.

"You cook?" she asked, and took a lick. It was delicious. Marinara sauce.

"Occasionally."

250

"And you cleaned?"

"Well, Laurie sent someone over," Ryan admitted. "But I figured it was about time. I should have just had someone come every week. You were right: the place was getting disgusting."

"Did you have fun with your friends?" she asked, watching as he uncorked a bottle of wine.

"It was fun," Ryan said. "But I missed you."

"I missed you too," Mara replied, nuzzling him on the cheek. They kissed briefly. Ryan sniffed her hair, breathing in her scent--he hadn't done that in a long time.

She embraced him tightly. Mara was delighted. The show of affection seemed to mean he was ready to be more supportive of her career aspirations. She was tired of feeling guilty for leaving him all the time. "I have the best news!" she said.

"I do too, but you go first," Ryan said, eyes twinkling. He was still holding her close.

"Sam Davis called while I was in New York. The Associated Press is picking up that profile I did on Sydney! They're going to offer it to all their media outlets. It's going to be published nationally! Can you believe that?" Mara was still in shock about the news. Sam had been very complimentary as well and had said that Mara had bona fide "chops."

"That's great." Ryan nodded, but Mara noticed he let go of her ever so slightly. "Good for you."