Ever After (Nantucket Brides 3)

Hallie’s heart was pounding, her breath coming fast. His lips were on her breasts, her neck, then back up to her waiting mouth. All she wanted in the world was to get the rest of their clothes off.

“Hallie?” came Braden’s voice. “Where are you?”

It took long moments for her to realize where she was and who was calling her. She pushed at Jamie, but his eyes were glazed, as though he were in another world.

“Jamie!” Hallie hissed. “Let me go!” She pushed hard at him. “In here,” she called to Braden as she ducked down and slid off the table away from Jamie. She grabbed her T-shirt and hurried into the pantry. It was only when she was in there that she realized her new lacy black-and-pink bra was still in the kitchen, hanging by a strap on the back of a chair.

She peeped around the door to Jamie. He was pulling his shirt on over his head. “Pssst!” she said and pointed to her underwear.

Jamie started to reach for it, but Braden appeared in the doorway.

“Good morning,” Braden said.

Jamie put himself between the blond man and the chair. Behind his back, he lifted the bra.

“How are you feeling today?” Jamie asked as he moved sideways across the kitchen toward the pantry.

“Not so good but better than I thought I would. Is there any coffee? And where is Hallie? This is her house, isn’t it?” Braden wiped his hand across his face. “I don’t remember too much from last night, but I did see her here, didn’t I?”

“Sure you did. She stepped outside. Let me get her.” Jamie went into the pantry, closed the door behind him, and held out the bra to Hallie. “He doesn’t even remember last night, but you’re wearing his ring!” he whispered.

“Turn around,” she whispered back.

“We were just about to make love for the second time, and now I’m not allowed to see you?!”

“Sex on a table or against a wall isn’t making love. It’s two people who have been doing without for a long time in a situation where they can’t control themselves.”

“I’ve been ‘controlling myself’ for over two years and I’ve been in lots of easier situations than this one.”

Hallie turned her back on him and removed her T-shirt. She put her arms through her shoulder straps of the bra and tried to fasten it in the back. But her hands were shaking so badly she couldn’t do the clasp.

“Here!” Jamie said angrily. “Let me.” He quickly put the hooks and eyes together.

She turned back to face him. “You’re good at that, aren’t you?” she said just as angrily.

He was staring at her breasts in the bit of lace that had been designed to lift and enhance. It was doing its job very well.

“I have cousins,” he said softly.

“What does that mean?”

“Girl cousins cut their teeth on boy cousins. I’ve fastened so many bikini tops I couldn’t count them.” He looked back at her eyes. “That’s what relatives do. They help each other.”

Hallie pulled the T-shirt over her head. “I guess that’s supposed to mean you think Braden and I are related. Well, we’re not. Would you move so I can go to him?”

“Of course. Go back to the rebound guy who gives you a used engagement ring that you don’t even like.”

“Once again, you’re being a jerk.” She had her hand on the doorknob as she looked back at him. “You wouldn’t tell Braden about…about us, would you?”

“About our extreme sexual attraction to each other? That every time we get too close, clothes go flying? Is that what I shouldn’t tell him?”

Hallie couldn’t help herself and laughed. “However colorfully you state it, just don’t tell him, all right? Whatever you think, Braden is real to me.”

“And I’m not?” Jamie asked softly, all his anger gone.

“You and your whole family are a fantasy. Will you promise me?”

Jamie closed his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Anything else you want from me? Blood on a contract?”