The Borrowed Ring
“No.” Daniel gazed into B.J.'s eyes, giving her a very private smile. “It's another sort. One we like to celebrate in our own way.”
She felt her cheeks go red, which probably only strengthened the act Daniel was putting on for Drake's benefit. Something about the way Daniel was looking at made her knees soften. It wasn't hard to fill in the blanks of the “special anniversary” he was making up for them.
Apparently Drake had filled in a few blanks of his own. Looking as though he had bitten into something sour, he nodded. “Then I'll see you first thing tomorrow to sign the papers. This time tomorrow you'll have something to celebrate again.”
“Tomorrow?” B.J. spun to face Daniel as soon as Drake left them alone. “We're going to have to stay another night?”
“Just one more,” he replied, studying her flushed face. “I promise.”
“That's what you told me yesterday.”
“I got us out of having dinner with Creepy Guy,” he said hopefully.
She refused to smile. “By implying that we're going to spend the evening in bed?”
“Sorry. It was the first excuse that occurred to me.”
He didn't look at all sorry.
“Do you know how worried my family must be about me? I've never in my life taken this much time away without telling anyone where I am.”
“So maybe now they'll see you as all grown-up, rather than the baby sister. They'll treat you with more respect.”
“You spin everything to suit your purposes, don't you?”
“Isn't that what a good con man always does?”
The humor in his voice had turned dark, and it brought a lump to her throat rather than making her smile. “Apparently.”
He lifted a hand to her hair, brushing his fingers across the newly trimmed edges. “You got your hair cut.”
“Yes.”
“Looks good. And you're wearing pink polish on your fingers and your toes.”
She should have known he would notice everything. Her toes curled self-consciously in her sandals. “Ingrid and I spent a couple of hours at the spa this afternoon. It was my way of making up to her for missing her performance last night.”
“You look very nice.” Still holding her in one arm, he turned to sniff appreciatively at her softly scented hair. “Smell good, too.”
“Aren't you going to chew me out for leaving the suite after you advised me not to?”
“There was no harm in going to the spa. As for walking on the beach alone—” he shrugged against her “—judging by the look on your face when I found you with Drake, I think my point was made without me having
to say I told you so.”
She sighed. “I suppose you're right. I was so glad to see you.”
He turned her to face him. “Show me.”
Was this another performance? Did Daniel think Drake was still lurking around, watching them? Bernard, maybe?
Aware of those possible onlookers, she lifted her face to his. She was still vaguely annoyed with him, still worried about the outcome of all this role-playing…but she couldn't seem to miss any opportunity to kiss him.
The scent that had been sprayed on B.J. smelled sultry and expensive, and Daniel liked it on her. But then, he was turned on by the scent of plain soap on her soft, supple skin, he had to admit. Everything about her appealed to him, and it had nothing to do with any artifice slathered on from a jar.
Even after everything she had gone through because of him, she still kissed him with a sweetness and eagerness that nearly brought him to his knees.
She fit so perfectly into his arms. Felt so very right against him.