“Anything?”
“Yes. But, okay, not that much.”
“If I was as light as you, and you were changing position at the same time, you might not feel anything.”
“Hmm.” She kept her eyes closed. “I guess I might not.”
“Come on, victory is mine. Admit it.”
She turned her head to scoff, trying not to let on that she was pretty fired up being this close to him. “I admit nothing.”
“Coward.”
“Okay, okay.” She held up her hands. “It’s plausible. I’ll give you that much.”
“I even said your name. Twice.”
“Oh.” Allie pointed to both sides of her head. “Earplugs.”
“Ah. That explains that. I thought about tapping you on the shoulder but I was afraid I’d give you a coronary.”
“You probably would have.”
“Good thing I didn’t.” He stretched out his arms, folded them behind his head and settled himself comfortably, closing his eyes. “So with that cleared up, you want to go to sleep?”
“What?”
“Why not?” He peeked at her, and then closed his eyes again, smiling faintly. “I like being in bed with you.”
Allie struggled up on her elbows, squinting down at him, grinning in spite of herself. “Oh, really.”
“Yeah. I mean it’s a little weird, since we don’t know each other, but look, we’ve got it all here. Excitement, drama, intrigue, possible conspiracy.” He turned to look up at her, stubble darkening his jaw and highlighting his cheekbones. “Everything.”
Allie’s smile faded. She swallowed awkwardly. Those eyes were dragging her into him. The attraction was so powerful she could barely maintain the contact. Her gaze flicked to his mouth before she could stop herself. A beautiful mouth, masculine and full. She’d like to—
“I was kidding. I’ll walk you back to the house.”
“Oh.” She jerked her gaze back to his. “Yes, sure. Thanks.”
He didn’t move, didn’t look away. “Okay, mostly kidding.”
Allie drew in a breath, face and body heating. “I see.”
“I can’t, though. Erik.”
Allie shook her head quickly. “I have no romantic feelings for Erik.”
“None?” His intense gaze got more intense. She had a crazy feeling he was pleased. Was that ego or real interest? Erik talked about Jonas as if he were a straight arrow, not a player by any means.
“No. He’s a great guy. But not for me.”
“He has feelings for you.”
She wanted to laugh. “He thinks he does.”
“Maybe. But he’s my brother.” Jonas sat up, clutched his chest and gazed off into the distance with comic gravity. “Therefore we must venture out. Together...but alone.”
Allie giggled. Erik hadn’t mentioned his brother had a playful side. “Yes, my liege. Through storm and peril we shall uh, whatever.”
“Yeah, that.” He came around the bed and gave her a hand up. She came face-to-face with him, nearly chest-to-chest. Well, her face to his neck, her chest to his upper abdomen. He was tall. Probably six-two. She was barely five-four.
“I look forward to getting to know you, Allie.” He smiled warmly, a touch of mischief in his blue eyes that brought out more of his resemblance to his carefree brother. “Too bad we’ll have to leave it at that.”
4
“JONAS SAID, ‘TURN RIGHT on driveway after the big blue mailbox.’ Okay.” Sandra scanned the side of the road, her wipers going full power. Blue? She couldn’t tell blue from orange in the dark, and the rain wasn’t helping. Wait...there was a mailbox. Big, yes. Blue? She had no idea, but she was turning. Who would build a house out here in the middle of east bejeezus on purpose? Besides Bigfoot? She’d bet there wasn’t a decent slice of pizza or cup of coffee within fifty miles. Forget mani-pedis.
Her tires bumped and bounced, sending her swaying back and forth. Secondhand car—its suspension was already shot when she bought it five years earlier. Ahead of her, the road continued through the rain-blurred woods as far as her headlights reached. Lord have mercy, Jonas called this a driveway? No. Driveways were about fifty feet long with nice, smooth pavement.
She should have waited to drive up until the next morning, but she hated mornings. Getting up any time before ten required an entire pot of coffee. And when Gina, the “sick” friend Sandra had agreed to cover for tonight—she glanced at the car’s clock—make that last night, had made up with her boyfriend, she’d also miraculously recovered from her illness and could perform. Which meant Sandra was able to come early and surprise Jonas.
Lightning illuminated a clearing ahead. Thank you, God. Must be the place. Two cars were there already: the insatiable Erik’s and that of the very enticing and wonderful Jonas Meyer.
She didn’t entirely regret ending their sexual relationship—how many years ago now? Eight? Well, okay, sometimes she did regret it. He was hot and she was human. But it had been the right thing to do. She’d started having more than casual feelings for Jonas, had started seeing him as an easy rescue from her financial and personal struggles. The problem with that? Jonas hadn’t given up on true love yet, and as much as he adored her, she knew she was never going to be “the one.”
Three years after she cut off their contact, they’d bumped into each other and met up shortly afterward for such a nice lunch that they’d decided to stay in touch. He was probably one of her closest friends.
Ever since Jonas’s nasty breakup with that bitch Missy left him cynical and bruised, Sandra had been wondering if hooking up together permanently could still work out. They enjoyed each other. The sex had been great. They both liked kids. And, oh yes, his lovely money would make her life a hell of a lot easier. She was thirty-four and had just about reached the end of her tolerance for a life lived paycheck to paycheck. Not to mention she had next to nothing saved for retirement.
They’d joked about ending up together, but she had a feeling neither of them had been totally joking. Maybe this was the weekend to have a serious talk with him if the opportunity presented itself.
As she brought the car to a stop, the rain let up and visibility improved enough that she could see around her. Nice lake. Cute little cabin on the beach. Farther in, by the edge of the woods, the house. No, that couldn’t be it. Too small. There it was, nearly behind her. A mega-mansion, all lit up as if it was some kind of monument.