Dear Love Doctor (14 page)

She reached out and traced a finger along the waistband of his trunks, roaming his perfectly formed chest up to his pecs. “Nice,” she said, not wanting to give him too big a head.

He grinned. “Thank you, ma’am.” Handing her the sack of purchases, he said, “Your turn.”

Daffy shrugged out of her jacket, slipped off her pumps, and then halted. Hunter was sitting there watching her every move. She cast him a puzzled glance, and he said, “Well, you can’t blame me for trying.”

She smiled and he closed his eyes.

“Let me know if you need any help,” he said, stretching out in a way that showed his long, lean, tanned legs to advantage.

Turnabout was certainly fair play with the two of them, and as Daffy began removing the rest of her clothing, she expected at any moment to feel Hunter’s hands caressing her body. She’d half turned in the seat to provide a touch more privacy, which was probably silly considering what the two of them had already shared, but it seemed the appropriate thing to do.

After wriggling out of her stockings and panties, she donned the bikini bottom, then pulled her dress up over her head. Unable to stand the anticipation of him touching her, she turned to find him still stretched out in the seat, his hands now behind his head.

She studied him for a second, then scooted so her back was to him and swapped her bra for the bikini top. Her nipples had moved beyond desire to frustration and were so puckered they pushed upward through the fabric of the bikini top in an embarrassingly obvious fashion. The bikini top fastened with a tie and she reached around to make a bow, certain then that Hunter would cheat and take the fabric in his hands. And then his hands would be on her body and the top discarded on the seat, forgotten.

Daffy shook her head. What was wrong with her? She’d asked him to give her privacy and he was according her proper respect by fulfilling her wishes.

And in doing so, he was driving her over the edge.

“All done,” she said, turning around.

“Great.” Hunter remained stretched out, but even though the rest of his body didn’t move, his eyes moved over her breasts and bare belly and in and around her thighs. “Great,” he repeated.

Daffy was tingling, she was so on edge. The limo stopped and the driver’s voice came over the intercom. “We’re at the water park, sir.”

“Go around the block again,” Hunter said, much to Daffy’s surprise.

14

O
f course he had peeked. Good thing he had tucked his hands behind his head or he would have been all over Daffy. Even the sight of her silky back whetted Hunter’s appetite, but add to that the curve of her breast and the slow, sexy way Daffy had slipped her dress over her head. She’d moved enticingly, almost as if she’d known he was watching.

Almost as if she expected him to make a move on her.

Hunter patted the seat right beside him. She slid closer, and the wide-eyed look she gave him did him in. He’d intended to hold this discussion without letting his body get involved, but damned if he could resist.

He pulled her into his arms.

She snuggled against him, her bikini top not quite staying with her body with every little move she made. Good selection of swimwear, he thought, but oddly enough, his mind wasn’t so much on her incredible body but on his own emotional reaction to holding her close.

Funny, yet it seemed to him that she belonged there in his embrace, tucked against his chest as if she’d always been a part of him.

He hardly knew this woman. And what he did know should scare the hell out of him.

“There’s a conversation I want to have,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her cheek.

“Yes?”

He could tell by her surprised reaction and the curious way she was regarding him that a conversation was the last thing she’d expected. No doubt she was waiting for him to push aside that scrap of fabric which separated his mouth from her breasts and suckle her until she screamed and demanded release from the fires the two of them had been stoking in each other. God only knew he wanted exactly that for himself!

But he wanted something more important than just sex. And that he did bothered him, even though Hunter wasn’t a guy to ignore his instincts. He’d done okay by following them.

“It’s not like me to bring this up out of context,” he said slowly, “but you and I both know that one of these days, maybe even when we finally make it back to our hotel, nothing is going to keep us apart.”

Daffy blushed slightly. Hunter held her more tightly, pleased by her reaction.

He was aptly named; he enjoyed the pursuit of the opposite sex and he appreciated the way Daffy played to that and yet didn’t overtake the lead. On his first—and only—date with Tiffany Phipps, she’d been reaching for his zipper at the same moment she’d been unlocking her front door. He still couldn’t believe he hadn’t let her supply the oral pleasure she’d offered, but his heart hadn’t been in it. Tiffany reminded him too strongly of Emily, and Hunter would be willing to bet Emily had abandoned her willingness to perform oral sex the moment she’d tossed her bridal bouquet.

Besides, after one glimpse of Daffy, he hadn’t wanted anyone else.

He stirred. Was that true? Daffy was watching him so intently Hunter was afraid for a moment that he’d spoken out loud. Wasn’t he just trying to prove the boast he’d made that day in the coffeehouse—to show her he could make any woman fall for him?

“You’re very serious,” she murmured.

“Birth control is a serious topic.”

“And a most important one.” She paused for only a moment, then added, “I take it that is our topic?”

He had to hand it to her; she’d answered as smoothly as if he’d observed that the sun was shining. Maybe he could have waited; he certainly hadn’t stopped to discuss it prior to tugging her down on the couch with him last night. Daffy might be the one woman with the power and the passion to cause Hunter to forget the cardinal rule by which he lived.

He nodded.

Daffy drew back a bit from the shelter of Hunter’s arms, not because she wanted him to let go of her, but to give herself a better view of his face. Yes, it was as serious as his tone of voice.

Good.

“Do you know you’re the first man I’ve ever gone out with who introduced this topic . . . um, ahead of the moment?”

“Really?”

She held up one hand and prepared to tick off on her fingers the men who’d followed the other route.

Hunter closed his hands over hers. “Let’s skip the details.”

Ooh, he sounded a little bit jealous. No, more than a little bit. Daffy smiled inwardly. “Anyway, I’ve been on the pill for years, but thanks for bringing up the subject. And despite my reputation, I lead a fairly dull life.”

“Meaning?” He’d managed to tuck her back against his side and was gently stroking her neck with the pad of his thumb.

She made a face. “Meaning I’m no Typhoid Mary.”

He laughed. “But we’ll play it safe, okay?”

“Sure.” Daffy sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh-oh,” Hunter said. “In my experience, when a woman says nothing is wrong, that means I’m supposed to figure out what
is
wrong.”

She laughed softly. “Did you know you’re smarter than the average guy?”

He nodded. “So what’s wrong?”

“I was remembering the day my mother delivered Jonni and me to her doctor’s office and had him explain the facts of life to us. We were sixteen and already knew more than the doctor even hinted at. What did surprise us both was that our mother had him put us on the pill, and boy, was that premature!”

“Really?” Since he sounded sincerely interested, Daffy continued with the story. She enjoyed talking to Hunter almost as much as she enjoyed making out with him. A good combination. No, better than good. Perfect.

“We were pretty sheltered.” She shrugged, remembering the irony. “All-girl school. After school, we had soccer or swim team, then homework. Jonni and I spent more time with our noses to the grindstone than we did on dates.”

“I find that very hard to believe,” he murmured, still circling his thumb lightly over her neck.

She flipped him a grin. “Well, if I’d known
you
in high school . . .”

“I daresay you wouldn’t have looked at me twice,” he said, sounding much less contented than only a moment before. His thumb stilled and Daffy knew there was a story behind his reaction, one he might share with her someday, as she might eventually share the story of her mother’s betrayal.

She touched his cheek. “Then you don’t know me very well.”

“So when did you . . .” Hunter’s voice trailed off, but Daffy knew exactly what he was asking.

“So you really want to know when I misplaced my virginity?”

“Yeah.” He tightened his hold on her and Daffy realized he didn’t really want the answer. Every guy wanted to believe he was the first, last, and only, even when the evidence waved itself like a flag in front of his face.

“I went a little nuts the summer after my freshman year in college,” Daffy said, trying for a light tone. She hated remembering the pain and loss of that horrible year. “What about you?”

“I guess you’d call me precocious.”

Daffy smiled. “That means your answer is, way younger than me. Let me guess. You were fifteen and she was a cheerleader.”

“Fourteen and she was that year’s senior class valedictorian.”

“You amaze me.” Daffy laughed and sat upright. That was when she realized her breasts were practically parading bare for Hunter’s appreciative gaze. In a belated attempt at modesty, she rearranged the bikini top.

“I liked it better the other way,” Hunter said.

Before she could reply, the intercom buzzed and the driver’s voice came through. “We’re back at the water park again, sir.”

Hunter glanced from the round speaker above the mini-bar back to Daffy. “I almost hate to leave the car.”

She nodded. “It feels like a cocoon, doesn’t it?” she added, hugging her arms around her knees.

He smiled, then his lips broadened into a mischievous grin. “But I would like to see that bikini soaking wet on you.”

Daffy responded by ogling his groin and Hunter winked at her and clicked on the intercom. “Drop us at the front gate.” Then he caught her hands and said, “I have a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface of several themes during this discussion. Until later?”

Daffy nodded, touched by his insight and his desire to communicate with her. Hunter James, she reflected, really could make any woman fall for him, even if he wasn’t trying.

The driver opened the door and Daffy followed Hunter from the car. She couldn’t help but notice the limousine chauffeur staring at the two of them. And she couldn’t help but blush.

As soon as they were beyond the man’s earshot, Daffy said, “Hunter, I could swear that man thinks we were having sex the entire time!”

He grinned. “I knew I liked that driver.”

About two hours later, Hunter took back his words. He and Daffy had just navigated the highest, longest, most daring slide in the park and were laughing and dashing droplets from their eyes.

Daffy looked like a twelve-year-old, well, make that a sixteen-year-old, he corrected himself as he admired her body sculpted by her wet bikini. He held out a hand to her and together they splashed through the knee-deep water toward the edge of the pool.

“Do it again?” Hunter asked, pleased that she was having such a good time. Who would have thought it? Daffy had washed away a lifetime of Hunter’s stereotypes of upper-crust rich girls.

Daffy stopped in her tracks, one foot in the water, the other on the edge of the pool. She tugged at his hand. Looking down, Hunter saw that her sunny expression had been chased away.

“What’s
he
doing here?” She directed her gaze across the paving stones that led to one of several gazebos offering shelter from the desert sun.

Lounging in a chaise, as out of place poolside in his dark business suit as a penguin at a Sunday barbecue, sat Aloysius.

“Good question.” Hunter helped Daffy from the pool. Still holding her hand, he said, “Want to pretend we didn’t see him?”

She giggled. Then, as her mirth subsided, she replied, “That would serve him right, but surely he wouldn’t be here if there weren’t some sort of emergency.”

Thinking of last night’s untoward interruption, Hunter wasn’t convinced he agreed with Daffy. “With Aloysius, one never knows. Look, I’ll go see what’s up.”

Daffy didn’t let go of his hand. “I’ll come, too. He doesn’t scare me.”

“Are you sure?”

She tossed her head and water droplets scattered. Hunter wished he could lick off the drops that landed on her cleavage. Damn Aloysius for interrupting them again!

“Just because he and I don’t speak is no reason for me not to stand by your side.”

Hunter nodded. They were halfway to Aloysius by that point anyway, and he knew better than to argue with Daffy. Once her mind was made up, that was it. It hadn’t taken him long to understand that about her.

To his surprise, Daffy greeted Aloysius quite sweetly. His partner, eyes hidden behind dark glasses, ignored Daffy. Instead, he rose and said, “Hunter, I need to talk to you.”

“Sure. First, though, tell me how you found us.”

“Easy enough. I paged your limo driver.”

Hunter glanced at Daffy. Suddenly she didn’t look quite as calm and collected. He had a fair idea she was picturing the driver filling Aloysius in on his own imaginary version of the prolonged drive from the Convention Center to the water park, a drive that should have taken far less time than it had.

Aloysius wagged his brows above his impenetrably dark glasses, pretty much confirming Hunter’s guess. “Well, what is it? The NuTech deal?”

Aloysius shook his head. “Need to discuss this in private.”

“I’ll take a stroll,” Daffy said. She smiled and this time Hunter saw straight through the saccharine to the starch beneath. “A very short stroll.”

As soon as she was out of earshot, Aloysius grabbed his arm and pulled the two of them down to facing chairs. “What’s
she
doing with
you
?”

“Swimming. Why are
you
here?”

“Hunter, you’re my business partner. I’ve got a lot invested in you. The moment Melanie described the woman you were with this morning, my heart stopped beating. She was going on and on about how enchanted you were and how you’d never introduced any woman as your friend. Hunter, she was practically planning the press release for your wedding!”

Surprisingly, Hunter found himself grinning like a goofy kid. “Really? She said all that?”

Aloysius reached over and shook his arm. “Snap out of it!”

Hunter closed his hand around Aloysius’s much skinnier arm and lifted it off his. “Is this what you came here to tell me?”

“I knew you’d get upset.” He shook his head. “That’s why I went to the trouble to track you down, so you’d understand the urgency.”

Hunter stared at his partner, at a man he called friend. “There’s something else going on here, something deeper I don’t understand. Want to tell me what it is?”

“Daffy’s a flirt,” Aloysius said bitterly. “She’ll entrance you, then tease you, then the next thing you know, you’ll promise her anything. That body—” He broke off. “She can drive a man wild, but that’s all she does.”

“What do you mean?” Hunter hated listening to Aloysius talk about Daffy. His brain was forced to acknowledge the two of them had been engaged, but when he thought of Aloysius touching her, making love to her—no, that was more than he’d let into his mind. Daffy was his.

“Have you had sex with her yet?”

Hunter hesitated.

Aloysius slapped his hands together. “I knew it! Same old MO. All tease and no please.”

“Are you telling me you and Daffy were engaged and never did it?” Hunter couldn’t believe it, but he was damn glad to hear it.

Aloysius shook his head. “You’re beginning to get the picture. And I’ll wager you a thousand bucks you don’t get any, either.”

“Can’t take that bet.” Hunter knew he’d win it, but he wasn’t making her the subject of a bet like that. Another woman maybe, but he respected Daffy too much to do that to her.

Besides, if she found out, he’d never hear the end of it.

“You know, Aloysius, I just don’t get it. You race out here to tell me she won’t put out. Doesn’t compute.”

“For someone as smart as you are, you sure are dense. Don’t forget what she did to me the night before our wedding.”

“Ah.” That was the heart of the matter. Daffy had refused to have sex with her fiancé, then screwed his best man.