Headstrong (12 page)

She smiled as she put her gun away, then gave his cheek a couple of gentle slaps. “I knew you’d do me proud.”

“I’d do you most any way you could think of.” Colin dodged a punch to the shoulder, adding, “If I thought I stood a chance.”

Reece frowned. Still, Libby was behaving herself. She was perhaps the one person he’d met who was more in command of a space’s sexual atmosphere than Colin himself, and that was no small feat.

“Think I’m done for the night,” Reece said.

They wandered into the lobby. Libby’s gaze swiveled to Reece, mischievous, the femme fatale returning in an instant. God knew why she reserved it for him… Still, he’d be more than happy to absorb her attention if it meant she was honoring her half of the deal they’d struck on her boat and keeping her charismatic talons off his brother. Colin had suffered enough tragedy in his romantic past to last a lifetime.

“Think I could crash on your couch again?” Libby glanced between them.

Reece caught Colin’s deferring look and nodded. “Yeah, sure. Your stuff’s all over the flat still, anyhow.”

“Oh goodie. Hold up one minute—I want a shake.”

Reece and Colin sat on a bench as Libby got in line at the snack bar.

“Nice to see you having a good time,” Reece said, addressing his brother’s contented smile.

“Ditto. I haven’t seen you cut loose like that since I was about five.” He laughed. “You were such an odd kid. Still are. Where does that come from, eh?”

“I’m not that odd,” Reece said, defensive.

“You are. I think Mum must’ve had a fling with an ascetic. It’s got to be in your DNA, because the rest of us are a right laugh.”

Reece shrugged. He didn’t much feel like talking about how he might or might not fit in with the rest of their family.

Colin nodded toward the snack bar. “And don’t get me started on the colossal waste you’re making of this Libby situation—”

Reece cut the thought off with a jerk of his head and a warning squint.

Colin rolled his eyes. “Touchy, Jesus. Get over yourself.”

“Well, anyway, it’s nice to see you having a good time,” Reece reiterated, eager to maintain the levity. He gave his brother a long study, recognizing him, it felt, for the first time in six years.

Colin looked about a decade older than he did in Reece’s mind’s eye. Until his accident, Colin had always been that skinny, loud-mouthed kid Reece had grown up being harangued by at every turn. Then he’d changed overnight. Reece had been away at the time, and when he’d come back, his brother was another person. He’d noticed then for the first time how tall Colin was, how much bigger than Reece had realized. With his personality suddenly gone, he’d been as unrecognizable as a stranger dressed in Colin’s clothes. But right now that old energy was back and Reece was shocked to note just how much Colin resembled their father…except for the hairline. Reece seemed doomed to be the sole heir to that genetic legacy.

“Have I got something on my face?” Colin asked, addressing Reece’s prolonged scrutiny.

He shook his head. “Nah. Just jealous you got your hair from Mum’s side.”

Colin smirked. “You’ll be all right. Nolans only ever flirt with baldness. We never go all the way.”

“I hope so. Your hair now… Is this just an act of sympathy for me?” Colin’s buzzed head still felt new to Reece.

“Just embracing the scars, mate.” Colin tapped the spot where two long, thin, white streaks interrupted the dark cover of his stubble.

Reece cleared his throat, wishing he hadn’t brought it up.

Libby returned, sucking a pink concoction through a clear straw. She stared at Reece’s mouth or chin for a long moment.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded and swallowed and seemed all at once diminished. Her shyness continued as they strolled to the car and drove back to Kaiwharawhara. Equally disconcerting, Colin too fell silent. Reece tried to pinpoint exactly what flavor of conspiracy was brewing between them, but all he could smell was peppermint.

The threesome reentered the pub at ten fifteen.

“Heya, kids,” Annie said.

Libby offered a limp wave, feeling uncharacteristically timid.

“Don’t you have a man and a baby waiting at home for you?” Colin lifted the hinged entrance to the bar and ushered his sister out. “Go home, you old wench. I’ll save you my tips.”

“I’m not going to argue with you.” Annie handed over the register key and her bar towel. “And you definitely rake in the best tips. Thanks, Col. Mark thanks you too,” she added as she slipped her coat on. “Your niece never lets him sleep. Night, guys.” She waved to Libby and Reece.

Colin settled in behind the bar and dug out a newspaper. “You two be good, now.”

Libby said good night, thinking she knew what Colin was trying to help facilitate. He was an exemplary wingman.

Reece yawned as they mounted the stairs and entered the flat. “I might call it a night.” He closed the door behind them and kicked off his shoes.

“Oh, not yet! I’m all charged up now. And we’ve made real progress tonight.”

He glanced at her. “At what?”

“You know…being nice to each other. Having fun. Let’s keep the momentum up. Let’s play a game. You’re competitive, right? I’d love to see you beat me at Trivial Pursuit.”

“With your credentials, I’d love to see that too. I might stand a chance on the questions about seventies’ cricket.”

“Oh, come on, lover. Indulge me. It’s early. Crack open a beer.”

Reece looked around the room and at the clock. “Yeah, okay. ’Til twelve thirty, then I have to head to bed. I’ve got morning classes.”

“Gorgeous. I’ll get some music going.”

“Can we have the news instead?” He wandered into the kitchen.

“No, no, no.” She thought quickly. “That’s almost like cheating. What if an answer came up on the broadcast?”

Reece returned carrying a can of Speight’s. “This game was put out shortly after you were born.”

“Well, it’ll be distracting. Come on. You dragged me away from laser tag way too early. Let me have my way.”
With you,
she amended in her head.

“All right then.” He sighed and obediently took a seat on the floor as she unfolded the board. He popped his can open. “I want the yellow pie.”

“Fine.” She took the red one for herself.

Reece was right, ultimately—Libby kicked his ass at the game, with the exception of the questions about antipodean sports and entertainment. It was fun—for both of them, she suspected—though her own enjoyment was dampened more each minute by mounting nerves. It took Reece an exceedingly long time to notice what sorts of tapes she’d been playing on her stereo.

Halfway into the game, he looked up, suddenly savvy and suspicious, glancing around like a spooked deer. “What’s up with the make-out music?”

Libby swallowed. She set the dice down and looked at Reece. “I want you to kiss me.”

He stared blankly at her, toying with his pie. “I’m not interested in you, Libby. Not that way.”

“I know. That’s why you’re perfect for it.”

“For what?”

She hissed out a long, loaded breath. “Teach me how to kiss.”

Reece balked, abandoned by his self-possession. “Beg pardon?
Teach
you?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled nervously, shaking his head. “Libby, you’re the most sexual person I’ve ever met. I’m sure I’ve got nothing to add to your undoubtedly impressive repertoire.”

“I haven’t kissed anyone in twelve years.”

He shut his eyes, absorbing this proclamation. “What?”

“I haven’t kissed anybody in like twelve years. Since I was sixteen.”

His eyes opened again. “You’re winding me up.”

“I’m not.”

He seemed to replay a tape in his head, looking for an instance that might make her a liar. He wouldn’t find one.

“I haven’t done
anything
since I was sixteen.”

“But you flirt with nearly any bloke who’s got a pulse.”

“Yeah, but I don’t
do
anything with anyone.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m so bloody confused.”

Libby had prepared a brief synopsis for this eventuality. “Something bad happened when I was younger. I thought I loved somebody, and I did something I didn’t really want to because I thought it would make him love me back.” She twirled her hand dismissively in the air. “And it didn’t. He ditched me and I went totally nuts. I tried to kill myself and my father threw me in an institution to keep me from bringing embarrassment on our family’s good name.” She rattled the facts off, as though summarizing a very boring story.

Reece’s eyes were round and horrified. “Bloody hell, that’s awful.”

She couldn’t let this turn into a consolation festival when she had far more pressing matters to address. “Yeah, well, it was what it was. But I haven’t so much as kissed anybody on the mouth since then. And now I need to catch up.” She cracked her knuckles, businesslike, hoping Reece couldn’t sense the truth of her actual excitement. True, she did want to kiss him because he was such a non-threat, but he didn’t need to know how badly she truly wanted him, and how long it’d been since she’d felt this way about a guy. It’d only freak him out. Hell, it’d freak
her
out to admit it, to let him know how much sway he had over her.

Reece looked around the room again with dawning comprehension. “Have you been
planning
this?”

“A bit. Aren’t you flattered?”

“I don’t know. Should I be?”

“Uh,
yeah
. You’re the only man I’ve been willing to let touch me in over a decade. Jackpot, lover.”

Reece frowned, so adorable. “Christ, don’t call me that. This is so twisted. Why
me
?”

“Like you said, you aren’t interested in me. You’re safe. And you’re sexy. You’re single. Teach me how to kiss. I’m way behind my peers.”

He shook his head. “No blooming way.”

“Why not?”

“Because… Just because.”

“Please?”

“I mean, we aren’t like that. It’d be all clinical and weird.”

“I know, and that’s perfect. No one’s invested. It’s safe.” She paused, abandoning her bargaining platform and looking him square in the face. “Please? It’s really important to me.”

He seemed contemplate her request. Colin had been right—sincerity was the only reliable crowbar she’d yet found for prying Reece open. His clear gray eyes were trained on the ceiling, brows knitted, but he looked calm again.

He sighed. “I’m not sure what it is I’m meant to be teaching you.”

“Just…how to kiss. I don’t even remember what it’s like, it’s been so long. And I never even got good at it before things turned all fucked.”

“Well, it’s not that simple. Every bloke is different. It’s not a universal skill—”

“Jesus, Reece, you make everything so frigging complicated. Then just teach me how to kiss
you
.”

His eyes lowered to drill into hers. “Fine.”

She clapped. “Oh goodie.”

“But turn the Al Green off.”

“What should we listen to instead?”

“You’ve really never done anything, have you?” Reece asked, clearly floored. “This is all out of a movie for you?”

“Kind of.”

“Holy hell.”

“I’ve never seen you so flustered, loverboy. So what do you want to listen to?”

“Nothing. Each other. That’s what you listen to. Or that’s what
I’d
listen to in this…situation.”

“Well, you
are
in this situation, so…” She crawled to the tape deck and clicked it off. Taking the noise away was like shedding a layer of clothing, closing the distance between them. The light tapping of rain at the windows mimicked Libby’s fluttery heartbeat.

“Okay, then.” She slid the game board off to one side. Reece’s legs were sprawled in a vee and Libby scooted close in front of him, crossing her thighs over his and looking to him expectantly, their faces only a foot apart.

“This is really what you want?” he asked.

“Definitely.”

“Is this… Are we snogging? How far do you want to go?” If he was intimidated, he didn’t show it—all his earlier hesitation was gone. Good, old steady Reece. He really had no clue how sexy he was. Thank goodness.

“Yeah, let’s make out. But don’t jam your tongue down my throat.”

“I’m thirty-one, Libby.”

“Yeah, well, the last guy I kissed was seventeen. I’m working with what I know, here.”

“Fine. Just give me a
little
credit.”

“Well, you’ll have to earn it, now won’t you?” She’d slipped into her seduction voice almost without meaning to.

“Don’t try that on me. You’re so creepy.”

“Sorry. So, lay it on me, Professor. Tell me what to do.” She couldn’t keep her eyes from flicking back to his mouth every other word.

“Just…just do what you want to. I’ll kiss you, and if you like what I’m doing, you can do it back or whatever.” His gaze darted over her face. He reached out to rub a thumb below her eye, at whatever was left of her war paint. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed the last of his uncertainty. “It’s hard to explain. Just try stuff. I can’t tell you what to enjoy… Kissing’s always dodgy the first time with a new person. If you don’t like something, tell me.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Go!” Libby said.

Reece’s face took on a steely look of determination, as though she were a particularly wily opponent. He reached out both his cool hands and touched her face, resting his fingers behind her ears, his thumbs on her jaw. Libby’s skin heated at the contact.

He leaned in and put his lips against hers, catching her lower one between his ever so lightly, then pulled away an inch. An unfamiliar sensation spread through her like alcohol, tingling and trickling from the crown of her head down through her chest, right into her fingertips and toes. It’d taken years to find a guy whose sexuality didn’t frighten her, one she truly wanted to be close to and who made her conjure all those stupid verbs people employed when talking about attraction—crave, want, need. And the sheer relief of getting close to a man and not wanting to bolt…that felt as good and comforting and miraculous as Reece’s skin against hers.

Their eyes flickered together before his lips returned at an angle, parted, and he pressed his mouth to hers. She pressed back. Her hands were clasped in her lap and she untwined her fingers and moved them to his shoulders. His sweater was soft and inviting but she craved his skin. She slid one hand up to touch his neck as his mouth opened further. He slipped his tongue very shallowly between her lips before pulling back again.