The One Who Got Away (14 page)

“Sorry,” Ben said. He held up his martini, which had been delivered so smoothly, Taylor hadn't even noticed. “To Lisa and Steve. May she continue to surprise you. May he continue to be the same guy we all know and love.”

Steve looked at Ben sharply, then toasted along with everyone else. Lisa just looked happy. Her mother had some large mixed cocktail, something red, which she drank pretty quickly while the rest of the party sipped.

“Hey, Steve,” Ben said.

The bread course had come to the table and Taylor couldn't wait to try it. It smelled like heaven, and she made no pretense about the fact that she was starving.

“Remember that time that guy from Texas hooked the scuba diver?”

Steve cracked up, and there was something a little different about this laughter. It was the real Steve now, the guy she'd grown up with.

“Oh, man, was he pissed, or what? That Texas dude played him for what, half an hour?”

“Yeah, screaming the whole time, ‘It's a whale! It's a whale!'”

Taylor laughed although she'd heard the story a dozen times before. But what she really liked was the idea of reminding Steve about his love for what he did, and what he'd be giving up if he moved to Kansas. “Remember that pregnant woman who caught that huge yellowtail, and she went into labor?”

Steve moaned, leaned back in his chair. “She wouldn't stop. She was screaming, and bending over double. Man, she was huge. But she wouldn't let go of that damn rod. She kept it up for like forty minutes, I swear. Caught the damn fish, and almost had the baby on the deck.”

“She had it in the ambulance, didn't she?”

Steve, laughing, nodded. “Damndest thing I ever
saw. And her husband sent me a picture, after? Of the fish!”

They went on like that, Steve and Ben swapping tales, funny, silly, outrageous, and Taylor just leaned back and enjoyed the ride. A glance from her mother told her that she approved of the conversation, too, but not so with Lisa. At first, she laughed, smiled, went along with it all, but after the first course arrived and the boys went on and on, Taylor could see she was getting prickly.

It wasn't fair, but this was serious stuff. Steve without his boats was like a race car driver without a license. He wouldn't be Steve.

She probably should have stopped it, but she didn't. Instead, she ate the most delectable food in the universe. Tiny portions, but oh, God, the most succulent, fantastic flavors. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft and perfect inside. Ben swooned over his oysters, which started another whole round of fishing tales. It wasn't until they'd been served the second course that Lisa had had enough. She stood up, gave Ben a truly hateful look and excused herself.

Taylor felt like the heel she was. She followed Lisa to the bathroom, but when she went over to talk to her, all she got was chipper chitchat. Nothing real. But the evening would have to take another turn, or things would get ugly.

Maybe Ben could catch Steve alone tomorrow. Talk to him. Find out about the pills. About everything. In the meantime, she intended to enjoy the hell out of the rest of her meal, including the sumptuous wine and heavenly sounding desserts. Then she was
going to take Ben to her room, and ravish him until he couldn't walk.

No more thinking. No more worrying. Back to the basic plan. Fun. Wildness. Sex and sex and sex. Eventually, she'd figure it out. But she wasn't about to waste what could very well be the last truly incredible fling of her life.

T
HE WHOLE WAY
in the taxi back to the Hard Rock, Taylor and Ben had only touched hands. That's all. But what touching it was.

All of Taylor's erogenous zones were on maximum alert, and she felt even the slightest brush of his finger everywhere at once. Mostly in her chest, which had forgotten how to breathe properly, and in her sex, where she finally understood the concept of being in heat. Big time.

She could hardly look at him. Not that he wasn't amazing to look at, but when she did, sitting in that gorgeous suit, his hair mussed and touchable, his eyes smoky and filled with wicked promises, she wanted to yank down her tube dress right there in the back of the Yellow Cab and attack him.

It was only a few blocks to the hotel, she could wait. Or at least she hoped she could.

His thumb rubbed against her wrist, the thin skin feeling nearly as sensitive as her clitoris. At that thought, she had to shift in the seat, cross her legs and squeeze them together.

His legs were crossed, too, with his thigh covering his fly. She guessed he was having a difficult time of
it, given that the two of them sounded like they were in the middle of a ten-mile hike up a steep mountain.

The taxi pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, and it took a frustrating five minutes to get to the front door. Ben had the fare and tip ready, and then the doorman helped her out of her side. Ben met her at the curb, put his arm around her shoulder and hustled her inside. When they got into the casino, he sneaked a glance her way, and they went even faster.

She couldn't help herself, she started giggling in the elevator. There were three other people on board, and one young couple kept their hands on each other's fannies. The single man kept looking at Taylor's chest. She found it unbearably funny, and trying to stifle the laughter made things worse.

Ben turned completely around, but she saw his shoulders shake. Too much juice running through them, she knew, but it didn't help. Something had to give.

Once they were on fourteen, they practically ran down the hall. She got the door open in one swipe, and then they were kissing, and his hands were all over her, and she was peeling back his jacket so she could get him naked, and everything was hot and moist and desperate.

His tongue explored her, plunged into her, dueled with hers. His teeth nipped sharply, and then she sucked deeply, getting him right where she wanted him. The devil pulled back, panting. “Wait,” he said.

“Why?”

He smiled. “Get into your bikini. I'll be back in two minutes.”

Before she could get the first word of her protest out, he was gone, and she was left breathless by the door, her purse somewhere on the floor, her body shaking with a desire only he could inspire.

Swimming? Now? She wished he would have stopped and told her what he had in mind. She didn't need to get wet. She already was.

But because she was the horniest woman in Nevada, she went to her bedroom and changed in record time. The bikini was the new one she'd bought shopping with Lisa—black and tiny, although it wasn't a thong. She wouldn't wear one of those in public, not for anything. Although when she looked in the mirror, she wasn't going to win any modesty awards. Her boobs looked much bigger than they actually were, her hips seemed curvier and even after the divine meal, her tummy didn't look half-bad. It was the tan, of course. She'd snuck some time in the booth back home before coming out here, just to lay a base. Yeah, she knew it was bad for her, but oh, man, it made everything look so much better.

Which wasn't the issue at the moment. She grabbed her cover-up and slipped on her flip-flops, and she was ready to go. Except for her purse. But she didn't really need one, if Ben would carry her key.

She found the little dinner bag and took out what she needed, then stood by the door. Not for long. He rapped twice and she let him in.

He wore black and dark green trunks, a funky Hawaiian shirt, and dark sandals. He'd pushed his hair back with his fingers, and he looked so good she could eat him with a spoon.

“Come on,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Why are we doing this?”

“Because I need to expend a little energy.”

“I have a really good way for you to do that,” she said. “Right here.”

“And I will, I promise. But later. This first.”

She took his hand and let him lead her down the hall. “Hold this for me?”

He took her key and put it in his shirt pocket. Then he kissed the back of her hand.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I want to take things down a notch before we start up again. And, I want to play with you in the pool.”

“Marco Polo?”

“Find the salami.”

She laughed out loud just as the elevator door opened. They got in, and they were alone. Ben maneuvered her back against the wall, and he pushed up flat against her. “You look hot in that.”

“It's just a cover-up.”

“You look hot in everything.”

“Ha. You should see me in my old chenille bathrobe at home. I look like someone's grandma.”

“Kiss me, Granny,” he said, but he didn't give her much of a vote. His lips came down on hers and once again, she lit up like a lightbulb.

Her hands moved down the smooth material of his shirt. He toyed with the hem of her wrap, and then she felt his fingers at the waistband of her bikini.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Exploring.” His fingers moved underneath the material until she felt him in her curls.

“Stop. They have cameras in here. I saw it on TV.”

“They can't see anything,” he said. “I'm blocking you.”

“But they'll know.”

“Then they'll be jealous,” he said. “Let 'em. You're mine tonight. All mine.”

Her head went back with a mixture of a giggle and a gasp as his finger slipped inside her.

“What's this?” he asked. “We're not even at the pool, and you're all wet?”

She pushed against his groin. “And what's this swelling? Allergic to something, are we?”

“I do believe the opposite is true. I thrive inside you, Taylor. I come alive.”

“Oh, my,” she said, just before they hit the casino level.

He pulled away in the nick of time, but she knew she was blushing like a fool. His cheeks were pretty damn pink, too. He grabbed her and led her to the nearest pool exit.

Once they were outside, they laughed again, and Ben loved the sound of it. She was like a kid. In fact, like the kid he remembered her to be. She'd been such a little pest back then, but he'd gotten a real kick out of her stubbornness.

Oh, who was he kidding. She'd worshipped him since the time they'd met, and that hero worship had turned into a major crush, and that hadn't all gone in one direction. Taylor had been an important part of
his growing up years. Easy to talk to, when she hadn't been bratty, and interesting in her own right. He remembered seeing her in a dumb school play. It hadn't been a big part, but she'd knocked the hell out of it, and gotten the biggest ovation of the night. She'd glowed. Loved the attention.

And then there was the night she'd asked him to teach her to slow dance. She was going to the junior prom, and she didn't know how to do the slow kind. Her dad wasn't around, and Steve was pretty much a goofus, so he'd stepped up to bat. Not that he was any Fred Astaire, but it had been nice. Sweet. That night he'd realized she had a crush on him. He'd been flattered. And when, two years later, she'd invited herself into his bed, there was no chance in hell he'd say no.

Which didn't mean he wasn't still confused as hell. That kiss this morning, her odd half explanation, his reaction. Way more than he wanted to think about, especially tonight. Tonight, they were going back a step. To what they did extraordinarily well together.

But first, he wanted to feel that body rub up against him in the pool. He wanted to see her shimmer under the water. He wanted to strip her naked and make love to her, but he figured he could contain himself until they went back up to the room. Then they'd have the pleasure of a hot shower, drying each other off. Then howling at the moon as they turned each other inside out.

Chris Isaac was singing about a bad bad thing, making Ben like the hotel more and more. The fact that the pool wasn't all that crowded helped, too. Just
a couple of late swimmers, the usual crowd around the swim-up bar, and the cabanas. That's where he led Taylor.

The first three were full, but the fourth had a lone guy, looking a little long in the tooth. “You here by yourself?” Ben asked.

“Evidently.”

“Bummer.”

The guy sighed. Ben recognized the sound of a man who'd been stood up.

“There's a whole gaggle of gorgeous babes by the bar.”

“Yeah, but not the one I wanted.”

Ben placed Taylor just outside the cabana wall. “Hold on.” Then he went in and sat next to Mr. Lonely. “Listen, I'm sorry your thing didn't work out. And it's rotten of me to even ask, but I'd surely love to bring my lady back up here after a swim.” He reached into his pocket, behind the two room keys, where he'd stashed a couple of hundred dollars. He took one bill out and slid it across the table. “Why don't you get a drink, and when we get back, you could go in and try your luck again.”

The guy stared at the bill for a long time, then raised his gaze to Ben's. “Yeah, sure. Why the hell not?” He took the money in his fist. “Maybe I'll win something huge and she'd find me a little more interesting.”

“You never know, brother. You never know.”

“You want me to order something for the two of you?”

Ben grinned. “You're all right. Sure. A piña colada for her, a scotch on the rocks for me.”

The stranger gave him a lopsided grin. “Go on. Get out of here before I change my mind.”

Ben stood, clapped the guy on the shoulder. “Excellent karma points, my friend.” Then he took Taylor's towel from her hand, waited until she'd given him her cover-up, gulped as he got a load of her in her black bikini, and stripped down to his own trunks. He left their stuff on an empty chair, gave a thumbs-up to his new best friend and followed Taylor to the edge of the pool.

She dove in first, and he followed a few seconds later. He found her leg, her calf to be precise, and hung on until they both came up, sputtering. She dipped her head back, letting her hair smooth from her face, and he did the same. They were at the deep end, so they had to tread water to keep their heads up. He got close enough to touch her everywhere he could.

“It's so beautiful here at night,” she said, her gaze moving from the lighted palm trees to the colored lights placed directly in the water. “Like paradise.”

“Have you ever been to Hawaii?”

She nodded. “I love it there.”

“Me, too. I know a little private beach. We could make love in the sand.”

“Ouch.”

“True. But there are ways.”

“I'll bet,” she said, and then she kissed him. Her lips were moist and cool, but inside was the same wet heat he'd already memorized. He loved the feel of her
smooth teeth, the way she tasted. He could dine on her forever.

The kiss deepened and then they were both coughing. Making out while treading water wasn't cutting it, so they swam far enough for their feet to touch. Another couple, not too far away, had the same idea, and they were at it hot and heavy. Ben couldn't have cared less. All he could see was Taylor, and the way she glistened in the moonlight.

She ran her hands over his chest until she found his nipple. He jerked when she squeezed him there, but came back for more. His hands were on her back, moving slowly down the length of her. When he hit her bikini bottom, he kept on going until he held the firm globes of her buttocks in each hand.

“Didn't you used to hate swimming?” she asked him.

“Me?”

“Yeah. Steve told me something about that a long time ago. That you could have been a really hot jock on the swim team, but you said you didn't like the water.”

“I don't know how hot a jock I could have been, but it's not the water I dislike. It's the whole team thing.”

“Then what the heck are we doing here, when we could be in private?”

“I said I don't like team sports. There's no one here but you and me, as far as I'm concerned, and honey, you in the water isn't something I was willing to miss.”

She swung around, turning them both as she
wrapped her legs around his waist. “What are you talking about?”

“I got this image in my head. This morning, to tell you the truth. And I couldn't shake it. So I took you down here.”

Her whole body kind of deflated.

“Hey, don't go there. I told you. I don't care what happened.”

“But I do.”

“Why?”

She had her arms around his neck, and he balanced her easily in his hands. She fit like she was made for him. Her head went back for a minute and he simply stared at her neck. So beautiful. He wanted to spend a week licking and nibbling that long column.

Her head came down and she looked him in the eyes. “I'm going to tell you something, and you have to shut up and listen.”

“Okay.”

“I had an entire plan worked out for this week,” she said. “Aside from the wedding.”

He grinned. “I figured it out.”

“No, you didn't. I mean, you figured out what I was after, but not why.”

He wasn't real sure he wanted to hear this.

“You do remember our weekend together?”

He laughed out loud. “You could say that, yes.”

“Well, I do, too. I remember it too well. And it's kind of…screwed me up.”

“What do you mean?”

She put her legs down, unwound her arms. He didn't want to let her go, but he did anyway. She
didn't get far. “That was the most amazing weekend I've ever had,” she said, her voice much lower, and younger, somehow. As if she'd gone back to that time ten years before. “You were my first, and frankly, my best.”