Honest Betrayal by Dara Girard Page B

his eyes. “I won’t say.”
    Brenna moved against him, feeling the hard bulge in his trousers. “I’d say it was.”
    “You’re right.” His eyes dipped to her chest. He licked his lips.
    “Don’t you dare.”
    “Getting nervous?”
    The look on his face sent a shiver of unease. “There are children playing.”
    “So? Unless they’ve all been bottle fed they’ll know what I’m doing.”
    “I’ll scream.”
    “I hope so.” He surveyed her face. “Admit you want me.”
    “No.”
    He bent down and used his teeth to gently pull down her blouse.
    “All right.”
    “You smell good.” He rested his nose between her breasts.
    “Hunter?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I said I want you.”
    “I want you too.”
    “That means stop.”
    He lifted his head and frowned a little dazed. “That doesn’t make sense.”
    “Get up and I’ll explain it to you.”
    He let her go. Brenna sat up and glared at him. “That wasn’t fair.”
    “I suggest you don’t try seducing me in public places.”
    “You were trying to seduce me first,” she countered.
    He folded the blanket then said with all seriousness.  “I’ll be careful next time.”

    ***
    “So how was it with Hurricane Man?” Pauline asked when Brenna entered the office.
    “It was fine.”
    “I want to know more.”
    “There’s not much to say.” She hung up her jacket in the closet then shut the door. “We ate, we talked about ‘The Plan,’ he kissed me then we talked some more and then ended the meeting.”
    “Oh,” Pauline said disappointed.
    Brenna went into her office.
    Pauline rushed in a few moments later. “What do you mean he kissed you?”
    Brenna rested her chin in her hand. “You know what kissing is, don’t you?”
    Pauline fell into a chair. “But with him?”
    “It was nice.” It was more than nice , but she wouldn’t go into the details.
    “He’s just trying to seduce you.”
    Brenna winked. “I don’t mind. I tried to do the same.”
    “Why?”
    “He might prove useful.”
    Pauline blinked. “Useful?” she pulled her chair in closer.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m not sure I like this.”
    “It’s just two nights. What could happen? I need a man to get my mother off my back. You wouldn’t understand. You’re married.”
    “I don’t have kids yet. Should I go to a playground and buy a kid for a day to please my mother?”
    Brenna smiled. “If it makes you feel better.”
    Pauline made a face. “You know the point I’m trying to make.”
    “Yes, and I’m doing my best to ignore it.”
    “It’s not like you to be irrational.”
    Brenna leaned forward. “Let me give you the true definition of irrational. Irrational is a woman who offers a telemarketer a bonus purchase if he agrees to go out with her daughter. Irrational is a woman who gives her daughter’s phone number to men she meets in the produce section of the grocery store. Irrational is a woman who then gives her daughter’s number to a lesbian friend just in case her daughter swings the other way. Irrational is a woman who constantly hounds her daughter about how her cousins are getting married while she’s still single. Irrational is—”
    Pauline waved her hands. “Enough, enough. I get the picture.” She let her hands fall. “I just wish you didn’t have to pretend that’s all.”
    Brenna thought about the time with Hunter, a sense of wistfulness descending. “Yea, me too.”
    ***
    “Fifteen minutes,” Miles said.
    Hunter glanced up from his desk. “What?”
    “You haven’t moved for fifteen minutes. Is there something wrong with The Plan?”
    “No, The Plan is fine.” He was the one in trouble . He couldn’t stop thinking about Brenna. He wanted to kiss her and hold her and tease her and talk to her and... She made him tell her things only a few people knew. He hadn’t talked about his first marriage in years. There were so many things he wanted to tell her. Unfortunately, although she fit his qualifications, he knew he didn’t fit hers.