The Reunion Of A Lifetime: The Reunion of a Lifetime / A Bride to Redeem Him. Fiona Lowe
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trembling fingers pulled her phone out of the pocket of her shorts. ‘H-hello.’
‘Lauren, are you running?’ Her mother’s voice rattled down the line confused and concerned.
‘N-no.’
‘Then why are you out of breath?’
Because I’ve just been kissed senseless. But before she could coordinate her lust-soaked and scattered mind to muster a reply, her mother continued, ‘Are your ribs okay? I hope you’re not overdoing things.’
‘No, Mum. Promise.’
‘Good. The reason I’m ringing is that Shaylee says you and Charlie had a bet about the calamari. Something about the person who didn’t hook the first catch cooks? Anyway, she got very upset when I started preparing the squid and she’s insistent the two of you are coming over to cook it.’
Lauren’s stomach fell as she recalled her and Charlie flirting over the top of Shaylee’s glossy-haired head. ‘The bet was just a joke, Mum,’ she said quickly.
Charlie shot her an enquiring look and she shook her head. Just as she turned away she heard his phone ring.
‘The thing is, darling,’ her mother said firmly, ‘Shaylee believes you were serious. You know how often she’s been let down and how hard Dad and I have been working to get her to trust us. She’s eight, Lauren. She doesn’t understand jokes like that. To her it’s the truth and I really don’t want this to set her back.’
Lauren was spun back in time to her childhood. You’re the lucky one, Lauren. You know we love you. Now, share your toys. Childhood guilt at being asked again to set aside her own needs tangoed with her adult self and she swallowed a sigh. ‘I get it, Mum. I’ll come over.’
‘Thank you.’
She heard the rumble of her father’s voice in the background. ‘But you’re going to have to teach me how to prepare and cook calamari.’
‘You never know, Charlie might be an expert.’
Her mouth dried. ‘Mum, I doubt Charlie will come.’ Especially as there’s no way in hell I’m asking him to a family dinner. ‘He’s in Horseshoe Bay to spend time with his grandmother and we can’t steal him away from her.’
‘Oh, Charlie’s coming, darling, and so is Anna,’ her mother said breezily. ‘Your father’s just spoken to him.’
What? She spun around to see Charlie sliding his phone into his pocket. He gave her a thumbs-up.
Fabulous. Just freakin’ fabulous. She slumped against the Norfolk pine, immune to the rough bark sticking into her and the likely chance of resin staining her clothes. So much for a logical, rational and dispassionate kiss proving she was no longer attracted to him. Her experiment had run off the rails in spectacular style. She’d held nothing back and even if Charlie had been a stranger, not an ex, he wouldn’t have to connect very many dots to know she’d been on fire for him. Wanted him. Had come close to committing public indecency with him. Even a guy without a surgeon’s ego would be strutting like a rooster after such a display.
It took everything she had not to drop her head in her hands and moan. After Jeremy, she was determined never to reveal anything of herself to a man other than superficial and non-important thoughts and feelings. No man was ever going to have power over her again and yet, with one kiss, she’d handed Charlie power on a plate. To add insult to injury, now they had to cook together in the close confines of her parents’ kitchen and under the eagle eye of her mother, who saw everything and missed nothing. If Lauren had any chance of surviving this evening with her dignity intact, there needed to be rules—very clear, concise and rigid rules.
* * *
Charlie had the sudden urge to whistle and, so help him, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d chirped out a tune. His life might be in a tailspin but thankfully some things didn’t change—Lauren Fuller could still kiss. His memory hadn’t failed him: she was as responsive and as generous with her kisses as she’d been at eighteen. The hot and demanding play of her mouth under his, the flat press of her breasts against his chest and the brush of her thigh between his legs had brought dusty memories roaring back to life in vivid, living colour.
He grinned—it had been a hell of a walk down memory lane accompanied by the delicious release of a torrent of feel-good memories. Now those memories tempted him with many more—Lauren, naked and with shining eyes, straddling him. Both of them naked, sweaty and moaning as he slid into her—
The hot blast of desire sent his blood south, making him hard in a way he hadn’t known in a long while. There was no doubt about it. Lauren was still good for him and, going on that kiss, she still wanted him. He planned to put that knowledge to good use so they both benefited. Closing the small gap between them, he pressed his hands against the bark above her head and gazed down at her.
She slowly raised her head and fixed her luminous eyes on him. He’d been expecting to see the same bright lust that had shimmered so brightly in their depths just five minutes ago. But instead of naked need, they glinted sharp and clear, in focus and with businesslike intent. ‘As you know, my parents are expecting us and—’
‘Don’t stress. I get it.’ He tapped his nose. ‘No kissing in the kitchen.’
Relief filled her face. ‘Exactly. Or anywhere in my parents’ house.’ She ducked as he lowered his head to steal a kiss. ‘And no more kissing in public places either.’
‘Spoilsport,’ he teased. ‘Just for the record, I’m totally on board with kissing in private places.’ He waited for her to laugh in agreement, but she swallowed and her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. It took every gram of restraint that he had not to kiss her.
‘Actually, Charlie, I don’t think us kissing is a very good idea, full stop.’
If he’d anticipated her reply, it wasn’t this. ‘Why on earth not? I definitely got the impression you enjoyed it as much as I did.’
She raised her hand as if she was going to brush his cheek but instead let it drop back to her side. ‘Enjoyment has nothing to do with anything.’
‘Enjoyment has everything to do with it.’ For a second he thought he felt her prevaricate, topple even towards the desire that constantly spun around them, drawing them together. But when she spoke, he knew it had been wishful thinking.
‘Yesterday we agreed that you’re going to continue working one session a day at the clinic. That means, come Monday, we’re working together.’
When she had informed him that she was coming back to work part time next week, he’d almost begged her to let him continue working at the clinic. So, they were both working at the surgery, big deal. No matter which way he came at it, he couldn’t see a problem. ‘But we’re not technically working together. We’re doing opposite sessions.’
‘It still makes us colleagues. Look, I just don’t need the locals gossiping and I really don’t want my parents misinterpreting anything and...’
‘And what?’ He needed all the information so he could debunk it and lead her back to what he wanted—Lauren in his arms and in his bed.
She sighed and embarrassment burned two pink spots on her cheeks. ‘I don’t want them getting their hopes up when we’d only be having fun.’
‘R-r-r-right,’ he said slowly but thinking fast. First up, Lauren clearly wasn’t entertaining a future with him—good.
Really?
Yes!
Second, he knew all about the hopes and dreams parents held for their children. He was also intimate with the vitriol that inevitably followed when hopes shattered and disillusionment and disappointment set in.
He liked Sue and Ian Fuller and he didn’t want to set up any unrealistic