Michael's Discovery - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,42
“All I’m saying is that I’ve only reached the point where I can accept that my life isn’t over. That’s a long way from knowing what I can do with it.”
“Ryan offered one option the other night,” she said cautiously. “You didn’t even consider it, did you?”
“No, because it’s ridiculous.”
“Why?” she persisted. “Because being a charter boat captain is somehow demeaning?”
Michael hesitated. That was part of it, but there was more, something obviously Ryan and Kelly hadn’t even considered. “It’s not something I can very well do unless I’m back on my feet.”
“But you will be,” Kelly said fiercely. “I believe that with all my heart.”
“I wish I were as confident.”
“Make me a deal, then. When you’re back on your feet, you’ll at least meet your brother’s friend.”
As reluctant as he was to do it, he nodded slowly. “Okay, that’s fair enough.”
“I’ll remind you, you know.”
He grinned. “I’m sure of it.”
She regarded him with a suddenly wistful expression. “Are you saying you can’t sleep with me until then, either?”
“I shouldn’t,” he said emphatically, fighting a whole slew of regrets as he said it. “And I won’t.”
Kelly tilted her head and gave him a considering look. “Then I hope you won’t mind if I bring you a few books on changing careers next time I come by, just in case the charter boat thing doesn’t work out.”
For the first time in days, Michael laughed. “In other words, you intend to do your best to speed up the process?”
“Yes.” She locked gazes with him and ran her thumb across his lower lip. “And be warned, in the meantime, I also intend to make it all but impossible for you to resist me.”
Michael’s pulse scrambled at the challenge. “Kelly,” he protested.
“Save your breath,” she said. “That’s just the way it’s going to be. Until tonight I wasn’t absolutely certain you wanted me this way, but now I am.”
“And what about all the professional considerations you’ve mentioned?”
“Easy,” she said with a shrug. Her gaze locked with his. “As of tonight, I quit.”
He pulled away, shocked by the feeling of desperation that cut through him at her words. “Hey, you can’t do that,” he protested.
“Sure I can.”
“But I need you,” he said.
A faint spark of something that might have been satisfaction lit her eyes at his words. “You need a good therapist. It doesn’t have to be me. But actually, I have no intention of letting you find one. I’ll go on helping you. I just won’t let you pay me for it.”
“And that makes it okay for you and me to…?” He hesitated over the precise description.
“Have sex,” she supplied bluntly, her eyes twinkling at his discomfort.
“Yes, that,” he agreed.
She grinned. “It can’t hurt. Besides, who’s going to turn me in?”
Michael could think of one possibility in particular. Her brother might at least threaten to turn her in to save her from making a huge mistake that would cost her everything. “Bryan,” he suggested.
“I’ll deal with my brother, not that he’s likely to know if you and I are sleeping together.”
“Trust me, he’ll know,” Michael said dryly.
“How?”
“Men always know when their friends are getting lucky.”
“Because you all like to brag?”
“No, because we’re a whole lot less cranky.”
Kelly laughed. “I don’t think we need to worry about that in your case. You have lots of excuses to be cranky that have nothing to do with sex. I doubt that will change.”
“Thanks,” he said, unable to keep a hint of irritation out of his voice.
“Just calling it like I see it.”
“I think it’s time for you to go,” Michael said stiffly.
“It’s not that late,” she argued.
“Oh, yes, it is.”
She regarded him curiously. “Are you afraid you’re going to grab me and haul me off to bed right now?”
Michael groaned.
Kelly’s expression turned gloating. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
“A smart woman would stop tempting fate and get out of here before we both regret it.”
For what seemed like an eternity, Michael was terrified she was going to refuse. He wasn’t sure his willpower was strong enough to withstand even five more minutes of her deliberate teasing.
Finally, her expression thoughtful, she nodded. “You win. For now.”
She grabbed her coat and purse, started for the door, then came back and kissed him so thoroughly, he had to wonder if he’d lost his mind when he’d all but kicked her out.
“I’ll see you Tuesday bright and early,” she called out when she reached the door.
She sounded so blasted cheerful, Michael was tempted to pick up the nearest heavy object and hurl it