Night Maneuvers - By Jillian Burns Page 0,23

a word to him, she made a beeline for the garden hose, hooked it up to a power washer and pulled the washer nozzle down the steps with her into the empty pool.

She was giving him the silent treatment? Just like a woman. She wouldn’t tell him to get the hell out, but she wouldn’t get over their stupid spat either. He stopped chewing. He sounded like a married man talking about his wife!

No. That was ridiculous.

He slammed up from the table and stalked over to the pool’s edge. He had to yell above the motor of the power washer. “Just what is your problem anyway?”

She eyed him, shut off the washer, slopped some cleaner against the side of the pool and started scrubbing with a brush. “I don’t have a problem. Did you already finish the bedroom?”

He stuck his hands on his hips. “Yeah.”

“Well, thank you for helping out. Don’t feel like you have to stay.”

Mitch hesitated. Did this mean they were good now? She wasn’t mad anymore? Just last week he would’ve known exactly what that meant.

Screw it. He kicked off his shoes, stripped off his expensive watch and joined her.

She stared at him a moment, then gave him a halfhearted smile. “What about your best Hawaiian shirt?”

He shrugged and grinned. “It’s my second best.”

She gave him that look she’d been giving him a lot lately. The one that said, “You’re hopeless, McCabe.” Then she tossed the brush at him.

He caught it with a grunt. While he scrubbed, she rinsed with the power washer. After making his way around one side of the pool and achieving a hefty sweat, he straightened, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

Cold water sprayed his shoulder and he spun around.

Hughes’s mouth gaped open. “I’m sorry. It was an accident.” She tried and failed to suppress a snicker. “You should see your face.” She burst out laughing.

He charged at her.

“No,” she called to him as he advanced. “The nozzle just got away from me, I swear.” Grinning widely, she dodged his grasp and turned the sprayer on him full force, soaking his shirt. She screeched as he made another grab for it and fought him for possession.

She was laughing wildly as she struggled in his arms, no match for his strength. But he was no match for her soft curves and tiny waist as his hands slid over her body. One minute they were fighting for control of the nozzle, the next he yanked her against him and covered her mouth with his.

Like the last time they kissed, his world clicked into place. Everything felt right. Her lips moved with his in perfect rhythm, her tongue teased his. Her body fit into his, soft and round where he was firm and flat. His cock pressed against her stomach and he cupped her bottom to hold her even tighter against him.

Then her mouth was gone. He continued pressing soft kisses down her jaw and neck and back up behind her delicate ear, until he realized she was trying to pull away.

Breathing heavily, he let his hands drop from around her hot, lithe body and stepped back.

Her lashes were spiky wet, and she was biting her lower lip. She held her hands in front of her, palms out, as if she couldn’t bear to touch him. Her golden-brown eyes gazed up at him with, what? She looked scared. Vulnerable. He’d never seen Hughes look like that.

“What’s happening to us, Hughes?” His voice shook, for the first time he could remember.

“I—I don’t know.” She dropped her gaze and folded her arms around herself. “Maybe we can’t be friends anymore.”

No. He couldn’t lose Hughes. She was his best friend. If she didn’t want him kissing her, he’d stay away. He’d get over this…infatuation, or obsession or curiosity. Whatever it was, he could lose it. But he couldn’t lose Hughes.

With a gut-wrenching noise he turned away and heaved himself out of the pool. He scooped up his shoes, grabbed his watch and stalked out to his Jeep, screeching his tires as he pulled away.

8

EXACTLY ONE WEEK later, Alex brought the last, lone steak inside and set it on the kitchen counter.

Mitch’s steak.

He hadn’t shown up. Hadn’t called or texted. He’d just blown her pool party off.

Lily came up beside her carrying a tray of empty glasses. “I know you don’t believe in my premonitions, but I have a feeling something good will come from all this.”

Alex peered behind Grady’s wife to make sure all the other