Some Like It Charming - By Megan Bryce Page 0,38
not a stash make, and if the tabloids were going to keep ganging up on Ethan he was going to need the distraction.
Six
Ethan passed three convenience stores before he decided he should go in to get a Snickers. Chocolate was not exactly what he wanted right then, but it looked like it was as close as he was going to get.
When this thing with Mackenzie had first started, he hadn’t really planned on sleeping with her. She was going to be his buffer from other women, give him a break. But sometime after signing the pre-nup, it had become all he thought about. Since that kiss in the limo, hell, since the softball game, chasing Mackenzie Wyatt had become the only game he was interested in.
Her objections were getting weaker, her pauses were getting longer. Instead of tightening up when he got near, she got looser. Instead of cutting him down when he crossed the line, she was getting flustered. Flustered, but still fighting.
The thought of Mackenzie flustered and fighting, naked beneath him, was driving him crazy.
He grabbed the first candy bar, ripped open the wrapper, and took a big bite. The woman behind the counter watched him and fanned her shirt.
He smiled at her. “I’ll pay for it. I’m just not sure how many I’m going to need.”
She nodded slowly, and when he licked caramel off his lips, her eyes widened and her mouth opened.
Ethan took another bite and remembered Mackenzie’s pulse pounding against his lips.
Bad idea?
He didn’t think so. He was pretty sure she didn’t really think so either. But not entirely.
He was going to have fun getting her to yes. If it didn’t kill him first.
He grabbed a second bar, decided he didn’t need to give the shop girl any more of a show, and paid.
He walked back outside and couldn’t think of anywhere he wanted to be except back home with Mackenzie. Or out with Mackenzie, if they weren’t going to get naked.
But he couldn’t go back home yet, if they weren’t going to get naked. A man had limits.
He needed to burn some energy, get rid of some of this sexual frustration, because chocolate just wasn’t working.
He thought about heading to the gym, wondering if Mackenzie would go with him. Then he grinned.
He’d take Mackenzie to the batting cages. Get rid of his frustration, and maybe talk her into wearing some short shorts while they knocked some balls around.
He couldn’t think of any better of a day.
If they weren’t going to get naked.
A few days later, Mackenzie handed him a typed piece of paper when he came home at lunch.
“What’s this?”
“A bill for all the balls jokes. You reminded me.”
He glanced at it, then looked up at her. “You’re kidding.”
“I don’t think I am.”
“I just paid you a million dollars!”
“And a half.”
“We’re quibbling over half a million dollars and you give me a bill for $57,000?”
“You’re the one who keeps opening your mouth without thinking it through. Just because it’s costing more each time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have to pay for the earlier blunders.”
He snapped his mouth shut. “I’m not paying this.”
“Why not? You agreed to it.”
“Circumstances have changed.”
“You mean instead of making embarrassing sexual comments in front of my co-workers, you are now making sure the world believes that I am sleeping with you. Somehow I don’t think the circumstances have changed in my favor.”
He muttered, “You are really hung up on that.”
He looked down at the paper again and she said, “It’s itemized.”
He read through it slowly. “So it is. Good thing we didn’t have to go through all the balls every time we walked you. Cheaper to just send you to your base.”
She showed him her teeth and he grinned. “Fine. I guess the memory is worth $57,000.”
She waited.
He said, “Do you want me to whip out my checkbook right this minute?”
“Maybe we should wait. You’ll probably do something else soon.” She tapped her chin. “I wonder if I can get that half mil out of you next time.”
He shook his head. “I usually just buy jewelry. I’ve never actually had to write a check before.” He glanced down at her empty hand. “Where is your ring? Don’t tell me you’ve lost it.”
“I haven’t lost it. I just don’t like wearing it.”
He narrowed his eyes, unreasonably unhappy she didn’t like wearing it. “Go get it.”
She stared at his expression. “I didn’t lose it.”
“Go get it.”
She sighed, then grabbed a stool from the kitchen and headed for her bedroom.
He followed and said,