N. Walters - MacNamaras Lady

He was so close. She could smell his aftershave, something woodsy and earthy. She wanted to bury her nose against his neck and simply inhale him. His lips were inches from hers. His breathing was getting deeper and more ragged.

Usually men were shorter than her when she wore high heels. She did it on purpose, a defensive mechanism. She didn’t want a man in her life right now. It wasn’t part of the plan. She was the one to pick and choose if she wanted to date a man.

But T.S. overwhelmed her.

His breath was warm and moist against the curve of her neck, his lips soft as they grazed the skin beneath her ear. Her fingers tightened reflexively around his. He nuzzled her hair and whispered in her ear, “Let’s get out of here. Go somewhere quiet.”

His words were as effective as a bucket of cold water in the face. She snapped back to her senses, which wasn’t easy considering her wayward hormones desperately wanted to take him up on his offer. Oh yeah, her body was on board with the plan. But her brain was screaming for her to proceed with caution.

“I don’t think so.” She took a step back and was slightly disappointed when he immediately released her.

It wasn’t fair the way this man could overwhelm her senses without even trying. She was no easy one-night stand. She dated men first. They went to dinner. They went to the theatre and popular clubs. If a man lasted three months, she’d consider taking the relationship into the bedroom.

That attitude had given her a reputation. She knew some thought she was cold. She preferred to think of it as smart. Because she dated so much, many of her colleagues at work assumed she was very sexually active. Heck, even Candy thought so. But Missy had always been reserved when it came to her sexuality. Oh, she put up a very believable front. She could talk the talk, but she walked slowly and carefully.

“Thanks for the dance.” She turned away from him and made her way to Candy’s side. Once she’d said her goodbyes to the bride and groom, she’d gather her belongings and leave. It was time to go home.

Well, that had gone well. Not.

T.S. tried his best to ignore his raging hard-on as he watched Missy walk away from him. No, not walk. Saunter. The woman could move like water, flowing around a room, her hips working from side to side as she went. He swore under his breath as she leaned down to talk to Candy.

He hadn’t misread her signals. He knew he hadn’t.

She was as attracted to him as he was to her. Her nipples were poking out from the silky fabric of her dress like soldiers at attention. He’d felt her sway toward him, heard the catch in her breath when her stomach had brushed against his erection.

She hadn’t pulled away then. No, she’d only done that when he’d suggested they leave. He should have kept his mouth shut. If he’d played his cards right they might have left together a little later. But like a callow youth, he’d rushed things.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath as he stalked to the buffet table and grabbed a soda from the ice chest. He’d already had one beer. That was his limit when he was going to be driving.

He stood in a shadowy corner of the room and did his best to ignore the heavy throbbing of his cock, willing it back into submission. He took a long pull of the fizzy soft drink, wishing like hell it was a double scotch. All the more reason not to drink, he decided. He didn’t like to be out of control. Ever. He’d allowed hormones to control him once in his life and that had led to disaster.

The situation was laughable. He, who did his best to avoid women when he was forced to attend a wedding, wanted to go home with one. But not just any one would do. It had to be Missy.

T.S. raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. Damn, he was acting pathetic. So a woman didn’t want him. No, that wasn’t quite true. She sure as hell wanted him. She just wasn’t willing to act on it. That was okay. He was a big boy and could handle a no. Wasn’t the first time he’d gotten one and probably wouldn’t be the last.

Tomorrow, he’d probably laugh his ass off at his predicament. Tonight, however, he was finding little humor in his hard-on that just wouldn’t go away.

Missy and Candy were still talking. Whatever they were discussing, Candy was becoming more animated by the second, waving her hand in the air. She grabbed Missy’s hand and dragged her toward the master bedroom. Probably some secret wedding stuff that was so important to women.

He watched until Missy disappeared from sight. Then he took a deep breath. Immediately, he felt more in control of his body. The muscles in his arms and legs relaxed and his erection slowly dissipated.

Back in control, he worked his way around the room, chatting and laughing with the other guests. T.S. hated crowds, but no one in the room would ever know that. They’d see a man who was comfortable in his own skin, someone with an easy smile and a ready laugh. He’d worked hard to cultivate that image. He’d learned early on that such a persona made life easier and kept folks from asking too many questions.

Very few people knew the real him.

And he liked it that way.

He glanced at his watch. It was just after ten. By his estimation, he’d put in enough time so as not to be considered rude if he split. He found Lucas chatting to Justin. T.S. nodded at Justin and spoke to Lucas. “I’m heading out now.”

“I’m surprised you lasted this long.” Lucas didn’t sound the least bit offended by the fact he was leaving.

“Me too.” He grinned and slapped his buddy on the back before turning to Justin. “Day after tomorrow we start work on your place.”

“I’ll be there,” Justin promised.

T.S. made his way to the front door with Lucas by his side. “I’ll catch you then, too.”

Lucas just smiled. “Maybe.”

“Be happy, my friend.” Things would be different now. T.S. wasn’t stupid enough to think otherwise. Their nights of drinking together when the memories got too bad were over. Football Sundays were probably a thing of the past. Lucas was a married man now. Candy’s presence changed their friendship. But he was glad for Lucas even as he mourned the passing of an era.

“You too.”

T.S.’ smile faded as he walked down the stairs. Alone. He felt more alone now than he had that first night in prison when the large metal doors had clanged shut for the first time.

“Stop being an idiot.” He wished Missy had agreed to go home with him. She certainly would have taken his mind off other matters. Thoughts of her filled his head, driving out all other thoughts. That was good. That was exactly what he needed.

* * *

“What do you think?” Candy held up the slinky white nightgown she’d purchased for tonight.

They were in the master bedroom, which had been transformed for the occasion. Silver candlesticks sat atop the nightstands with thick white pillar candles waiting to be lit. A crystal vase, filled with the pink roses from her bouquet perfumed the air. The linens on the bed were new. Missy knew that for sure because she’d helped Candy pick them out. A bucket of champagne and two glasses rested on top of a trunk beneath the window. All was ready for the happy couple.

Missy studied the frothy lingerie Candy held in her hands. “Girl, I don’t think you’re going to be wearing it very long. Your new husband is going to have that off you before you can blink.”

Candy laughed. “You think so?”

“I know so.” Missy touched the silky fabric, letting it slide through her fingers. It was soft and sexy. “I’ve seen how he looks at you.” It wouldn’t matter to Lucas what Candy was wearing as long as he could get it off her, and fast.

“It’s different now, though.” Candy sat on the end of the bed, her eyes soft and dreamy.

Missy sat beside her friend. “How so?”

“I know we’ve been living together for a few months now, but being married makes a difference.” She shrugged. “I’m not quite sure how to explain it. We’ve made a formal commitment in front of friends. It just feels different. More solid. Real.”

Missy put her arms around Candy and hugged her. “You did good.”

A slow smile split Candy’s face. “I did, didn’t I?” She returned the hug. “I was so afraid I’d mess this up and so glad I didn’t. Thanks for everything.”

“I didn’t do much.” She hadn’t minded helping with the preparations, had been honored to be asked.

Candy shook her head, making the curls in her upswept style bounce wildly. “You encouraged me to go out with Lucas.”

“I told you to get laid, not to get married,” she said wryly. “You didn’t pay attention.”

They looked at one another and burst out laughing. They laughed so hard tears filled their eyes. Candy dabbed at her face, trying not to smudge her makeup. Missy leaned over and plucked a tissue from the box on the nightstand. “Let me.” She wiped away all the mess and blended the remaining makeup until it was flawless. “There. Good as new.”

Candy grabbed her hand and held it. “Seriously, though, thank you for everything. You’ve been a huge help these past few months helping me get everything ready for today.”

“It was my pleasure.” And it was. Candy was the best friend she’d ever had. Planning the wedding together had been fun even though Missy knew it signaled a change in their relationship. Candy had Lucas to spend her nights with now. Sure they’d still spend time together. After all, they were best girlfriends. But all-night sessions of movie watching and drinking wine while they gossiped about anything and everything were behind them.

But that was how it should be and Missy didn’t begrudge her friend her newfound happiness. They still worked together, had lunch and went shopping together. They were still close. Nothing could change that.

“I wanted to give you something.” Candy got up from the bed and walked to the dresser. She lifted a small package from the top. It was wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with red ribbon. “Something to say thank you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know. I wanted to.” Candy held out the package, forcing her to take it.

Missy was touched by the gesture and took her time peeling back the wrapping.

“Hurry up, will you.”

Missy refused to be rushed. Presents were far and few in her world and she wanted to enjoy this one. A white box revealed itself. She pried the cover off and found a slender bracelet made of delicate gold links nestled onto the thick cotton padding. There was a single charm on it. “Friends Forever,” it read. Missy blinked hard to keep back the tears. “It’s beautiful.”

“Here, let me help you put it on.” Candy plucked the bracelet from the box and waited expectantly. Missy stuck out her wrist and Candy fastened the bracelet around it. The gold gleamed against her dark skin, like a moon against the night sky.

“It’s beautiful, Candy.” Missy held up her arm, admiring her new jewelry.

“Don’t start crying,” Candy warned. “Or I’ll start again.”

“We can’t have that.” Love and happiness welled up inside Missy. She wasn’t losing her friend. Not really. They were just redefining their relationship.

“Now what’s going on with you and T.S.?”

Candy’s quick subject change caught Missy off guard. “What? There’s nothing going on with us.”

“Could have fooled me by the way you were dancing together.” Candy swayed back and forth. “So close. I saw the way he was looking at you. And I saw the way you were looking back at him.”

Missy sniffed and stood to her full height. “You’re mistaken. And why were you watching me? You’re supposed to be watching that man of yours.”

“I can multitask.” Candy had her arms crossed over her chest and was watching Missy intently. “And there was enough heat coming off the two of you to start a fire.”

Missy shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not dating right now. No time.”

“As a very wise woman once told me, girl, you need to get laid.”

Missy hated having her own words thrown back at her, especially when she thought Candy might be right. Maybe she did need to get laid. It had been months. Okay, it had been a year, since she’d last slept with a man. But that didn’t mean she had to run out and have sex with someone like T.S., who was obviously all wrong for her.

She ignored the way her body responded to the suggestion. Already her skin was heating, her breasts tingling at the idea. Traitors.

“If I decide to get laid it won’t be with him.”