Beauty and the Beach (21 page)

Jealousy punched him right in the gut. Since when did girls dress up like that for each other? He frowned. Maybe they actually did, for all he knew. He opened the passenger door for her.

She hesitated, then walked over, her hand going to his pendant at her throat. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

“I was out this way, and I remembered your lunch appointment. I thought I’d drive you over and save you the hassle of taking the bus.”

Her gaze darted away. “That’s awfully nice of you, but you didn’t need to do that.”

He shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”

Izzy, still frowning, her big eyes doubtful, slid onto the leather seat.

Satisfaction swelled his chest as he shut the door and rounded the car. A minute later, he pulled out of the hospital parking lot. “So, what’s your friend’s name again?”

Isabelle crossed her arms. “Becky.”

At least she was consistent. “How do you know each other?”

“We were roommates in college.”

“What does she do for a living?”

Izzy hunched her shoulders. “She’s unemployed at the moment. How was your day today?”

She’d changed the subject awfully fast, and was she blushing? Again Adam’s chest burned. He had no problem identifying the dark sensation as jealousy. “Fine. Just fine. Yours?”

“Oh, you know, the usual.” They drove down the Pacific Coast Highway and Izzy talked about the mundane details of her day. Did he detect a hint of nervousness in her tone? As they approached the restaurant, Izzy turned to him. “Do you think you could just drop me off at the bottom of the hill? I’ll just walk up the driveway.”

What Adam thought, was that Izzy didn’t want him to meet her friend. His jaw tightened. “I’ll be glad to drive you up. It’s no problem at all.”

She placed a hand on his arm. “No. It’s okay. I want to walk,” she said firmly.

Taking a breath, he pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped. When she reached for the door handle, jealousy flared and his hand shot out and latched onto her wrist.

She looked at him in surprise. “Adam?”

He took a breath, deciding he had to talk to her about this or he’d explode. Or maybe he’d just stomp on the accelerator and drive until she missed her lunch date. “Izzy. Don’t go. I’m dying here. I’m afraid your friend Becky is actually going to turn out to be your friend Brian or Blake or Boris.”

Her brows furrowed and she sank back into her seat and studied his expression. “I don’t have any friends named Brian, Blake, or Boris.”

He reluctantly let go of her wrist. “Izzy. You’re missing the point. Are you meeting another guy for lunch? Because if you are, you need to just say so. I might be burning up with jealousy, and I might try to talk you out of lunch, but I’m a big boy and I can take it.” Maybe.

Her lips parted. “You’re jealous?”

He gave a short nod.

“But why? I’m meeting Becky.”

He studied her face, looking for any signs of deception, but her eyes were guileless and she seemed confused. “If it’s just a girlfriend, then why don’t you want me to meet her? My face?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m…” She looked down. “I’m just feeling a little bit jealous myself, I guess.”

He was lost. “What do you mean? I’m not interested in anyone but you.”

She looked up, then down again. Her shoulder moved. “Becky is really pretty. Beautiful, actually. I’m afraid you’ll take one look at her and will like her better than me. And since we aren’t actually dating until…well, until things get settled, you might decide to ask her out, instead.” She peeked up at him, looked down again. “And I’m sure she’d like the way you look because, well, I like the way you look.”

Adam realized his mouth was hanging open. As his muscles unclenched and he relaxed back into his seat, he couldn’t help it, he laughed. “Now who’s being ridiculous? There isn’t a woman on the planet who can hold my attention the way you do.”

She finally looked up at him and smiled. “You’re still not meeting Becky. Just in case. I’m not used to feeling like this so you’ll just have to bear with me.”

“This?”

She ducked her head again. “Feeling this…,” she shrugged, “possessive.”

He smiled. “So there’s not another guy?”

She shook her head. “There is no other guy.”

“And you got all made up…” he circled his hand indicating her face, dress, and high heels, “for Becky?”

“I told you. She’s really pretty. I don’t want to look like the dowd in the room when I’m standing next to her.”

He looked into her incredibly beautiful face and couldn’t help laughing again, partly in relief, and partly because the idea that she’d worry he could be lured from her side was so ridiculous.

Izzy’s brows drew together. “What?”

He leaned toward her. “Come here.”

She looked startled. “What? Where?”

“I know we’re not dating yet. That we’re still waiting. But if you could just give me one small kiss, just one, then it would go a long way toward making up for the horrible night and morning I had thinking you were meeting up with another guy.”

Isabelle looked indecisive, and Adam tried to stay as nonthreatening as possible. He didn’t move as Isabelle’s gaze dipped to his mouth. She put her fingers to his lips, then slowly moved toward him and placed her lips against his.

At the touch of her soft mouth, sensation flooded Adam as he kissed her gently.

She pulled away and studied his face and her hand lifted to cup his cheek. “Adam,” she breathed his name. “Maybe just one more?”

He immediately leaned closer and captured her mouth with his. This time the kiss was longer, firmer, and he raised his hand and slid it up her bare arm and cupped her shoulder.

She pulled back and sucked in a deep breath, her lashes fluttering. “We should stop now.”

He nodded, leaned back, and tried to look unaffected by her kisses. If she knew how badly he wanted to drag her into his arms and keep her there forever she might run screaming from the car.

Izzy dug in her purse. “I need to fix my lipstick.”

Adam flipped down the visor in front of her.

With shaking fingers, she reapplied her lipstick then rubbed her lips together before turning toward him. “Okay, how do I look?”

“Ravishing,” his voice came out low and husky.

Her chest rose and fell, and when her hand lifted to clutch the necklace he’d made, he drew in a deep breath.

She studied his face and smiled. “Okay. Good. I’m going to walk up to meet Becky.”

“I could still drive you up the hill.”

Her brows drew together. “You really want to meet her, don’t you?”

“What I really want to do is kiss you again.” His lips curved. “Do you need me to pick you up later?”

“I’ll get Becky to drive me home. But I’ll expect you to stay inside. If you’re outside watering the grass or something, you’re a dead man.”

He chuckled, feeling deeply satisfied that she’d called his place home. That she felt possessive enough of him to keep him from her friend. “Okay. I have work to do, anyway. Now that I’m not gripped by irrational jealousy, I’d better get home and do it.”

She smiled and slid out of the car. “See you later.”

He watched her walk up the hill and when he couldn’t see her anymore, he finally started the car and drove away.

Chapter Eleven

WHEN ISABELLE REACHED THE TOP of the drive, Becky, gorgeous as always, with her long dark hair, light skin, and perfectly applied makeup leaned against a limousine. Arms crossed, she looked out at the ocean, the sharp lines of her navy business suit making her look sleek and high class. When she noticed Isabelle, she straightened and hurried forward. “Izzy! Where did you come from? Oh my gosh, you look fantastic!”

“I bummed a ride, and then walked up the hill. Speaking of which, nice ride. I’m hoping you can take me home after?”

Becky giggled. “You bet. The Apple Heiress insisted I arrive at my appointment in style. She really is a sweetie, even if she’s a bit of a snob. But she’s gone around the bend with all this Miss America stuff. Apparently we all have to act high class now. Whatever that means. Thus the limo.”

“Are you having any fun with it?”

Becky smiled. “I won’t lie. It’s not all bad. I’m learning some cool stuff along the way. Come on. I asked the front desk if we could have an ocean view, so it’s all arranged.”

After they were seated and had ordered, Izzy smiled. “Okay, so you were saying it’s not all bad?”

Becky sighed. “Some of it’s fun, but it is insane. You were totally robbed of the title, of course, but still, you’re lucky to have lost your bid for Miss California. It freed you from the insanity. But enough about me, what’s going on? And for real this time. I want to know all the details, so spill.”

Isabelle looked across the table at her friend’s determined expression. “Nothing much has changed with my dad. We’re still in waiting mode.”

“That’s good. But first things first. What I really want to know is who that guy was you were talking to at nine o’clock last night.”

Isabelle thought about evading the question, but knew from long experience Becky would see right through her and harp about it until she told all. She thought about Adam, about the way he’d been worried Becky was a guy, and tried to hide an unexpected smile.

Becky pounced. “What? What’s the smile for? What’s going on?”

Isabelle finally allowed herself to really smile. She shrugged. “There’s a lot going on in my life right now. There is no change with my father’s situation at the moment. But we’re hopeful. I’m still working at the hospital part time. I’ve been spending a lot more time on the beach than usual. Oh,” she tapped a finger on her lips. “Oh yes, and I’ve moved in with a really cute guy.”

Becky screeched.

Isabelle laughed, and looked around to see that several people had turned to stare. She flopped a hand at Becky. “Shh. You’re going to get us thrown out of here.”

Becky put her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “So, spill. Who is this guy? What is his name? What does he look like?”

Isabelle grinned again. “His name is Adam and he’s gorgeous.”

Becky grinned and stamped her feet under the table and let out a softer squealing noise. “I can’t believe you finally fell for someone. Tall, dark, and handsome?”

“Yes. That describes him exactly. But you left out the dangerous-looking scar on his face.”

Becky sank back against her chair and, smiling, let out a sigh as she placed her hand to her heart. “Does he have a brother?”

“I believe he does, but it sounds like he’s taken.”

Her lips twisted. “Just my luck.”

“But he has some good friends he gambles with. Marines, like him. I’ll look into that if you want.”

“Marines? You know I can’t resist a guy in uniform. I definitely want.” She sighed. “No, you know what I really want? I want a guy who doesn’t know who I am. Who isn’t intimidated by my beauty pageant crowns or by my rich and crazy stepmother. Just an ordinary guy, you know? I wasn’t kidding about being dateless at the moment. I really can’t wait until the pageant is completely over so I can get off the wheel. But tell me more about Adam.”

“Okay, but just so you know, it’s not what it seems. So don’t get too excited.”

The waitress delivered their food, and they both remained silent until she was gone.

“Not what it seems? What does that even mean?” Rebecca said in an aggrieved tone. “Don’t you dare ruin this for me.”

Isabelle took a breath. Then told Rebecca everything. The prom, the lost necklace, the search. Then she told her about meeting Adam at the hospital, finding out he was Dad’s boss, her offer to move in and pretend to be his girlfriend, the way their relationship had changed and progressed.

When Isabelle stopped speaking Rebecca didn’t say a word for a moment. Finally she whistled. “A $100,000 necklace? Oh. My. Gosh.”

“I know, right?” She couldn’t believe how good it felt to tell someone everything.

“And your boyfriend is acting all calm now? He isn’t freaking?”

“Adam isn’t exactly my boyfriend.”

“Right. He didn’t press charges. He has you living in his house and isn’t leching on you. Instead, he’s cooking with you, taking you for long walks on the beach, letting everyone believe you're his girlfriend, and he’s even watching romantic movies with you. Get real. Anyway, you light up when you’re talking about him, so you’re not fooling me.”

Isabelle sat back. After a long hesitation she said, “I light up?”

“Like the Fourth of July.”

Isabelle sighed. She thought about the kisses she’d just shared with him, and let out a short laugh. She wasn’t fooling herself very well, either. If she wasn’t already in love with him, she was getting close. “We were going to start dating at the end of the summer, you know? After Courtney left for school and I was in my own place. He’d asked me out and I put him off until then.” She shrugged. “And then this happened and it ruined everything. It makes me and my family look, I don’t know. Bad? Trashy? Or just stupid?”