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Authors: Donna McDonald

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BOOK: Dating A Saint
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How the hell was she going to stay out of this one when it was her own damn fault for encouraging Lauren to get to know Jim?

Regina squirmed in her chair, pizza forgotten. Finally, she learned across the table to speak quietly but firmly to Lauren. She was fervently hoping the other patrons at Lucinda’s weren’t listening.

“Jim put two hickies on you the first time he touched you. The man obviously wants you enough to brand you, Lauren. If he’s not pursuing it further, it might be because now he likes you and is feeling guilty about—his commitment status,” Regina declared. “Honey, if you want Jim, you’re going to have to retire your sexual halo. You won’t get that intense, complicated man into bed being as saintly as you usually are.”

Lauren smacked both hands hard on the table top, making dishes, glasses, and silverware jump, as well as Regina and Alexa. “
Stop calling me a saint! I hate that, Regina!
I-Am-Not-A Saint
.”

Regina bit her lip so she wouldn’t laugh and merely lifted her hand in surrender. “Never again,” she promised, crossing her heart with an X to emphasize.

Though Regina hadn’t cut loose, Alexa couldn’t help laughing. It was the most inappropriate thing she could do in the face of her friend’s obvious distress, but it was flat out amazing to see Lauren McCarthy win a verbal smack down with Regina Logan.

“All that emotion over the no-follow-through James Gallagher,” Alexa said, looking pointedly at Lauren. “I warned you it wasn’t going to be pretty or simple. I warned you he was going to leave more than a physical mark. Now you can’t even kiss another man.”

“And I bet you just love saying I told you so,” Lauren replied sarcastically. She was so freaking mad about Alexa being right, she lifted her middle finger and gave her smirking friend the bird. She winced at the snickering and giggles from the tables around them, which made it all even worse.

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Regina burst out laughing at Lauren’s aggressive actions and had to use her napkin to wipe away tears. It was just too funny to see the mostly quiet, usually reserved woman being so downright ugly in public. She had always known there was a passionate woman in Lauren, but she’d never seen public evidence before today.

“Do you two Amazons know how many patrons in here would love to see a good cat fight between two of the most beautiful women in the restaurant?” Regina asked, continuing to laugh and wipe her eyes.

Alexa studied Lauren’s embarrassed face with a kind of awe. It never ceased to amaze her how the right man could push every hot button all at once. God knew Casey made her livid about every fourth or fifth time he opened his mouth. She had learned to think of her anger as foreplay. Maybe the same might work for Lauren, she thought, amused at how her friend might react to that piece of advice.

When Alexa’s and Regina’s knowing, amused stares finally wore her bravado down, Lauren put her face in her hands and groaned.

“Oh,
hell
,” she said, drawing out the word. “No man is worth this emotional crap. I’ve managed to avoid it for almost seven years. Why now? Why him?”

Alexa and Regina both just shrugged.

“Gee, thanks for the support,” Lauren said, finally laughing herself. She pulled her hands from her face and put them on the table again. “I think I’m spending too much time with you two anyway. Kenneth asked me if I was a lesbian just because I wouldn’t kiss him goodnight.”

This sent Alexa and Regina into another round of laughter, which drew even more attention to the three of them.

Lauren leaned back in her chair and sighed. Her face could not get any redder, so there was little else to do. If she’d had a white flag, she would have waved it in surrender. If she had been in the dojo, she would have pounded the mat. Instead, she had no choice but to wait out their amusement.

Regina dabbed her eyes furiously with her dinner napkin, noting with dismay her mascara was starting to rub off on it, while of course Alexa and Lauren still looked as perfect as ever. She had accepted long ago that she would never have their perfect poise, but waterproof mascara ought to be really waterproof, damn it.

“I’m surprised you didn’t kiss Kenneth senseless just to prove him wrong,” Alexa said to Lauren, her laughter finally stopping.

“Well, I’m surprised you didn’t just give the ignorant ass Jim’s phone number for a reference. That might have fixed both your problems,” Regina declared firmly.

Lauren’s eyes grew wide at Regina’s suggestion. “Do you think it’s too late?”

Regina looked at Lauren and raised her chin. “It’s never too late, honey.”

Lauren sighed but dropped her gaze from Regina’s before the woman talked her into being brave enough to do it.

“Sorry to be such a bitch,” Lauren apologized softly. “There’s no reason to take my frustration out on you two. My mother made snide remarks about me chasing a married man today. It was like pouring gasoline on a raging fire. I don’t think it would have bothered me as much if I really thought I stood half a chance of catching Jim.”

Regina just laughed again. “I’ve heard you use more swear words tonight than in the entire time I’ve known you,” she declared. “And you didn’t even have to ask us what they meant. I’m so proud of you for dealing so positively with your less pleasant emotions. I may have to cry again.”

“If you call me a saint one more time, I will not be responsible for my actions,” Lauren threatened, practicing her venting on Regina with gleeful enjoyment. “I might even enjoy pounding on your ass for real and getting the upper hand with your Dr. Logan smart mouth for once.”


Pounding on her ass
? Where in the world did you pick that language up?” Alexa asked, backtracking when she saw the obstinate look on Lauren’s face. “Sorry if I sound like your mother, I’m not trying to make you mad again. I’m just very curious.”

“Kickboxing class,” Lauren admitted quietly.


Kickboxing
?” Regina and Alexa repeated together, looking at each other for validation, then back to Lauren in surprise.

Regina wanted to laugh again, but was half afraid to now. She wondered what else their quiet little friend had been hiding. Kickboxing classes at least partially explained the toned and athletic body Lauren so actively maintained.

Lauren nodded. “I’ve been taking all kinds of martial arts for years. I needed something very physical to offset being—”

“—constantly horny?” Regina supplied, laughing at the steel in Lauren’s gaze.

Lauren narrowed her eyes. “I was going to say sexually frustrated, but okay, let’s use the sex therapist’s quaint term for it,” she replied sarcastically.

It was so good, Regina thought, to see Lauren actually worked up, even if it was just over a guy. With joyful laughter rumbling through her, Regina jumped up and ran to Lauren, hugging and kissing her cheeks until Lauren pushed her away squealing, ordering her very loudly to stop.

“I couldn’t be more proud of you if I were your mother,” Regina told Lauren, calmly walking back to her chair. She lifted the single drink she now allowed herself, not able to resist toasting Lauren’s honesty. “Here’s to Jim. May he survive Lauren pounding on his fine ass when she catches him.”

Alexa laughed. “Wait—I’ve got another one,” Alexa said, shaking her luminous hair back behind her shoulders as she lifted her glass of mineral water. “Here’s to Amazon Lauren McCarthy, kick-ass wolf tamer.”

Lauren reluctantly lifted her glass of Chardonnay and stared both of them down.

“You two drive me crazy with your teasing, but I know you care about me, so you get to live today. Here’s to the true love you two have found. May it one day find me as well. But in the meantime, here’s to at least having sex with someone.” She drained her wine glass and all but slammed it down on the table. “I’m tired of you two getting all the action in our group.”

Every eye in the restaurant turned toward the table where three grown women laughed uncontrollably.

Chapter 2

Jim walked into the storage room now housing a custom built security control panel. He was pleased with the progress and with the work.

“Mr. Carter—looks like I’m going to have to pay you soon. I heard you were almost finished,” Jim said, admiring Casey’s intense concentration as he typed codes into the computer and ran simulated tests.

“Just about,” Casey replied. “We had a little issue with the lobby, but it got fixed this morning.”

When he was satisfied, Casey unhooked the USB cable from the junction box of the security system.

“We’ll run live tests on Sunday when you’re closed, and then we’ll call this one done. Alexa is threatening to skin me if I even so much as mention the second job until we get back from our honeymoon. She said she liked me better when I was a poor retired Marine.”

Jim laughed. “Even I know Marines never retire. Sorry about her luck. I have a lot more for you to do.”

Casey grinned. “She got too used to me dropping by the office all the time. I think she misses the attention.”

“Alexa? Missing your undivided attention? You think?” Jim asked in a disbelieving tone that made Casey laugh.

Casey continued to smile at Jim even as the laughter faded. Alexa’s need for attention wasn’t any larger than his need to give her all she needed, and he figured Gallagher was well aware of the fact. Jim was a good employer, but he was also a great guy.

“Why haven’t you RSVP’d for the wedding?” Casey demanded. “You are coming, aren’t you? You won’t want to miss Sydney being Alexa’s
Man of Honor
. He’s designing their outfits. I’m sure the wedding will be the fashion talk of the town for at least a week afterwards.”

“You wearing one of Sydney’s suits?” Jim asked conversationally.

“Nope,” Casey said flatly. “I’m wearing my uniform. It’s not officially sanctioned at my rank, but I don’t give a damn. It’s between me and Alexa. Nothing against Sydney’s suits though—they’re awesome, and I own two of them. But I’m going to let Kaiser model the SydneyB line at the wedding.”

Jim nodded as he laughed, the grin never leaving his face. They both loved teasing Ben about his clothes. “I hate to miss what is sure to be the fashion show of the year, but I think I might have to decline for personal reasons—nothing to do with you or Alexa.”

Casey stopped packing his equipment for a moment to glance at Jim. “If you’re worried about Lauren McCarthy, don’t. I think her interest in you has been resolved. She has a date for the wedding. You should be safe from her attentions.”

“Lauren’s dating?” Jim repeated the words, not liking the way they vibrated off his tongue. “I hadn’t heard she was seeing anyone.”

“Don’t think there is just one. She’s been working her way through quite a few guys from what I hear,” Casey said, turning away so Jim wouldn’t see the look of mischief he was never good at hiding. “Seems our little, quiet Lauren had an emotional blowup during dinner last week. I’m not sure what prompted it, but she starting swearing at Regina and giving Alexa the bird in front of everyone at Lucinda’s. After that happened, Lauren changed—suddenly started dating two or three guys. I think Alexa and Regina are getting a little worried about what Lauren might be doing with all those men.”

Jim closed his eyes, took some deep breaths, and fisted his hands in his pockets to keep them constrained. His mood was moving toward violence, and he could feel the jealousy building. But this was what he had wanted Lauren to do, what he all but ordered her to do, wasn’t it? He’d told her to find someone else to date, and it looked like she was doing it at last.

Damn it all to hell anyway.

“Jim?” Casey asked, struggling not to smile at the murderous look on Jim’s face. “You okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Just—just tired,” Jim said. “It’s been a hard couple of weeks. Kaiser’s wedding seems like an eternity ago, doesn’t it.”

Casey snorted. “Tell that to Kaiser. He’s still all mushy over it. I can barely get him to stop talking about Regina. Well, listen—get some rest and think about coming to the wedding. Alexa and I both would really like you to be there,” Casey said sincerely.

“Sure,” Jim said. “I’ll think about it.”

But he probably wouldn’t. It was going to be hard to think about anything else except the fact Lauren was dating other men.

*** *** ***

The next day, Jim headed to the country club just to have a drink and relax. Or at least that was the story he told himself. When he asked and was told Lauren hadn’t been by in several days, Jim refused to panic.

Not sick, he was told. She was just busy. Lauren was busy.

Fine, Jim thought. That was fine. He was busy too.

Besides, it was none of his business—absolutely not his concern if she was too busy dating to come by the club. What was it to him if Lauren was planning to let some other guy enjoy the sexual fire Jim had started burning in her and refused to put out? He’d passed up his chance with her, willingly and knowingly.

“This is bullshit, Gallagher,” he said aloud, chastising himself as he headed back to his office.

And it was just that, plain and simple. Jim admitted to himself that he had absolutely no right to feel possessive of Lauren McCarthy, but he still did. Was he supposed to stand by and let her keep looking for a guy to give her what she wanted from him? Eventually, Lauren was going to find someone she liked and have sex with the guy, and then Jim would want to kill both of them. Or he’d want to die himself.

Worse—when she did take that step, it would feel like Lauren was cheating on him, and
that
—Jim concluded—was just proof positive of what a sick bastard he was about her.

He was still legally married, and had good reasons to stay that way, even if it was to a wife who hadn’t shared his bed in over five years. How could he bring that kind of baggage into a new relationship, much less to one with Lauren?

He was trying like hell to do the right thing, and trying not to forget the hard lesson he’d learned years ago. It had been one damn time, Jim thought bitterly—one damn time in all the long and lonely years without Cassandra, he managed to take another woman to bed. But he had still been mourning the loss of his wife, and being with the woman had brought only guilt. The experience had been empty, barely physically satisfying, certainly not emotional.

BOOK: Dating A Saint
13.47Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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