He's the One (10 page)
Authors: Linda Lael Miller
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Anthologies (Multiple Authors)
“I think I had a coronary.”
“You didn’t.”
“Then I definitely got gray hair.”
Throat tight, she ruffled his jet black hair, completely free of gray, and burrowed
in closer.
in closer.
“You know I love you, right?” he demanded. “I need you, too. So much, Ella.”
And because she did know it now, she smiled through her tears. “Don’t let go, okay?”
His arms tightened. “I won’t.”
“No, I mean don’t ever let go.”
“Never.” He lifted his head and cupped her jaw. “Let’s go home, Ella.”
“Yeah, leave.” Tattoo Guy pulled himself to a sitting position, sweating and gritting
his teeth in pain, but lifted his hands in surrender when James pointed the gun his
way. “Look, I’m not stupid. I’m staying right here.”
his teeth in pain, but lifted his hands in surrender when James pointed the gun his
way. “Look, I’m not stupid. I’m staying right here.”
James looked at Ella again, and everything within her quivered with hope. She’d wanted
this, had ached for so long. “Really? You want to go home with me?”
this, had ached for so long. “Really? You want to go home with me?”
“Yes. I want both of our shoes in the closet and both cars in the garage.”
“Just one bed, right?”
“One bed, and you in it,” he murmured, dipping his head to rub her jaw with his. “Beneath
me. Wrapped around me.” He lifted his face again and held her gaze with his dark one.
“And I don’t mean just for tonight.”
me. Wrapped around me.” He lifted his face again and held her gaze with his dark one.
“And I don’t mean just for tonight.”
“Good, because I’m free tomorrow night, too,” she quipped, her stomach jangling with
hope and what she was deathly afraid was nerves. She’d faced three crazed drug runners
without blinking and now she was going to fall apart. It didn’t make sense, and yet
it did.
hope and what she was deathly afraid was nerves. She’d faced three crazed drug runners
without blinking and now she was going to fall apart. It didn’t make sense, and yet
it did.
Because this, with James, was the most important thing she had going on in her life.
She had to get it right.
They
had to get it right. “And the night after?” she whispered.
She had to get it right.
They
had to get it right. “And the night after?” she whispered.
“All of them,” he said gently, and kissed her. “It’s okay, El. We’re going to be okay.
We’re going to have the forever after we promised to give each other.”
We’re going to have the forever after we promised to give each other.”
She meant to laugh confidently but ended up letting out a gulping sob instead. “I
want that, too. I want that so much. In fact, maybe you could take me home right now
and we could get working on that forever part, with your pager in the freezer and
my cell phone turned off. And without any clothes on.”
want that, too. I want that so much. In fact, maybe you could take me home right now
and we could get working on that forever part, with your pager in the freezer and
my cell phone turned off. And without any clothes on.”
Tattoo Guy rolled his eyes. “Hey, felon in the room.”
James smiled and kissed her, and everything was in that kiss—his promise, his hope,
his love. All she ever needed.
his love. All she ever needed.
S
EDUCING
T
ABBY
EDUCING
T
ABBY
Lucy Monroe
Chapter One
“S
ecret Service? Really?”
ecret Service? Really?”
“Jane said her dad said he heard it from Tom Crane, the Realtor.”
“Well, Patty Lane said her mother heard from her hairdresser that he’s nobility, like
an earl or something.”
an earl or something.”
“Maybe he’s
both
.”
both
.”
Tabby’s friends spoke in low undertones laced with breathless curiosity. Wearing identical
expressions of titillated speculation, the only two women in Port Diamond shyer than
she was turned to face Tabby.
expressions of titillated speculation, the only two women in Port Diamond shyer than
she was turned to face Tabby.
“Do you know anything?” asked one.
“He’s got a boat docked here at the marina,” the other added. “A luxury cruiser.”
“My dad runs the marina, not me,” Tabby reminded them.
“But you’ve got to have heard
something
.”
something
.”
Tabby had spent most of her adult life being pumped for information about her gorgeous,
thin
sister, Helene. So, this was nothing new. She was adept at sidestepping answers she
did not want to give, but at least when it came to Helene, she
could
answer the inquiries when she wanted to.
thin
sister, Helene. So, this was nothing new. She was adept at sidestepping answers she
did not want to give, but at least when it came to Helene, she
could
answer the inquiries when she wanted to.
However, Tabby knew nothing more than the other women about the mysterious Englishman
who had so recently moved to Port Diamond.
who had so recently moved to Port Diamond.
Nothing except that, despite the fact she’d never said more than ten words to Calder
Maxwell, he sparked a desire in her that fried her nerve endings and froze her vocal
chords. She’d woken up pulsing from a dream-induced climax for the first time in her
life the night she’d met him.
Maxwell, he sparked a desire in her that fried her nerve endings and froze her vocal
chords. She’d woken up pulsing from a dream-induced climax for the first time in her
life the night she’d met him.
“I can tell you he’s not Secret Service. He’s from England, not Washington.”
“Well, you know what I mean. He looks like he could give James Bond a run for his
money.”
money.”
Tabby looked across the room at the gorgeous man standing with her dad and Helene,
and had to agree. A cross between Timothy Dalton and Cary Grant, he was every fantasy
she’d ever had rolled into one perfect package—the only flaw being his obvious interest
in Helene.
and had to agree. A cross between Timothy Dalton and Cary Grant, he was every fantasy
she’d ever had rolled into one perfect package—the only flaw being his obvious interest
in Helene.
Just like every other male who came into contact with the Payton sisters, he found
Helene’s sweet nature and gorgeous looks irresistible. Tabby had seen them talking
on the pier near his boathouse a couple of times, but hadn’t been able to nerve herself
up enough to join them. Helene wouldn’t have minded. She was always happy to see her
sister.
Helene’s sweet nature and gorgeous looks irresistible. Tabby had seen them talking
on the pier near his boathouse a couple of times, but hadn’t been able to nerve herself
up enough to join them. Helene wouldn’t have minded. She was always happy to see her
sister.
Tabby doubted Calder would have been as appreciative, which is why she’d stayed away—no
matter how much she’d longed to simply stand close enough to hear his voice.
matter how much she’d longed to simply stand close enough to hear his voice.
Noticing her gaze still fixed on Calder, Tabby’s friend gave a theatrical sigh. “He’s
yummy, isn’t he?”
yummy, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, the object of their speculation turned and caught the trio of women
gawking at him. One corner of his mouth tilted, but it couldn’t quite be called a
smile, and his dark gaze assessed them with cool regard.
gawking at him. One corner of his mouth tilted, but it couldn’t quite be called a
smile, and his dark gaze assessed them with cool regard.
“Oh, my gosh, he’s looking this way. Quick, turn around and pretend to be getting
food at the buffet.”
food at the buffet.”
Tabby rolled her eyes. “He’s already seen us. I don’t think he’ll be fooled.” And
she didn’t particularly want him thinking she was interested in the buffet.
she didn’t particularly want him thinking she was interested in the buffet.
A throwback to her paternal great-grandmother, she didn’t have the willowy figure
of her mom and sister, or anything approaching her dad’s athletic build. Nope, she
was a little too round, a lot too curved, and slightly too short for that.
of her mom and sister, or anything approaching her dad’s athletic build. Nope, she
was a little too round, a lot too curved, and slightly too short for that.
“He’s headed this way!”
And suddenly she was alone, deserted by her gossiping friends.
He stopped in front of her, his tall frame towering over her own five feet, five inches.
He would fit in with the rest of her family just fine.
In fact, he and Helene make a striking couple
, she thought with an inner twinge.
He would fit in with the rest of her family just fine.
In fact, he and Helene make a striking couple
, she thought with an inner twinge.
“Good evening, Miss Payton.”
Her heart fluttered at the smooth English accent and her lungs refused to issue forth
enough air to power words of greeting. It had felt like this the first time they met
in her bookstore, too. He’d come in looking for a book on home improvement, of all
things, and she’d barely said six words to him between recommending a title and ringing
up his purchase.
enough air to power words of greeting. It had felt like this the first time they met
in her bookstore, too. He’d come in looking for a book on home improvement, of all
things, and she’d barely said six words to him between recommending a title and ringing
up his purchase.
Feeling crowded by his proximity, although he wasn’t standing all that close, she
took an involuntary step backward and ran into one of the buffet tables. She grabbed
for the edge to steady herself and got a handful of crab salad instead.
took an involuntary step backward and ran into one of the buffet tables. She grabbed
for the edge to steady herself and got a handful of crab salad instead.
Turning to look, she stared in horrified stupefaction at the mess covering her hand.
Mom was going to have a hissy fit. The salad required a two-day prep and was her most
recent culinary pride and joy. Now an entire buffet-size bowl of it was good only
for the garbage disposal.
Mom was going to have a hissy fit. The salad required a two-day prep and was her most
recent culinary pride and joy. Now an entire buffet-size bowl of it was good only
for the garbage disposal.
“I can’t believe I just did that,” she muttered.
“Can I help you?”
She looked up at him then, too upset by her predicament to be her usual tongue-tied
self around him. “Do you have any suggestions for hiding the evidence?”
self around him. “Do you have any suggestions for hiding the evidence?”
“Perhaps we could take the bowl to the kitchen?”
“And leave a gap on the table?”
He took hold of her wrist and lifted her hand away from the bowl, careful not to let
the crab salad anywhere near his dinner suit or her dress. “Go clean up and I will
take care of our small disaster.”
the crab salad anywhere near his dinner suit or her dress. “Go clean up and I will
take care of our small disaster.”
In spite of her embarrassed chagrin, the feel of his fingers curled around her wrist
was surprisingly nice.
was surprisingly nice.
“It’s not your disaster.” She sighed in self-deprecation. “It’s mine and I can’t leave
it to you.” Even if she wished she could.
it to you.” Even if she wished she could.
“Of course, I’m at fault. I startled you.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he shook
his head. “Don’t let it concern you. I have some experience in this sort of thing.”
his head. “Don’t let it concern you. I have some experience in this sort of thing.”
“Rescuing women from the wrath of their temperamental chef mothers?”
He smiled, even white teeth flashing all too briefly. “Hiding the evidence.”
Her eyes widened in mock horror. “Oh, my gosh, you’re a member of the British mafia
and here everyone was thinking you were some sort of displaced nobleman or spy or
something.”
and here everyone was thinking you were some sort of displaced nobleman or spy or
something.”
That made him laugh, and she felt the sound all the way to her toes.
“You have a nice laugh.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. Trust her to go from
mute to uttering inanities. What an improvement.
mute to uttering inanities. What an improvement.
“And you have a charming sense of humor, but you also have a hand that is about to
drip crab salad on your lovely dress.”
drip crab salad on your lovely dress.”
She extended her arm farther from her body, having no desire to ruin the dress it
had taken four hours of shopping in San Diego to find. “I’ll just go wash this off.”
had taken four hours of shopping in San Diego to find. “I’ll just go wash this off.”
She took as long as she could in the ladies’ room, washing her hands, tidying her
appearance, and wishing she could fall through a hole in the floor rather than go
back out and face Calder Maxwell.
appearance, and wishing she could fall through a hole in the floor rather than go
back out and face Calder Maxwell.
She got a moment alone with the focus of her fantasies and what did she do?
Go diving in a buffet bowl.
She never had been all that handy in the kitchen.
When she came out of the softly lit alcove, Calder was waiting for her. He gave her
a look that made her go tight in some really interesting places. “Are you all right,
Miss Payton?”
a look that made her go tight in some really interesting places. “Are you all right,
Miss Payton?”
“Fine. Uh . . . call me Tabby. Everyone else does.”
“Tabby, then.” He drew her name out as if he were savoring it on his tongue.
What a ridiculous thought.
She peeked around him at the buffet table and saw that the bowl was gone and things
had been rearranged so no one could tell it had been there to begin with. “Thank you
for hiding the evidence, although she’s going to know something happened when she
finds the salad in the kitchen.”
had been rearranged so no one could tell it had been there to begin with. “Thank you
for hiding the evidence, although she’s going to know something happened when she
finds the salad in the kitchen.”
“I emptied it into a trash bag and tossed it in the Dumpster outside. Unless she’s
watching closely, she’ll assume it all got eaten.”
watching closely, she’ll assume it all got eaten.”
“You really are good at this sort of thing.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re fast, too.”
“So I’ve been told.” The chill in his voice, despite the humor in his eyes, made her
wonder by whom.
wonder by whom.
“Enjoying the party?” she asked by rote.
Technically, the Port Diamond Yacht Club hosted the annual summer gala, but her parents
owned the marina and restaurant where it was held, making them the unofficial hosts
of the evening and her their not-so-willing accomplice.
owned the marina and restaurant where it was held, making them the unofficial hosts
of the evening and her their not-so-willing accomplice.
She wasn’t overly fond of large crowds.
“Everyone has been quite nice.”
Which wasn’t an answer to her question. In fact, it sounded like one of her own sidestepping
comments, the kind that got her out of trouble with her mother for not trying hard
enough to be social without having to lie. She found herself smiling.
comments, the kind that got her out of trouble with her mother for not trying hard
enough to be social without having to lie. She found herself smiling.
“Obsessively interested, you mean.”
His smile short-circuited her brain receptors. “There does seem to be a great deal
of speculation about me.”
of speculation about me.”
“Well, as I said, rumor has it you’re former secret government something, or maybe
a member of the English nobility, but you’ve shown your true colors to me,” she said
in a teasing tone usually reserved for close friends and family. People she trusted.
a member of the English nobility, but you’ve shown your true colors to me,” she said
in a teasing tone usually reserved for close friends and family. People she trusted.
His willingness to shoulder responsibility for something that had been entirely her
fault, and then rescue her from the consequences, had gone a long way toward relaxing
her with him.
fault, and then rescue her from the consequences, had gone a long way toward relaxing
her with him.
“Is that your subtle way of fishing for the truth?”
“Not if you don’t want to tell me.” So far, so good. Her tongue wasn’t tied in knots
yet and she hadn’t made an inane comment in five minutes.
yet and she hadn’t made an inane comment in five minutes.
“The truth would no doubt bore you,” he said dismissively.
“You’re very good at that.”
“What?”
“Sidestepping.”
“And you are more observant than most.”
She shrugged. She’d had a lot of practice.
Just then her sister walked by on her way to the deck with one of her many boyfriends
and waved at Tabby.
and waved at Tabby.
Tabby waved back and smiled.
“She’s quite effervescent, isn’t she?”
With a sinking heart, Tabby nodded. The inquest had begun. Would he be as good at
seeking out information as he was at avoiding giving it?
seeking out information as he was at avoiding giving it?
For once, she really wished one of her sister’s admirers had gone to someone else
for insights into Helene.
for insights into Helene.
“She’s very bubbly,” Tabby said, answering his question. “One of the nicest people
I know.”
I know.”
“Your family is very close, aren’t they?”
“Yes, we are.”
His gaze was focused on the dancers on the deck, probably watching Helene charm her
partner. “You are lucky.”
partner. “You are lucky.”
“Blessed. My parents are both good people and they raised Helene and me to value the
bonds of family.”
bonds of family.”
He turned to face her again. “Would you care to dance?”
The question hit her like a brick upside the head. No. Not that. The pumping was bad
enough, but to have to dance with him, being held in close proximity to a body that
made hers go haywire while he did it? That would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Besides, he didn’t want to dance with her. Not really. She’d had this ploy played
many times before.
enough, but to have to dance with him, being held in close proximity to a body that
made hers go haywire while he did it? That would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Besides, he didn’t want to dance with her. Not really. She’d had this ploy played
many times before.
A man asked her to dance and then made some excuse for her to switch partners with
Helene. Calder was just the type of man to handle that sort of thing with aplomb,
but she didn’t want to be handled. Not that way, anyway.
Helene. Calder was just the type of man to handle that sort of thing with aplomb,
but she didn’t want to be handled. Not that way, anyway.
“I’m not much of a dancer,” she lied, and hated herself for doing so. She put a lot
of stock in honesty and even white lies bugged her.
of stock in honesty and even white lies bugged her.
“Your father said differently.”
Darn it, Dad had ratted her out. “Did he?”
“Yes.”
She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. He’d probably told Calder all about the
lessons she’d taken as a kid. She’d danced in competitions until she was thirteen
and sprouted breasts and hips overnight. “Um . . .”
lessons she’d taken as a kid. She’d danced in competitions until she was thirteen
and sprouted breasts and hips overnight. “Um . . .”
“Don’t you want to dance with me?” he asked, sounding amused.
And well he should be. He had to know that half the women present tonight were panting
for a chance to be held by the gorgeous Englishman. She should be thrilled he’d picked
her to partner, even if it was with ulterior motives. What woman wouldn’t be, knowing
they got to dance with their idea of male perfection?
for a chance to be held by the gorgeous Englishman. She should be thrilled he’d picked
her to partner, even if it was with ulterior motives. What woman wouldn’t be, knowing
they got to dance with their idea of male perfection?
One smart enough to realize it would be pure torture
, she thought. However, he was looking at her expectantly and she let out a huff of
frustration.
, she thought. However, he was looking at her expectantly and she let out a huff of
frustration.
Better to get this over with and then go back to lusting after him from afar.
“Sure, I’ll dance with you.” She grimaced inside at her lack of savoir faire.
Charm, thy name is not Tabitha Payton
.
.
He put his hand out and she took it, pretending for this short space in time that
it was her he was interested in, and knowing as she did so how dangerous such inner
pretence could be.
it was her he was interested in, and knowing as she did so how dangerous such inner
pretence could be.
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