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Authors: Mari Carr

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Erotica

The Back-Up Plan (6 page)

BOOK: The Back-Up Plan
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Kristen reached over and touched Matthew’s hand as she spoke. It was an innocent enough gesture, but it felt almost intimate to Jason. He was used to her take-no-prisoners attitude in the courtroom and at work. Seeing her blush when Matthew complimented her necklace or hearing her giggle when the man told a joke was foreign territory for him. It was like she had a split personality or something.

Then he realized Kristen was a woman. A damn sexy one. Where the hell had
she
been hiding all these years?

“Kristen tells me you’re a hiker as well. Got a favorite spot?” Monica asked, forcing him back into their conversation. If she noticed his distraction, she was kind enough to overlook it.

Jason dismissed his wayward thoughts about Kristen and chatted with Monica about local trails and overlooks until the meal arrived.

Kristen caught his eye as they started to eat and gave him a quick wink. Clearly she viewed the night as a success. Strangely he didn’t feel as excited about the evening. While Monica was a pleasant woman, he couldn’t summon up the energy to turn on the charm. In fact, he was sort of bored.

Meanwhile, Kristen seemed enchanted by every word out of Matthew’s mouth, which started to grate on Jason’s nerves. He studied the man, wondering what kind of guy grew a mustache. The doctor was trying too freaking hard to look like Tom Selleck and it took all the strength in Jason’s body not to lean across the table and tell the man nineteen-eighty called and wanted its look back.

Instead he endured all the small talk through dinner and dessert, laughing when he was supposed to, smiling politely at Monica and gritting his teeth when Matthew put his arm around Kristen’s chair in a possessive way.

Who the fuck did this guy think he was? He’d only met Kristen twice and already he was acting like he’d laid claim to her. Worst part was Kristen wasn’t annihilating him for it. In fact, she seemed to like it when Matthew leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.

Jason recognized the smooth moves. Hell, he’d used all of them. In any other situation, Jason probably would have given the guy props for his mad skills. But this was Kristen. She wasn’t some bimbo or one-night stand. She deserved a decent guy, not a player.

This set-up was a mistake and he intended to tell Kristen first thing tomorrow. They’d mark Matthew off the list and he’d find her another man to date. He ran through the list of single guys he knew, trying to come up with a name. Unfortunately, no one fit the bill. Didn’t he have any friends who weren’t womanizers?

“Jason?”

He looked up to find Kristen trying to get his attention. How many times had she called his name?

“Sorry. Daydreaming.”

Kristen gave him a disapproving glare that told him she wasn’t impressed with his efforts tonight and he suddenly felt guilty for ignoring Monica.

“Matthew offered to drive me home. I was just asking if you minded taking Monica back to her place.”

He barely stopped himself from yelling Hell no. Mercifully, his brain engaged just in time. He nodded stiffly and said, “Sure.”

The last thing he wanted was Matthew taking Kristen back to her place. The smug bastard was clearly hoping to get into Kristen’s pants. Jason’s mind whirled as he tried to figure out how he could get Kristen away from Matthew long enough to warn her.

Unfortunately, the doctor was too slick and quick. He had the bill paid and Kristen on his arm before Jason could come up with a plan. Jason watched the two of them walk out of the restaurant with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“I have my own car,” Monica said.

“What?” God, he’d been the world’s rudest date, so worried about Kristen he hadn’t considered how badly he had treated Monica.

“Kristen seemed pretty wrapped up in Matthew. I guess it slipped her mind that I drove us here. My car’s in the parking lot and I’m perfectly capable of getting myself home.”

Jason sighed. “I’m sorry, Monica.”

Monica smiled. “She doesn’t realize, does she?”

He frowned, completely confused by her question. “She?”

“Kristen. She has no idea how you feel about her.”

Now he was really flummoxed. “What are you talking about?”

Monica laughed, the sound soft and pretty. It made Jason even sorrier he hadn’t been nice to her. “Oh shit. You don’t know either.”

“Did I miss something?”

Monica nodded. “Yeah. But I’m not sure it’s my place to explain it to you.”

He considered her comments and began to comprehend their meaning. She’d misinterpreted everything. “Oh no. Listen. Kris and I are just friends. I guess I’m feeling a bit protective. She doesn’t date much, so I’m not sure she realized the guy was a player. I didn’t really like the way Tom Selleck was putting the moves on her.”

His nickname for Matthew made Monica laugh even harder. “Oh my God. That’s exactly who he looks like. I’ve been sitting here all night trying to figure it out. That was quite a mustache. Bet it tickles when he kisses.”

The idea of Matthew’s mustache getting anywhere near Kristen sent him into orbit again. “Fuck,” he muttered.

Monica put her hand over his. “I think Matthew is a decent guy. And you’re not giving Kristen enough credit. She’s smart and strong and not easily led by anyone. Maybe your vision is just a little bit cloudy when it comes to her.”

Jason wondered if Monica was right. His friendship with Kristen had taken a turn lately, grown a bit stronger. Maybe that was bringing out some kind of brotherly feelings in him. Weird. He’d never worried about her being able to take care of herself before.

“Yeah. I guess so.”

Monica stood, so he rose as well. “I had a good time tonight, Jason.”

He’d really shortchanged Monica, getting so wrapped up in finding Kristen a nice guy he’d failed to appreciate how cool his date was. “You’re sweet to lie about it and I know I haven’t given you much incentive to say yes to this, but maybe we could go out again? Just you and me?”

Monica didn’t respond immediately, and then she nodded. “Sure. That would be great.” She gave him her phone number and they chatted as he walked her to her car.

Jason waved as she drove away, then headed to his Audi. He sat in the parking lot for five full minutes, torn between going home or driving by Kristen’s house to check on her.

The intelligent part of his brain knew Kristen would eviscerate him if he showed up at her townhouse and interrupted whatever was happening—
God, please don’t let anything be happening
—between her and Matthew.

However, an idiot lived inside him too and that guy was telling him to storm over to Kristen’s place and kick Matthew’s ass.

“Get a grip.” He released a long breath, put the car in drive and took a left onto the street that would lead him to his house. Monica was right. Kristen wasn’t some young, innocent virgin. She could take care of herself. Tomorrow, they’d simply regroup, then he’d find her another guy—a nice one who wouldn’t put the moves on her. Surely there had to be some man out there like that. Maybe.

And failing that, there was always the back-up plan. Suddenly, he didn’t think that scheme was quite so silly. In some ways, it even made sense.

 

 

Kristen smiled as Matthew’s soft kiss ended. They said good night once more, and then she shut the door. Turning, she leaned against the wood and sighed. The night had been a success. Matthew was a great guy—easy to talk to and passionate about his work. She’d invited him in for coffee and they’d continued to discuss their jobs, their families, and all those usual get-to-know-you first-date kind of things. It had been wonderful.

Then he’d stood to leave and offered the kiss on her doorstep. The mustache tickled, but she didn’t mind. He was a very attractive man. He reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t figure out who. Even so, he was charming and intelligent and kind.

Everything Jason had
not
been at dinner. She wasn’t sure what the hell had gotten in to him tonight, but she fully intended to give him a piece of her mind. Monica was a very sweet woman and Jason had ignored her all night. She’d never seen him treat someone so rudely and if this was as seriously as he intended to take her set-ups, then he’d just gotten his last bit of help from her.

Her cell rang and she glanced at her watch. It was nearly midnight. Who would call so late?

She walked to the coffee table and picked her phone up.

Speak of the devil.

She clicked to answer. “Jason. What the hell was your problem tonight?”

Her greeting seemed to catch him off-guard as he paused, not responding immediately.

“Is Matthew gone?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course he is. Unlike you, I don’t fuck on first dates.”

It almost sounded like he released a sigh of relief.

“What is wrong with you?” she asked again.

“I don’t know. I just—”

Again with the awkward pause. “Are you feeling okay, J?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry about tonight. I had a lot on my mind and I’m afraid I didn’t do a very good job of hiding it.”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. Poor Monica was working overtime to keep the conversation flowing between you two and I don’t think you heard a single word she—”

“I told her I was sorry. We talked after you and Matthew left. She’s really cool, Kris. It was a good set-up. Thanks.”

The idea that he’d made amends after her departure soothed Kristen’s temper. “Oh, well. I’m glad to hear that. Matthew is pretty awesome too.”

“Actually, I have another friend I’d like you to meet. He’s a vet and he—”

“That’s okay,” Kristen cut him off. “I really like Matthew. We’re going to see a movie tomorrow night.”

“Yeah, but he’s only the second guy on my list. Don’t you want to meet a few of the others instead of just settling for the first one?”

She laughed. “The first one was Rod and that would have been settling. Matthew is fun and I appreciate you introducing us. I’d like to get to know him better. If it works out, terrific. If not, we’ll return to your list. Okay?”

Again, she heard the long sigh on the other end of the line before he finally said, “Sure.”

“Maybe you should head to bed, J. You sound kind of tired.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll probably feel better after a decent night’s sleep. Can I ask you one question first?”

“Of course.”

“Were those stockings you were wearing under that skirt?”

She chuckled, strangely relieved by his inappropriate question. She’d been worried about him tonight—accustomed to his wit and ability to drive any conversation and make things fun. It had been unnerving to see him so withdrawn and quiet.

“Jason—”

“Just a simple yes or no.”

“If I say yes, are you going to imagine me naked again?”

“I’m already imagining that.”

“Ugh. You’re a horny bastard and I’m not about to feed your sick, kinky fantasies.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

She laughed. “Go to bed, you jackass.”

“Night, Kris. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night.”

She clicked off the phone and giggled as she climbed the stairs, wondering how Jason had known she was wearing the garter belt. Had he really looked at her that closely or did he just have a pervert’s nose for anything he deemed even remotely sexual?

She tended to believe it was the latter, but that didn’t help her when her own sexual desires heated up. She wanted to think it was Matthew’s kiss that had fired her libido.

But as she reached into her nightstand drawer to pull out a vibrator, it was Jason’s face she dreamed of…as he slipped his hands beneath her skirt and unfastened her garter with skilled fingers.

Chapter Four

In Arizona, any person living in a household containing more than two vibrators can be subject to criminal prosecution.

 

Jason walked into Kristen’s office and closed the door. It was nearly seven o’clock and their secretary had gone home two hours earlier. They’d hired two interns yesterday who would report to work at the beginning of next week, but until they started, he and Kristen continued to work longer hours.

April was winding down. Unfortunately, Kristen’s relationship with Matthew appeared to be blooming just like the fucking dandelions in his yard. She constantly flitted around the office with a smile on her face and this morning, he’d heard her humming at the copy machine. Humming!

He’d always given her credit for being an intelligent woman, but it was clear she was blind when it came to Matthew and his dating manipulation. If he weren’t trying to be a supportive friend, Jason would have told her weeks ago to stay away from the man. But every time he opened his mouth to advise her to break things off, she’d mention some romantic, sweet thing Matthew had done and he’d shut up once more.

However, today, she’d pushed him over the limit. “What are you wearing?”

Kristen glanced up, her brow creased. He’d clearly interrupted her when she was deep in thought. She’d been working hard preparing for a medical malpractice suit. He almost felt guilty for distracting her. Almost.

BOOK: The Back-Up Plan
5.79Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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