“I hate what this shoot’s doing to you,” she fussed. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“It hasn’t been easy.”
Amy knew why this shoot got to him. Knew all about his sister’s illness. Daniel had come to terms with the cancer years ago, but being on the children’s ward had dredged up awful memories for him, memories he hadn’t visited in a long time. Perhaps now, as an adult, he was processing information he hadn’t been able to comprehend as a child: his older sister had come precariously close to death.
It was unlike Daniel to get involved with his subjects. Objectivity was the key to good photography, he always said. Identify, empathize, sympathize but don’t get involved. This time, due to Sarah, he’d lost his neutrality and he was hurting.
“Do you have a lot left to do?”
“There are a couple of rolls of film left to develop, but I’ve done most of them. I still have to choose the ones I’m going to show and enlarge them.”
“It must be difficult, staring at sick children all day.”
“It is. Especially when every kid I see reminds me of Sarah twenty years ago.”
Amy watched as emotion danced across his face. His lips were pursed and his jaw locked in a tense grimace. She felt his pain as tangibly as if it were her own. He glanced at her and their eyes met and held. Before redirecting his attention to the road, he gave her a half smile. They’d always been able to read each other’s expressions and unspoken thoughts. It came from years of shared experiences.
“Dan, will you be okay?”
His blue eyes turned dark. “I’ll be fine. But yeah, it gets to me sometimes.”
“You’re allowed to be sad, you know.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Damn, Morgan, it’s all so unjust. These children are young—babies. It’s making me remember how useless I felt back then.”
“There’s a difference between now and then. This time you can help. This time you’re making things better.” She reached over and took his free hand, winding her fingers through his.
He caressed her palm with his thumb, which surprised her. It was a rather intimate gesture. She stared at him but he seemed to be unaware of his actions, so she didn’t try to stop him…despite the unexpected shiver that ran up her spine and left her breasts tingling.
In fact, she enjoyed the subtle massage so much her eyes closed and her head dropped back against the seat. She would have moaned out loud if he hadn’t chosen that minute to park the car.
It was just as well they stopped, because she was seriously considering moving his hand from her palm to her breast. She scrambled out of the car and slammed the door shut. For the millionth time that day, she yelled to herself,
Seducing your friend is a very bad idea!
They made their way across the grass to a group of about fifty or so people gathered together. Some stood chatting in small groups while others sat on blankets scattered around the lawn. A table laden with drinks and food had been set up for the guests. Several people danced near a portable CD player. Robbie Williams blared from the speakers and the ocean roared behind them. The party was in full swing.
They helped themselves to wine and Daniel scarfed down a chocolate as they searched for Lexi in the crowd. Amy watched as a female form disengaged itself from a group and headed over to them. “Daniel, Amy, hi.”
She waited while Daniel hugged his sister happy birthday. She’d known Lexi as long as she’d known Daniel. She was two years younger than her brother and looked like a feminine version of him—tall and beautiful, with tumultuous blonde curls that fell past her shoulders. She was just as charismatic as Daniel but while he was laid back, Lexi was frenetic in her style. No wonder Daniel had succumbed so quickly to her request to do the exhibition. She was one hard lady to say no to.
Amy gave Lexi a kiss on her cheek and tipped her cup in her direction. “Happy birthday. I hope you have a really good year.”
Lexi raised her own cup and smiled. “Thanks.” She turned to Daniel and winked. “I hope we all have a really good year.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Daniel answered and they all sipped.
“Danno, you remember Jack, don’t you?” Lexi asked, pulling them into her group of friends.
A few minutes later, Amy had been introduced to at least fifteen people and her head boggled at trying to remember their names. A chilly wind blew a strand of hair into her eyes. She pushed it away and nestled into her jacket.
“You cold?” Daniel slid his arm around her shoulder.
“A little.” She resisted the impulse to burrow into his warmth.
Although she couldn’t put her finger on it, something about him seemed different. Something was way more…
appealing
than usual. It wasn’t just the hair, which the wind had now tousled, leaving it spiked at peculiar angles. Nor was it the unshaven look—dark-blond bristles shadowing his jaw line. It wasn’t his clothes either, although no one could ever fill a pair of jeans like Danny did. They hugged his ass, reinforcing Maggie’s assessment of how great it was. The navy jumper he wore set off the clear blue of his eyes to perfection.
Something about her friend was just…different.
“You know, I’m not used to your hair like that,” she told him, “but I’ve got to say, you look pretty damn sexy.”
“I do?” He looked at her with a surprised grin.
“Yeah, you’ve got that look about you, like you’ve just tumbled out of bed.” A sudden thought occurred to her, one that would explain the unbridled sex appeal. “Oh! That’s what you were doing before you came to fetch me. Who is she then? When do I get to meet your latest conquest?” Although she joked when she fired the questions at him, for no reason, she felt insanely jealous.
What the hell was going on? She’d never been jealous of Daniel’s girlfriends before. Never. Maybe she felt a little off balance from her earlier attack of lust. Maybe that same desire was skewing her thought processes. She honestly didn’t give a shit if Daniel was sleeping with a new woman. Did she?
“Morgan,” he said with exaggerated patience, “I’ve been developing photos all day. I am allowed to look…unkempt. It doesn’t mean I had a little rough and tumble before I collected you.”
“Rough and tumble?” She laughed at his choice of words.
“Whatever. Let me assure you, there is no new woman in my life.”
“My mistake then.” Amy was unabashed by her incorrect assumption. Nine times out of ten she was right. She motioned with her eyes to someone behind him. “Lucky for that woman standing back there. She’s been staring at you with definite interest.” She watched as the gorgeous brunette eyed Daniel. The woman was tall with short hair, a voluptuous mouth and a killer body. Just Daniel’s type.
He glanced around and cringed visibly. “Shit, that woman is stalking me.” He edged Amy towards the CD player.
“Stalking you?” A woman who looked like that didn’t need to stalk Daniel. All she had to do was send him a knowing glance across a room and her friend would happily respond.
“Okay, maybe that’s a bad choice of words, but I can’t get rid of her. Every time I turn around, she’s there.” He put his hands on her hips and swayed her in time to the music. “Dance with me. Maybe that’ll put her off.”
Amy let the music flow through her, trying to ignore the heat pulsating from Daniel’s hands. “You’re trying to avoid her?” She was incredulous. “That’s so unlike you. She’s gorgeous.”
“Yeah, well that’s not all she is.” Daniel grimaced.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a long story.
“I’ve got time.”
He shifted slightly. “This is awkward.”
“Oh please,” Amy scoffed. “You don’t do awkward. Not when it comes to gorgeous women. Come on, ’fess up. Who is she?”
He danced a little closer and spoke a little softer. “Okay, but don’t go making a big deal about it,” he relented. “Her name’s Leona Ramsey and she’s one of the pediatricians at POWS. Ever since I walked into the ward she’s been hitting on me. At first I was complimented by her behavior, but after a while it got to be a bit much. She started to become explicit in what she wanted.” He shook his head. “It’s bad, Morgan. She won’t give up and I’m not interested.”
“You’re not?” She looked at him in disbelief. Beautiful women always interested Daniel. Why should this one be different?
“Because she’s married,” he explained when she asked.
“Oh…” Okay. Married women were an absolute no-no. “Well, why don’t you just tell her you’re not interested?” she asked reasonably.
He gave her a funny look. “Don’t be daft. Of course I’ve told her. She won’t listen.”
“Was your message clear?”
“I told her I don’t do married women and I wouldn’t make an exception for her. How much clearer could I be?”
A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Any suggestions?”
“You’re the king of dumping women. Surely you have a plan.”
“Not a single one.”
They danced in silence for a while. Amy tried to keep her mind on Daniel’s problem, but found herself distracted by the sexy way he moved to the music. Bryan Adams slowed the beat down and Daniel pulled her into a loose embrace. They swayed comfortably together, although she began to feel a little too snug in her friend’s arms. His cock was just centimeters away and the image she’d had of it earlier, embedded deep within her body, was just too recent. Hot liquid seeped into her panties, kindling an awareness that should not have been there.
Christ, she hoped Daniel didn’t know what she was thinking.
“Leona’s still keeping a watchful eye on you.” The woman stood a little way away—her gaze hadn’t left Daniel the entire time they danced.
“Damn it, I can’t get rid of her.”
Movement caught her eye. “You better think of something. She’s headed over here even as we speak.”
“Shit.”
“Think fast!”
He swore again and then laughed in surprise. “Hey. I have an idea.” Without letting go of her, he nudged her backward until they stood slightly apart from the crowd. He touched her cheek gently and his eyes took on an odd glow. “But I’m going to need your help.”
Oh no!
She didn’t like where this was heading. He was caressing her face and her heart hammered with uncertainty. “Danny—”
“Look, don’t say anything. Just help me out. Please?” He stared at her mouth with obvious intent.
Amy’s eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. But she didn’t have time to protest.
“Humor me.” He tilted his head and kissed her.
Daniel’s lips were warm, soft and exhilarating, and clung to hers with a promise of a thousand forbidden pleasures. They left her dazed. The man had done some crazy things in his time, but this was extreme. Friends didn’t kiss each other. Not like this.
She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him away. He didn’t budge. Amy pushed harder. “Stop it.” Her words were muffled against his lips.
He trailed a path of tiny kisses from her lips to her ear, leaving her cheek tingling.
“Quit fighting me,” he whispered. “I’m desperate.” His breath tickled her ear and the erotic sensation shot straight to her belly.
She stopped struggling and gave the situation brief consideration. She was acting like a teenager. Her friend needed help. How could she refuse him? It wasn’t as if this was a real kiss—just one buddy helping out another. Right? It didn’t matter if her breathing was suddenly erratic, she was just winded from surprise. Right?
He kissed her again, only this time it was more provocative. He coaxed her lips apart, teasing her mouth with his tongue. Heat seeped through his lips and left her craving more. His tongue begged for a response, and he was hard to resist. She stopped trying and relaxed into the moment, kissing him back. After all, it was for a good cause.
Right?
His mouth should have seemed familiar. Kissing him should have felt a bit like slipping on an old sweater on a chilly night, all snug and cozy.
It should have, but it didn’t.
It felt so damn good she sizzled. Hypnotic warmth seeped through her limbs and into her breasts. Her nipples puckered and beaded and swelled against her bra.
Daniel whispered, “Thank you,” and smiled against her mouth.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, intensifying their kiss.
She hadn’t meant to enjoy it, but God help her, it was heaven. Her eyes lost their struggle to stay open and she lost herself to the sensations Daniel’s mouth stirred in her. He tasted of rich chocolate and expensive wine. He tasted good. Too good considering the fact the unique and tempting flavor was that of her oldest friend.
She tingled all over.
He curved his body into hers, fitting them perfectly together. His muscled chest rubbed against her aching breasts, sending sparks racing through her stomach and lower. Her arms quivered when he ran his hands down her spine and her skin prickled with awareness as his breath fanned her face.
Every inch of her friend was hard and unmistakably male. He was aroused, his erection solid against her belly. It seemed to grow with every lick of his tongue.