MELLIE DILLYDALLIED ALL day about whether to go to the Cable Farm party. While she’d pretty much decided from the night before not to go, there was no escaping the fact that knowing Delano would be there made it more appealing.
Especially if he made good on his request for a dance.
Just the thought made her break out in goose bumps.
Of course, maybe he was thinking of a fast calypso or reggae tune, but her brain kept insisting on imagining a slow, smoochy number, where they’d be locked in each other’s arms.
There was no mistaking the rising awareness flowing back and forth between them, which had reached new heights that day as they worked side by side. More than once their gazes had locked, and Mellie hadn’t been able to ignore the heat gathering beneath her skin and in her core.
It was probably just because she was in the midst of a sexual drought, she told herself. The last relationship she’d had was two years ago, and calling it a relationship was really stretching it. The truth was, she didn’t have time to devote to being a part of a functioning couple, between work, the shelter and all the other projects she had going on. She’d gone out with Rafe over the space of three months, slept with him a few times, but when he’d started complaining about her lack of availability, she’d had to call it quits.
And, in reality, she had felt only a brief moment of guilt and sadness.
She’d enjoyed the companionship, but hadn’t been that into him, no matter how handsome and nice he’d been.
There certainly hadn’t been the sparks she felt whenever she was around Delano.
Telling herself it was ridiculous to even consider getting involved with Dr. Milo’s son hadn’t worked. In fact, the more she argued with herself about it, the less ludicrous it sounded.
She had no time or wish to be in a serious relationship, and Delano had assured her he was only here for a short time. If he was interested in a brief, sex-only relationship, it would suit her fine.
Without the worry of getting too emotionally involved, she could simply enjoy him and not fret about his trustworthiness.
Not that she mistrusted him the way she had at first. The more she got to know him, the less she believed her initial impressions and assumptions were correct. His belief that his father didn’t want him around hinted at a deeper issue Mellie wasn’t privy to, but was desperately curious about.
But she was the last person to delve into other people’s pains and sorrows, knowing she didn’t really want to share her own. Only her father knew fully what had happened back in Miami, since he’d been the one to help her clean up the mess she’d found herself in. Dr. Milo knew a part of the story, but he was like a clam when it came to gossip, which Mellie completely appreciated.
There was no way she’d have been able to build her new life here in St. Eustace if everyone had known the shambles she’d made of her previous one. It would have been too embarrassing.
Amity was overjoyed when Mellie called to let her know she’d go with her to the party.
“You want me to pick you up?” Mellie asked her friend, since she could drive past Amity’s apartment on her way to the farm, while Amity would have to go way out of her way to get Mellie.
“Better we drive separately,” Amity replied. “Since I know you’re going to want to leave before I’m ready to go home. Meet me here, and we’ll drive in convoy.”
Laughing, Mellie agreed. Amity would probably be among the last to leave the party, while Mellie had to be up early in the morning.
When she arrived at Amity’s place later that evening, her friend gave a whoop of appreciation.
“Look at you, Miss Thing. I haven’t seen you dressed up like this in forever. I knew that outfit was perfect for you, remember?”
Mellie felt the heat rise into her face, but tried to act nonchalant.
“Yes, I remember. I just felt like looking pretty,” she said, as though it hadn’t taken her over an hour to figure out what to wear. What would turn Delano’s head enough that he’d make a move, or give her the opening to make one herself?
Finally she’d chosen a bright coral pink dress, the fabric as ethereal as a sigh. From the shoestring strap that held it up and gathered the material along the neckline, it fell to midthigh, leaving her shoulders bare. On the hanger it looked frumpy, making Mellie wonder why she bought it each time she saw it in the closet, but when she put it on, and saw the way it caressed her curves, she remembered.
Amity’s perfectly shaped eyebrows rose.
“You always look pretty, even in scrubs,” she said stoutly. “But I can see you put in extra effort tonight. For anyone in particular?”
“Myself.” Then, knowing her friend wouldn’t stop until Mellie came clean about why her cheeks were now burning hot, she added, “To give me courage.”
Amity snapped her fingers. “Delano Logan, right?”
“Why’d you jump to that conclusion?”
Amity held up her hand and counted off on her fingers each point as she made them.
“One—he’s gorgeous. Two—he’s available. Three—he’s the only man you’ve been in close contact with recently.”
“That you know of,” Mellie interjected, earning herself an eyeroll from her friend.
“That I know of for certain. Four—he’s just your type—smart, jovial, hardworking, oh, and did I mention gorgeous?”
“That’s twice now,” Mellie muttered.
“I rest my case,” Amity replied, the smugness in her voice making Mellie chuckle.
“You missed a point, though,” Mellie said as Amity locked her front door, and they went down the steps to the car park.
“Which point?”
“He’ll only be here for another week or so.”
Amity stopped and shook her head.
“One of these days you’re going to have to get over your commitment-phobia, Mellie.”
“But today is not that day,” Mellie rebutted. “Today, all I’m interested in is seeing if I can get Delano Logan into my bed.”
“And more power to you,” came Amity’s reply, although she was still shaking her head, as though in disbelief.
Cable Farm was a coffee plantation in the hills, the main house built of stone and registered as a historical building by the Ministry of Culture. It had been repaired and refurbished back to its former glory, and was operated as a bed-and-breakfast by the owner, who lived in a smaller house on the property. For the charity function the house was lit up. There were tables and chairs on the lawn and, from there, down a short flight of stairs on the terraced hillside, a wooden dance floor had been erected.
Mellie and Amity paused on the lawn, surveying the crowd of people already in attendance.
“My parents are here somewhere,” Amity said, glancing at the occupied tables. “But I’m guessing they’ll leave right after they’ve eaten. Is your father coming?”
“He has a polo match tomorrow, so no. When I asked him, he said he was too old to be feting the night before a match.”
“Sounds reasonable. You see your guy yet?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say Delano wasn’t her guy, but it was too late to close the barn door on that one.
“No.”
“The bar,” Amity said, with her usual determination. “And even if he isn’t there, I want a drink.”
As they strolled along, returning greetings and hugs with all the people they knew, suddenly there he was, and Mellie’s breath hitched when she saw the way he was looking at her. As he strode toward her, he was smiling, but it looked more predatory than amused, and his eyes gleamed behind half-closed lids.
“Mmm-hmm,” murmured Amity, just loud enough for the sound to reach Mellie’s ear. “You’re definitely getting lucky tonight.”
And all Mellie could do was hope the evening shadows hid the rush of color to her cheeks.
Delano could hardly believe his eyes.
From the first moment he’d seen Mellie he’d been attracted to her, even though she was threatening him with a machete. In his eyes she was beautiful, and had only grown more so as he’d spent time with and gotten to know her.
But tonight...
Tonight she was radiant. Sexy. Sinfully sensual.
Her pink dress flowed around her body, touching it the way he longed to—softly caressing with each move. Through some feminine alchemy she appeared to be naked beneath the silky fabric, as each and every curve and dip was alternately revealed and concealed. The light evening breeze added to that illusion, making the dress froth and swing with each gust.
It took everything he had within not to grab and kiss her, before dragging her away from the party and all the prying eyes around them.
All he could think about was running his hands all over her, bringing her to full, shivering arousal, before stripping her naked and making love to her in every way possible.
The intensity of his reaction pulled him up short, though. It wasn’t his way to come on strong. It never had been. So he resigned himself to waiting, and letting her set the pace, if that was what she wanted.
But that didn’t mean that he couldn’t express his appreciation.
He walked right up to her, hardly aware there was someone else standing beside her and completely forgetting his cousin Jason, who was keeping pace with him as he made a beeline to Mellie.
“You look fabulous,” he told her, wanting to touch her in some way, but hesitating because he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t do something ridiculous, like full-on kiss her. “Absolutely stunning.”
Rather than slough him off as he expected, Mellie gave him a long look, her lips pursed in a winsome pout.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I felt like dressing up a bit this evening.”
He couldn’t even reply, because as she spoke she ran her hand along her side, molding that magical fabric to her curves, and making his palm itch with the urge to follow her example.
“Jason,” came Amity’s half amused, half resigned voice, “Come let’s get a drink. I know when I’m not wanted.”
“Me too,” was the laughing answer, and Delano was hardly aware of them leaving until Mellie’s gaze broke from his and followed the other couple as they walked away.
“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever met your cousin,” she said. “And you didn’t introduce us.”
“I’ll do it later.” Hooking an arm around her waist, he turned her toward the dance floor. The DJ was playing calypso, and while it wasn’t the ideal musical genre for how he was feeling, there was still an opportunity to pull Mellie close every now and then. “I’m claiming my dance now, before anyone else beats me to it.”
“There’s no rush.” When she laid a hand on his chest, he was sure she could feel his heart thumping through his shirt. “Let’s wait until they play something a little slower.”
That was when Delano was absolutely sure that she wanted the same thing he did. And that sometime soon, perhaps even tonight, he’d get to know Mellie as intimately as he craved.
Shifting his hand so it lay against the small of her back, trying to ignore the heat of her body through the thin material, he cleared his throat and asked, “How about a drink, then, and an intro to my cousin?”
“Sure.” She slanted him a glance from the corner of her eye, her smile almost sly. This was a different Mellie again from the one he’d experienced earlier. A little more subdued, definitely with an increased sultriness quotient. “There definitely is no need to hurry.”
His heart stopped, the double entendre making his entire body tighten.
But her voice was serene when she continued, “Come on. I see Kiah Langdon and his wife, Mina. You’ll like them. They’re really fun.”
And he was forced to marshal every ounce of control and nod, following meekly after her, when what he really wanted to do was throw her over his shoulder and race away.
Get her somewhere private so he could kiss that tempting smile right off her lips.