The Best Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

she dared to hope. “Maybe
even love.”
    “Because
once you share all your secret desires, you have a greater intimacy with that
person?”
    “He’d
know the real me.” She smiled, knowing she could lose herself in his eyes. She
could lean forward, just a little, and kiss him again. “In every possible way.”
    After
a sizzling moment, Jake nodded and averted his gaze. He finished his champagne
and put the glass down, hard. “So, that’s what you want on your vacation?”
    “Well,
it’s a fantasy. It probably won’t come true.”
    “We’re
only going to be there a week,” he said, sounding so pragmatic that Christine was
sure she’d played it wrong. “I thought you said falling in love takes time.”
    “Well,
sure.” Christine was crushed. He really hadn’t made the connection.
    “No
dancing?” Jake asked. “Waltzes on moonbeams? Tuxedoes and swirling skirts?”
    “It’s
a fantasy. You’re not supposed to make fun of it.” Christine sighed, trying one
last time to ignite his interest. “Maybe moonlight swims.”
    “Naked,”
Jake suggested. Suddenly, he wasn’t joking anymore. His voice had become very
low and his eyes were very dark.
    “Definitely
naked,” she murmured, then let her gaze slide over him. “Beneath the moon, in a
warm tropical sea. Don’t you think that would be romantic?”
    Jake
had an erection again, there was no doubting the evidence. Christine felt as if
the chances of success had shifted in her favor. She glanced up to see that Jake’s
gaze had heated, and awareness crackled between them. She saw him inhale
sharply, watched his throat work and then he looked away.
    “With
just six days on the island, your mystery lover had better get it in gear.”
Before she could answer, he stood up. “By the way, Mom nixed our plan of
covering for each other. She said she’ll make me regret it.”
    “But
she can’t tell you what to do?”
    “Sure
she can. She reminded me of that, too.” Jake grinned. “But then, maybe it’s for
the best.”
    “What
does that mean?”
    “It
leaves you available for your mystery lover, doesn’t it?” He rolled his eyes as
if her fantasy was crazy, then went to the front of the cabin.
    Christine
could hear him joking with the stewardess, flirting with her in fact, and felt
like an idiot.
    Well,
she couldn’t say that she hadn’t tried.
    Even
if it wasn’t fair that she was ending up with nothing at all, not even the self-defense
game. Christine tried to not resent his mom’s interference, and told herself
that she’d have a good time on the trip anyway.
    Maybe
she would meet someone who would drive Jake from her thoughts.
    It
wasn’t likely. She was too far gone.
    Maybe
he would come to see her in a more romantic light.
    Although
that didn’t seem likely either. All the bubbles from the champagne abandoned
Christine then, leaving her feeling flat and a bit silly. She closed her eyes
and pretended to be falling asleep before Jake came back, mortified that she
had acted like Fiona and completely blown it. Jake sat down carefully beside
her when he returned, as if trying to not disturb her. Moments later, he gently
tucked a blanket around her.
    Her
big brother. It made Christine want to scream.
    To
her own surprise, the alcohol and the early morning caught up with her, and she
did fall asleep.
     
    * * *
     
    Christine
seemed intent on driving Jake out of his mind. She had fallen asleep after her surprising
confession, and her head had ended up on his shoulder. He felt both pleased and
tormented by her proximity. She tumbled against him in soft warmth, her lips
parted and her hair sliding loose. All he could smell was her perfume mingled
with own scent. She’d kicked off her sandals and tucked up her bare feet,
looking so delicate and feminine that he burned with desire.
    The
woman was too sexy to resist.
    He
was tempted to pull her into his lap. He watched her sleep as the plane’s
engines droned, the steady sound making him feel as