Lucy knew she should have said no. It had been a dangerous proposal for many reasons, least of all the fact that she and Cal would be attending together.
After dinner at Steph and Mia’s flat and after blatantly refusing to let Cal drive her home as he’d offered, she’d agreed to let him walk her to the nearby tram stop. Perhaps that’s where her true mistake lay. Had she not allowed them to be alone together—again—then maybe she would have had more strength to refuse him, as she had in front of Steph when he’d asked to take her the few minutes down the road to her townhouse in his chauffeur driven Range Rover. Maybe if she’d been strong, if she’d just thanked him for his consideration and headed into the shadows of the streetlamp-lit street alone, she wouldn’t be in the mess she now found herself in.
Why? Why did I say yes?
Lucy knew why. She’d wanted to spend more time with Cal. Although it hadn’t really been a surprise. She had so thoroughly enjoyed the time she’d spent with him at work and socializing with her close friends that she desired those good times to continue. Every time they were together, she was reminded of how much she’d missed his company over the past decade and how much she enjoyed talking, joking, and laughing with him. He’d always been her best friend; she could barely remember a time before knowing him. Even when she’d hated him, she’d missed him, loved him. He was in every fiber of her being, so much so that the more time she spent around him, the more she craved to be around him. She’d known she was addicted, known he was her weakness, yet the more time she was with him, the more she gave in to it all.
As soon as Cal had suggested the Sunday luncheon at Rob and Maddy’s, Lucy’s mind had been screaming at her to decline the offer. “No” was on the tip of her tongue, but her heart had gotten excited, beating out a rapid, rhythmic dance in her chest. It was another chance to be with him and the thought of the three best friends in the one place after all these years had given her a child-like eagerness. She knew she’d probably regret it, but she’d said it anyway—yes.
Suddenly, her smartphone vibrated, making a buzzing noise on the small, glass-topped table beside the outdoor chaise lounge she was reclining upon in Rob and Maddy’s backyard. As Lucy glanced over at it, reaching instinctively to answer it, an image of Trent appeared on the screen. He had been calling and texting her regularly since their encounter in the photocopy room, but Lucy had done her best to ignore all attempts at communication. Even though she hated to admit it, he had really unnerved her that day, and she didn’t feel as though anything she said to him would smooth things over.
Days ago, soon after it happened, Lucy had texted him a message to explain what she hadn’t been able to say in the moment. She had put it kindly, that although she had tried in the past to embrace him in a more intimate relationship, unfortunately her feelings for him had never grown further than that of friendship—and that was stretching the truth as it was, but she wouldn’t tell him that. The replies she’d received after that were incessant, demanding and ludicrously possessive, so she had decided that keeping her distance and giving him time to simmer down were probably her best options.
Touching the side of the mobile phone, she switched the power off, then grabbed the glass of homemade lemonade beside it and relaxed back into the chair. With her sunglasses shielding both the harsh midday sun and the direction of her gaze, Lucy couldn’t help but stare across the paved courtyard in front of her to where Cal was talking to Rob beside the barbecue. The appetizing smell of beef patties and grilling onions wafted over to her as the sizzling sound of them cooking made the men’s conversation inaudible. Absent-mindedly, she twirled the green straw in the tall, icy cold glass in her hand.
Did he just propose? Mia’s whispered words whirled back to the front of Lucy’s mind, lingering there again, haunting her as they had ever since Mia had first spoken them.
She’d stopped Lucy on her way out the door on Friday evening as Cal was saying his goodbyes to Steph and Rosie further inside the flat. A grin of elation brightened her features, her eyes glittering with excitement and surprise when she’d grabbed Lucy’s arm and bent closer to her ear.
“Did he just propose?” Those hushed words had made Lucy’s heart somersault in her chest.
Surely teasing her with the nickname wife and actually proposing were not the same thing. Yet, Mia had thought so or at the very least, she’d thought it had been Cal’s way of preparing Lucy for the idea. Lucy had thought her friend was reading signs that weren’t there, putting too much belief into something that was certainly no more than Cal’s mischievous sense of humor. However, that hadn’t stopped her from hoping.
As soon as she realized she’d mentally admitted such an atrocious, almost treacherous interest in the prospect of marriage to Cal—the once bane of her existence—Hawthorne, Lucy nearly choked swallowing her own saliva.
“You right there, hon?” Maddy appeared beside her.
Lucy drank deeply from the chilled drink in her hand and then took a steadying breath. “Fine.”
With a hushed giggle, Maddy took a seat on the outdoor chaise lounge chair beside the one Lucy was stretched out in. She filled her own empty glass and then placed the fresh pitcher of lemonade on the small wooden table between them. After taking a drink herself, Maddy relaxed into the chair and crossed one white linen pant-covered leg over another. As she straightened her snug, blue and white striped shirt she glanced over at Lucy, offering her a cheeky grin.
“Do you want to go over and top up the boys’ glasses? I think Cal’s is empty.”
Lucy turned to her best friend, glaring at her from behind the dark, shaded lenses of her elegant sunglasses. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” she growled.
Maddy pouted. “Give me a break. I haven’t had the three of us in the same room for almost fifteen years. I think I deserve a little time to gloat.” A wide smile spread her lips again. “Besides, I thought you and Cal were getting along well these days?”
Murmuring a non-committal response, Lucy slumped back into her chair and glanced around at the decorative backyard. Maddy and Rob’s house was ten minutes from St. Kilda Beach on a family-friendly, tree-lined avenue and had been built to suit their love for entertaining. Inside, the house was spacious and bright, with lots of large picture windows and comfy seating areas, while outside, the stunning paved courtyard looked as though it had come straight from a House and Garden magazine. Well-trimmed hedges and flowering shrubs lined the fence, along with a few other stylish arrangements in giant colorful pots. As well as the two outdoor lounges she and Maddy were currently enjoying, there was also a full outdoor furniture setting to her left with enough chairs to fit eight people and a hand-carved wooden bench seat near the barbecue.
As Lucy’s gaze roamed back to the men who were laughing jovially at something she hadn’t quite heard over the noise of their lunch cooking, she couldn’t help but admire them.
With their background so similar to a magazine spread, both Rob and Cal—very attractive in their own right—appeared even more like posed cover models. They were both casually dressed in denim jeans, yet Cal’s pants seemed to accentuate his sexy backside and strong thighs to somewhat illegal standards. Rob’s olive-colored, Lacoste collared shirt was fashionably preppy, while Cal’s large biceps were set to flex freely beneath his tight, black t-shirt. Like his wife, Rob was wearing designer flip-flops whereas Cal had opted for loafers.
Her hidden gaze continued to rake over Cal as he turned slightly to glance back at her. His sandy blond hair was unusually mussed, making the length of his fringe seem longer and his appearance that bit rougher. His square jaw was coarse with a day or so of dark blond stubble, while his full, cupid’s bow lips looked delectably kissable. Lucy watched carefully as his tongue sneaked out to wet them lightly. Feeling her own body tighten in response, nipples hardening as tingles gripped her insides, she nearly groaned out loud. It was totally unfair of her body to want him so much, her lust burning through her like an internal betrayal. She was the one who had told him she needed more time, that she wanted to get to know him, to become friends once more before they took things any further and now all she wanted to do was rip his clothes off. Of course, she still needed time. Didn’t she?
Lucy’s gaze rose to Cal’s black designer sunglasses. Even though they hid the expression in his eyes, the twitch of a smirk that pulled at his lips seemed to be enough to help her guess what he might be thinking.
“Are you planning to talk to me at all during your stay or are you just going to stare at Cal the whole time?”
Grimacing in annoyance at her best friend’s remark, Lucy turned her attention back to Maddy. “Someone’s feeling sassy today.”
Maddy’s grin was sickly sweet. “It’s one of the best days of my life, so I’m feeling rather chipper, yeah.”
Lucy had to smile at that. “Thanks for putting up with my drama for all these years, Maddy. I know it was a lot to expect.”
The features of Maddy’s pretty face softened and her expression became sincere. “I may not have agreed with your chosen form of punishment, but I understand why you did it. I know how much he hurt you, Luce.”
The compassion in Maddy’s voice had Lucy looking away back toward the barbecue. Cal was once again focused on a story Rob was telling.
“I think he’s grown up a bit since then.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy noticed Maddy’s gaze follow hers.
“A bit,” Maddy agreed, her tone teasing. A long silence seemed to pass between them before Maddy spoke again. “Have you told him why?”
Lucy shook her head.
“You want him to guess?”
Straightening in her chair, Lucy placed her glass on the table between them and sighed when she noticed Maddy’s curious expression. With her right hand, she raised her sunglasses and propped them on the top of her head. She stared at Maddy, willing her to understand. Sure, it may have seemed unreasonable, but if Cal had ever truly been her best friend, if he’d ever really cared about her, known her as well as he’d claimed, then he should’ve been able to realize the truth, to notice when he’d broken her heart.
“I just want him to know,” Lucy told her.
*
Lucy was taunting him. She had to be. Why else would she have worn that dress? Its light, mauve material was snug around her perky, bra-less breasts and then hung loosely down to mid-thigh, revealing those shapely legs Cal longed to have wrapped around him again. The thin spaghetti straps and floral-patterned crochet at the back did little to shield her creamy, touchable skin from the coolness of the nearing evening.
He knew he was staring at her as she walked around the wooden table toward him, but he didn’t care. Her attention was focused on Madison.
Lucy laughed. “I’d forgotten all about that.” She placed the cheese platter she’d been holding in the middle of the table and took her seat next to him.
With a bottle of red wine in her hand, Madison sat down next to Rob on the other side of the large alfresco dining setting in the corner of the courtyard. “I bet you remember, Cal. After all, you both had to put me to bed twice.”
Reluctantly, Cal dragged his gaze from where it lingered on Lucy’s beguiling figure. He knew he was losing control again. If his lustful stares weren’t enough to prove that to her, then the growing bulge tightening the crotch of his pants would be enough to confirm any suspicions. He forced a look at Madison. Of course, he knew what she was referring to. Toby’s parties were fond memories for all of them and this one in particular held some of the best.
“Toby’s end of junior year party. His dodgy friend Rouso scored some bottles of vodka from his Russian uncle.” Cal paused. “If I remember correctly, you challenged Claire Ivers to a drinking contest. Claire won.”
“Hey!” Madison growled at him. “She only won because you guys dragged me away.”
“And why did we do that?” The sweetness of Lucy’s voice, even with its playful tone, had Cal staring at her again.
Madison frowned innocently. “Because you’re party-poopers.”
That had Rob laughing loudly.
Lucy cast an amused look Cal’s way and liquid fire shot through his veins.
It would be inappropriate to make love to her right here, wouldn’t it?
Cal almost rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of his thought. Of course, it would be. His gaze raked over her pink lips, that delicate bare neck and then down to the tempting peaks of her full breasts, before rising to her face again. He wanted to touch her so badly, his whole body ached for it. Maybe he could slip his hand into hers, wrap an arm around her shoulders or spread his fingers over the smooth skin of her thigh? Maybe that small touch would be enough to quell his hunger for her?
He bit his lower lip in frustration. Who was he kidding? He’d ravage her as soon as he touched her. Cal clenched his itchy fingers into fists instead.
Then, Lucy’s gaze left him for Madison again and he felt suddenly cold.
“We would have locked you in that room,” Lucy said, “except for the fact that the lock was on the inside.”
“I didn’t want to miss out on the fun.” Madison pouted at her husband as though hoping he might offer her some support.
Cal forced his thoughts away from the searing image of Lucy’s nipples pricking in the chilly air beneath the soft fabric of her dress. He gave Madison a grin. “It might have still been early, but you were well past drunk. You were just lucky that Toby offered up his own room for you to sleep it off in. The rest of us had to share the rec room floor.” He risked a glance at Lucy.
She blushed at his words.
Cal had hoped she’d remember. That night had been one of his fondest memories for so long. All those many years ago, once the party had quietened down and only a few had stayed awake to brave the last of the alcohol and the coming morning; when there were teenagers snoring, crammed on top of one another on the couch and strewn over the few beanbags on the carpeted floor, and Toby had reluctantly decided to sleep top and tail in his bed to watch over Madison—Cal and Lucy had snuggled beneath a throw rug in their private little corner.
Cal was supposed to have been dating Jackie Gardener at the time, a petite blonde with red freckles and a wicked temper. When Cal hadn’t wanted to leave the party at the unreasonably early time she had, Jackie had thrown a tantrum and left with a couple of girlfriends instead. Lucy had argued hotly with him over his decision, but he’d quickly told her that he hadn’t wanted to leave Madison in her drunk state—never mind the fact that he had no plans at all to leave Lucy alone herself either. Once everyone had settled down to sleep, she’d blatantly refused to lie down close beside him, purposely keeping her distance. But, as soon as she’d started shivering, he was there, covering her with the warmth of his body, holding her close, his firm body against the soft line of hers as he nuzzled her neck and breathed in the sweet, honey scent of her—and she hadn’t pushed him away. It had been heaven and he’d never wanted to let her go.
As he reflected, Cal felt a gratified grin spread his lips and then, in seeing Madison’s confusion, immediately regretted it.
“Okay, what did I miss?” Madison was watching him carefully, as though she was trying to decipher a secret code.
Cal shook his head and offered her the most innocent expression he could muster. “Nothing. I was just remembering how much fun we had.”
Madison frowned. “That’s not what that look was.” Then, she glanced at Lucy and Cal followed her gaze.
Her face still rosy with a heated blush, Lucy wouldn’t look either of them in the eye. Instead, she stared down into the stained depths of her empty wine glass.
Madison’s hazel eyes returned to his and narrowed suspiciously. “What aren’t you telling me?”
As though recognizing the rising hostility in the room, Rob leaned forward and grabbed Madison’s hand, caressing her palm with his fingers. “Maybe it’s better if we don’t know,” he told her, his voice jovial, but firm.
Cal’s gaze flicked to Rob, but he wasn’t brave enough to make any sort of grateful gesture to the man, lest Madison read too far into that as well. Hardening his gaze, Cal stared Madison down. “You going to pour that Shiraz or is there a corkage fee?”
After a brief stint at a death-staring contest, Madison rolled her eyes at him and then relaxed into her chair. “You know I’ll get it out of you eventually,” she told him, her tone almost smug. “In fact, this bottle of wine might get me that bit closer to the truth.”
Cal acknowledged the challenge with a haughty chuckle. “Good luck with that.”
Shaking his head with a smile, Rob grabbed the bottle of red wine from Madison’s firm grasp and set about unscrewing the cap. “Now, now, children,” he chided them carefully. “Let’s play nice while we’re still in friendly company.” Rob nodded toward Lucy.
As Cal and Madison glanced toward her, Lucy stood abruptly.
“I should probably be going.” Her face was still flushed as she struggled to hold Rob’s surprised gaze.
A sharp shock of dread sparked through Cal’s nerves at her words.
“No—” Rob and Madison began in unison. They shared a quick look and then Madison let Rob continue, even though it was obvious she was desperate to speak.
“There’s no need to leave, Lucy. It’s still early and,” he glanced at Madison again before continuing, “we’d be happy for you to stay for dinner as well. It’s no trouble, really.”
“Please, Luce.” Madison’s eyes were wide, her expression forlorn.
Wringing her hands together as she nibbled at her lower lip, Lucy cast a wary look across at Cal.
He smiled up at her, doing his best to appear non-threatening and friendly, not desperate or lustful, and definitely not as though he longed to throw her down on the table and ravish her in front of their friends.
Rob grabbed Lucy’s empty wine glass and started pouring the Shiraz. “Really, Lucy. It’s fine.” His kind expression and gentle words oozed reassurance. “We’re changing the subject, anyway.” He glanced purposefully at Madison. “Aren’t we, Mads?”
Still staring at Lucy, Madison nodded obediently. “Yes. Definitely. What would you like to talk about, Luce?”
Lucy grimaced and then looked helplessly toward the house as though seeking out an exit.
Rob reached out toward her with the refreshed glass of wine in his hand, offering it to her. “Come on. Give it a little longer and if you still feel like heading home after that, we’ll even pay for your cab fare.”
After a minute, which felt like a century to Cal, Lucy released a tremendous sigh and stopped wringing her hands. She shrugged anxiously and eventually took her seat again.
“Sorry,” she told them, her beautiful blue eyes focused on Rob.
Smiling, he moved the glass closer to her, and she took it from him. “It’s all good.” His tone was soft and compassionate as he grabbed Madison’s hand and held it lovingly in his. “It’s been an overwhelming day for all of us.” He gazed briefly at Madison before looking back at Lucy. “We’ve had lots of catching up to do and, hopefully, in the future we’ll have plenty more opportunities to do the same.”
Madison’s hopeful grin was incandescent.
Cal knew how she felt. The day had been amazing, as had every other moment he’d managed to spend with Lucy, but today was even more special than usual. Today, three best friends had finally been reunited in laughter, harmony, and love. It was like old times again and Cal couldn’t imagine his future without it.
***
Cal had actually asked his chauffeur, Henry, to step outside—out of the Range Rover the older man was supposed to be in charge of driving. The situation made Lucy feel even more apprehensive than when she’d first stepped into the confined space of the sport utility vehicle with him.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I needed us to be alone.” Cal’s tone was calming and sincere, but neither did very much to help settle Lucy’s nerves.
She nodded toward him, but maintained her distance. Since sitting inside on the black leather interior, she’d scooted as far away from him and as close to the adjacent door as she could. Lucy needed to be able to make a quick escape if necessary, for she had been certain if Cal didn’t attempt to make a move on her during their travel time, then she was at the risk of doing so herself.
The dark backstreet outside appeared quiet in the stillness of Sunday night. It had been nearing ten o’clock when they’d left Maddy and Rob’s house and that, if she judged the distance correctly, had been about half an hour ago. Lucy was almost home. They were on her street, so close to her townhouse that she could’ve sworn she could see the burgundy color of her front door. Yet, Cal had asked Henry to pull over to the curb just far enough away that for her to jump out and run for safety would be an awkwardly obvious statement.
Lucy dragged her gaze away from the darkness outside the car and tried to hold Cal’s blue-grey gaze. “It was a lot of fun today,” she told him, when he didn’t make a move to explain their seclusion.
Cal smiled, his full lips not quite parting. It would have been a warm, affectionate expression had his eyes not glittered with a lustful hunger.
After attempting to swallow her jittery nerves, Lucy forced her features to brighten. She was sure she must have looked like some kind of trapped animal, desperately searching for escape, but she was a big girl, not a timid teenager and there was no sensible reason for her fear. She was a grown woman and she could control her own inappropriate desires.
Even as she repeated the mantra in her head, it didn’t seem to help calm her. In fact, her impish imagination was doing its best to focus on one thing in particular—her desires. Quiet, kind, salt-and-pepper-haired Henry may have been only right outside the car, but that didn’t stop Lucy fantasizing about having Cal screw her brains out right then and there.
“Luce…,” Cal began slowly, making Lucy even more anxious.
Beginning to babble, she cut him off. “I-it was funny when Maddy found out you knew about the bome thing.” She laughed and it sounded too sharp, too loud to her own ears, that she quickly stopped. “I thought she was going to kill me,” she tittered.
Cal’s gaze narrowed in concern and he reached out to her, seeking her hand with his.
Without thinking, Lucy jolted away from him and harder against the car door. She knew her eyes were wide; her expression was fearful and she was suddenly mortified by her reaction.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him quickly, her head lowering.
After an instant, Lucy braved a look up at him, but instead of seeing the frustration of harsh rejection or anger of misunderstanding she expected to see, Cal was just staring at her, his expression peaceful, his eyes determined.
“Luce,” he began again, his voice caressing her like velvet.
Clenching her jaw, she fought the urge to interrupt, to turn the conversation back to lighter topics. This time she would hear him out, she owed him that after acting like such a childish scaredy-cat.
His kissable lips parted into a smile. “You have to stop fighting this, baby.” He reached out and stroked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
The sensation was electrifying and sent shivers throughout her whole body. Her nipples tightened, hoping and anticipating their own turn, while hot desire pooled at the delta of her thighs. As he cupped her face with his hand, she fought the need to rub her cheek against him, to attack his coarse palm with her lips. Breathing deeply, Lucy tried to calm the burning need clutching at her heart, making it race.
“I know you wanted to take things slow,” he told her carefully, “but there’s something special between us. You and I both know that, we’ve always known it.” His thumb caressed her cheek lightly. “You need to give it a chance. Give us a chance, Luce. What is there to be afraid of?”
She stared at him. He had to be joking. There were plenty of reasons for her to be afraid—the main one being the fear of losing her best friend, the man she had always loved all over again and suffering from a final, irreparably broken heart.
Lucy opened her mouth, but no words formed. Every cell in her being wanted to give in to what Cal was offering, give in to what her heart and libido longed for, but realistically she knew there was a chance that it wouldn’t end well.
“Please give this a chance, Luce,” Cal repeated. He leaned closer to her, his brows furrowed and his gaze desperate.
Gnawing on her bottom lip, she felt her heart leap in her chest as though bouncing in agreement. Was it really that easy? Could she just give in—to him, to everything? Could she just ignore the danger of the relationship failing all over again? Was it possible to just forgive him for all the hurt he caused her and move forward? Lucy just didn’t know, but suddenly all she wanted to do was try.
Ignoring the uneasiness in her gut, that last shred of sense questioning the risk to her emotional wellbeing, Lucy did what she’d been longing to do—she turned her head and kissed his palm. When her gaze found Cal’s again, she was languidly relishing the feel of his warm hand against her soft cheek. His smoky-blue eyes darkened sensually as he watched her. His strong, broad body poised just in front of her, like a panther having sighted its prey.
Lucy sighed, partly in exhaustion, elation, and satisfaction. “Okay,” she told him, her voice breathy. “What would I need to do?”
Cal’s gaze dropped to her lips.
Her breath caught in her throat, anticipation locking her in place as her body thrummed, longing to be touched.
“Well,” Cal pondered, licking his lips as he spoke. “I think you should come to the Gold Coast with me.”