“Believe it or not,” Adam said, his voice husky with
arousal, “it wasn’t my intention to pounce on you the
minute I walked in the door.”
Mallory looped her arms around his neck and rubbed her
pelvis slowly against the hard bulge in his jeans. “Not
to put too fine a point on it, but I think I’m the one who
pounced on you.”
His clever fingers walked her skirt up and his hands
curved over her bare butt, lifting her higher against
him. “I’m not complaining.”
She moaned at the exquisite sensation. “Hmmmm. Already I
can see what will be my biggest weakness in any dealings
with you.”
“What’s that?”
“My knees.”
“Ah. Which would mean a lot of lying down. A terrible
problem, but I’m all kinds of empathetic.”
“Lying down...now that sounds like a great idea,” she
said, slipping from his grasp. Entwining their fingers,
she was about to lead him toward her bedroom when the
lights suddenly flickered. She paused, and they flickered
madly again, then went out, plunging the room into
darkness.
Chapter One
Adam Clayton looked around the photo studio and asked
himself the same question he’d pondered a dozen times in
the last half hour--what on earth was he doing? It was
one thing to help out Nick with paperwork while his buddy
was at the hospital about to become a new dad, but there
was no way Adam could actually take the photos for the
appointments booked into Nick’s studio today. He was a
stockbroker, for cryin’ out loud, not a photographer. Or
at least he used to be a stockbroker. Now he was a...
He dragged his hands through his hair. What exactly was
he? Career-wise, he didn’t know, and it had become
increasingly clear to him every day since leaving Wall
Street two months ago that while he’d accomplished his
goal of minimizing the health-threatening stress and
anxiety in his life, he didn’t like not knowing what he
was. Who he was. Where his life was heading. For a guy
who’d always defined himself by his career, he now felt
like a ship without a port.
He frowned. Surely this disquiet was only temporary. He
just needed more time to get used to being out of the rat
race. Still, it was difficult for him not to have a grasp
on things. He’d always been so disciplined, his schedule
so regimented, his time so consumed with work, that he was
finding it a real challenge to throttle back and take it
easy.
He missed the passion and energy his hectic, frenetic work
had inspired. He needed to find another outlet for that
energy and passion--something that would bring him the
same sense of satisfaction but wouldn’t make him face
another health scare like the one he’d recently
experienced. Nothing quite as sobering as a grim-faced
cardiologist asking him if he wanted to end up like his
father. Which he sure as hell did not. Lying on that
gurney with all those monitors beeping around him, had
been a major wake-up call. He’d realized then and there
that he needed to change his life--now. Not at some
nebulous point in the future. So, two weeks after those
stress-induced chest pains had landed him in the emergency
room, one month after his thirtieth birthday, he’d
officially “retired” from Wall Street. He had no
intention of becoming a statistic and leaving behind a
young wife and family like his workaholic, stock broker
father had.
Now, with nothing and no one to worry about except
himself, he was finally free to do some of the things he’d
always wanted. Things he’d never had the time to do. Top
of the list--three months in Europe. During college, he’d
twice planned to spend the summer trekking around Europe,
but on both occasions his plans had been thwarted. First
time courtesy of illness. Talk about a lousy time to
catch mono. Second time...
He blew out a deep breath and forced back the barrage of
memories that threatened to sneak out of the place where
he kept them carefully locked away. Second time he’d
cancelled because he’d fallen wildly, passionately in love
and hadn’t wanted to spend one minute, let alone the
entire summer away from her.
He shook his head to dispel the image that rose in his
mind’s eye of the laughing, smiling girl who’d so
thoroughly captured his heart that long ago summer. His
gaze fell upon the photo on Nick’s desk. An 8x10 of a
smiling Nick and Annie on their wedding day two years ago,
and a wave of undeniable envy washed through Adam. Maybe
he didn’t know what sort of new career he wanted, but one
thing he definitely did know he wanted--the kind of
loving, happy relationship Nick and Annie shared. The
same kind his parents had shared...until his father’s
death.
But not just yet.
No, first he planned to enjoy this time off--the first
he’d had in years, and indulge in his lifelong dream of
seeing the world--at something less than warp speed.
Except for the Caribbean, he’d never traveled outside the
United States. And he’d never been anywhere for more than
three days at a time. Growing up, his family’s vacations
had consisted of quick jaunts over two or three day
weekends when the stock exchange was closed. Due to the
Clayton family vacation time constraints, the rule was
their destination couldn’t require more than a three hour
flight, or a four hour drive.
Since he was a kid, he’d always wanted to go somewhere far
away and stay there for more than thirty-six hours. Bask
in the culture, take his time to explore the intricacies
of a single city. As of yet, it hadn’t happened. With
his crazy work schedule, he hadn’t taken a vacation of any
length in more than five years. Now he had his chance and
nothing was going to stop him from snatching the brass
ring he’d waited so long to grab.
Yet, except for his travel plans, he hadn’t made any
definite decisions about what direction he now wished to
head. The answer was out there, yet it frustratingly
remained just beyond his reach, whispering that if he just
stretched a little bit further, the solution would come to
him. At some point he’d have to make a decision, but
thanks to careful financial planning, that point wasn’t
right now. And with six months left on the lease on his
Manhattan apartment, he didn’t need to worry about moving
just yet. Which was good as he had no idea where he
planned to live--other than to know it would no longer be
in fast-paced Manhattan.
So, in the meanwhile, he’d do what the doctor ordered.
Rest. Relax. Toss off his all work, no play persona and
embrace the carefree, bachelor lifestyle. Hook up with a
bevy of gorgeous women. Not that he’d lived like a monk
before--but he’d certainly devoted a hell of a lot more
time to his job than to his social life. A few years
down the road, after he’d seen the world, made up for lost
dating time and had a new career going, then he’d start
looking around for Ms. Right.
You found her once, his inner voice chimed in slyly. You
had her. But you let her get away...
The mental picture he’d only moments ago successfully
blocked now broke through his carefully erected barriers
and a vivid image of Mallory Altman rose in his mind,
filling him with the same sense of loss and regret the
thought of her always brought.
Had ten years really passed since they’d first met? Nine
years since that unforgettable summer when their
friendship had caught fire and flared into a steaming love
affair? Yes, although when he allowed himself to think
about that summer, the memories remained so clear, so
vivid, it didn’t seem possible it had happened so long ago.
To this day, if he closed his eyes, he could still hear
her infectious laugh. See her teasing grin. He’d loved
her sense of humor, the magical way she could turn even
the dullest chore into something fun. He’d fallen
hard...so hard that the depth of his feelings had scared
the crap out of him. Yeah, he’d had her, but the timing
had been wrong. For both of them.
They’d been too young, his emotions too intense. She’d
just turned eighteen and was headed off to a university
hundreds of miles away, while he was only twenty-one, a
new college grad about to start his Wall Street career.
When he’d found himself thinking about forever--about
marriage, kids, and a mortgage, panic swamped him and he
suggested they take a break. See other people. She’d
agreed and he’d breathed a huge sigh of relief.
It hadn’t taken him long to realize he’d made a mistake,
but it had been long enough for her to find someone else.
And to make it clear that Adam was now “just a friend.”
Losing her, realizing that her feelings hadn’t run
anywhere near as deep as his had hurt like a jagged blade
through his heart.
They’d briefly run into each other a few times after that,
but each time they’d been involved with other people. He
hadn’t seen her in five years. Still, the image of her
gorgeous smile and warm, chocolaty brown eyes remained as
vibrant as ever. The last he’d heard about her had been
three years ago when he’d seen an announcement in the
paper that she’d gotten engaged.
An odd, unsettling numbness had invaded his chest at the
news, and all the memories he’d so firmly locked away had
ambushed him. The first time he’d seen her. First time
he’d touched her. Kissed her. Made love to her. The
last time he’d touched her...and all those touches in
between. He’d tortured himself, letting down his guard to
recall those incredible few weeks that had been the
happiest of his life. Then he’d mentally wished her well
and forced her from his mind--a feat he managed fairly
well most of the time.
Now, he roughly shoved aside her image. Mallory was the
past. His future was spread before him like a bachelor
banquet filled with desirable women, no strings sex, the
European trip he’d always dreamed of, desirable women, and
no strings sex. He’d worked hard and now it was time to
decompress and reap some benefits.
A bell tinkled, indicating that someone had entered the
storefront, yanking him from his reverie. Must be the one
o’clock appointment. As Nick had dashed out this morning
after Annie’s call announcing she was in labor, he’d asked
Adam to reschedule the day’s appointments. He’d been able
to contact everyone except the one o’clock and two o’clock
slots. Hopefully they’d both be understanding about the
lack of photographer. He didn’t want to lose any
customers for Nick in his absence.
Exiting the studio, he made his way down the short hallway
toward the front of the store. When he entered the main
room, he saw a dark haired woman wearing a sleeveless
turquoise dress standing in front of the glass-top
counter, her back to Adam.
“Hi,” he said, striding forward with a smile.
She turned and whatever else he’d planned to say drained
from his head as his footsteps faltered then stopped. And
damn, it felt as if his heart did the same. Her brown
eyes widened, and she looked nearly as stunned as he
felt. He wouldn’t have believed she could look better
than what his memory conjured up, but she did. More
beautiful. More desirable. More tempting. And real.
How ironic that since timing had played such a pivotal
role in their relationship and its demise that she should
walk through the door just when he’d been thinking about
her.
Walking toward her, he cleared his throat to find his
voice and spoke words he’d never thought he’d have the
opportunity to say again.
“Hi, Mallory.”
* * * * *
“Bring your knee up a little higher. Ooooh, yeah. Right
there. Mallory...that’s perfect.”
Mallory Altman shifted on the smooth ivory
satin sheets, the material cool and slick against her
overheated body. She felt like an overripe peach about to
burst from its too-tight skin. Certainly not the way
she’d anticipated feeling this afternoon. But then, she
hadn’t anticipated finding herself in Adam Clayton’s
company.
Even after not seeing him for five years, the sound of his
deep, husky voice still shivered tingles down her spine.
Good thing she was laying down, because her knees felt
positively mushy. Yet she’d felt mushy since the moment
she’d so unexpectedly set eyes on him. She couldn’t deny
that over the past five years she’d found herself
wondering if or when she might see him again. But never,
not even in her wildest fantasies, had it ever occurred to
her that it would happen like this.
She’d been so stunned to see him she’d barely managed to
ask him what he was doing here, of all places. Left his
job on Wall Street, he’d replied, much to her amazement,
and was pitching in at Picture This to help out his best
friend Nick whose wife had gone into labor that morning.
There’d been little time for more conversation--she had a
client to see in an hour, and he had another appointment.
Once she’d changed into her lingerie for her boudoir
pictures photo shoot, everything had just moved so
quickly, and talking had been the last thing on her mind.
Still, surely it was only this provocative situation that
had her in this aroused state--and nothing to do with Adam
himself. After all, what they’d shared together was long
over. Besides, what woman wouldn’t find herself aroused
by lying on satin sheets, wearing exquisitely expensive
silk lingerie while being photographed by a sexy, gorgeous
man?
He’d always been attractive--not handsome in a pretty boy,
conventional way--but in a ruggedly masculine way that
made it seem as if he spent all his time outdoors rather
than on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. With
his thick dark hair and deep blue eyes, she’d liked the
look of him the instant she’d laid eyes on him ten years
ago.
An image flashed in her mind of the first time she’d seen
him. She’d been eighteen and sulky, convinced her life
was over because she and her mom had just relocated--for
the sixth time in twelve years--from Chicago to Long
Island, New York, forcing her to attend her upcoming
senior year of high school at a new school. She’d prayed
that her mother’s position with the orchestra in Chicago
would last just one more year, but no such luck.
As a professional cellist and financially strapped single
mother, Emily Altman moved to whichever city’s orchestra
made her the best offer. Because of their transient
lifestyle and the fact that money was forever tight,
they’d always lived in apartments--until the move to Long
Island where, as a concession to Mallory for leaving her
friends and steady boyfriend, her mom had splurged and
rented a small house, the first they’d ever lived in. For
Mallory, the profound sense of stability, of permanence,
she’d felt at finally living in a house had almost made up
for having to move again. She’d actually considered
staying in Chicago, living with a girlfriend’s family to
finish out her last year of high school, but in the end
she just couldn’t let her mom go alone. Since Mallory’s
father had walked away before she was born rather than
accept the responsibility of a pregnant girlfriend,
Mallory and her mom had always been the two musketeers.
So she’d packed up and moved. Again. And had met Adam.
He’d been twenty and friendly, home for the summer after
completing his junior year of college. Thanks to his
summer job working for a landscaping business, he’d been
mowing the lawn at her house. At the ungodly hour of 8:30
a.m. on a Saturday. She’d been tempted to hurl a shoe out
her bedroom window at him, but then he’d looked up and
smiled at her and whammo--suddenly New York wasn’t looking
so bad. A friendship and easy camaraderie had been born.
He was smart, funny, and possessed a work ethic, a drive
and ambition she deeply admired and respected. He’d made
her laugh, and had amazed her when he said he’d lived in
the same house his entire life. A year later, their
friendship caught fire, and for a beautiful, brief time,
had burned out of control. A decade after that first
meeting, his smile still had the power to affect her.
“Think about what you want to do to your lover,” Adam said
softly, jerking her attention back to the present. He
looked at her through the lens of his Nikon and adjusted
the focus. “Think about what you want your lover to do to
you.”
A memory, sharp and poignant, instantly
materialized in Mallory’s mind...of that incredible
summer...of the first time they’d made love. Adam,
scooping her up in his strong arms, his blue eyes hot with
want as he carried her to his bed. She’d wanted so badly
to touch him, taste him. And wanted him to do the same to
her.
She’d been a virgin and nervous, expecting
awkwardness, but they’d laughed over their brief fumbles,
and then...pure magic. His hands...God, she remembered
his hands so well...large and calloused, skimming down her
body, touching her everywhere, followed by his lips which
had proved as magical as his hands. Her hands and lips
exploring him. Hot skin, murmured words, tangled sheets.
And the way he’d looked at her, with such desire,
reverence and need as he’d slowly entered her.
She was vaguely aware of the shutter snapping, but all her
focus, all her concentration, was on the memories washing
over her. And the fantasy of experiencing that heat with
him again.
And that was really...
Bad. Wrong.
And damned inconvenient.
She closed her eyes and tried to visualize
Greg--the man she should be thinking about. Greg. Her
boyfriend. The man for whom she was having these
provocative boudoir pictures taken. Her plan had been to
reignite their stalled love life with a gift of these
photos. Yet ever since she’d walked into the studio and
discovered to her shock and consternation that Adam would
be taking the pictures, her fine plan had disintegrated
like steam in a wind storm. And speaking of steam...she
felt as if it were pulsing from her every pore.