“Niki, are you okay?” His deep voice brought her senses back into sharp focus.
“Why does everyone keep asking me if I’m okay?” Niki snapped.
“Probably because you look like death warmed over,” Cassie offered.
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” she lied, as she fought a new wave of dizziness. “It’s just warm in here, that’s all.”
“Warm, my eye,” her mother said. “It’s all this rushing about you’ve been doing.” She shook her head, sending the corkscrew curls bouncing. “Why you and Greg decided on such a short engagement is beyond me. Three months isn’t long enough to make plans for a wedding. No wonder you’re feeling peaked.” Determination crossed her plump face. “Jack, take her outside. Get her some fresh air.”
“No, Mom,” Niki said quickly. “I’ll be fine—”
“Niki, I think you’d better listen to your mother,” Cassie said, slipping off the bar stool. “You really do look pale. Helen and I will take care of the food. You go on outside for few minutes.”
Before she could make another protest, a strong hand was pressed against the small of her back, pushing her gently toward the door. Trepidation shimmied along her spine. A cool, damp breeze caressed her flushed skin as she stepped outside. She lifted her face to the heavens and a fat drop of rain plopped onto her nose.
“It’s raining,” she said, turning back, glad for an excuse to go inside.
Jack didn’t give her a chance to escape.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and started running. His skin felt warm against hers, his grip firm. She had no choice but to follow. Deftly skirting the raindrops and puddles, he led her to the gazebo.
Niki gave a silent moan. Being alone with Jack was bad enough. But returning to the gazebo felt as though she were returning to the scene of’the crime. For this was where he’d stolen her youthful fantasies.
As soon as their footsteps thudded against the wooden floor, Niki snatched her hand away from Jack’s grasp. She strode to the far end of the gazebo, as far away from him as possible. He lingered at the gazebo’s arched entranceway, blocking the exit. Short of hopping over the railing in her green silk dress, there would be no escaping him.
Neither of them spoke. An eternity passed as they listened to the rain drum against the gazebo’s roof. A damp chill turned their ragged breaths into foggy plumes. The night pressed against them, dark and forboding.
Jack shattered the silence. “Do you plan to stay mad at me forever?”
She heard a shade of the old Jack in his tone. The teasing, confident boy who could sweet-talk his way out of any argument. Steeling herself against his charm, she refused to look at him. “Mad doesn’t even begin to describe the way I feel.”
“Niki, I didn’t come out here to argue with you—”
“Then why did you come?”
“To reason with you.” A hint of exasperation edged his voice. “Obviously, that was a mistake.”
She glanced at him. Beyond the reaches of the light, he looked dark and elusive, like a shadow in the night. “Why? Because you can’t reason with a child?”
He released a slow, impatient breath. “I never said you were a child.”
“No, but you implied it.”
“All I said was that you were too young—”
“I’m old enough,” she insisted.
He continued, undaunted. “That you were too young and too impulsive—”
“I am not impulsive.”
“Right. That’s why you’re marrying Greg in three months.” He stepped closer, emerging from the shadows. His voice came like a whisper out of the dark. “What’s your hurry, Niki? Afraid you might change your mind?”
Niki flinched, as his taunt struck a hidden nerve. She stared at him. Even in the rain-darkened light, he looked handsome, sexy and irresistible. Noticing his physical attributes only stoked her anger. “I’d rather be impulsive than be a hypocrite. How dare you come to my engagement party, when you don’t even approve of my marriage?”
He shrugged. “Greg and I were classmates. I’m a friend of the family. I may not approve of the wedding, but I have no choice but to accept it.”
A new surge of anger rose up inside her. “I never asked for your approval.” She held her arms out at her sides. “Look at me, Jack. I’m a big girl now. I’m all grown up. I can make my own decisions.”
Impatience lined his face. “For the last time, I don’t think of you as a child.”
“No, you just treat me like one.”
“If you want to be treated like an adult, then start acting like one.”
She threw her hands up in defeat. “I give up. Talking to you is impossible.” With a determined step, she moved to slip past him.
Jack stopped her. Placing both hands upon her shoulders, he spun her around to face her. “This conversation isn’t finished.”
“Yes, it is. Let go of me, Jack.”
He didn’t listen. He held her firm.
She felt the warmth of his hands through the silky fabric of her dress. She saw the rise and fall of his chest with each breath he drew. She inhaled the scent of his cologne, the same brand of cologne she’d given him three years ago for Christmas. Anger still pumped through her veins, but with it came a new emotion. Awareness prickled her senses.
He was too close…too tempting. She had to leave. Now.
Only, she couldn’t move.
She couldn’t say a word.
“Niki, I…” he began, his voice thick, as though he were having a difficult time forming the words. He stopped. Stared at her. Then, releasing a harsh breath, he pulled her close.
Before she could protest, he kissed her.
Lightning, which had nothing to do with the stormy weather raging beyond the gazebo, struck the moment their lips met.
Jack was stunned. Their first kiss should have been gentle, playful…a reflection of their friendship. Gentle wasn’t an apt description. The kiss started rough, and grew even more demanding.
And yet, Niki didn’t resist.
Need took the place of his common sense. Experimentally, he swept his tongue across her lips, sampling them. They were sweet and tender like a forbidden fruit. Once tasted, he knew he was lost.
Somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, the voice of reason struggled to be heard. Niki was his friend. She was like a sister to him. She was engaged to another man.
Kissing her was wrong.
Then her lips parted. Her tongue met his, tentatively at first, then bolder. And Jack knew reason didn’t have a chance. The temptation was too great. The kiss deepened, as though of its own volition.
Being bad, he told himself, never felt so good.
He slid his hands down her back, marking a silky trail. She shivered in his arms. Cupping her slender waist, he pulled her close. Her supple curves molded themselves to him. Soft and warm, her body felt as though it had been made to be held by him.
She felt so damned good.
He