The Engagement Game Read online

  His kiss turned deep and his hand slid behind her back.

  “Wait,” she murmured against his lips. “Let me take this off.”

  She sat up to pull her T-shirt off, then lay back down next to him. “Your turn.” She tugged at his boxer briefs.

  Instead, he lifted himself onto one elbow so his face was over hers. “Skeeter,” he said softly.

  “Hmm?”

  “Whatever happens, I want you to know something.”

  “What?”

  “There are no other women. Not for me. There’s nobody but you.”

  Warmth flushed through her chest and she felt a smile form on her lips. “Then we’ve got nothing to worry about. So stop talking and kiss me again.”

  God, he was the best kisser in the world. And positioned over her, his hand was free to roam over her breasts. To tease her nipples and stroke their way down to her panties. He pushed the thin fabric out of the way of his questing fingers, and she gasped as they found her heat.

  “Didn’t I say to take these off?” She pulled again at his boxer briefs.

  He tugged them down impatiently, his hand immediately returning to its interrupted task. She wriggled her panties down to give him better access, shoving them off with one foot when they got low enough. Then she could lie back and enjoy the pleasure coursing through her while she stroked him. He was long and hard, and his length jerked under her hand as though impatient to be inside her.

  “Shame we’re out of condoms,” he said, his voice tight.

  “Wish I was on the pill.”

  His hand hesitated between her legs, and his eyes searched hers. “If you were, you’d make love to me without a condom?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” She tried to concentrate on the question but all she could think about was an overwhelming urge to nudge his hand back to what it had been doing.

  He nuzzled her neck and, thank goodness, his fingers started moving again. “Because you think I’m a man-whore.”

  “Oh.” Silly her, she hadn’t even considered that aspect. “Are you clean?”

  “I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t.” He kissed his way down to her breasts and took her nipple into his mouth, working it with his tongue. “And I haven’t slept with anyone for a while.”

  “Really?” she managed. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to be having when every brain cell was preoccupied with the sensations running through her body. Besides, wasn’t it rude to talk with his mouth full?

  “Nobody since the woman who programmed a ringtone into my phone.”

  It took a minute or two for the information to filter through to the part of her brain that was still capable of thought. Especially because he’d shifted around so his legs were by her head, and his tongue was following where his fingers had led.

  “Didn’t you say that was months ago?” she gasped eventually, her words muffled against his thigh.

  “Huh-hmm,” he agreed. His words were muffled too, and the sensation of his breath gusting over her sensitive skin was delicious. If she wasn’t too busy moaning with pleasure, she might have wanted to question him some more.

  She’d always assumed he had a different woman in his bed most nights, so going a few months between lovers wasn’t what she’d expected. She wanted to ask why he hadn’t been with anyone since the ringtone woman, but when she tried, all that came out was, “Oh.” And, “Oh, God.” And then, “Yes,” and, “Yes, Jake.”

  She let her hand tighten hard around his length, the up-and-down strokes becoming part of her rhythm. His groans of pleasure only enhanced what he was doing with his tongue, and he came on her breasts as her own gasps started to quieten.

  Afterward, she used a T-shirt to clean up, then lay on his hard chest listening to him breathe, loving the feel of his fingers brushing up and down her back.

  She felt too dreamy to talk about other women, or his parents, or any of the reasons this might not work. And she was almost dozing when he murmured, “Will you wait for me, sweetheart?”

  “Two years?” she asked sleepily. “It’s such a long time. Will you come back to Sydney for weekends?”

  “I won’t be able to get away. The development’s going to be a lot of work. But you could come and see me.”

  Of course she could go and see him. But he’d be busy working, and she’d have to spend even more time away from the kids at the hospital. The thought hurt her. Was Jacquie okay? She missed the little girl’s smile.

  And what if Carin got the fallen angel role? Or something else came up? She’d be busy, too. She might not be able to get away at all.

  Instead of answering, she kissed his chest, then laid her head back down over his heart. She was too sleepy to think about all the obstacles in front of them.

  Problems were for tomorrow. Tonight was for sleep, and love making, and convincing each other that everything was going to be okay.

  25

  Jake carefully laid the branches he’d cut to make a floor for their courtyard. The worst thing about the shelter was that the sarong laid over their leaf mattress kept getting gritty with sand and dirt. The new floor should solve that problem. It also gave them a platform to be the basis for their rudimentary kitchen. He’d already enlarged the courtyard’s walls. After he was done laying the floor, he’d add the cutting rock which stood in for a kitchen bench, and the bigger logs they’d been using to sit on.

  Okay, so the elimination was tomorrow, so they’d only be sleeping here one more night. Theoretically, he was wasting his time. But here he was with carefully-cut branches and a stone hammer, fitting the new floor as meticulously as if he were piecing together expensive European tiles.

  Carin stuck her head out of the lean-to. Her hair was messy, flopping into her eyes, and all the sunshine had made her freckles even darker than they were at home. Adorable. And when she yawned, she looked so damn sexy he wanted to drop everything and dive straight back into the leaf bed that had lately become his favorite place in the world.

  “Looking good,” said Carin. “This place is getting so comfy, we won’t want to leave.”

  Already Jake didn’t want to leave, in spite of the intrusive cameras and not having had a satisfying meal for days.

  Some hardships hadn’t proven so difficult. Like running out of condoms. It hadn’t kept them from getting creative and they’d had fun. But he’d definitely need to stock up when they got home.

  Except that he’d need to leave for the Northern Territory in the next few days, so he and Carin wouldn’t have much time together before he left. The knowledge made a hard lump form inside his stomach.

  Without getting up, Carin pointed toward a gap in the spare clothing that was covering their walls. “Here comes the crew with all their gear. I’m surprised a cameraman isn’t already here to film you building the floor.”

  “That’s why I thought I’d do it early, while they have their daily meeting.” He grimaced. “Being filmed all the time is wearing me down. I have no idea why you’d want to do this for a living.”

  “I’ll admit, it has its sucky side.” She pulled herself out of the lean-to and stood on the branches he’d just laid. Wearing nothing but a T-shirt over her red bikini, and with her long limbs newly tanned, she could be an advertisement for island living. She bounced up and down on her toes, then smiled at him. “Nice floor.”

  “Your walk-in wardrobe is next on my list.” He laid down the last branch and knocked it into place with his makeshift rock hammer.

  “I don’t have enough clothes to put in a wardrobe.” She waited until he’d straightened, then tested the new branch with one foot. “Perfect.”

  “I’m glad you approve.”

  When they left, Jake would be sad to leave their shelter behind. Given time, and more tools and materials, he had plenty of ideas for improvements. Building it had reminded him of the time he’d spent at architecture school. He’d dreamed of designing the bespoke houses his father’s company was known for, but with a difference. Injecting his own
style into them.

  Now his job was mostly paperwork and finances. Juggling payments and costing materials. He still got to draw up plans occasionally, but as he’d dropped out of school before getting his qualification, Hendrix needed to sign off any plans he drew. It was a frustrating process.

  Carin leaned against him, tilting her face up for a kiss, and he was glad to oblige. She tasted of sleep and felt so good, he was sorely tempted to take her straight back inside.

  “You’ve made this place so nice, I’m sad we only have one more night here.” Carin echoed his own thoughts. She grabbed her towel and threw it over one shoulder, no doubt planning to have a swim before getting ready for the day’s shooting. He walked out of the cover of their shelter with her, gritting his teeth when he saw the camera crew striding toward them.

  Carin started toward the sea, but turned back to him after just a few steps. “Are you going to have this much fun doing your development in the Northern Territory?” she asked.

  “Of course not.” Thinking about it made him grimace. “You saw the plans, didn’t you? I’m building three hundred affordable houses for the mine expansion, and they’re all going to look the same. When Hendrix called them soulless boxes, he was right.”

  She lifted her chin. “Then don’t go.”

  He stepped closer so he could drop his voice. The camera crew were still a good distance away, but he wouldn’t take any chances. “‘I’m sorry, Skeeter, I can’t let Dad’s business go under.”

  “I know. It’s just such a long way from Sydney.” She wriggled her feet, digging them into the sand. “There’s no way you can send someone else?”

  “Who? Hendrix?” He shook his head. “I have to be there to manage the project and the finances. There’s nobody else with those skills.”

  “And you can’t manage it from Sydney?”

  He motioned for her to lower her voice. “They’re already filming us.”

  “We need to talk about this.”

  “Not now.”

  She made an impatient sound. “You’re closing off again. Your face has gone dead. I hate that.”

  “Because there’s a camera on us.”

  “You sure? Because you’ve done it plenty of times when there are no cameras around.”

  “Excuse me.” Penelope hurried up to them. “Carin, Bozier wants a quick word. Will you come with me?”

  Jake frowned. “Just her?”

  “He didn’t mention you.” Penelope motioned to Carin and the two women walked up the beach toward the crew buildings.

  Jake shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts and walked quickly away from the camera crew. He strode to the far end of the beach, as far as he could go before the rocks at the end of the bay blocked his path. It was as good a place as any to sit while the crew were busy on the main part of the beach getting set up for the day’s challenge. Here, at least, he could have some privacy. Something he’d never take for granted again.

  But he’d only been there a few minutes when he saw a woman coming toward him, her blond hair blowing around her face. Her wrist was bandaged. Sally. He stood up. He had no idea what Sally wanted, but he wasn’t going to sit with her in a secluded spot where Carin could get the wrong idea.

  As Sally got close, he saw the slump of her shoulders and the way she was dragging her feet as though it were an effort to lift them. Her mouth was pulled down as though she were about to burst into tears.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She held up her bandaged wrist. “This? It’s the least of my problems.” Her voice sounded dull. “Question is, are you okay?”

  He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “I saw Carin going into Bozier’s cabin.”

  “So?”

  Sally tried to push her hair away from her eyes, though the wind had other ideas. Her face was pale and her eyes bloodshot, as though she’d been crying. Maybe her wrist was still sore, although the doctor said she’d only strained it.

  “Bozier’s got a reputation,” she said. “You should tell Carin to be careful around him. A few days ago he offered me a part in his new film, and made it clear what I had to do to get it.”

  Jake’s muscles went tight. “He can’t get away with that. What are you going to do about it?”

  “What can I do? If I made a fuss, it’d be his word against mine.” She turned so the wind was behind her. Yeah, she’d definitely been crying. “And if I make trouble, we definitely won’t win the competition. He’ll just rig it so we get eliminated.”

  Jake clenched and unclenched his fists. “That asshole better not so much as look at Carin the wrong way.”

  “Hey.” Sally stepped closer. “At least Bozier didn’t push when I told him no. He made an offer, but didn’t try to force me. I’m sure Carin will be fine.”

  Jake stared up into the treeline, trying to see Bozier’s cabin. “If he lays a hand on her…”

  Sally put a hand to her eyes and turned her face away.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “You really care about her, don’t you? I wish I had someone like you in my life. Sam and I...” She shook her head. “Our wedding’s definitely off. He wants to end our relationship.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Sally lifted her face and met his gaze. A tear shimmered on her eyelashes, caught before it could fall. “Take my advice, Jake. Get out of here as soon as you can. If you stay, this place will tear you apart.”

  “Carin’s determined to get a role on a TV show. She sees this as her big chance.”

  “There are more important things.” Sally reached out and touched his cheek. “This place is a pressure cooker. If Carin values your friendship, she’ll leave before the show messes it up.”

  He grabbed her hand, meaning to push it away from his face. Only it was the bandaged one and he didn’t want to hurt her. “Carin’s wanted to be an actress her whole life. She won’t leave.”

  “Fame is that important to her?” Sally leaned closer, her eyes wide. “Think she’ll take Bozier up on his offer?”

  Jake’s chest tightened. Her whole life, Carin had wanted to act. Didn’t she say Bozier could make her dreams come true? And how could Jake ask her to be faithful to him when he’d never been faithful to anyone in his entire life?

  “I’m here for you, Jake,” Sally whispered. “If you need me.”

  Jake found himself looking at Sally’s lips as she brought her face close. She obviously wanted him to kiss her. Maybe if he did, his confusion would ease. Maybe he wouldn’t feel like his heart was exposed and vulnerable, ready for Carin to slice it into pieces.

  Then Sally rose onto tiptoe and pressed her lips against his.

  For a moment, he kissed her back. Her lips were soft and her breath was warm, and the response was physical and automatic. Then his brain kicked into gear and he grabbed both her arms, pushing her away.

  “Is this a private party?” asked a woman from behind them. “Or can anyone join in?”

  Jake turned, his stomach clenching.

  It was Penelope who’d interrupted them, not Carin. But that didn’t make him feel better. What if it had been Carin?

  Shit, what was wrong with him? He’d betrayed Carin once, and now he’d done it again. Even if Sally had kissed him and not the other way around, he’d still gone along with it. He’d sworn not to hurt Carin, and already he’d broken his promise.

  It could have been Marianne Marple all over again.

  Penelope’s mouth was pressed into a thin line and she hugged her clipboard to her chest. “You’re a player, like I thought,” she said to Jake. “Better hope your fiancée doesn’t find out what you’re up to.”

  “Carin’s not his fiancée.” Sally had fire in her voice. “They’re just friends. She’s an actress playing a role.”

  Penelope raised her eyebrows. “Really? Does Bozier know she’s not what she’s pretending to be?”

  “Sally told me about that asshole Bozier. What does he want with Carin?”
demanded Jake. “How big of a sleazeball is he?”

  “Not as bad as some.” The accusation was clearly pointed at him. Penelope’s lip was curled as though she found him despicable, though she’d hit on him herself when he’d first arrived.

  “Anyway, I came to tell you that you need to leave for the next challenge.” Her tone was curt. “The speedboats are waiting to take you to the location.”

  Jake cursed under his breath and went to find Carin, walking fast enough to leave both women behind. Sally was right, staying here was a bad idea. The show had pushed him and Carin together, but it could also tear them apart. The sooner they got out of here and back to real life, the better.

  26

  Jake didn’t get a chance to talk to Carin until they were in the speedboat, headed away from Lantana Island. The other competitors were with them and the crew were travelling in other boats that were a little way ahead.

  “Bozier doesn’t want us to lose the next challenge.” Carin’s eyes sparkled with barely-contained excitement. She had to put her mouth close to his ear for him to hear her over the noise of the speedboat’s powerful engine, and the wind whipped her hair, blowing it into Jake’s face.

  “That’s all he wanted to talk to you about?” asked Jake, still tense.

  “That’s all? Don’t you get how great that is?” Carin pushed her hair back. “We’ve been coming across so well on camera that he doesn’t want us to be eliminated yet. If we don’t screw up the next challenge, we get to stay another week. You think there’s any chance you’d be able to stay another week, Jake?”

  “Bozier didn’t make you any other kind of offer?”

  Her brow creased. “What do you mean?”

  “I heard Bozier won’t give you an opportunity without asking for a favor in return.”

  “What? Who told you that?”

  Jake shook his head, not wanting to mention Sally. His guilt burned in the back of his throat.

  In his imagination, he could hear his mother’s voice as she demanded to know where their father had been and whose perfume he smelled of. His father used to shrug, wink at Hendrix and Jake, and shoot them a mischievous grin as though he were having the time of his life.