Chapter 15
W
hen she met Brody in the kitchen, she gulped as a wave of lust hit her. He wore loose-fitting, drawstring pajama bottoms and an oversized, navy-blue T-shirt. His robe was open. How could a man who teased the imagination when he wore jeans look even more appealing in comfy clothes? His black hair was mussed and dark stubble threatened his jawline.
Harmony had spent a lot of time with guy pals. Some crashed at her apartment when they'd had a bit too much to drink. And they'd
never
made her neurons pulse like Brody could. She struggled to keep her hands off the man's bod.
He turned to her when she came up behind him. A smile lifted his lips. “I went decadent and added extra butter to our popcorn.”
He could go decadent any time he wanted. She licked her lips. Down, girl, down.
Stop that!
her mind screamed. She went to the refrigerator and got their drinks. “Ready?”
He followed her into the study and put his tray on the coffee table. She handed him his beer, and he started the movie. They both sat in the middle of the sofa to reach their snacks with more ease, and when they leaned back, their shoulders touched.
A pulse throbbed in Brody's jaw. Hmm, interesting. He stretched his legs, and his thigh rested against hers. Harmony tried to concentrate on the movie.
Ignore your baser impulses
, she told herself.
The Goblet of Fire
kicked into gear, and it immediately caught her attention. How did Harry Potter's name get pulled from the goblet? How did it get put in, in the first place? The contest wasn't just about winning. It was about surviving the horrible challenges.
Brody took a deep breath and rested his arms on the back of the sofa.
Wait a minute. That's what guys used to do when they took her to drive-in movies. Was Brody making a move on her? She glanced at his profile, but he was focused on the TV screen. He'd driven to Indy and back. He probably just needed to stretch his muscles.
Somewhere later in the movie, when Harry had to face the dragon challenge, Brody's arm slipped and settled around her shoulders. She glanced at him again. Once more, his entire concentration was on the TV screen. Okay, he wasn't hitting on her. He was just totally into the movie. She relaxed and pressed her body against his side. He didn't seem to notice, just turned a little to get more comfortable.
They sat, cuddled together, while Harry went to the baths to learn a clue about how to face the next challenge. Brody chuckled when Moaning Myrtle popped in to help poor Harry, the noise rumbling in Brody's chest. Harmony fought the urge to press her head to his heart or, worse, to climb onto his lap. She was feeling pretty toastyâthe room must be too warmâwhen his cell phone rang.
He reached for it and frowned. Harmony caught the name Carolyn on the
I.D.
She paused the movie and scooted away to give him some distance.
“Yes?” His voice was cautious, careful. He listened, and his expression turned serious. He glanced at Harmony. He looked contrite. She got the idea. This phone call was personal, and it would take a while.
She waved away his concern. She pushed to her feet and whispered, “We can finish this tomorrow.” She handed him the remote and started for the door.
He didn't look happy, but he had something messy to deal with, by the looks and sound of it. She took her wine glass to the kitchen, rinsed it, and put it in the dishwasher.
When she paused outside the study, Brody was deep in conversation. Maybe a good thing. She'd been saved by the cell phone. If she'd sat scrunched against Brody's luscious body much longer, when the movie ended, she might not have been responsible for her actions.
A horrible thought struck her on the way up the stairs. Brody had told her that he was interested in someone, but she didn't return his feelings. What if that someone was Carolyn? And what if she missed him now that he was in Mill Pond?
Fool!
Harmony wanted to kick herself. What had she been thinking? Brody thought about her like she thought about her guy pals.
Get a grip!
But she definitely had the hots for Broody Brody. She shrugged. So what? A romp between the sheets didn't mean anything, and if she got lucky enough to give it a try, she'd get it out of her system. So would he, and then he could go back to trying to win the girl who didn't want him.
Chapter 16
H
armony woke early on Monday morning thinking about Brody. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with him last night in their PJs wasn't her brightest move.
She pushed out of bed and padded to her laptop. This was the perfect day for her to be all hot and bothered. Luxar and Serifina were getting it on today. Maybe that's why her mind was so locked into lust. She did a quick rewrite of the scene she'd finished on Friday. A big battle ended with Luxar and Serifina, splattered with blood. When they went back to Luxar's, Serifina headed to her room to shower. Steam was rolling from the hot water when she felt someone step into the shower behind her. Strong hands reached for her washcloth to scrub her back. Soon, arms circled her body and then hands cupped her breasts. She pressed herself against the hard length of her favorite vampire.
Harmony stopped for breath. She strove for new, fresh words to describe the joys of Luxar. Inspired, her fingers flew over the keys. Serifina turned to face him and glued herself to his wet body. Her breasts smashed against his strong chest. Her hips ground against his muscled thighs. Harmony felt her own body tense, tingling with the sensations lucky Serifina was feeling. Luxar's hands roamed, touching everywhere, everything. He bent his head to kiss the base of her neck, to nibble her shoulders.
Slow down
, Harmony told them, but they didn't listen. Supernaturals were so damned horny all the time.
Hey, use some caution
, she warned, but they ignored her.
They barely toweled off before they tumbled on the bed. When they finished the deed, they were as surprised as she was. Serifina was panting, and so was she . . .
And then someone knocked on the door.
Harmony frowned. That wasn't in her plot points. But the next round of knocks came louder, and she realized they were real knocks on the door to her room.
Not now!
“It's open,” she called.
Fumbling followed, and then a small kick, and the door opened. Brody balanced a tray that held a plate piled with buttered toast and a few small jars of jam.
He looked at her at the desk and apologized. “I disrupted your work. Sorry. I thought you must be out of coffee cake by now, so I brought you something, in case you're hungry. We didn't eat a real dinner last night.”
She took a deep breath. Luxar and Brody had become one in her story. Tall. Dark. Brooding and sexy.
He put down the tray and stared at her. “You look . . . disheveled.”
She licked her lips. She was hungry, all right.
Come a little closer
, her mind called to him. “I just finished writing a sex scene.” That was warning enough.
“Should I be afraid?”
“I'll be gentle, and I respect the word no.”
“What am I saying no to?”
She gulped a breath. “I'm so horny right now, I could hump a doorknob. You haven't had any in a while, either. This would be no strings attached. I'll respect you tomorrow morning.”
His eyes narrowed. “This isn't payback for buying you coffee and dessert yesterday?”
She snorted. “For that, you'd only get to feel me up.”
He grinned. “No regrets or recriminations?”
“Only if you're a dud.”
“I'll try to meet your expectations. I don't have a condom.”
“I do. They're in my purse.”
“In that case . . .” He closed the door, crossed the room to her, and carried her to the unmade bed. “Do you always carry protection with you?”
“I'm a writer, damn it. I have to do research.”
“Then let's make it thorough.” Before she knew it, he'd pushed up her sweater, unhooked her bra, and had his mouth on her right breast. His left hand teased her left nipple. She writhed with pleasure.
“You've done this before,” she panted.
“I like to be the best at whatever I do.” He gently tugged her sweater over her head, unzipped her jeans, and within seconds, had her naked.
“Tit for tat.” She watched as he shed his jeans and shirt. The boxers went next. “Oh, lord.”
Another grin. “Now let's see how things fit.”
His lips started at her neck, then slid to her shoulder, then to her breasts. His hands explored, stroked, and fondled. He took his time, and she squirmed as each nerve sizzled to life. She felt so turned on, she thought she might blow a circuit. Then he lowered his head to the inside of her thighs, and heat surged inside her. His fingers moved from her nipples and trailed down her stomach. They slid between her legs and her body tensed. He knew just where to touch, to stroke. Her back arched, and he pushed her knees wide. He slid on the condom and was inside her. Her hips rose to meet his thrusts. They pumped until heat exploded inside her. They peaked together, and he sagged onto his elbows. Then he rolled off her and pulled her to spoon against his long frame. Her head fit under his chin, and her feet curled on top of his. She felt cocooned in his warmth, his protection.
He kissed the back of her head. His heavy arm reached over her to hold her close. They lay like that for a while, enjoying the touch and feel of each other. Then he sighed. “Ian's going to wonder what happened to me. If we don't want gossip, I'd better get back downstairs.” He moved away from her and stood. He went into the bathroom and took a quick shower, then came to pull on his clothes. She'd risen, too, and slipped on her robe.
Before he left, he turned to her, his eyes glittering with amusement. “The next time you write a sex scene, let me know, and I'll be back.”
“Who's Carolyn?”
He tilted his head, studying her. “One of Cecily's friends.”
“The girl you're interested in?”
“Hell, no.”
“Good.” Why did she say that? What did it matter to her?
He rested his hand on the doorknob. “How soon before you finish the novel? You celebrate that, too, don't you?”
Hmm, food for thought. “I'm getting there.”
“Give me fair warning and I'll eat a chocolate bar to build up my strength.” He nodded toward the toast. “It's cold now, but you'd better eat something to keep up your stamina.” And then he was gone.
She stood there, staring at the door. She was used to finishing a book, finding a guy, and having a quickie to celebrate. But this hadn't felt like a quickie. And for the first time in a long time, she wanted more. More sex. And more Brody.
Chapter 17
W
hen Harmony zipped down for lunch, she worried she'd feel awkward, but Paula was in a talkative mood. “Aiden's back to being his happy self about school. Miss Fredericks handled it so well. He thinks the world of her.”
Ian shook his head. “I've never met a bully that gave up with just one lecture.”
Paula's lips narrowed as she reached for an egg salad sandwich. “The boy stopped hitting and kicking Aiden.”
“For now.” Ian glanced at Brody. “What do you think?”
“He's laying low so that Miss Fredericks thinks everything's okay.”
Paula sighed. “So what else should I do?”
Ian's answer was quick. “Teach Aiden how to punch the kid hard enough to give him a black eye.”
“The boy's a lot bigger than Aiden.” Paula laid her sandwich on her plate, too upset to eat.
Harmony was starving. She was happy to let them talk while she munched.
Brody turned to her. “What would you do, Harm?”
“Me? If someone picked on me?”
He grimaced. “No one would be stupid enough to do that. You'd think of some creative way to make their lives miserable.”
She shook her head. “That's not always a deterrent. My brother was a mean bastard. I learned to stay out of his way.”
Brody's expression darkened to a scary mask. “He picked on girls?”
“Only me, he hated it when Mom and Dad made him stay home to babysit.”
“And what's he like now? Has he changed?”
“Beats me. We never see each other, but I can tell you this. A kid shouldn't have to deal with a bully. If it was my kid, I might step in.”
Brody nodded.
Paula gave them a look. “Just wait till you're a parent. Aiden begged me not to go to his school or to talk to his teacher.”
Ian chuckled and nodded knowingly. “Yup, Maeve didn't want Mom anywhere near her school when she got picked on. Calling in your mom is like admitting you're a wuss. It makes matters worse.”
“But it's all right to have your big brother step in?” Brody asked.
“Family hangs together.” Ian glanced at Harmony. “Well, most of the time. Your brother must have had issues. Maeve's friends knew me. They knew I'd punch any guy who gave her grief and they knew I was crazy enough to enjoy putting mean girls in their place.” He paused. “It was pretty fun.”
Harmony laughed. Brody would help Maeve out of a sense of duty. Ian thought of it as a way to do something he'd always wanted to.
Paula picked up her sandwich again and mindlessly took a bite. She looked troubled.
Motherhood was a bitch. Harmony shrugged. “You know, we're thinking up things for something that hasn't happened yet. We can brainstorm again if it does. Hopefully, it won't.”
Brody and Ian nodded, realizing how much they'd worried Paula. After lunch, Harmony helped carry dirty dishes to the kitchen, then she and Brody started the beef and noodles. At first, their conversation felt stilted. They'd just seen each other naked. Done the deed. But then Brody threw down the forks he was using to shred the chuck roast and blurted, “I just want you to know, you're damn good in bed.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “You're nothing to sneeze at either.”
“Then there's nothing to worry about.” He grinned. “Neither of us are duds. We make a great team.”
She stared at him. They
did
work well together, at lots of things. She smiled. “Some guys are weird after they've bedded a girl.”
He shrugged. “You laid the ground rules. No strings. No recriminations.”
She laughed, relieved. A heavy burden lifted off her shoulders.
He got busy on the chuck roast again. “To teamwork.”
She added fresh vegetables and seasonings to the soup pot. He dug through cupboards for the dried, egg noodles and beef broth. When all the ingredients were mixed, she sniffed and gave a satisfied nod, but when she started cleaning up, he frowned.
“What? You don't like egg noodles?” she asked.
“Love 'em, but when do we start the mashed potatoes?”
“You want to put starch on top of starch?” She put her hands on her hips, but couldn't stop the smile that was forming.
He quirked an eyebrow at her and swatted a dishtowel at her ass. She side-stepped it. Serious, he told her, “Soups and stews are cold weather food to help us survive the elements. You can't do them halfway.”
“Bull pucky.” She shook her head. “The noodles have brought back memories. What did your mom always make with them?”
“When we had beef 'n noodles, we had mashed potatoes and green beans. Always. And she made tapioca for dessert.”
“Tapioca? Your mom was thorough.”
“You have no idea.”
They peeled the potatoes and left them in a pan of cold water to cook later. Brody searched the cupboards, but there was no tapioca, thank the universe for small favors. When they finished up, Brody came to wrap her in a bear hug.
“I've never had a woman friend before. I've been missing out. It's wonderful.”
Harmony's heart pounded double-time. A friend. She could do that. No strings. No commitments. Just spending time with Brody. She leaned back to smile up at him, and his gaze was so intense, she stared at him in surprise.
He flicked the end of her nose. “Your guy pals don't know how lucky they are. I've never met a woman who didn't want to change me, who didn't have an agenda for me.”
“Change you? Why?” Brody was perfect, as is.
He grinned. “It's what most women do. They always want more.”
She shook her head. “People don't change. You get what you get.”
“And that's what's special about friendship. It is what it is. No false expectations. I just didn't see it before.”
“Is the girl you're interested in a friend?” Harmony blurted.
Brody grinned. “She didn't start out that way, but she is now. A friend with benefits.”
Lucky freaking girl. “That's good. If you two click, you'll have a friend for life.”
“A friend for life. I like that.”
“You think too much, Bro.” And Harmony went back to her writing while Brody went to help with suite three.
At five, Brody led the kids into the room for story time. She grinned at him. “You look like the Pied Piper.”
“But I'm not stealing them. I return them after you read to them.”
Aiden was back to his usual self, stopping to ask questions at every turn. Brody tried to stay as patient as possible, but every once in a while, he'd frown when Aiden stopped the story too close to the time before. They barely made it through the chapter before it was time for them to leave.
“I'll turn on the heat under the potatoes once I drop the kids off,” Brody told her.
Harmony wasn't worried he'd forget. The man wanted his mashed potatoes. She didn't bother redoing her makeup and followed him down the stairs. They'd chopped the potatoes in small enough chunks that they only took fifteen minutes to soften. Then she gave him the portable mixer and let him beat them while she added butter and cream. He tasted them to make sure they had enough flavor and smiled his approval. She grabbed two cans of green beans to heat when they got to Tessa's house, and they loaded the SUV and took off.
When they stepped into the house, Ian gave them a small shrug. Tessa came to greet them, and she was crying.
“What's wrong?” Harmony handed the soup pot to Ian and hurried to hug her friend.
“A cardinal flew right into our kitchen window and broke its neck.”
“Just now?”
Tessa sniffed and nodded.
“Do you want me to bury it?” Brody asked.
“The ground's frozen, but you could put it in this box and leave it in the garage.” Tessa handed him a shoe box.
Without a word, Brody waded through the snow to find the dead bird. Tessa looked out the window to watch him carefully fit the bird into the box and take it to the garage. When he returned to the house, she beamed at him.
Brody removed his gloves and came to hug her. “I love you, sister-in-law.”
“Ohhh.” The tears started again.
Harmony looked at Ian, alarmed.
“Hormones,” he whispered.
Oh, lord! Harmony was great at lending a helping hand, but she sucked at tears and drama. When her parents arguedâand they argued a lotâshe always took off. She took a deep breath and realized that Brody was watching her closely. She forced a smile. “I hope everyone's hungry. We cooked enough to make scales groan.”
Tessa smiled, the tears forgotten. “Let's eat.”
For once, Ian encouraged the girls to talk writing. “You've both been pounding away. How are the books coming?”
“Did you see that Sara Addison Allen came out with a new book?” Tessa asked. They both loved her writing and often buddy read her novels when they came out.
Ian looked at Brody and grinned. They let the girls yak away while they dug into the food. When the meal was finished, Harmony stared in surprise at the empty bowl of mashed potatoes.
Brody patted his stomach with a sigh. “I told you that Ian and I love those. It's been a long time since I've had any.”
Harmony glanced at Tessa, who did her best to hide a yawn. Tired, again. She tried to give her an out. “Brody and I are watching a movie tonight, so we're going to get going. Thought we'd make it an early night.”
Tessa shook her head. “Not this time. Not yet. Give me half an hour. We haven't had a chance for girl talk.”
“You look done in.” Harmony could watch her friend droop.
“I'm tired of dragging myself around and missing all the fun. Come talk to me.”
She grabbed Harmony's hand and pulled her toward the sunroom.
Ian waved them away, went to the fridge for two more beers, and he and Brody went to settle in the living room.
The minute Tessa had Harmony alone, she leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. “Ian thinks you and Brody got it on today. Did you?”
Jeez! Harmony couldn't get away with anything in Mill Pond. “What made Ian think that?”
Tessa's lips quirked up at the corners. “Ian said Brody tried to play it off when he asked why he'd been gone so long. When Ian teased him and asked him what he'd been up to, Brody was so noncommittal, Ian knew for sure you two had jumped in the sack. Well? Did you?”
Harmony heaved a sigh of frustration. “We're both of legal age, you know. Neither of us is married.”
Tessa clapped her hands. “So you did!”
“It's no big deal.” Harmony gave her friend a stern look. “Don't read anything into it. I'd just finished writing a sex scene. Brody walked in right after my characters had a great romp. I was feeling a little . . . needy.”
“And Brody said
yes
?”
“I think he was ready for some action, too. A woman called him while we were watching our movie last night.” A pang shot through her. Boy, she thought she was past that kind of nonsense. “He's interested in someone, you know. He's a little sexually frustrated, too.”
“He is?” Tessa bit her bottom lip. “How do you know?”
“He told me. The woman's not interested in him, but he hasn't given up hope.”
Tessa grimaced. “Ian didn't say anything about that.”
“He might not know. Brody doesn't exactly announce his feelings to the world.”
“Nuts.” Tessa leaned back in her chair, her joy deflated. “I was hoping . . .”
“It's not like that,” Harmony said.
Tessa's shoulders sagged. “Bummer.”
Harmony grinned. “Not for me. I don't want till death do us part. Getting down and dirty with Brody is the best I've ever had. It's a win/win.”
Tessa glared in frustration. “Damn it, Harmony, Brody's a keeper. You should latch onto him and never let him go.”
“Like you did Ian when he was with Lily?”
“That's different. They were engaged.”
“Don't give me your get-a-man lecture. You sucked at it. You just got lucky.”
“Maybe you will, too.”
Harmony stood and smiled down at her friend. “Marriage scares the shit out of me. You know that. It's not going to happen.”
With a sigh, Tessa rose to walk with her to the door. “Not all men are losers, Harmy. I know the saying that men marry their mothers, women marry their dads, but you're smarter than that. You're smarter than your mom was.”
“Quit worrying about me. I'm happy, and I'm happy for you. That's enough.” Harmony wrapped her in a quick hug. “And as your friend, I'm telling you that you look like hell. Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.”
When they joined the men in the living room, Brody shook his head at Tessa. “You need sleep. Don't overdo. Take it easy. Ian, put your wife to bed.”
Ian and Tessa waved their goodbyes as they left, then clicked off the porch light to head upstairs. On the drive back, Brody said, “Ready to finish
Goblet of Fire
? Sorry we had to stop it in the middle.”
“I want to see the end, but then I need a Harry Potter break. Can we do something different tomorrow?”
Brody looked smug. “I bought Meg Ryan's movie
French Kiss
. I lost mine at home, and it's one of my favorites.”
“I own that movie, too! I love it.” Harmony stared at him. “You'd watch a chick flick with me? Even my best guy pals won't do that.”
“Really? What do you watch with them?”