Susan Mallery - Until We Touch

Normally he found this kind of thing interesting, but not today. Not when he was wrestling with the fact that he and Larissa had kissed. What the hell? He wasn’t even sure how it had happened. One second they’d been joking and talking like always and the next she’d looked at him with an expression he’d never seen before. Okay, he’d seen it before, but not from her. And not like that.

She’d wanted him. That had been clear. And being wanted by Larissa had been irresistible. Of course, he’d been dealing with his own crap about the erection, so maybe she’d seen something in him that had triggered her feelings and that had led to the kiss.

He tried to tell himself it was just a kiss; only, could it be just that where Larissa was concerned? As far as he knew, she was careful about who she kissed. Which meant what?

Crap. It was all crap. And if his mind kept running in circles like some damned hamster on a wheel, he was probably going to turn into a woman.

“Jack,” Taryn said, her voice cool. “Do you mind joining us for the meeting today?”

He looked up, startled. “What?”

His business partner glared at him. “You’re somewhere else. Do you care to share with the rest of the class? There’s obviously a problem.”

They all knew? How was that possible?

Kenny sniggered. “Jack got a boner during his massage yesterday. It freaked him out.”

Jack nearly corrected him by saying the real problem was the kiss, but stopped himself in time.

Taryn rolled her eyes. “Seriously? That’s what has you distracted? It can’t be the first time it’s happened.”

“Not in life,” Jack said stiffly. “You would know that personally.”

She drew in a breath, obviously trying to be patient. “Yes, I’m aware that sexually, you’re a functioning male. If only it were true in the rest of your world. I was saying I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before during a massage.”

“I don’t get a boner when I get a massage,” Sam said.

Taryn barely spared him a glance. “No one here is shocked by that.”

“Hey, what does that mean?”

Taryn’s grip on her papers tightened. She looked at Sam. “That you have extraordinary powers of control, Sam.”

“Oh. Okay. I accept that.”

“It happens to me all the time,” Kenny admitted cheerfully. “I’m naked. She’s touching me. It’s nice.”

“And the road from nice to boner is less than three seconds?” Taryn asked.

Kenny grinned unapologetically. “Sue me.”

Taryn turned to Jack. “Did you talk to Larissa about it?”

“Yes. We’re fine. Let’s change the subject.”

“Fine by me.” She sighed. “I find you all desperately annoying. You know that, right?”

Sam grinned. “It’s what keeps us going.”

* * *

PATIENCE GARRETT HURRIED toward Larissa. The other woman was obviously excited and grabbed both of Larissa’s hands when they met on the sidewalk.

“There’s been a sighting,” Patience announced.

“Of a yeti?”

“What? No. Of course not. Oh, look. There’s Isabel.” Patience waved, as if to hurry her friend.

About fifteen minutes ago Patience had called Larissa and told her to meet her outside of Jo’s Bar immediately. Apparently others had also received a call.

Isabel practically ran up the street. “Is it true?” she asked when she reached them. “There’s been a sighting?”

“Of what?” Larissa demanded. “What are you talking about?”

Patience still had hold of her hands. She squeezed them and practically danced with excitement. “Zane Nicholson.”

Larissa wasn’t one to follow the gossip magazines. From knowing the guys, she understood everything the publications got wrong. But she thought she had at least a working knowledge of most major celebrities.

“I don’t know who that is,” she admitted.

Isabel pressed a hand to her chest. “Zane Nicholson. Absolutely the sexiest guy in high school. I mean seriously sexy.”

Patience released Larissa’s hands and nodded. “He was voted ‘the guy every girl most wanted to sleep with’ four years straight. And the last vote was after he’d already graduated.”

“You really had that category in your yearbook?”

Isabel grinned. “Of course not. It was a private poll. But still, he totally won.” She sighed. “Those eyes. That walk.”

“That smile.”

Isabel nodded. “Rarely seen and all the more to be treasured. How do I look?”

“Married,” Larissa murmured. “You look married.”

Isabel brushed off the comment. “I’m not going to sleep with him now. I’m just saying, back then, he was totally all that.” She turned to Patience. “He’s really in Jo’s?”

“That’s the rumor.”

“Then let’s go.”

Larissa walked with them, not sure if she was being treated to a rare event only locals could appreciate or simply the victim of wrong place, wrong time. So some guy had come into town. Big whoop.

They crossed the street and walked up to the bar.

“My heart is pounding,” Patience whispered. “I feel like I’m sixteen again. He danced with me once. At homecoming. I thought I was going to die.”

“I remember and I was bitter,” Isabel said cheerfully. “He smiled at me once in the hall, but I would rather have had a dance. Or a kiss. Or maybe have given him my virginity.”

They giggled at that. Larissa shook her head. “I’m glad you called me,” she said as she pulled open the door. “Someone needs to be here to keep you two out of trouble.”

They stepped into the bar.

It looked as it always did, with flattering lighting and TVs turned to shopping and HGTV. The only thing out of place was the fact that there was a man at the bar. A tall man with broad shoulders and an air of confidence about him.

Larissa spent her day with three former NFL greats. She understood about power and egos and having a body that was a whole lot better than the average guy’s. Most mortals couldn’t measure up. This man would be able to hold his own.

Larissa watched Zane and wondered what it was about him that made him different. There were muscles, but it was more than that. Not his clothes, she thought, taking in the chambray shirt, worn jeans and cowboy boots. There was also a straw Stetson on the bar next to him.

Isabel and Patience inched toward the man in question. He turned and saw them, then gave a slow, sexy smile that had even Larissa’s toes curling in her flats.

“Ladies.”

“Hi, Zane,” they said together.

“It’s been a long time,” Isabel said.

“It has.” Patience nodded. “So, what brings you to town? Are you meeting with the mayor about the annexation?”

One dark eyebrow rose.

“Everyone knows about it,” Isabel added. “It shouldn’t change anything for you.”

“So I heard.”

His eyes were dark blue and his gaze steady. He wasn’t looking at Larissa and a part of her was grateful to avoid all that male attention. She had enough stress in her life with Jack. She wasn’t looking for a crush on a taciturn cowboy.

“How’s Chase?” Patience asked.

Isabel turned to Larissa. “That’s his younger brother,” she said in a low voice.

“Good.”

“And the, um, steers and everything?”

He nodded, as if to say it was all fine.

Patience and Isabel looked at each other, then back at him.

“We won’t keep you,” Patience said. “It was good to see you.”

Zane nodded again.

The women turned around and left. Larissa trailed after them. When they reached the sidewalk, the two of them hung on to each other and jumped up and down.

“He’s so amazing,” Isabel said. “He smiled.”

“I saw. We talked to him.” Patience sighed. “That was so great.”