The Satin Sash

  “He hates kissing ass!”Toni said in Grey’s defense.

  “Except yours,” Grey grumbled quietly to her, and they both laughed.

  “There aren’t that many apartment buildings,” she noted as she sobered, scanning the houses dotting the cliff, the hotels lining the shore up ahead.“There are either huge houses or hotels, but maybe buyers would like a place with an ocean view and not an entire house to maintain?”

  She wasn’t certain, but suspected Grey had just kissed the back of her head. “You’re brilliant, my girl.”

  My girl.

  She was still a little mushy in the thighs over that endearment when they reached the sprawling hotel Grey wanted Heath to see. The resort was acres and acres of magnificence, with glistening windows and slanted rooftops, surrounded by gardens.“Do you want to see it with us, pet?” Grey asked as he helped her dismount.

  Oh, tough one. Either stay with the smelly horse or . . .

  Watch them work together. Ogle them from afar. Privately drool over them while they, in turn, drooled over the architecture. The men were such opposites, yet so alike in their passions. Their passions for land, for construction. Talking business with Heath, Grey was animated in a way Toni had never seen.Their interaction was natural and effortless, and entirely mesmerizing to watch. Like a couple of gifted athletes who lift each other’s game when they play together.

  Both in the bedroom and out of it.

  Chapter Eight

  As they crossed the sand and walked up the steps leading to the lush green pool area, a crowd of people came into view, and the sound of live music carried in the air.

  “Oooh, a Mexican wedding!”Toni said, noting the colorful floral arrangements gracing each of the tables on the terrace, a tattered piñata sitting lonely over a nearby stretch of grass.

  “We’re not invited, Miss Kearny,” Grey warned.

  Not caring that the men hung back,Toni made her way around, plopped an abandoned mariachi hat onto her head, and plucked shot glasses of tequila from a busy- looking waiter. She brought them up to the men, both their gazes palpable though shielded by their lenses. “We’re on vacation.You both take yourselves too seriously. Especially you, Grey. We’re going to have some fun, all right?”

  Without checking to make sure they drank their shots, she strolled back into the crowd. More than fifty people circulated over the lush green lawns and walkways surrounding the massive pool. Square tables had been set up around it, each draped in a different color cloth.

  Children mingled with adults, some splashing into the pool, another group peering under a table where a group of women sat in avid discussion. Smiling when she realized those three little boys were hoping to catch a sight of the women’s panties, Toni glanced back to notice Grey and Heath were at the very fringes of the party. They were looking high above and past her, discussing their future project. Grey had an arm stretched out, and he was pointing at the building as he spoke, while Heath nodded in agreement. Grey loved his properties, the developing, everything from spotting the land to giving it more substance. She could tell Heath shared his passion.

  Feeling stirrings in her stomach, she moved on to investigate further, smelling the blooms in the air, the food from the buffet, and finally located the mariachi group that was the source of the music.

  She was drawn into the excitement of the party and found herself smiling widely as photographers made the rounds, one of them attacking the partygoers, another following the bride and groom. The groom looked to be sixty years old; his much younger bride was dressed in an embroidered linen frock that did justice to the festive theme.

  When a couple skirted by, dancing and kissing to a merry mariachi tune,Toni wanted to dance, too. And she wanted to kiss, too. And she wanted . . .

  They stood like bodyguards, tracking her with their eyes, Grey with his hands clasped before him, Heath with them clasped behind his back. She waved them over. One said something to the other.They smiled.They were making fun of her! She wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at them. Grey smiled, then turned his attention over his shoulder when a wandering beach vendor tapped his arm to show him an array of day dresses.

  A laugh escaped her when he gave a nod of consent and pointed in her direction. Grey must be asking the man what size she would wear. He was nodding. Smiling. Yes, of course. Now he was diligently selecting a dress for her. Oh, Grey.

  When Heath sauntered forward, she noted a couple of children nearby begin to whisper, watching him closely from their seats in the grass. She wondered if their little imaginations were making up stories about Heath. Would he be an evil villain to them? A pirate or a smuggler . . .

  “That is one ridiculous hat, if I may say so.”

  She tipped the brim back so she could actually see his face. “Grey seems to like it.”

  “Ah. Well, his eyesight is going.”

  “His eyes are perfect. Grey misses nothing. It’s mine that are failing.” And how utterly sad was that for a graphic designer?

  “How many fingers am I holding up?”

  She laughed and folded them back into his hand. “Two. And it’s from afar that I have trouble focusing.”

  “Ahh.” Clasping his hands behind his back, he glanced around fleetingly, then directly at her.“Did you miss your high school parties, Cat?”

  She waved a hand and walked around him. The sun was at an angle, and where the shadows hit, the breeze was fresh. “Oh, humbug. You two are boring.”

  He matched her steps as she made her way around the tables. “Grey is a little concerned we weren’t invited to this party.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Ooh.Then follow me, sir.” She waved him over to a table that had two full plates of mixed nuts at its center.

  When she bent over to gather a handful, his legs and hips came flush against the back of hers and her breasts were enveloped by two large, brazen hands. “I’m hungry for these,Toni.”

  Her nipples pushed into his palms and a rush of feminine power rushed through her when his bulging erection pressed into her tush. His sensual, deep- throated breathing was a guttural sound in her ear. “I want you,Toni. Right here, right now.”

  She licked suddenly dry lips. She had a feeling her dry throat had very little to do with nuts and everything to do with Heath’s frame going taut with arousal. “We’re in the middle of a party,” she said under her breath, afraid to look up and find someone watching this hardly subtle advance.

  But she knew, felt, sensed people passing nearby. Flashes. Murmurs. Her breasts were still covered by his hands and it took supreme effort to not just stand there and let him have his blessed way. She moved away, extracting her fingers from the nuts and wiping the salty coating on the linen.

  When he took her hand in his and began to guide her toward Grey, she was so shocked at the gesture she halted midstride. She looked down at their hands, linked almost casually together, and Heath stopped, his features wooden and incongruous with his smile. “Does this bother you?”

  “No.” She squeezed him. “It’s fine. I’m just surprised.”

  Still not comfortable, he extracted his hand from hers, raised his arm to her neck and guided her by the nape toward Grey and the eager-looking vendor.

  “I’m getting slightly dizzy here, Toni. There’s topaz and there’s royal blue and there’s navy.”

  They were gorgeous. Delicately embroidered. Flirty strapless dresses to wear over your bathing suit or just around the house. God, everywhere. “I love them.”

  “We’ll take the three blues, then.”

  Heath stepped up and he and Grey discussed something, first between themselves and then with the vendor. Heath pulled out his wallet and spared her a glance, grinning like a boy. “Grey gives you the world; I give you three dresses.”

  “In different shades of blue,” she teased.

  “Exactly,” he agreed.

  “Thank you.” She surged up on her toes, intending to kiss th
ose strong, mobile lips she’d been aching to taste, but he swiftly angled his head to the side so her mouth hit his whiskered cheek. She frowned and dropped flat on her feet, realizing she could benefit from curbing her enthusiasm now and then. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you might not . . . want that.”

  The glimmer in his eyes was disconcertingly intense, his face unsmiling as he gazed at her mouth in a way that made her nervous enough to lick her lips. He swiped a big palm across her forehead and smoothed the creases with his thumb. “That’s all right.”

  The thing with Grey was that the man could go without talking for hours. And Heath appreciated peace and quiet as much as the next man, or maybe more, which was why they’d both sat in silence under the shade of a thatched-roof terrace while Toni mingled with the partygoers. She had an avid conversation going on with the married couple, and when Heath caught himself straining to overhear her laughter, he squirmed in his beach chair and let his mind run away with other thoughts. How-to-get-Toni-out-of-his-head-after-Cabo thoughts.

  Grey was engrossed in jotting down numbers and executing brisk sketches over a tower of napkins he’d procured, when Heath said, “I’m thinking of getting a dog.”

  Yeah. A dog. A puppy.Who’d lick his hand.Who’d be all grateful and excited when Heath fed him. A good little mutt. He was fully convinced he’d need one to get his mind off a particular kitten.

  Grey flipped the napkin over to continue, and it seemed to take him a moment to realize Heath had been speaking to him. He glanced up, his eyes lost, as though his thoughts were drawn inward. “What for?”

  “Company.”

  Look at her. Toni, ankle-deep in the pool, wearing that silly mariachi hat Grey had just bought her, her hands holding her skirt high to keep it dry. Her legs were slim and toned, and with this glance alone Heath had them memorized. Damn. She didn’t have to be so cute. And look at him, sitting here with her blue dresses folded on his lap so they wouldn’t get wet, guarding her feminine things. He must look ridiculous.

  After perusing him in silence, Grey went back to sketching. “You’d need to get a small sissy dog, one you can travel with easily.”

  “I don’t want a sissy dog; I want a big dog.” Heath mentally listed all the breeds he knew existed, which weren’t all that many.“I was thinking more of a Saint Bernard or . . . something.”

  Grey canted his head as if listening like one, grinning in amusement. “Why a Saint Bernard?”

  “I don’t know. They’re big and they don’t seem too playful. A playful pup would just piss me off.”

  “Cleaning up after him would irritate the hell out of me.”

  Heath considered it might piss him off, too, but damn, he needed a mutt. She’d wanted to set him up on a date, damn her. Paddling her behind for that would be ecstasy.

  Keeping a vigilant eye on her, he watched her curvy calves emerge from the pool, and he followed them up slim hips, a small waist, breasts made especially—especially—for Heath’s hands. He went higher, up a slender, elegant throat, smiling lips....

  Shit, she was watching them.Waving them forward and mouthing something indiscernible.

  Grey’s head jerked up instantly, as though he had some Toni alert system, his attention immediately homing in on her. His eyes went all shades of gold possible, then settled to a heated glow.

  He folded the napkins and jammed them into his shorts. “A Saint Bernard isn’t you. People look like their dogs.Try a black one. A Rottweiler. I’ll give you two months, tops.”

  “I can take care of a damned dog.”

  Pulling his shades out from his shirt collar, Grey slipped them over his eyes and rose. “Get a fish, Heath.”

  “I want to kiss her.” The brusque words checked Grey’s stride. His shoulders stiffened, and Heath added meaningfully, “On the mouth.”

  Grey shook his head, not turning.

  “Why not?”

  He spun around. “Because the thought makes me green. Satisfied?”

  “Not even nausea could turn you green.” Pushing to his feet, Heath slapped his back in a companionable, come-on-I’m-you’re friend gesture. “One kiss.”

  “Don’t push it.”

  “Aww, Grey, come on!”

  “I said no.”

  Heath glowered at his retreating back. That massive, broad-shouldered, impenetrable fucking back.

  What Grey needed was a cock up his ass, to dislodge the stick he had perennially stuck in there. Sheesh!

  Collecting Toni’s dresses, he ambled up the walk while the bride and groom shoved a pair of newly delivered drinks into their hands. He heard Toni’s excited “To the bride and groom!” and Grey’s mumbled curse as he grudgingly tossed back the shimmering liquid.

  And he explicitly heard Grey’s “Son of a bitch!”

  “So they’re from Chicago, and the groom has a daughter he says looks just like me.”

  She caught the moment Heath and Grey rolled their eyes heavenward as Grey helped her dismount, but she was so excited she didn’t let that stop her.

  “Well, he said so! He said he thought I was her. Seriously. So, anyway, I gave him my phone number, and maybe when you’re in the city . . . Heath?”

  Heath looked ready to choke, his eyes wide and incredulous.

  “Feel free to stop her at any time, Heath,” Grey said, a corner of his lips raised as he walked the horse and tied it to a nearby palm tree.

  “Are you kidding me? I’m loving this.This is funnier than Sein feld. Do go on, Cat. I’m thoroughly entertained.” Still on his mount, Heath urged the black beast forward.

  She shot him such a furious frown that he let go of the reins and lifted his hands to placate her. “All right, tell me about my date.”

  “You’re interested? Really?”

  “I’m not, but tell me anyway.” His eyes flicked past her shoulders for a second. “You’re looking a little nauseated, Grey.”

  “I’ll shove that shit down your throat and I’m sure you’ll look your best, Heath.”

  “Not all of us drink champagne.”

  “That was rat piss, honest to god. I need to wash it down with something.”

  “It wasn’t that bad,” Toni defended, out of respect for the married couple. But in truth, it hadn’t been bad—it had been awful.

  “I did catch that feminine little sip you took,” Heath offered, sliding his sunglasses over his forehead. “But Grey here tossed it all down like a real hombre.You should have seen his face.” He looked directly at him. “May I borrow her for a second?” He turned those debilitating black eyes to hers and extended his hand.“We’re going to work on this fear of horses for just a bit.”

  Instantly wary of the devilish sparkle in his eyes, she took a backward step. “Oh no. No no no.”

  “Grey’s too cautious to push you, but I’m not.You’ll be happy to master it. Get over here, seriously.” When she didn’t hop to, Heath shifted his inquiry. “Grey?”

  Visibly tense, Grey curled a hand around his nape and cranked his head to one side, then the other. His face was screwed up in thought, and Toni felt a sweet stab of tenderness when she realized he was preoccupied.

  His protectiveness evoked a sudden, wishful image of Grey as a father, of them having a little girl. She could picture a young, spirited, golden-eyed teenager asking her father permission for a first date.Would Grey wear that thoughtful face? For sure he’d be stern and want to meet the boy and know who his parents were. And Toni would have to team up with their little girl and plot and plan together in order to convince Daddy it was all right.

  “If it’s me you’re doubting . . .” Heath said, letting the words trail off.

  His hand fell at his sides. “It’s not you, Heath.”

  Toni was brought up to her full height, her pride instantly smarting. “Well, if it’s me you’re doubting—”

  Grey smiled reluctantly. “I don’t doubt you for a second.” He took a breath as though to speak but fell pensive again, until finally he assented. “You’ll b
e fine.”

  His sudden, startling encouragement made her balk. “But what if I—”

  “I’ll kick the shit out of him.”

  The men were smiling now, sharing looks only they could understand. Toni wasn’t smiling at all. She was rooted to the spot, debating whether to rush for cover and admit her cowardice or engage in a decent display of bravery and meet her maker.

  The wind whipped her hair around her. It got curlier at the beach—it got impossible, frankly—and as she contemplated her dilemma, she got sick of it. She gathered it in one hand, twisted it into a rope, and tied it in a loose bun at her nape, leaving a few strands still flying across her eyes as she raised her face to Heath’s.

  “If I want to get down . . . ?”

  He inclined his head in agreement, and she could tell he was making an effort not to smile. “I promise you.”

  Before she could screw up her courage, Grey caught her hips and boosted her up. “Up we go, pretty lady. She gets the stirrups,” he told Heath.

  “Of course.”

  Grey unbuckled the straps and then pulled the leather up three holes from its former setting. “Heath,” he warned when he was done.

  “I got it, Grey.” Heath deftly steered the horse around. “We’ll walk around for a bit, and then we’ll trot,” he told her once they were on their way.

  Her nails dug in to the pommel of the saddle. “First we walk, Heath.”

  “Whatever you say, Cat. And you could ride this baby from here to Alaska.All you need is your thighs to hang on. If you let the animal know you’re afraid, it senses it.”

  “I’m terrified.”

  “You need a new experience, that’s all.”

  Just talking about trotting had her stomach in a grip. She gazed out at the sea and tried to think of something relaxing. “Around March, you can see humpback whales here.They swim back north with their babes, and they’re so close to shore you can spot them from here sometimes. Especially when they jump. Once, Grey and I took a boat up to see them, and they were so close I dipped my fingers in the water and touched one.The skin was so smooth, with little calluses formed by the . . .” Realizing he probably wasn’t really interested in whales, she promptly shut up.“Did I put you to sleep? Hello? Heath?”