“Yes, she is. Meri mentioned she wasn’t one of the scientists?”
“Oh, no. She coordinates the project. She’s just a normal person. She keeps us on track with our time and our budget. She takes care of things.” His voice had a dreamy quality. “She always smells good. It’s not always the same scent. Some of it is perfume, but there’s an intriguing quality to her skin…”
“Sounds like someone worth getting to know.”
“She is,” Colin said, then paused. “What do you mean?”
“Is she seeing anyone?”
“What? I don’t think so. But Betina has a lot of men. Practically a different man every week. She’s always fun. I don’t think the two of you would get along at all.”
Jack held in a grin. “You’re probably right. Have you two ever…?”
“Oh.” Colin took a step back. “No. We’ve never dated or anything.”
“Not your type either?”
“Uh, no. Probably not.” But Colin sounded more resigned than anything else. As if he’d given up hope on the one thing he wanted.
Jack heard the shuttle van arriving and excused himself. He took the stairs up to his office, but as he passed the landing for the bedrooms, he paused. Meri liked to just pop into his room without warning. Maybe it was time to play the same game with her. Last night’s kiss had obviously rattled her. He should press his advantage.
He crossed to her room and opened the door without knocking. Meri stood beside her bed.
The drapes were open and sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating every inch of her. Her hair fell in a wavy mass down her back. Her skin gleamed as if it had been dusted with starlight. She wore nothing but a tiny pair of bikini panties.
He stared at her nearly naked body, taking in the dip of her waist, the narrow rib cage and her perfect breasts. She held a bra in each hand, as if she’d been trying to decide which one to wear.
At last he raised his gaze to her face. She looked confused and apprehensive. There was none of her usual sass or spark.
Wanting slammed into him, nearly knocking him over with its intensity. On the heels of that came guilt. He’d promised Hunter he would keep Meredith safe from predators. Men exactly like himself.
“I’m sorry,” he said and backed out of the room.
Meri dressed quickly, then stood in the center of her room, not sure what to do. Last night’s kiss had been upsetting enough. She’d reacted to it with a passion that had stunned her. She’d wanted him, and nothing in her revenge plan was supposed to be about wanting.
She’d tried to convince herself that her reaction had been perfectly natural. Jack was a good-looking guy she liked a lot. She used to have a crush on him. It had been illogical to assume she could seduce him and not get aroused herself. End of story.
But she hadn’t been able to totally believe herself. Now, having seen the need in his eyes, she knew the wanting wasn’t all one-sided.
She left her room and went upstairs to his office. Sure enough, Jack was at his computer, staring at the screen as if it were the only thing that mattered.
“We have to talk,” she said.
“No, we don’t.”
“I’m not leaving. You want me. I saw it in your eyes.”
“I walked in on a beautiful naked woman. It was a biological reaction to a visual stimulus. Nothing more. I would have wanted anyone who fit the description.”
She considered his words. Was he telling the truth? Was that all it was? Biology at work?
“I don’t think so,” she said. “It was more specific than that. You don’t want any woman. You want me.”
He finally looked up from the computer. “I’ve never understood why anyone would bang their head against a wall to make the pain go away, but I do now.”
She smiled. “It’s just part of my charm. Come on, Jack. You want me. Why can’t you admit it?”
He sucked in a breath. She held hers, waiting for the words that would make her want to party like it was 1999.
“I talked to Colin about Betina,” he said instead.
She sank into the chair opposite his desk. All thoughts of wanting and sex disappeared as she leaned forward eagerly. “Really? What did he say?”
“Nothing specific. You’re right-he has a thing for her, but he thinks he’s totally out of her league.”
She groaned. “Of course he does.”
“Why?” Jack asked. “He’s got a lot going for him. He’s smart and he has a good job. He seems nice. He should be like catnip.”
“It’s not that simple. Colin is like me-book-smart, world-stupid. Betina is one of those funny, social people who makes life a party wherever she goes. Colin bonds with the potted plant in the room. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“You were never that bad.”
“I was worse. I had a wild crush on a guy I could never have. Then he broke my heart.”
Jack looked out the window, then back at her. “I’ve apologized for that. I can’t take it back.”
“I know, but I like punishing you for it over and over again. The point is, being that smart isn’t easy. I always knew I didn’t fit in, and Colin feels the same way. We’re bright enough to see the problem, but we can’t seem to fix it.”
“You’re saying Colin can’t take the steps to tell Betina he’s interested?”
“He won’t see himself as capable.”
“Then maybe they shouldn’t be together.”
“I don’t accept that,” Meri told him. “Colin is a sweetie. And Betina is my best friend. I owe her everything. I want her to be happy. I’m going to make this happen.”
“You shouldn’t get involved.”
“Too late. Thanks for your help.”
“I didn’t help.”
She smiled. “You so did. When we go to their wedding, you can tell everyone how you had a hand in getting them together.”
He groaned. “Or you could just shoot me now.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Six
“I have happy news,” Meri told Betina that afternoon when they’d finished working for the day.
Betina glanced out the kitchen window to where the rest of the team had walked down to the water. “You’re giving up your ridiculous quest to sleep with Jack?”
“Never that,” Meri told her. “I’m actually getting closer by the day. He’s weak with desire. I’m sure you’ve noticed him limping.”
“You’re a nut.”
“Maybe, but I’m a nut with fabulous news about Colin. He likes you.”
Betina had traveled the world, dated a European prince and had a very wealthy sheik invite her into his harem. She had a tattoo, knew how to do henna and had explained the intricacies of sex to Meri in such detail that her first time had been a breeze. But she’d never once, in all the years Meri had known her, blushed.
Betina ducked her head. “I don’t think so.”
“He does. He talked to Jack about you. He thinks you’re great. He’s just lacking in confidence. But you have enough confidence for two people, so you’re a perfect match.”
Betina raised her head. “You dragged Jack into this?”
“I didn’t drag him. He wanted to help. Sort of. That’s so not the point. Isn’t this fabulous? Aren’t you happy?”
