Part 18 (1/2)

After what had happened last night with Ryan-what amounted to the most beautiful, stunning, mind-blowing lovemaking of her life-she simply couldn't get her brain to focus on work. On top of that, she was incredibly nervous about going to a family party, even more now that their fake engagement had morphed into an accidental night of sizzling hot s.e.x.

She could have gone to a toy store to buy Summer a standard gift, but she knew it would make her feel better to get her hands in clay and make one. Evidently the little girl had just gotten a new poodle puppy from Zach's girlfriend, Heather, and was head-over-heels for it.

After she'd made a really fun poodle out of the clay, she decided to make a pretty Oak tree for Mary Sullivan, and then when she was done with that, she'd tackled a well-read hardback book in clay for Sophie to put in the library. Vicki had been working with such serious intent for such a long stretch on her fellows.h.i.+p project that she'd been almost giddy from the pleasure of making the cute and funny sculptures.

She barely noticed the sun falling lower in the sky as she moved from one little project to another. What fun it was to have a big family to make things for. She wouldn't have time to make a wine bottle for Marcus or a pair of ballet shoes for Lori, though. Next time.

Her hands had stilled on the book spine she'd been pressing into the clay with her fingertips.

Next time.

What on earth made her think there was going to be a next time?

Pretty soon, she'd be moving out of Ryan's house. She hoped she and Ryan would be able to find time to get together to catch up on life on a regular basis, of course, but once she was no longer living at his house, the two of them would be going their separate ways.

Anne's question had startled her out of her somewhat depressing musings and brought her right back around to the previous night.

And all the amazing s.e.x she'd had with Ryan.

”Everyone liked the dress. Of course you knew they would. It's an awesome dress.”

Anne's smile was wicked...and pleased. ”Awesome, huh?” She raised her eyebrows. ”Dare I hope my awesome dress ended up in shreds in your gorgeous man's bedroom?”

Vicki automatically started to shake her head, but quickly realized there was no point in trying to pretend it hadn't been the most glorious night of her life. Especially with the engagement ring Ryan had given her hanging between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s on the gold chain.

It had been a long time since she'd had another woman to confide in. Justifying it by telling herself that Anne's knowing only gave more credence to the false engagement, Vicki pulled the ring out from under her tank top. ”He gave me this.”

Anne's eyes went wide as she grabbed it, inadvertently pulling Vicki forward while she inspected the ring. ”He has great taste. Are you free tonight for a bottle or two of champagne? And could he bring a few of his gorgeous baseball playing friends?”

”I'd really love to,” Vicki said, ”but I've promised Ryan I'll go to a family birthday party with him tonight.”

Anne clapped her hands together. ”Even better-you can wear another one of my dresses. Who needs this fellows.h.i.+p when I have you to wear all my clothes?”

She had pulled Vicki halfway down the hall by the time Vicki could get out the words, ”I don't know if that's such a good idea.”

Anne put her hands on her hips. ”Why? You were stunning last night. And clearly, the dress made an impression on your man.”

But that was just the problem. Ryan had loved the dress...and he'd loved stripping it off her even more. Vicki's body started heating up all over just thinking about it.

If she wore another one of Anne's brilliantly s.e.xy designs, he might think she was trying to say that she wanted a repeat of last night. Which, of course, she did, because how could anyone not want that?

But, G.o.d, this morning had been awkward enough.

Last night had been an accident. A s.e.xual slip-up. Two bodies in motion colliding without pre-meditated intent.

She couldn't imagine how awkward it would be if he thought she was actually trying to seduce him this time. Instead of letting her down easy, he'd be forced to take much more drastic-and obvious-steps.

But since she couldn't say any of that to her out-of-the-big-lie-loop friend, Vicki grabbed onto the only excuse she could think of. ”The party is for an eight-year-old. I'm sure everyone will be wearing jeans.”

”Or pretty little sundresses,” Anne shot back. ”A couple of days ago I didn't know why I was so compelled to make this dress, since I can't use it for the fellows.h.i.+p. Now I know. It's my engagement gift to you.”

With that, Vicki knew she had no choice. She let Anne drag her into her own studio and hand her a pretty summer dress made of dozens of light and colorful layers.

And, despite knowing better, she couldn't help wanting to knock Ryan's socks off one more time.

Chapter Twenty.

Ryan stood in his brother Gabe's living room surrounded by his family, a big group of strangers, and a dozen rambunctious eight-year-olds. And yet, all he could see was Vicki.

Summer had just barreled into Vicki's waist to give her a huge hug. Clearly, the eight-year-old girl loved the poodle sculpture Vicki had made her. She'd surprised Sophie and his mother with fun little sculptures, as well, and he knew they wouldn't stop gus.h.i.+ng over the unexpected gifts for a very long time.

As she chatted animatedly with Summer, there was nothing fake, nothing affected about Vicki, not from her soft hair to her unpainted fingernails to the sweet curves that had transfixed him since he was a teenager. To make matters worse for the hard-on he was working like h.e.l.l to hold at bay, she was wearing another pretty dress that simultaneously hid and showcased her incredible figure as the breeze played through the fabric.

Ryan's chest squeezed tight at her beauty.

Smith handed him a beer. ”Some pretty big bets were going down today in the production offices for the playoff games. You ready to make us all some money?”

Ryan took a slug from the bottle, his eyes never leaving Vicki. ”I'll do my best.”

But instead of taking the hint that he wasn't up for shooting the breeze tonight, Smith kept right on talking. ”I enjoyed the shaking down we did today for your school sports fund. Kind of nice to be on the other side of the demanding, for once. Ever feel like everyone just wants something from you?”

Depending on his mood, Smith could be disturbingly blunt...or as opaque as it got. Clearly, he was in one of his deep-and talkative-moods.

”Well,” Ryan drawled, ”considering my brother just told me to pitch a no-hitter so he wins his money back on a bet, yeah, I guess I do know how that feels.”

”You're lucky to have her, you know.”

Ryan finally shot Smith a look to see what he was playing at. ”Vicki?”

”You've been friends since you were kids, so you know she's not hanging around because of what you could do for her, or for the fame that comes with being your fiancee.”

”She's not my-”

”Right.” The one word was loaded. ”Funny how the way the two of you look at and touch each other makes it hard for any of us to remember that it's all just a lie.”

Ryan's teeth clenched at the way his brother had just pointed out the obvious. He couldn't keep from wanting Vicki. Loving her. Not even when she'd all but asked him to do just that this morning when she'd called their night together ”weird” and then said her silent no to ever being intimate like that again.

Frustration had him las.h.i.+ng out at a brother who didn't deserve it. ”Not everyone is as good an actor as you are.”

Smith gave him a hard look. ”Then maybe you should quit trying so hard to pretend.”

Finally, his brother left him alone again and Ryan's gaze immediately went back to Vicki.

All day he'd been turning their situation over and over in his head. Yes, he knew she thought making love had been a mistake. A weird mistake. But he hadn't forgotten the way she'd responded to his touch...and that there hadn't been one single weird thing about the way she'd arched and cried out against him and begged for more.