The damn dress didn’t have a back. Well, it did, but not much of one.
A single lock of hair trailed down her spine, brushing her pale skin as she tilted her head to listen to Ginger. Marianna’s skin glowed with a translucent quality reminding him of the magnolias and candles floating in the pool.
“Hey, Mom, great party,” Sebastian called as he grabbed his drink and strode closer to the women. “Hello, Marianna.”
Setting his seltzer glass on the table behind her, with careful nonchalance, he traced a path down each vertebra, his callused finger snagging against her silky skin. Holy crap, was that silver glitter sprinkled along her shoulders?
“Good evening, Sebastian.” She stepped away and crossed her arms over her br**sts, shielding her response to his caress. “I was just asking your mother for the name of her caterer.”
“And I was telling Marianna we’re glad to have her here.” His mother eyed the two of them with ill-disguised curiosity.
He wouldn’t be able to dodge an interrogation much longer. His mother could be quietly relentless—the epitome of a steel magnolia.
And while he was on the subject of strong-willed women…When would Marianna want to tell the world about the baby? He preferred waiting until that announcement could be made along with their intent to get back together. He didn’t want her settling too comfortably into the single-parent role.
He sure as hell didn’t want her moving to Columbia.
Donning the perfect hostess smile, Ginger gestured across the patio. “There’s Judge Johnson arriving with his new wife. I need to say hello. You two go enjoy yourselves.” Ginger tossed the couple a wave as she located her husband and began the required social circulation.
Marianna faced him, the moon casting shadows through her long lashes. “I appreciate that you’re willing to hold back on talking to your family. I know that can’t be easy.”
“They’ll start pushing soon, but I’m a big boy. I’ll talk when I’m ready.”
“I know that firsthand.”
Dangerous territory. She’d frequently complained about his reticence. Although she’d used stronger words—like stubborn jackass—to describe his refusal to discuss something before he’d had a chance to sort it out in his head. Growing up with talkative brothers, he’d found it easier to keep his own counsel and go his own way.
She crooked a finger and whispered, “I’ll let you in on a secret, but you have to promise not to tell.”
He brushed his finger just over her left breast. “Cross my heart.”
Marianna pinched his wrist none too gently and moved his hand away. “That’s not yours anymore.”
As if he needed reminding of all he needed to win back. “What’s the secret?”
“I’m really getting addicted to that gourmet peanut butter. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Sebastian leaned back, his arm resting behind her without touching. Checking out her body glitter and imagining how far it dusted beneath her dress proved plenty enjoyable for the moment. “You can uncross your arms now that Mom’s gone.”
“And you can pack away the flirting.”
“As long as you’re not packing your bags for Columbia.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to bring that up.”
Matthew and Ashley burst onto the back porch, breaking the thread of tension. Sebastian retrieved his seltzer water for a much needed cooldown.
Ashley edged closer to the group. She was quiet but a surprisingly funny woman who Marianna had once mentioned she looked forward to calling sister. The bride-to-be filled a champagne flute from the fountain while Matthew slung an arm along Marianna’s shoulder. “Is my brother behaving?”
“Sebastian’s behavior has been borderline acceptable.” Her smile tempered the words.
Sebastian tapped his glass against her arm. “Only borderline?”
She shivered as he lightly caressed the rim against her bare skin. “I haven’t shoved you in the pool yet, but it’s going to be a near thing if you keep that up.”
He pulled his glass back and drank from the spot that touched her. “There’s an idea about the pool.” Sebastian turned to his wide-eyed brother watching the two of them with ill-disguised confusion. “Matthew, you better watch your back because I’m thinking I owe you one for when you dunked me at that party Mom threw right after Marianna and I eloped—”
Ashley hooked arms with Matthew. “The photographers would love the chance to sell those pictures to the tabloids.”
“Spoilsport,” Sebastian mumbled. His soft-spoken future sister-in-law had an understated approach to getting her way, he would do well to study. Perhaps he needed to ease up on touching Marianna for the night. “So, Matthew, do you still have time in your campaign schedule for golfing next weekend?”
With some luck, Marianna would pick up on his mention of taking downtime, something she’d requested often enough in the past.
Matthew turned toward Ashley. “Do I?”
“Don’t look at me. I’m not your boss.”
Matthew snorted.
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Yes, Sebastian, Matthew may come out and play next Saturday.”
Watching Matthew and Ashley, Marianna couldn’t help but envy their ease together, their obvious love and compatibility. While she wouldn’t begrudge them one moment, all that happiness and hope flat-out hurt right now.
But damn it all, she was tired of feeling sorry for herself. She was weary of grieving and crying. Her life wasn’t perfect, but she had a helluva lot going for her right now. She had a baby to look forward to.
And a rekindled passion with her ex-husband.
Did she dare touch that fire again? They’d both been burned so badly. But, God, when had she become so timid?
It was after losing Sophie. The fight seemed to have gone out of her then. What a sad legacy to carry in the name of a precious little girl who’d brought so much joy.
Marianna stood taller and wondered how long she’d been slumping. Too long.
She didn’t know where things were headed with Sebastian. Likely nowhere, although she imagined he had some honor-driven notion they should remarry for the child. She disagreed. They’d taken off their wedding rings and turned the page on being married. Not even a relentless pursuit on his part could change that.
But in spite of any divorce decree, apparently they still had unfinished business between them—business they needed to sort through before the baby was born. Marianna took in the breadth of his shoulders, the slightly aloof tip of his head, her body already humming with awareness and an urge to explore the renewed attraction.
She was growing tired of his flirtatious strokes then pulling back. She was sexually frustrated and totally knew it. It was time Sebastian either quit the touching dance or own up to the fact that he wanted her, too.
Seven
S ebastian sprawled in a poolside chair for the bulk of the engagement party, making political chitchat as people strolled by. Mostly he used the spot as the perfect vantage point to watch Marianna while she helped his mother befriend wallflowers, give instructions to the waiters…
And open up the dance floor under the stars.His body thrummed as he watched her sway to the music with his youngest brother, her laughter teasing his senses from across the patio. His decision to lay off touching her for a while was already playing with his sanity. Her smile tonight sliced right through the distance they’d put between them over the past months. Sebastian hadn’t seen her happy like that in a long time. It must have something to do with that famed pregnancy glow.
A big band–era song struck up next and the General approached her. As Hank began to take her hand, his arms stopped in midair as he searched for a place covered by fabric. Sebastian stifled a smile.
Another hour passed until he watched Marianna sit alone for the first time, relaxing in a poolside chair. His no-touching decision was about to take a temporary hiatus. He deserved at least one dance, damn it. He strode over to her just as the strains of the final tune of the night played, a slower song as the band wound down.
“I think I’m the only man left who hasn’t danced with you.”
“You haven’t asked me.”
So she’d noticed his backing off. Good. At least he could gain some satisfaction from his restraint. Although right now, he wondered just how long that restraint would last.
He extended his hands. “May I have this dance? In the interest of being friends.”
Marianna gulped as the full impact of Sebastian’s appeal washed over her. The Southern gentleman to the hilt, he wore a navy jacket with his khakis in spite of the eighty-degree weather, a conservative maroon tie neatly knotted at his neck.
Odd thing, though, there were plenty of men dressed much like him, equally attractive and powerful men, but none of them stirred her interest for even a second.
She placed her hands in Sebastian’s, rising from the chair, stepping into the circle of his arms. His other palmed the bare skin low on her spine, his calluses calling to mind his strength. Marianna let him draw her near, his cheek just barely brushing her hair.
Slipping her fingers over his shoulder, she began to move her feet in rhythm with the music. Her breath twined with his in the sliver of air between them. He traced small, hypnotic patterns as he hummed along with the music.
Marianna’s eyes drifted closed, and she let the attraction have its way with her senses, hot and steamy like the South Carolina heat. She leaned closer, her br**sts heavy and full pressed against his chest. Their legs skimmed as their bodies mimicked a more fundamental dance, bringing back memories of better times.
She looked up at him, seeing all too clearly the desire in his eyes and becoming achingly aware of every inch of him. She knew that look well, and if they’d been anywhere else but in public, he would have her stripped down in seconds. As it was, she could only sway against him, hypnotized by the fierce want in his gaze, her whole body begging to be with him.
“Marianna, all flirting aside, you have to know you’re a beautiful, sexy woman,” he whispered, his hands skimming tantalizing figure eights up and down her back.
Again, she felt the draw to take this window of time before the baby’s birth to jump in and simply enjoy the urges her body demanded be filled. Even though Sebastian had given her space during the party, he didn’t seem likely to tell her no.
He’d seemed calmer about her possible move than she’d expected, but she knew how well he could hide his steely streak. Maybe she needed to learn to trust her own strength of will in letting him know—calmly—where she stood. That sounded reasonable, especially for a woman with sensual longing supercharging through her veins.
She inclined her head just a hint, gazing at him for an electrified moment. “What do you think of a short-term arrangement as sex buddies?”
Sex buddies?
Stunned mute, Sebastian stared at Marianna in his arms on the starlit dance floor. She actually wanted to have sex with him. Now.
The rest of her words sunk in. She said something about a short-term arrangement, total BS in his mind, but he would deal with that later. He wasn’t stupid enough to let this opportunity pass. “My place is more than a little crowded tonight. What do you say we go back to the house?”