A Tricky Proposition by Cat Schield Page B

his eyes made her long to press herself into his arms and pretend they were a real couple and that this was a magical getaway. She dug her nails into her palms.
    “It’s been over a year since I’ve seen Wendy. We had a lot to catch up on.”
    “What was her take on your decision to have a baby?”
    “Total support.” Ming slipped past him and leaned her elbows on the railing. As the sapphire-blue ocean churned against rugged cliffs, sending plumes of water ten feet into the air, she put her face into the breeze and let it cool her hot cheeks. “After the week I had, it was a relief to tell someone who didn’t go all negative on me.”
    “I wasn’t negative.”
    Ming tore her gaze from the panorama and discovered Jason two feet away. Attacked by delicious tingles, she shook her head. “No, but you created trouble for me, nonetheless.”
    “Did you tell her about us?”
    Ming shook her head. “We’re supposed to keep this a secret, remember? Besides, she never liked you in high school.”
    “Everybody liked me in high school.”
    Although he’d been a jock and one of the most popular guys in school, Jason hadn’t been mean to those less blessed the way his football buddies had been.
    “Don’t you mean all the girls?” Blaming nerves for her disgruntled tone, Ming pressed her lips together and redirected her attention to the view. The sun was still too bright to stare at, but the color was changing rapidly to orange.
    “Them, too.” Jason reached out and wrapped the ends of her scarf around his fists.
    He tugged, startling her off balance, and stepped into her space. Her hormones shrieked in delight as the scent of cologne and predatory male surrounded her. She gulped air into her lungs and felt her breasts graze his chest. A glint appeared in his eyes, sending a spike of excitement through her.
    “Something smells great in the kitchen. What’s for dinner?” she asked, her voice cracking on the last word. Her appetite had vanished in the first rush of desire, but eating would delay what came later.
    “Coq au vin.” Although his lips wore a playful smile, his preoccupation with her mouth gave the horseplay a sexual vibe. He looked prepared to devour her in slow, succulent bites. “Your favorite. Are you hungry?”
    He looked half-starved.
    “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.” Her stomach had been too knotted to accept food.
    “Then I’d better feed you.” He softened his fists and let her scarf slip through his fingers, releasing her. “You’ll need your strength for what I have planned for you tonight.”
    Freed, Ming couldn’t move. The hunger prowling through her prevented her from backing to a safe distance. His knowing smirk kept her tongue-tied. She silently cursed as she trailed after him into the kitchen.
    “I found a really nice chardonnay in town.” He poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Ming. “I figured we’d save the champagne for later.”
    Great. He was planning to get her liquored up. She could blame the alcohol for whatever foolish thing she cried out in the heat of passion. She swallowed half the pale white wine in a single gulp and made approving noises while he pulled a wedge of brie out of the fridge. Grapes. Crackers. Some sort of pâté. All the sort of thing she’d served him at some point. Had he paid attention to what she liked? Asking herself the question had an adverse effect on her knees and led to more dangerous ruminating. What else might he have planned for her?
    “Dinner should be ready in half an hour.” He had everything assembled on a plate and used his chin to gesture toward the deck. “It’s a gorgeous night. Let’s not waste the good weather.”
    Early September in northern California was a lot cooler than what they’d left behind in Houston, and Ming welcomed the break from the heat. “It really is beautiful.” She carried their glasses outside. “We should take a long walk after dinner.”
    Jason set down the plate and shot her a