Chapter 21
The rooster roused Libby from sleep, but instead of seeing a sky still inky with night through her bedroom window, she saw that it was pale and rosy.
Beside her, Karim stirred. Libby held her breath.
His little face twisted, and when he let out a grumble and settled back to sleep, she silently exhaled her relief that she still had a few more minutes to herself.
Last night washed over her like a dream. Not quite real, not quite finished.
She and Dan had come together on the couch, finding relief in each other, clothed from the waist down. Flushed and shy, she hadn’t been able to look him in the eyes until he’d held her chin and said, “How was that for you, friend?”
She couldn’t lie. But neither could she tell him the truth—that her orgasm had shattered through her, blowing out the framework that held her cobbled-together life in place. Would fooling around together damage their friendship now? Would it change how she felt about him?
“It was just what I needed—friend,” she’d said, a million percent truthful. She’d given Dan a kiss on the cheek and thanked him, exuding confidence she hadn’t quite felt, then grabbed the first shower, knowing there’d only be enough hot water for one.
“Hey,” he’d said when he’d stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his shoulders and looking a lot cooler than when he went in. “That was sneaky.”
He’d then washed their clothes in the sink and went outside in the dark to hang them on the line, ready for the morning sun. When they’d finally said goodnight at their adjoining bedroom doors, he’d kissed her—also on the cheek, of course, like she’d done. Like a friend.
He’d grinned. “Thanks for your help tonight, Libby.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” she’d said. And his deep, knowing chuckle as she closed the door on him had made her stomach flip.
Yep, a hundred percent, last night had changed the way she felt about him.
She had it bad, dammit. How long could she keep her crush marching in an orderly line?
She liked him so much. But she’d better lock these feelings down because more than just friendship with Dan simply wasn’t possible.
Even if it was the special kind of friendship they’d talked about last night, moments before they’d jumped each other.
They’d become roommates by circumstance. Friends through choice. But they were still two people leading completely different lives, in completely different places, whose paths had just so happened to cross for a few weeks.
And of course, Libby hadn’t forgotten about the woman Dan had been all set to marry.
His feverish declaration about always loving Isabella was only two weeks ago, and Libby didn’t believe for one second that Dan’s feelings for his ex would dissipate after one night of fooling around on a couch.
Libby was safe for him. That’s why he’d let go and flirted, but in his real world, he’d never have looked at her twice.
And that’s just how it works…
Libby stared at the ceiling. Dan was right.
Her self-esteem had been knocked by Elliot, but that whole heartbreaking, emotionally toxic relationship she’d been in had also made her wary.
And hopefully a lot wiser. If people with dubious morals like Elliot didn’t want to be with her, neither did famous Olympic champions who got engaged to stunning, glamorous pop singers.
Keep your head screwed on, Libby Jones…
Friends were all she and Dan could ever be. And that was cool. All she could do was enjoy the time they had together, see him as nothing more than a pleasant and interesting adventure—as well as a work project that would earn her enough money to replenish her savings account.
Turning over, Libby came face-to-face with two big, wide eyes watching her.
“Hello, honey. Did you have a nice sleepy?”
Karim patted her on her cheek and babbled about going to the beach.
“We’ll go swimming this afternoon, sweet cheeks. We have to get the airplane first. We’re flying back to the big island today.”
Karim made airplane noises and continued throughout breakfast, wanting Libby to play airplanes with his spoon loaded with cereal.
After the fifth mouthful, he gave out an excited little squawk and pointed to the doorway, where Dan stood, wearing only a pair of shorts and a telling grin.
“Good morning,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
Heat rose up Libby’s neck. “Very well, thank you.”
He high-fived Karim, but she was too dazed by Dan’s bare torso and memories of his mouth on her breasts last night to warn him that her child’s hand was covered in sticky puffed rice and milk.
“Boom! You got me, kid,” Dan said with a deep, soft laugh. He reached for the wet cloth on the table and wiped his hand.
“How did you sleep?” Libby asked.
“Like a baby.”
“No wonder you’re up early, then.”
Dan grinned again and reached for the coffee pot. “So we’re cool about last night?”
“We’re cool.” Except for the desire burning inside her. There was nothing cool about that.
“Let me know if you ever need any more…help,” he said with a wink.
“You bet,” she drawled as smooth as she could, then cleaned up their breakfast things while Dan amused Karim with the Spider Game—which happened pretty much at every meal these days. Dan pretended his large hand was a huge spider that had come to steal Karim’s food.
As Karim squealed with laughter behind her, she hadn’t expected to feel this relaxed in Dan’s company after what they’d done on the couch. And when he came up beside her to pour himself another cup of coffee—whistling like a man who’d gotten laid the night before—Libby eyed him curiously.
Did he mean it? Would he help her out with a repeat performance sometime?
“You okay down there?” he asked.
Libby blinked. She’d been staring at his carved marble pecs and dark, flat nipples. Her gaze shot to his just as a slow, wide smile spread across his face. “You’d better wait until Karim’s asleep and I’m prepared before you look at me like that again.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said quickly.
“You will soon enough.” Then he sauntered off, taking her gaze with him, which was firmly fixed on his hard backside.
Absolutely, without a doubt, the next time Dan was alone with Libby—on a sofa, chair, rug, preferably a bed—he would be prepared.
A whole pack’s worth of preparedness.
Buying condoms was the first thing on his to-do list as soon as they got back to Raro.
Since dawn, lying awake listening to that cockerel, Dan had been reveling in the glory of bringing a woman to orgasm.
Add in the fact that the woman in question was Libby, with her lush body and smooth, easygoing personality, and he could out-crow that cockerel with the amount of testosterone running through him.
Would she want a repeat of last night? That’s exactly why he’d walked into the kitchen half naked.
What better way to test if she wanted another round of Let’s help each other out?
The answer, judging by how her eyes had been transfixed on his chest, was a resounding yes.
Yes, yes, yes!
Which was pretty much all Libby had said when she was coming on top of him last night.
Yes, indeed. Dan quickly found a T-shirt, packed the rest of his things, and then took over from Libby to tidy the kitchen while she dressed Karim.
After he tidied and checked the rest of the place to make sure they’d packed all their stuff, he gave Libby a long look when he took the clothes they’d been wearing last night off the washing line.
“Funny time to be doing laundry,” he said and sniggered when she snatched her still-damp shorts and underwear out of his hand.
An hour later, dead on ten, Andrea arrived to take them to the airport. The Christopher Mac Gang gathered around her truck.
“Will you miss us?” Christopher Mac asked him.
“No. You’re all annoying.”
The kids laughed, and he gave them presents, which consisted of clothes he hoped to replace on Rarotonga, a couple of pens he’d found at the bottom of his bag, a new bar of soap—and his email address.
“Annoying, my ass,” Libby whispered and hopped into the front of the truck with Karim.
Dan chuckled and pulled himself up into the back of the truck with their bags and the pushchair.
With a beep of the horn, Andrea started the engine, and the children, cheering, ran alongside for as long as they could.
Dan waved until the kids disappeared from sight, then turned his face into the wind, looking ahead.
Bumping along the rough Atiuan roads, he was on the verge of something new and wonderful.
The interviews and the content he and Libby would create were going to reshape their future.
It felt good, knowing he was helping her out as much as she was helping him.
And they still had two more weeks together.
Fourteen days.
And fourteen nights…
Back on Rarotonga, Dan paid for the cab that had just dropped them off at Tia Rosa’s.
Later, once they were settled, he’d call his mother at Are Moana and tell her they were back.
The thought of Mum and Malek still icked him about a bit, but that was no one’s problem but his.
Mum was happy, and Malek looked like he cared for her.
That was the main thing. Dan wouldn’t intrude on their time, but with Christmas Day being only two days away, it was natural that they would all celebrate together.
Libby had suggested cooking a meal at the hut and inviting them over.
His mother would like that, and she’d also like to hear about the interviews.
Fizzing with renewed energy, Dan didn’t fear the future as much as he had last week.
What had been a dark, unknown hole was now filling with some light and direction.
The Junior Athletics British Championships were next summer.
Maybe he could do some mentoring and coaching.
He already knew a few of the young contenders.
Would the sports channels want him to do some commentating?
And he’d finally also return Michael’s and Sebastian’s emails and ask about what work they had in mind for him on the Get Living campaign.
Which felt…sort of like picking his life up where he’d almost lost it.
But it wasn’t just his and Libby’s collaboration that got him revved up, ready for action.
On the flight back earlier, she’d been her usual chatty, nervous wreck self during takeoff.
Dan had tried to make her laugh but quickly realized that making Karim laugh calmed her down quicker.
If her son was happy, she was happy. So, Dan had played the hand-spider game again, crawling his fingers over Libby’s arms and legs to amuse Karim.
Touching Libby like that was an added bonus.
In fact, he couldn’t wait to touch her some more.
By the time the taxi pulled away at the hut, Tia Rosa had come to the gate and greeted them like old friends. “Kia Orana!” Then the older lady cast her wise eyes up and down his body, like she knew a secret. “So you’re still together?”
Libby quickly mumbled something about them only being roommates because it made financial sense. Dan hid his smile, and as they made their way to the hut, he recalled that first time he’d walked down this heavily scented garden path.
He’d been so miserable then, but now, he was looking up at the bright blue sky, imagining Libby on top of him, riding him like she’d done last night. He really must get prepared.
And tomorrow was Christmas Eve.
Christmas!
Only with bright flowers, sunshine, heat, and clear skies. With Libby and Karim.
“What are you smiling about?” Libby asked, her eyes narrowing in that way of hers when she suspected he was acting vaguely human. Tia Rosa had left, and Karim was rolling around the garden. “Where’s Cranky, and what have you done with him?”
“Cranky’s gone,” he told her and hooked a finger in the collar of her T-shirt to bring her closer to his lips. “You must’ve left him under that mango tree.”
Her mouth parted. He dipped his head.
“Hello!” It was Tia Rosa’s voice again. Libby and Dan sprang apart. “I have visitors for you!”
Tia Rosa stepped through the bush-covered path, his mother and Malek behind her.
“Mum? What’s—?”
“Oh, Danny!” she said. “I’m so glad you’re back. You wouldn’t believe what Femi’s just told me!”