Creating Merry Hell Read Free Page B

perfectly tan shoulders. Opening her purse, she’d withdrawn a small compact, reapplied her makeup and fixed her hair. Another shaky breath later and she’d been ready to go. Like an idiot, he’d done nothing but watch as she’d walked out of his life for the second time.
    Today, she was at her sparkling best and he reacted to her in the same way he always had—his tongue all but rolling out of his head. Honey hair styled in glossy waves like a 1960s movie star hung past her shoulders and framed her heart-shaped face. She had the body to match too, all Jane Mansfield curves and long, long legs. Cherry-colored lips and those impossibly innocent gray eyes completed the picture. After the wedding he convinced himself there would never be any future for them, told himself he was over her, his obsession with Merry Lewis was finally at an end. That was until he’d seen her today. Even then he’d made a feeble attempt to shut her out just to prove to himself he could. Waste of time. Years of lust boiled to the surface when she’d looked at him, really looked at him like she was finally seeing him for the first time and not the mess their parents had made. He couldn’t explain it, yet he knew whatever else happened to him in this life he would never be over her, which was fucking madness considering she’d never been his to begin with.
    What was to stop it from becoming a reality? If the way she looked at him today was anything to go by, she wanted him too. Just once, that was all he needed, one time between Meredith Lewis’ shapely thighs and he’d be a happy man. Maybe then he would finally get her out of his system once and for all. Sure they had history, but it was ancient history. For too long it had come between them. Tonight that was going to change.

Chapter Three
     
    “Hello, Princess.”
    Despite the warm summer air goose pimples broke out all over Merry’s body. She didn’t need to turn to know who was behind her, but she looked over her shoulder anyway. “Hello, Jack. Or should I call you Captain Jack?”
    Flashing her that sexy as sin smile, he said. “It was Grace’s idea.” Oh God, she might as well give in now because when he smiled at her like that it made it too easy to forget everything.
    “It’s a great costume. You look good.” Boy did he ever. He’d removed the wig but even without it he knew how to work the pirate look. He’d shaved so that all that was left was a sinful-looking goatee and those eyes were even more intense now that they were ringed with black. As for his body…wow! She could only presume Grace had loaned him the ruffled white shirt that was doing such a fabulous job of exposing his tanned chest. Merry made a mental note to thank her friend later. “And you look amazing.” Taking in her burlesque costume, he let his lustful gaze caress her exposed flesh. “Great legs by the way. Love the stockings.” Before she knew what he was doing he reached out and snapped the elastic.
    “Stop that!” she yelped, slapping his hand away.
    Simple as that, she felt sixteen again. Flustered, her cheeks hot pink, she furiously tried to come up with something clever and witty to say. Before she could think of anything, Jack asked, “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
    “Wasn’t feeling much like company.” Hardly clever or witty.
    Not taking the hint, he took a seat beside her and handed over one of the glasses he held. “You left this inside.”
    Taking her drink from him, she discreetly scooted farther along the bench. Not that she got very far before she bumped her hip against the wooden arm, but it did put some much needed distance between them. The way her body reacted when she was around him was not good. She was far too aware of him, and the longer she spent around him, the more she was in danger of letting her resolve weaken. The plan was to avoid him—that was the reason she’d sneaked out to the garden in the first place. Needing something to do, she