Stand-In Mom. Megan Kelly

you know, coat check closes before we leave.”

      “Right. Me, too.” He changed direction and marched back to the main hall. A man on a mission. The butterflies in her stomach stilled, calmed by a wave of tenderness toward him.

      When they passed the gift shop, reality struck, almost making her stumble. Condoms. How could she be so stupid? Of all the nights to switch purses. She’d planned to spend the evening with Lisa and Joe, not spend the night with a guy.

      “Is there anything else we’ll need?” she hinted. “Unless you …?”

      “Unless I what? Here we are. Do you have your coat stub?” Scott handed his to the checker then turned to her.

      Damn. Joe had her coat check stub. She didn’t know if mentioning his boss’s name would make Scott hesitate or not. Earlier he’d seemed undecided about them being together; she didn’t want to give him another reason to balk.

      She stretched up to whisper in his ear. “My girlfriend’s husband has it. Why don’t you go to the gift shop while I get the check stub?”

      “What do I need at …?” Light dawned across his face. “Gift shop, right. I’ll be back in a second.” He kissed her, hard. “Don’t change your mind while I’m gone.”

      “You, either.”

      She spotted Joe with a group of men. He was too polite to make a scene that would embarrass her. She touched his arm to draw him aside and explained the situation.

      He produced the ticket from his pocket and offered it to her, capturing her hand in the process. “If you want to call me for a ride later, I’ll come.”

      She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, Joe. Hopefully, this guy has enough manners to drive me home, but otherwise, I’ll call a cab. Do me a different favor, though?”

      “Does it involve not telling Lisa?”

      “I’d never ask that of you.”

      “Good thing.”

      She grinned. “But if you could keep the news to yourself for a while, just to give me time to get out of view?”

      “She won’t be happy.”

      “She’s been unhappy with me before.”

      He grimaced. “I wasn’t referring to you.”

      Ginger chuckled. “Thanks.”

      “Sure you don’t want me to talk to him?”

      “Do I need your approval to date your employees?”

      Being a gentleman, he didn’t comment on her wording. This was as far from a date as one could get. “Make sure you call Lisa tomorrow. She’ll be worried about you.”

      Which meant he was worried. Her throat tightened. “Sure thing.”

      Ginger claimed her coat, finally, looking over her shoulder for Scott. So much time had elapsed, he could have had second, third and fourth thoughts by now.

      She spotted him as she approached the gift shop. He hovered by the entrance. Had he seen her with his boss and decided she wasn’t worth risking his job? Joe would never fire him for being with her, but Scott wouldn’t know that, would he?

      “I thought you’d left,” she said.

      “No.” He looked startled. “Were you hoping I had?”

      “Not at all.” Thank God she wouldn’t have to seduce him all over again. “What are you doing in here? Did they not have what we need?”

      “Got that.” He patted his pocket.

      Ginger laid a hand on his arm. “I have what I need, too.”

      Their eyes met, then his stiff posture loosened. He understood she meant him.

      He exhaled a huge breath. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”

      She laughed. “You sound like I’m going to perform a root canal on you.”

      “God, I hope not.” He smiled and walked toward the elevators. “I’m just relieved. It took so long getting your coat, I thought y’all had come to your senses.”

      “Nope. How about you?”

      “Not planning on being sensible for a while. It’ll feel good.”

      “That’s the plan.” Once in the elevator alone, she let him push the button for their floor before she pulled him to her. She ran her hands over his chest as he bent toward her. His lips covered hers, surprising her with his passion. Maybe he didn’t need warming up. She smiled against his mouth, pleased he hadn’t been having second thoughts, after all.

      “What?” he asked. “Do I kiss funny?”

      She started to assure him otherwise but stopped. “Hmm. I’d better double-check.”

      “Is that a challenge?”

      “You asked.”

      His mouth closed on hers, his lips capturing her bottom lip, then his tongue swept in, arousing, claiming, inflaming her with need. Their breathing grew erratic.

      When she came up for air, she shook her head. “Not funny.”

      He ran his hands over her back, her hips, her breasts, sending her pulse racing. The elevator dinged as it slowed to their floor, drawing them apart. The doors opened, and they stepped out, heading toward their room. Silent, side by side, but not touching.

      He stopped and drew the key card out of his pocket. The lock flashed green.

      Scott opened the door and flipped on the light. “Ladies first.”

      He breathed in Ginger’s exotic scent as she walked into the room. Something flowery but not cloying. More seductive than sweet. It made him think of hothouses, but maybe that was his overheated body. She’d done that to him, too.

      The last time he’d felt an attraction this strong—Samantha, of course, and it was just wrong to think of her now. Not fair to any of the three of them. The similarities between the two women—both physically and in their “seize the day” outlooks—had drawn him to Ginger. But the way her touch made his blood burn led him here. That, and the concern in her eyes when that damned song started. He didn’t need to hear about missing the ones you loved. Not tonight.

      Ginger tossed her coat on a chair, drawing his thoughts back to her. Her hips swayed under that silky dress in a way that roused him. Not a chance she wore anything under there. She leaned across the desk in the corner and turned on the lamp, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He trailed his eyes over her backside, thinly veiled by her dress and arched toward him, and he imagined things he could do to her on that desk. As she turned, he took a moment to appreciate the play of the light over her breasts, creating shadows and highlighting exposed skin.

      His groin tightened to a deeper ache. She strolled back toward him and only then did he realize he stood like an idiot just inside the door. He’d been so transfixed by the sight of her, seductive and alluring, he hadn’t moved.

      He’d noticed her on the dance floor earlier, appreciated her from a distance, and would have been satisfied watching the party girl having fun. Until he saw her standing off to the side in an unguarded moment, watching the others, and seeming lonely and out of place. Something had stirred inside him, recognizing a kindred spirit.

      Ginger caught his eye and flipped off the overhead light switch, casting the room into a dim glow. Her hands slid across his chest, up to his shoulders, and he pulled her against him, his mouth devouring hers. Hot, hard, wet. He had to slow down. She deserved wooing—or at least some patience. Not to be attacked by a sex-starved man.

      Her fingers brushed his stomach. His jacket opened as she slipped her hands inside, caressing his chest, sliding the material from his shoulders. She was undressing him, and he’d only contributed hot kisses.