Page 6 of The Mad Marchams

He turned her slightly and then her back was against the wall, and her hands were in his hair. She wanted to climb him like a tree. She wanted… this man who was way too much for her.

She dragged her mouth away. “I think I should say goodnight and see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Good idea.” He stepped back and slowly exhaled. “Good night, Mabel Howard.”

“Good night, Colin Marcham. I’ll see you at ten in the lobby.”

“Yes.” He blew her a kiss. “Bye, then.”

She scrabbled to find her key card and managed to get herself upstairs and into her condo. Her face felt hot and she pressed her palms to her cheeks. God, for the first time in her life she’d almost asked a complete stranger to sleep with her. Her mom would be horrified. Maybe she was more like her father than she’d realized.

With a moan, Mabel sank down on her bed. Joss had never made her feel like this. They’d fallen into a relationship at college because they’d ended up studying and working together all the time and sleeping together had seemed the obvious thing to do.

Taking a deep breath, Mabel went into the bathroom. She studied her flushed face in the mirror. She’d spend a few days with Colin Marcham, do some sightseeing, and then send him home with a cheery wave and a few hopefully happy memories.

That wasn’t too much to ask for. Was it?

CHAPTER TWO

Colin held the ice cream cone high over his head. “If you want it, you’ll have to come and get it.”

They were back in San Jose after a day at Muir Woods and a boat trip to Alcatraz. His skin had tanned a golden brown and his dark hair was windblown. He was currently walking backward on the sidewalk as they approached her condo.

Mabel lunged at him and tickled him under the arm.

“Ha! I’m not ticklish there.”

She pretend-glared up at him. “Then where are you ticklish?”

“That would be telling.” He stopped in front of her building’s door. “How about we do a trade? You get the rest of my ice cream, and I get a kiss?”

“You’re way too easy.” She shook her head.

“I’m going to miss kissing you, Mabel Howard.”

She stared at him as he lowered his hand to offer her the ice cream. He’d made her feel so special over the past three days that the thought of being cut off from him forever was alarming. For the first time in her life her job didn’t seem like it was enough. She wanted to feel. She wanted to live a little.

“What’s wrong?” Colin’s smile died.

“It’s just.” Her lip wobbled like a toddler’s. “I know It’s stupid, but I’m going to miss you.”

The ice cream slipped out of his suddenly lax grip and dropped unheeded to the sidewalk. He stepped in close to cup her chin, his expression grave. “This isn’t good, is it?”

“Oh God, don’t say that.”

His smile was beautiful and all for her. “Why not? It’s the truth.”

“We don’t have to spoil it,” she stammered. “We can pretend it was just fun, and⁠—”

“It was fun, but it meant more to me than that.”

He kissed her, and the combination of pistachio and Colin was possibly the greatest thing she’d ever tasted. She didn’t want to let go. She didn’t want him to go, period.

She moaned into his mouth as he ended the kiss. “I wish I could keep you,” she said.

“Truthfully?” He held her gaze, his blue eyes betraying a vulnerability that took her breath away. “I don’t do casual flings. This must mean something to both of us.”

“It does.” She gathered her courage and looked him in the eye. “Will you please come upstairs with me?”