Best Friends…To Lovers. Jules Bennett

       Five

      This entire situation was getting out of hand and they were only on day two. Why had she thought this would ever work? For a split second, which was more than she could afford, she’d let her emotions take control, shoving aside common sense. When Mac had palmed her side, sliding his hand over her, she’d become fully engulfed in this charade. A charade she’d started.

      Plus, her emotions were not getting the message to stay detached. When Mac had mentioned he actually had a jeweler, Jenna knew without a doubt he’d taken women there. Jealousy, table for one.

      Gritting her teeth, Jenna tried to regain some control over her self-induced rage. This whole situation was her fault. Any hurt, anger or envy she had spearing through her was all brought on by her need to rid herself of Martin.

      The door to the bungalow slammed behind her, but Jenna kept her back turned. She’d let her control slip. In all the years she and Mac had been friends, she’d joked about his other women, but she’d never, ever shown him how much she hated his playboy lifestyle. The moment had literally swept her away.

      Jenna actually hated the jet-setting, womanizing part of his life even more than the secrets surrounding the mafia rumors. She had to say no to him because of his excessive lifestyle. She wanted to be special to any man she was involved with and being with Mac in an exclusive way wasn’t an option. He’d never made it a secret that he loved women, that he never wanted to settle down and find “the one.”

      “Jenna.”

      She stiffened at his demanding tone. Starting this second, she was back in control. This was her life and she needed to remember that Mac was her best friend. Always loyal, always willing to do anything for her...taking things any further would be a mistake. He’d come down here to help without hesitation and she wouldn’t repay him by dragging him into the middle of this battle between her heart and her mind.

      Jenna spun around and met his questioning gaze. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go all possessive girlfriend on you out there. I got caught up in the moment.”

      Shaking his head, Mac crossed his arms over his broad chest. “You don’t like the idea of me buying jewelry for other women.”

      No point in lying. “Fine. I don’t.”

      With a defiant tilt of her chin, Jenna adjusted her sundress and mimicked his stance as she crossed her arms. “You flaunt women all the time and doing it now is inappropriate.”

      There. That sounded convincing, didn’t it? Those penetrating eyes of his raked over her, sending shivers racing through her body. How could the man be so potent from across the room? Did he have a clue as to the damage he could do to her? Did he have any idea how difficult it had been for her to even ask him to step in?

      Jenna was starting to wonder if she’d made a mistake. Too late for hindsight now.

      “I had the necklace made for Laney on her twenty-first birthday.” The simple explanation made her feel utterly foolish...as she should because she had zero hold over this man.

      “You were jealous,” he stated.

      Jenna quirked a brow. “I was not. I expect you to remember what we’re doing this week and what your role is.”

      Like a panther to its prey, Mac stalked across the room, his eyes locked onto hers. “Oh, I remember exactly what I’m doing here this week. The question is, do you?”

      He stopped within a breath of her. His hands came up, tugging her arms loose until they fell to her sides, then he closed that final sliver of space. She had to tip her head up to look at him.

      “Do I what?”

      A muscle ticked in his jaw as he slid his hand up her arm, curled his fingers over her shoulder and replied, “Do you remember what our roles are? Seems to me you may have slipped into the position of my lover a bit too easily. Makes me wonder if you really do want to take advantage of this situation.”

      Unable to think of some witty, snappy comeback, Jenna skirted around him and headed to the fridge. Grabbing the flowers, she unwrapped the layers of tissue and laid everything out on the kitchen table.

      “We’re not lovers, Mac.” Her hands were shaking, but hopefully if she kept them busy, Mac wouldn’t notice. “We’re friends. Don’t read into this.”

      In a flash, Mac reached out and gripped her hand. “This? Are you referring to your shaky hands or the fact you can’t look me in the eye when you lie? Or maybe you wonder what it would be like if we did sleep together and you’re afraid to admit it out loud.”

      Without looking up, she jerked her hand back and attempted to separate the bundle of lilacs. “I’ve wondered,” she admitted. “Of course I have, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it happen.”

      When he said nothing, when silence filled the air like an unwanted third party, Jenna dropped the flowers and rested her palms flat on the table. With a heavy sigh, she dropped her head between her shoulders.

      “Mac, after this week I still want you to be my best friend. No matter what you say, no matter what you may think is a good idea now, if we slept together we couldn’t take it back.”

      Mac cupped her chin and turned her head. Jenna forced her eyes on his, because appearing weak was not an option.

      “When I sleep with you, I won’t want to take it back.”

      Jenna gasped at all the veiled promises in that statement. A reply was impossible as Mac slid his mouth over hers, but not in a demanding way like last time. No, this kiss was slower, seductive, yet more commanding.

      The power she’d thought she possessed where Mac was concerned vanished the second his lips silently demanded all of her attention.

      When he pressed his palm flat against her back, Jenna fell against his solid, defined chest. Instinctively, her arms looped around his neck, her fingers threaded through his coarse hair. Mac lifted his mouth from hers for the briefest of moments before changing the angle and going back in for more.

      More urgent now, he reached behind her. Tissue paper rustled and a second later he gripped her waist with his hands, lifting her to the edge of the table. On every level she knew this was a mistake. Mac was used to this, to taking what he wanted when he wanted it. Jenna was more of a thinker, a planner...a dreamer. She couldn’t afford to be selfish and live directly in the moment. There would be consequences for every single action.

      But right now, with his lips covering hers, then roaming along her jaw, Jenna tipped her head back and arched her body, consequences be damned.

      “You taste so damn good,” he muttered against her skin.

      Jenna continued to clutch the back of his shirt, battling herself as to whether she should push him away or let this glorious moment continue. How could she ignore this inferno raging between them? She’d never felt so alive, so out of control and on the verge of something utterly blissful.

      The pounding on her bungalow door brought every tantalizing thought to a halt. Mac’s lips froze on the hollow part of her neck.

      “Expecting company?” he asked, his voice husky.

      Unable to speak, Jenna loosened her grip and shook her head.

      Mac’s intense, dark gaze raked over her body as he slowly pulled away. Jenna realized her legs were spread wide to accommodate his body, her dress hiked up high on