Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [19]
Could he really be Nate Logan, famous for coining the phrase, "So many bimbos, so little time"?
"This is a nightmare," Lacey said as she turned and walked away from the three men, pressing her hands against her heated cheeks. She kept her robe tugged tightly around her body and moved to stand beside the pool. As she stared at the shimmering surface of the water, looking for answers that weren't to be found, Lacey felt herself growing less embarrassed and more angry.
First of all, she was going to kill Raul. He'd known all along who the man was by the bar. If he'd told her, she would never have found herself in this position. She might have pulled Nate Logan from the pool, but once she'd recognized whom she'd saved, she certainly wouldn't have bandaged him. Much less really bounced with him on that trampoline!
The memory brought heat to her cheeks. How could she have wanted him so much? How could a single hour in the company of a handsome man have her forgetting who she was, what she believed? So much for her protestations about true love, monogamy and emotional commitment. A sweet-talking, hunky guy with a chest she wanted to eat off of had gotten her flat on her back faster than any of her previous dates had held her hand!
The question remained. Why hadn't Raul told her? Why had someone she thought was a good friend kept silent? Yes, Raul had a wicked sense of humor, liked to play jokes. Maybe he thought the evening would be more interesting—for him—if Lacey had no idea the man she'd been so attracted to was her nemesis.
"You jerk," she muttered, knowing it was probably the case.
Obviously not getting the hint that she wanted to be alone, the three men came closer. Lacey heard their voices as they moved to stand beside her by the pool and nearly threw her hands into the air in frustration.
"Well, I suppose I can make excuses. After all, it's not every day I find my daughter in a compromising position. Honey, I was beginning to worry about you. Now I can tell you're a perfectly normal, healthy young woman." J.T.'s hearty chuckle made her wince.
Oh, wasn't that just peachy. Her father was thrilled to find her making out with a stranger. He'd probably offer them a bedroom next. Her stepfather, of course, would have been reaching for his shotgun.
"I am going home." Lacey bit the words out.
"Like that?" Nate gestured toward her robe.
Lifting her head in haughty dismissal, she turned her attention to her father. "Could you please see if Deirdre has something I could borrow to wear out of here?"
"If you two kids want to, uh, wait here, Raul and I will find something for you both to wear. Might take a while."
She heard the suggestiveness in her father's voice and shot him a vicious glare. "I'll wait upstairs, then. Alone."
Her father shook his head. "Now, Lacey, it'll be awkward enough to hold off making the announcement tonight. You really think I want to have to explain why you're dashing around my house half naked, too?"
Before she could reply, Lacey heard a choking, coughlike sound and glanced over her shoulder.
Nate Logan was bent over at the waist, hacking into his fist. Raul, whose laughter could be heard even over Nate's coughing, whacked the other man in the back.
"Are you all right, son?" J.T. asked, looking concerned.
Nate ignored him. When he'd finally regained his breath, he said, "Lacey. Not Lacey Clark ." He stared at her intently, shaking his head as if to order her to say no.
Finally beginning to see this whole situation from his point of view, Lacey remained silent. Obviously he hadn't known who he was making love with any more than she had, nor did he like it any better. She slowly nodded.
His eyes widened