Rekindled Desire Read online

  REKINDLED DESIRE

  BOOK ONE DESIRE SERIES

  HADLEY RAYDEEN

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  18. Epilogue

  19. About The Author

  CHAPTER 1

  C ambria Loman stood in the back corner of the room, listening to the large crowd chant, “Five…four…three…two...” When they reached their goal, a loud cheer ensued. She knew this New Year would be just as uneventful in the love department as the last. Smiling at people she didn’t know, and really didn’t care to meet, she offered a lame attempt at saying, “Happy New Year” to a couple she accidentally bumped into. They gave each other a shameless groping for everyone around to see. Smiling at her, they kissed each other.

  “Hey, beautiful, care to join us tonight?” the woman purred.

  Her partner laughed. “You are getting an early jump on that New Year’s resolution, aren’t you?” he asked his drunken companion. They lost themselves in lust and totally forgot about her and their offer. Cambria had no intention of joining anyone tonight. What the hell kind of New Year’s resolution is that anyway?

  Wandering through the crowd of strangers, looking for the one familiar face she came to the party with, Cambria groaned loudly, and caught a couple dirty looks from people having a good time. Not drunk and not having fun, she was ready to call it a night. “I shouldn’t be here,” she mumbled to herself.

  She accepted an invitation last minute, by a friend and coworker, the same person missing in action since they arrived.

  Note to self, kick Kimi’s party loving ass when we get back to work on Monday; that is, if her friend even made it to work after her long New Year’s weekend partying. Thank God she had the sense to drive herself. She could leave when she wanted. Watching couples grinding against each other on the dance floor, she decided it was definitely time to leave. Kimi usually stayed at parties late—amongst the loudest of the groaners and moaners when the bartender announced last call. Kimi had always been a fun girl, but Cambria could not hang out tonight. A hot shower and a chilled glass of Zinfandel with her name written all over it waited at home.

  Giving up on finding her friend, she headed toward the door.

  “Happy New Year, honey!” Kimi came up behind her. “Cambria, you aren’t leaving are you?” Grabbing her by the arm, Kimi stepped in front of her and barricaded the front door. “Whoa, wait a minute, don’t leave. Everyone knows the New Year’s party doesn’t officially get started until after the count down,” she protested with gusto.

  “Kimi, I’m tired. I don’t know anyone here. It’s time for me to leave.”

  “You haven’t met anyone, because you have been hiding in the corner all evening! You need to get out on the dance floor. Loosen the hell up. Look at all these men here! Hook up with someone for God’s sake!”

  “I’m not into one-night stands, Kimi.”

  “I didn’t say anything about a one-night stand. You could just meet someone...have a good conversation.”

  Cambria rolled her eyes. “A conversation, is that what you are calling it now?”

  “Oh hush,” Kimi scolded. “Look at that guy at the bar. Wait…no…don’t look now. He is looking right at us. Look…slowly.”

  “I’m not looking to meet a guy tonight, Kimi. I have no interest in this cat and mouse game. “‘Look at him now, no wait.’” Cambria mimicked her friend. “Who has time for that? I’m ready to go. Love you. See you Monday.”

  Kimi stomped her foot, demanding her friend’s attention. She looked like a mother about to chastise her child. “What you need is a good lay. Yes, I said it. You need a roll in the sack. You are a beautiful, successful black woman. Very stylish, with your sexy little curves, you have an awesome personality, at times overly sarcastic, but still charming. You need a good man in your life. Now, being the greatest best friend in the world—I’ve been scoping the room for you. There is a man, over there, checking you out, and I will be damned if I let you out that door before you at least talk to him.”

  Cambria let out a sigh of frustration. “Fine,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air. “Which guy are you talking about? There are like one hundred men between us and the bar.”

  Maybe she did need to get laid. She hadn’t been sexually involved with a man in months. Kimi called it ‘a dry spell’. With the stress of work, who really had the time? She cleared her throat, saying a little louder, “Which guy? Who are you talking about?” She hated to yell, but someone felt the need to turn up the volume on the hip hop music the minute the countdown ended.

  “Don’t be obvious. God, could you scream any louder?” Kimi hissed. “Over there. The guy at the bar with the red T-shirt fitting him like a second skin! He is absolutely delicious.” Kimi stuffed a knuckle in her mouth, making an exasperated face as if the sight of him gave her a full-on orgasm.

  Cambria peeked over Kimi’s shoulder, taking great care at discretion, just like a bunch of kids at a high school dance. In the middle of a group of four men, she spotted a fire engine red shirt.

  “Well?” Kimi asked, looking at Cambria. “Drop dead fucking gorg right?

  “His shirt is very tight. He looks like a member of a boy band, don’t you think?” Cambria asked, raising a brow.

  “What does that mean?” Kimi put a hand on her hip.

  “He looks young!”

  “Younger men are usually wilder in bed,” she retorted.

  “They are wilder, because they are trying to distract you from the fact they are inexperienced as hell. They don’t know how to please anyone in bed, but themselves. I don’t have time to teach a sex lesson.”

  “Hmm, that is a good idea. I could start a class on how to please a cougar in bed.” Kimi looked thoughtful.

  Cambria hit her friend in the arm. “You are impossible! Seriously, if I’m going to have an orgasm tonight, I don’t want to teach him how to get me there!”

  “Who cares how old he is and how tight his shirt is? He could turn you on, and you could turn him out, all in one night. It’s a win-win situation, honey.”

  “Do you mean after I cut him out of that shirt? You know that thing won’t fit back over his head. I’m not interested!”

  The guy waved at them. Cambria rolled her eyes when Kimi waved back. “You know I love you, honey, but if you aren’t going to go after him, I will. Are you okay to drive?” Kimi asked.

  “I’m not drunk,” she answered, giving her best friend a quick hug.

  “Okay, I’ll call you!” Kimi called out over her shoulder, sashaying in the direction of the boy.

  CHAPTER 2

  M ore than ready to hit the road, she quickly turned to leave, and ran right into him—hard and unexpected like a brick wall—fleshy—but solid. A sturdy hand reached out and steadied her uneasy balance. She looked down to see what gripped her like a steel trap. Masculine, warm, tanned—he stopped her movements in one easy handle. She didn’t look at the face, or the body, attached to the steady hand until he spoke, low and sultry.

  She was in trouble the moment he asked, “I’m sorry, are you okay?” A sucker for a man with a sexy voice, he could read the phone book if he said it with a voice that mimicked a thunderstorm, she would immediately melt. Couple that voice with dark green eyes, a great body and face…

  Damn it. This wasn’t just any sexy vo
ice. She knew this man. Someone she hadn’t seen since college. A man she lusted after, all four years. If she could just get to that front door without him recognizing her, she wouldn’t have to remember that time of rejection. She couldn’t be that lucky. Of course he would remember her.

  College wasn’t that long ago. They had been friends, cohorts, for the Marketing and Communications program. They were in the same crowds, hung out in the same study groups, and drank coffee together until the wee hours. She also watched him take other girls to the spring dances and the river boat ride the college hosted every year. What did she get? A pat on the back, thumbs up when projects went well, and a hug at graduation; nothing else.

  Brandon McKay looked at her and smiled. “Cambria Loman, is that you? Damn, I’m sorry.” He looked at her dress where his spilled drink left its mark. “Are you okay?” he asked again, the second time, the same question, and like a moron she stood there, staring at him, thinking of all the naughty things she wanted to do to him in the past, and even now. He looked amazing. In fact he looked even better, a couple years older, more sophisticated, and if possible, more sexy.

  This man spoiled any thoughts she ever gave another man. Now, here he stood years later, and every negative thing she felt about tonight, men and finding someone, had been shot to hell with just a few words. Are you okay?

  With one sincere concern for her safety and a splash of what smelled like a whiskey straight, she was smitten, again. No, she was not okay. Sure, she was fine now, but when he hadn’t even considered her for one of his romantic rendezvous, hell yeah that hurt. But in the brief two seconds, all of this ran through her mind, and she checked him over, not once, but twice, she’d yet to answer his simple question. Are you fine, Cambria? Stop looking at him like a fucking moron and answer the simple question.

  “I’m fine,” she blurted. Making sure to steady her footing and her voice, she cleared her throat and tried that outburst again. “I’m fine, Brandon.” She flashed him a prize winning grin. “Thank you for catching my fall. Are you okay?” She noticed the liquid splashed onto his hand and dripped on the floor. Taking a few quick steps to the bar, she grabbed a handful of napkins and proceeded to pat his hand dry.

  He smiled. “Thanks, I’m fine.” He reached in and gave her a bear hug so tight her breasts flattened against his hard chest. An immediate reaction coursed through her body from nipples to pussy. He had so obviously been working out in the four years since she’d last seen him. He kissed her cheek quickly. “I’m glad to see you, Cam. Were you about to leave? Can I buy you a drink?”

  Looking at the door behind him, and then turning to look at the bar, her gaze moved back to him. She batted her eyelashes and answered, “Sure.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Brandon ordered a vodka cranberry for her and another whiskey to replace the one that spilled. He surveyed the crowd, took a long sip of his whiskey, and turned to smile at her. She winced as if she drank the sip for him.

  “What’s wrong?” He noticed her staring at him like an idiot.

  “Didn’t that burn the whole way down?”

  He laughed. “I guess I’m used to the burn.”

  “Oh, I can’t say, I’m much of a whiskey drinker. I know every time I take even a sip it burns my throat.” You’re rambling. Shut up. He doesn’t care about your aversion to whiskey. She scolded herself. She couldn’t help it. When she was around him, she lost her mind. “Thank you for the drink.”

  “You’re welcome.” He regarded her with amusement.

  He knows I’m nervous. He probably can smell it hanging on me like a cheap perfume.

  She was ready to make that hasty exit again, discouraged the conversation was going nowhere fast.

  He leaned close and whispered into her ear, “Do you want to go somewhere we actually can hear each other speak?” She nearly jumped out of her skin and her heartbeat quickened at the sound of his deep warm voice close to her skin.

  “Sure,” she answered.

  He took her hand and led her out of the room. She turned to find Kimi in the crowd at the bar. They made eye contact briefly. The boy in the tight red shirt whispered in her ear. Kimi winked and gave her the thumbs up. “Is that Brandon?” she mouthed from across the room, recognizing their college friend.

  “Yes!” Cambria mouthed back before exiting the party.

  Brandon led her to the balcony, shutting the door behind him. The sound of the party hushed behind the door. He smiled at her, and she could feel a goofy grin creep across her face. So hard not to grin when the object of her affection for four years of college stood in front of her looking all shades of fine.

  “Are you cold?” He took off his jacket and offered it to her.

  “Yes, thank you. It is freezing out here.” He helped put his warm jacket around her shoulders and soaked in the woodsy, spicy scent of him. He still smelled the same.

  “I’m excited to see someone from school here,” he began.

  “Kimi Welch talked me into coming tonight. Do you remember her from college?”

  He nodded, smiling.” Good old Kimi, how could anyone forget her?”

  “Yes, well we’re colleagues now. She hasn’t changed a bit, still loves a good party.”

  “I was invited by a group of guys from work, too.” He laughed. “I have to admit, I don’t know anyone here tonight and my buddies felt this would be the appropriate forum to ‘hook me up’ with someone. I was just finishing my drink and was about to cut out of here when I bumped into you.”

  She laughed out loud. “That story sounds very familiar. I, too, was the object of match-making gone wrong.”

  “Well now that we bumped into each other, we might as well keep each other company.”

  “Absolutely,” she agreed.

  “So tell me what happened with you after graduation. I’m surprised you are still living here. You always said you wanted to move after graduation.”

  “I was lucky enough to find a job in town and I stayed. Kimi did me a huge favor with a referral for a large marketing firm in town that she was fortunate enough to snag right out of school.”

  “That is fantastic, Cambria, I’m happy for you. I should have known you would land somewhere great. You were always stellar in class.”

  She blushed. “You give me a lot of credit.”

  “No, really if it weren’t for you on several of our projects, I would be waiting tables right now.” His gaze locked on her and lasted longer than she was comfortable with. She cleared her throat and spoke to cut through the moment.

  “Now you are being modest. You know you brought so much to the table, don’t sell yourself short.” She idly put her hand on his forearm.

  He looked down at it. She removed it quickly; the heat of his body, even though it was the dead of winter, did weird things to her body. She wasn’t ready to feel this way around him… again.

  “So where is your date tonight?” He leaned against the balcony railing, looking at her.

  “What date? Who has time for a relationship when work is so demanding?”

  He shook his head knowingly. “You can say that again. But, Cambria, a woman like you should be on someone’s arm tonight.”

  “A woman like me?”

  “Absolutely. You are extremely smart, creative…gorgeous.”

  She gazed up at him, challenging. “Well, what about you? You are all of those things, even more so than me. Where is your date?”

  “I haven’t found that one yet, you know?” He watched her.

  She knew he waited for a response, but a quick witty come-back eluded her. She shrugged. “How sad are we?”

  He turned from her and looked out at the city below. “I know. I always regretted not asking you out.”

  She raised a brow. “Really?” she asked, not able to move her feet from where she stood. She didn’t trust herself that close to him. So remained rooted, arms wrapped around her body. Even though his leather jacket offered some heat, she shivered. He turned to her, putting his hand
s on either side of her arms, rubbing briskly at her arms.

  She had to know. She knew if she didn’t ask the one question that nagged the heck out of her all through college, and ever since, she would kick herself in the morning. “We went to school together for four years. Why didn’t you just ask?”

  “You seemed so different than everyone else. I didn’t think I had a shot in hell.”

  “You should have asked,” she mumbled, looking at the ground. “What would you have said?”

  She looked back up at him. “I would have said ‘yes’.”

  She didn’t know if it was the extra shot of vodka in her drink or the cold air slapping at her face that made her so bold with him now, or the fact she wasn’t that young woman afraid to let a man know how she felt. College was over; four years out of school and she knew what she wanted. It had always been Brandon.

  His right hand moved from her arm to cup her chin. She looked up at him as his left hand fell to her waist. He pulled her to him, lowering his head slowly. She closed her eyes, letting his lips brush over hers. She opened her eyes to look at him.

  “What was that?” Her words sounded breathy. The kiss ended much too soon.

  “Happy New Year, Cambria.”

  She backed away from him. He dropped his hands away from her, obviously surprised by her abrupt retreat.

  “Same to you,” she said from her new found distance.

  She hated that she chickened out. The one moment she had been waiting for so long to experience, and she stepped away, from his warmth, from his embrace. But she couldn’t be sucked in again…to his charm.

  He offered her an awkward smile. “Cami…it was great to see you.”

  “You, too, Brandon.”

  “We need to get together some time, to have dinner or something?”

  “Absolutely,” she mumbled. God, I want so much more. Damn it. I don’t even know how to tell you…yes, Brandon, dinner would be…great.

  “Hey.” He took both of her hands. “I’m serious, Cambria, let’s not say we will, then I won’t see you for another four years.” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He slipped a card from it and handed it to her. She looked down at his business card, noticing he, too, had landed a good job at one of her firm’s top competitors.