His phone buzzed with her reply.
I’m not sleeping with you.
He smirked and sent her another text.
Never say never.
I’ll see you at noon. Same house as yesterday?
His phone buzzed with a response.
Same place. Don’t be late again.
He slowed down his jog and spoke in a low voice into his phone.
I’ll be there on time if you wear those come-fuck-me heels.
He waited a beat, surprised she didn’t respond as quickly.
Asshole.
He chuckled and held up his phone one last time.
Just teasing you, beautiful.
But if you’re ever interested, I wouldn’t turn you down.
Tucking his phone back into his running belt, his body warmed as he began to pick up his pace, running harder. Hell, she was a firecracker. He wished he was with her right now, getting his heart rate pumping. Moving over her beautiful body as he pounded into her.
Not running down the street in the damn cold.
If Melissa was in his bed, he’d sure as hell have no reason to leave it. She was the stuff fantasies were made of—all gorgeous curves, smooth skin, and a smart mouth.
Hell. That mouth.
He wouldn’t mind letting her suck him deep, letting those pink lips wrap around his cock.
And hell.
Now he was getting hard while running.
He’d think of training on base. And the damn desert he’d been deployed to. And moving boxes.
Anything and everything but her.
***
Tyler pulled up to the house he’d met Melissa at yesterday, climbing out of his vehicle. Although they had a few homes to visit this afternoon, she was running late with her meeting with the photographer and had asked him to come here.
She’d sent him the listings earlier, and he felt like an ass never having asked about her sister this morning when they were texting. He was so busy trying to rile her up, he’d totally neglected to check and see if there were any updates on the missing boyfriend.
This, after she’d left early last night because she was upset.
Thinking with his dick had never done him any good in the past, and it sure as hell wasn’t winning him any favors now. She’d been shocked when he did text and ask about her sister. No news was supposedly good news at this point, so they waited.
And continued on with their plans for the day, without Melissa up and flying out to California.
Melissa’s white SUV was parked in the driveway, and there was a sedan on the street in front of the house. Tyler shut the door of his own vehicle and strode up the driveway, his gaze sweeping the area.
His eyes fell on the “For Sale” sign in the front yard again. Hopefully Melissa had locked the front door. He didn’t like that she was alone showing homes all the time. Hell, she’d been alone with him, and he’d seen firsthand how easy it would be for someone to harm her.
No one else around.
A big empty house.
No one to hear if she screamed.
He knew realtors showed homes all the time, but something about the idea of Melissa being alone all the time didn’t sit right with him.
And wasn’t that a gut check.
He barely even knew her. Didn’t have a claim to her whatsoever. And hell, hadn’t he spent the past twenty-four hours imagining what it would be like to take her to bed? How many other men had she worked with who had similar thoughts?
She was an attractive female.
Gorgeous.
She was successful in her career. Certainly, she must take some basic safety precautions when working. He’d have to ask her about that. Just to exercise caution.
He frowned as he saw movement in the bushes of the side yard. Ignoring the front porch he’d been aiming for, he rounded the side of the house, shocked to see a man standing there in the shadows. He approached the man silently, adrenaline surging through him. “Looking for something?” Tyler asked in a gruff voice.
The man jumped back, fumbling with the camera in his gloved hands, and Tyler clenched his jaw, his gaze narrowing. “What the hell are you doing?” he ground out. His gaze moved from the window back to the man.
“I was just photographing this house for a listing. I’m working with the realtor inside. It’s going on the market tomorrow morning.” Tyler’s gaze tracked over him. He had a dark wool coat on, neatly pressed khakis, and boots. He looked to be around forty or so, slightly balding. The stubborn way he held himself made Tyler feel like he’d caught him doing something he shouldn’t though.
“By hiding in the bushes?” Tyler asked, taking a step closer.
The man recovered from his initial surprise, smoothing out his jacket. “I’m just getting all the angles of the property. It’s standard for buyers to want to see the property from all vantage points.”
Tyler moved closer, frowning. He glanced in the window, and his chest tightened as he saw Melissa sitting at the kitchen counter on a barstool, typing at her laptop. Her long legs were crossed, her skirt hitting at mid-thigh, and he resisted the urge to groan as he saw she did indeed have on another pair of stilettos.
Jesus Christ.
This woman was going to be the death of him. He was rock hard every time she was near.
And this window had a perfect view of her sitting there, working. Had this guy been...watching her? Melissa had said she was meeting with the photographer though. It seemed like an odd spot to photograph the property.
“Let me see your camera,” he demanded, holding out a hand. “I want to see the pictures.”
“What? I’m not handing over my camera. Who are you?”
“A friend,” Tyler said, crossing his arms as he looked down at the smaller man. Tyler was younger, stronger, and no doubt faster than him. He could easily wrestle the camera from the man’s hands if he wanted.
Instead of looking intimidated, the guy looked smug as he glanced back toward the window again. “Of Melissa’s? She didn’t mention any friends coming by.”
“We’re looking at houses together this afternoon. She asked me to meet her here—not that it’s any of your damn business.”
“Ah, so you’re a client,” the man said with a chuckle. “A little over-protective, aren’t we? Melissa and I have worked together for over a year. I assure you I know what I’m doing when it comes to photographing properties and homes. Ms. Ford trusts me implicitly.”
Ms. Ford?
Who the hell was this asshole?
Tyler watched as Melissa looked up just then, no doubt hearing their voices outside. She pointedly glanced down at the time on her watch and then clasped her hands to her chest in mock surprise.
“What’s she doing?” the photographer asked, looking chagrined that he was missing out on the inside joke.
“She texted me this morning and told me to be on time,” Tyler said with a smirk. His voice was low. Dangerous. “I’m sure you know how Ms. Ford doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Suddenly looking flustered, the man took a step back. “How strange. I called her earlier and never heard back. Several times, in fact. I wonder if she didn’t get my voicemails. I wanted to see if she wanted me to pick up coffee for her on my way over. It’s no trouble, and I know she always wants a strong cup first thing in the morning.”
He glanced back at Tyler, seeming pleased that he had this tiny bit of knowledge about Melissa.
Good God.
Who didn’t want caffeine after a late night? And hell. Tyler knew how his friends and coworkers drank their coffee, too. It didn’t mean he got a hard-on over it like this asshole.
This dude clearly had a thing for Melissa. The story about photographing the property from the bushes sure as shit didn’t add up. He’d have to ask Melissa about it more later. For his own peace of mind.
Maybe he was just a middle-aged, balding guy with a crush on the hot realtor, but Tyler would feel better after he looked into him further.
He wal
ked ahead of the man with a couple of long strides and opened the front door, calling out as he entered. “Hi honey, I’m home!”
Melissa came strutting into the foyer, her sky-high heels clicking on the floor. The smirk on her face nearly had him chuckling, but as she came toward him, looking sexy as sin, his groin tightened.
“You made it on time, snookums,” she said, pursing those pretty pink lips of hers as she flipped her red hair over one slender shoulder. Her suit jacket had been tossed off to the side somewhere, and all she had on was a sexy little camisole with that snug skirt. Her full breasts bounced as she walked, the slender straps of her top looking like they would barely hold up, and he resisted the urge to groan in appreciation. “What’s the occasion?” she asked.
He chuffed out a laugh. “Anything for you, beautiful. A man would be a fool to keep you waiting.”
“And yet you did exactly that yesterday. Hmmm.”
The photographer came hurrying in behind him, and Tyler bristled. “I apologize, Ms. Ford. He hurried ahead of me. I would’ve insisted that I come inside first.”
Melissa waved him off, looking annoyed. “It’s fine. Tyler is a friend of a friend. Practically like a pesky brother or something.”
Tyler moved closer to her, his eyes heating. “A brother?” he asked in a low voice. His gaze raked over her, taking in once more the camisole stretching across her full breasts, the slim skirt she had on, and those mile-long legs, clad in stilettos. “I’m having some very unbrotherly thoughts right now.”
She laughed, the rich, throaty sound sending heat surging through him. “Didn’t you read my text earlier?” she asked sweetly. “I’m not sleeping with you.” She smiled as she looked up at him, holding his gaze just a beat too long, and then she moved around him, purposefully brushing against him as she walked toward the photographer, who was still waiting in the foyer.
Tyler turned to watch her cross the room, enjoying the way her snug skirt hugged her ass.
Holy hell.
Was there a part of this woman that wasn’t as hot as hell?
“All set?” she asked the photographer brightly. “I thought you’d already headed out. I’ll just copy the photos to my computer and upload them right now since you’re still here. The listing is going live tonight. Unless Tyler here decides to make an offer of course.”
“I got everything you asked for,” the photographer said, beginning to look slightly flustered as she got closer. He patted his camera nervously.
“Wonderful. Can I pop the thumb drive into my laptop now? It shouldn’t take long to copy over the images.”
“Well, I should go through all the photos first,” he stammered. “Some might need editing and—”
“Nonsense,” she declared. “I work with you because you’re the best. I’ve got houses to show Tyler this afternoon and a full schedule. I need to get this uploaded now while I have a place to sit and work.”
“Let me just, ah, check on a few things,” he said, finally regaining his composure. “I need to make a backup of my photos first—I’m sure you understand.”
“Fine,” she said, beginning to look annoyed. “I’ll be over here reviewing the listings with Tyler.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows as she walked back toward him, and she flipped her red hair over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. Tyler was behind her in an instant, pulling out the barstool to help her get seated. She smelled of some exotic floral scent, and his groin tightened. His hands lingered a moment too long on her hips as he helped her climb up, and his gaze briefly shot to her cleavage.
Holy hell.
She settled in, crossing her legs in those stilettos. Her snug skirt pulled across her creamy thighs, and he resisted the urge to groan. To push into her space, spreading her legs wide as he edged between them. As the skirt had nowhere to go but up, revealing whatever sexy little panties she had on.
Jesus Christ.
Looking at houses all afternoon with her was akin to torture. How was a guy supposed to look but not touch when she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen? When she kept shooting him flirty glances, knowing exactly what she was doing.
She was a tease, and he loved every damn second of it.
He grabbed his own barstool, casting a fleeting glance over to the photographer. The sooner that guy was out of here, the better. Not that anything was going to happen with Melissa, but he’d didn’t need a third wheel hanging around. “I think someone has the hots for the gorgeous realtor,” he said in a low voice.
“I know you do, sweetie. I’ll do my best to ignore it and keep things professional between us.”
He chuffed out a laugh, running a hand through his cropped hair. “Jesus. Let’s just get to it then.”
She innocently adjusted her camisole, her lips quirking in a smile as his gaze fell on her gorgeous breasts. “I’m not going to fuck you,” she said.
“Such a mouth on you, beautiful. Let’s get to it, as in show me the homes you want to drag me off to this afternoon.”
Melissa shot him a pointed look. “Drag you off? Let’s not forget that I’m the one doing you a favor by showing you these listings. It’s more like you taking me off on your little adventure.”
“Hell, I like the sound of that. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, beautiful.”
“Hawaii, perhaps?” she commented, not missing a beat as she pulled up the specs on some properties. “I refuse to set foot in Bora Bora, as I’m sure you understand.”
“Your ex was an asshole,” Tyler said quietly. “Not that I plan on getting married anytime soon, but if I proposed? I sure as shit wouldn’t leave a woman standing at the altar.”
“Technically, he didn’t. He told me ahead of time.”
“Same damn thing,” Tyler said. “You were planning a wedding and a life together. Hell, my parents have been married for thirty years. I take things like that seriously. Proposing to a woman and then calling it off? That’s a dick move.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” she said. “But I thought you were all about sleeping with lots of different women?”
He lifted a shoulder in an easy shrug. “Nothing wrong with that if the woman knows it’s just for one night. It’s not like I’m asking them to go steady,” he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up.
“How romantic,” she said sarcastically.
“I’ve gotten no complaints.”
“Here are the photos, Ms. Ford,” the photographer said, interrupting them, as he walked over. His face was flushed, with beads of perspiration along his forehead, and Tyler narrowed his gaze.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Great,” he said. “Just trying to wrap everything up before I head out. I know Ms. Ford is busy.”
“Wonderful, thanks,” Melissa said, taking the thumb drive from him and inserting it into her laptop. She quickly copied over the photos without looking through them. “You’re a lifesaver for getting everything done this morning.” She pulled out the drive and handed it back to him.
“My pleasure,” he said, dabbing his forehead with a tissue. “If you need anything else, I’m happy to come back and meet you again. Maybe this evening?”
“These will be perfect, I’m sure,” she said, sliding down off the barstool. Tyler lightly gripped her arm to steady her, her smooth skin under his fingertips nearly sending him up in flames. He’d love to have her naked and writhing beneath him, with all her soft skin and delectable curves his to explore. A woman like her was probably a wildcat in bed. Although he was used to being the one in control, he wouldn’t mind letting her have some fun.
At least some of the time.
“Let me walk you to the door,” she said, her heels clicking on the floor.
Some of the time?
What the hell was he thinking? He’d spend a night or two with a woman and then move on.
A minute later, Melissa was locking the front door behind the photographer, sashaying across the room. “Goodness. He’s getting to be a has
sle to work with. Did I tell you he called me three or four times this morning?”
“No, but he did,” Tyler said with a smirk as he crossed his arms. Melissa’s gaze slid over his muscled biceps, and warmth surged within him. Maybe she acted unaffected, but he’d caught her watching him as well. “He seemed annoyed that you texted me but didn’t return his calls.”
Melissa closed her laptop and then grabbed her blazer and slid it on, flipping her red hair over it. Something about the combination of her with those flowing red locks and a business suit did it for him. He wanted to bend her over the nearest surface and thrust into her, not stopping until she was screaming in ecstasy.
“I’m not surprised,” she said, sliding her laptop into her bag. “I may need to find someone else to work with. Come in, take the required photos, and get out. Not someone so clingy they need lengthy phone chats before our appointments. Anyway, I can work on the photos for this listing later on. Shall we get going?”
“Absolutely.”
“Which home were you interested in seeing first?” She continued going over the options of which listing to start with so they weren’t driving back and forth all over town, and he pulled open the front door. Tyler watched as she fiddled with the lockbox after locking up, and then she was taking her car keys from her purse.
“I can drive,” he said, taking her arm to help her walk down the front steps.
“Such a gentleman,” she teased.
“I’m having very ungentlemanly thoughts,” he quipped. “Do you always wear stilettos to show homes, or is that just for my benefit?”
“Well aren’t you arrogant. What makes you think I dress for a man?’
He chuckled, clicking the remote to unlock his SUV. “I don’t think you dress for a man. I think you dress that way because you enjoy the attention.”
“There’s nothing wrong with looking good,” she said, climbing up into his SUV. Unable to resist, he grabbed the seatbelt and leaned over to buckle it for her, inhaling that sexy floral scent she had on. Letting his hands linger just a beat too long at her waist.
“You’ll get no complaints from me,” he said, chuckling at the shocked look on her face. Then he reluctantly pulled back, shutting the passenger side door.
Her Sinful Marine Page 5
