Crushing on Kate

by Theresa Paolo

  She didn’t waste any time cutting into the piece of meat and forking a piece into her mouth.

  “You did a good job up there today,” he said, giving credit where it was due.

  “You were here for the ceremony?” she asked, placing a hand over her lips as she chewed.

  He nodded. “You said a lot of nice things. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “I don’t hate everyone.”

  “No, just me.”

  She placed her fork on the table and looked at him. Her bluish green eyes met his. “I don’t hate you.”

  “You just dislike me.”

  “I don’t really know you.”

  He didn’t know her either, but there was a part of him that wanted to. But there was also a part of him that was throwing up warning flags, telling him to walk away now before it was too late.

  He’d been tricked by a beautiful face before and he swore to himself he’d never let it happen again. Kate, while intriguing and attractive, was dangerous. She might’ve appeared like a good person on the surface, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have the power to betray him or hurt him in a way only she could.

  So, while he would love to get to know the feisty strawberry blonde beside him, he was hesitant to open himself up again. The last time he did was a disaster, and he wasn’t sure he could go through it again.

  Kate lifted her fork and pointed it to the plate. “If you want some you better dig in because I’m about to finish this off.”

  Unable to help himself, he laughed. “You look like you’re enjoying it too much. Go for it.”

  She didn’t even ask if he was sure before cutting into the rest. She was definitely dangerous, but he was beginning to think she might be worth the risk.

  That thought was enough for him to know that he needed to get the hell out of there before he got in too deep. While he wasn’t opposed to sex, he had given up on relationships, making a promise to himself never to be stupid enough to fall in love again. He could never just have sex with Kate. She didn’t seem the type for something casual, and even if she were, he had a feeling that sex with Kate wouldn’t be enough.

  He looked down at his watch and stood. “I’ll see you around.”

  “You’re leaving? Already? Terry hasn’t even started a conga line yet. And we have fireworks for later.” She looked up at him, eyebrows pinching together, causing cute little lines to appear at the bridge of her nose. “Everybody loves fireworks.”

  He looked away before he got lost in those big eyes that made him want to forget about the promise he made to himself on that miserable night. “You’ve seen one firework, you’ve seen them all.”

  Her lips flattened. “Oh.”

  The sudden loss of her smile ate at him in a way that had him confused but desperate to fix it. “I would actually love to stay, but I have some paperwork I have to take care of down at the store. I was supposed to do it earlier, but then before I knew what was happening, your grandmother had me agreeing to attend a wedding of someone I literally just met the other day.”

  “That sounds like her. If she brings up great-grandbabies just ignore her.”

  “Great what?”

  She waved her hand. “Never mind. Thanks for sharing my food with me.”

  “Anytime. I’ll see you later, Kate.”

  He went to walk away, but an invisible force stopped him. He bent down, pressing a kiss to her cheek and lingering for far too long. “You look beautiful, by the way,” he said, fighting the desire to sit his ass back in the chair and wait for the fireworks with her.

  “Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”

  Before he lost his resolve, he walked away reminding himself over and over why he couldn’t stay.

  Chapter 6

  It had been two weeks, and Kate still refused to budge on the parking lot situation, so Caleb decided to take things into his own hands. If she wasn’t willing to compromise, then he was just going to give her a taste of her own medicine.

  After a few days, it became obvious that Kate was a morning person and tended to show up at her studio hours before she opened. Caleb skipped his morning ride and got to the store at the ass crack of dawn, insuring he would be there well before she was, giving him enough time to set up.

  An hour later, the parking lot was filled with bikes, and he crossed his arms over his chest, admiring the set up. If she could use their joint parking lot to promote her studio, then he could use it to promote his store. It was only fair.

  He headed to his office. He had a few custom orders to review before he opened in a couple hours.

  Caleb was just about to finish reviewing his last order when the bell above the main door chimed. He didn’t even have time to push up from his seat before Kate was in his office, hands on her gorgeous curves. A storm brewed in her eyes, furious and dark, but all he could focus on was the low cut of her shirt. The way the two perfect mounds pushed over the opening of the V-neck. How her alabaster skin with a healthy summer glow called out to him, begging him to swipe his tongue across her neck just to see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.

  “What the hell is that?” she demanded, flinging her hand toward the parking lot and knocking him out of his fantasy.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked, playing coy.

  “I’m talking about all of those bikes in my parking lot! In the place where I’m supposed to be having a demonstration in three hours.”

  “Oh! You mean our parking lot.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and Caleb swore if she could shoot daggers from her eyes he’d be dead on the spot, and it would be worth it.

  “Don’t play games with me, pretty boy. You damn well know what I mean.”

  He was enjoying this way more than he probably should and bit back a laugh that was desperate to come out.

  “I thought it was only fair that I got to use the parking lot to display my inventory in the way you use it to promote your shop.”

  “There are six other days in the week you could have chosen! You did this on purpose.”

  He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “What if I did?”

  Her lips pressed into a thin, angry line. “Move your bikes.”

  “Or what?”

  Her eyes widened, but he refused to back down. This charade had been going on long enough, and it was time it came to a head. If his actions were the catalyst to get them to a mutually acceptable agreement, then so be it.

  Her jaw set, and a vein in her forehead bulged and pulsed with each breath she took.

  “Either you move them or I will, and I’m telling you right now, I will not be gentle.”

  Her gaze met his, daring him to ignore her threat. He stood and moved toward her. “I’m not moving them and neither are you.”

  “You want to make a bet!” she exclaimed and spun away from him, but he reached out, wrapping his hand around her forearm and pulling her back to him. She smacked against his chest, her heat mixing with his, making him lose all common sense.

  He grabbed her face, and his lips crashed into hers. He waited for her to smack him, resist in some way, but she wrapped her hands into his shirt, tugging him closer and slipping her tongue into his mouth.

  Frustration and desire slammed together, exploding into a frenzy of desperation. He sunk his fingers into the soft curves of her ass and lifted her onto his desk, yanking her toward him until her center pressed against his throbbing erection.

  A moan rumbled in her throat, fueling his hunger for her. He reached for the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head, tossing it to the floor. His erection turned to solid stone as his eyes took in the dark green lace that barely covered her.

  He growled low and carnal, like an animal staking its claim, before dipping his head and dragging his tongue along the lace. She threw her head back, pressing her sex against his.

  A tiny voice in his head urged him to stop and walk away before it was too late, but he couldn’t focus on that. All he could focus on was t
he way Kate’s body arched perfectly into his, how her breath came in short, heavy gasps, and how damn soft her skin was. Desire and need overtook his thoughts, and he cupped her breasts, squeezing the luscious flesh as he brought his mouth back to hers.

  She matched his intensity, thrusting her tongue into his mouth and giving as much as she was taking. Her hands landed on his belt, and she frantically fumbled with the leather.

  He reached behind him, pulling his shirt over his head and depositing it on the floor beside hers. She flung his belt off, throwing it aside and pushing his pants down before smacking her hands against his bare chest and running her palms down his heated skin.

  “Condom?” she asked before pressing her lips to his neck. She licked at the crook then bit down slightly, sending liquid heat through his body.

  He unzipped her jeans, and she slid off the desk, pushing them to her ankles, revealing matching dark green lace panties that left him breathless.

  He bent down and grabbed his wallet. She ripped the square foil from his hands and tore it open. Not wasting a single second, she reached down, pushing his boxer briefs out of the way. A gasp slipped through her swollen lips.

  “You see what you do to me?” he growled.

  Her teeth slid over her bottom lip as she rolled the condom into place.

  Desperate to sink into her wetness, to feel her muscles tighten around him, he hooked his finger into the green lace and pulled them aside, swiping a finger across her folds. Feeling how wet she was for him drove him insane, making the uncontrollable desire to plunge into her grow with each jagged breath. He grabbed her ass and hoisted her back on the desk just as he thrust into her.

  She cried out, her nails digging into his shoulder as he moved inside her in fast, frantic strokes.

  Her muscles tightened around him, causing the hunger of the beast inside of him to take over. His teeth sunk into the lace of her bra, pulling it out of the way and revealing a pert, pink nipple. He took it into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the tight bead.

  He loved how her body reacted, arching toward him as if she was begging for more. The movement took him in deeper, pushing him closer to the edge. Refusing to succumb to the pleasure without her, he ran his thumb across her swollen bundle of nerves, circling the engorged flesh in tight, looping motions. Her legs tightened around him as he continued the relentless combination of plunging deep inside her and rubbing her sensitive bud.

  A slight tremble ran through her body and with one more swipe of his finger, she cried out her orgasm.

  He thrust into her one last time and shuddered around her, chasing her over the edge.

  He rested his forehead against hers, their breathing coming in fast, short gasps as they came down from the ultimate ride. Now with his desires satiated and satisfied he realized what a colossal mistake he’d just made. What the hell had he been thinking?

  A part of him thought once he had a taste of Kate he’d be able to move past the unwavering attraction, but if anything, now he wanted more. The thought alone scared him. He didn’t do more. The last time he did all he was left with was a broken heart while she ran off happily with someone else. Someone that should have known better. Someone that should have never touched what was his in the first place.

  Kate deserved more than hot sex on a desk, and he simply couldn’t give that to her.

  Not now and probably not ever.

  Angry with himself for letting his desires control him, he slipped out of her and disposed of the condom, pulling his pants up as he did. He couldn’t look her in the eye, afraid if he did he would see something that shouldn’t be there.

  Unsure of what to say, he scooped her clothes up from the floor and handed them to her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said before grabbing his own shirt off the floor and walking away.

  ***

  Kate suddenly felt exposed and couldn’t get her clothes on fast enough. Sorry? She knew he was a jerk, but for some reason, she thought maybe beneath the attitude there was more to him. A side that was kind and not the type of guy to take you on his desk then apologize before bolting.

  She took a deep breath, gathering her strength to enter the walk of shame. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to tame it as best she could, before stepping out of Caleb’s office and into the shop where the sun shone through as if it were placing a spotlight on her epic morning disaster.

  Outside his bikes still lined the parking lot, but unlike earlier, she had lost the drive to rectify the situation. She would just have to move today’s demonstration inside. It’s not like it would be the first time. She’d done it before when the weather didn’t cooperate, and she would do it again. It was better than facing Caleb and trying to pretend like they didn’t just have the best sex she’d ever had.

  The day passed in a blur as Kate did her best to provide her customers and spectators with a worthwhile demonstration that both intrigued and delighted them. It was hard to keep her focus when every time she turned in the direction of Caleb’s store, her mind brought her right back to that morning when her legs were wrapped around him as he slid into her, the chills that ran up her spine as he kissed a fiery path down her neck, and how heat coiled in her stomach and exploded into searing hot pleasure as he took her nipple into his mouth.

  What the hell was she thinking? That wasn’t her. She didn’t just have sex with men she barely knew. That was the problem though. She wasn’t thinking. Every time Caleb came around her mind went to mush. It was pathetic and embarrassing. She was stronger than that, so why the hell did the rational side of her brain malfunction when it came to him?

  I’m sorry. She scoffed at the ridiculous words. They had been haunting her all day. What the hell was he sorry for exactly? That they had amazing sex? That their bodies fit together so utterly perfectly that Kate couldn’t imagine sex with anyone else ever living up to the mind-numbing, toe-curling orgasm he elicited from her. She had no idea what the hell had been going through his mind, and if she wasn’t so mortified by the whole situation, she would have stormed over to his store and demanded a better explanation.

  Instead, she let those two little words haunt her for the rest of the day.

  ***

  Caleb felt awful. It was bad enough that he took over the parking lot, but to lose his self-control and take Kate on his desk the way he did? He was an idiot. And because he wasn’t man enough to deal with his actions he simply apologized and walked away from her. If she didn’t hate him before she damn well did now, and he couldn’t blame her.

  He had walked up to her studio about half a dozen times today only to chicken out and walk away. He wanted to apologize, but apologizing is what got him into this mess in the first place. What the hell was he supposed to say to her? Thanks for the great sex. Sorry I walked away before we could go for round two.

  Instead, he stared at her studio door from across the lot, answering questions to potential customers the best he could, all the while never taking his eyes off the place. Finally, at closing time, after he was done loading all the bikes back into the store, he found the nerve to go over there.

  Her sign was flipped to CLOSED, and he thought about knocking, but then just decided to try the knob. If it turned, then he’d go in and try to explain. If it were locked, he would let it go.

  Unfortunately for him the door turned without any trouble. Dammit. He had been silently hoping to have given it a gallant effort before cutting his losses.

  He stepped inside and glanced around, but didn’t see her. She must have been in the back. Her shop was quaint with some really beautiful pieces that looked like they belonged in a museum. Suddenly, he wanted to know more about the artist. What made her tick? Out of all the directions she could have went, what made her choose glass blowing? What was her favorite piece?

  He picked up a vase that had a multitude of colors at the bottom that rose up along the intricate curves and admired the craftsmanship. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out he was stalling, so he put the
vase back in place and headed toward the back of the studio.

  He found her there, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, head tilted as she worked at a piece of glass with a pair of tweezers. She bent forward, her jeans accentuating her ass and reminding him of the dark green lacy thong she wore beneath. His pants tightened at the memories of her body arching into his, the soft moans rumbling up her throat and the way she felt as he slid all the way into her.

  “What do you want?” Kate asked, taking him by total surprise. He didn’t even realize she knew he was in there.

  “I just wanted to—”

  “To what?” She spun around, pushing a pair of safety glasses onto her head. “To apologize again? I think once is sufficient, but thanks.”

  He stepped closer, hating the distance between them and wanting to close the gap.

  “Earlier, I—”

  “Look, Caleb, why don’t we be honest with ourselves and call it what it was. Fun. It was fun. Nothing more nothing less. Just fun between two adults who are attracted to each other. And now that it’s out of our systems, we can move on.”

  Move on. That’s exactly what he wanted, so why didn’t he like the sound of it? Why did the words give him pause when they should have been giving him joy? Probably because now that he got a taste of Kate, she’d consumed him. He would never be able to get her out of his system.

  He ran a hand through his hair before looking back at Kate. Her big eyes met his, and he swallowed down the desire to take her on her desk. Not that she’d let him. She was mad at him, but this anger was different than this morning.

  “So, you’re okay?” he asked, needing to be sure.

  She laughed, but it wasn’t vibrant and carefree. It was forced and a bit sinister. “I’m fine.” Her eyes met his, a cool unwavering gaze that froze him down to the bone. It was hard to believe that earlier those same eyes were looking at him with yearning and desire. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish this.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

  She pushed her glasses back into place and turned back to the piece she was working on without another word. He knew when to take a hint, so he took all the unspoken words he couldn’t manage to get out and walked away from her.