Her Forbidden Hero

by Laura Kaye

  “How are ya?” Van finally asked.

  She smiled up at him. “Good. Great now that you’re feeding me.” She winked at him as she reached for a plate. “Aw, man. You made ribs.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” he asked.

  “Your ribs are so good.”

  He grinned. “I’m still waiting for the problem.”

  “I just bought this shirt. It’s the rule of ribs. New white shirts have no chance against them.”

  “You could go put on something else,” Marco said under his breath.

  Alyssa cut her gaze to him and arched an eyebrow. “What?”

  “Nothing.” He lifted his eyes to look at her.

  Oh, his eyes. They were so light! The dark circles were nearly gone.

  He frowned. “Why are you smiling?”

  She shrugged and filled her plate with a few less-threatening dishes.

  “Hey.” Speaking softly, he leaned in to her. “Look at me.”

  Something about his tone made her obey. His face was so close she nearly gasped. Her senses were flooded with everything Marco—his scent, his bright blue eyes, the heat of his shoulder against hers. “What’s the matter?”

  “That’s what I was going to ask,” he said, his gaze searching hers.

  “Nothing. Why?”

  “You look…I don’t know…tired or something.”

  “I’m fine.” Alyssa dug into her lunch. “So.” She glanced at Van and Eric. “Where’s Tommy today?”

  “He’s around,” Eric said. “Oh, I meant to ask, do you want a ride to the lake tomorrow?”

  “Oh, um.” She turned to Marco, who was back to frowning. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe?”

  Eric glanced from Alyssa to Marco and back. “Well, just text me in the morning if you do. Can I have your number?”

  “Sure.” As she started reciting it, Marco pushed up from the table, his chair screeching on the tile. And then he was gone.

  Heat suffused Alyssa’s cheeks for reasons she couldn’t articulate. “I was thinking about bringing my guitar tomorrow. Would that be dumb?”

  “You play?” Van asked.

  “Some. I’m not the greatest, but I’m okay.”

  “You should definitely bring it,” Eric said, rising. “Hey, you should do open mic night some time.”

  “Oh, no. Like I said, I’m not great. I just play for fun.”

  Van rose and started collecting plates. “That’s the best reason.”

  Alyssa swallowed her last bite and stood. “Need help with the green room today, Eric?”

  He paused in the doorway, his gaze flashing to her legs and away again. “Uh, no. Not today. Band got here early, so…”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Later,” he murmured as he left.

  Alyssa headed out to the floor excited for tomorrow’s trip. She could really use something fun and normal to distract herself from all of Marco’s confusing intensity.

  …

  Marco arrived home after midnight. Late enough, he hoped, not to have to deal with that goddamn skirt anymore. As if watching her parade around in the damned thing wasn’t bad enough, Eric had been drooling all over himself the whole night, and two assholes camped out at his bar had made half a dozen comments about Alyssa as she came and went with drinks. No way the men hadn’t been all over her out on the floor. But he couldn’t let himself go check. If he did, he knew some of the people who had come in on their own two feet wouldn’t be going out that way.

  As good as she’d looked today—and she had looked so damn good—his gut told him there was also something wrong. Her face had been pale and her eyes bloodshot, like she hadn’t been sleeping. He knew what that shit was like. But what could be troubling her so much it was keeping her awake?

  He paused outside the bedroom door and listened. Nothing. Wincing, he turned the handle and eased the door open. He could just make out her form curled around a pillow on the big bed. Man, what he wouldn’t give to wrap himself around her, nose buried in her soft hair, and sleep until the sun forced them into consciousness…

  Carefully, he closed the door and slipped into the hall bathroom to change.

  He folded his clothes and stacked them on the back of the toilet, then stepped into a pair of navy sleep pants he’d been wearing since Alyssa arrived. Brushing his teeth, he studiously avoided meeting his own gaze in the mirror. Thoughts like the one he’d just had about Alyssa did nobody any damn good. Instead, his eyes settled on the remains of the bullet wound he’d gotten during his first tour in Afghanistan. They’d been on a recon mission and happened upon a lone insurgent hiding in the bush on the side of a cliff. The guy got off three shots before the team took him out, and one of those shots had done a hi-how-are-ya through Marco’s shoulder. It missed all the important stuff but hurt like hell.

  Even after it happened, he’d felt like he was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to do.

  Now what was he doing? Tending bar. Renting a house. A house he hadn’t bothered to furnish. Avoiding his parents. Avoiding everyone, really.

  What was his damn purpose now?

  Grumbling under his breath, Marco smacked the bathroom light switch and crossed the house to the futon. He sat heavily, a wide yawn giving his jaw a run for its money.

  Maybe he’d win the sleep lottery again tonight and wake up in a better mood. He sure hoped so. Somehow, he’d have to act civilly while Alyssa wore that purple bikini in front of Eric, who very clearly had a thing for her. Not that Marco blamed him. But he didn’t need to see that shit, especially with that suit leaving so little to the imagination.

  Marco punched his pillow into place and leaned back, yanking the blanket up to his waist. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The pale yellow of heat lightning flashed against the wall above him. Marco stared, eyes unwilling to close as the storm approached. Some minutes later it arrived, sending down a gentle shower of rain against the roof above him. Finally, his eyelids drooped, the rain a lulling distraction that blocked out the noise between his ears.

  The next time Marco opened his eyes, the room was bright, filled with a warm light that told him the day was already sunny. He was so unused to sleeping in—well, to sleeping much at all—that he was disoriented.

  The smell of coffee reached his nose and had him looking around. He stood up and became immediately aware of his morning erection. Maybe it was basic male biology, or maybe it was the series of dreams that added that skirt to his little fantasy involving Alyssa bent over Betty. Either way, he wasn’t fit to go in search of the source of that smell looking like he did.

  Marco scrubbed a hand over his face and walked to the front window. His neighborhood was alive with activity. What time was it anyway?

  He looked down at his body. Nope, still not cooperating with his need for caffeine. He closed his eyes and thought up anything he could that might deflate his situation. Sleeping in sand. Walking through an ice-cold river. Getting shot. Seeing a buddy get shot.

  Yeah. That did it.

  Marco shuffled to the kitchen. His jaw dropped. It was quarter after nine. He’d gotten…over eight hours of sleep. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what had solved his insomnia and sleep-stealing nightmares, but no way was he complaining. He almost felt like a new man, not that he knew who that would be. He grabbed a mug and filled it with steaming hot coffee.

  Behind him, a door opened. “I thought I heard you. Finally up, huh?”

  Marco turned, cup in hand. “Yeah, you should’ve woken me.”

  She smiled. “Why would I do that?”

  He shrugged, taking a long sip. “Coffee’s good, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Hey, Eric texted me about ten minutes ago to ask what we wanted to do about getting up there. I didn’t want to presume that, you know, you and I would—”

  “Of course we’ll ride up together. Tell him you have a ride.” And to stay the fuck away. He grinned into his next sip. Man, he felt damn good
. He was actually looking forward to a couple of hours of just chilling up at the lake.

  “Okay. Get your butt moving then. Everybody’s meeting around ten, which makes us officially late.”

  “Don’t rush a man through his morning coffee.”

  “No, come on. Hup, two, three, four.”

  Marco groaned, barely able to suppress a smile. He shoved off the counter. “What are you, my drill sergeant?”

  Alyssa grinned. “If I need to be. Now, get a move on. I have a lake waiting for me.”

  He bumped her shoulder as he passed by and noticed the straps of her purple bikini under the neck of her T-shirt. “When did you get so bossy?” He meant it as a joke, but in truth, she really had come out of her shell these past few years. And damn if confidence didn’t look beautiful on her.

  She laughed, that full, open sound he loved.

  He shook his head as he stepped into the bathroom. He shaved in case he didn’t have time later, but given where they were headed, it didn’t make sense to shower. Marco threw on a pair of swim trunks and a T-shirt and dug an old pair of sneakers from the bottom of his closet. As he stuffed his feet into them, he caught a glimpse of teal blue. In the midst of all his belongings hung a very pretty one-shouldered dress. It was the only thing Alyssa had hung in his closet. He fingered the material, imagining her in it. All grown up, indeed.

  He found Alyssa sitting on the futon, a big tote bag and her guitar sitting at her feet.

  “All ready?” she asked.

  He tossed his keys into the air. “Yes. What are we waiting for?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re in rare form today.”

  “That’s the damn truth. Amazing what a couple nights’ sleep will do for you.”

  She smiled and busied herself with picking up her things.

  Marco grabbed the guitar case. “I’ll get this.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  Outside, fingers tickled the back of his hand. He flinched away. “What in the—”

  Alyssa erupted in laughter. “Keys, please?” She held out her palm and plastered a ridiculously sweet look on her face.

  He unlocked the trunk and settled the guitar inside. “Has the sun already made you delirious? Maybe we shouldn’t go.”

  “Oh, come on, Marco. Let me drive.”

  “Betty has but one master.”

  She huffed and walked around to the passenger side. “That sounds kinky.”

  Marco stared at her across the roof of the car. “And what would you know about that?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She threw him a devilish grin, then disappeared into the car.

  Marco moved like he was on fire. “Yes, I would.”

  She settled back into her seat and crossed her arms. “A girl has to have some secrets. Now, you wanted to drive? Drive. And give us some tunes while you’re at it.”

  She was teasing him, right? Of course. He found some music, started the car, and eased out of the driveway. “Windows down?”

  “Definitely.”

  At the stop sign at the edge of the neighborhood, Marco looked at her. “You don’t really have those secrets, right?”

  She looked at him a long moment and burst out laughing. “You’re cute when you’re freaking out, you know that?” She slipped on a pair of sunglasses.

  Marco frowned, partly relieved and partly weirded out by the images their strange conversation had created in his mind. He turned up the music and the next half hour passed in comfortable silence, the sun overhead, the music filling the car, the warm breeze blowing in through the windows. Alyssa held out her arm and made invisible patterns in the air with her hand, an expression of complete contentment on her face. That such a simple thing pleased her made him smile.

  It only took thirty minutes to make the drive, and the lot was already half full when they got there. Marco recognized a number of cars and parked nearest them while Alyssa texted Eric to find out exactly where they were.

  Eric came loping out of the woods a few minutes later, a big smile on his face. You don’t have a chance, kid, Marco thought to himself. Not if I can help it.

  Alyssa hopped out. “Hey!” She pulled off her sunglasses and waved. “Sorry we’re late.”

  “You’re not,” Eric called. “Most everyone just got here. We’re straight ahead down at the water.”

  “Eric.” Marco nodded to him as he closed his door. Eric nodded back but barely pulled his gaze from Alyssa. Rolling his eyes, Marco unlocked the trunk and gathered Alyssa’s things. Her bag had two towels and two water bottles. Marco’s chest filled with a sensation he couldn’t name. She’d packed for him.

  They walked through the woods—around picnic tables and kids playing—to the sand at the lake’s edge. Someone in their group had arrived early, because they had claimed the closest two tables to the beach. Marco dropped their stuff on a bench.

  Alyssa waved to some folks out in the water, then grinned up at him. “Remember that time Brady cried when a school of fish swam around him?”

  “I can’t believe you remember that. That was even before…” Your mom died, he finished in his head, not wanting to remind her of that time so baldly. “And, anyway, I can hear him right now denying it.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, but he totally did.”

  “Yeah. He did. I guess everyone is afraid of something. Not much else scares your brother.”

  Alyssa’s good humor slid off her face and she edged closer to him. “He’s not reckless, though. Right?”

  Marco saw the pleading in her gaze and answered honestly. “Never.” He kissed her forehead and resisted pulling her into his arms. “Don’t you worry about him. If anyone can take care of himself, it’s Brady Scott.”

  “Thanks.” Releasing a breath, Alyssa retrieved her bag. “Come on, let’s catch up with the others.”

  Marco followed her across the sand. Several of the other waitresses were sunbathing. He exchanged hellos and realized he didn’t even know some of their names. Tommy sat on a towel in his usual gear, clearly not intending to swim but at least here with the rest. Eric and two waiters waded into the lake.

  “Want to swim?” he asked Alyssa.

  “Not yet. That water’s probably freezing. I need to get hotter first.” She pulled a towel out of the bag.

  A choice response or two flitted through Marco’s brain before one of the women responded.

  “It is freezing,” Tori said. “No way I’m getting in there.” Marco knew her name because she’d made sure he knew it. That was before she’d realized he wasn’t buying what she was selling.

  Alyssa spread out their towels down by Tommy, giving Tori a wide berth, he noted. Marco sat beside her and kicked off his sneakers.

  “So, I hear you’re really good on guitar,” Alyssa said.

  Tommy looked at her over the top of his round black sunglasses. “I enjoy playing.”

  She grinned, and Marco wanted to tell him he was already a goner and just didn’t know it. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I brought the new guitar my brother just bought me for my birthday, and I was hoping you’d play.”

  An eyebrow went up. “You play, then?”

  “Not as good as you, from what I’ve heard. So will you?”

  He pursed his lips and the breeze caught his long hair. “Why not? After lunch okay?”

  “Yes, of course. That’s awesome. Okay, then. Sun, swim, food, music.” She whipped off her T-shirt and settled back against the towel.

  “Got it all figured out, huh?” the other man said, amusement coloring his voice.

  She smiled, her eyes already closed. “Yup.”

  Marco reclined onto his elbows but was too wide-awake to consider laying back and closing his eyes. Besides, this way he could watch over Alyssa and silently warn off the brigade of assholes likely to drool in her vicinity.

  Suck it up, Vieri.

  Over the next half hour or so, he chatted with the others, enough to be social but not enough to get bogged down in inan
e conversation about which he didn’t really care. Eric and the others joined them on the beach, adding their towels to the group so they formed a big circle. That Alyssa was being so quiet was unusual, and it clearly meant she’d fallen asleep. Once again, that got Marco’s gut turning on what was causing her problems at night. Those shadows under her eyes were darker yet again, despite the fact that her mood was so bright.

  Alyssa stretched beside him. “It’s hot.”

  Marco chuckled. “I might know a way to fix that.”

  She sat up, her gaze searching for the others. About half the group had moved up to the picnic tables, where Eric and Van were heating up the grill. She stood and undid her shorts, then pushed them to the ground. With her toes, she kicked the denim to the edge of her towel. “You coming?”

  Marco struggled to swallow. Jesus, she really didn’t know what she did to him, did she? He damn well hoped that water was freezing. “Yeah. Be right there.”

  He pulled off his T-shirt and followed her to the water’s edge. The view of her backside was just as good as the front. He fisted his hands against the sudden urge to feel the curve of her hips in his hands.

  “I’m not going to test it. I’m just going in,” she said, looking less certain than she sounded.

  Marco walked ahead of her, entering the water at a steady pace. Good God. It was ball-shriveling cold. He turned and smiled at Alyssa. “It’s actually pretty warm. Come on in. You’ll like it.” He kept the grin plastered on his face, the blazing sun his only saving grace.

  “Really?” she asked.

  Marco waved her in.

  Alyssa darted into the water, up to her knees, then her thighs. Her mouth and eyes went wide and she screamed. “You are such a liar, Marco Vieri!”

  Marco fought and lost the battle against his grin.

  “Holy crap. It’s like ice. You suck!”

  She scooped her hands into the water and a shower of frigid water hit his front. Marco bit out a curse. Alyssa wore a satisfied smile and braced her hands on her hips.