"I'm late for work. Again." She brushed by him, ignoring his muttered curse as she hurried into the bathroom to get ready.
And she worried again about how easily, how completely, he made her forget everything, and how dangerous he really could be.
Chapter Thirteen
Randy took a long swallow of beer then pushed the empty bottle to the edge of the bar. Someone jostled him from behind and he grunted, then turned in frustration. If he had been anywhere else, he would have, at the very least, made some kind of caustic comment to the offender.
He couldn't do that here. Not when the offender was a woman. She looked to be in her mid-forties, with soft blonde hair cut to frame her face. A business woman, from the looks of her crisply tailored suit. Her cool eyes raked him from head to toe, bluntly assessing each inch of him before she finally met his gaze with an interested look. Randy shook his head, interrupting her before she could even speak.
"I'm waiting for someone." His tone was curt and obvious, letting her know he wasn't interested in conversation. Or anything else.
"Too bad. Let me know if she doesn't show." With a wink that let him know exactly what she was thinking, she looked him over once more then turned and walked away.
Shit. Now he knew how women must feel, being ogled over and stared at when they just wanted to be left alone. Randy told himself that if he ever caught himself doing that to a woman, he'd have to kick himself in the ass. Or maybe have his sister do it for him.
It wasn't the first time, either. He had been here for an hour and already had three women come up to him. And someone else had actually pinched him on the ass when he made his way to the bathroom. Right on the ass! His first instinct had been to turn around and swing, but then he remembered where he was and just gritted his teeth and kept on walking.
No wonder JP, Mat, and a few of the other players enjoyed coming here. For getting picked up, there was no place better.
Randy didn't think this was what Val and her friends had in mind when they opened the place, though.
He glanced around, looking for his sister, making sure he didn't make eye contact with anyone else so it could be taken as an invitation. His gaze finally rested on Val, standing near the hostess station with Renee, their heads together in deep conversation about something.
He shifted on the stool and motioned for another beer, then glanced down at his watch. It was already eleven thirty. Alyssa should be coming out to meet him at any time now. They stopped serving meals at eleven, and Alyssa usually stayed to help clean-up or to lend a hand. He wasn't sure why, not when they had staff to do that. But it was something she did anyway. So it had become a nightly ritual the last several weeks: he would come in about an hour before she finished and wait for her here at the bar. They would have a drink, sometimes with Val and the other girls, sometimes by themselves. Then, more often than not, Randy would follow her home so they could spend time together.
For the last few nights, though—more often than not—Alyssa was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she sat down on the bed. The other night, she had barely gotten her shoes off before falling asleep.
He hoped to hell she wasn't that tired tonight, not when he had plans to surprise her. It wasn't much, nothing close to what he really wanted to do, but he was sure she'd like it.
Motion from the corner of his eye drew his attention and he looked over. Alyssa had pushed through the swinging doors leading from the kitchen, pausing to look around. Her eyes met his and she gave him a small smile. Even from this distance, he could see the strain on her face, the dark smudges under her whiskey-colored eyes that made them seem more sunk-in, sitting deeper in her face.
His hand clenched around the bottle and he swallowed back his disappointment. If anything, she looked more tired than he had ever seen her. For one brief second, he seriously considered kidnapping her. He'd swoop her up in his arms and carry her out the door, then take her someplace quiet, where there was nobody to demand anything from her. Where someone could wait on her for once. An image of white sand and clear blue water came to mind, where time had no meaning and voices spoke with musical lilts. He could see her there clearly, her body stretched out on a lounge chair, her feet buried in the warm sand as she held a tropical drink in her hand.
Yeah, like that would ever happen. She wouldn't even take a single night off. How was he going to get her to take enough time off to fly down to the Caribbean and just spend a few days to do nothing but relax? Okay, maybe there were a few other things they could do besides relax.
"Hey." Alyssa climbed onto the stool next to him and offered him a small smile. Her chef's jacket was gone, replaced by a simple loose shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. A few strands had escaped at her temples and curled around her flushed cheeks, wispy strands that invited his finger to reach out and touch them. Randy did just that, dropping a kiss on her lips as he did. She looked more tired close-up than she had a minute before.
Decision made, Randy motioned for the check, cutting her off when she would have ordered a drink. "You can have one later. Right now, I have a surprise for you."
"What?" Alyssa blinked, then smothered a yawn as she watched him. Randy doubted she had really heard what he said. He tossed a few bills on the bar then slid from his stool, grabbing Alyssa's hand as she did the same. He led her through the scattering of tables, barely stopping to say goodnight to his sister before leaving.
"My car's out back." Alyssa tugged on his hand and motioned behind her.
"I know. You're not driving tonight. Come on." Randy led her across the street, thumbing the car alarm off before opening the passenger door for her. Alyssa gave him an odd look, then lowered herself into the leather seat with a small sigh. Randy paused at the sound, realizing it was the first time she had ever been in his car.
He pushed the disturbing realization from his mind and climbed in behind the wheel, glancing over. Alyssa's head was resting against the seat, her eyes already closed. He watched her for a long minute, his gut twisting at the exhaustion so clear on her face, at the vulnerability he saw in her.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He shook his head and put the sleek car in gear, pushing those disturbing thoughts from his mind. Other thoughts tried to take their place, thoughts of protection and possession and commitment. He refused to let them form completely before ruthlessly squashing them.
It was near midnight on a weekday and there was little traffic on the city streets, so the trip to his place took very little time. Despite that, Alyssa was already asleep when he pulled into the small private garage. He cut the engine and turned in his seat, watching her with uncharacteristic tenderness.
Yeah, he was definitely in a weird mood tonight. He had never really watched a woman sleep before, had never really wanted to. And he had never had a woman fall asleep in his car before. Maybe that was the reason he felt so odd, because of the novelty of the situation.
That had to be it.
But he made no move to wake her up, no move to get out of the car himself. He just watched her, watched the easy rise and fall of her chest with each soft breath. Watched the way the light from the garage fell across her face and reflected in the caramel strands of her hair. She looked fragile, vulnerable. A wave of protectiveness crashed over him, damn near knocking the wind from him. Since when did he feel so protective over anyone? His family, yeah. But someone he was dating?
Never.
Randy firmly pushed the feeling away, refusing to place any importance on it. He let out a heavy breath then reached over and gently shook Alyssa. Her eyes fluttered open and she slowly straightened in the seat, looking around in confusion.
"Where are we?"
"My place. Come on, sleepy head." He opened his door then went around to the other side and opened hers. Alyssa looked up at him, her sleepy eyes still confused as he helped her from the car.
"But...why are we here?"
Randy ignored her question, taking her hand and le
ading her to the elevator. He keyed in an entry code and pushed the button for the top floor, then wrapped his arm around Alyssa's shoulders during the quick ride up. He could feel her gaze on him and he bit back a smile, but didn't look at her.
The elevator doors opened with a soft hiss and he stepped out, Alyssa right behind him. He unlocked the door to his condo then stepped to the side, motioning for Alyssa to enter ahead of him. She took several steps inside, then stopped so suddenly he nearly ran into her.
Her head moved slowly, from left to right, then back again. Randy stepped around her, anxious to see her expression, wondering what she thought. The cleaning service had been in today, so he knew he didn't have to worry about magazines tossed anywhere, or dirty laundry that may not have hit the hamper. Not that the clothes basket was downstairs, but still.
Alyssa's eyes were wide, all traces of sleep gone from her face. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear then stepped further inside, still not looking at him.
Or maybe she had forgotten about him.
Randy stepped back and tried to see the place from her perspective. It was an open floor plan, too open sometimes. The small entranceway immediately opened to the large living area in front of them. Leather sofas and rich dark wood created several unique seating sections, including a cozier one to the far left designed specifically for reading or relaxing. The entire outside wall was glass, with a balcony that stretched the entire length.
Alyssa moved closer to the glass, looking over the quiet night. Outside, lights reflected on the dark waters of the harbor, twinkling back up at them like tiny fireflies. In the distance were the lights of the Key Bridge, sparkling like a far-off strand of Christmas lights.
"This is a gorgeous view." Alyssa's words were spoken in nearly a whisper. Randy smiled and moved closer, not quite touching her.
"It took me a while before I could stand this close. All this glass made me feel like I was going to fall."
She turned and looked at him, obviously surprised at the admission. He shrugged then took her hand and led her across the room. A set of stairs broke off to their left, and the dining room to their right.
The dining room was nothing more than an extension of the open living room, defined by a small half-wall and a table large enough to seat twelve. He led her through the double swinging doors into the kitchen, wondering if she would be as impressed as he hoped. If her wide eyes and opened mouth were an indication, she was.
"I have some serious kitchen envy."
Randy laughed. "I thought you might."
Black marble formed the expansive countertop, broken only by the gleaming stainless steel of the appliances. Alyssa walked around the kitchen, her fingertips gliding over the smooth, uncluttered surfaces before she stopped and looked up, over the large center island. A wrought iron rack hung suspended from the ceiling, copper-bottom pots shining in the light.
She blinked, then looked over at him. "Definite kitchen envy. And a nice surprise, too."
"Surprise?"
"You said you had a surprise for me."
Randy laughed before he could stop himself, then walked over and pulled Alyssa into his arms. He lowered his mouth to hers for a quick kiss, then pulled away before he could do anything else. "If this was the surprise, I deserve to be hit. No, it's upstairs."
He ignored her raised eyebrows, knowing exactly what she was thinking, and took her hand. He led her upstairs and into his room but he didn't stop, didn't even glance over at the huge bed—that would be pushing temptation too far. She paused, her hand tightening just briefly around his, but she didn't say anything until he led her into the bathroom. Even then she didn't say anything, just looked around her in obvious surprise.
He grinned and released her hand, then walked over to the huge Jacuzzi tub. He turned the faucet on, adjusted the temperature, then reached over for the packet of bath salts. The salesgirl had promised him they would relieve stress and fatigue. Randy wasn't sure he quite believed her, but at least they smelled nice, a combination of something floral and spicy.
He turned back and noticed that Alyssa hadn't moved. She was standing in the same spot, only her eyes darting back and forth as she took in the brown and tan marble, the copper finishes.
He walked over to her and tugged on her hand until she looked up at him. "The toilet seat is heated, too."
Her head quickly turned toward the toilet, to the control panel placed discreetly next to it. "Oh my God, you're serious!"
"Yeah. Not bad, huh?"
"Forget kitchen envy. I'd kill for a bathroom like this."
The words almost spilled from his mouth before he realized they had even formed in his head, but he ruthlessly clamped his lips shut. Had he really almost said the bathroom could be hers, if she wanted it? Holy hell, what was wrong with him tonight? Maybe Alyssa wasn't the only one who was tired, because he clearly wasn't thinking straight.
"I know it's not much, but I thought you could use a little break. Mom always said how much better she felt after soaking. It's not a spa." Damn, he was an idiot for not thinking of that first! "But maybe a nice long soak and time to relax will help you, too. What do you think?"
Alyssa looked up at him, her eyes soft and a little moist. She blinked, then stepped closer to him and pressed a lingering kiss against his mouth. "Thank you. I've never had anyone do anything like this before."
"Oh. Well. I mean, it's just a bath, right?" Randy stepped away, suddenly embarrassed and not understanding why. He moved past her and pulled a robe from the closet, then stopped, uncertain. Maybe it was too much, too corny. He didn't want her to think he had ulterior motives. He brushed away the arguments and grabbed the candles from the shelf.
Randy handed Alyssa the robe, then turned away and busied himself with placing candles around the wide ledge of the tub. He checked the temperature with his hand once more, then reached over and turned on the jets. The surface of the water bubbled with the pressure, the noise of the jets filling the room with a low rumble.
Randy turned just as Alyssa was climbing over the edge of the tub and lowering herself into the water. He froze, his body instantly tightening as the soft curves of her creamy skin disappeared, inch by inch, under the foamy surface of the water. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, her lips parted on a soft sigh.
Damn, he forgot something.
He rushed back to the closet and yanked the special pillow down from the shelf, then moved back to the tub and leaned over her. She opened her eyes and looked at him, then at the pillow in his hands. He placed it behind her neck, adjusting it to where he thought it would be most comfortable.
"Better?"
"Hmmm. You have no idea." Her eyes drifted closed, a small smile on her face.
"Did you want something to drink? I have wine, ice tea, beer, soda—"
"No wine."
Randy chuckled, then leaned over and pressed his lips quickly against hers. "Then I'll bring something else. Don't drown before I get back."
She mumbled something in reply, but her voice was swept away in the noise of the jets and rushing water. Randy moved from the room, turning off all but one light as he left. He passed through the bedroom then paused, thinking.
Why the hell was he thinking so much?
But this thought was innocent, harmless. He shook his head and grabbed the remote for the stereo, powering it on with one quick push of a button. He thumbed the controls until soft music filled the room, then adjusted the volume so Alyssa would be able to hear it over the water.
Satisfied, he hurried out of the room and downstairs to the kitchen, telling himself that he had absolutely no plans of joining Alyssa in the tub.
None. At all.
Chapter Fourteen
Warm water rushed over her, soothing. Powerful streams from the jets massaged the aching muscles in her back and legs, easing the aches and tension that had been with her for the last several months.
Soft music drifted around her, combining with the delicate sce
nt of the candles Randy had placed around the tub. Alyssa felt like she was in a cocoon, snuggly wrapped in a soothing warmth that was both reassuring and protective.
It was a feeling she could become entirely too accustomed to.
She sighed and opened her eyes, just enough to take in her surroundings. Candlelight reflected around her, washing the expensive marble tile in a soft glow and reflecting off the copper fixtures. Yes, she could definitely get used to this. The thought was dangerous and sent small pings of warning through her. No, it wasn't the idea of getting used to this, she thought. It was the fear of what would happen if she got used to it—if she got too attached to Randy.
Who was she kidding? She was already too attached to him.
Alyssa closed her eyes and sunk lower into the tub. She still didn't know how it happened, this thing between Randy and her. She couldn't even define what "it" was, only knew that it was...something. And she was very much afraid of already being too attached. Just when had that happened? And how?
His presence had been constant for the last month. Probably longer, since even before they had opened the restaurant. But definitely the last month. What would happen when his season restarted, less than a month away?
Maybe nothing. But probably they'd drift apart, seeing each other less and less until their entire time together was nothing more than a brief fling in his memory.
She shook her head. Already she was counting on things ending. When had she become such a pessimist?
No, not pessimist, she thought. Realist. Because certainly Randy had better opportunities than a frazzled, food-loving chef who worked seven days a week.
"Still awake?"
The voice reached her through the steam and rushing water, muted and almost hollow-sounding in the large room. But it startled her just the same, and she bolted upright, sliding in the tub as she did. Alyssa reached out to grab the edge of the tub and felt a strong hand wrap around hers, steadying her. Randy was kneeling next to the tub, a small smile on his face as amusement flashed in his hazel eyes. She blinked then gently tugged her hand from his grasp and settled back into the tub.
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