by Lori Foster
Violet hugged him and whispered, “I don’t really know what to say, except that I’m sorry.”
“I want you to understand, Violet. I came here, supposedly to a quieter life, and just when things seem to be falling into place, I get caught up in another massive scene where everyone knows my business, knows that my boss wanted in my pants, and that I ended up fired.” That wasn’t entirely fair and he knew it. He was likening the two situations when the similarities were light-years apart.
But he wanted to make a point. What point, he couldn’t say for sure. Or hell, maybe he’d just wanted to talk about it.
Violet squeezed him tight, her face in his neck. Then slowly she sat up. She pushed her hair back, and in the shadowy room he saw that her face was a mask of misery.
Damn. “I didn’t mean to say all that...”
“It’s what I was going to ask, so thank you for telling me.” After a shuddering breath, she managed a half-hearted smile. “You’re right, too. I really shouldn’t have gotten involved between you and that woman.”
“Her name is Joni—”
“I don’t care what her name is!” After that small explosion, she got herself together. “It wasn’t my place to get involved and I’m sorry. Really sorry. I can’t fix it now, except to try to make things work.” Her gaze flashed to his. “With the diner, I mean.”
“I knew what you meant.” Concentrating got more difficult. So did hanging on to the resentment from the memories. Violet was here in front of him, naked, her pale skin visible in the dark room, and he was starting to get hard again.
“I don’t know what happened with your wife, why things fell apart, but I’m sure everyone who knows you understood—”
“Understood what?” He wrapped a long lock of red hair around his finger. “That I wasn’t enough for her? That I was too blind to realize she was fucking two other guys, practically under my nose? That she’d bankrupted me, even robbed my son of his college fund? What could anyone have understood?”
Horror filled her eyes, and for a second he thought she might cry. It was the last thing he wanted. Hurting her would hurt him, too, and after reliving that god-awful humiliation, he already hurt enough. He whispered, “Violet... Don’t, honey. I’m sorry. I should have just answered your question, not gone off on a rant.”
“You did answer my question, but it was worse than I’d ever imagined.” Anger stiffened her shoulders, brought color into her cheeks and even brightened her beautiful eyes. “I’m sure anyone who knew you understood that your poor wife had ruined the very best thing to ever happen to her. And that’s really sad, Hogan. No one should be remembered for cheating and lying. She destroyed herself.”
“Yes.”
Violet flattened a hand on his stomach. “But she didn’t destroy you.”
For a while there, it had been a close thing. But now, he could agree. “No, she didn’t.”
He grunted when Violet dropped onto him, kissing his face all over from the bridge of his nose and his jaw, to his brow and the side of his mouth. “You’re a wonderful person, Hogan Guthrie. I’m so glad Colt has you.”
He took her shoulders and levered her back. “And I have him.”
“Exactly.” She gave him one more smooch, then wiggled her belly against him. “You’re hard again.”
No wonder. Her breasts were against his chest, her nipples once again puckered. He could feel her pubic hair on his hip, and her hair hung around him like a silky curtain. Cuddling her backside, he smiled and asked, “You’re sure?”
“Yes, most definitely. I’m totally impressed, too.”
“You should be.”
“I’d love to take advantage, I really would, but two mind-blowing climaxes, topped with heartbreaking disclosures, are more than I can take in one evening.”
“You probably needed to know.”
She nodded. “And I definitely needed the sex. But now I’m kaput and I think I need some sleep so I can keep up with you tomorrow.”
Amazed, Hogan swatted her on the butt. “I like how you did that.”
“What did I do?”
How could she look so innocent? He had half-moons in his shoulders from her nails, and his legs were still shaking from her enthusiasm. “You were you.”
She tried lifting a brow, but then laughed. “Am I supposed to understand that?”
The fact that she could laugh right now, and that she had him smiling because of it, was a wonderful thing.
“I’ll explain.” Hogan brought her down for a longer, softer kiss. He tangled a hand in her hair, tasting her, wanting her again, but able to show some restraint since, as she’d said, he’d just come twice.
Her small, soft body felt so perfect against his. But he knew the softness was a disguise, because Violet had an inner strength that awed him.
“Was that an explanation,” she teased, “or more of your torturous foreplay?”
“That was me unable to resist your mouth.” He kissed her again, briefly this time. “I told you about my humiliating past, and you didn’t look at me like a loser. You didn’t launch into more questions, or pity me, or get emotional—other than for a second or two. Instead, you were as you always are, very sweet and open and honest, and that steered me away from the morbid. You, Violet Shaw, are not only good for my ego... You’re also good for my frame of mind.”
“I have an idea.”
Hogan grinned. “I just bet you do.”
She folded her arms over his chest. “Maybe you could just always think about sex with me when those awful memories start to intrude.”
Pretending to consider it, Hogan slowly nodded. “That sounds like a very workable plan.” Truthfully, though, he’d probably be thinking about sex with her around the clock, awful memories or not.
12
TWO DAYS LATER, Brooklin went out to her porch to read, just as she did most evenings. The sun still hung in the sky, painting the horizon in vivid hues of red, orange, yellow and purple. The hazy evening air filled her lungs. Off in the distance, someone mowed a lawn. When she listened closely, she could hear children playing the street over.
Life filled the area, but soon it would be dark, and then the fear would creep back in on her.
After crashing on Nathan’s couch only twice, getting back in her own place felt oddly depressing.
With the security system installed, covering every window and door, she was safer now. No reason to worry about bogeymen from her past sneaking into her present.
Still, for the first time since moving here, she felt alone.
Odd, because until recently she really had been alone and she’d liked it. Alone meant no one to judge her, whisper about her, or worse, threaten her.
Despite her best efforts to remain alone, that had changed. Not only had she met a lot of new people at Screwy Louie’s, she now knew Nathan much better. Knew him and liked him. Probably too much.
Her time on his couch had been a revelation. Not once had he made a move. In fact, he’d barely looked at her, as if having her on his couch didn’t affect him at all. She could have been a guy friend for all the personal attention he gave her. Though she hadn’t wanted to get involved, it was still a little deflating to accept that he hadn’t been that aware of her as a woman.
Because she’d definitely been aware of him as a man.
Had he given up his pursuit of her?
Brooklin shook off that thought. It had taken a full day to get the things she needed for the security system, so Nathan had offered his couch a second time, and it had been a repeat of the first.
Zero teasing. Zero recognition of her as a woman.
It was almost a relief when earlier today, Jason and Colt had shown up, tools and supplies in hand to get all the security stuff installed.
Nathan had gone on about
his day.
While the two guys had worked, she’d watched the process, learning about the upkeep and how to set or reset a sensor. In between instruction, they’d chatted.
Jason adored his wife and mentioned her often while telling her stories about her many neighbors and the local businesses. They were both pretty terrific, and after her time spent working in a school, she especially related to Colt. Such a conscientious, mature young man.
She knew now that Colt had very specific plans about college, but he was anxious to finish high school—early if possible. He wanted half of the year to work and save to help offset the costs.
Admirable. She told him about a special program that had been at the school where she’d previously worked. It was just what he’d been looking for. Soon he would check with his counselor to see if his school offered something similar. He certainly had the credits to finish up, if that’s what he and his father wanted.
His uncle, she’d noticed, hadn’t appeared overly keen on the idea. Not that Jason had complained, because he hadn’t. Jason Guthrie had a quiet, calm demeanor, somewhat different from his more outgoing brother, Hogan.
And Nathan was different from them both. He had more macho presence, at least in her opinion.
Damn it, she didn’t even like macho men.
Trying to force Nathan out of her head, she thought about the sensors instead. What would she do if one of them went off? Would she have the wherewithal to defend herself? That is, if she could get herself off the ceiling?
Before considering the job done, Jason had tested the sound for her, wanting her to be aware of it. The shrill, earsplitting noise had nearly stopped her heart. He’d shut it off quickly, but—wow. It was enough to wake the dead. No way would she sleep through an intruder.
Reassuring, but still she worried.
Why hadn’t Nathan at least talked with her more while she’d been at his house?
Knowing she wouldn’t read tonight, Brooklin set the book aside and thought about her life. She had a story to finish typing, and jewelry commissions that weren’t quite done. Plenty to keep her busy.
Yet she sat there wasting time while repeatedly checking the street, waiting for Nathan to get home.
Annoyed with herself, she stood to go inside.
Of course, that’s when he arrived, and since he’d already seen her, it would be rude to leave now.
And just when had she started making excuses just to see him?
As usual, Nathan looked irascible as he exited the official vehicle. His sandy-colored hair stood on end, as if he’d raked his fingers through it more than a few times. His uniform shirt, unbuttoned to the waist, had a blue stain, still wet, soaking the right side.
Brooklin braced her arms on the porch railing and called out, “What happened to you?”
He made no pretense of going to his own door. Nope, he made a beeline for her, and as he crossed the lawns, he shoved his reflective sunglasses to the top of his head. “It’s been a real bitch of a day.”
She could tell. “You’re not hurt?”
“No.” He kept coming. “It ended with a four-car fender bender when Bingo let out. No one hurt but it was a test in patience.”
Mouth twitching, Brooklin asked, “And that turned you blue?”
His gaze narrowed on her, not really with irritation, but with something far more intense. “Three seniors blamed each other, all of them loud, threatening each other with me.”
“You said four cars?”
He nodded. “The fourth was a single mom. She had a three-year-old with her and he didn’t like the confusion, especially with his mom on the phone, freaking out to her cousin, so I took the kid out of his car seat—and he dumped his juice on me.”
Picturing Nathan dealing with all that, Brooklin smiled. “Is it sticky?”
Now that he’d reached her, Nathan stood close, clasped her wrist and flattened her hand against his bare chest.
Voice rough, he said, “You tell me.”
Yup, sticky. But what she noticed most was the heat of his skin, the light covering of hair and the undeniable strength. You do not like macho men, she reminded herself. But without meaning to, her fingers contracted in a gentle exploration of his muscle.
“Brooklin.”
She looked up and got caught in his gaze.
Slowly, very slowly, Nathan leaned down until his mouth touched hers. When she didn’t pull away, he turned his head a little, making for a better fit, and kissed her in a way she hadn’t been kissed in far too long.
Well before she was ready, he lifted his head. “I’d have you real close right about now if I wasn’t a mess.”
She still didn’t know what to say. Confusion swamped her. Talk about sending mixed signals.
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
Trying to deny the disappointment she felt, she explained, “I don’t need to. Your friend Jason, and his nephew, Colt, got everything installed.”
“I know. I talked with Jason earlier.” He released her wrist and took a step back. “I wasn’t asking you to camp on my couch, though you’re always welcome to do that. I meant that I wanted you to stay with me, as in right next to me, preferably in my bed, but I can make the couch work if you’ve gotten attached to it.”
But... Brooklin scowled at him. “I was there for two nights and you barely noticed.”
“That’s a joke, right?” He laughed, his attention on her mouth. “I’ve chased you since the first day I met you. I thought I’d made my interest plain enough.”
“I thought so, too.”
“So you honestly believed you could be that close, sleeping all soft and warm on my couch, and I wouldn’t be aware of it on every level, for every damned second that you were there?”
The way he watched her mouth caused Brooklin to lick her lips in nervousness. His gaze sharpened, then came up to her eyes.
She let out a breath. “I don’t know.”
He touched her cheek. “You slept at my house because you were worried. You don’t need to be anymore, so I don’t feel like I’m taking advantage by making myself clear.”
Her heart swelled. “So the reason you didn’t talk to me, the reason you went straight to bed, was because you were being considerate?”
“Trying my best.” He tipped up her chin. “It wasn’t easy, Brooklin. But because of the circumstances, you were off-limits.”
“I thought...” Brooklin shook her head. “When you didn’t show any interest, I wasn’t sure what to think.”
“Think that I’m a saint if you want.” He smiled. “But now you’re fine, your house is secure, and if you come to me, it’s because you want to, not because you’re worried about being alone.”
Actually, she was still worried, which was ridiculous. Her problems and all the danger were long behind her.
Nathan scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m rushing you, aren’t I? We’ve only had one date, if Screwy Louie’s even counts.”
“It counts,” she said softly. “And yes, I’d like to stay with you tonight. That is, part of the night. I really do need to be in my own place in the morning for my routine—”
Nathan kissed her. He kept a hand on the back of her neck, but still didn’t hold her close. Honestly, she didn’t care about his sticky shirt, but again, he ended the kiss before she was ready.
“You’re welcome all night, but if you decide you need to head back over here, just let me know and I’ll walk with you.”
It was a wonderful offer—and Brooklin accepted.
* * *
Nathan tried to maintain his persona of a calm, in-control guy, but the second Brooklin agreed, he got semihard. “You don’t need a pillow and blanket tonight. I have them on my bed.”
“I don’t plan to sleep there anyway.”
“Let me grab my keys and lock up.”
When she started in, he followed her, then drew up short at the sight of a .38 revolver on her desk. “You have a gun.”
Startled, Brooklin looked at the weapon, flushed and then lifted her chin. “Yes, I do.”
“When did you get it?”
“Before I moved here.” Defiantly, she stated, “I have my conceal carry.”
“You don’t carry it when you’re jogging. I would have noticed.”
“No.”
His thoughts continued. “You had it at Screwy Louie’s?”
“Yes.”
Damn. What, or who, had scared her so badly? Nathan picked up the gun, found it fully loaded and saw it had a laser. Cocking a brow, he asked, “Need the laser for your aim?”
“I don’t know. I’ve done plenty of practice, but I’ve never had to use it when I was in trouble. I figured if I was a person who panicked, the laser would help ensure I hit what I aimed at.”
“Which would be...what? Or should I ask who?”
“Actually, you should just mind your own business.”
Nathan eyed her militant stance, the rigid way she held herself and the rebellion in her eyes. She considered him the law, assumed he would harass her for arming herself and prepared to defy him. “Would you mind if I took you shooting sometime? I could offer some tips.”
Her face went blank, then flushed with relief. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Good.” Still treading carefully, he asked, “You feel like you need to bring this tonight? Or could we leave it here?” He resisted the urge to tell her he’d keep her safe. She was an independent woman who’d taken measures to ensure her own safety against a threat he didn’t yet understand. She didn’t need a caveman undermining her efforts.
“I’ll leave it here.” She took it from him, handling the gun safely but with confidence. “I have a box I lock it in.”
