Worth the Wait

by Lori Foster

  “That’s a happy ending for sure.”

  “Elle struggles sometimes, but Mike is always there for her. I think I knew, even when they were high school seniors, that they were the real deal.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Brooklin put her hand to his face. “It means a lot that you didn’t assume the worst, that you trust me.”

  “Enough that you’ll trust me, too?”

  She didn’t need time to think about it. “Yes.”

  “Then stay with me until we get this figured out.”

  It wasn’t a romantic request. He wasn’t asking her to move in with him. But he cared—she was sure of it.

  Teasing him, she said, “I’ll stay if you tell me your secrets, too.”

  “I don’t have any secrets.”

  “Nathan.” She kissed his face, his brow, the bridge of his nose and the scar that cut across his right cheek. “Will you tell me about this?”

  He didn’t want to, she could see that.

  He asked, “Does it bother you?”

  “It keeps you from being too beautiful.”

  Laughing, he stood her on her feet and picked up the gun from the table. “Beautiful, huh? Do you need contacts?”

  She stopped him with a hand on his chest. “You are beautiful. Ruggedly beautiful. And that mark doesn’t detract in any way. I only asked because it looks like it was painful, and I hate that for you.”

  For the longest time he waffled, undecided, then finally said, “Let’s save that for tomorrow, okay? Right now I want to get hold of Hogan. Since whoever is after you is also aware of Violet, I think—”

  “That they should know everything.” God, how she hated the possibility of losing Violet as a friend. Or worse, the whole town finding out. She’d been detested enough to last her a lifetime. “Of course. You’ll tell them?”

  “I think the sooner, the better, so yeah, I’ll clue them in tonight.” He took her shoulders. “Don’t look like that, Brooklin. They’re both good people, I swear. You don’t have to worry about them knowing.”

  She wasn’t convinced. After all, her own fiancé had bought into the worst of the accusations. But it wouldn’t be fair to keep it private, not anymore, not with the level of risk.

  For now, she’d count her blessings that Nathan understood. Once he dug into the records, he’d have all the details before him, so if he did harbor any doubt it’d be put to rest.

  For now, that had to be enough.

  * * *

  Thanks to a large group that came in half an hour before closing, then continued talking and laughing long after they’d finished their meals, Hogan and Violet, but also Kristy, were late closing the diner. Violet refused to show any rudeness to customers, Hogan agreed with her, and Kristy decided it was her job to see it through to the end, so they did what they could around the party and waited.

  The customers were nice, using the diner for a reunion of sorts, and once they realized it was past closing time, they quickly packed up, leaving behind a very hefty tip for Kristy.

  They were about to walk out the door when Nathan called Hogan. He recognized the number, realized it was late for a call, and even as he answered, he saw by the look on Violet’s face that she expected bad news.

  Hogan did as well—and he wasn’t wrong.

  It was obvious Nathan condensed a complicated story, but the crux of it all was that Brooklin had been falsely accused by an abusive asshole while helping kids the same age as Colt.

  Far as Hogan was concerned, that made her a hero. When he told Nathan that, the sheriff said, “My thoughts exactly. And I know she’ll appreciate it. You know, she wasn’t sure what you and Violet would think.”

  “Tell her we think we need more people like her.”

  Hogan heard whispering on the other line and assumed Nathan was putting Brooklin at ease.

  When he came back, he asked, “You’ll keep Violet with you?”

  “Yes.” He watched Violet and saw her slightly favoring her foot as she sat in a booth, her gaze trained on him, waiting to find out what had happened. “We’ll be at her house. Colt will stay with Jason.” Until everything was settled, though, they’d need a longer-term plan. “We’ve had our fair share of crime in the area, but this feels different. I don’t like it, damn it.”

  “I’ll find out what I can tomorrow. Until then, be careful.”

  After pocketing his phone, Hogan sat across from Violet in the booth and, in low tones, explained what had happened.

  Violet took his hand. “Poor Brooklin. I’m worried about her.”

  Because Violet had a huge heart. She cared about Brooklin already. She definitely cared about Colt.

  Did she care about him?

  Did he want her to?

  “What is it, Hogan?”

  He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Nothing.” But it was something. Something that scared him half to death.

  Surely he wouldn’t get roped back in? Only with Violet, it didn’t feel like that.

  Hadn’t he learned his lesson about women... He cut off that thought with alacrity.

  His wife had taught him plenty of lessons, but Violet was nothing like her.

  She was far more genuine.

  But then, he’d once thought the same about Meg.

  He could no longer trust his own judgment—that was the problem. He knew he wanted Violet, pretty much around the clock. He detested the idea of another man touching her, and the urge to personally protect her, to keep her safe, thrummed through his blood.

  She made him laugh. She had his respect, his admiration.

  Yet she never asked for more than he was willing to give.

  Did he want more?

  Kristy, who’d been getting her things from her locker, came in and gave them both a wary look. “Uh-oh. You guys look like something terrible has happened. What’s wrong?”

  Violet rushed to reassure her. “Everything is fine.”

  “Then why does Hogan look like he might kill someone?”

  Violet turned to stare at Hogan. “He does look ferocious, doesn’t he?”

  Rolling his eyes and hopefully ridding himself of the “ferocious look,” Hogan said, “Everything done?”

  “If you’re not going to tell me what’s going on, then yeah, I guess everything is done.”

  Hogan shook his head and lied through his teeth. “I had to deal with a grumpy customer today, that’s all. It’s soured my mood.”

  “Odd that your mood seemed okay fifteen minutes ago.” Kristy shrugged her shoulders. “I’m ready to collapse in my bed, so I’m out of here. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

  Within fifteen minutes, Hogan and Violet locked up the diner. Following her to her car, he said, “I wish we were riding together.”

  Without any animus at all, she replied, “That’d draw too much attention, and since you want to keep our ‘thang’ private, it’s better that we drive separate.”

  Their “thang”? Hogan let that go, since he didn’t know how to define the myriad and confusing things she made him feel. He just wanted to go on feeling them. “You’re limping.”

  “Just a little. It’s been a long day.” She looked up at him. “You can make it feel better very shortly. All I need is time to take a quick shower.”

  Beneath the security light, her hair glowed, showing different shades of red. Her eyelashes left long shadows over her cheeks, and her mouth—God, he loved her mouth—smiled at him.

  Hogan touched her cheek. “I’ll shower with you, okay?”

  Pressing a hand to her breast, she said, “Lordy, sugar. Talk like that will stop my heart.”

  He had to smile. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Her mouth pursed, and after shifting her gaze around the area
, ensuring they were utterly alone, she whispered, “Behind me, huh? You know, I think I just might enjoy that.”

  Hogan groaned. “Now I have to drive with a boner.” He bent for a quick kiss, got her into her car and, pushed by heated urgency, all but jogged to his.

  In only a few minutes they were at her house.

  They were barely in the door when Hogan began stripping off her clothes. Wanting to take care with her foot, he tempered the urge to rip her clothes away like a maniac.

  It was insane, maddening, but he’d needed her so much...

  Oh God. He stepped back to stare at her. Her lingerie was indeed mind-boggling.

  Violet took in his expression, shook back her hair and struck a pose. “You like?”

  That had to be a rhetorical question.

  He nodded. “What there is of it.” The same rosy color as her flushed skin, the filmy bra cups lifted her breasts while barely covering her nipples. Her panties were no more than a decorative thong.

  He could see her through the near-transparent material.

  “Should I take it off?”

  “No.” He drew her to him. “Let me.”

  He forgot about her foot—his focus was on everything between her knees and her chin. Minutes after he had her stripped, Hogan had them both in the shower, and he had his soapy hands all over her.

  * * *

  Violet, her hair hastily pinned up atop her head, flattened her hands against the shower wall and concentrated on staying upright.

  Not easy with Hogan determined to drive her insane. The shower spray hit her side; Hogan’s hot mouth was against her nape.

  And his hands, slick with soap, played over her breasts, her nipples, her thighs and her belly, over and over again.

  When he suddenly turned her, she expected a kiss, but instead he took his time rinsing her, and that was a new torture all its own.

  The man was oh-so-thorough.

  Her eyes stayed closed until he sank to his knees. As she stared down at the top of his wet head, seeing the way he looked at her with such absorbed concentration, her heart skipped several beats.

  “Hogan?”

  He kissed her belly and slid a hand between her legs. “Keep the pressure off that foot, honey.” Two fingers pressed into her, going deep. “I want you to come for me now.”

  She braced her hands on his shoulders, sucked in much-needed air and whimpered, “Okay.” It wouldn’t take much and she knew it. Just thinking about his mouth on her was nearly enough.

  First he nibbled on her inner thighs, his fingers very still inside her, not moving, just there. In reaction, her muscles squeezed against those invading fingers, and she felt his smile against her hip.

  “I like that. Hold me tight, honey. Real tight.”

  She squeezed again, then groaned because it felt so incredibly good.

  With his other hand, he parted her, still looking at her, his expression sharp, focused, and as he leaned forward she held her breath, her fingertips digging into his shoulders.

  The first touch of his tongue, stroking over her, in her, wrenched a groan from deep in her throat.

  But that was nothing compared to the way he drew her clitoris between his lips, how he sucked so gently, his tongue laving rhythmically.

  The water started to cool, but it didn’t matter. With each firm stroke of his fingers, each soft pull of his mouth, she twisted closer and closer to release until, with a sharp cry, she came—just as he’d requested.

  Minutes later, still lethargic, Violet smiled as Hogan placed her in the bed. Leaning over her, he freed her hair, smoothed it out and bent to kiss her mouth.

  She didn’t have the wherewithal to pucker. He’d pushed her, drawing out her climax until her legs had begun to buckle. Then he’d caught her, turned off the water and even dried her from head to toe.

  Such an amazing, attentive, sexually charged man. She’d never known anything like it, or anyone like him.

  She loved him. How could she not?

  It was a secret she’d happily keep since sharing meant she might lose him.

  How long would it last anyway?

  Her heart ached as it answered with: surely not long enough.

  Sighing, Violet stared up at Hogan, watching as he finished drying himself. By the second, she regained her wits and her desire.

  “You look satisfied with yourself,” he remarked, coming down over her, his damp body still taut with need. “I take it you like me on my knees?”

  “I like you any way I can get you.” The second those words were out, she worried. Had she said too much?

  Hogan surprised her with his own look of satisfaction. “You taste good, Violet.”

  She pushed against his shoulders, and after a brief, unspoken question, Hogan went to his back. She straddled his hips, her hands braced on his shoulders. He stared at her breasts, very near his mouth.

  “I think I owe you some payback.”

  Lust tightened his face. “Yeah?” He held her by the waist, his gaze reluctantly rising to meet hers.

  “Oh, yeah.” His big body pleased her so much, and it was her turn to explore him in minute detail. She started with his mouth, kissing him long and deep the way she liked. Her breasts pressed against his hairy chest, making her nipples tighten again. His hands went down her hips, cupped over her bottom, then curved in to touch her.

  With her position, her knees spread out on either side of his hips, she was open and available to him.

  He took swift advantage.

  She was swollen and so very sensitive from her recent orgasm. As he toyed with her, her back arched, but as good as that felt, Violet didn’t let herself get distracted with her own pleasure.

  This was Hogan’s turn.

  Trying to ignore his tantalizing fingers, she nibbled her way down his chest, teased one flat male nipple. His hands fell away from her. Triumphant, she slid farther down to his ribs, his stomach, the tops of his muscular thighs.

  “No other man could smell as good as you.” She brushed her nose against him, lower and lower, his musky scent filling her head.

  His body went rigid as his anticipation built.

  Holding his erection in both hands, she feathered her lips over him, relished his groan, then licked her tongue up the length of him.

  He threaded his fingers into her hair, urging her closer.

  She smiled up at him, lightly pressed her lips to the head, then slowly took him deep into her mouth.

  His hips lifted off the bed, his hand fisting in her hair in reaction.

  Wow, she liked that, liked affecting him so strongly.

  Did he realize how, together, they were uniquely explosive? Or what if it wasn’t the same for him? No, when she looked up the length of his powerful, straining body, she saw the agony of pleasure on his face.

  He felt it—and she relished her sensual control.

  Locking his gaze with hers, he softened his hold on her hair, gently stroked his thumb over her hollowed cheek, then curved his hand around her nape and encouraged her to take his length again.

  In total agreement, Violet worked him with her hands and mouth, accepting all of him while sucking, then sliding back with her tongue teasing, only to repeat it again.

  His breathing grew ragged, his heels pressing into the mattress, his testicles tight. She felt him throbbing in her mouth and knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy him much longer.

  Suddenly his hands closed over her shoulders and he pulled her away, up and onto her back.

  “Hogan—”

  His mouth covered hers, voracious, wild, his hands all over her, a little rougher than usual, but she loved it. Just as quickly he left her, grabbing for the condom and rolling it on in record time.

  “This is going to be fast,” h
e warned. “And hard.”

  He came over her, his mouth once again on hers, and then he was inside her, taking her in long, deep thrusts, bringing her back to the edge of a climax in a blinding rush. The second she let go, he did, too, his head back as he pumped heavily into her.

  Through the haze of her own release, Violet watched him. She had to bite her lip to keep from stating her love—words he didn’t want to hear.

  Words, feelings that might push him away from her.

  When the rage of pleasure waned, he slowly sank down to her, his head beside hers on the pillow, his strong heartbeat thundering against her breast. Violet held him close, her lips brushing his damp shoulder.

  He didn’t fall asleep. Not Hogan.

  No, he gave himself five minutes, and then he took care of business, getting up to remove the condom and turn out the lights before returning to the bed and smoothing the covers over them both.

  Violet couldn’t speak around the emotion choking her, but then, she didn’t need to.

  Hogan pulled her against him, kissed her forehead and said, “If you need anything tonight, let me know. I don’t want you straining that foot more than it already is.”

  She couldn’t even feel her legs, much less her foot. She snuggled in, closed her eyes and enjoyed the novelty of having Hogan all to herself for the entire night.

  * * *

  By midday, Colt was anxious to get out of school. With a definite goal in mind, he’d been putting aside his money and looked forward to the tips he’d make at Screwy Louie’s on a busy Friday night. He’d found a lot of satisfaction in earning his keep and building his savings. Since he wasn’t dating, and he usually ate dinner at the diner, he’d had very few expenses. Gas for his car, insurance—his dad covered everything else.

  When he thought of his dad, he also smiled. It’d been so long since he’d seen him this happy, this comfortable with life. The strain Colt had gotten used to seeing in his face and the set of his shoulders had disappeared.

  As to that, he realized that he, too, was more relaxed and undeniably more prone to grinning. Violet did that to a guy. She had such an easy way about her that you couldn’t be around her and not be happy. She liked to tease Hogan, which gave him a whole new focus—away from the problems that had once weighed him down.