Show Stopper

by BJ Harvey

  “For a few hours, then I’ll have to leave, but I like the idea of you coming home to me in the morning.”

  “You have no fucking idea how much I’ve been wanting to do that.”

  “Good, because I may have snuck my spare key into the front pocket of your work bag.”

  My lips curve up as I look out the window of my office. “For a special occasion?”

  “For when you called me and I asked you to come here in the morning.”

  “You were rather sure I would say yes.”

  “I seem to know you well,” she replies with a laugh.

  “Fuck, princess. I swear you were made for me.”

  “If that’s true then that means you’re meant for me too.”

  “I’ll prove it in the morning.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  “Good night, baby.”

  “Good night, Lieutenant. Stay safe.”

  “Always do. But let me ask you something. Did you call to tell him to be safe, or is that just for me?”

  “Considering I wasn’t allowed to call him, or if I did, he’d never call back? It has only been and only will be yours. It would also be a damn shame for you to do something to yourself now after spending so much time and effort getting me to like you.”

  “You did put up a good fight,” I say, and you could not wipe the satisfied grin off my face if you tried.

  “It was a battle I had no hope of winning.”

  Fuck that feels good to hear. ”I’m glad you didn’t win. Not when we know how good it is now.”

  “Absolutely. Now stay safe, Lieutenant. I have plans for you in the morning.”

  “Not if I wake you first.”

  I smile at her soft moan. “Goodnight, princess. Don’t do anything I’ll have to spank you for.”

  “What if I send you photos?” she asks with a sexy laugh that gets my cock’s attention again.

  “Stop making me hard when I’m at work and can’t bend you over my desk to deal with it and you.”

  “At least now I know you won’t be short of ideas in the morning. Bye.” She giggles before hanging up.

  The bells ring five minutes later, giving me enough time to recover. Yet I still walk out to the garage with a stupid grin on my face, earning an amused chuckle from Rhodes and a shake of Luca’s head. I glare at both of them. “Not a word. But we are going to the Fall Ball together, so make sure you guys are there too. We’ll make a night of it as a crew.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll bring Jake; he’s been bugging me to go,” Rhodes replies.

  Luca nods. “I’m sure I can find a date. If not, Renee has a sister, right?” he asks as he sits behind the steering wheel and turns the key.

  “Hey. You leave Hayley alone,” Scotty calls out from the back seat. “She’s mine.”

  I scoff and look over my shoulder. “Does she know that or is there a trespass order at play here?”

  Scotty flips me the bird. “Maybe she lost my number,” he mutters. By the time we pull out of the garage, lights and sirens blazing, the entire crew is laughing.

  15

  Renee

  I’m surprised to find Marco’s truck still in my driveway when I get home after work. He’d crawled into my bed and woke me up in spectacular fashion before he promptly fell asleep curled behind me, while I dozed until my phone alarm vibrated on my nightstand.

  He slept like the dead while I got ready. I let Hayley know he was there, had a key and would lock up when he left. I didn’t expect him to be here now.

  Before he crashed out, he’d told me we were going out on a date tonight, which is why I’m home an hour earlier than usual so that I’ll have enough time to beautify myself to knock his socks off when he comes to pick me up. Since it seems he’s already here—or rather, still is here—he’ll likely distract me. I won’t have the same element of surprise when he sees my outfit, but I know he’ll be far from disappointed.

  I put my key in the lock and walk in my front door, finding the man in question laid out on my couch, and a basketball replay on the television. He mutes the sound as I walk toward him.

  “Princess, come ‘ere,” he rumbles, his voice rough.

  “You should’ve just watched TV in bed. Then I could’ve crawled in with you, and had a repeat performance of this morning.”

  “Why do you think I came back before you got home?” he asks, raking his eyes up and down my body. “Now get your ass here so I can kiss you and show my appreciation for your workwear.”

  “What?”

  “That’s okay. I’ll get up and come to you.” He shifts as if to stand up. But I rather like the idea of lying all over him as he is.

  “No,” I say, “stay exactly like that.”

  His adorable confused look makes me laugh as I kick off my heels, drop my purse on the side table, and move his way.

  “And if you like this look, just wait until you see my date outfit.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he says with an appreciative grin just before I launch myself over the back of the couch and land flat-out on top of him with a heavy thud and a loud groan from the man himself.

  I prop myself up on my hands so I’m looking down at him. “Hi again.”

  “Hey.”

  “Sleep well?”

  “Yeah. I like your bed. Just like it better when you’re in it with me.”

  “Oh yeah?” I say, my lips curving up as his gaze darkens.

  “I think you should show me how much more fun it is when we’re both naked and horizontal.”

  In the blink of an eye, I’m flipped over and we’ve switched places, Marco’s hard muscular form pressing down against me as his lips crash down on mine.

  He moves his mouth lower to pepper kisses along the sensitive skin of my neck. “You said my bed . . .” I moan although I hold him tight against me, not wanting to go anywhere.

  He chuckles. “Soon.”

  “Okay,” I breathe, and it’s my last coherent word for the next thirty minutes.

  We’ve just finished our three-course meal at the same Japanese restaurant where he saved me from my horrible blind date last time we were both here. On the plus side, at least I got to taste the food this time and choose dishes myself, too. This was after we were a teensy bit late by way of Marco having a roger rabbit moment—tongue rolling out of his mouth and all—when I walked out of my bedroom ready to leave for dinner wearing a deep cowl-necked black dress, bronzed bare legs, and my newest pair of black Fendi pointed-toe ankle boots.

  “I can’t believe you brought me back here,” I say, lifting my glass of wine to meet Marco’s raised one opposite.

  His dazzling smile is almost blinding. A relaxed and happy Marco is a sight to behold. I never stood a chance at resisting this man. God knows why I thought I ever could—or ever wanted to.

  “I wanted to give you a date re-do.”

  I tilt my head and frown. “But you already gave me a real first date?”

  “Yeah, but when I saw you having dinner here with the douche canoe, I knew I wanted to bring you back here one day.”

  “You were that sure I’d give in to your relentless pursuit?”

  He grins and shakes his head. “Was it relentless though? Or were you just ignoring all the signs the universe gave us?”

  I shrug. “A bit of column A, a lot of column B.”

  “And now?” he asks, quirking a brow, his legs brushing against mine under the table.

  “The longer we’re together, the more I wonder why I was so hell-bent on resisting you.”

  “Because I’m too handsome and sexy for my own good?” he asks, flipping his hair back like a preening peacock and posing with his arms up, showing his bulging biceps.

  “Sure, let’s go with that,” I murmur wryly, taking a sip of my wine. His gaze narrows, and I struggle not to giggle. Then he chuckles and I have to put my glass back on the table before I lose the fight and start snort-laughing in a dramatic fashion.

  When I catch the str
ange amused looks from our table neighbors, I cover my mouth, my mirth turning into a soft snicker.

  Marco’s eyes sparkle, his attention stuck on my upturned lips. ”Fuck, I wanna kiss you. I remember sitting across the restaurant from you and aching to see you smile but not wanting you to have too much fun with that guy, because it pissed me off.”

  I lean into my hand, intrigued by the insight he’s giving me. “What did?”

  “That you were out with him when I knew I wanted you on my arm, at my side . . .” He leans in. “And in my bed.”

  I lick my lips. Knowing how much he wanted me, even before I gave up fighting my attraction to him, is hot. He’s certain of who he is and what he wants. He’s never given up looking for his “show stopper”—and he thinks that woman is me.

  That gives a woman with baggage like I have, the confidence to be herself. It’s probably because when you’re not looking, and a man like Marco Rossi is unapologetic in his pursuit of you, and is sure that you’re the one he wants, there’s no need for anything but the truth. I’ve not held back any of my faults or flaws, my likes or dislikes, or any of my personality traits—the good, the bad, and the annoying. He’s been through two bouts of PMS with me and hasn’t batted an eyelid or gone running for the hills. I’ve managed to not once doubt where he is or what he’s doing when he’s not working because he’s done absolutely nothing to show me he’s nothing but the man he’s proven himself to be. I haven’t been needy or demanding or anything but myself. It’s been as easy as breathing since the day we first met. It’s been exactly how I thought it always would be when I found the right man. I’d just stopped looking.

  The waiter stops by and slips the check onto the table. Both Marco and I going for it at the same time, but when he pins me in place with a heated stare full of determination and the promise that he’ll show his appreciation in ways I’ll like later, I let him win.

  His victorious grin widens, and I narrow my gaze.

  “You know you’re not always going to win?” I ask.

  “There’s no doubt, princess. You’ll fight for your right to fight for as long as you live.” Marco waves his arm in the air, handing the black folder with the check and his credit card to the waiter as he walks past.

  “Too right,” I say with a laugh.

  “But here’s the thing,” he says, leaning forward in his seat and placing his hand over mine on the table. “I like everything about you, Renee. What I’ve seen, and what I haven’t yet. So if you think I don’t appreciate the fact you don’t just sit back and expect me to pay the bill, then you’re so fucking wrong, but you’ll get there.”

  “Get where?”

  “To the place where you stop thinking something you do could put me off or make me think anything except how fucking lucky I am to have found you.”

  I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. Nope, this man is as real as it gets.

  I tangle our fingers together, giving his a gentle squeeze. “How on earth were you still single?” I blurt out.

  “What?” he splutters with a laugh.

  “You’re hot. You’re charming. You have a good job, a successful career, you treat women well, you come from a good family, and you love hard and fiercely and you do it unapologetically. You’re phenomenal in bed, you give before you take—but not before giving again—and most importantly, you’re not an asshole.”

  Marco’s lips curve into a cocky smirk, but it just serves to make him downright irresistible. Where the hell is the waiter? Some of us need to get out of here—like now.

  “Anyone would think you like me, princess.”

  My eyes widen, my hand covering my heart as I feign innocence. “Whatever would make you think that, Lieutenant?”

  He barks out a laugh. “Call it an educated guess.”

  I hold two fingers in the air and scrunch my nose up. “Okay, I might like you a little bit.”

  Marco’s eyes dance with amusement, and he’s still shaking his head at me when the waiter returns with his credit card and two individually packaged mints on the small ceramic dish.

  “Oooh, I’ll take one of those.”

  Marco’s eyes warm as he hands me a mint. “Planning on getting lucky tonight?”

  I waggle my brows. “Play your cards right, Lieutenant, and you might find out.”

  He shoots me his signature ‘I’m gonna get me some’ grin as he pockets his wallet again and stands, holding an arm out my way.

  “C’mon, beautiful. Let’s get out of here.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  He stops and holds the restaurant’s front door open for me, pressing his palm to the exposed skin of my back, sending a delicious shiver through me.

  Once we’re outside, he leads us away from the main thoroughfare. Turning to face me, he slips his jacket off and drapes it over my shoulders before tilting my chin up with his knuckles and brushing his lips against mine.

  “If you’re up for it, I thought we could go for a walk through to Buckingham Fountain. I haven’t seen the light show for a while, and we’ve got more than enough time tonight to do everything I’ve got planned for you—twice—and still fit this in.”

  “Okay,” I whisper, totally breathy and obvious. “Lead the way.”

  Ten minutes later, we’re walking hand in hand into Grant Park. “When I first moved here, I used to love coming downtown and spending the day just exploring,” I say.

  “Yeah? Papa used to bring us boys out to give Mama a break from all the noise.”

  “Probably the girls too,” I muse.

  “Or give us a break from them. God, Skye was easy compared to Val.” He chuckles then turns to look at me. “She still is, too. Val takes high-maintenance to a whole new level.”

  “She seems lovely.”

  “She’s as sweet as pie. Honestly, she’d fight to the death for anyone she cares about and would give up the shirt off her back. She’s just . . .”

  “Needy?”

  His eyes flash. “Yep. You know something about that?” he asks, quirking a brow. I look around, trying to get my bearings in the dark, spotting the small circular fountain with the original Turtle Boy fountain figure in the center.

  “Hayley is a lot of things. Not needy, per se. More . . . reliant, maybe. But she was young when we went to live with Grams so it has always just been the three of us girls—and Grandpa, of course—but just us three since he passed. And I guess she’s always known we’d be there to help her out when she needs it.”

  “And you?” he asks, his voice soft and low.

  The fountain sparks to life in front of us, the bright lights glowing against the darkness behind it. “Wow. I’ve never seen it at night. It’s gorgeous. I used to love watching it during the opening credits to Married With Children and made sure it was one of the first things I came to see during my first visit Downtown.”

  I let go of his hand and turn to face him. Looping my arms over his shoulders, I tip my head and smile up at him, feeling so content, so comfortable and so sure of the person I am and the man in front of me. When he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in close, I melt even more. Nothing and no one has ever felt this right.

  “You didn’t answer my question, baby,” he says, running a hand along my back.

  I run my fingers through his hair, tugging his head down closer to mine. “I’m right where I want to be with exactly who I want to be with.”

  His intense stare bores into mine, and I hold my breath because the air changes between us and I don’t yet know what it is. I just know it’s something epic, monumental . . .

  “Fuck, I love you.”

  I gasp but don’t dare move, not wanting to do anything to ruin this perfect moment.

  His gorgeous eyes soften, full of absolute certainty and sincerity. “And I know I will for a really long time, probably forever.”

  Tears sting my eyes because of all the things I expected him to say, that wasn’t one of them. I stare at him, surprised beyond
belief, but my heart feels so full it’s fit to burst. I run my hands around his shoulders to cup his jaw, my thumb sweeping over his cheek as my gaze roams his beautiful face. When I lock eyes with his, I know I have his full attention.

  “I love you, too,” I reply. His entire body jerks then goes deathly still, my breath catching at the intensity shining back at me.

  Then it’s as if he snaps, his hand hooking around the back of my neck and tugging me closer. Marco kisses me hard and with so much feeling, I gasp. His tongue delves past my parted lips, circling my own as he deepens the connection, both of us giving as good as we get, cementing this monumental occasion in the only way we can in public. But I’m looking forward to continuing the celebration behind closed doors as soon as we get home.

  When we finally pull apart, he buries his face in my neck.

  “Fuck, princess. Just when I thought you couldn’t surprise me.”

  I’m grinning when he straightens and looks down at me, his expression so soft and gentle it makes my heart skip a beat.

  I shrug. “I was just taking a page out of your book.”

  He tilts his head, his brow furrowed. “And what’s that?”

  “When you know, you know.”

  “Okay then. So where do we go from here then, oh wise one?”

  My lips curve as I melt into him and touch my mouth to his. “Well, I want to go home to bed so I can show you how I—”

  That’s all I get out because Marco is kissing me again, swallowing the rest of my words. Then he grabs my hand and near-on drags me back toward the parking lot.

  It appears Marco isn’t a fan of delayed celebrations. Which is good, because right now, neither am I.

  16

  Marco

  I use my key and let myself in, finding Hayley sitting on the couch, some reality singing competition playing on the TV. She looks over her shoulder and checks me up and down grinning when she meets my eyes.

  “Hope you’re ready, Rossi. My sister is gonna knock your socks off in a minute.”