Harlequin Special Edition September 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Maverick for HireA Match Made by BabyOnce Upon a Bride

by Leanne Banks

  After gobbling down a sandwich, she strode toward the Ace in the Hole and walked inside. The bar was hopping. Glancing around the bar, she caught sight of Nick. Her heart skipped over itself. He was surrounded by women, as usual. Hmm, she thought, suddenly feeling a little grumbly.

  “Hey, let me buy you a beer,” a male voice said from behind her.

  She deliberately switched her attention away from Nick. “Hi, Tim,” she said. “How have you been?”

  “Good,” he said. “More important, how have you been? Are you feeling better?”

  “Oh, I’m well,” she said. “Amazing what a couple days of rest and antibiotics can do. I’ve been back at work all week.”

  “Good for you,” he said and led the way to the bar. He commandeered two stools then ordered two beers and an extra water for Cecelia. “I remember that you like water. I’ll order a beer for you, too, just in case you change your mind.”

  She smiled as she hitched herself onto a stool. “Thanks. How has your week been?”

  “Pretty good, just busy. It’s good to get out and see you,” he said.

  “That’s nice to hear,” she said and accepted the beer the bartender offered her. She took a sip and tried to relax. She positioned herself toward Tim. “I was busy baking for the Apple Festival the past couple of days. Have you had a chance to watch any football lately?”

  “I caught a little of a game last night,” Tim said.

  She made chitchat with Tim and did her best to be sweet, open and attractive, but oh, heavens. What a stretch. He was a nice guy. A nice, attractive guy. Why couldn’t she feel some heat for him? She leaned toward him and smiled. Tim touched her arm then squeezed her shoulder.

  Things were going well. She wasn’t crazy for him, but it could be fun.

  Suddenly Nick stood beside her. “Hey there,” he said. “How are you guys doing?”

  She blinked at his jovial tone. “Um, fine,” she said, surprised by Nick’s presence.

  “The place is busy tonight, isn’t it? Everyone is recovering from that auction for Cecelia’s apple cake. Did you get a chance to bid?” he asked Tim.

  “Bid?” Tim echoed. “I must have missed that.”

  “Yeah. Cecelia can bake like crazy. At the Apple Festival today, her pies got a high price. Let me tell you, I had to pay.”

  “Is that so?” Tim said. “Maybe I could convince her to bake something for me,” he said and took her hand in his.

  “Good luck,” Nick said. “She’s sweet at cooking. Hard at negotiating. Not every man could handle that.”

  “Oh, I think I can handle her,” Tim said and squeezed her hand. “Maybe she wants me to handle her.”

  Cecelia flinched at Tim’s tight clench of her hand. “Ouch,” she said and tugged slightly away.

  Nick glanced at their connected hands. “What if she doesn’t want you to handle her?” he asked.

  Tim unclenched his hand from Cecelia’s and stood. “What are you talking about? Cecelia and I are here having a good time. Leave us alone.”

  Nick glanced from Cecelia to Tim. “Just warning you. Don’t take advantage of her.”

  Distressed, Cecelia also stood. “Nick, what are you doing? You set me up with Tim.”

  Tim looked from Nick to Cecelia. “What’s going on here?”

  “Tim, let’s just leave,” Cecelia said.

  “Yeah, I’m leaving. Listen, bud,” Tim said. “If there’s something going on between the two of you, you’d better get it straightened out. If not, why don’t you just back off?” He paused a half beat. “Forget it. This is too much trouble.” Tim stalked off.

  Cecelia stared after him then looked at Nick. “What in the heck were you doing? You matched me up with him.”

  “I changed my mind. I decided I don’t trust him,” he said.

  “Why?” she asked, scowling at him. “You’re the one who’s helping me meet guys. Why are you chasing them off?”

  “If they were real men, I couldn’t chase them off,” he said.

  “You’re ridiculous,” she told him. “Completely ridiculous. I’m going to the house. I can’t deal with this.” She pointed her finger at him. “You are being weird.”

  She left him in the bar and stalked off toward the rooming house, her mind whirling. Why was Nick acting this way? She had tried to make herself like Tim, but even she had to admit that she’d felt uncomfortable when he’d touched her.

  Cecelia could hardly breathe from her frustration. So far, she had totally struck out with her dates. None of the guys she’d gone out with had sparked any interest in her. What was wrong with her? She’d met several men, yet nothing had worked.

  Entering the rooming house, she strode upstairs as quickly as she could. She didn’t want to discuss her disastrous evening with Melba. Her goal was to forget it. She walked into her room and pulled off her jacket and boots, swearing under her breath. Thunder Canyon wasn’t far enough away for her. She wanted to be on the moon.

  Heading for the bathroom, she turned on the faucet. A knock sounded on the door and she paused. Another knock sounded.

  Cecelia turned off the faucet and went to her door. “Yes?” she said.

  “It’s me,” Nick said. “I need to talk to you.”

  Against her better judgment, she opened the door and crossed her arms over her chest. “What?”

  “Are you going to let me in?” he asked.

  “Why should I? You’re acting like a lunatic,” she said.

  He met her gaze for a long moment and she could tell he wasn’t going away, so she stepped out of the doorway and he walked into her room. Amazing how he could fill a doorway with his physique, she thought then nearly kicked herself for thinking such a thing.

  “Why did you act like that? Tim and I were getting along, having a good time. I was doing everything you told me to do—red lipstick, skirt and welcoming body language,” she said.

  “How welcoming did you want to be? Did you want him to take you back to his house and finish what you started?”

  She gasped. “You need to make up your mind. First you tell me I need to do all these things because the man’s the customer, and then you act like I’m being easy.”

  “Did you want to be with him?” he asked. “When I say be, I mean in bed?”

  Cecelia blinked. “I hadn’t even kissed him yet.”

  “Well, it was coming. I could tell by the way Tim was acting that kissing and a lot more was coming.”

  “And what’s wrong with that?” she demanded. “Isn’t that part of dating?”

  “You didn’t answer my question. Did you want to be with him?”

  “I didn’t get a chance to find out. Why are you badgering me?”

  “Because I want to be with you,” he said in a rough voice with eyes full of need. “I want you.”

  Chapter Ten

  Cecelia stared at Nick and felt her stomach sink to her feet. Her chest expanded and she could barely breathe. Nick wanted her.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” she managed, taking a step backward.

  “I know,” Nick said. “But I’ve been fighting it for a while.”

  “Maybe we should both fight it a little longer. Maybe it will pass,” she said, trying not to hyperventilate.

  He stepped closer. “Do you really think that will work?” he asked.

  She took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of denim, leather and Nick. She swore to herself. “We should try hard to make it work.”

  He reached toward her and skimmed his hand over her shoulder, down her arm to her hand, linking his fingers with hers. “Is that what you want? I’ll leave if that’s what you’re sure you want.”

  Cecelia felt everything inside her shift and slide. She squished her eyes together and fought for sanity.
Or something better than what she was currently experiencing.

  She fretted. “Nick, you nail everything in sight.”

  “That’s rumor,” he said. “I swear.”

  “Why do you want me?” she asked. “I don’t want to be like your other women.”

  “You’re not,” he said with no hesitation.

  She felt his conviction echo inside her. She hoped it was true. “I don’t know, Nick. This could end badly.”

  “We could make a promise to always be friends,” he said.

  “How?” she asked. “How can we do that if we make love?”

  “How can we not make love?” he asked and moved even closer.

  He lifted his hands to her face and drew her closer. “Tell me when to stop,” he said, lowering his head.

  Stop, stop, stop. But don’t stop. “Darn you,” she said. “Kiss me.”

  “I’m not gonna stop with a kiss,” he warned.

  “Shut up and kiss me,” she said.

  She barely got out the words before he took her mouth. He pulled her against him. He was so hard and strong and male. She couldn’t keep from wiggling against him. Only in her most secret moments had she imagined touching him this way. He felt so strong, so hard, so male.

  He groaned into her mouth. “You feel so good,” he said.

  Wanting to feel every inch of Nick, she strained against him again and opened her mouth.

  “Oh, my—” He broke off and thrust one of his legs between hers. “You’re so hot. You’re driving me—” He kissed her again, sending every last inkling of sanity from her mind.

  He pulled off her skirt and sweater and kissed his way over her breasts and down her body. His large hands warmed and caressed her. Her nipples puckered against his palm and he made a sound of approval. Cecelia wanted to be naked. She wanted him naked.

  “Take off your clothes,” she told him. “I want to feel your skin.”

  Nick ripped off his shirt, his buttons flying onto the floor. He pushed down his jeans. “Oh, yes,” he said.

  She shimmied her breasts against him and opened her legs for him. She wanted him in every possible way. Nick lowered his mouth to her throat and slid his tongue over her skin. “You taste so good.” He continued his maddening trail down to her breasts, taking each of her nipples into his mouth.

  The sight and sensation of him against her stole her breath. He lowered one of his hands between her legs and made her swollen and needy with his touch.

  “Got. To. Have. You.”

  Nick pushed her down on her bed and stripped off the rest of their clothes. A wicked, delicious thrill raced through her.

  Nick pulled on protection. “I want you so much,” he said and pushed open her thighs then thrust inside her.

  Cecelia stared into his eyes as he pumped inside her, and she knew she would never be the same. Ever. She felt herself twist and turn in a sensual sensation she’d never experienced. Feeling Nick slide inside her in the most intimate way possible drove her over the edge. Release rippled through her. She clung to Nick as he stiffened and followed her over the edge. The experience was so intense she didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t sure if she could.

  Cecelia tried to regain some sort of consciousness. Pleasure mixed with regret. “Are you sure this was a good idea?” she asked, sliding her fingers through his hair.

  He lifted his head and looked at her with super-sexy eyes. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

  And Nick began to make love to her again. Cecelia soared into climax after climax. She finally fell asleep from exhaustion. The next morning, she found herself naked in bed. Alone.

  Cecelia felt a horrible sinking feeling. She shouldn’t have done this. She shouldn’t have given in to her carnal desires. Three times.

  She squished her eyes together. No, no, no. She took a deep breath and forced herself to wake up and smell the coffee. She saw a flower beside her and her heart squeezed tight. Spotting a note on the pillow beside her, she opened it. Good morning, sunshine. I want more of you. Nick.

  Her heart softened, but she was still uncertain. His note wasn’t overly emotional. Was this all about sex? she wondered. Did she care? Since the dawn of time, Cecelia had snuffed out any feelings of attraction for Nick. It hadn’t always been that difficult. After all, he’d had a seemingly endless supply of female admirers. She had no interest in being one of a million.

  Her cell rang and she checked the caller ID. Nick. She took a breath and answered the phone. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi to you. What’s in your head?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking about your ‘harem’ of women,” she confessed.

  “You never have been one of a harem. I want to be with you again,” he said.

  Her heart tripped over itself. “We both have to work.”

  “But we have nights,” he said.

  She lowered her voice. “You know the rooming house rules, Nick. No sleeping together.”

  “We can work around that,” he said.

  She groaned. “It’s crazy,” she told him.

  “Maybe, but it won’t stop me. Do you want me to stop?”

  Cecelia searched for a way to turn him away, but she couldn’t find it. “No,” she whispered.

  * * *

  Cecelia felt as if she were walking around in a lovely haze with the sexiest secret ever. She and Nick were lovers. She had no idea how long it would last, however, and that thought dampened her happiness, so she decided not to think about it. Not right now, anyway. She was still glowing from being in Nick’s arms.

  She went to her assigned job for the day and hummed as she helped install a new floor.

  “What’s up with you?” one of the men asked. “You look happy.”

  “I’m usually happy,” she said. “The weather’s nice. Work is going okay.”

  “It’s Monday,” he said. “Who wants to be working on Monday?”

  She shrugged. “Better than not having a job at all,” she said and thought of Nick and smiled again.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Something about you seems different.”

  Cecelia just kept on humming. It wasn’t as if she could tell her coworker about her and Nick. The prospect gave her a shot of panic, which she quickly swallowed. She was downright giddy, she thought. She’d better get a hold of herself.

  Despite her good mood, the job took longer than she expected. When she arrived at the rooming house, the sun had set. Spotting Nick’s truck, she felt her stomach take a little dip, and she couldn’t help wondering if he was going to want to see her tonight. She grabbed a sandwich from the refrigerator and headed up to her room.

  She shouldn’t expect anything, she told herself as she unlocked her door and stepped inside. “It’s me,” Nick said in a low, sexy voice in the dark. One heartbeat later, the door was closed and she felt herself pulled against him.

  “Long day?” he asked, sliding his hands over her abdomen. The movement felt immediately intimate.

  A knot of need swelled in her throat and she nodded. “Yes,” she said, the sound barely more than a whisper.

  He turned her around and studied her face. “I wondered if you were avoiding me.”

  “No,” she said.

  “Good,” he said and lowered his mouth to hers.

  Cecelia felt as if everything inside her melted beneath his kiss. At that moment, she was where she wanted to be in his arms, holding on to him. He brushed one of his hands over her breast and a zip of sensual electricity rippled through her.

  “Oh, you feel so good, but you’d feel better without your clothes,” he said and peeled off her jacket.

  A crazy mix of anticipation and nervousness raced through her. She’d already been with him, but it still felt new tonight. She knew how he could make
her feel, and her body was already responding. Her heart was hammering so fast in her chest she could hardly breathe.

  She bit her lip.

  “Don’t do that,” he said, lifting his finger and rubbing her lip.

  The sensation made her lip feel as if it were buzzing. It was all she could do not to take his finger into her mouth, to taste him. He rubbed her lip again and she gave in to the urge. She licked his finger and drew it into her mouth.

  Nick inhaled a sharp breath. “You could get in trouble for that,” he warned her.

  “What kind of trouble?” she asked.

  “I’ll show you,” he said. “Let’s get you naked.”

  Cecelia felt a strange twinge of conflict. It took her a second to pull herself from her sensual buzz to realize she wanted to go more slowly tonight. Last night had been fast and furious and she’d loved it, but she wanted Nick differently tonight.

  “I’d like to take a shower,” she said and pulled slightly away. “It’s been a long, dirty day. Do you mind?” she asked.

  “Not at all,” he said and touched a strand of her hair that had escaped her ponytail.

  She felt a rush of relief. “Good,” she said. “You can watch TV. There might even be a beer in the minifridge.”

  “How about if I join you?” he asked.

  She blinked. “Join me?” she echoed.

  “In the shower,” he said.

  A hot image of Nick warm and wet, kissing her, slammed through her mind. She could imagine how his wet skin would feel against hers. Imagining wasn’t enough, she told herself.

  He lowered his mouth to hers and she immediately opened her lips. Even thinking about being with him made her knees weak. His tongue slipped inside her mouth and he slid his hands down the sides of her body.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, and he began to undress her. Following his lead, she tugged his shirt loose and slid her hands over his tight abdomen and up to his chest. She lifted her face to his chest and rubbed her cheek against him.

  “Oh, Cecelia, one minute you’re sweet, the next hot. What am I going to do with you?” he asked as they made their way into the bathroom.