Sean's Sweetheart

by Allie Kincheloe

  "We have spent the day together. Now, I'd like to spend some time with him. He's my friend, too."

  "We are going to have to have a long chat about this man, oh sister of mine. But, go. Enjoy your evening with Mr. Muscles."

  "Don't call him that! It's rude."

  Karly stuck her tongue out at Talia and extracted a promise from her sister to have a serious discussion soon. She grabbed a giggling Claire before Talia could change her mind. The two girls wasted no time in getting out of the bookstore now that their sole reason for being there was abandoning them.

  Talia worked her way back to the main entrance. Sean leaned against the wall by the door, a book in his hand. She inhaled deeply at the sight of him. The past week had been spent convincing herself that they were not right for each other, she'd even told him minutes ago she wanted to be friends, but she couldn't deny the attraction.

  He raised his hand to shove a lock of dark hair out of his eyes. A wave of desire flooded up over her and she had to give herself the mental equivalent of a cold shower. Knowing he was interested and still thinking about that oh-so-perfect first kiss at the waterfall made it even harder for her to tamp down her attraction.

  Walking over, she touched his arm to get his attention. His smile made her heart skip a beat, and when he took her hand to lead her to his car, she was lost. No matter how much she tried to say they would stay friends and keep their relationship platonic, she was falling for him, hard.

  When her tummy rumbled out a reminder she'd not eaten dinner, Sean swung the car into the shopping center.

  "Steak or seafood?"

  "I can wait." She didn't want to inconvenience him any more than she already had. He repeated his question and waited for her to respond. When it became clear they weren't moving until he'd made sure she ate, she finally mumbled, "Steak."

  His actions when they entered the steakhouse reminded her again why she liked him. He held doors and helped her into her chair; guys her age didn't do those things. He treated her like she mattered. His past wasn't important. He'd obviously made a lot of changes in his life and those changes made him a better person, a good person.

  In his presence, she felt appreciated. Cared for. Wanted. No guy she'd dated before had ever made her feel this way. Caleb sure as hell never had. Not even at the beginning, when things were good between them.

  Their conversation at dinner started with his club, then ranged widely. They found many common interests. He quit telling her jokes when she accidentally inhaled her soda, his eyes sparkling with mirth at her reaction. His sense of humor was wicked and when he let out that deep, rumbling laugh she couldn't help but join in. She'd already been seriously attracted to him prior to tonight, but the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted him.

  She sighed. The one guy who I'd give a chance after Caleb... Of course he doesn't want to date.

  After dinner, Sean swung by his apartment to pick up the book he'd promised to lend her. It was a tiny one-bedroom in a rough area of town with a minuscule balcony off the dining area. Very few pictures or paintings hung on the wall and there were no knick-knacks sitting around. There were, however, piles and piles of books, on every flat surface, including the floor. Stacks of paperbacks, hardbacks, even what appeared to be comic books. Talia giggled. Maybe he was a better match for her than he realized.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "You find my apartment amusing?" Sean asked. It was a little cluttered, but at least it was mostly clean.

  "It looks more like a library in here than an apartment." Talia chuckled. "And truthfully, like my bedroom. I'm a book collector too."

  He relaxed some and looked around for that book to lend her. Seeing the spark in her eye, he encouraged her to pick out some more books. Hell, he'd give her all his books if she would keep smiling at him. Shit. There it was. One kiss and she had him whipped.

  Bringing her back to his apartment was not his brightest idea. He'd never be able to resist her if he kept doing crap like that. She'd agreed they could only be friends, that his reasons made sense. They were on the same page. This shouldn't be so fucking hard.

  She flopped down on the couch flipping through one of his books. Her teeth gnawed at her lower lip in concentration and Sean hardened, watching her lose herself in the novel. Who knew a woman reading could be so damn arousing?

  He stared down at her. It took all that he had in him to not sweep her into his arms, throw her on his bed, and give her a better reason to bite that pretty lip. His hands balled into fists with the effort of not reaching for her.

  "I'm sorry. That was rude of me. You bring me over and I completely ignore you!" Talia sat up and flushed in embarrassment.

  "It's okay. Scoot over, let me sit down." He should move the basket of laundry in the chair. Sitting next to her was probably the second stupidest idea he'd had today. But he couldn't make himself sit over there alone.

  His hands itched to hold her. Why couldn't she be older? If she had been even a few years older, he'd have said screw the celibacy vow and he'd have known the feel of her beneath him by now. He wouldn't feel like he was corrupting an innocent.

  She laid the book on the coffee table and watched him. He stretched his arm out behind her and asked her what she'd read lately, hoping some conversation would help ease the tightness in his jeans. She smiled and kicked her shoes off. Tucking her feet up under his thigh, her eyes twinkled when she responded. The book she'd just finished, he had read a few months back. They had a lively discussion about it while he ignored the spark of passion in her eyes. Well, tried to. More than once, he found himself reaching for her. He'd clenched his fists so many times they ached. But he wouldn't give in. He wouldn't allow himself to pull her into his arms again.

  His phone buzzed—Jack giving him the end counts for the evening. Whoa, it was two a.m. He hopped up and insisted he drive Talia home. She protested, but her yawns agreed that it was time. He drove her home with her smiling sleepily at him the entire time, then walked her up to her door.

  "Thanks for the books. And dinner. I… I had a good time." She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him for a hug goodbye.

  Sean couldn't stop himself from pulling her against him and brought a gentle hand up to cup her cheek. With his forehead pressed to hers, he whispered, "Goodbye." He held her close for a moment, inhaling her sweet scent, before releasing her.

  Those sweet pink lips tempted him to kiss her again. The breeze kicked up and her hair tickled across his face, but he'd just told her they couldn't date. And he was going to stand by that. He forced himself to remove his hand from her waist, to stop caressing her jaw.

  And he damn well went home alone.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The leather stool swiveled beneath Talia. Sean poured drinks and women poured on the charm when he took their orders. She'd spent two evenings this week at Garden so far. Sean occasionally took a night off, but she wanted to see him badly enough tonight to hang out here at the club.

  When she left work tonight, there had been another note stuck under the wiper on her car. No picture this time. A scrap of paper with teeny cramped handwriting. Her skin crawled at the thought of it. It was probably Caleb. The writer referred to Sean as a bad boy wannabe and devolved into crude sexual innuendos she didn't want to even repeat. She'd shredded the note and sped away from the strip mall like zombies chased her.

  The past couple of weeks had been mind-blowing. Sean had opened up some, letting her see the man he was now, but he remained tight-lipped about his past. Not a day passed without them speaking, even if only on the phone. He often initiated contact for the day. Even though he seemed to enjoy their conversations, he still blew hot and cold on showing physical interest in her. Some days, Sean let her hold his hand, steal a hug, and Talia would bet money that he wanted to kiss her. His smoldering gaze would heat her, body and soul, until she prayed he would kiss her. Other days, he refused even the briefest of hugs.

  Sean could flash a crooked grin at her
and she'd melt. When he smiled, she found it hard to ignore the attraction between them, and oh dear God, was she attracted to him. She found herself daydreaming about kissing him again or often, doing more than kissing. More than once she referred to Sean as her boyfriend and had to backtrack. Their relationship was like dating without the physical aspect.

  It was nice, in a way, to be able to really get to know him without pressure or expectations. Not that Sean would pressure her. He was Caleb's polar opposite. Where Caleb pushed, Sean stood back and encouraged her. Where Caleb had nothing but criticisms, Sean focused on the positive. Talia hadn't realized how much Caleb had trampled her self-esteem or how much she had retreated into herself, thanks to his treatment. Sean was slowly bringing her out of her shell.

  Lost in a little daydream about Sean and his lips on hers at the waterfall, she felt a hand tap her shoulder. She jumped two feet in the air. Her heart leapt even higher and raced its way back down. Turning, she saw Zane doubled over, laughing at her reaction. Thank God, it wasn't Caleb.

  "Do I want to know what you were thinking about that had you turning that charming shade of pink before you jumped clear outta your skin, little sister?"

  "Shut up, Zane." She kicked at him. The blaze scorching her face burned hotter at his smirk.

  "Okay, now I'm sure I don't want to know. Is it about him?" He nodded toward Sean. "Some things a guy just doesn't want to know about his sister," he teased her and his hearty laugh fueled her embarrassment. "You working on Saturday?"

  "I'm opening, so I have to work until one, why?"

  "I'm moving to my own place, remember? No more roommates! Could use some help, if you don't mind," he pleaded desperately, telling her his friends had to work. She agreed to come and Zane gave her a bone-crushing hug before dancing away.

  Her giggles over her brother's antics had yet to subside when Sean strolled over. "Was that your brother?"

  "Yeah, he was suckering me in to helping him move on Saturday. You know, we could use a big, strong guy to help carry stuff. Zane said his new place was on the third floor. And you want to help carry furniture up three flights of stairs, all for the privilege of spending a few hours with me, right?"

  Sean agreed to help, but acted put out about it. She looked forward to seeing him again, if only for a few hours, while they acted as pack mules for her brother. They made plans for Sean to pick her up at work; she would then ride with him to her brother's new place—or his old one, depending on where in the moving process Zane was at that time.

  At work that Saturday, the clock seemed to be moving in slow motion. No matter how many times she checked it, no more than a couple minutes had passed. Her job kept her busy and she wasn't normally the type of employee who watched the clock, but she looked forward to getting out of there and spending time with Sean. She'd even brought a change of clothes with her so she could go straight from work to Zane's.

  The clock struck one and she clocked out quickly. Hurrying out of the store, she rushed into Sean's waiting car. For the first time since she'd met him, Sean didn't open the car door for her. The "No Parking" sign beside his front fender lent him a legitimate excuse, so she wasn't upset even though she gave him a hard time about it. After a brief call to Zane, she directed Sean to her brother's new place.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sean let Talia clasp his hand in her small soft one as she led him across the parking lot. He shouldn't encourage her like this, but he couldn't bear to dim her eyes with disappointment whenever he pulled away. Her brother and father stood looking over the loaded pickup. They caught the tail end of an argument between Zane and his dad as they walked up.

  Her father grunted. "That couch is damn heavy and once we go up and down those stairs twenty times with all those little boxes, we're going to be too tired to carry that couch upstairs. I swear the darn thing is made of lead."

  Releasing his hand, Talia wrapped her arms around her dad from behind in greeting. "Would it make you feel better if I said I brought someone strong to help with the heavy lifting, Daddy?"

  The older man glared in response as Sean shook hands with Zane. He turned to the older man and stuck his hand out in greeting. "I'm Sean." Her dad's eyebrow rose, but didn't offer his own hand in return. Well, alrighty then. Would it have killed him to be polite?

  The older man scowled at him and said simply, "Sam Richmond." The overprotective father crap was getting old.

  Zane broke the tension. "Okay, Dad, we will do it your way. Sean, you think you can handle one end of the couch while Dad and I get the other? It's really heavy. I didn't realize how heavy, until Dad and I were loading it by ourselves. I, for one, am glad you are here."

  He nodded and the three of them pulled the couch off the truck. Talia tried to help, but he didn't want her underfoot when they went up the stairs. "Just grab a box and stay out of the way, will you? Let us get the couch."

  Zane snickered, but didn't comment until Talia stomped up the stairs ahead of them. "You are a brave man, Sean. Brave, I say. You haven't seen her temper yet, have you? She acts all sweet and shy, but she's a little hellion when you piss her off. And I think you may have done just that."

  Sam chuckled at Zane's words, but didn't say anything as they carried the weighty couch up, pausing at each landing to angle it around the support posts in the breezeway.

  Once they got it to the landing of the third floor, Sean could see Talia standing with her arms crossed outside the locked door of her brother's apartment. She tapped her foot impatiently. Crap, Zane was right. He was in trouble.

  Where'd that spirit go when she was dating that asshat?

  They eased the couch down next to the door and Zane dug the keys out of his pocket to unlock the door. Shoving past her brother, Talia snatched up her box and stomped inside.

  Sam laughed out loud. "Yup, she's mad."

  Sean sighed and shook his head. Well, at least he'd made her dad laugh even if it was because he'd pissed Talia off. The heavy couch put up a hell of a fight going through the door. They finally battled it through and had to take a minute to catch their breath. The crashes and bangs coming from the kitchen made Sam and Zane both snicker.

  Zane elbowed Sean, mock-whispering, "Good luck."

  When the other men started back down the stairs to grab some boxes, Sean followed the noise to Talia. With her back to him, he watched as she slammed the cabinet door with such force it rattled.

  "Hey, I didn't mean to upset you out there," he murmured. As he laid his hand on the small of her back, she tensed at his touch.

  "You said I was in your way. Do I look like a child? Or maybe you think I am too stupid to get out of the way?" Her eyes flashed in anger as she spun to face him.

  "Now, I never said that. I didn't want you to get hurt, that's all."

  "I thought you were different, Sean. Caleb always treated me like I was too stupid to breathe on my own, and I won't go through that again. I can't."

  "Sweetheart, I really didn't mean it like that. I should have phrased it differently, I can see that now. I'm sorry." He didn't get how he'd called her stupid, but he enjoyed seeing this side of her. He'd have to piss her off more often if she'd look at him like that. It was a heck of a turn-on for her to be confident enough to stand up to him. He liked his women to have some spunk. Damn, she's gorgeous when all worked up. He wondered if her eyes filled with such fire when she made love.

  He moved closer and she retreated in response until she bumped into the counter. Tilting forward and placing his hands on the granite next to her hips, he surrounded Talia with his arms. He whispered low in her ear, "Anyone ever told you how stunning you are when you are mad? Your eyes are sparkling and so damn expressive. Sweetheart, you're really making me forget that we need to be just friends."

  He nuzzled her throat, inhaling her sweet scent. Her hands reached up to fiddle with the button placket on his shirt. When she leaned toward him, he knew she'd forgiven him. She shuddered and he pulled back to look at her. When she licked her li
ps, he couldn't take it anymore. Fuck being friends. He needed to taste her again. Groaning, he bent his head toward hers. A mere second before his lips touched hers Zane kicked the door open and walked in with another box.

  Biggest cock-block ever.

  Cursing under his breath, Sean jerked away from Talia.

  Zane walked over hissing, "Did you just kiss my sister? Dad will flip his lid if he sees that, man. You better watch it."

  "I didn't kiss her," he replied in all seriousness.

  "Well, whether you did or not, it sure as heck looked that way. You jumped away and her hands dropped down from your chest. Definitely looked like a kiss, or at least an almost-kiss to me."

  He grinned over at Talia before putting her brother in a headlock. He dragged Zane out of the apartment without another word. Sometimes the easiest way to shut someone up was a physical distraction.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Talia watched as her dad came back in lugging a heavy box labeled "kitchen." Stepping aside, he watched the two younger men roughhouse their way out of the apartment. He sat his box on the counter and turned a questioning gaze toward her.

  "You okay?" His gruff voice was filled with concern. He really did love her.

  "Yeah, I'm fine, Daddy." She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him for a big hug.

  Shaking his head, her dad said, "I can't believe the big man managed to slither out of that fight. You are so much like your mother; I expected one heck of an explosion."

  She had been pissed, but when Sean got so close she couldn't stay mad. She couldn't do anything but pray he'd kiss her. "It was a misunderstanding. He didn't mean it the way I took it. We're good now."

  "Well, he sure figured out how to diffuse that temper faster than I did," the older man told her with a snort. "Took me damn near a year to figure it out with your mother. Why's he here anyway? I told you I didn't want him around."