In My Sights (1 Night Stand Series)

by L. J. Garland

  Nice rack be damned. He’d spent enough time studying people to know the woman was paranoid about something.

  When she reached the table, he stood to pull out her chair, sliding it in as she sat. Taking his own seat, he studied the knockout in front of him. Her gaze continued to dart around the room, even to the balcony above them.

  “Hi, my name’s Bobby Martin. Nice to meet you.”

  When her attention at last focused on him, her face softened and lips quirked into a half smile. Beautiful.

  “Siobhan.” She gave a slight nod and reached to fidget with her napkin. “Siobhan Cantrell. The place is just gorgeous, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She straightened each utensil in front or her and adjusted her chair. Nervous energy rolled off her in waves. Since entering the restaurant, she’d continually turned to look behind her. What was up with that?

  “Are you expecting someone?”

  She glanced up at him, startled. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. No, I’m not expecting anyone. It’s just…I thought I could do this. Be out in the open.” She tapped her finger on the tablecloth and frowned. “I should have known better.”

  She peered over her shoulder again, and he stood, offering his hand to her.

  Her brow furrowed. “I don’t––”

  “Trust me.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she took his hand, her slender fingers cool against his palm. Would he feel those fingers graze his back later?

  Drawing her to his side, he gestured to the chair he’d just vacated. “Sit.”

  He moved the other chair around the table, along with the plates and silverware and sat next to her in the corner. With both their backs to the wall, they were able to see anyone coming or going.

  “Better?”

  A smile lit her ice blue eyes. Her tongue peeked out, gliding along her full lips, and she glanced at him from beneath incredibly long lashes. “It’s getting there.”

  And just like that, he was a goner. She exhibited a wealth of contradictions. Bold and shy at the same time. Vulnerable, yet seemed to know what she wanted.

  He knew what he wanted.

  The waiter came over, and they ordered appetizers along with a bottle of the house wine. If the change in seating bemused him, he didn’t show it. After the merlot was poured, Bobby noticed a bit of the tension in her shoulders ease. But her attention remained on the door and, even more so, the balcony.

  “I’m gonna cut right to the chase here, Siobhan. What’s your story?”

  Her fingers tightened around her wine glass. “My story?”

  “You could do surveillance and recon on my team any day. From the moment you walked in here, you’ve pinpointed every possible entry and exit. Observed every person in the place to the point I’m sure you could tell me what color boxers the dude in the pinstriped suit is wearing. And you’ve looked at the balcony so much I’m starting to wonder if I’ve got a red dot on my forehead. So, yeah, what’s your story?”

  She downed her wine in a single long gulp. “You’re pretty observant yourself. I’m sorry, I hadn’t realized I’d been so obvious.” She patted the sides of her mouth with the napkin. “You’re probably thinking Madame Eve stuck you with a psych ward case.”

  He reached over and laid his hand on hers. “What I think is Madame Eve sent me a strong, confident woman, who just needs to remind herself of her capabilities.” When she snorted, he shook his head and grinned. “I just love when a woman snorts. Gets me all hot.”

  Her mouth quirked, and she rolled her eyes.

  Bobby tensed as lust shot through him. Damn, something else that turned him on. Reaching for the merlot, he refilled her glass and handed it to her. “Now, tell me what happened to you.”

  Siobhan twisted a golden strand around her finger and released it along with a sigh. “Six months ago, I had the bright idea of checking out a new restaurant called Charlie’s. It’s just across the Navarre Beach Bridge on the right.”

  “Yeah, I know the place.”

  “They’d just opened, so I begged the guy I’d been seeing, my brother, and my best friend to go with me. The place was packed, grand opening and all, and we were out on the deck eating. We were mostly finished, and it was supposed to be my treat, so I bent down to grab my purse.”

  Bobby had a bad feeling about where the story might be going. Though he hadn’t been in town six months ago, he’d kept up with local news. Her behavior started to make sense.

  She blotted her upper lip with the napkin again then continued. “Like I said, I’d just reached for my purse when I felt a sharp burning across my right temple. A window shattered behind me, and I went flying out of my chair. Plates were breaking. Glasses just popped. Then came the screaming. I, um….” She took a swallow of wine. “My best friend lay on the ground next to me, a small, round hole in her forehead.” She brushed her fingertip above her left brow. “I remember…I stared at Kelly. But she didn’t smile or wink the way she always did when crazy things happened to us. She didn’t tell me everything would be okay. Her eyes were just open, you know? Looking at nothing.”

  Damn. It was worse than he’d thought. He had assumed she’d been a witness to the massacre. Not one of the few surviving victims. Several good friends of his, Air Force pilots, had been at Charlie’s that day and had comprehended the situation the moment the first person went down. From what they’d told him, it had been bad. His friends had tried to take control of the scene, get people to safety. But by the time they’d secured the area and had help on the way, the sniper shooting from the rooftop of one of the hotels across the street had picked off five people. The gunman had escaped, and four people had died. No wonder she’d been looking over her shoulder every five seconds.

  Bobby angled his chair to face her. Grasping both her hands, he held tight, trying to convey comfort.

  “I had three friends there. Pilots, who tried to help. They told us what happened. I couldn’t quite believe something so heinous happened on our friendly little beach.” He rubbed his thumb over the pulse point on her wrist. “Your brother and friends?”

  “They died instantly, along with a waitress standing by the next table.” She said it so matter-of-factly, but he didn’t miss the muscle twitch in her jaw.

  He dipped his chin toward her. “And you?”

  “The bullet grazed my right temple. The force of the hit fractured my skull, and I spent ten days in the hospital while the doctors watched my brain swell and then return to normal. The only lingering effect is the occasional headache that incapacitates me for a good twenty-four hours.” She glanced away. “I lived. Lucky me.”

  Bobby lifted his hand and traced the side of her face with his knuckles. Tucking a long curly strand of blonde hair behind her ear, he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her temple. “No, lucky me.”

  “Tonight is the first time I’ve been out in public in six months. Well, besides darting into the local convenience store when I don’t have an order big enough for delivery, or the occasional trip to the doctor for checkups. I haven’t been able to be in a public area where there are a lot of people since the shooting. Just walking up to the door of the hotel, I could hear their screams like I was back on that deck again.”

  “It’s PTSD, darlin’, and you’re doing amazing for what you’ve been through. Some of our toughest soldiers would’ve had a hard time walking in here tonight. I think you’re someone very special.”

  “It’s been so long since anyone’s said something so nice. I lost so much that day. My brother, my best friend, a man who could’ve been a part of my future. I lost myself, my confidence.” She gazed at him from beneath those long lashes again. “My sexuality. I want it back.”

  He signaled for the waiter. “Please cancel our appetizers. We’ll order room service.”

  The man nodded and left.

  Rising to his feet, Bobby offered his hand to her once more.

  Siobhan grasped his fingers and moved next to him.

>   He led her from the hotel restaurant and crossed the lobby toward the elevators. Glancing over at her, he squeezed her hand, hoping to offer reassurance.

  “Have you stayed at this hotel before?” She gave him a shy smile.

  “Actually, this is—”

  A man darted in front of them, his shoulder knocking against Bobby’s. The guy grabbed his arm to steady them both. “Sorry.”

  Bobby frowned at the man. “Sure.”

  Releasing his hold, the guy headed toward the hotel entrance.

  Siobhan squeezed his fingers. “You were saying?”

  “Right.” He tapped the elevator call button and turned back to her. “This is my first time here.”

  “Mine, too.”

  He stepped closer to her just as the elevator door slid open. “Trust me?”

  Tension still wracked her body, but he’d glimpsed the spark of what he hoped was desire for him in her eyes.

  “Yes,” she said.

  Chapter Three

  Siobhan entered the large suite and glanced around. She’d used every ounce of strength she possessed to walk through the front doors of the hotel and into the dining room. But with Bobby standing behind her, the fine hairs on the back of her neck that had irritated her all evening, eased.

  She strode through the room, flipping on lights, checking the bathroom. When she slid the shower curtain back, she stopped herself. What the hell am I doing?

  Turning, she caught her reflection in the mirror, the scar on her temple a permanent reminder of everything she’d lost. The sniper had taken so much from her. But did that mean she had to lose her future, too?

  By talking her into contacting Madame Eve, her friends had given her a second chance at getting some semblance of control again. And what am I doing? Looking over my shoulder, watching the balcony for shooters, and checking the bathtub for the damn bogeyman while a hot-blooded, gorgeous man is waiting in the bedroom.

  And damn it, she wanted to quit hiding in the shadows. If she could survive that day six months ago, then she was damn well done cowering in fear. Hadn’t the bastard taken enough from her? In the past, she’d never shied away from her sexual side. She’d embraced it.

  The past six months had been damn lonely. Time to take control again. Starting with the sexy Bobby Martin.

  She turned to leave the bathroom and came smack up against a hard male body. He reached out to steady her as she stumbled.

  “You okay?”

  She pressed her palms on his chest in an attempt to recover her equilibrium—and what a chest. All hard, sculpted muscle. “Uh, yeah, I was just––”

  “Looking for the bad guy?” He chuckled.

  Heat rushed up her neck and claimed her face. “That obvious, huh?”

  Taking her hands in his, he led her into the bedroom. “It’s what I do. If I can’t recognize someone clearing a room, I have no business in Special Ops.”

  He tugged her against him, and she had to stop herself from swooning. The men she used to date were nothing close to Bobby. Sure, they’d been fit, but not like this man. He radiated strength and unadulterated male. Something that couldn’t be bottled if you tried. Pure down-and-dirty sex—she tilted her head and eyed him—yet something more.

  He gave the impression he actually cared. After listening to her story downstairs, he’d understood immediately how uncomfortable she’d been, sitting in the open dining room, and had gotten her the heck out of there.

  She could get used to a man like him. Except tonight would be a one-night stand—something she intended to take full advantage of. Slipping her hands under his shirt, she let her fingers glide up the rock hard abs and sculpted chest until her fingers brushed over his nipples.

  His grip tightened on her arms, and his gaze darkened with lust. “Damn.”

  A thrill shot through her at the reaction she’d produced, and as she stared up at him, desire coiled low in her body.

  “Look, I’m not gonna lie to you.” He loosened his hold on her while he perused her face, settling on her mouth. “I wasn’t sure about this one-night thing to start with, but after seeing you…well, I can definitely follow through. No problem.” He shifted his attention to her face, the naked heat swirling in his baby blues causing her breath to catch. “But after what all you told me, I want you to know I get it. We can play this thing any way you want. Fast. Slow. Or I can just hold you.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms, his fingers sending delicious tingles along her skin. “Though I’ll admit, that’s not my first choice.”

  She stared at him. God, he was such a gentleman. Without hesitating, she lifted onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, crushed her mouth against his, and…holy crap, what a kiss! Her pulse jumped, her head spun. A fire sparked deep inside her, and her breath caught at the passion winding through her. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting exactly, but not anything like this.

  Before she melted into a puddle at his feet, she broke the kiss and gazed up at him. “Does that answer your question?”

  A sexy grin curved his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”

  A fierce craving shot through Bobby, arrowing straight to the growing bulge straining against his zipper. Damn, she was hot and gorgeous and, hell yeah, he wanted her. All that blonde hair, those wet lips and luscious curves—a guy would have to be dead not to. Instinct screamed he throw her to the floor and bury himself deep inside her, but thank God, his brain had the good sense to demand otherwise. He needed to watch for her cues, or the whole thing could go south.

  She stepped back from him, taking her warm softness with her, his hands holding nothing but air. Gritting his teeth, he willed himself patience. After a kiss like that, she wasn’t likely to run off.

  She lowered her chin, peered up at him through her sooty lashes—an act he found profoundly sexy. That shy yet brazen look of hers made for a combination which damn near drove him crazy. And her coy smile? Yeah, she knew what she was doing to him.

  Reaching up, she nudged the silky blue fabric off her shoulders. The material slipped down her arms and over her hips to pool at her feet. Bobby swallowed and reached to loosen his tie. Maybe then he could breathe a little better. Damn.

  Black lace and heels. Had someone told her it was his favorite combination? He dragged his gaze up her mile-long legs, over her lush curves, to her creamy breasts, which all but overflowed the sparse threadwork restraining them.

  “Gorgeous,” he murmured.

  Loosening his shirt collar, he pulled both his button-down and tie over his head in one swift motion. The guys had been right. This was exactly what he needed to get over his infatuation with Emily. She’d married his best friend. And right here stood a half-naked woman, who—if that look in her eyes meant anything—wanted him as bad as he wanted her. He kicked off his loafers and reached for his belt.

  Siobhan stepped toward him, her hips moving in a seductive sway. Stopping in front of him, she glided her hand in a torturous path along his thigh, grazing his erection as she grasped his belt buckle. “Here, let me.”

  From across the room, the phone jangled to life, the blaring ring grating through the air. Siobhan jolted and twisted toward the sound.

  At the edge of control, Bobby touched her shoulder, urging her attention back on him. “Ignore it.”

  “But who—”

  “It’s probably the concierge.” He leaned down to brush his lips over hers. “Calling about the wine I asked for.”

  “Wine?”

  “Mm-hmm.” He laid kisses along her jaw and up to her ear. “And chocolate-dipped strawberries.” Sliding his hands down her back, he pulled her closer. Why the hell were they still talking?

  He kissed her again, and she opened her mouth to him. Delving deeper, he savored the sweetness of her kiss, each erotic thrust and dart of her tongue driving him mad. She was hot silk in his arms. When she molded against him, lace and soft skin grazing over his bare chest, her hips shifting in a bold gyration against his erection, he moaned.

>   Scooping her off her feet, he carried her to the bed. He eased her onto the mattress and gazed down at her. Her blonde hair lay in disarray around her head, framing her face with soft golden curls. Leaning forward, he traced her collarbone with light kisses, and she rewarded him with a whispered sigh.

  Bobby smoothed his palm along her waist and up to one breast. He drew circles around her nipple until the bud became taut and strained against the lacy fabric. Shifting lower, he planted kisses on the soft rise of her breast. Tugging the material from his path, he latched onto her tight nipple, laving the tip while he teased the other breast until Siobhan’s breath hitched and she groaned. Hot damn, what a sexy sound.

  The sharp jangle of the telephone ripped through the air.

  Siobhan jerked beneath him, angling her head toward the offensive sound. “Don’t you think—”

  “No,” he growled and glared at the phone. He shoved to his feet, intent on ripping the cord from the wall. What the hell is wrong with the people running this place?

  “Bobby.”

  His name on her tongue brought him rounding back toward her, and he stared, reveling in her sultry expression, her slightly parted lips, wet and swollen from their kisses. Damn, she looked good enough to eat, sprawled on the bedspread like that. Fuck the phone.

  “They can wait. This moment is about you, darlin’.” Moving his hands to her hips, he hooked his fingers through the thin strings and tugged her panties off, dropping them to the floor. “And what I’m going to do to you.”

  Shifting her to the edge of the mattress, he knelt next to the bed and lifted one of her legs onto his shoulder. He nuzzled his cheek against her calf. Oh, hell yeah. This was what he needed. He could so get lost in a woman like her. If he had his way, he would do so several times tonight. He dotted kisses on the inside of her thigh, and she shivered.