by Byrne, Wendy
He smirked. “That’s not the problem. It’s what I’d be tempted to do afterward that might come back to bite us both in the ass.”
She rubbed her hand over his as it rested on the counter. “Why Shane, are you saying you might possibly be attracted to me? ’Cause if you are, you are great at covering it up.” Every nerve ending in her body kick started. And it had nothing to do with fight or flight.
“You’re beautiful and sexy. You’ve got to know that. Even in a t-shirt, boxers, and my flannel shirt you’re sexier than most women stark naked.”
She flushed and gulped at her beer, which didn’t help matters. It only made her feel dizzy on top of everything else.
“Then you wouldn’t mind if I tried something out.”
“What—”
She didn’t let him finish because if she had, she would have lost her nerve. Quickly she moved her head towards his and kissed him. It was something she’d been itching to do since the first time she’d seen him.
Before she knew what was happening, he yanked her off the stool in one fluid movement and pressed her against the counter with his body. His hands wound around her back and held tight.
Just as she thought there was definitely a horizontal tango in her future, he pulled back. Even though only six inches or so separated them, that was a lot more room than she wanted right now. He peered at her with narrowed eyes.
“Was it my beer breath?” This close his eyes were unbelievable—clear and blue and positively hypnotizing.
Shane laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “One of us has to be the voice of reason.”
“Why?” It was a logical question and one she couldn’t seem to think of an answer for.
“I can think of a million reasons. You’ll only be in town another couple of weeks. Technically I’m your boss, even if you don’t believe anybody can tell you what to do….” His voice trailed off. While she could tell he wanted to say more, he didn’t.
“That’s the beauty of it. I will be leaving town soon. Isn’t that how you like things? No way to get emotionally entangled.” She chewed on her fingernail as if trying to conjure up their discussion from a few days ago when, in fact, she practically knew his script by heart. “All you’re looking for is the occasional night of straight up, no commitment sex. Isn’t that what this would be?”
She couldn’t believe she’d said that, practically begged him to have sex with her. Somehow she’d morphed from a clothes slut into a plain old slut.
She didn’t know how to explain how she was feeling other than to say it was like her body was itching from the inside out. A ‘Shane rash’ had invaded her and she didn’t know how to get rid of it except for the obvious. Chalk it up to a case of his aloofness coupled with his lack of emotion and his take-no-prisoners control. Her hormones were a-buzz. Somehow it was the guys who showed no interest she was most attracted to. She knew some psychologist somewhere could have a field day with that tidbit of information but for right now, she pushed it aside.
His lips inched up. She could tell he was trying to stop a grin. “You have no idea how tempting the offer is. But I don’t think anything between us could ever be simple. Why muddy a perfectly bad relationship with hot, steamy monkey sex?”
She erupted into a giggle. “When you put it that way…hmmm…it would get kind of complicated back on the job, you being all surly with me knowing the whole time I’d seen your weenie.” She shook her head. “That couldn’t be good.”
For the second time in five minutes, he laughed. “And I certainly wouldn’t want to think about sucking on interesting places on your amazing body when you’re complaining about no maid service or no music or whatever is on your bitch list for the day.”
Despite the fact her whole body nearly erupted into flames at the visual he presented, she managed to shake her head. “Couldn’t have that.” But she wanted so badly to jump his bones at that very second and worry about the rest later.
“So we’re agreed. No sex.”
“Right. No sex.” While her mouth formed the words, her traitorous hormones were screaming like banshees inside. A chorus of ‘jump him, jump him, jump him’ pulsed between her legs and spread through her nervous system.
“Good.” He hitched back onto the barstool. “Now tell me why you really left Florida.”
In her hormonally-driven state, it took her a few minutes to realize he’d asked her a question. Once she yanked her focus off how she could seduce him without reneging on their agreement, she concentrated on his question.
“After college I started singing. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.” Her heart was still rat-tat-tatting in her chest and it took supreme effort not to lose focus.
“Why college?”
“My mother insisted. And I complied, with only a little whining along the way.”
“I’m sure.” He smiled and took a sip of water.
“After a while of schlepping around looking for work, I figured out I needed a manager. So I hooked up with Max.” She drew in a deep breath. “Are you sure you want to hear this? It’s really very boring.”
“I’m fascinated.” He folded his arms across his chest.
“At the time I thought, ‘This is great. I get to do what I want and somebody else does all the dirty work for me.’ ”
“I sense a but coming here.”
“Exactly.” She might as well lay all her cards out on the table—or at least most of them, anyway. Some things were better left unsaid. “You might not know this about me because I keep it well hidden, but I’m kind of naïve. My brother tried to warn me about Max, but I didn’t listen. Did I mention I’m also stubborn?”
“Were you involved with Max?”
She nodded, feeling a hint of the old shame resurface. “Not at first. But let’s say Max was screwing me over in more ways than one by the end. My brother found out that not only was Max cheating me professionally, but he was married with two kids and a third on the way. Let me go on record as saying that it burns me to know my brother figured it out before I did.”
“Were you in love with Max?”
She shook her head, realizing at that very moment that it was shame, regret, and disappointment she mostly felt. There had been companionship, but never love between her and Max. “No. But we spent a lot of time together. Things kind of evolved.”
“If you fired your manager, how did you get the gig at the Blues Stop?”
“I made the call pretending to be my booking manager. At the time, I wanted to get as far away from my family as I could since somehow they’ve got this weird notion they have to protect me from myself.”
Although she gave him the opening to probe further, for some reason he didn’t. “Why Chicago?”
“It was the one place I could count on to be alone without family interference. If I’d stayed in Florida or even in a state close by, there’d be a cousin, aunt, uncle, somebody asked to keep an eye on me.”
“You don’t seem to be the type who needs watching.”
“Tell that to my family.”
* * *
Holy frickin’ hell. What had he been thinking? Shane stuffed his hands under his pillow and tried to fall asleep even though his eyes were wide open and he had a hard-on to end all hard-ons.
Sure she was attractive. Check that. Gabriella was beautiful. And willing. But that sure as hell didn’t mean he should sleep with her.
But he’d been close. So close he’d do anything to have her up tight against him once again. Just for torture’s sake.
With everything going on, he should put her on the first plane back to Florida. Then she’d be out of harm’s way and there’d be no temptation. But he wanted her.
Bad.
If she stayed around much longer there was no doubt in his mind that they’d sleep together. And doing that could only lead to disaster. Even if he suspected, based on the burn-the-house-down chemistry between them, that he would enjoy each and every second.
* * *
&
nbsp; Despite the strange environment and all the craziness last night, she’d slept in. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the spare bedroom he’d put her in was outfitted with a comfy queen-sized bed and high quality cotton sheets.
By the time Shane came to pick her up so she could get ready, it was close to one o’clock. The dreary weather from early morning had continued, and she’d put on her Florida Gators slicker over her shorts and t-shirt.
Shane was suspiciously quiet on the ride over but, then again, after last night when she’d thrown herself at him, he was probably fearful of what she might do. Every time she thought about it, an embarrassed flush ran through her.
Seeing Carissa inside the office, she stopped there before heading upstairs. After taking off her coat and hanging it on the hook, she helped sort through some of the remaining mess.
“I heard you spent the night with the boss.” Carissa’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. “He tells me you slept in his guest room. I’m not sure I believe him.”
“Believe it. But I do think I’m making some headway with him. He actually laughed last night.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Gabriella, I like you. But I swear to God if you hurt that man, I’m going to have to cause you some bodily harm.”
In some ways it seemed ironic to think this young petite thing felt a need to protect Shane O’Neil. But she couldn’t help thinking about the man who brought out such fierce loyalty. For the first time she understood it. Shane was a great guy. He just had this perverse need to not let anybody know it.
“No need to worry. We talked it all out last night and decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to get physically involved.” At least one of them thought it wasn’t a good idea. She wouldn’t mind a little experimentation. In fact, it was pretty much all she’d thought about until she finally fell asleep last night.
Carissa laughed. “That’s Shane, all right. I’m surprised he didn’t show you a spreadsheet where he’d worked out all the variables.”
“He more or less did that verbally.” She’d rather talk about anything other than how she hadn’t gotten lucky last night. Her hormones were still rebelling. “I’m starving.” Gabriella looked towards the diner. “How about you?”
Carissa nodded. “I’ll pick up lunch if you’ll watch the phones. I have to get out of here for a minute or two or I’ll go stir crazy.”
“No problem.”
“Do you mind if I use your slicker? My umbrella is no good with this kind of wind.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
CHAPTER TEN
The sound raised the hair on the back of her neck. Gabriella couldn’t describe what she’d heard other than to say a thud, a squeal of tires, and horns blaring. But an ominous premonition skittered across her mind.
She raced to the window and spotted a body lying in the street. The bright orange of the slicker told the story.
Sprinting across the street, she elbowed her way through the gathering crowd. As she knelt beside Carissa, tears trickled down her face, mixing with the steady rain.
“Carissa.” Her heart beat so hard she thought it might jump out of her chest. As she felt for and found a pulse, she let go of the breath she’d been holding. Carissa was alive. That was all that mattered. She held onto her hand, willing Carissa’s heart to continue pumping blood and sustaining her life.
She felt rather than saw the crowd part to allow the paramedics access. She wouldn’t let go of Carissa’s hand even when they asked. Instead she shook her head and kept calling Carissa’s name over and over again, hoping she’d show that sly little smile. But she didn’t. She didn’t even open her eyes.
“You’re going to have to move back, ma’am.” One of the paramedics touched her shoulder as he spoke. “We need to be able to do our job.”
Reluctantly, Gabriella moved away, but only just enough to appease them. She didn’t want to lose sight for fear the poor girl would die.
Gingerly, they strapped a surgical collar about Carissa’s neck and then put her on a stretcher board. They’d already started an IV by the time they hoisted her into the back of the waiting ambulance.
“What’s her name?”
“Carissa Evans.” Although her mind could barely focus, she managed to give them the little information she had. She didn’t have Jimmy’s phone number, but she suspected Shane would. “Where are you taking her?”
“Northwestern Hospital.”
“Don’t let her die.” Fear rattled through her as she walked back to the office and picked up the phone. “Shane, there’s been an accident.” As she related the facts, he remained eerily quiet.
“I’ll call Jimmy and go to the hospital.” His voice broke.
Although the cab ride couldn’t have been far, traffic, red lights, and worry made the trip interminable. Shane was already at the hospital by the time she arrived, talking to a young man who could only be Jimmy. After an introduction, she hugged him, knowing there was nothing she could say to make anything easier. Then she hugged Shane because it made her feel better. Based on the warmth in his hug, she thought it might have done the same thing for him.
A young cop named Nathan Gill introduced himself. “Ma’am, I understand from the paramedics you were at the scene of the accident. Could you tell me what happened?”
Gabriella shook her head. “She went across the street to grab some lunch, but I didn’t see anything. Can’t the driver of the car tell you what happened?”
“It was a hit and run. We found the car abandoned a couple of blocks away. It had been reported stolen earlier in the day, so it doesn’t do us much good.”
Her breath caught. Why would anybody do that? Were they drunk, drugged, or something else?
She went to Jimmy and held his hand, while Shane paced the length of the room. None of them spoke. More than likely, they were each in their own fashion praying.
It was four-thirty before the doctor came through the doors. They practically ran to meet him, with Shane arriving there first. She couldn’t tell a thing from the expression on the doctor’s face.
Despite the hyperactivity around them, she could have sworn the doctor’s mouth moved in slow motion. Each word seemed truncated. It took her brain several seconds to register what he’d said.
“She’s in intensive care. Both of her femurs are broken. We’ve removed her spleen, and she has a concussion. The good news is there is definite brain activity.”
“Is she going to make it?” Jimmy’s voice shook and tears welled like giant droplets of water in his eyes.
“I can’t say for sure, but I’m optimistic. She’s young. She’s healthy. All things are in her favor. I expect she’ll be in a coma for a while. It could be a couple of hours or days. You never know with head injuries.”
“Can I see her?”
“You’re her husband, right?” The doctor looked at Jimmy, who nodded in reply. “Of course. I’ll take you to her room.”
Shane’s jaw was tight with tension when he spoke. “You’d better get ready. I called Mack and he has his friend Stu coming in to bartend for me tonight. I’m going to stay at the hospital.”
The last place she wanted to be was at the Blues Stop, but she knew at the same time she had to go. There was nothing she could do here.
“I’ll take a cab and get dressed.”
“If you don’t mind packing the rest of your things and bringing them to the club, I’ll pick you up later and bring everything to my place.”
“No problem.” Because she saw he needed it more than he realized, she hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek.
* * *
Guilt. Something Shane had become accustomed to over the years. But this felt different. More intense. More devastating somehow.
He wanted to believe it was a random stupid act, with some kids on a joyride in a stolen car. He wanted to believe Carissa was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He wanted to believe what happened to her had absolutely nothing to do with him.
But every bone in hi
s body told him otherwise.
Carissa and Jimmy were the sweetest kids he’d ever met. Scared but clinging to each other that night he and Garrett had found them wandering the streets. They’d run away from a crappy home life in Kentucky.
Like most runaways, they’d learned quickly how fast their small stash of money disappeared after paying for food and gas and a place to stay. By the time he and Garrett found them, they were down to their last couple of bucks and were living in their broken-down car. Since they were both unwilling to go to the shelter for fear they’d be sent back home, Garrett and Shane put them up in the apartment above the office and got them a job at the diner.
Frightened but with a determination and a love that was well beyond their years, they’d made it. Together.
Shane didn’t even want to think about what it would do to Jimmy if anything happened to Carissa.
* * *
The next morning Gabriella awoke to find a note from Shane, along with instructions on using his fancy in-the-wall coffee maker. Having opted for a freshly brewed cup of espresso, she sipped at it while looking out into the backyard.
Then she stepped out onto the back porch, taking a seat in one of the two cushioned chairs. The neighborhood was quiet, despite the number of people living in the area. If she leaned over the railing slightly, she could see the lake and park a couple of blocks over. She had an eerie feeling this moment of peace might be her last for a while. Then again, maybe Shane’s pessimism was rubbing off.
Shortly after ten, the phone rang. “Hello.”
“Carissa’s showing signs of coming out of the coma.” She could hear the smile on his face when Shane spoke.
“That is incredible news. Jimmy must be ecstatic.”
“Understatement. Listen, I’ve got a lot of appointments today and then I’ve got the classes at the school this afternoon. I’d like to stop by the hospital after that. Could you catch a cab to the club tonight?”
“No problem. Maybe I can go to the office and answer the phones. That way everything won’t be getting transferred to your cell.”
