Seducing Allie: Seattle Steam, Book 3

by Shelli Stevens

  She blinked and stared at his chest. When had it happened? How had it happened?

  “Good morning.”

  She lifted her head, unaware he’d wakened and had been watching her.

  “Good morning,” she replied, her voice husky. “How are you feeling?”

  “About seventy-five percent better.” He touched her cheek, the movement gentle and sweet. “Thanks to you, nurse Allie.”

  She smiled and turned her head to kiss his finger. “It was nothing.”

  “It was something. You took care of an overgrown whiney man who could barely stumble out of bed. You have a lot of patience. You’ll be a great mother some day.”

  Her stomach twisted and warmth spread to every inch of her body. She watched something flicker in his gaze, like he’d just realized he’d said something he shouldn’t have. His expression turned serious before he blinked and it was gone.

  “Well,” she said lightly and decided to shift the subject. “You certainly recovered your strength by evening.”

  “Yeah.” His lazy smile widened. “I guess I did.”

  “I’m glad.”

  His gaze darkened.

  “Are you?”

  “Yes,” she confessed huskily.

  His hand slid down to her bottom and squeezed. “What time are you going to breakfast?”

  Shoot. She’d almost forgotten. “Nine-thirty. What time is it now?”

  His gaze slid beyond her to the clock on the table. “Nine. Bummer.”

  “Darn. Good thing I showered last night.” She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes. “And I was hoping we’d have time for…”

  “Morning sex?”

  “Am I that transparent?”

  “We both are.” He grimaced and adjusted his body.

  The brush of his erection against her thigh sent a wave of desire through her.

  He cupped her jaw and leaned forward. “How about kissing me good morning, kitten? We at least have time for that.”

  “At least,” she murmured and leaned forward.

  She pressed her lips, half parted, against his and lingered for a moment. Taking that second to let the tingles ease down her spine. She brushed her lips across his in a second kiss, softer this time.

  After she made the third pass of her lips across his, she slipped her tongue just barely inside his mouth.

  He was waiting for her, his tongue moved forward to touch hers gently, before making unhurried strokes against hers.

  He traced a finger from her ribcage to her hip, the caress so light that it spread goose bumps over her flesh and sent a tremble rippling through her body.

  After a few minutes of the sweet, gentle kiss he finally pulled back.

  “Allison,” he said quietly, his thumb tracing her mouth. “When you get back today we should talk.”

  “Talk?” she repeated, still dazed from the kiss.

  “Yeah. About us.”

  “Us.” Her heart pounded faster in her chest.

  He wanted to talk about them? Did that mean he felt this thing between them? That it was more than two friends who’d decided to try getting sexual? Maybe? Was he thinking of…the future? The idea both terrified her and thrilled her.

  “I think that’s a good idea.” She lowered her gaze, running her tongue over her mouth. “I should probably get ready to meet your mother for breakfast.”

  “Probably,” he agreed with a sigh. “I put your cell phone back in your purse in case you need to reach me.”

  “Thanks.” She slid out of bed and walked over to the duffle bag, grabbing a pair of panties and a bra out. After shimmying into them she went to the closet and slid it open, pulling out the dress she’d hung in there yesterday.

  “Where’d you get that?” Clint asked from the bed. “I don’t remember buying it.”

  “You didn’t.” She gave him a quick grin over his shoulder. “Your mom took me to this most adorable shop yesterday. I couldn’t resist and they even carried my perfume. This little town is pretty cool, Clint. I like it.”

  He lifted an eyebrow, shook his head with a smile. “I can’t decide if we’re good for each other, or encourage each other’s bad habits.”

  “Probably a little of both.” She pulled on the red polka-dot dress. “I love this. It’s so retro.”

  “Yeah…it makes your body look hot.” He grinned and climbed out of bed. “Very sexy.”

  “You sure know how to flatter a girl,” she murmured when he stopped in front of her.

  “I try.” His hands slid to her waist and he lowered his lips to hers, taking her mouth in a harder—much more demanding kiss.

  When he lifted his head, she was glad to have his hands holding her up.

  “Hurry back, kitten,” he commanded raggedly.

  Leaving him in the first place was going to be hard enough. She nodded and slipped on the pair of red heels she’d also bought yesterday. Grabbing her purse, she headed for the stairs.

  “I’ll be back before you know it,” she promised and flashed him a quick smile before hurrying out of the house.

  “You have the loveliest glow about you today, Allison.”

  Allison blushed from her roots to her toes and smiled over her omelet up at Clint’s mom.

  “Do I?” she attempted to say lightly. Good Lord, it was written all over her face. The aura of falling in love. This wasn’t good. “I, umm, went to bed early last night. Must be all that extra sleep.”

  “Must be.” Lorraine’s lips twitched as she lifted a bite of food to her mouth.

  Allison cleared her throat and picked up her coffee. “Thank you for breakfast—it’s amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to put steak and Swiss cheese in an omelet before.”

  “It’s good, hmm?” Lorraine gestured with her fork and winked. “A great way to use up leftovers from the night before.”

  “I’ll remember that.” She took another bite of omelet and bit back a sigh.

  What was Clint doing right now? Probably eating a cold bowl of cereal or something. By himself. Though she was enjoying her breakfast with Lorraine, part of her would have given anything to be back in bed cuddling with Clint.

  “I’m so thrilled you’re going to do my nails, Allison.” Lorraine took the last bite of her toast and pushed her plate aside, folding her arms and looking at her. “I haven’t had a decent manicure since I left Portland.”

  “You used to live in Portland?”

  “Yeah, until I came out here for school. That’s when I met Clint’s dad.”

  “And you just never went back?” she prodded. “You stayed here?

  Lorraine gave another soft nod.

  “And you didn’t mind giving up life in the city for…Montana on a permanent basis?”

  “Not really.” Lorraine shrugged. “When you have the opportunity to be with the man you love, where you are doesn’t really matter.”

  Allison’s heart sped up and she lowered her gaze. Would she be willing to do the same? Give up everything in Seattle to move out here? Would Clint ask her to? Maybe that’s what he wanted to talk about later…

  When she lifted her gaze Lorraine was watching her closely with an appraising look.

  Allison flushed and drank the last of her coffee. “That’s very sweet. And no regrets?”

  “I regret that my nails look like shit.” Lorraine winced. “Oops. Sorry, haven’t been doing too well on that swearing part. In any case, beyond having bad nails, I have no regrets.”

  “You could always drive to the nearest town with a nail place.”

  “Too far and gas prices are awful right now.” Lorraine shrugged and her smile turned wistful. “It’s not really important, Jack loves me. Bad nails or not.”

  “Well. It’s been awhile, but I promise when I finish with you, you’ll once again have fabulous nails.” Allison pushed her plate back and stood. “Why don’t we go in the other room and get to work on making you a goddess.”

  Clint
stood up from the kitchen table and took his empty bowl of Cheerios to the sink.

  He lifted his gaze to stare out the window at the forest beyond. It was a bit unsettling. The quietness of the house.

  Allison hadn’t even been here two days, and yet he’d already grown accustomed to the way she filled his home with laughter and fun. Not to mention sensuality. Things were never dull.

  Part of him wondered if maybe he just liked having a woman around—that any would have done. But the notion didn’t settle well, made his stomach churn in protest. No. Not just any woman could affect him this way, it was Allie. It’d always been Allie.

  He rinsed off his bowl and sighed, rubbing a hand over his bare abdomen. Hell, he was still hungry.

  His mouth twisted in a wry smile. Allison had probably eaten some fancy breakfast—his mom loved any opportunity to cook.

  Glancing at the clock, he noted it was almost eleven. He should probably get dressed. Walking around with pajama bottoms on wouldn’t do if Allie and his mom were to drop by.

  The doorbell rang and he froze. Damn. Now how was that for timing? But they wouldn’t show up this early, would they?

  He dried his hands on the towel hanging from the stove handle and walked slowly back into the living room.

  Clint glanced out the window as he moved toward the front door. He grunted as he spotted Pete’s, the town Sheriff, car out front. Great. Likely come to tell him there was some kind of mischief going on up in the state park. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  He grabbed the knob and pulled open the door.

  “Morning, Pete. What can I do for you?”

  The older man took off his hat and twisted it in his hands, his face reddening. “Ah, hey there, Clint. Look, can I come in? We need to talk.”

  Unease settled in Clint’s gut and he gave a terse nod, opening the door wide and stepping back.

  Before Pete could step over the threshold another man came charging in through the open door.

  Clint barely had a moment to react before hard palms slammed into his chest, sending him stumbling backwards.

  “Where the hell is she?” Ken demanded.

  Still a bit weak from being sick, Clint barely caught himself before he could topple over the coffee table. A slow tic started in his jaw as adrenaline sent blood rushing through his veins. He narrowed his eyes at his old friend.

  “I told you to wait in the car and I’d handle this,” Pete said tersely and tried to pull Ken away.

  Ken broke free from the older man’s grip and circled Clint again.

  “What the hell were you thinking, Clint? Kidnapping Allison?” Ken growled.

  “You’ve got the wrong idea,” Clint warned, his voice low and harsh. How the hell had Ken found out? Had Allison’s friend turned him in?

  “That’s what I done told him, Clint.” Pete sighed. “The man nearly busted down my door this morning insisting you’d kidnapped someone.”

  Clint’s fists clenched and the air seethed out from between his teeth.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Ken? You’re getting married on Sunday.”

  Kenneth shook his head. “Yeah, I’m not sure on that anymore. I think I still have feelings for Allison.”

  “The hell you do,” Clint growled, seeing red.

  “What’s with you?” Ken’s gaze ran over him with disgust. “How long have you been planning this? I know you always had a little thing for her, but kidnapping her? Jesus, Clint. Maybe you were always just a little jealous that I got to fuck her first?”

  Clint’s jaw flexed as he struggled with his temper. “Get out of my house.”

  Ken stepped forward until they were nose to nose, sending Clint’s blood pressure up another notch.

  “Where is she?”

  “Back the hell off,” he growled.

  “Did you force yourself on—oomph.”

  Ken flew backwards from the impact of Clint’s fist, tripping over the couch and landing on his side.

  “Jesus,” Pete whispered. “Clint, you can’t just—”

  “He’s speaking nonsense. I didn’t kidnap anyone.”

  But technically he had. And if Allison had reported it…his stomach churned with bile. After all that had happened between them. Would she have?

  Ken stumbled to his feet, eyes wide as he clutched his jaw. “I’m not lying. She told me in her own words.”

  “Who did?” Pete and Clint demanded at the same time.

  “Allison,” Ken said with a slow nod. “Allison told me this when she called me. That Clint had kidnapped her.”

  The tic in Clint’s jaw increased. Allison had called Ken? It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. He’d had her phone the entire time. Which meant she would have had to do it when he got sick and they’d returned to his house. No. She wouldn’t have done that.

  Wouldn’t she? The seed of doubt had again been planted and his unease tripled. Especially when he remembered her words. Just because you were the man inside my body, doesn’t mean you were the one inside my head.

  “This is bullshit,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  “Is it?” Ken gave a harsh laugh, then winced, rotating his jaw. “I don’t think so. You’ve gone way too far.”

  The vision of Allison curled up in his arms this morning swept through him. The trust and softness in her gaze. No. She hadn’t had the look of a woman who’d just betrayed him.

  Heavy silence filled the room, before Ken bolted for the staircase to the loft above.

  Clint thrust a hand through his hair, too confused to even try and stop him.

  “What’s going on, Clint?” Pete stepped forward and sighed. “He seems dead set that you kidnapped some lady.”

  “I didn’t kidnap her, Pete,” he growled. “Not really.”

  “Not really?” Pete’s eyebrows shot up. “Now, Clint—”

  “She’s here.” Ken’s footsteps pounded heavily on the wooden stairs. “Or at least she was.”

  He threw a piece of fabric at Clint’s feet. Clint glanced down and recognized the dress Allison had been wearing the day he’d first taken her.

  Pete’s gaze whipped back to Clint. “Buddy? What’s going on?”

  “Don’t buddy him, damn it,” Ken snarled. “You should be arresting him. Reading him his rights. Fuck, what the hell is wrong with law enforcement in small towns?”

  “Who does that dress belong to, Clint?” Pete asked quietly.

  Clint’s jaw clenched and he exhaled slowly from his nostrils. The shit had just hit the fan. “It’s Allison’s.”

  “Why did you take her? To stop her from seeing me? So she couldn’t tell me that she wanted me back?” Ken shook his head. “It didn’t work. I found out anyway when she called.”

  Lies. They had to be lies.

  “Tell me where she is.” Ken got back in his face, then seemed to think better of it, touching his jaw as he scurried backward. “What’d you do with her?”

  “You’d better answer the question, Clint,” Pete said, sounding a bit weary now.

  Clint’s head swirled with confusion. Something wasn’t right. “She’s having breakfast at my mother’s house.”

  “With Lorraine?” Pete perked up. “Well see, we can just call her and straighten this all out.”

  With a terse nod, Clint crossed the room and grabbed his phone. He dialed his mother’s number and forced himself to calm down.

  How could he have been so blind? Had she just been playing him? Decided to cozy up to him while she waited for Ken to come in with guns blazing?

  Shit. His gut clenched when his mom didn’t answer. He disconnected the call and dialed Allie’s phone.

  “They’re not answering their phones right now,” he finally muttered, hanging up.

  “You piece of shit,” Ken growled. “You’re stalling. He’s done something with her, I tell you.”

  “I haven’t done anything with her, goddamn it,” Clint roared, finally losing it. “I told you both where she is.”

  “Cli
nt,” Pete touched his shoulder, his voice calm and resigned. “I think we’d better go down to the station for some further questioning until we can locate Allison.”

  “Jesus, you can’t be serious, Pete.” Clint jerked his gaze to his friend. He stiffened at the reluctant determination in the other man’s gaze. “I see.”

  “I’m sorry, buddy.”

  “Don’t be sorry. Arrest his ass,” Ken snapped from safely behind Pete.

  “I’m not arresting Clint. We’re just…”

  “It’s fine,” Clint said flatly. “Let me get some clothes on.”

  He headed upstairs, fists clenched. This morning he’d been convinced that Allison was likely the love of his life. Now he had to accept the fact she was just more inclined to ruin it.

  God he was a fool.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Allison turned off the hair dryer she was using to dry Lorraine’s nails and cocked her head. “Did you hear that?”

  “Hear what?” Lorraine asked, grinning down at her new manicure.

  “I thought I heard the phone ringing.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about it. Whoever it was will leave a message.”

  Allison glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. Hmm. She’d been here a few hours already. It had probably been Clint calling, wondering where she was.

  Butterflies fluttered in her belly and her lips curved. The possibilities about what he wanted to discuss later had lingered in her mind all morning.

  “Are you in love with him?”

  Allison blinked. “Oh I…”

  “Sorry. I just did that opening my mouth without thinking thing again.” Lorraine held up her hand. “I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that.”

  Maybe not, but the question was valid. Allison bit her lip and analyzed her heart for the answer. The one she found almost made her drop the brush.

  She lifted her gaze from Lorraine’s nails and met the other woman’s gaze in the mirror. Understanding dawned in Clint’s mother’s eyes and her mouth curved.

  Allison fumbled for words. “I…”

  “My nails look great, hon.” Lorraine changed the subject and lifted her hands in front of her. “You could have your own shop. You’re so good you could do a movie star’s nails.”