His temper started to climb. “Explain that to me. How have I come off superior?”
She opened her mouth to say something, and then shut it again and looked away.
“You can’t explain because it isn’t true, but you can apologize.”
She kept her face averted for a moment, and then pressed her lips together and slowly met his eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
He’d been ready to drive her back to her car, and then she’d caught him with an unexpected apology. This woman was going to make him insane. She was one contradiction after another. To keep seeing her would inevitably be asking for trouble. Ironically, that pretty much made her perfect. This was not a woman who elicited emotional involvement.
“This isn’t an excuse,” she continued, sounding defensive, “but the man who referred to himself as my father wasn’t what you’d call a pleasant drunk.”
“He hit you?”
“Came close a few times, but no.”
“Your mother?”
Liza abruptly looked the other way and murmured, “She wasn’t so lucky, and nobody seemed to give a shit.”
Evan didn’t ask anything more. He got the picture.
He knew more than he wanted to about adult children of alcoholics. For many, their early experiences lingered and governed their future decisions. Control was often a big issue for them. Liza had some baggage, all right. But hell, so did he.
“Just so you know, I’m not looking for pity,” she said. “A lot of kids had it worse than I did.”
“Good. I’m not offering any.” He put the car back in Drive, and then pulled out into traffic.
Liza laid her head back and laughed softly. “You constantly surprise me.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
He slid her a glance in time to see her smile. “Still hungry?”
“The food is cold.”
After they’d gone three blocks, he turned onto Peachtree.
Straightening, she looked around. “Where are we going now?”
“My place.”
Chapter 6
Rick shakily pushed himself up to a sitting position. He could see the digital clock if he squinted, but the red numbers were one big blur. The table lamp had burned out three days ago but he didn’t have a replacement bulb.
Liza. Where the hell was she? The stupid bitch was supposed to take care of things like that.
A beer bottle sat at the edge of the coffee table. His mouth was so friggin’ dry he couldn’t even swallow. He grabbed the bottle and tipped it to his lips. Empty. He threw it against the wall between his and Liza’s apartments. The thud echoed in the blackness, followed by the sound of glass flying everywhere.
He hoped it woke the bitch up. She had no damn business paying for a second apartment. He needed that money. She was getting stingier and stingier, not even picking up packs of cigarettes for him anymore.
“Hey!” he yelled at the wall.
Stumbling to his feet, he cursed when a shard of glass poked through one of his socks and cut him. He made it to the wall and banged at it with the flat of his hand.
No sound from the other side.
“Hey!”
He banged again, hurting the hell out of his palm and nearly tumbling face-first onto the floor. Screw her. A carton of cigarettes sat on the kitchen counter. He needed a smoke. His heel caught on a jagged piece of the broken bottle and he yelped in pain.
“Son of a bitch.”
Tomorrow he was going to talk to that damn lawyer himself. No more waiting for Liza’s measly handouts. He knew she was lying to him. She had money. Her daddy had left her a nice insurance policy. Nice enough to keep Rick in smack until the real money came.
He made it to the kitchen, flipped on the light and opened a beer before fumbling for the cigarettes. The lighter slipped and bounced on the floor and he cursed. He didn’t like the way Liza was acting lately. She was getting too mouthy for someone he was supposed to have by the balls.
He gulped down half the beer and then opened the nearly empty bottle of vodka. With one pull he finished it off, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Shit. Something was different about her. She didn’t jump anymore when he talked. Normally, he didn’t have to ask for cigarettes or booze.
She always kept him supplied. Not now.
Maybe she planned on taking off with the settlement money. Screw him. Screw Eve. Shit.
The thought tore through him like a tornado. The stupid bitch. If she bolted…
He ran to the front door and jerked it open. The lights were off in her apartment. It had to be after midnight. Tough shit if she was asleep. They needed to talk. Now. He pounded on her front door.
“Liza!”
No answer.
He tried to peer into the window but the drapes were drawn too tight to see anything. He pounded at the door again. “Open up, bitch!”
Nothing.
A light came on from the apartment on the other side of hers. The door opened and a burly guy stood there naked, his face an angry red. “Shut the hell up, or I’ll come out there and do it for you.”
Rick backed away. He glanced down at the parking lot, scanning the cars for as far as he could see. No sign of her old compact. Didn’t mean anything. She could’ve parked anywhere. But if she was gone, that cow with the kid might know where Liza was.
He hung on to the rail for support and stumbled to the end of the corridor. He wasn’t sure if the end unit was the right one but he saw the kid playing there a lot. The apartment was dark, just like most of the others in the complex.
Pressing his ear to the door, he knocked lightly so he wouldn’t piss off the naked guy. A light immediately came on. A second later, the door cracked open. Bingo. He had the right apartment.
With one fearful eye, the woman peered out at him through the crack. “What do you want?”
“Where is she?”
“Who?”
“God damn it. You know who I’m talking about.”
The woman shrunk back.
“Who is it, mama?” Yawning, the kid tried to squeeze between her mother and the door frame. Her eyes widened when she saw Rick.
“Go back to bed.” The woman cut her off. “Now.” She turned to Rick. “I don’t know where Liza is. It’s late. Maybe she’s sleeping.”
She wasn’t bad-looking up close. Except for the scar. Didn’t matter. It had been a helluva long time since he’d gotten laid. Rick slid his hand in and hooked a finger under her chin. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Fear flashed in her eyes. She jerked away. “Go to hell!” she said, and slammed the door on his wrist.
“Fuck.” He broke free and cradled his wrist with his other hand. “You stupid cow. You’re going to pay for that. You and Liza.”
Several more lights went on in other apartments, and he hurried back to his own. Friggin’ Liza. No more sneaking off. From now on he’d follow her. She wasn’t going to make a move without him knowing about it.
* * *
Evan took them to a part of town Liza didn’t recognize. She’d only lived in Atlanta for about four years in a Midtown apartment that was only a few blocks from the studio. She’d worked long hours and rarely ventured past the local bar where they all congregated. But she was familiar with the posh suburb of Buckhead, a place where a practicing doctor who also consulted on a popular television series could afford to live, but this wasn’t it.
The subdivision was nice enough, just not what she expected. Nor was the modest ranch-style house that Evan slowed down in front of. He turned the car into the driveway and used the remote control to lift the door to the two-car garage, which was neater and cleaner than her apartment, with a row of gardening tools hanging from a rack on the wall. Very middle American. So not her style.
But neither was biting the head off a police officer she didn’t even know. God, what was wrong with her? She snapped in a second and she couldn’t seem to contro
l it. And what the hell was wrong with Evan? If he had a brain in his head, he would’ve dropped her off at her car. Why was he sticking around? Probably because deep down he was a loser. Just like all the other guys she attracted.
He inched the car forward and stopped when a red beam suddenly appeared on the wall in front of them.
“Pretty fancy,” she said.
“Ingenious, actually. You don’t want to know how many walls I’ve dented.”
“You?”
“I have other good qualities,” he said blandly and pressed the remote to lower the garage door before getting out of the car.
She got out, too, and followed him past two recently used dirt bikes stashed in the corner. “Are these yours?”
“One belongs to my brother.” He opened the door to the house, reached in to flip on a light and then let her go first. “The housekeeper was here today so I’m safe.”
At the sight of the clean, glossy tile floor, she sighed. “I want a housekeeper.”
Evan smiled. “After living in dorms and shared apartments, I’d gladly spend my last dollar on a housekeeper.”
Liza walked farther down the hall. The kitchen was on the left, the floor covered with more of the creamy-colored veined tile. Not just any tile, but the really cool twenty-inch kind. The cabinets looked like custom-made cherry and the appliances were all stainless steel.
“You cook much?” she asked, noticing the well-equipped island under hanging brass pots.
“Hardly ever.” He came from behind her and threw his keys on the granite countertop. “Although I make a damn good tuna sandwich.”
“Why do you have all this?” She wandered over to the bay window area where there was a glass table with four contemporary chairs.
“The appliances came with the house.” He opened the refrigerator. “Gladys, my housekeeper, makes me meals about three times a week. What would you like to drink?”
“Surprise me.”
“I hate that.”
She turned to him, smiling. “What?”
He held the refrigerator door open and motioned for her. “Get your cute little butt over here and choose something.”
With an exaggerated sway of her hips, she approached, smiling seductively. When she got to him, she leaned over to look into the refrigerator, knowing full well that in this position, her short skirt hid very little.
He didn’t hesitate to mold his hand to her backside. “See anything you want in there?”
She did a wiggle under his touch, not sure who she was teasing more. “Hmm, let me see…”
He dipped his hand so that it was partially wedged between her thighs. Her panties grew damp as his hand moved. He slipped a finger under the elastic. She gasped and had to grab the door to steady herself.
“I found something I want,” he whispered, his finger probing deeper.
She closed her eyes. It had been so long since she’d been touched like this….
The door started to move, threatening her balance, and she quickly opened her eyes.
Evan removed his finger and urged her to back up. She didn’t want to—his exploration felt so good—but it happened fast, and then he closed the refrigerator door. He took her by the shoulders and forced her to face him. Then he slanted his head and kissed her gently on the mouth.
Her hands were free to explore and she found his bulging fly. He moved against her touch, but when she started to unzip him he stopped her.
“Come,” was all he said, and took her hand.
They passed the living room, which was sparsely decorated, but centered on a state-of-the-art large-screen television. The short hall led to his bedroom…very masculine in shades of brown and rust. He had a TV in there, too, a small older model sitting on a very plain cherry dresser.
The bed was huge. Probably a California king, although she hadn’t actually seen one before. Just knew it was big. The nightstands matched the dresser, each one holding a heavy brass lamp. On the right one was an elaborate-looking phone system.
He started taking off his jacket. “Good thing Gladys changed the sheets today.”
“Why? Did you have another guest last night?” She watched him toss the camel jacket onto the dark wood-and-brass valet in the corner.
“What kind of remark was that?” He didn’t look at all amused as he turned to face her.
“Oh, come on.” She walked over and pulled his tie loose. “I guess that was my clumsy way of saying I know this is just about sex and that’s okay with me.”
He shook his head, his eyes staying fastened on hers as she pulled the tie free and threw it in the direction of the valet. “You are a handful.”
She smiled. “It hasn’t stopped you yet.”
His mouth curved in an unexpected predatory smile, and he grabbed her wrist when she went for his belt buckle. “It’s not going to stop me now.”
Liza sucked in a breath when he reached under her skirt and pulled down one side of her panties. She froze, totally caught off guard. “Why, Dr. Gann,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Don’t move,” he said.
She couldn’t if she wanted to. He let go of her wrist and she stood there perfectly still while he crouched and pulled the other side of her panties down until they were around her ankles. He didn’t have to tell her to step out of them. Clutching his shoulders, she did it automatically.
“What about you?” she asked in a voice she didn’t recognize.
He only smiled and ran his palms over her calves and then up past her thighs, pausing for a second before filling his hands with her fleshy buttocks. While squeezing gently, he took the hem of her skirt between his teeth.
She nearly fell backward. Luckily, she was close enough to the bed so that she wouldn’t have ended up on her ass. Didn’t he understand that there was a certain order to the way things went?
Not that she wasn’t adventurous…far from it. But this wasn’t a move she’d expected from him. Man, had she ever had a misconception about doctors. Obviously, they weren’t all stodgy brainiacs.
He got the skirt up high enough and pressed a kiss right in a very sensitive spot. She felt the tip of his tongue and goose bumps chased up her spine. Her fingers dug into his shoulders.
“I see you’re not a breast man,” she said to ease some of the tension.
“I’m getting there.” His hands moved up from her backside and he yanked her sweater out from her waistband.
“Hey.” She shoved at his shoulders but he wouldn’t back off. “I want your shirt off first.”
“Too bad.” He ran his hands up her back.
“Don’t I get a say?”
“Nope.”
She laughed. “That’s not how it works.”
“Relax, Liza,” he said, carefully laying her back onto the bed. “You don’t always have to be in control.”
She blinked. “What are you imply—”
He cut her off with an all-consuming kiss. She hadn’t even realized that he’d pushed her sweater up past her bra. That he’d unfastened the front hook and cupped her bare breast. Using his thumb and forefinger, he lightly pinched her nipple before putting his mouth on it.
Her whole body thrummed with excitement. She could hardly breathe. This man literally stole her breath away. He knew exactly what to do, and when to do it to drive her insane. It had to be because she was so starved for physical touch. More than a year had passed since she’d been with a man. Rick. The thought was like an ice-cold shower. Made her want to gag.
She pushed Evan hard, catching him by surprise, then he rolled over onto the bed. His mouth wet, his eyes wary, he stared at her. “What’s wrong?”
She wasn’t going to let Rick ruin this. No way. “Take your shirt off,” she ordered and when he didn’t move, added, “I mean it.”
One side of Evan’s mouth slowly went up. “You want it off, go for it.” He laid back with his hands clasped behind his head.
He looked way too smug. She’d fix that. She got up on her knees, letti
ng her sweater fall back down and cover all the goodies. She paused, enjoying the disappointment on his face, and then she lifted the hem and pulled the sweater off. The unfastened bra was easy. A little shimmy and it fell down her back, leaving her naked from the waist up.
His lips parted, the struggle for control etched in lines at the corners of his glassy eyes, and he reached up to touch her extended nipple. She slapped his hand away. He met her gaze, a cocky smile starting to form.
That’s okay. She wasn’t through with him yet. She swung a leg over his waist and straddled him. The skirt hid nothing. His gaze shot to the prize. She reached behind and found his erection, still hardening under her touch.
Liza quickly figured that stretched back like this was exposing more than she’d planned. She thought to leave the position, but it was too late. He entered her with his finger, going deep in the slick wetness, and rubbing the nub that felt way too good this early in the game. She didn’t want to come right away….
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Please.”
He had her nether lips spread, his gaze fastened there, his fingers working skillfully. “Liza, you really want me to stop?”
She moaned. “I—I…don’t want—” Oh, it was too late. She fisted the comforter and bit down on her lower lip as the sensations started to mount. As the spasms came faster, harder, without mercy, her entire body felt as if it were on fire. Her mind became so fuzzy she couldn’t see.
Wave after wave of heat sluiced over her skin until she thought there’d be no reprieve. That she’d burn forever, and never be the same again. She opened her eyes. Evan’s face slowly came into focus.
He withdrew his hand and started unbuttoning his shirt. She didn’t move. Lethargy seized total control. She wanted to help him, but she could only watch him fumble with each button. When she realized he was wearing a T-shirt beneath his dress shirt, she had to suppress a giggle. Of course he would be properly dressed. This was Evan.
“You could help,” he said.
“I don’t know. You wore me out.”
He groaned. “I better not have.”
She freed the last button and then, noticing he was distracted by her exposed crotch, she promptly got off of him. He sat up and got rid of both shirts while she worked on his belt and fly. He hadn’t cooled down any, making the zipper difficult to maneuver, and she felt the earlier excitement returning.
What She Really Wants For Christmas Page 6
