by Paige Tyler
Erin seemed bummed by that until Peyton promised her a signed copy of something called an ARC. It took him a while to figure out an ARC was an advance reader copy, but Erin sure as hell knew what it was, and she about lost her mind. Five minutes later, she was on her phone excitedly telling her friends that she was going to get an advance copy of Peyton Matthews’ next new book weeks before it hit the shelves.
It was after ten by the time he and Peyton left his mom’s house. She was still smiling and waving at his mother and sister as Noah backed out of the driveway.
“Are all fans like that?” he asked.
She sat back in the seat. “Like what?”
He grinned. “As insane as my sister.”
“Oh!” Peyton laughed. “Most of them. But they’re the best kind. I love meeting people like your sister, people who are as excited about my characters as I am. It lets me know they’re invested completely in the story, and that’s what it’s all about.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “But it’s a story. They know that, right?”
“Sure. But the very best books are those that grab the readers and pull them in anyway. It gives them characters they care about and fall in love with. It’s a total escape.”
Noah considered that. When Peyton put it that way, it made sense. His sister had looked like it was Christmas morning when she’d seen Peyton standing in the kitchen. And he’d never seen her eyes shine as brightly as when the two of them were talking about the characters in Peyton’s books.
When he parked in front of Peyton’s house a little while later, Noah made sure he was out of the SUV and around to open the passenger door before she could do it herself this time. Not only did he like being a gentleman, but he didn’t want her outside by herself with him on the other side of the car. There was still someone trying to steal her book.
“Stay here while I check the house,” he said when they were in the living room.
The look Peyton gave him told him she didn’t think it was necessary, but she didn’t say anything as he went from room to room clearing the house. The doors didn’t look like they’d been tampered with and both her computer and her laptop were in her office.
When he went back downstairs, he found Peyton standing in the same exact spot he’d left her.
“Everything looks good,” he said.
Peyton might like to claim she wasn’t in any danger, but there was no mistaking the relief in her eyes.
“I should get to bed , then,” she said. “I had a great time tonight.”
“Me, too,” he said, and realized he meant it.
Best damn date-that-wasn’t-a-date he’d ever been on.
Noah watched Peyton disappear upstairs, then checked the doors and windows again before grabbing his toiletry kit from his bag and going into the bathroom. He left the door open just enough to be able to hear anything while he showered, then took off his clothes. He’d stepped into the shower when he heard the water turn on upstairs.
Damn, if he’d known Peyton was going to shower too, they could have done it together and saved water.
The thought immediately made his cock spring to attention. He groaned and reached for the all-in-one shampoo/shower gel he’d brought from home, then squeezed some into his hand and lathered it fiercely into his hair, hoping it would get the image of a very sexy, very naked Peyton out of his head.
It didn’t help.
As the suds ran down his chest, he imagined Peyton standing there in the shower with him so close they were almost touching. He pictured her creamy skin slick with water, her nipples peeking out through the soap bubbles. In his mind’s eye, he cupped her breasts, wiping the foam away with his thumbs and revealing the rosy tips underneath to give them a squeeze.
In his fantasy, his hands moved downward, gliding over her hips and around to cup that perfect ass so he could get a grip and pull her against him. From there, he could do so many things.
He could slip one hand between her legs and caress her clit until she went dizzy. Or he could lift her up and plunge inside her while she wrapped her legs around his waist. Or he could turn her around and bend her over just enough to take her from behind.
The possibilities were limited only by his imagination, and while he might not be a writer, he had a very good imagination.
His shaft throbbed between his legs, sending a tremor through him.
Noah cursed and rinsed the last of the suds away, then turned off the hot water and turned on the cold full force, gritting his teeth as the icy spray washed over his body.
A few hours ago, he’d insisted he couldn’t get involved with Peyton regardless of how attracted he was to her—at least not until after this job was done—so why the hell was he torturing himself by fantasizing about something he couldn’t have?
Turning off the water, he climbed out of the shower and grabbed a towel from the rack. He dried off, then wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the door only to walk right into Peyton when he stepped into the hallway. She was wearing a tiny pair of shorts and a tank top that cupped her breasts the same way he’d imagined his hands doing five minutes earlier. He swallowed hard and tried not to look at all that expanse of skin.
He mumbled something he hoped sounded intelligible and moved to step around her as Peyton did the same. Their feet tangled and she stumbled. He caught her arms to steady her at the same time she put her hands on his bare chest. She gazed up at him, her lips parting ever so slightly. It was the other day all over again, only this time they weren’t lying on the floor of her office choreographing a fight scene and they weren’t wearing nearly as many clothes.
Before he could even process why this wasn’t a good idea, he bent his head and kissed her. Her lips were soft and sweet under his, and he buried his fingers in her long hair, wanting—needing—more. She tasted like minty toothpaste and strawberries, and the combination almost brought him to his knees.
She moaned against his mouth, gliding her hands up his chest to grip his shoulders and hold on tight as she kissed him back. The realization she wanted him as much as he wanted her was like an intoxicating drug sending desire surging through his blood, and he let out a groan of his own as her tongue played a sexy game of hide-and-seek with his.
Under the towel, his cock pitched a tent, all set to make camp for the night.
Noah was sliding his other hand down to cup her ass so he could pull her closer when a high-pitched noise filled the house. It took him a minute to realize it was his cell phone ringing. As much as he wanted to say the hell with it, years of being a SEAL made him drag his mouth away from Peyton’s. Business before pleasure.
“I have to get that.”
She pulled back, looking a tad bit dazed as she nodded her head, even swaying a little on her feet as he hurried into the living room to grab his phone off the coffee table where he’d left it.
“Chase,” he said without looking at the name on the screen, too focused on getting his breathing back under control.
“Hey Noah, it’s Jon. I didn’t wake you up, did I?”
Noah cleared his throat as he looked down at the towel covering his crotch. No, he was already up, that was for damned sure. “No. What’s up?”
Your cock, a smartass voice sounded off in his head. Fortunately, that voice wasn’t capable of talking to his boss at the moment.
“Just checking to make sure everything’s going okay with the job,” Jon said.
Amazing, excellent, f’ing awesome, that voice in the back of his head shouted out. “So far, so good,” Noah forced himself to say. “If whoever broke in a few nights ago intends to go after the book again, they haven’t made another move yet.”
“Good. Keep me posted. And stay focused. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball, even if it seems like the threat has passed. ”
Realization hit him like a bucket of ice cold water. Damn, what the hell had he been thinking?
“Will do,” Noah said. And he meant it.
He thumbed
his phone off, and even though a small part of him wanted to call Jon every name in the SEAL book of insults, the much larger part thanked God his boss had interrupted when he did and reminded him what the hell was at stake here. If not, Noah was pretty damn sure he and Peyton would be in bed right now. If they’d even made it that far. It was just as likely he and Peyton would have been making love up against the wall in the hallway.
He turned to see Peyton standing where he’d left her. She regarded him with an expectant look, a sensual smile curving her lips. She looked so damn sexy it almost hurt to look at her. But not nearly as much as not picking up where they’d left off was going to.
Noah took a deep breath and steeled himself. He was a SEAL, dammit. About time he started acting like one. He was supposed to be protecting this woman, not trying to bed her.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. It was very unprofessional and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Peyton looked like he’d slapped her. The sultry expression in her eyes disappeared in a flash, replaced by hurt and what he could have sworn was embarrassment. She nodded.
“You’re right. It was a mistake. I’m sorry, too.”
Mumbling something that sounded like good night, she turned and quickly jogged up the steps.
Shit, now he felt like even more of a jerk. He gripped his phone, tamping down the urge to throw the freaking thing at the wall.
Kissing her might have been seriously stupid, unprofessional, and totally out of line, but it had also been the hottest kiss he’d ever had in his life. Unfortunately, he wasn’t good enough to figure out how to tell her the first part while still letting her know the second part.
SEAL training might have taught him how to deal with every kind of threat known to man, but for the first time in his life, he felt like he was in completely over his head.
He looked down at the towel wrapped around his waist, and the tent still being pitched there. “Come on, dumbass, let’s get you back in the shower. I don’t see you going anywhere without a whole hell of a lot of cold water.”
Chapter Seven
Peyton groaned, blinking at the early morning sun streaming through the window. God, she’d slept like crap. No surprise there. When a guy came out and told you kissing you was a mistake, it made it a little difficult to relax and get into a REM cycle.
She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes. Not so she could go back to sleep, but so she could bask in the feel of Noah’s mouth on hers. It was pretty pathetic considering he regretted kissing her, but after lusting over him for the past two days, she wanted to savor the memory for a little bit longer.
She’d gone down to get a drink of water before bed and had the good fortune to walk by the bathroom as Noah was coming out. Seeing him in boxer briefs yesterday had almost been more than she could take, but catching sight of him in a towel and knowing he was naked underneath it had her fantasizing about doing all kinds of crazy things with him—not to mention to him. And from the smolder in his eyes when he’d caressed her with his gaze, he wanted to return the favor.
When he’d kissed her, she’d felt that same jolt of electricity she’d felt the other day when they shook hands, only stronger. It made her tingle all over, most especially her pussy. Then again, that probably had something to do with the bulge he’d been hiding under the towel pressing up against her.
So, if he’d been as aroused as she was, why had he pulled away? Right. Because his boss had called. If they hadn’t been interrupted by Noah’s damn phone, she would have spent the night in his arms instead of tossing and turning.
Which begged the question, what now? Did she act like the kiss never happened? Did she wait to see how Noah reacted to her and act accordingly? Or, better yet, go on the offensive, march downstairs, and plant another kiss on him?
The thought sent a pleasant quiver through her.
She moaned. Okay, enough introspection. She had stuff to do before the release party that night.
Deciding yoga would probably be a good idea before facing Noah, she skipped her usual bottle of water and went directly into her workout room. Thirty minutes of chaturangas, downward dog, and warrior positions not only relaxed her, but also made her feel like she was ready to stand toe to toe with the gorgeous SEAL who’d slept on her couch last night.
Squaring her shoulders, Peyton checked out the casual skirt and top she’d put on, then gave her reflection a satisfied nod and headed downstairs. Noah was leaning back against the counter in the kitchen, scrolling through his phone with one hand, a mug of coffee in the other. He looked up as she walked in, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he went back to his phone.
“Morning,” he said.
Okay, so he wanted to act like the kiss never happened then. Two could play that game.
“Good morning.” She glanced at him as she took out a mug and poured coffee into it. “Have you eaten yet?”
He shook his head. “I waited for you.”
That was nice of him. And exactly what a guy who was into her would do.
Peyton got two bowls out of the cabinet, then took a detour to the pantry for the cereal. When she came back out, Noah already had the carton of soy milk on the table and two spoons. She handed him one of the bowls, then sat down opposite him. As tempting as it was to gaze at him the whole time they ate, she limited herself to quick glances.
“Okay,” she said as she scooped up the last of the Cheerios in her bowl. “I’m going to get some writing done before we leave.”
He frowned at her. “Leave? Where are we going?”
“The salon. I’m getting my hair and nails done before the release party.”
His frown deepened. “What release party?”
“For my book. Didn’t I mention it to you?” When he gave her a blank look, she sighed. “I must have forgotten. My publisher is having this huge release party for my new book—the one that comes before the story I’m working on now—at this fancy hotel downtown tonight.”
The frown turned into a scowl. “And you’re seriously thinking of going?”
Wait. What?
“I am. My publisher and I have been advertising the party for months. All my readers are expecting me—including your sister and her friends. Some of them have come from out of state specifically for the event.”
“It’s too dangerous,” he insisted. “I haven’t even done any recon of the site.”
She almost laughed. “I’m not JFK and there’s no one on the grassy knoll.”
The dark look Noah gave her told her he wasn’t amused.
Part of her was pissed. She wasn’t in the Navy and she didn’t take orders. But the other part was touched by the genuine concern in his eyes.
“Noah, I can’t live like a shut-in until this book is finished. I have obligations, not the least of which is this release party. I have quite a few book signings at stores, too. And, believe it or not, I might even have to go to the grocery store every couple of weeks,” she said. “My publisher hired you to keep me safe, and I’m trusting you to protect me. Besides, you’re the one who told me to do what I normally do, and that you go where I go. Well, today I’m going to the salon, then the release party.”
The muscle in his jaw flexed. Clearly, he regretted saying that. “What time is the party?”
“Seven,” she said. “But my salon appointment is at two o’clock. Oh, and you can’t wear jeans tonight. It’s a dressy event. Do you have a suit, or will we need to go shopping?”
His mouth twitched. “I have a suit. But we’ll have to stop by my place so I can pick it up.”
That worked for her. And considering how good he looked in everything from jeans and a T-shirt to a towel, she couldn’t wait to see him dressed up.
Peyton pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “My publicist, Claire Sherman, is stopping by this morning to go over some stuff for tonight. She’s short with red hair and lots of freck
les,” she added, remembering how he’d described Tabitha yesterday morning to her. “When she gets here, tell her I’m upstairs.”
* * * * *
Noah was glad he’d cleaned up his condo before reporting for duty as Peyton’s round-the-clock bodyguard. Not that it ever looked like a frat house or anything. Mostly because he’d gotten in the habit of cleaning regularly when he was a SEAL. When he’d gone wheels-up, he never knew when he’d be back and coming home to dirty dishes in the sink after a month-long mission wasn’t pretty.
He unlocked the door and stepped back so Peyton could enter. As she walked past him, he caught a whiff of the shampoo they’d used at the salon and he couldn’t help inhaling appreciatively. He still wasn’t sure what a blow out was, but the two-plus hours he’d waited for her at the salon was definitely worth it. She looked amazing.
As he closed the door and pocketed his keys, he saw Peyton look around the living room. While nowhere near as big as her house on the beach, the condo had the required kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and one and a half bath. As an added plus, it had a fenced-in backyard with a deck where he could grill.
“I’m going to grab my suit,” he said. “Make yourself at home.”
Noah had been wearing his Navy whites to formal functions for so long it had seemed like a waste of money to splurge on a suit, but now he was glad he’d taken his former commander’s advice and bought one. After spending all that time waiting for Peyton at the salon, he wasn’t sure he could have handled a marathon shopping day, SEAL training or no SEAL training.
