by C. R. Moss
Heather. Some woman, tracking me down and getting me to agree to her scheme. How had she been able to talk him into her plans, convince him to make amends with her cousin, Seana, for a past incident? Heather wanted her family members to find love, so she’d signed them up with a matchmaking service. When 1Night Stand couldn’t find the perfect man for her cousin, Heather had attributed the issue to Seana’s unresolved feelings. Her solution…ask Madame Eve to match him with Seana.
Once the matchmaker had learned their story, she had agreed.
Go figure.
Heather’s stipulations—he couldn’t breathe a word of her involvement, and he had to be upfront with Seana as to why he was such an ass ten years ago.
At first he thought her suggestions were crazy. No way did he want to dredge up old history and suffer through a woman’s ire over his stupid teenage mistakes, but after considering who he’d be seeing again, he’d conceded. He’d liked Seana in high school and hated what had happened.
Zach held the rose behind his back as he took in the lay of the dimly lit room. He’d picked the resort venue to help his Seana cause. Lucky for him, his current case had led him to the lodge as well. He could take care of the two situations in one evening. Running late for the date, though, did nothing to help with his mission to change Seana’s impression of him.
A woman at the bar glanced his way but didn’t seem to notice him. Her striking, dark auburn hair fell over her shoulders in gleaming waves. She picked up and sniffed a flower like his then clutched the rose in her fist.
Oh shit. She’s pissed.
As casually as he could, he strolled into the bar, keeping his focus on Seana who sat in a rigid posture. The tense pose reminded him of suspects during interrogations who tried to keep their anger under control. Zach stood behind her, clearing his thoughts. He needed to say the right thing. Winning back her friendship and trust wasn’t going to be easy, but he was going to give it his all.
Her low grumbles cut into his mental process of creating a game plan.
Yep. The lady’s upset all right.
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” The muttered words tumbled from his mouth before he had a chance to stop them.
“‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned. Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.’ William Congreve. The Mourning Bride.” Her head jerked up and her back straightened. “Wait. I know that voice.” She spun the chair to face him. Her gorgeous blue eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. A split second later, her face hardened. “Oh. My. God. It’s you.”
He ignored the tone of her less than warm greeting. “Seana. It’s wonderful to see you. Been a long time.”
“Not long enough. And can’t say the same about the wonderful.” She turned back to the bar and picked up her glass of wine.
A quick vision of her tossing the light gold contents at him flitted through his mind. If she did douse me with her drink, I wouldn’t blame her. I deserve it. “Seana, please…”
“Get lost, Zach. I’m waiting for someone.”
Her icy statement washed over him, but he wouldn’t be deterred. He took the seat next to hers. “I can’t.” He held up his rose then picked up her crushed one. “See? It’s a match.”
Her eyes darkened, and a resentful sneer shaped her luscious lips. She shook her head. “No. You’re not my date. It can’t be so. Uh-uh. No way.” Rising from her seat, she pulled a couple of bills from her clutch and threw them on the bar. “I’m not staying for this. You can enjoy the evening on your own.”
Zach grabbed her forearm. She glared at him. “I get it,” he said. “You’re mad. You have every right to be. I was a jerk back then, but I’m not going to apologize for who I was because it made me the man I am today. I will—”
“Enough.” She tried to yank free. “I don’t care. Just let me go.”
“Stop.” He glanced around at the people gawking in their direction. “You’re making a scene.”
“So? I’m not the one who treats people like dirt.” She poked him in the chest.
He leaned closer, wrapped his hand around hers, and in a hushed tone said, “We can go into another room. Somewhere private where you can rant and rave at me. Yell and hit me. Take out all the anger and hurt you felt when I stood you up. Or you can continue sharing your attitude with everyone here.” Pausing, he pinned her with his stare to make sure his words registered. “Or we can sit, be rational, and discuss this like the adults we are. All I ask is that you don’t turn and walk away…that you give me a chance. I want to make it up to you.”
Zach released her. “I’ve learned from my actions and mistakes. And like I said, I won’t apologize for who I was, but I am sorry for what I did. You deserved better.” He hailed the bartender. “Scotch. Neat.” With a frustrated breath, he sat back.
Seana calmed and offered a polite smile to a couple of patrons sitting nearby. Appraising Zach, she contemplated what he’d said. He seems sincere. Should I give him a chance? If they talked through things, maybe she could even forgive him rather than carry around the burden of negativity she’d borne over the years. I might be making a mistake, but what the hell?
She took a sip of her drink, wetting her parched mouth. “All right. I’ll stay. But tell me something first.” Seana drank more of the Pinot blanc, gearing up to deal with her all-consuming question. “Why’d you stand me up for homecoming? I heard you never showed at the dance. And you never came back to school. Like you disappeared off the face of the earth. I was so mad at you. I worried about you, then I was upset at myself for being so worked up about the situation.”
Pausing, she shook her head. “I knew you wanted to do the tutor geek a favor. Bet you had fun planning it with your friends.” Seana affected a pose like a buff guy who couldn’t put his arms down. “Oh, hey, throw her a pity date, man. It’ll be the best high school prank yet,” she mocked in a way she imagined a bunch of oafish jocks would talk. “But you didn’t have to be an asshole about it.”
“Pity date?” His tanned skin paled. “I never meant to make you feel that way. I did want to take you. I had plans for a wonderful evening. I thought a special night out together would be a great thank you for all your help in science and math.”
“A ‘thank you’ date? That’s a new one.” Incredulous, she sat back and crossed her arms over her stomach. “Would have been nice if you’d told me the date was just a gesture of gratitude.”
“You’re right. I wish I could make you understand how sorry I am. The day of homecoming, my father caught me with booze, and it was the last straw as far as he was concerned. So many times he’d threatened to send me to military school when I screwed up. He finally made good on it.” Zach grimaced and shuddered, as if his memories caused him pain, too. “A couple of hours before the dance, my parents packed me up and dropped me off at the academy. I wasn’t allowed phone calls or to write. There was no way to contact you or any of my friends. No one from the police force or fire department said anything to you or your dad?”
Saddened by how a total lack of communication caused so much heartache over the years, she shook her head. “Nope, never heard a peep. My mom tried to talk to your mother. She didn’t get any information either. I pretty much kept my nose in my books and studies. When I went away to college, I continued performing in the theater and found I really loved living life through characters. You know, being someone different on stage, even if it’s only for an hour or so at a time. Hearing the applause, feeling valued.” If it wasn’t for her focus on acting, and having lived abroad for a while, she didn’t know what she would have done. Probably would have become totally agoraphobic.
“That explains your knowledge of the quote earlier.” Zach stroked her hair behind her ear. “As for feeling valued, you’ve grown into a fine woman. You should be confident in yourself.”
Heat crept into her cheeks. She lowered her gaze to the bar, fighting back embarrassment and delightful shivers of longing. “Thanks. So, why did you have to use a serv
ice to get a date? I mean, you’re the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. How come the Italian stud can’t get chicks on his own? From what I recall, you never had a problem when you were younger.”
He chuckled. The rich sound warmed her. “My job keeps me too busy to go out and chase tail anymore.” He winked.
She blew out a quick puff of air. “Do you have to be so crude?” she questioned in artificial outrage.
“You started it,” Zach teased.
Enjoying the easy banter, she smiled. Perhaps there was hope for redemption after all. “So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a cop in the valley. Actually, I’m in the middle of an important case, which is why I arrived so late. I hate not being on time and rushed here the moment I could.”
Metro. He still lives in Vegas and probably stayed fit, too. “And having our date at a charity event?”
“I thought it would be a good way to atone for my past. You know, take you to a dance since I missed taking you to one all those years ago.” He cocked his head and studied her. “So you’re an actress? I don’t think I’ve seen you in any movies.”
His interest pleased her. “Yep, I am. Not in movies or television though. I worked on Broadway for a bit and then spent a couple of years in London doing parts on stage.” She switched to a British accent, remembering all the great times overseas. But then if Zach hadn’t done what he did, I might never have had made the memories. Tired of the heartache, she had to completely cut ties with the pain of the past. “Why didn’t you try to get in touch with me after the school year was over?”
Zach fidgeted then leaned back in his chair. “I went straight into the military…army boot camp, AIT, RIP.”
She quirked a brow. “I got boot camp, but the others?”
“Sorry. AIT is Advanced Individual Training, and RIP is Ranger Indoctrination Program.” He shrugged as if his accomplishments weren’t a big deal. “Besides, even if I had called you, would you have welcomed my call?”
Flashing on that time in her life, she dredged up the days following homecoming—avoiding people at school, locking herself in her room, the anger toward him. “Probably not. I was pretty upset for a while.”
He shifted position and stared her down. “I find your reaction interesting since we only went out a couple times, and all we were to each other for the most part was tutor and tutored. Just friends really.”
The matter-of-fact way he stated things stung, but he told the truth. Which is something I should do as well. She sighed. “Well…. The reason your ditching me sent me for a loop…. Um….” Come on, Seana. Just spit it out. “I had a major crush on you and wanted to know you better…be your girlfriend.”
“Really? I’m flattered. Why didn’t you ever say anything?” He arched a brow.
His amused expression surprised her. Should she have mentioned her infatuation with him? Her instincts shouted no. “Yeah, right. I was an honor roll kid, in the chess club, and a thespian. You were on sports teams and dating the lead cheerleader, a stereotypical jock. You would have laughed at me. Plus, I’m the daughter of a fire chief and worked part time in his office helping out with clerical stuff. You’re a cop’s kid. Even if we had hooked up, we would have gotten flack about our relationship not just from our schoolmates but from the fire fighters and the police, too.”
“You’re right. We would have been teased relentlessly. Those guys took their competitiveness too far, especially bringing it home to us kids. Being on the force now, I understand the rivalry. But I tell ya, in a crunch, we do band together real well.” His dark hazel eyes shimmered with mischief. “We could have dated, but yeah, we would have been teased about where our loyalties were.” A half smile tilted his lips. He moved toward her, nuzzled behind her ear. “So tell me,” he drawled. “What’s this about a crush?”
Fire swept through her cheeks again, and this time burned straight to her pussy. Boy, had he become one sexy man. Images of tumbling into bed together played on her mental screen, and she didn’t mind a bit. Perhaps he’d be the one to get her back up on the proverbial horse. She’d have him where she’d wanted him to be all those years ago. She brought her uneven breathing under control. “A lot of girls had crushes on you. I used to dream about kissing you. I had one fantasy where we were in the tutoring room, all alone, and we did more than kiss.”
“Oh, really?”
Focusing on the bottles on the shelves across from her, Seana nodded. “I had it bad for you.”
“So, what’s your wish now?”
If she leaned toward him, turned just enough, maybe he’d kiss her. Did she have the nerve? What would he think of her advance?
“Seana?”
She closed her eyes, relishing the silky way he spoke her name. “Hmm?”
“Your wish. You’re going to enter the drawing the charity is having, right?”
“I can’t say or it won’t come true,” she murmured. Just move your face toward his. Do it! Though her inner diva cheered her on, she couldn’t.
“A superstition for shooting stars and birthday candles.”
“So? I don’t want to take chances.” Yes you do, her inner cheerleader chided.
He brushed his cheek against hers. Warm breath caressed her ear. Restless throbs of desire pulsed in her veins. Sexual excitement curled in her womb. It’d been quite some time since feeling those particular sensations. Who’d I do it with last? Oh, the guy in the off-Broadway showing of West Side Story. Antonio something or other. She’d almost told him she loved him, but his ex-girlfriend came back into the picture, which snipped her out of it.
Could Zach be her one? Even after all this time and despite their difficulties? Back when she’d helped him in high school, she’d wanted him and would have given him her all. She didn’t feel any different now. Turning her face toward his finally, she prepared for the first of what she hoped would be many kisses. None came. He wasn’t as close as she thought. Seana stared into his eyes, becoming lost in their depths.
“Seana?”
“Yes?” She breathed in his spicy, clean scent, wanting to nibble on the muscle stretching from his neck into the top of his white dress shirt.
“Tell me more about the tutoring room.”
“Why? Interested in playing out my fantasy?”
Zach rubbed her knee. His touch seared her skin under her black sequined dress. “But we’re not in a school. There are no classrooms to use.”
The scenario she’d envisioned as a teenager awaited her next move. If there’s ever a time to be bold and spontaneous, it’s now. Quit stalling and take the leap. Feeling naughty and way too frisky to miss the opportunity, she drew circles on his leg with her fingertip. “We can improvise by going up to your room or mine and pretending we’re in a classroom.”
Seconds clicked by. Zach didn’t say a word. Wasn’t he interested? Her palms became clammy. I can’t be rejected again. She removed her hand from his thigh. Her leg muscles tightened in preparation for flight. She’d kick off her shoes and run like hell before she embarrassed herself further. I thought he wanted me. Did I read him wrong? Probably did. After all, he’d never chosen someone like her—the studious, nerdy girl. He’d gone for the sexy, beautiful cheerleaders….
Zach stood, hands braced against the bar on either side of her, caging her in with his powerful body and ensnaring her with his bedroom eyes. Yet, a part of her still didn’t dare to hope. She held herself in check, anticipating what he’d say.
A wolfish grin creased his face. “My dear, that’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”
Chapter Four
Zach paced the hall outside Seana’s room, pondering her plan to make fantasy a reality. He’d been fine with her ideas when they’d discussed them in the elevator, but the waiting tested his patience. The more he thought about her and what she was arranging on the other side of the closed door, the greater his need for her became. He wiped his palms on his pants and leaned toward the wood panel, listening. His fingers tingled with
the desire to touch every sensitive contour and crevice of her body. A spike of electricity zinged low in his gut, hardening his cock further. He paced for a few minutes, then rested his back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Seana had turned out to be a fine woman. She’d been pretty in high school, but now? Smokin’ hot came to mind. He loved how her black dress accentuated her curves and enhanced her porcelain skin. He’d liked her all those years ago. They’d gone to the movies a couple of times, but he’d only considered them to be friends having a nice time together.
Homecoming. He’d lied when he’d said it was a ‘thank you’ date. The girl he’d planned to go with got the flu. His buddies expected him at the party—he had the fake ID and bought the alcohol—and all the other chicks he’d been interested in were taken. Seana had been a last resort. His mother had been proud of his overture, especially after all Seana had done for him in helping him to keep his grades up. Remembering the conversation with his mother gave him the gratitude excuse. Yet, if Seana had looked then as she did now, she probably would have been at the top of his list. He would have chased her like a cheetah after a gazelle, used her, and lost any chance of being with her for good.
I can’t believe she had a crush on me. Man, I was a fool all right. A self-centered, stupid-ass jock. He ran a hand over his face and then punched his thigh with his fist. Shit…if my parents hadn’t sent me packing, what would homecoming really have been like? If only he could have contacted her and explained. Zach paced across the hall and back, trying to quell the rising tide of “what if” questions. The one souring his stomach the most: What if I had treated her with more respect and considered her feelings? But he hadn’t.
No wonder she thought I was a prick. Zach wished he could go back and slap some sense into his younger self for being so selfish.
Thank God he’d had a chance to grow up and learn to be a decent human being before he crossed paths with her again. Decent, yeah, but I’m still a man.
What’s it going to be like to have her long legs wrap around me as I sink my dick into her hot pussy? His cock throbbed with the thought, and his pulse raced. He couldn’t wait any longer. What’s taking her so long? He raised his hand, ready to rap his knuckles on the door.
