by Cathryn Fox
“You should go find Kelly. You probably have some explaining to do.”
He nodded and looked past her shoulder to make eye contact with Garrett, and if Garrett wasn’t mistaken, from the way Jason was looking at him, he was trying to forge a truce between the two.
“You sure have changed,” Jason murmured, then sidestepped Tallulah and disappeared into the lobby.
Garrett stepped up to her, and he couldn’t help but feel proud. He ran his index finger over her bare arm and dipped his head, his eyes moving over her face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, and as his glance scanned her flushed features, he knew Kat was right. There was something different about her. He looked her over and couldn’t help but compare the woman he’d met on the plane to the one who stood before him now. His mind flashed back to the sexy game he played with the scarf, to all the fun they’d had over the week, and on some level he hoped he’d played a part in her changes.
Garrett made a fist and nudged her chin in an attempt to lighten her mood. “I guess he was trying to mess with the wrong girl.”
She laughed. “Turns out he’s involved with Kelly Cameron, one of my old high school friends.”
Garrett brushed a few wayward strands of hair from her shoulder. “Then why did he want to follow through with the pact he made with you?”
“I was the nice girl his parents wanted him to marry. They consider Kelly from the wrong side of the tracks. He’ll have his work cut out for him.”
“Folks around here sure do have a lot of pull.”
“Small town,” she said, like that explained everything.
“You never would have been happy with him.”
“You’re right.” She smiled at him, and longingly touched her stomach. “If it wasn’t for you I could very well be engaged.”
“You are engaged.” He grinned, and when he took her into his arms, everything inside him softened. “I must say, I like how you handled yourself.”
Her laugh was edgy, churning with passion and color bloomed on her face when she leaned in and whispered, “I like the way you handle me.”
A little shocked and a whole lot turned on by her boldness, he pulled back. Oh yeah, she definitely wasn’t the same girl he’d met just a few days ago. As she looked at him with come-hither eyes, and his mind reflected on all the reasons he should stay away from her, his cock hardened. He fought an internal war, wrestling with himself as she stood there staring up at him, looking so goddamn beautiful and self-assured it took his breath away. He could feel his composure slipping, his resolve crumbling around the edges.
“Tallulah,” he began, but then the next thing he knew she was in his arms. He wasn’t sure who moved first, all he knew was that he needed to taste her, touch her, and lose himself in her for the rest of the night.
As he abandoned rational thought, they touched each other like their lives depended on it. His mouth smashed against hers and their tongues thrashed. Desperate for a deeper taste, he bit down on her lip. The kiss wasn’t gentle, not by any means. It was hard, needy, demanding, and would undoubtedly leave her bruised tomorrow. He suddenly knew he was being rough because of his need to leave his mark on her.
“We should go,” he said as their heated kisses left him yearning for so much more.
“Yeah, we should.” Neither made a move. Instead they continued to touch and kiss, neither wanting to be the one to pull away first.
He threaded his fingers through her hair. “Tallulah, I’m serious,” he said, her warm familiar scent curling around him as he reveled in the sweetness of her mouth. “If we don’t move I just might take you right here in the hallway.”
Desire flickered across her face and she gave him a devious smile, like the idea appealed to her.
“Oh, really?” His brow raised in challenge. “You want to go there with me?”
Her mouth twisted provocatively, and she gave a low, sexy laugh. “I suddenly find myself all about trying new things.” Her warm breath wafted across his face, and his muscles bunched at the evocative thinning of her lips.
“Jesus, what have I done to you?” As a fever rose in him, he grabbed her hand, hurried into the lobby and ushered her onto the waiting elevator.
He pressed their floor and as the elevator started its ascent, she put her hands on his chest and ground her hot little pussy against his leg. Heat radiated from her sex and his balls tightened. Jesus H. Christ. Need whipped through his blood and his cock throbbed so hard in his unforgiving pants, it nearly shut down his brain.
He jabbed the stop button, knowing he’d never make it to the room. He also knew that even though he shouldn’t be doing this, everything about her felt so goddamn right.
He backed her up and pressed her against the wall. He had to have her again, just one more time. Then tomorrow, after he returned to Austin, he’d get his shit together and carry on as normal.
He grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head, and she watched the action from the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirrors. She sagged against him, her body soft, pliable beneath his hands. His mouth found hers again and she matched him kiss for kiss as he restrained her with one hand and touched her all over with the other, unable to get enough of her. He drove his knee between her legs, widening them as he pushed his thigh against her pussy. He rubbed her clit through her dress, moving his leg back and forth in much the same manner he would with his finger.
“Oh. God,” she cried out. “You’re going to make me—”
“That’s the point, Peaches,” he said, loving how he could do this to her.
Not wanting to bring her over just yet, he eased his knee out from between her legs. When she scowled, his hand stole up her dress and he cupped her sex. She moaned, and he felt her rush of breath on his neck as her wetness seeped through her panties.
“Are you hot for it, baby?” he asked, when he found her dripping with desire. “Are you hot for me?”
“I’m hot for you, Garrett,” she answered breathlessly, and when she ran her pink tongue over her bottom lip, he tore her panties from her hips.
He swallowed her sexy gasp and pushed against her so hard he feared he’d break the mirror, but with basic need driving him, urging him to fuck her long and hard, there was nothing he could do to slow himself down.
“I’m going to fuck you, sweetheart. Right here,” he said, impatience in his voice.
She moaned and gyrated against him, her body filled with such need his muscles began trembling. With shaky hands, he released his pants and freed his cock. Then he grabbed her and lifted her onto his hips.
Her eyes met his and his nostrils flared as the sweet peachy scent of her arousal filled the small space. He sucked in air and pulled her aromas into his lungs, letting it fuel his lust.
Desperate to be inside her he demanded, “Wrap your legs around me.”
When she obliged he pushed her back against the wall, and positioned her until his cock was poised at her opening. He powered his hips upward as he lowered her onto him, driving himself into her so deep she let out a loud gasp and raked her hands through his hair.
“Garrett,” she cried out as he stretched her. She began rocking, her body burning with need as he pumped into her.
His lips found hers and he kissed her hungrily as a tremor wracked his body. Primitive need raged inside him and through the thin material on her dress her nipples pressed against his chest, driving his passion to new heights. He increased the tempo, pumping so hard and so deep he feared he was chasing more than an orgasm.
He pounded into her, his groin smashing against hers as the crescendo of their union took him to the edge. She rocked against him, the sweet friction and the unbridled desire in her eyes, buckling his knees. He kept up the frantic rhythm until she threw her head back and cried out in bliss. Her hot juices dripped over his shaft and that’s when he lost it.
“Oh fuck,” he growled, the elevator swaying before his eyes as she bit into his shoulder. He took de
ep gulping breaths as he let himself tumble over the precipice.
He tensed, and his body stilled, reveling in the sensations as he spilled his seed into her. His climax sent ripples onward and upward through his body and somewhere in the back of his mind it occurred to him that he went at her like a rutting animal—an animal marking its territory. Panting, he held her tight and buried his face in her chest as he struggled to fill his lungs with air.
“So good,” he murmured as her sigh of pleasure seeped under his skin. “So fucking good.”
She squeezed her sex around him, milking him like she didn’t want to miss a drop, and that’s when it occurred to him that he’d been so crazed he’d forgotten to use a condom. Even though she was on the pill, and her chances of conceiving were slim, it wasn’t like him to play with fate—twice.
Chapter Nine
The nervous sensation plaguing Tallulah all day had grown into a full-blown case of jitters as the dinner hour approached. It had been close to three weeks since she’d returned home from the wedding, saying a heartfelt goodbye to her family and friends. Her folks weren’t happy to see her go, but were content to know that she was no longer alone in the big city.
If it wasn’t for Garrett things could have gone down so differently for her. Honestly, she couldn’t believe how fond her family had grown of him in only a few short days. Then again he was a very likeable guy and she hated that it was going to hurt everyone when she called to tell them the fake engagement was off.
She thought back to something Garrett had said to her, about her parents backing off and realizing she could make her own decisions when they saw her on the arm of the right man for her. She was well past the point of denying Garrett was that man.
She began pacing, and a shiver moved through her as she reminisced about the way he had taken her hard and fast in the elevator during the wedding reception. She’d never affected a man quite like that before—to the point of losing control—and thinking about how frantic and crazed she could make him, brought a smile to her face.
A noise sounded outside her condo. She pulled the curtains back and spotted Garrett parking his SUV. Wrestling her nerves back into submission, she walked to her door. Trying not to appear anxious, even though she’d been counting down the minutes until he came for her, she wrapped her hand around the knob and waited.
He knocked and she counted another second, then she pulled it open, not knowing how he’d receive her. They might be going to dinner together to impress the Committee, but right here, right now, they had no audience, no one to fool. Would he be all business, or would he want to pick up where they left off?
“Hi,” she said sounding more breathless than she’d like.
He stood on her stoop staring at her longer than was comfortable, his gaze sweeping her black cocktail dress then back up to settle on her face. She fidgeted under his scrutiny, her hand going to her cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”
He laughed. “No, you look beautiful, Tallulah.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I love it when you blush.”
“I’m not blushing,” she said.
His eyes narrowed, and he put his hand on her forehead. “No. Then you must be flushed. Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m okay.” She was about to move, but his lips closed over hers, preventing her from checking herself in the mirror. The kiss was so passionate, so achingly tender it nearly stopped her heart.
He inched back and it took a moment for her to pull herself together. “What was that for?”
His grin weakened her knees. “I wanted to make sure we still had it.”
“Still had what?”
“The role of the adoring couple nailed down.” He looked past her shoulder, and a strange, melancholy look came over his face as he scanned her home.
“Did you want to come in?”
“I thought it might be good to look around your place before we go. Just to get a better insight in to your life in case there are questions.”
She agreed and he closed the door behind him. He stepped farther into her condo, and as his presence overwhelmed the small space, she thought about how good he looked in his dark suit. How good he looked in her home.
“You’ve been working.” His gaze honed in on the notes and papers strewn across her coffee table.
“I have my final interview tomorrow for the director’s position. I want to be prepared.”
The hard angles of his face softened. “You’ll get it, Tallulah. I can feel it in my gut.”
She nodded, then gave him a tour of her place. When they reached her bedroom, he stood outside the door and once again she caught that same strange look on his face.
“You have a nice home,” he said, his voice dropping an octave.
“Where do you live, Garrett?” It occurred to her that they should visit his place before meeting with the Committee, so she could gain better insight into his life as well. Then again, he likely lived in a typical bachelor pad in the downtown core.
“Out in Jamieson Park.”
Okay, that surprised her. “In suburbia?”
He shrugged. “When I was away I sent money home to help with things, but Mom banked it and she insisted I use it for a down payment on a house.”
Grinning, Tallulah led him back down the hall to the front foyer. “Ah, I think it’s her way of trying to tell you she wants grandkids.”
“That will be up to Jenny and Ving,” he said, looking a bit uncomfortable as he checked his watch. “We should go.”
She grabbed her purse, and followed him outside. They made small talk as they made their way to the country club, where mingling and dinner would follow.
She thought about the role she’d be stepping into once again, and how surprisingly natural it felt to her now. Of course, Garrett was easy to be around, and played his part to perfection, which made it that much more effortless for her. Garrett suddenly swerved his vehicle to avoid a pothole and a wave of nausea gripped her stomach. She drew in a deep breath and slowly blew it back out. Sweat beaded on her upper lip. She pressed her finger there, and turned her face toward the window. Watching the scenery fly by as they made their way to the outskirts of town only added to the nausea.
“You okay?” he asked, breaking the quiet.
“My stomach is funny. I think I might be a bit nervous.”
“You have nothing to worry about. They’re going to love you. And once they see that I’m stable, settling down with a beautiful daycare teacher—soon to be director—I’ll be a shoo-in for the job.”
She was about to ask what was really behind the Committee’s worries when he turned the SUV to the right and pulled into the parking lot of the country club.
He squeezed her hand. “There’s one thing we need to do before we go.”
“What’s that?” He reached in to his glove box. “Oh,” she said when he opened a velvet box to present her with a beautiful diamond.
“I picked it up today.”
Her heart went in to her throat, and then she swallowed, forgetting this wasn’t real. “Garrett, it’s…it’s beautiful.” She held her hand up, and wiggled the silver band on her ring finger. “But I really love this one,” she explained, knowing his father’s band held so much more meaning.
He pulled the silver band off her finger and replaced it with the diamond. “Yeah, but you should have a proper ring. Even your mother thought so.”
“I did have a proper ring.”
He went quiet for a moment, then said, “A stable guy gives his fiancée a proper engagement ring. If we’re going to pull this off with this Committee, we have to pay attention to detail. It’s what they’d expect from a guy trying to head up the new alarm response team.”
“Right.” She gave herself a quick lecture on what was real and what wasn’t, as she held the ring out to look at it. “It really is beautiful.”
“Okay, let’s do this.”
The short walk through the parking lot to the country club gave her time to gather
her nerves. Garrett placed his big hand on the small of her back and guided her out back to the huge veranda overlooking the lake. All around her people mingled, and when a waiter came by with a glass of champagne she graciously accepted. Although after the first sip, her nausea returned tenfold.
“Garrett, my boy, there you are,” a middle-aged man said and stuck his hand out for a hard shake.
“Dave, this is Tallulah Duncan, my fiancée. Tallulah, this is Dave MacLeod, my boss.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dave.” Tallulah offered him a warm smile as she fought back the queasiness clawing at her throat.
“Well, well, now what’s this all about?” Dave asked, his curious gaze bobbing back and forth between the two of them. “When did you get engaged?”
Tallulah leaned in to Dave and in a conspiratorial voice said, “You know Garrett, privacy is his number one concern and he’s completely overprotective of me.”
Dave nodded. “He does practice what he preaches.”
“Which is why he’s so good at his job,” she added, falling into easy conversation with his boss. She held her hand out and displayed the huge rock as Garrett gave her a squeeze of approval. “He kept me all to himself until he put this big thing on my finger.”
Dave laughed and she felt Garrett relax beside her. “Well I can’t blame him for wanting to keep you all to himself. But now that you’re here, come meet my wife and let’s all get to know each other.”
As Dave led her to a group of women, who were all chatting as they shaded themselves from the late afternoon sun, he cast her a curious glance and asked, “Tallulah, what do you do for a living?”
“I work at Stepping Stone Daycare.”
“No kidding.” A huge smile showcased the fine lines around his mouth. “My grandson goes there. It’s a great place.”
Her eyes widened as she put it together. “Trevor MacLeod?”
“Yes,” he said beaming.
“He’s a great kid.” She grinned conspiratorially. “Lot’s of energy.”
Dave laughed. “That’s a nice way of saying he’s a little hellion.”
