Not Just Friends (Brookfield)

by Wolfe, Lacey

  A new set of emotions raced through Alyssa. How could he just leave Diane and crawl back to her? Perhaps she was wrong and she didn’t know Matt at all. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I told him I wanted to marry him.”

  “You don’t have to, but he at least needs to be there.”

  “No, he has to marry me. I’m not having a kid out of wedlock. And I know it’s his.”

  Maybe she should’ve thought about that before she lay down with a scumbag. “Give him time.”

  “Time, I don’t have. I need to be married before my stomach starts getting bigger.” She huffed. “Just send him back. Make sure he knows you’ll never take him back then I know he’ll come back.”

  “Why do I matter so much in this?”

  “Don’t be stupid. He still has feelings for you.”

  This was way too much. “If I see him, I’ll make it clear.”

  “Thanks. Well, it was good to talk to you.”

  “Yeah, same here.”

  Her sister ended the call first. Alyssa set the phone down, suddenly not feeling up to going anywhere. She couldn’t quite make sense of this new information. Her sister was pregnant with her ex’s baby. And she had only just learned they were seeing one another. Matt still wanted her and didn’t want Diane.

  Making a rash decision, she picked up her phone and sent a text to Connor.

  Sorry to cancel, but tonight isn’t good.

  Alyssa set the phone down and headed to her room to change into pajamas, prepared to spend the rest of the evening lounging on the couch.

  Chapter Ten

  Connor set the phone down and looked at the food spread he had. He’d stopped by his favorite Thai food place and picked up a bit of everything. How could Alyssa cancel? And why hadn’t she at least called so he could convince her otherwise?

  Connor picked his phone back up and looked at the message again. No, he wasn’t letting her off that easy. He slid the phone into his pocket and got busy packing the food. They were going to share this meal together just as he’d planned. Alyssa was not eating another microwavable meal and locking herself in. He was certain this had to do with the ex and her sister.

  Thirty minutes later he carried a brown bag full of food up the steps to Alyssa’s place. He knocked and waited. He was getting ready to knock again when he heard her voice telling the cat to get out of her way.

  She opened the door, dressed in sweatpants and a big T-shirt. Her hair was up in a messy bun. She looked sexy as hell—and he never thought he’d think that about an outfit like that.

  “Connor, what are you doing here?”

  “I had all this food. I couldn’t eat it all. Figured I’d bring some by.” He held the bag up.

  “You got my message though?”

  “I did. It’s cold out here. Can I come in?”

  She stepped back, letting him enter. He went straight to the kitchen, set the bag down, and began pulling out the Styrofoam containers.

  “It smells good,” she said as she came into the kitchen.

  “It is.”

  She grabbed two plates from the cupboard and set them down. “Thanks for coming over, even though I canceled on you.”

  “I knew you didn’t mean it.” He grinned.

  Once they had their plates filled, they sat down on her couch. Alyssa was quiet as she picked at her food. He hated seeing her upset.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not really. I’m still trying to digest it all myself.”

  “Try.”

  She looked up at him. “You really want to know?”

  “Yes.”

  She shrugged. “Okay. Like I mentioned earlier, apparently Diane and Matt have been seeing one another. On top of no one knowing about it, it turns out Diane is pregnant and Matt walked out on her and came back here because he wants me.”

  “That’s screwed up!”

  “Tell me about it.”

  He set his fork down. “So why are you upset?”

  “I just told you why.”

  “No, you told me how your sister’s life is messed up.” He scooted closer to her. “Last I checked, your life is looking pretty good.”

  “I don’t like knowing my sister might raise that kid on her own.”

  “She won’t. I know you and you’ll be there to help her. But whatever the problems are between her and Matt, they aren’t yours.” Connor took her hand. “They chose the path they’re on. Not you.”

  “It affects me.”

  He shook his head. “Only if you let it.”

  She stared back at him and he wondered if she was going to argue with him. He expected it, actually. As an only child, he knew nothing about siblings and how their life impacted each other’s. But if he thought of it as a friend, then it was as he said. Her sister made this problem, not Alyssa.

  “You’re right,” she whispered. “I let their issues ruin my evening. And I had big plans for tonight.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes. Though now I’m definitely not dressed for the part.”

  “What were your plans?”

  “To seduce you.”

  He swallowed. “Oh, really?”

  Alyssa nodded and his zipper suddenly felt strained. She didn’t need to seduce him in any way. Just knowing she wanted him did enough for him. He’d made the choice to not take her to bed yet, but if she offered herself, could he resist?

  * * * *

  “Maybe I’ll go put on something a little more comfortable,” Alyssa said as she stood.

  Connor busted out laughing. She stared at him, wondering what was so funny. Did he think it was a joke she wanted to seduce him?

  “Why are you laughing?”

  “How much more comfortable are you planning on getting?”

  Her cheeks warmed and she looked down at her oversized sweats. She hadn’t literally meant to get more comfortable. It was something she’d always heard women say in movies. Wasn’t that lingo for I’m going to put on something sexy?

  “I-I…” she stuttered.

  Connor reached out and pulled her back to him so she was in his lap. “I know what you meant and I want you to know that you don’t need to put on anything special for me.”

  “But I can’t possibly seduce you in what I’m wearing.”

  “Do you feel what’s pressing into you?”

  Alyssa froze a moment and then felt the hardness between her legs. He had an erection and she looked like complete crap. What the heck was the matter with this man? “That’s about me?”

  “Yes, Alyssa, that’s about you. Everything about you turns me on. You don’t need to put on some negligee—although that would turn me on too—but don’t feel like that’s what you have to do.” He ran his hand down the length of her arm. “Just knowing what’s underneath this T-shirt gets me going.”

  “It does?”

  Connor nodded.

  “Want to see?”

  Hell yes! “Only if that’s what you want. I’m not here for sex.”

  She chewed her bottom lip and wondered if she should do it or not. Taking a deep breath, she reached down and pulled her shirt up over her head and dropped it to the floor. She wore a simple white bra, not something sexy from Bare Necessities.

  Connor didn’t seem to mind. He traced the top of her bra cup with one finger. “Beautiful.”

  “Yeah?”

  He leaned forward and replaced his finger with his lips. He kissed her lightly and it drove her mad.

  “Do you like that?” he asked.

  She nodded, not able to find the words to respond.

  His lips returned to her skin. Her body arched and she hoped that at any moment he would push the cup down and take her breasts into his hot mouth. But then his hand came around, taking her by the back of her head. He pulled her to him and his lips devoured hers.

  His tongue thrust in and he wasn’t gentle. His hands roamed all over her body while she gripped his shoulders, trying to steady herself. Her body was on fi
re.

  She pulled away from the kiss. “Take me, please.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes! I’m having all these desires I’ve never felt before and I need you to be in me.”

  Connor wrapped his arms around her and picked her up. He carried her through the small apartment until they were in her room. He laid her down on the soft comforter.

  Alyssa reached up and yanked him by the shirt until he fell on top of her.

  He laughed. “We have all night.”

  “Good, that means we can do this several times. But at this moment, I need it now.”

  “I like this side of you.”

  “Kiss me and stop talking.”

  Connor obliged and Alyssa lost all thoughts. Within a matter of minutes, they both had their clothes off, the sheets pulled back, and protection in hand. As Connor nudged her legs open and prepared to enter Alyssa, he asked, “Are you sure?”

  “Oh yes. You have no idea how many times I’ve fantasized about this.”

  Leaning forward, Connor claimed her lips and thrust in.

  * * * *

  Alyssa heard someone cough and the sound of a zipper. She rubbed her eyes before opening them, only to see it was still dark. Rolling over, she felt the other side of the bed, but no one was there.

  “Connor,” she called.

  “I’m here,” he said from across the room.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’ve got to leave. I need to get home and shower before I go into the office.”

  “Oh.”

  Connor came over and sat on the edge of the bed. “I tried not to wake you. I planned on leaving you a note.”

  “That’s probably good. I might have thought the worst.”

  He laughed slightly. “Don’t think that way.”

  She would try not to. It was easy to think someone as attractive as Connor would only use her for one night. After all, he’d never been a relationship type of guy. Her gut flopped when that thought hit her. Sure, Connor claimed he really liked her, but how did she know he didn’t do this with all women? She couldn’t let herself get caught up in this. Otherwise she was going to end up with a badly broken heart. She’d already experienced that once. She wasn’t looking to do it again.

  “I hope you have a good day at work,” she said softly.

  “I’d much rather take the day off with you, but I have a few meetings today.”

  “I don’t want to hold you up.”

  Connor leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Can I call you today?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “I’ll talk to you soon.”

  The weight of his body leaving the bed caused a sadness to hit her. She’d had an incredible evening with him. And now it had come to an end. Pulling the covers up above her head, she rolled back over and nuzzled her face into the pillow he’d used. The familiar scent of him met her senses and she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

  Chapter Eleven

  Setting the coffee down on Cody’s desk, Alyssa gazed at her brother. “You don’t think we need to do anything?”

  “Diane created this problem and she can fix it.”

  “Family just doesn’t abandon one another,” she argued.

  “I don’t understand, Alyssa. Everything you two have been through and you want to swoop in and help her? You two got in a stupid fight and she stole your boyfriend.”

  “But there is an innocent baby involved.”

  Cody grunted. “We’ll do what we can, okay? But I’m not going out of my way for her. Obviously, she chased him off, or he wouldn’t be here.”

  Alyssa nodded. Cody had a point. “Let’s just find Matt and see if we can get him to go back.”

  “You know men don’t like people interfering in their relationships. Besides, you’re the only one who’s seen him. We’ve been keeping an eye out for him.”

  “Connor saw him.”

  Cody shook his head. “That still going well?”

  Alyssa thought back to the night before when they’d been between her sheets exploring one another. “Yup, for now.”

  “I don’t want any details.”

  Alyssa stood and grabbed her own coffee. “I’m not giving any. Anyway, perhaps we can find Matt together and you and I can sit down and talk with him. In the meantime, why don’t you call Diane?”

  “I feel like staying out of this drama.”

  “Too late. You were blessed with two sisters.”

  “Blessed?”

  Alyssa laughed. “You bet. See ya, Cody. I’m heading to the grocery store. I’m out of microwavable meals.”

  A few hours later, Alyssa finally pulled around the back of The Reading Corner. She had decided to stop by the hair salon and add a little style to her hair. She then got a manicure and finally found her way to the local grocery store. Once she got her groceries put away, she would go down to the shop to work on the truck order as well as start putting up the advertisements for the author visit this coming weekend.

  From the backseat, she removed the two bags she had and then started her path toward the stairs. As she climbed them, a feeling washed over her. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but something was off.

  She glanced around before putting her key in the lock. Nothing appeared to be off. She shrugged and went inside her apartment. As a precaution, she locked the door. Setting the bags down on the counter, Alyssa walked around her apartment, looking for anything that might explain the bad feeling she was having. Nothing.

  She was being silly. That’s all there was to it. Alyssa began putting the food away but couldn’t shake that something wasn’t right. If it wasn’t here at her home, perhaps it was the bookstore.

  Alyssa unlocked the door that led to The Reading Corner and went down the steps to the store. She entered the darkened shop and her gut feeling went on high alert. She checked the front to see if she’d been robbed, but everything looked fine.

  The aisles were clear, but then she noticed it. In the back corner…the kid corner where bean bags and comfy chairs were located, she saw a man. He was lying down and she swore he was snoring. She didn’t want to get close enough to see who it was. So instead, she tiptoed back up to her apartment and called Cody.

  Ten minutes later several cop cars arrived. She went down the steps of the fire escape and met her brother outside.

  “Is the man still in there?” Cody asked.

  “I think so. I stayed in my apartment and kept the door dead bolted.”

  “Smart.” He looked back at another officer and then asked Alyssa, “Got the key?”

  She unlocked the door. The officers, guns in hand, entered her store. She stayed outside and watched as they surrounded whoever the man was. Cody was the first to put his gun in his holster and gestured at the other men to do the same.

  Alyssa stepped through the door to get a good look as Cody helped the man up.

  Matt?

  What in the world was Matt doing sleeping in her store? Alyssa approached the officers.

  “What’s going on?” she demanded.

  “Alyssa, you need to step back. You’re interfering,” Cody warned.

  “Interfering? This is my store!”

  “Please.”

  Alyssa crossed her arms and stepped back.

  Cody returned to questioning Matt. “You are aware this is breaking and entering, correct?”

  “I didn’t think Alyssa would mind. I didn’t mean to scare her.” Matt looked at her with a pleading expression.

  “She didn’t know you were here. Did you not think to tell her?”

  “If I asked, she would’ve said no. So I kinda went around that step.”

  Alyssa rolled her eyes.

  Cody stepped back and told one of the other officers to continue the questioning. He came over to Alyssa. “Do you want to press charges?”

  She shrugged.

  “It’s up to you ultimately. He did break into your store. However, he didn’t steal anything. I don�
�t think he had anywhere to stay. This is a family matter, really.”

  “Then call Diane and tell her to come down here and bail him out of jail.”

  Cody groaned. “Do you really want to get him arrested? Just this morning you wanted to help Diane. How is this going to do that?”

  “I don’t know.” Her arms fell to her sides. “Just get him out of here. No charges.”

  Cody nodded and went back to Matt. Alyssa rubbed her arms and walked out front. She needed some air. This whole situation was just weird. She didn’t quite understand what was going on. Someone wasn’t telling the truth somewhere. All she knew was that she needed answers in order to get back to her life.

  Her cell phone vibrated in her back pocket. She removed it and saw it was Connor. “Hey.”

  “How is your day going?” he asked in a cheerful tone.

  “Horrible.”

  “Why?”

  “You really want to know?” Heck she didn’t want to know.

  “Of course.”

  “I was having a normal day, errands and such. But when I got home, something felt off. I can’t explain it. After searching my apartment, I didn’t find anything. So I decided to come down to the shop. I found a man sleeping in here. I called the cops and it turns out it was Matt.”

  “What? How did he get in and why?”

  “I still don’t know this. Cody and I are going to sit down with him and see what’s going on.”

  “Need me to come down there?”

  She grinned. “That’s very sweet of you, but I think we’ve got it under control.”

  “I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. It could’ve been much worse.”

  “Let’s not think about that.”

  Cody motioned her from the door.

  “Cody needs me. I’ve got to go.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  Alyssa pressed the end button and joined her brother.

  “I’m taking Matt back to my place,” Cody told her.

  “Can you do that?”

  “I talked to the sheriff, Seth, and he’s fine with it. Less paperwork this way. Come on by when you’re ready and we’ll get to the bottom of all of this.”