by Allie Kay
He opened the passenger door and tossed a couple books into the backseat. The books intrigued me. He stepped back and held the door for me while I got in, like a perfect gentleman. The car dipped slightly when he settled his big frame into the driver’s seat.
When my tummy rumbled out an embarrassing reminder that I hadn’t eaten dinner, Sean swung the car into the next shopping center.
"Steak or seafood?"
"I can wait." I didn't want to inconvenience him any more than I already had. He repeated his question and waited for me to respond. When it became clear we weren't moving until he'd made sure I ate, I finally mumbled, "Steak."
His actions when we entered the steakhouse reminded me again why I liked him. He held doors and helped me into my chair; guys my age didn't do those things. He treated me like I mattered. His past wasn't important. He'd obviously made a lot of changes in his life and those changes made him a better person, a good person.
In his presence, I felt appreciated. Cared for. Wanted. No guy I’d dated before had ever made me feel this way. Caleb sure as hell never had. Not even at the beginning, when things were good between us.
Conversation at dinner started with his club, then ranged widely. We found many common interests. He quit telling jokes when I accidentally inhaled soda, his eyes sparkling with mirth at my reaction. His sense of humor was wicked and when he let out that deep, rumbling laugh I couldn't help but join in. I’d already been seriously attracted to him prior to tonight, but the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted him.
I sighed. The one guy I'd give a chance after Caleb... Of course, he doesn't want to date.
After dinner, Sean swung by his apartment to pick up the book he'd promised to lend me. It was a tiny one-bedroom in a rough area of town with a minuscule balcony off the dining area. Very few pictures or paintings hung on the wall and there were no knick-knacks sitting around. There were, however, piles and piles of books, on every flat surface, including the floor. Stacks of paperbacks, hardbacks, even what appeared to be comic books. I giggled. Maybe he was a better match for me than he realized.
14
Sean
"You find my apartment amusing?" I asked. I looked around, trying to see my place as she might see it. A little cluttered, but at least it was mostly clean.
"It looks more like a library in here than an apartment." Talia chuckled. "And truthfully, like my bedroom. I'm a book collector too."
I relaxed some and looked around for that book to lend her. Seeing the spark in her eye, I encouraged her to pick out some more books. Hell, I’d give her all my books if she would keep smiling at me.
Shit.
There it was. One kiss and she had me whipped.
Bringing her back to my apartment was not my brightest idea. I’d never be able to resist her if I kept doing that crap. She'd agreed we could only be friends, that my reasons made sense. We were on the same page.
Then why was this so damn hard?
She flopped down on the couch flipping through one of my books. Her teeth gnawed at her lower lip in concentration and I hardened, watching her lose herself in the novel. Who knew a woman reading could be so damn arousing?
Fuck.
It took all that I had in me to not sweep her into my arms, throw her on my bed, and give her a better reason to bite that pretty lip. My hands balled into fists with the effort of not reaching for her.
"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. You bring me over to your place and I completely ignore you!" Talia sat up and flushed in embarrassment.
"It's okay. Scoot over, let me sit down." I should move the basket of laundry in the chair. Sitting next to her was probably the second stupidest idea I’d had today. But I couldn't make myself sit over there alone.
My hands itched to hold her.
She laid the book on the coffee table and watched me. I stretched an arm out behind her and asked her what she'd read lately, hoping some conversation would help ease the tightness in my jeans. She smiled and kicked her shoes off. Tucking her feet up under my thigh, her eyes twinkled when she responded. The book she'd just finished, I had read a few months back. We had a lively discussion about it while I ignored the spark of passion in her eyes. Well, tried to. More than once, I found myself reaching for her. My fists clenched so many times they ached. But I wouldn't give in.
I wouldn't allow myself to pull her into my arms again.
My phone buzzed—Jack giving me the end counts for the evening. Damn, it was two a.m. and we’d been talking for hours. I fought down the urge to ask her to spend the night and insisted on driving her home. She protested, but her yawns agreed that it was time. I drove her home with her smiling sleepily at me the entire time and then walked her up to her door, a bag of books in one hand.
"Thanks for the books. And dinner. I… I had a good time." She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me for a hug goodbye.
I couldn't stop myself from pulling her against me and I brought a gentle hand up to cup her cheek. With my forehead pressed to hers, I whispered, "Goodbye." I held her close for a moment, inhaling her sweet scent, before releasing her.
The breeze kicked up and her hair tickled across my face, and those sweet pink lips tempted me to kiss her again. But I’d just told her we couldn't date. And I was going to stand by that. I forced myself to remove my hand from her waist, to stop caressing her jaw.
And I damn well went home alone.
15
Talia
The leather stool swiveled beneath me. I watched while Sean poured drinks and women poured on the charm when he took their orders. I’d spent two evenings this week at Garden so far. Sean only occasionally took a night off, but I wanted to see him badly enough tonight to hang out here at the club.
When I left work tonight, there had been another note stuck under the wiper on my car. No picture this time. A scrap of paper with teeny cramped handwriting. I almost hadn’t seen it. Only the contrast of the tiny white against the dark of the evening had caught my eye. My skin crawled at the thought of it. It was probably Caleb. The writer referred to Sean as a bad boy wannabe and devolved into crude sexual innuendos I didn't want to even repeat. I’d shredded the already tiny note and sped away from the strip mall like zombies chased me.
The past couple of weeks had been mind-blowing. Sean had opened up some, letting me see the man he was now, but he remained tight-lipped about his past. Not a day passed without us speaking, even if only on the phone. He often initiated contact for the day. Even though he seemed to enjoy our conversations, he still blew hot and cold on showing physical interest in me. Some days, Sean let me hold his hand, steal a hug, and I would bet money that he wanted more. His smoldering gaze would heat me, body and soul, until I prayed he would kiss me. Other days, he refused even the briefest of hugs.
Sean could flash a crooked grin at me and I’d melt. When he smiled, I found it hard to ignore the attraction between us, and oh dear God, was I attracted to him. I found myself daydreaming about kissing him again or often, doing more than kissing. More than once I’d referred to Sean as my boyfriend and had to backtrack. Our relationship was like dating without the physical aspect.
It was nice, in a way, to be able to really get to know him without pressure or expectations. Not that Sean would pressure me. He was Caleb's polar opposite. Where Caleb pushed, Sean stood back and encouraged me. Where Caleb had nothing but criticisms, Sean focused on the positive. I hadn't realized quite how much Caleb had trampled my self-esteem or how much I had retreated into myself, thanks to his treatment. Sean was slowly bringing me out of that shell.
Lost in a little daydream about Sean and his lips on mine at the waterfall, I felt a hand tap my shoulder. I jumped two feet in the air. My heart leapt even higher and raced its way back down. Turning, I saw Zane doubled over, laughing at my reaction. Thank God, it wasn't Caleb.
"Do I want to know what you were thinking about that had you turning that charming shade of pink before you jumped clear outta your skin, little
sister?"
"Shut up, Zane." I kicked at him. The blaze scorching my face burned hotter at his smirk.
"Okay, now I'm sure I don't want to know. Is it about him?" He nodded toward Sean. "Some things a guy just doesn't want to know about his sister," he teased and his hearty laugh fueled my embarrassment. "You working on Saturday?"
"I'm opening, so I have to work until one, why?"
"I'm moving to my own place, remember? No more roommates! Could use some help, if you don't mind," he pleaded desperately, telling me his friends had to work. For some reason, I agreed to come help him and Zane gave me a bone-crushing hug before dancing away.
My giggles over Zane’s antics had yet to subside when Sean strolled over. "Was that your brother?"
"Yeah, he was suckering me in to helping him move on Saturday. You know, we could use a big, strong guy to help carry stuff. Zane said his new place was on the third floor. And you want to help carry furniture up three flights of stairs, all for the privilege of spending a few hours with me, right?"
Sean agreed to help but acted put out about it. I looked forward to seeing him again, if only for a few hours, while we acted as pack mules for my brother.
16
Sean
Talia clasped my hand in her small soft one as she led me across the parking lot. I shouldn't encourage her, but I couldn't bear to dim her eyes with the disappointment I saw whenever I pulled away. Her brother and father stood looking over a loaded pickup. We caught the tail end of an argument as we walked up.
Her father grunted. "That couch is damn heavy and once we go up and down those stairs twenty times with all those little boxes, we're going to be too tired to carry that couch upstairs. I swear the darn thing is made of lead."
Releasing my hand, Talia wrapped her arms around her dad from behind in greeting. "Would it make you feel better if I said I brought someone strong to help with the heavy lifting, Daddy?"
The older man glared as I shook hands with Zane. I turned to the older man and stuck a hand out in greeting. "I'm Sean." Her dad's eyebrow rose but didn't offer his own hand in return. Well, alrighty then. I lowered my hand.
Would it have killed him to be polite?
He crossed his arms over his chest and growled out, “Who the hell is this guy?”
“Daddy, be nice,” Talia prompted. She leaned against me. “This is my friend, Sean. He’s willing to help.”
The older man scowled and said simply, "Sam Richmond."
The overprotective father crap was gonna get old fast. The air between us held a negative vibe. Clearly, Sam Richmond was unhappy to see me anywhere near him and his beautiful daughter.
Zane broke the tension. "Okay, Dad, we will do it your way. Sean, think you can handle one end of the couch while Dad and I get the other? I didn't realize how heavy it is until Dad and I were loading it by ourselves. I, for one, am glad you are here."
I nodded and the three of us pulled the couch off the truck. Talia tried to help, but she’d be underfoot when we went up the stairs. "Just grab a box and stay out of the way, will you? Let us get the couch."
Zane snickered, but he didn't comment until Talia stomped up the stairs ahead of us. "You are a brave man, Sean. Brave, I say. You haven't seen her temper yet, have you? She acts all sweet and shy, but she's a little hellion when you piss her off. And I think you may have done just that."
Sam chuckled at Zane's words, but didn't say anything as we carried the weighty couch up, pausing at each landing to angle it around the support posts in the breezeway.
Once we got it to the landing of the third floor, I could see Talia standing with her arms crossed outside the locked door of her brother's apartment. She tapped her foot impatiently. Crap, Zane was right. I was in trouble.
Where'd that spirit go when she was dating that asshat Caleb?
We eased the couch down next to the door and Zane dug the keys out of his pocket to unlock the door. Shoving past her brother, Talia snatched up her box and stomped inside.
Sam laughed out loud. "Yup, she's mad."
I sighed and shook my head. Well, at least I’d made her dad laugh even if it was because I’d pissed Talia off. The heavy couch put up a hell of a fight going through the door. We finally battled it through and had to take a minute to catch our breath. The crashes and bangs coming from the kitchen made Sam and Zane both snicker. I winced at the hard clink of glass to wood. To get an echo of that volume, she had to have put some force behind it.
Zane elbowed me, mock-whispering, "Good luck."
When the other men started back down the stairs to grab some boxes, I followed the noise to Talia. She had her back to me, and I watched as she slammed the cabinet door with such force it rattled.
"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you out there," I murmured. As I laid a hand on the small of her back, she tensed at my touch.
"You said I’d be in your way. Do I look like a child? Or maybe you think I am too stupid to get out of the way?" Her eyes flashed in anger as she spun to face me.
"Now, I never said that. I didn't want you to get hurt, that's all."
"I thought you were different, Sean. Caleb always treated me like I was too stupid to breathe on my own, and I won't go through that again. I can't."
"Sunshine, I really didn't mean it like that. I should have phrased it differently. I can see that now. I'm sorry." I didn't get how I’d called her stupid, but I enjoyed seeing this side of her. I’d have to piss her off more often if she'd look at me like that. It was a heck of a turn-on for her to be confident enough to stand up to me after Caleb. I liked my women to have some spunk. Damn, she was gorgeous when all worked up. I wondered if her eyes filled with such fire when she made love.
I moved closer and she retreated in response until she bumped into the counter. Tilting forward and placing my hands on the granite next to her hips, I surrounded Talia with my arms. I whispered low in her ear, "Anyone ever told you how stunning you are when you are mad? Your eyes are sparkling and so damn expressive. You're really making me forget that we need to be just friends."
I nuzzled her throat, inhaling her sweet scent. Her hands reached up to fiddle with the button placket on my shirt. When she leaned toward me, I knew she'd forgiven me. She shuddered and I pulled back to look at her. When she licked her lips, I couldn't take it anymore. Fuck being friends. I needed to taste her again. Groaning, I bent my head toward hers. A mere second—second!—before my lips touched hers Zane kicked the door open and walked in with another fucking box.
That brother of hers had to be the biggest cock-block ever.
Cursing under my breath, I jerked away from Talia.
Zane walked over hissing, "Did you just kiss my sister? Dad will flip his lid if he sees that, man. You better watch it."
"I didn't kiss her," I replied in all seriousness.
"Well, whether you did or not, it sure as heck looked that way. You jumped away and her hands dropped down from your chest. Definitely looked like a kiss, or at least an almost-kiss to me."
I grinned over at Talia before putting her brother in a headlock. I dragged Zane out of the apartment without another word. Sometimes the easiest way to shut someone up was a physical distraction.
17
Talia
I watched as Dad came back in lugging a heavy box labeled "kitchen." Stepping aside, he watched the two younger men roughhouse their way out of the apartment. He sat his box on the counter and turned a questioning gaze toward me.
"You okay?" His gruff voice was filled with concern. While he definitely leaned far past the over protective line, he really did love me.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Daddy." I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around him for a big hug.
Shaking his head, my dad said, "I can't believe he managed to slither out of that fight. You are so much like your mother; I expected one heck of an explosion."
I had been pissed, but when Sean got so close I couldn't stay mad. I couldn't do anything but pray he'd kiss me. "It was a misunderstanding. He didn
't mean it the way I took it. We're good now."
"Well, he sure figured out how to diffuse that temper faster than I did," Daddy told me with a snort. "Took me damn near a year to figure it out with your mother. Why's he here anyway?”
"We're just friends, Dad. I was teasing you. Geez, lighten up!" I had to take a deep breath. I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice. While not friendly with Sean, my dad had remained calm today and they had to start somewhere. I didn't want to mess that up by pissing him off. My dad hadn't warmed to Sean yet, but I hoped he would in time.
Our conversation trailed off when Zane and Sean came back. The two men were deep in conversation as they trekked back up the stairs with the last few boxes.
"I can only spare a couple hours. I need to be at Garden by about four."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should lay off the booze a bit. I mean, you do spend most of your time in a bar."
"Got bills to pay."
"Which would be easier if you didn't spend all your money on alcohol."
Sean just shook his head. But he was smiling, so he clearly didn't mind the teasing.
I couldn't keep the smile off my face, seeing Sean and Zane goof around. My brother had never liked Caleb—was barely even polite to Caleb. But he was getting along great with Sean. I considered that a good sign. If only my dad would come around.
"Yeah, man, it would be great if you could help us get the bed and some of the other furniture up here. Leave the small boxes, I can get them myself. Some of my furniture is pretty big. I think the couch was the worst of it, though."
Mom called then to say she was on her way over. When the men left to pick up another load, I stayed behind to unpack and wait for her. That gave me some much-needed time alone to think.
