Silver Shield Security Box Set

by Dee Bridgnorth

  Drew thought about his parents whom he hadn’t seen in a couple of years. They talked on the phone; he made sure he called them at least twice a month, like a dutiful son. But he hadn’t been back home since that incident. It was not just that it was uncomfortable, and it was that. But it had been devastating. Going back meant facing the events that altered the course of his life.

  Yeah, he was just fine staying away from certain places and people.

  He didn’t care what she said, some situations were just too painful to accept, especially when family was involved.

  Well, she needed to brace herself then. They were approaching the farm.

  “Is your mom expecting me?”

  “Yeah, I told her I was bringing a friend,” Janey replied with a slight frown. She caught her lip between her teeth as they turned off the road unto a driveway.

  Drew’s attention was arrested. He wanted to stop the car and kiss her right then. The urge was quite overwhelming, so he took a deep breath to calm himself, then forced his gaze back on the road.

  “What are you worried about?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I’m fully prepared.”

  He snorted. If she was fully prepared, then the Pope was not Catholic. He made up his mind to look out for her. Normally, he didn’t interfere with family dynamics, he was just not that kind of person. But he was prepared to set aside that rule for Janey. Something about her roused his protective instincts, and as her friend, he would do what he could to make sure she stayed safe.

  Chapter Seven

  Nothing could have prepared Janey for Sunday dinner that week. She looked around the table and took in everyone seated there. Her dad was there, even though watching him struggle with the spoon was very painful for Janey. Then there was her mom, shooting her disapproving glances as usual. Nothing new there. Her brothers and their spouses were there, studiously doing their best to ignore her, except for Melissa and Bianca. The former she didn’t mind, but she would give anything to have Bianca ignore her. Drew was seated across the table from Janey and seated right by her side, was Mark.

  She had cornered her mom as soon as she’d noticed that Mark had come for dinner.

  “Mom, why is he here?”

  Janey was not in the habit of confronting her mother directly, at least not since she left high school, so Daphne Moore was taken aback.

  “He’s your fiancé. When you said you were coming with someone, I assumed it was him.”

  “Ex-fiancé and what did I ever say to give you the impression that I was coming with him, Mother?”

  “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady!” Daphne scolded.

  Janey stopped short of rolling her eyes. “Mom, he broke up with me,” she felt the need to remind her.

  “Yes, and he wants you back. Why do you have to be so stubborn about this?”

  There was no reasoning with her mother and Janey had quickly given up. She had introduced Drew to everyone around and though her brothers had been cold at first, they were gradually warming up towards him.

  “Why would you come all the way to this outback just for Janey here?” Bianca asked.

  Janey focused her attention on her food and tried to ignore Bianca. She never gave up an opportunity to take a dig at Janey, but she was used to it already.

  “Actually, Janey and I are seeing each other.”

  Janey froze. She was grateful that she hadn’t put anything in her mouth yet or she would have choked.

  She cast side glances around the table and almost chuckled at the arrested expressions on the faces of those seated. All, except her dad, who was smiling.

  “What?”

  “Really?”

  “When did that happen?”

  Everyone spoke at once.

  “We met in Chicago and I found her irresistible.”

  She lifted her gaze to his and found him watching her. He looked into her eyes and she almost believed what he was saying.

  “Janey? Seriously?”

  That was Bianca and Janey caught a slight frown on her mother’s face before it disappeared. That was interesting.

  Drew turned to look at Bianca. “Janey has a natural beauty that no amount of makeup can do justice to, but more than that, she is honest and loyal. There’s nothing fake about her.”

  Janey glanced at Bianca with her fake eyelashes and perfectly made up face and felt bad for her.

  “That’s our Janey!” Melissa said with a huge grin.

  “Well, better get her a leash then. She has the tendency to run off whenever it suits her.”

  “Liam!” Melissa said in outrage.

  Janey felt her face flood with color. She had suddenly lost her appetite.

  Drew smiled slightly. “Janey doesn’t need a leash. She knows I’ll follow her wherever she goes.”

  “Real man.”

  All eyes swung towards their father. It was the first time he’d spoken that day, but there was no mistaking the light of approval in his eyes when he looked at Drew.

  Janey smiled in gratitude.

  “This is ridiculous! She is engaged to me!”

  “Oh, did you not call off the wedding?” Drew asked politely, a look of concern on his face.

  “Well, maybe I did, but…but, that doesn’t mean anything. I want her back.”

  “We don’t always get what we want, Mark,” Janey felt compelled to speak up.

  She looked at Drew and they shared a glance that was filled with mirth. She knew she should be upset with him for what he did, but she could not help finding it funny.

  “And this…this beefcake is what you want?” he spluttered.

  Janey knew it was inappropriate, but she cast her mind back to the single night of mind-blowing sex she’d had with Drew months ago. Just thinking about it was getting her hot and bothered. Her gaze clashed with Drew’s and she just knew he was thinking about the same thing. She felt her face heat up.

  “Janey.”

  She turned her attention to Mark. “Yes, Mark. He is exactly what I want.”

  “Aww!” Melissa had a huge grin on her face.

  Mark’s face muscles tightened and he turned to Drew, anger written all over his face. “I don’t know what you see in her.”

  Janey gasped, Bianca giggled. But it was her mom’s reaction that stunned her. She sat up straighter in her chair and gave Mark a piercing look.

  “Care to explain what you mean, Mark?”

  “No offense, Mrs. Moore, but it’s Janey. He looks like he’s used to supermodels and beauty queens, and Janey here is pretty enough, but we all know she’s no supermodel.” He ended on a laugh.

  Janey felt the sting of shame and embarrassment all over. She knew she was no beauty queen, but how could he put her down that way, in front of everyone? And to think she’d been all set to walk down the aisle with this man.

  “How dare you speak that way about my daughter in my home?” Janey’s mother’s voice was cold and icy, but no less potent in its anger.

  Mark blanched. “I…I’m sorry.”

  “Mom…” Janey did not want a scene.

  But Daphne just raised a hand, silencing her daughter. She pinned her gaze on Mark. “You are here at my table, eating my food and you think it’s okay to be derogatory about Janey?” She turned her attention to her daughter. “Janey, is this how he’s been treating you? No, wait, no need to answer. Mark, I accepted you into my home because of Janey. You are no longer welcome here. Leave now.”

  Her words sent shock ripples around the table.

  “You’re asking me to leave?” Mark said in disbelief.

  Drew stood up and moved his arms in a way that got his muscles rippling. He turned to Janey’s mom, “May I?”

  “No need for that, I’m leaving.” Mark got up hurriedly. Before he left he turned to Janey. “You know I’m never taking you back after this?”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Janey said.

  With a scowl on his face, he walked out.

  After Mark left, speeding o
ff in anger, there was an uncomfortable silence. Then Daphne turned to Drew, her expression pleasant.

  “Tell us about yourself, Drew. What do you do?”

  The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. Even Bianca thought twice before delivering her usual quips at Janey. And for the first time since her brothers began giving her the cold shoulder, Janey did not feel bad. She relaxed and spent her time trading banter with Melissa. She asked Teresa about how her kids were doing in school and snuck glances at Drew.

  She still could not believe that her mother had stood up for her. She never had. It was a moment of revelation, one she filed away to bring out later for examination.

  **

  Drew glanced at Janey. She’d been really quiet since they left her parents’ farm.

  “A penny for those thoughts,” he said at last.

  She looked at him and smiled. “It was an interesting evening.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can’t believe Mark behaved so badly.”

  “I can’t believe you were engaged to him.” It had been bothering him. Why would a woman as beautiful and talented as Janey settle for someone like that?

  “Yeah, guess I have really bad taste,” she said thoughtfully.

  “Hey! How am I supposed to take that?” he teased.

  She chuckled. “Well, I have bad taste in men, but my fantasy men? I have exceptional taste there.”

  Drew kept his gaze on the road. “Do you fantasize about me?”

  The temperature in the car immediately spiked and the tension suddenly became thick.

  “Janey?” he prompted when she remained silent.

  “Hmm?”

  “Do you fantasize about me? Because I do about you. All my fantasies revolve around you.”

  He parked the vehicle in front of her cottage then turned off the engine. Everywhere was silent, but he could hear her shallow breathing. He took off his seat belt and turned to look at her.

  “Look at me, Janey.”

  She waited a beat then turned her gaze to him. Her pupils were dilated and he could see the passion he felt reflected in her eyes.

  He ran the back of his hand lightly over her face in a gentle caress. She shut her eyes and her lips parted.

  “I’m going to kiss you.”

  Her eyes popped open. She watched him as he lowered his head slowly, giving her enough time to back out if it wasn’t what she wanted. At the last moment, she sighed and leaned forward, closing the gap.

  She slanted her lips over his and kissed him slowly and thoroughly. She kissed like she wanted to remember every single detail about the way he felt and tasted. Drew stilled, kissing her back, but allowing her to set the pace. With a sigh, she shut her eyes, opened her mouth and kissed him without any restraints.

  Her lips were softer than he remembered. As he kissed her, Drew felt something shift inside him. He placed a hand at the back of her neck, drawing her closer. Kissing her deeper. His tongue slipped into her mouth and explored her heat.

  She moaned at the back of her throat and the sound drove him crazy, crashing the walls he thought he’d built. Somehow he freed her of the seat belt and hauled her onto his lap. She sat straddling him, her crotch directly on his erection.

  When she ground her hips, Drew felt like molten lava was flowing through his veins. He broke the kiss and placed his mouth on the sensitive spot on her neck.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” he murmured against her skin.

  Janey moaned.

  Drew kissed her neck, her ear, her face and then went back to her mouth. Kissing Janey was something Drew knew he could easily keep doing for the rest of his life. The kiss was sweet, hungry and everything their first kiss should have been.

  They broke the kiss when they needed to breathe. Drew stared at Janey. The sound of their rapid breathing filled the car and the windows had all steamed up. She looked shell-shocked.

  “It wasn’t a fluke,” she said in a dazed voice.

  “What?”

  “That night at the safe house…? The chemistry... I thought…” She shook her head and said in wonder, “It’s still there.”

  She looked every bit as shaken as he felt. He drew her close and kissed her deep and hard. “I’d wondered,” he admitted. “That night was intense. I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”

  They shared chemistry and it was hotter than hot. It was sizzling. Just feeling her seated on his erection made him swell with need. He grimaced.

  “Oh, sorry. I must be hurting you.”

  Janey tried to move, but Drew held her back. He pulled her closer and rested his face in the crook of her neck. He could feel her trembling and was shocked to discover that he was also shaking.

  They held on to each other, trying to stem the rising tide of passion.

  “We should go inside,” he whispered against her neck.

  “Yeah.” Her voice was hoarse and the need echoed his.

  “I love touching you. Feeling you in my arms. I can’t get enough of this,” he surprised himself by saying.

  “The answer is yes.”

  He pulled back to stare into her eyes. His lips quirked in amusement. “I wasn’t aware I asked a question.”

  “I do fantasize about you. All the time. I can’t stop, even if I wanted to.” She gazed at him and Drew could see the deep emotions swirling in her eyes. “You make me feel something here.” She touched her chest. “I don’t understand it. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”

  Her honesty almost undid him. Drew felt her words sink into his consciousness and soothe the edges of his pain. Pain he’d buried so deep he’d almost forgotten about it. Almost. Yet, Janey’s words brought those long buried emotions to the surface and soothed them.

  Drew thought he couldn’t get any harder, but then he did. He closed his eyes and groaned.

  “You’re killing me, babe.”

  “I’m trembling with need for you,” she admitted breathlessly.

  He opened his eyes. “But?”

  She dropped her gaze, sighed and then lifted her eyes to his once more. What he saw in them caused a thin sliver of anxiety to stick to him. Whatever it was that she wanted to say, he knew instinctively that he was not going to like it.

  And he was right.

  “Drew, the last time, we kind of just rushed into having sex. It was a one-night stand and even though I’d never had one before, I understood the way it worked. Don’t get me wrong, I had and still have no regrets.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t want to have an affair.”

  He frowned. “You’re asking for a relationship?” Drew felt disappointment. He didn’t think she was that type of woman.

  Janey shook her head. She moved off him and went back to her seat, and this time he let her. She glanced at him, her expression earnest.

  “I do want to get married and have children someday. I turned thirty a month ago, I need to be in a serious relationship.”

  “I can’t give you that.”

  She nodded. “I understand that, and I’m not asking it of you. But if I start an affair with you now, I would expect it eventually and when you’re not able to give me what I need, I would end up getting hurt. I don’t want my heart broken and I don’t want to add that guilt to whatever load you already carry.”

  Drew could not believe what she was saying. He ran his hands through his hair in confusion.

  “Wait, you’re rejecting me because you don’t want us to be in a relationship?” It didn’t even make sense.

  “No, I do want to be in a relationship—”

  “Just not with me. I get it.”

  He sat there, looking out the windshield, his body rigid. Rejection. It was such a familiar feeling that he should be used to it by now. He thought of Lucille, the woman he was engaged to marry years ago, before she went off and married his brother while he was out of town. And Ann-Marie? They had eloped and gotten married, then just three months after they’d gotten married
, she’d killed herself.

  Rejection.

  Oh, he knew the sting alright. He had vowed never to get involved again with any woman. He had affairs, but his heart was never involved. If she was not interested, he walked away. No hard feelings. He was not going to give any woman the chance to reject him.

  So what was different about this woman? The question made him uncomfortable.

  “Drew…” Janey said softly.

  Drew gazed at her. “It’s okay, Janey. I understand. C’mon, let’s head inside.”

  Chapter Eight

  Janey knew that she’d made the right decision. So why did she feel so empty? She did not want to have hot, passionate, but meaningless sex—not at this stage of her life. Although, she could do with hot and passionate at that moment.

  It was a crazy situation.

  No other man got her as hot and bothered as Drew did, yet he was the wrong man for her. He was not interested in a relationship, he’d said as much, and she got the feeling that he kept his heart too well protected. She could not keep having sex with someone without developing feelings for that person, and with Drew it would be a one-way ticket to Heartbreak Hotel.

  In the few days since they made out in the car, Janey and Drew had become really good friends. They played board games together and she’d beat him at Monopoly. He helped her out in her garden and they spent a lot of time talking. Although the tension was simmering beneath the surface, Janey found that she enjoyed Drew’s company and was surprisingly comfortable with him.

  He was always the perfect gentleman. Gone was the flirting, the sizzling looks and the unconscious caresses. They were just best buddies.

  It felt like hell.

  The pressure was beginning to affect her work, so even though it was just Thursday, Janey had decided to take the rest of the week off.

  She was in her greenhouse, trying to work off steam. As she tended the orchids, she felt the frustration more keenly than ever. Her body was humming like a tightly wound instrument. She’d never felt this amount of sexual frustration, not even as an adolescent. It was as though Drew had awakened her sex drive, then revved it up to a hundred degrees. Before now, she had actually thought she had none at all.