by Leah Holt
And her body. . . fuck that body of hers was enough to drive any man crazy. She had curves on top curves. Her ass jiggled in the cutest way when she was walking, her legs were lean and strong, wrapping my waist perfectly.
She hadn't noticed me in the window, so I decided to just let her finish up before I tried to talk to her. I felt bad for being so cold to her, I was an asshole and she didn't deserve that.
I just wanted her to see what I could. I wanted her to imagine the people that could fill up her shop if they had to walk by it every night to get home, the new eyes for her work, the new money that could flood through her door.
When she shot it down, making it sound like it was nothing more than a flashy idea, it pissed me off. If there was one thing I knew, it was people and how they worked, it was business and the growth new developments could bring.
And then I realized that as much as she needed the money, it didn't mean everything in her eyes. There was something in her voice, a softness that made me understand she had more on her plate than what I was seeing.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Glory was facing the door to lock it up. She still hadn't noticed me standing a few feet away with my hands tucked in my pockets.
“Hey, it looks good in there.”
Jumping, she threw her hand to her chest and sighed loudly. “Holy shit, you scared me. Don't do that, don't sneak up on me like that.”
“Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.”
“Startle me? You know what happened, you didn't just startle me, you scared the shit out of me. You're lucky I didn't kick you in the balls right off the bat.” Shaking her head, she rechecked the door to make sure it was locked, then turned to face me, crossing her arms protectively. “What are you doing here?”
Her tone was so flat, slicing a small piece of my heart off. Cringing to myself, I knew what she was thinking, what she was feeling, what she thought about me. . .
I'm an asshole.
“I came to see if you needed help, but you were basically done, so. . .” Arching her brows, she waited for me to continue. “I waited out here.”
“Right, okay.” Adjusting the bags on her arms, she started to walk past me. “I haven't heard from you in three days.”
Dragging my hand through my hair, I held the back of my neck. “I know, I'm sorry. I just, I had to figure some shit out.”
Glory kept walking, her eyes set forward. She didn't respond, simply brushing by me with her bag, her feet hitting the pavement hard.
Standing still, I wasn't sure what I was waiting for. Was I waiting for an invitation to walk at her side? Was I waiting for her to give me a look that told me it was alright to follow her?
I didn't have a fucking clue what was going through her head. But the longer I stood there, the further away from me she was getting.
“Hey, wait!” I called out, jogging up beside her. “Let me make it up to you, let me take you out for dinner.”
“No, I don't think so.” Shimmying her bag higher up her shoulder, she shook her head, her lips pursed tight.
She still wouldn't look at me, refusing to let her eyes connect with mine.
Grabbing her forearm, I forced her to turn and face me. “Let's start over, how about that?” Trailing my fingertips up and down her arm, I titled my head a hair. “I was a big fucking jerk, I know. I want to make it up to you.”
“You're right, you were a big fucking jerk.” Her eyes drifted around my face, circling my lips, gliding over my cheeks and dropping to my chest. “Why should I let you? Give me one good reason that I shouldn't walk away and forget you instead.”
“Because you won't ever be able to forget me. You and I both know that.” Curling my arm around her back, I tugged her into my chest.
She didn't resist, she didn't try to pull away. Glory allowed herself to fall into my arms, her head dropping back, eyes settling on mine.
“And I know I'll never be able to forget you.” Swooping my hands around her cheeks, I kissed her.
I kissed her because that was all I really wanted to do. I kissed her because it was the only thing that felt right in my life. I kissed her because we felt so perfect together.
Her lips were tempered, parting slowly as she gave in, accepting the feelings between us.
It was strange to know something without ever speaking the words. To know that two things fit so perfectly together when they have nothing in the past to connect them.
We were strangers, but in my mind, in my heart and soul, she was the missing link to who I was.
Pulling away slowly, Glory lifted her fingers to her lips and touched them gently. “So, dinner you said?”
“Yeah, dinner.” Thumbing her jaw, I smiled. “If you'll say yes.”
Her lips turned up and I caught a glint in her eye. “Alright, dinner sounds good.”
“That's not a yes,” I said as my lids hooded. Pinching her chin between two fingers, I tipped her head higher. “Say it, say yes.”
“Yes.” Her whisper carried through the air like a tender song, one I had waited years to hear and never knew it existed until right then.
Smirking, I placed a kiss on her cheek. “Let me walk you home.” Slipping my hand down over her neck, I stroked her arm and braided our fingers together. “It really does look good in there.”
“Thanks, I'm happy all that shit is gone. It's finally starting to feel like mine again.”
“So does this mean you're not changing the name to Glory Hole on the sign?”
Giggling, she smacked my chest. “Not a chance in hell.”
“Hey,” I barked, rubbing where she had hit me. “I need to tell you something.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I talked to my friend in the police department, but I don't have good news for you.”
“Why? What did he say?”
“He did some poking around, made a few calls, but came up empty. He said that right now it's a dead end, there's not much he can do. Without a name or description of the guy and no other witnesses that we know of, all he can do is file a report for you.”
Scrunching up her lips, her face sunk in as she frowned. “Well, that sucks.”
“Look, I don't want you to worry about it. I have a guy coming down tomorrow to replace your door with a better one and some new locks. I'm also getting you a security system, this way I'll know you'll be safe.”
“Liam, no, I can't accept that.” Glory stopped short, her fingers trying to separate from mine, but I refused to let go. Squeezing tighter, she turned and grabbed my other hand. “I appreciate that, I really do, but I can't accept that from you.”
Shaking my head, I grumbled. “You really are stubborn, aren't you?” We stood in the center of the sidewalk, the world around us unimportant as far as I was concerned. People walked around us, splitting off on either side. “It's a gift, Glory, just take it. It's not out of pity, it's not some sort of buyout to make you like me. It's just a gift.”
“I just can't—”
Cutting her off, I released one of her hands and started walking again, pulling her along. “You can, and you will. He'll be there around ten tomorrow, it's already done.”
Glory frowned, her eyes turning into thin slits. “Who's calling who stubborn? I think that's the pot calling the kettle black.”
Grinning, I let out a laugh. “Yeah, well, I guess I win.”
Glory smiled the prettiest of smiles, as she nodded. “Fine, you win.”
We walked hand in hand, talking about old memories of the town from when we were kids. She told me how her parents had decided on Vienna after they came on a vacation and her father fell in love with the place.
Glory said it wasn't long after he found out he had cancer that he decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in a place that was beautiful.
My heart hurt for her when she talked about her father, I could hear the love in her voice for him.
I know what you're feeling. I've been there too.
I didn't tell h
er how much we had in common and I probably should have. But it seemed wrong to steal her moment, to take her pain and flip it into my own.
Sometimes it was just better to let the other person talk, no matter how much you understood.
I found out that we were at the same festival more than once, and it was hard for me to believe I had never noticed her before. It was as if our paths had crossed in time, but we were both looking in the opposite direction.
Star crossed lovers. . . My mother would love this.
“Here we are, this is me.” Stopping in front of a three story building, she looked up. “I'm right there, second window in.”
Lifting her hand to my lips, I kissed the back of her palm. “I'll be back to get you around seven. Dress nice, we have reservations.”
“Reservations? For where?” Dipping her head into her shoulder, she smirked.
“It's a surprise.”
“And what if I had said no?”
“You did say no.” Chuckling, I gave her a sideways glance.
“You know what I mean, what if I didn't agree to dinner at all?”
“Then I'd be eating alone at a table for two.” Pulling her in, I wrapped her body in a big hug. “But we don't have to wonder about that, because you said yes.” Kissing the top of her head, I rubbed her back. “Be ready at seven.”
“Do you want to come up? It's only two, we have some time.” Lifting her face, her eyes twinkle under the sun.
Yes, yes I do.
“Seven, I'll see you then.” Holding her cheeks, I gave her one final kiss and walked away.
Yes, I wanted to go upstairs and take what was mine. But she deserved better than that, she deserved to be treated like the fine piece of art she was.
And temptation. . . temptation would make her wet, it would make her drip and eager to feel me inside her again.
We had the entire night to drink temptation and let it consume us.
She was worth the wait.
Chapter Eight
Liam
I need Glory Daniels.
Putting on my suit, I adjusted the blazer and fixed my tie. My stomach flipped a little with nerves as I fixed my hair and splashed my cheeks with aftershave. This girl made me feel things I had never felt before. I never got nervous or had those signature butterflies that you heard people talk about when they thought they met someone special.
But Glory did that to me. I was excited and anxious, I could feel the sweat on my palms and the frog in the back of my throat. What was unsettling about it the most was that I felt all this and we had already slept together.
How is that possible?
Holding the sides of the sink, I stared at my reflection. This was new for me, to want to be with a woman, to keep her for myself and make her mine. I went through life so focused on learning the family business, that I didn't have time for any real relationship.
But that was all I could think about with her. I didn't just want to have sex and leave it at that. I needed more; I wanted to learn about her, I wanted to know all her secrets and details that made her who she was.
Because she was perfect in every way.
Sitting in the limo outside her apartment, I opened the door and walked up her steps. I wasn't sure what number was hers, so I pulled out my phone to text her.
“Well, don't you look handsome.” Her voice tugged on my heart, making it skip a beat.
My eyes ran over her body, licking every curve and dip. Glory was wearing a black dress that had a bright red flower pattern. Spiked black heels made her legs longer, forcing the muscles in her calves to pop.
She had pulled her hair back into a messy bun with loose strands framing her face, and rouge lipstick that matched the flowers. Her lids were highlighted by a smokey eye and her lashes fanned like canopies as she blinked.
Holy shit. . .
“Wow,” I said, my jaw hanging open as I gripped her finger and spun her around. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you.” Smiling, she inhaled a sharp breath as she looked out at the street. “Is that for us?” Her eyes grew wide as she scanned the length of the black stretch limo, her gaze twinkling in this childish excitement.
A playful itch forced my lips into a tight smirk. “It is.”
“Liam, you didn't have to do this. We could have just taken a cab, a limo is too much.”
“For you, nothing is too much.” Taking her hand, I guided her down the steps and towards the vehicle. “And trust me, it's nothing, not a big deal at all.”
“Not a big deal?” Glory dipped her brows into the bridge of her nose as her mouth hung open. “It's a limo, this can't be cheap. I don't need big fancy things, Liam, a taxi works just fine.”
Laughing lightly, the driver opened the door to let us in. Placing my hand on the small of her back, I climbed in behind her. Slipping across the leather seat, I sat across from her with a smile on my face.
“What are you smiling at?” she asked, tucking her clutch against her side.
“Nothing.”
“No really, what?”
“It's just, you see the limo, the hotel, and you think fancy. I see the limo and the hotel and I think normal.”
Thinning her lips, she raised her brows in curiosity. “Normal?”
“Yeah, normal. This is how I grew up, but don't get me wrong, I can live without it.”
Giggling, Glory dragged her tongue lightly across her bottom lip, forcing my dick to twitch. “You say that like it would be easy. But if you've always had it, how could you possibly know you could live without it?”
Shifting in my seat, I grabbed a bottle of champagne and popped the top, pouring her a glass. “My parents made sure that I understood what we had. I don't take it for granted and I don't abuse it.”
“Really?” Gripping the thin stem of the glass, her fingers brushed over mine. My skin prickled with her delicate touch, fluttering up my arm and through my chest. “If you don't abuse it, then why are we in a limo right now?”
Chuckling, I poured myself a glass and held it up. “I'm still paying his salary, I might as well use it once in awhile.” Winking, I took a sip of the champagne, just watching her.
I couldn't stop staring at her, there wasn't a way for me to move my eyes off of her.
She was so beautiful, a vixen to the eyes and a siren to the muscle in my chest. My cock thickened as I watched her cross her leg slowly over her knee. The diamond between her thighs was a hidden treasure I wanted to capture and claim as mine and mine alone.
There was this feral need building inside me, one I couldn't shut off, one I couldn't quite tame. It was as if all the rest of what made me human had dissolved the second this woman walked into my world.
Resting her hand on the edge of the window, she laid her cheek against it. “So tell me, what is it exactly that you do? I know you're in some sort of construction, or investment company, but what is it really?”
“Does it matter?”
“I'm curious, so yes, it matters.” Her lips pulled back into a bright smile as she veered her stare. “The fancy hotel, the mill, this limo. . .” Pausing, she sipped her drink, delicately licking the small droplets that had come to balance on her lip. “I can sit here guessing, but it would be easier if you just told me.”
Leaning over my knees, I threw my hand out and ran a single finger up and down her calf. “Let's not have this conversation tonight, the last thing I want to do is talk business.” Her skin was soft and supple, so smooth it felt like velvet. “I'm sure there are other things we could talk about.”
I wasn't ready to have that conversation with her. What she wanted to know was tangled so intricately into her world, that telling her could mean the end of this—of. . . us.
It was a gamble I didn't want to take, not until I absolutely had to.
“Alright, like what?” Bringing the glass to her lips, she took a huge gulp. I watched her throat expand to make room for the liquid as a shiver ran up her body.
“Have you thought
about me? Because I haven't been able to get you out of my head.”
“Are you trying to seduce me again? Is that what all this is?”
“Is it working?” Slipping my finger higher up her leg, I teased the edge of her dress, gently plucking at the seam.
Glory's cheeks turned the prettiest shade of crimson as she glanced away and looked out the window. Pursing her lips, her fingers played with the wispy loose strands of hair around her face.
“I'm going to take that as a yes.” Cocking my head, I held my breath for a long second. “But I'd prefer to hear you tell me the answer yourself.” The limo came to a stop and I heard the driver's door open. “Looks like you just got saved from answering my question.” The door opened, so I held out my hand. “Shall we?” I asked.
Flicking her eyes in my direction, Glory took my hand and let me lead her out of the car. Her heels clicked against the sidewalk as she stepped to my side, her eyes wide, glazed over in shock.
“Are you fucking serious?”
“What? Do you hate this place? We can go somewhere else.”
“No, it's not that. It's just, this place has a waiting list of six months for reservations, how the hell did you get us into The Crow's Nest?”
“I know people, Glory. . .” Pausing, I braided our fingers together and started for the entrance. “A lot of people.”
Huffing, her eyes shot up to mine, her stare full of curiosity and questions. “I can see that. And yet you refuse to tell me much of anything about who you are.”
“I'll tell you about myself, I just don't want to talk about what I do.”
Thinning her lids, she peered at me. “So are you being closed off or guarded? Because both seem to be true right now.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I let her question dangle between us, leaving it unanswered. “Ready?” I asked, bending my arm for her to take.
Glory stared at me for a moment, finally slipping her hand into the crook of my arm and walking with me inside.
We were brought right in, no waiting required, and sat at a small two person table in the back corner of the restaurant with a view of the harbor. It was my favorite table in the whole place, and I had a permanent reservation.