“Mm-hm. Jealous?”
He pressed his lips to her cheek and whispered in her ear, “Should I be?”
His voice was so sexy and manly, butterflies took flight in her belly. “Of a girls’ night with my book club? Maybe if I were into women. I mean Steph and the girls are gorgeous.”
He kissed the sensitive skin beside her ear, sending ripples of lust slicing through her, and said, “You might turn other guys on with that talk, but not me, blondie.” He kissed the edge of her lips. “You’re the only woman I want.” He brushed his lips over hers and said, “Seeing you—or hearing about you—with another woman would not be better than having you all to myself.”
Every touch of his lips heightened her anticipation, causing her breathing to shallow.
He trailed kisses along her jaw. “I’m not a twentysomething kid, Chloe. I’m past games and recklessness. I know what I want, and she’s standing right in front of me.”
Did he know those words were the biggest turn-on of all?
When he brushed his scruff over her cheek, pressing his hard body against her, a lustful sound slipped from her lips. She felt him smiling against her other cheek as he kissed her there. His lips trailed down her neck, and she curled her fingers into his sides, needing stability against her weakening knees. He’d loosened the cork on her resistance, unleashing a burning desire, an aching need to kiss him again. She’d held back from him for so long, she felt like she might detonate. Her nerves hummed like live wires as he retraced his path, kissing up her neck, across her jaw and cheek, and dragged his tongue along the shell of her ear.
“Justin—” she pleaded unabashedly.
“Something you want, beautiful?”
The heck with waiting. She grabbed his head and crushed her mouth to his. His hands dove into her hair, fisting, causing stings of pain and pleasure to ignite inside her. His hips rocked against hers as they devoured each other with reckless abandon. She didn’t care that they were standing in a parking lot where anybody could see them making out. They were fully dressed, not naked and groping, and she wasn’t about to deny the tantalizing persuasion of his incredibly talented and delicious mouth or the feel of his hard heat pressing against her. Every slide of their tongues, every guttural sound and scratch of his scruff, made her crave more of him. Just when she thought she’d lose her mind, he eased his efforts to intoxicatingly slow, smoldering kisses. She heard a whimpering moan and realized it had come from her. She wasn’t a whimperer. What kind of spell had he cast over her? Whatever it was, she never wanted it to end.
Someone cleared their throat, and Chloe startled, tearing her mouth away, breathless and shaky.
Madigan and Zander were standing beside them grinning, and Tank was closing in on them from a few feet away, his brows knitted with confusion. Justin’s hands were still in Chloe’s hair, his body pressed temptingly against her. Oh God. Justin’s kisses had obliterated everything else, even her good sense!
“Hey,” Justin said casually, drawing Chloe away from the car and into his protective arms.
Chloe didn’t need protection. She wasn’t ashamed of her actions. She was just embarrassed about being caught making out in the parking lot like a horny teenager. She lifted her chin and put her arm around Justin, meeting his siblings’ curious gazes as his equal, not his charge.
“We were wondering where you guys had gotten off to,” Madigan said.
“Looks like we interrupted them before they had a chance to get off,” Zander said with an arrogant smirk.
If looks could kill, Zander would be on the ground from the sheer force of Justin’s dark stare.
“Zander!” Madigan chided.
“That’s enough, Zan,” Justin warned as Tank joined them. “We were just saying good night.”
“Chloe, why didn’t you tell me you two were going out?” Madigan asked. “You’re so cute together.”
“They’re hot, Mads, not cute,” Zander corrected. “I’m surprised the whole parking lot didn’t go up in flames.”
“Damn right we are,” Justin said, grinning proudly as he squeezed Chloe against his side.
“We weren’t going out,” Chloe said. “I’m not sure what we’re doing, actually. This is new between us.” She looked at Zander and said, “But I think it’s safe to say that Uptown Girl finally sees her backstreet guy for who he is.”
“About damn time,” Tank said.
Madigan cocked her head and said, “Was that a boy-band reference? Because it’s Backstreet Boys.”
The guys chuckled, and Justin said, “It’s a Billy Joel reference, Mads. Before your time. Look up the lyrics to Uptown Girl.”
“I know who Billy Joel is,” Madigan said. “Excuse me for not knowing every word to every song ever made. It’s late and I’ve got a children’s birthday party to do tomorrow morning, so I’m heading home. I’m glad you two are together, or whatever making out in the parking lot means,” she teased. “See you tomorrow night at the book club meeting, Chloe. Starr is going to bring Gracie. She and Marly are excited to meet you.”
“Since when are you in Chloe’s book club?” Justin asked. “I don’t think I want my little sister reading erotic romance.”
“Good thing you aren’t the boss of me,” Madigan said. “Chloe has a luau planned at Cahoon Hollow, with leis, fruity drinks, and other cool stuff, including lots of sexy, erotic discussions. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She punctuated her determination with a sassy wiggle of her shoulders.
Justin looked curiously at Chloe and said, “You’re doing all of that for a book club meeting? Sounds more like a party.”
“I know it’s a lot, but I have this thing about special times. When I was younger my mother never threw us birthday parties or celebrated special events, so when it’s my turn to host something, I like to do it right.”
Zander pointed at Madigan and said, “You’re not going anywhere to discuss erotic romance, but it sounds like a party I need to attend.”
“Ha!” Madigan exclaimed. “Dream on.”
“Sorry, Zander, but no guys allowed,” Chloe said. Justin had crashed her last three book club meetings with the sole purpose of hitting on her. The last time he’d even brought a copy of the book they’d read and said he’d reviewed their club rules and there was nothing that stated a man couldn’t join. She pointed at Justin now and said, “And you are not crashing our meeting, either.”
“Good luck with that.” Zander slung an arm over Madigan’s shoulder and said, “Come on, Mads. I’ll walk you to your Barbie bike and we can discuss this book club party.”
“Why can’t you just call it a Vespa?” Madigan said as they walked away.
Zander called over his shoulder, “See you guys at Gunner’s.”
“You still going back to the rescue?” Tank asked.
Justin nodded. “Yeah. I’ll head over in a sec. I’ll meet you there.”
“Cool. See you, Chloe.”
After Tank walked away, Justin turned Chloe in his arms and said, “At least we weren’t caught naked.”
“Please tell me you haven’t been caught naked in a parking lot. Oh my God, I just realized I don’t know your dating history.”
“I didn’t know I needed a résumé to go out with you.”
“That’s not what I meant. For all I know, being caught with your pants down is normal for you, and that’s something I should probably be aware of.”
His expression turned serious. “I kid around a lot, but I’m not that guy, Chloe. After everything I’ve been through, I don’t take anything for granted, including when a woman trusts me enough to get physical.” His tone softened, and he said, “I’m sorry I got carried away with you out in the open like this, but I wouldn’t have taken it further than kissing. You’re just so damn irresistible, and I’ve waited so long, I couldn’t help myself.” He leaned closer and said, “The truth is, I haven’t been with another woman since we met.”
She hadn’t been intimate with a man since before she
’d met Justin, but she’d always assumed most single guys didn’t go more than a week or two without sex. Especially a man as virile as Justin. “You don’t mean when we first met,” she said disbelievingly.
“Yes, I do.” A devilish grin curved his lips, and he said, “I wasn’t lying about you starring front and center in my spank-bank.”
Holy cow. He was brash, but he was honest. She fell a little harder for him right then and there.
“What did they say in that Tom Cruise movie? ‘You had me at hello,’ Chloe.”
He pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss. As their lips parted, he grabbed her butt with both hands, sending a thrum of lust skating through her.
“You’re so handsy all of a sudden.” She wasn’t used to letting a man grope her, but that spell he’d cast must still be working, because she didn’t mind his hands on her. She craved them.
“A year and a half, babe,” he reminded her. “Let me know if you want me to come over before your meeting to act out some of those erotic scenes.”
His lips came coaxingly down over hers, and he kissed her like they had all the time in the world. She was surprised to find herself toying with the idea of taking him up on that pre-book-club-meeting offer. But the longer they kissed, the harder it was to hold on to her thoughts. If she got this hot and bothered by kisses, they’d need all night to act out those erotic scenes. As enticing as that was, putting off her friends for a man would make her exactly like her mother, and she was not going to be that person.
Not even for the king of mind-blowing kisses.
Chapter Nine
CHLOE CARRIED A pineapple boat full of fruit salad into her living room Friday evening, listening to the rain through the open windows, trying not to let her disappointment bring her down. It had been raining all day, and she’d had to move the book club meeting indoors. A luau wouldn’t be the same without sand beneath their toes, but she’d done an admiral job of transforming her cozy cottage into a tropical island. She’d gone to the party store during her lunch break and bought a banner with ALOHA written in letters that looked like sticks, and she’d hung it over the fireplace. She’d bought a grass-fringed tablecloth for her dining room table to match the one that came with the luau hut, which she’d put up around the card table. She’d hung a string of tiki lights from the roof of the hut, and it looked just as cute as she’d hoped it would. The two blow-up palm trees she’d bought on a whim were the perfect addition to the evening. While she was out, she’d also bought a handful of toys for Starr’s daughter to play with. They may not have a beach, but they’d have ambience.
She set the fruit salad on the table between the coconut cups with the colorful drink umbrellas and the cheese and cracker spread. The kebabs would be ready shortly after the girls arrived, which should be any minute. She grabbed her phone on her way into her bedroom and gave herself one last look-over in the full-length mirror. The grass skirt and coconut bra were a bit much, but she didn’t care. She’d spent too many years wishing for costumes and special parties.
She put on her dragonfly anklet, put two colorful leis around her neck, and took a picture in the mirror to send to Justin. He’d sent her pictures of some of the dogs from the rescue last night. He’d given her fair warning about their appearance, but her heart had broken over the sad shape they were in. Some were so malnourished, their ribs were showing, and they all had cuts and scars all over their bodies. She couldn’t get the images out of her head. One dog had to have its leg amputated, and the dog Justin had feared would lose his eye had in fact lost it. In the picture, the one-eyed dog, a brindle pit bull with white fur on his chest, was licking Justin’s face. His fur was shaved around the surgical area, and it looked raw around the stitches, but Justin had said the dog was in good spirits. He’d also said the dog had whined when he’d walked away. She could only imagine the rescued animals craving love like she and Justin had as kids. She’d stared at those pictures so often this afternoon, she’d finally printed them out.
It had felt amazing last night allowing herself to feel all of the emotions she’d been holding back for Justin, and when he’d texted later in the night, sending pictures of the dogs he’d rescued, she’d felt all those good feelings again. But when he’d called this morning and said he was doing a sunshine dance for her, hoping her book club meeting wouldn’t get rained out, she’d embraced that newfound freedom wholeheartedly.
Her phone vibrated with a message, and Justin’s name flashed on the screen. She’d been so lost in thoughts of him, she hadn’t sent him the picture she’d just taken.
She read his text on the way into the living room. Hey, sweet thing. Sorry my sunshine dance didn’t work and your luau got rained out.
How could she ever have thought he wasn’t the right guy for her? He was always thinking of others. She added the picture she’d just taken to a text, then added two pictures he’d taken with her phone the other night at the bar and sent them to him with the message I’d like to see that sunshine dance in person, and added a heart eyes emoji. After sending the text, she queued up Spotify and turned on the tropical music playlist she’d created.
When the doorbell rang, she took one last look around and answered it.
Steph’s eyes widened as she set her umbrella on the porch. “Wow! Look at you, hula girl. You look amazing.”
“Thanks.” Chloe wiggled her hips, making her grass skirt swish. “I borrowed the outfit from Serena.” Although Steph never seemed bothered by Chloe mentioning Serena, Chloe always felt a little uneasy because Steph’s younger sister, Bethany, had been Ashley’s best friend. After Ashley died, Bethany had lost herself in drugs. She’d been in and out of Steph’s life ever since.
“I hope you washed it. You know if Drake saw her in that thing, they got down and dirty.”
They both laughed, but Chloe was pretty sure the outfit wouldn’t have stayed on for more than a few seconds before Drake stripped it off.
She saw headlights coming down the road. Her cottage was tucked away from the rest of the world at the end of a narrow, wooded road. Her home wasn’t very big, but it had a beautiful screened-in porch out back, and she loved not having to worry about neighbors.
Two cars pulled up to the curb, and Steph said, “Looks like Starr and Daphne are here.”
“You know Starr?”
“Yeah, from the Salty Hog. But I had no idea she was in the book club. Mads told me when she came by my shop earlier today.”
Chloe stepped onto the porch and saw Daphne and Starr standing under umbrellas by Starr’s car. Daphne took Starr’s umbrella and held it over Starr as she leaned into the back seat to pick up Gracie.
“Tag-team mothering,” Chloe said as they came up the walk.
Steph called out, “Do you need any help?”
“We’re good. I’ve got Starr’s bag,” Daphne said. When they stepped onto the porch, she said, “It’s nice to have another mom in our group. I was just telling Starr that my mom has Hadley tonight.”
“She’s lucky to have family nearby.” Starr looked at Chloe and said, “Hi. You must be ChapterChick.”
“Yes, I’m Chloe. I’m so glad you could make it. And this must be Gracie.”
Gracie buried her face in Starr’s neck, clutching a stuffed monkey in the crook of her arm. Her wispy blond hair fell over her face.
“She can be shy at first, but she’ll warm up. Right, Gracie?” Starr kissed her daughter’s cheek and brushed her hair from her face.
Gracie nodded, her tiny brows knitting. Starr set her down, and Gracie rested her cheek on Starr’s leg, blinking up at them with the biggest brown eyes Chloe had ever seen.
“Isn’t Gracie adorable? She’s the same age as Hadley,” Daphne said. “We should have a playdate for the girls sometime.”
“I would love that,” Starr said, pushing her long curly hair over her shoulder.
Chloe crouched so she was eye to eye with Gracie and said, “Hi, Gracie. I’m Chloe, and I’m really glad you and your momm
y came to visit tonight.”
Gracie buried her face in the side of Starr’s leg.
“You and I were on the same wavelength tonight, Chloe,” Starr said as she unzipped her daughter’s raincoat. Gracie was wearing a grass skirt with flowers around the waist and a cute pink shirt.
Gracie patted her skirt with the monkey in her hand and said, “Kirt!”
“I love your pretty skirt,” Chloe said. “She is precious. Do you mind if I take pictures tonight for the girls who couldn’t make it?”
Two more cars pulled up in front of the cottage as Starr answered. “Of course. Life is so busy, I never take enough.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll take fifty,” Daphne said. “And if you ask nicely, she’ll make you a memory board or a scrapbook, too.”
“Starr doesn’t have to ask. I make them for everyone. I’ll make you one,” Chloe offered.
“Thank you. I’d love that.” Starr crouched beside Gracie and said, “Do you want to show our new friends your hula dance?”
Gracie nodded, a bright smile forming on her tiny lips. She wiggled her hips, and they all cheered and clapped as Gabe, Madigan, and an exotic-looking brunette Chloe assumed was Marly joined them on the porch.
“I wish I had that little one’s moves, and wow, Chloe, look at you!” Gabe exclaimed. “If I could fit my tatas into coconuts and my derriere into a grass skirt, I’d wear them every day.” She took off her bright yellow floppy rain hat, and her wild red curls tumbled down her back.
“If I were as voluptuous as you, I’d flaunt it all over creation.” Madigan gave Gabe a quick hug and said, “But don’t you dare wear a coconut bra around my grandfather. You’d give him a heart attack.”
“You can have Gabe’s body if I get her hair,” the olive-skinned, almond-eyed brunette who’d arrived with them said. “I know everyone except you two.” She pointed at Chloe and Daphne and said, “You must be the founders of our book club, Chloe and Daphne. I’m Marly Bowers, FlippinPages on the forum. I love the site, by the way, and thanks for letting me tag along tonight. I’m excited to meet you in person.”
A Little Bit Wicked (The Wickeds Page 13