by AliyahBurke
“Excuse me,” Allison interrupted, “the bus is pulling in.”
Pure joy lit her face as she nodded to Allison. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I have to go meet some people. If you need anything else, I am sure Allison would be happy to get it for you.”
With one last smile she headed to the door and waited outside. A large white bus pulled into the lot and stopped in front of her.
As Gavin watched, the doors opened and off swarmed a bunch of sailors. He began to grind his teeth as each and every one of them kissed her and hugged her with—in his opinion—way too much familiarity.
The large group of military men came inside the building. The restaurant personnel, Allison included, applauded when they came in. Cheers of “welcome back” and “great to see you again” filled the air.
Soon they were all seated at their tables and the food began to file out of the kitchen. The sailors cleaned up every single bit of it. Once during the middle of the meal, one of the men from the back came out with a camera and they all got together for a picture. One without and one with Sanura and Allison among them.
Clint and Gavin heard bits and pieces of the conversations coming from over there.
“Do you know when Bryce is coming in, Lieutenant?” Sanura asked one of the sailors, who in Gavin’s estimation was looking too closely at her chest.
“A few days, maybe. I am not sure. Sorry, Mac.”
“That’s all right. He’ll be home soon enough.” Her tone wistful.
Who the hell is Bryce? Gavin paid for the meal and he and Clint left.
* * * *
On Tuesday, Sanura walked into the break room with the delivery and there sat not only Gavin, but his handsome friend as well. This was beginning to smell like a setup.
She went about her business after a fast, “Good morning, gentlemen.”
The other gentleman walked over to her and stepped directly in her path. When Sanura looked up he was smiling at her.
She cocked her head to the side and arched her brow. “Something I can do for you?”
“Gavin was right, you do have beautiful eyes.” Her breath caught in her throat. But the man wasn’t done with her yet. “We were never introduced. My name is Clint. Clint Hartford. And what is your name, pretty lady?”
“You’re pushy and you have a very smooth tongue. Why the interest in my name?”
“I like you. Come on, what’s your name?” His words coaxed a smile to emerge.
“Mac. People call me Mac.”
“Mac. Alright. Have you met my coworker, Gavin Rawlins? He doesn’t talk much as he likes to scare people.” Clint gestured to Gavin with a jerk of his head but didn’t turn away from drowning in her endless green eyes.
“We’ve met.”
“I am sure you have, since he is down here every morning at the same time recently. He almost never came down here at this time until you began to deliver the donuts. This morning I decided to come as well and find out what drew him down here so religiously. Now that I have met you I can understand why he does it.”
She lifted a brow. “If you will excuse me, Clint Hartford. I must be on my way.”
As he stepped aside, Sanura was in direct viewing line of Gavin and he didn’t look happy to see her with Clint. There were storm clouds brewing in those beautiful blue eyes of his.
With a nod to them both, she glided to the door. “Enjoy your day, gentlemen.” She stopped and looked at Gavin again when she changed her direction and walked up to him instead of out the door.
“You should be more careful of how you tie your tie. One could begin to think you leave it skewed on purpose. I wouldn’t think a man like you would have to rely on deception to get a woman to put her hands on him.” She spoke low enough so her words only reached him.
“Only for the one I want to touch me. She seems leery of me, so I must work at it a little at a time.”
His pitch flowed over her like a drug, making her tingle in response. She felt her nipples tighten up and she hoped he wouldn’t be able to tell. Sanura didn’t respond. She reached up and straightened his tie. Her head tilted to the side as she viewed her handiwork before she nodded her acceptance of how it looked before straightening the lapels of his suit and patting his strong chest.
That done, she turned and walked out of the room.
* * * *
Gavin groaned. She left his body primed, wanting and in full and complete capability of pleasing her. If she would just give him the chance.
“Wow. Did you see her eyes? They are startling. I really wouldn’t expect someone like her to have green eyes. Do you think she is mixed?”
“Don’t care.” And he didn’t. There were much more important things for him to discover about her. Gavin moved and claimed what had become his favorite muffin, a buttery flavored one filled with tons of chocolate chips.
“I was going to have that one.”
“Forget it. They are mine.” That said, Gavin reached in and took out the other one.
“So, is it usual for her to fix your clothing?” Clint wondered.
“Yep.” For a guy didn’t normally like to be touched, he sure didn’t seem to mind having Sanura’s hands running over his chest and fixing his clothes.
“I think the building could have burned up around you two and neither of you would have noticed. In fact, I think there was more heat between the two of you than the building would be able to express if it went up in flames, so you probably would have been fine. Not to mention you haven’t been as surly lately. Gettin’ some?”
Gavin glared at his friend. Together the two men walked back to their respective offices as more people poured into the break room to get their usual morning treats.
* * * *
Sanura’s days were pretty much the same until Friday rolled around. Allison had a doctor’s appointment so she couldn’t come in, which meant someone else had to do the deliveries to allow Sanura to handle the paperwork.
She missed not going over to the firm and flirting with Gavin. Well, who knew when she would see him again? Probably on Monday. The day passed in a flash and, before she knew it, it was time to leave. She handed out the paychecks and said goodnight to her employees. Sherry would close up for the night.
As Sanura entered her house she found Allison asleep on the couch. She made sure to cover her up and then she showered and changed her clothes. Well, she hadn’t heard a negative from Gavin. Should she go over to his place or not?
Sanura called in an order to the restaurant and headed over to pick it up. Tony helped her put it in the back of her vehicle. She had left a note for Allison so she wouldn’t worry should she wake up and not find her there.
Dressed in jeans and a loose tee shirt, Sanura was comfortable with her Timberland hiking boots on. Even though summer was coming, living along the water, the nights could still get cool. And his condo was very close to the ocean. Her hair fell loose around her face and some of it fell across one eye.
Pulling into the parking lot of his building, Sanura noticed his sedan was there. Maybe he was alone; if not, well she would think of something to say to alleviate her embarrassment. She swung her backpack on and got it settled and comfortable. Picking up the warm containers of food, she headed to the door.
The doorman buzzed her in and waved in recognition as he left the counter to get the elevator for her. Once inside she pushed the button for the tenth floor.
Her heart was hammering like a jackhammer. Going a hundred miles a minute. What if he had only been joking about her coming over? She was taking a big chance coming over without calling first to a bachelor’s pad, especially on a Friday night at nine o’clock. The door to the elevator slid open silently, leaving her to face her decision or turn tail and run. Insides quivering like a Jell-O jiggler during turbulence, she stepped out of the elevator and walked to his door.
She shifted her packages and pressed the doorbell. There was muttered cursing she could hear as he came to the door. With her luck, she probably interr
upted some wild and passionate sex he was having with that brunette woman from the other day.
The door jerked open with a rude, “What?”
“It’s Friday night. Or am I interrupting something?”
Sanura enjoyed filling her own eyes at the sight before her. His worn faded and torn jeans fit him like a second skin and the medium grey shirt outlined his strong arms and tight abdomen. She couldn’t hide her grin when she spied the cowboy boots on his feet.
He was definitely a cowboy. Despite all his money, he was not your typical rich man. Damn, this was going to be harder than she thought. A man like this was everything she could—and did—ever wish for. Big, strong, determined, he made her tremble with longing.
His hair looked rumpled as if he had been running his fingers through it. Chiseled features had begun to develop the five o’clock shadow, but she would allow for that since it was around nine at night. He looked so delicious it took all of her strength not to jump on him then and there.
* * * *
Gavin stared in shock at the goddess outside his door. She came. She actually came. When he didn’t see her at the firm the morning he thought she was avoiding him. But he was wrong. Now he was acting like a fish out of water.
She stood outside his condo, flesh and blood, holding what smelled to be more of her mouth-watering food. “Can I come in, or am I no longer welcome? Are you perhaps entertaining at the present?”
You are more than welcome, Sanura. “Come . . . come in.” He backed up to allow her entrance.
Sanura stepped in and headed for his kitchen. He knew it was a disgrace. Clearing a small place on the dining table, she set down the food, shrugged out of her full backpack and turned to find him looking at her.
“Well. I can see you still haven’t cleaned. Do you want to eat first or after?” she asked.
“After what?” He stalked her. Backing her up so she was pressed against the wall. His body moved with a lethal grace as it approached hers, two bands of steel plastered themselves on either side of her preventing her escape.
The smell of lilacs and fresh soap intermingled as they stood locked in a battle of wills. Their eyes were glued to one another. Electricity was flowing fast and hot between them and they both knew it was only a matter of time before it became too much to control. How they managed now, neither of them could fathom it.
“After we clean this place up, of course.” Sanura gulped as one of his hands trailed through the loose hair to push it back away from her face. His eyes picked up on the rapid increase in the pulse in her neck. “I can’t let you go around talking to yourself. So, I am here to offer my assistance. I brought dinner, since I figured you wouldn’t have anything worth eating in here.”
A grin cracked through the predatory look on his face. “So you came here to clean.” A deaf man would have been able to hear the doubt in that statement.
“No, I came to help you clean. I will not be doing this all by myself. So, what’s it going to be? Eat first or later?”
“All right, Sanura. You win for now. We will clean first.” The look in his eyes told her exactly what he would rather do with her, and it didn’t involve cleaning or eating—at least, not the food she brought.
“Very well. Where do we start?”
“Bedroom?” Nothing innocent in his suggestion. His body hardened at the darkening of her gorgeous emerald eyes.
“Don’t think so. What about the living room? You should really clean those windows. I bet the view would be amazing.”
“Very well. Want some music?”
She laughed. “All right. Makes cleaning go faster. What ’cha got?”
“What do you like to listen to?”
“Pretty much anything. Well, except heavy metal, loud rap or the old twangy country. Other than that I really don’t have a preference.”
“So you listen to country.” It came out half statement and half question.
That eyebrow jacked up quicker than a June bug jumping off a hot skillet. “What of it? Yes, I listen to country; in fact, that is what is in my CD player in my truck right now. I go to rodeos and I love to ride the mechanical bull in bars. Gotta problem with it?”
He was impressed. A mechanical bull, what a sight that would be. He could picture her with her legs straddling the bull as her body moved with the motion. His body jumped in response as his mouth grew dry. How the hell am I going to do this without jumping on her like a sex starved man? “Not at all. How about a mix of music?” Gavin searched for a remote to the elaborate stereo system along a wall before finally giving up and turning it on by hand. Music flowed through the condo out of speakers that were set up for surround sound. Gavin watched her take a deep breath and walk over to one end of the living room. She picked up one wrinkled t-shirt and held it between her index finger and her thumb.
She stared at him with one eyebrow arched and said, “I am assuming all these clothes are dirty?”
He blushed. “Yes. I would say would be a pretty safe bet.”
“You keep your apartment like this, so women won’t come over?”
“What happened to me being gay?”
“You said you weren’t and so I am taking your word for it. Besides, no self-respecting gay guy would live in this filth.” She looked around before asking, “Do you at least have laundry baskets these clothes can go into?”
“I do. Just a minute, they’re in the bedroom.” He winked at her. “Unless you wish to come with me and get them?” His gaze ran over her in blatant desire.
* * * *
Sanura shook her head. “No, go get them.” He turned and walked toward his room. What a flirt. Who knew, maybe this evening would be worth the trip after all. Who are you kidding, girl, you know this evening is worth it. Just seeing him took care of that for you.
Gavin returned and dropped four baskets by her but took two of them to the other side of the room and began to fill them. Sanura headed back to her bag and pulled out cleaning supplies.
She went back to the living room and gathered the magazines, sorted them by type. She took the time to wipe off the coffee tables with the lemon scented wipes she had with her. She dusted the shelves and the stereo, putting the remotes beside the appropriate item, the television and everything. Grabbing her glass cleaner, she began on the windows. Sanura used one of his laundry baskets as a trash receptacle, placing in torn and old magazines, used cleaning wipes and paper towels.
They worked together on opposite ends of the room. She moved onto the kitchen next. He had no food to mention and not a clean dish in the place. She loaded the dishwasher and started it—at least he had soap for it. It probably came with the place and he had never used it. Then she began to scrub the counters, sink, oven and the microwave.
Gavin came in for a drink. He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Coke. “Want one?”
“Please. Do you have a washing machine in here?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because we are going to start your laundry.” She accepted the drink and took a healthy swig. “Grab the baskets, man. Let’s go.”
He picked up the overflowing baskets and led the way to his laundry room. The room was small and his large body filled up most of it.
“Did you at least sort your clothes?”
“Why?”
“So they don’t bleed into the others. Go ahead, sort them by colored and whites.”
“Isn’t that like segregation?” His own eyebrow arched in perfect imitation of her own.
Be still my beating heart. “Yes. Something you should know about working where you do.”
“I don’t agree with their beliefs.”
“Chill, if I thought you did, do you really think I would be here? Stop stalling and start sorting.”
“Aren’t you going to help me?”
Sanura jumped up onto the folding table and looked at him like he had totally gone off his rocker. “Uh uh. I ain’t touching your funky clothes. You do it.” She swung her legs back and forth
as she waited for him to continue.
“Slave driver.”
“Damn straight.” Her cell phone began to chime. “Excuse me,” she said to Gavin, who looked at his watch before sending her a look that said he wondered who would be calling her at ten-thirty at night. “Mac. Uh huh. Sure. Right. Okay. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Sure. Perfect. Alright. ’Night, hon. See you in the morning. Over breakfast. Bye.” She flipped her phone shut and smiled before she looked into the eyes of the man in front of her.
“Hon? Who was that?” His voice was all low and dangerous, sending a delectable shiver through her synapses.
Was she hearing things or did he actually sound jealous? “That was Ali. You’re still stalling. Load the clothes. I’m hungry. Also I need you to get your vacuum. You do have one, right?”
He loaded the clothes under her sharp watch and set the washer. They headed out to the kitchen, and on the way he got out his vacuum for her. Set it in the living room, with a, “Yes, I have one.”
“Yeah, but do you know how it works?” she quipped back, enjoying the banter between them.
“I know exactly how it works. Anytime you want me to show you how much I know about it, say the word.” His voice poured over her like brandy and she knew it wasn’t vacuuming he was referring to.
Chapter Five
She opened some of the containers she brought and he found the food was already on plates. Plates from her diner. “I didn’t think you would have any clean dishes,” she said.
A quick zap in the microwave and both of them had piping hot food. Before Sanura sat down to eat, she pulled a canister out of her bag. “Just a minute.” Then she went and sprinkled it all over his carpet. “I’ll vacuum it after we eat. It needs to sit for at least fifteen minutes. At least fifteen.”
So they sat down at his dining room table and began to eat. The food tasted wonderful like usual. Sanura had brought a feast: apricot-sauced ribs, herb and garlic grilled vegetables, potato salad, onion rolls, and a fruit salad with a honey-lime dressing. It was unbelievable.