by Wendi Zwaduk
“Damn, this is a nice set of wheels.” He caressed the fender and clicked his tongue. “I suppose you like to crank her up to top speed and roll down the back roads with the windows down and the breeze tossing your hair around?”
She laughed out loud. He’d read her mind and described the drive to Mason to a T. “I’ve had the truck for the last five years, and yes, I like to blast the music.”
In two long strides, he met her at the rear of her truck. “I bet you look sexy as hell,” he said in a low rumble that vibrated deep within her pussy.
His last comment tripped her up. Her? Sexy? The compliments kept coming. Was he for real? Couldn’t be. She fluttered her hand in the air and backed away from him. Her knees weakened. “I think the allure of my vehicle has fried your brain.” Grasping the rear fender, she held on for support.
“Not in the least.” He bridged the gap between them, giving her no room to escape and a healthy view of his perfect white smile. “I like the truck a lot better than that brown beater you drove in high school.” He smoothed his hand over hers and tangled their fingers together. “Whatever we all called it.”
“The Turd? How could I forget the old girl?” Speaking of her first car brought back fond memories and eased the tension building in her lower back. The little Tempo hadn’t been the prettiest car, but had run well and got her where she needed to go. “She was ugly as sin, but she started in that blizzard during our senior year when no one else’s did.”
“The truck suits you,” he murmured.
As he spoke, Tanner inched even closer. The spicy scent of his cologne drifted around her. If she tipped her head back, she could kiss him. The fluorescent lights of the parking lot glittered in his eyes, along with something else. Lust?
To hell with common sense and protection. Time to live a little…and find passion in his arms, if only for one night. She took the lead and eased him against the fender.
“You said you wanted to fix some mistakes. I’m staying at the Free Bridge Inn over in Butler and I hear the restaurant is pretty nice. Drinks are on me.” There. She’d met him flirt for flirt. She drew lazy circles on his side with the pads of her fingers, dipping lower with each pass until they rested at his hip. She wasn’t a giddy teenager anymore. She knew who and what she wanted—on her terms. “It’s not much, but it’s something.”
“You’re hard to ignore.” He tucked a rogue lock of her hair behind her ear, lingering a bit too long for courtesy. She didn’t care. When his lips parted, her heart thundered in her chest. Using the pad of his index finger, he caressed her jaw.
“Best way to be.” She ground her hips against the bulge in his pants. The bite of the zipper rubbed her clit. “I take what I want.”
“And you want me?” His breath caught and his eyes dilated. A thin strip of blue ringed the dark depths. “I’ve got the silver Beemer.”
A BMW? He had moved up in the world from the rusty two-tone Chevy he had sped around in during high school. Although it crossed her mind to feel him all over, she settled for his chest and poked him with the tip of her finger. The steely muscle never moved. “Just keep up with me.” There, she’d made a joke to lighten the otherwise heady mood.
“Is that a challenge?”
“Absolutely,” she purred. Maybe she could handle this romantic thing after all.
He wiggled his brows. A rebellious gleam sparkled in his darkened eyes. “I like a woman in charge. You’re on.”
Untangling herself from his embrace, Macy strode along the side of the truck. She unlocked her door and slid up onto the seat. In the rear view mirror, she watched Tanner cross the lot. He moved with such grace and confidence. Even if she wanted to look away, she couldn’t.
She gulped air and rubbed her forehead. The man would be a challenge, but she welcomed it with open arms. If he made love like she’d imagined in her fantasies, the experience would be sheer bliss. But reality never quite matched fantasy. If she could just rebuild the walls around her heart while she took the ride of her life in his embrace, she’d be fine. Talk about asking the impossible.
Five minutes later, Tanner pulled out onto the highway en route to Butler. He memorised the shape of her tail lights. Memorised! The rational part of his brain took over. Macy Shibley was dangerous. She managed to get under his skin with her crooked smile and compassionate nature. Hell, he even liked her feisty streak. Damn it if she didn’t have the power to bring him to his knees all over again.
But this was supposed to be a one-night-to-reconnect-and-then-on-with-his-life thing.
He glanced in the rear view mirror at the stop light and smoothed his hair back into place. This wasn’t just another date. This was his chance to find out if what might have been in high school still existed between them. He pressed the accelerator and drummed the steering wheel. If he played his cards right, the flirtations at the school could translate into a night of passion and sex. If he didn’t calm down and get his nerves under control, she’d walk right out of his life. Again.
As he pulled into the hotel parking lot, he made up his mind. He’d get a table in the restaurant and show her he was the best combination of the gawky kid from school who knew a few moves on the football field and the business man who’d been around the block more times than he could count. He climbed out of his sports car and hurried across the brightly-lit parking lot.
“Macy!” Time to turn on the romance. “Wait up, Mace.”
She stopped short and her shoulders slumped. Tanner held out his hand. “Did you think I’d stand you up?”
“I had my doubts that you’d show.” She chuckled and slipped her fingers into his. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m not the same guy from high school—I grew up.” Tanner’s voice gained strength. He tugged her into the crook of his arm and cupped her jaw. Damn, she felt so soft and small in his bear-claw hands. “Let me romance you, Mace. Let me show you the time you deserved so long ago.”
Her smile faltered. “Never mind.”
“Never mind? What?” Tanner glanced over his shoulder in the direction of her glare. Fucking hell. Stafford Green.
“Well, no shit,” Stafford wiped his meaty hand on his flat stomach. “You two came all the way out here.”
Tanner groaned. “Damn it, Stafford. What’s the deal?”
Macy rolled her eyes and looked away. “He’s always been there to egg you on.”
“I didn’t invite him,” Tanner muttered.
“I’m staying here tonight and the bar is open to anyone.” Stafford slapped Tanner on the shoulder and his gaze flicked over Macy. “I thought I’d have a cold one before bed. Want one? It’s on me. What’ll you have?”
Macy notched her chin in the air. “A rum and cola. Thanks.” As she stepped out of Tanner’s arms and onto the concrete patio pad, the humid wind tossed her hair about her shoulders.
“Beer?”
Tanner nodded once. She’d stood up to Stafford—the one thing he’d never done. Time to take her lead. “I’d rather you take a fucking hike.”
“What a way to treat your best friend.” Stafford slapped Tanner on the back. “Things never change. Me and you, you and her… She’s beneath you, still.”
“You’re not my best friend,” Tanner growled. “Never were, really.” And if he didn’t get his butt in gear with Macy, he’d make the same mistakes all over again.
“And fuck you, too. You gonna screw her?” Stafford’s fingers bit into Tanner’s arm. “Hell, maybe I should fuck her. If that shit she writes is true, she’s learnt skills.”
“Drop dead.” Tanner turned on his heel and hurried into the bar. Where’d she go? He scanned the dimly-lit area. The thought of Stafford putting his hands on Macy soured Tanner’s stomach. The bastard couldn’t begin to cherish the gift of having Macy in his arms.
Tanner clenched his fist. Did he deserve her, either? He looked over the room once more. In the opposite corner, a woman sang a nasal karaoke version of a recent country song. At one of th
e tall bar tables, a couple clinked champagne flutes before meeting for a deep kiss. At the very edge of the space, Macy sat at a highboy table with her hands in her lap. With only two chairs, Stafford would have to find another table. Worked for Tanner.
Tanner crossed the room and butterflies swarmed in his stomach. Being at the hotel together increased the chances of their evening not ending with sharing a drink, but the odds meant nothing if the attraction wasn’t there. He’d cross that bridge when they came to it.
“Hello, beautiful.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the demure way she waited. She brightened the room and lifted his spirits. “I’ve never seen a woman look so delicious without even trying.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls.”
“I tell only the truth.” Tanner took the seat next to her and bumped his thigh against her knee. Tingles shot straight to his groin. At least the table hid his erection.
“Hello yourself.” She smoothed her hand down his thigh. “Here comes Stafford with a full load.”
Tanner draped his arm across the back of Macy’s chair. The faintest hint of a smile danced on her lips and she scooted a little closer to him.
“Well, don’t you two look sickeningly cute?” Stafford placed the short glass before Macy. “It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together. Brings back memories.” He elbowed Tanner and shoved a bottle of beer into his hand. “Hey, do you still sing?”
“Me?” She nearly choked on her drink. “Unless you count the steering wheel, no one has heard me sing in years. People cringe when I open my mouth unless it’s to say ‘My next book comes out in three days’ or ‘I’d love to speak to five hundred people in twenty minutes’.”
“You have a lovely voice.” Tanner punctuated his words with a gentle squeeze to her shoulder.
“It’s too low.” She leaned in a little closer to him and murmured, “But I’m glad you remembered.”
“It’s sexy, like a purr,” Tanner rasped. The scent of her perfume permeated his senses. What this woman did to him… One night might not be enough.
Stafford grabbed a chair from a nearby table and scooted close to Macy. “Yeah, we all thought you sang like a man, but you always were a tomboy.” He downed a long draw on his beer and smacked his lips. “If I remember, you two liked to sing in the choir together.” As he scratched the wilting label on his bottle, Stafford’s grin thinned and his eyes narrowed. “Do it again.”
“What? Here?” Her eyes widened.
“Sure.” Stafford wriggled his brows. “I double-dog dare you.”
Tanner shook his head, sure he’d heard Stafford wrong. “You’re not serious.”
“Oh come on. You don’t want to sing to your smoopy-woopy?”
As if to further emphasise Stafford’s dare, the announcer at the karaoke stand called Tanner’s name. “Macy and Tanner Connolly singing ‘You and Me’.”
Shock and fury puddled in Tanner’s stomach, mixing with the potent alcohol. “What did you do?” He bit out each word.
Stafford leant back in his seat and folded his arms. “I slipped your names into the line-up when I got our drinks.”
“You could’ve said something first.” The tips of his ears burned. Stafford wanted to hear her sing? This couldn’t be anything other than a damned joke.
“Never let it be said that Macy Shibley wussed out on a dare.” She stood and smoothed her skirt over her hips. Twining her fingers with Tanner’s, she tugged him out of his seat. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Four
Tanner grinned as he followed her to the makeshift stage. She didn’t know how much she turned him on with her sexy walk and pure confidence. A quick glance at the crowd backed up his opinion. Every man there watched her with rapt attention. He thought back to their high school days, when she had roamed the hallways with paintbrushes keeping her hair out of her eyes. Even then he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her.
Screw Stafford and his sophomoric joke. Hearing the announcer call her name combined with his added an extra spring to his step. Macy and Tanner Connolly sounded pretty damned nice. He yearned to feel her soft body pressed against his as he tasted and sampled every inch of her sweetness. Would she scream as she came? He needed to know—once they had finished singing the stupid-ass song.
He thought twice about the dare when the music started. Macy smiled and nodded to the audience. When the lyrics slid across the screen, she began to sing the female lead of the song. Her strong contralto soothed his soul and settled in his mind. She sounded like an angel. He stared at her, mesmerised by her confidence. Her hands shook as she sang, but she never caved.
“You never know what you can do unless you try,” she sang and turned to him. Tanner froze. Sweat slicked his palms and his heart hammered. He should know the next line. Should look at the damned screen and really romance her. Fuck.
Without missing a word, she slid her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. “You can do this,” she mouthed. Her brows rose a fraction of an inch as she nodded once. She believed he could do this, and if he did finish the song, he’d show Stafford he wasn’t a patsy. Tanner clasped her hand tighter and started his verse.
Macy swayed, caught up in the song. Her eyes closed and her smile softened just like it had when they’d sung together after school. With each word, the past came back to him. Cramming for the SAT, learning to ballroom dance, going to foreign films. She’d been his strength before and had helped him to become a better man. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. She opened her eyes and sang the chorus in harmony with him. The confident, spirited Macy of old seemed to be cracking his shell all over again. She’d romanced him.
“Get a room,” Stafford shouted. He squished his lips in an exaggerated kiss.
For a moment, Tanner considered giving him the finger. Macy’s shoulder rose a fraction of an inch in a shrug. Forget the asshole. Tanner had Macy in his arms. The rest of the room melted into nothing as he blended his voice with hers and finished the song.
“I’m not me if I’m not with you.”
Tanner stared into her eyes and the last strains of the tune faded. Macy bounced on her toes, placing a kiss on his cheek. As soon as the announcer called the next singer, she made a beeline for her seat. Tanner strode to keep up with her. Her spunky streak hadn’t faded at all. She’d grown into her true self. She took life by the proverbial horns and damn, it was sexy. At the table, he caught her in an embrace.
“You sounded awesome.” She giggled in his arms and dropped her head to his shoulder. “All these people think we’re a couple.”
Her words were music to his ears. “So?” The scent of her shampoo, something flowery, twirled around his brain. “I’d like to couple up with you.”
“You two should just fuck and get it over with.” Stafford downed the rest of his beer and smacked his lips. “I’m so outta here.” He waved his arm in a combination of defeat and goodbye and shuffled into the hotel.
“He’s a jerk, through and through.” Macy placed both hands on his chest, searing him with her touch. “I want to get something straight, though. The reunion weekend is a time to go back and reminisce, yes?” She stepped away. “I might be casual, but I don’t do relationships.”
He tugged her forward and tightened his embrace, splaying his fingers across her back. “You think too much about things I haven’t said.” He saw past her bravado and the tough-as-nails façade to the sweet, sensual woman inside. She felt so small in his grasp, like he could snap her in half.
“And you don’t think enough.” She leant back in his arms, but didn’t totally pull away. “Look, I asked you here so we could have a good time. I’ve had my heart broken more times than I want to admit.” Her brows knotted together. “I’m not ready to settle down, but you’re the one man I never could resist. I wanted to see what would happen if we kissed again.”
“Then let me do this.”
Tanner lowered his lips to hers, giving in to his d
eep-seated desire to take her. To drown in her sweetness. He slid his tongue over her mouth and, when she opened to him, he drank deeply of her. Her whimpers, barely audible over the rumble of conversation, turned him inside out. He wanted to take things further, to touch her everywhere, but he remembered where they stood. Her room wasn’t close enough.
When she broke the connection, he missed her warmth.
“Tanner?”
“Yes, babe?” God, he could listen to his name on her tongue for the rest of his life. He rested his forehead against hers. Shit. The rest of his life? Was he out of his mind? This was a fling. A chance to find out if what might have been could be explosive, the sexual Super Bowl—not the start of a relationship.
“We need to go somewhere else.” She nodded over his shoulder. “We have an audience.”
He peeked in the direction she had indicated and suppressed a chuckle. A middle-aged woman with platinum curls winked. She pursed her crimson lips as she leant forward. Sure, she gave him a luscious view of her cleavage, but hers weren’t the breasts he wanted to savour.
“Why don’t you let me walk you to your door?”
“The foyer is fine, if you have to go.” Macy stepped away from him and waved her hand, as if to swat him away.
“A kiss like that and you want me to leave you in the foyer?” Tanner stopped short. Had he misread the connection? He crooked a brow, not content to give up and play dead. “Couldn’t we negotiate a bit more?” At least enough to melt her defences a little further. “I’m not the same heartless shit I was in high school.”
“You don’t give up.” As she spoke, she led him into the foyer, her fingers tangled with his. “Unless you get what you want, you won’t back down, will you?”
At the elevator, he caught her up in another embrace.
“I’m a guy. We’re hardwired to keep trying even when we know we’ll be shot down.” He traced his index finger over her kiss-swollen bottom lip, proud that he had created her reaction. “And I’m not ready to give up until you’ve called my name at least three or four times tonight. But hey, I’ll back off if you’d rather. I’m thick, but I’m not stupid.”