He also wanted Vince to push back and get Joe out of the picture. That meant only one thing—appealing to Sophia. He punched in her cell number and told her the situation. Her voice, at once concerned and forthright, made him relax almost immediately. She couldn’t help it if her dad was a nut.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Geez, this is embarrassing. I’ll work out something with my dad. He won’t derail anything.”
“What’s your plan to call the pit bull off?”
“I’ll think of something. Don’t worry. I’ve had a lot of experience with handling my family.”
“Have you given any thought to my proposition?” he asked because it was all he could think about for a week straight.
She paused. “What proposition?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“No.”
“No, you don’t want two nights of fingers-fisting-in-the-sheets, or no, you haven’t thought about it anymore?”
“Have you?”
It’s all I can think about. “Just now.”
“I only thought about it just now too.”
“Uh-huh. So what do you think?”
“I think I don’t want to be another one of your conquests.”
“It’s not healthy to keep all that passion pent up inside, Sophia.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t have pent-up passion.”
“You do. Trust me.”
“I don’t trust you at all.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have ulterior motives.”
He found himself smiling. “And they are?”
“To sleep with me, obviously.”
“And your point is…”
Silence.
“I’m offering you a good deal,” he said.
“Fuck that.”
He grinned. “You got the first part right.”
She hung up. He shook his head. He hadn’t meant to piss her off. He was just messing with her. Kind of. It was insane how much he wanted her.
Bah, it was better this way. Sophia had trouble written all over her. She’d expect things outside of the bedroom that he didn’t know how to give.
He would disappoint her.
He let out a breath. And wasn’t that just the story of his life? Disappointing people. Not measuring up.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was like he’d been infected. And the only cure was Sophia.
Chapter Thirteen
Sophia had hoped not to have to deal with Vince for a few weeks. He was too good at getting her riled up, and her defenses were weakening the more time she spent with him. It had been twelve long restless nights since he’d propositioned her with two nights of unbridled passion and the idea had, unfortunately, lodged firmly in her mind. She longed for what he described yet knew better than to become just another in a long line of women for him.
Since they were waiting on some permits, and she was still working on moving the historic paperwork through, there was no reason whatsoever for Vince to show up at the library on Saturday. She’d organized some volunteers to move the library’s contents to a temporary space in the Episcopal church annex, where the library would operate until construction on the new library was completed.
He wore a T-shirt that stretched across his massive shoulders and chest and tapered down over rock-hard abs to jeans that looked well-worn and molded to his frame. He crossed to her, his confident stride eating up the space between them, and she fought the urge to bolt. Instead she locked her knees against the now familiar surge of lust for his Italian lumberjack good looks. It was the person on the inside that counted. She wanted someone she could have deep, thoughtful conversations with. Not someone that teased her and made her feel like she was missing out just because she’d never rolled around in ecstasy.
He flashed a smile, swooped in and kissed her cheek. “We’re here to help.”
She flushed and noticed for the first time that Vince had brought a couple of guys with him. “Hi, Nico.”
“Hello, bella,” Nico replied.
A tall man with dirty blond disheveled hair, stubbled jaw, and a dimpled smile offered his hand. “I’m Vince’s brother Jared.”
“Hi, nice to meet you. Sophia.” She turned to Vince. “You didn’t have to come today. I’ve got the Friends of the Library volunteers helping out.” She gestured to the twenty or so people boxing up the books and using carts to load them onto a rented moving truck. They’d already put in two hours of very productive work.
Vince slammed his hands on his hips. “I can’t believe you didn’t consult me on this.”
“Why would I?” she asked. “It’s not construction.”
“Sophia, look around. These are mostly old people.” He pointed. “Miss Smith is ancient and under five foot!”
“Shhh!” She grabbed his finger and brought it down. Miss Smith was the retired librarian and, after fifty years of working at the Clover Park Library, had wanted to be included.
Vince shook his head. “You need us, and you’re welcome. You can repay me with dinner.”
With that, he gestured to his brothers, and they started piling heavy boxes one on top of the other, loading up the carts.
Sophia pulled old volumes of Clover Park records off the shelf and stacked them in a box. Vince passed by and winked at her.
“I’m not buying you dinner, Vince.”
“Fine, I’ll pay.”
She gritted her teeth. Dinner with Vince was just foreplay to him. She refused to be sucked into his seduction game.
He moved off and started directing the volunteers. Soon, he had the older volunteers labeling boxes and taping them up, while the younger, stronger volunteers piled the books up. He and Nico hauled the boxes and piled them on carts. Jared stayed by the truck and arranged things in there. She couldn’t deny it was an efficient system, but it was still aggravating the way he just took over.
By lunchtime, they’d made great progress. Sophia ordered pizza and subs for everyone. She’d just put a slice on a paper plate when she heard Vince bellow, “Yo, Sophia, over here.”
She set her teeth. He was so…just so…Vince. She slowly turned. “What?”
He patted the floor next to him. “Come sit with me.”
Several of the volunteers watched with interest. “I’m okay.”
He raised his brows. “Don’t make me come get you!” he boomed.
Some people tittered. Her cheeks burned. Nico laughed and elbowed her. “He can’t help it. Go teach him some manners.”
Head held high, she walked over to where he sat and stared down at him. “In the future, I’d appreciate a nice invitation. Sophia, would you like to join me? Sophia, have some lunch with me. I saved you a spot. Not ‘Yo, Sophia’ across the room. Not a threat to come get me.”
He eyed her. “Are you done?”
She thought about it. “Yes.”
“Sit your ass down here.” He was already reaching for her plate and bottled water. “Please.”
She heaved a sigh and sat on the floor next to him.
“I’m not some pansy-ass boyfriend you can order around, so you might as well give up.” He took a bite of pizza that took in half the slice.
“Nico told me to teach you some manners,” she said. “He’s right.”
“Forget about Nico,” he said around the pizza stuffed in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed quickly. “No way in hell he’s touching you.”
“Not every conversation is foreplay. But I have a feeling he would actually ask me out nicely, not proposition me like some ill-mannered men.”
Vince chuckled. “Still thinking that one over?”
“No,” she replied quickly. She took a bite of pizza and tried very hard to ignore Vince’s long, thickly muscled leg pressed up against hers. Her jeans were no match for resisting that kind of heat. She shifted away.
Vince shifted closer, now touching from hip to knee, and leaned down to her ear. “Why didn’t you call me about this?” h
e asked quietly. “I had to find out when I ran into the mayor and he asked how many people I could bring. Didn’t you think I’d come through?” He sounded almost hurt.
“No. I just, well, it’s not a paying gig, and I didn’t want to bother you with it. I already had volunteers.”
“If I’d had more notice, I could’ve gotten more guys.”
He straightened and took a long drink of water. She watched his Adam’s apple going up and down that thick neck. Why did that turn her on? He was just so thick, so massive, so…solid. Unlike any of the men she’d dated.
He turned to her, and his deep brown eyes locked with hers. “I may not be your ideal guy in terms of, I dunno, sophistication, but I’m a guy you can count on. You need me for something, I’m there. No questions asked.”
Her throat felt tight. No man had ever been there for her. Not her dad, not her brother, not any of her pansy-ass boyfriends. “That’s, um, nice.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s not nice. It’s just a fact. Thought you should know.” Then he grabbed his empty plate and water bottle and stood. “Back to work.”
She found herself watching him walk away. The confident stride, the broad back, the tight ass. He was magnificent.
He looked over his shoulder, caught her looking, and grinned. “I’m looking forward to our dinner tonight.”
“You get lunch,” she said. “And you just ate it.”
“We’ll see.” Then he swaggered off.
How could she argue with that? He didn’t take no for an answer. What did he want to go to dinner for anyway? She’d told him she didn’t want a one- or two-night stand. He didn’t want a relationship. What was the point of dinner? She finished her lunch and went back to work.
Nico chatted with her frequently, smiling and joking around. He was funny and charming. But she kept feeling Vince’s eyes burning a hole into her, and she couldn’t completely relax.
Finally they finished getting everything into the church annex. They’d come back tomorrow to unload the boxes there for the temporary library. She and her volunteers were beat. It was quite a project. Some of the collection went into storage. Vince supervised that too, driving off to the storage space with his brothers to help unload there.
She went home strangely disappointed that he’d seemed to have forgotten all about dinner.
~ ~ ~
Vince showed up at Sophia’s house an hour later with dinner in a takeout bag. He probably should’ve showered first, but he was in a hurry to get to her before she ate dinner on her own, and then he’d have no excuse for being there.
Sophia opened the door, eyes wide. “Vince! What’re you doing here?”
He held up the bag. “You owe me dinner.”
She stared at him. He checked out her loose V-neck shirt, leggings, and bare feet. Pajamas?
“Did you eat yet?” he asked.
“No, I just got out of the shower.”
He brushed past her, and her spicy rose scent wafted around him. He stopped when she didn’t follow him. She crossed her arms, hugging her middle. Like she was nervous being alone with him.
“Sophia, you’re safe with me. Promise.” He would never force himself on a woman. “I was just teasing with that proposition.” Sort of.
She lifted her chin. “I wasn’t worried. I was just surprised to see you. I thought I said no to dinner.”
“And I said yes. Where’s the kitchen?”
She heaved a sigh and led the way. He followed behind, watching how her long hair caught the light, shades of caramel and chocolate. Damn, he was hungry.
“What’d you get?” she asked as she took out plates.
“Someone recommended Pete’s Fish and Chips.”
She turned. “Did you get the lobster rolls?”
He grinned. “Yup. Had to get what they’re famous for.”
“Omigod, I love you!” He jolted at the strange sensation in his chest. He’d never heard the L word directed at him from anyone but family. She sat across from him, grabbed her sandwich from the bag, tore off the wrapper, and took a big bite. She closed her eyes in lobster-roll ecstasy. “Mmm…so good.”
Vince adjusted himself discreetly. Something strangely erotic about the way she ate that lobster roll.
She opened her eyes. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Yeah.” He sat across from her, quickly unwrapped his sandwich, and took a bite. “Pretty good.”
“Good, it’s awesome! You won’t get better than this. Pete always makes them fresh with deliveries straight from Maine.” She took another bite and rolled her eyes orgasmically. He wanted to look away, but he was caught in thrall. She closed her eyes again, and he just watched her, fantasizing about her in bed, her long hair spread out on the pillow, moaning, writhing—
He stood abruptly and started searching the cabinets for a glass. He filled it with ice and poured water.
“You okay?” she asked. “You barely ate anything.”
“Fine,” he barked. He stood a distance away and guzzled down the ice water.
She lifted one shoulder up and down, and the sleeve shifted, revealing smooth glowing skin. No bra strap. His gaze immediately dropped to her chest. They seemed covered. Maybe some strapless pushup bra. This had been a dumb idea. The two of them alone at her place.
He returned to the table and wolfed down his sandwich. “Thanks for dinner. I better go.”
She smiled. “I should be thanking you for dinner. Where are you heading in such a hurry? Hot date?”
“No,” he barked. Then he crumpled up his trash and searched for the garbage. He had to get out of here before he pushed his luck. How did guys manage this dating thing? The lust was overpowering. He was used to just going for it.
She licked her fingers clean. He broke out in a sweat.
She smiled at him. “You want to watch the playoff game? We’ve got a really cool theater room. It’s in a loft. Big-screen TV, recliner chairs, huge beanbags. I could make popcorn.”
The Sox had made it to the playoffs. Of course he wanted to watch it. He’d nearly forgotten about it in his rush to get to her. He wasn’t entirely sure how much of the game he’d actually see alone in a loft with her, still…she’d invited him to stay. He’d barged in here demanding dinner, but now it felt like she was into the date thing too.
He raised a brow. “So this is a date.”
She crumpled up her sandwich wrapper. “I thought you didn’t date.”
“I don’t.”
“Then it isn’t.” She stood and cleared her dishes. “Forget it.”
He came up behind her at the sink. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her waist, push that long hair out of the way, and taste the side of her neck. But he didn’t touch her. Not at all. Because he didn’t know how to without going all out. Seduction was easy. Just being with her was the most difficult thing he’d ever done.
“Sophia.” He loved her name.
“What?” she asked softly.
“I would love to watch the playoffs with you.”
“As friends?”
“No.”
She let out a shaky breath, and he let himself touch her, stroking her long hair over one shoulder. The pulse point in her neck drew him in, and he placed a soft kiss there. Her head tilted, a silent offering, and he took full advantage, kissing along the column of her throat, hot, open-mouthed kisses, tasting her, all roses and spice and Sophia. She turned in his arms and looked up at him, eyes soft, cheeks flushed, lips parted. He leaned down to claim her mouth when her hand slammed against his chest.
“I will have this date with you if there is nothing physical,” she said.
“What? You liked that.” He snagged her around the waist, his hands resting lightly on her. “Don’t tell me you didn’t.”
“It was pleasant.”
He dropped his hands. “Pleasant!”
“And after this one nonphysical date, I won’t be calling you. You have to call me. Only if you want a second
nonphysical date.”
He couldn’t believe it. What kind of dating was this? He might as well be hanging out with his brothers. Did she not like when he kissed her neck? He studied her. Her cheeks were pink. Definitely not unaffected by him.
“But the physical stuff is the fun part,” he said on a near groan.
She crossed her arms. “Those are my terms.”
“When was the last time you slept with someone?”
“When was the last time you slept with someone?” she fired back.
“I stopped when I met you.” Shit. He hadn’t meant to show his cards like that.
“Vince,” she said, “really?” Her arms looped around his waist. At least she was touching him.
“No one could compare,” he admitted, hoping she’d touch him some more.
She leaned her cheek against his chest and hugged him. His arms wrapped around her. She sighed. It felt surprisingly good just to hold her.
She pulled back and looked up at him. How was he not supposed to claim that delectable mouth? And that body.
“Vince, that’s so sweet. Is that true?”
“Course it’s true,” he grumbled.
She hugged him again, looking entirely too happy about his celibate state. It was embarrassing. He wished it weren’t true. He’d even tried to pick up someone at a bar, but all he could see was Sophia and her fiery nature.
He set her away from him. “No more hugging. You’re turning me into a pansy.”
“Sorry.” She grinned cheekily.
“You owe me some passion for that.” He was hungry for her, craving her, and all this hugging was just making the need to have her more sharp. A damn urgency. Fighting it felt wrong. “Come on. You can give me something. Please.” He felt like such a wimp for begging like this, but he was powerless, caught in her spell. “One kiss.”
She held up a finger. “No hands.”
“You’re a tough negotiator,” he said as he backed her into the wall and pressed against her. He didn’t need hands. His lips and tongue and teeth could do all he wanted. He kissed her, his hands against the wall on either side of her, boxing her in. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He nipped her lower lip, making her gasp, and thrust his tongue in her delicious mouth. He kissed her with all the pent-up passion he had from the moment they met, and she moaned in the back of her throat. She was rocking her hips into him, maybe not even aware she was doing it, but he was damn pleased. He ground against her.
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