by Kim Loraine
Heaving a sigh, Alex looked to the sky before saying, “He can stay in my spare room.”
“Really?”
The surprise in his brother’s voice brought Alex up short. It’s not like he was an uncaring bastard. “Yeah. He’s got nowhere else. Chief said he can’t stay at the house off-shift anymore.”
Michael nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s get him to your house, then.” As he opened the driver’s side door, Alex heard him mutter, “You’d better not fucking puke in here, man. I’m not kidding.”
Chuckling, Alex made his way toward his truck, stopping as he passed Lauren’s bike for the second time that morning. “Hey, Mike!” he called as he jogged up to his brother’s car.
Rolling down the window, Michael frowned. “What? The less time he’s in my car, the lower the chance he’ll make a mess.”
Pulling his house key off his key ring, he handed it through the open window. “I’ve got something I have to do. You think you can get him in the house without my help?”
“Yeah. Now that he’s come around, he should be able to walk on his own. He’s going to feel like shit, but he’ll be awake.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll see you on Friday for family dinner, okay?”
Donovan moaned and shifted in his seat, making Michael’s eyebrows raise. “If you can’t find him when you get home, check the toilet. I’m pretty sure he’ll be spending the day hugging the porcelain throne.”
Patting the roof of the car, Alex nodded and stepped away as the two men left. His gaze immediately swung back to the robin’s egg-blue bicycle. Needing to find her, he walked with determination to the entrance of Cups. The smell of coffee filled the air, reminding him that he was supposed to be sharing breakfast with Lauren, preferably naked, in bed.
As he scanned the crowd once again, he sighed when he realized she wasn’t there. Maybe it wasn’t her bike parked outside. But the blue was so distinctive. Pulling out his phone, he tried her again, and just like before there was no answer. Raking a hand through his hair, he got in line and ordered a caramel mocha, not giving a shit about the inflated price or unhealthy amount of sugar in the drink.
The wind had picked up, bringing ominous clouds with it as he walked along the shore, sipping his hot coffee. Where was she? All he wanted was to fix whatever had gone wrong. He needed her. As if God had heard him, he rounded the curve in the beach and saw her long hair blowing in the breeze, that purple coat standing out in stark relief against the gray ocean and sand.
“Lauren,” he called, hoping she’d be happy to see him.
She turned at the sound of her name, and the torn expression on her face sent a harsh ache through his chest. What the fuck had happened in the span of ten minutes between their night of passionate love making and coffee in the morning?
Her posture went rigid as he approached and his heart clenched when she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“When I said we would have coffee, I meant at my house.” He tried to keep his tone light and teasing.
“I needed to think.”
Her hair blew across her face and he instinctually reached out to tuck the wayward locks behind her ear. When she flinched at his touch, he knew something serious had happened.
“Think about what?”
“You.”
Panic took hold at her statement. “What happened?”
“I came back and you were in your bedroom. I watched you from the door, standing there in your towel.” She let out a laugh. “You looked so good, I almost jumped you.”
“I wish you would’ve.”
Shaking her head, she worried her bottom lip between her teeth before continuing. “Then you started talking to the picture of you and your wife. Alex, I don’t want to cause you more hurt. It’s obvious you’re feeling guilty about us. She might be dead, but she’s not gone. She probably never will be, but I can’t be your distraction. I deserve better than that.”
Taking her face in his hands, he stared into the deep pools of brown he’d spent weeks dreaming of. “Lauren, you don’t understand.”
She backed away, gaze hardened against him. “I do. She hurt you. I get it. This is too intense. Maybe someday you’ll be ready for something that makes you feel like this, but now is not the time.”
Her words sent a pang of longing through him and a flicker of excitement. She felt the same way he did. Their connection was so much more than it had the right to be this early in the game. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and claimed her lips without pause. She melted into him, letting out a soft moan as his tongue begged entrance to her mouth. The surge of need filled his body, racing through his veins and settling in his chest, warming and blossoming into something deeper than desire.
As he pulled away, he stared at her. “Don’t tell me what I’m ready for. The time for us is right fucking now. You can’t deny what’s between us.”
Dazed, she blinked, long and slow. “Alex, what if it doesn’t work?”
A soft grin spread his lips. “What if it does?”
Chapter 16
Lauren rolled her head from side to side, stretching out the kink that had formed in her neck. She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as she typed The End.
She’d done it. The book was finished.
Sitting back in her chair, she sighed and let out a little giggle. Even if no one ever read it, she’d finished something.
“Take that, Mother.”
Her words were loud in the quiet apartment and they felt good. Turning on her music, she loaded her printer and started the long process of transferring her words from the computer to paper. She wanted to hold the manuscript in her hands so it would feel real.
Her fingers itched to call Alex, to tell him what she’d accomplished. But he was on duty and it was the middle of the night. If she called him now, he’d panic and think something was wrong. Over the last three weeks, she’d seen the fierce protective side of him rear its head in the most unexpected of ways. Losing someone the way he had, it made sense. Pulling out her phone, she decided to text her sister. Chassity might not be awake at this hour, but chances were good her party-happy little sister would still be going strong.
Finished writing the book! I can’t believe it.
As she stared down at her phone she saw the message status go from Delivered to Read. Yep, Chas was up.
What book?
Rolling her eyes at her sister’s response, she typed furiously.
The one I was writing when you came to visit. The one I’ve been working on for months.
She didn’t expect her sister to be as excited as she was, but Lauren hadn’t thought Chassity would completely forget. Her phone rang in her hands, startling her.
“Hey, Chas.”
“Sorry. I didn’t forget.”
“Yeah, you did. It’s fine. I’m just excited. I needed to tell someone.”
The murmur of a deep voice flowed over Chassity’s end of the line. “Okay, hold on, Marco. I’ll be there in a sec.”
“Chas? Are you with a guy?”
“Yes, but he can wait. My sister finished writing her novel. Don’t you have someone to celebrate with?”
Heat crept up her cheeks. She hadn’t told her sister about the Alex development. “Um, he’s at work.”
“Work? Are you back with Dean the douche? Come on, Lo. You can do better, like that tasty landlord of yours. He wants you.”
If Chassity only knew the things that landlord had been doing to her as recently as last night. “Not Dean.”
“Who then?”
“Alex.”
A loud whoop filled her ears. “Yes! I knew it. He’s so hot, and if he’s anything like Sully, you’re in good hands. Does he do yoga? Sully is
so . . . bendy. Hmm, maybe I should come for a visit again soon.”
“You’re literally with another guy right at this moment. How can you start making plans to sleep with Sully again?”
“Oh, Marco’s already finished. We’re not going to be at it again for at least another hour. Besides, he’s not packing like Sully is. Oh, that man, at least eight—”
“Chas. I don’t need to know.”
Her sister laughed. “So, how’s your landlord in bed? Does he take care of more than just your house?”
“Stop. That’s personal.”
“Come on, tell me.”
Blushing so hard her ears burned, she sighed. “Best ever.”
“Damn.”
“Exactly.”
Lauren sighed and let herself fall onto her bed. The pillow still smelled like Alex, making her smile.
“You sound happy.”
“I am,” she admitted.
“Good. Then I should tell you, don’t call Mother. She’ll ruin your high.”
Laughing, Lauren snuggled deeper into the pillow. “What else is new? That’s every day.”
“She’s been worse over the last few weeks. I think something is going on with the divorce.”
“Divorce?”
A soft curse came through before Chassity answered. “Daddy filed for divorce after you left. Mother made me swear not to tell you. She was determined to fix it. She said he’d finally started his midlife crisis, ten years too late.”
“They’re getting divorced?” She’d been gone almost a year. How could her parents have split up without anyone breathing a word to her?
“Yep. It’s finally happening. Daddy is trying to keep her from getting a cent. He’s claiming she was unfaithful. You know they pretty much hate each other. They’ve been tied up in litigation for months.”
“Was she cheating?”
Chassity snorted. “Probably. Thank God we’re adults, right? It’d suck to have to choose between Satan and Medusa.”
Shaking her head, Lauren stared at the small crack on the ceiling above her bed. “That would be the worst.”
“Anyway, sorry to be a mood killer. Congrats on your book, though.”
“Yeah, thanks. Go back to Marcus.”
“Marco.”
“Whatever. Have fun. Don’t get pregnant.”
“You’re fucking hilarious.”
“I have to have a sense of humor to be part of our family.”
Chassity laughed before hanging up, leaving Lauren smiling softly, but feeling an unfamiliar pang of sadness. Usually her family only existed to tear her down and try to make her something she wasn’t. But now, she felt sorrow for her parents. Their love had morphed into bitterness and hatred over the years.
Her thoughts wandered to Alex. Was that how things had ended for him and his wife? Could the blows life dealt turn even the most passionate love to loathing?
She hoped she’d never find out.
~ ~ ~
“I want you to meet my parents . . . officially.” Alex’s chest tightened as the words left his mouth and he watched Lauren’s face for any sign that he’d freaked her out.
“Alex, I already know them. They come in to the cafe at least once a week. Your dad likes the apple pancake, just like someone else I know.”
Sliding his hand across her bare hip, he felt something loosen inside him. “I know, but I want to introduce you as my girlfriend.”
Her eyes widened and began to crinkle at the corners as her lips quirked into a smile. “Am I your girlfriend?”
He couldn’t help the confused frown that followed. What the fuck did she mean? Of course she was his girlfriend. “I sure as hell thought so.”
Cheeks pink, she let out a soft laugh and hid her face behind her hands. “Thank goodness. I thought you might be hiding me away, using me as a sex surrogate or something.”
“What?”
“I’m kidding.” Her hands fell away from her beautiful features as she sat up. The bed sheet pooled around her waist, revealing those full, round breasts that reduced him to caveman-like intelligence levels.
“Uh,” was all he could get out, eyes locked on her body even though he knew he should’ve been looking at her face.
“So, boyfriend, when am I meeting them?”
Shaking his head, he pulled the sheet back over her, and forced his libido to calm down. “Put those away so I can think.”
She laughed and tucked the sheet behind her as she lay back on the pillow. He could still see her nipples as they poked up under the thin cotton, but they provided less of a distraction than her bare skin.
“We have family dinner every Friday. I thought you might like to come next week.”
Why was he so nervous? They’d spent every night of the last month in each other’s arms. She’d let him lick and kiss every inch of her perfect body. Why would a simple thing like dinner with his family be a problem?
“I’m scheduled to work at the cafe, but let me see if I can get someone to cover. Can you pencil me in as a solid maybe?”
Disappointment clawed at him, threatening to darken his mood. “Oh, okay.”
“Hey, don’t do that. I can probably change my schedule, but I don’t want to commit to something if I’m not sure I’ll be able to follow through.” Cupping his jaw in her small hand, she smiled at him. “I want you to introduce me. I love that you want me to get to know your family. I wish I could say the same for you.”
“You don’t want me to know your parents?”
“Nope.”
A wave of embarrassment hit him. So, he was feeling more than she was. Maybe he needed to pull back, protect himself.
“Not like that,” she said, dropping a kiss on his lips before continuing. “My parents are horrible people. And apparently they’re going through a nasty divorce. The last thing I want to do is expose you to that kind of negativity.”
His eyebrows rose in question. He wanted to know more, but was afraid to pry. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“They’re just . . . they don’t want me to do what makes me happy.” She shrugged. “They don’t understand and I don’t think they like me very much. I’m a disappointment.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve got a law degree, passed the Bar Exam and everything. Then I realized being a lawyer was the last thing I wanted.”
“You’re a lawyer?” He couldn’t contain the shock in his voice. She seemed like the last person he’d imagine in a court room.
“I’m not a lawyer. That’s the point. I’m a writer. They hate that.” Turning her gaze away, she played with a lock of her hair, twirling the end between her fingers. “I finished my first book a week ago, so bully for me. I’ve done more than they thought I would.”
“You finished? Can I read it?”
Her cheeks went a deep crimson. “No. Not yet. I haven’t edited it or anything.”
“I’m sure it’s amazing. Will you tell me what it’s about at least?”
Watching her eyes light up as she prepared to tell him sent a wave of pride straight to his heart.
“It’s a romance. A love story based on these amazing real life characters.”
He couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke her hair as she spoke. “I love how hopeful you are. You see the good in every situation. You’re a true romantic. That’s very rare, you know.”
Dropping her gaze from his, she smiled shyly. “My family thinks I’m silly. Unrealistic.”
“Romance is not unrealistic. You’ve just spent your life with the wrong people. I could spend every hour of every day loving you and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
Her breath caught in her throat as the words left his lips, making him realize the depth of
what he’d just admitted. Not giving her a chance to respond, he took her mouth, kissing her until they were both breathless. Sliding the sheet off her body, he trailed his fingers over her soft skin. He didn’t speak again. He couldn’t, as he spread her legs and sank deep inside of her.
There was no turning back now, and he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to run. Looking into her eyes as he moved in and out of her body, his heart clenched when he saw that same need, the same emotion reflected in her.
As they moved together, one thought kept ringing in his head. He loved her. There was nothing to be done to change it. He’d fallen, and the look in her eyes made him sure she’d come right along with him. The signs of her impending orgasm spurred him on as he continued his thrusts. Keening cries filled the room as she clutched his back, digging her nails into the skin. She tossed her head back, letting out a moan as she clenched around him and coaxed his own release to the edge.
“I love you, too, Alex,” she whispered, sending him hurtling past the point of no return. He groaned and called out her name as he spilled himself deep inside her body.
Chapter 17
Lauren’s hands were clammy as she waited for Alex to lock the door and come down the walk to meet her at his truck. Friday night dinner. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but now that professions of love had . . . sort of been exchanged, things seemed serious and important. Her heart fluttered in her chest as he sauntered toward her.
“You are so fucking beautiful.” His rough voice flowed over her like a caress as he looked her up and down.
The compliment took her by surprise, easing her nerves. Doing a turn, she grinned, pulling at the ends of her vintage A-line skirt. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
In fact, he looked delectable. His legs were encased in jeans that fit perfectly, showcasing his fantastic rear while riding loosely around his muscular legs. She was sure if she lifted the navy and white checked button-down shirt she’d find the pants rested just over his hips, giving a hint of that amazing V of muscle, the mythical Adonis belt. Good gracious, even thinking of him made her skin prickle with desire.