The Lawson Boys: Marty

by Angela Verdenius

  His hand trailed down her spine to play in the dimple in the small of her back, right above the rise of her generous derriere. Her breath hitched right before she angled her head back to look up into his face.

  Yep, there it was, the blush that made her round cheeks rosy.

  Marty grinned lazily. “Hi.”

  “Ummm…hi.”

  “You okay?” He sure as hell felt awesome.

  “Fine.”

  “Just fine?”

  “Mmm.” Her gaze lowered. “Good.”

  “Good? Please, don’t spare my feelings.”

  “Better than fine.” Her lush lips curved into a smile. “Amazing.”

  “Okay, that’s getting better.” His finger dipped into the dimple, traced lightly around it. He did like that dimple. It was cute. “Feel free to continue.”

  She looked back up at him, still shy but a gleam of laughter in her eyes. “I think you know what a fantastic lover you are without me pumping your ego even higher.”

  “Pumping.” He leered. “You said pumping.”

  For a few seconds she just stared at him before she got his sexual innuendo and her blush deepened.

  Marty laughed and hugged her. “Oh, Belle, you are so easy.”

  “And you’re perverted.” She snuggled closer.

  “Hey, I wasn’t the one screaming my name.” Intense satisfaction stole through him.

  “I’m sure if I hadn’t, you would have,” she retorted.

  The good thing about the dimple was that it wasn’t far above that beckoning bottom, and he gave her a playful tap. “There’s no doubt my woman would be screaming my name, no doubt at all.”

  She giggled, an actual giggle that had him chuckling.

  Time passed but finally even he had to admit that the floor was getting uncomfortable no matter how thick the carpet. He sat up, his arm around Belle pulling her with him.

  That’s when everything changed. Belle went from lying languidly in his arms to grappling for the blanket on the sofa, drawing it down to cover herself.

  Marty’s brows shot up. “Seriously?”

  She bit her lip and nodded.

  “After what I saw and did to you, you’re really feeling the need to cover yourself?” So used to women who were comfortable with themselves, Marty sighed.

  She glanced away, the shyness gripping her accompanied by an awkward silence.

  Reminding himself that she wasn’t used to intimate relations in the light, of a man being able to see her naked much less ravish her body as he’d done, Marty leaned forward and caught her chin, guiding her face back around so that he could look her in the eyes.

  “Belle,” he said softly, “I know you’re shy. I know you have doubts. But honey, you are beautiful to me.”

  “Thank you.”

  Marty was silent for several seconds before he finally said, “That was so freakin’ polite it’s scary.”

  This time it was her eyebrows that arched in surprised query.

  “Cripes, I feel like you’re going to offer me some money in a minute.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

  Marty winked at her. “Mind you, I am such a magnificent lover, maybe you should pay me.”

  “Pay you?” She blinked, then her lips started to quiver. “Oh my gosh, you really are egotistical when it comes to your sexual prowess, aren’t you?”

  “Honey, sexual prowess is my middle name.” Blowing on his nails, he buffed them against his chest. “After all, I did make you scream my name. And made you see stars several times if I’m not mistaken.”

  “You are a wretch.” Laughing, she shoved him.

  Now that he’d broken the awkwardness between them - all on her side, anyway - Marty grinned and stood up in one lithe move, bending down and catching Belle’s hand to draw her up in front of him. The blanket came with her, covering her front, though her generous curves peeked out tantalisingly either side of it.

  Standing before him, all flushed and rumpled and sexier looking than he could ever remember seeing a woman, Belle smiled tremulously.

  Catching her chin, Marty bent down to brush a kiss across her lips, drawing back only enough to meet her gaze. “Go get something on, honey. I know you’ll feel more comfortable.”

  Relieved, she nodded and gathered the blanket around herself before heading for the lounge room door.

  Marty was just in the act of lifting one foot to shove into his briefs when she said, “I’m sorry.”

  Glancing across at her, he asked, “Why?” even though he knew.

  “It’s not you. It’s me.”

  “You’re not the problem, Belle. Your insecurity is.”

  “I come as a package deal,” she said ruefully.

  Pulling his briefs up to settle on his lean hips, Marty studied her. “You sure do.”

  She fidgeted with the blanket. “I better go.”

  “Before you do.” He strode across the room to her, stopping so close she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.

  Reaching out, he gently smoothed the curls back behind her ears. “When I said your insecurities were a problem, I didn’t mean they were insurmountable. Because they’re not.”

  “Says you.”

  “Says me,” he agreed. “And I’ll take you, package deal and all, because I want you, Belle Broune. You’re sexy, you’re beautiful, you’re everything I want in a woman.”

  There went that delightful blush again, her smile so sweet that Marty wanted to tuck her into his pocket and keep her close to his heart away from anything that would hurt her. Unfortunately, life wasn’t so simple. “We’ll work on your insecurities together, honey. I just want you to know that to me, you’re everything.”

  She smiled, then suddenly went up on tip toe to brush a kiss across his lips before ducking her head to scurry out the door and down the hallway.

  Yes, she was his everything. She was fast becoming the woman he needed in his life, but he had to convince her of that before he popped the question because he sure as hell wasn’t going to let her go and be captured by some other man, not when he’d claimed her body and soul. Now he just had to capture her heart.

  After all, Belle had his heart in the palm of her hand, she just didn’t know it.

  ~*~

  “I’m telling you, men need to know their place and you, Belle, you shoved that idiot Trevor right into his.” Nodding, Mary continued unpacking the latest box of books on the counter to be priced.

  Flicking the duster over the spines of mystery books located on the shelf to the right of the counter, Belle mumbled, “Thanks.”

  “Yep, when I saw that piece in the newspaper, I knew it was you, knew before your photo was released. You got guts, girl, you just don’t show it enough.”

  Belle didn’t know about guts but she sure as heck knew about sore inner thigh muscles, stiff from being used so deliciously and in new, unique and very hot positions. Just the memories were enough to make her hot and flustered.

  Mary mistook her flush for modesty. “It’s true. You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re worth more than that cretin, Trevor. In fact…” She glanced slyly at Belle. “You’re worth that new man in town, the Lawson boy.”

  “Marty.”

  “Your mother was singing his praises, said what a courteous young man he is, and I have to tell you, Belle, I caught sight of him and my panties got wet.’

  Belle choked, and it wasn’t on dust.

  “Yep, wet as could be.” Mary planted one hand on her skinny hip. “Never mind being older than him or waffling on about if I were twenty years younger, hell, if he came in here right now and threw me to the floor to have his wicked way with me, I’d have him stripped faster than you could blink.”

  “Ride ‘em cowboy?” Holly bounced out from behind a display of romance books.

  “Oh chickie, I’d ride him like he’d never been ridden before.” Mary held up one of the books she’d just unpacked. “Been reading some of these here erotic romances and I�
��m telling you, I wish I knew about these when I was younger because whooee!”

  Unable to help grinning, Belle moved to the next bookshelf.

  “I’m betting that Belle doesn’t need any instructions when it comes to her Lawson boy.” Holly smirked. “If you know what I mean.”

  Frantically Belle shook her head, but it was too late.

  Mary’s eyes glowed as she dropped the book on the counter. “Belle Broune! Have you been getting it on with that Lawson boy?”

  “Well, I - we’ve been seeing each other.” A lot. A hell of a lot. For dinner, for drinks, for walks. For sex. Naked. Very, very naked.

  “Red cheek alert,” Holly drawled.

  “Will you shut up?” Belle fanned herself with the duster.

  “I bet he rides her like a bikie on a Harley Davidson.” Mary rubbed her hands. “He has that look about him.”

  “He doesn’t look like a bikie,” Belle protested.

  “No, he looks like sex on two legs. Very strong legs.” Mary smiled a little dreamily. “Built like a Greek god, sexy as all sin. I’m telling you, Belle, you landed yourself a real man there.”

  “So tell us how life is treating you these days, Belle.” Holly grinned widely.

  Seeking to change the subject, she shrugged. “Quiet, actually, which surprises me.”

  “Marty not as loud in the sack as you thought he’d be?”

  “No!”

  “He’s louder?”

  “Never figured him for a screamer,” Mary remarked. “More the one to make you scream, if you know what I mean.” She nudged Holly suggestively in the side.

  “Does he make you scream?” Holly nudged Mary back. When Belle blushed, she squealed with delight. “He does! He makes you scream!”

  “Stop it!” Belle pointed the duster at her.

  “Your face is going to go on fire in a minute.”

  Taking pity on her, Mary resumed unpacking the books from the box. “Now now, Holly. Stop embarrassing her.”

  “Me? What about you?”

  “I’m her boss. I can do it.”

  “I’m her friend-”

  “So you’re supposed to support her.” Mary turned to Belle. “So you were saying?”

  “Huh?” Turning away from pointing the duster threateningly at a grinning Holly, Belle looked at her boss.

  “You were saying that you were surprised at how quiet it was.”

  “Oh yeah.” Belle flicked the duster over the top books. “I sort of expected more gossip. You know, about Trevor and me and what I did.”

  Holly pulled herself up to sit on the counter. “There was some, but it seems ol’ Trev is old news really fast.”

  “I’d have thought me shouting out to the world that I wasn’t a - you know…”

  “Virgin? You can say it, you know.”

  Belle narrowed her eyes at her best friend. “I know. Virgin. There, happy?”

  “Ecstatic.” Holly beamed.

  “Anyway, I’d have thought that would still be going the rounds.”

  “Sorry to break it to you, Belle, but your five minutes of fame with Trevor has passed on.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  “However…” Holly held her hand out to Mary, who reached behind the counter, whipped out a newspaper and slapped it briskly into Holly’s outstretched palm. “You have another five minutes of fame.”

  Puzzled, Belle stopped dusting.

  Holly flipped the newspaper to the middle where the gossip section lay. Gravely, she looked at Mary. “Do you want to do the honours?”

  “My dear, the floor is yours. Proceed.”

  Mystified, Belle titled her head in silent query.

  Holly read aloud. “‘Who was spotted kissing Marty Lawson, one of the most sought-after bachelors of the decade? None other than The Other Woman, Belle Broune. Looks like she’s moved on and has her sights set on someone unattached! Will this country mouse succeed in capturing a man this time? Only time will tell!’”

  Holly and Mary looked expectantly at her.

  Running across the small space separating her from the counter, Belle grabbed the newspaper from Holly and scanned the page. Oh Lord, there it was! The photo Tyrell Baker had taken from the café window of Belle and Marty in the car, Marty’s big hand cradling her nape as he kissed her in what was obviously a hot kiss and not a peck on the lips.

  “Oh geez.” Belle groaned.

  Chapter 9

  Mary shook both hands and whistled. “On fire, sweetie!”

  “Now that is a photo to cut out and keep, something to show your kids when they’re teenagers and you want to embarrass them,” Holly informed her cheerfully.

  “Now that’s what I call a woman taking charge.” Mary studied the photo with admiration. “What a hottie.”

  “He kissed me,” Belle protested. “It was his idea!”

  “I do take all the credit.” The familiar, cheerful, deep voice came from the doorway, and in walked the hottie himself.

  “Nice photo.” Holly smirked.

  Mary smiled widely. “Really nice photo.”

  “Why, thank you.” Marty smoothed down his t-shirt which was tight enough to show off his impressive biceps, his pecs, and a hint of the six pack abdomen that had Mary practically drooling.

  Belle rolled her eyes. Her boss wasn’t making any attempt to hide her appreciation of Marty’s tall, muscular physique. To be truthful she could drool a little herself, especially because she knew just how good it felt to have that muscular body pressed hard against her, but right now she had other issues. She waved the newspaper in his face. “You knew?”

  “Alan showed it to me this morning. You were already gone so I came straight here.” Plucking the newspaper from her hand, Marty leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “’Morning, honey.”

  “Awww,” Holly said. “Isn’t that nice.”

  Although still a little shy of it in public, Belle was becoming more used to Marty’s easy, warm displays of affection. There was no denying that she enjoyed the sensation of his lips on hers, as well as the languid warmth that that always spread through her belly whenever he touched her. She smiled up at him. “Hi.”

  Tucking her into his side with one arm around her waist, Marty held up the newspaper and studied the photo. “You look hot.” He winked wickedly at her.

  Mary’s expression went all soft. “Oh, you are such a sweet boy.’

  “I doubt that,” Holly said dryly.

  “Wait until you get to know me more,” Marty assured her, “I’m a real sweetheart.”

  “Never mind that.” Belle pointed at the photo. “What about this?”

  “What about it?”

  “You don’t have a problem with it?”

  “Why should I? I am the most sought-after bachelor of the…” Marty checked the print before announcing with relish, “decade.”

  “And modest to boot.” Holly was amused.

  “Just telling it like it is.” Marty flipped back the hank of blonde hair falling devilishly over his brow.

  “Seriously.” Belle tapped the photo. “I’m not only The Other Woman, I’m also now The Country Mouse, and everyone is wondering if I’ll catch you.”

  “The most sought-after bachelor of the decade.”

  “Whatever.”

  Marty laughed.

  “How can you not be even a little concerned?”

  “Why should I be?”

  “When your mother sees this-”

  “Honey, she already knows I’m here chasing you.”

  Belle sighed. “You really don’t care, do you?”

  “Nope,” he replied cheerfully. “Do you?”

  Did she? Belle stared up at him, watching the humour fade from his face as the silence lengthened. Did she really care that everyone saw the photo of her kissing Marty? That everyone knew?

  It hit her with clarity.

  Hell no.

  Hell no, she didn’t care. In fact, she was damned proud that a man like Marty
Lawson would want her, that he couldn’t keep his hands off her, that he didn’t care who knew that he was chasing her, though to be fair, everyone would probably think it was the other way around. And come to think of it, if everyone thought she could so easily capture a man like Marty, well, what did that make her?

  She smiled slowly.

  Marty’s eyebrow quirked.

  “Hey,” she said. “I’ve upgraded.”

  “Huh?” Holly leaned forward on the counter to peer closer at her.

  “My pursuit of a man has resulted in me apparently capturing the most sought-after bachelor of the decade. I want everyone to know my taste has improved.” Without thought, she reached down, grabbed a good handful of Marty’s taut backside through his jeans and squeezed lightly.

  He jumped, Holly laughed, and Mary fanned herself.

  Belle blushed as soon as she realised what she’d done. “Oops.”

  Eyes gleaming wickedly, Marty leaned down to whisper into her ear, “You are so gonna pay for that later, you little witch.” Before she had a chance to reply, he released her with a hearty pat on her derriere, gave Holly and Mary a half bow accompanied by a wink, and left the shop.

  “Oh boy.” Mary fanned herself with the newspaper. “I’m having a flush and it’s nothing to do with menopause.”

  Feeling a whole lot lighter, Belle laughed and resumed dusting.

  “Want me to keep this photo for you?” Holly held up the newspaper.

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Wise choice.”

  “I’m making a few of them lately.”

  “That you are.” Jumping off the counter, Holly made for the door, pausing only to pat Belle on the shoulder. “I couldn’t be happier.” She walked out the door.

  The rest of the day passed with its usual busyness, though a few more people than normal entered, and those who didn’t know Belle well enough kept glancing at her while apparently shopping. Normally this would have made her feel awkward, but this time she simply smiled at them and asked if they needed help.

  Those who did know her, such as several ladies from the garden club, openly congratulated her on her handsome boyfriend and made no attempt to be subtle about checking out his photo, with Mrs Harris telling anyone who would listen that she’d personally met the Lawson boy and he was built to please a lady, which produced giggles from her companions.