All I Want

by Eden Ashe

  She laid a file on the counter, flipped it open, and scanned through pages.

  “Anything on the amulet?” He braced his hands on the counter and leaned toward her, so close, the insanely sexy scent that screamed earth and man and something a little wild made her lightheaded.

  She cleared her throat. “Not that I can see, but that doesn’t mean anything.” Swallowing hard, she took a chance, raising her gaze, only to have it immediately snagged by his. Her brain sizzled at all of the freaking intensity in him, and every one of her pure female nerve endings sat up and started happy dancing.

  He studied her for a moment before letting out a low growl and shoved a hand through his shoulder-length arrow-straight, black-as-sin hair. Impatience tightened his mouth, and his free hand curled into a fist.

  Alarm bells chimed in her skull. She stepped back, prepared to dive for the Louisville Slugger stashed under her desk if he turned to violence.

  Disappointment rushed through her, until he blinked and held both hands up, apology and misery written in every line of his face. “I’m not angry at you. Shit, Megan, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” He closed his eyes and cursed again under his breath. “This amulet is more than just a family heirloom, and it’s imperative I find it quickly.”

  Her shoulders relaxed. Blowing out a breath, she moved to the counter. “Sorry, but believe it or not, you wouldn’t be the first hostile customer I’ve dealt with here.” When his face darkened into a scowl, she shrugged. “You’d be surprised how much temper can be involved in the vintage business.”

  Thorn kept his face neutral, even as his own temper fired in his bloodstream. He’d already spooked her enough, and he’d be beating himself up over that for a while. Even as he opened his mouth, though, a bell chimed over the door, and habit had him shifting until he stood between her and the visitor. After more than a decade fighting monsters in the shadows, he knew better than to keep his back to the entrance, and he didn’t bother questioning why that instinct suddenly included Megan. He’d been protecting innocents for long enough it had become automatic. He ignored her surprise.

  The guy that walked in didn’t have Thorn’s height or the broadness of his shoulders, but he recognized the street fighter staring out of narrowed, mismatched eyes.

  “Who the fuck are you?” the man asked.

  “I’m Thorn,” he said, at the same time Megan said, “He’s Jess Thorn. A customer.”

  “Great.” The man glanced between them before turning his attention to her. “You okay?”

  Rolling her eyes, she walked over and went onto her toes to hug him. “I’m fine, Luke. There was a mix-up, and Wally ordered something for the shop that belongs to Jess. He’s just here to look for it.” After Luke kissed the top of her head, she released him. “Jess, this is my big brother, Luke Bannon.”

  Because he got the protective-brother thing—he had a twenty-year-old little sister, Jaid, who had a three-year-old little girl of her own—Thorn managed not take offense at Luke’s attitude. “Call me Thorn.”

  Megan glared up at her brother and motioned toward the back of the shop. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

  “Is it another lecture about how I talk to your customers?”

  She lifted a brow. “Yes.”

  “Then, no.” He winked at her when she let out a frustrated sound then crossed his arms and nodded at Thorn. “I’m sorry for the attitude, man. What is it you’re searching for, exactly?”

  “An amulet.”

  Luke picked up a small figurine from the shelf next to him and tossed it once. “So, you’re not from town?”

  About done with the third degree, Thorn refocused on her, smiling at the dark glare she shot her brother. “Any idea where I can start?”

  She winced. “Today’s deliveries, I think. I’ll call Wally before going through invoices. We might get lucky.”

  He rolled his neck. “Just point me in the right direction.”

  Megan stabbed a finger in her brother’s direction. “Don’t move, and don’t touch anything. We’re going to talk.” When he leaned back against the counter with another flip of the figurine, she gave him one final glare before leading Thorn toward the back of the store. “Come on.”

  He followed her, the sway of her pert, tight ass mesmerizing him, and it took every ounce of control he possessed to keep from shouting with delight and his dick from standing up. You’re here to save me. Not get laid, asshole.

  Thorn ignored his brother’s voice. Grateful for the reassurance the amulet had to be close, he didn’t need Megan calling the cops on him for arguing with a voice only he heard.

  She opened a door and switched on the light, giving him an impish grin over her shoulder. For a moment, he stared because, Christ, her prettiness staggered him. And that dimple peeking at him from the right side of her mouth nearly fucking killed him.

  The urge to taste her, right there in the small hollow of her cheek, struck him forcefully enough the stirrings of raw need began in his gut. He cleared his throat and turned in a circle, taking in the small room. There were fewer boxes than he’d expected, and the storage room seemed to be meticulously organized, which had a little of the tension in his shoulders loosening.

  She snagged a clipboard off the wall next to the door and frowned at it. “Crap on a stick, this is a mess.” Glowering at the paper, she asked, “Do you know when it sold? Off what site?”

  “Last Monday.” He gave her the date and the name of a popular bidding website. “I tracked the winning bidder to you.”

  Propping her butt against the wall, she hugged the clipboard to her chest and tucked her hair behind her shoulder with her free hand. “Unfortunately, I buy a lot of stuff there, but at least we have somewhere to start.” She shifted and stretched up on her toes to grab a utility knife from a metal shelf. She handed it to him, handle out. “I promise to see what Wally knows before I fire him for screwing up.” A torn expression shadowed her beautiful face, caught somewhere between embarrassment and temper, while she did her damndest to keep her gaze locked solely on his face.

  “Thanks.” He flicked the knife open, lifted the first box off the floor and set it on the functional rectangular table in the center of the room. “Go talk to your brother. I’ll let you know if I find it, and you let me know when you’re hungry. Don’t forget, dinner’s on me tonight.”

  That dimple flashed again, another impish smile lit her from the inside, and, for a moment, the sparkle in her pure-green eyes distracted him. Then she disappeared back into her shop.

  Sighing, he scrubbed a hand over his face then dragged his cell phone out of his back pocket. He’d missed a text from Jaid, which brought the usual tension ratcheting in his gut until he pulled the message screen up to read what she’d written him.

  Amara misses her uncle. I told her you feel bad for leaving and will bring her lots of toys.

  Relief swamped him, and he chuckled. Despite her young age, Jaid rocked the motherhood thing. She was also a pain-in-the-ass little sister and wise beyond her years.

  His lips twitched as he sent back a quick response. Of course I will. You good?

  I’m good. Leaving for work. Stay out of trouble, k? Don’t have bail money. This kid-raising thing is expensive.

  I’m always good, remember?

  *snort* There was a brief pause then, I talked to Grandfather. He said our time is running out to find that amulet and destroy it, or bad, bad things are going to happen.

  Thorn sighed again. He didn’t need to be reminded. But for her to bring it up told him how much she worried. I’m close.

  Be careful, Thorn. I loved him, too, but there’s no telling what he’s capable of now.

  Go to work, little sister. I’ll take care of this.

  Guilt dug into his gut as he thought about Megan and what he hadn’t told her. But, unless he wanted her to run screaming into the night and have him arrested, he had to locate that damned family heirloom before she lear
ned more than he wanted her to.

  Shoving the phone back into his pocket, he opened the box packed full of vintage items ranging from clothes, to jewelry, to assorted knickknacks. He grimaced and rolled his neck. He didn’t have the time to be sorting through this crap, but what choice did he have?

  Megan walked straight up to her brother and poked him in the chest. “What the hell, Luke? You can’t talk to my customers that way.”

  “I know.” He pulled his ragged Cubs hat lower over his eyes. “It startled me, coming in and seeing a stranger put himself between us.”

  She moved behind the counter. “Yeah, that was weirdly protective.”

  “Exactly. But I’ll apologize if you want.” He shot her a disarming grin.

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “That doesn’t work on me anymore.”

  The grin widened. “Maybe not, but Jilly eats it up.”

  Megan had to admit she loved the lightness her best friend brought to Luke’s life. Somehow, Jilly had re-engaged his sense of humor and ability to laugh at the absurd, and Megan adored her for it. But she still made a face at him. “I don’t need to know that. Now, why are you here?”

  That quickly, the humor died. “I got an email earlier. Dec is coming home.”

  Twin feelings of joy and worry twisted in her gut. A year younger than Luke and five years older than Megan, her other brother took over-protective, asshole-ness to epic proportions. And, while she really did adore the crap out of him, she’d never been able to get him to see her as anything more than the little sister who needed to be protected at all costs. “Do you know why?”

  “He didn’t say.” Luke’s phone beeped, and he bent over the countertop to kiss her brow. “I gotta go. Jilly’s waiting for me. You going to be okay?”

  She blew the bangs out of her eyes, hating the thought seeing Declan could cause so much stress. “I’m good. Go.”

  Luke nodded, and with one final look toward the storeroom where Thorn dug through her inventory, he left the store.

  Thorn. Shit. She had to get him out of there before Declan showed up. Despite her fully adult age and the fact Megan ran her own profitable business while managing on a daily basis not to kill herself, Declan would do his damndest to scare Thorn off if he thought for a moment she was interested in him.

  Not that she didn’t have the capability of handling herself and putting Dec in his place.

  Breathing deeply, trying to clear the anxiety out of her brain, she decided to go help Thorn in the storeroom. The sooner he found what he sought, the sooner he’d leave.

  She chalked it up to pure female loneliness that she almost hoped he didn’t find it, so he’d stick around awhile longer.

  Chapter Three

  The longer he searched through boxes, the more violent Thorn’s anxiety grew. When he’d discarded the last box and braced his hands against the table, the frustration gnawed his insides.

  “No luck?”

  His shoulders stiffened at her soft voice, and he barely managed to keep from growling. The woman screwed up his senses. “Nope.” Straightening, he rolled his head and turned toward at her. “Any idea where to go from here?”

  She leaned against the doorframe with her hands in the back pockets of her skirt, and despite his frustration, he had to appreciate the sheer perfection of her. She appeared as worried as he felt, but she her adorable vibrancy drew him in. Though they stood a few feet apart, he still wanted to be closer. It didn’t make sense, but whenever she’d poked her pretty face in the storeroom to check on him, every one of his nerve endings lit up like a Christmas tree, until he spent more energy watching for her than searching for the amulet.

  She chewed on her lip and brushed her hair out of her face. “I’m getting ready to close up for the evening. Which means you owe me dinner.”

  He wondered if she’d punch him if he closed the distance and kissed her, tugged on her hair until she opened for him, and tasted her until he’d had his fill.

  And then walk away like the bastard you are.

  Jerking back at his brother’s acid-laced voice, Thorn cleared his throat and nodded once. “Point me in the right direction and I’ll pick us something up. Unless you’d rather go out?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I think takeout so we can keep looking?”

  He wanted to say yes. He needed the help, and despite the increasing viciousness of the voice, Thorn didn’t think letting her stick around to help him would put her in danger.

  And, fuck, he enjoyed her company. Which meant no way he’d let her stay. One small mistake on time frame meant the kind of danger he didn’t want to have to protect her from. “Why don’t we go grab something then you can go home and I’ll finish searching? If you don’t mind my being here after closing?”

  “Nice try.” In one quick move, she grabbed his hand, using it to drag him toward the showroom floor. “This is partly my fault, so you’re stuck with me until this amulet of yours is found.” She let him go when she reached the counter, long enough for her to duck behind it and snag her purse. “But I will let you take me out to dinner first.”

  “Megan—”

  She held up a hand and lifted a brow. “I’m going to stop you right there. Don’t argue with a Bannon. I promise, you won’t win.” She stood directly in front of him again, her wicked, impish grin making him think of all the things he’d love to do—turning that smile into moans one of them.

  His cock twitched. Jesus, he needed to get hold of himself. He doubted she was a one-night kind of girl, and he’d be out the door, back to Chicago the second he found the amulet—even if all his instincts were telling him she’d be worth getting to know better.

  “Fine,” he ground out, keeping his face impassive. The same interest gnawing away at him shone bright in her eyes, and she didn’t need him encouraging her, even if the daredevil in him wanted to push her to see what she’d do. “Lead the way. Wherever you want.”

  “Oh, Thorn.” She patted his cheek before scooting past him. “You should be careful. Those words with that face and body could push a girl over the edge. You don’t want that.”

  Fuck. She challenged him. And for the first time in his thirty years, Thorn had no idea if he possessed the strength to back down.

  She had no idea what the hell had come over her. While she’d always admired women completely at home in their own skin and with their sexuality, she’d never been good at flirting. Ever. Honestly, Megan’s attempts were usually so laughable, Jilly had forbidden her from flirting during one girls’ night out.

  Thorn wasn’t staying, though, and everything about him made her want to rip his clothes off and lick him all over. He was—hands down—the hottest, sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on, and part of her would never forgive herself if she didn’t at least try to….

  Okay, so she didn’t want to just lick him. Devour sounded more appropriate. She shivered thinking about it. But her bravery wavered when hunger flashed over his face, and, in a quick move that left her gasping, he had her caged against the doorjamb. He bent his knees until their mouths were nearly touching, one of his hands resting by her shoulder while the other slid down to grip her waist.

  “Was that a dare?” he asked on a dark, delicious murmur.

  Oh God. Oh God. The hunger on his face. Like he wanted to lick and devour her right back.

  “Maybe,” she whispered, holding his gaze and refusing to back down, despite the weakness in her knees.

  His smile spread across his face slowly, transforming it from dark and hungry to something truly predatory. Like he’d found his prey and was going in for the kill.

  Then, so quickly she almost missed the second it changed, his body stiffened. He whipped around, his narrowed eyes scanning her store.

  She clutched his arm. “Thorn? What is it?”

  Rumbling low in his chest, he didn’t take his attention off the room. “Get behind me.”

  She did, blinking when his arm immediatel
y shot out and hauled her flat against his back. Reacting to the change in him, her heart jackhammered. “What’s wrong?”

  The shop stood empty except for them. The building didn’t even have a back entrance, and the front door had already been locked before she’d gone to the storeroom to remind him about dinner.

  His free hand reached between them, and the next thing she knew, a long, terrifying knife appeared in his hand. Unlocking the door, he backed them out of her store.

  After a moment, he relaxed enough to let her go and faced her. “Where do you want to go to eat?”

  She blinked at the complete casualness of his tone, like he hadn’t scared the bejesus out of her. Folding her arms, she lifted a brow. “What the hell was that about?”

  “Pick a restaurant and I’ll meet you there.” He braced a hand against the doorframe. “Please,” he gritted out.

  She wanted to argue with him, but, with Laken being such a small town and Thorn a stranger, people were already starting to slow down to get glimpses of their conversation. “Fine,” she bit out. “I’ll be at Sammy’s Pub. It’s around the corner on the lakefront.”

  He nodded once. With his eyes barely leaving her face, like he worried she’d disobey him or dart around him and back into her store, he pulled out his wallet and handed her his credit card. “I’ll meet you there. Get whatever you want.”

  She snatched the card. “You’d better,” she muttered, already stalking toward the diner. She hesitated and glared back at him. “I want answers, Thorn.”

  He shoved his knife back into the holster at his lower back beneath his shirt, and then stood there, his arms crossed over his wide chest.

  ***

  The second the bar’s door closed behind her, she slumped against it. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her breathing.

  “Megan?” A small hand grabbed her upper arm, shaking gently. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t—I don’t know.” She blew out a breath, and then focused on Lucy. Tall and goddess-like, with a pregnant belly that looked about to pop at any second, the woman was the human equivalent of Jessica Rabbit. Straightening, Megan forced a smile. “I need a table for two, please. And what’s wrong with Cole, letting you work a week from your due date?”