If You Were Mine: The Sullivans, Book 5

by Bella Andre

  Lori covered her ears and started singing Love Bites in a perfect imitation of Def Leppard’s singer until the three of them collapsed into giggles.

  Suddenly, Heather actually wished she could date Zach. Not just because her hormones wouldn’t leave her alone, but because there was no doubt in her mind about how fun it would be to be a part of the Sullivan family.

  But, even as she let herself envision that for a brief moment, she knew the reality was nothing like the fantasy. Regardless of how well things might start for her and Zach, no matter how much he seemed to like her and want her in the present, she knew with utter certainty that he wasn’t the kind of man who would ever commit to one woman forever.

  So if a part of her was at all envious at the way Jake had continually kissed his pretty wife, if she secretly longed at all for a man to look at her with such complete adoration, all she had to do was remember the vow she’d made to herself when she was seventeen and had found out the truth about the extent of her father’s lies.

  Never. She would never put herself in a position to be treated like that. Because she would never make the mistake of letting herself fall in love.

  * * *

  “Heather’s a pretty girl.”

  Zach tugged Atlas away from the lamp post he was admiring and directed him toward a bush. “Pretty? Are you blind? She’s gorgeous.”

  Jake nodded his agreement just as Cuddles got into a position that had Zach groaning. The blue bags were burning a hole in his pocket and he really wanted to keep it that way. It was one thing to clean up after the puppy in his backyard...

  He muttered a curse that perfectly described not only what the puppy was doing, but Heather’s huge dog as well. Jake hadn’t stopped laughing at him since they’d left their seats and he only laughed harder now.

  “So Heather’s just training the puppy?”

  Zach wasn’t going to admit to his closest friend that he’d struck out with Heather a half-dozen times already and that the only way he’d gotten her here today was by tricking her into it.

  “She’s one hell of a dog trainer.” And one hell of a woman, too.

  Lord knew she had him wrapped so tightly around her little finger that he barely knew which way was up anymore. He only knew he wanted her more with every passing second...even as she tried to push him farther away.

  Jake nodded in the direction of the dogs, both of whom were frisky now that they’d taken care of their important business. “Looks like you’ve got some cleanup to take care of.”

  Zach still wasn’t completely okay with the fact that Jake had gotten his little sister pregnant on the sly. Which was why he shoved a blue bag in his friend’s hand and headed for Cuddles’s pile. Jake could deal with Atlas’s mess in the name of payback.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The second Zach sat between Lori, Sophie, and Heather, he could tell something was different. It was like they’d gone from being strangers to becoming friends.

  Who knew what his little sisters had told her? All he needed was for some of his crazier exploits to get back to Heather and she’d grab her dog and start running.

  “Everything go okay with Huge and Tiny?” she leaned close to ask him when Atlas plopped down across their feet and closed his eyes. Cuddles had already curled up against his chest, which was quite clearly the pup’s favorite place on earth, considering how much time she spent there.

  “Those blue bags came in handy.”

  He loved her smile and soft laughter. “Good,” she said, still chuckling. “Thanks for taking Atlas with you.” She looked at him almost shyly. “And thanks for changing my seat, too. I’ve really loved getting to know your sisters.”

  Her sweet words landed straight in the center of his chest. He leaned closer, close enough that he could have easily taken her mouth with his.

  “Whatever they’ve told you, it’s all lies.”

  He expected more laughter, but her eyes were dark instead of filled with humor, and her breath was coming faster, her gaze trained on his lips.

  “I hope not,” fell from her lips, and he would have kissed her right then and there, his lookeeloo family be damned, if she hadn’t jerked back sharply.

  She focused her entire attention on the game after that, and the second it finished, she stood up. “That was fun. So nice to meet you all, but I should really be going—”

  Lori cut her off. “Wait, you have to meet Ryan.” Before she could protest, his sister shoved past Zach, picked up Atlas’s leash, and slipped an arm through Heather’s. “You’re going to love him.” She winked over her shoulder at him before saying, “He isn’t anything like Zach.”

  Okay, so Zach had been irritated with his sister earlier, but now he recognized Lori for the jewel she really was for not letting Heather run from him so fast.

  Heather was frowning and he overheard her say, “Actually, I’m not sure it’s such a great idea if I go back where the rest of the team is.”

  Lori brushed off her concern without asking for a reason. “Are you kidding? All those hot, sweaty guys make it a fabulous idea.”

  As if Ryan would ever let Lori date one of the guys on his team in this lifetime. Fortunately, the players on the Hawks had always understood just how off-limits the Sullivan twins were. Unlike, he thought with a scowl in Jake’s direction, his own friend. Of course, given the way Sophie and Jake were always giving each other gooey looks the way they were right then, he supposed it had all worked out in the end.

  Walking behind Heather, he couldn’t take his eyes off her gorgeous legs in her shorts, the sweet curve of her hips, the way her dark, shiny hair swung over her back in its usual braid. Frankly, the last thing he was worried about right now was his little sister. Because if Ryan—or any of his teammates—looked at Heather the wrong way, he was going to have to kill them.

  * * *

  Heather hadn’t been into the locker room before, even though she’d been invited more than once. If she’d taken the guy she dated occasionally up on his invitation, it would have made their casual relationship seem like more than it was.

  Which was why she shouldn’t be freaking out right now. Just because she and—

  “Heather?”

  Brant Johnston, the first baseman for the Hawks, grinned when she walked in with Lori.

  She felt herself flush, but it wasn’t because of Brant. It was the knowledge that Zach had moved beside her in a flash, every muscle in his body tensed as though he were about to spring.

  She was just flustered enough that, before she could stop him, Brant pulled her against him for a hug. “You look gorgeous, as always.”

  For a professional athlete, Brant was actually quite sweet. And there was no question that he was good-looking, with his golden hair, blue eyes, and athletic build. But she had never even been tempted to take things beyond dinner and sex. It had a been a few months since she’d last seen him, even though he’d called a couple of times to see if she wanted to get together. She just hadn’t been all that interested.

  Quickly stepping out of his arms, she planted a smile on her face that she hoped looked genuine. “Great game.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Zach’s face looked like thunder. Lori, Sophie and Jake were watching the scene play out with something akin to glee on their faces.

  “If I’d known you were coming today, I would have made sure you had a great seat.” He finally noticed her dog. “Hey, how’s it going, Antler?”

  She thought she heard Zach growl just as his brother found them. Atlas wasn’t particularly comfortable with so many big men around, but she could tell Zach’s presence made him feel much more secure than usual.

  “Ryan,” Zach said, putting a rather possessive hand on the small of her back, “this is Heather and her dog Atlas.”

  She knew the special emphasis on her dog’s name and his hand on her were both for Brant’s benefit, but even while something warmed up inside of her at the crazy thought of actually belonging to Zach, she cou
ldn’t stand being the bone that two men were tugging between them to see who would win.

  Stepping out of Zach’s reach, she shook Ryan’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

  She could feel Ryan working to size up the situation between her and Brant and Zach. Atlas had never much cared for Brant the couple of times he’d met him, but just as he’d been with Zach, he practically turned into a squirming puppy when Ryan scratched his head. Yes indeed, there was no doubt that Sullivan men had quite a potent effect on living, breathing things.

  Somewhere in there Brant had moved closer to her. “It’s been too long, Heather. Why don’t we celebrate the game together tonight?”

  A month ago, she might have gone. After all, she was a sensual woman and sex with a good-looking guy wasn’t a terrible way to end a Friday night.

  But even though she didn’t have any other plans, and certainly wasn’t in a relationship with anyone else, the idea of casually seeing Brant didn’t seem like a very good one anymore. Actually, it seemed like a terrible idea.

  She opened her mouth to say no thank you, when Zach reached out and slid a lock of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear.

  “You didn’t mention you knew Brant this morning when you were making breakfast for us.”

  At his gentle touch, she simultaneously wanted him more than she’d ever wanted another man...and could have punched him for behaving like such a caveman with the false insinuations of why she’d been making breakfast at his house.

  Purposefully turning her back on Zach, she told Brant, “It’s been a pretty big day already and it will be an even bigger one tomorrow.” She looked down at her dog, who looked like he’d run a marathon instead of gobbling up stray pieces of popcorn and playing with his best puppy friend all afternoon. “I’ve got to get home.”

  She was turning to Zach’s family to say her goodbyes, when Brant surprised her by pulling her against him for another hug. An even longer one this time. “I’ll call you soon.”

  She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes as she stepped out of his arms and turned to tell Lori, Sophie, Ryan, and Jake, “It was so nice meeting all of you.”

  “It was totally our pleasure.” Lori hugged Heather. “I hope we’ll see you again really soon.”

  Heather didn’t know what to say to that. She was Zach’s dog trainer, not his girlfriend. What reason would she have to run into his family ever again unless they all got dogs?

  She pulled up the slack on Atlas’s leash and headed for the door. When she realized Zach was right beside her every step, she said, “I know the way out.”

  Of course, he didn’t back off, just stayed right beside her as she walked out of the park.

  “How many times have you been with him?”

  She picked up her pace. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Why didn’t you go with him tonight?”

  That wasn’t any of his business either, but she said, “I’m tired. My dog is tired. I’m ready to go home.”

  She pushed out a side exit into an alley that led to the parking lot. The truth was, even the thought of kissing Brant again had her entire body recoiling. Not because he hadn’t been an okay lover, but because, suddenly, there was only one man she could imagine kissing.

  “What if he calls you when you’re not so damned tired?”

  Furious at herself for her continued lack of control where Zach was concerned had her spitting out, “Right now I’m not feeling it, but maybe on a different day, if I’m in the mood, why not?”

  Zach grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. “Here’s why not.”

  His mouth came down on hers in a kiss that had everything simmering between them finally exploding.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heather had fought this kiss for nearly a week. She’d lied to both of them about not wanting it, even as fantasies about what it would be like kept her distracted during the day and tossing and turning at night.

  But none of her fantasies had done their first kiss justice. There was no way she could have ever imagined it taking place in a deserted alley, with Zach’s strong muscles pressing her into a cement wall, his hips against hers, his large hands sliding into her hair.

  And, oh God, the feel of his lips on hers, the way his tongue slipped and slid against hers...she was lost to sensation, to the insatiable greed to take more of the forbidden fruit she’d been craving body and soul.

  “Heather.” He groaned her name against her lips, then began to alternately nip at her lower lip, then lave over the small bites, as if a simple kiss wasn’t enough when what he really wanted was to devour her.

  She knew she should be pushing him away, that she should keep fighting their connection out of sheer self-preservation, but her body simply refused to follow that intelligent dictate.

  Instead, she was wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. She wanted him closer, needed more. She’d never felt like this with anyone else—completely out of control, already way out on the edge from nothing more than one incredibly potent kiss.

  Yes, she knew she should stop, that she should be pushing him away and telling him it could never happen. Only, in a moment of more perfect connection with Zach than she’d ever thought to have with a man, she found herself deepening the kiss instead.

  Leaving one hand in her hair, he began to run the other slowly down the side of her body. She nearly cried out into his mouth when he slid over—and past—the curve of her breast on the way to cup her hip with his palm. He didn’t stop until he had curved his palm around her thigh, bared beneath the hem of her shorts.

  God, the feel of his hand on her skin was shockingly good. And she was even more shocked when he lifted her leg up around his hip, but not enough that she thought to stop him from taking that leverage to move in closer to the heated vee between her legs.

  Heather had always enjoyed the purely physical release of sex, but it had never been intense enough for her to forget herself, to lose track of what she believed in. Anyone could come out the side door and find them here like this, practically having sex against the wall. They were still fully clothed, but even so, she felt as if Zach had already stripped her bare.

  She tried to pull herself out of the abyss, oh, how she tried, but when he started to rain kisses down across her jaw and found that super-sensitive spot just at the underside of her chin, how could she do anything but let her head fall back against the wall, and drink in every exquisite sensation of his mouth on her skin? His rough stubble scraped at her in the most delicious way and she used her leg hooked over his hip to pull him in even closer.

  Any and all protests she might have given him—or herself—had flown out the window, and she was threading her fingers into his dark hair when something pulled at her wrist once, then twice, hard enough the third time to finally jolt her.

  “The dogs,” she managed in a breathless voice as she tried to catch hold of her racing heart. While she and Zach had been lost in their kiss, the dogs’ leashes had tangled up around each other and their owners, too. “We need to untangle them.”

  Zach very reluctantly let go of her leg before snapping, “Cuddles, quit moving!” in a frustrated voice as he bent down to unclip the leash and scoop the puppy up in his arms.

  “It’s not her fault,” she told him as she worked to pull the leashes apart with shaky hands. “We shouldn’t have been doing that here.” As if the location were the only problem with their kiss. “We shouldn’t have been doing that anywhere at all,” she quickly clarified.

  Only, the truth was that if the dogs hadn’t been there with them, Zach probably would have stripped her clothes off while he kissed her up against the wall. And instead of trying to stop him, she would have been begging him to hurry so she could get closer.

  So she could have more.

  “It’s exactly what we should have been doing,” he snapped at her.

  His frustration shook the breathlessness right out of her. After all, as she reminded herself yet
again, she wasn’t a teenager who couldn’t control her raging hormones.

  “This isn’t even about me,” she snapped back. “You just want me because I’m a challenge.”

  “Wrong,” he shot back. “I want you because I want you. From the first second I saw you, I’ve wanted you, Heather.”

  How did he manage to turn her insides to goo? First with his kiss, then with his words.

  Still, she had to hold her ground. “You and Brant were fighting over me like I was that bone you sent Atlas.”

  “I was fighting for you because you’re mine.”

  Her eyes widened at his possessive declaration. “I’ll never belong to a man.”

  For the first time, he didn’t launch back at her with a quick retort. Instead, she felt him stop. Look. Assess.

  “What,” he said in a suddenly soft voice, “are you afraid of? Is it me? Or is it you?”

  It was the very last thing she’d expected him to say. And even as her brain flooded with answers ranging from falling for you to everything, she said, “I’m not afraid.”

  He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t call her on her fib. Instead, he said, “Prove it.”

  She lifted her chin. “I know what you’re doing. I know that whatever way you come up with for me to prove it to you is going to be for your good and your good only.”

  He actually had the nerve to reach for her again, to slide the pad of his thumb across her lower lip. And, fool that she was, she craved his touch enough to let him.

  “It’ll be good for both of us, I can promise you that.” He trailed the back of his hand over her cheek in a lover’s caress. “I’m not looking for love any more than you are. We’re the perfect match, Heather. Don’t worry, this is going to make us both happy. Really, really happy.”

  Oh.

  She should be cheering, should be so glad that he’d just spelled things out so clearly. But even though he’d just given her precisely what she’d always said she wanted, his words felt like a knife shoved straight through her chest...as if some stupid, reckless part of her heart had secretly been wishing he would fall in love with her.