Worth the Wait

by Lori Foster

  Joni said, “Could we talk somewhere private?”

  “Sorry, I can’t. You probably saw that we’re slammed tonight. I’m betting Violet has a dozen other things she should be doing. But I can take a few minutes real quick, right here, if it’s important.”

  Keeping her back to them, Violet curled her mouth in a satisfied smile. Take that, Joni.

  “Fine,” Joni said. “I’ll get right to the point. A few of the companies who had you handling their books...well, they want only you.”

  There was silence, and then Hogan asked, “How many companies, Joni?”

  “Three. Okay, maybe four. They’re big accounts and I don’t want to lose them.”

  “That’s a tough spot...since I don’t work for you anymore.”

  “Yes, well...”

  Violet literally felt Joni’s glare against her back. She didn’t budge.

  Joni cleared her throat. “Since I don’t want to lose them, I thought maybe we could work out something.”

  “Something like what?”

  She inhaled sharply. “How about you continue with their books for a commission?”

  “I have very little free time. It’d depend on how big the commission is.”

  She named the size of the account and a percentage for the commission. Violet, quickly trying to do the math in her head, almost whistled. That would put a nice chunk back into Hogan’s budget.

  But he said only, “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “You’re serious? That was a more than generous offer!”

  “And I appreciate it. But my time is limited, so I have to consider it carefully before I take on anything else.”

  Joni stewed, then snapped, “Eight hours a week. Surely you can eke out that much time from your social calendar.”

  She was so damned snide, Violet’s hand tightened around the tongs. They were good and heavy—but no, if she did, Hogan would be embarrassed again.

  And he’d lose the very nice offer.

  Striving for patience, Joni sweetened her tone and said, “Very well. How much time do you need?”

  “I’ll let you know on Monday.”

  “That’ll be fine. Thank you.” She stepped closer to Violet. “Those ribs really do smell delicious. Could I get an order to go?”

  “Certainly.” Violet turned to Hogan, a brow raised.

  He rolled his eyes. “I’ll get Kristy and a take-out container.”

  “Thank you, sugar.” She gave her attention back to Joni. “I gather those are some important accounts?”

  “I would not have come here otherwise.”

  Violet took her measure, then admitted, “It took guts.”

  “I have guts,” Joni confirmed with some obvious pride. “I run my own accounting firm.”

  “I run my own diner.” It was Violet’s turn to flash her teeth in the semblance of a smile. “Just think, we actually have something in common.”

  As Hogan came back out, Joni watched him and said, “Maybe more than one thing?”

  The smile turned to a snarl. “Only if you mean admiration, because, honey, he’s hands-off to you.”

  Joni rolled one shoulder. “Sadly true—and I accept it.”

  Like she had a choice, Violet thought. But she decided to be gracious in her victory.

  Minutes later, Joni was gone with her dinner, and Violet really wanted to stamp her claim on Hogan to avoid all further assumptions by women like that.

  He beat her to it, looping his arms around her hips and nuzzling her throat. “I’m proud of you, Violet. Other than glaring just a little, you held it together.”

  Seeing no harm in the truth, she confessed, “It wasn’t easy, not with that woman.”

  “I know. I could tell.” He pressed his mouth to hers in a soft kiss that felt both tender and possessive. “Thank you.”

  That made her roll her eyes. “You don’t have to thank me for not behaving like a lunatic.”

  “Where that woman is concerned,” he teased, mimicking her, “I think I do.”

  Violet punched him in the stomach, but she was too close to put much strength behind it and he only laughed at her.

  Feeling strangely emotional, she traced a fingertip over the words on his shirt. Barbecue Master. True enough, he was a master. But she should have put Screwy Louie’s Barbecue Master.

  Because damn it, he was hers.

  She’d add the correction to the next shirt she got him.

  Picking up on her mood, Hogan lifted her chin. “You know you don’t have to worry about Joni, right? Even if I take the offer—”

  “You have to. I know that.”

  He gave her a long look. “It’d solve a lot of problems, true, but there’s nothing between Joni and me.”

  She couldn’t resist one more grouching comment. “Not for lack of her trying.”

  He pulled her in for a longer, deeper kiss, then whispered, “She could run naked in front of me, and it wouldn’t matter. I only want you.”

  Her heart did a double beat. As sincere as she could make it, without seeming too clingy, Violet said, “That’s probably good, since I only want you.”

  His gaze went hot. “I’ve thought about it a lot. About you.” He put his mouth to her ear, whispering, “How you taste, the way you sound when you’re getting close. How tight you squeeze me when you come, and how wet you are—”

  Shaking, Violet pushed his back. “You’re doing it again! Blast it, Hogan, we can’t get out of here yet.”

  He grinned. “Soon, though. And now you have something to think about.”

  She fried him with a cross frown. “Wasn’t like I needed help with that.” Knowing she’d been gone too long, she turned away with a huff and strode into the dining area.

  She found Colt hustling to keep up without her.

  Poor kid. After a quick apology to him, she told him to take his break and dived back in—but Hogan was right.

  He’d certainly given her something to think about.

  * * *

  To make a point, Colt went right up to the table where Charish sat with a few of their friends, two other girls and two other boys, including Mack.

  He bent and brushed his mouth over hers.

  Everyone stared.

  Charish beamed.

  “I’ve got fifteen minutes. Let’s go outside.”

  Accepting the hand he offered her, Charish left her seat in a rush.

  Mack said, “Hey!” around a fat grin.

  With his arm behind Charish, Colt subtly flipped him off, then heard the group laughing.

  Earlier, he’d told Mack the way of things, and there were no problems.

  Colt led her out the front door. His dad was around back, along with two dozen customers at least. He wanted time alone with her. Now that he’d made a move, his body was telling him to make a few more.

  At least at the front of the building it was quieter, any passersby on the move.

  They strolled down the sidewalk to where his truck was parked at the end of the block. It was nearly deserted here at the narrow one-way side street that got little traffic.

  Charish looked up at the sky. “It’s pretty tonight.”

  Colt kept his gaze on her profile. “The sunsets are always great. Honor loves them.” In case she didn’t know, he explained, “She’s my aunt.”

  “I’ve met her,” Charish said. “I go to the salon where she works.”

  Colt admired her hair, long and dark and currently bone straight down her back, swishing just above her hips. She changed it up a lot with ponytails, braids, straight or wavy, up or down. No matter what she did with it, it always teased him with the need to touch it.

  Now he could, and so he stroked his hand through it, bunched it in
his fist and enjoyed the silkiness of it.

  Starkly aware of her as a girl who wanted him, a girl who hadn’t taken a nice “no” as an answer—thank God—Colt lowered the back gate, took her tiny waist in his hands and easily lifted her up to sit.

  Before he could pull back, Charish wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him from stepping away.

  “Colt?”

  Those big dark eyes stole any self-proclaimed control. Unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed her.

  She immediately opened her mouth, scooted closer until her breasts were against his chest, and he knew he just might lose it.

  This wasn’t the school where touching was off-limits, but still they didn’t have complete privacy, so he forced himself to end the kiss. “What time do your parents expect you home?”

  “I have another hour.”

  She’d be gone before he got off work. “How about I come by tomorrow? I have a few hours in the morning. We can take my dog, Diesel, to the creek.” And with any luck, the parklike area wouldn’t be too jammed. He wanted his mouth on hers, and more.

  “I’d love that.” She kissed his face, his nose, his jaw, his chin...

  Smiling, Colt cupped her face and said, “Hold still.” Then he took her mouth the way he liked, the way she apparently liked, too, given her soft moan.

  He let his hand travel to her shoulder down to her waist again, and then to the flare of her hip.

  She wore a denim skirt, and refusing to think of possible consequences, his palm coasted over her bare thigh.

  They both breathed harder.

  She’s not telling me to stop, Colt realized, and of course that sent his thoughts reeling into different scenarios, all of them impossible on a truck bed at the curb of the street with him having only ten minutes left for his break.

  But he couldn’t leave her, not yet, not this time.

  It wasn’t until someone bumped into him that he came back to the here and now.

  He looked up and into a pair of mirrored sunglasses.

  “Sorry,” the guy said absently. He tugged a ball cap lower, stuffed his hands deeper into his loose cargo pants, stepped up to the sidewalk and continued on.

  The guy’s distracted gaze stayed glued to the diner, which was probably what caused their collision in the first place.

  Colt watched him stride toward the diner, saw him pause and study the building.

  Alarm bells went off in his head and he pulled Charish from the truck, his hand tight on hers. “Come on.”

  “What’s wrong.”

  She sounded startled and uncertain, so he paused to reassure her. “Not a thing with you, except that I shouldn’t start things I can’t finish.” He brushed his knuckles over her rosy cheek. “When we’re alone, though...” He left that thought unfinished.

  Squeezing his hand, she sighed and said, “I can’t wait.”

  Colt breathed a little harder. Her agreement was almost more temptation than he could take. If he didn’t get his brain elsewhere, and fast, he’d end up embarrassing himself.

  When he looked back up, the guy was gone. Into the diner? Oh, hell. “Let’s go.” He picked up the pace, causing Charish to almost jog beside him—which made her breasts bounce, and damn, he really needed to focus.

  When he burst into the diner and looked around, he saw the man wasn’t there after all. Violet had just left the dining room with a tub full of dirty dishes. A large group was in the process of getting their seats, another group leaving.

  Everything was as it should be and finally he started to relax.

  “What in the world was that about?” Charish asked.

  “I thought I saw someone...” What could he say? It was private business and he wouldn’t break his father’s trust by speaking out of turn. “Never mind. It’s not important.”

  “You’re sure everything is okay?”

  “Yeah. But I have to get back on the clock now. Tomorrow, okay? I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

  She went on tiptoe to brush her mouth over his. “I’ll be ready, Colt.”

  Damn, the way she said that with so much promise... Colt watched her walk away, her hips swaying, her expression content, and knew he was a goner. Good intentions only took a guy so far.

  As Violet started back into the room, loudly humming, Colt stopped her. “Okay if I take two more minutes?”

  “Sure, honey. Take ten if you need them.”

  Violet called everyone “honey” or “sugar,” but he still liked it. No one had ever treated him with quite the same combination of respect, affection and familiarity.

  He’d have told his dad by now that he not only adored Violet, he loved her, too. He wanted her in their lives. But his dad needed to make that decision on his own—while also knowing it would never be a problem for Colt.

  Going through the diner and out to the prep area, Colt found his dad cleaning one grill while the last of the ribs sizzled on another. “Got a sec?”

  Hogan looked up, saw his face and put everything else on hold. “What’s up?”

  It had always been that way, Colt thought. His dad seemed to know his moods, always picking up on any trouble or worry, no matter how trivial it might be.

  “How do you do that?”

  “What’s that?” As usual, Hogan played down his concern so Colt wouldn’t feel pressured or put on the spot. He cleaned his hands on a towel, occasionally giving Colt a searching glance while he waited with extreme patience.

  Colt felt a reluctant grin tug at his mouth. “You’re the best of dads. You know that, right?”

  Taken aback, Hogan spiked up his brows. “What brought that on?”

  “Just saying. You’re always telling me what a good son I am, right? Figured I’d return the compliment.”

  Abashed, Hogan nodded. “Thank you.”

  Moving on before that all got too serious, Colt said, “Anyway, I wanted you to know about something. Probably nothing. But I don’t know... It didn’t feel right.”

  “Then we don’t want to dismiss it.”

  Exactly Colt’s thoughts. He explained about the man and how he’d watched the diner.

  “You’d know him again if you saw him?”

  “Not sure. He wore reflective glasses and a Reds ball cap.”

  “Hmm.” Hogan looked toward Nathan, caught his eye and with a lift of his chin called him over.

  Colt wasn’t sure what to think. He didn’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, but he’d also rather look like an alarmist than have the guy be an actual threat.

  After he’d heard everything, Nathan clapped Colt on the shoulder. “My rule is to never discount instinct. If it felt wrong to you, then it likely was. We don’t have much to go on, but can you guess age? Hair color? Height or weight? Anything like that?”

  “Maybe a few inches shorter than Dad. Thin. Definitely older than me, but not old. Maybe your age. Somewhere in there.” He shrugged. “I’d say brown hair, but that’s just a guess. Mostly I looked into those reflective glasses. Oh, and he wore really baggy tan cargo pants.”

  Suddenly Violet came out dragging Kristy in her wake. She almost stumbled over her own feet when she saw Nathan, Colt and Hogan in close conversation. Surprise quickly shifted to irritation.

  Colt knew she thought she’d been excluded. She was such a take-charge woman she wouldn’t like being left out.

  Hogan separated from them, taking a step closer to her. “Everything okay?”

  “What’s going on here?”

  Hogan said, “You first.”

  “All right, fine. I wanted you to hear this yourself.” She pulled Kristy forward.

  Obviously confused, Kristy looked around at everyone, shrugged and said, “I was putting trash bags in the Dumpster around back by the stairs, and
someone came by to ask about Brooklin. At least, I think it was Brooklin. The way he described her, especially her eyes, and saying she was new to town... What?”

  Colt watched in awe as Nathan banked the fury, as his dad calmed his expression.

  Something was happening. He felt it. Instinct, Nathan said. Was it the same guy?

  “When was this?” Nathan asked.

  “Just a few minutes ago. I thought you and Brooklin were gone. I told him to check back here but he said he already had and he couldn’t find you.”

  Hogan said, “Can you describe him?”

  Kristy rolled a shoulder. “He wore a hat and sunglasses...” She frowned and said again, more strident this time, “What?”

  Violet quickly spoke up. “There’s a guy who’s been hanging around pestering the ladies. If you see him again, get away from him, okay? And then let me know.”

  “Or better still,” Hogan said, “tell me.”

  Violet pinned him with a look of umbrage.

  Colt, not wanting them to clash, asked Kristy, “Was he wearing cargo pants?”

  “I think so. Honestly, we’re so busy right now I wasn’t paying that much attention.”

  “What exactly did he say to you?”

  She smiled at Colt, liking his calm and easy tone more than the tempered tones of Nathan and Hogan.

  “He said he was a friend of hers, knew she was new to town and wanted to hook up with her again. He described her and asked if I knew where she lived. I told him Clearbrook wasn’t that large, but that I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I told him to talk to the sheriff.” Her expression turned sly. “I figured Nathan would know where she lived.”

  Ignoring that, Nathan asked, “He was on foot?”

  “Far as I know.”

  “Anything else?” Hogan asked.

  She shook her head. “Why so much interest? The guy didn’t seem dangerous. I thought he had a nice smile.”

  Violet stepped in. “No, he’s probably not dangerous at all. But it’s a little creepy how he keeps approaching all the women. Like I said, steer clear of him, okay?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  “And from now on,” Colt said, “I’ll be the one to take out the garbage.”

  Soon as Kristy went back to work, Violet said, “All right, tell me quick. It’s slowed down some, but Kristy can’t handle it on her own.”