He didn’t stop kissing her even as he shucked off the rest of his clothes. He didn’t know exactly how he managed it with her hands sliding over every new inch of skin he revealed to her but he got the job done and managed to pull one of the condoms Trigger gave him out of the bedside drawer.
By the time he laid his body over hers on the bed, he was desperate to have her, but still managed to take his time, look her in the eyes, and tell her without the words he couldn’t find to describe how he felt being this close to her, that it meant something. Everything.
He slid his fingers over her soft folds and sank one deep into her slick core, his thumb circling the little nub that made her sigh and rock her hips into his hand. Ready, willing, and as desperate for him as he was for her, she tore open the condom package. He took it from her, sheathed himself, and finally joined them with one slow slide of his body into hers. The simple act shouldn’t have felt this good, this right, when he’d barely moved. Buried to the hilt, he didn’t think he could get any closer to her, but she rocked her hips into him just a fraction of an inch more and set him off. He pulled out and thrust back into her, ready to explode but taking his time, dragging out every push and pull of their bodies moving together in concert.
He held her close, touched her softly, kissed her reverently, and fell so hard for her he didn’t know where she began and he ended anymore.
When her hands clamped onto his ass, her body locked around his, and she shattered beneath him, his own release rocked him to the core. He collapsed on top of her, his breath fanning against her neck, her hair soft beneath his cheek, and the only thought in his head: I don’t ever want to let her go.
Her arms wrapped around him in a hug. She pressed her cheek against his forehead. And he’d been right; he did find heaven in this bed with her.
He rolled to his back and tucked her up against his side. Her hand lay over his heart, her head on his shoulder, her leg thrown over his. Her body, all that creamy skin pressed against his, felt so good. So right.
He’d spent too many nights alone in a cell, nights in other women’s beds that meant no more than a good time while it lasted, that left him lonely and unfulfilled. Right here, right now, he had everything.
He didn’t waste the night. Instead, he listened to her sleep in between waking her to make love to her all over again. Once she came awake slow and easy with his face buried between her thighs, her taste branded on his tongue. They went at each other in the wee hours like two lost lovers desperate to erase years of longing. Tempted by her bottom snug against his hard cock, he’d taken her from behind in an erotic surrender where she gave herself over to his control. And in that last hour night held before the sun broke free again, he loved her like the first time, knowing it could be the last time. He poured everything into it, hoping to mark her scarred and battered heart with something sweet and beautiful.
And when he woke up alone, the profound sense of loss clenched his chest. When he spotted the note, a sentimental tug of his heart turned to dread when he realized she hadn’t left him a sweet note, but someone else had issued another threat.
I warned you to stay away from her if you don’t leave now I’ll make sure you never see her again
Flash sat outside the coffee shop and read the note over and over again. He found it propped on the inside of his bedroom window and put it in yet another plastic bag as evidence. He couldn’t believe someone came into his room after Cara left. He didn’t hear a thing after he’d spent most of the night awake and making love to Cara.
They just walked right in.
A shiver ran up his spine. Fear quivered in his belly. They could have killed him in his sleep.
He suspected they left the scrawled note on the windowsill to let him know they’d spied him and Cara together in his room last night.
If her father really was behind this, he’d completely lost his mind spying on them like that.
Why the hell did Iceman want Flash to stay away from Cara so bad anyway? Did he want Cara to spend her life alone?
It didn’t make any sense.
He’d like to get his hands on Iceman and ask him.
What if Iceman wasn’t behind this? Who could it be? Were they doing this because they cared about Cara, or because they wanted her for themselves?
He read the note again. The same eerie chill rippled up his spine. He’d do anything to keep her safe, but leaving wasn’t an option. Not when he was this close to a lead to take down Iceman. He needed more time to investigate Tandy and what she was doing with Iceman’s man.
I’ll make sure you never see her again.
Was the threat to him? Or Cara?
Chapter Eighteen
Cara loved her time alone in the coffee shop kitchen before everyone came in to start another busy day. She usually took this time of quiet contemplation to think about what was going on in her life and what needed to be done. But this morning all she thought about was the man she’d left sleeping in a bed she didn’t want to tear herself away from for anything. Well, the bed she couldn’t care less about. The man, on the other hand, woke up something inside her last night that made her care more than she’d ever cared about anything or anyone in her life.
And it scared her, because he all but confirmed he held something back from her. Something important.
Because of how she felt about him, she wanted to keep that secret buried. Wishful thinking. She wasn’t the type of person to hide from the hard things. She faced them head-on. The way she’d face Flash every day from now until he left, knowing she had to let him go, but not really understanding why.
Secrets had a way of finding their way into the light.
She wondered if Flash had someone else to go back to in that other life he had before he ended up in jail. Once he finished his parole, he was free to do as he pleased.
He wanted a better job. He certainly had the intelligence, drive, and ambition for more. She’d seen glimpses of it here at the shop and in the way he handled the situation with Tandy. In fact, he went about tracking Tandy last night in a—
“Hey.” Flash stood just inside the back door, holding the knob, the wood half hiding him from view.
Cara lost her train of thought and stopped kneading the cinnamon roll dough and smiled, too happy to see him to think better of showing it.
The apprehension in his eyes faded. “You left without me.”
She didn’t like the hesitation in his voice, or the distance he kept between them. After all they’d shared last night, it didn’t make sense. Yes, she expected an awkward moment easily dismissed with a new familiarity that drew them together, not pushed them apart.
She leaned her hip against the counter and tried to feel him out for what bothered him so much he didn’t come to her and kiss her. Or at the very least walk all the way in the door.
“I caught a ride in with Ray since I didn’t have my truck. He went to pick up supplies. I thought you might like to sleep in this morning.”
“You did keep me up most of the night.” A hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
“And you made sure it was my pleasure to do so.”
“Last night was . . .” The intense look in his eyes, the way he couldn’t stop staring at her, told her he didn’t have the words to tell her what last night meant to him.
She filled in the blank as best she could. “Everything we wanted mixed with a few surprises.”
“I didn’t expect to wake up alone.” The softly spoken admission broke free from his lips.
She couldn’t stand the distance between them or his uncertainty about how she felt about him and walked toward him. He stepped away from the door to face her. Because of the dough on her hands, she kicked the door and slammed it shut. She stood right in front of him, her heart on her sleeve, and gave him the truth they both needed to hear.
“Leaving you this morning was almost as hard as I know it will be to let you go when it’s time for you to leave. I wanted to stay in that bed wrapped in your ar
ms. I didn’t want our night together to ever end. But I told you last night I understand that what we shared is for right now and not forever.”
“What if I told you that I want it to be even though I know it’s impossible.” His earnest gaze pleaded with her to believe him.
Even her battered heart believed him. “Nothing is impossible.”
Resignation darkened his blue eyes to stormy gray. “This is. I knew it before I ever touched you last night. I know it standing right here in front of you. Just like I know I’d give up everything if I could make this right. But nothing I say or do will change who and what I am.”
The ache in her heart grew up and into her throat. “Who and what you are means we can’t be together?”
“Yes.” Deep regret and a longing that matched her own infused that simple word.
“I don’t believe you.” Everything inside her told her he was a good man.
“I have done my damnedest not to lie to you. So believe me now when I say this thing we have won’t last you finding out about me.”
“Then tell me and make me understand.”
His gaze fell away. “It’s not that simple.”
“Then let’s make it simple. You want me.”
His mouth drew back in a line. “It’s more than that and you know it.”
“You care about me. So much so that you’d risk violating your parole and going back to jail to tail Tandy armed last night to find out what she’s doing behind my back.”
His shoulders drew back, making him appear ready to fight. “I will make sure you’re safe from your father’s world no matter what I have to do.”
“But you won’t stay.”
He took his time answering. “I have something else waiting for me.” He’d picked those words carefully because he refused to lie to her even if he didn’t tell her the whole truth.
“Something or someone?”
“Both, but not in the way you mean. There’s no other woman in my life.”
She believed him. “Then we’re still in the same place we were last night, and I’m still all in.”
The need to kiss him and feel even a glimpse of what they shared last night overrode the whisper in her mind that the lies would eventually catch up to them. She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted more of last night, as much as he’d give her, for as long as he’d give it to her because loneliness was a partner she’d had far too long. She much preferred his warm, strong body, his unwavering support and presence in her life, and the intense feeling of belonging she found in his arms.
Stunned by her words, he didn’t respond when she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him down until her lips pressed to his and those same sparks that ignited whenever they were close to each other went off.
Lost in the kiss, the taste of each other, the relief and need they both felt now that they were finally back in each other’s arms, they didn’t hear the front door open and Tandy walk in until she said, “You two keep kissing like that, this place will burn to ash from all the heat and flames coming off you.” She giggled and stowed her purse in the office behind them.
Flash stared down into her upturned face. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You said I belonged to you last night. Looks like I still do today.”
His big hand rested against her cheek. “Cara.” A wealth of unsaid words infused her name. Words she didn’t understand for all he wanted to say and explain to her, but she felt the impact of the apology in them. Whatever time they did have together, she didn’t want to spend it dwelling on the end. For once in her life, she wanted to live in the moment and soak up all the happiness she’d always wanted but never accepted because of her suspicions and resentments. For whatever reason, she set those things aside and accepted that Flash cared enough to be hers now with the understanding that he wouldn’t be hers forever.
She’d take it, him, and be glad for every second they had together.
Moments. That’s what made up a lifetime. Good ones, bad ones, some meant to be remembered, forgotten, loved, regretted, and not worth mentioning. She spent far too much time worrying and missing out on life. She’d worry about what happened when he left when he was actually gone.
“If you decide to tell me what you’re holding back, I promise I’ll listen with an open mind and heart.”
He kissed her softly, then rather than lie or give her empty words or platitudes, he changed the subject. “Are you going to say anything to Tandy about last night?”
“Oh, I don’t kiss and tell.” The teasing didn’t deter him.
“I mean it, Cara. I think something bigger is going on here. If you give yourself away, she might suspect you know and we’ll never find out what she and your father are doing together.”
The buzzer on the oven went off. Tandy pulled out the blueberry muffins. “Well, looky here, someone must have been a very good boy last night to get Miss Cara to make his favorite muffins first thing this morning.”
Cara usually made the rolls and pastries before the much easier muffins, but this morning she made Flash his favorites, hoping to use them as an icebreaker and a way to get the day started on a more normal note. So much for her good intentions.
Flash swept his thumb over her cheek. “Are those for me?”
She smiled up at him. “Yes.”
He kissed her softly, then gave her a mischievous grin. “I’m starving.” The heat in his eyes told her he wanted more than her baked goods. “I’ll heat up the grill before Ray and the morning crowd get here. I can help you finish off the cinnamon rolls and other items after that.”
She nodded. “Have your muffin and a cup of coffee first.”
“I’m here to help you, Cara.”
Another truth that held a deeper meaning she didn’t see yet.
He released her, snagged a warm muffin on his way to the grill, and ate half of it before he poured his first cup of coffee. He ate and drank while helping Tandy set up the tables.
She went back to work on the cinnamon rolls and watched him, his words rattling around her head. She’d hired him because he needed a job and she needed help in the shop, but she didn’t think that’s what he really meant.
Chapter Nineteen
Flash tried to get through the day without thinking about last night and the damn note he found this morning. He felt the target on his back since the moment he got here. Working undercover, it was inevitable to feel like everyone knew your secret or would uncover it at any moment. Every move he made held the potential to out him.
But the notes were something altogether different. They felt more personal than Iceman trying to protect his business. Or his daughter. He needed to touch base with Agent Bennett and find out if the other note had any fingerprints and if they belonged to Iceman.
His doubts about that grew the longer Iceman didn’t show up and issue a threat in person and right to his face.
Someone had targeted him.
Or Cara. The thought stopped his heart. The last thing he wanted to do was put Cara in the line of fire.
That’s why he’d found another way to get to Iceman.
He felt time slipping away. He needed to finish this. Soon. For Cara’s sake. For his own. Every day with her made it that much harder to walk away with any part of him still intact.
Cara managed to hold back her anger and hurt all day while working side by side with Tandy. She acted like nothing was wrong. Tandy barely noticed Cara’s cool tone and clipped orders, passing them off and bee-bopping around the diner, flirting with customers and raking in the tips as usual. To look at her, you’d never guess what she’d been up to last night.
He was more interested in what she planned for tonight. The guy from Iceman’s crew that came in yesterday walked in the door ten minutes ago, took a seat at one of the corner tables, ordered a coffee from Tandy, and waited for the crowd to thin and Tandy to end her shift.
Cara placed her hand over his. “You’ll wear a hole in the counter if you keep wiping i
t down like that.”
Flash had been watching the guy out of the corner of his eye. Iceman’s man drank his coffee and tapped a folded piece of paper on the tabletop, his eyes never leaving Tandy. Mostly her ass, but still, he didn’t let her out of his sight.
“He seems impatient,” Cara whispered. “Should I let Tandy go early?”
Flash brushed flour from her cheek. Mostly, he just wanted to touch her. “Just let it play out.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “Whatever it is.” Nothing good, that was for sure.
Tandy cashiered for one customer, picked up her tip from another table and cleared the dishes, took the bin to the sink for Tim to wash, then packed up her last customer’s leftovers. She sent the customer on his way with a bright smile and a wave, then turned to him and Cara.
“Are you two over there whispering sweet nothings to each other?”
Cara didn’t miss a beat. “We’re wondering if the guy in the corner is your new guy. He’s been in quite a bit lately.”
Tandy shot the guy a quick glance. “He’s a friend.” Her easy, breezy tone didn’t give anything away.
Cara kept her gaze steady on Tandy. “The tattoo on his hand tells me exactly who he is.”
Flash couldn’t believe she’d call out the distinctive cartel scorpion tattoo and let Tandy know she knew the guy worked for Iceman.
Then she warned Tandy away. “I’d be careful if I were you about getting involved with someone like him.”
Tandy touched her hand to Cara’s forearm, playing on their longtime friendship. “They aren’t all the same. He’s a good guy.”
Cara put her hand over Tandy’s and gave her a sad smile. “You play with them, you’ll get stung.”
Tandy hugged Cara. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle him.” She stepped back and rubbed her hands up and down Cara’s arms. “Please don’t be mad. You know how much I love you and working here. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
True to You Page 17