In His Bed

by Pauline Allan

  The bindings of his mother’s romance novels were lined on a shelf below the clay art projects he and his sister had made in grade school. He leaned against the desk. This had been the plan. Go to college. Become a cop. Start a life here—and forget Lea. Then he heard about the divorce. Now it was time to start the next chapter and set new goals.

  First, fast-track his career and take a few advanced forensic classes. Find a place to live and save up for a house. Make love to Lea. Enlist for K9. Make love to Lea. Become a detective. And make love to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  “She says she uses this room to work from home, but I think she sits up here and reads those trashy novels.”

  Colin grinned, keeping his gaze focused on the window. “Yeah? I thought those sappy books were supposed to be full of softcore porn. Kind of creeps me out thinking of my mom up here reading them.”

  “I don’t know about softcore porn,” she said with a gentle laugh. “I edit and write for a newspaper. No trashy smut there. Well, there’s some trash in the novel I’m writing, but it’s romantic suspense, not too heavy on the trash.”

  When he turned, she backed against the open door, peering into the hall.

  “You’re safe here, Lea. No one is going to say anything about two people talking. I’m not stupid enough to push you against the wall and kiss the hell out of you.”

  When her breath hitched, he contemplated doing the deed. God, the thought made his jaw twitch. His body still hummed from watching the pale mounds under her pretty yellow sundress bounce every time she’d walked by.

  “Someone was in the bathroom downstairs. I didn’t come up here to see you.”

  Maybe he should’ve been offended, instead he was intrigued. “Okay, we’ve established you don’t want to see me, you had to use the bathroom, and I’m not going to pull up your skirt. Does that about cover this secret liaison we’re having?”

  The hint of a smile curled the side of her pink-tinted lips. “I think you’ve covered about everything.” She looked into the hallway again and leaned back into the room. “Earlier, were you going to ask me out? I can’t—we can’t—it can never happen. A date, I mean, it’s not a good idea.”

  Colin folded his hands into his front pockets. “You’re right.”

  She sighed. “I knew you’d agr—”

  “I wanted to ask you out.” Not giving her time to build another wall, he said, “Matter of fact, I thought we could hit a movie, have some dinner. As for we can’t ever do something, well, I don’t work that way. I don’t like the word can’t and the word ever isn’t practical.”

  She opened her mouth only to snap it shut. He sat down on the loveseat and stretched out his legs. “Tell me,” he said knowing her concerns were valid, but wanting her to see the reality of the situation. “If two adults are consenting, then what’s wrong with a harmless date?”

  She stepped closer and every muscle in his abdomen tightened. His uncle Russell passed by the doorway, took a look at Lea’s beautiful ass, and gave a thumbs up before moving on. He couldn’t blame the guy. More than one man had peeked at her lush ass this afternoon.

  “It’s not harmless and you know it. I don’t think your mom would approve of her son having a date with her best friend. Besides, I’m…I’m older than you.”

  Colin didn’t give a damn how old she was. “Don’t, Lea. You’re a confident, sexy, intelligent woman. You own those qualities regardless of your age. Your body—Jesus, Lea—you have no idea. Last time I checked, I was a man, and your curves are irresistible. You turned me on when I was seventeen and you turn me on now. Hell, even more.”

  After she huffed and stopped and huffed again, she finally said, “No, Colin, don’t say that. It just...wrong.”

  “Wrong? Hell no.” Colin pushed off the desk and stood. “I would love to get to know you better, but I understand the barrier here. I don’t want to hurt my mom either. Let’s make a deal. I’ve waited a long time for this chance. If you’ll meet me halfway, we can take things slow. Dinner?”

  She shook her head. “Listen,” she said on a sigh, “this flirting has to end here. I can’t think of one good reason why we should carry on when we both know it can’t go any further.”

  “I know you have serious reservations about this happening. I’m not saying they aren’t valid. Just answer one question for me.”

  The way she bit her lower lip brought his attention to the plump flesh captured between her white teeth. Would she taste as sweet as the icing she’d eaten off the cake? His mouth watered to find out.

  “What’s the question?”

  He braced himself for her response. “If you weren’t my mom’s best friend, would you go out with me?”

  She walked over to the desk and fingered a gold-plated letter opener sitting on an unopened envelope. “No.”

  He’d stifled a grin when she turned away to answer. “You sure about that?”

  When she turned around, his heart ached. The sadness shadowing her gaze made him realize how bad the bastard had really hurt her. His age, his mother, they had nothing to do with her answer. She was afraid of being hurt again.

  When he stepped forward, she didn’t back away. When he reached out to caress the delicate swell of her blushing cheek, she didn’t look away. This woman was going to kill him. “Lea, no pressure. I promise. I was a kid with raging hormones before I left. Now, I’m a man who can’t seem to resist you. If you tell me to walk away, I’ll leave this room. I came home so rarely to try to forget you. Seeing you again, I know that was a fucking losing battle.”

  When she stepped away, the muscles in his chest ached. God, if he could just hold her.

  “I can’t do this, Colin.”

  She was gone before he could say anything. He sat down on the loveseat and tilted his head back, lost in the memories of lying on his bed in this room, watching the porno his friend had given him—the only porno he owned—over and over again, thinking of the one woman who starred in all his fantasies. The one woman who was as unattainable then as she was now.

  Lea...

  *****

  “I missed you. You never came home enough. Working in such a dangerous job this last year away from home scared me to death.” Stacey said as she sat down in the empty lawn chair. “Your dad wants to take you fishing next weekend. He also wants to do one of those ride along things. I told him no, but he’s insisting.”

  Colin laughed. “He already told me. I think I can make it happen.” He set the can of beer on the grass and surveyed the party. Decorations hung from moss-covered trees over empty tables set with little baseball centerpieces on top of checkered tablecloths.

  “I haven’t had time to get my things out of your room. I’ll work on boxing things up tomorrow so you can start moving in.”

  “Mom, about that. I think I might try to find a place to rent. I won’t need much, something cheap until I can find what I want.”

  “I think I’m going to head home,” Lea said as she walked up to Stacey.

  The setting sun struck orange and muted yellow rays behind the curves of her silhouette. Colin wrestled with the finality of their earlier conversation, and now she was leaving. When would he see her again? Did this arrangement mean he couldn’t call her? God, he needed to hear her sweet voice again, even to say hello and see how she was doing. He’d waited so long to have the freedom to make a call like that to her.

  She nodded down at the paper plate she held. “I’m going to take a hamburger to Charlie.”

  Stacey squinted as she used her hand to shield the sun’s glare from her eyes. “Your dog is too fat, Lea. Take her some fruit.”

  The sound of her laugh made his dick twitch. Jesus, he was going to have to figure this out. He couldn’t walk around with a hard-on every time her scent blew his way. “You leaving already?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound like a total pussy.

  Several moments passed before her gaze lifted from her sandal covered feet. Her focus never quite reached his fa
ce. “Yes. I’ve got things to do at home.”

  “Hey, wait, Lea,” Stacey said as she patted Colin on the leg. “I almost forgot. Lea has a room for rent.”

  “Oh yeah?” he asked, loving the way the plump curves of her cheeks flushed when he put her on the spot. “Have you started interviewing people yet?”

  “I haven’t answered any emails or calls. The house is huge, and there’s no way I can use all the space. It seemed like a practical move, but I want to be careful choosing someone.”

  Colin knew he was smiling like a jerk, but, damn, this would be the perfect opportunity to get to know her. “How about you interview me? I could use the room and you could rest knowing you’re safe with me there. I can move in tomorrow. If you’ve got a minute, we can discuss rent and requirements. You can ask me anything.”

  She stepped back, almost toppling the sandwich off the paper plate. “Today? I have to…I have an article to get in to the paper by eight. I’m swamped today.”

  Stacey got up and patted Lea on the shoulder, pulling her in for a sideways hug. “This would be the perfect arrangement. You two can sit down tomorrow and iron out all the details.”

  He stood up, hoping not to intimidate her by standing so close. The crown of her silky auburn hair hit him right under his chin. The way they fit together, it would be easy to pull her in and wrap his arms around the curves of her waist. His hands clenched and released, attempting to dull the urge to press against her luscious hips.

  She looked at Stacey then focused those sparkling chocolate irises on him. “I don’t know. I’ve had a couple of calls.”

  “It’s only temporary until he gets established here,” she said. “Maybe he could have the room with the little balcony? Come on, Lea. It’s Colin. You’d be much safer with him than with a total stranger roaming around your house and, besides, he’s a cop now. What’s safer than that?”

  The thought of a strange man staying with Lea made his blood boil. “Listen,” he said and stepped back, easing the space between them. “I know you don’t know me. I mean, not now. My mom’s right, though. It’s not safe to have a stranger move into your house. I have a couple of references.” He looked at his mom. “I think you can trust them. Maybe we could do a trial run? I can come by tomorrow. We can talk and feel things out.”

  “Tomorrow?” she asked as her teeth came out to nibble on her bottom lip. She did the little move to drive him crazy, he gathered by the way her lidded gaze lifted. “I guess you can come by and see the house. I’m still on Franklin, the big green Victorian. I have two bedrooms open. One has furniture the other one is empty.”

  His abdomen flexed, every muscle feeling strung out. “I’ll take the one with furniture. I’ll bring a few things with me tomorrow and, if everything works out, I’ll unload and we’ll see how it goes.”

  Lea focused her warm gaze on everything but him. Their earlier conversation intrigued him, and he couldn’t recall a woman ever enticing him with her voice like she did, not even in college when the girls he dated called to have phone sex. The tease didn’t even compare to the way Lea’s gentle way melted his body.

  And those tits. Jesus, what a fucking turn on.

  She slipped a loose strand of hair behind her ear and with a quick sigh said, “You’re right. Renting to someone I know would be safer.”

  “Lea, I’ll protect you and your home. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I promise you’ll have your privacy.” God, he hoped he could keep that promise. The thought of her walking around the house in a pair of panties and a bra made his dick press against his zipper. He might have to peek at least once.

  She studied her feet, and he watched as she wiggled her toes in the bright-yellow sandals. When her gaze finally met his, he could see the hesitation through her gentle expression. Their earlier conversation had her confused. Hell, his nerves weren’t in any better shape. He’d never expected to arrive at his coming home party and be laid out by the sight of a beautiful woman.

  He coaxed her with an easy grin. The last thing he wanted to do was put off the woman he’d fantasized about since he was seventeen because he couldn’t control his body’s desperate need to have her. He could be patient. Well...it would be a first for him, but she would be worth the effort.

  Lea hugged his mom. “I’ll call you tomorrow. It’s good to see you, Colin. Glad you’re home.”

  He wanted to say what he was thinking. Like, me, too, because you’re here. Or, I can’t wait to see more of you. With his mom standing beside him, the only thing he could say was, “Me, too. Let me walk you out.”

  When she almost protested, he grabbed the paper plate and slid his hand against her lower back. God, the feeling, even so slight, made him want to pull her close, take her out to dinner, hell—take her to his bedroom. He didn’t care. Just being in her presence made him want to be a better man.

  She walked to the driveway and stopped by the little red four-door. “So,” she said almost on a whisper, forcing him to lean closer to hear her sweet voice. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He might not be a guy in his fifties, but he knew how to treat a lady. His mom had taught him how to respect a woman. He leaned around her and opened the car door. After handing her back the paper plate, he nodded. “Around ten, okay?” She was obviously uncomfortable as she looked back toward the fence gate leading to the back yard. “Lea, nothing happened. We just talked. She doesn’t think anything about us talking.”

  He knew what had to be going through her mind because, one, he could see the nervous darting of her warm gaze, but, also, he knew the gamble he’d be taking with his mother’s friendship if he pushed too quickly.

  “I know,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression.”

  When she slid into the driver’s seat, he closed the door and leaned his forearms against the ledge of the open window. “I don’t either. I’m being a good guy and not leaning in this car and kissing the hell out of you.”

  “Colin, maybe I’ve given you the wrong idea.”

  When she gripped the steering wheel he knew she’d been fighting the attraction all day as hard as he’d been. “No, Lea, you didn’t. We both know the idea was mutual. Let’s leave it at that.”

  “Agreed.”

  He leaned back as she started the car. “See you tomorrow,” he said and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to keep from wrapping his hand on the bumper to make her stay. He hadn’t had enough yet. He wanted to sit and talk more, listen to the soft cadence of her voice, watch as she tried to keep her smile hidden.

  She reversed the car out of the driveway then stopped against the curb. He held his stance, not giving her even a glimpse into his fantasy. Then she slid her small hand up and gave the whisper of a wave.

  Damn, if it didn’t send his frown into a full-blown goofy ass grin. He waited for her to drive down the road and turned to go back to the party. When his phone rang, he grabbed the cell from his pocket. Natalie’s name scrolled onto the screen. He swiped to end the call and returned the phone into his pocket.

  He had a feeling the friends-with-benefits option of his life was about to come to an explosive train wreck. He’d been blown away when he walked onto the patio. The sight of Lea standing there in her little sundress, with skin so smooth and curves for miles not only made his dick stand to attention, but made his gut do a major flip-flop. He had no idea what had happened, but he sure as hell couldn’t let her reservations stand in the way of exploring what they both felt.

  Being tired of dates followed by empty nights either alone or rolling out of some woman’s bed at six in the morning wasn’t even an option on the radar with this new start. He wanted someone he could make breakfast for, someone who wanted to sit up all night and watch badass Vin Diesel movies and eat popcorn. Hell, someone who’d eat. The women he dated lived off salad and treadmills.

  He’d been waiting for someone who could match the drive and passion he had for life. He’d known when he was seventeen Lea wa
s a vibrantly sexy woman and now, as a man, he had no doubt she would be the only woman capable of easing the fever possessing every muscle in his body.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Colin pushed the brass doorbell button and walked to the edge of the wraparound porch. The house encompassed everything a grand Victorian should be—two large looming chimneys, intricate woodwork tucked into the overhangs and beside the round columns on the porch. The thought of this woman staying alone in such a huge place would make anyone seek company to fill the space.

  The metal ting from the screen door opening caught his attention. Watching her step outside made his throat pull a desert routine while his brain absorbed the muggy morning heat. She was obviously trying to give him a heart attack.

  He tried to focus when she spoke, but all he could make out was something about his truck, the bedroom, and a dog. Ignoring everything else, all he could focus on was her sweet ass in those black yoga pants. Hating the fact the hem of the long T-shirt she was wearing tried to cover up the generous globes, he imagined lifting the material and bending her over the porch swing. Damn, his cock was losing space in his cargo shorts.

  His jaw twitched when he clenched his teeth. The last thing he needed to do was blurt out something stupid like, “Can I lick your ass cheeks.” Not a smooth move, Colin.

  Just when he thought of something more civilized to say, a black and white dog came loping onto the porch. The clickety-clickety of its nails chimed in time with its waddle. “This is Charlie. She’s my girl.” Lea bent down to scratch it behind its bat-like ears. The mutt’s muzzle scrunched when its lips spread into what looked like a huge smile. The sight would make even the grouchiest man laugh.

  He grinned and knelt down to give the dog’s neck a scruff. “She’s cute.”

  “And she knows it. I got her two years ago when we finalized the divorce. She’s kind of been my rock.” They stood up and Lea opened the screen door. “Ready to see the place?”