One Last Call

by Susan Behon

“Isn’t that enough?”

  “No, I mean is that all you haven’t told me?”

  Josh held his hands over hers and loosened her grip on his thighs. “That’s it.”

  Sarah toyed with his fingertips. “All right, then, there are some confessions I need to make too.”

  He leaned back in confusion. “You do? What?”

  “Sometimes, I snore.”

  His lips tipped up in a disarming half-smile. “No, you don’t.”

  “Sure, I do. Hey, I wore you out. You were too tired to hear me.”

  The half-smile shifted into a full-blown grin. “Oh yeah, what else?”

  “I have a bad temper.”

  Josh let go of her hands and pulled Sarah’s hips in closer to his body. “I like that about you. What else?”

  “I tend to steal the covers at night.”

  He nodded as if he were mulling that over. “That’s all right. I get hot when I sleep anyway. You can have ’em. What else?”

  “Well, this is sort of a big one. If you don’t like it, it could be a deal breaker.”

  The grin vanished and he met her gaze with serious concern. “What? Tell me.”

  “It’s just that, you see, I have this habit I haven’t been able to break.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?”

  Sarah had buried it for so long that it felt like a relief to finally say it out loud. “I’ve never been able to stop loving you, Josh Logan.”

  The smile started in his eyes, and the radiant joy Sarah saw there spread to the rest of his features. Josh’s lips tipped up in a grin as he listened to her.

  “So, if you’re willing to accept me for the way I am, I’m sure as hell willing to accept you for the way you are.”

  “One more time.”

  “Which part?”

  “The ‘I love you’ part. I waited twelve years to hear you say it again.”

  “On one condition.”

  “Sarah? I swear you’re killin’ me here. What’s the condition?”

  “Are you going to keep being an idiot?”

  “More than likely, sweetheart. I’m a guy. It’s not on purpose.”

  Sarah laughed.

  “How about I promise to try not to be an idiot?”

  “Deal.”

  “So?”

  “So, I love you.”

  “Sarah?”

  “Yes?”

  “Shove that chair under the doorknob so we can celebrate.”

  * * * *

  Sarah still loved him. It was more than he’d ever hoped for. He didn’t deserve it, but hell, if everyone asked for what they really deserved, life would suck for a lot of people.

  “Keep the chair where it is. We aren’t doing anything in here.”

  Shit. He’d forgotten about Richard. “I didn’t think.”

  “It’s not because of him. First of all, the thought of those cameras has me kind of paranoid. Secondly, I have work to do. Thirdly, wouldn’t you rather wait until we can take our time?”

  Josh set his lips to Sarah’s throat and felt the slight hum she made when he made contact. He trailed a few kisses over her skin before lifting his head.

  “I’ll wait, but only because, one, seeing you naked is for my eyes only.” He ran his hands down her back and cupped her ass, aligning her hips with his. “Two, the bar closes soon.” He cradled her delicate jaw between his palms. “And, three, what I have in mind for you, Sarah Brandon, is going to take all night.”

  Josh pressed his mouth to hers, meaning the kiss as only a small promise of what was yet to come. Sarah had other plans. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for more. She swiped her tongue along the seam of his lips, and Josh was lost. He was figuring out the logistics of how to get the door barricaded while still kissing her, when there was a knock.

  Sarah pulled away slowly. She licked her lips and closed her eyes. She called out in an amazingly business-like voice, “Yes?” Damn, that was sexy.

  “Sarah? It’s Grant. Everything okay in there?” Her busboy sounded like a disgruntled chaperone.

  “Everything’s fine. Why?” Sarah threw a hungry look at Josh and started unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Um, just checking on you. Julie had a question about her tips.”

  Like that couldn’t wait?

  “Tell her I’ll be right out.” She slid her soft hands inside the opening in his shirt and grazed her fingernails over his nipples. Holy shit. Josh had no idea he was sensitive there.

  “Should I wait?” Grant was sounding a little too impatient for Josh’s taste. The kid needed to beat feet. Sarah pulled Josh by the shoulders and steered him over to her office chair. He fell back into it.

  Sarah winked at Josh, then called out over her shoulder. “No. See if Ally needs clean beer mugs.” He watched in awe as she went down on her knees in front of him. Josh was rendered mute when she began pressing hot kisses down his chest. Sarah unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and pulled it out of his jeans. Screw waiting. She could consider him seduced. He rested back on his hands and let her do to him what she wanted.

  “You sure?” The kid’s voice cracked. He must have had a pretty good idea something was going on and didn’t want to leave them alone together.

  Sarah palmed his erection, and Josh let out a strangled groan. He cleared his throat and called out, “Go away, Grant.”

  There was a mumbled, “Whatever,” then silence when Grant went back up front.

  Chapter 20

  “WAIT!” Josh popped up, shirt tails flapping behind him as he snatched up the visitor’s chair and jammed it under the knob. He tested the door with a yank inward. It stayed closed, but to hedge his bets, he set a box full of files on the seat. Then he grabbed the stack of folders on her desk and threw those on top of the box for extra weight. He added the flowers, having no idea why and not caring.

  Sarah waited for him, still on her knees, looking nonplussed by his erratic behavior. Josh made his way back over and settled in the seat again. “Is this a good idea?”

  “Do you want me to stop?” Pop went the button on his waistband.

  “Do I want you to…?” There went his zipper. What’s the question? Her hot little hand wrapped around him. Holy shit. “Cameras?”

  “No cameras. Chris and Seth were thorough.”

  Josh had to close his eyes. The sight of all that golden-blonde hair hovering over his lap was fucking with his concentration. “I thought you were paranoid.”

  “I was.”

  “What changed?” Why the hell is he asking?

  “I got my hands on you.” He felt her puffs of breath against the head of his cock. “Now, shut up.”

  Good idea. “Wait! One more thing.” This one was important.

  “What?”

  “Do you think the door will hold?”

  “You’ll just have to wonder about that.” She lowered her mouth over him, and Josh lost his mind. Jesus, so good. His hands were in her hair before he knew it. Sarah grabbed the fabric at his hips, and he lifted so she could shove it out of the way.

  Sarah had the base of him in her fist, squeezing, pumping, lips wet from mastering him with her mouth. She was beautiful, and Josh was at her mercy. How the hell am I supposed to be quiet? He’d joked about Sarah being loud, but he was convinced he was going to out-moan her on this one.

  “Jesus, Sarah.” His sweet Sarah gripped him and took him all the way to the back of her throat. “Holy fuck!” She eased up, and he realized he was palming the base of her skull. Josh forced his fingers to relax while she set her own rhythm. The hot, wet suction was so perfect it was driving him to the edge. She lifted her head with a lingering swipe of her tongue.

  “Shhh. You don’t want everyone to hear us, do you?”

  “Who? What…?” That was all he could gasp out.

  Oh, what a wicked grin. She lowered her head again and sucked until he saw stars. Up, down, up, and then she hummed. Holy fuc
k! Josh was getting close to coming. He knew there were some words he was supposed to say here. He had to concentrate so he could warn her. Her hot tongue lapped around his head, swirling around him like he was a human lollipop.

  Sarah held his gaze again, and Josh watched as his cock slid past her plump, pink lips and disappeared into the velvety haven of her mouth. He felt the telltale tingling at the base of his spine when she grazed her fingertips down his abs and over the tops of his naked thighs. His head fell back, and he bit his lip to keep from moaning. “Sarah, honey, stop! Now, you gotta stop. I can’t…I’m gonna…” She didn’t stop. She didn’t slow down. Sarah grabbed hold of his hips and took him over the edge. He couldn’t remember if he’d called out or not. All the yelling must have only been going on inside his head since no one broke down the door.

  Josh couldn’t get enough air in his lungs. His pulse pounded in his temples, but it was entirely from excitement, not pain. Sarah eased up and ran kisses along his stomach. His abs contracted with every press of her lips. He was sensitive there too.

  “Jesus, Sarah. I don’t even want to know where you learned that.”

  “Did you like it?”

  He was sprawled out on the chair, shirt open, goods on display, totally at her mercy, and she wanted to know if he’d liked it? “Seriously? I loved it. If I died now, I could go a happy man.” Maybe he hadn’t been vocal? “Maybe it’s just me, but I swear I called out, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes! God, yes!’ at the top of my lungs. That wasn’t out loud?”

  “Not that I heard.” Sarah gave a secret smile, pleased with herself. Then she stood. “Come on, cowboy. Button up. Looks like I have some tips to straighten out.”

  “You sure straightened out mine.”

  She laughed.

  “What’s with the ‘cowboy’ stuff?”

  “It’s what Kelly calls you because of your twang.”

  His face fell in disappointment. “I liked it better when I thought you made it up.”

  For some reason that made Sarah smile. She helped with his buttons while he tried to get himself adjusted back into his pants. “I still like it.”

  “I like it too, as long as you’re the only one saying it.” He didn’t want Kelly calling him anything.

  There was another knock on the door.

  “Sarah? When you got a minute, Julie really wants to talk to you.” It was Grant. Again.

  “Tell her I’ll be right with her.”

  There was another disgruntled grumble.

  “I think that kid likes you.”

  She glanced over at the door and whispered, “Grant? No, he’s like a little brother.”

  “Trust me, honey. That kid does not think of you like a sister.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “That’s because he better be thinking of me like a boss. Besides, he’s been following Julie around all night.”

  “How’s she working out?” He tucked in his shirt, still not quite sure how he was capable of conversation after what had just happened.

  “So far so good.” Sarah smoothed her hands along his shirt. “Speaking of crushes, I think she might have a thing for Alex Ross.”

  “The fire chief?” Josh glanced down to make sure his buttons were straight.

  “That’s him.” Sarah confirmed. “She’s not the only one with a crush. When’s Chris going to ask Fiona out? The whole time he was here, he was asking about Dr. Anthony’s interest in her. Who does he think he’s kidding?”

  There was a whole lot going on there that only Chris knew about. “I guess if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”

  “He might need a little nudge.”

  “I think Fiona has that covered.”

  “Fate has a way of working things out, huh?” Sarah took her flowers and held them against her chest. She waited while Josh moved the blockade away from the door.

  Once everything was put back to rights, he held it open for her. “Fate, a smack to the skull, or a swift kick in the ass tends to do the trick.”

  * * * *

  Grant was waiting in the hallway when Sarah crossed the threshold. She drew up short, and Josh smacked into the back of her.

  Her golden bouquet of sunflowers fell out of her hands at the impact. Grant bent down and picked them up from the hardwood floor. He stared over her shoulder at Josh when he handed them to her. Weird.

  “Hey, Grant. Thanks. Is Julie okay?”

  He flipped his mess of hair out of his eyes. “Sure, why?”

  “Didn’t you say she needed to talk to me?”

  “Oh, yeah, I guess so.”

  Julie passed by the hallway and stopped short. “Hey, Sarah. Oh, hey, nice flowers.” She beamed at Josh in approval. “When you have a minute, I have a question about ringing up table eight. They’re on their third pitcher of beer, so it’ll wait.” She gave a little wave and went on to her next table.

  Sarah turned back to Grant only to find that he was already walking away.

  Josh whispered in her ear. “Yeah, big emergency there.”

  “Maybe he knows about Richard and thought…”

  “The kid’s not stupid. He knows this was nothing like that.” Josh placed a discreet kiss to the side of her neck and closed her office door. “Okay, boss lady. I’m going to go collapse in a booth until my knees start working again.”

  “Okay, cowboy. I’m going to the restroom to freshen up.”

  “You’re coming home with me, right?”

  She handed the flowers to Josh. “What’s in it for me?”

  He held the flowers and his arms out to his sides. “Me.”

  Sarah would call him cocky, but the man had every reason to be sure of himself. Even if you discounted the good looks, sex appeal, and natural southern charm, she’d just attacked him in her office. It wasn’t as if she could play coy now. Given the opportunity, she’d happily jump on him all over again.

  “Are you willing to wait until closing time?”

  He gave her a slow, heart-stopping once-over. His grin was wicked and full of promise. “I’ll wait.”

  “Then I’m yours.”

  He leaned in, and the soft sexy drawl whispered in her ear made her shiver. “You will be.”

  Kelly passed by them. “Aren’t you two the cutest thing?”

  Josh didn’t spare her a glance. “Yes. Yes, we are.”

  The waitress’s step faltered, then she put a little more sway in her hips to make up for it. Josh still didn’t look away from Sarah. The guy was gaining some serious boyfriend points. Sarah placed her hand over his heart. “Thank you for the flowers. I need to talk to Julie. See you in a bit?”

  “All of me you want.” He winked and walked away.

  Julie sidled up next to her. “Wow.”

  Sarah watched him go and tried not to look too smug. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  “So about table eight?”

  “Let me make a quick restroom stop, and I’ll be right out. Then we can see what’s what.”

  After they dealt with the group at table eight wanting to split the tab into different bills, Julie did a quick check on Alex and his friends, keeping it short and to the point. Alex looked like he was bracing himself for more upheaval. When nothing happened, he watched Julie walk away, forgetting to hide his interest in her. Sarah wanted to high-five her. That-a-girl. That should keep him guessing for a while.

  Sarah took a swift survey of the place. Some of the regulars were watching the game and would be ready to leave soon. The college-age kids had already hooked up, and the ones who hadn’t were about to call it a night. Things were winding down, so she led Julie over to the touch-screen register for more training. Only one more hour until closing time and the rest of the night could go to Josh.

  * * * *

  “Hey there, handsome.”

  Josh glanced up and got a face full of cleavage. Kelly.

  He leaned as far back as the booth allowed. “Hey.”

  “So
what can I get you? Or did Sarah already take care of you?”

  Sarah took care of him all right, and it was none of this chick’s business. That hint of innuendo was on purpose. “I’m good.”

  “I’m sure you are, honey.”

  “Beg your pardon?” The waitress was laying it on pretty thick.

  “I love to listen to you talk.” Her eyes widened in excitement. “Say my name. I want to hear it in that deep southern drawl of yours. So sexy.” She did a fake little shiver.

  He ignored that. Josh wanted to completely ignore Kelly, but he was occupying a booth so he might as well order something. “Could I get a root beer?”

  “What happened to the Bud Light?”

  Josh didn’t drink on headache days. “I’ll have a root beer, please.”

  “Coming up. You want head?”

  He did a double take. “What did you say?”

  “You want a head on it? Root beer can really foam up.” She winked.

  “Whatever.” When he didn’t pick up on her innuendo, Kelly wrote his order down and sashayed off. There went trouble.

  Although it was late, he wanted to check in with Chris to see if there were any new developments about the cameras.

  Chris picked up on the second ring. “Fit For a King Security.”

  “Hey, it’s me. Find out anything on Sarah’s cameras?”

  There was a sigh and what sounded like a chair creaking. “Hey, Josh. Still working on the one from her house. The camera from Sarah’s office was close range, so whoever planted it had to have a receiver nearby.”

  “How close?”

  “At least five hundred feet.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Some asshole could have been sitting in the parking lot, watching Sarah working inside. “Could they get the images on a cell phone?”

  “I’m thinking laptop.”

  “Still haven’t traced it?”

  “Yeah, I’m working on it. I still have to get together with Seth. Got my hands a little full tonight. I should have something by tomorrow.”

  “Shit.”

  “Sorry, man. Best I can do. Are you keeping an eye on her?”

  “As best I can. Call you tomorrow.”

  He set up his own surveillance from the booth. No one was watching Sarah any more than they were watching anyone else. In this town, everyone people watched. Josh noticed Grant clearing off a table. He’d glanced up only long enough to flip his hair out of his eyes and watch a group of girls walking out of the bar. For a teenage boy, that was normal enough.