Sean's Sweetheart

by Allie Kincheloe

  When he opened his eyes, Helen was giving him a quizzical look. Flashing her a nervous smile, he broke eye contact and turned his gaze back to Garrett who was telling them about the antique car he'd bought last week to restore.

  Helen brought out scrapbooks and photo albums from when her daughters were young. Talia grabbed a small pink one and tried to hide it behind her. He had to see what was in that album. He took it from her easily, holding it above his head as he flipped through it. Talia tried jumping up to snatch it, but she was too short to get anywhere close. Five pages in, he found the picture she didn't want him to see. She looked to be around three, standing in a splash pool wearing nothing but a smile. He grinned down at her. "Posing for Preschool Playboy, were we?"

  She stomped on his foot and slugged him in the gut at the precise moment her father walked in to the room. Handing her the photo album then, he bent down and kissed her.

  "Dude, she hit you and you're just going to smile and kiss her?" Garrett asked.

  "She felt comfortable enough to hit me, which tells me she trusts me enough to know that—"

  Karly and Helen saying, in tandem, "You would never hit her", interrupted him.

  Nodding, he cupped Talia's face in his hands, bent down, and kissed her again. Thank God, she was finally not afraid of him. She trusted him and he would not screw that up.

  "Why would she think you'd hit her? I never took you for that kinda guy," Garrett asked.

  Karly had never clued him in to her sister's abuse? Sean opened his mouth to speak when Sam spoke up.

  "Talia's ex-boyfriend had an anger problem. I didn't find out until after they broke up, or it wouldn't have continued as long as it did. Who the hell are you?"

  Karly wrapped her arm around Garrett, saying, "Daddy, this is my boyfriend Garrett. He's not a bartender. He's never been arrested. He works full-time and goes to school part-time."

  Ouch!

  "Hey, Karly, you want me to lie in the road so you can hit me again? I don't think you got me good enough the first time you threw me under the bus," Sean joked.

  Sam chuckled at that, but sent a glare in Sean's direction. "How about both of you get the hell out of my house? I already don't like you. And I don't want to know you. Karly's too young for you, get lost."

  Giving Talia a quick hug, Sean whispered his goodbyes. Garrett looked like he was about to start running any moment and rushed out of the house, barely even saying goodbye to Karly. Sam didn't scare him, but it was his house. His house, his rules. Sean would respect that. He didn't want to make the older man take his anger or frustration out on his daughter, so he tried to comply with the older man's wishes.

  And surely Sam couldn't hate him forever, right?

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Talia's fingers trailed up and down Sean's spine. He sighed in satisfaction; she could see the small smile on his face. Alone time had been scarce because of finals and Talia had missed him. A few stolen minutes at the club and a quick lunch between classes was all they'd managed together the last two weeks before now.

  Sleep was overtaking her when his voice startled her back into consciousness. "I'm going to buy a house."

  "What? Really? Aren't you trying to save money? That's why you hadn't moved from here, isn't it?"

  "I was saving up for a house. I have a real good amount saved up for a down payment or, I don't know, maybe even pay for something outright if it's cheap enough. You wanna go with me and look at some houses?"

  "You want me to help you pick out a house?"

  "Well, you're going to be spending a lot of time there, I hope, so I want you to be comfortable. To feel at home. I know the location here makes you nervous to come over at night, not that I blame you. It scared the hell out of me to find you here that one night. I'd like to avoid that at my new place."

  He really wanted her to help? Her heart fluttered. While it wasn't a proposal, or even asking her to move in, it was a step in that direction. When she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him in response, he laughed and pulled away.

  "I'm taking that as a yes?"

  "I'd love to. I've never helped anyone pick out a house before. My parents built their house when I was like, five. I've never been part of the buying process, even superficially. It sounds fun."

  "When are you off this week? I may actually take some time off to go look. I want to get out of here as soon as I can. Then maybe you'll spend more time at my place," he said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear before snuggling in close to her. She whispered Thursday and Sunday before nodding off to sleep against him.

  The sharp trill of her phone roused her from sleep. Tangled in Sean's arms as she was, it took some effort to get to it. Falling back against Sean's side, she muttered a drowsy, "Hello," into the phone.

  "Talia, where are you? You were supposed to have breakfast with your father and I before class today, but your car's still in the driveway. Your room is empty and your bed doesn't look slept in at all." Helen's voice came through the speaker loud and shrill. Talia could tell her mother was worried and upset.

  Sean blinked up at her with blurry confused eyes. "What time is it?" he mumbled.

  "Talia, I heard a man's voice. Tell me you didn't stay at Sean's last night. Your father already hates him. Finding out that you're sleeping with the man may send him over the edge."

  "I am at Sean's, yes. Did you want me to lie to you? I dozed off here, I didn't mean to stay. I'm not going to advertise it to Daddy, but he knows I'm in a relationship with Sean already." Talia got up to look at the few items of her clothing that had accumulated at Sean's house over the weeks. Picking out the dress she'd been wearing the night they first slept together, she heard Sean grunt in admiration.

  Flashing him a flirty smile, she headed into the bathroom to do something with her hair. "Mom, I can just get Sean to drop me off at whatever restaurant y'all want to eat at. Or maybe I can get him to join us, if you don't think Dad will cause a scene."

  Sean brushed past her in the bathroom, stopping in front of the toilet.

  "Sean, what are you doing?"

  "If you don't want to see me take a piss, get out of the only bathroom," he told her gruffly.

  Apparently his voice carried through the line since her mother started giggling. "Yeah, Talia, get out of the only bathroom."

  "What restaurant?" Talia asked in mock exasperation. Really, she was happy that her mom had relaxed a bit about her staying over at Sean's.

  "How about the diner downtown? In, oh, about forty-five minutes? Bring Sean. I'll try to make sure your daddy behaves."

  "Okay, see you then."

  "So, that means we have a good thirty to thirty-five minutes before we have to leave here, you know?" Sean whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Thirty-five minutes was plenty of time. Sean wrapped his arms around Talia. Kissing her throat, he held her tight against his chest. When she shuddered and snuggled in closer to him, he grinned. Reaching over, he turned on the shower, letting the water heat up.

  Her dress dropped from her hands as she moved toward him, wrapping her arms around him. Pushing the curtain out of the way, he stepped under the spray, dragging a giggling Talia in with him. She pulled his head down, rising up on tiptoe so she could meet his lips for a kiss. Damn, he loved how she was getting bolder with him.

  When she sighed, his tongue slipped into her mouth, curling around hers. His hands slid down to her thighs, lifting her up. Backing her against the shower wall, he entered her slowly. Her throaty gasp filled him with pride. He loved knowing how much she enjoyed his touch. Her legs tightened around his hips, squeezing to urge him on. He thrust harder into her, increasing his pace when she threw her head back and moaned.

  He wasn't going to last long at this intensity. Wiggling his hand between them, he flicked his thumb against her sensitive nub and brought her along with him as he came. Heart racing, he let Talia slide down his body until sh
e was standing, still clinging to him. He kissed her, soft and slow, loving the satisfied look on her face. Loving that he put it there.

  Sean grabbed the shower gel he'd bought for her. Pouring some onto the sponge, he lathered her up while she stared at him intently. He wondered what she was thinking about. He leaned forward, scrubbing her lower body. As he washed her thighs—washed the evidence of their lovemaking off those beautiful thighs—he realized they'd forgotten to get a condom. Trying to think of how to bring it up without freaking her out, he washed her right leg three times.

  "You got me shower gel? You don't like me smelling like you?" she asked, startling him out of his thoughts. "And I think that leg is clean now," she said with a laugh.

  Squirting his own shower gel onto the sponge, he smiled down at her. "I like you to smell like you. I think I sniffed half the women's ones at the store, trying to find the one that smelled right."

  Giggling, she pulled him down for another kiss. She took the sponge from him and washed him like he had done her. As he was rinsing off, she started chattering to him about breakfast. He didn't think any more about their lack of protection. By the time they were dressed and headed to the diner, he'd forgotten all about their slip-up.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Her parents hadn't yet made it to the diner when they arrived. Sean leaned against the worn brick as they waited and pulled her into his arms. He twirled a lock of her still-damp hair around his finger as he whispered, "You look so gorgeous in the morning light." When she blushed at the compliment he covered her lips with his, keeping the kiss slow and soft.

  "Do I want to know why you are with him before eight a.m.?" Sam's gruff voice called as he walked toward them. Talia turned to face her parents still enclosed in Sean's embrace. Talia's father was glaring at Sean, but her mother was smiling. Sean chuckled and shook his head no at the older man, causing Talia to smack him on the chest.

  She looked her father in the eye and told him, "Probably not, Dad."

  When Sam opened his mouth to speak, his wife interrupted him, "So, Sean, are you going to join us for breakfast then?"

  "I have an appointment at eight-thirty, so I don't know that I have time."

  "Well, can you join us for coffee at least? Unless your appointment is a long drive from here," Helen asked him with a smile.

  Sean nodded his agreement and the two couples went in to the small diner. Being a weekday morning, there was no wait and they were shown to a table right away. Sean pulled a chair out for Talia before taking a seat next to her. Sean looked around. Talia wondered what was on his mind.

  "You think that brown-nosing you are doing is going to make a good impression on me, boy? After I know my daughter spent the night with you?" Sam snapped at Sean with his tone harsh, but he kept his voice low with their public location in mind.

  And so it begins. Talia let out a deep sigh. One meal where her dad didn't fuss at Sean was too much to hope for. With his brow wrinkled in confusion, Sean looked at her to see if she could make sense of her father's questions. She shrugged at him and he asked her father what he meant.

  "Opening the door for her as we walked in. Pulling the chair out for her. That supposed to make me think you are a good guy and worthy of my daughter?"

  Sean snorted in disbelief. "So, you would rather I shoved my way past her and plopped down first at the table, then? I don't understand you. I treat Talia well and you act like it's a crime. Nothing I did today was in any way to try to impress you. Nothing!"

  Sean slouched in his chair for a moment, his hand rubbing across his eyes, his expression frustrated. With a sigh, Sean dropped his hand down to clutch Talia's. Squeezing her hand, he leaned over and brushed his lips across her cheek. "I'm going to go. Come by later? Or call me, at least."

  He ran a hand over her hair as his lips grazed hers for the briefest second before he stood and walked away.

  Damn it!

  "Would it seriously kill you to give him a chance, Daddy? Really? He opens doors for me even when no one can see. If he's trying to score points with anyone, it's me. Not you."

  "Talia, that man's not good enough for you. I want better for my daughter than a worthless bartender. What kind of life can he give you? Don't you want more than a crappy little apartment on the wrong side of town?"

  "Sam, I think you need to relax some. I don't see anything wrong with Sean, myself. He seems polite. He obviously treats Talia well and has been more respectful to you than you deserve. Give him the opportunity to prove himself."

  "I don't want my daughter seeing a bartender. How hard is that for the two of you to understand? And I sure as hell don't want you sleeping with him," he said with a pleading look at Talia.

  "I won't give him up to make you happy. I am happier than I've been in a long time, certainly since before I started dating Caleb. Sean makes me happy, Daddy. He makes me remember I want to do things with my life. Who I am, who I want to be. I'd lost some of that with Caleb. And I didn't even realize it until it was over." Her voice shook with emotion during her speech. How could she make her dad understand? He looked at Sean and instantly saw bad things. He refused to take the time to get to know him. To see what a good man Sean was beneath the tattoos and leather.

  "He'll screw you over. Wait and see," her father growled at her, standing up to leave. "Then we will see how long those stars in your eyes stick around."

  Chapter Forty

  A few days later, Talia waited just inside the restaurant for Sean to arrive. He must have really liked the place. Maybe he wanted to replace the sour memory of the last time they'd been here together. The door opened and she turned toward it with a smile. That smile slid right off her face when Claire walked in with Sean. Why would Sean bring Claire here after all she'd said?

  Her former best friend flashed her a weak smile and turned to walk back outside.

  Sean stepped between Claire and the door and nodded over at Talia. "Talk to her."

  Claire turned back toward Talia and chewed her lips nervously before she whispered, "I'm sorry. I never should have said what I said."

  No shit.

  Talia stared at her for a moment before she spoke. "No, you shouldn't have. As my best friend, you should have supported me, one hundred percent. You shouldn't talk about me behind my back."

  "I know. I was wrong." Claire wouldn't make eye contact. She fiddled with her keys and only glanced up at Talia a couple of times.

  Talia stepped closer and waited for Claire to look up. "So why are you here?"

  Claire smiled at her, tears running down her cheeks. "To say that I was wrong. About what I said. About saying it. About Sean. He came by my place a few days ago and said I was being a damned idiot. Took me a while to realize he was right."

  Tears welled up in Talia's eyes at Claire's heartfelt apology. When she couldn't take it anymore, Talia pulled her friend in for a hug. God, how she'd missed Claire. She looked over Claire's shoulder to see Sean smiling at her. She mouthed, "Thank you."

  When Claire finally let her go, Talia rewarded Sean with a big kiss. "You didn't have to do that."

  "Yeah, I did. I don't want to come between you and the people you care about. Not your family or your friends. You know that, right?"

  She nodded and leaned her head against his chest. Sean buried his face in her hair and just held her.

  "I'm going to go now. Talk to Claire. Work this out. Okay?" He kissed her softly and walked out.

  Claire wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "He really is one of the good guys, isn't he?"

  She and Claire still had a lot to work out, but Sean's effort had them talking. Now, if she could just get her dad on board.

  Chapter Forty-one

  Sean bounded up the steps at Talia's parents' house. Before he got to the door it swung open and Talia rushed out, straight into his arms. Lifting her up into a passionate embrace, Sean covered her mouth with his own. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her into the house, kicking the door closed with h
is foot before turning and pressing her up against it with hands roaming her body. She was as addictive as any drug. He couldn't get enough of her. Her legs tightened around his hips, she ground herself against him, and he groaned. He deepened the kiss and slid his hand up under her shirt. When she rocked her hips again, Sean broke the kiss and gasped for air. "No one else is home. You wanna go upstairs?" she mumbled against his throat where she was now nipping at the soft skin there. God, did he ever! But he wouldn't. Not here.

  "Nope, not in your father's house. I'm not going there. No way, sweetheart." He laughed as he eased her back down so that her feet could touch the floor once again. "We have to meet the realtor in a few minutes, anyway."

  After one more kiss, this one much less scorching, Sean led Talia out to the car and they drove over to the realty office. They followed her to the first listing, a newly built brick-front ranch in a subdivision on the outskirts of town.

  "Even with upgraded floors, counters, and all the extras, this floor plan would be within the comfort zone price range you gave me," she told Sean as she unlocked the door.

  Sean wasn't impressed with the exterior or the lot size. While the realtor was going on and on about the open floor plan and all the natural light coming in through the wall of windows at the back, he was wrinkling his nose at the tiny kitchen with its builder-grade cabinets. It wasn't that it was a bad house. It just felt very middle-aged couple downsizing, to him.

  When he shook his head at her, the realtor directed them to her second offering of the night. It was in an older subdivision of town, close to Talia's parents' house. Although it offered more square footage than the first and had a bigger kitchen, it was still rather cookie-cutter in style with no personality. A bit lower in price than the first option, the realtor started to tell them about the backyard pool before she caught Sean's expression. It told her that her second try was also a strike.