Seducing Allie: Seattle Steam, Book 3

by Shelli Stevens

  Her stomach churned again and she set the muffin down on her lap before she could even think of taking a bite.

  Ugh. Something had to give. Because this whole depressed as hell thing just wasn’t working for her.

  She took another sip of tea and blinked away a fresh wave of tears.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Clint had just grabbed his keys off the desk in the front room when the phone started to ring.

  He glanced at it and scowled. It was likely just his mother calling again to remind him what a fool he was.

  The minute he’d confessed that he had indeed kidnapped Allison, and that she’d been telling the truth, his mother hadn’t let him hear the end of it. She wanted him to go after Allison and get her back.

  If only it were that simple. Hell, if he thought he stood one iota of a chance with her, he’d be on the first plane over to Seattle. But he wasn’t that delusional. By now Allison was probably well on her way into her second attempt at a relationship with Ken.

  Bitterness ate at his gut and he pushed aside the ache in his heart. He needed to forget her. Move on. Ask out Barbara Feldman who’d just gotten a divorce. She was pretty, respectable, friendly—and not Allie.

  The phone stopped ringing and he sighed, wondering if they’d just leave a message. The thought barely crossed his mind before it started ringing again.

  “Jesus, Mom.” He strode across the room and lifted the receiver and bit out a sharp, “Hello?”

  “Is this Clint?”

  His brows drew together at the slightly familiar feminine voice.

  “Yes. Who’s speaking?”

  “You’re an asshole.”

  Clint blinked in dismay. “Who is this?”

  “Leah,” she said, sounding seriously peeved. “I’m Allison’s friend, remember?”

  His blood quickened and he tightened his grip around the receiver. Allison’s friend was calling him. Why? How?

  “I got your number from Allison’s phone,” she went on as if knowing his thoughts. “I just figured I should call and point out what a piece of shit you are.”

  “You have the same foul mouth as her,” he muttered and before he could stop himself asked, “How is she?”

  “I don’t swear that much, really, but you’re bringing it out in me.” She sniffed. “And why do you care how she is? She was just some random sex to you, right?”

  “Don’t put words into my mouth.”

  “I’m not putting them there, you put them there.”

  “Look—”

  “Do you know she’s been crying for over a month now?”

  His muscles went rigid, his chest tightened. “Excuse me?”

  “She doesn’t eat. Is just this pale and weak shell of her normal self.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” he asked sharply. God, Allison would likely beat her friend to bits if she knew all the things Leah was telling him.

  “What do you think is wrong with her?”

  “What the hell kind of mind game are you playing?” he exploded. “Has Ken taken her to the doctor?”

  “Ken? What does Ken have to do with anything?”

  Clint drew in a slow breath, though it was more difficult. “They’re together.” He paused and could barely get out the next question. “Aren’t they?”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the phone and the faintest bit of hope sparked in his heart. Then Leah burst out laughing.

  “Oh God. Talk about five weeks wasted. Did either of you even try to talk things through?”

  “Leah, answer the damn question,” he snapped through gritted teeth, his heart pounding furiously in his chest now. “Is she with Ken?”

  “You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to remind you of Allison’s address. You show up there tonight and try having a real conversation.”

  “You want me to fly to Seattle to get an answer?” he snapped in disbelief.

  “Clint,” her voice quieted, turned serious. “Trust me. It’ll be worth your while.”

  His pulse slowed, before speeding back up, the hope in his chest expanding.

  “I’ll be on the first flight out.”

  Allison slipped out of her jeans and climbed into bed wearing only a T-shirt and bikini panties.

  She flipped on the easy listening station, grabbed her book off the nightstand, and pulled the comforter up to her chin.

  Alone at last. Finally. Leah had been surprisingly easy to push out the door, despite her friend’s earlier protests that Allison really ought to get out and do something on a Friday night.

  But she didn’t want to do anything. She wanted to stay in bed and hide from the world. At least until she woke up one morning and discovered she was no longer in love with a man who didn’t love her back.

  She sniffled again and glanced at the box of tissues on the other side of the room. Shoot she knew she’d forgotten something.

  Flipping open the book, she tried to read, but the words were just a blur in front of her unfocused gaze.

  After an hour she was about to finally turn a page in the book when the doorbell rang.

  She gave a growl of frustration and threw the book at the wall.

  Why couldn’t Leah just back off? Being around people right now sounded about as fun as having teeth pulled without Novocain.

  Shoving the comforter back, she swung her legs out of bed, then headed for the front room. She didn’t stop to grab a robe—her friend had seen her walk around without pants on before—just marched straight to the front door and swung it open with a snarl.

  “Look, I said—oh my God.” She slammed the door closed, her pulse doubling to a mile a minute.

  He was here. Oh God. Clint was here, standing on her doorstep. And she’d just slammed the door in his face.

  The doorbell rang. Again. And again as he held down the button. Christ, her neighbors were going to complain.

  She twisted the handle and started to open the door. She hadn’t even cracked it an inch before he pressed his palm against the wood and pushed it all the way open, striding into her apartment.

  “Do you mind?” She hurriedly shut the door before her neighbors could see her standing half naked in the doorway. “I didn’t invite you in.”

  “I didn’t ask for an invitation.” His gaze drifted around her apartment before moving back to her, lingering on her swollen eyes and red nose. “You look like hell.”

  She issued a choked gasp in outrage. “You…damn it that was rude.”

  His lips quirked as he made a lazy inspection from the top of her head to her bare toes, which she curled into the carpet. His gaze lingered longest on her tiny yellow panties. Damn it. She should’ve put on the robe.

  He was so tall his presence seemed to engulf the entire apartment. Or maybe it was just how aware of him she was.

  She folded her arms across her chest. Her heart pounded so fast she was sure her left breast would start bouncing.

  “Actually, you kind of do need an invitation into my apartment. Otherwise it’s called unlawful entry or something along those lines. I could call the police…” She drifted off, her bravado slipping as heat stole into her cheeks.

  So the wrong thing to say, and she knew exactly what his next comment would be.

  “You’ve already done it once, I wouldn’t be surprised.” He took a step toward her and she hastily retreated backward.

  “I didn’t call the police on you,” she muttered and kept moving away from him, but he continued to follow.

  Her hips bumped into the back of her couch and he used the object to corner her. His arms settled on each side of her hips, curling around the edge of the couch.

  His body was so close to hers that her breasts brushed against his chest. The familiar smell of him—the outdoors and soap, filled her senses. Dizzying her.

  “Didn’t you?” he lifted an eyebrow.

  She shook her head stupidly, her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth. What was the question?

  “You told
Ken to though.”

  She shook her head again in denial, but still found it impossible to actually form words.

  He lifted one hand to cup her jaw and his thumb brushed across her lower lip.

  Tingles rocked through her body and her nipples tightened against his chest. Oh God. She wanted him so badly it hurt. As much today as five weeks ago.

  Clint’s gaze dropped between them to where her breasts rose and fell with each jerky breath she drew in.

  “Clint,” she finally asked raggedly. “Why are you here?”

  “You know why.” His thumb swept over her lip again. His head lowered, before his mouth covered hers.

  Heat ignited in her body, raced through every nerve ending. She knew she should push him away—demand he get out of her apartment and out of her life.

  But knowing and doing it were completely different things. Her body and heart wanted him in a way that was completely irrational and foolish. And it didn’t matter. Any of it.

  One more time. Just one more time.

  She gave a groan of surrender and wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth to the slick invasion of his tongue.

  The kiss turned hard and desperate, each sweep of his tongue against hers added another layer to the sharp intensity of her desire.

  Her sex ached and grew heavy, moisture gathered in her panties. She moved her legs apart and he stepped between them, his thighs urging hers to part further.

  He moved a hand between them to cup her through her panties and she whimpered.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered raggedly, his fingers worked beneath the thin lace, before pushing past her swollen folds and into the heart of her.

  Allison cried out, moving against his hand. He lowered his gaze to where his fingers moved in and out of her channel. She clutched his forearms, her head falling back as pleasure spiraled inside her. Higher. And faster. Until the world around her exploded into a mass of color and sensation.

  She was dimly aware of him pulling his fingers from her and adjusting her panties again.

  “Sexy little kitten,” he murmured, kissing her neck. “You drive me mad watching you come.”

  Allison swallowed hard and shook her head. “Clint, I—”

  “I want you, Allie. But we need to talk. And before that, let’s get us a shower first,” he suggested quietly.

  She blinked. “A shower?”

  “Did you miss that part where I said you looked like hell?”

  Her nostrils flared and resentment swept through her. “Say that again and I swear I’ll kick you in balls. And what do we need to talk about?”

  Anger flickered in his gaze before it was snuffed out and replaced with indifference.

  “Shower first, Allie.”

  She wanted to scowl, or give some flippant reply, but she was too tired. Physically and mentally.

  With a terse nod she made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  Stripping naked, she climbed under the warm spray of water. A moment later Clint climbed in with her.

  She stepped to the corner of the stall, her pulse spiking. Even with the intimate moment they’d just shared, she still didn’t trust him. Or his intentions. And he still hadn’t answered why he’d shown up at her apartment.

  “Come here.”

  She jerked at his soft command, but closed the distance between them.

  He brought the bar of soap over her body. His touch was surprisingly tender as he washed her from head to toe.

  When he reached for the shampoo she wasn’t even surprised anymore, just closed her eyes and let him lather up her hair.

  Five minutes later he turned off the shower and ushered her out, wrapping her in a big fluffy towel.

  Even if a little strange, it seemed all too comfortable to have Clint take care of her like this. Too sweet.

  “Hang on a second,” he murmured and left the bathroom.

  She walked to the mirror and looked at her image. Some of the color had come back into her face—her cheeks definitely had more pink in them.

  “Okay.”

  Clint’s image appeared in the mirror and she turned around.

  “Here, I want you to take this.”

  She lowered her gaze to the object in his hand her eyes widened.

  “What?” She jerked her gaze back to his face, her mouth gaping. “Clint—”

  “Take it.” He pushed the pregnancy test into her hand. “I’ll wait in the other room while you do.”

  She stared at him, aghast. He thought she was pregnant?

  “This is ridiculous.”

  “Take the damn test, Allie.” He stepped forward, irritation flickering in his eyes. “Or I’ll stay in here and make sure you do.”

  “Oh get the hell out,” she snapped and pushed him backward. “You’ve obviously been reading way too many secret baby books.”

  She locked the door behind him and glared at the test, before pulling the materials from the box and glanced at the instructions. A minute later she’d started the process and stared at the wand.

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but we used condoms in Montana,” she called out.

  “Not every time.”

  His quiet response sent a wave of tension through her and the breath locked in her throat. What was he talking about? When hadn’t they—

  “That night in the bath.”

  Her mind raced back to that sensual moment they’d had. Probed each intimate detail. Her stomach rolled. Nowhere in her memory could she recall a condom.

  The blood rushed to her head and she grabbed the sink. Her whole world rocked on its axis. Oh dear God. The morning nausea. Skipping breakfast all the time and still feeling bloated. The way her breasts had felt extra achy before she’d gotten her period.

  Only she hadn’t gotten her period. She’d convinced herself she was just a couple of days late. Or weeks. God, she’d lost all track of time.

  Allison pressed her fist against her mouth and slid to the floor. She didn’t want to look at the wand, which would clearly show the result by now. She didn’t even need to. She already knew exactly what the answer would be.

  And then what? What would Clint do? Besides make all kinds of claims on her child. Oh God. Their child. The beginnings of hysteria bubbled in her chest.

  She stood and grabbed the wand, trying not to acknowledge the plus sign glaring at her as she stuffed it to the bottom of her waste bin.

  “It’s negative,” she blurted, panicking.

  There was silence outside the door.

  “You can just show yourself out, Clint. Really, there’s no need to talk about anything.” Her voice cracked. “Everything’s just fine. It was a big old negative sign.”

  “Open the door, Allison,” he coaxed softly.

  And now she’d blown it. She should’ve just kept her mouth shut.

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Open the door, Allie.”

  Tears pricked behind her eyes and she unlocked the door and then pulled it open.

  She made no effort to stop him as Clint moved past her to the garbage can to retrieve the wand. It’d be kind of hard to keep a pregnancy a secret anyway.

  Allison stepped out of the bathroom and walked into the kitchen. She went to pour herself a glass of water and found her hands shaking enough that she could barely hold the glass.

  “Here let me.” Clint came behind her and took the glass from her hand, filling it with water.

  She accepted the glass from him and wrapped both hands around it to take a sip.

  Keeping her gaze lowered, she waited for his anger. For him to ask why she’d lied about the test.

  When he didn’t say anything, just remained quiet next to her, she lifted her head and gave him a hard look, deciding to make a preemptive attack.

  “If you knew we’d forgotten a condom, how come you didn’t say anything the morning after it happened?”

  His gaze narrowed. “I had planned on it. Before you left to have breakfast with my
mother that morning I’d mentioned we needed to talk when you returned.” He paused. “Nearly getting arrested changed plans.”

  The disappointment almost crushed her. Her chest squeezed tight and it became hard to breathe. For so long she’d harbored the fantasy that the talk would be for him to confess that he’d fallen in love with her. Maybe wanted her to consider moving to Montana.

  Her mouth twisted with regret. But no. He’d only wanted to have the what if I knocked you up discussion.

  “Okay.” She blinked her watery eyes and gave a blasé shrug. “Why did you show up now? Over a month since I’d left?”

  “Because Leah called me.”

  “What?” Her vision blurred and her jaw went rigid.

  “Apparently she found it necessary to declare how much of an asshole I am—”

  “You are an asshole,” she snapped. “And so is she. I can’t believe she called you.”

  “She cares about you and was worried.”

  How had Leah even gotten Clint’s number? She frowned and took another sip of water. This morning at Maddie’s coffee shop…

  Her gaze jerked back up.

  “She called you this morning?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you drove right over?” her voice sharpened in disbelief.

  “I flew.”

  “But why?” she sputtered.

  “Because I care about you.”

  She backed up, her eyes wide and her stomach churning violently. “Don’t,” she choked out, “even try and tell me such absolute bullshit.”

  “It’s not bullshit.”

  “It is. The only reason you’re here—that you’re saying any of this is because you knew it was possible that you’d gotten me pregnant,” she accused. “I was no better than that virus you had last month, you basically said so yourself. Just something you needed to get out of your system.”

  “Don’t tell me you actually believed me.” He followed her as she tried to leave the room, catching her arm and swinging her around. “Because it was all a lie.”

  She glared at him, her eyes brimming again. “Oh really? And why in the hell would you lie?”

  “Self deprivation. What should I have done?” he demanded, his voice rising and anger flickering in his gaze. “You were standing there next to Ken, on the brink of having me arrested. What should I have done, Allison?” he asked again. “Confessed that I’d fallen in love with you?”