Wild About Her Wingman

by Robin Bielman

  “Uh-huh.” Amelia let go of him and headed toward the hallway.

  He turned back to Erin. “We’ve played paramedic a time or two so she knows what to do in most situations if someone is hurt.”

  “Wow. Really?”

  “Yep.”

  “Do you play dolls with her and have tea parties and stuff, too?”

  “Maybe.” He couldn’t tell if Erin was mocking him or really didn’t know what little girls were like. Her tone hinted at embarrassment, catching him completely off guard.

  She took a deep breath. “Kids and I don’t really get along.”

  Guard. Off. Once again. “What are you talking about? Didn’t you just play Superwoman for a kid?”

  “Yes, but Cole is different. He likes me for some reason.” She drew her legs up and crossed them.

  “Could be your fearless mentality. I imagine a kid with health issues can gain a lot of inner strength from that.”

  Their eyes locked and some kind of electric buzz filled the air space between them. At least to his own lust-leashed mind. He’d meant those words. Erin might be reckless and impulsive, but there was always purpose behind her actions. She’d never let anyone down. Never hold back whatever she could give.

  The urge to kiss her overwhelmed him.

  He broke contact first this time and glanced over his shoulder in the direction Amelia had gone.

  “Do you think she’ll follow in your footsteps?” Erin said softly.

  He shrugged. “She’s a lot smarter than I was at that age.”

  “Yeah, well, I could tell that the second I met her.” Tiny creases appeared at the corners of her mouth.

  “You do want me to fix you up, don’t you?” he teased back. “Because I could—”

  She stopped him from getting up by pulling on the sleeve of his shirt. “Don’t you dare leave me.”

  Settling back on his haunches, he couldn’t help but smile. “Did I tell you I charge a fee for house calls?”

  “Really? And what might that fee be?” She narrowed her eyes.

  “Here, Uncle Troy.” Amelia dropped a whole assortment of things—bandages, ointment, cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide—onto his lap. “Bridget helped, too.”

  He kissed Amelia’s cheek. “Thanks, you two. This is great. I was just about to tell Erin our fee for making a house call.”

  “Huh?” Amelia climbed up onto the couch next to Erin and got comfortable.

  Erin’s eyes widened and she leaned away as though Amelia carried contagious germs. She straightened her legs when Amelia bumped her knee. Troy bit back a chuckle. He’d never seen Erin get uncomfortable.

  “A fee is payment for doing something. Like when you go and get your hair cut and your mom pays the person who did it.”

  “But you told me Erin was a friend,” Amelia said.

  “So we should let her off the hook, then?” He grabbed a cotton ball and the peroxide. He should douse himself with the stuff, clean his mind of the inappropriate ways he’d envisioned Erin paying him back.

  Christ, he needed to do something about these sex-starved thoughts of his.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  Amelia lifted her round little chin and looked at Erin. “Do you want Uncle Troy to kiss your boo-boo, too? He always kisses mine because he says they make them feel all better.”

  His gaze collided with Erin’s. “Amel—”

  “Of course I do,” she said, her tone light, breezy. Inconsequential. She turned to Amelia. “Right after he bandages it, right?”

  “Uh-huh.” Amelia smiled and he’d kiss whatever she asked him to when she did that.

  He got to work, concentrating on Erin’s finger and not the slope of her neck or the curve of her cheek or the length of her eyelashes. She flinched a couple of times, but when Amelia took hold of her free hand, Erin’s entire demeanor softened.

  Seemed his niece found something to like about her, too. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  When he finished, he took her bandaged finger and pressed a kiss there while he winked at Amelia.

  “I’m hungry,” Amelia said through another smile.

  “Okay. How about we get going and stop for something on the way home?” He put the medical supplies on the coffee table and stood.

  “I’ve uh, probably got something,” Erin offered, checking out the bulbous bandage masterpiece on her finger.

  He’d wrapped it way more thoroughly than necessary. “You could do push-ups and I promise no blood will seep through.” He gave his hand to help her up.

  Her fingers curled around his, but she didn’t meet his eyes. “Thank you.”

  “One more thing…”

  She stepped around him and headed toward the kitchen. “You guys like peanut butter and jelly?”

  “I do.” Amelia slid off the couch and scrambled to catch up to Erin.

  Erin stopped and wheeled around when Amelia reached her hip. She looked down at his niece like she had no idea what to do with her, and why hadn’t she stayed put on the couch?

  Troy’s protective instincts went up. “Amelia, how about we go grab some chicken nuggets and leave Erin be?”

  “I…” Erin looked up. “You said there was one more thing?”

  “Yeah. You’ve had a tetanus shot in the last few years, right?” He had no clue what was going on behind those baby blues of hers.

  “Umm…I think?”

  “It’s a shot in your butt,” Amelia said, emphasis on the butt.

  And once again Erin giggled, filling the space around them with lightness and breaking any tension he might have sensed from her. She put a tentative hand on Amelia’s shoulder. “I’ve got chicken nuggets, too. Take your pick.”

  Amelia glanced at him with little eyebrows raised.

  He nodded. And then he watched. He watched the little girl who meant the world to him come waist high alongside a woman who…didn’t play it safe.

  The thought jarred him from their position in the kitchen now, and he looked around Erin’s place instead. A lot had changed since he’d last been inside and found it filled with moving boxes. Her furnishings were simple, comfortable, in shades of browns and greens. What caught his eye the most were all the photographs in decorative picture frames. She didn’t have any other knick-knacks, just photos of people. He stepped over to the mantel where snapshots from her sister’s wedding sat on display. Erin looked amazing in her bridesmaid dress. Her beauty and happiness reached out and touched him.

  She adored her family, no doubt about it. She also loved thrills, shots of her skydiving with some dude, bungee jumping, and hanging on the side of a mountain with another guy getting shelf or table space, too.

  A piece of him wanted to be the guy in the next picture.

  …

  Erin wished she could blame her terrible bowling skills on her finger, but three days had gone by since she’d cut it. Even more unhelpful, the injury was on her left hand, not her right.

  “You sure we can’t put the bumpers up for Erin?” Troy said in a teasing voice.

  Erin slugged him in the arm as she plopped into the plastic seat beside him. “Shut up. I just haven’t found my rhythm yet.” And probably wouldn’t. Bowling wasn’t her favorite thing to do and the pins hated her. They wobbled plenty and then refused to fall over.

  Music filled the upscale bowling alley Kagan’s dad had rented for her and Shane’s engagement party, and great food lined buffet tables behind them. A bar and muted lighting gave the place a “clubby” feeling. The atmosphere got an A-plus.

  Her partner got an A, too. For annoying. How she ended up on the same alley as him still bugged her, but she couldn’t argue when she’d arrived late and didn’t have any other choice. When he wasn’t teasing her about her gutter shots, he was looking way too good in his jeans and soft, stonewashed collared shirt. She hated that he affected her. That she wanted to run her hands underneath the shirt, up his abdomen, over his pecs, and around his shoulders to
see if the muscles there matched her imagination.

  Don’t even get her started on his butt when he went up to the line to take his turn. His denim should be illegal. She ground her teeth together. Why did a guy who drove her crazy with his play-it-safe mentality and good-boy reputation have to be so darn hot on the outside? If she were ever dumb enough to act on her attraction, and it got out, his squeaky-clean image would ruin the carefree, hasty reputation she’d spent years nurturing, and no way could she have that. And no way could she trust herself not to let her heart get involved. Because Troy was just the type to make her woozy with affection and attachment.

  “You don’t have any rhythm,” Teague said.

  Erin snapped her attention to her sister. Teague and her new boyfriend and Charlotte and Oliver rounded out their bowling group. “I do, too.”

  Teague shook her head. “Sorry, sis, but you’re missing that gene.”

  Give her baby sister two beers and she spouted bullshit. “And you base this on?”

  “Yes!” Charlotte squealed, and bounced back to their seats, all the pins behind her being scooped up by the arm thingie at the end of the lane. Dammit.

  Oliver gave her a wide smile, but Charlotte turned an eye to the group next to them. Shane and Kagan, Luke and Sela, and Bash and Lily were playing there. Bash, a good friend of Shane’s, and Charlotte had been giving each other looks ever since they’d arrived and been introduced at the bowling alley. He and Lily, a good friend of Kagan’s, had only met this evening as well.

  “Did you see yourself in Vanessa’s wedding video?” Teague made some jerky motion with her arms. “You were hilarious on the dance floor.”

  “I was doing the robot!” And okay, maybe she wasn’t the most graceful thing on the dance floor, but no one had called her on it before.

  Troy stood. “You don’t need rhythm. Just finesse. Watch and learn, partner.”

  Oliver rolled his eyes. “I think what you’ve got is called luck tonight, dude.”

  “Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Troy said.

  And once again Erin couldn’t tear her gaze from his backside. He seriously had the best butt, and she’d noted lots of rear ends over the years. Added to his broad shoulders, tapered waist, and muscled biceps and any girl would be drawn to his body. She needed to cut herself some slack. And find herself a boyfriend before Candace did. Rumor had it Candace had been on two dates this past week.

  Troy got a strike and booyah’ed. Erin slapped him with a high five. Teague got up to take a turn and goddammit, knocked down nine pins with her two tries.

  They finished up their game and Team Erin and Hottie Para—Troy—came in third just in time to gather with the other guests for a toast.

  Shane and Kagan hadn’t made any wedding plans yet, but her father, a billionaire businessman and retired actor visiting from New York for this special occasion, spoke the nicest words about the pair. Glasses of champagne were passed around and everyone raised their flutes in celebration.

  The longing for that someone special Erin had recently given herself permission to think about squeezed her chest just a tiny bit.

  After that, the old folks—Erin’s parents, Shane’s mom and dad, Kagan’s father, and about a dozen other of Cascade’s finest—mingled around the dessert table. Shane and the other guys started talking about football and some fight coming up on pay-per-view.

  “Erin, could I talk to you, Sela, and Charlotte for a second?” Kagan said. She motioned toward the lounge and they followed.

  They sat on the comfy leather sofa and a full-on smile lit Kagan’s face. “So,” Kagan said, looking at Erin and Sela. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but you two quickly became very special to me and I’d love it if you’d be my bridesmaids.”

  Sela tackle-hugged her. Erin played it cool even though on the inside a thrill of excitement shot through her.

  “And Char,” Kagan said. “I’d love for you to be my maid of honor.”

  “About time you asked.” She wrapped Kagan a hug. “I’d be honored, Jelly Belly.”

  “We have no idea when or where, but I’ll keep you posted.”

  “So will Bash be included in the wedding party?” Charlotte asked.

  Kagan raised her eyebrows. “I think he is. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.”

  There was a big reason and Erin recognized it. She had the same misfortune of attraction. Her gaze moved across the lounge to where Troy stood. He turned his head and his eyes fastened on hers.

  His stare felt like he’d unzipped her. Like he could see inside her head and knew all the thoughts swirling around in there and he understood. He got it. Maybe he’d been hurt by someone, too, and he wanted—no, needed—to blow off some sexual steam, too. That’s all this was. At least she’d keep telling herself that. She hadn’t totally misread his signals, had she? They were just two people who—

  “Dude, you made it,” Shane said, clapping a guy on the back and bringing him in for a quick man-hug.

  A guy named Michael.

  The hot, blond, adventurous Michael she’d met with Troy a couple of weeks ago. She gulped.

  Shane introduced Michael to his friends, his eyebrows raising in recognition when Shane got to Troy. Erin decided to play this twist of fate cool, and pretend she hadn’t noticed him. While she kept busy in conversation with her friends, the guys moved to the bar for drinks.

  “Anyone want anything?” Erin asked, jumping to her feet about fifteen minutes later. The guys had spread out. It was just Troy and Michael at the bar now.

  “No thanks,” rang out and she doubted she’d even be missed, since the discussion had turned to plans for a baby shower for Vanessa.

  “Hey, Troy.” She took the barstool next to him, not sure if Michael would be happy to see her. “Hi, uh, Michael.”

  “Erin,” Michael said, the corners of his nice mouth lifting. “It’s good to see you again. How are you feeling?”

  She darted a glance at Troy.

  “I told him the reason we rushed out of the bar without a good-bye was because you were sick.”

  “Right. I’m really sorry about that,” she said with sincerity. Because she was.

  Troy gave a slight frown.

  “It was really bad manners on my part and I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

  “Apology accepted.”

  “Cool.” She caught the bartender’s attention. “Beer please?” The bartender nodded. “So how do you know Shane?”

  “We work together. I’m an attorney for Burke & Associates. How about you?”

  “I’ve known him forever. He’s my brother’s best friend.”

  “Wow. Small world. ”

  “Yeah,” she said, glancing out into the bowling alley when she felt someone’s stare. Captain Sullivan—Shane’s dad—was looking at her with eyebrows raised. Crap. But she couldn’t avoid Troy entirely when they had the same friends. And why was he giving her the stink-eye? Troy had canceled on her twice. He might have been cured by now if he hadn’t bailed on her.

  “So I know you like to rock climb, but we never got around to you telling me what you do.”

  “I’m the assistant activities director at Cascade Outback Adventure.”

  “That sounds great.” Michael took a sip of his beer and glanced at the cell phone on the bar when it chirped.

  “It is. I’m also finishing up my master’s and planning new programs at COA that will help treat and heal mental and physical illnesses through outdoor therapy.”

  Troy narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t need to worry. She’d never tell anyone what he was dealing with. That was his business to share. She put her hand on his thigh. Just a quick gesture to let him know he could trust her.

  The wild tingles shooting up her arm at the contact were unexpected and she jerked her hand back. Grabbed the beer in front of her and took a swig.

  “I’m impressed.” Michael’s phone chirped again. He turned it over. “Beautiful, adventuro
us, smart, caring. Keep that beer to yourself this time and we may have to go on a date.”

  “Okay.”

  Blond hair. Check.

  Compliment when it’s least expected. Check.

  Be daring and willing to break some rules. Check. He’d whispered some very fun things in her ear the first time they’d met.

  Troy swiveled the barstool and made motion to get up. He cast her a quick glance with eyebrows raised, like he was checking to see if that was okay. She gave a slight nod.

  “Dude, hang on,” Michael said, putting a hand on Troy’s shoulder. “You never finished telling me about Monument Rock.”

  “Oh, uh, it was awesome.” Troy angled back around.

  “Wait,” Erin said. “Monument Rock, New Mexico?”

  “Yeah.” Michael nodded. “Troy here climbed it.”

  She blinked. “Climbing Monument has been illegal since 1980.”

  “The guy’s also bungee jumped off Veracruz Bridge,” Michael said. “Major respect, dude.” He fist bumped Troy.

  “What? Back up a minute.” No way did Troy leap off one of the highest bungee jumps in the country. And he was like twenty-six, so he couldn’t have climbed Monument Rock. At least not legally.

  Michael’s cell vibrated atop the bar. He picked it up. “I’ve been waiting for this call. Excuse me.” He slid off his stool and walked away.

  Erin pursed her lips. She waited for Troy to say something. He didn’t.

  “Well?”

  Troy shrugged. “Well what?”

  “Why did you lie to him?”

  “You think I lied?”

  “Yes,” she said, her eyes stuck on the whiskey-colored deliberation staring back at her. “I mean maybe.” She sighed. “You’re Mr. Play It Safe. You wouldn’t break the law to climb something sacred. And it’s impossible anyway with your skill level.”

  He laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I’ve got major skills and can definitely hold my own.”

  She shifted on the barstool and squared her shoulders. “Really? Rescue training is a little different than freestyle and doing something just for the thrill of it.”

  “I never said my competence came from the job. I did my first climb back in high school. Jumped out of an airplane on my eighteenth birthday.”