by Candace Shaw
“Syd?” he asked uneasily.
Closing the magazine, she inhaled but didn’t look his way. “Yes?” Her voice was calm but had a hint of agitation.
“I just want to apologize if I upset you last night. I didn’t mean to. I thought we were having a great time on the trip and on the motorcycle. You know, just getting to know each other better in general.”
She exhaled and looked at him for the first time since last night. “I think that being in close quarters with you, especially on the motorcycle, may have caused us to want to continue that blissful high you have when you’re riding. Personally, I don’t think there’s anything between us... It was the sexiness of the ride. You just happened to be there during the invigorating thrill I get when on a motorcycle.”
“Mmm...yeah.” Bryce nodded, then paused. “I suppose you’re right. Here I was on the back of my own motorcycle with a gorgeous woman, holding you close to me and listening to the stimulating moans you let out because you were driving my favorite bike. So...sure, it was the sexiness of the ride that caused us to want more of each other.”
“Yep. I totally agree.”
Bryce didn’t know if he believed any of what he said. True, the midnight ride had stimulated some kind of passion and desire; however, they weren’t new feelings. He’d just never thought he’d have an opportunity to demonstrate them. After the kiss in the hospital, kissing her again was all he’d thought about. Last night, he’d been given another chance and he’d run with it. He just hoped the occasion arose once more but he knew how Syd thought. He knew she would make sure to never ride on the same motorcycle ever again.
* * *
Syd pretended to read an article on the latest fashion trends. She had no interest in it, but anything to avoid talking to him, even though as the copilot she did make sure the music stayed upbeat. She was glad they were somewhat on the same page when it came to what happened last night. She’d had male passengers every blue moon, and none of them had turned her on like Bryce had. Then again, none of them had dared to slide a hand into her panties, for if they’d done so, she would’ve pulled over and left them on the side of the road.
Bryce had stimulated more than just the spot that made her a woman. He’d also stimulated her thought process. She was seeing him in a different light with each passing moment they spent together. His discussions on growing up as a Monroe and how family-oriented he was were totally unexpected. The fact that he’d wanted to work at a law firm first instead of opening his own impressed her. He was a Monroe, after all. He could’ve easily started a firm straight out of law school, but the fact that he didn’t spoke volumes. It made her think about her present job situation.
For once in her life she didn’t miss it. Usually while on vacation, she’d still think about a case and would call Mumford if she had a hunch about something. However, this time she hadn’t even thought about work and when she saw the voice mail from Watkins, she didn’t call him back right away.
“So when do you think your firm will be up and running?” she asked after a while. The magazine no longer held her interest, and he kept changing his satellite radio stations and mumbling about nothing being on the radio worth listening to.
“I close on the building in a few weeks. It’s located in the midtown area of Peachtree not far from Atlantic Station. It’s two stories and has plenty of space for the law library, conference rooms and offices for at least twenty lawyers along with paralegals and legal secretaries.”
“Oh, you intend to have that many?”
“Not at first. I have a few friends who are interested, and I have some people on my list that I’d like to persuade to work with me. I want a variety, and not just criminal law. Even though that will be the main focus for my cases, of course. But I’m looking into child advocacy lawyers, as well. The children in the foster care and adoption agencies need a voice. Some of the children I tutor at the Monroe Community Center are in the system, and it breaks my heart that their needs aren’t being met by the system or by the so-called foster parents who only want to collect a check. Explain to me why foster parents are picking up their children in Mercedes and Escalades, carrying expensive purses and wearing designer duds. Yet the poor kid walks out to the car with raggedy shoes and jeans that are too small? And I know it’s not all foster parents, but the ones who do are giving the ones who provide love and stability a bad reputation, as well.”
“I didn’t realize you tutored at the center.” Or had an interest in the well-being of foster children.
“Yep, usually on the weekends. I went there after I left your house on Saturday morning for a few hours. The students are preparing for the Georgia Milestone Assessment Test. That’s why I left so early. The workshop is from eight to noon every Saturday until testing. Of course, I’m missing this Saturday, but your cousin Tiffani is going to take my group along with hers.”
“Oh...I didn’t realize she was tutoring there.” Sydney hadn’t spoken to Tiffani in a few weeks or really anyone since the GBI had begun working on two big cases. She hated missing out on things. She’d barely made it to Megan and Steven’s one-year anniversary celebration earlier that year.
“She just started a few weeks ago. Megan suggested her to me considering Tiffani is a third-grade teacher and needed some extra money. She brings KJ along. That kid is something else. Such a bright young man.”
“Yep, he’s a sweetheart. I’m just glad that Tiffani is finally moving on with her life as best as possible since her husband’s death three years ago. I’m sure raising Keith Jr. has to be overwhelming, but she never complains. Aunt Betty and Uncle John spoil their grandson rotten.”
“Yep. He has a good family foundation, which is important. It truly takes a village to raise a child.”
Sydney was somewhat still in shock that he tutored. Not that she didn’t think he could. Bryce was highly intelligent, but she didn’t know where he found the time. She didn’t think his schedule permitted it, or his personality. Plus, the community center had always been Steven’s project. But since he spent a lot of time in Washington, DC, when Congress was in session, he wasn’t able to commit as often as he used to.
“So what do you tutor?”
“English and math for the Georgia Milestone workshop, but during the school year, homework or other projects. During the summer, I work with kindergarteners going into first grade who need assistance with their sight words and putting them together in order to read and write sentences.”
She tilted her head with a wrinkled brow. “Are you an attorney or a teacher?”
He laughed, but then his face turned serious. “Just a concerned person who believes in education. I had a good life growing up. I never had to worry about where my next meal was coming from, would I have clean clothes to wear or whether or not I had enough money for college. The children at the community center don’t have the same advantages, which was one of the reasons why Steven and I opened it.”
“I didn’t know you had anything to do with it. I remember when it opened years ago, there was a segment on the news, but your father and Steven were the only ones giving the tour and being interviewed. I don’t remember you being there.”
“I was there, but it was election year for both of them. I’m not a politician. No need for me to be on camera. They needed votes. Not why we opened it, but good press for the Monroe family. Besides, I prefer to stay in the background. I don’t care about accolades, I just want a safe and nurturing environment for the children to go after school.”
He rubbed his goatee, which meant he was pondering something. He glanced at her and then sped up to pass a truck, using on his left-hand side. Once he slowed down and moved back to the right, he smirked and tapped her knee.
“So, if I remember correctly, the following week after the news segment I saw you at the courthouse, and you glared at me when you walked by as I was stepping o
ff the elevator. You mumbled something like ‘I guess you had better things to do’ in your sassy, disapproving tone. I couldn’t figure out what the hell you were talking about, but now I know. You thought I wasn’t involved. You thought I was an arrogant ass who didn’t have time for such things. Am I right?”
She closed her eyes and took a breath in. Yep, he was right. That was exactly what she’d thought for almost five years. Now she wasn’t so sure. Normally, she could figure people out within the first few minutes of meeting them. That was her job. But Bryce had always remained a mystery to her until now.
Placing her legs underneath her in the oversized seat, she slid her shades up onto her head and turned her body toward him.
“That’s exactly what I thought, but I’m beginning to see you in a whole different light, and I have to admit I’m impressed,” she said, lowering her eyes and running her fingers through her hair. “You’re concerned about your family and the welfare of the children you service at the center. Apparently, you may have more to do with its conception than Steven. You’re a good guy, after all. I was wrong.”
He grabbed her hand, and a pleased curl of a smile formed. “I’m glad you’re beginning to see me for who I am. I think one of the reasons why you and others think I’m some arrogant, conceited rich guy is because of how I am in court. I can’t show weakness. I can’t back down. I refuse to lose a case, and if I do, it damn sure wasn’t because I didn’t give it my all to prove my client’s innocence.”
“That makes total sense even though you still have an air of confidence and authority,” she said, not believing they were having a heart-to-heart conversation. “You exude that regardless.”
He squeezed her hand before letting it go to place both hands on the steering wheel to pass another eighteen-wheeler truck. She sort of liked him holding her hand and hoped he’d hurry up and pass the truck.
“And the same with you. In your position, you have to be a tough woman, especially when you’re probably the only one in a room full of agents and hardened criminals. You can’t show weakness. No time to be the girlie girl. Your twin inherited that from your mother. You, on the other hand, you have that no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners attitude from your dad. Luckily, I’ve seen the tender side of you.”
“Well, I guess we’ve both learned a lot about each other during this trip.” Her thoughts took her back to last night on the motorcycle. She’d also learned that his hand could give her a mind-blowing orgasm and his tongue was lethal and should be arrested for the passionate assault on her lips and neck. Also, he could hold her up for a long period of time without weakening his arms around her or stopping for a breath while they kissed. Too bad she wouldn’t experience that again. She squirmed in her seat and placed her shades over her eyes once more.
“I’ve also learned that you hide behind your shades. It’s a cloudy day, Syd.”
Blood rushed into her cheeks at Bryce’s realization. She tossed the shades into the console between them and looked his way.
He ran a finger along her cheek that evoked prickly tingles over her at his subtle, warm touch. “Yep. There’s the fire I know. Stop hiding it. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
“I like to protect my eyes from the sun. That’s all.”
“Um...the sun is hiding behind the clouds...” He laughed, patting her on the knee. He gave it a quick squeeze, then tenderly slid his hand off her and back on the steering wheel. She noted the tight way he held it and the scrunch of his brow. A stiffness was forming again, and the last thing she wanted was more sexual tension with him. She offered to drive, and they switched a few moments later. That way she’d have to concentrate on the road and not the fact that she wanted him.
* * *
“I need to confess something to you,” Syd started as she turned onto the interstate.
It was later in the evening. They’d stopped for dinner and decided to continue on for another four hours before resting for the night and driving the last six hours in the morning.
Bryce turned the radio down and placed his focus on her. He was hoping she would say she wanted to explore them getting to know each other on a more intimate level. That was definitely a road he wanted to take with her.
“I’m not happy with my career anymore.”
Okay, so he wasn’t expecting that detour; however, he blocked his thoughts of seducing her considering the information she’d just revealed was serious.
“I’m surprised to hear that. I thought you loved being a criminal profiler.”
“I do, but I don’t like the long hours anymore. I don’t like not seeing my home for two days because I’ve spent the night at headquarters. I don’t like passing out at work and waking up in the hospital. That wasn’t the first time. My health and well-being are important. My family is worried about me, especially my sister. We have twin senses, so when something is wrong with me, she feels it and vice versa. I’m not saying I’m going to quit tomorrow, but I do need to begin looking at other options.”
“And have you?”
“Well, I do have my law degree from University of Georgia, but I haven’t taken the bar exam. It’s ironic when you mentioned hiring a child advocacy attorney because that’s the direction I’d thought about heading in when I was in law school.”
“Take the bar and come work for me.”
“I don’t think you and I working together would be a great idea,” she said, shaking her head. “We’d butt heads.”
Plus, he wouldn’t get any work done with her around. He would be too busy calculating ways to seduce her in his office, her office and the conference room. “Maybe you’re right. However, I think you should go ahead and take the bar.”
“I’ve been studying on and off for it for a few years. Mostly off because I haven’t had the time. It’s just an idea that’s been in my head for a while. I believe this is the first time I’ve actually said it out loud.” A look of relief crossed over her face as she exhaled.
“You haven’t told your family?”
“No. Of course, my parents are always suggesting I leave the GBI. Braxton says whatever makes me happy, and Megan, the worrywart when it comes to me, of course wants me to go into another field.”
“I’m glad you felt you could confide in me,” he said sincerely.
“Well, you’re sort of in the same boat. Everyone else I know isn’t making drastic changes in their careers. Plus, when you said, ‘There comes a time when you have to move on. When you’ve outgrown where you are,’ that struck something in me. I think passing out at work was a wake-up call. Now I just need to figure out my next move.”
“Well, your boss gave you a month off. Use this time to do some soul-searching. Maybe even join a study group for the bar and then take it. At least you’d have it just in case you decide being a criminal profiler just isn’t for you anymore. However, you’re an amazing profiler and investigator, so you’d be missed in the field.”
“Hmm...a lot to think about, but in the meantime, I’m ready to get to Vegas and have fun.”
“I hear you. You want me to drive?”
“Nope, I’m good. Can’t wait to get to the hotel, though. I’m ready to take a shower and climb into bed.”
“Me, too.”
Too bad it wouldn’t be with her. After last night’s escapade, they reserved separate rooms for the night. That didn’t mean he was going to give up on pursuing her. They’d made progress that day, which was a step in the direction he was steering them.
Chapter 7
“Syd. Wake up.”
Sydney peeked out from the slits of her eyes at the blaring afternoon sun. “Close the blinds, please,” she mumbled, sliding her shades down from the top of her head.
They’d left around nine in the morning after grabbing breakfast. Bryce offered to drive the last hours to Las Vegas, and s
he didn’t complain. Instead, she watched movies in the backseat until her eyelids became heavy and she’d laid down on the comfortable leather.
“There are no blinds to close. We’re on the Vegas Strip, babe.”
She sat all the way up and leaned over the console to peer out the huge windshield of his Range Rover. She’d never been to Vegas before and was in awe over the casinos and hotels flanking both sides of the street. She couldn’t wait to see it lit up at night in all its magical glory. However, for now she was excited when he turned in to the Bellagio and she saw groups of motorcyclists standing around in biker gear and on their bikes heading out into the Strip. In one swoop, she slid back over to the front and plopped into the passenger seat.
“Next time, give me a warning. I thought you were about to straddle me.” He glanced at her with a delicious smile and winked. “Not that I would’ve minded.”
Sydney reached to the backseat and grabbed her black leather peplum jacket and placed it on over her white fitted T-shirt.
“In your sweet dreams, Counselor.”
“You’ve been there, too,” Bryce mumbled under his breath.
“Whatever.”
They must have been on the same wavelength, because last night he’d shown up in her dreams, as well. However, they were only daydreams as she stayed up half the night reliving their motorcycle ride and what happened afterward. She couldn’t jar her thoughts from it. Being held in his muscular embrace was pure heaven. His strong arms encircling her while he seductively weaved his fingers in her hair, causing her blood to boil. The passion that had been stirred that night was new and wild. She’d never felt so alive and sexual before with a man. She craved to experience what he could teach her. Just by the way his lips devoured her and how his hands traveled over her body, she knew she’d be in for an exhilarating treat. He was all man. She’d never felt like a natural woman until the other night when he’d awakened a lust and desire so strong that she needed to witness for herself every single erotic pleasure she knew he could offer. She just hoped she could handle him.