by Anne Rainey
“Vance said you were back in town. Here to stay this time?”
All work seemed to grind to a halt, and everyone in the room stared at her as if anticipating her answer. Now she understood what fireflies must feel like when little kids trapped them in jars so they could watch them helplessly flit around.
“Yes,” she said firmly as she stood a little straighter. She needed to make herself perfectly clear. She needed Vance’s family to know she wasn’t the coward she once was. If nothing else, her father’s strict upbringing had taught her to stand her ground. “I’ve moved my business here permanently. I have absolutely no intention of leaving.”
Sam’s gaze narrowed a second. She held her breath. When he gave her a sideways grin, Shayla about fainted dead away. One down, three more to go.
As another man stepped forward, a flirty grin on his face, Shayla thought maybe it was Brodix. He’d changed over the years, the way they all had. Brodix had gotten taller and broader than she’d remembered. His dark hair was neatly trimmed, and although he’d been working in dust, he looked freshly showered. His grin was every bit as wicked as always, she noticed too. That, at least, hadn’t changed.
“Brodix,” she said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Looking good, Shayla,” he said, as he opened his arms for a hug. Shayla was only too happy to step into them, relieved that at least he wasn’t shooting daggers at her.
When he released her, she said, “Thanks, you too.”
“You ever get tired of this lug”—he pointed a thumb in Vance’s direction—“just yell.”
“Lay off, Brodix,” Vance gritted out as he moved up next to Shayla and slung an arm around her neck. “Find your own redhead.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Shayla saw someone punch Brodix on the arm. When he moved to the side, she saw the twins, River and Reilly. They had shaggy black hair and the palest green eyes Shayla had ever seen. Sexy didn’t even begin to cover it. Boy, they’d sure grown up since she’d last seen them. Twelve years ago, the twins had been rather gangly, all long limbs and not a lot of meat. They’d definitely filled out since then. One of them smiled at her, but the other only stared, no expression at all to give away his feelings toward her. It was almost more disconcerting than Sam’s scowl. Was the animosity directed at her because of the way she’d broken up with Vance? Oh, man, probably. Shayla’s stomach did a free-fall when she realized that Vance’s family had every right to hate her for what she’d put Vance through.
Vance pointed to each of them in turn and said, “Reilly and River. And if you’re ever confused which is which, just know that River is a bit like Eeyore, walks around pouting all the time.”
“Not true,” he grumbled. “I smile plenty.”
“It’s like pulling teeth, and you know it,” a feminine voice from behind River said. When he stepped to the left, Shayla saw a tall, thin woman with dark hair up in a ponytail and white dust all over her face and clothes. She wore a mask over her mouth and nose, and Shayla wondered if she was sick or something.
She yanked the mask off and stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Jeannette,” she said as she held her hand out.
Shayla took her hand, surprised by the strength in the young, petite woman. “Shayla,” she said.
“Pleased to meet you, Shayla.” She brushed a hand over her face, and dust fell to the floor. “Don’t mind the mess. River’s been teaching me how to sand drywall.”
River chuckled and yanked on the woman’s ponytail. “I tried to tell you it was a messy job, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Hey, men aren’t the only ones allowed to get a little dirty,” she said, bobbing her eyebrows.
Shayla heard Reilly snort. “I think you have more dust on you than the floor, sweets.”
As the three of them bantered back and forth, Vance leaned close and said, “Jeanette is a friend of the family. She and River have been pals for years.”
Shayla turned toward him and smiled. “You have a terrific family. You’re very lucky.” She heard the door open behind her, and she turned to see a slightly plump, grey-haired woman. Wanda, Shayla realized, and another woman who she didn’t recognize. Wanda’s companion was beautiful. She had long dark hair and the kind of curvy body Shayla only dreamed of having. In comparison, Shayla felt short and fat.
“Here comes the best of the lot,” Sam said as he closed the distance and pulled the dark-haired beauty in for a big bear hug. Soon the pair were kissing, and Shayla heard a few catcalls from Vance’s brothers. As they pulled apart, it was clear to Shayla they were deeply in love. She envied them right off. Would Vance ever look at her that way?
Earlier it’d been abundantly clear that Vance hadn’t been able to get enough of her body, but that was merely sexual desire and a seriously poor substitute for love. Would he ever see past the exterior? She wanted more than simple lust from Vance? Shayla’s heart sank at the idea he might not ever give it though.
Wanda spotted her, and her eyes rounded. “Shayla, dear, I had no idea you would be here.”
Shayla crossed the room and let Wanda pull her into her arms. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Wanda,” she said, meaning every word. She’d always considered Wanda a second mom when she and Vance had dated. Shayla had missed her nearly as much as Vance when her father had moved them away.
“You too, dear.” Shayla helped the older woman off with her coat. “Has Vance been treating you well?”
“Oh, yes.” Her face heated when she thought just how well Vance had treated her.
Vance tugged her into the crook of his arm. “We’ve been getting caught up. Haven’t we, Shay?”
His look was so devilish it was a wonder he wasn’t sporting horns. “Yes. We’ve had lots to catch up on.”
Wanda smiled from ear to ear. “Oh, that’s just lovely. I’m so happy you’re back in Blackwater.”
Shayla looked up at Vance with her heart firmly planted on her sleeve and said, “Me too.”
To her shock, Vance leaned down and kissed her. It was brief, but it was enough to make it clear that she was very thoroughly claimed. Her pulse quickened, and she looked over to see Sam staring at her, a mixture of surprise and worry on his face. Before Shayla had time to ponder it, the woman in Sam’s arms came forward and held out her hand. “Sam didn’t get around to introducing us, so I figure I might as well do the honors.” The woman’s smile was warm, and Shayla found herself grinning right back. “I’m Julie. Sort of a newbie to the group.”
She liked her immediately. “Shayla. I used to live in Blackwater. I’ve only recently moved back. For the last twelve years, I’ve lived in Florida.”
“Florida sounds like heaven right about now.” She cocked her head to the side and asked, “What made you decide to move back to this frigid cold state?”
She felt Vance stiffen beside her. “Well, this was always more my home than Florida.” She glanced up at Vance to find him staring down at her, his expression unreadable. “I missed it,” she said, hoping he understood that she was talking about him and not the state. When he smiled, Shayla’s legs shook a little.
Vance cupped her chin and asked, “Ready to get to work?”
Shayla took off her coat and placed it on top of Wanda’s. She rubbed her hands together and grinned up at him. “Just point me in the right direction.”
He chuckled. “How about I show you around first?” Vance took her by the hand and led her away from the group. As she looked around the room, she was thrown back in time to when the diner had been in its prime. She remembered the shiny stainless-steel barstools with the red padded seats and Wanda standing behind the counter with a smile as she poured Shayla a soda. Shayla’s gaze darted to the far corner, and her heart sank when she realized the booth she and Vance shared once upon a time had been ripped out. There were good memories tied to this place for both of them. It was a little sad to see it changing.
When they reached the long, wooden bar, he said, “I’m not sure you remember, but there use
d to be a scarred countertop here.”
Shayla took in the beautiful, dark wood finish and the pretty swirl design down the sides of the bar. “This is gorgeous,” she said as she smoothed her palm over the shiny top. “Did you build it?” she asked, suitably impressed with the workmanship.
“Yep. I’m happy with the way it turned out, but it was hard to see the old counter go. A lot of memories there,” he said, his voice a little gruff.
Shayla squeezed his hand and knew he was thinking of his father. “You’ll all make new memories. I’m sure your dad would be proud.”
He nodded. “Remember when we used to come here after school?”
She smiled. “Your mom would get me a soda, and we’d sit in the back of the room, kissing, the soda usually forgotten.” Butterflies took flight when she said, “You asked me to be your girlfriend in that booth.”
“Mm, and you said, yes. Happiest day of my life,” he whispered as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
Shayla’s heart overflowed with love in that moment. The best times of her life were when she lived in Blackwater, and every good memory she coveted were all tied to this one man.
Vance cleared his throat and pointed to a far wall. Shayla promptly yanked her head out of the clouds and turned to see the section Jeanette must have been working on, because there was drywall dust all over the floor. “We’re redoing all the walls. We want a more rustic look. The old plain white had to go.”
She noticed one wall had a bright red X on it and asked, “What’s happening there?”
He took her there and flatted his palm against the surface. “We plan to take this wall out completely, but it’ll have to wait for the weather to warm up. We want to expand on the dining area to add a dance floor. We’re thinking of maybe hiring a local band to play live music on the weekends.”
“Oh, how fun!” She could easily picture herself in Vance’s strong arms as they danced to a soft, slow love song. Focus, girlfriend. She mentally squashed the image and cleared her throat. When her gaze travelled upward, taking in the loose wires hanging willy-nilly from the ceiling, she asked, “Um, why does it appear that someone has a grudge against the electric company?”
Vance snorted and tugged a lock of her hair. Shayla’s nerve-endings buzzed to life. “The lighting is way outdated,” he explained. “We’re working on installing recessed lighting. Don’t forget, woman, it’s still a work in progress.”
Shayla grinned. “With you leading this project, I’m sure it’ll be terrific.”
He bent and picked up a piece of broken drywall. “Let’s hope so, otherwise we’re all going to be living out of cardboard boxes. This thing is sucking away all our savings.”
“By the time it’s finished, the people of Blackwater won’t know what hit them.” She waved a hand around the room and asked, “So, where do I begin?”
He winked. “You might regret asking me that question after a few hours of sanding. Your muscles will be crying uncle, trust me.”
“Try me,” she said, anxious to prove to him that she wasn’t the delicate flower he seemed to think she was.
He leaned down and placed a quick kiss to her lips. “Oh, I intend to, believe me.”
Shayla’s heart sputtered at the sensual promise. The wicked gleam in Vance’s eyes sent all the blood in her body traveling south. Oh, God, the man was too yummy. Entirely too yummy.
After a few hours of sanding and spackling, Vance drove them back to his house. They’d eaten pizza with the rest of the bunch, and Shayla had felt like she was a part of their group. Sam had stopped scowling, and Brodix had flirted enough that Vance had threatened bodily harm if he didn’t cut it out. Shayla’s head was still reeling. They were an overwhelming bunch in comparison to her own family. She’d never been allowed to tease and play the way the Jennings brothers did. It was without a doubt a day to remember.
Shayla’s pulse quickened as they reached Vance’s house in his truck. She glanced over at him, wondering at his quiet mood. The green light from the dashboard cast an odd glow over the angles of his face. She could see a muscle in his jaw jump, and her pulse quickened. When he pulled into his driveway and killed the engine, Shayla held her breath, unsure what to expect next. Without a word, he grabbed the keys from the ignition and got out. She clutched her purse in a tight fist as she watched him jog around to her side. Suddenly, her door opened, and Vance stood there, a large barrier between her and the rest of the world. He leaned in, pressed his mouth to hers, and Shayla promptly surrendered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave in to the need to taste him. There were hints of the peppermint candy he’d sucked on after dinner, but mostly it was Vance’s unique flavor she craved. When he ended the kiss, they were both breathing heavily.
“Ready?” Vance asked, his voice low and rough as he held a hand out to her.
She didn’t have to ask ready for what, because she knew he meant to make love to her. It was there in the firm set of his shoulders and the dark look in his eyes. Shayla put her hand in his and nodded. By the time they were in Vance’s bedroom, Shayla couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
“You worked your butt off at the diner today,” he murmured against her lips. “Are you sure you aren’t too beat?”
“I’m never too tired for you. Never,” she said, meaning it. Vance was better than caffeine: one touch and she was alert and raring to go. She placed her hand on his cheek and felt little flecks of sawdust and his five o’clock shadow beneath her fingers. The smell of paint lingered in the air between them. It permeated their clothes. Shayla knew they should shower first, but she didn’t want to wait another second. She wanted Vance naked. Every, smooth, solid inch of him on display for her to stroke and kiss.
“I’ve wanted to do this all damn day, honey,” he whispered as he pulled her over to the bed.
Shayla’s hands had a mind of their own, it seemed, skating over the hard, muscular length of Vance’s shoulders and back. Their clothes somehow disappeared, and Vance’s strong hands clutched her tightly against him. Vance’s hard cock against her belly had her mind going utterly blank. When her legs quivered, she felt her body being lifted as Vance cradled her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Her bones melted. He never removed his mouth from hers as he placed her in the center of the bed. He angled his head as if attempting to get a better taste of her, before pulling back a mere inch.
She felt bereft without his touch. It scared her to think he’d gotten under her skin so fast. Shayla hadn’t anticipated how fulfilling it would be to have Vance back in her life. Today, she’d been surrounded by his family, and it’d seemed like a piece of her life had fallen into place. After so many years without Vance, it was almost too much to take in, but God, how she’d missed his playfulness.
When Vance had included her in the fun as they’d worked side by side, Shayla had felt right at home. The Jennings family could be an overwhelming bunch to a woman who’d grown up veritably alone the way she had, but Shayla adored every second spent in their company. And having Vance’s full attention now sent a zing of pleasure through her.
With a swiftness that surprised her, Vance came down on the bed and lay down next to her. A pair of large, calloused hands grasped her around the waist, pulling her up and sitting her down on top of him in one smooth motion. At once, Shayla felt totally exposed.
He seemed to sense her nervous jitters. “You’re beautiful, Shayla,” he murmured. “I want to watch you this time.” She started to say something, anything, but Vance hushed her with a finger to her kiss-swollen lips. “You can be the one to run the show when we’re in this position. Wouldn’t you like that?”
To be in control of the powerful Vance Jennings? Yeah, Shayla liked the idea a lot. When his arousal pushed at the cleft of her bottom, a little thrill ran through her. He was hard for her. She wanted to think that no other woman could do that to Vance, but she knew she’d be kidding herself. Still, she could pretend.
Shayla wiggled her hips, and the sound of her n
ame came from somewhere deep inside of Vance. The sight of him beneath her held her spellbound. A sexy dusting of dark curly hair sprinkled his muscular chest, and his six-pack abs made her anxious to dance her fingers across every hard inch of him. As her gaze wandered lower, she took in the enticing trail of hair that brought her to his cock, which stood out from his body, a long, thick length of steel that had Shayla’s mouth watering. When she glanced into his hazel eyes, they darkened with the fire burning bright inside him. She watched his lips thin as if he wasn’t too sure about letting her be in charge all of a sudden.
“Are you certain you wouldn’t rather be on top?” she offered. “I don’t mind.” He was such a sexual man, meeting his needs suddenly seemed like a major undertaking. She didn’t know if she had it in her to please him.
“I’m sure,” he said in a rough voice. “I like seeing your pretty body perched on top of me. I’m free to explore this way.”
When Vance’s hands closed over her breasts and massaged, Shayla became lost to the sensation of his work-scarred palms teasing her sensitive nipples. She closed her eyes and began to move her hips back and forth, slowly at first, enjoying the feel of his hard cock nestled between her buttocks. Bracing herself on his chest, she rolled her hips back and forth, clenching her thighs around him. Vance growled low in his throat and moved his hands to her ass cheeks. He squeezed and tore a moan from deep within Shayla. She opened her eyes again and bent down far enough that her nipples grazed his chest hair. The dark curls rasped them to taut peaks.
“Kiss me, honey,” Vance urged.
Unable to deny him a single thing, Shayla brought her mouth to his and licked at his full lower lip. God, no man should have a mouth so beautiful. Her teeth nibbled at the satiny skin, and his arms came around her and crushed her to him. She felt herself spiraling out of control, felt Vance’s instinctive need to dominate boiling to the surface. He was more demanding, and definitely rougher than before. The grown-up Vance had a wild side, and it turned Shayla on something fierce. Her passion burned hotter as she gave herself freedom to do the things she’d dreamed of for so many years.