“Look at us, Fi,” he looked at the image of the both of them in the screen of his phone. “Your dark hair and my light are very fetching together, don’t you think?” They did make a striking pair, she thought, but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud. “You look very fetching regardless of whose arm you’re on, but together…very nice.”
Then he took a series of shots of the two of them perched on the rock with the river behind them. On the last one he nibbled her ear unexpectedly and she closed her eyes and parted her lips in perfect ecstasy. He moaned out loud when he saw the picture.
“Give us your phone,” he said. She felt her pockets and looked at him as she bit her lower lip.
“I think I forgot it at home,” she said.
“Then give us your number,” he said and she did. He grinned as he sent the last shot he took to her phone. “When you look at that shot you’ll see just how sexy and irresistible you are, you look good enough to eat, Fi.” She put her hand out for the phone and looked at the picture. Her eyes went round, she looked like an extra in a porn movie, and she handed the phone back to him while the blush grew on her cheeks.
“That’s not me, that’s you nibbling my ear. You did that.” His smile was huge.
“I am exceedingly proud of the fact, too.” She giggled, she couldn’t help it. She was very happy to be here, sitting on this rock with this gorgeous man nibbling her ear. He moved his lips down her throat and inhaled her warm flesh. “You smell so lovely,” he said between kisses and she pulled his head up with a hand on each side of his face. He looked mildly embarrassed until she pressed her lips lightly to his.
“You should stop, I don’t want to have to rip your clothes off in public,” she said very quietly.
“I, on the other hand, would be entirely okay with it, though,” he kissed her again. “But you do want to rip them off, aye?”
“You are a really good kisser, Tate. I tend to lose my mind when you kiss me,” she said. It surprised her that she was telling him this, but she did feel somewhat safe on the busy trail. “And then there’s the champagne…”
“No, Fi, it’s the kissing, it has nothing to do with the champagne. I’ve been wanting to rip your clothes off since we met.”
Putting his hands on her hips he lifted her into his lap and placed his hands around her narrow waist. Her arms went around his neck and he smiled at her.
“That’s just grand,” he said grinning and then devoted himself to her mouth for a few minutes until she pulled away when they heard people coming up the trail toward them.
Tate touched her lovely lips and lifted his eyes to hers. That was a very nice kiss, he thought. Her reaction to him was the most powerful aphrodisiac he could imagine. A crowd of day trippers came along the path and Tate pulled her mouth to his for one last kiss. The champagne had nothing on his kisses, she thought, her lips were intoxicating him.
He pulled his gaze from her as two large men in suits came around the trees off the trail behind the other hikers, and skidded to a halt when they saw them. They looked very uncomfortable for a few seconds and then heard some laughter behind them. More people were coming up the trail behind them, and one of them was a ranger. The suited men moved away from Fiona and Tate, keeping a wary eye on them.
“Not really dressed for it, are they?” Tate said, easily recognizing thugs when he saw them. He couldn’t take both of them, he didn’t think, so he decided it was time to move on. Helping her off his lap, he took her hand and started to walk back to the car, passing the laughing crowd on the way. As they drove out of the parking lot the two thuggish men shot out of the trail and bolted for their black SUV.
Tate saw them in the mirrors and pushed the high performance machine to get clear of them. Whether they were paparazzi, which he doubted due to the lack of camera equipment, or something more sinister, he didn’t want to stick around to find out. He’d seen the tattoos on their fingers, which he thought was something people did in prison. He didn’t want this sweet little woman embroiled in some weird fan thing.
Fiona squeaked when he floored it and grabbed her seat. “Why so fast?” She said looking from the road to his face. He was driving thirty miles an hour over the speed limit, but at least he was doing it capably.
“A few years ago the lads and I were in Italy for a… thing, and Connor treated us to a day at the Lamborghini test track, in the heel of the boot, in a town called Nardo. We spent the entire day learning how to drive these beautiful machines. I’ll never put you in danger love, I swear it.”
“I believe you, but you don’t seem to be enjoying yourself. You look like you’re being pursued.” She let her mouth fall open that time and looked behind her. There didn’t seem to be anyone, but the road was twisty and wooded. “Is someone following us?”
“Yes, the two big feckers in the suits.” He turned off the road into a neighborhood and turned around watching the road and waited. “The truth is, I am enjoying it, maybe too much.” The SUV he saw the men get into shot past a few seconds later. He pulled out his phone and handed it to Fiona. “Ring Mikey.”
With shaking hands she scrolled down to Mikey’s number and pressed it. “Laddie,” he said stifling a yawn.
“Hold on Mikey, this is Fiona,” she put the phone on speaker. “I have you on speaker.”
“Mikey, have you got a pen?” Tate said as he pulled back out on to MacArthur going the other way, back toward the inn.
“Yes, lad,” Mikey said.
Tate gave him a license plate number. “Virginia plates. Find out who they might be and what they might want with either me or Dr. Fiona Brooks. Mikey, they weren’t paparazzi.”
“I’m on it,” he hung up. Tate handled the car like it was and extension of him.
“You have paparazzi?”
“Not as much as Connor does, he usually draws them off so the rest of us can blend in.” Fiona snorted. “You’re thinking of the flashy car.”
“No, I just don’t believe you’ve ever just blended in, Tate, you shine.” He smiled at her as she looked at him shyly. “I expect I had more champagne than you did, huh?”
“I had the one glass.” Tate found the road he was looking for and took it, driving north, toward Potomac. “We’ll take the scenic route home.” Fiona nodded and sat quietly wondering what surprised her more, the fact that there were possible bad guys chasing after them in cars, or the fact he had paparazzi following him.
“Were they for you or for me?” She asked and he looked at her questioningly. “I ask because I think that was the same car that swerved to hit me when I crashed into you yesterday.” He took her hand and squeezed it. He was driving the speed limit now, but keeping a careful eye on the rear view.
“We’ll figure this out love, don’t fret.” She nodded, but didn’t feel very sure. She thought of how vulnerable they had been fooling around by the river, and if those other people hadn’t appeared, what might have happened. She shivered. “Are you cold, love?” She smiled at him. No one had been so attentive to her in a long time.
“I’m okay, thank you. I think I’m a little upset about those men. They could have hurt us, we were in a pretty remote area.”
“I’ll keep you safe, love,” he grinned at her.
“They were pretty big,” she said.
“I’ve a few tricks up my sleeve. Where to next?” She wanted to go home and hide.
“Do you want to go see if there is anything you can’t live without at the antique stores?” She asked and he grinned at her.
“You read my mind,” he said and she gave him a disbelieving look and he laughed. “You are possibly the most fun I’ve had since… hell, a good long time.” His smile was infectious.
“You are fun, too, even when you’re not kissing me,” she looked surprised at her own words and they both laughed. “How old are you?”
“I’m 47, love, but I’m in fairly good shape,” he said.
“You look a lot younger,” she said and he grinned.
�
�Is it a deal breaker?”
“Your age? No, not at all. Would mine be?”
“Not if you were a hundred, love,” he grinned.
“Just 35, my birthday was last week,” she said.
“Well then, happy birthday, Fiona. Shall we celebrate?”
“Yes,” she said surprising them both.
***
“Fiona, I have to go to New York on Monday,” he said as they walked slowly to her door after a remarkable day.
They had shopped at a few antique stores and ate a light dinner at a sushi place, after Tate bought her a black velvet fascinator with a magenta feather circa 1927 and an iPod for her birthday, and ended up dancing in a dance studio they walked by when a country swing class was going on in Bethesda. They paused as they walked by and looked in the big glass window and were beckoned to enter. Tate looked at her with that playful grin of his and pulled her into the studio where the two of them danced for an hour. Tate knew what he was doing and he helped the instructor with hands on demonstrations, using an embarrassed Fiona as his model.
Within minutes he had charmed every one of the sixty-somethings and had the instructor eating out of his hand. Fiona loved the way his hard body moved sinuously against hers, and the look of promise in his eyes every time she looked into them. It had been a very long time since she’d enjoyed herself so much, and she had never danced as well as she did when she was in his arms.
“Would you come with me?” She looked at him. She seriously considered going. “I’ll spring for a second room, I just thought we’d have fun, go to a show, do some shopping, or what have you. I’ve enjoyed your company.”
“Thank you for asking, Tate. I would love to, in fact it’s difficult to refuse, but I have to go back to work on Monday,” she said. She had been trying to find her keys in her pockets, and began to wonder if she even took them off the table where she left her phone. They had been gone for hours she realized, and then she found them and held them up victoriously. “What are you doing in New York?”
“I have this interview thing, and another mate of mine is coming from Ireland. I’ve mentioned him a few times, my friend, Razz,” he grinned at her. He was surprised at how much he wanted Razz to meet her. “I’d very much like for him to meet you.” She liked the way he put that. He wanted Razz to meet her, not the other way around.
“Will you go back to Ireland from there?” She almost sounded like a normal person, but she was clearly distressed by the possible answer. He lived in Ireland, he couldn’t stay here forever.
“I was planning on spending a bit of time in New York, and then going home, but Washington is suddenly growing on me.” He leaned in and touched his lips to hers and a jolt of desire shot through her, even stronger than the last time they kissed. She had such a great day, he had spoiled her rotten and made her tingle every time he touched her. She put her hand up to the back of his head and pulled him to her, running her fingers though his tousled hair.
His hands went around her waist and moved slowly to her rounded bum, pulling her to him. He made a deep growling sound in the back of his throat that made her want to strip him naked right on the stoop and deepened the kiss just as the door was opened by someone on the inside. Fiona looked up in surprise and pulled back away from Tate. She then cocked her head to the side looking at the man in the doorway, and the gun in his hand, not yet clearheaded enough to comprehend exactly what she was seeing.
“Get away from her,” the man said and Tate followed Fiona’s gaze and saw the large man standing in the doorway holding a gun on both of them.
Chapter Four
Tate quickly stepped in front of Fiona. “Wrong house,” he said backing her carefully away from the house. “Sorry, mate.” Fiona moved to get Tate out of the way and come around in front of Tate, but he held her firmly behind him. “Get back, you mad lemming,” he hissed at her.
“He’s my brother,” she said to Tate and there was a long quiet beat where no one moved.
“Okay then,” Tate said and pulled her around to stand in front of him, holding her firmly in place, a strong hand on her midriff. Fiona chuckled slightly and then remembered that her brother held a gun on them.
“Liam, put the gun away. Have you lost your mind?” She glared at her brother and he put his gun in his holster and stepped back so they could go inside. Fiona took Tate’s hand and dragged him past a glowering Liam. Tate smiled and Liam ground his teeth together. Fiona took him straight into the kitchen and put the kettle on.
“Have you got anything stronger than that?” Liam asked.
“I have some brandy in the cabinet under the oil painting of the Tuscan hills,” Liam was already gone, and soon came back in with the bottle and looked for a glass. He caught Tate’s eye with a silent question as he held up a glass and Tate nodded. Liam pulled two glasses out of the cabinet and gave them each a generous measure, handing one to Tate.
“Sorry, man,” Liam said and drank. Tate nodded again.
“No worries,” Tate said. He was privately proud of the strength of his voice and drank his brandy down.
“She know what you do for a living yet?” Liam asked Tate.
“I am standing right here,” Fiona said from the sink only a few feet away. Tate smiled at her as she glowered at her brother.
“No, we’ve been studiously avoiding it,” Tate said.
“He’ll tell me when he’s ready. It’s not as if I know what you do either,” she said.
“Good point,” Liam said looking thoughtful.
“Although now I know you carry a gun.” Sam walked into the kitchen. “Would you like some tea or brandy?” Sam’s eyes got big.
“You got a beer, instead?” He asked.
“Of course,” she went to the fridge and pulled out a beer and handed it to him. “Tate, that is my brother Liam, and this is Sam, he’s a friend of Liam’s, and staying here for a bit.” Tate and Sam eyed each other and shook hands.
The kettle screamed and Fiona made her tea while the three men stood looking uncomfortable.
“Why don’t you go to the living room and wait for a minute and then you can tell me what the hell is going on.” She glared at Liam who took the hint and stepped out of the kitchen with Sam. Tate and Fiona looked at each other.
“I am so sorry,” she began but he pulled her close.
“Don’t apologize for your family,” he said quoting Ryan and kissing her. “Fiona,” he tucked her thick black hair behind an ear and looked directly into her eyes. “I have a somewhat bad reputation and I suspect your brother is chomping at the bit to tell ye of it.” He grimaced and took her hand. “I never imagined someone’s opinion would matter this much to me, but it does, and I don’t want you to think ill of me.” He studied her with a pleading expression on his pretty face.
“You don’t hurt people; that much I can tell.”
“No, not intentionally,” he said and Fiona nodded.
“I know you’re not ready to tell me what the big secret is, and I know the fact that I don’t know pleases you. I’m content to wait for you. Whatever it is, you are clearly overpaid,” he grinned at her. “I’ll ask Liam to keep his gossip to himself. Will you tell me before your job interview in New York?” He laughed.
“It’s not a job interview, just an interview, love. I’ll tell you now if you like.”
“Liam is up to something, he’s not usually this weird, and he was in North Africa a few hours ago, so I need to know what he’s up to. Now would not be ideal. Tomorrow?”
“I’ll pick you up at 9:00, we’ll go out for coffee,” they laughed.
“Fiona, I’m falling asleep out here,” Liam called from the other room.
“Keep your hair on, mate,” Tate called back and brought Fiona’s hand to his lips. “I had a grand day today.” He pulled her close and bent his head to hers. “Thank you for spending it with me.” He kissed her cheek and followed the line of her jaw to her lips. He savored the feel of her soft lips on his and gently explored her mouth w
ith his own. She reached up to the back of his head and ran her nails lightly on the back of his neck and his entire body shivered. He pulled away from her mouth to look her in the eye briefly. “Now I really want to rip your clothes off,” he whispered and then pulled her hard to his chest and resumed their kiss. The fingernail thing just about did him in.
“You stopped talking in there, do I need to get a hose, mate?” Liam called again putting an emphasis on the last word.
Tate reluctantly pulled away from her. He had never had a kiss like that before, everything about this woman drove him wild, and she was as unpracticed as they came.
“Christ, Fiona,” he breathed. Her eyes remained closed and her head tipped back, her mouth slightly open, and he was tempted to drag her back to his hotel. She opened her eyes.
“That was good, great; excellent even,” she murmured and Tate smiled and she couldn’t help but smile back.
“The best ye’ve ever had, or so I heard. Drink your tea, I’ll pick you up at 9:00, aye?”
“Aye, aye,” she said and he laughed and kissed her nose then gently released her.
Fiona picked up her tea and took Tate’s hand and led him out to the front door. “Goodnight Tate, and thanks for a lovely day.”
“Goodnight, love.” He kissed her cheek and walked down the path, waved at the bottom and walked away down the road. Fiona watched him walk past the first streetlight and fade into the dark. She sighed and sipped her tea and shut the door.
“Please don’t tell me you’re sleeping with Tate Dylan,” Liam said from the hall. Sam stood when she came in the living room looking uncomfortable.
“Okay, I won’t,” Fiona said and watched his eyes get huge as she walked past him to sit down. “I’m not, quit looking so shocked. I only met him yesterday, not that it is any of your business.” All she wanted to do was pound the piano keys but she sat on her chair by the fireplace and tucked her feet under her and looked at her brother expectantly. “What’s going on, Liam?” He looked guilty, and her eyebrows rose.
Bassist Instinct (The Rocker Series #2) Page 10