by Cher Carson
Her heart began to race. She almost felt like someone gave her a winning lottery ticket, but she was afraid to redeem it in case they told her it was a mistake. “Expecting anything of you isn’t right. Taking care of me is not your responsibility. I have to take care of myself and my brother. That’s my job.”
He sighed, leaning back against the seat. “Damn it. Why are you making this more difficult than it has to be?”
She reached for the door handle. She didn’t want to argue with him, but she sensed it was inevitable if she stayed in this car one more minute. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
He got out of the car, muttering a curse as he slammed his door. “I’m coming in with you.”
“Why?”
He glared at the plastic shopping bag containing her uniform. “I have a feeling the guy who bought that isn’t going to be willing to let you walk out of here without trying to change your mind about quitting.”
He was right. Her boss, Carlos, had made it blatantly obvious he was interested in her, even though fraternizing with employees was strictly against their code of conduct. “You don’t have to do that. I can handle Carlos.”
After grabbing her hand, he led her along the paved path up to the front door of the restaurant. “I have no doubt you can handle him by yourself, but that’s my point. You don’t have to as long as I’m here.”
She crossed the threshold, drawing a deep breath. Approaching the hostess stand, she smiled at the pretty young college student behind the podium. “Hey, Linda, is Carlos around?”
The young woman’s eyes drifted over her shoulder to Shane. Without a word, she started fanning herself with a leather-bound menu.
“Hello?” Lacy said, snapping her fingers to draw the other girl’s attention. “Is Carlos here or not?”
Linda giggled as a faint blush stained her high cheekbones. “Uh, sorry about that. I guess I got distracted there for a minute.”
Shane was busy watching the hockey game on the screen perched above the bar, so he failed to notice Linda’s reaction.
Lacy had no doubt he was used to the attention. He was sexy, smart, successful… She groaned inwardly. What had she gotten herself into? Is this how it was going to be whenever they went out together, women flirting with him while she sat back wondering whether he was interested?
Linda pointed at Shane behind the menu, mouthing, “Oh my God, he’s gorgeous. Is he your boyfriend?”
Before she could respond, Shane settled his arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. He chuckled self-consciously. “Sorry about that, hon. I’ve got $100 on the Blues to…” His words trailed off when she looked up at him, daring him to continue. “Never mind. It’s not important.”
“I’ll go and get Carlos,” Linda said, slipping out from behind her post.
“You always bet to win, Shane?” she asked, folding her arms.
He thrust hands through his hair. “No, it’s just that Danny, our electrician, was talking trash about…” He sighed. “Never mind. I’m sorry I brought it up. Can we just forget about it?”
Before she could respond, Carlos came barreling toward them. He took her hand, pulling her into his arms as he kissed both of her cheeks. “There you are, bella. When I heard you weren’t coming in tonight, I was worried that you were sick.”
She tried to withdraw when she heard Shane snarl behind her, but Carlos held both of her hands firmly in his, making it impossible to retreat without making a scene. “Uh, Carlos, I was wondering if I might talk to you alone for a minute.”
“Of course, my beauty,” he said, revealing a flash of white teeth. Carlos was in his mid-forties with a middle-aged paunch and receding hairline, but according to the female employees, he considered himself a modern day Casanova.
“Looks like that table’s available,” Shane said, pointing to an empty table near the pool tables.
She knew he chose that one so he could keep an eye on them from the bar, but she didn’t care where they sat. She just wanted to get this over with so she could get out of here. “Do you mind?” she asked, pointing to the table Shane referred to.
“No, of course not,” Carlos said, taking her hand and leading her toward the small table.
She watched Shane claim a seat at the bar and order a beer. He glanced up at the screen, but she could feel his eyes boring into her from across the room.
She slid an envelope across the table. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to resign, Carlos. Thank you for giving me the opportunity…”
He seized her hand, a frown drawing his bushy eyebrows together. “No, you can’t quit!”
Clearing her throat, she tried to re-claim her hand, but he refused to relent. “I’m sorry. I only took this job to help me through a rough patch…” She glanced at Shane, who was glaring at the back of Carlos’s head. “It seems that my business might be picking up again and I…”
“I’ll give you a raise.” When she failed to respond, he said, “I’ll let you pick and choose your shifts. I’ll put you on the schedule whenever you’re available.”
She knew the employees who had been loyal to him for years wouldn’t appreciate the newcomer being given preferential treatment. Carlos was trying to sweeten the deal for one reason, to get her into bed, and with or without Shane in her life, that would never happen. “I’m sorry. I just don’t have time for a second job now that business is picking up again.” She was well within her three-month probationary period, so she didn’t owe it to him to provide notice. Still, she felt guilty for leaving him short-handed. “I know you have that private party on Sunday night. Maybe I could manage to work that for you, if you still need the extra help?”
She would have enough time to visit Tommy on Saturday morning and return home late Sunday afternoon to work the party. She knew private parties usually paid well and she could use the extra money.
He sighed. “Very well. I’ll take what I can get. We’ll keep you on for private parties.” only.”
She didn’t intend to work every private party, just this one, but she saw no reason to tell him that now. She would respectfully decline the next time he called to ask her if she could work. “I guess I’ll see you Sunday then?”
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of pricy veneers. “Indeed you will. I’m looking forward to it.”
Too bad she couldn’t say the same. She offered a weak smile when he stood up, bending to kiss her hand. “Good-bye, Carlos.” She watched him walk away before propping her elbows on the table and resting her face in her hands. What the hell was wrong with her? She’d come here to quit, and instead she’d agreed to take another shift. Melanie always complained she was too nice, too afraid of hurting people’s feelings. But trying to spare their feelings often meant discounting what she wanted.
Shane approached the table, looming over her. He glanced at the shopping bag containing her uniform. “Am I to assume that didn’t go as planned?”
She sighed, gesturing toward the chair Carlos had vacated. “They’re having a private party here on Sunday night. I told him I would work it.” She held her hand up when he started to protest. “Listen, I could use the money. I’m doing this because I want to, not because he’s forcing me to.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he didn’t need to know that her conscience was to blame.
“Can’t you see that guy has a thing for you?” he demanded, leaning forward. “The only reason he’s not willing to accept your resignation is because he’s holding out hope that he can get you into bed.”
She couldn’t argue when she knew he was right. “I’m a big girl, Shane. I decide who I sleep with, and I can assure you it’s not going to be Carlos.”
He sighed, swiping a hand over his face as he leaned back in his chair. “You’re gonna be the death of me, girl.”
She raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He chuckled. “If it’s not my own brother, it’s contractors on the job site or horny restaurateurs…�
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“I don’t follow.”
“Do you know what it does to me, seeing all these guys making a play for you and knowing I can’t do a damn thing about it?”
She imagined how she would feel if the situation was reversed. She leaned forward and took his hand. “I told you earlier, you’re the only man I want. I’m not interested in Carlos or Jason or contractors on the job site.”
He lifted her left hand, kissing it as he smiled at her. “I love hearing you say that, but putting a big diamond on this finger would buy me a hell of a lot of peace of mind.” His smile fell as his expression turned somber. “How would you feel about that?”
Part of her was jumping up and down like a six year-old who just found out they were taking a family vacation to Disney, but the pragmatic side of her knew it was too soon to consider that kind of commitment. They were still getting to know each other and she had a long way to go before she was ready to take that long walk down the aisle. Withdrawing her hand, she shook her head, “I care about you, but…”
He sighed. “But you’re not ready to go public with our relationship.”
She could tell he was disappointed, but she wasn’t going to be bullied into an engagement she wasn’t ready for. “I didn’t say that. I said I wasn’t ready to get engaged. That doesn’t mean I’m not ready to be in an exclusive relationship with you.”
He rolled his eyes, tipping his head back to look at the ceiling. “What are we, fifteen years-old? Are you suggesting we ‘go steady’?” He curled his fingers in the air to emphasize the words.
She didn’t appreciate being patronized or made to feel like she was somehow lacking because she wasn’t ready to pursue a more serious relationship until she was sure about him and them. “Take it or leave it, Shane.”
He glared at her as he stood up. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”
Chapter Ten
Shane tried to rein in his frustration all the way back to his house, but it wasn’t easy. He wanted her, hell, he needed her in his life, and he knew he was going to feel the same way one year, five years, ten years from now. She was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but it hurt him to know she still had reservations about him.
Reaching across the gearshift to claim his hand, she asked, “Are you upset with me?”
He sighed, knowing he couldn’t blame her for the way she felt. He would just have to find a way to moderate his need to control everything and let her set the pace for this relationship. It was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done. “No, I’m not upset, just a little disappointed, I guess.”
“Shane, we haven’t known each that long, and we just started seeing each other.”
Logically, he knew she was right, but he wasn’t thinking with his head, he was thinking with his heart. “I know. It’s okay. We’ll just take our time and see how this plays out.”
She frowned, withdrawing her hand and settling it in her lap. “Does that mean you’re having doubts just because I don’t want to rush into anything?”
Gripping the steering wheel, he silently let loose a stream of curses. “No, I’m giving you what you seem to want: time and space to figure out if this is what you want.”
“Take me home.”
Shit. Once again, he’d managed to fuck this up. “Baby, come on, let’s just forget about this for tonight. We’ll go back to my place, open a bottle of wine…”
“And drink our problems away?” she asked, glaring at him. “Is that your solution?”
He knew he wasn’t going to win this argument, so he just continued to drive in the direction of his house.
“I asked you to take me home.”
“I am, to my home.”
Gripping the dashboard, she said, “Either you can take me home, or I’m going to walk.”
With a sudden jerk of the steering wheel, he maneuvered the car to the side of the dark road.
She gasped as she stole a glance at him, obviously considering whether he intended to let her walk all the way home, alone, in the dark.
He threw his door open, muttering a curse as he walked around the front of the vehicle. He was tired of arguing, tired of fighting this thing between them. He was ready to surrender, and he intended to make sure she went down with him.
He yanked the door open, reaching over to release her seatbelt. Capturing her face in his hands, he inhaled her gasp of surprise as he came down on her mouth, hard. He poured all of the frustration and fear he felt over losing her into that kiss. Fisting his hands in her hair, he pulled her head back as he explored her mouth with his tongue. He was harsh, unrelenting, daring her to challenge him. He pulled away, a ragged breath slipping between his lips. “Backseat, now.”
“But…”
“Don’t argue with me. Just do it.” He knew his high-handed approach could backfire, but he couldn’t restrain himself. He needed to sink his cock into her, to prove to her and himself that, despite her reluctance to commit, she still belonged to him. He grabbed her wrist, pulled her out of the passenger’s seat, and opened the rear door.
“We’re really gonna do this here?” she whispered, looking around, as though she half-expected someone to jump out of the bushes and catch them in the act.
“This is a private road, local traffic only.”
She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip and looked up at him. “You’re sure it’s safe?”
Pulling her against him, all of the anger and frustration melted away as he framed her face with his hands. “You’re always gonna be safe with me, baby. Always.”
She smiled, standing on her toes to place a gentle kiss to his lips. “I believe you.”
He watched her climb into the backseat, offering him a decadent rear view that made his cock thicken inside his jeans. He couldn’t wait to sink inside of that lush little body. He’d plow in so deep, so fast, so hard, she wouldn’t even know what hit her. Weeks without sex were killing him, and it was his own damn fault. He’d had several opportunities to get laid, but none of those women were Lacy, so he’d declined their blatant offers. It scared him to think his body may not even respond to another woman since she’d crawled under his skin.
“Take your clothes off,” he said, watching her scoot back on the seat.
“But…”
“No buts. Just do it.” He knew if he gave her an escape, she’d take the safe way out, but he was determined to push her out of her comfort zone and make her face her fears. She was afraid to make a commitment because she didn’t want to have to rely on him or anyone else, but he intended to prove to her that her life with him would be a hell of a lot richer than her life without him, in every way.
She did as he asked, slowly, as though she was questioning her actions. When she had stripped down to a navy blue lace bra and matching panties, she stopped.
“Take it all off.” His voice sounded choked to his own ears as he gripped the doorframe.
“It’s cold,” she whispered. “Can’t you come in and close the door?”
He watched her nipples pucker as soon as she released her bra. In a few minutes, he intended to make sure they were hot, sweaty, and satiated. He’d take his time satisfying her when they got back to his place. This wasn’t about making love. It was about fucking her hard, branding her, reminding her that she gave her body to him when she let him make love to her the first time, and he was ready to re-claim her. Only this time, he wasn’t letting her go, ever.
He undid his jeans and climbed in the backseat. He hadn’t had sex in the backseat of a car since he was a teenager. Of course, he hadn’t been this horny since then either. She brought out all of his animalistic tendencies. He didn’t want just a mutually exclusive relationship with her. He wanted to own her. He wanted to remind her that she was his with every stroke of his cock. He wanted to get inside her head the way she’d infiltrated his, and he wanted to claim her heart in a way no other man ever had or ever would.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he muttered, pulling t
he hair at her crown as he kissed her neck. “I’ve thought about this sweet pussy every goddamn night.” He wanted to lick and suck her. He wanted to feel her come in his mouth, but the close confines meant he had no choice but to ready her for his cock using only his fingers. After sliding one, then two digits deep inside of her, he grinned against her neck when she moaned and ground into his hand. He loved that she was so responsive. “That’s it, sweetheart,” he whispered, licking her ear. “Just let go for me. Does that feel good?”
She rotated her hips, spreading her legs as wide as the passenger’s seat would allow. “Yes, God, yes.”
He wanted to make her come, but not until he could experience it with her. Bracing his body above her, he shoved his pants down with his free hand. He positioned his cock at her entrance, saying a silent prayer of thanks that she was willing to let him love her without a barrier between them. He knew that conveyed the faith she had in him and them, and he intended to build on that. The pill wasn’t one hundred percent effective, and with any other woman, he wouldn’t have even thought about taking the risk, but the thought of her pregnant with his baby…
“Shit, Shane, wait.” She braced her hands on his chest, trying to sit up.
He dropped his head, clenching his jaw. He was already too far gone to stop. If she was testing him, he feared he would fail miserably.
“I forgot my pills when I packed my overnight bag. Do you have a condom?”
He shook his head as he closed his eyes. He hadn’t carried condoms since the night they made love. He didn’t want anyone else, and he knew he would never be able to make love to her with a barrier between them now that he’d had her without one. “No.”
“We have to stop,” she said, trying to push him off.
“Do we?” he asked, looking into her eyes. God help him, he would give everything he owned to have this woman as the mother of his children.