Delivered with a Kiss: Veteran Movers 4

by Marie Harte

  “Yeah. He seems like the type.” Ivy leaned closer. “What is up with the giant men around here? Am I right?”

  “Yes.” Erin nodded. “Smith is only slightly taller than his brothers. And they were all Marines.”

  “Huh. Mine and his friends are all mechanics and felons.” She winked. “Kidding about the felons thing. They just look the part.”

  Erin gave Sam a wary glance. “I’ll say. How did you start dating?”

  “Cookie brought us together.” Ivy explained how a lost dog had thrown Sam into her life. They chatted about good places to eat and made a coffee date for the following week.

  “Oh, wait. I saw your massage place on Queen Anne Avenue,” Erin realized. “Bodyworks?”

  “That’s me,” Ivy said with pride. “You know, business is all about word of mouth. You need a massage, I’m your gal. You need a mechanic, Webster’s Garage won’t steer you wrong. Want a pet? I can hook you up there too.”

  “Need to move? Use Vets on the Go!” Erin stuck a thumb in Smith’s direction.

  Ivy’s eyes widened. “No kidding? He’s with Vets on the Go!? I saw that piece in the news about them. Didn’t one of the guys save some kid and his grandma from robbers?”

  “I think so. That happened before I moved here.”

  “Good to know. And what about you?” Ivy asked. “What are you selling? You said you have a cooking channel? What’s the website?”

  Erin rattled off the URL, pleased and a little nervous to be treating her cooking gig as a real business. She’d always considered it her side project, hoping to grow it bigger. But the more she talked about it, and Smith talked about it, the more she realized how much she wanted to focus her efforts on that. The editing paid the bills, but her heart remained in her online kitchen.

  Smith joined her side once more. After introducing him to everyone, they went back to visit Tilly.

  She sat propped up in her bed dressed in a pale blue hospital gown. “Go ahead. Look your fill at the old lady who fell in a damn bathroom and had to be rescued off the toilet.”

  Smith grinned. “Sounds pretty damn funny when you tell it like that.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  Erin heard more than saw the humor and let herself relax.

  “Erin, when I get out of here, I’m going to stay with Rupert for a little while. He’s got a one-story house with a caretaker who helps him. I’m going to borrow her for a few weeks until the limp is gone.”

  “A few weeks?” Erin wondered about the timeline.

  “My hip’s bruised, not broken.”

  “Good,” Smith said, looking relieved.

  “I can help you,” Erin offered, not liking the fact that Tilly felt she had to leave her own home to be cared for.

  “And you will. I hadn’t gotten to that yet.”

  “Huh?”

  Tilly sighed. “It’s a lot to ask, but I’m going to lean on you some. And to make it fair, I’m not charging you any rent until I’m back home.”

  “No.”

  Smith and Tilly stared at her.

  “No, you will not give me a rent-free apartment. You’re my friend, Tilly. I’ll do whatever you need for free. You don’t charge friends for help.”

  Tilly flushed and fiddled with her blanket. “Well, hell. Don’t get your panties in a twist over it. Fine. But you’ll use my kitchen and supplies for all that cooking stuff. I mean it. I want you to keep cooking meals for me and for the neighbor, the nurse’s aide. Rupert already arranged for Fiona to help me instead of him. I told him not to, but he says he only lets her do his PT work because she’s cute.” Tilly harrumphed.

  Erin bit back a grin but noted Smith didn’t hide his.

  “So, while I’m recuperating at Rupert’s, I want you two to hold own the fort. Smith, you keep fixing shit that breaks. Erin, you water my plants and keep my place dust-free. And you keep cooking, but this time I need you to deliver the meals. It’s a ways away in Queen Anne. Not far really, but you figure in the traffic and it’s a bitch.”

  “It’s not a problem.”

  “Well, it might be since this knucklehead has no wheels.” She shook her head at him. “I told you that driving like a maniac would be your undoing.”

  “Please. I was hit by a drunk loser.”

  “So you say.” Tilly’s eyes sparkled as she argued with Smith, and Erin could see a similar pleasure in her boyfriend as he crabbed with the old woman.

  “Now Erin, I got to say a few things to the boy. Would you mind waiting outside? It won’t be but a minute or two. Nothing but handyman stuff that’d bore you. And don’t be fretting about me leaving my apartment. It’ll be more like a vacation. Rupert has a hot tub in his backyard.”

  Erin didn’t mind giving them space. “No problem.” She leaned over to kiss Smith, knowing how much Tilly would love seeing her supposed matchmaking at work. Then she shocked Tilly by kissing her on the cheek. “Get better soon, and make sure you text me if you want me to make you something specific. Otherwise I’m planning the menus.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Okay, you old woman. What did you need to say to me that you couldn’t say in front of Erin?” Smith had been so worried for Tilly until he’d talked to her. No matter what the nurse had told him of Tilly’s condition, he’d needed to see her for himself.

  “You have such a smart mouth for such a stupid man,” she muttered, sounding as cranky as she normally did. “Look, asswipe, I’m getting tired. So, I’ll keep this short. Do the Hall-o-ween thing. Make sure you introduce Erin to everybody at the McCallisters’ party. The girl needs more friends than an old biddy like me and a sex-starved fiend like you.”

  “Really?” Was that how she saw him? Then again, she wasn’t totally wrong. He was sexually starved for Erin at all times. He grinned.

  “Such a horndog,” she muttered, “When you get a chance, I need you to grab a bag and pack a few things for me. Try not to get too excited touching my undies.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “But make sure to pack the clothes I like. You know the ones I wear all the time.”

  He did. “You sure you don’t want Rupert or Erin or somebody to pack for you?”

  “Nope. You. Erin’s gonna be busy cooking for me and Fiona.” She paused. “Rupert said Fiona’s young and a real looker. You interested?”

  He snorted. “I have Erin. What do you think?”

  She rubbed her hands together with glee. “I freakin’ knew she’d be perfect for you. Knew it the first time I saw you two together.”

  He groaned, secretly pleased she had enough energy to gloat. “Yeah, yeah. What else?”

  “I want you to pack my copy of The Catcher in the Rye. It’s in my nightstand. It was Hank’s favorite, and I like to read a page every night before bed. And bring me my picture frame too.”

  “Which one?” She had a bunch of pictures of her husband in the living room. He’d never been in her bedroom, though, so he wanted to make sure he got it right.

  She studied him with an expression he couldn’t read. “It’s the one with me and Hank. And Hank Jr.”

  Shocked, because he hadn’t realized she’d had a kid—she’d never mentioned it—he nodded.

  “Never told you about him, did I?”

  “No.”

  Her voice softened, and she said, “Hank Jr. was my heart, you know. I lost a part of that when he died after Vietnam.” She watched Smith with a steady gaze. “He was a Marine too. Proud as a peacock because of it.” Her eyes watered. “Now don’t you think I’m getting soft. But if something happens to me, I want you to have his purple heart. Hank, my husband, he’d want that too. You understand sacrifice, and not too many people do nowadays.”

  Smith nodded, too taken aback to do otherwise.

  “It was pure dumb luck I slipped and hurt my hip. I know that. But a body’s got to be prepared. I have a will all made out so my family will get what little I have left to give.”

  He forced himself to remain lighthearte
d, while inside he rejected any notion of Tilly leaving him. “Yeah, whatever, Midas.”

  She grinned and wiped an eye. “But you need to know if something happens to me, you always have a home.”

  He frowned. “I know that. I can always find another place to live, Tilly. I’m not broke or anything, even though you seem to think I am.”

  “I mean a home at Emerald Estates, jackass. It wouldn’t be the same without you there taking care of everybody.”

  He huffed. “I just do what you pay me to.”

  “Really?” She arched a brow. “Because I saw you tying Regina’s shoes in the hall so she could keep up with her big brother. I know you out and out threatened Janet’s ex with violence if he lays a hand on her. And that you keep an eye on the building. Haven’t had a problem with burglars or druggies since you came on board.”

  He didn’t like her looking at him like he was a nice guy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re all about family, no matter how much you try to act like you don’t give a shit.” She smiled, and that sweet expression on her face freaked him out.

  “You’re not dying or anything are you?”

  She laughed so hard she choked.

  He handed her a glass of water, and she swallowed it down before sighing. “Ah, that’s better. I needed that laugh. No, I’m not dying right this minute. Unless I have an aneurism because you made me laugh so hard. What I’m trying to tell you is that I love you, dumbass. And I want you to know you’re like a son to me. And I don’t say that lightly…and I won’t say it again.”

  He looked away until he could look back at her with dry eyes.

  She reached for him, her skin papery-thin, her grip weak, but she held on when he took her small hand in his. “You’re a good boy, Smith Ramsey. Margaret Ramsey was one crappy piece of work. I told her that then, and I’d tell her that now if she had the balls to show her face. You remember that.”

  Her words meant everything. He couldn’t speak, so he nodded to show he’d heard.

  She tugged her hand back, and he let her go. “That girl out there thinks the world of you, so you do her right. And for fuck’s sake, get her out of that crappy efficiency and moved in with you. Mrs. Fine’s place needs a complete rehaul.”

  He grinned with relief, glad to be done with all the emotional drama. “Yeah. I know. But I’m trying to be stealthy about it. I gave her my key, and she almost fainted. So, I’m wooing her.”

  “Woo faster,” Tilly snapped. “Now get out so I can get some sleep.”

  He was at the door when he had to turn around. He saw her lying in that bed, looking frail and old and ornery, as usual. He couldn’t not say it. “I love you too.”

  He turned and left before she made a big deal of it and hurried to find Erin so he could get away from all the uncomfortable emotions sweltering inside.

  “You okay?” she asked and reached for him.

  He took her hand, thinking maybe not all feelings needed to be avoided. “I am now. Let’s go home.”

  They’d had plans to get food on the way back, shower, then have hot sex. Unfortunately, they hadn’t planned on running out of energy.

  Erin had helped Smith pack up Tilly’s clothes while he grabbed the other items on her never-ending list. He grumbled while he packed, but she noticed he took extreme care to put everything in Tilly’s suitcase, and he’d chosen her outfits himself.

  Erin didn’t know what exactly had been said between the two, but it must have been emotional. Smith had been quiet for most of the drive home, and he’d made a few comments to convince her Tilly would be just fine—even though she’d expressed no doubt to the contrary.

  The poor guy. She would have gone with him to deliver Tilly’s things to Rupert, but he’d told her he’d be quick and for her to set out their dinner.

  She’d done little more than put their takeout on plates then fell asleep while waiting for him to return.

  Now she blinked at the clock in his bedroom, sensing she’d slept through Friday night into Saturday. She didn’t remember coming to bed, so he must have carried her in. It still made her shiver, to know Smith could haul her around so easily. She’d had other boyfriends brag about loving her tiny size, but no one had made her feel weightless.

  Erin turned on her side to study him, thinking that even in sleep, Smith looked hard, unforgiving. She stroked his face, loving his square jaw, the stubble on his cheeks and chin. He had looks, power, and stamina.

  And a heart in need of mending.

  Tilly’s near miss had made her realize how much she missed her family, so while waiting for Smith to arrive yesterday, she’d called her parents and her sister. She missed them, but not as much as she’d missed Smith.

  It was as if she wasn’t complete without him. She smiled, knowing he’d roll his eyes if she said something so corny.

  Meeting with Cody—had it been just yesterday?—had woken her to the reality she hadn’t been blameless in their breakup. Yes, the sex had been underwhelming. But she should have said something. And while she found nothing wrong with catering to a man if she wanted to, part of her had resented doing everything for him since he had seemed to expect it. And that was on her.

  Cody should have been honest with her, and she should have told him the truth of her feelings. She never should have moved out here to satisfy his needs and his demands. That she had still shamed her. But she’d learned.

  At twenty-five years of age, she’d finally grown independent enough to move away from home, supporting herself on her own working two jobs, and she’d found a man she might love, not because she needed him, but because she wanted him.

  And she wanted him right now.

  He must have cleaned up before coming to bed because he wore nothing but the skin God gave him, and he smelled of the soap he had in his shower.

  She leaned forward to kiss him, pleased when he kissed her back.

  Normally she’d worry about morning breath or her hair sticking up, but she wanted nothing more than to make them both happy. She crawled on top of him, loving the feel of his large, callused hands on her hips. But she wanted them in other places, so she put his hands over her breasts and reveled in his low groan.

  She deepened the kiss, felt him arch up against her, his erection digging into her thigh. She moved so that she slid over him, her wet response impossible to ignore.

  He kissed her harder, trying to angle so that he could penetrate, but she stopped him by pinching his nipples and nibbling to his ear to whisper, “This is my fun. I’m in charge. You just lay there and enjoy.”

  She pulled back to see him staring up at her with dark eyes, the green not visible in the dim light streaming through his blinds. He lay in shadow, dark and big and sexy. And all hers.

  Erin shimmied down his body, trailing kisses from his face down his neck, awash in emotion. He murmured her name as she kissed him, and he stroked her as if she were precious to him.

  Smith didn’t rush, he savored. And he was especially good at taking his time with Erin. So, she wanted to do the same with him.

  She tried to show him what he meant to her with in each slow, deliberate kiss. By feathering her hands down his broad, muscular chest to the tight core of his abdomen and lower, past the dark hair surrounding that thick, jutting cock.

  “Please,” he rasped and arched up, moaning when she took him in her mouth and cupped his balls.

  Erin rubbed him gently, then with firmer pressure while she nibbled her way up and down his cock, sucking and taking him deep, to the back of her throat.

  She rubbed the insides of his thighs and toyed with his navel while pumping him with deep draws of her mouth.

  When he’d get too close, she’d back off, trail caresses down his legs to his ankles, then start back up again. She explored his torso, fascinated with his nipples, so dark and hard, his chest so different from hers, that tattoo mesmerizing. He liked when she sucked him, so she teased him the way he had her. And it drove him wi
ld.

  He flipped her to her back and mounted her, lost in lust, but she stopped him. “Uh-uh. I’m in charge, remember?”

  Panting and swearing, he rolled them both over, so that she straddled him once more. “Erin, baby, please. I’m so hard it hurts.”

  She felt no pity, wanting him to be on edge, needing her the way she needed him. “I love sucking you,” she whispered against his lips as she went in for another kiss. She found her sweet spot, riding her clit over his hard shaft, loving how wet he made her, how her touch stimulated him.

  “Fuck. Cupcake, I’m gonna come, and I want to come inside you,” he groaned.

  She continued to move, so slowly, over him. “You’re so big. You fill me up so good,” she said and licked his ear.

  He shot up so hard he nearly unseated her.

  She chuckled.

  “Did I say you were nice? You’re evil, making me want you so much.” He tilted his head so she could suck his neck. “So fuckin’ hot. I need you, Erin. Need to be in you.”

  She figured he’d had enough, and so had she. Time for the first of many orgasms.

  Erin rose on her knees and reached for him. He palmed her breasts, his gaze on her hand around his slick cock.

  “You’re so wet,” he moaned as she lowered herself. “Come on. All of me. Take me,” he growled.

  She kept sliding down, watching his beautiful face as he cried out, the sexual agony impossible to resist. She sat fully on him and leaned back, the position making him feel that much bigger.

  “Yes, you feel amazing inside me.”

  “Move, Erin. Up and down, baby. Come around me.”

  She watched him watch her while she did all the work, lifting up and falling back down, her body so tight around him. They matched, a perfect fit, was all she could think as she took him.

  “Come,” he said again. “Touch yourself while you fuck me. I want that pussy so tight when I fill it up.”

  Oh, the dirty talk, it kept getting better. Hotter. He continued, whispering filthy things as she moved faster, unable to help herself as she rubbed the sensitive flesh between her legs, the combination of her hand and his cock an impossible temptation.